Yay! Blog! v2.0
Category: January 2005
More Family Time Ahead [01/31/05]
[Family]
Another of my aunts, Aunt Bea, passed away this weekend. This one was not as unexpected as the last, but still a sad thing. I'll be attending her funeral, and in a strange way it helps ease the weight I feel from missing my Aunt Alice's funeral.
It means more family time and less time to blab on my blog. So again... you all have fun, and I'll talk again when things settle down.
Below left are my Uncle Richard (my Dad's brother) and Aunt Bea on their 38th wedding anniversary. On the right are my Dad's sisters Alice, Mary, and Bonnie (love that big wig!), with me peaking around the back circa 1972. Out of all of them, there's just me and my Aunt Mary left.
It means more family time and less time to blab on my blog. So again... you all have fun, and I'll talk again when things settle down.
Below left are my Uncle Richard (my Dad's brother) and Aunt Bea on their 38th wedding anniversary. On the right are my Dad's sisters Alice, Mary, and Bonnie (love that big wig!), with me peaking around the back circa 1972. Out of all of them, there's just me and my Aunt Mary left.
Back from the Wedding [01/30/05]
[Family]
I got back from the wedding. It was beautiful, and I'll have more pictures later. I don't have any pictures of me in the torture devices, but I might post one of me at the rehearsal dinner.The weekend was bittersweet as I also found out my Aunt Alice died on January 19th. I didn't hear about it in time to go to the funeral, and that's got me really upset. My Aunt Mary emailed me shortly after it happened, but she sent it to an email address I haven't used in years. We never communicate by email, so I didn't know she had that address.
I found out by piecing together snippets of overheard conversation at the wedding rehearsal. I wasn't going to ask anyone about it because I didn't want to start crying, but my Aunt Mary started telling me something about my Aunt Alice's son, so I asked her if something happened to Aunt Alice. Next thing you know, I'm balling at the rehearsal dinner. If anyone noticed, they were kind enough to leave me alone until I pulled myself together.
Time to unpack and do laundry. I'm back to work tomorrow. I wish the sun would come out. I haven't seen it in days.
Wedding this Weekend [01/28/05]
With my cousin's wedding this weekend, I'll be real busy with family. I might not have much time to write. If not, I'll talk to you at the end of the weekend. Think of me while I'm wearing the torture devices (dress and panty hose).
You Found Me How? [01/27/05]
Searches to my site:
- subliminal sara lee cheesecake
- kim novak's bra size Oh quit.
- what is eddie van halen's favorite type of hamburger?
Firefight in Haditha [01/27/05]
My friend's son was in a firefight in Haditha. Thankfully, he was not one of the 4 marines who died.
Dream Journal - Alligators, Snakes and City Buses [01/27/05]
I was visiting my supervisor's family at his house. There was a hanging lamp over the coffee table that had ivy growing in it. I heard a noise, and saw a tail moving in there. Then an alligator jumped out of the top. It was as long as the distance from my finger tips to my elbow. It was running around the house.
Then I saw a small green and yellow snake. The snake wrapped itself around my right hand. I was trying to grab its head, so it wouldn't bite me. I was also trying to fling it off my hand. It ended up biting the tip of my finger. I felt the snout of the alligator against my back, but it didn't bite me. I flung the snake off my finger. Instead of having a bite on my finger tip, I found fang marks on my palms.
I was feeling okay for a while, wondering if the snake was poisonous. Then I noticed my arms were swelling just above my wrist. I was getting multiple large knots, and they were growing. Smaller knots were growing, too. I told my supervisor I needed to go to the emergency room. I was worried because I didn't remember getting my insurance card this year. I looked in my purse, and the card I had didn't expire until 2009. [In real life, I just looked and my card is from May 2003... gotta look into that].
I was starting to lose the feeling in my hands. As we were going to the emergency room, I felt bad that my supervisor had to take me. He seems to have a lot to do with and for his family on the weekends and doesn't get to watch as much football and other TV as he'd like, although he doesn't complain. I felt bad taking up his time.
When we got to the emergency room which looked more like a lobby in a bank or hair salon, I saw my friend Kelley. She was talking to me a lot, but I couldn't concentrate because I was worried about my arms swelling up. I remember something about her company and how they had to secure the lines. I think that comes from watching Alias before I go to sleep.
Later, I was sitting in the driver's seat of Karlyn's car in a parking lot. Karlyn was in the passenger seat. I saw some stray animals. One of the animals was trying to bite a beautiful dog. I drove over there to try to scare the mean one. I ended up scraping the side of a city bus with the back bumper of her car (not sure how that happened). The bumper was scratched up, but Karlyn told me it was already an old bumper, and she took it off the car. I had to get my car insurance to give to the bus company. The bus looked pretty bad.
Then I saw a small green and yellow snake. The snake wrapped itself around my right hand. I was trying to grab its head, so it wouldn't bite me. I was also trying to fling it off my hand. It ended up biting the tip of my finger. I felt the snout of the alligator against my back, but it didn't bite me. I flung the snake off my finger. Instead of having a bite on my finger tip, I found fang marks on my palms.
I was feeling okay for a while, wondering if the snake was poisonous. Then I noticed my arms were swelling just above my wrist. I was getting multiple large knots, and they were growing. Smaller knots were growing, too. I told my supervisor I needed to go to the emergency room. I was worried because I didn't remember getting my insurance card this year. I looked in my purse, and the card I had didn't expire until 2009. [In real life, I just looked and my card is from May 2003... gotta look into that].
I was starting to lose the feeling in my hands. As we were going to the emergency room, I felt bad that my supervisor had to take me. He seems to have a lot to do with and for his family on the weekends and doesn't get to watch as much football and other TV as he'd like, although he doesn't complain. I felt bad taking up his time.
When we got to the emergency room which looked more like a lobby in a bank or hair salon, I saw my friend Kelley. She was talking to me a lot, but I couldn't concentrate because I was worried about my arms swelling up. I remember something about her company and how they had to secure the lines. I think that comes from watching Alias before I go to sleep.
Later, I was sitting in the driver's seat of Karlyn's car in a parking lot. Karlyn was in the passenger seat. I saw some stray animals. One of the animals was trying to bite a beautiful dog. I drove over there to try to scare the mean one. I ended up scraping the side of a city bus with the back bumper of her car (not sure how that happened). The bumper was scratched up, but Karlyn told me it was already an old bumper, and she took it off the car. I had to get my car insurance to give to the bus company. The bus looked pretty bad.
Trash... Denied [01/25/05]
This might sound like a rant, but I'm actually amused. I set my trash can out at the curb Sunday night for the Monday pickup. The trash men have those trucks with arms that grab the cans and raise them up and empty them into the top of the truck. I love that idea... I'll bet it saves lots of money on worker's comp injuries.
When I got home after work Monday, there was a pre-printed note sticking up from the handle of the trash can. It said, "We Apologize" and had a bevy of reasons why they wouldn't pick up trash with one checked off that applied to my trash that day. It said a car was blocking the can.
I understand the truck arms couldn't get to my can if a car was blocking it, but someone had to have walked over and put the note on the can. The can has wheels... couldn't he/she roll the can out from behind the car so the truck arms could reach it?
After I read the note, I threw it directly into the can. Now I kinda wish I'd kept it out to read all the other reasons they might not pick up trash. I guess I could go dig it out.
Naw.
When I got home after work Monday, there was a pre-printed note sticking up from the handle of the trash can. It said, "We Apologize" and had a bevy of reasons why they wouldn't pick up trash with one checked off that applied to my trash that day. It said a car was blocking the can.
I understand the truck arms couldn't get to my can if a car was blocking it, but someone had to have walked over and put the note on the can. The can has wheels... couldn't he/she roll the can out from behind the car so the truck arms could reach it?
After I read the note, I threw it directly into the can. Now I kinda wish I'd kept it out to read all the other reasons they might not pick up trash. I guess I could go dig it out.
Naw.
Dream Journal - Tournaments and An Aerospace Center [01/25/05]
I was at a tournament/audition. I don't know what it was for, but I know it wasn't singing. I went into it with confidence. It was like the math tournaments and all state choir auditions I went to in high school... you did your part, and then sat around a central location and waited for results. I think we were in a library. I was still waiting when most people had already left. There were four of us left plus our teacher.
Then they announced that two of the others had won a banner or flyer. It was really the consolation prize. The teacher told me and the woman who was left that it had to mean we won for real. We waited for a while longer, and the teacher went to talk to someone. They said not hearing anything meant we didn't win. I left not even winning a consolation prize. I wasn't surprised, though, because while I waited, my confidence waned.
Then I was in another tournament, but this one was for dates. There were a series of contests where a girl, a guy and a judge or mediator met in a room. I don't know post-dream what the rules were. So far, I hadn't won dates with anyone. Then I was in a room with a really cute guy and a judge. This makes no sense post-dream, but he had some kind of synthetic cloak, and he was showing me how he used to win. I don't think he was serious about our encounter. I figured out a way to beat the guy. I asked him a couple of questions that got him wrapped up in his cloak. As he was trying to free himself, time ran out. That meant I won a date with him. I immediately wished I hadn't won because I knew he wouldn't want a date with me.
I was going to tell him right there that he didn't have to go on the date, and that I just wanted to show him I could win at the game. The judge didn't give me a chance to speak, though. I was going to tell him when I talked to him afterward.
Then I was flying toward an island with a castle. There was a line of rocket ships on the bluff above the ocean. I watched the rocket ships hover over the land and set back down again, but not all together at once. Someone announced we were approaching one of the top aerospace research centers in the world.
It wasn't all work and no play, though. When I got down there, they were playing on the beach/bluff. Someone was building a fire. I saw that it was a guy I'd met in one of the tournaments. He saw me and recognized me. I said, "Hi Chip." He had beautiful light blue eyes and shaggy dark hair. He told me "hi" and congratulated me on winnning at the first tournament. I was embarrassed to tell him I didn't win, and wondered why he thought I did. He went on about his business.
Then they announced that two of the others had won a banner or flyer. It was really the consolation prize. The teacher told me and the woman who was left that it had to mean we won for real. We waited for a while longer, and the teacher went to talk to someone. They said not hearing anything meant we didn't win. I left not even winning a consolation prize. I wasn't surprised, though, because while I waited, my confidence waned.
Then I was in another tournament, but this one was for dates. There were a series of contests where a girl, a guy and a judge or mediator met in a room. I don't know post-dream what the rules were. So far, I hadn't won dates with anyone. Then I was in a room with a really cute guy and a judge. This makes no sense post-dream, but he had some kind of synthetic cloak, and he was showing me how he used to win. I don't think he was serious about our encounter. I figured out a way to beat the guy. I asked him a couple of questions that got him wrapped up in his cloak. As he was trying to free himself, time ran out. That meant I won a date with him. I immediately wished I hadn't won because I knew he wouldn't want a date with me.
I was going to tell him right there that he didn't have to go on the date, and that I just wanted to show him I could win at the game. The judge didn't give me a chance to speak, though. I was going to tell him when I talked to him afterward.
Then I was flying toward an island with a castle. There was a line of rocket ships on the bluff above the ocean. I watched the rocket ships hover over the land and set back down again, but not all together at once. Someone announced we were approaching one of the top aerospace research centers in the world.
It wasn't all work and no play, though. When I got down there, they were playing on the beach/bluff. Someone was building a fire. I saw that it was a guy I'd met in one of the tournaments. He saw me and recognized me. I said, "Hi Chip." He had beautiful light blue eyes and shaggy dark hair. He told me "hi" and congratulated me on winnning at the first tournament. I was embarrassed to tell him I didn't win, and wondered why he thought I did. He went on about his business.
Unconscious Mutterings [01/23/05]
[Memes - Unconscious Mutterings]
- Material world:: Madonna
- Satin sheets:: slippery
- Blizzard:: snow
- Real estate:: house
- Dress up:: yech!
- Wesley:: Crusher
- Robber:: Baron
- Saliva:: spit
- Slave:: Civil War
- Shift:: night
Celebrate Life [01/22/05]
Twenty-one years ago, I went on tour to Florida with my church's youth choir. We were performing the Christian musical Celebrate Life at a bunch of churches between Houston and Orlando. I was 19 or 20 years old.
Most of us wore colored t-shirts with white overalls. There were 5 male narrators who wore white t-shirts with colored overalls. Here's a picture of our first gig, which I *think* was Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church in Galveston.
I had a solo during the show. It was a song sung from the perspective of that lady who touched Jesus' robe in the crowd and her 12 year bleeding illness was immediately healed. While I sang, another girl, Tina, did an interpretive dance around Jesus (played by Chris). That was cool because all eyes were on her and not me. You can see me singing in the pulpit below. Tina is the blur to the right:
I've never liked performing because I have a hard time remembering lyrics. This wasn't that bad, though, because I only had one song to sing. Even so, after a performance in either Louisiana or Mobile, AL, my friend Mary told me I had flubbed up the lyrics. It was only when she told me that I recalled doing it. My confidence was high during the performance, and I let myself relax and really get into the song rather than concentrating on getting the words right. That's what sucks about performing... it sounds fun, but to do it right, it's work. No thanks.
Here's a closer picture of me and three of the narrators watching Tina dance:
Most of us wore colored t-shirts with white overalls. There were 5 male narrators who wore white t-shirts with colored overalls. Here's a picture of our first gig, which I *think* was Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church in Galveston.
I had a solo during the show. It was a song sung from the perspective of that lady who touched Jesus' robe in the crowd and her 12 year bleeding illness was immediately healed. While I sang, another girl, Tina, did an interpretive dance around Jesus (played by Chris). That was cool because all eyes were on her and not me. You can see me singing in the pulpit below. Tina is the blur to the right:
I've never liked performing because I have a hard time remembering lyrics. This wasn't that bad, though, because I only had one song to sing. Even so, after a performance in either Louisiana or Mobile, AL, my friend Mary told me I had flubbed up the lyrics. It was only when she told me that I recalled doing it. My confidence was high during the performance, and I let myself relax and really get into the song rather than concentrating on getting the words right. That's what sucks about performing... it sounds fun, but to do it right, it's work. No thanks.
Here's a closer picture of me and three of the narrators watching Tina dance:
Prevent Comment Spam? [01/20/05]
I'm skeptical that the new link attribute unveiled by Google will *prevent* comment spam as Google claims. I understand it makes spamming less effective, but I'll bet the spamming continues at the same pace. Spammers might even step up their evil practices since they have to cover more area to find the blogs that don't have the attribute in place.
The people who should rejoice are the pres·cription sites and po·ker sites and po·rn sites who have the most legitimate links. It'll help push them closer to the top of their respective search rankings, but only if the majority of spam ridden blogs and self-post link sites pick up on this.
I'm not sure I'll implement it because I don't want to penalize the legitimate commenters on my site. With the few techniques I've implemented, spam rarely gets through, and when it does, it doesn't stay up for long. I hope I didn't just jinx myself....
The people who should rejoice are the pres·cription sites and po·ker sites and po·rn sites who have the most legitimate links. It'll help push them closer to the top of their respective search rankings, but only if the majority of spam ridden blogs and self-post link sites pick up on this.
I'm not sure I'll implement it because I don't want to penalize the legitimate commenters on my site. With the few techniques I've implemented, spam rarely gets through, and when it does, it doesn't stay up for long. I hope I didn't just jinx myself....
A Trip to Romeos [01/19/05]
Home from work today, I decided to treat myself to a great Italian meal at Romeos. It's my favorite restaurant, and I can't remember the last time I went.
On the way, it felt as if someone was watching me.
It was cloudy out, but the anticipation of great bread, pasta, and dessert kept my spirits up. Seeing the familiar silhouette of young lovers in the upper window brought a smile to my face.
I ordered chicken parmesan with fettucine alfredo and caesar salad. Everything was excellent, and there was enough left over to bring home for dinner tonight. Too full for dessert on the spot, I ordered the chocolate cheesecake to go. It's the best ever chocolate cheesecake, drizzled with chocolate syrup and sauces of pureed raspberries and apricots with chopped pistachio nuts and strawberries on the side. It was thoughtful how the waiter carefully labeled my to go container with the restaurant name, entree and date.
On the drive home, the sun came out. Then I found a box from Amazon.com in my mailbox with two fantasy books and a combo Patty Griffin CD and DVD.
Ah... some days are quite delightful, no?
On the way, it felt as if someone was watching me.
It was cloudy out, but the anticipation of great bread, pasta, and dessert kept my spirits up. Seeing the familiar silhouette of young lovers in the upper window brought a smile to my face.
I ordered chicken parmesan with fettucine alfredo and caesar salad. Everything was excellent, and there was enough left over to bring home for dinner tonight. Too full for dessert on the spot, I ordered the chocolate cheesecake to go. It's the best ever chocolate cheesecake, drizzled with chocolate syrup and sauces of pureed raspberries and apricots with chopped pistachio nuts and strawberries on the side. It was thoughtful how the waiter carefully labeled my to go container with the restaurant name, entree and date.
On the drive home, the sun came out. Then I found a box from Amazon.com in my mailbox with two fantasy books and a combo Patty Griffin CD and DVD.
Ah... some days are quite delightful, no?
Googling my Dream [01/19/05]
Googling the intersection in my dream last night (Stacy/Stacey and Edels) revealed the following:
- The guestbook for James Lumber in Poulsbo WA
- Two obituary pages that mention a Dr. Edels.
- A listing of real estate offices in the Minnesota 612 area code.
- A listserv archive about dinosaurs.
- A comment board at the University of Limerick Softball Club.
Dream Journal - Quizzes and Thinking of Others [01/19/05]
At work, we were hosting some events. I wasn't in charge, but I had to make sure the projector was working. It seemed like I kept having to remind the other people what to do, though. We were supposed to talk to the guests and gather information or give them quizzes in order to give prizes at the end of the night. During the last couple of events, I didn't pay much attention because I was doing something else. At the end of the events, no one had talked to or quizzed the guests, so we had prizes to give away and no one left to give them to. One prize was a check from a church for almost $300.
Earlier, I was taking a quiz in the glass conference room at work. I think it was part of one of the events. I had to write down food from a farm. I had a pencil and an oblong ceramic plate. The plate had designs and writing on it. I only had a few clear white spots to write on. The first thing I wrote was corn.
I wanted a plain white plate, and I saw one on the corner of the table. I didn't want to grab it myself, though. Rob Thomas (from Matchbox20) came in. I asked him if I could have a white plate. He was opening a cellophane wrapped taco salad. He said I could have that. It was in an edible bowl, but there was also a white plate bundled with it. I told him I just wanted that individual plate that was on the corner of the table, but he said he traded it in for the salad.
There was a $50,000 speed question in the quiz, but I wasn't quick enough to win.
After the events, I was alone, and I was in the house where I lived. The next morning, my boyfriend in the dream (a guy I know in real life who I wouldn't have for a boyfriend) said that when I thought he was away last night, he was really spying on me. He said he saw me "thinking of other people" after I went to bed. I don't know how he knew I was thinking of other people, but I was. I knew our relationship was over, but I wasn't too concerned about that. I asked him where he was hiding when he watched me. He said he didn't have to hide; he was parked at the corner of Stacy and Edels (not an intersection that I know of in real life). He said one can also see into my window from the Mall. I told him I needed to get curtains, but then I muttered that I wouldn't be living there anymore anyway since it was his house.
Earlier, I was taking a quiz in the glass conference room at work. I think it was part of one of the events. I had to write down food from a farm. I had a pencil and an oblong ceramic plate. The plate had designs and writing on it. I only had a few clear white spots to write on. The first thing I wrote was corn.
I wanted a plain white plate, and I saw one on the corner of the table. I didn't want to grab it myself, though. Rob Thomas (from Matchbox20) came in. I asked him if I could have a white plate. He was opening a cellophane wrapped taco salad. He said I could have that. It was in an edible bowl, but there was also a white plate bundled with it. I told him I just wanted that individual plate that was on the corner of the table, but he said he traded it in for the salad.
There was a $50,000 speed question in the quiz, but I wasn't quick enough to win.
After the events, I was alone, and I was in the house where I lived. The next morning, my boyfriend in the dream (a guy I know in real life who I wouldn't have for a boyfriend) said that when I thought he was away last night, he was really spying on me. He said he saw me "thinking of other people" after I went to bed. I don't know how he knew I was thinking of other people, but I was. I knew our relationship was over, but I wasn't too concerned about that. I asked him where he was hiding when he watched me. He said he didn't have to hide; he was parked at the corner of Stacy and Edels (not an intersection that I know of in real life). He said one can also see into my window from the Mall. I told him I needed to get curtains, but then I muttered that I wouldn't be living there anymore anyway since it was his house.
Unconscious Mutterings [01/16/05]
[Memes - Unconscious Mutterings]
- Yoda:: this picture of Jimmy Carter
- Mensa:: smart
- Pink:: I'm a hazard to myself / Don't let me get me
- Text message:: stupid cell phones
- Galactic:: Battlestar Galactica
- Chicks:: girls
- Quesadilla:: chicken, cheese and flour tortilla
- Backpack:: school
- Socket:: light
- Compromise:: goes both ways
Dream Journal - Wyclef Jean and Mr. Locke [01/16/05]
Yesterday, I arose at 9:00 a.m. surprisingly awake after a long work week and staying up until almost midnight Friday night. I was happy because getting up early that easily usually makes for a productive day.
I walked Lily, piddled around on the computer, took a shower, and around 11:30, ordered my weekly chicken wings and fries. After lunch, Lily was settled in for her afternoon nap, so I went to the couch to watch the rest of Kill Bill, Vol. 2 which had been put on hold for a couple of weeks as Lily never lets me sit on the couch and watch TV. Shortly after that, my eyes wouldn't stay open. I gave in, putting Kill Bill on pause for the umpteenth time figuring it would be a half hour or so nap. I woke up once when Orion crawled on top of me, once to remove my left shoe which was bothering me, and once to remove the right shoe. Four hours after I paused Kill Bill, Lily woke me up with Lily smooches. It took me another 45 minutes to get myself up off the couch. Sheesh.
I was sleeping deeply and had dreams. Here's what I remember:
I walked Lily, piddled around on the computer, took a shower, and around 11:30, ordered my weekly chicken wings and fries. After lunch, Lily was settled in for her afternoon nap, so I went to the couch to watch the rest of Kill Bill, Vol. 2 which had been put on hold for a couple of weeks as Lily never lets me sit on the couch and watch TV. Shortly after that, my eyes wouldn't stay open. I gave in, putting Kill Bill on pause for the umpteenth time figuring it would be a half hour or so nap. I woke up once when Orion crawled on top of me, once to remove my left shoe which was bothering me, and once to remove the right shoe. Four hours after I paused Kill Bill, Lily woke me up with Lily smooches. It took me another 45 minutes to get myself up off the couch. Sheesh.
I was sleeping deeply and had dreams. Here's what I remember:
Wyclef Jean was on TV for an interview or to accept an award. My friend found his way onto the show, and told Jean that we had recorded a cover of one of his songs. Jean wanted to hear it, so they played it on national TV. Wyclef Jean liked it so much, he was crying with joy.
I was at an eclectic restaurant with friends. A dish someone ordered consistent of large shrimp rolled in a spring roll wrapper and fried until crispy. I ordered chips and guacamole. I'd never order that at a restaurant in real life. The waiter brought a bowl of chips and put them in the middle of the table. Some dip was under the chips separated by parchment or wax paper. The people at the table started eating them as if they were community food. There was very little guacamole, so I didn't know if that's what I ordered or if it really was community food.
Mr. Locke from "Lost" was sitting at the head of the table. His wife (which he doesn't have on the show) was sitting next to him. He got up from the table for a little bit. The person next to me and I wanted to see a menu, but the waiter wasn't around. Locke's wife gave us menus that Locke had in his bag. When Locke came back, the person next to me returned the menu, and he angrily asked where she got it. She told him from his bag, and he informed her that he hadn't given anyone permission to get in his bag. Later, I needed to return what I had gotten from his bag. It wasn't a menu anymore, but a little blue toy car. I tossed it to him and left.
I was at an eclectic restaurant with friends. A dish someone ordered consistent of large shrimp rolled in a spring roll wrapper and fried until crispy. I ordered chips and guacamole. I'd never order that at a restaurant in real life. The waiter brought a bowl of chips and put them in the middle of the table. Some dip was under the chips separated by parchment or wax paper. The people at the table started eating them as if they were community food. There was very little guacamole, so I didn't know if that's what I ordered or if it really was community food.
Mr. Locke from "Lost" was sitting at the head of the table. His wife (which he doesn't have on the show) was sitting next to him. He got up from the table for a little bit. The person next to me and I wanted to see a menu, but the waiter wasn't around. Locke's wife gave us menus that Locke had in his bag. When Locke came back, the person next to me returned the menu, and he angrily asked where she got it. She told him from his bag, and he informed her that he hadn't given anyone permission to get in his bag. Later, I needed to return what I had gotten from his bag. It wasn't a menu anymore, but a little blue toy car. I tossed it to him and left.
Five Planets [01/14/05]
Lily just took me out for a walk. The sun's not up yet, and I can see 5 planets in the sky. There are six up there, but I can't make out Pluto. I picked out Venus, Jupiter and Saturn myself. Then I checked My Stars Live to verify that I was right. That showed me that Mercury is the bright spot hanging out with Venus, and Mars isn't too far away from them in Scorpio. Saturn has been hanging out with the Gemini twins for a couple of months. It's so fascinating.
Just Some Stuff - OSs, Meatloaf, Lost, and Socks [01/13/05]
- Debating which is the best operating system never gets old. Oh wait... yes it does.
- I made a low carb meatloaf on Sunday, and I'm still working on the leftovers. It's the best low carb meatloaf I've tasted. I used ground sirloin, ground turkey, spinach, swiss cheese, parmesan cheese, mustard and eggs. The recipe said to add salt and pepper to taste, but I don't understand how to do that. You can't taste it until after it's cooked. Well... I guess you can if you want to risk dying of whatever people die from who eat raw beef and turkey.
- ABC is really beginning to piss me off. They can't keep "Lost" confined to its allotted time slot. Last night, I was watching my recording, and when it got to the part where Locke asked Boone how the bad stuff made him feel, the recording cut off. Luckily, I had recorded "Alias" on my other TV, so I was able to watch the end of "Lost" on that recording. I predicted Boone's answer, but it didn't occur to me he felt that way until after Locke asked the question. I never would have thought to ask the question.
- Just this week, two unacquainted females said at different times, "There's nothing better in the world than brand new socks." I can think of better things. Just off the top of my head are chocolate cheesecake, getting my java application to compile on the first try, a "Joan of Arcadia" episode that makes me laugh as much as it makes me cry, and unexpected snail mail from a friend. Brand new socks are real nice, though.
You Found Me How? [01/13/05]
Searches to my site:
- pictures of beautiful unconscious women
- remember how awesome life was before you broke the bri·ta fil·ter
- how to smooch a lady
- where can i buy pooping animal candy
A Wedding [01/11/05]
I have a wedding to go to at the end of the month. The last wedding I went to was my brother's. That was pretty cool. That was when my Dad was still alive, too.
The wedding before that was around 10 years ago. The bride and groom were a couple of auditors with whom I worked. I caught the bouquet at that wedding--proof positive that catching the bouquet means abso-freakin-lutely nothing.
Tonight I checked to see if I could wear something I already own. I only have one somewhat formal dress. Last time I wore it was to my Dad's funeral 5 years ago. That's also the last time I saw my cousin who will be the bride. Something tells me it would be better to buy a new dress for her wedding, but I never wear dresses, so I hate to buy another one. Turns out this one still fits. I can't decide whether to be happy I have the option of wearing it, or sad that all the dieting I've done in the last 5 years and resulted in no change. I'll be happy... Meryl Streep says it's easier that way.
I'm invited to the rehearsal dinner. I've never been to a rehearsal dinner. It's classy casual attire. I can do that easily. I think.
The reception is the scary part of the whole affair. The only people I really know are my aunt and my cousins, and they're all part of the wedding party. This is an occasion that I really wish I had someone to go with me. I don't want to socialize with people I don't know. Especially if they're all getting drunk.
I'll take my camera. If things get awkward, I can probably hide behind that.
This weekend I'll need to buy a wedding gift and some panty hose. Wedding gifts are painless because of the registry. Panty hose should be included in the master list of torture devices just above slips. Thank goodness my dress has a built in liner and doesn't require a slip.
The wedding before that was around 10 years ago. The bride and groom were a couple of auditors with whom I worked. I caught the bouquet at that wedding--proof positive that catching the bouquet means abso-freakin-lutely nothing.
Tonight I checked to see if I could wear something I already own. I only have one somewhat formal dress. Last time I wore it was to my Dad's funeral 5 years ago. That's also the last time I saw my cousin who will be the bride. Something tells me it would be better to buy a new dress for her wedding, but I never wear dresses, so I hate to buy another one. Turns out this one still fits. I can't decide whether to be happy I have the option of wearing it, or sad that all the dieting I've done in the last 5 years and resulted in no change. I'll be happy... Meryl Streep says it's easier that way.
I'm invited to the rehearsal dinner. I've never been to a rehearsal dinner. It's classy casual attire. I can do that easily. I think.
The reception is the scary part of the whole affair. The only people I really know are my aunt and my cousins, and they're all part of the wedding party. This is an occasion that I really wish I had someone to go with me. I don't want to socialize with people I don't know. Especially if they're all getting drunk.
I'll take my camera. If things get awkward, I can probably hide behind that.
This weekend I'll need to buy a wedding gift and some panty hose. Wedding gifts are painless because of the registry. Panty hose should be included in the master list of torture devices just above slips. Thank goodness my dress has a built in liner and doesn't require a slip.
Dream Journal - Under Siege [01/10/05]
I was away from work running an errand. When done, I decided to go to Starbucks before I went back to work. It was in a cool building with a wooden deck and wooden floors inside. I had Lily with me.
Later, I was walking downtown by myself. It was sunny. I looked up and saw a plane that was descending too fast, and not near the airport. I realized it was a helicopter, and it was going nose first into the ground behind some trees. I yelled for someone near me to look. When it hit the ground, there was a huge explosion. Debris was flying at us. Another plane was going down. I saw a lot of paratroopers, but I didn't think they were from the helicopter and plane that went down. I thought they were ground troops from a war waged against us.
I sat on a building's steps with some people around me. A lady from work, Diana, was there. I saw something shimmer in the sky. It turned into a UFO.
I was worried about Lily. I was thinking she was still at Starbucks. Then I saw her walking by. She had her harness on, but no leash. I asked someone to please grab that dog, but the someone wouldn't do it. I ran over and got her. A car was driving by with a big dog hanging out the window. I was afraid the dog would jump out and attack Lily. I don't remember it jumping out, but then three dogs were trying to bite her. I was putting my hands in their mouths to keep them from biting her.
Then we were inside the building on a high floor. A spaceship flew by and shot at us through the window. I was hit, but not dead. The shots didn't seem to puncture the skin. I don't think anyone else was dead either. I saw a platform descending like a window washer's platform, but mechanized and much bigger. When it got level with our window, the bad people (who might have been aliens) pointed a device inside to see if anyone was still alive. I tried to lay real still, but they knew I was alive. Someone told me I needed to run. I didn't at first, but then I gathered my courage and took off. I'd lost Lily again.
I found a group of people in a room with no windows. A couple of people had guitars. Others were laying on the floor sleeping. I found Lily again, and I looked for and found a leash to attach to her harness. I thought one of the guitars was mine, but later realized it wasn't. I went to look for my guitar mainly because I wanted the strap. I left Lily, and got lost in a maze of elevators and stairs.
The bad people found me. I saw that another one found Lily. They were going to shoot her, but I pleaded with them to let me hold her for a minute before they did it. They let me.
For real: When my alarm woke me up this morning, the guys on the radio were talking about how much money was raised at a concert last night. It was for the Tsunami victims, but with the dream so fresh in my memory, I thought it was for what happened to us in my dream.
Later, I was walking downtown by myself. It was sunny. I looked up and saw a plane that was descending too fast, and not near the airport. I realized it was a helicopter, and it was going nose first into the ground behind some trees. I yelled for someone near me to look. When it hit the ground, there was a huge explosion. Debris was flying at us. Another plane was going down. I saw a lot of paratroopers, but I didn't think they were from the helicopter and plane that went down. I thought they were ground troops from a war waged against us.
I sat on a building's steps with some people around me. A lady from work, Diana, was there. I saw something shimmer in the sky. It turned into a UFO.
I was worried about Lily. I was thinking she was still at Starbucks. Then I saw her walking by. She had her harness on, but no leash. I asked someone to please grab that dog, but the someone wouldn't do it. I ran over and got her. A car was driving by with a big dog hanging out the window. I was afraid the dog would jump out and attack Lily. I don't remember it jumping out, but then three dogs were trying to bite her. I was putting my hands in their mouths to keep them from biting her.
Then we were inside the building on a high floor. A spaceship flew by and shot at us through the window. I was hit, but not dead. The shots didn't seem to puncture the skin. I don't think anyone else was dead either. I saw a platform descending like a window washer's platform, but mechanized and much bigger. When it got level with our window, the bad people (who might have been aliens) pointed a device inside to see if anyone was still alive. I tried to lay real still, but they knew I was alive. Someone told me I needed to run. I didn't at first, but then I gathered my courage and took off. I'd lost Lily again.
I found a group of people in a room with no windows. A couple of people had guitars. Others were laying on the floor sleeping. I found Lily again, and I looked for and found a leash to attach to her harness. I thought one of the guitars was mine, but later realized it wasn't. I went to look for my guitar mainly because I wanted the strap. I left Lily, and got lost in a maze of elevators and stairs.
The bad people found me. I saw that another one found Lily. They were going to shoot her, but I pleaded with them to let me hold her for a minute before they did it. They let me.
For real: When my alarm woke me up this morning, the guys on the radio were talking about how much money was raised at a concert last night. It was for the Tsunami victims, but with the dream so fresh in my memory, I thought it was for what happened to us in my dream.
Unconscious Mutterings [01/09/05]
[Memes - Unconscious Mutterings]
- Pistol:: gun
- Rick:: Rutledge
- Full circle:: back to the beginning
- I wish:: that I wasn't alone
- Frame:: picture
- Adult:: movies
- Photography:: cameras
- Stew:: Mmmmm!
- Cheat:: not going there
- Brad:: Pitt
How to Grab a Screen Shot in Windows [01/09/05]
[Graphics]
Here's how to grab a screenshot in Windows (works in Window ME and XP... no guarantees for other versions):
- Move your cursor offscreen (unless you want your cursor in the picture).
- Press the "Print Screen" key. Or, as it says on my keyboard, "print scr\sys rq" key. This places a full-sized image of the screen in the clipboard. (Per the brykMan, ALT-PrntScrn will capture only the active window. Whooot!)
- Open your graphics program, and open a new, screen-sized, blank canvas/document (my screen is 1280 pixels by 1024 pixels). You're on your own here, because I don't have instructions for every graphics program out there.
- Paste the image into the canvas/document. "Ctrl-V" is my paste method of choice. (The brykMan adds that sometimes you don't have to open a new document. You can just do "Ctrl-V", and it will open a new document and paste the image in one fell swoop.)
- Crop out what you don't want.
Montage-a-Google [01/08/05]
[Graphics]
The brykMan pointed out Montage-a-Google, a web thingy that generates a montage of pictures from a Google search. Of course, it sucked me in good. 
I like how you can make a panel of color based on a search term. I did Cardinals, and I got a lot of red. This is what I got when I searched for Texas Longhorns (click to see it full size):
Searching for Valentines came up with a lot of pink and red. Searching for Kim Novak came up with a lot of pictures of that other Kim Novak. I particularly liked searching for Waterfall:
Trying to get pictures on or linked from my website was a little tricky. I had to search for '"Yay! Blog!" kim.' I got this:
I see my mom, me, LilyDawg, a big beetle, the red doors to Clifford Greig's photo gallery, and Jon Solo's "Kim Novak Audio Aphrodesiac" fan club t-shirt among other things. Yay!
I like how you can make a panel of color based on a search term. I did Cardinals, and I got a lot of red. This is what I got when I searched for Texas Longhorns (click to see it full size):
Searching for Valentines came up with a lot of pink and red. Searching for Kim Novak came up with a lot of pictures of that other Kim Novak. I particularly liked searching for Waterfall:
Trying to get pictures on or linked from my website was a little tricky. I had to search for '"Yay! Blog!" kim.' I got this:
I see my mom, me, LilyDawg, a big beetle, the red doors to Clifford Greig's photo gallery, and Jon Solo's "Kim Novak Audio Aphrodesiac" fan club t-shirt among other things. Yay!
Friday Five - Reading [01/07/05]
[Memes - Friday Five | Reading]
- What is the first book you remember reading? I'm sure I read a lot of children's books (like Berenstain Bears!), but the first novel I ever remember reading that made me want to read more was The Hobbit. It was for an assignment in junior high english class.
- What is your favorite book? I can't pick just one, but off the top of my head are The Stand by Stephen King, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Mordant's Need and The Gap series by Stephen R. Donaldson, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.
- Who is your favorite author? See the prior question.
- Pick up the nearest book (magazine or any available printed material will do). Turn to page 24 (or the closest to it). Go to the 7th line. What is it? Page 24 of the nearest magazine (Wired) is an ad. Page 24 of the nearest book (In A Strange Land Poems by Jeremiah Gilbert) is blank. I'm still looking... Page 24 of the coffee table book (History of Czechs in America), line 7 is "In the basement of the church, he arranged a room for a school and a dwelling for its teacher, and behind the vestry, a humble little abode for himself." It's talking about the first Czech priest in St. Louis, Father Jindrich Lipovskı.
- If you could be any character in literature, who would you be? Terisa in Stephen R. Donaldson's The Mirror of Her Dreams.
Faintly in the distance over crisp snow-cover hills,
Enchanted music calls to her and fortifies her will.
Through a mirror formed from the purest sand of dreams,
She takes his sturdy faithful hand and gives in to his need.
~~Geraden's Champion
Just Some Stuff - Mostly Partridge Family [01/06/05]
- I haven't been blogging much this week because I didn't have much to say that wasn't whiney.
- A friend asked me to tell him something embarrassing a while back. I made a joke that I'm embarrassed that I own almost all of the Partridge Family albums on vinyl. Now I guess I should be even more embarrassed because I bought 3 of the albums on CD. Whooot!
- Monday, I took Lily to the vet because she's had a wound on her ear since before Christmas that just wouldn't heal. I thought maybe she got into a tussle with another dog at day care, but it's more likely it's from scratching her ears. She had some yeast in her ears. I have to clean them out and squirt some medicine in one of them 3 times a day until the 13th. She's fine, though.
- "Brown eyes you're beautiful, and you're all mine." I used to daydream that David Cassidy was singing that to me. heh!
- I also took Orion to the vet for his booster shot. He was such a good little soldier. He's the best cat ever.
- "Point Me In The Direction of Albuquerque" is the first song that ever made me cry. I found out this morning that it still makes me cry.
- The first day back at work was hard, but the second day back, I wrote a small application that asks a visitor a series of questions. When they submit the form, it gives him or her a personalized list of training classes. That's fun stuff!
- I read that for the albums, Shirley Jones' voice was mixed down with the other backup singers so that it was indistiguishable. For the soundtrack on the show, though, they brought her voice up so you could hear it.
- I was trying to get back to eating better, but due to a combination of laziness and a desire to get rid of the bad food in my freezer without wasting it, I baked a Sarah Lee Pecan Coffee Cake and ate the whole thing for dinner last night. I'm pathetic.
- I have this David Cassidy beach towel. Wow... this guy really loves the Partridge Family.
Top 8 Spam Subject Lines Received Since Christmas [01/04/05]
[Spam]
8. dovetail gallivant
7. incarnate brainwash
6. happy coextensive
5. gnaw ore
4. bandstand darwin
3. clown componentry
2. imponderable bratwurst
And the number 1 spam subject line received since Christmas...
Read More About Top 8 Spam Subject Lines Received Since Christmas »
7. incarnate brainwash
6. happy coextensive
5. gnaw ore
4. bandstand darwin
3. clown componentry
2. imponderable bratwurst
And the number 1 spam subject line received since Christmas...
Read More About Top 8 Spam Subject Lines Received Since Christmas »
Unconscious Mutterings [01/03/05]
[Memes - Unconscious Mutterings]
- Newspaper:: my daddy
- DVD:: christmas presents
- Resolution:: New Year
- Intimate:: apparel
- Song:: i recorded a bunch of songs
- Essential:: MUST!
- Whistle:: lips
- Glass:: drinking
- Countdown:: rocket
- Child:: son
Helmeted Guinea Fowl [01/02/05]
[Animals]
I've been seeing large birds lately that I've never seen before outside of a zoo. A few weeks ago, I saw an owl in my neighborhood. Then at Christmas time, I saw a heron. Today I saw a guinea fowl in someone's driveway down the street. I didn't know what it was, and thought it might be a small wild turkey. It flew up on a roof, so I headed home to get my camera. I was lucky to find it again on a different roof:
The neighbors knew what it was. Someone must raise them at that end of the street. Apparently, they come from Africa, and they're good to have around for killing deer ticks.
During my Google research on Guinea Fowl, I found this fable: Guinea Fowl and Rabbit Get Justice.
The neighbors knew what it was. Someone must raise them at that end of the street. Apparently, they come from Africa, and they're good to have around for killing deer ticks.
During my Google research on Guinea Fowl, I found this fable: Guinea Fowl and Rabbit Get Justice.
With all these beans... [01/01/05]
[Holidays]
I'm bound to have good luck this year.
My first ever batch of black eyed peas in my brand new blue glass baking dish. They turned out pretty good for beans. I used lots of honey, so they taste sweet. I think they already worked, too, because the Longhorns beat the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl. Whooot!!
My first ever batch of black eyed peas in my brand new blue glass baking dish. They turned out pretty good for beans. I used lots of honey, so they taste sweet. I think they already worked, too, because the Longhorns beat the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl. Whooot!!
Saturday Stumblefest [01/01/05]
- Things People Said - pretty funny. I like the things people asked of Park Rangers.
- Classy Clones / Restaurant and Copycat Recipes - They even have McDonald's Big Mac Special Sauce.
Happy New Year! [01/01/05]
[Holidays]
Last night, I cooked a whole chicken and mashed a potato for New Year's Eve dinner. For bubbles, I drank sparkling apple juice. Dessert was dutch apple pie. This time I snubbed Sara Lee and got Marie Calendar's version. The jury is still out on which I like better.
This morning, I was up at 9:00 making southern style black eyed peas. For bubbles, I opened some sparkling blood orange grape juice I found at World Market the other day. It's 11:45 now, and the beans are in the oven for 30 more minutes. New Year's Day lunch will be leftover chicken, mashed potato and black eyed peas.
The University of Texas plays in the Rose Bowl at 4:00. I've got my Longhorn shirt on. I've got champagne and orange juice for Mimosas, but I'm not sure I'll make any. They'll probably just make me sleepy.
Lily's retractable leash quit retracting yesterday, so if Petco or Petsmart are open today, I'll take a trip to get a new one. She has a hard time walking me on a short leash.
Happy New Year, friends! I hope it's your best year yet.
This morning, I was up at 9:00 making southern style black eyed peas. For bubbles, I opened some sparkling blood orange grape juice I found at World Market the other day. It's 11:45 now, and the beans are in the oven for 30 more minutes. New Year's Day lunch will be leftover chicken, mashed potato and black eyed peas.
The University of Texas plays in the Rose Bowl at 4:00. I've got my Longhorn shirt on. I've got champagne and orange juice for Mimosas, but I'm not sure I'll make any. They'll probably just make me sleepy.
Lily's retractable leash quit retracting yesterday, so if Petco or Petsmart are open today, I'll take a trip to get a new one. She has a hard time walking me on a short leash.
Happy New Year, friends! I hope it's your best year yet.
One Sun
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