DomestiKook

even more inappropriateness

2012-01-16T23:41:00.000-08:00

So. Two nights ago I drank a lot of whiskey and went to bed. Sometime during the night I had YET ANOTHER inappropriate dream about someone other than my husband. My dreams up until this point have been confined to (a)people I don't know in real life or(b)people who are fictional. My dream of two nights ago was about someone I know. Someone both my husband and I know. Someone more than 20 years my senior. Someone I had a full on make out session with, with someones large hands all over me and someone I *may* have tried to climb. I'm short you see. 5'3". I told my husband about said dream and he thinks it's funny. Um, ok, we'll go with funny. BUT I am full on obsessing about it. I DO have an obsessive personality. Not OCD level but obsessive nonetheless. I can't stop thinking about it. I can't stop thinking about it. I cant stop Thinking About It. Can't. Stop. I am half horrified half intrigued. I am driving myself nuts, more nuts than usual. It's almost midnight and I am afraid to go to sleep. How do I look this person in the face the next time I see him? I am finding myself orchestrating a next meeting just so I CAN look him in the face. He's MARRIED. I am a sick sick puppy.
I'll leave you with a picture of my snarky cat being snarky because I have nothing else at this point.

mobile

2012-01-13T00:39:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in bed typing this on my new kindle fire, which I have named Angus, much to my husbands chagrin. Angus persists in auto correcting half of what I type even though it is either already correct or the way I prefer to spell things, read: rarely correct. Screw you Angus, you work for me!
Sorry, there is no real point to this post. Just to see how unpleasing it might be to do it this way I guess? Not too bad.

Ideas for forthcoming posts that are more entertaining:
Queen Mary Scottish Highland Games coming in february
Oh my! My husband is wearing a kilt!
Books for 2012
Other first world and probably snarky problems.

I'll try to be funnier, promise.

christmas redux

2012-01-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

Now that is January I thought it was time for a Christmas wrap up. My cat decided it was time to get up at 5:45am. I was less than pleased with this, but got up anyway. Speaking of less than pleased.... behold! demonic christmas kitty.

Back to the main event! I got everything on my list! I am currently wearing my adorable snarky owl, courtesy of my mother. My wonderful husband got me the new hiking boots, a slew of books, a communist flag and a plush Domo Kun (which I love a ridiculous amount) among other things. We also got a Kindle Fire. Which I also love. It is so responsive, I swear if you look at too hard you could probably use it! The only complaint I may have is that it comes pre-installed with facebook mobile, which I loathe. And you can't uninstall it and use regular web based facebook. I think there is a newer software version but I am hesitant to upgrade. Oh, and it doesn't come with the usb cable to plug it into your computer? Wth kindle?

I got my husband the very (very) much wanted Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword. He is kind of hard to surprise but I shocked the crap out of him christmas morning when he opened his brand new shiny blowgun. They aren't exactly legal for purchase where we live, so lets just say there was some finagling, and leave it at that. Among other things I got him the niftiest ring ever. It is made from a Kennedy half dollar! The independant seller who made it was awesome. He made me the ring in a whopping size 14 from a 2003 coin (our wedding year) and had it in the mail in less than 24 hours. Have you ever seen how those things are made? It's like astro-physics to me. His shop is here and I HIGHLY recommend him.

All in all a great christmas which we spent mostly in our jammies in a nest of blankets.

wth? it's almost christmas.

2011-12-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

Time for the annual wish list. Wait. Did I do a wish list last year? Hm. Apparently not. SO! Not so much of an annual thing. The hell with tradition! Here we go, this years wish list, and there isn't even a doing-crack-over-the-top-expensive thing on it!

The cutest tiny owl pendant EVER. Look at him SCOWL.

Army issue Jungle Boots

Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman

Starbucks Christmas Blend Coffee
See. Nothing outrageous. Although I did leave the expensive boots off the list. Let's just say they were black, heeled and had buckles. Oh hell. Here's the photo.

Off to bed to dream of boots.....

Wil Wheaton, where art thou?

2011-12-05T23:58:00.000-08:00

I have a problem.

Yes, another one. Shut up.

I keep having dreams about Wil Wheaton.

Shut up.

I recently started following him on twitter and I seem to have forgotten over the intervening years just how awesome I always thought he was.

My dreams are in no way inappropriate, unlike the Taylor Lautner/Jacob Black dreams, which were a bit more than vaguely inappropriate.

These dreams are more like being acknowledged by a best friend you never knew you had. And that best friend also happens to be the coolest kid in school. And we hold hands and skip (yes, skip) and smile a lot. It's fun and comfortable. When I wake up and realize that it was just a dream and that Wil Wheaton has no clue I exist I feel deflated. Like being told your best friend suddenly hates you for no reason. Then I think about it all day.

How do I break this cycle? You know, without seeming nuts? I have no desire/talent for being stalkerish. Frankly, that's creepy.

I would make this an open letter to Wil Wheaton but there is always that "doesn't know I exist" barrier.

I would like to actually be friends after a fashion. Hell, I don't even know what that entails. I guess an internet 'friend' would be someone that answers your emails? Knows your name? Stops by(virtually) to say hello every once in a while? None of that sounds right. I guess I am doomed to a life less Wil Wheaton.

And that feels a little...hollow.

20 little bags for LaFASA

2011-11-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

Sometime last week I was directed to a blog post via a Twitter post by a trusted blogger named Swistle. The blog post I was directed to was by MistyatOurHouse, entitled Hide Me! or How to (in)Effectively Raise Funds for Nonprofits . Misty is working with LaFASA, or the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, for those of us who aren't good with acronyms. If you have a few minutes please check out their site, working to end sexual violence is a noble and worthwhile cause.
LaFASA is holding an auction of donated items and the proceeds go to funding the foundation. After very, very little consideration, I decided that donating some items to the cause was the least I could do. In case you never noticed, I have an Etsy shop, you can see some stuff over there ---> SO, I made 10 bracelets and 10 pairs of earrings to be included in the gift baskets up for auction. Materials including (but not limited to) goldstone, unakite, garnet, hematite, fire agate, pyrite, prehnite, pearls and glass. All wrapped up in gold tulle and black ribbon.

I hope in some way my small contribution will be able to help even one person in crisis who has suffered from sexual assault.

Interested in helping out with donated items or funds? I'm sure even $5 would help. Just ask Misty at misty.ourhouse@yahoo.com

they need to call it "going dmvish" instead of postal

2011-10-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

DMV: the Ongoing Saga
DMV:Here, you can now renew your ID by mail, just send us money!
Me: Ok, here's your money, make with the ID.
DMV:................................................
Me: Hell-O? Make with the ID.
DMV:...................................
**15 weeks later**
Me:Dear DMV, it's been just short of forever, make with the little plastic card.
DMV: Oh, sorry, we updated it but never mailed it.
Me: Why?
DMV: Dunno. Call this other number and find out.
Me: Grrrrrrr. Hello official office, make with the plastic.
DMV: Can't. Not sure why. Call back next week.
Me: Grrrrrr. *nextweek* Hi! Where is my card?
DMV: Sorry, you need to go take a new photo. This one is too dark for the new cards.
Me:Thus defeating the purpose of having me renew by mail?
DMV: What?
Me: *CLICK*

too much coffee, weirdness, and a creeper

2011-09-28T16:05:00.001-07:00

Where to start? I've had too much coffee today. I think, think, I am at 4 cups. It may be 5. I don't actually remember. I am feeling slightly lightheaded and my hands are all jittery. Making it hard to type so let's hope spellcheck has it's shit together today.
I'm gonna go get another cup of coffee. I'm drinking the last of my columbian cumbre fuerte (which I think loosely translated, means something like 'some strong shit, for serious') which was brought to me from actual Columbia. I just measured how much comfortably fits into my cup (ie: before I slosh it everywhere), 7 ounces. I'm on either my 5th or 6th cup. No milk or sugar. So, according to my calculator because I can't do math right now, that's somewhere between 35 to 42 ounces. In less than 3 hours. That's more than a quart of coffee.
I know? Why didn't I just look on highly accurate cups measure on my pot instead of calculating? Because I use a french press. Which is now almost devoid of coffee. Sad.

On this odd coffee binge I decided cooking was a good idea. Me+fire usually equals Bad Idea. Today it equalled weirdness. I made this: These?

Clockwise, starting at noon (11:45ish) Blueberry Cinnamon Chicken, Bacon Vodka with brown sugar and pepper, Beef with red wine and chocolate, Plain chocolate chicken, Hot chocolate chicken. Oddly, the Vodka Bacon was the best. The plain chocolate didn't really taste like anything. I think with some sugar the blueberry cinnamon may have been decent. The beef didn't come out as well as I had hoped, maybe 1/10th of expectations? Hot chocolate and chicken are an intriguing combination, something was lacking but I am unsure as to what. The bacon vodka was the clear winner. Faintly like chicken cooked in the rendered fat from a single slice of peppered brown sugar bacon. May require some more experimentation.

Last but certainly not least, the Creeper. I went to a small party this Saturday. Had a pretty good time. It was just supposed to be 4 of us, nosh, alcohol, movies and living room camping. It started well enough, for the first hour? Maybe 2? And then the party crashers showed up. Obnoxious neighbors that made me infinitely glad that I did NOT live in that building. I don't remember any of their names,
i didn't then either, so I named them in my head. Tiny Girl in Inexplicable Sunglasses, Idiot Boyfriend with First Person Shooter Game Fixation, Annoyingly Loud and Repetitive Landlady Who is Disproportionately Freaked Out by Lack of At&t Reception, Extra Uninvited Guest of Landlady, and finally, The Creeper.
The hubs and our friend ran out to the car, our host, tiny girl and video game boy were outside smoking, the landlady and uninvited guest were in the kitchen, leaving me in the dining/living room with....the Creeper. I took my glasses off to clean them (he watched the whole time)when I put them back on he said how nice they looked on me. Thank you. "Because you know, not everybody can wear glasses, but yours look really nice. Very pretty." O...kay? Thanks again? THEN "Your hair is really pretty. Such a pretty color, so smooth." Thanks? Ack! "I really like it, it's so pretty." the hubs was gone 5 freaking minutes. I thought at first, maybe just awkwardness? But OMG, for serious? They came back and the 'party' resumed. I tried to stay away from him by he kept hovering like he was in freaking ORBIT. Compliments are always nice, I consider myself average in the looks department. Long dark blonde/light brown hair, blue/gray eyes, short, slightly overweight. I have no delusions about my appearance. Look, here's me.
My hair is blonder here than it is currently, but you get the idea. Also, had trouble finding a photo of me.
Also, feeling slightly coffee woozy and it is almost 5pm. I've been at this since 4pm. You'd think coffee would have made me faster.

Until next time, in the meantime, watch out for Creepers.

what is going on here?

2011-09-19T23:54:00.000-07:00

I just tried to log in, well, here, and was told my blog no longer existed. Um, what? Someone is messing with my accounts, here, twitter, lord knows what else, so I have been changing passwords left and right. Who and why? I am not important in any way, I don't think I've pissed anyone off, so what's up universe? Not cool.

I'm working on a present for the hubs birthday and need around $60 more to order it. even if you aren't a facebook friend, enter the code facebookfriend at checkout for 25% off everything. Please help me make this a great birthday for my hubs!

Oohhh, pretties....

like being pooped on by a passing seagull

2011-09-17T23:45:00.000-07:00

Went to the doctor today and she added another medicine. ANOTHER PILL EVERYDAY. Blood pressure medicine. Not to lower my bp but to protect my kidneys. My bp is normally about 115/75 Which is absolutely perfect as far as that stuff is concerned. So I got the damn pills and took one tonight. We tested before and around an hour later. 113/70 and 90/60. We had to take it twice because it wouldn't register the first time. Like call two doctors and I can be declared legally dead.
So.
That makes 5 (or 6) pills everyday. 0 to 6 at the speed of freaking light.
As a bonus (a real one) I lost 8 pounds last month.
Yeah me.

If life is a seagull, and I am the innocent bystander, can I feed it some raw rice and alka-seltzer now?

it happend again. cougar dream.

2011-09-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

Sigh.

I had another vaguely inappropriate Taylor Lautner/ Jacob Black dream.
Only this time there were several other wolf boys running around in all their shirtless, bronze skinned, muscle-y goodness.

They were competing for my attention and giving me deep dark wolf eye stares. And flexing the muscles. SWEETBABYJANE, flexing the muscles.

I told my husband about the first dream and he laughed at me. It was both awkward and embarrassing. I think I will keep future dreams to myself.

I have decided that being a cougar in my dreams with a fictional (Jacob) character is fine with me. Which means I probably won't ever have another.
Please let there be future dreams.

inappropriate wolf dream

2011-09-10T01:51:00.000-07:00

Yes. Highly inappropriate. Cougaresque with the inappropriateness.

I had a dream about Taylor Lautner. A shirtless, bronze skinned, gorgeous- Taylor Lautner.
In case you were wondering, I am 32. Taylor? 19. Nine-freaking-teen.
We were alone is some house I didn't recognize and I told him I thought I was falling in love with him. He got all pissy and asked why I only thought I loved him? Didn't I know? Then he smiled that devastating Jacob Black smile and said he loved me too and we were going to move into our place and get married and be together always. Then he kissed me. (That part could have gone on a bit)
He went upstairs and for some reason there was a hole in the front door glass and a baby bear kept trying to get in and I scaring him back out. I boarded up the glass and ran upstairs. I found him in bed with some girl and they were kissing quite passionately. I asked him how he could do that to me when he just said he loved me and wanted to marry me? He grinned again and said, "It's ok baby, this one's for the road." I was horrified and ran away.

Then I woke up. Confused, a little hurt and slightly horrified that I was having romantic dreams about a 19 year old actor.

But...
I will admit to being Team Jacob.
I will admit that dreaming about him again might not be quite as reprehensible as it felt the first time.
I will (grudgingly) admit that I have a rather unhealthy desire to, er, lick those abs.

I guess to be fair to my psyche, I was dreaming about Jacob Black, not Taylor Lautner.

That makes it ok right? RIGHT?

eight thousand three hundred feet

2011-08-31T00:11:00.000-07:00

This past weekend there was a new moon(yes, every time I say it twilight jokes run through my head), as I live in the city there really isn't such a thing as stars. The hubs and I decided to head up to Mt. Pinos, about 80 miles away. We packed some blankets, pillows, food, water, telescope and cameras. It was over 100 degrees at home when we left and a much more comfortable 85 when we arrived at the mountain top. After parking and finding the "facilities" - which consisted of a two stall hut/shack of very low "toilets" set over very deep holes AND they were a quarter of a mile from the lot down a dirt trail with a nasty uphill at the end. Wait, where was I? Oh yes, we put on out water packs and went for a hike. I think the trail was only about 1.5 miles but it was narrow and sloping both up and down. 1.5 miles is really good for me, especially at 8300 ft. Proof:
Once the sun FINALLY went down and the stars came out, OMG PEOPLE, So! Many! Stars! The milky way was blatantly visible, almost as if it was mocking us. Haha, you can't see me from home! The milky way is a jerk.
The people up there were more or less snooty. The bigger/more expensive the telescope, the snootier and cliquish the people. There were a few nice ones, but my last nerve was twangy. TWANGY.
We slept in the car, (which if you have never done, DON'T) for about 3 hours and around 3am the hubs woke up, saw I was awake and says, "Sit up, seat belt, we're going home." Blissful, happy words.
In case I have never mentioned it I have a bit of an anxiety problem. The road down the mountain was windy, not too bad, but windy nonetheless. Parts of the windy also had pitch blackness drop offs. I was beating down the panic, bludgeoning it. It was hard. I was SO happy to see flat road again. We stopped at the FlyingJ truck stop at the bottom of the mountain, an honest to god truck stop. We had pizza and headed home. My own bed was a wonderful, wonderful thing.
Not sure of we will ever do it again. Mt. Pinos was gorgeous, with thousands and thousands of tall pines. But the people and the after dark stupidity was a bit much for me.

wondering how I pissed off the universe

2011-08-18T14:55:00.001-07:00

It has been a severely crappy few weeks.
I thought I was preggers and went and had a blood test.
Negative.
BUT I am apparently diabetic and my cholesterol is high.
I've lost 30 pounds in the last 3-4 months and it wasn't sufficient.
APPARENTLY
Now I have to take medicine daily and further change my diet beyond the recent changes I have already made.
It has been a dark, dark few weeks.
I'm now taking 5 pills daily.
Sticking my finger twice.
Using inhaler before exercise.
Holding on by my fingertips to my sanity.

barely

the day my world tried to fall apart

2011-04-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

I can barely see straight as I write this. Everytime I turn my head everything has a trail, my hands look like an old school 3-D image, just without the nifty glasses. I can't ever remember being this tired. Ever.

Sunday night my husband complained of pain in his side and back. He's had it before, a few hours go by and it goes away on its own. We figured it was his gallbladder, he had the right symptoms but I never could get him to go to a doctor. This past Sunday night the pain didn't go away, it just got worse, when dinner came back up I decided it was time to go to the hospital.

10pm on a Sunday night the ER was actually really quiet. For being so quiet though he still had to wait in a wheelchair for almost an hour, in pain, while they sorted him out. We're sorry, doesn't look like your gallbladder, BUT we think you have kidney stones, have a shot of this medicine and you should start to feel better in about 10 minutes.

Fail.

Once he got a tiny ER room and some morphine, he could finally sleep, but this was after 11pm. That's 6 solid hours of crippling pain before morphine. And over 9 more hours of waiting for a room in the hospital to open up. I sat up, those 9 hours more or less alone, in a dark, quiet ER room with my drugged up husband, not knowing what was happening. Several random ER doctors and a few tests later we still knew nothing. "You have to wait for the surgeon."

Wait. What? The surgeon?
Who called a surgeon?!?

We eventually made it upstairs, to the SURGICAL FLOOR, at around 8:45am. You know when you are so thirsty you feel like you would commit hary cary just for some water? My husband was feeling that way. No liquids for surgical patients, not even ice.

Surgical patients. *cry*

They wheeling a gurney to just outside his room at about 9:15am and left it there. I made some random joke about how it was for him and we laughed. No surgeon had seen us yet, it couldn't be for him right? RIGHT?

Wrong.

The surgeon showed at about 9:40am and says, "You'll be having your appendix out." I asked when and he says, "It's already on the OR schedule for this morning." ok doc, W H E N?!? "Within the hour." Not in AN hour, within THE hour. THE hour only had 15 minutes left.

*panic* -whilestilllookingcalm-

And then they came to take him away. Just like that. My robustly healthy husband was on his way to emergency surgery. And I was stuck with my in-laws in the waiting room. I think I was barely aware of them, all I had had to eat or drink in 12 hours was a cup of ice chips, 2 cups of water and cup of coffee. By that point I had been up something like 28 hours and would go to 31 before I got a 45 minute nap.

When the surgeon came out he said "Acute Appendicitis" and that everything went perfectly. Apparently the world wasn't going to fall apart. Just me, when I got home, so tired. After I showered and ate....I don't remember what. I slept my 45 minutes and went back to hospital.

Home again, my husband is ALIVE, and will again, someday soon, be robustly, aggressively healthy. But right now it looks like it will be quiet for a while.

I like quiet.
And sleep.

zzzzZZzzzZZzzzzz........

what the hell calendar?

2011-03-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

How did it get to be March 21st? Wasn't it just, like, Christmas? Really?

My wedding anniversary was March 17th. 8 years of weddedness. So far so good.

We spent the day of our anniversary wandering around LACMA. I was so sore after 8 hours of concrete and hard museum floors. I already want to go back though and more thoroughly explore the European galleries. A few favorites:

Urban Lights, an outdoor exhibit featuring over 200 restored street lamps.
Untitled. Seems a bit lazy to create something huge and thought provoking and then not name it.

The Death of Lucretia by Ludovico Mazzanti

The Mocking of Christ by Gerrit van Honthorst

Portrait of a Young Woman with a White Coif by Hans Holbein the Younger. I was completely transfixed by his tiny painting.

Satan by Jean-Jacques Feuchère. I wanted to abscond with one but it was heavy,

Miss Charlotte Papendick as a Child by John Hoppner

After the museums we went to Luna Park for dinner. If you're ever in Los Angeles - GO THERE.

We had grilled artichoke (the best I've ever had) and I had Mahi with couscous salad. I meant to take a picture but I had um, already eaten it by the time I remembered.. We ordered 2 desserts ($8.50 each!) I recommend the s'mores. I've never been s'mores fan but they make their own graham crackers and it comes with a pot of bittersweet chocolate over a candle to keep it warm, and the marshmallow comes similarly in a pot with a candle. It is crusty and brown on top and foamy inside. We kind of fought over it. GET IT. Get TWO. Worth it.

There was much sleeping and video gaming the rest of the weekend. We went and saw Paul on friday. (I could barely walk) It was good, but I didn't seem to find it quite as funny as everyone else did.

So, now it's monday. Ugh, monday. Back to the grind.

shopping as balm for a battered psyche

2011-03-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I yelled at the universe for being such a douche canoe and then went and bought things to make myself feel better. I mentioned having bought a Tudor era brass buckle. Here it is:
It makes me slightly giddy thinking about who may have worn this. Was it on a hat? A shoe? A ladies gown? Did it buckle a corset? Did it hold beautiful silks? Or sturdy leather? Gah, I could go on and on.

I also bought some handmade soap. Lime, pepper, basil, cucumber and spice. It smells SO GOOD. Need soap? I recommend AfterDarkApothecary The shop owner is awesome and easy to work with. Her soap is silky and lathers well, it doesn't leave my skin dry either!
In thinking about what kind of soap I would like I am getting more interested in making my own soap again. It's been a lot of years since I made soap. Then I found out something very much extremely irritating. You can't really buy lye in Los Angeles off the shelf anymore. I guess it is used to make Meth. Damn drug addicts! First they ruined my cold meds, now my soap!

Wow. I went to get the link for the soap and then spent 20 more minutes shopping. Distracted much?
Now, what to have for lunch? :)

horripilation - not as painful as it sounds

2011-03-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

I came across this word a few days ago while I was looking for something else I have now completely forgotten. I love learning new words, but I can't see ever using this word. Ever. It means 'to have goosebumps'. I guess it would be funny if when you had goosebumps at some function or other where you didn't like the people you could clutch your arms and run out screaming, "Horripilation!" Just a thought. ( I just spell-checked this and blogger claims horripilation isn't even a word)

I got a new kitchen faucet today. Here was the progression:

Tuesday: Tell the manager that my current (now former) faucet had sprung a strange leak in the neck.

Wednesday: Plumber/contractor comes to look at the faucet since he was going to be in the building anyway. Promises to return the next day with a new faucet.

Thursday: Wait all freaking morning.....wait some more....plumber shows up and brings wrong faucet. Blames others. Promises to return with right faucet. Tomorrow.

Friday: Getting pissy. Plumber returns, installs new faucet after fighting with old faucet for 20 minutes. New faucet is PLASTIC.

Prediction? New faucet with get broken within 6 months. Repeat.

let a smile be your umbrella...

2011-02-16T02:28:00.000-08:00

Dear Universe, If I let a smile be my umbrella, I would drown. Not because I don't smile but because a smile looks like an upside down umbrella. Which would COLLECT water. Thus drowning me. Bite my ass universe and save the platitude for another sucker.

What is up with this week? My grandmother died. My father-in-law had a heart attack. My mother-in-law (on the way to the hospital) got into a 3 car accident when some 19 year old kid more or less broadsided her. She's 67 (68?) and fairly fragile. My niece was in the car and is now in various degrees of pain. My husband is freaking out. AAHRHRGHHG!

*breath breath breath*

On my only positive note, I have managed to keep up with my Postcrossing. I just wrote a card to a woman in Finland. They really like their postcrossing in Finland.

I also bought myself some small feel better gifts. A 500 year old Tudor era buckle, some handmade soap, some jewelry findings. So hey, mosey on over to the right and look at my etsy shop, buy something so I can pay for all this stuff! Just kidding, (notreally), but seriously, etsy has some great stuff and there is no rule that says you can't look at the pretty pretties right?

Holy crap! When did it get to be 2:48am?
I think that means time for bed. Okay, it means time to read a chapter or two of the Graveyard Book then time for bed.

Oh, Universe? You want to take it a little easier on me tomorrow (today)?
Kthnxbai!

down with the sickness

2011-02-14T22:32:00.000-08:00

oh-em-gee, soooooo freaking sick.

I think I have the kitten flu. I have a sore throat, stuffy head, a f*cking fever, nausea and coughing. Coughing SO BAD that all the muscles in my abdomen and around my back hurt, like hurts to breath even, coughing makes me want to cry.
I named it the kitten flu because it makes me weak like a little kitten. meow.

...............................
continued:

I gave up on the above post because I felt way too bad to sit in front of the computer anymore. It's been a week and I'm almost better, still some cough, still stuffy enough that everything smells/tastes really messed up. Do you know how fun that makes cooking dinner? My fever stuck around for 3-4 days and hovered around 102F. I was so weak that showering was next to impossible (but I persevered).

My grandma died a few days ago and I think I'm in denial. There's been no crying or fretting. Is that wrong? I feel like I should be more upset. Maybe if I knew her better? I feel bad for my dad, who admitted to his blubbering when she passed, he is not a sharer or a blubberer so I found that fairly signifigant. I think I feel bad that I don't feel worse. Vicious cycle?

*grumble*
Time for more cold medicine and then bed.

i guess... one sick husband.

2011-02-02T17:44:00.000-08:00

I have this book, Wishes by Jude Deveraux, in which the heroine is asked if she had to pick which would she prefer to deal with for an undetermined length of time. One sick husband OR three sick kids. I always figured I'd pick the three sick kids. Alas, alak and woe, all I get is one sick husband.

ONE SICK HUSBAND. No offense to the men of blogland, but men are babies when sick.

Not to mention it's been almost a year since I've been sick. The last time I got sick it went on for over 35 days. 35 days without being able to taste much of anything. Do you know how hard it is to cook when nothing tastes right? I whined about it here at the 27 day mark. I can feel my sinuses trying to drain and my throat hurting a little. Not amused universe. Not amused.

ARRHGH!!! Anyway.......

We DID buy our new tv, and a new blu-ray player. I almost cried when we dropped just over $800 at Fry's. But I totally used thier price-match policy against them and got everything for $70 less. WooHoo internets!

We finished the project I wordless wednesday'd (wow, incorrect usage much?) last week.

We stained the pine ebony, (which didn't come out as dark as I wanted), I padded and upholstered top with a pretty duel tone steel blue that looks like it has little birdie feet-prints all over it. The husband attached the top with brass hinges and we put a black metal hasp on it to hold it closed. Anybody have an antique/vintage (working) lock with a key they want to send me? Please? It's about 16 cubic feet inside, if I did my math right (aAHHAhahahaha, my high school algebra teacher is laughing somewhere in hell right now)And it holds my crafting stuff. It acts as a footstool/bench. It ALSO acts as a table when needed as we had a glass table top stored (that I don't remember where it came from) that fits perfectly at 4'x 2'. Couldn't have worked out better if we had planned it that way.

Uh-oh. 6:15pm and I haven't started dinner. Let's all hope that the husband gets better QUICK. also, that I don't get sick at all.

*sigh*

wordless wednesday - HELLO!!

2011-02-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

"Helping" with a project: Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-26T01:30:00.000-08:00

all is not well

2011-01-17T23:45:00.000-08:00

Almost midnight and all is not exactly well.

That transmission problem? The gear shift plate something something something is going bad and it's not worth replacing/rebuilding the transmission for $2500+. SO. We let it go and it could a few more years before it goes totally, then we buy a new car. OVER FUCKING JOYED. I'm just thrilled, can't you tell?
So. panicpanicpanic panicpanicpanic

So we are doing the responsible thing. We're buying a new TV.
This TV, I think.

I also think we might be staying on The Queen Mary for our anniversary. I've never even been on a cruise ship. I have the feeling that I will be up all night watching/waiting for ghosts with my camera on. Could be fun though.

Like I said, it's almost midnight and for some reason I don't want to go to bed. This day has sucked pretty hard for no apparent reason.

I'll be in a better, hopefully more entertaining mood tomorrow. I promise.

12:36...and it's tomorrow

2011-01-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

You know, technically it's never tomorrow. Now that I've burst my own bubble.....

I finished a book today that was dark and tragic and beautiful. The Wise Woman by Philippa Gregory. It took some pretty serious turns that I probably should have expected from Gregory, but it seems I did not. I think I was expecting something different than I got and was pleasantly surprised. I won't bore with my description, but I will recommend and link here if you're interested.

On the heels of this great book came a call from my husband asking me how much money we had in the bank. WARNING WARNING starts blaring in my head. When I asked why he said that the car wasn't shifting properly and it red lined when he got on the freeway today instead of shifting like it was supposed to. G-R-E-A-T. I wish I could make that period bigger.
He got home and took the car to the mechanic, who is thankfully across the street. They checked the transmission fluid and said it smelled burned and they we going to flush and change it.. We'll see if that does it. I guess you need to change your transmission fluid every 50,000 miles. Last time ours was changed? Never.
Our mechanic is a super sweet 60 year old Vietnamese man. He always quotes us a fair price and sticks to it, he never tries to upsell more parts or service, they do good work and we have never been charged a diagnostic fee. Not even absorbed into the price of the repairs. also? I can't understand a word he says. Ok, that's not entirely true, I understand about every 3-4th word (if I'm lucky) but my husband can understand him better so I think we're ok. When I was telling my mom this story tonight I said that he could probably tell us that he had a unicorn out back doing oil changes and I'd be all, Oh, Ok!

My mom and my husband were laughing hysterically at this.

I'm not sure if I inadvertantly made a really good joke, or if I should feel mildly insulted.

Now I claim my unicorn is telling me things. I think most people call talking to the voices in your head delusional.

But I have a unicorn so I'm totally safe.

Right?

blah

2011-01-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

That about says it all. I'm feeling very blah. Kind of sad and hurt and useless. I'm sure it will pass, in the meantime I am gorging on my favorite coffee and cleaning. Which I hate (hatehate) to do, but like the results.
I also ordered some postcards on Etsy for my postcrossing promise to myself.

marbles

and
California Oranges, kinda

It was kind of neat the other day, I sent my first postcard of the year, to Kansas (from California whee!) and I got a messege from the recipent, I guess I was her very first postcrossing card. Kind of awesome.

I think I'll go get a new address and drink another cup of coffee now.

i hate resolutions

2011-01-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Question: Why do we set ourselves up for failure and disappointment on the very first day of the new year? One word *RESOLUTIONS* We make these promises to ourselves to be better people, to lose weight or communicate more or stop smoking or whatever your particular poison is this year. How many times have you made a resolution and broken it (or forgotten about it)? A LOT right? Why set yourself up for the disappointment? Wow, that sounded a little jaded.

And now for the shocking news. I made a resolution, of sorts. I am going to try to send out at least ONE postcrossing card a week, so hopefully at this time next year I'll have at least 52 cards from other people.

That being said, it's been an appallingly long time since I've been here. Um, 10 months? Yeah. Suffice it to say that a LOT has happened since we talked last. Here we go -inanutshell-

The husband and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. I turned 31 which seems to have been better than turning 30 for some reason. I decided to let my hair grow out and not keep dyeing it every 4 weeks, it is coming in a lovely burnt honey color and I now think I should have made this decision earlier. What else? The husband and I hosted two flash-mob style geocaching events and finally made it to 1000 caches found. Which was awesome. We'd like to do a bigger event but I can't figure out how to, you know, do it, without breaking the bank. I mentioned a while back that I was having trouble with some family members. I think they popped out of the same mold. Selfish, hypocritical, back-stabbing, delusional liars who fully -100%- deserve eachother. Back in June? May? I came home to find that my sister and niece has deleted and blocked my husband and I from facebook, a psychopathic friend wasted NO TIME in informing me that my sister was no longer speaking to me because I (and my mother) had called child services on her. That she "knew" it was me because of how the report was worded. Whuh?!? that is the most ridiculous thing I had heard in a while. I KNOW it wasn't me, and I'm damn near certain it wasn't my mom. How do I know it wasn't her? She was in the hospital for almost 3 weeks (2 weeks?) before child services came! On some massive drugs, like to the point that she didn't know where she was half the time. Yeah, SURE it was her that called...

I was kind of pissed about it all for awhile because I also found out(through a forwarded email) that she was telling some massive lies and saying some fairly nasty things about my husband and I. Mostly me. THEN I realized that I was SO MUCH BETTER OFF WITHOUT ALL THE DRAMA and that I felt so much relief that I didn't have to deal with the lies and stress anymore, that I am now grateful that she jumped to the wrong conclusion and bolted.I'm sure I'll change my mind about this feeling eventually, when I'm not so angry about the phone calls, emails and general backbiting. I still miss her sometimes but then my logic center wonders what exactly I'm missing.
Life has been a LOT less stressful for the last 7 months and for now I'm okay with that.
Wow, that was a big nutshell.

It was pretty quiet the rest of the year, my husband and I don't even fight to make it interesting. No, I won't say that. I love him and our non-fighting.

Running away now, should probably figure out what to make for dinner tonight. Wheee!

wordless wednesday

2010-03-03T15:29:00.000-08:00

pfft

2010-03-02T23:12:00.000-08:00

That's exactly how I've felt for the past 27 days. Well, 30 years, but that's neither here nor there at the moment. I came down with allergy/cold like symptoms on the 3rd of february. I went through fever, chills, sore throat, coughing. Now 27 days later I'm still not totally better. Food almost tastes normal. Almost. I can't quite taste sugar. Even though I don't eat a lot of sugar it's amazing how much it still sucks. 27 days? REALLY?

Also, I finished 2 paintings.

I gave away a bracelet on facebook, the Sunny one, the other will go up for sale.

I played with my photo editor:

I got a new bathroom. What a joy it was to have workman here for 3 days while I had a fever. New tub, new tile, new shower head, new rack, new knobs, new doors.

I adopted a new badge, a la TheBloggess.

This badge totally makes me want to make little knife shaped stickers and affix them to every womans bathroom sign with the little chic on it that I see.

So, here we are. March 2nd. Oh yeah, as if the being 30 thing wasn't enough of a SUCK, my little sister turned 18 last month. My niece turned 15 yesterday. What is going on with the world?!?

Depressed now. Maybe now that I'm feeling a better I can keep up with a little more than wordless wednesday.

wordless wednesday

2010-02-24T23:09:00.000-08:00

wordless wednesday

2010-02-17T23:04:00.000-08:00

wordless wednesday

2010-02-10T22:57:00.000-08:00

It's Fuccons, disturbingly.

wordless wednesday

2010-02-03T22:52:00.000-08:00

wordless wednesday

2010-01-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

refrigerator glacier

Joann's Math

2010-01-26T23:00:00.000-08:00

I've never been very good at math. I can do baking math in my head or calculate sale prices and tax without too much difficulty. But OMG people! I went to Joann's the other day, have you ever actually looked at a Joann's receipt during a sale? All I could say was ..wuh?? Here is the really bad photo of my actual receipt:

I bought 8 yards of blur tulle and 8 yards of black netting - no, I'm not making an enormous poodle skirt -So, 8 yards at .74 cents per yard is $5.92 another 8 yards at .64 a yard is $5.12, both sale prices and both correct. I also bought 2 remnants one of which is super shiny fire engine red I think mylar, woven onto black rayon. Which is the red shimmer weave listed below. Here is where Joann's math made me want to bang my head against some stucco. I'm sure if you have some math medals (swistle I'm looking at you) This makes perfect effing sense. But for those of us who up until yesterday thought next month was MARCH, it was a little more difficult..667 yards red shimmer weave fabric @ $2.09 a yard is..... $1.39. Makes sense so far.

Regular price $6.99, which as far as I can tell has nothing to do with anything and is just meant to confuse me.

Remnant (50%) -which was an additional sale- .......... 0.70-

So, wuh? Why the hell are there so may number there? Why can't it be just the damn price I paid?!? It did it again just underneath with the Pink Tonal Floral. ARGH!

I finally got it but had to run my brain around in circles for a while. Thank you Joann's for the killer deal on fabric ($12.12 with tax for 16 yards of fabric? DEAL!) but please, for the love god and my sanity, simplify your receipts, the stucco pattern on my forehead isn't pretty.

This is what I did with all 16 yards of fabric. It's been straightened out since this photo but taking another might wake the husband.

Now any ideas for this fabric? About 1 yard, matches nothing I own and is super shiny red RED, not the orangish it is here.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-20T23:04:00.000-08:00

view from our bedroom window

Penny Lane

2010-01-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

Damn the Beatles and Damn Penny Lane. Damn them to HELL.

I actually really like the Beatles. Have since I was a kid. I was sitting here, pulling and planting my farm in Farmville on facebook and listening to music. Penny Lane goes by and I'm singing, bopping around a bit, and WHAM! I want fish pie. The line is "Four of fish and finger pie" I don't want four, I'll settle for ONE. Flaked whitefish cooked in milk baked under a mound of buttery mashed potatoes basically. I would put it in the dinner rotation but NO. My husband hates fish. Ocean lake or river, shell or no shell, HE WON'T EAT IT. Which means I won't make it. Frankly here folks, making two dinners is ridiculous and time consuming. Oh, and I have a tendency to stir everything with the same spoon. Oops!

So I languish. I pine. I gently seethe that the husband won't eat fish while I Want! Fish! Pie! This is starting to feel like it's bordering on obsession. I will do nothing but think about fish pie every time we talk about what to have for the next meal. DAMN!

Ugh, I'm actually looking at pictures of fish pie.

I think I need to go do something else now. Right now. That doesn't involve the kitchen, the internet or the Beatles.
What does that leave?

Eduardo on Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-14T23:41:00.000-08:00

You know me, ALMOST wordless wednesday. Eduardo decided I looked like fun to *play* with. Since I tend to trap spiders under glasses (or bowls) and wait for someone else to deal with them..he got a reprieve.

stuff

2010-01-11T22:30:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of stuff. We're just going to put it that way. I have the tiniest apartment you've ever seen outside of NYC. Under my bed (which is totally enclosed) and in my closet are masterpieces of storage. We affectionately call the closet the Black hole of Calcutta. I keep a fairly firm handle on the rest of the house and don't let the clutter take over (no thanks to my husband, who thinks if a surface is flat he Must! Put! Something! There!) Sometimes I feel like I am battling uphill, like in the weeks after Christmas. Woe the weeks after Christmas. Sometimes I don't always feel like I succeed.
Breakthrough! I'm watching Hoarders on A&E. I totally feel like I'm content with the system now. My quasi-organized closet? JUST FINE. My under-the-bed hidey hole storage? PERFECT. The books e v e r y w h e r e?? THRILLED!
Sometimes a little perspective helps.

Now that I have made it sound like I feel like I am so much better than these people....
Let's take a moment to say that I know that that isn't right. These people are sick. Really, truly, mentally ill and would NEVER claim to be a better person based on that. More like I can see that it could be a LOT worse, and I am grateful for what I have and what I can do. I know I'll spend the rest of my life cleaning off the flat surfaces, and I'm ok with that.

eggs

2010-01-07T14:29:00.000-08:00

Oh my God, you guys! I poached an egg! 2 eggs! I consider this an amazing accomplishment, let's face it it is a massive goatf#ck just waiting to happen. Water that is almost simmering, salt, vinegar and an egg. Seems like it should be easy, right? It was DAUNTING. You plop the egg in the water and looks like a sea monster swimming in a pan of egg drop soup. Seriously, it looks like you f#cked it up from the word go. Notice the sea monster tail?

While it was cooking I swear it looked alive. I was so almost convinced it wouldn't be edible, you know, due to its aliveness, that I took some video.

Lo and behold, I poached an egg. I was so completely excited that made another egg. I would probably have gone through the whole 18 had I not found some self restraint. I don't know where it came from, but there it was. Strictly speaking I am not even supposed to eat eggs. I like them but they hate me. A true love hate relationship. But you know what? F#CK THAT. I took a lot of medicine and ate them anyway. On toast. It. Was. Perfect. So perfect I wanted to cry a little. Once out of the pan I managed to totally ignore the fact that mere moments before I was almost convinced that the hot water had somehow rendered them alive.

Silly girl.

wordless wednesday

2010-01-06T15:47:00.000-08:00

why did the chicken cross the road?

time has lost its track

2010-01-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

Which is to say that I totally lost track of time what with all the busyness surrounding the holidays, being out of town , and, let's face it, PROCRASTINATING.

Christmas was a huge success, there was no blood spilled. I think I owe this largely in part to 1: Only having to see my sister in law and her ass hat boyfriend for all of about 3 minutes. And 2: My mom and the aforementioned crazy aunt had an all out screaming match just a few days before Christmas so No! Crazy! Drama! for the this particular holiday, and I have the feeling many holidays to come.

Oh and you guys! I did a post back in December about my wish list, go look, I'll wait......

I actually got the Twilight Lip Venom and the Bruffle for Christmas! I was SO Excited! funnily enough I think my favorite gift was one I picked myself, and only cost $6 on Ebay WITH shipping.

That's right, a Plastic Domo Kun coin purse.
Among the surprises this year is the first piece of jewelry my husband has ever bought me that I totally knew NOTHING about. Diamonds and Sapphires and 14k White gold. I know I was shocked too.

You know how when you buy something for someone you're always afraid that they are going to take one look at the box and just know what's inside? I bought my husband a box of Harry and David Royal Riviera Pears, which had to be refrigerated until Christmas. I wrapped them, put them in a bag and stuck them in the fridge. Then proceeded to spend the next WEEK insisting that I had no idea why the "guy" insisted that I needed to put the box in the fridge. But since he was the expert I was going to listen. We're talking 5 pounds of pears here people. And it worked. No freaking clue. The problem is now though that it will never work again. But those pears are GOOD.

I think I am going to go eat a pear right now.

wordless wednesday

2009-12-09T16:09:00.000-08:00

heehee, LOVE this.

Did you know resting while sick AND staying hydrated is impossible?

2009-11-30T03:17:00.000-08:00

I think that was the longest post title I've ever written. I'd go check but I'm feeling way too lazy.
I somehow managed to get sick again. I think it was the thundering hoards in IKEA that did it. We were walking through the San Diego store and all I could think was OMG swine flu swine flu swine flu. Because CDC, sorry, but H1N1 just isn't going to catch on. Ever. Anyway, I don't have swine flu, I don't think. I'm not oinking anyhow. Weirdly no fever, my temperature actually went DOWN for 2 days. Down like, 95.9F down. That's never happened before when I've been sick. I am feeling better but by throat is sore and I sound like frog-girl. I started taking cold meds as soon as I thought I was getting sick. I was hoping to hit it hard early and keep it from getting bad. I do this bad thing where I get a head cold and my sinuses get sooo bad that I can't taste anything for days and one or both of my ears ends up blocked so I can't hear very well. Also, my colds have an annoying habit of going into my lungs. NOT FUN.

I found a problem with the staying hydrated-getting lots of rest thing. Not only do you constantly have to be getting yourself a drink but you know what that leads to?? Having to get up every freaking hour to pee. How is that restful? Seems counterproductive to me.

In the meantime, it's almost 3:30am, the stuff in cold meds that makes it, well, work, also makes me a little nuts. And it keeps me awake. Also counterproductive. By nuts I mean, think hyper five year old with too much sugar. Yeah. That's how I know my husband loves me. 7 years of colds and he's still here. Also, it makes me a little... bitey. My husband calls it the Sudafed Monster.

Shut up.

I'm going to go have a popsicle now. Hydration you know.

coveting for christmas

2009-11-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

I have had my eye on several things recently that I would love to buy for myself, but with christmas coming, and 19 people on my shopping list not including my husband....well you get the picture.

Twilight Lip Venom want want want

Ananya Perfume Oil from the Body Shop

the 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

the Bruffle by Steve Madden, but in black

Wanker Copper Necklace by undeadmushroom12 on ETSY

Back to real life now I suppose.

mmmm...cheesecake

2009-11-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

The aforementioned cheesecake was So! Good! We managed to get it (and the evil pumpkin pie)to San Diego in one piece and cold thanks to a bit of spectacular pie plate architecture, a cold pack and some husband like ingenuity. It ended up cracked down the middle when it came out of the oven even though I put a pan of water in with it. Of well! It was so good as to be almost criminal. I had 4, count them F O U R, pieces. In 3 days. It only got better as it aged, as the recipe promised. I can't believe we managed to NOT eat it before hand. The force must have been strongly in our favor. (I think my geek is showing a little).
I think the cheesecake may have been the saving grace of what could have been an otherwise, um, bloody - crying dinner. My Aunt managed to offend my husband by insinuating that it is not okay to be gay. (Not that he is but we have several friends and extended family that are and we love them very much). When he called her on her on it she claimed she never said such a thing and that she thinks it was very inappropriate to bring up during dinner. Then she picked up her ill-behaved mexican rat dog AT THE DINNER TABLE and put it in her lap and fed it. wah?!?
I think we all could have done without my Aunt this holiday. She got up in the morning and cooked a turkey, then brought some with her. Did I forget to mention that my mom made a 16 pound turkey? I did? The Aunt knew. She also brought a whole freaking dinner with her. We all have to go out of our way to accommodate my vegetarian uncle-who won't eat eggs but eats dairy? Then she had to reheat the whole dinner before we could eat.
You know how when your trying to make a big meal and you have a bunch of stuff going on at once? Help is sometimes good but only from people who know how to dance? That's what we call it. Dancing. When you have to glide and twirl and anticipate the others in the kitchen so everything moves smoothly? My mom and I learned how to dance when I was little, my husband is improving. My aunt planted herself stage left and ignored the music. I thought my mom was going to physically attack her with kitchen utensils.

By kitchen utensils I mean knives.

By knives I mean, well, knives.

*sigh*

Thus ends another thanksgiving. thank god.

Thanksfullness v.2

2009-11-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

More stuff from my thankful list.

Running with my husband for the first to find, and actually getting it.

Furry monkey puppets with a sense of humor.

Dirty Greek Martinis. mmmmm

Experimental dinners that actually work

Cold sunshine with a good stiff wind

Strings of pearls at discount prices

When Farmville actually works

thankfullness v.1

2009-11-26T08:30:00.000-08:00

I decided to think of some things I am thankful for. Man did that list start to get weird.

My husband, who, even after almost 7 years of marriage is still my best friend, and who loves me unconditionally.

My mom, who has always supported me. Even when the things I did didn't make any sense to her.

My cat, for always being warm and fuzzy with a ready purr whenever I need it, and even when I don't.

Cold days that require sweaters, and gloves, and boots. :)

Perfect muffins, fresh from the oven.

Long drives in th dark, either looking for wildlife or ufo's, I'm not picky. :)

The perfect blood red lip gloss, with just a little bit of sparkle

ftf tnlnsl tftc!

2009-11-25T14:30:00.000-08:00

For those of you who aren't geogeeks, that reads First to Find Took Nothing Left Nothing Signed Log Thanks for the Cache. Yeah, see why all those little letters are so much easier.
The first to finds have been few on the ground recently. What's a first to find? I'll spare you the details, let's just say that someone hid something in a public area, posted it online at geocaching.com and we ran out to find it first. Two firsts in two days. I forgot how fun it was to run for a first to find. Seems silly, "Hey! Lets jump in the car and drive quasi-recklessly to find an unknown container, just so we can sign the log first! Oh!! And no one can see us do it!" It's really more fun than it sounds.
But you fellow geogeeks know exactly what I mean, don't you? :)

packing

2009-11-25T12:00:00.001-08:00

I hate packing. The sorting and the folding and the planning and the actual stuffing of previously unwrinkled clothes into a suitcase. Then the all the other stuff that has to be toted from various places and crammed in with the clothes. I make lists, what to pack broken down by person travelling, lists of things that need to get done before we leave. a list of directions for the person pet-sitting. Which is basically "Hey, make sure my cats are alive when I get back".
But who couldn't love this face?

Back to the packing I guess, I can't blog pointlessly forever. Or can I??? Hmmm....

What's that? hear it? Yup, that is the sound of my procrastination.

Crafting with fire

2009-11-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

That's right, fire. I made these really nifty hairpins using polyester scrap fabric, pearls and fire. Tutorial availabe via this Refabulous site.

I didn't really have any appropriate scarp fabric for these, but I found an old red holiday nepkin that did the trick. I woudn't normally be allowed to craft anything with fire, but, the husband was asleep (mwahahahahaha). If you are going to try this really do follow the tutorial and make sure you have a jar or bowl of water handy. I skipped that step, and started a small fire. The lack of water doesn't actually cause the fire but it would have been damn handy to have around. Cuz you know, afte the melting point of polyester comes the burning point. Burning polyester goo. Yeah. Seriously though, awesome easy project, beautiful results.

another (almost) wordless wednesday

2009-11-25T02:08:00.000-08:00

I'll get the wordless thing down eventually. meow.

cheesecake

2009-11-25T01:30:00.000-08:00

It's been years since I made a cheesecake. I can't find my old recipe. So I'm making a Cheesecake Factory knockoff cheesecake. Or so the recipe claims. It has to ripen for 2 days before eating it. I think this is some kind of dessert torture. I gathered ingredients: and made a Nilla Wafer/almond crust: The recipe said to cook at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes then let it sit for another hour with the oven off. It has 23 minutes to go and I hope to god it's done and I am not going to give my relatives food poisoning. The comments and reviews also said to put a pan of water in the oven while baking to keep it from cracking or turning brow. Seems to have worked.
Please be cooked.

Update on cake after thanksgiving. If it didn't kill us.

wordless wednesday, part II

2009-11-24T23:30:00.000-08:00

wordless wednesday

2009-11-24T22:30:00.000-08:00

I love wordless wednesday. A thousand words right? I just need to get the wordless part down.

Japanese Awesomeness

2009-11-24T20:30:00.000-08:00

A few months ago my mom bought these for me at the swap meet for 99 cents. They were little teensy tiny wee plastic like balls. You put them in water and they grow. Note the super cute japanese packaging.
Anyway, they were suppose to take 4 hours to grow in 2 cups of water. After what I would guess was about 3 hours they looked like this. Flashlight for effect, they didn't glow but that would have rocked. So after playing with them for a while we added more water. Today they look like this.
The smallest ones look like peas and the largest are the size of globe grapes! they feel like fish eggs. I think. I've never actually touched fish eggs. They almost feel slimy but they're not. They are So! Much! Fun! I have trouble describing how awesome they are. What makes them even cooler is the directions on the back. You can totally tell they were translated, badly.
What? you can't read them? Allow me to assist.
product use information
1. add water 400g on the product. about 4 hours it will grow up
2. one clear beauty satiety face will grow up
3. when the flower want to oxygen and nutrition, I will help you too much

awesome

cards of christmas

2009-11-24T16:30:00.000-08:00

Do you send out Christmas cards? I've been sending them out every year for about 5 years I think. My husband hates filling out cards of any kind so I get to do it all on my own. Whatever I guess, he puts the return labels on them and mails them out. I'm trying to figure out if I want to send out cards this year, and if I do, do I send them out to everyone I normally do or just those people that I normally get them back from? I think I usually send out about 30, I bought a pack of 16 the other day. Does that mean that I already made the decision? I hate feeling obligated to do things at Christmas. There were 19 people on my christmas list. 19! I'm almost done but it's like 'Tis the season to go broke, not be jolly.
But I digress. What to do? I would normally start the cards after thanksgiving and send them out by december 1st. What to do? I feel like I want to ignore them.

*sigh*

Chicken Meatballs

2009-11-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

I made chicken meatballs for dinner tonight a la Smitten Kitchen.
They were amazing. Deb is a genius. She was totally on the mark to say that these taste almost cheesy, but they have no cheese in them. A little futsy, but worth it. Light and fluffy, not dense like beef meatballs. I have a feeling that leftovers would be good in sandwiches.

I also made grated mashed potatoes. So easy, microwave washed and pricked potatoes. (about 6) Allow to cool about an hour. Peel. Using the big holes on a grater, well, grate the potatoes. Because they aren't boiled they aren't grainy and don't have the excess water in them. Once they are all grated take a hand mashed to them for about a minute. Meanwhile, microwave about 4 tbsp butter and 1 cup milk until the butter is melted. Mash the mix into the potatoes, salt and pepper as desired. Once you're mixed pop the whole thing back in the microwave for 3 minutes and then stir. Cook 2 more minutes if needed. They have a different texture to them, almost silky. One of these days I'm going to have to remember to take pictures.

Jon and Kate

2009-11-23T23:22:00.000-08:00

I hate Jon Gosselin. There. I've said it. My reasons aren't totally selfish. Have you watched this show recently? Have you managed to catch his hypocrisy in action? "I don't think it's good idea that the kids do the show anymore, it's not healthy for them to be so public" (not a direct quote, I'm paraphrasing) THEN he takes them to a ball game and has them not only introduced to the whole stadium, one at a time, but he also tells them that people want to meet them because they're famous and here kids come shake hands with strangers. WHAT? If I was Kate I'd be pissed.
Anyway, I guess that's neither here nor there. We get it Jon, you got married early, had 8 kids before you were 28. I don't remember the person holding the gun to your head in your wedding photo's, did you airbrush him out? Where did your life go? Where did your youth go? You got divorced and felt free? Wonderful moment to capture for kids to see Jon. That you got to leave their mom and them behind while you gallivant around the world with a woman who was little more than a child herself and you were so bloody happy. Congratulations, you win the douche canoe award.
I feel like he doesn't appreciate his kids. They are beautiful, intelligent, loving and sprightly little miracles of nature. I wish that I lived closer to them and give Kate someone to count on, who wouldn't turn on her. I wish I could get to know those wonderful children better and watch them grow. I sit here crying as the last minutes of the last show tic by and I hate Jon more and more for taking a weekly dose of light and joy away from me, from all of us who have come to love these kids, and appreciate the miracle that is their lives simply by watching.
Okay, the show is over and I can barely see I am crying so much.
For Cara, Mady, Alexis, Hannah, Aeden, Collin, Leah and Joel. Thank you for being so pure and honest in a world where everything says you shouldn't even exist. Thank you for making me smile week after week with your unique joy and light. I hope your lives turn out as amazing as you deserve.

oh hai winter!

2009-11-23T00:24:00.000-08:00

I missed you terribly.

I missed having hot tea in the middle of the day.

I missed long sleeved shirts and sweaters.

I missed the leaves turning orange, yellow and gold.

I missed hogging the down comforter.

I missed wearing slippers.

I missed chattering teeth and leather gloves.

I missed endless hours of baking.

I missed you winter, please stay a while this time?

the horror that is christmas

2009-11-22T00:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, so christmas isn't really a horror. But have you been shopping recently? gah. I swear I almost snapped at a totally oblivious parent in Ross tonight who was ignoring her four year old having a tantrum. How do I know it was a tantrum? The little brat kept laughing every 20 seconds. I get that we all need to shop, and that some of us have to bring the kids, and that kids by nature are noisy, but for the love of god people you also have to realize that you aren't the only person in the store. She was sing-song screaming, I wasn't the only person who looked like they wanted to commit some mayhem.
The husband was with me. He usually likes shopping. He HATES christmas shopping. With a Passion worthy if Mel Gibson, he hates it. I offered to let him wait in the car and I would brave the melee alone. No. If you have a significant other, have you ever noticed the hover? They follow you around the store, like a big dog, and sometimes hold the stuff you find. So I guess more like a well trained pachyderm? Anyway, they hover. A few steps behind, far enough away that if you stop suddenly they don't run into you, but close enough that if you try to turn around to look at something they have to back up? Then they look annoyed? Yeah, that was my day.

On a non holiday note, it was my nephews 17th birthday. The boy (man-child?) is awesome. I love him to death. I think he is my favorite member of the family (in-laws). We went to a surprise party for him today. My husband isn't real fond of his sister or her asshat boyfriend. We went to be company for my niece (man-child's sister) who is 20 and had a sick boyfriend so she was feeling lonely. It wasn't too bad. It doesn't appear that asshat gave us all food poisoning, so score, basically.

the husband is asleep, I think I want some goldschlager. mmmmmm

Get the paddles!!

2009-11-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

I just realized that this is only post 10 of 30. And it's the 20th. And I'll be out of town for thanksgiving. I think I'm lagging. So I will tell all of the uninterested what I made today. Honey Lemon Face Scrub! Yeah, I know it looks like something you probably wouldn't even want in your house, let alone on your face.I put one tablespoon each of raw sugar and salt into my magic bullet and pulsed it until it was powdered sugar consistency. Dump it into a container, add about 1 tsp of mint honey and 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice. Stir it up really well and you get a smooth paste. Smelled SO good. I washed my face and then after rinsing gently scrubbed with the goo on my fingertips and then rinsed it off. My skin Feels! So! Good! I'm not sure what possessed me to do this today. Just sounded like a good idea I guess. Oh no! I needed something productive to do after I had managed to knock a bottle of oil from pantry shelf, which hit the floor, cap popped off, and there was about a cup of oil running across my floor. Know what cleans up copious amounts of spilled oil? Nothing short of paper towels, 409 and hands and knees. Trust me on this. I'm still not sure I got it all.
After I managed to get most of the oil,and was fuming mad at myself I decided it was time for a shower. We have had a lot of shower problems. Which tend to make me crabby. But for all of the "repairs" that we have had in I don't want to think about how many years, this last one seems to have affected the tub knobs. huh? I don't know what they did but the know that makes the water go from spout to head doesn't work right, and now the water, both hot and cold, don't turn off all the way. My gorilla grip husband was the last person to shower. Soooo after the oil debacle, I decided it was shower time. But I COULDN'T GET THE WATER TURNED ON. argh.
Anyway, that's why I decided to make the face scrub.
a very clean face is better than no clean at all. You're thinking, wha?? What were we talking about it?
See that's why I don't blog as often as I should, my brain is a scary place where thoughts go round and round and are usually only understood by me. Be careful, it's a zoo.

Another Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-18T22:54:00.001-08:00

the PERFECT roast

bettiness: part two

2009-11-16T22:14:00.000-08:00

It was another Betty Crocker style weekend. Spent today doing blissfully nothing. The downside was that I developed a rather nasty headache, of the no medicine helps variety.

Back to Betty. I made more pumpkin muffins and am officially out of brown sugar, cranberries and fresh pumpkin. I also made 3 batches of peanut butter cookies. I think I baked for something like 5 hours, then I made chicken soup. With matzo balls. Bonus though, left over soup for dinner!

So, during all of this mindless baking, I was stressing over what to get the rest of the people on my list for christmas?!? There were 19 people on my list this year. I am down to my Mother-in-Law, my mom, my step dad, my stepbrother (whose 20 and kind of a git to my mom), a neighbor and my aunt-who has everything, needs nothing and is a compulsive shopper. And she has the money to be a compulsive shopper. argh. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. My mom is usually the easiest to shop for, but I seem to be having trouble this year.

Speaking of trouble, my head is hurting too much to type anymore. I think it's time to go make some tea and beat my head against the wall. That works right? The beating??

the kook in domesticity

2009-11-13T00:44:00.000-08:00

I had an insanely Betty Crocker type day. You should be proud, I got stuff done even with a whiny husband at home. Husband had 2 teeth pulled om tuesday and was home a half day yesterday and all day today. He was mildly helpful while being slightly less whiny than the other day, so I guess...win win? I had him do the outside windows, thank god for being short short short, my excuse for not doing them is I can't reach high enough! Yea vertically challenged!

Anyway, I finally slaughtered my 4 remaining pumpkins last night. I got some funny video of husband trying to cut the uncutable pumpkin. He really jammed that knife in there too. This was 2 knives of 3, and it took a good 5 minutes to cut.
But he finally did it. It smelled very strongly of sweet pumpkin. I cooked 2 of the pumpkins, blended them in my Magic Bullet, and cooked the baby food style mush down to thick pumpkin sludge. I have been craving pumpkin-carrot-cranberry spice muffins. Feat accomplished! . Um, try not to see the halloween wrappers, they're what I had on hand. These were sooo good I can't even tell you. I made 18, there are now, um, 7. I guess to be fair 4 are going to work with husband to give to someone. But that means we ate what? 7? Oi. I also cooked about a pound of salt and pepper pumpkin seeds.
I guess it doesn't sound as impressive as it felt. But it took HOURS to get it all done. With a whiny husband in tow.

But tomorrow is friday the 13th! So excited! It's like a floating holiday that no one celebrates but me. Wait...what?

ok, I forgot wednesday.

2009-11-12T01:08:00.000-08:00

How about wordless "It's still wednesday because I haven't gone to sleep yet"?

Here comes the UFO, somebody call Will Smith!

almost wednesday

2009-11-10T23:17:00.000-08:00

Oh! Looking forward to a "wordless wednesday" a la A Madison Mom. Thanks for the great idea!

It's been a loooong day

2009-11-10T22:58:00.000-08:00

Got up this morning with the intention of getting 3 very specific things done.

thing 1: Do four, count 'em, FOUR loads of laundry.

thing 2: Bake peanut butter cookies.

thing 3: Massacre remaining pumpkin, harvest, cook and eat their organs. Um, by organs I mean seeds. I think I have been watching too much Criminal Minds.

I got exactly ONE of those things done today. I did copious amounts of laundry. Cooking making was a bust as I didn't have enough flour. and the Pumpkins...well...I just didn't make it. And yet today has dragged it's proverbial ass. Husband went to the dentist to have a tooth pulled. He ended up with 2 teeth pulled. So, bleeding and grumping (I'm sure my laughing at him trying to talk through gauze in what sounded like baby-speak didn't help the grumping) and not looking forward to pudding for dinner....We took the car to the mechanic. BIG FUN. Some tubie, hose-like device that comes from the air filter needed replacing. $144.43. And we have an HONEST mechanic. Then he tells us, at least I am told this is what he said since I cannot understand but every 5th word (Vietnamenglish) the 2 motor mounts are busted. Another $250 to replace. Then he proceeded to show us. Do you know how freaking scary it is when the engine revvs then tries to jump from under the hood as if possessed?!? I do.

Then the drive to the store to get the script for the missing teeth pain, driving like a freaking old lady on sunday morning recovering from a hangover. (huh?) Good news though, 20 Vicoden = 29 cents. Thank you insurance.

I want a drink then to go to bed. Oohhhh....I did laundry.... that makes this the happiest day of the week! Clean sheet day.....

So, I guess even though I didn't accomplish 2 of the 3 things I intended to do it is ok. Hubby couldn't eat the peanut butter cookies anyway so no loss there, and I get to look at my pumpkins for another few days. Oh! I did manage to get some more stuff listed on Etsy, so I guess one extra task done! Yea!!

heroes

2009-11-06T04:11:00.000-08:00

No. Not the show.

You find a hero (or two) in seriously some of the strangest places. The following is link to a blog from a women known simply as Swistle. She is warmhearted, funny, a little irreverent, honest and best of all she doesn't seem to be afraid to say what's on her mind. This was a recent post that I wish I could jump and down and cheer for without people looking at me like I'm insane. Like my husband. Who come to think of it would cheer too, so nevermind. READ THIS, and the comments, where one woman constantly keeps pointing out that "giving" Homosexuals the "right" to marry means we'll be marrying our siblings, farm animals and pets next. Yeah, it's gonna be like that. Awesome. I think I ranted about a similar topic last year when my backasswards state voted NO on Gay Marriage. Was seriously thinking about relocating to Canada.

wordless wednesday

2009-11-04T02:02:00.000-08:00

neigh. hehe. :)

future gifties

2009-11-04T01:05:00.001-08:00

This is post 2 of 30 (30!) of the National Blog Posting Month. 30 posts in 30 days. Hopefully this month of posting will draw in some new readers. For those new readers I'll be having a giftie giveaway near the end of the month. I won't tell you what now, but it will either be stuff pulled from Etsy shop or will be newly made and unlisted. Haven't decided. Stay tuned for details later in the month!

sundries

2009-11-04T00:19:00.000-08:00

Life is complicated. I know, state the obvious why don't I?I am going to make an extremely long, complicated, and probably boring to anyone but my family, story short. Readers digest version if you will.

There is much fighting, backbiting, miscommunication, lying and self deluding going on in my family. Did I mention disowning? No? Well, my mother and my sister have mutually disowned eachother. But one can't seem to let it go and is constantly searching for reasons to cause more trouble. And is doing her damnedest to get others involved. What does one do with such a person? Change the subject? Avoid? Run like hell?

Yeah, welcome to my world.

On a lighter note, Stan got carved for Halloween and I am happily eating his roasted seeds. That sounded kinda wrong huh? Here's Stan. (on the right)

We had "The Pumpkin Who Would NOT Carve" Warren McWarty was chosen simply because he had such great Halloween personality. COVERED in pumpkin "warts" When I tried to cut into him THE KNIFE WOULDN'T GO IN. We tried the movie stab with the knife held high and jabbing it in, no go, 1/4" penetration. THEN he started to ...bleed? Is that right? you can see the dripping just near the top. We seriously had to give up. I think it must have been cross bred with one of those really hard/warty gourds. Probably better that I gave up as I am not generally allowed to play with knives. And by play I mean USE, and by use I mean nearly chop off a digit every few weeks.

profound advice since 1979

2009-10-13T02:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I was born in '79 and probably not giving profound advice till I was at least 2. Anyhoo.... I was giving profound advice with a little humor and thought I'd share. I say humor, 'cause you know I was just kidding about that rifle thing. Hear that NSA?!? I was KIDDING.
This was part of an email to my sister. The reason for which I am not ready to discuss.
Profound advice following:

I've always tried not to judge people based on what I don't know for sure, how they look, where they come from or who they love. Everyone has their own reasons, lives and secrets. I'm happy in my marriage, as is Bart, all anyone has to do is ask him. I don't base it on what others think they know or think we should be. I try to be happy in my life and decide how I want to be, regardless of the influence of others. I said I don't judge other people because you can never really know someone outside of yourself. You can't know the full story of their past or what motivates them or what's truly in their heads. Ever. Words hurt more than blows. I try to never say something to or about someone that I think would hurt me if I found out it had been said about me. I don't always succeed, but I try. I always try to rememeber that saying hurtful things or voicing cruel assumptions to make myself feel better just makes me less of a person and more of a monster. I have a nasty and vindictive temper and I know it. I seethe instead of yell. I plot instead of talk. I try to stay in control of myself so I don't hurt others. I sometimes feel like I'm walking the line between "sane" and "toting a rifle up to the nearest bell tower". I'll probably give myself an ulcer someday. :/
Anyway, I guess I'm done being profound for now. I guess I just didn't want you to think I wasn't concerned. I'm just careful. If you never take any other advice from me in your life, then please reread this email and try to be happy with who you are and not what others think you should be.

I figure the nsa has stopped reading by now, because you know, I said I was kidding. Sshhhh, not really kidding.

**EDIT** Apparenly I am now a stuck up little bitch. Not that this was said TO me, merely ABOUT me and gleefully forwarded by a "friend" (not of mine, thank god) Nice to have friend who is so willing to possibly cause trouble for you, no?

the broccoli must die

2009-10-10T00:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, OW. I was cutting broccoli the other night for dinner to go into my sweet hot chinese chicke, Which by the way, SOOO good. But there I was, slicing broccoli stems, doing nothing more than helping the damn broccoli fulfill its damn vegetable destiny and grabbed the knife and sliced my left thumb. Thank god for keratin, if my nail hadn't stopped the blade the broccoli would have been, not in the pan but on the way to the local jail for assault with a deadly weapon. Um, no wait. I think that was what happened in my head after the broccoli stem flipped onto its side and the knife sliced my thumb. It was more of blunt cut and it hurt like HELL. Thankfully my husband is a fully trained if out cert EMT and he thinks my whining/whimpering in pain is amusing. Wait, the laughing while I bleed kinda makes him a jerk right? Damn.

Anyway, here's my finger, a few days later.
I am so freaking talented.

The Craptacular and the Splendiferous

2009-10-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

Craptacular:

My husband got into a car accident 9.22 and it is now 15 days later and we still don't have our car back. Buckled hood, scraped up fender and busted brake line. The thing GUSHED brake fluid when you stepped on the pedal. Luckily, I guess, it happened right outside our house so the car was easy to get home. The insurance company is dragging their feet and we are totally running out money to pay for a rental car. "You pay for it and we'll reimburse you" Argh!! I want to line every one of the F*ck#rs up and shoot them. I try to not to imagine the &sshole who ran the freaking stop sign sitting at home with his family and NOT shelling out $300 a week for a rental car. Yeah, some major stress happening here.

Did I forget to mention that the license plate got ripped off? Or that the car we hit was red?nice.

Splendiferous:

Halloween is almost here!! You know what this means boys and ghouls? Cute Halloween decor, an excuse to eat copious amounts of candy, and my most favoritist part PUMPKINS!!! To try to pull me out of my insurance/car related my almost too good to be true husband took me for a little surprise outing on Saturday morning. PUMPKINS! I'm like a freaking kid alone in a candy store. I wanted no less than 20 pumpkins within the first 5 minutes. This is a true horror for my husband (who really must love me)as I have a proven track record for pumpkin OVER adoption. The year before we got married I had, not kidding, 27 pumpkins. Full sized pumpkins. That totally doesn't even count the little ones. Have I mentioned I have a TINY apartment? Or that we were driving a 67 Mustang at the time?!? Yeah, like 24 of those pumpkins came home in one trip. They were $1 a piece! So, I have a proven pumpkin...problem. This weekend I only bought 2. well..3 but one was tiny!

This is Stan and Ollie. Oh, ya hai, I name them too.
And my husband's Halloween cat, Sam. Ollie go to come with us because as you can see in the next photo, Ollie has a weird, kind of Aztec-ie design in a faint dark green.

I can almost guarantee that I'll have 8 more pumpkins before Halloween. Something to look forward to at least.

my inner child says GIMME!!

2009-07-30T16:12:00.000-07:00

Trying to figure out how to convince the landlord that one of these is an absolute necessity in my apartment. Did I mention that it is almost as long as I am tall? Full on drooling.

60" vivking stand alone range, just shy of $11,000. In irridescent blue, think there's an extra charge for that?!

tweaked

2009-07-13T23:50:00.000-07:00

The blog has undergone a slight tweaking in recent days, I've dropped dark blue for gray among other things. Like?

Also, have massive, please shoot me and put me out of my misery-type headache, think it stems from both the insane-hot-dry weather and a knot in my neck.

Also also...am going to see Harry Potter midnight showing tomorrow. In 24 hours I will be sitting in the theater wait for movie...soooo excited! We alreay have our tickets and everything.

Also also...also..? Am using non-existant telekenesis to convince my mom that THIS set is needed for the new room in her house (ie: my room). If you look, don't you dare buy it! Hmmm, rethinking link....
After midnight, should probably sleep soon. ha ha.

3-0- not so uh oh

2009-07-10T17:00:00.001-07:00

The dreaded day has come and gone. I am happy to say that is was not as traumatic as anticipated, and I didn't cry, not even once.

The husband took the day off and we went to Santa Monica Pier. Where we (I) got sunburned (again) and now have a nice little "white" spot, READ: tan lines, right in the middle of my chest that looks like a butterfly. Nice. Also, got honked at by the Sheriff Department boat, just as was trying to figure out how to a picture on the boat, with the cops, with me in handcuffs, you know without actually jumping off the pier and getting arrested...then sped up and drove away. Sad. We DID get to take an extra long ride on the Ferris Wheel, which was awesome. It was so nice and cooly-breezy at the top!

Unfortunately is was also BRIGHT.

I really do appreciate the position of the bell tower shooters when I looked upon the masses of humanity teeming below.

Then I was thankful that I don't live around the corner from the Ferris wheel . There have been days when I load my imaginary .223 and try to think of where the nearest bell tower is. As the Bloggess said, "People amaze me. Not in a good way." If you haven't read her yet, GO GO NOW! I won't be offended, promise. Well maybe a little. :)

But I digress... the birthday was fun. Went to dinner at the best chinese resturaunt in the area. Hole in the Wall goodness here people.

C'est le vie! 364 more days until 29+2. sigh

(wouldn't my hs french teacher be proud? non.)

3 0-uh oh

2009-07-06T23:48:00.000-07:00

It's coming.

The day I have been dreading for 18 months.

My 30th birthday.

I have a new little friend who lives on my desk for the moment. He was a gift for the big uh oh, a few days early. He came all the way from Scotland, just for me. his name is Drambuie. The desk is in process of re-arrangement, so it is a large mess. Drambuie is coaching me though it.

Also, my lovely Aunt Gave me a big bag full of cosmetical type things. Some of which have made it to my purse. 12 of which have not. the grand total of lip gloss containers in my purse now equals 10. Peruse them below.

Also on the birthday front, my father in law is celebrating his tomorrow, oh 12:04 am, I guess that would be today. We decided to wrap he gift in a way that truly should be more entertaining for the spectators. Here it is.
We made it its very own box, out of 1"x4" pine. The pieces are glued together, then nailed shut, and sanded down so there are no protruding ledges. I am bringing the camera and a youtube video may follow.

My Mom bought me this. (The bracelet)
Like she needed to prove her awesomeness (or not, my mom is AWESOME). I love love it, and it is just what I didn't know I wanted.
I guess so far it has been a pretty good birthday, even though it hasn't happened yet. And I still get husband made birthday brownies. :)

seattle-ness update

2009-06-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I made Space Needle stick pins as name tag holders for a rehersal dinner for 90 people. The young couple is getting married tomorrow IN the Space Needle! How freaking cool is that?!? Anyway, the rehersal dinner was tonight,and everybody LOVED them. Everyone made sure they got one to take home. I am so thrilled that my first big custom order was such a rousing success! Photo's to come!

drenched in ...soup?

2009-06-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

So, I'm house(omes)-sitting. And dog sitting. And cat(s) sitting. The house is large, there is a lovely little pool. But it is pitch black at night and no one will hear you scream, and the sun hasn't come out for 3 days now. Suck-o. The dog is cute and affectionate, I do love the little white menace, but she barks at everything, usually in the pitch blackness of the night. Then there are the cats. Tim and Mic. Have you ever taken care of old cats? They are geriatric wheezers. 18-year-old-partially hairless-pig snuffly-hobbly-wheezers. They are so pathetic they are actually kinda cute.

On this house-sitting "adventure", that will last another 8 DAYS, I am alone and must feed only myself. So I bought the much wanted, but never normally purchased, fish. When the husband won't eat it it just seems silly to buy it only for myself and make 2 dinners. So this week, I get seafood. I have shrimp, thresher shark, Scottish salmon and mahi mahi. The Scottish salmon was outrageously price and I am little afraid to cook it and possibly screw it up, also, I am afraid I am going to LOVE it. Then want it more. I was looking for a good recipe for the Mahi, which will be made tonight, since I don't think I have cooked Mahi in about 10 years and had a flash of disgust.
I found a recipe called Grilled Mahi mahi W/Wild Rice and Creamy Red Wine Sauce, I thought great! Mahi is good with red wine since it has almost a beefy flavor to it, and hey! I like cream sauce! BUT Oh-Em-Gee, Why on EARTH would you spend $15 a pound on Mahi then smother it in CANNED SOUP?!? Regardless of the the good reviews I just don't think I can stomach that. Literally and figuratively. I think this will be made instead with some mushrooms and asparagus.
Time to take the dog out again.

seattle-ness

2009-05-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

So, does this look like Space Needle in Seattle to you? If you think objectively??

Comments? Questions? Opinions??

2 things

2009-05-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Mother Nature, for your undivided attention, but ENOUGH. WITH. THE. SHAKING. ALREADY.

We had ourselves a not so little earthquake here in the Greater Los Angeles area on Sunday evening. One is more than enough, the earth literally shifting under you and things flying from shelves is not really a whole lot of fun. For those of you who have never been through a large to moderate quake imagine the feeling if you will of almost being in a car accident. You feel shaky, your heart is pounding and you breath heavily, now imagine that just lovely feeling along with your possessions flying from shelves, furniture over turning and your fridge walking itself away from the wall a few feet.
And the noise. It is amazing how loud an earthquake is. That being said, we had yet another one today. Almost exactly in the same spot as the first. Just bloody wonderful. Will be doing an earthquake check of all possessions tonight to make sure everything is stuck down, tacked up, and child locked closed. fun.

SECOND...

My first commission! 90 name tag pins with bead representations of the Space Needle for a wedding rehearsal dinner. I placed an order with Fire Mountain Gems today for $114 worth of supplies. Hopefully they'll be here by Friday (please god) and I need to get them made, the name tags included, packaged and ready for delivery by June 7th. That's 19 days from today kiddies. Wish me luck!

common courtesy

2009-05-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

If you have an appointment don't you try to keep it? Maybe you visit a personal trainer or get your nails done and you have to have an appointment?? Why is it as consumers we are expected to keep appointments or lose them, whereas if you are providing the service then it doesn't seem matter how late you are and your customer is just suppose to wait?
I had an appointment today with someone to repair my tub, again, seeing as how they did such a crappy, uh, I mean splendid job the first time. Less than 2 WEEKS ago. It is already cracked, now isn't that just lovely? Now, this company told my building manager that they would be here around noon. I am starting to wonder noon in which TIME ZONE?!? If you go much farther west I think it becomes tomorrow. Does that mean they're coming tomorrow?? It is, right now, 3:22pm. Now boys and girls, what do our basic math skills tell us? That's right! That they're almost 3 and a half hours late. And this isn't the first time. They were late for the original consultation and they were late for the repair. They were also suppose to repair my sagging ceiling, guess what? They never showed!
Great, now I'm crabby. When I'm crabby I want to bake,but it is too hot to bake. Doesn't that figure? I want mint chocolate brownies.

mmmm......brownies......

guilt vs obligation

2009-05-08T00:48:00.000-07:00

I am going camping with the in-laws this weekend. I could probably just end the post here and just let you imagine everything that "In-Laws" implies. Yes, it is just that good. :/

I R E A L L Y don't want to go, but my husband wouldn't go without me, and he really WANTS to go. I finally talked him into going alone, first time ever he will have gone without me. Then the guilt set in. Either I go and he's happy and I'm miserable OR I stay home and watch movies in my pajama's all weekend, and feel guilty for not going.

So in typical enabler wife form I caved and am now going camping. At the beach. With my In-lws. And will be sleeping on the ground..in a tent..with 3 teen-agers. My tent no less. Oh, did I forget to mention that 3 teenagers come with the in-laws?? Well, 16, 19 and 21, pretty close. And chatty. Lord help me, chatty.

The only good thing I can think of is that I can take my camera and take more pictures of the fire people. I got these, plus about 100 more last time went.

dragon

faerie

fire child

face of the demon, and one of my favorites

wish me luck, I'm gonna need it!

garlic broth

2009-05-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing recipe for broth that can be used anywhere you'd use chicken broth. AMAZING in risotto. It's garlicky, but yum....garlicky!

2.5 quarts water
4 heads garlic separated into cloves
1 onion sliced .5" thick
2 leeks sliced .5" thick
2 celery stalks sliced .5" thick
2 carrots sliced .5" thick
1 washed, unpeeled potato, quartered
6 parsley sprigs
4 thyme sprigs
1 bay leaf
.75 tsp black peppercorns
salt

Place one cup of water in large pot over high heat.

Add garlic, onion, leeks and bring to a boil.

Cover and reduce heat to low, simmer 10 minutes.

Add remaining water, celery, carrots, potato, parsley, thyme, bay leaf and peppercorns.

Bring to boil again and reduce heat, simmer 1 hour.

Strain stock, pressing as much liquid from vegetables as possible.

Season to taste with salt and cool.

Refidgerate for up to 1 week or freeze up to 3 months.

Makes about 1.5 quarts.

Try it and let me know what you think!

Add some mushrooms, ginger, noodles and soy sauce for awesome asian noodle soup!

sticky-ness

2009-04-30T10:53:00.001-07:00

I am covered in spray adhesive. To compound the problem I am not in a very well ventilated area, which is probably clouding my judgement, thus skewing my aim, thus covering more of me in spray adhesive. I actually had to call the adhesive company to figure out how to get this stuff off. Apparently slathering your hands in oil of some kind is suppose to get it off, as is rubbing alcohal. I had this image of me covered in vegetable oil, scrubbing away and then not being able to turn the water on. So I went with the rubbing alcohal. Happy to say I am 98% spray adhesive free now. Well, maybe more like 92%.
Every year I make my mom something for mother's day, it's kinda of a tradition, I am almost done with her gift now (hence the spray adhesive), and am feeling very much accomplished since I have never made this particular thing before. But with the ticking down to mother's day I have presented myself with an ill-timed challenge.
A geocaching event. Hosted by me.
For the big day, which is saturday, we have hidden 10 new caches, all in one day, to go active after the event. Lots of containers, lots of custom cut logs. And holy crap but are they getting picky! They are making it damn near impossible to hide caches. "It appears this cache is placed in a residential area.....blah blah...think how you would feel to see stangers poking around...blah..." I get the point, but they are making a lot of assumptions. considering the cache in question was 2 feet from the curb, 15 feet from any private property, not facing any home fronts and on a moderately busy street... I tried not to get to snippy when sending my note the reviewer, I know he is just doing his job, but geez!!
Okay, rant over.
I think I am going to go take a nap now. Sleeping sounds like a good idea.

new fascist regime

2009-04-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

I wrote the other day about Communists, today...Fascists.

About a year and a half ago our property owner retired and sold his building (read:lots) to a new company. Since then they have been making "improvements". Some good, some bad, some horrid. We got a new front lawn and some nice landscaping : GOOD They completely concreted in our central courtyard AND W A Y cut back the two trees out there : BAD Why bad? In the summer now, just as I so wisely predicted, the concrete (with the chopped trees) actually makes it HOTTER in my apartment. Used to be outside 102F inside 85F, not great but we'll take 20 degrees. Last summer? 105F outside and 97 inside. WTF??? Oh, and the trees were gorgeous. They looked like this:

Back to the fascists.

My building is old as apartments go. I think it was built in 1968 or something. I think I still have to original tile floor. REAL linoleum. Like wash me too much and I crack. Because linoleum doesn't like water. I think my fiberglass tub might be original too, but I'm not sure. It keeps cracking, bad. I've had it filled in the past 4 times (read 2 days without the shower, each) but I have several cracks in it right now that you could probably see China through. Apparently so do a few other people here. Someone is getting the very first brand new tub (I'm on the list). Cast iron and brand new NON linoleum tile. I am of 2 minds here. Super excited and incredibly pissed. Not pissed because someone gets it before me but because the "Tile Man" is back. He uses a tile saw. Slowly. Loudly. Badly. This is day two, have you ever heard a tile saw? Imagine Banshee's screaming. Only louder. I should probably explain something before I go on. I am 29 but I have the nerves of a 60 year old Kosovo refugee. My hands are actually shaking right now because I can't take the noise. So I closed the window and turned on the air because it gets hot in here fast. It takes the edge off the noise so I'm not jumping anymore, but aaaHHAHAHAAAAAAHHHH!!! And he is suppose to be here for a week. So, new shiny tubs: GOOD. Screaming Banshee's from Hell : BAD

The Banshee Machine, note new heat reflecting concrete, and proximity of Banshee Machine to my front door, from whence the picture was taken.

I also found out today that they will be replacing the roof as it apparently developed some leaks this past rainy "season" (read: I think it drizzled). I am glad once again to not live upstairs, but it is just going to be more noise. Can you tell I don't like noise? (As the tile saw goes off again and I take one more step toward going on a shooting rampage) New, non-leaky roof : GOOD. Smell of hot tar to fix roof : Tolerable. Noise of roof actually being fixed : BAD BAD BAD

All hail the Good of the People! Which coincidentally makes "the man" more money in future rentals.

crossing post

2009-04-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

I just filled out my first Post-crossing card! It is going to Finland! This brings my grand total of worldwide mailings to...uh...5! Germany, South Africa, Honduras, Afghanistan and now Finland! Scary thing was, the postage cost more than the post card!

fascinated but slightly spooked

2009-04-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

Ever felt like you weren't strictly alone? Like there were other things in the room with you that you couldn't see? Well, there are. Quite often. But that is a WHOLE OTHER post that could take a very long time that I don't feel like getting into right now. B U T ...... I was cleaning out a friends apartment last month (another VERY long story) and I took some picture when I was done for evidence sake. Here are a few.

Upon closer examination you can almost see the outline of a man just off center to the left in the picture with the black shelf and my husband trying unsuccessfully to hide.

But.. notice all the orbs? I've heard of orbs being angels, thanks Sylvia Brown, but I somehow don't think so. (again a very long post). Whatever you may believe, you HAVE to admit that those are some pretty interesting shots! Not all shots of the same area were the same either, so I am fairly confindent that it wasn't the camera.

Almost empty, 5 second later.

the ingrate, the dust bunny and makhani

2009-04-22T22:24:00.000-07:00

Rather like The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Or in my case the Cat, the literal queen of the dust bunnies, and our dinner.

Lets start with the makhani. Or Butter Chicken for those of us who don't speak any form of Indian. Chicken in tomato/sour cream sauce with a whole host of spices thrown in. Can be as mild or spicy as you prefer and I would imagine could be made with any meat or vegetarian substitute. Quorn would be good here or some extra firm tofu, well drained.

As I said, I made this tonight and for some reason my brain seemed to be malfunctioning as I added twice the amount of cayenne pepper I normally do, then almost forgot the extra butter and lemon juice. Which I almost always forget. So, hot, but edible. Served with cous cous with curry mix, and whole wheat Rotis. mmmmmm. If you like curry I highly recommend!

Okay, the queen of the now vanishing dust bunnies! I as sitting here and something caught me eye, when I looked over the Queen of the Dust Bunnies was rolling across my floor, bold as brass, like I had invited it to tea! I reached for my camera, which was conveniently across the room. When I got it and came back to get the picture, her highness has utterly disappeared. There is no piece of furniture in previous rolling direction under which to hide! Alas, no photo. Where do those things come from? Where did it go? OOHHHhhhhh I know....outside and under the dryer to live with the little green men who steal the socks! What? Never heard of them? They need the socks to build their sock city. Obviously.

The Lion, I mean, my cat. He sits on the couch, bold as brass, cleaning himself. When I huff at him for using my seat as a bloody bathtub he looks at me like how dare I?!? As if I am not the giver of food, water and love, as if I am not the litter scooper (blech!). As if I am not the one he follows around ceaselessly and cries for when they leave the house. It's funny how much like children, cats are inherent ingrates who only appreciate you when a: thier needs are no longer seen to, or b: you leave and they decide they miss you. Gus is a bit nuerotic, like most cats, but his manifests itself as Seperation Anxiety. If I leave the house to GET THE MAIL, as in leave his direct line of sight for more than 30 seconds, he cries. Loudly enough that I have heard him from across the street about 50 yards away. And my building is enclosed. And the window is closed. ButI love him, what can I do? We'll call these "Pet me or go away" and "Can I eat that clicking thing?"

oh-em-gee

2009-04-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks again Swistle, now I keeping thinking.....Oh-Em-Gee. Picture of gus eating MY Cotton Candy. The brat, I was so jazzed to find that carnival, the original package was like 3 feet long, no joke.

Communists!!

2009-04-17T00:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, I just found one the funniest recipes ever. Seriously. I don't know if I'll make it but I can't seem to stop reading it! Here it is...

Belgian Safehouse Drunken Applesauce
40 min 15 min prep

Upon arriving in Belgium you might think "AHH safety, finally I'm in an allied nation"..WRONG!!! Belgium is CRAWLING with red spies. You're walking down the street thinking...Hmm, maybe I'll grab some mussels and a beer then take in a nice marionette show. Then while you're in the theater BAM...Abe Lincoln style. Anyway...In the Autumn in Belgium after the apple harvest there are always a bunch of apples not fit for eating out of hand...but when you're holed up in a safehouse, you have to stretch everything to make ends meet. Maybe you didn't finish you beer last night, but you can't imagine drinking it...well here's a use for it. I like this with very oniony pork chops. the savory from the caramelized on ions, the saltiness of the pork and the sweetness of the applesauce is absolutely perfect.

SERVES 12 , 8 cups

Ingredients
8 apples (I used 5 cortland, 2 empire, 1 granny smith)
1 cup flavorful beer (I used Duvel, don't use something too sweet)
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

1Easy -- peel, core, cut apples into big chunks. Combine everything in a large heavy sauce pot in whatever order you choose. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to simmer for 15 minutes. If you don't cover it the communists will find you, steal your applesauce, and probably kill you so yeah, cover, don't cover -- your choice in the end.

2Uncover, mash carefully , return to heat if it's still a little loose.

3Keep in refrigerator under lock and key, otherwise you know who will steal, or poison it.

4The beer -- Again, this is your choice, but your favorite beer may not be the right beer. You want something that has SOME hops in it, otherwise the malt will make the applesauce TOO sweet and cloying. I wouldn't get anything spiced like a pumpkin or holiday ale, because the spices in the beer may not play well with the spices in the apple sauce -- Really Duvel is perfect -- It is a "Belgian Golden Ale" -- there are others. Also an Imperial Pilsner might work as well -- Don't bother using Bud or a light beer -- you may as well use water.

Are you laughing? I am so laughing again. Thinking about throwing a dinner party and serving only food from Communist countries, or that have the theme. A "Communist Party", get it? after all..... I do look damn good in red!

If anyone tries this let me know how it comes out.

..... I think I hear the NSA sneaking up to my window now....

shopping

2009-03-05T23:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks Swistle, read some of your posts and decided to haunt my Target for bargains! This is what I bought, plus easily this much again as I sent a care package to my sick mother.
I bought 3 sets of pens, blues with butterflies, green grass, green turtles, cream and blue whales, and red and black what I can only describe as brocade. I also bought pink plaid note paper, whale note cards, a blue blank book with a sparkly peacock on it and a bright orange folder with a sparkly skull onit. I'm not sure which is my favorite yet. I'm really digging the whales for some reason. I think after the whales my favorites are the orange folder and the black and white pen.
All ths stuff was only $7 before tax and I spent another $6 on the care package stuff. Not a bad haul.

Damn you Swistle and your Target-ness!!

my turn

2009-03-04T00:45:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have read this on like 10 different blogs now, so here goes..

What are your middle names?
James and Rose

How long have you been together?
Since I was 21 and he was 19 (almost 20)

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Hm. That takes some thought. I think I was 15 when I met him soo.. 6 years.

Who asked whom out?
I'm not sure there was actual "asking" I think we just kind of went. Our first 'almost date' was a concert with friends. I remember looking at him and asking him if he was ever going to man up and ask me out. We had been friends for YEARS so this was non-offensive. :)

How old are each of you?
He is 28 I am 29 (she says while trying not to cry)

Whose siblings do you see the most?
His I'm guessing as she live like 2 miles away, but still not very often even at that.

Which situation has been hardest on you as a couple?
We are complete freaks. No, seriously. We don't fight, we don't argue. Really, not ever. The hardest thing we have had to go through (thankfully) was when we first got together (Did I say first? I meant for at least 2 years) his mother HATED me. As did his sister. Could you imagine the pain and anger involved within yourself if your Fiancee's mother HATED you? Like with the fire of a thousand suns? And for no explicable reason? Like didn't even know your last name? Or how old you were? yeah.

Did you go to the same school?
Surpisingly yes, we went to the same High School, but were not HS sweethearts. He actually dated a friend of mine. I know, shut up.

Who is smarter?
He would probably say me. But it would actually depend upon the question that was being asked. We have both accumulated a huge amount of knowledge in vastly different areas of life. We look at things completely differently but always come to the same conclusion.

Who is the most sensitive?
Again, it kind of depends on the subject. I am more prone to cry during movies or when JK Rowling killed off Dobby, but on a human level he is WAY more sensitive.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Every saturday that we are in town we go for Chinese food at a place called the Royal Dragon. $10 for lunch for 2, including soup. It's good food and friendly people who sadly know us and could probably put our order together before we even get into the building. Oh wait, that's happend.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled as a couple?
Only to Monterrey, CA on our anniversary last year. But a trip to Ireland is in the works!

Who has the craziest exes?
Totally him. No contest.

Who has the worst temper?
Completely and totally me. We both grew up in homes with screaming fathers, so we are neither of us yellers. But I definately have the worse temper.

Who does the cooking?
Me. Unless it requires microwaving bacon it is ALWAYS me. I have no patience for bacon.

Who is the neat freak?
Thankfully neither of us. I only go on cleaning binges when a: I am really really mad. Or b: when someone is coming over. so, if you're coming over please call 2 hours in advance.

Who is more stubborn?
Probably me. Depends on the issue, but more often than not and more likely it is me.

Who hogs the bed?
He does. I can't even count the number of times I have woken up to find an elbow trying to dig its way into me, wandering rock toes or been staring at the floor and clutching the side of the bed.

Who wakes up earlier?
Him. I hate mornings.

Where was your first date?
A Creed concert at the Universal Ampitheater

Who is more jealous?
Me. Hands down.

How long did it take to get serious?
We decided that we were dating in the end of September 2000 and it was New Years Eve 2000 when we got engaged. I also know he carried the ring around with him for a few weeks before he asked me. You do the math.

Who eats more?
Him. But he is also over 6 feet to my 5 foot 3.

Who does the laundry?
65% me 35% him. And I'm being generous.

Who's better with a computer?
Depends on for what. He's a bit more of a tech geek (I mean that loosely), I am better at typing, program utilazation (except excel, I HATE excel) and internet usage.

Who drives when you are together?
Always him.

adwords adsuck

2009-03-03T23:31:00.000-08:00

Okay google, you're pissing me off. Understand??? ANGRY! I accidentally erased the adwords emial verifiction you sent me and after trying everything I can think to do I am trying to contact adwords support. Have YOU ever tried to contact YOU?!?! (I know that sounded insane, shut up)You can't even get to a contact page without being rerouted to a help page, which BTW ..... NOT BLOODY HELPFUL!!
I am usually a proponent of google, I far prefer their search engine and uncluttered home page, but DAMN! What are you people freaking hermits?!?

okay..breath...

Anyhoo, congrats to Swistle and her new Niestle, she looks so full of life! My niece was also born on March 1st and just turned 14! Gahh!!!

Also congrats to Holly from IndieHomeEc who is leaving for her wedding in Wales shortly! I'm so happy for you!

Also....wow, lots of add ons today! I will shortly be celebrating my 6 year wedding anniversary. I will be preparing an Irish feast for us, as our anniversary is on St. Patricks Day.

I just copied this:

6th wedding anniversary gifts traditionally have a theme of Iron and Sugar. (sugar??)
Contemporary or modern anniversary gifts have a theme of Wood. (I bought wood last year, oops)
The flowers associated with the 6th Wedding anniversary are Calla lilies. (hate them)
The Gemstone list shows Amethyst and Garnet associated with this Wedding Anniversary. (the only part that sounds good, well, for me)

So, I guess my Irish feast should include some sugar and be cooked in something iron? hm. I don't own anything iron. hm. Suggestions? Wish I had the talent to make a small version of my wedding cake (it was white with clovers and green filling!) this requires more thought.

This post has no pictures, I just realized. What else is new since my last post..??? Oh, my husbands neurotic cat totally fish-hooked me and tried to tear my arm open. The bruise was real pretty. I even have pictures!

Pretty huh? It is amazing how calm you are when there is 10 pound cat literally hanging from your arm.

We're pretty much healed now and the cat is still alive. I know, right?

frozen tidbits

2009-02-10T16:02:00.001-08:00

Just a quick post today.
We are planning a trip to Ireland for our tenth wedding anniversary, bu that is a whole other post. I was reading last night, and when I went to turn a page I realized my hands were so cold as to be virtually unresponsive. I love the cold, but how the heck am I going to survive 10 days in Ireland in March if I am frozen at home?
Got up to check the temp and, brrr.

Note the indicator in the "OUT" position. Now notice the indicator in the "IN" position.
That's right. 53. degrees F INSIDE.
Time to rethink my liking of cold I think.

the great fruit debate

2009-02-09T13:56:00.000-08:00

Hello folks, we're going to play a little game. I'm going to show you a picture and you are going to tell me what you see. Then I'll tell you what I see.
This is a....

Lemon did you say? Orange? Here's the issue:

1: Shaped like a lemon

2: It's orange-ish

3: It's smooth skinned. I know meyer lemons are smooth skinned, but this is NOT a meyer lemon. I love those things. I know the difference.

4: When skin is scratched it produces little to no scent.

5: It's huge.

Try to ignore the Henkles knife, the pink lady apple, the bay leaves and the mixer. I apparently had a lot going on that day. Oh, and the hideously ugly yellow counter, I live in an apartment and have no control over that.

Anyhow, I cut into the lemorange and its inside was just as confusing as its outside.

Not quite lemon, not quite orange. It tasted like a lemon though. Almost. The husband says lemon. I say some kind of strange, alien created hybrid meant to confuse me. Any ideas what this could actually be? When has a fruit ever created such a shemozzle?

Rose Newburgh and the Daunting Task

2009-02-04T22:23:00.000-08:00

Firstly, my name is NOT Rose Newburgh. But.... took a silly myspace quiz last week and now (if I wasn't married) would seriously be considering changing name to Rose Newburgh. Take middle name add to town where you were born and you got something like your detective name or something else ridiculous. Totally have forgotten premise, but not result. Hmm. Wonder what likelihood of getting husband to legally change name WITH me would be. Probably slim to none. drat!
Second...the Daunting Task (and the reason behind the name)
Went to Joann's where I am not normally allowed loose with money. (insert maniacal laughter here) Bought awesome fabric for curtains, as I am getting tired of the fabric that has been up there for..uh...I don't know, a while. In excess of several years. The window is 102" x 52". I know, right? Aforementioned awesome fabric was 70% off. Seventy freaking percent! I bought black corduroy and silver-gray taffeta with black roses flocked on it. So gorgeous I am reluctant to cut into it. I saw it on the clearance rack and all but petted it. Oh, wait, I did pet it. Hand on fabric is for size reference. Currently investigating strange smudge on nail of ring finger...hm, only appears in picture. odd.
I bought enough fabric for curtains and decorative bed pillows. Would like to now find a silver-gray corduroy for a duvet cover. Damn you Ikea! Why don't you ever have what I'm looking for?!?!?

Um, part 2...b? Strange name of post can be contributed to fact that I am currently reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Long names of normal things can sometimes be amusing. In case you were wondering..this was one of those times.

Okay, I'm gonna stare at my fabric some more and seriously think about making some cuts. No really. Seriously. I mean it. uh huh. Also, pondering need of shock collar for next foray into fabric store.

They're coming to take me away...

2009-01-29T15:52:00.000-08:00

ha ha hee hee ho ho to the funny farm.......
yeah.

Matters of interest to me this week:

1: Am no longer sick. finally

2: Mother-in-law has brain tumor

3: have writers block

4: short term memory seems to be failing.

5: Wii would like to play

Lets start at the top. 1: Was sick for 3 weeks with the the most obnoxious cold. (see previous post) cold seems to have followed Elvis and vacated the building. Thank god.

2: A few weeks ago my mother-in-law decided to take a header off the couch while the family was over. She went to the doctor and he told her it was side effects from the chemo from a year ago from after she had a tumor removed from her lung. ie: almost no lung left on one side.
after all the scans they could think of, "Oh, we're sorry, you have a 1.7cm tumor in your brain."
So now we wait for Gamma radiation treatments and pray. just lovely.

3: On a less serious note, seem to have writers block. Spend much time staring at screen with hands poised over keyboard. Doing, well, nothing. Am feeling less like project will ever get finished. Depressed now.

4: Short term memory has never been that great, but, how do I know it's bad? Had to got to grocery store 3 times this week because keep forgetting things. ie: dish soap, toilet paper, brain cells.

5: Finally bought a Wii, was our Christmas gift to ourselves, and was ridiculously expensive. But fun. Parts of body sore I didn't know I had. Thank you Nintendo for the wrist straps. It is probably a good thing can now tether self to wiimote. Although almost suffered catastrophic collision with nephews head last weekend when tried to high five each other and wiimote swung wildly free. Hmm. May require further thought.

Phone ringing, ohh, more family drama. fun.

DomestiKook

even more inappropriateness

mobile

christmas redux

wth? it's almost christmas.

Wil Wheaton, where art thou?

20 little bags for LaFASA

they need to call it "going dmvish" instead of postal

too much coffee, weirdness, and a creeper

what is going on here?

like being pooped on by a passing seagull

it happend again. cougar dream.

inappropriate wolf dream

eight thousand three hundred feet

wondering how I pissed off the universe

the day my world tried to fall apart

what the hell calendar?

shopping as balm for a battered psyche

horripilation - not as painful as it sounds

let a smile be your umbrella...

down with the sickness

i guess... one sick husband.

wordless wednesday - HELLO!!

"Helping" with a project: Wordless Wednesday

all is not well

12:36...and it's tomorrow

blah

i hate resolutions

wordless wednesday

pfft

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

Joann's Math

*Almost* Wordless Wednesday

Penny Lane

Eduardo on Wordless Wednesday

stuff

eggs

wordless wednesday

time has lost its track

wordless wednesday

Did you know resting while sick AND staying hydrated is impossible?

coveting for christmas

mmmm...cheesecake

Thanksfullness v.2

thankfullness v.1

ftf tnlnsl tftc!

packing

Crafting with fire

another (almost) wordless wednesday

cheesecake

wordless wednesday, part II

wordless wednesday

Japanese Awesomeness

cards of christmas

Chicken Meatballs

Jon and Kate

oh hai winter!

the horror that is christmas

Get the paddles!!

Another Wordless Wednesday

bettiness: part two

the kook in domesticity

ok, I forgot wednesday.

almost wednesday

It's been a loooong day

heroes

wordless wednesday

future gifties

sundries

profound advice since 1979

the broccoli must die

The Craptacular and the Splendiferous

my inner child says GIMME!!

tweaked

3-0- not so uh oh

3 0-uh oh

Almost Wordless Wednesday