Something Original to Say

Merry Christmas, All!

Christmas Wish

Why believe

I know I've touched on the agnosticism thing before, but they keep coming out with ads on buses that amuse me.  So here's the latest, Happy War on Christmas!

Believe in something strongly?  Say it with a bus.

Also, here's an article from CNN about how Christianity's claim in the season is ruining it "for the rest of us."  

I just can't help but be amused when every person thinks that every other person has it wrong.

Can't we all just get along?

Oh, I see.  Guess not then.

I peed my pants laughing

No, really.

Sex Scene.

Leftovers

I ate what?

That's right - Thanksgiving Pizza. Now I can't say that I'm actually giving thanks for it right now, but it was better than good. Sadly.

Why did I do it?

So I said to David and Rose, "I think we're just having Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner tonight." And then he said, "Well, have you ever tried Thanksgiving Pizza?" To which I replied, "Are you high?"

What is it?

Apparently you take a blank pizza crust and then pile on all of the bits and bobs that are left in your refrigerator after the big day. David was quite artistic about it, because that's the way he is about pizza. It went something like this:

- Spread some plain tomato sauce on the crust
- Artfully arrange mass amounts of shredded turkey breast. We used baked, but I'll bet fried or smoked would be just as good.
- Mash your stuffing/dressing all over the top of the turkey.
- Cover in a soft white shredded cheese - we used mozzarella.
- Bake at 450 degrees for about 13 minutes.
- Spoon on cold cranberry sauce after it comes out of the oven.
- Lastly, let your willing victims pour a little bit of warm gravy and some freshly ground pepper.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Life

Random Stumble:

'I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy.' They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life. "

Happy November 27th

I'm sitting at my parents house, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I have to say that Michael Flatley's Irish accent sounds fake. That made me laugh.

I was also really amused as the announcers were running down the list of "celebrities" making appearances during the parade. When they got to the name Rick Astley, I giggled. I said out loud, they're going to Rick Roll the WHOLE country. *LOL*

Unaccountably, I felt kind of sad too. Probably because I'm missing Jes. Maybe because I feel really thankful to be in a warm home with people who love me. But probably because of the former more than the latter.

Cheers and enjoy the holiday in your own way.

Green things

Today I got the last piece of my birthday present. I guess I am now officially 32 and all of the month long celebrations are complete.

On my desk I have a lovely green Rosemary Bonsai tree. The smell is phenomenal and is actually going straight to my head (at home I won't be sitting on top of it, so no worries).

It's so pretty!

I'm reading all about the care and feeding of an indoor bonsai right now. I hope I'm up to the challenge. The sad houseplants in our apartment would probably tell a different story, but I'm hopeful.

Can't wait to get it home and unwrap it!

But I'm nervous. Apparently these things take some work, which I'm not notorious for keeping up with. (Hey, knowledge is power, right?) I'll be pruning the branches and the roots.

It would appear that bonsai are traditionally outdoor plants, I never knew that. I DO know that my outdoor options are death to plants (as evidenced by my botched container garden this summer). My porch is an inferno for plants.

Okay, I'm back to feeling nervous. I just read about watering the bonsai. This website ends with the adage, "Watering is a learned skill in Japan an apprentice is given pruning shears on his first day but he won't touch a watering can for another four years!" If that's not written to inspire fear, I don't know what is.

Here's a link to some beautiful pictures of bonsai.

Oh, and wish me luck.

Feelin' Sappy

The title says it all. I'm getting excited about the Mr.'s impending return. I found this song today and it made me feel warm and fuzzy. Hope he can actually listen to it while on the ship. Probably not, but it's worth a try.

*waves* Hi, sugar!

Mom's New Head

Check out the fir Sorcha's new hair cut - I think it turned out really well.

Pretty Lady

Thank you to Paula who recommended we go to Cherie's Nail Spa to visit Nanette. The spa was nice and she got a great style.

Hope she still likes it tomorrow. And no, Mom, the picture is really a good one, honest.

New York City?

Sorry, every time I hear the words "New York City," I think of this commercial.

But in all seriousness, I had a most excellent weekend with the Sisters Buck in the Big Apple.

Kelly and I packed some great bus food and we were on our way Saturday morning. Thanks, Sam, for dropping us off!

We took the Bolt Bus from DC to NY (and back) and it was a super sweet ride. We all took part in "Bolt for Buck" while I bolted WITH Bucks. Ha. After a solid, and swift, 4 hours, we arrived in NYC. It was rainy, but warm, so not as miserable as advertised.

Our first stop was the Museum of Sex. Whoever recommended this gets a cookie because it was a pretty fun museum. It could have been bigger for the price, in my opinion, but was still worth it. There were three exhibits to see last weekend including:



As the wall says, "The Sex Lives of Animals." We perused bits and pieces about animal bits and pieces - and what they do with those bits and pieces.



The next exhibit was about "Sex and the Moving Image." It was more interesting to me and quite well done with loads of movie clips illustrating points from early stag films to porn stars to big budget films. It was very dark in there, so no photos, but here's a link to their page.

The last gallery was a back closet of whatever else they had laying around. At least it seemed like it to me. Still very interesting stuff, but no real theme to the room. It included power tool dildos, real dolls, and this beauty:

Do you like yours with pulp? Or without?

After a quick jaunt through the gift shop, it was off into the rain to find a street vendor to feed us. I had a lamb kofta. It looked shockingly just like the lamb gyro, but was tasty at any rate.

We found the hotel with no trouble, no thanks to me. (I spent most of the weekend in a haze of following the Buck girls around. The only thing I took away from this visit, geographically, is that downtown is South.) The hotel itself was pretty and the accommodations were clean, if a little on the tiny side. I learned that economy in NY means something different than it does in WV, or VA Beach for that matter. I also learned that shared bathrooms in hotels still exist and that they are not as scary as advertised. It was a great find for us. Here's a picture:

Our room was on the second floor and the view was of an alley. The cooing pigeons were nice.

We rolled out to Chinatown and it was PACKED and there were a lot of fun shops to see. We stopped in to a tea shop, an art shop and a shop that only sold chopsticks. Kelly took a great picture of Sharon and I there.





The rain was just clearing up and it was still pretty overcast. But as you can see, we were radiant!






We took a taxi to ground zero, but it was full dark and there was nothing for a tourist to see. Other than a void of anything in a square block of downtown. That was kind of awing in and of itself. Everything else is so packed together, all through the city... and then... nothing.

We managed to find our way to Ninja New York for dinner. Again, whoever recommended this gets a cookie, and a gold star. I haven't been to a theme restaurant in recent memory and this one was a blast. You go down an elevator and the ninja that scares the shit out of you as the door opens invites you to take the easy path, or the "ninja path" to your table. The "ninja path" involved going up a few stairs and then down a few stairs in the dark. Again, same ninja scaring the same shit out of Kelly as she rounded a corner.

The dinner was amazing. We sat in a little room, made to look all feudal dungeon-chic with sliding doors and all. We decided to split one of the prix fixe menus and then add on whatever else looked good.

So we had, in no particular order:
Duck
Flounder
Shrimp Tempura Roll
Sushi Soup (which attempted to kill Kelly with spiciness)
Chocolate Mousse
Lamb on fire
Apple Cream
A Four Elements Roll
Tempura Prawns
and lots and lots of dry ice... for effect.

I have to say, I love:

We went back to the tiny hotel and all promptly passed out. We are hard core party girls. Seriously.

The next morning saw us up bright and early (because we had gotten so much good sleep, seriously) and out to breakfast at a cafe down the street. The food was tasty and they had a juice bar so I experimented with tomato & beet juice. It tasted like REALLY fresh tomatoes. Yum!

The bus trip home was quiet and speedy. I whiled away an hour of it on the phone with Jes. I kept saying how amazed I am with technology. I was speeding along the highway and he was on the other side of the world, yet we jabbered away like it was cool. Thank GOODNESS for technology - it has helped keep me sane this Fall.

What a girl wants

When it comes to men, what exactly are women looking for? Here's a humorous look at what a woman wants in her man. (From greatdad.com - don't ask, I Stumbled.)

What I Want In A Man, Original List (at age 22)

1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates the finer things
9. Full of thoughtful surprises
10. An imaginative, romantic lover

What I Want In A Man, Revised List (at age 32)
1. Nice looking - preferably with hair on his head
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner at restaurant
4. Listens more than he talks
5. Laughs at my jokes at appropriate times
6. Can carry in all the groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries
10. Seeks romance at least once a week

What I Want In A Man, Revised List (at age 42)

1. Not too ugly - bald head OK
2. Doesn't drive off until I m in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner at McDonalds on occasion
4. Nods head at appropriate times when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers the punchlines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Usually wears shirt that covers stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat lid down
10. Shaves on most weekends

**************
I think I'm somewhere between list 2 and 3. *L*

An open letter to Barack Obama

From my friend Lisa, who cracks me up on a regular basis.
*************

Hi Barry,

I hope this finds you well. I didn't get a chance to tell you how special last night was for me. No one, not even my husband, has ever been able to send me to bed with tears of joy in my eyes! I mean, wow! That was SPECTACULAR!

But I have to admit that I'm feeling a little ashamed for enjoying myself so much. Not feeling guilty or regretting my choices at all. It's just that, well, I need to know where this relationship is going.

Yeah, I know you didn't even get my name last night, but you made me feel special in a way I haven't experienced in a long, long time. I felt a connection between us, like fate had stepped in and threw us together in a whirlwind of ticker tape and cheering masses. I know you felt it too. The sparkle in your eyes told me, the confident tone of your voice when you told me you wouldn't let me down, even the way you made it sound like we're together for the long haul (when you said that this could go on for at least four years). Four years is a long time, Barry, and I need to know what you plan to do to keep up your responsibilities in our relationship.

You see, I've put my full trust in you. I am so very happy for you. And I truly think you will at least try to do everything you promised. But you're also young and haven't been in a relationship of this magnitude before. I need to know you won't crumble under the pressure. I need to know that you'll take to heart the advice of those who have been around the block a few times. I need to know that when times get tough (as they likely will in a long term relationship), you will stand strong. Barry, I need to know if you really care or if you were just telling me what you thought I wanted to hear.

These things aren't easy for me to ask, but I've been disappointed too many times and I can't bear to go through that again. Please, Barry, promise me you won't break my trust. Promise me you meant every word you said. Promise me that "yes, we can" will become "yes, we will" and then "yes, we did". Promise me that I'll still mean as much to you in four years as I meant to you yesterday.

In turn, I promise that I won't give up on you, but neither will I let you do something stupid and hold my tongue. I promise to support you when you follow through with your promises and admonish you if I see you straying. After all, with the connection you and I have, I know you'll appreciate someone keeping you on the right path.

Please don't let me down, Barry. I want last night's magic to last a very, very long time.

XO,

Lisa

Vote!

I have done my civic duty.  Have you?

I got to my polling place at about 5 'til 6 this morning.  The line was already around the building with the polls opening at 6AM!  I stood in line, in the rain, for about an hour and fifteen minutes.  I'm hoping that it was all worth it.

I'm hoping that my candidate, Barack Obama wins Virginia.  To be sure, I'm hoping he wins the whole shebang.  Maybe I've bought into a lot of hype, I don't know, but I do know that for the first time in a long time, I'm excited about the possibilities.

Whatever candidates or referendums you support, go to the polls and do it officially.  The time spent in line really is worth it.

Once again, the hat.

Here are some pictures of my hat in the office today.  I think I'm going to have to fix the ties on the hat, but you can see it here in all it's glory.

Damn I'm cute.

Happy Halloween, y'all.

Sushi hat update!

Check out the finished product, in all it's glory. I can't wait to trot this baby out on Saturday night.

It's sushi, it's a hat. It's a sushi hat.

Here's me

Here's me in all of my birthday fabulousness.  Thanks to Mike for taking the picture and not airbrushing me out of it entirely.  *L*

I'm pretty pleased and I know the husband likes it as well.  He said I look great.  :)

Hop on the Athiest bus

Although actually, it looks more like an Agnostic Bus to me.

"There's probably no god, so stop worrying and enjoy your life."

Words to live by.

I'm not for sure what I believe, or believe in.  I can say for sure that I do believe in people.  I believe that there are many more people in the world who want to do the right thing by their fellow man, their planet and their pets.  Of course there are bad apples.  There are people who set out in the morning to harm others.  But in general, I think people want to get along and want others to help them get along.  Well, what goes around comes around.  If only others (and who am I kidding, myself as well) would do a little extra to help the person next to them, or the person on the other side of the world, we'd all be in a much better place.

What to do to get the collective "us" off our our collective asses?

Why do we spend so much time and energy trying to puzzle out the existence of god and what "He" would want us to do or be, etc.  If there really is a god, don't you think he's have already figured all of that stuff out?  What we do, or think would have little to do with the outcome.

Happy Dance

I'm doing my own little happy dance today. Potential good news does that to a girl.

Halloweenish

Hours of endless amusement for me and those like me.

Enjoy this Pumpkin Carving Simulator.

Consider yourself simulated, I know I am.

Boo.

Happy Monday Morning

I'm a lucky girl.  

I got to "talk" to my husband today in real time chat.  He's in Bahrain for a little while and has some access to WiFi.  We couldn't do the webcam thing (which was a shame because I look pretty cute today), but we sent some pictures back and forth via email.

Sometimes I think about military wives who didn't have ready access to their sailor, or soldier, or marine.  Even 15 years ago the internet was not what it is today.  A lot of people didn't have email or webcams or cell phones.  Snail mail was the only option.  How depressing!

So I know that I have it good - even compared to others in the military today.  I get emails from Jes almost every day.  He gets my emails every day.  We can send pictures back and forth.  It makes it so much easier to be apart when I can still feel a little together in spite of the distance between us.

The Stock Market did WHAT?

From Kellybella...

If you had purchased $1000 of Delta Airlines stock one year ago you would have $49 left.

With Enron, you would have had $16.50 left of the originial $1000.

With WorldCom, you would have had less than $5 left.

But, if you had purchased $1000 worth of beer on year ago, drank all of that beer, and then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling refund, you would have $214 cash money.

Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

Take that advice to the bank.

Halloween is almost here

In honor of the holiday, I'm turning my hand at a craft project.  I'm making a hat shaped like my favorite food.

This will be sushi when it grows up.

So far it's some hard foam, ribbon and felt.  I've got some more bits to add in order to fill it out and make it wearable.  I'm jazzed though.  I've been saying for awhile now that I'm going to do this, so it's good to finally get around to it.

Oh yes.

I don't know how long this picture will be at this site, but until it goes, oh yes.

You know you want it.

What is it?

It's only one of the most handsome men in the world that I'm not married to.

Edit: OK, now it's a picture of a skinny naked black woman.  Oh well, it was good while it lasted.  I heart you Colin Firth.

I have the sad

Dental work is on the agenda for tomorrow.  This makes me sad.

I've got to get a crown started/drilled/detached/probed/tap danced/whatever it is happens when the dentist says you need a crown.  We tried a filling to see if that would fix the problem and I'm still having off and on cold sensitivity, so apparently the problem is not fixed.  Le sigh.

At least it's not hurting me that bad and this isn't emergency dental work, which is a term that makes me cry.  I'll go, have a numb side of my mouth and move on with my life... hoping that the crown lasts forever.

This is a happy camper tooth.

Vice Presidentional BINGO!

I was just thinking this morning that I don't really care about the VP Debate tonight, other than it's potential humorous material, because I know who I'm voting for.  Nothing they can say tonight will sway my vote, honestly.

But having said that, I just saw this hilarious drinking came for tonight's debate:

AVP Debate Drinking Game

brought to you by CL

September 30, 2008

This Thursday! A debate for the ages! Two contestants, one vice presidency! Who will earn the honor of succeeding Dick Cheney?

In the blue corner Joe "I take the train home" Biden.

In the red corner Sarah "I can see Russia from my house" Palin.

Blue Team Rules:

- For every mention of Scranton, PA: Take a sip.

- When Biden begins the "I take the train home everyday story" begin drinking.  Don't stop 'til he finishes.

- When Biden questions Palin's inexperience: Drink something you've never had before.

- When Biden makes an obvious gaffe: Spill your neighbor's drink.

- When Biden uses X words when Y will do: Drink for X-Y seconds.

- When Biden patronizes or self-identifies with the working class: Down some brew. (Bonus points if you use Miller High Life.)

- When Biden lambastes Washington Insiders: Make a toast to his 35 years of experience in the US Senate.

Joe Biden checklist; if he mentions all of the following, finish your drinks: Blue Collar, Golden Parachute, Little Guy, Washington Insider, Working Class.

Red Team Rules:

- Every time Palin cites Alaska's proximity to Russia as "foreign policy experience": Take a shot of vodka.

- When Palin claims she said "Thanks but no thanks" to the Bridge to Nowhere: Demand a new drink from your hosts, say "thanks but no thanks,' and then when no one's looking, take it anyway, then claim you never wanted it.

- When Palin recounts putting the governor's jet on eBay: Auction off a beer to your friends.

- When Palin insists that governing a small town in Alaska is, in fact, experience: Give your friends a shot glass of beer when he/she asks for a pint, and insist that it's the same thing.

- When Palin points out that Biden thought Obama was too inexperienced for the job: Finish your drink and say, "Oh SNAP!"  If you're a democrat, follow this by crying.

- When Palin claims that Washington's problems can be solved by small town know how and common sense: Drink a Labatt's Blue as your read up on how to become a Canadian citizen.

- When Palin talks about being the most popular governor in the country: Go to a room by yourself, realize you're the most popular person in the room, then finish your drink.

The Sarah Palin checklist; if she mentions all of the following, finish your drinks: Bush Doctrine, Snow Machine, Moose, Lipstick, Hockey Mom, Family Values.

Buttons and pins!

I like Facebook quite a lot more than MySpace.  One of the reasons (maybe second behind Scrabble) are these pins.  I've always been drawn to them, and now I can have all I want for free!  I have vague memories (because most of my memories are vague) of standing at the little pin carousels in the specialty stores or at the beach; standing for as long as they would let me reading ALL of the little pints.  Now I can make my own!

Go get a cork board and pin it up!  (Virtually, that is.)

I'm a follower

But I do have fun. Annapants published the link to this "face your manga" page. It's great fun to make your avatar. So I did.

Here's me


Here's my sweet baboo

Slightly morbid?

But who cares if it is?  I've always been very interested in the culture of death.  That being cemeteries, funerals, headstones, last words, etc.

So I was intrigued when Anna sent me a link to this article about "green" and biodegradable coffins.  The Uono Coffin supposedly degrades within 10-15 years, which seems to make good sense.  I mean, I'm not really "using" it anymore by that point.  They're also suitable for cremation.  Plus, they look wicked Star Trek cool.

This wild shaped coffin is shaped like a chrysalis and looks like it's made out of paper mache.  The idea of a cocoon for your last journey is intriguing.  I wonder what the symbolism behind that is... in my next life I will be a butterfly.

Last, but not least, this Spirit Tree Urn is the one that most caught my attention.  I've preferred cremation to burial, for myself, for quite a long while now.  This is a biodegradable urn in which your ashes are interred.  A tree, or any plant you choose, is housed with your ashes and other goodies that will help it grow.  You plant the whole shebang and then poof - there's a tree where you used to be.

I think that is really beautiful and poetic.

How do you want to be "taken care of?"

Passing of a good man

I am moved to share something about a man I very barely knew. Duke Sir Morguhn Sheridan died yesterday from injuries sustained in a fall. He was a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. He was well known and well respected in the Society and now I know why.

This is part of a written memorial of him:
"He taught me more about doing what needs to be done, because it needs to be done, than anyone else I know. You do not just sit back and think “oh someone else will get up and go wash dishes. Someone will set up the list field. Someone will think to do that.” Because, you know what… you are someone. He taught me the hardest lesson of all… if you can’t be noticed and acknowledged for your actions in your own right, what makes you think a bit of regalia will make their notice valid? It will be a false honor. Strength comes from perseverance and continuing to do what you do and what you know needs to be done. Fighting your own fights does not make you weak. But at the same time, there is no shame in calling on resources when you have them.

I learned from him that you do what needs to be done, and if you believe that what you did is right, do not be ashamed of it, but be prepared for any consequences that come and give fair warning so those that may have to handle the fall out are adequately prepared." - Baroness Ekaterina Volkova, OP

I am humbled and inspired by these words. Of course he had honors and awards that I could never aspire to, but these words... They remind me that we should all be doing something. Why wait for someone else to do it for us?

I don't get it

I'm about 25 minutes into the first episode of "Gormenghast" (thanks Lisa!). While visually neat, I have to say, I don't get it. If anyone has any insight, please share so I can feel better about myself.

It seems like the type of show that I would like. I want to like it.

Help.

You're my hero

Heroes is back, bitches!  

This is me, excited.  Heroes is one show I really enjoyed the first season and was really disappointed in for the shortened second season.  Season 3 premiering tonight is a good reason, to me, to throw a party!

So I'm heading to Lisa and Ted's tonight for a Heroes Party featuring heroes with all the fixings.  Color me happy because they know how to throw a fun bash.  I'm looking forward to goofing around, eating some fattening food and then sprawling on their leather sofas for some good old fashioned T.V. 

Look out friends, here I come!  Or is that...here I come to save the day!  (You know I can't think of those words without singing them in my head.  Ha.)

Burn Before Watching

Seriously. "Burn After Reading" was such a weirdly rancid movie, I can't even describe. You may think that watching John Malkovich pop Brad Pitt in the nose would be worth it. I certainly thought that. I was laughing out loud at the trailer and commercials. The movie? Yeah, not so much.

The theatre was about empty (it was an early show). And the few times Anna and I laughed, it seemed we were the only ones.

So in case you were wondering, a stellar cast acting in a film by award winning writers and directors - not good enough!

I can't describe what it was that was lacking, other than a point to the whole damn thing.

Food for thought

I didn't write this. I wish I had. But it's some food for thought. And if you are, like me, on the left leaning side of politics, it will be a nourishing meal indeed.

************************
Black teen pregnancies? A 'crisis' in black America.
White teen pregnancies? A 'blessed event.'

If you grow up in Hawaii you're 'exotic.'
Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential 'American story.'

Similarly, if you name your kid Barack you're 'unpatriotic.'
Name your kids Trig and Track, you're 'colorful.'

If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual you're 'reckless.'
A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a 'maverick.'

If you spend 3 years as a community organizer growing your organization from a staff of 1 to 13 and your budget from $70,000 to $400,000, then become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review,create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new African Amerian voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor,then spend nearly 8 more years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, becoming chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, then spend nearly 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of nearly 13 million people, sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you are woefully inexperienced.
If you spend 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, then spend 20 months as the governor of a state with 650,000 people, you've got the most executive experience of anyone on either ticket, are the Commander in Chief of the Alaska military and are well qualified to lead the nation should you be called upon to do so because your state is the closest state to Russia.

If you are a Democratic male candidate who is popular with millions of people you are an 'arrogant celebrity'.
If you are a popular Republican female candidate you are 'energizing the base'.

If you are a younger male candidate who thinks for himself and makes his own decisions you are 'presumptuous'.
If you are an older male candidate who makes last minute decisions you refuse to explain, you are a 'shoot from the hip' maverick.

If you are a candidate with a Harvard law degree you are 'an elitist 'out of touch' with the real America.
If you are a legacy (dad and granddad were admirals) graduate of Annapolis, with multiple disciplinary infractions you are a hero.

If you manage a multi-million dollar nationwide campaign, you are an 'empty suit'.
If you are a part time mayor of a town of 7000 people, you are an 'experienced executive'.

If you go to a south side Chicago church, your beliefs are 'extremist'.
If you believe in creationism and don't believe global warming is man made, you are 'strongly principled'.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years with whom you are raising two beautiful daughters you're 'risky'.

If you're a black single mother of 4 who waits for 22 hours after her water breaks to seek medical attention, you're an irresponsible parent, endangering the life of your unborn child.
But if you're a white married mother who waits 22 hours, you're spunky.

If you're a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, the right-wing press calls you 'First dog.'
If you're a 17-year old pregnant unwed daughter of a Republican, the right-wing press calls you 'beautiful' and 'courageous.'

If you teach abstinence only in sex education, you get teen parents.
If you teach responsible age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

FFS

You've been here less than an hour!  How can you possibly need a smoke break!

Too busy to post

I had all this great stuff I wanted to post about, but no luck.  Maybe tomorrow.

Instead, enjoy these exciting pictures (I'm equal opportunity, don't you know.):

Hee Hee Hurricane

Tropical Storm Hanna blew into the area this morning. And for us here, it was really no big deal (at least so far). It's been quite windy today and there were some good spits of rain, but other than that?

I've got Anna and Tiste over this weekend avoiding the no AC and insane humidity at their house. They're good house guests, except this morning when I really had to pee and Tiste was in the shower. I was tempted to step in, but I didn't want to give him the wrong idea. Heh.

We're heading over to another friends house for dinner and a movie, which is a great cap to a relaxing day.

Little white truths

Horrified, but had to share.

Sweet Surprises brought to you by the Corn Refiners of Association.  Apparently High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is your friend, according to the Corn Refiners Association.  

The commercials, put out by the Corn Refiners Association, repeat ad nauseam that HFCS is fine in moderation.  Sadly, I don't think that consumers of modern processed foods have the real option to ingest HFCS in moderation.

From their website, "High fructose corn syrup offers numerous benefits.  It keeps food fresh, enhances fruit and spice flavors, retains moisture in bran cereals, helps keep breakfast energy bars moist, maintains consistent flavors in beverages and keeps ingredients evenly dispersed in condiments."

What does this say to me?  

1. We REALLY care about moisture

2. HFCS is in just about EVERYTHING (processed)

Not cool!

I say throw down your breakfast bars, eschew processed condiments, drink only 100% juice (or better yet, eat the fruit whole), make your foods from scratch whenever possible.  It's not as hard as you might think.

We eat this stuff because advertising tells us we need to.  And guess what, we don't.  So take that, Corn Refiners Association.

Okay then, Germany

Things to see in Germany, a short list:

How beautiful is that?  It's Dresden, Germany.  I would love to be immersed in a country with so much history.  

The castle of Burg Eltz.  Sigh.  Can you imagine 33 generations of the same family in the same castle?  Wow.

Berlin, Germany.  This is the Gendarmenmarkt.  I must be craving a good museum, hence all of the old buildings...plus, I can see high rises here.  Pheh.

Marburg, Germany.  So quaint.  So pretty.  I don't want to visit, I think I want to live there.

Alright, I can't keep typing "sigh" all over the place.  But this place is so stunning.  Maybe a boat tour of Germany.  I'm going to have to explore this possibility.  This is the Swabian Hall.

Oh, hello lovelies, there you are.  I was wondering where you'd gotten to.  Of course we're going for the beer!!

Note: these pictures are all from a random Flickr.com search for "Germany."  I tried to link the sources but failed miserably.

Big Apple, Baby!

I have just committed to a blast of a whirlwind New York City trip with the Beautiful Miss Buck and the Not Much of a Slouch Either Kelly.

Excitement!

We're going to Ninja NY Sushi.

Woo ninjas!

Also taking the Bolt Bus and spending the night at a budget hotel.  Did YOU KNOW that they still have hotels with shared bathrooms?

Man, I am a sheltered girl.

Traveler

Let's plan a European vacation.  We won't tell my husband, although he is invited to join me.  

Hi sugar!  *waves*

There are things that I want to see in my lifetime.  And as much as I dislike flying, some of those things are on the other side of the Atlantic.  And now that my passport is on its way, I'm ready!

(I'd like to point out that I've offered to take a cruise to Europe from the USA, but that was shot down.)

I think we should start in London.  

I hear that a lot of intern

ational flights head there, so we could snag one and be on our way.  

They've got history, pubs, royalty, castles...and us.

Then we could take a short trip over to Ireland.    I've always wanted to visit and I think the time is now.  War is over and all that.

They've got history, pubs, castles, fairies...and us.

Then a flight over to gay Paris.  Ah...Paris.

I know, it's cliched for fat Americans to head to France, but I totally want to do it.  I want to see these things for myself.  The Eiffel Tower, the Seine River, the Champs Elysees. 

They've got history, cafes, castles, cathedrals, Frenchman...and us.

So I'm seeing a common theme in the places I want to see.  They have us there.  That should make planning a trip pretty easy then.  As long as we get to go together, I'm happy.

And then there was pizza

The first pizza I've had in probably 4 months, was just okay. How disappointing is that?? I spent an outrageous number of Weight Watchers points on pizza for dinner and it was not the transcendent experience that I signed up for.

What a fucking waste.

So I'm in the market for a digital camera. Not sure exactly what I'm looking for yet. But definitely something easy to set with a tripod. Thoughts:

- Something like this. Kind of plain and to the point.
- Or this. Pricier, prettier. Interesting to me.
- Or this. It's really similar to what we already have. (But would be mine, of course.)
- Or this. More zoom. It's black.

I obviously have no idea what I want. Other than a Sony, obviously.

Reading with your ears

I love audio books.  Well, I love books in general, of course, but I've become quite devoted to books on cd that I listen to while driving.  It keeps me occupied (Like driving should, I know Mom.) while I'm on long trips, which I seem to be on all the time.

Right now I'm listening to, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Apartment 3W."  I was expecting the classic by F. Scott Fitzgerald that's getting made into a movie, but apparently you have to look at the author of the book to get the right one, who knew?  It's pretty weird, but still has my interest.  It's actually several different stories, set in and around an apartment building in New York.

Next on my list is, "On a Pale Horse," by Piers Anthony.  Anna and Tiste have raved about this series of books (Incarnations of Immortality), about which I know nothing.  I'm excited by it due to the high praise.

I may get to that second book this weekend.  I'm on my way to the old homestead for the holiday.  There's 8 hours of my life driving I'll never get back.

Priorities

So wow. I just got excited about being able to turn into a spirit wolf on WoW. WTF is that about? I mean, I got genuinely excited. I exclaimed aloud.

What has happened to me?

Time passes...

And while it passes, I decide to amuse myself with a self-absorbed blog.  Like there aren't enough of those on the interwebs.

My dear husband left for 7 months this week.  Thank you US Navy.  No really, thanks.  Don't know what I would do without you.  Oh, wait, I'd have a more normal day-to-day life and relationships.  Overrated, I'm sure.

So, solo this week.  So far it's comprised Chinese take-out (because I couldn't face the world) that made me a bit ill, sushi with friends (because I could face the world and choose to do it with a buffet dinner), and tonight, sports bar with some more friends.  This may be a bad trend.  But hey, at least I have local friends to see me through.  Too bad they can't see me through to the salad bar and a clean apartment.  Bastards.

I've scheduled myself out at the old homestead A LOT this month.  I'm not sure whether it's an attempt to keep myself busy, I'm especially loved by distant friends, or September is just a busy month.  I'm also not sure which answer I most want it to be.

And, friends, I have to say, "Put your cell on vibrate and put it in your pocket.  Do not leave your annoying ass ring tone on loud and in my office while you're in a meeting.  Kthxbai."

I find myself daydreaming about being The Pioneer Woman.  Is that too vain?  Too absurd, actually.  But, a girl can dream.  I would so love to have nameless people hanging on my every word.  Plus I'd like to live on a farm.  But that's another daydream entirely.

It would be nice if I could keep up the stream of consciousness blogging with posts on crafty things I'm doing (like this) and what my career does (like this), but alas.  This is the skeptical me.  I just don't see it.

That's enough rambling for the moment.  We'll see if this keeps up.  Knowing me, probably not.