Sticks and Stones

Easiest candy you'll ever make:

2 packages Butterscotch morsels

1 can La Choy chow mein noodles

1 cup of cashews, rough chop

Melt the butterscotch either in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water or in the microwave. Take off the heat and stir in the noodles and chopped cashews until well mixed. Drop spoonfuls onto waxed paper or Reynolds No Stick Wrap and let cool. You can also refrigerate them.

They are terrific! I call them Sticks & Stones

Inspired by Tree's List

Favorite Books in 2007

**Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows by JK Rowling. A satisfying wrap up to the best series about a wizard and Muggles ever written

**The Wild Trees by Richard Preston. About the secret lives of California Redwoods and those who climb and live among them.

I’ve read a lot this year—just nothing else stellar, but I’m sure I’ll think of other good ones.


Best Television

**30 Rock. Tina Fey is a comic genius as is whoever cast the show. If you're not watching this, you're a gay looser!

**The Office. The only thing that disappointed this season was that because of the writer’s strike it was so short. They need to make one more season—any more and I’m afraid it will Jump the Shark.

**Colbert Report. Steven is obnoxiously funny, whereas O’Reilly and those he parodies are just plain obnoxious.


Television Messes

**Big Brother. This show just gravitated mean and stupid people. None were humorous—just mean and stupid

**A show I won’t watch anymore: CSI because I loved and will miss Jorja Fox, sorry Gil Grissom, I’ll miss you.

**Whenever Dubya shows his smarmy, smirky face

Notes:

**If I ever read “S/he’s in rehab” it will be too soon.

**In 2008 I hope I’ll never have to read/hear about: Britney, Britney’s sister, Lindsay, Paris, Dannielynn, Anna’s decomposing corpse, Racheal Ray

For Clanky & Catz, my recipe or sugar cream pie:
1. Go to Marsh grocery store.
2. Buy a sugar cream pie.


I love to cook, but hate to bake so I usually buy my desserts.


Today two friends took me out to lunch and fought over who would buy my lunch. Haha.
Then BP & LP and I went to a discount store and bought a recliner/rocker/game chair/thingy for LP's bedroom.

I made chicken and new potatoes for dinner.

Yesterday we went to St Elmo's Steakhouse in downtown Indianapolis for my birthday dinner.
I had good wine, their famous shrimp cocktail, filet mignon and bread pudding for dessert. It was very expensive but a very nice dinner and we had a good time. My sister who went with us told us that she's been there several times and she's seen Mario Andretti and some NFL coach in there.

Oh, they make their own shrimp sauce with freshly ground real horseradish and man, oh man that stuff was POTENT and cleared out my sinuses. When I took the first bite it was like the hot stuff went directlythrough my gray matter and ended at the very top of my skull! Whewy!

I also bought myself a B-Day present: My own plaque to put up in my backyard, certifying it as an official Backyard Wildlife Habitat. I will take a picture of it this spring when I put it up and there is something in bloom.

We had a really nice Christmas. About 2:00 we drove to my sister Jane's house and hung out, opened presents and ate around 6pm. She's a wonderful cook and put on quite a spread: turkey, ham, dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry stuff (ick) homemade yeast rolls, and her famous homemade noodles (it's an Indiana thing). For dessert I brought pecan pie, sugar cream pie, tiramisu and ice cream.

After dinner and clean up we played cards--poker, and a game called "Pass the Shit"-- and we were home by 11.

Today I got up and went to Panera Bread for coffee then out shopping for a few things: batteries, scissors and Thank You cards. I also had to buy these adorable Christmas cards that were half price. I'll put them away for next year but will probably forget where I put them.

Then I hung out and watched Dreamgirls for the first time--I bought myself a present of the DVD for $10. I'm glad Eddie Murphy didn't win an Oscar for his protrayal of Jimmy Thunder Early, cause he wasn't that great. Every time he said something he sounded like his Donkey from Shrek voice.

Jennifer Hudson was quite good though. Overall, I thought the movie was too long and rated about a C. The songs' lyrics were really bad--sounded like an amateur wrote them.

But there were cameos by John Lithgow and John Krasinski from The Office. Oh, and Jamie Foxx did a good job--as did the guy who played CC--Effie White's songwriting brother.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I'm going out for a great dinner with BP, LP and one of my sisters.

A few weeks ago, Linda, one of the women I usually have lunch with, told the group that she lost one of her diamond tennis bracelets. She wears three bracelets on her wrist, and while out Christmas shopping she must have lost one. She listed five or six shops where it may have fallen off. She was heartbroken because it was not only expensive, but it also had sentimental value.



Flash Forward:

Yesterday I was sitting in the living room reading the newspaper and i went back to the Classifieds and the FREE column (lots of cats, a half breed puppy, and a piano this time). I glanced down at the Lost & Found column and there it was: A BRACELET FOUND IN THE VAC OF KOHL'S. CALL & DESCRIBE.
I called Linda and left a message on her machine that she ought to call this number_______,and describe her tennis bracelet. It was a longshot, but hey.

That afternoon she called and was thrilled--it was, in fact, her tennis bracelet!
So, I did my good deed for the day.

It's weird, because very seldom do I read the classifieds, Free Items column or Lost & Found. It must have been Synchronicity, Serendipity, Fate, or one of those things.

Saturday before Christmas Stuff

Yesterday we had my employees Christmas lunch. We had fun--I took them to a restaurant that they chose (expensive) and then we went home around 2.

After he got his hair cut (the cutter girl was a real "slimmee" --not slimy . . . slimmee-- and wanted him, don't you know) LP and I went out Christmas shopping. Well, he mostly shopped and I stayed in the car. I was forbidden to go into Bed Bath & Beyond with him.

We're wrapping present today. I told him that I'd help him wrap everyone's and he could wrap the presents he got me and BP.

Yesterday late afternoon it started to mist rain and after that it got foggy as hell. Rudolph's nose would have to be at full wattage to get through that pea soup.

Phil Donahue's 72nd birthday was yesterday and I forgot to mention it. I love Phil Donahue and miss seeing him on tv. So, Happy Belated Phil, you old Liberal Fart!

I'm taking the rest of the year off--don't have to go back until January 2. Who's happy about that? Who? Who? MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

One of the secretaries came into my office today explaining that she was asking people to donate money because this woman who works in the cafeteria had her gas shut off and she needed $700 to get it turned back on.
A few people around here (me included) know for a fact that she received over $6000 in back child support in October. So did she pay her utilities and other bills then? No, she bought cigarettes and Jack Daniels and a flat screen TV and went on a trip to the Bahamas.
Now her two kids had to leave the home and go and live with an aunt who has heat in her house.
I did not contribute to this fundraiser. The secretary fell for a false hard luck sap story and talked other people into contributing.
I just hope the money raised goes directly to the gas company and not to the woman herself to blow on smokes.

Dan Fogelberg: 1951-2007

When I was in school, I played it so much that I wore out two copies of his Souvenirs album:
That picture of him, with his long hair, sitting on a rocking chair was just a quiet kind of sexy.
Loved his music.
Loved his voice.
Dan Fogelberg died yesterday.
Thanks Dan.

Same Old Lang Syne

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve
She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried
We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged
We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how
She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie
I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw doubt or gratitude
She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly but the traveling was hell
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence, another 'auld lang syne'
The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out and I watched her drive away
Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned in to rain...

Sunday Morning

1. We got a lot of snow yesterday. It's supposed to stop around noon but we're getting 40MPH winds until 3 so that won't be good. LP's going to have to shovel, shovel, shovel.

2. Spidey** you little imp. I received your Christmas card yesterday and I felt all the little shineys you put in the envelope before I opened it, so they didn't go all over the floor! ;)

3. Last night I made this kick ass chicken recipe I saw that Food TV guy--Guy Fieri--make.
RECIPE. I used chicken breasts instead of thighs, and just regular red and yellow peppers instead of the kind he used. It was really really good. Lots of flavor.

4. On today's agenda: clearing off the snow, reading T is for Trespass, cleaning my kitchen and that's about it.

Miss Steak

Eye wannted two chek on the weeather and the sturm koming so I tiped en weather.com but I akskidentleee tiped in weeather.com.
Did you no ther wuz a weeather.com websight?

Update

Last night I went to a Christmas get-together with some of the other women who work at the Company. Twenty in all. I met a new employee name Nikki Brown. I kid you not, her birth name was Gray and she was on her second marriage (to Mr Brown.) The first husband's name was Green. So she was Nikki Gray Green Brown. I suggested she marry a guy name Plaid and cover the whole spectrum in one swope.
I found a new drink I like: An Italian Bug. It had a melon liquer, coconut rum, pineapple juice and something else. Tasty! And quite tropical for mid December.
---------
I shopped for LP's Christmas. So far he's getting Tour of Duty4 for XBox 360, and a wireless controller. He also desperately needs a new suit of some sort because he will get a job in 2008.

---------

I am taking off the week between Christmas and New Year. I'm going to try to relax and read.

---------

Beann, thanks for the card you sent! :)

---------

I'm reading or have read or will start reading soon:

Alan Alda's Things I learned While Talking to Myself (or something like that)

Some guy named Gay's Five Wishes. It's a motivational self help tome that's a boring as a chunk of cement.

I bought Sue Grafton's T is for Trespass.

Daring Book for Girls (I read the Dangerous Book for Boys and loved it!)


A compilation by Caroline Kennedy of Christmas Stories. I'm digging it. Did you realize that at one time Christmas was not a commercialized holiday??? Horrors!

Oh! and this fun book called Intellectual Devotional. I think that's what it's called--it's in the bedroom and I'm too lazy to get up and go look at it. It's a one or two page little ditty to read before retiring at night...about music, history, etc.

It grows

I've been up since seven o'clock and still eating this one bowl of oatmeal. My doctor suggested that I eat oatmeal every day and I'll tell you what, it's going to take me all day to choke down this stuff.
It smells good--I bought the stuff with cinnamon and I nuked it and then poured a little tiny bit of milk in it but every time I take a bite, the bowl grows back two bites. It's a mushy texture and now I think my spoon's permentantly affixed to the mess.
I wonder if CheeriOs are just as beneficial.

FYI, Schell: I asked my anti soup eating friend about the pudding and ice cream and she said that she would eat that stuff "as a snack, not a meal." Apparently she doesn't want to work that hard at mealtime.

The cat's been up on my lap. I'm wearing a hoodie and she's found the strings and is gnawing on one of the strings, making it twice as long as the second one.

I'm going to put up the Christmas stockings I bought the other day. We must have 50 million different Christmas stockings in the basement, but every year I buy them. This year, they are plain red with white fluffy stuff on top.

"Mom"
"Pop"
"Liam"
"Nesta"

is what each one will get with glitter. I think I'll go ahead and put a lump of coal into mine so as to save Santa the trouble. On the 24th, I think that instead of leaving cookies and milk for Santa, I 'll leave him this bowl of oatmeal.

Last Night

I completed our Christmas cards last night and will mail them on the way to work today. LP signed them all and I signed BP & my names because he is out of town until Sunday.
I didn't send too many this year, and you--all of my cyber friends and aquaintances--aren't getting squat (not that you mind, I'm sure.)
I decided to go ahead and put up a Christmas tree this year--a small 5 ft tall one--that Nesta aka Miss Kiki Marie has taken to munching on and batting at.
I had lunch with friends yesterday and someone brought up the subject of Christmas . . how she's gotten all her gifts purchased and wrapped and is planning to bake this weekend. I don't know, I'm just not feeling it. I have not bought one gift item yet. I don't want to. It seems more like a chore than something I want to do, so I haven't done it yet.
Is there a law that says people have to be jolly around this time of year?

No Soup for Her

I talked to a thin-as-a-rail friend yesterday and I told her that my sister Connie had turned me on to Kashi Go Lean cereals.
She told me that she dosn't eat cereals because all that up and down motion (she motioned putting a spoon to her mouth from a table, over and over) was tiring for her.
She said "I feel the same way about soup--too tiring." I LOL'd.

We are bracing for the first big snowstorm of the season

Here ya go Spidey

Ok. That's me in my evening gown doing the designer a favor by posing in his window for a few minutes.

The butterfly thing was a display outside the resort elevators.

That's BP's side of the bed. The walls were dark brown with big splashes of color from the Andy Warhol artwork.

That's part of the bathroom I fell in love with---the lump in the middle of the tub was the faucet and the water poured out like a waterfall. Loved it. I spent many happy moments soaking in that tub.

The last one is justone of the many flower arrangements around the resort. Gorgeous!

Back from Sin City

Hello! We got back from Vegas late last night.
I have to report that we had a great time. BP won a poker tournament (and $800)at the Planet Hollywood and I won enough at slots to pay for our air fare and hotel.
We stayed at the Wynn. Beautiful hotel. Beautiful room. (I’ll post pictures later.) We didn’t make it to any shows though—three days just wasn’t enough.
The Planet Hollywood is where the old Aladdin was. We loved the Aladdin—we stayed there a few years ago, had a Strip view room and it was great. The PH’s casino played the best music in any casino I’ve ever been in. It was a lively mix of 70’s, 80’s and current music. I was just sitting at the Wheel of Fortune machine boppin’ and singing along.
For any of you gambling aficionados, here’s my “secret” for doing well at slots:
1. Pick a machine (I like the $1 or the quarter machines).
2. Play maximum bet for THREE times ONLY.
3. If you win, keep playing that same machine for awhile until you hit something you consider “big”
4. If you don’t win anything within the 3 pulls, move on to the next machine.
5. Either you sit down at the right time, or you don’t. It’s that simple.

People worried me. Once I sat down beside an older lady who was playing a Powerball machine. She was RUBBING the screen when the bonus icon appeared. She’d rub and rub. I don’t know what that was supposed to do, but it wasn’t working for her.

Don’t EVER buy a Ferrari. There is a Ferrari showroom at the Wynn. They charge $10 just to get in the showroom to see a red car on display. What a crock. We didn’t fall for this shit (just so you know.) We did go into the Ferrari store just to look around--$95 for a KEY CHAIN. Yes, a key chain. Sheesh.

More later.

Saturday

BP and I have some shopping to do today. He wants to get a couple of new shirts to take on our trip (Spidey, we leave tomorrow and will be back on Wednesday.)
And since he never buys himself clothes, I readily agreed. The last new shirts he got were the ones I bought for him over five years ago.
I also have to clean the house. A friend from work is going to come over and take in the mail and newspaper and feed, water and play with the cat. She's done it before, but she's told me that she thinks we have a security camera on in the house, so when she's here she talks to us.
Our nice neighbor Bill is going to keep an eye on the place too.
We're dropping LP off at my sister's. He, of course, wanted to stay here by himself and I said "No way, Jose."

I'm going to meet a friend for coffee at Panera soon and then we might go shopping awhile. I don't want to buy Christmas presents. I want to buy a new piece of luggage for our Vegas trip on Sunday.

Yesterday at Connie's was enjoyable. The kids are cute. The food was great.

Last night my MIL, BP and I watched CSI. What an AWFUL episode--I went to bed in the middle of it.

My Thanksgiving offering

On Thursday the P's, my mother-in-law, and I are going to Muncie to my sister's for the holiday.

Here's what I am to bring:

My hot artichoke dip and pita chips/crackers

Green bean casserole (hey--someone always gets stuck making it. One year we did without and people complained!)

Yeast rolls

2 cans of that godawful cranberry crap that slides out of the can embedded with the can circles. Only three people eat it: BP, my mother and my ten year old nephew.


That's my offering at the table.

Cat Water Fountain

This is what I'm ordering for Nesta aka Miss Kiki Marie for Christmas. It's a cat water fountain that has a filter to keep the water fresh. Since she loves to drink from the kitchen faucet--which I am not successful at preventing--I thought this might do the trick.

November 18

Hello everyone.
Today is my Little Puddin's 17th birthday. My sister paid for two rooms in a nice hotel so yesterday we and some of his friends went shopping, ate at Ruth's Chris and stayed in the hotel for his birthday. Lynn and I watched No Reservations (with Catherine Zeta-Jones and it was awful and boring and boringly awful--they should take away the Oscar she won for Chicago.) Today I bought (not made) him a birthday cake.
Most of my time in New Jersey sucked The Big One. I'm glad to be back.
More later.
Anything new with you?

Praising Al Gore

This past week NBC's primetime shows featured green themes. The best newer show (it's in its sophomore year and definitely NOT suffering frrom Sophomore Slump!) on TV is Tina Fey's 30 Rock. Al Gore was one of the guest stars--playing himself, natch. Tina--aka Liz Lemon (one of the best sitcom names ever) was talking to him when he paused as if hearing something far off. "Wait, there's a baby whale crying somewhere. I must go help." Funny! The guy can laugh at himself.

Remember his reputation for being Stiff Al during the Clinton years? I think he was probably afraid that he'd do a huge mistep in public and it would haunt him the rest of his political life. Now he's looser, enjoying himself more. The best thing for Al was losing the election to Duyba. Not the best thing for the country, but probably the best thing for Al himself. He's doing what he loves, winning awards and bettering the planet.

What will Dubya do after his political life is over? Hmm, I dunno--go to Crawford and clear brush? Write a book? (snort---yeah, right!)

You can watch 30 Rock on NBC.com

And yet another reason to love Steve Carell

Bittersweet:

Production is shutting down on The Office because Steve Carell refuses to cross the Writers' picket lines to go to work.

I have nothing to blog about.

I have to go to fucking New Jersey next week.

I don't want to.

Bacon-on-bagel

1. I just had a bacon-on-bagel sandwich (or "Sammie" as the evil Rachael Ray would call it.) BP and I got up at 5:30am because LP called us and wanted to come home from a friend's house he was staying all night. He had fallen asleep at midnight, then gotten up and couldn't sleep so he played Halo 3, then got sleepy again, then woke up, etc. So we had to drive clear across town to pick him up. Of course he was hungry ("I just had some hot wings about 9 pm yesterday and nothing since.") So we stopped at Mickey D's on the way home and the two P's got food. When we got back home, I fed the cat took off my shoes and climbed back into bed and slept until 9. Both the P's are still asleep: BP in our bed, and LP on the sofa in the living room. I'm waking them both up in an hour.

2. I did fill the bird feeders yesterday but need to refill the bird bath today. Also I crumbled up some old bread and English muffins and threw those out near the feeders. It's a freakin' Bird Buffet.

3. Kohl's is having a sale (when aren't they having a sale?) so I'm going to go and buy a few pairs of black slacks and possibly a new winter coat if I can find one I like. I don't wear the longer coats anymore--they're uncomfortable driving in--in the driver's seat, I have to lift up my ass and pull the coat back over so I can move. I want a shorter coat-either knee length or one that hits just below my butt.

4. Nothing else of note. I'm going to go and put in a load of laundry in the washer. Have a good day

Books, Crap & Birds

1. I received a personalized signed copy of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s book Crimes Against Nature. It's about how Dubya and his corporate friends are raping and killing the environment. He was signing his book at DePauw University, and so a friend sent me one. Not for free. I paid for it, but he stood in line and had it signed.

2. There's a craft show here today. There are usually about a 100 booths. I can't decide whether or not to go. I like walking around and seeing stuff, but I neither want nor need any more crap to bring home.

3. I need to fill my birdfeeders. I haven't filled them in a few weeks, and ths morning when I went outside to get the newspaper I saw about six birds carrying signs that said "A cheapass woman who doesn't fill her feeders lives here!"

Thursday

The best part of my day was leaving for work this morning and walking to the garage. I look up and the sky was dark, clear, and I saw Orion in the sky. Clear as a bell. Lots of other stars, but Orion stood out. Knowing how to identify Orion was one of the things that have stayed with me from my freshman year astronomy class. I’m a whiz at identifying constellations and various stars within. One of the things I’d like to do sometime is to go to the Arizona desert, or up in a mountain somewhere—away from city lights—and star gaze.

I’ve started a “Life List.” You know, a list of things you want to do while you still can and before your Life’s Bucket is kicked. I think I’ll put “Do more star gazing” on it.
I asked BP to name things he wants to do, and we had some of the same things in common.
Here’s a partial list. Try to see if you can identify which are MY items and which are BP’s:

Build a submarine
Take pilot lessons
Produce alternative biofuels
Take a train trip through India
Learn conversational French
Visit British Columbia



The rest of the work day sucked—all our email, internet connections, were down and will be down until tomorrow afternoon. So I spent most of the day reading.
I’m going to pay some bills and then enjoy an evening of fine television viewing: Survivor, 30 Rock and The Office.

Tomorrow morning I have a teeth cleaning appointment!

Field Trip to CHEMNITZ?

Drawings on Display

Mango Martini

Last night Iwas our Girls Night Out dinner. They voted for Olive Garden which was okay. (Next time you go try a Mango Martini. It was lucious.) I guess it was bash men night because a friend of one of the Girls just got divorced after 33 years of marriage. Her husband had cheated on her and she felt like enough was enough. Aside from the bashing it was a fun evening.

I went out to get the paper this morning and there was frost on the ground! The first frost of the season. When it dries up, I have GOT to get out there today and work!

I'm taking today off because 1. I need to eat up some days off before the first of the year, and 2. I have to go to small claims court today to get a judgment against a former tenant.

It's beautiful out today so hopefully I can do some garden clean up today or tomorrow.

I posted something about reading Rag's blog and what a run-of-the-mill bitch she was to her boyfriend, but decided to delete it.

Spidey!

Thanks Spidey for the wonderful Halloween card I got in the mail today. After a long ass day of boring meetings your card was a delight!

Orange Zinnia, Pink Zinnia with not so much mildew

Open Letter to My Puddin

Dear Puddin,



It is now 50 days past the agreed upon deadline to get rid of this disgusting rusted out van that is sitting near our garage. Two tires are flat. A family of spiders has taken up residence in the rusty body of the van. Please evict them. NOW! Thank you.

Love,

Your loving wife

Saturday

I didn’t leave at noon yesterday—I left at 3, so the day went better than anticipated. A few of us went out to lunch, and that was fun.

It’s Saturday and I don’t know why but I woke up at 6:30 and since I couldn’t go back to sleep I figured that I might as well get up. I started a load of laundry and I’m thinking about going out for coffee.

Our cat has been scratching more than normal the last month or two. It’s not fleas. I asked a cat lover at work about it and she said her old cat did that and the vet advised her to change the cat’s food—something other than poultry. So I looked for non-poultry cat food at the store last night. Do you know how hard that was??? Read the ingredients on a cat food label some time. Gross. I finally settled on a salmon dry food which listed chicken waaaaay down on the ingredient list so we’ll try that. I figured this morning when I put out her food she’d notice that difference. If she did she didn’t say anything (ha) and ate with gusto. I hope this helps—my cat friend said that the vet would gladly run tests to see exactly what food her cat had an allergy to, but that could be very expensive.

I contributed to Hillary’s campaign yesterday. I was talking to my brother last week. First, let me explain something. I came from a very political and strictly Democratic family—and that was extremely hard in staid, Republican Indiana. It was true 30 years ago and unfortunately it’s true today. My mother and father and paternal grandparents were active in local politics and instilled in all of us a sense of community service and political activity.

So a few years ago I was shocked when my brother came out as voting for Bush of all fucking people! MY brother! We’ve had some very animated conversations let me tell you.

Anyway last week Matt mentioned that he was voting for Hillary! “WHAT?” I said as I hugged him. “You’ve come home! The Prodigal Brother returns!” After he stopped laughing he said that he’s turned into a One-Issue Voter. “Any politician who is pro-stem cell research gets my vote from this day forward.” He’s a diabetic and very active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Well, he picked the right party to support. Those SOBs in the Conservative wing of the Republican Party are convinced that stem cell research is on a par with abortion. Idiots. So my brother will vote for Hillary. YAY!

1, 2 ,3

1. It stormed like Hell here last night. Tornado watches and warnings. Pissed me off because they'd cut into 30 Rock and The Office to show the Doppler radar and the storn cells and how they were moving across Indiana. Do they cut into the commercials? Noooooooo, right into the good parts of the shows. At one point, I took my white socks off, balled them up and threw them against the TV screen. That'll show 'em. Then Nesta batted the socks around and they went under the couch and there they sit. If I remember, I'll fish them out when I clean tomorrow. If I forget, please remind me.

2. I had a shit ass horrible motherfuckin' badass day at work yesterday. I told my Asst. that I was going to quit. She said, "Well, I'm not working here if you aren't. I'll get a damned greeter job at WalMart!" I said, "Okay. I'll start calling you 'Clanky'!" She looked perplexed, and I laughed. Anyway I hope today is better because if it's not, I'm leaving at noon.

3. There is no number three.

Wednesday

I'm taking a personal day off from work today. I have a lot of time I need to use up before the end of the year.
I might go to Panera Bread for a cheese bagel and coffee.

Vegas in November

We're going to Vegas for a few days in November. BP wanted to go the cheap route and stay at the Orleans for $35/night. I wanted to stay at the new mega resort Wynn. Wynn link So I held my breath until he met my demands. It's a little game I play to get my way.

---O---O---

I want to see either the Love Cirque show about the Beatles' music at the Mirage, or Spamalot which is at the Wynn. BP wants to go paragliding so he'll do that one afternoon, I'm sure.

We booked via Travelocity which was cheaper than Expedia and the airline's own website. I'm excited--I need a getaway. Just BP and me. It'll be nice.

Diarrhea and Open Houses

I didn't do a thing yesterday but hang around the house thinking that this needed to be done and that needed to be done and wishing that my gnomes would spring to life and do the housework.

I woke up today with diarrhea. I know I probably didn't spell that right---but it's diarrrehea, who cares? So I've been on and off the toilet since 6:30, in case you wanted to know.

I did go to the grocery store yesterday so I think I might blow off my other chores and go to some open houses today. I found four showing between 1 and 4 today.

Are we thinking about moving, you ask. I am but BP is not. I want a bigger house with three bedrooms and at least two bathrooms and a bigger yard. I know it's impractical, but either we move or we renovate this place. I want a kitchen like Schell's.

That's all. I'll keep you updated on the diarehea.

Friday

It's Friday.
My assistant has jury duty today. She's bummed about it. I got called a few years ago but never actually got to serve on a jury--the defendent pled guilty a few minutes before the trial started. I still received my pay--fifteen dollars or something astronomical like that.

I hope the weather is dry this weekend--I've got 50 daffodil bulbs I want to plant.

Clean car

Yesterday I took my car in to get washed and detailed. I used a company on the recommendation of a friend's father.
Oh my gosh! This place did such a fantastic job! The car so clean! The wheels are shiny. The hubcaps are shiny.
My trunk had traces of potting soil and other crappola in it---now gone! Sticky stuff from Cokes in the cup holders---now gone! Believe it or not, they even cleaned the inside of BP's Butt Bucket ashtray cup! After I saw the car's interior went back inside the place and told the guy who worked on it "You did such a great job!" He said, "Thanks. The only thing that was really rough was the driver's side floormats. "
"Yeah, well they really hadn't been cleaned for three years." He gave me a "tsk tsk" look.
Even Sara Sidle and Gil Grissom couldn't find a stray hair, blood droplet or fingerprint in the entire thing.
Only problem is now I don't want even BP or LP to ride in it. One hundred dollars well spent.

Bloomin Show Off

Here are some garden pictures I just took: apricot cannas (third bloom), Cosmos (blooms all summer and fall), Iceberg Roses (I moved them last year and they love this spot!) Irises (second bloom--I need to dig them up and divide them after this bloom)

The bunny was in my yard eating my parsley, when I took some pictures he took off across the street. Little does he know that I don't care if he eats my parsley. I planted it for the neighborhood bunnies and butterflies.

Saturday

1. It's supposed to reach 88 degrees today. In October. I like sweatshirt weather--not just sweat weather.

2. My irises and lavender plants are reblooming! My roses look fab. How am I supposed to go shopping for pumpkins when the weather is hotter than Hell?

3. I like this new show on HGTV. Fun Shui. This feng shui expert decorator helps a couple out in a room they don't like. Last week is was an unrelaxing bedroom. Last night it was a dowdy kitchen. She says you're not supposed to have too many books in your bedroom--a lot of books create too much fire energy and it's not relaxing. Uncluttered . . soothing colors . . . photograps or decorative items placed in twos are calming for a bedroom. In the kitchen last night, she painted the ceiling red! Red? you say? Yes, red. I thought it would be god-awful, but with the other colors and some new appliances it looked fantastic. And did you know that the stove was one of the most important pieces of "furniture" in your home? It's where the family is fed and nourished. My stove is older than dirt and looks it. I want this stove
But before I get that stove, my whole kitchen needs to be gutted and redone. BP has told me that I am forbidden from watching HGTV ever ever ever again.

4. Today I'm doing my regular Saturday chores: laundry including bedsheets (I love sleeping on fresh bedsheets) grocery store and damn it, I'm going to sit my butt on the porch and read too!

Office Recap

1. Love that Jim and Pam came out about their relationship. Was that the first mean thing Toby's ever done--the memo thing?
2. Creed's being 29 was funny--the dye job hair was great.
3. We saw Phyllis' claws come out when she pretty much threatened Pam about giving new clients on a random basis.
4. Dwight trying to make peace with Angela by giving her a feral cat.
5. Ryan the Temp has turned into an asshole.
6. Kelly Kapoor---- ::::rolls eyes::::
7. The gift baskets were a stroke of genius! Too bad none of the clients were women--we suckers for gift baskets---full of money!
8. Ryan hitting on Pam was just creepy.
9.Dwight & Michael driving into the lake because "the machine told me to" was hysterical!
10. I want me some more Andy, 'cuse me "Drew", Bernard. I love when he sings a cappella.

Rock Hall of Fame

I don't know if rock needs a hall of fame--aren't rockers supposed to be anti-establishment, and besides music is a very personal thing either it speaks to you or it doesn't--but here are the most recent Rock Hall of Fame nominees:

Dave Clark Five (don't like them)
Ventures (who?)
Leonard Cohen (masterful)
Afrika Bambaata (evidently this is a person and not a group)
Beastie Boys (fall into the Dave Clark Five "don't like them" catagory)
Donna Summer (Yessssss! Love to love you, Baby!)
Chic (who?)
John Mellencamp (a genius, a nice guy, a Hoosier--need I say more?)
Madonna (the original Boy Toy)

Read a Banned Book this week!

Oh shit. I'm getting forgetful in my old age. We're smack dab in the middle of National Banned Books Week and I didn't give it a Shout Out.

Banned Books

This is the time to remember how stupid it it to ban or challenge books at the library or even in your own home. The Freedom to Read should be coveted by all.

BBW was started by the American Library Association and now encompasses other pro-reading organizations, including EmmaWrites, Inc and Emmerica (all rights reserved).

Next time you hear a Stupid Person say that they don't think Little Johnny or Little Brittney Cristina (or you or me for that matter) should not read a book because it contains any or all of the following: witchcraft, anti-religious characters, menstruation talk, masturbation chat, homosexual references, etc. --just do society a favor and bite them on the leg. While they're sitting in the ER getting rabies shots their children can be reading!

Squirrel Chat

I was getting in my car, going back to work after lunch. I look up and see a squirrel snatch an ear of corn from my neighbor's gourd, pumpkin, corn Halloween yard display and carry the whole freaking ear in his mouth across the street. Big pig.

The Cyborg & Me

When I was waiting in the doctor’s examination room the other day I heard a commotion outside. When all was quiet again I thought about that scene in The Terminator where Arnold plows through the police station in search of Sarah Connor and goes room by room looking for her.
In this little exam room there were two big thick windows. I lifted up the blinds and there weren’t locks. The windows weren’t even functional so the only way I could get outside would be to smash them and jump out. I looked around to see if there was something metal to use to break the window, but there was only the Blood Pressure cuff attached to the wall, a pc monitor, a box of Kleenex, a chair, and some other assorted doctor-type things. Would a pc monitor break a heavy window? My best plan would be to use the chair and ram one of its legs through the window and use the exam table paper sheets to knock out the remaining glass and then I’d be out. My exam room was at the end of the corridor but I wonder if I would have enough time to:
1. Hear a life threatening commotion inside the medical office itself
2. Acknowledge to myself that the indestructible Cyborg was in the medical office, wreaking havoc and looking in each of the exam rooms, and working down the hall towards my room.
3. Then hop off of the exam table.
4. Pick up the chair and ram it into the window several times, enough to smash it.
5. Use that same chair to climb on and hoist myself outside to freedom.

Maybe my best move would be to hope that Sarah Connor was in the exam room two doors down so that when the Cyborg located her, he’d either kill her on the spot, or carry her off to finish the job.

Saturday

1. No, Kath, you may not speak about CSI here, because if I recall, you like that awful CSI Miami and New York better than my Gil Grissom, so just hesh up.

2. Spidey and Tree, I loved The Office episode--I liked Andy Bernard's sensitive nipples, and that Michael barely finished the Fun Run. The opening sequence showing Michael's condo and Jan sprawled out on the bed was hilarious, "Jan made me breakfast--well, she bought the milk. It's soy." HAHA!

3. I guess I do have plans after all . My sister called last night and she and Mom want to meet LP and me for lunch and shopping.

4. The weather is absolutely gorgeous here.

Stuff

1. Spidey, I taped The Office and will watch it today. I had to see if CSI's Sara Sidle survived Natalie Davis, The Miniature Killer's, attempt to murder her by throwing her under a red car and leaving her bruised, battered and half lucid in the Las Vegas desert. With the likes of the sexy Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows, Warrick Brown, Nick Stokes, Greg Sanders, Lt. Jim Brass and the goofy lab guy Hodges all looking for her, there was little doubt in my mind that she'd survive. I did cheat and switch over to The Office on commercials and gathered that the EVIL DWIGHT SHRUTE caused harm to Angela's cat Sprinkles, and The Temp Ryan seems a little too big forhis britches now that he's the new Jan Levinson-Gould (no Gould now.)

2. Schell, liar! There are Capricorns of importance! Jesus was a Capricorn. Not to mention Richard Milhous Nixon and the loveable Sassytmbr from the Book Shelf! So you can just take back that little statement.

3. It's Friday.

4. I went to the doc's office yesterday. He wanted to see me before he gave me another blood pressure prescription. I told him about a two-month-long cough I had. He immediately said that it was a side effect of the brand of BP medicine, so he switched me to another kind--which made sense because that's how long I've been on the BP stuff. He said that the cough should clear up within a week. Praise the Lord and pass the gravy!

5. I have no plans for the upcoming weekend other than to help LP fill out work applications, and to clean my living room. I'll probably rearrange the furniture too.


Have a pleasant day.

They got my goat

Capricorn is symbolized by the goat. Your ruling planet is Saturn and your element is earth. Capricorns are often excellent in matters of business. You are extremely protective of your loved ones and belongings, but you have a tendency to overthink things and worry too much. You are very stubborn, especially when you think you know best, but with this come a great passion for all things. Your best romantic matches are Taurus, Scorpio, and Leo.

Attention Clanks

Your fav--Dolly Parton--will be on the Dancing with the Stars results show tonight. Do you get that TV show over there? If not, I'm sure it'll be on YouTube tomorrow.

I just got my eyyees dialated and I can't sees up close.
How AM I suppposed to woerk today?

I feel like Charley before the meedicaal experriments

Fun Book

I bought this book for my son. Since he's shown no interest in reading it, I picked it up on Saturday. What a terrific tome!

What naval flags mean

Seven wonders of the ancient world

How to tie knots

How to build a treehouse

The parts of English language

What ciphers and codes are

I'm enjoying reading it. Despite the title, everyone can learn from this cool book.

Choices

Inspired by a previous Tree post here are some questions:

1. You are on a remote island with the following people and had to choose two to sacrifice to the volcano gods so the rest could get rescued. Which two would you toast? (If you don’t know them—Google ‘em)

Ryan Seacrest
Regis Philbin
Kelsey Grammer
Wayne Newton
Ty Pennington


2. Describe your favorite pair of shoes.


3. Cost being the same, which would you rather have:

A complete wardrobe from your favorite high end fashion designer,
Your house redesigned and refurnished.
A new car of your choosing.
Six months off of work to do whatever you want.



4. If you had to do one, which would you choose? Living a year without:

Electricity
A car
A computer
Any kind of hair products (shampoo, combs, brushes, etc)


5. If you could wipe one of the following off the face of the earth which would it be:

Hunger
Alcohol
Illegal drugs
Obesity
Alzheimer’s disease



6. You have to live in one of the following for one year, which would you chose:

A planned community with people who are like you and your family, absolutely no diversity.
A tiny 300 square foot loft apartment.
The cold unfinished basement of a friend’s house.
A convent.



7. You were offered one million dollars to have sex with George Bush. Would you take it?

8. Name an appliance you love.

9. Which would you choose:

Tickets to the next Super Bowl game
Tickets to Game 7 of the World Series
Tickets to the Academy Awards
Lunch with your favorite singer (name the singer if you choose this one)


10. Which of these groups would you most like to have dinner with:

Mike Ditka, Pete Rose and Barry Bonds
Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears
Reba MacIntire, George Strait and Boxcar Willie
Queen Elizabeth, Maggie Smith & Camilla Parker-Bowles

Real Quotes

I think I got a B in Econ 101. I got an A, however, in keeping taxes low.
GEORGE BUSH in a press conference September 20 morning

Me: And you kept the deficit high, and the body count higher




We sound like we don't want black people to vote for us.
JACK KEMP former Republican Congressman, criticizing his party's presidential candidates for skipping debates on minority issues

Me: Jack, unfortunately you're very perceptive. To paraphrase Kanye West "Republicans don't care about black people."





I'm probably one of the four or five best-known Americans in the world.
RUDY GIULIANI, U.S. presidential hopeful, on his international appeal


Me: Puhleeze, Rudy. What an ego.





The cockiest guy I have ever met in my life.
VICENTE FOX, Mexico's former leader, describing President George W. Bush in his new memoir, Revolution of Hope, due out next month

Me: B-b-b-ut Vicente, he got a B in Econ 101!






That's going back in history. I don't remember the details of it.
FRED THOMPSON, Republican presidential hopeful, when asked about Terri Schiavo and the right-to-die debate her case stirred in 2005

Me: Fred, 2005 is "back in history"? I won't even bother asking you about Roe V. Wade, Civil Rights, or the Civil War for that matter.

Just Awaiting Autumn

Not too much to update about. As I type LP is on the couch with an achy throat. I gave him some decongestant and honey vanilla tea and told him to sit quietly, but he put on CNN.
I think it's allergies because the weather's affected me too.

I don't like the fact that it doesn't get lighter until later. Shorter days means colder weather and eventually, winter. Would someone please talk to Mother Nature about this?

Lately I've been reading the online posting about real estate and houses in my area (oh, shades of Sparky!) Most usually comes with pictures. If a person puts up his home for sale, and he know the realtor will be stopping by for pictures, don't you think he could take the time to pick up clothing and/or toys off the floor?

We all went out to dinner last night. Sometimes my teenager can be very pleasant. But he was talking about joining the military. Talk about wanting to shit a brick! I am going to get him some career books and see iof I can interest him in some other kind of work. I don't want my son joining the fucking military! ESPECIALLY in this day and age.


Maybe you can help me---he says he wants a job where he can travel--nationally as well as internationally. I suggested sales--commerce. I suggested working for a cruise ship. I suggested writing--writers can work anywhere---of course it would help to write a big fat juicy mega-hit your first time off, but that's doable. Do you have any suggestions? Come on now, help me keep him out of the military. I told him that's he'd need Plan B because with his history of heart surgery, they probably wouldn't take him (thank God!)

Patron Tequila & Wenis Penis

Girl's Night Out was fun, but I only stayed a few hours. The food was so-so, but I have a new love: Patron tequila.
I'm not much of a drinker but there was a margarita special: $7.50 for a margarita made with Patron tequila. My. Oh, my was it tasty.
I looked up this company. Here's the website. But don't click on it if you're woozy--there are a bunch of tequila bottles and they're all moving. But it's made with 100% agave tequila so that's what makes it special. Try it.
There were ten of us, and one brought her husband with her. He's a cop. But he's a fun cop so it was okay.
We played Wenis Penis. You name a guy--mostly guys at work, or you could do celebrities.
Say a name. Go around the table. If you'd fuck the guy you say "Penis." If he's unfuckable you'd say "Wenis."
I wouldn't do one guy at work, so it was all "wenis" to me.
Now, if I worked with a PTBunkum, or a Naggypoo, my answer would have changed.

Saturday

It got very cool overnight—down in the 40’s. It’s refreshing outside now and I turned off the air conditioning.

Today’s chores include the ever-present laundry and straightening up the kitchen.

I have to go to the grocery for:

1. Dawn dishwashing liquid. (I’ve tried them all and Dawn wins hands-down. It even cleans plastic food storage containers like Glad or Rubbermaid.)
2. Olive oil
3. Laundry detergent
4. Large trash bags
5. Milk
6. eggs
7. bread and English muffins

This evening is Girls Night Out. We started it a few months ago with only four of us, and tonight we’re expecting around 15. We’re going to this local Mexican place for margaritas and dinner. It should be fun!

Gino Vannelli and Valerie

Old Gino














Young Gino



I saw an informercial ad for a CD collection of "Soft Rock." It featured the two Air Supply guys who I didn't like back when they were popular. Anyway, this collection included some Rod Stewart, Elton John, Chicago, Leo Sayer, Christopher Cross, Fleetwood Mac, and various One Hit Wonders. Probably had hundreds of songs on 13 CDs and cost just four (five) easy payments of $29.99 each.

It also featured a song by Gino Vannelli--who I haven't thought of in years. I lived in Clearwater Florida in the early 80's and my best friend was named Valerie. I think I've mentioned her in this blog before. She was the one who encouraged my first smoking of clove cigarettes. She was very funky and extremely cool and dated Arab men, and dressed in long flowy things and smelled of patchouli. Valerie adored Gino Vannelli and had posters of him in her Bohemian apartment.

I alsways used to tease her and say "If you married Gino Vannelli, you'd be Valerie Vannelli." It sounds lyrical.

Judging from the "old" Gino picture--he doesn't look half bad even today.

Bird Update

The Saved Bird
graced my yard last evening.
Still no Howdy-do.
But she did sing.
What a thing
to hear a bird sing.
If I had a parrot
I could hear it talk.
If I had a hawk.
I could hear it squawk.

Wednesday

Nothing much exciting to report. I think I'll stop on my way home from work today and buy Powerball tickets at the Village Pantry.

wireless mouses and 28 fucking lotto tickets

BP had the bright idea to hook up one of his computers to our flat screen TV in the living room. He also bought a wireless mouse and keyboard (We had to take the mouse back because the range was like, two feet.) Now he can sit in “his” chair—he calls it “his” chair even though I had that chair before we were married---and surf. I asked him to increase the text size because I couldn’t read that little assed text size from 6 feet away.

He’s in his glory. Now if I’d only let him smoke upstairs here, he’d never leave “his” chair.

I’ve tried it out a few times, but I prefer being on the computer here at my desk.

------------------------------
Here’s another thing:

On Sunday I stopped at a little store----It was a Village Pantry, but you probably have Seven 11, or a Milk Barn, or something like that. I went in to get a quart of milk. I was in line behind a raggedy older woman who was buying lottery scratch off tickets.

ROW: I’ll take three of number 2, one of number 7 and four of number 6. No wait. Four of number 2.

Clerk: Four Number 2, one number 7 and four number 6. Nine dollars.

ROW: Nine dollars?

Clerk: uh huh.

ROW: Here’s a ten. Don’t give me a dollar back . . . I’ll just take another of number 7. No. Number 6!

Clerk: Okay

(Me being exasperated)

ROW: Okay. Now I want 28 Hoosier Lottos, each on its’ own ticket.

Clerk: 28 Lottos each on an individual ticket?

Me: Oh, Good Grief!

I put down the milk and left.

I mean, Jesus Christ. There were two people behind me and this old raggedy woman wants 28 lottery tickets, each on its’ own ticket??? That’s fucking rude!

Emma: Bird Rescuer!

I wasn't even going to go out and work in the garden today because it's so freaking humid. Plus it rained about two inches yesterday. But I wanted to cut down some coneflowers and move some gay feathers and Shasta daisies. As I was finishing up I noticed some nearby rustling. I looked down at the Black Eyed Susans that had gone to seed and saw a female yellow goldfinch. Its' wing had gotten caught in the thorny seed and couldn't get away. After talking to it for a minute and asking if it needed my help (she did,) I went to get my camera and gardening gloves. I gently held it and disengaged its wing from the seed and branch, and it flew across the street and in my neighbor's tree with nary a "Thank You" or a "Howdy do."

The Dave Building

If reasonable people could put my name on a $21 million building, anything is possible."


Story

Lunch and Bashing

BP and I had lunch with his mother today. We took her to Chinese. She brought over these two ceramic churchy angels (each about 12 inches high) that she’d ordered from a catalog. They’re made to be hung on a wall. She said that didn’t look good in her house and she asked me if I wanted them. They were uglyass things but I was polite (I can be, at times) and declined. I said that I didn’t have an wall space plus I was into de-cluttering. She took them back home with her and said she’d give them to a gardening club friend. It’s the thought that counts.

During lunch we were ragging on BP’s “collection” of broken down vans (the one he has in the back driveway here has three flats, rusted out floorboards and barely is driveable) and other assorted vehicles. He has a blue Volkswagon Rabbit Diesel that’s been sitting in her yard (she lives in the country) for TWELVE years. The body’s good, but he wants to find another diesel engine and drop it in. She wants it out of her sight. Who can blame her? She said that occasionally guys drive by and stop and ask her if it’s for sale.

I told her “Tell him’yes’---sell it to him and keep whatever money he gives you as a storage charge for the past 12 years.” She said that the idea occurred to her, but she didn’t have the title. I asked BP if the title was here in the house somewhere. He said yes—so I told them that I’d make it my project to find it and sign it over to her so she could sell it.

Needless to say my husband was not pleased, but my M-I-L laughed. She told me that he also had a dump truck and an antique riding mower behind her barn too—she said that she’s sure that a family of groundhogs have taken up residence there in the dump truck’s cab.

Aside from the BP bashing, it was a nice lunch.

Hummingbird Lady

The two-doors down neighbor and her husband and I had a very nice chat yesterday evening. They credit me with bringing hummingbirds into our neighborhood. I showed them the plant that did it all: a mountain hyssop-type deal which I’ll post a picture of later. It’s not a spectacular plant at all, but the hummers love the small tubular flowers, and it blooms all summer long.
The lady said that she’d noticed hummers in my yard so her husband went out and bought 9 hummer feeders and put them in their backyard. They said they sit out there and see about a dozen birds fighting over feeders. Very cool.
I told her that I was planning on buying two more of the plants from the catalog and she asked for the catalog when I was finished.
Her husband is the guy who snowblows the whole block in the wintertime and won’t take any money, so I think I’ll buy her a few plants as a Thank you.
Please don’t post a comment “I see hundreds of hummingbirds in my yard.” Or “Hummingbirds are mean.” Or “One attacked me once, I hate them.” Hummingbirds are a pleasure and fun to watch around here so don’t piss on my parade. Besides they'll be gone in another few weeks.

Monday

Labor Day with not so much labor

Quiz

Who is your Movie Star Boyfriend?

Mine's Brad Pitt

A Man for blu or Respighi

''Here's a fascinating story: there's a man in Australia and he spent the last 15 years of his life typing — typing — the numbers 'one' to 'one million.' Fifteen years of his life typing the numbers 'one,' starting out with 'o-n-e,' fifteen years, 'one' to 'one million' — and, guess what, girls? He's single.''
--DAVID LETTERMAN, ON THE LATE SHOW

Garden pictures

1. The frilly zinnias Schell likes--only they're just about spent

2. Regular zinnias that are just butterfly magnets. everytime I walk by ten-fifteen buterflies fly up and away

3. This is just ONE single sunflower--with about twenty different flowerheads!

4. Another angle of same sunflower

Happy Mid Week

I'm tired of looking at the handsome Jonathan Rhys Meyers so I'm posting a new entry.
Nothing new or exciting, let me assure you. I wrote Spidey an email loaded with lots of nasty words insisting that she post to her blog. She is disrupting my morning routine of reading her blog.

Off to work in awhile but I might stop at Panera Bread for a coffee and one of their Asiago CHeeses bagels, sliced and well-toasted. I like my toast well-toasted--none of this lightly- toasted crappola. I WANT BROWN. MAYBE EVEN CHARRED.

Side note to blu and Tree: More fucking tears from Amber--even on Power of 10. haha--she defended Michael Vick when Drew Carey made a joke. She doesn't even know! Dumbass. "I don't know what 'scrutinized' is." Dumbass

Eric's a weasle. Jameka need to live atop a mountain so she can pray and contemplate her naval and/or navel and/or oranges. Jessica and Eric in bed made me vomit a little.

Match Point

This man is beautiful.

I just watched Woody Allen's Match Point starring Scarlett Johannson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. This man is beautiful---I couldn't take my eyes off of his lips. The movie was very good and you should rent it.

Despite being a pig in his real life, I love the way Woody Allen directs movies. The shots are incredible. He wrote and directed this one and it's set in London. The main theme is how luck plays into life.

Muggy Saturday

I've got four of the six "Things to Do This Weekend" things done already!

1. Clean back porch
2. Clean the bathtub
3. Clean the toilet
4. Clean bathroom and kitchen sinks
5. Go to Target for plastic tubs and cat food
6. Laundry

2, 3, 4, 5 DONE

I'm doing laundry right now and the back porch later or on Sunday.

Since I'm going to win the Powerball jackpot ($300 million) tonight, instead of Spidey. I'm going to give her a consolation prize. I'll send her and BigJoe on a two-week dream vacation anywhere in the world--all expenses and travel money included. (I'm sure they'll pick Indiana to visit since I'm here!)

Where in the world would you go and where would you want to stay? No fair saying a non-specific "Beach", or "Europe," or "Hawaii." Be specific, include a link if you'd like.

And no, Schell--you can't say "Naggypoo's bedroom"!!

Sex at 5:30 in the morning doesn't appeal to me.

Yesterday some of the schools got out early because the heat index was about 106.
Perhaps if school started in September like it's supposed to and not mid-August they'd alleviate this problem.

It's humid.

My husband tried to have sex with me at 5:30 this morning. I don't know about you, but my pussy does not want to be played with at 5:30 in the morning. I told him that if he wanted to have sex at 5:30 in the morning, he'd have to go solo---or maybe I'll suggest that he IM Meme.

Good news: It's Friday.

Bad news: We'll be busy at work.

I hope your day goes well.

More cute cat pictures

The cat climbed up onto a desk and took a nap and just looked darned cute!

5:02 PM

Work sucked.
It's sunny outside.
I'm eating a chunk of hot pepper cheese.

And I await Big Brother tonight because I read on one of the spoiler pages that Jen and Dick have a knock down, drag out--she destroyed all of his cigarettes. He called her "fucking bitch" numerous times. And she took herself off of slop and may be evicted by BB for breaking the rules. She probably won't since she'll more than likely be voted out soon anyway.

This cheese is very good.

Rain

We finally got some rain today.

Rain, rain, rain.

Downpours, actually but man do we need it!

You know you want me to have this

As I've posted before, I enjoy watching House Hunters and especially House Hunters International. Friday I saw a couple searching for an apartment in Portugal. I got online and found THIS HOUSE in Ireland. I want it. And I know you want me to have it too! So cash it your CDs, IRAs and your retirement savings and the money to me. I'd be ever-so- grateful.

Thanks in advance.

Pissed Cat

LP had thrown a sleeping bag up over a book case. Nesta of course jumped up there and fell asleep. I said "Kiki Marie!" and woke her up. She was not amused.

Updates and Stuff

1. The bathroom. The shower, bath, vanity and toilet are functional. BP had to go back to work so he still has to do the ceiling light and vent, the walls and trim. I told him that if I felt like it, I’d clean the baseboards and the door, and paint them. We’ll see.

2. Tomorrow LP and I are meeting my sister for lunch and shopping.

3. My assistant’s husband called her at noon today and told her to high tail it home and take him to the emergency room. She called 911 and got an ambulance to the house. Now you know it’s bad when a man admits to being sick and demands to go to the ER. Turns out his hernia was about ready to burst and his colon (or some other innard part) was twisting around his bowel and if left a few more hours could have ruptured----gangrene—and death. He had emergency surgery. So he’ll be in the hospital for at least 5 days—the second day and the third are the worst and will tell the docs whether or not they’ll have to take him to surgery again. Oy.

4. Remember that Hoosier Raffle I blogged about in June? I bought tickets with my oldest sister and my youngest sister and we won $1000. Split three ways. Hmm. Better than a kick in the ass, I guess.

5. I’m glad it’s Friday night.