Yay! My play reading went really well, everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I got lots of thoughtful constructive feedback. (Also, I learned loads about some of the scenes just by seeing/hearing it come from other actors.) So, I hope it'll go to the next phase quickly and become a full fledged production soon.

Thanks for the good vibes, folks!

Ah, abg, I haven't been able to ride in over a week! {not that I ride so many miles but I do enjoy what I do!!} Circumstances kept me from being able to get out and then I got sick. I tried to go for a walk/run and I actually had a dizzy spell and fell!! I couldn't freakin' believe it! I had been having spells but I figured I'd be safe if I weren't driving....I was lucky to have fallen into a soft rosemary bush. It smelled good, too.

Soon, soon we will get back out for a ride.

How about the Santa Monica trails? Hubster was showing me some show about the trails up there...isn't that where someone was attacked by a mountain lion? I would have thought {by the footage} there were too many people for ml to come around?

BDB~I vaguely know what you are talking about, so, I am behind you myself.

Congrats, flippy on your reading!!!

My Mom-in-law is going to Denmark on Tuesday, for a huge family reunion. Prior to trips, she is notorious for holding what we fondly refer to as "Trudy's Death Watch" sessions, which are pretty much informational sessions instructing us what to give whom in the event of her untimely (airplane plunging in a fiery death spiral into the Atlantic) demise. This time, she was in the midst of telling me who gets all her Mormon related materials when I had a thought- what would Tori get, if (God forbid) she should no longer be around? I know that Eric's sisters are all qued up for the large stone rings and big ticket items, but I really felt Tori should get something of sentimental value that belonged to Trudy and Bob, my deceased FIL and all-around great guy. In the meanwhile, Tori was sketching a pic for Trudy in prep for her trip- one of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen. She finished it, and took it downstairs to Trudy. A few minutes later, Trudy came up and handed me a plain gold band, well worn and obviously older. She told me that it was her and Bob's first wedding ring, later replaced by a more opulent one that is earmarked for her eldest daughter. Tori put it on, and it was a perfect fit. I feel like I hit the lottery- I didn't know this ring even existed. It's just a plain band, but it means the world to me, and to Tori as well. I don't give a shyt about monetary value- the idea of heirloom and sentimental meaning is sooooo very much more valuable to me. On my side of the family there is really nothing, and I want Tori to have a sense of tradition and continuity of family- it's more important to me than anything, and I love that she 'gets it' She knows how special this is, and I am so happy that she will have have something to pass on to her children.

After a horrid week, color me happy.:)

Just an FYI - if you're out of laundry detergent and then buy more but don't put it in the laundry room, and your daugher does a load of her laundry and then yours, you may want to check on things before she uses bleach instead of soap.

Yep.

Now we both need to buy new clothes - about 1/2 my work clothes and most of her new clothes.

I think we both learned a lesson this weekend.


Don't use bleach and Mom's should always do their own laundry.

I think this was a clever ploy on her part, so she never has to do laundry again.

If happy was a crayon color - I think it would be a pinkish, irridecent yellowish color. :)

I feel horrid.

I'll be going home soon.

"He was an athiest and didn't want women in charge."

What does one thing have to do with another? That's what I want to ask across my cube farm, anyway. I mean, seriously. Lady, you're a Mormon. While I, personally, have nothing against your religion - I know enough to say with confidence that Mormon's aren't exactly #1 when it comes to women being 'in charge'.

I mean, did I really just hear that? hehe

Isn't that about the color everything comes out if you wash it in bleach?

LOL - what irony that would be. But no - from recent experience I can tell you that many things end up in colors you would never ever expect. Brown and black bleach out in rather odd colors.

I say just wear the clothes, and start a new fashion trend! :snap:

I know there have been a couple mountain lion sightings, but I hadn't heard about an attack. Usually they don't like to attack bikers- the noise of the bike makes them nervous, they're not sure what it is. They go after solo joggers once in a while if they're really hungry.

You have dizzy spells? Have you seen a doctor? Glad you fell into something soft! Feel better soon so you can get back out in the world. **hugs**

Thank you so much! I think it is the flu. I normally have sinus issues but this doesn't feel like it. I'm giving it a couple of more days.

LOL So, if I go on a hike, it really is okay if I am singing along to my headphones? No one likes my voice, so, perhaps I'll frighten away any lions?

I hope to be out amongst the living soon. I am starting to prefer actually getting my exercise out instead of on my machines.

Bike riding is so much fun, really. :snap:

You take care and I hope your pooch is doing better?

Sooo....
 

Well my cats are on my bad list as of this morning. Anyone want any of them? lol somehow don't ask me they got the hamster not sure how she got out of her cage mind you i looked for every possible escape route possible out of the cage. And somehow she wound up dead on the bedroom floor where i found her this morning. I wasn't too happy that she was dead and the cats i know the did it (Jonny and Jovi seem the suspects here) since after i removed the body they seemed to linger around that area in particular.

I went out to the local petstore at the corner and managed to get a huge chubby black teddy bear hamster for $4.95. He managed to chew his way thru the corner of the take home box he was in before we got inside lol sticking out his face. But i can hold him at least gloves or no gloves. Scared not to use gloves but hopefully with handling daily i will be brave enough. He's almost too big for the cage but in 3 weeks i should have a huge cage for Gina the rat and he can take Gina's cage :)

Oh no! The bitey hamster is dead.
:(
So sorry to hear that...

Sooo....
 

ah don't be sorry. She was a biter. Big time biter. It's better she was cat well the cats thought she was a toy or whatever happened i will never know. This guy is so nice and big and he is 3 times her size so the cats mess with him lol they will learn. He is i was able to hold him at the store but i am so scared to just use bare hands so i used some gloves but yes i did pick him up. I'm trying to let him get used to his small cramped cage at the moment (he has to wait til my mom gets back from her trip then she has a big cage for Gina and then he gets Gina's cage) so until then poor guy. The wheel is almost too small for him so i can't wait til he gets Gina's cage she has a bigger wheel in her cage and a little igloo to sleep in too that is too small for her so he gets that as well. Wait til Matt gets home lol he's gonna say no more hamsters but i just had to replace the other one.

I just realized that my DisneyLand blackout (through August 17) doesn't include DCA. I want to play Toy Story!

Do they even blackout DCA? What would be the point?

Wha' chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?

How aren't you blacked out at DCA????

He has a silver pass.

Oooo, ahhhhh....I don't even have a plastic one. Currently. Things change though....I'm always optimistic.....:D

I never realized that decorating a pre-teen's room could cost so much! Hubby thought a couple hundred dollars would do it...I knew better on that one, but over $1200.00 so far and we're not done yet! Wolfette better appreciate her parents after this one! But it's going to look soooooooooo cool!

FYI - the last two weeks in March, Thanksgiving (+Friday), Christmas through New Years Eve.

So I'm good until the end of November.

I wanna go play Midway Mania again and again ... but can't afford the gasoline.


I'm envious of Ghoulish Delight and Cadaverous Pallor and zapppop. They could all ride their bicycles to Disneyland.

Jerry Seinfeld's standup isn't that funny. I don't like his delivery.



(Yes, JWB, I was listening to the Five O'clock Funnies - as I do religiously every day :))

I never understood the appeal of Jerry Seinfeld's standup, no matter how drunk I was

Yeah, that's going to happen. It's much easier to be lazy and drive.
:D

I got to see a grown man cry in front of his children at work today, and I had to fight back laughter.

Heck I can walk...that is if I wanted to!

I'm still lazy and drive.

Me too!

Why did you make that poor man cry?

Sooooo.....

1) Opportunity opened a plethora of doors to me over the weekend.
2) Famous people were shaking my hand and thanking me for being there.
3) My name was listed next to a major studio as a "contributor" on the printed program.
4) I am the sole shooter and editor on this project, therefore, I don't have to share the credit.
5) My work will be going up online soon, and will also be making its way into the hands of major studio heads.
6) I made a ton of really great connections, all of whom think I'm just "incredible".

Life is really, really friggin cool right now. (Albeit busier than ever.)

:D

Please don't pinch me, because I don't wanna wake up from this dream! :D

Oh, and... SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

(And, I'll continue being happy if this leads to some paying work, but given the opportunity to shine like the sun now, this might not be a problem anymore!)

If you make yourself up to look like my Avatar, you can have My AP when I leave ;)

Wooo! That is all kinds of great! I love reading about the happy (and sympathize with the sad too, but:) Yay!

We had fun in Kentucky -- really beautiful state that I'd like to see much more of...in February! Heh. I do not like humidity. It doth suck. I felt very moist and not in a good way for four days. I'll need to not just wash my underthings but possibly just replace them and call it a loss. And we not only didn't make money...we came out behind. Oh well. We met lovely people and spent quality time with older friends and that's what matters. And I now know where to go if I need a burrito as big as my head! Saw no bluegrass, and will need to visit the Cumberland Gap another time. So the con circuit goes...we find places we need to REALLY visit. And that's a good thing!

Next: San Diego ... *small sad eeping noise*

*Happy sigh* May this be the beginning of many wonderful adventures!

Yay DP! This is my happy thought for the day! You go girl! :snap:

They are coming late to that party. We've all know that for ages. :D


Congrats on the big day!

Heeeeer's Mickey.
 

just have few moments to check in and say hello to all of you, let you know I am doing very well, BusterMcThunderstick and I have celebrated our 1st anniversary (boy, does time fly) and I miss you all... VERY MUCH!

I am just working tens of tons of hours. seriously.

it's a good thing, just little time left with only one day off a week. looks like this schedule will remain through the end of the year (at least) until i complete my project.

I hope you still remember me.

take care all!

LickeyRumball:cheers:

I miss you, ML!!! *hugs*

1 year already?! Holy shamoley!
:)

Wow! Fantastic, how time flies and when you getting married? ;)

Are you kidding? How can one forget our magical ML tinged with fairy dust? I can't, never will, never want to. Glad you checked in, glad all is well and work is status quo. Don't overdo and take care, hope I can see you next time I am down Disneyland way!

Snowflake beat me to it, but I was going to ask the same thing: are ya gonna get married?

Congratulations, DP!!!

Congrats! That's awesome!
:)

I really hope you feel better soon! Actually, making noise is better than being quiet. Making noise makes you seem bigger, and mountain lions go for an easier target. :) Just be aware. There are ... 3 cats up in the mountains here. They're seen once in a while.

Thank you. Hound seems to be recovering. I dosed her with lavender oil and she seems to be finally leaving her stitches alone. She really doesn't like wearing the collar that ensures she can't get to her stitches. We took the wrap off her foot last night and she's coming to the end of her time on soft food.

You *are* incredible! Congrats on not having to share the credit! And on being the contact! And making such wonderful connections!

Of *course* I remember you!!! Congrats to you and your guy! Come play with us soon! **hugs**

Happy dance! Happy dance!

My backyard is finally done! If anyone wants to brave the heat I do have a nice little oasis now! :D

In fact, if the kids weren't still sick I'd be sitting among my palm trees enjoying the pool right now. :rolleyes:

swanie

Had a WONDERFUL time this weekend with Brian, the cruise-boy :) We were at Disneyland all day on Sunday (literally... like from 10am-1am!) and then yesterday we bopped around LA (after doing a little bopping in the Valley *ahem*), took him for his first Pinkberry, played some video games...

Seriously, if he lived in California I'd so date him. A man that will sit there and play video games with me while spouting snarky movie quotes.... awwww... of course, I'm feeling teh sad right now. My friend Nick said I should just start planning my next trip to Orlando (where cruise-boy lives) to give me something to seriously look forward to :)

I have been seriously attacking the kitchen today. I am still in a funk, but I am forcing myself to get off my butt and do stuff around the house.

I did get an interesting email today. It was from a temp co that I had signed up with, but never worked for. They were asking my permission to send my resume to a company that is offering a direct hire position. The position is right up my ally and looks like it will offer me a great challenge and keep me busy, which is what I want/need. I am trying not to get my hopes up, but it is hard.

We know a very swanky beach with fire rings that'd make a great setting.... :evil:

(Didn't you guys get engaged last year?)

Soooo.... When does he sign up on LoT? :evil:

They had a commitment ceremony

LOL he is sooooooo not a technogeek. I was pointing this out to him -- the way he communicates in emails and text messages and whatnot seems "curt", for lack of a better word. Like I'd read annoyance or something into a certain type of response from someone who WAS a technogeek, when in fact he just isn't used to internet communications. My Aunt is the same way, and when I ask them about it they kind of go "huh?, wherever did you get that idea?".

I'll try and get him to sign up though. :)

In other words, he would fit right in here at LoT.

Huh?

I got home today, and there was a package from Disneyland - my hat that decided to spend a night on the Matterhorn! :D

WOOHOO!!! :)

Excellent. I'm glad Harold came to his senses and gave back the hat.

He really would. Besides, he knows a few of us already.

I can't stop eating cherries.

Clearly, I've scheduled about a half-hour on the toilet later.

Oh look, someone who got his hat back without getting decapitated in the process.......

:D :decap: :fej:

Interesting morning. Edison was doing some overnight work to our building. We were told to power down all of our equipment last night. Came in this morning and power was still off. At first rumor was it would be back around 9. Then at about 8:45 I heard noon. So I had security walk me into the building so I could grab my laptop and go home, but while we were in there power came back on. Damn.

Most people had already taken off. I think they're going to cycle power one more time to get the AC and other stuff running right. I'm one of like 3 or 4 people in a building that's normally got a few hundred. This should give me a chance to get some non-essential stuff I've been meaning to do done.

Have you not seen Witches of Eastwick????:eek:

Haha! I hadn't even thought of that film!

*raises hand* I do!! I do!! Oh yes, the pixie dust...I was so giddy and nearly brought to tears at the ceremony for the Lashes that you did at the Hub when they were here last.

And, I remember when you met Senor Thunderstick. ;) Happy Anniversary!

DP~it sounds like you are on a real roll here, sweetie!! The best!

alphabassettgrrl~ yikes, 3? Well, perhaps when we ever make it up there to hike/bike we'll have done some research and not go where they are.....hopefully. Glad that your Hound is doing better. Lavender...so she smells good, too?

CM~glad you got your hat back!!

Yay, I've passed 3 months on the job, they've not shown me the door, so I assume I'm staying. I've not blown anything too bad.

And, true to form, I already feel a deep need for a day off! Now that I can use the time I've been acruing.

a big hug back at ya! I think of you often... (how could I even come remotely close to topping your perfect and amazing wedding - the wedding of the century!!?) truly, the best wedding EVER! and, of course we'd need a videographer. LOL
kisses!

amazing, huh! yeah, it's actually over 13 months now. and so wierd, feels like more love each and everyday. it's so gay.

you are very sweet! I am so sorry that I have missed your last two visits. but, as the big cheese says, "we work while others play." i hope that your next visit works out to meet up again. although I am booked up 'till at least May with a project. time off requests: they just laugh in my face." it's all good though. except when I miss NASCAR. ;-)

He really wants too. funny thing is, I was all over it until he started seriously talking about it, then I got scared. LOL. cold feet -I guess it's a guy thing. No date set yet, but, the discussion is happening. wanna dj? :cheers:

how cool, i see you. (value the magic) thanks for the wishes.:snap:

currently, with only one day off a week, and start times as early as 6am and end times as late as 9pm, not much time left after chores and errands....but, maybe after October there will be some time to play again.



LOL, that was a bit unplanned announcement... Not Afraid was bursting at the seams with the news. ( I love you NA!) but, it has all worked out and yes, He gave me an ring - a romantic surprise on Christmas morning. I'd like to get married (official stuff like a license) in case it becomes illegal again. I wonder how the voters will cast their ballot in November.

It may be entirely out of our budget, but, a Fairytale Wedding seems so appropriate, having met Where Dreams Come True during The 24 months of two million dreams. :D I just keep dreaming about it happening at the Park. but, sheesh, I'd need to win the lotto!

(He isn't too keen on the idea arriving in a horse drawn crystal coach with coachmen and white ponies -- so there's a few bucks saved right there. :-)

a beach with fire rings might be more affordable. LOL


He sure has been "nesting" alot. everyday I come home, he has done some amazing thing, like hanging pictures, steam cleaning the carpet, or repairing stuff that hasn't worked in years. oh, and I can't forget the amazing food he creates. two weeks ago, a genuine and perfect Monte Cristo feast as an example. so yeah, I'm not getting slimmer. ( he says i'm cuddly and fluffy) LOL


in closing, I really have missed being together with my dear friends at the LoT, think of you often, and hope in the months ahead, we can find some spare time to hang out with you again.

hugs to all

hugs to you! I miss you!

thank you so much, I would add more here, but unexpected company just arrived. gotta run>

FBI or CIA?

We miss you Lickey Mogumbo!

I miss you too!

What does lavender do?

Licky Lumbo!

Aww, I missed you being online... Damn this job!

Medicinal use


Flower of cultivated lavender; Lavandula stoechas or Spanish lavender


Lavender has been used extensively in herbalism.
English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, yields a highly effective essential oil with very sweet overtones, and can be used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. Lavandin, Lavandula x intermedia (also known as French lavender), yields a similar essential oil, but with higher levels of terpenes including camphor, which add a sharper overtone to the fragrance. Spanish lavender, Lavandula stoechas is not used medicinally, but mainly for landscaping purposes.
Essential oil of lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It was used in hospitals during WWI to disinfect floors, walls and other surfaces. These extracts are also popularly used as fragrances for bath products.
An infusion of lavender is claimed to soothe and heal insect bites. Bunches of lavender are also said to ward off insects. If applied to the temples, lavender oil is said to soothe headaches. Lavender is frequently used as an aid to sleep and relaxation: Seeds and flowers of the plant are added to pillows, and an infusion of three flowerheads added to a cup of boiling water are recommended as a soothing and relaxing bedtime drink. Lavender oil (or extract of Lavender) is claimed to heal acne when used diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, or witch hazel; it is also used in the treatment of skin burns and inflammatory conditions (it is a traditional treatment for these in Iran).

I have a lavender fabric spray I use on my pillows to help me sleep at night.

Doesn't it stain satin?

:D

Why? Do you have satin pillows? ;)

No, I wish. I hear you lose less hair at night sleeping on a satin pillowcase than a regular cotton one...

No, but what happened on Sunday night with cruise-boy will.

Ba-dum-bum. :rolleyes: :p

In case you're wondering, I'm wearing my ears.
Do tell...
:)

Makes breathing difficult for me.

I don't know about that, but Susan made me satin pillow case for my body pillow. Found out that satin does not breathe too well. Since I am like a furnace, after about 2 minutes, I am hot (though I love how it starts off cool).

^ Oh. I did not know all that.

And my roommate's gay.

And so is HIS roommate!

OMG.. Are you covering the walls in Swarovski Crystals or something ?!?!?! :eek:

How did they get it to you? Do you write your name and address inside your hat ? :p

Just ermember me when you're famous(er) and invite me to some of those Hollywood parties. :cheers: :D Heck, you can get the studios to fly me over (as your bestest and dearest confidante, of course)

(Dis)Comfort Suites
 

The airport hotels in Milwaukee have been blechy so I did some reading of reviews at expedia.com. The Comfort Suites was highly rated, clean, comfortable, etc.

Ugh, no. The room itself was fine BUT on an energy-saving timer. You stick your key card into a slot which activates the lights and a/c. That's fine - everyone wants to save energy and too many people leave the a/c and lights on when they leave the room.

Now, the whole building was hot and stuffy. I'm guessing it was 85-90 degrees inside, easily. The energy timer was on a 1 1/2 hour cycle. If you turned on the a/c, that lasted only one cycle. This meant that we were up every 90 minutes through the night reactivating the a/c.

When we complained at the desk, a woman walking by said "My room is the same!" So not a malfunction.

Hmmpf. What we like about hotels is not having to stress about the power. Leaving the a/c on all night is part of the hotel cost, to me.

Did this mean the room was less expensive? I hate to come into a hot and dark room.

Gawd I sound wasteful. But, when we use the a/c, it is really hot outside. Who wants to pay what can be paid for a room and come in to a room where they are uncomfortable and have to wait however long for it to cool off? I should say, we spend a lot of time in the rooms kicking back.

With that kind of meter on the utilities, you'd think it would be! The hotel was in line with other 2-3 star chain hotels like Radisson, Hampton Inn, Country Inn and Suites. I think it was something like $120/night.

Well, that isn't cheap! I guess time of year/location have to be considered but dang!

For that much, I expect breakfast, a workout room, and definitely a pool. A nice one, too.

My aunt stayed at a hotel in Anaheim that had the same thing. Fine to turn stuff off when you're not in the room but silly while you're in the room.

The PPH has a similar but not quite as nasty issue: the a/c system is hotel wide and they shut it off at like 3am. We learned this while having a bachelorette party up in one of the rooms. It was VERY hot. My friend complained and the room ended up comped. So was the stripper (but that's another story!)

Well, I broke my record number of shots in 60 minutes: 100. And, I've averaged 80 per tape. I'm still capturing and logging all the footage from the weekend, because it takes me nearly 4 hours to review and log each tape, due to the number of shots and angles.

They (the Hollywood folks) love me for it.

I hate me for it. I have finally discovered Editing Hell. :rolleyes:

Why did I have to shoot things from a gazillion different angles?!?!?! They say it's because I rock. I say it's because I'm completely and utterly nuts.

But, they love it, and that's what matters most right now. At some point, I'll get sleep!

Website that'll teach you all about Bento Box Lunches

I'm sure everyone wants/needs a tulip wiener-shaper

Of course, if you're talkin' wiener shapers, you gotta have an Octodog!

Ya know, I don't even need to add anything to that. :evil:

The graphic on the package wears a concerned expression. And rightly so, IMO.

I think they meant to say "Be hit at school"

Okay, having the a/c go off at 3 a.m. would suck! {like the one that would go off every 1 1/2 hours...but this time they couldn't even get up to turn it on!}. How did the whole hotel not complain????

:eek:

Oh... hot dogs

Phew!

not even a balloon or candle:confused:

Oops. Edison accidentally killed power to our building again last night. Another morning of not getting much work done.

Oh darn, are you heartbroken? :D

If only they could let you know in advance so you could make plans. ;)

Am I the only one whose life is crazy for the next 2 1/2 days?

To Do List;
Work the next 12 hours
Pick up Wii boom Blox ( try not to open the box)
Shop of adult gifts for bags
Make 20 adult gifts bags
Make 17 kid bags
Decorate fish extender
Get a pedicure
Go to the bank
Pay bills
Do two loads of laundry
Read 4 Korean soap operas (subtitled)
Play Wii Kart at 7:30pm tonight
Pack a suitcase
Pack a day bag
Buy food for house/dog sitter (a full tummy is a happy sitter)
Pick rental car
Go to a Storm game
Get up at 3:30 AM Sunday Morning

Oh, you poor thing. I hope you get some kind of rest after all this. :p Ya know, a week aboard the Magic is such toil!!!

You should see the list of things we are doing on the Magic. I want to go on a vacation that I can just lay by the pool and have a cabana boy fan me with a large palm leaf and one to bring me fruity mini umbrella drinks.

Why do we pack a millions things to do on a vacation?

I have never heard of a fish extender before.

I googled it, so now I know, but seriously, Lauragar, how can you drop a phrase like "fish extender" into a thread on LoT without an explanation?

Fanning should be just the first of his duties...
;):D

If you are part of a group of person on a Disney Cruise and the group has agreed to a gift exchange you will need a "Fish Extender" for all the gifts you will receive.

Fish Extender is a pocket organizer decorated in disney swank.

Please see below an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mickey-Minnie-Pi...QQcmdZViewItem

GC,

Your right, fanning is alot better than fan.
Thanks for the clarification.

It was hard for me to type "fanning" without thinking Dakota...
:D

Out of curiosity is there a reason for the gift exchange or is it simply because you're on a boat together?

But the cramming of events into every moment is one reason I avoid large group vacations.

One of the other boards my huby is part of is doing the gift exchange. I being the nice wifey type am doing the bags and decorating the fish extender for the exchange. It was a group thing and you can participant or not.

Plus, we are doing things we didn't have time to do on the repo in May.

And seems particularly anathema to my philosophy of luxury cruising, which involves the highest possible ratio of food and drink consumed vs. energy expended.

hee hee

I don't think particularly thought about the word more like what
else the cabana boy could do. ;)

Put me in for one of those, lay by the pool, drink swanky drinks, don't worry about what time it is. Slide into the pool as desired. Sleep in the sun. Love to sleep in the sun.

On most vacations, I'm up at dawn and on the move until I fall down exhausted some time well after dark, only to repeat the process the next day.

A cruise is a different story. It's the one vacation I seem to be perfectly willing to just completely switch off and do absolutely nothing of value for endless hours. Although when I do shore trips, I'm insistent that they involve something more than hanging around the crappy port area shopping for crap and preferably involve some sort of physical activity (throwing back 10 shots of tequila on a 9AM tequila factory tour constitutes physical activity, yes?).

See, I've never been on a cruise but your way, GD, is exactly how I think it should go.

When I'm on a vacation, yep, try and get up and do everything we can because, I guess, usually we only have so much time there. Then we move on.

On a cruise, heck, the vacation is always with you so there shouldn't be any stress. Sounds divine. :cheers:

Well, my vacations tend to be very active and busy. Just not pre-planned activities and business. That's what comes with a big group, the need to plan out everything.

Back-story: The area at work where my section is has two single person restrooms. When we moved into the space four months ago, they were labeled “Men” and “Women”. This caused a problem. In our section, we have 30 females, but only four males. The women all complained that this wasn’t fair. So, management ordered new unisex signs for the two bathrooms.

They installed the new signs a few weeks ago, but out of habit, I continued to use the restroom previously designated for men.

Today I was forced to use the erstwhile women’s room. Somehow, it felt really weird. I felt like I was trespassing.

Are the other men the usual "pig men" who have a hard time using the restroom neatly or are they respectful and not pee on the floor?

It disgusts me how the other men that I am forced to share a bathroom with treat the place.

So far, I haven't seen (or smelled) a problem.

Alex, you are an interesting person. Too many things to post but really, many facets.

Okay, I wouldn't normally talk about restrooms. But, since you bring it up....

I've mentioned before that I work at a big retail store. The womens' restrooms get really really nasty. I am embarrassed that my fellow females are such pigs. These restrooms do not have toilet seat protecters and so some choose to line the seats with toilet paper. And they just leave it. On the seats, on the floor, whatever. Like, they don't want to touch it? Why would someone else want to?

The moms who don't clean up after their kids: :mad:

AND the faucets are not motion sensored so please turn them off!

Now let's not even get to the little piggies in the changing rooms...lazy mf's. I have been thisclose to telling people that they are indeed lazy mf's. Indeed.

In my office we had two unisex (I've never understood why restrooms intended for use by both are called unisex, shouldn't they be asex or bisex?) restrooms.

The women banded together and pretty much forced management to restrict them to one women and one men.

I don't know how bad it was, as I've never used either of them. I go out into the main part of the building and use the large restrooms.

I've posted about this before, but the restroom I use is also used by a number of Central American immigrants. From what I understand, they come from areas with extremely poor plumbing where toilet seat liners clog the plumbing. So, they don't flush the liners - they throw them away. A waste basket (like one at your desk) is kept in the stall for liner disposal. USED liner disposal. With, um... stuff on them.

Revolting.

I remember a similar discussion with an English Prof in college. It was because the use was more like "one X for both sexes" or "...either sex". In this application, it would be "one bathroom for both sexes."

Yes, the prefix "uni" means one, it is just a twist of words. According to that prof's opinion, the usage would be considered correct.



ETA: Wikipedia states pretty much the same thing (at least I think it is about the same)

505 New posts - and I should be napping - but I opened LoT so I am doomed

Dooomed!!!!!

to conversations about toilet paper and clogged plumbing...

KB~ I have read about that problem here at the local community college {only one I read about but I am sure it is a big problem} how the 'waste' paper was being put in the trash cans. Very unhealthy, very stinky.

But, the bathroom I'm talking about, they drop it on the floor and don't pick it up!!! Gawd, I could go on.

Okay, since we are talking bathrooms...one time I came upon a very earthy mom with a 3 year old {or so} at the bathroom down by the Hungry Bear Restaurant {okay,probably not the name, but the one right by Tom Sawyer, heading towards Splash?}. I thought, 'Aw, how nice. Gosh, I bet she is a great mom, feeds her kids healthy foods and......' then I see them just walk out of the bathroom without washing their hands. That so grossed me out.

Do I need to mention the story of the drinking fountain at the exit to Indiana Jones again?

Well, I finally got the first piece finished and sent to the Hollywood folks.

I ended up logging and capturing over 450 shots. :eek:

I hope they like it. Gods, I hope they like it.

I'll post the links here once they make the clips public.

They LOVED it!!!! (Yes, I already got a response back.)

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! :D

T. You Rawk ! (that sounds funny with an Aussie Accent).

Mousewife: There are people at MY work who hawk up lugies and spit them on the top of the urinal.

come on, guys, there is no flush action on the TOP of the porcelain. I have to stand there later and look like a character out of "Great Expectorations"

Yukky.

That is disgusting, Lashbear. I hate having to look at stuff like that.

In the restrooms here there are signs that say to leave the restroom as you would like to find it when you enter. Of course, there are probably some people who don't give a flying fig so that kind of sign is useless in that case. Thankfully there don't seem to be any of them using the bathroom that I frequent.

What BDBopper said!:cool:

Well done, sir! :cool: However, you are completely wrong.

Edited to add: No, I am completely wrong that you are completely wrong. You and Huckabee are right about the arts and music funding. The rest of it you got wrong, though.

DP,

Just read your post:
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!
The world is becoming your oyster.

To some, that kind of sign is a challenge.

In my dorm we awoke one day to find a large turd on the floor behind one of the toilets. Someone went to great effort to get it there.

T, this is fantastic news (though no surprise). Congrats does not even come close to measuring or illustrating the extreme hippy dippy happiness I am feeling for your good work and recognition of same. Brava!
:snap: :cheers:


Oh, and I can't wait to see for myself.

Thanks BDB, you will one day. The West repo was our first cruise. Now, I'm afraid we will never cruise with a different line. I hear once you go Disney you never go with anyone else.

That's what I love about the Magic, compared to other ships - it has style and class.

Other ships remind me of a large floating Vegas hotel, complete with chrome and neon. Bleh.

And, I don't care if other lines have mini-golf, climbing walls, etc. My point of cruising is to get away from the norm. I can go play mini-golf just down the road from here. Why the hell would I waste good vacation time to do it?

It's nice to be able to just kick back and look at the ocean, with music in my ears or a book on my chest. I like vacations where I can actually relax. And the Magic provides that. It's a nice balance of entertainment/activity and absolutely nothing to do. :)

And that is an important factor when choosing your cruise line.

Believe it or not, the actual nautical term is "whistle".

I just mention it because I find it funny that something that loud and deep is called a whistle.

I love those moments. It's like "Check US out! Neener, neener, neener." Heh. :cool:

It's also fun to see the striking contrast when she's parked next to another line. It really makes the others look like large floating plastic pet carriers. (With the square windows looking like the "vents".)

Nothing better than making other people feel like losers for their vacation choice.

I've been hearing awesome things about some of the newer ships that are showing up. Yea, they're like giant cities. Giant cities that take you to other cities you can go explore! Sure, you can mini-golf and rock climb at home. But there's something cool about doing it in the middle of the ocean.

While I am a Disney fan and appreciate many of the things they do, I am not sure I would want to ride their line - or at least I am not putting them as an automatic top-of-the-list.

Granted, I have only taken one cruise in my life and it was on Carnival. But I was quite pleased with the service and the experience. I was concerned that it was going to be a "Party Boat" with a very large number of loud partiers, but that was not the case at all. There were places to go that I could "party" and places to go that were quiet. I was never at a loss as to do what I wanted.

With Disney, I would be concerned that too much would be "homogenized." While I am sure I would enjoy a Disney cruise, I think I would prefer the less "child safe" atmosphere on other lines.

And I believe a comparable Carnival cruise is going to be less than DCL.

Yes, but MUCH more hedonistic.

No casino on Disney ships=no GD on Disney ships.

I will take a Disney cruise one of these days because I'd like to see Castaway Cay. Different cruise lines offer different experiences. Yes, Disney is family friendly. And fairly adult friendly, but I'm not big on the early to bed, early to rise while on vacation. I'd rather be out late, sleep late and do it all again.

RCCL has some awesome ships. They're more my thing. For me, it's not about the gambling, I don't even do that in Vegas.

Toyota's going to start building the Prius here in the US :) I wonder if that will bring the price down, or just more jobs?

Good point. I actually did pretty good at the Blackjack tables on our cruise last year.

Casinos make me shudder.

But, that's probably because I grew up in Vegas, which is absolutely the worst place to be a kid.

If I am in international waters on a pleasure cruise I expect to be offered gambling, prostitution, otherwise illicit drugs, and the meat of endangered animals.

Mmmm. Condor hot wings.

But Vegas is #1 in Freedom!




http://reason.com/news/show/127481.html

Salmon Roulade Florentine, drizzled with lemon-infused olive oil, rice, and a glass of Chardonnay.... I'm in heaven!

After several crappy meals of cheap food, I remembered that I was thawing the salmon roulade (I'd purchased previously) from Trader Joe's in the fridge, which needed eating, I happened to have a bottle of 2-buck Chuck Chardonnay sitting around, and the thing that took it from a decent meal to a great meal: the $8 I spent months ago on a bottle of fancy lemon infused olive oil from Bristol Farms, which was just the right touch to finish off the fish (and compensate for the extra minute I spent cooking it that I shouldn't have).

Okay, so the salmon was a tad overdone, the rice a tad under, but the meal as a whole works :)

Trader Joe's frozen food, how I love thee.

I was having a crappy day at work today, until a group of old ladies got into an altercation in front of my window - it was the funniest thing I've ever seen, like an episode of Golden Girls gone horribly wrong.

Cut. Print. Quoted. :)

Soooo...



More photos here, including his(?) first encounter with Munchkin.

With him in his cage, Munchkin was very keen to sniff through the bars. New bunny was looking for some grooming, but Munchkin was just sniffin'.

So we moved things to the bathroom, semi-neutral territory. Munchkin...was very forward. Went right for the mounting as a dominant move, which didn't go over too well. But all in all it was a pretty good first meet, they weren't at each other's throats. Hopefully relations improve with familiarity.

Meanwhile....BUNNY!!!!!!

So cute - and CP's hair is so cute too!

Bun-bun!!!! :D

Btw, I love your enclosure! I would never have thought to do that with those wire "cube" pieces. Ken and I just talked about expanding our bun's home by using those. She'd be so much happier, and it would actually be easier for us to keep clean.

Did you connect them together with zip ties?

Oh, and where do you find those grass mats?

Yup, zip ties. Works better than the plastic connectors they come with and allow you to leave parts free swinging as doors and lids. 1000 zip ties at Home Depot for $20 :D

The grass matts we get at Pier 1. They come in rows of 9 squares for $9. Odds are if you tell your friendly Pier 1 associate you have a bunny they'll know right where to point you.

We should get a picture of the whole thing since we've added the extensions (extra huge right now until the bunnies decide it's okay to move in to a single living space together).

BUNNY!

Right now new bunny is secured in his part of the enclosure. Munchkin is busily running back and forth trying to get in. New bunny is alternating between moving to the opposite side of the cage to get away and just ignorning her.

I love watching the antics of critters being introduced to each other.

Boy and I have been cleaning the living room. It is not perfect, but it is not nearly as bad as it was. My S-i-L is coming over tomorrow. She and the other S-i-L went clothes shopping for Boy. I also have D coming over to get more of his crap (and to fix my sliding glass door).

I am feeling so much better with the house getting into better shape.

Lol! Did you find out what they were brawling over?



Oh, and very cute new bunny, GD & CP!

It's a real Ultimate Cage Match! ;)

I was on a side window, and there were considerable lines up front.
This one lady just zooms on in to my window (without waiting in the line).
She claims that she can't speak English well, and that she's sick so she can't wait in line. The two older ladies who are next in line come forward and try to explain to her that she needs to wait in line. Then one of the three says something about "you stupid whore" - and it was on!

A manager walking nearby came over and defused the situation, by walking the line jumper over to the will call window.

Bunny date #2 was textbook.

Brought them to as close to true neutral territory as we have, the bathtub. And we forced them to be friends.

Apparently, that's what you have to do. Get them in an otherwise stressful situation, hold them next to each other and pet them to calm them down as much as possible. They're supposed to eventually start associating comforting feelings with each other. New bunny was cool with it. Munchkin was pretty okay with it to as long as we were petting her. But if we let her do her own thing in there it was right back to attempting to mount. Which is expected, it's gonna take time.

We're letting new bun roam when Munchkin is hanging out upstairs, as she often does for hours at a time. Just now Munch decided to come down so I got little bun into his cage quickly.

This new bun is very different from Munchkin's breed. I'm trying to figure out what he is...

I know what he is!!! He is Cute!

He is cute. I hope they become BBFF (best bun friends fo-evah)

Public new bunny mojo! :)

From the look of his fur, he appears to be a Rex or mini Rex.

Does he feel like velvet?

Definitely seems like part rex, but his hair's not quite as super-velvety as rex's I've seen.

Could be a mini then, which is a rex crossbred with a dwarf. If so, he'll have a "double chin" that becomes more prominent as he matures. It looks like he has a slight one already.

Yeah, we're thinking mini rex or mixed. Mom and grandma are small, but don't think I noticed a double chin.

It appears the floor of the rabbit cage is a little blurry, you might want to go in there with a broom and a pair of bi-focals.

Funny you should mention.

For the floor we tried to go with clear polyvinyl stuff from Joann's. I guess you'd usually use it for shower curtains. Seemed perfect since it's crystal clear, easy to clean, and not too slippery for the buns. However, we had to glue pieces together, causing it bunch up, allowing Munchkin to chop a hole in it before it was a week old.

DP - if you can get the plastic totally flat, it should be fine.

Another note for DP: Get a bunch of small, 2" spring clamps. They are perfect for creating doors and roofs you can open and "lock", as well as attaching litter box and food dishes to the cage so bunny can't tip them over. We got ours at Home Depot for like 60 cents apiece in the tools section. Ours are green but I found a pic of a similar clamp online:



While at Camp Swank, we found ourselves wishing we had brought the useful clamps for all kinds of things. Next year, a handful go into our camping gear.

Do you need DP to pick up anything at the supermarket? Evaporated milk? Sugar cane? Circus peanuts?

Ah...nice to step into the LoT after a long day at work. You guys are always good to lift my spirits. Or even rile me up, need be. ;)

The Hubster loves those darn clamps. He buys them for work a half dozen at a time.

Congrats on the new bunny!!

Fffffvvvvck.

We have just learned a painful lesson in patience and expectations.

Long story short, our confidence bolstered by a couple amicable meetings in the bathtub we decided to let both bunnies wander freely downstairs. We weren't leaving them unsupervised and when Munchkin got interested heading towards the corner behind the media center where new bunny was relaxing we stayed close.

But we got sloppy and gave her too much room. Or rather, we let her get somewhere where there wasn't enough room for us. In a flash she had the new bunny cornered under the media center and decided to upgrade her methods from symbolic dominant mounting to full fledged nails and teeth. By the time new bunny got away she was the proud owner of a skin laceration and a deep puncture wound. Currently he's at the emergency vet becoming the proud owner of some stitches, a staple, an anesthetic hangover, and a not-insignificant portion of our credit card balance.

I'm feeling horrible right now.

Ugh. Sorry to hear about Bunny Xtreme Fighting.
Hopefully new bunny will get better soon.
I say don't feel bad. It wasn't intentional.

You didn't hear him scream. :(

Sending positive vibes for a swift recovery for new bunny.

:( I've heard bunnies scream. :(

But, GC is right, on your part, it was unintentional. Sorry that it happened.

:(

I've only heard one scream one other time. Not pretty.

OMG!! That is awful! It is easy for me to say not to feel guilty, but please, do NOT blame yourself.

I know whenever I introduce new girls into the cage I am taking a risk. Luckily, in all the years I have had rats, things have calmed down quickly. I only had an issue 1 time, and it broke my heart.

Good luck. I am truly sorry you are having to go through this.

Bunny's home and she (yup, lost that gamble) seems to be taking it well so far.

:( I hope she's feeling better.

Oh, this post broke my heart. Sympathies to you and CP (and of course, new bun).

Jonathan or Jennifer?

I'm sorry, too! How's bunny doing now?

She seems okay. Spent most of the evening under the sofa, but was busily cleaning herself, popping out every once in a while. Didn't seem to be cowering or particularly in pain. She just wandered into her cage (which we've separated from Munchkins now) so we closed her in for the night. She's happily eating. All in all, much better shape than I would have expected.

Oh my gawd!! A 'Hart to Hart' reference!!! I loved that show!!

GD, maybe the meds are helping her feel alright? I feel bad for her but I also feel sorry for you and CP. I bet it was very traumatizing for YOU as well.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080727/...aPEyJowvlH2ocA


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080727/...nU_dlzCKhH2ocA

Wow, two news stories that are :eek:

Now you know why I prefer Yosemite in April.... :eek:

Hugs to the new bun!

Hopefully, Munchkin will be much nicer next time.

I've been telling everyone about our April plans at Yosemite, but with the caveat "Unless it burns up..." I hope I'm wrong, and not just because it will ruin our plans.:(

They do controlled burns in the valley, so that will help the fire from spreading faster. The only reason I would let it affect my visit would be if the actual cabin you rented burned down. Otherwise, the effects of fire are fascinating. It's a normal part of the forest life cycle.

I wonder if bunnies are anything like cats, in that the introduction process between an established and new cat/bunny is a delicate process.

Hope everything gets better with the bunnies...

Oh, it definitely is. We were being very careful, keeping them separated when in Munchkin's territory. But after a couple better-than-expected sessions of putting them together in a neutral location in the house, we stupidly let our guard down just enough back in her territory. Like I said, lesson learned.

I'm sorry you're having bunny trauma. The new bun is awful cute and hopefully feeling better. I remember when I had bunnies, it took me awhile to get them to be friends but I always had them sleep separately. It was safer that way!

I went from CUTE to OH NO! I had some catching up to do. Poor bunny! She sure is cute, though. I hope they adjust to each other. I know it can be tricky - especially with 2 females.

For the past couple of weeks, there's been a wild bunny that hangs out in our neighbor's yard. It's not afraid of people, and will come close and dance around when you're nearby, but will (thankfully) bolt if you approach it. This morning, while walking the dogs, I noticed that it had crossed the street. I tried to scare it back the safer yard, but it didn't want to go. I brought the dogs in and Heather came outside with me to check it out. It seems that it likes the seeds that fall from a tree on the other side of the street, and was happily munching on them as we stood a yard away and watched. I'm concerned for its safety because a) it seems too friendly and b) I've seen a coyotes, bobcats and hawks in our neighborhood very recently, but the little guy seems really resilient.

Just another bunny story.

Hope that Munchkin and the new gal (name?) work out their differences soon. She's a real cutie.

I've ended up with another rescue kitten. This one is a complete sweetheart. She's black and white and has a bit of a goatee. She purrs like there's not tomorrow and really needs someone to love her. She's about 3 months old as far as I can tell. My cat rescue lady may come by today and take her. I hope she gets a good home.

Oh, I know- I live in a heavily forested area and we have fires all the time, controlled and not-so-controlled. (One just recently that burned down a bunch of McMansions, in fact). It just seems when Cali has fires, they are pretty devastating.

I just found this amuzing.....:D.....

Aww, sweet wild bunny. Hope he takes care of himself.

I'm really happy with my current avatar and sig combo. It makes me smile. It seems to match the decor around here...
:)

:tiki:

:D She's sproinging around the livingroom.

No name yet, I think that's going to take a while.

Happy Scrappy Hero Bunny!

It would totally suck getting hit by an arrow.

:eek:

I'm not a bunny.

After an evening of intense consideration and then sleeping on it to give my subconscious time to bat it around I have come to the following conclusion:

I concur.

I concur only if he means the pointy end and with some minimum velocity. I mean, if someone just kinda lightly tossed an arrow at me and the fletching hit me I probably wouldn't love the experience but it certainly wouldn't "totally suck".

Unless of course, the arrow was covered in a highly toxic poison and the arrow happened to touch you on an open wound. That might totally suck.

I was watching Fellowship of the Ring last night and thought Sean Bean's reaction to getting hit by three arrows was convincing. It would not feel good at all. Also, I think pulling an arrow out of your flesh would be even more painful. Unless you did it really quickly...

I had a fun weekend but, damn, am I exhausted!

Highlights include:
3 month old kitten rescue and finding a safe place for her in our house.
Quilt show at the Long Beach Convention Center
Wonderful house guests Friday and Saturday
Lunch with DP/FP/GG & Jan
More quilt show
Great music at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday

Oh, and I worked (which I'm doing 7 days a week these days).

I disagree. At the risk of entering into an teleologically ontological discussion of the merits and disingenuations of said conundrum, I would have to suggest that even if the form of impact were less than injurious the intent and willingness (or perhaps negligence and inattention) that lead to such impact would carry through the day on still totally sucking.

One might respond vis-a-vis the argument from nerfness in which one is not only struck by an arrow in such a way as no harm is caused but also with an arrow of such material that no harm is possible. In a situation of such extremity it would continue to totally suck in that one is such an oaf as to be unable to avoid impact with said trifle.

There also exists, in a post-Freudian deconstructionist interpretation of the problem statement, the theory that the arrow in question is not, per se, actually an arrow but instead a penis. In which case it could be argued that while "totally suck" might not actually happen, it is without doubt true that some person involved in the impact scenario will wish it did.

Thanks, Alex. I have just submitted my first quote.

I hope the quote comes with a secret decoder ring.

Quite.

Quit.

I posted a thread in the Parking LoT to showcase some of my projects while keeping them away from search engines. I'll update it as I finish new ones.

Click here!

2,000 homes are threatened.

Lisa, is your brother ok?

If I was hit by an arrow, I'd probably cry. I admit it. Boromir did a little. I'd cry a lot, I'm thinking. But you don't see that much in movies.

Suddenly, out of the forest...
Woooosh *thunk*
"Oh sh!t. What the f*ck? Sniff. Sniff. What the hell? omg omg omg! Sniff sniff... waaaahhh! Okay, now what? Okay, one...two... No, forget it. It'll hurt. Sni-sni-snifff. Kevy said arrows may be poisoned... better pull it out. One... two... f*cking three! Oh Jesus f*ck that hurt! Man! I f*cking hate Sherwood Forest, dawg. I'm so f*cking outta here. Hood can find some other b!tch to be merry..."

Yes.. Midpines is West of where they are at by quite a ways. The fire location is off of 49 which is the road into Yosemite through Mariposa. It's not as heavily populated as the Oakhurst area where they live. I'm sure they are getting lots of smoke from the fire, depending on the wind direction. I think they picked a good time to go out of town (they are going to Jackson in Amador County to visit my Nephew).

If a fire was set near Oakhurst or Fishcamp I'd be really worried. There are LOTS of home off of highway 41.

"Farewell, sweet Concorde!"

Which? This? This? or This?

none of the above.

It was in reference to the "hit by an arrow" conversation.

wendybeth will explain it to you.

Well, I know the second one was replaced by the 300 and the third one was retired in 2003. Can't tell you much about the first one.

"Message for you, Sir".

:D :snap: I had that as the sound my Outlook made when I had new mail.....

I just ordered books for my last semester of school. :eek:

Didn't see this remark before. Bunnies scream like humans, that must've been awful for you :(

(In answer to the obvious question, we once had a bunny fall in the pool... suffice it to say, said bunbun was heard and duly rescued)

Bunns also scream like that when they're mating.

Don't we all.

I think our neighbors would agree with you. ;)

I'm not sure if that is a typo or a cutesy diminutive but now I have a mental image of industrial coffee pots screaming (maybe a steam valve?) while going at it.

Holy hell I missed some excitement. There was apparently some nut bag in the corner of our parking lot taking pot shots at cars and people with a bb gun and a slingshot. And when the cops arrived he took a couple shots at them before a rubber bullet or beanbag gun put a stop to that.

I should have stayed home today. Fortunately I'm parked just outside of the area the cops have blocked off.

Century City is all abuzz today. Murder in a parking lot last night, Earthquake swaying all the skyscrapers today.

When I went out for lunch, all I heard were conversations about one or the other, sometimes both.

It's the end of the world as we know it...

..and I feel... oh nevermind...

That's ok. I thought it too!

Now someone's driving the wrong way on the 405?!?! And a brush fire is threatening a friend's house!!


Can we just have a do-over of the last 24 hours???




Wait, can you make that the last two weeks, God, Sir, Please!

I am making cookies. My mom will be 71 tomorrow. Since I am very short on funds, I am making her favorite cookie, chocolate chip-butter cookies (think shortbread cookie with chocolate chips). I also made some molasses crackle cookies (more like ginger snaps).

Since I am on soft foods, I made sure that I had cookie dough for dinner.

Today's craziness was bookended by bizzaro antics in our complex's "street" (the road that runs around the inside perimeter of the complex for garage and parking stall access).

First, on my way out the door to work I hit my garage door opener....*thwack*...There's some utility crew digging up the pavement and they've parked one of their pickups in front of my garage. Don't think they even noticed it happened. I had to go out and get their attention. They promptly moved their truck out of the way. Except they moved the one that was not in front of my garage, despite me saying "garage" twice and pointing directly at the truck I was talking about. It's moments like these I really appreciate my boss's lax eye when it comes to precise arrival time).

Anyway, now when I got home, I turned onto our stretch of that same road and I see a giant ass moving truck. Full on Enterprise tractor trailer. Why anyone would need a tractor trailer to move into this place is beyond me. But hey, whatever, it wasn't in front of my garage and there was room on one side to pass. I'll just let that dude pass first...that dude right there who's stopping...right next to the trailer, forming a now 3-vehicle wide (there was already someone parked on the other side) road block, and giving me the "one second" sign.

Dude proceeds to challenge the very fabric of space and time with his definition of "1 second" as he opens his trunk, removes a box and disappears inside his condo's back gate. Only to return moments later...and produce a second box, proceeded by an altogether presumptuous raising of his index finger, indicating that, yes, he knew full well that his initial "one second" was an outright lie and oh by the way, here's another one. Surely he meant it the second time!

Yeah, I wasn't going to wait to find out, I backed out to drive the 1/4 mile lap around the other way. Sure enough before I finished turning around I spotted him reaching for box #3. But whatever, a 30 second delay reaching my garage isn't the end of the world. And hey, if I translate into that dude's definition of a second, it'd be somewhere around 1.7 nanosecons. Who can get upset about 1.7 nanoseconds?

Something felt very offkilter today.

Just to expand on that:

I'm no believer in "earthquake weather", but it's the kinda day that makes you think. I mean, a huge amount of energy is involved, before during and after, the earth is literally vibrating long after we stop feeling. I wouldn't be surprised if that were enough to add just enough chaos into the social machinery to throw those little matters of timing and convenience temoprarily get derailed.

Indeed.

I once wondered the same thing when one showed up at our complex. I mean there wasn't an apartment bigger than 800 sq. ft. in the place.

Turns out it was a mass operation. One truck did something like 15 places and then delivered all of the contents. Apparently it works out when the movers don't need their stuff in a new place at the quickest possible moment.

Most of our guests were pleased to have experienced an earthquake.

I always wondered what would happen if a tram went into the Earthquake attraction, then a massive earthquake struck outside, and they drove outside to all sorts of destruction?

What I found weird today is I didn't have my usual "I think we're going to have an earthquake today" feeling. Sounds hokey, but it's accurate. I had a "man, it's tornado weather" the day tornado's touched in Riverside. Keep in mind my only experience with them is from the news, the movies and the book Night of the Twisters. It was literally a random thought.

Other than a really crappy morning at work the day felt normal. My co-worker said it felt like "earthquake weather" but it's hot, it's dry and it's July. It's normal weather.

The past 3 weeks have been odd, and off. It's almost a joke "something is off in the cosmos" - but GD has a good point. A huge amount of energy was expelled from the earth today. Maybe the past 3 weeks was a cumulative of it building.

It's actually been cooler than normal for July.

Agreed. It hasn't been nearly as humid either. I always think of hot, dry and fall or winter. Not something that could pass for summer weather in the summer.

It made me giddy

Sorry, I just had a funny thought:

Tram enters the "Earthquake" set.

Castmember: [on tannoy] "Oh my God - we're having an earthquake"

Guests: "Ha ha ha!" "Wheeeeeee" "Ooooooo, I'm scared :D "

Castmember: "No, really, we're really experiencing a terrible earthquake, folks.."

Guests: "Ha ha ha!" "Wheeeeeee" "Ooooooo, I'm scared :D "

heh - this was kinda how my experience went replace guest with coworker and Castmember with Official intercom voice

I hope you were able to have pleasant dreams in the end, chickie. :)

Hmmm... Should I be concerned that other men are having dreams about my wife?

True. He didn't mention what job she'd be doing with the cakes... ;)

Oh hell no. They're way out of my league.

I'm definitely not worthy.

Thanks for the comparison tho'!!

wait....

This just tickles me to no end!

*Ahem*
I dunno, I saw pics of DP&FP's cake.

Besides, I'll betcha Duff Gordon can't quilt nor make cool space-age pillowcases

true, I've got my fingers in too many pies to be Duff!

Kinky! :eek:

KB, I'm sure there will be many more dreaming about your wife this evening.

And her pies too, I'm sure! ;)

Can you still call them hair pies if there is no hair?

I make a mean apple.

I know wax pies last longer in store windows.

ok, you just need to go back to work now!!!

or there'll be no bald pie for you!

And her meringues have nice pointy peaks too, huh?

This is really depressing.

Well, get another one (or twenty)

No can do, KB. I live in a See's-deprived area.

I must have been really bad in a previous life.

That's disgusting....

Can they be ordered from their web site?

If they are only available from stores, I would be happy to buy you some and send them to you!

I'll trade you Sees candy for hair product ;)

AAAAaaaaaahhhhhh it burns my eyes !!!!! Make the vision go away !!!!!!!!

:p


...is that a la mode ?

slight update today:
home since friday, and got the jaw unwired today... painful!!!

now I have rubber bands but I'm no longer stuck on liquid diet... so I can have anything mushed! and I can sort of talk again!

Wired jaw? I missed what happened to you...
What happened? Surely there are other ways to diet...

Damn! Is it too late to say what a tart GusGud is?

No, but you should tell us who GusGud is first.

Haha... I have SUCH a naughty mind! Watching Good Eats, and Alton is messing around with this large cut of beef tenderloin that he's sliced down, the middle of, and it looks... Oh how to even describe this? NSFW! Imagine a huge "football" shaped cut of red meat, cut right down the middle long ways, then imagine a celebrity chef taking his hands and parting the two halves slightly and sticking his fingers down between the halves... and all the places a LoTer's brain could take it.

SO wrong! Haha!

Was it the Spider Pool?

He also talked about lubing up the meat...:D

I don't talk much (was a bargaining factor to go on the cruise in may though), but around a year ago I began a procedure to correct my bite:

Step 1 I got braces put on then adjust the teeth and such for around a year,

Step 2 happened on July 23 where the operation occurred and they broke / reset the upper and lower jaw

This involves a lot of stuff like recuperating from it for like 3 months... week 1 was liquids / wired shut, week 2 and so on is mush and whatever im allowed to have, rubber banding my mouth during certain times of the day... between enjoying mush. at least its not bad mush!

Step 3 is when they go back to moving teeth...

step 4 is when they finally Finnish.

Well we were at Ralphs' and looking at the selection of weiners. I picked up a package and said 'I really enjoy these.' My husband said 'That just doesn't sound right.'

And, I heard some people fighting at the gas station.

What is in the air?

figment~ I am not trying to be rude but I don't want to think about what you are going through....my TMJ is bugging me and I've been thinking of how to fix it....but I don't really want to think about it.....the ol' finger in the ear deal going on here....

MW: but they make such cute tulips :)

This lunchbox is cute, but I don't think I could eat out of it... I'd think I was eating all the cute creatures on the cover!

Hahah... the possibilities are endless. Imagine feeding your friends "Dong"

Well, I thought it was funny!

I was in the room when that was on - but not looking at the TV - and just the way we was describing it was so naughty! :evil:

Well, some of us have a See's right next to our office and we'd be more than willing to make a field trip to get some for the always swanky and sophisticated 3894. All one has to do is ask.

As one who can (and does) buckle to temptation, I think I'm the one who has been very bad in a previous life.

Aw, you're only saying that cause he's from Georgia ;)

So, bunny relations are gradually getting better. Until the stitches are out, which won't be until next Saturday, we're taking things even slower than we would otherwise. Right now we alternate time with one out and the other in their respective cages.

At this point, Munchkin's stopped playing what was her favorite taunting game, namely wander around the room casually until she's sure no one's paying attention, and then charge Little's cage (oh, btw, "Little" is our current name for her). That kept things exciting. She was also in the habit of sitting next to Little's cage and giving us a look that seemed to be saying, "I just want to kill it a little, could you open the cage up, just for a sec?"

For her part, Little is unperturbed. Other than when Munchkin lunges at her, she doesn't shy away from the sides of the cage and merrily goes sniffing around Munchkin's cage when she's out, still convinced that she can get Munchkin to submit to her will.

Munchkin is spending less time lurking around Little's cage when she's out and is falling back into her old habbit of being antisocial up on the top step. Which, in bunny terms, we think is excellent progress.

By now, you know about "bunny PMS", right? ;)

I FOUND MY FIRST GRAY HAIR! Yuck!

I guess that's not bad since I'm 48, but still....Yuck!

Cool Bopper! Something else we have in common, I love Good Eats also! As a lab tech I love the science, and I love how he teaches the methods, not just the recipes. I love to cook, and I method cook mostly. Drives everyone crazy cause I can't give them the recipe cause I just throw it together! :evil:

Dear Wolfy999,

Don't feel bad...I found my last naturally coloured hair at 49 !!!

Love and hugs,

The Stoat XXX. PS/ How did the 'Volunteering Parents" program turn out?

Have no time to volunteer now....DL and working at the school in Sept. Guess I'll just have to pay the $200!

that's not bad... it happens, Could be worse... some ladies find one hair Grey much sooner :eek:

I got my Bib number and Waiver for the DL Half Marathon via email yesterday. They also finally posted the race program online.

Suddenly it seems so much more real. I'm slightly panicking right now. :eek:

Swanie

No run through the stadium :(

Neat stuff, but a couple of the images are nsfw.

What mileage are you up to on your long run?

That's totally lame.

I found my first at age 12.

Chalk it up and take it like a woman, sister!!! :p

Besides, in the next couple years, you'll have a full-fledged teenager, so you better get used to going gray really fast. ;)

Um we've haven't really been training so well. I still can't actually run run or the shin splints kick in. I'm up to 6 miles walking at a decent pace. Which is why we're panicing a bit.

We did join the Cliff Bar pace team.

My honey was given a 6-pack of Sprinkles cupcakes at work yesterday. He didn't even eat one and brought them home to give to me. :D

OMG. They are just awesome. And, my honey is awesome too.

Yum! What flavors?

wolfy999~like the other ladies who've posted, consider yourself lucky! I was probably 22 when I found my first gray hair.

3 red velvet, 1 banana, 1 black and white, and 1 dark chocolate. :D So far, I've had a red velvet. *drool*

BD: Business idea for you!

My transaction at Crate & Barrel today, purchasing 4 glasses and a mixing bowl as wedding gifts:

Cashier: The total is $89.10
Me: How much was that bowl again?
Cashier: $32.95
Me: If the glasses were $10 each and the bowl was less than $40, why is the total before tax $82?
Cashier: The total is $89.10
Me: Yes, I see that, but that's not right. The glasses cost $40, the bowl costs less than $40, the total before tax should be less than $80.
Cashier: That's the total before tax, it's $82.70
Me: That's not right
Cashier: The total is $89.10. Do you want to look at my screen?
Me: Yes, I do. See. That says $39.80 for the 4 glasses. That says $32.95 for the one bowl. But the total says $82.70. That can't be.
Cashier: Oh.

He then quickly punched a bunch of buttons and the total changed to what it should have been.

What the hell? There was nothing other than those two items listed on that screen. From the numbers I'd guess that there was an extra glass scanned it a $9.95, but it didn't show on that screen. The 4 glasses were grouped together and showed a single price of $39.80. Seemed a little fishy.

But worse was that it took 5 minutes to convince this guy that <$40+<$40 shouldn't be more than $80.

I made cherry chip cupcakes. I think I'll go have one!

Even I know that!

I think because 99.9% of anyone on a cash register these days cannot even make change. Back in my days of retail (when dinosaurs walked the earth) we had to know or learn how to count change back. Now all cashiers do is scan the item and believe the screen, no thought involved whatsoever.

Good for you for paying attention, I wonder how many don't?

That's what Crate & Barrel are relying on....

Well spotted, GD.

Hey, I'm a cashier!!

But, really, some days I don't want to think and do leave it to the register. I try and pay attention, though. I don't like guests to be ripped off.

I'm sure I'm not innocent, I've made mistakes. BUT they will have anyone cashier. My sweet little friend, straight from the Philipines, they had her cashiering. They had me shadow her and then keep an eye on her. She finally asked me, showing me the money, the dimes 'These are 1 cent?' and the quarters, with all of the different state designs, totally confused her!!

One cashier totally just let the screen do the talking and almost gave the guest back over $60 in change! I forget exactly what was the problem but their total was only about $10.

Well, GD, good for you!! That is your right, too bad that it happened, I think it makes everyone look bad when someone screws up so bad. I wonder why it happened? Did you look at your receipt? Any clues?

{oh, and I'm really not offended....I am one who would like to think I am good at math and money....some days though when things are hectic and too many guests going through, I'd rather not think.}

BD: Recipe books, m'dear! The food's not the hard, part, it's everything else involved in opening a food service business that is :)

Somehow I could totally see you becoming a master baker and opening your own cupcake business...

(waiting for the obvious misquotes to roll in)

I'm also a cashier (part of the time) - one of the reasons I excel at my job is that I don't rely on the register and that I always count back change.

I always count back change. I always say the total, verify the bill they've given me {no place to set it while making change, I think that is a mistake as they can dispute the bill given} and count back the change. Always. I can't believe it when the young people just hand the change back.

I think I am more nice than I am efficient. :D