GD- dunno about men's sunglasses but for women's Macy's has a large selection in the $35-$50 ish range.

I do better with expensvie shades than cheaper. I've had a pair of Channel sunglasses that I wore for at least 8-10 years before they got so scratched I couldn't really see. And then the plastic started to kind of oxidize.

We found a great sunglass vendor in the French Market in New Orleans - $5-$10 a pair - we picked up 4 or 5 each and they lasted a good long time. I think you could do the same - and have a great vacation for less than 5 pairs of $200 glasses.

I'm feeling pretty happy for someone right now. Cool!

It's nice to smile from ear to ear. Dreams DO come true!

:snap: Amen, sister! :snap:

Yesiree! Totally jazzed is all I can say! :D

Yippee!!!!!!

It is a perfect fit for the perfect person!

I put my initial stuff in mu luggage and I have room left. What the hell am I forgetting??????

Me.:D

Me too!!! me me me me me !!

Me three

Nickolas has been begging me to take him to DTD so that he can do some pin trading. I feel like a mean mommy because I keep saying no. I just can't justify a 2 hour drive (one way) just so that he can trade pins. We can't even enter the parks. *sigh*

but on the oher hand, I can't be all that mean since we went to Morro Bay Sunday. Next Friday we are going to LB for his field trip and then will stick around after.

I am thinking he will just have to be satisfied with a trip to the movies.

I just recieved a mailer from Lane Bryant, it says in it....

"You have an expressivness all your own and a body as curvy as nature intended."

Umm..... what if nature intended that I be curvier?

:evil:

No, my issue with it stems from I still don't understand what (b-word) is. It was poorly written, IMHO.

An extra soft-sided bag for souvenirs?

You know the world is a very strange place at times.....
esp when cruising ebay you find someone selling a picture of one of your friends. :eek:

How you ask? I was trying to google his name, and accidentally typed his name in the ebay search instead.

a twilight zone moment if ever there was one.

Here is my nickle explanation:

Im thinking I shouldnt really submit that to quotes, no matter how badly I want to

Good call, Capt Jack. ;)

So, I'm trying to explain to myself why it's so easy to see something from the outside - answers to things I've been trying to work on all my life.

Too many times I have been defensive with other people, when so many times all they probably wanted was to be heard, not even agreed with. I've been in their shoes, I've been in the defendant's shoes, and now in my outsiders' shoes - it makes perfect sense. Let's hope this carries over into my own scene. ;)

And this is a turn-on for someone? How odd.

Now go look up Space Docking.

I am clearly insane. I'm already in over my head with obligations - so what do I do? Sign up for a weekend job. Because I don't have enough to do.

Clearly, you needed more. LOL.

I'm actually off to the first of several meetings for a project I'll be working on for the AMA. A project that will likely take more time of me than I have, but will probably look sweet on a resume.

How long will this weekend job go on for, Pru?

And they probably think it is odd that you don't.

Different boats, different floats.

Of course, as Jon Waters likes to point out there are plenty of acts that have
names but so far as he knows nobody has ever done (or, more likely, nobody had done until someone invented a word for it).

He's got 3 posts in the last 2 months, one about gay porn and one about this.

So Sac, what have you been up to?

I heard them talking about a "backstage Pass" on Mark&Brian one day. New one for me...

You sure that wasn't "Backdoor Pass"? :D

It's tutoring one-on-one and possibly teaching weekend LSAT classes. It's variable, from 2 hours a weekend per student to a full 16-hour class on weekends. It's resume fodder for me, too - and $33/hour.

It was a euphemism that they came up with to discuss, well... I think you can figure it out. The reason being is that the FCC is really cutting down significantly on what can be said on the air - you can't even say "anal sex." :rolleyes:

Lots of stuff you probably don't want to know about.

See, I knocked up this hot woman friend of ours, who I fvck on the side, so not to be all the way gay. But, my tubby friend MickeyLumbo, he's 100% queer. He loves the co<k!



And one extended period of convalescence (both knees -- but unrelated to anything I might post in a gay porn thread).

That's because whenever "anal" is discussed the FCC thinks they're being talked about.:rolleyes:

well, aparrently it wasnt ALL on the side. :p

Exactly how does one do it "on the side"? I'm not aware of any orifices in that area...

:eek:

It's almost as if I don't know anything about sex or reproduction at all.

1.) Sac!!! What's shakin' big daddy?

2.)

Resume fodder is always good... I will also be repeating this phrase over and over during the next two months as I bury myself under resume fodder of my own. ;)

Good luck!

See, this is where I thought the wikipedia entry a good one - even if only speculation that this practice as "pornography" came about because of restrictions on pornography, namely the banning of genitals. In the effort to stop one "disgusting" practice a new one springs into place. Sort of gives one hope for the incorruptible depravity of man.

No, sounds like you've got a pretty good handle on those particular concepts.

Below the spoilers is a vent about school. Read at your own risk.

But we're proud of you for going.

We adopted Aleister from a woman who rescues cats that are abandoned at the dorms of Cal State Long Beach. (Aleister was the offspring of one of the abandoned cats.) He lived the first three months of his life living relatively wild in and around the dorms.

He's always been rather insistant when we are eating. He seems to really like people food. But, NOTHING gets him going into full crazy-begging mode like pizza does. He LOVES pizza. He's almosst frantic to get some.

It wasn't until tonight that Chris made the connection of pizza and dorms. i think he lived off of pizza for those first three months.

Cats. How does she know I am opening a can of tuna...and not some other type of food? I do not recall giving her canned food either. If we did, it was given in her dish so the connection I do not get.

Also, it was interesting to us how she went absolutely nuts when the Hubster pulled out some fish his friend had caught. He put it on the counter and she came running in and went nuts.

It is cool Aleister still loves pizza. The food I do remember Kitty loving was popcorn. Now she doesn't care for it one bit.

Makes sense, rather.

Pizza's good stuff when ordered right,.

I miss John Paul.

The twinkle in ML's eyes contradicts you. ;)

Good to see you, bro!!

Rock music is the devil!


The twinkle in ML's eyes is the devil!


Scrooge McSam is the devil!

Oh bloody hell, we're all devils - let's just be out with it!

George and Ringo too.




Dylan = prophet?

I must have missed something...immense

Im in. :evil:

God is in the T.V.

Ground Control to Major Tom
 

you're positive vibes were indeed appreciated:snap:
:D it almost seems like a dream.
thank you kev. without you, this dream may have never happened at all.

you've always begged for the phatty, Teabag. and while i'm here, Teabag, do you need me to remind you where you last put the knee pads?

just remember one thing, ... spit.

:evil: Thanks Teabag.

sucks to be sick
 

uhg. at home sick, sick of trying to sleep.

deciding if a trip to the doctor is in order, or will he just send me home to sleep?

perhaps a cup of hot Tea would help.;) :coffee:

Spit?


That's not very lady-like, Lumbo.

that could explain why you're often called Tramp.

I got nearly 12 hours of sleep last night. Well, technically this morning. I feel great!

I'm trying to do the work of three people at work. Funny, it's not possible.

Been there, done that. In 1975 when I worked at McD.s I was the "Bun Man" (toasted the buns), Dresser (applied condiments), and I (this is their terms) "Laid the meat" :snap: (use your imagination). It was a three man job, but with the right timing it could be done by one guy. The shifts were 4 hours, but I felt like I worked 8. So I moved on.



In fact I'm also doing it now. The head of the lab is out with heart problems, so I'm doing most of his work, the QC guy quit so I'm doing most of his as well. Not to mention trying to do mine. :eek:

I'm watching Ghostrider right now. Not a great movie, classic comic book hero though.

I thought it was pretty cool. I really liked Peter Fonda in it, because of "Easy Rider". Classic....

Nickolas finally found my old recorder. He had been asking me about it for a few months (I used it at Yamaha Music School when I was 4). I did a half-assed attempt at looking for it, but quickly gave up. Tonight he found it. I can't quite firgure out if he is playing Old Mac Donald or Mary Had a Little Lamb.

and make sure all your software for your various items are updated as well. Computer, palm etc

Question-

If you set your clock on your computer ahead one hour tonight, won't it set itself ahead one more hour three weeks from now? :confused:

I can see a big headache three weeks from now, so I'll just wait for it to happen. I don't really use any timed programs that matter, and I don't have a Palm Pilot. :rolleyes:

I did nothing I was supposed to do today. Instead, I bought a bunch of flowering plants to stave off the gloom, some herb starts, a bunch of seeds that will probably never grow, and a Meyer lemon tree. Tomorrow - evil work day. Stupid article editing.

If you have the latest OS updates, it will set itself ahead one hour tonight.

Wait a second - do you have a screening version - or a device that allows you to do such things as let us know while you're watching it in the theater?

Just wanted you all to know that our computer (and ourselves) survived the time change without incident.

My computer clock sez 7:45 a.m. Let's see what how the LoT clock looks.

ETA: looks good!

Now (well, later) on to all of the manual change clocks.

I was wondering the same thing, but was afraid to ask "Do you have an ILLEGAL copy?" ;)

I have my computer set for automatic updates (Yes, I blindly trust Microsoft because I'm lazy!:rolleyes: ), and HP automatically does updates as well. So I guess I got the patch because my clock is correct. Funny thisng is, I didn't get the "Daylight Savings Time Update" window like usual. It was just fixed without any notice.

And now I realize that the patch changes the date of the time change so now it will no longer try to update in three weeks (IF they did the patch right :rolleyes: ).

I just had a discussion with someone at work about knock-offs and pirated dvds. He used to own a store that sold designer knock off purses. That is just something I can't do. If I am going to own something with a designer lable I want it to be real.

I do have 1 pirated dvd that was given to me. It was Star Wars ep 3. We got it 3 days before we saw it in the theater. We didn't watch it until after the theater. When it came out on dvd I bought the legitimate copy. The funny thing was that all of the scrolling dialog at the beginning was in Russian.

I survived the time change today - we'll see how I do with the time change tomorrow.

Do you need jingle bells? I have the recorder music for that too.

Balboa is a variation of swing meant to be done to very fast music. But when you're still learning it's impossible to do it to music at that tempo. Last night my friend Paul was practicing with me on some slower songs and I told him it was Balboa with training wheels. He used that phrase the rest of the evening. When the phrase enters the dance lexicon, this post will be my proof that I thought of it first.
:cool: :snap:

I am such a procrastinator. I have a ton of homework to do today so I gave away my ticket to tonights game. Here I sit, playing on the interwebs, not doing homework.

But it's been a productive day:
Went to work
Went grocery shopping
Ate lunch
Drank some water
Notified some friends about the fire so they don't get stuck going to Temecula.

Sooooo Maddy fell off her bike and sprained her wrist. From 12:30-5:15 in urgent care. Ugh. Xrays about an hour and a half in. The rest was waiting to see a Doctor, which took all of 5 mins once we finally got to see him.

Ugh! The urgent care half-day is always awful. Hope Maddy gets well soon.

Oy. I hope Maddy's wrist feels better asap.
:)

Got a wee bit of gardening done today. Ryan transplanted a rose and did some general weeding. I planted pansies, primroses, tarragon, dill, parsley, chives, and shallots. Still have some more planting to do, but once again I'm out of containers. And I haven't even started with the seeds yet!

She'll be fine. She was jonesin for a cast but only got a splint that she only needs for a couple of days. She's currently milkin it for all it's worth.

Yes, well, after having the splint for a few days and she'd want it off. Kids don't think about the future. ;)

I hope it heals quickly, though a sprain can take weeks to heal (I sprained both wrists at the same time in football in high school).

The weekend of Seattle sightseeing was enjoyable but now I'm stuck at the corporate hotel by the airport for four days while I am forced to actually work.

Hopefully I'll find the energy to spend an evening or two downtown and deal with the hassle of getting back out here rather than just docilely returning at the end of the workday.

She just asked me if her friends can sign her splint :rolleyes:

Does she need someone to describe to her in gory detail how having a cast sucks? Because I'm still pissed off about it five years later.

I just did something for the first time. Sac, you wanna guess what it was?

Must have made it hard to prevent cancer.

Voted Republican?

:eek:

I can only guess!

Bukkake?

I spent the day yesterday unpacking books. We have a sh*tload of books.

You know, I loves me a lemon-filled donut. But they're always coated in that freaking sugar that just pours off of them. So whenever I have one, I get to spend the day (and subsequent days until the custodial crew sweeps the lab floor) listening to my chair crunch and crackle as it rolls around. For some reason that really drives me nuts.

You sure that's not ants crunching underfoot and chair?

You had me going, I'm thinking...Huh? Then it hit me.....:D

Have you tried napkins? ;)

As far as I can tell, the sugar crystals the put on those things are small enough to pass straight through napkins, paper towels, plates, lead, Kevlar. No matter what I do, I'm rolling around all day on grainy tiles.

Eat your donut in the neighboring cube.

And then bitch about the noise every time that person moves.

You are truly evil. I knew I liked you for some reason. ;)

Ya know, I actually had to look that up. I instantly regretted it. It occured to me this morning that there are probably loads of things that I could have done for the first time, that you may be a veteran at. :p But, ya know, my brain was only operating on slow mo.

Hmm, considering the subject matter, better watch your word choice... ;)

I should have went with my first guess of an old guy, a religious guy, an atheist, a young guy, and a smelly homeless guy.

You need to get the donut and go to the sink in the tea-room.

Take out a small camel-hair brush, and gently brush all of the sugar crystals off the donut. The ones that adhere firmly are fine and can remain in-situ.

Give the donut a few raps with the handle end of the brush, just to make sure any of the in-situ crystals do not fall off accidentally.

Turn on the water and wash the crunchy offenders down the sink.

Take the donut back to your cube and enjoy !

:snap:

Hey, Trac. Can I get you any lemon-filled donuts? Doritos? Burritos?

And GD, consider Krispy Kreme. They're glazed, not sugar-crusted.

But they're not free.

I usually go for either the raspberry filled (glazed) or custard filled (chocolate frosted). But every once in a while I want lemon...and I regret it every time.

I ran outside today! After work! Wooo for an extra hour of daylight and warmer weather! :)

The accounting system gave us an error message - there was no name on the invoice. Turns out the client's last name is Null. He must have computers all over saying he doesn't exist. Or is it just our fabulous system?

Last night you could have. It was pretty lame coming home to a house where everyone was asleep and feeling way too...uh...relaxed to go make my own food.

There are no more Krispy Kreme's in Arizona. :(

Now I really want a donut. Thanks a lot, guys. :rolleyes:

Oohhh... now I want to change my name :evil:

Fun with names on another level: when putting my name in at restaurants, I often put it under the name Donner. Only about a third of the time does someone get it.

My friend Heather and I always say we're the Wild party. Because nothing says fun like "Wild party? Wild party of two?"

Soooo.... bought my Park tickets today- yayyyyy! Only three weeks. I really cannot wait- it's going to be so nice to see everyone again.:cheers:



In other news, Tori gets her expander tomorrow, so we'll both be equally unintelligible. I think I'm adjusting to the braces, but it's not been fun. Great diet, though!

OK...kind of gross....

Sometimes after I exercise, I stink in a completely different fashion than normal. Usually it's just normal sweaty stuff, and that's fine, but other times I offend even myself.

I have kept mental track of what I've eaten to see if that perhaps makes a difference, but it doesn't seem to.

Does anyone else have this happen to them?

YEAH! Looking forward to seeing you again!

What is an expander? Does not sound pleasant

Nope.

Madz did the expander, and actually may need to do it again. It only took her a day or so to get used to it. Her only issue was no gum. That almost killed her.

Kevy it's an appliance that's basically glued into the top of your mouth that's used to expand your pallet. You have to crank it every day or every other day with this little tool to slowly make the pallet larger.

a friend of mine from the old days had that issue. seemed it was related directly to his consumption of itallian sausage (or whatever was contained in it). bad thing was, he practically lived on the stuff.

so yeah, Im thinking something in your diet. it could also be vitamin supplements you might be taking. B vitamins surely change..uh...certain biological aspects in me...as well as large amounts of garlic

more literal description contained herein.

I wonder if we've had this discussion before.

Poor Madz! Was she able to eat pizza? That's Tori's big concern.

Every time she makes fun of my braces, I make a slow turning gesture with my hand and she goes a little pale.:evil:

I am soooo in the mood for BBQ today...

The turning isn't easy. It's so hard to see in their tiny mouths. I found a dential mirror a huge help when you can't quite get the tool to work right. But it doesn't hurt them even though they try to tell you it does.

Pizza was fine. The things she had trouble with were harder foods. The expander things glue over the molars so you don't have quite the chew power. Apples & Carrots were kind of hard.

She's in waiting mode right now until a few more teeth come out. Her pallet was so small her upper teeth actually fit inside her lower ones. So they may have to expand some more later.

Ya, it does. I had one and it hurt like a bitch. My mom never believed me because the ortho said it shouldn't hurt. But it did. A lot. :(

Well, Tori got a week's reprieve- the expander didn't fit properly and they had to make another impression. Next try is next Tuesday.

Mine didn't hurt either !

I had an expander on my bottom teeth. Right after I got my retainer off, in came my impacted wisdom teeth. My expander was called a spring loaded retainer. It had a spring to push out the tooth that had moved because of the wisdom teeth. It had a screw to force my mouth to make room for the tooth. Everytime I took it off the tooth would make an audible POP and go right back where it was. It hurt like HELL! I finally told my mom I would deal with the crooked tooth and tossed the retainer.

The one Madz had supposedly you just felt some pressure when you cranked. She didn't really complain much so I'm fairly certain it wasn't that bad as she's the biggest whiner baby on the planet.

It was mostly the no gum part she hated.

I had to have actual surgery to fix my crooked teeth. So there! Messy, bloody gum surgery.

Um... yuck!

So, as the years pass I can measure the process of delocalization by the ever increasing time it takes me to slip back into saying "pop" whenever I visit home or Seattle.

Now, I'm still thrilled everytime I get here and a waiter asks if I want pop, or that the McDonald's receipt says pop. But it gets harder and harder to say it myself.

What does your Dad have to do with ordering a soda?

Thanks for bringing up my dad and reminding me of his death. Way to ruin my evening.



Since other people take dead parents more seriously than I do, let me ETA that though my father is dead, my evening is not ruined or otherwise diminished.

It is strange how saying "pop" seems like a juvenile thing to say, while "soda" is not. I'm sure it is perfectly acceptable in other areas of the country. Strange how demographic clicks of society work.

And sorry about your loss, Alex. I hope the rest of your evening went better.

Garlic. While I love the stuff, I tend to smell.

I'm assuming certain other foods do the same thing, I just notice it less.

They painted some of the walls at work a nasty Barbie flesh pink. WTF!

is it just me or is that kinda hot? :blush:

It's just you.

So, my car had an oil change and fluid check yesterday. I've been informed that I have a bad oil leak and now need work to the tune of $700+
:(

I'm still trying to figure out if it's a woman or a dude in a wig. If I ever figure it out I'll let you know if it's hot or not.

geez, thats alot for a leak. did they say what or where it was leaking?

Something about the manifold, valves and oil pan. The thing is, I can smell it, so I know they're not blowing hot air at me. I left the paperwork in the car as I wanted to avoid looking at it. I've got a call in for a further estimate and may go to the dealership for a 2nd opinion (but I think the mechanic will be cheaper, and they are diamond certified)

Disney has taken over my brain. I'm working on this damn R&T edit and one of the cases starts out "Burgermeister". Which, of course, gets me thinking of Burgermeister Meisterburger. Which leads to Paul Frees, which leads to Disney. With a capital P that rhymes with D that leads to places I'd rather be.

It's a difficult responsibility...

It's hard to believe they would all be leaking simultaneously, the problem with an oil leak is that the oil flows down and can look like it is coming from somewhere else. Normally, I would give the engine a good cleaning and look for the highest leak. Good luck!

$1180 for parts and labor. He says it is a significant amount of leaking. Intake manifold gasket, yada yada yada, oil pan, valves, yada yada yada

I'm biting the bullet and taking it in on Monday. No mad money for me at DL at the end of the month. :(

So, for the past couple of days I've been really annoyed with the people with whom I work (no need to get into a long boring story here, let's just say that they lash out in a passive aggressive manner at our common supervisor by doing a crap job with their record keeping, which directly impacts yours truly). I realized that assuming I quit my job at the end of June at the absolute latest, I have enough vacation and "personal days" accrued that I can take at least one day off per week (and I'm already on a 3-day a week schedule).

I am typing this from home. And getting paid. Life is ... ok.

:eek: Actually, went to the ASE site (Automotive Service Excellence) to see if there was another local place that I could go to for a second estimate. I learned that (1) the place I took my car to, is not listed on ASE even though it's on their business card and (2) found a long established place that is and is also a "best of the bay area" kind of places. So, tomorrow we'll see what their estimate is.

I know it is necessary and I try to do all the regular maintenance for the car and it has given me precious little trouble. But I really do hate car stuff, I don't know jack @%*!# about cars beyond where to put the gas pump and the key and I'm always fearful that some greedy mechanic is rubbing his hands together in glee seeing sucker all over my face. I know it's not the case this time, but sheesh......more money than I want to spend.

Is this the sign from the universe that my car is almost paid off (July) and will die right before?

If you do all the regular maintenance, it should last a long time. I'm currently driving a '90 Miata with 180k miles. One thing I would suggest is to check your oil when you fill up the tank. Normally it won't need it, but many times problems (like leaks) are obvious long before they become a problem.

no warranty left on it?
that sort of thing should surely be covered if so

Nope, I bought the car used, had an extended warranty which has since expired. 172k on the car (and it got loads of miles in commute in VA) it's a 1998 Buick. I really should not complain, I've had almost no trouble with it from day 1 in the 5+ years I've had it.

Well, I have to say, that is encouraging. Mine (in the post above) 172k and a 1998 Buick.

I will check the oil when I fill up. Go figure, the dumb computer sensor will hit the check engine light (and not tell you what might the problem be and it turns out the gas cap is not on tight enough) but won't tell you if there is a engine oil leak!

house special chicken + cream cheese wantons = food coma.

Snowflake I feel for you. I took mine in last week for regular maintenance. Needed timing belt and two new tires. Then while they've taken the whole engine apart they might as well put in a new water pump and some other belts. It ended up $1,100ish.

They also noticed that the struts were leaking. So now I need to get that done for an additonal $650ish. Bleh.

And to top it all off this weekend I was at the gas station and left the lights on. Pumped the gas, get in the car, totally dead battery. So after the AAA guy jumped me I had to go get a new battery. Lucikly it was just the battery and all the other systems checked out.

So I've had quite an expensive car repair run lately. Hopefully that's it.

I just saw a guest ask John Stamos if he worked here...

Hahaha, that's hilarious. Like anyone would hire John Stamos.

Hired our Coastermatt, didn't they? :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:


:p

Oh jeez, Katie! I feel for you, bigtime! I hope that once you get the last 650ish out from under that you go a good l-o-n-g while without a car repair.

Me too. Luickly the cars paid for so hopefully this is all I need for a while.

We took our car in this past weekend for its overdue maintenance whatever and - there was nothing wrong with it. This is unusual for us. Usually we don't leave the repair shop until we've spent $1200, at least. Yay little car!

Mine will be paid off in July. That is going to be a really nice feeling to not have a car payment. Whee!

If I ever run into John Stamos, I'm giving him 5 seconds to apologize for Full House and then I'm going to pummel him. My kids have discovered the show on Nick at Nite or some such and my old grudge is new again.


This goes double for you, Saget.

Pummel him a few times for me as well. Madz has recently become obsessed with Full House on Nick as well. Bleh.

All my hatred for Saget disappeared the moment I saw The Aristocrats.

John Stamos has been a wonderful guest in my dealings with him.

This is what v-chips are for.

Allybell... paging Allybell!!!!!!

I have cheetos!!

Can it also tune out-

Darcy's Wild Life
That's So Raven
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody

BTD!! I love you!! But do you have black coffee?? :D

My hormones sent me on a quest this afternoon....for wasabi flavored funyons. My tastebuds jumped for joy and my tongue thanks thee.

Ooh! Have you tried the jalapeno cheetos?!?! Muy yummioso!

If I could, I would exist soley on 7-11 delicacies. You know, like gas station pie. Gas station pie is the absolute bomb! The little glazed turnovers by Hostess?

Meals shmeals! I want cornnuts and a suckie. Half coke, half cherry. :snap:

Where the hell have ya'll been? It's been running nonstop on ABC Family for years now, and Tori has every episode committed to memory. She calls me Danny Tanner when she thinks I'm cleaning too much.:rolleyes:

If I ran into Saget, I'd shove a can of Pledge so far up his....nevermind. He has to live with the ignominy- I think that's punishment enough. That, and knowing that the Olson twins are richer than he'll ever be.

Clearly there are things to be said for not watching commercial television shows, I have never seen this show, don't know who Saget might be. So I guess I am to be counted among the fortunate ones?

In your situation, ignorance is truly bliss. It is a sickeningly sweet, poorly written, horribly acted trainwreck of a show. Kids love it.

...and made the Olsen twins famous.
:rolleyes:

A pirate followed me out to my car after work Tuesday evening.



Okay, it was a castmember costumed for Pirates of the Caribbean and he wasn't following me so much as walking to his car.

But the thing is, I don't work at Disneyland.

Are you sure?? ;)

I did smething stupid tonight... I fear that I might be a tad hung over tomorrow. I am a "backup" chaperone for Nick's field trip and I wne tout drinking tonight... 5am is gonna come awfully early... Boy isnt even in bed yet. crap. me a baaaaad mom.

I love posts by drunk people - they are very amusing :)

Sooo...I'm a trifle irritated right now. I'm sure everyone has heard me whine about how little help I get around the house, even though I also work pretty much full time. Well, my MIL, who is not exactly the most motivated of person around, is driving me bat****. The only thing she does around here is the dishes, which she is supposed to share with her son but doesn't because he's too tired from working. Mind you, I work also, and I shop and cook dinner and clean up after their sorry asses - the only thing I have not capitulated on is dinner dishes, purely on principle. The MIL has been whining about this forever, and tonight she did so again: in a most melodramatic fashion, she wiped her hair from her sweaty brow (who knew putting dishes into a dishwasher was so hard?) and proclaimed that she would just have to do the pots in the morning, and was that alright with me?

I am ashamed to say that I had a Mitty-ish flight of fantasy for a split second that involved violence.

So, I give. She can sit on her ever expanding posterior and watch Oprah and Dr. Phil until she keels over from sheer inactivity. I mean, OMFG! You can't even call what she does washing dishes- she barely rinses them, tosses them in the DW, and goes off to her TV. I clean the countertops and floors and appliances, and usually I go back in and re-clean the pots and pans that don't go in the DW. To be fair, she watches Tori, but in reality Tori really watches her at this point. Watches her watching Oprah. I'd hire someone to watch Tori, but how weird is that- with Grandma in the house? Sigh.

I am soooooooo looking forward to this vacation. Rant over.

Oh, and KB? I'm not drunk- yet.;)

(Actually, no drinking- I have to work tomorrow, then come home, cook dinner and DO DISHES!!!)

So... last night we were wating for another person to show up. I texted what I thought was her cell phone. It was a simple question, but since I was in a mood, I altered the spelling and it became kind of rude. She got there and I asked her if she got my text. She said no. I have no idea who I texted. I got the number from my recieved call log, but it didn't have a name. This morning my cell went off, it was the same number I texted last night. I didn't answer it.

I have decided that drunk texting can be just as bad as drunk dialing.

All I had asked was, "Are you coming?" but my spelling was off.

:blush:

yeah, I can sooo dig it. :mad: the twit who's supposed to be keeping up my place rarely does and it seems to take an act of congress or near homici......

oh wait....

I live alone.

:blush:

Throw Momma-In-Law from the Train.

Why do people insist on driving 85 in 0 visibility without their headlights on? People, you can't see. Slow down.

So, is there anything more annoying than the repeated snickety-snack of nail clippers in a public confined space?

Yes. If each snickety-snack is followed by a tiny impact as the offender's nail offal-come-missiles pelt you.

ZOMG no! You have them too? When did this become okay?

I don't know. I'm fine with one or two quick snips. I understand that, you snag a nail and you take care of it.

But last night on the plane I think the woman behind me must have been offering free manicures and pedicures it went on so long.

We had a few of those in my old office. It was disgusting.

So..................
I'm having a massive I'm annoyed day.
People are just being so..... give me this, pay me now...
Or my problem is theirs to fix,
Or okay, we messed this up, so now we have to fix history....

At least.... thats how it feels. Can I go back to bed now with a chocolate malted?

I've decided to paint the pink bathroom red. Red red. Bright red. Whore red.

I hear ya on the massive annoyed day...

Add to that

I feel like the lowest of low, a creep, a scumbag- I don't know what to do next :(

I'd go to your place and look for the hamster if I were closer. But, I cant, so here I sit, annoyed, pissy and wallowing in self pity.

Ditto!

It took me almost 2 hours to drive home tonight. Yeah, I put another bottle of wine in the fridge. I'm going to need it.

FCUK OFF WINTER!!!!

Jungle red?

I'm sure it was an accident.

It was, wasn't it?? ;)

Did you check behind the fridge? That's where mine was when it got away. Of course I didn't have all the animals you do.....

Good luck. It's nothing a trip to the pet store won't cure.

I've been there, though. Only I backed over our cat with a van. A very sad day they wont let me forget. :(

I wondered if you were in the Snow Zone. What a huge PITA, eh? I hope it all melts very quickly and you all have a much better spring.

Lol, Sac! I had a friend at work say the very same thing today.:D


Tonight, I decided to fight fire with fire. I'm not normally the passive-aggressive type, but that seems to be the only language my In-Laws know. I worked, went to the store and then came home and cooked dinner. Then I got right up and washed the dishes. My MIL tried to backtrack and say she didn't really mean it, but I told her that obviously it was an issue since she had complained about it so many times. She sadly accused me of trying to make her feel bad and I said no, it's just that in the scheme of things I have to do in the day, dishes are about the easiest and hardly worth bickering about. I did point out that had she not been so successful at undermining me with her encouraging Eric to not help out she had actually added to her 'household duty', and that it was hardly fair that it was now dumped on me.

She said she felt like a ****, but she still didn't offer to help- went downstairs to watch TV instead. At least the kitchen is really clean tonight.:cool:

visible MOJO to you WB:snap: and sit down and, here you deserve more than this :cheers:

A couple of days at Cascade would do nicely

Lol- thanks, Snow! It's been really rather a pleasant evening, as she is hanging out in her quarters while I do my cleaning thing upstairs. We'll see where this goes, but at least I think I've made my point. I honestly don't mind doing dishes, but it's really the principle involved here. When I say they don't do anything, I am not kidding- and we have a really big house. My whole family and most of hers is on my side on this one. I shyt thee not; she would sit on her keester all day, bathroom and food breaks excluded, were it not for us trying to get her up and involved with life. She is so lucky to have such good health and mobility at her age, and she's throwing it all away.:rolleyes:

Ok, so for the past three-ish weeks I've been planning a charity garage sale. I posted the info on local attachment parenting groups and unschooling groups, and harrassed friends and family. I have a garage full of stuff ready to go out at 7am tomorrow. A local pizza company is going to be onsite selling pizza and donating 60% of the total sales. All the proceeds are going to Equality Now's Grassroots Fund to end Female Genital Mutilation. I'm so excited about this!

Be sure to set aside a few bucks for an In-N-Out trip.;)

(Good luck on the sale- that's pretty cool of you to do this!)

I had heard of FGM, but couldn't remember what it really was, so I did some quick research (no, not for prurient interests) . That is quite disturing :(

It is quite disturbing, but the good news is that a lot of progress towards change is happening. We're only a few generations away from elimination, I think.

I hope so Traci, but I must confess to a certain level of pessimism. This is occurring in some very entrenched, patriarchal societies and I don't think they're going to change anytime soon. There was a time not so very long ago where we thought we were beyond the religious sectarian strife that we now find ourselves enmeshed in.I remember reading 'The Devil Drives', a bio of Sir Richard Burton (the 19th century explorer) and thinking that so much of what he wrote about was a thing of the past with regards to Islamic fundamentalism and such. Zoom forward to the 21st century, and we're right back to the Taliban,beheadings, jihad and this sort of shyt. I know all we can do is try to fight it, but it's discouraging all the same.


I move we create a matriarchal society that does the same to the perps of this horrific crime. Cut their nuts off and see how they like it.

painting the roses red?

WB, good on you for taking the high road.

Hey, thanks, DPR, but I really don't feel so high-rodeish. I feel like I bought into their Ingmar Bergmaneasque sort of lifestyle and am just as manipulative as they strive to be. I am an in-your-face kind of gal and I really hate little games like this. I like things out in the open and no slinking and plotting alllowed.


Oh, she just came up for a ding-dong.:rolleyes:

Indeed! I already love it. I have most of one wall painted with the first coat - and that's all I felt like doing tonight. But even with it still a bit splotchy it still looks much better.

Some might argue that we have that now here in the US, even if it is only a figurative removal :evil:

I am totally exhausted, but at least I made it to work.

Nickolas had a good time. I think I did too, but right now just too tired and sore to know for sure.

I feel really bad for the other kids. They only had around 2 1/2 hours at the Aquarium before they had to get back on the bus and head for home. The 2 boys that were with me and Nick still had a chance to see everything, even if it was breifly. Since we had been there before we played tour guides. After the kids got back on the bus he and I went to eat and then back to the Aquarium to spend more time with the birds and sharks.

The drive home was very frustrating. It took us 90 mins to go 15 miles on the 405, so I finally got irritated and jumped off on Wilshire. I then played, "Oh, I recognize that street name." Eventually we were on Hollywood Blvd. It was around dusk. We enjoyed the nightlife that was coming out to play, mixing with the white-bred tourist crowd.

We ended our day at City Walk. I can honestly say that I have no real desire to go again in the near future. I feel claustrophobic there, with the narrow walkways and too many people. I also finally realized that stores fall into one of 2 catagories. Either they are the same stores you find in your local mall or they are the same store cloned over and over again (ie: cheap souvineer stores).

We were back in the car around 8:15 and were home by 9:45.

By 10 I was in my recliner with a heasting pad on my back and 2 rats attacking my hands.

Oh my...
 

Do people not look a their products?

Not particularly NSFW, but hidden just to be careful:


The link

Why the heck can I not find the lyrics to "Just Be" by Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra?!?

Springer isn't doing well :(

I wonder what drugs they were on when they designed those toys... :eek:

((hugs)) BTD.

I'm bored and none of my IM contacts are online.

{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry about Springer, BTD.:(





I am off work for the next three days- yayy! I also got my Park tickets today, so my mood has greatly improved. Only two more weeks!:cheers:

Hugs to Springer.

Springer?!?!??! :(

Sorry to hear about Springer, BTD. Sending good vibes.

(This post is a few ahead of yours - #7206 above)

She knows.

BE - my parents will be home today. Go see him. He was in the closet yesterday all day* and my mom says that is where he goes when he isn't feeling well. Yesterday I told him I loved him and if he needed to go it was ok with me. Fvck. Now I'm crying.


*normally this is where we make a joke about Springer being gay. But not today :(

Sorry to hear about Springer BTD. It is hard to lose such a beloved member of your family :(

Not that I'm surprised, but there are two of these in my home, and I never made that connection/leap.
And one of ours glows in the dark.

{{{{{hugs}}}}} for BtD and Springer. :(

Poor Springer.
:(

Haven't heard from my parents today. I am taking that as no news is good news. Thank you all for your kind words!

Oooh, I should have done my own Springer update. After posting here yesterday, I called BTD's parents and did a house visit. The cat... after all I'd heard about how he was acting two days ago.... COULDN'T HAVE LOOKED BETTER. Honestly.

Cats can be so sneaky about disguising how they really are feeling. Knowing what I know about the situation, I'm still concerned - but he seemed to be on the up and up.

Keep your fingers crossed, prayers, vibes, well-wishes and good voodoo to your own liking are much needed and I'm sure will continue to be gladly accepted. :)

Thanks BE.

He's probably putting me through this for moving out or something. Talk about a grudge! ;)

Well, you and I both know he doesn't forgive so easily. ;)

Really, BTD - He did look super-good. You know I say that with concern, but he seemed so good and happy while I was there.

I'm really ticked that the student in charge of the law review alumni dinner decided to set the dress code such that all female members of the law review are *required* to wear skirted suits if they want to attend. I don't have a suit with a skirt, and I'm not going to frantically search for one and have it altered, all for a dinner AT THE SCHOOL. I have several nice suits. I have several nice dresses. I do not have suits with skirts because they make me look like a potato with legs and I'm not spending $300 on a suit I'll wear once. (Because by the time I had a second occasion where it was required, it would be either inappropriately out of style or the wrong size.) I don't know people feel it necessary to continue to set dress codes for professional settings that would require me to wear a skirt. I know there are hoity-toity firms out there where that's expected, but I would never consider working there. (It would be just one example of many of why that's the wrong place for me.) I didn't expect to hear out here, from a female student, that women aren't professionally dressed if they're in pants. Grrr.

I have a skirted suit I will never again wear. If you lived closer and it fit you, you could totally borrow it.

I was going to suggest maybe you could wear a nice long skirt with a blouse and a top from a suit you already have, but I think better advice might be to protest such a stupid dress code by not going.

Would they turn you away if you showed up in pants?

Right now I'm trying to muster the enthusiasm to add some error handling into a bash script that's otherwise working perfectly well. It's an edge case, and it's going to require a pretty significant rearchitecting, AND the script won't even be used in the form it's in. But this should be in there for future use.

This is why I will never be a programmer. It's not that I'm not good at it, I just don't care.

I can't do that, because it has to be matching skirt and jacket, with appropriately festive-yet-professional blouse underneath.

Would they turn you away if you showed up in pants?[/quote]

Apparently. It's such a crock, as most of the female attorneys I know wear exclusively pant suits. Assuredly, there will be a number of female alumni attending in pants. Hell, last year I wore pants and a blouse, no jacket, and was fine. This year, for some reason, they're going all old school. Which is amusing to me because last year, the "look nice whatever that means to you" year the dinner was at a swanky hotel downtown. This year? We're expected to dial back the calendar a few decades, all for a dinner being served not in a hotel, but in some available lobby space on one of the floors of the law school.

That just sucks, Pru. :mad:

Why can't people take in to account other people when making plans like this. Sheesh!

Sounds to me like the person in charge is trying to make sure the lesbians/black students/public interest types/etc. on the law journal don't attend. I say it's BS. Wear the suit you have. Who's going to throw you out? You'll be dressed the way most women appear in court anyway. I'm too far removed to know if it's what they wear to interviews as well. You might also want to talk to the journal's faculty advisor to see if he/she is down with this silliness.

Hell, the dean is female, started a bunch of social justice groups in the school - including a journal, and I'm pretty sure she's a lesbian (although it being a Jesuit school that bit isn't talked about much), and I have never ever seen her in a skirt. The journal's faculty adviser has been, in my dealings with him, an enormous ass, so I won't bother with him. A few polite complaints in the dean's direction would be more effective.

What kills me is that I have a dress I'd be perfectly happy to wear, but no, they want a suit. With a skirt. Screw 'em.

Well, a dress would be appropriate if you were going as a spouse. I think a suit with pants should get you in the door.

Reminds me when business casual took over. To my mind, it just meant having to spend money on new clothes. Fortunately, or unfortunately since it was part of their deep rooted pathology, the firm I was at banned casual dress.

I just realized I've become Jenny Fae. Crap.

What's a Jenny Fae?

I don't know, but the only thing a quick Google search is turning up is the sister of the girl tortured and murdered by this woman and her family.

So hopefully that isn't it.

Apply Directly to the forehead!!

And this is what the commertial makes you want to do!

It is also what the fact that people buy products based on homeopathy makes me want to do. To them. :evil:

Jenny Fey lives in the house
Where she's been for all her life
And Jenny Fey has got no friends
She feeds her cat and knits and mends
O, can't you see the lonely crying in the world
O, can't you feel the lonely crying in the world
Yet, the Jenny Fey's go on?
Jenny Fey she wears a frock
Hides her memories with a lock
Jenny Fey remains obscure
Just a tone through the massive blur
(O, can't you see the lonely crying in the world)
O, can't you feel the lonely crying in the world
Yet, the Jenny Fey's go on?
Jenny Fey would smile a song
And now her face is dad and drawn
And Jenny Fey is thirty-five
Jenny Fey was never alive
(O, can't you see the lonely crying in the world)
O, can't you feel the lonely crying in the world
I said yes can't you see the lonely crying in the world
Yet, the Jenny Fey's go on.

sooo..... this is why my mother sucks.

Today is my sister's birthday. I called her earlier, sent card etc.

My mom calls around 8ish. Blah blah nothing important. Dead people I've never met, the usual. So around 9ish the conversation goes like this-

Me- Did you call A?

Mom - No

Me - erm do you know what today is?

Mom - yes, I was going to send a card but I haven't had time. I guess I could call do you think it's too late?

Me - er - no, not if you do it right now (thinking to myself why did she call me for no apparent reason if it's A's birthday and she hasn't phoned her yet).

Mom - well ok maybe.

I bet she didn't call. She missed mine two years in a row. I know birthdays aren't a huge deal but honestly when your mother can't be bothered. What the?

My mom hasn't called me on my birthday since 2001 and that was just to say "guess you really aren't having a party this year."

I love her for it.

I return the favor by being unable to remember if her birthday is April 9 or April 11 (one is hers and the other my stepdad's).

Oh, is that what kind of product it is? I have absolutely no idea what putting that stuff on my head would do since

1) They never say anything about what the product is for or does- which is what annoys me the most about the stupid ad.

2) They most likely don't say what it's for because if they made claims it would be considered a drug and they probably don't have a liscense to sell a drug.

3) I doubt it does anything at all, and anyone who would order it from such an ad that tells you nothing, must have the same amound of gray matter in their cranium.

But that's just my opinion. Carry on, nothing to see here.......

Yep, its unabashedly homeopathic.

Five "active" ingredients and the most concentrated is 1 part in a million while the most dilute (and therefore most powerful) is 1 part in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

Also notice that nowhere on their website do they mention what HeadOn treats. Just that it is safe to use. In fact, it is "one of the safest medications available on the market today."

Since you don't even ingest it, I assume this is a reference to the fact that unlike most other homeopathic remedies it doesn't even pose a small chocking hazard.

I completely forgot my moms birthday one year (got my actual dates mixed up) and I still haven't heard the end of it.

Soooo....
Yesterday, Tori went in for her second attempt at a palate expander, and it didn't fit again! Back to the plaster molding process, which makes her want to hurl, but thus far we've garnered 4 movie passes and two free pizzas. At this rate, the Orthodontist is going to be running in the deficit.


Less than two weeks to DL- I can't wait!:cheers:

Oh, I doubt that will break him!

So why am I still at work?

We're off for the weekend-- bridal stuff in Michigan. Bridal shower with the fam, hair trial, makeup trial, it's a busy time! (But not half as busy as it's been at work. Oy!)

Andy Barker, PI, is a very funny show. I like it, so it's sure to get yanked in a few weeks. Catch it while you can.

I may not survive wedding season.

I, thankfully, no longer worry about that (after about 20 wedding seasons).

How did she get Nail Clippers through security ?? :confused:

You should have dobbed her in.

Ugh - poor Andy Richter. I really hope this show does well. I loooooved Andy Richter Controls the Universe, and it didn't make it very far, despite having a small, but dedicated following. I'll have to try and catch it - maybe see if I can get other people to catch it. He's just too funny...

For some reason I have the voice from PotC saying that in my head.

Nail clippers are allowed.

All the episodes are available online (probably not a good sign.) You should check them out. It's got one of the actors from Arrested Development, as well.

OK - why is it I have no doubt in my fashion sense... until I'm almost out the door? I am suddenly questioning my choice in a pantsuit, except... I don't have a skirt suit. Ugh... next on the shopping list...

Richter + Tony Hale made me really want to check this show out. The commercials made me really want to avoid it. Perhaps I'll watch a bit online in hopes that the marketing department just blows.

The commercials suck. The marketing department has no idea what to do with this show. I only watched it because the local tv gal said it was good, and she's generally correct. The supporting cast is amazing. Harve Presnell has the best lines. There was one about a wet nurse in last night's episode that had Ryan laughing so hard I couldn't hear the next few minutes of dialogue. Lots of if-you're-not-paying-attention-you'll-miss-it humor. And I loved the laptops in bed bit.

My co-worker just put a 4-pack of Creme eggs on my desk. Yum.

Had some Daphne's for lunch (Gyro and fries) and then treated myself to a Vanilla Freddo at Peet's. Yep, we've got Peet's Coffee down here in good ol' Lake Forest :)

so i begin my new assignment tomorrow... but will be in "the office" for the majority of the day, aside from some surprise location luncheon.

the real adventure should commence sometime about wednesday... if i seem to be hurried, just know that i am on assignment - a sort of mission, with no time to stop.

look forward to seeing you all.:)

Aren't their Freddo's just to die for? They're so much better than they used to be. It's too bad I really just don't crave sweet drinks all that often, but when I do - it's Freddo-time!

I spent an entire week of vacation time cleaning up the house while Rose was gone...

This has been a great week, despite all the work - it looks great, and the Nuclear Muffin Test Kitchen is back in operation (I can actually get out my door now) :D

so i decided to take this psychology class over at the community college, and i love going and learning about the scientific study of behavior.. I just dont like to have to be spending a saturday day writing a 15 page paper... arrrgghhhh...

hey maybe that e-penis machine could do my paper?

After today, so do I. A good thing is that I will probably lose some weight, no time to munch, too much time spent running around.

My brother's tumor returned. He has to have the entire large muscle removed. After that, he'll never be able to walk unaided again. Absolute best case scenario is that he'll be able to walk with a cane. Might not be able to walk at all.

Damn, damn, damn, and damn.

:( I'm sorry.

FVCKIN SH!T! :(

My prayers go out to you and your brother, Prudence. Hopefully he will still be able to walk, and the cancer will stay away from now on.

Same here, I'll be thinking positive thoughts.

Me too, Pru. Big hug to you and best vibes that I can muster to your brother.


Kind of a weird and sad day today all around. I found out that one of my very early clients passed away recently from complications related to HIV, and it just broke my heart. He was such a fun kid, and I've known him since he was in tenth grade. Used to do his hair for drag comps, which were a total blast. His mom and I were friends until we had a falling out a few years ago; it was she who stopped by to tell me and I know it had to have been hard for her. It was as if we had never argued, and in between laughter over the outrageous things he used to do and anger over his horrible end I felt like we were able to reconnect as if it were yesterday. I'm still incredibly shocked- he was a small guy, but so vibrant and so sure of himself. It turns out he'd had HIV and didn't know it for at least ten years, but it was only discovered after he contracted a type of pneumonia specific to HIV sufferers that anyone found out. His mom loved him so much, and it just seems so wrong for her to have to bury her baby. While I'm very sad about it all, I'm glad she reached out and I'm ashamed to have let some stupid petty fight come between us. She's an awesome mom, and he was an equally awesome son.

The human body is a mean trickster. Sympathy all around.

((HUGS)) for both of you.


Nickolas and I are slwoly getting ready to head to Tehachapi. My nieces are in a play at their local theater. I'm looking forward to seeing them. The play is Robin Hood, but I can't remember what parts they have. We are meeting up with them and The Old People for breakfast (lunch) at 11:15 and then heading for the theater. At least I will finally be able to give her her b-day present. Although I am still trying to figure out what it will be. Her b-day was Feb 26th.

I love the drive up there. I am thinking we will go up the back way, through Keene. The Boy and I enjoy stopping to watch the trains on the Loop. It is cool to see a train wrapped around itself, working its way up the hill. This is the time of year to spot rattle snakes all over the road, too. That part I can do without, but Boy likes to try to scare me, so it is fun for him.

After yesterday, at work, this is the type of drive I need. A relaxing drive up the hill is just what the Dr ordered.

Hehehe... I have a HUGE problem. I have 4 "wheel rats" and only 1 wheel. They keep fighting over it and sleeping in shifts. Whichever one isn't sleeping is in the wheel. Right now Holly is the only one up, so she is doing her daily jog. At night Sweetie is usually the winner, kicking out whoever is in there.

I'm so sorry Pru. We were all hopeing the last surgery would enough.

Very sad news about your friend, WB. He sounds like he was a vibrant and wonderful guy.

Hugs to you both.

Very sorry to hear this news, Prudence. :(

And very sorry for your loss, Wendybeth.

Big hugs to you, Pru. I hope that beyond the rehab, this round of treatment will take care of the cancer. I hope I don't sound too trite, but at least medical science has progressed to a point where this kind of thing is treatable.

Hugs to Pru and Wendybeth.

Big hugs and prayers for you, Prudence and WendyBeth. (And all involved.)

My thoughts and prayers and sympathy to both of you, Pru and Wendy.

Thanks for the warm fuzzies, guys- you all rock. I will be sure to forward them on to Jeff's mom as well, as she is the one who is really in need of them. If there is any downside to parenting, this would be it- losing your kid has to be the very worst thing in the world.

Today I went to my niece Makayla's baby shower, which was a nice thing to attend after such a downer day yesterday. She's having a boy, and he is gonna be one spoiled little guy! Tori got to play soccer with her cousins and is all tired out now. Nice and mellow day- got a roast cooking in the oven, and everyone is kicked back playing video games.

I just can't seem to shake my jet lag. Of course, staying up until 1 am last night didn't help my efforts much. I am somewhat of a useless human being today. About all I've done is a couple of loads of laundry and petted Charles about 1000 times.

I like tea time

Hmm... Tea sounds good.

I went to an event for my college chapter of AMA (American Marketing Association) that was from 11:30 - 1:30 AM. We played broomball on ice, and while I was super tired from not getting a lot of sleep (for no good reason) the night before - I ended up having a lot of fun. Unfortunately, all that fun left me wound up, and I didn't fall asleep until around 4:15 this morning. :( Then at around 7:30 - there were banging and clanging noises outside - so... I was up.

Tonight should be sleepalicious.

Soooo, Jack put his big fuzzy butt on my keyboard and changed something. I'm not sure what he did or how he did it, but I think he magnified the display so it now doesn't fit on my screen. I've changed my resolution several times, but that doesn't solve the problem.

You'll never get a job in IT, Mister Fuzzyflop.

Oh, sure- blame it on the cat.;)

Prudence and WB, i am so very sorry for your loss and for the enduring sorrow you must feel.

So I got home from visiting Cherny in the valley. Somewhere on the drive up El Toro, my car's temp gauge jumped way up to the red and I made ready to pull over when it moved back down to it's slightly-high position it has held for a while. But after parking I noticed steam pouring out the front of my car. I don't wanna know. I really don't wanna know. But I'm sure I'll be finding out.

Loose hose. Seriously- the same thing happened to me last summer, and I thought my car engine had caught fire. Turned out a hose had disconnected and sprayed coolant all over my engine.

I'm drinking my tea right now as I get ready for bed. But it is something called "Natural Calm". It makes you feel so nice and calm and ready to sleep. I add lemon and honey to it. It's GREAT!

Oh, and for the chemists out there it is just Soluble Magnesium Citrate. Helps keep your Magnesium levels correct, which also helps with leg aches when you also take calcium.

You can get it here

I'm still a huge fan of Peet's Xiao's blend. It's the tea I can't stop buying. I've lived through the nastiest of nasty germs/bugs going around. I like it hot, I like it iced, too.... It's a blend of peppermint, chamomile and rose hips. The peppermint soothes, the chamomile relaxes, and rose hips are an excellent source of vitamin C - so it's perfect for those times when I'm just not feeling right and don't feel like having something sour or citrusy. MmmMmmMmm....

It's also the perfect stressful school-time relaxant. I'll bring some bags to school with my thermos, get some hot water there, and Mmmm... Cost Accounting doesn't seem so bad.

The Girl started art lessons at a local studio with a homeschool group, which she loves. Their first project was a drawing of St. Basil's of Moscow, and they are showing their work at a local coffee house later this month. Anyway, the director called and asked if it was okay that they put Tori's pic on their webpage, which really made her day. She has several aunts who are artists, and I think she definitely has their genes. Anyway, here is her pic:


Notice her shirt? Medieval Times.......:D

Wow! She definitely has the genes!

Grats to Tori!

Hopefully, Wendy is right and all it is is a hose. I had a similar circumstance a few months ago but instead it was a cracked radiator. Turns out my truck has a plastic one, which I never knew they even made. Therefore, it couldn't be welded and had to be replaced. It wasn't incredibly expensive but with labor, it also wasn't cheap.

Good luck and let's hope it's the hose!

And Wendybeth, tell Tori that picture rocks! :)

Wendybeth,

That is a great picture! Any chance of a bigger scan or a link to the page?

What he said. That's some serious art there! :snap:

Yes, yes, we want to see it up close, WB!

I have just crawled out of bed after sleeping or staring into space all yesterday.

We had a 7AM (that's 4AM PST) flight back from Michigan. And thanks to our eastward redeye followed by shower fun and excitement (and prep) I got three hours of sleep Thursday night, four hours of sleep Friday night, and all of two hours of sleep before our return flight. Oy vey.

But the shower was a complete and total blast. I may post some pics on the ol' wedding thread. My family went crazy with the little details. I feel so showered with love-- which, I suppose, is how I'm supposed to feel. : )

There was some bad news for us this weekend, though. My grandmother (who has been slipping away via stroke and dimentia for a very long time) is no longer swallowing and they've brought in hospice. My grandfather is very frail and tied into her emotionally, and we are expecting they may be one of those couples who, well... go together. My father says he doesn't need me to come back for any services, but I don't know. I think he may need the support.

WB, please tell Tori she's a FANTASTIC artist! I'm so impressed with her drawing!!! I'm feel so honored to have some Tori originals!

H, I'm glad the show was a blast, but get some sleep, girl! Sad news about your grandmother, though. HUGS

Yes, even in thumbnail form that looks fantastic!

LS, please post pics of the shower- I'll bet it was fantastic! I'm so sorry about your Grandma, though. Trust your instincts with regards to your dad- no doubt he doesn't want to cause you any stress at this happy time in your life, but he may very well need his girl to help him through this. And get some sleep!



Thanks for the great compliments on Tori's art, everyone! Here is the man webpage for her school. It's a great place- they regularly show artwork all over the city (at malls, coffeehouses, etc) and Tori has been wanting to go there forever. She's a happy girl.:)

LSPE - best thoughts!!!!!

That's her FIRST EFFORT?!? Holy Crud, she's good! I look forward to the link.

:)

Thanks, KB! The school is having several showings of student artwork- one at a college coffee house that showcases local art, and another at Gonzaga University next month. (She has a Degas-like dancer sketch for that show). She just had class today and she is so funny- she practically runs into the studio and is always the last to leave. Her aunt Vicky is an artist, and she loves that her stuff is going to be shown like her auntie's.

Gorgonzola University!!!:D

The Gargonzola Bulldogs.......well, beats the usual 'Gone-zaw-ga' pronunciation.

She's good! What an eye for color!

LSPE: sorry to hear it

NA, must you make everything about cows?? ;)


(or is Gorganzolla from sheep or goats? I forget.)

Wow congrats Tori. That looks amazing!

That is truly amazing work! Way to go Tori! I hope she continues painting up a storm!

Sadly Zach still draws stick figures, Picasso he will never be.

I can't even draw a cheque properly...... :rolleyes:

How does one tell whether dissatisfaction with one's life is a temporary burden to be put up with while one's long term goals inch toward success or a sign that drastic renovation must commence immediately?

why must one differentiate between the two?
the path to and through both is the same....

forward

the rest shall reveal itself along that path

Fake it 'till you make it.

I guess the important thing might be to take stock in what's happening, etc. Sometimes, when things get really bogged down, I have to take a few moments out to write things out, or just stare at the ceiling and think about it all. Take the things that are most unsettling, aggravating, unhappy and write them out, or just list them in your mind. What goals do they meet? Is it making you money? Making contacts? Educating you in some way? Anything is tolerable so long as there's a positive end goal that means a lot to you, IMO. It's probably time to take stock.

Be careful for no burn-out, though. Always make time for yourself, and that doesn't mean spa trips and pedicures (though it could, and that sounds nice...). Just take the time to relax - it sounds like you have a busy life, and I hope you don't bury yourself under all that it seems you have going on!

You can't tell. Sorry.

isnt that what I said? ;)

Stress, there is good stress and bad stress. All stress.

My mother in law pointed this out to me way back when. She was explaining how even though our getting married was a positive thing, it was still quite stressful.

I agree, it is all the same. Same road. Just sometimes bumpy and sometimes not. Sometimes it all feels the same.

WOW! That is fabulous! I've always been envious of those who have the ability and talent to render on paper. When she starts selling, let me know! I'd love to have a Tori original! :snap:

just donated my pint-O-red and donated my free Pint-O-Baskin Robbins to my cube-mate, she's happy and I'm out of the way of temptation! Whew!

What the Fu<k is up with the weather? I has been windier than shyt all day today then, suddenly, a very dark cloud covered the sky and rain came pouring down. Of course, I'm fixing to leave to go do 2 hours of dog walks.

It's snowing in the local mountains too, our winter storms don't arrive in winter anymore.

I just watched the same thing happen out here. I walked out of a building, it was bright blue skies, but windy as hell. I turn around, and just coming over the building I can see some nasty looking clouds. I get in the car and blink and the sky is dark. No rain yet, but whatever's coming, it's moving fast.

Similar weather up North. Bundle up is my only advice!

A FAST MOVING PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING STRONG GUSTY WINDS..
A CHANCE OF SHOWERS...AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS
WILL BE STRONGEST AND MOST WIDESPREAD IN THE DESERTS AND ON THE
DESERT SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS WHERE HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE IN
EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM.

THIS STORM WILL ALSO BRING GUSTY WEST WINDS AND A LARGE WEST SWELL
TO THE COASTAL WATERS WITH A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK AT THE BEACHES. A
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL WATERS.

from here

It's dumped 4 inches of snow in the local mtns in the last 1/2 hour.

Looks like it will be here in about 30 - 40 minutes. If this wind keeps up I'll have to surface street it home. I don't really feel like being blown off the 241.

I'm so proud of myself. I created a new Gypsy Den addict.

I'd be proud of you, too, if I knew what you were speaking of. I think this is one of those moments when I am supposed to feel every single one of my 46 years.....multiplied by 6

It's a local restaurant. Meanwhile, I'm proud of myself for recently breaking the addiction.

Ah (lightbulb)!

Happily or unhappily, no location remotely close to me. :)

YAY! I still live and work far enough away that it's not something I can do on a whim 5 of the 7 days out of the week. Though I've been there twice in as many days now and if there weren't other things planned for tonight we'd probably be back.

There are reports it is snowing here in Ventura County.

Bundle up and prepare for the Rapture!

Not until I get back from Disneyland damn it!:mad:

Well, we are only a few days past the anniversary of Heaven's Gate, maybe they were right?

Or maybe this is a preview of the snow effect on the castle?

It's raining here. 40 minutes. Am I good or am I good.

lets see.
wind kicking up here...check
sun is out, but big grey clouds rolling in...check
rain about to wash away half the city...stay tuned.
should get here just in time for rush hour.

oh joy :(

According to weather.com, the rain in Orange is going to hold off until 7pm. CP better hope so...she road her bike to work today.

Windy and cold here. I just picked Boy up from school. He said they got hail. *pout* I didn't get hail at work, and it is only around 5 miles away.

I have the doors open, but the front door squeaks. I figure it will be closed before I leave to go back to work.

Well, it was cloudy and cool all morning, then about 2pm it was dark cloudy and VERY windy, and it looked like there may have been snow on Saddleback, but now it's 3pm, the sun is shining, there are only a few wispy clouds in the sky and a slight breeze.

WTF?!?!?!?

I'm posting this because... well, I can't do bloody much else. I made the somewhat catastrophic mistake of attempting to return the call from the car mechanic, and I've currently been on hold 13 1/2 minutes without so much as a courtesy "we haven't forgotten you" pickup. Oh, that's after I hung up the first time, having been on hold long enough to conclude I HAD been forgotten. This is monopolizing my phone, which I need to do my damn job.

But thank god I called them on the land line, if this was sucking up my mobile minutes. Hallelujah, he just picked up, and it's 15 minutes into the fecking call...

:mad:

The radio talkin' guy just played Summer Song by Joe Satriani and improved my mood by at least 300%.

Tori got her expander today- finally got a good fit. (Third try was the charm). She wanted McDonalds, which I thought was ambitious, and sure enough she almost choked on the first bite. (She has to get used to her tongue hitting the metal, and food getting stuck in it). Quick round of tears, partially cured by a large bowl of chocolate ice-cream, soft-serve style.

I journal (and not necessarily on line), talk to people who know you, talk to people who have gone down either path. Take some time to think about what "drastic renovation" really is, what it looks like, what it feels like when your there, and how and whether or not it's any different than your are proceeding now.

I hope the weather isn't too harsh this evening.

My kids all went to Disneyland and are going to the Lab {I guess, Nature Foods? Whole Foods??} for dinner.

So, there were a lot of LOT'ers at DL today? Did anyone notice a chickie with long blue hair? {I think she said it is lavender....} She is my chickie. :)

Native foods (technically across the street from The Lab at The Camp). Vegan place, I haven't tried it yet.

Sooo, I finally took the plunge and dove into "The Wind-up Bird Chronicle". I'm about eight chapters in and loving it.

Dah! They hate how I can't remember.....They were confused when I told them I was taking Dad to see 'Road Hogs' the other day....

Is the Gypsy Den vegetarian? I have actually dined with them at Native Foods. It is pretty good. And, I love the atmosphere. {The Gypsy Den looks quite enticing as well!}

Anyone been to the Pirates dinner in Buena Park? And, has anyone used

http://www.dwtickets.com/Discount_Pi...ckets_s/62.htm

before? The prices for the dinner are quite high but these seem more reasonable....living not so far away we are flexible...

I'd call Gypsy Den vegetarian friendly. They serve a bunch of chicken dishes (their waldorf chicken salad is one of their specialties), and I believe the occasional ground beef dish, but they also have lots of excellent veggie options.

Well...I'd like it but she wouldn't.

The Gypsy Den looks really really cool.

... Nice weather we're having, eh.

My friend's pregnancy isn't going to make it to term. It's been a crappy week. I'm ready for something hope-inspiring now.

It's yummy. I go there with Mr. TheaterTech.

You can find several vegan items there and they know what all the ingredients are.

There's also poking around employment websites, accidentally applying for a job in New Zealand, then receiving emails that indicate they are interested in you.

If I answer the phone and the telemarketer says "sweetie can I talk to your Mom". I get to hang up on them - idiots.

Answer 1 - Sure, hang on [then put the phone down and walk away]

Answer 2 - If you can find her. She left for the bar 3 years ago.

Answer 3 - No, she's taking a shower with the mailman.

Watching "Any Which Way You Can" on AMC. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid on next.:cool: :snap:

Yup, in Huntington Beach the wind kicked up to about 45-50 mph causing reduced visability with all the dust in the air. It looked foggy, and got dark with black clowds! Real strange looking!

Then it rained for a short time, just long enough to wash the dust out of the air, and place it on our cars. It rained mud!:eek:

Then the sun came out a few minutes later to bake the mud on the cars. :mad:

Isn't Mother Nature wonderful? :rolleyes:

Yeah, I'm in HB, too, and that lovely sequence happened within a few short moments.

And yes, my car is caked and baked. Since I'm heading out of town on Thurs, and it will be parked outside, I'm just going to deal with it and wash it when I get back.

My newly detailed car is all dusty/spotty. Stupid drizzle. If it doesn't pour by Saturday Shiny is getting another bath.

We had just washed all of the cars a couple of days ago.

Word up~ don't wait too long after a road trip to wash the bugs off of your car. They were very very very hard to remove. If I did indeed do so.

Also, don't write on your car when dirty. My sisters car was really dirty and someone wrote on it 'Wash Me'. It can still be seen.

Has this happened to anyone else? Perhaps she can polish it up? It is an old truck, I doubt if she has waxed it.

I've been thinking about that movie lately. It has been a while since i have seen it. And Susan never has.

Pursuit of Happyness arrived in the mail today. Great movie. The special features are very interesting.

We just bought that tonight. Looks good, but we didn't get a chance to watch it yet.

The Girl just got her first phone, courtesy of Daddy. (I also got a new one- yeah!) Hers is an introductory phone, perfect for first-timers, complete with parental control and GPS capabilities. She doesn't mind; she's totally stoked about having her first phone, and she is practicing her texting skills on me. The kid is growing up. (Even if she does still play with dolls).

Btw- I showed her your comments about her art, and she was thrilled. Ty all very much.:)

Weather is here, wish you were beautiful.

Seriously though. Sun, Black cloud, drizzle, sun, nighttine freezing cold winds, fireworks cancelled, Julie Andrews sent home for the night.

Boy, Coastermatt & Rose have as much energy as the energiser bunny !! We stayed till park closing !!

Yeah, Lash! Puhleeeese don't get burn't out before we get there, man! We're going to have some serious fun when we do- providing the Huckleberry wine makes it through the flight!;)

Glad you're having fun with the West Coast contingent.:cheers:

My holiday won't be complete without a ride through "It's A Smell Small World" with Tori. :D

We've been to it, the kids liked it. I'm not sure how we bought the tickets, I wasn't in charge.

Thanks for the response, I am glad to know kids like it because it cost enough!!!

{hee hee, a pirate resonded to the question about the pirate show...:snap: }

WB - does Tori now text you from the other room instead of getting up to ask you something?

Maddy is still on a high from her first phone which I got her in January. She does come up with some very creative photos and videos though which she sends to amuse me. And actually it's been a great way for her to communicate with me when she's at her dads.

Lol! No, not yet anyway. I'm sure she'll try it- once.:evil:

My Maddie does that all the time, as does her father. The bonus is that when she's not up on time in the morning, I can call her phone and have her jolt awake in surprise ;)

Sooo...

Got this month's electric bill.

$29

Yes, it's been a mild month, but methinks replacing all the lights, reinsulating the house and replacing outdated hvac equipment had to help

To quote Nephy "squee!!!!!!"

congratulations! It's always nice to see proof that all that work made a difference.

Aw, damn! I haven't ever had an electric bill that low in all of my married life. This months bill was almost $60 more than last month. I know they had mentioned things were going up, I guess so.

But, I have to talk with the 'kids'. There are two of them with those new big t.v.s. Don't those burn a lot of power? I mean, I even turned off the spare fridge.

I am just no so happy about these damn bills. :mad:

Damn! I've never been so tempted in my life to switch out the bulbs!

Nice bill...

What was the bill last month?

You saw Kevy's post about the deal at Ganahl Lumber, right?

I have two refredgerators, a pond pump, the computers, two TVs, three cell phones and 4 cordless phones always charging, all electric cooking, and a daughter who primps using every electric primping tool known to man.

I'll never see an electric bill that low. Although I switched out the lighting and can see a $60 bill on average. Not bad since it has been twice that....

i guess the critical issue is water conservation - at least that's what was on the freeway signs. "an OC water emergency".

bizzare, following a deluge yesterday!

We are still way below normal rainfall... This snow season also really sucked :(

Well, I haven't seen a bill that small in over 20 years. My current due is
$240 something.

I seriously want to turn off everything and just play monopoly by candlelight.

Or other things....:snap:

So, I broke a key in the lock of a client's house today as the hungry dogs barked away inside. I've discovered that I shouldn't quit my day job to become a theif because I cannot jimmy a window open. Luckily, I was able to get the client on the phone and they remembered they have a set of laundry room key in the garage that, thandfully, wasn't locked. What a fricking nightmare!

Two months ago I was whining about a special promotion at work that was taking up all my time. It was supposed to be for January only but they decided to extend it through February. At the end of February they extended it through March. I now have 7 boxes (the big ones that hold copy paper) in my cube full of the related mail that we've received since about March 3. My supervisor has at least two boxes with mail from the first few days of March. That's all mail that we weren't able to process in March because we were too busy trying to catch up with February. This is all in addition to our regular work which generally fills up the day. We've been feeling a little shell-shocked but happy that March was just about over.

Last night before I left I got a forwarded e-mail indicating they were planning to extend the promotion into April. At this rate we will still be catching up on this thing in 2009.
:mad:

Mori... Honey... Get thee to a Home Depot.

Bulb replacement was my first step on this quest. Best I can figure I saved right at 24% from that one change alone.

They do cost more, but you don't have to replace them NEARLY as often.

Like he said - we moved with our lightbulbs.

$23.52 :cool: Last month was still cool enough not to need any AC.

And for you, the computer geek that you are, get a handle on how much your bricks (those little black power converters used to power low voltage equipment) are costing you. The one that powers my laptop uses juice even when the laptop is off (bad design). Many of these devices have this problem. TVs, too! I put them all together on one switched power strip in my office so I can turn them all off when I leave the house.

Okay, I know we can't turn off things that have clocks or that will need to be reset every time, but, as far as the computer goes, what can we turn off?

My mother, she has those power strips all over her house. She unplugs other things {microwave, toaster, etc.} and even the stove!!! {the clock, light, whatever}.

I have told the kids that all of their chargers constantly use juice {the ones left plugged in for phones, games} and all of the freakin' t.v.s etc. do also.

Lights. We have a light over our garage, it is one of those that turn on on their own {maybe flourescent, hologen? not sure}. We also had one in our back yard but when they put up rain gutters we had to take it down.

I have heard those big lights use up a lot of energy. But, unfortunately, this court has no lighting and none of the other neighbors use any lights. If we don't burn it, the court is pitch black. The city doesn't even keep the lights going. We've always kept lights going for family members coming and going.

This is all killing me. :(

They make compact flourescent flood lights, see if they will fit in the existing outdoor fixture.

I believe they are replacing a waterline to a pumping station, and OC is using more water than expected. The pumping station should be back online on saturday.

So we had to take the Catholic FOCCUS test tonight, so that the local priest has something to discuss with us when we plan the wedding. There were a lot of doozies ("true or false: I imagine I will feel uncomfortable nude in front of my spouse") but nothing tops "true or false: I feel that my spouse expresses affection adequately and appropriately."

Oh, yeah, baby. I'm in the mood for adequate and appropriate affeeeeeection.

Kill A Watt might be a good tool for you.

Makes it really easy to find the power leakers.

Good luck!!

Screw that. Its 50/50 chance. What''re they gonna do? Not let you get married because you answered wrong? **** 'em!

I would want to answer this one true just to hear what he said

Heh heh. We had to take the "cohabitational" part of the test, so they know that I'm a scarlet woman.

Yep - it's still going on. I stopped by the other day and picked up 5 more bulbs. I know own 10 and have only spent $2.00 (plus tax).

Unfortunately, the one thing that kills is the most on power is the basking lamps for the Dragons. We have six enclosures in our house. All but one have 100 watt basking bulbs (plus the UV light). Right now, all of them are on 12 hours a day, but will soon be upped to 14 hours per day. That's 9.1 kilowatt hours every day. Ouch

Our bill is usually in the $40's (but that's with a 25% discount). We've been slowly changing out the blubs we can change (we have a lot if indirect lighting that used small wattage bulbs). We never have our TV on and have an efficient refrigerator but our computers are usually on and there are several lights on timers and two that are always on (front porch and sensor floods in the back). But, our bill is not too bad, considering.

Can you swap out the "always on" with compact flourescents?

Why are you so mad, DPR?

The front light is a CF but the floods in the back are not. I didn't know they made them. I will check for them next time.

I just noticed that, sorry, I'm not mad, I think I'm just spastic with my typing this evening.

Stop typing like I do.

I don't know what I do, but in replying to emails, I will often end up replacing the subject of the email with one simple exclaimation point. It all happend so fast, I haven't been able to figure out what I do.

Whatever it is you do with your typing, please don't fix it. It provides hours of entertainment for the rest of us.

I just wanted to say hello to all y'all.
:)

Hello. I have internetage again... thanks to zapppop.
:)

Yaay, GC! :cheers:Yaay, Zapppop!:cheers:

Nice to see you hooked up again, GC!

Ugh. I am trying not to think I have a chance but I entered a contest to meet and greet someone I'd really like to....meet and greet. :D

Anyone have any 'ins' with the Avalon in Hollywood????

Working on surprising the Hubster tomorrow. We have gone up to Julian many times and toyed with an impromtu stay over. So, I am going to surprise him as I have booked us a night at a hotel. I even got the room we want.

Now, if only it isn't horribly windy and he doesn't catch me slipping the overnight bags in to the trunk....the kids are working with me on this one.
Taking the iPod player and a portable DVD. What I really look forward to doing is stargazing. :D

Ugh. I have another glitch. He has promised to take a good friend to the airport Friday morning. My daughter said she would...at six a.m.!! Can't tell him to work it out until we are up there and he knows about the room....

Not only does local rainfall have little to do with the water supplied for our plumbing, the notices going up everywhere are because a water treatment plant in Yorba Linda has been shut down for major maintenance.

We have one light that we leave on all day so that Barnum isn't left in the dark if we come home after sunset. Unfortunately, that one light is my favorite high-wattage reading light. (I likes me dem bright lights, which is why I haven't jumped on the low-wattage bandwagon yet).

But I was just suggesting to Talon that perhaps instead of my superbright reading light, we get maybe two smaller lamps and run LED bulbs in them. SHould be plenty of light for the poops, especially having multiple lamps, and those 1-watt LED bulbs... heck, I could put 40 lamps in the room and it's not going to top what's used by my 50-watt bulb. Not that I'm buying 40 lamps, but I would consider getting two...

OTOH... those Ganahl complact flourescents are super cheap. That would be a start. And considering the car repairs totaled over $600, now might not be the time to be shelling out for $4 lightbulbs when $0.20 ones are available.

Nitpick: Watts are not a measure of the brightness of light. Brightness is measured in lumens.

As an example, the compact flourescent bulbs I picked up at Ganahl are 23 watts with the [theoretical] equivalent brightness of a 100 watt bulb. The compact flourescents are energy saving because they give the same brightness while using less energy. Between that energy cost savings and the need to replace them less often, the higher cost for the bulb is cost justified.

This is something some pet owners do that I don't understand (with Lani, if we go away for the weekend she leaves the radio on, as if the cat cares).

Dogs and cats generally don't have a problem with being in the dark as both have excellent night vision.

Side note - rabbits have pretty poor night vision. Actually, they have pretty poor daylight vision as well. They're crepuscular (mostly active at dawn and twilight) so they don't adjust well to either extreme of light conditions.

Of course, when they do see, they have a nearly 360 degree field of vision save for a small blind spot in front of their nose.

I went out last night, right at 10pm. Missed LOST! and got home too late to watch it. It is taking all my willpower to not read spoilers. And most of my efforts to stay awake. I'm getting to old to be out till 2am on a work night.

The Butler did it.