Daddy's back!!!

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Waiting on Dad to get out of outpatient surgery...

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

My dog loves a good Dingo

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Daddy's lap is best

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Jojo has decided that his toys are like a mattress...

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Knackered puppy...

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

New blog... audio styley! :P

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Outside waiting for Paul... poor bugger

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Grilling for charity in the cold and rain...

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Falling to rock bottom...

Feeling so bad today: emotionally and physically. A migraine since I woke up, and now at odds with my best friend because we are both out of sorts. I hate guilt. It brings out the very worst in me.

When Shih Tzus Attack!!!

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Sickie

Sick today for the second day in a row. Ugh. Sinus infections suck. Anyway, yesterday sucked for reasons I won't list, and today am working from home as I thought the mountain of tissues was too gross for the office. Maybe later we will go shopping... we'll see.

Jojo missing his Dad (shut in bedroom w/ me while Paul does something)

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Bad day...

I think I should write today off. It's 8:30 PM and I'm already in bed. I got loads done at work today, took Paul to the oral surgeon (where we found out his treatment will cost $700 after insurance!) and then came home. I cooked two Hamburger Helper meals, making enough meals in the freezer and fridge to last Paul and I for 12 meals!
In RP land, my muse has been low, so I haven't had much muse. And because I felt poorly I have had to go to bed early tonight. Bleh.

Doggy - OOPS!

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Conficker Panic

Anyone else panic last night over not planning for protection against the Conficker virus? I did. silly really. But it was the first virus that really panicked me.

ERGH!!!

Can't believe I neglected this again!
Sometimes I have no stamina.

Alright, new thing is: On a diet. Really enjoying it for a change. I track everything on MyPlate, an app on livestrong.com. And I'm doing really well these first five days. I hope I can stick it.
I'm not weighing myself until this Sunday, as I only want to weigh in once a week.

Other than that, work is busy as is free time. Finally going to have a nice weekend in tonight, save for maybe taking the dog to a dog park for a change.

I'll write more tomorrow - and that's a promise!

What are you doing for Valentine's Day?

Romantic candlelight dinner? Walk along the river? Picnic in the park?
If you were to ask Paul and I, nothing is more romantic then going to see penguins! On Saturday, we'll be heading to the Cincinnati Zoo for "Penguin Days". We both love the zoo and especially the tuxedoed fellas - so it'll be exciting!

Ugh...

Woke up this morning with the most dreaded thing in my life: a migraine. I have suffered from them since I graduated college. The first times they really got me was back in 2004 where I almost missed a full month of work because of them. But I struggled through.

My migraines are caused by two things: 1) a change in barometric pressure and 2) wine. Wine is easy to avoid, but barometric pressure changes with the weather and temperature. There is no place on Earth that I could live to relieve that! So with every front (high or low) that comes through Cincinnati, I get a lovely painful headache.

This morning, I tried to sleep it off after dosing up on Excedrin Migraine (works better than prescription drugs for me), but to no avail. The migraine remained. So I set it up so one of my work-at-home days for work was moved to today and I could avoid what little noise is in the office, as well as the evil florescent lights. I love that my job is that flexible.

Oh, and Happy 91st Birthday, Grandma MacKnight!

Green is the happiest color!

HE GOT IT! YES HE DID!
Paul got the best thing in the mail Saturday - his green card! He didn't have to interview at all! It was so great to finally get it after the paperwork and madness we had gone through.

That's all I have to post really... back tomorrow!

Shop til you drop!!!

Whew! What a day!!!
Today Paul and I met up with my mum and grandmum after their Saturday errands (every Saturday, my mum runs her mum to the beauty salon to get her gorgeous white hair set, and then to the grocery store, and then to lunch). Since my grandmum is turning 91 on Monday, Paul and I treated her to her favourite restaurant - Skyline! She was delighted to spend time with us, and we joked around a lot. Then we followed her back home and watched her play with this crazy parrot thing my uncle bought for her. The thing has 45 actions and sounds, and you can pet it, train it, feed it - it even farts! It was totally weird, and Grandmum loves it.

We went to the Peppermint Pig next: a thrift shop that benefits a stray animals charity. There we found all sorts of bargains, including two technical manuals for internet programming for Paul. They retailed at $30-$35 dollars each - and he paid $1 for both! I got a few really nice pieces of clothing, and mum found a cute teapot that is shaped like a sofa chair with a cat sleeping on it. She was delighted.

From there we headed back to the house, where Mum gave me a beautiful light purple glass bowl for the center of my dining room table. It has a few scratches, but once I fill it, it won't matter.

Paul and I headed to Target finally: my favourite store!!! We had $30 in gift cards, and ended up getting dinner there (pizza and boneless chicken wings) as well as getting some things we needed - and some we didn't. I got a little webcam and have been addicted to it ever since!
It was a lovely, busy day - but one that both Paul and I thoroughly enjoyed!

Letting Loose

Some people read books, others play video games. Some take baths or get massages. To relax, I roleplay.
Roleplaying can mean a lot of things, but for me it means a forum where creative writers meet to create storylines together using certain rules and guidelines. I love this way of creating stories so much that I have been doing it for about 8 years. I used to do it via email on groups on Yahoo, the theme always Beatles related. I would get to play John or George or Paul or Ringo - or any of their girlfriends, and we would reply back and forth in usually a couple of lines at a time. It was rare we were online at once, so it took ages for things to progress. But it was fun. Then in 2005, I got interested in a site based on Pride & Prejudice. I joined: My first characters were brother and sister, Darian and Emmaline Barlow.


There I met a lovely girl named Elizabeth, and I eventually came over to a site she had started called Powder & Patch (after the Georgette Heyer book). The site was something new to me - I knew enough about Regency England to be able to play characters in it, but this site was set earlier - in Georgian England. All powdered wigs and corseted dresses and patches in the shapes of moons and stars. It was fascinating and soon I was hooked on the whole scene. Our first characters there together (between Elizabeth and I) will always be my favourite love story - Rene and Aphrodite. They were fire and ice, passion and hatred, ying and yang...

More on this subject in another post...

As Charlie Brown said it - "UGH!"

Today was a *ergh* day. I had lots of work to do at my job - but also had to do two other people's jobs at once. My reports got pushed back to complete other's reports, and at one point i was cursing the screen. My friend Tiffany saved me though, supplying Reese's Cups to the angry beast.

When I came home, Paul had made some lovely jacket potatoes. Or as we call them, baked potatoes. I love them so much the way he makes them...

Finally, after last night's drama-fest, things have settled. The only outstanding is someone who isn't talking to me, and who I upset unintentionally. If I've hurt her, I'm truly sorry. But I can't make things better when she doesn't talk.

About to drop off to sleep - better head off of here.

WARNING: EMOTIONAL CONTENT WITHIN

art by AnimeChick4DDR

Why is it that people can be so ergh?!? As I've stated long ago in this blog, I am a born peacemaker. I constantly get in the middle of arguments or disagreements or confusions and try to sort things out. And inevitably I'm the one who pays for caring about the two parties - by making them both hate me. I've just again experienced this twice this week, and could possibly be spiraling down the dark path of depression again. I'm so upset that I should again be blamed for things not my fault. And then when I try to do the right thing I get shit on. I'm tired of it.

Depression is very real, and has always been a struggle for me to get through. I have my ups and downs, and can very quickly spiral out of control. And right now I'm touching the edge with my feet.

So if I go quiet for a while - you'll find me at the bottom...

"White Death"

Well, it took me 3 hours, but I made it home! Cincinnati was hit with a freak snow front that dumped 4-6 inches of snow on top of the 10 inches we had last week. I was stuck in traffic for three long hours for a normally 40 min. drive. And I had it easy!

Anyway, got home and the dog was still upset about haircut. Got him some Benadryl and really has been helping him - sleep as well as the itching from the hair growing in. He's still fussing with the small cut on his back foot, but I've been treating it over and over. Eventually it will heal.

I'm so tired from driving I can't wait for bed...

Countdown...

24.
I'm a huge fan of this show, but have seasons that I just never got into. Like last season - I didn't get it really and with all the stresses of life, I kinda just ignored it. Even the special movie they did in December went unwatched by me. But the new season is pretty good.
The funny thing now is that when I watch it, there is no running around the house and shouting of "24! 24!" anymore. When I lived at home, Mum and Dad were both obsessed. We would always watch it in seperate rooms, but I would run into Mum's room during the commercials to complain or rant about some plot line or another. It was a "bonding" experience I suppose. Well, Paul's ok with the show, but not a fan. And Jojo doesn't care. So it makes it... less fun.
Still - on of the best shows ever on telly... :)

Ready for some FOOTBALL?

It's Superbowl Sunday, the one day of the year millions of Americans drink and eat junk all in the name of the game. I'll be tuning in for the commercials of course, but enjoying the whole thing with Paulie for the first time in person (last year we watched it together across the ocean, but I fell asleep on the phone!!!). I'm more jazzed about getting Elizabeth's charcoal picture she wanted done completed, and working on that scarf for Serena. I might, if I have time, start writing my chapter for the collab.

This morning, Paul and I headed out for the shops - intending to hit Aldi and GFS only. But GFS wasn't open until noon, so it ended up being Walmart. I guess we didn't do that badly, and we have food for tonight. Also got some new filters for the Brita pitcher, and some liguid bandage for Jojo's cut from the scissors last night. It wasn't a bad cut, but he kept messing with it.

I'm worried about him, though I know that his behaviour right now is based on him being uncomfortable with the super short coat, and that he is also cold and anxious. I think as the week progresses he will calm down.

I'm off to go help Paul with our big supper: appetizers only! I think I might make brownies too... :P

Tales of a Puppy

Well, today has been interesting! Spent the morning with Paul, getting Jojo from the fluffy mess on the left, full of matted hair, to the sleek lighter model on the right. He was truly hard to groom, which is odd because the groomers always say he is the most well-behaved dog in the shop. Anyway, he's mostly finished, with a few cleanup points we'll get along the way. The wastebasket must have a pound of fur in it. Odd...

Also, spent 6 lovely hours on StickAM with Sair in England and Paul - we had some lovely Beatle-ish time and catchup. And I got some more RPing done as well.

My thoughts and prayers are with my sweetie Tanja tonight as she deals with the death of a loved one. *huggles*

Artistic Endeavors

A day off work and filled to the brim with fun! I spent the morning writing role-playing threads with my mates in Austrailia and England, then took a break upstairs after lunch to spend time with Paulie. I broke out the old-school PS2 and played Simpsons Road Rage - an old favourite. Soon I was tired of running over people and smashing up property and cars, and moved on to one I hadn't played yet, Lego Star Wars II: Episodes IV-VI. I have to say it was fantastic and I plan to head upstairs in a few moments to continue the action. I love the Lego video games they have out - from the PS2 to the Wii to DS. They are all brilliantly done. Jojo decided to join me in playing for a while, and then we had ravioli for dinner.

Upon heading back to my mates for some more writing, I found we had a new project. My friends and I are doing a collab writing project, tentatively titled: Macabre Circus. It will be wonderful and diverse, and intense for sure. I will link to it once it is complete! It's made me more inspired to go back to unfinished work of mine, including a great Pride & Prejedice fanfic I started but never got further then completing the first chapter.

Anyway, another day in the can, and another happy outcome. If only life were always this nice!

New Life Dawns

Another day and it's been a doozy. I'm still stuck in the house - the tree over our driveway has bowed so much with the weight of the snow and ice that I can't get out without scratching up my car - see above. But the goodness is I could work from home. And that I found out that my cousin Chris and his new wife Sam are expecting a boy! My other cousin Andrew and his new wife Olivia just had a baby girl name Lydia Anne. It's baby season in my family - but I'm holding off for a while. My two cousins were pregnant so quickly after marriage that they didn't get a chance to enjoy their partners in marriage. I waited 12 years to get mine - I think I deserve at least a year or more of alone time with him.

Plus you can always count Jojo as our son! LOL!

A new year, and new resolutions...

Right - so start anew and see how long I can do it! I've now challenged myself to write at least three times a week here, if not more often. It's one of my many new year's resolutions. Others include the normal "lose weight", "sort out money situations", and the more work driven, "give recognition for a job well done more often!"

Today just happens to be the second day of the great snow/ice storm of 2009. Above is just a pic of the iced/snowed woods behind our house. It is beautiful - but a menace to drive in. So I'm glad we are at Snow Emergency Level 3! Paul and I went to the grocery last night and that was a hassle on the roads.

I'm looking forward to a lot of things - mostly to April as it will be a one year anniversary for us, and to June when we might be able to take a vacation. But we will see. For now, our focus as a family is spending time together, staying warm, and continuing to search for a job for Paul. He thinks he has a lead, and I'm praying he gets it.

Anyway, I'm just taking a break from working at home - VPN is a wonderful invention. But I hate it at 7:30 AM on what should be a snow day!

Dog Days of Summer

Morning was a little rough. After yesterday, paul and I wanted a lie-in. but at 9 AM we both got woken by a face-licking from Jojo, our sweet Shih-Tzu. Or so he usually is. Paul was still sleeping, so I thought I would be nice and get up to take Jojo out for a quick whizz. You have to put a harness on him in the morning because he always thinks that he is going on an hour walk with Paul. So I put his harness on but don't attach the top clip as I was half asleep. I didn't dress to be out further than my own yard, in a baseball cap, in sandals. I expected him to do his thing in my yard and be done with it. But Jojo had other ideas. He headed for the fire hydrant at the end of our drive. He tugged on the leash and the harness velcro came undone. The rest of the harness just slipped off him because the little pup is so skinny. Jojo was determined and took off for the top of the street. I kept calling after him in my "you are in trouble" voice. He would stop, look at me, then run on. This game went on all the way to the lake. The only reason I caught him was because he stopped to do some longer business. I was livid and scared and pissed off at him. The whole way home, I kept him on a short leash, but did not yell. My body language told him enough. When I got home, I crawled back into bed with Paul and cried until I had migraine. Then I slept until noon.

The rest of the day was normal for a lazy Sunday. I rp-ed with Elizabeth, ran Paul to Wal-mart for a short shop, ate a lovely dinner Paul made, and did the dishes. I'm not ready to go back to work, but I know I have to. I really need a break - I can't wait for Labor Day!!!

A few days - not bad!

Again I neglect the blog. :( I'm not so good at this you will find.

But today have something to blog about. Just got back from the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville. We left at the break of dawn (literally). Paul had taken Jojo for a quick 20 minute walk, and by then I had put a cooler in the car and gotten ready. Jojo was great going into his crate (each time is better) and we were off.

One stop at Meijer later, we were sporting down I-71 to Louisville. We had one stop in the two hour trip for breakfast (Paul at Burger King and I at McD's). We arrived a little late at the fair, only to find out at the gate that they take only cash for admission!!! What a backward state!!! We turned around, found a gas station, and got money out. Then we headed back and were admitted. Parking was a distance from the buildings, but we didn't have much choice. We walked all the way up to the building before Paul remembered he had left his wallet behind (which had all of the money in it). So he walked back to retreive it.

Finally inside, we checked out two competitions during the World Class Champion Horse Show: Throughbred driving division, and juniors throughbred. I loved the juniors - all the riders were between 14-17 years of age. And all excellent riders. Paul had a bit of fun, but I could tell it wasn't really for him.

So we headed off for more exhibits. We saw some girls in a tap competition, went around the flea-market-type South Wing, stopped to eat (Paul had BBQ pulled pork, I had a pretzel), and then headed on to look at the hobby displays. We noted in photography that anything patriotic seemed to win or at least get honorable mention. And we saw in all the art at least 4 Obama's (including one in blue!) .

Then we stopped again near the horse show to watch the horses parade in. It was great to see that world again - when I was young I used to ride. I love nothing better than the smell of a horse barn... most people think it stinks - but not for me. It's like a lovely memory come back to me. We headed off to the West Wing where all the cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs were housed. We even got to see the miniture horses lining up for competition. One of them tried to nibble my shirt while Paul took the picture.

We headed outside, for a long walk around Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom (attached to the fair grounds) and a few moments on the midway. We didn't ride anything, just checked it out. I noticed my fist felt tight, and realized my fingers were swelling. Panicking, I took off my wedding rings and placed them in my wallet. We sat down after a quick jaunt around the baked goods, dairy, and tobacco products. Paul's reaction to the tobacco display was interesting to say the least...

Finally, we were finished and we headed home. We stopped in Florence to have Steak & Shake dinner. And then we headed home to our VERY VERY good puppy Jojo, who my mum had stayed with for 3 hours until we got home. Apparently he barely whined - a first!!!!

We had a great time!

Back in the saddle again...

Well, three years huh? I was never a good blogger, but that's bleedin' impressive. I wish I could be more like Sair - her blogs are always interesting, long and honest.

Oh well, guess I'll just have to be my failure self.

Let's see, updates:
1) Am married not nearly 4 months to my soul mate, Paul Wharton (who is sleeping upstairs)
2) Have an adorable dog (see side bar) named Jojo. He is the baby we have yet to have
3) Bought and moved into a landominium that we all three adore. It is close enough to my parents that I don't feel guilty, but far enough away that I don't see them all the time
4) Was promoted to Media Fulfillment Manager at work
5) Dad has had a knee and shoulder replaced, and is having another shoulder done in September
6) Mum had a bout with uterine cancer and had surgery to remove it
7) Paul's mum passed away last October

There it is - three years in the making.

As for today, sitting in the basement of my home because my laptop crashed last week and now we can't get the wireless working. So I've set up shop here. Actually it is really nice because I love the dark when on the computer. I have to wear glasses at work because I have a refractorary error in one eye that makes it hard for me to read the computer screen under the flourescent lights. At home - no lights equals happy girl!

I'm about to go off to reply to some role-playing threads (I'm an addict) and send a few early birthday cards to Alan in Liverpool... his birthday is Tuesday. I will try to write here regularly if I can. :)

Elevate My Soul

Another day setting in my life and I'm finally feeling better. I've had bad
luck lately with health. If it wasn't migraines or tension headaches, it was
killer colds or stomach viruses. And I don't even want to go into the stress
caused by the rising mound of medical bills... So it's a good day when all I
have is a headache that I rid myself of by midday with medication. The
stomach virus I've had seems to be waning and my appetite is returning
slowly.

I'm going to revel in this day, quietly.

(Hooray!)

Just Breathe...

So all of us need help every once in a while, even the strongest of us. And I am far from the strongest. I've always been the advocate for under-medicating mental health. But there comes a time in everyone's life when they have to accept that they may no longer be able to control their emotions themselves.

So I'm excepting this helping hand... and now I feel I can finally breathe again.

Passionate One

Before you all shake your heads at me in disbelief that I already missed a day of post, know this:
1) I did say I would post at least twice a week - not once a day...
2) I nearly posted last night until I was attacked by an eville stomach ache that is still plaguing me.
3) What do you care anyhow??? :P

Anywho, nothing new to really update. The title of this post is perhaps a little abstract. I know I've written about my sun sign before in my posts, but I wanted to take the time to touch on a certain aspect of Scorpios: passion. Now before you run to the FCC to tell on me, hear me out, dude. Passion isn't always about white-hot sex. Passion can also be about life and everything in it. But the passion I speak of is the passion that exists when a Scorpio is emotionally affected by something. Ever known someone who had massive mood swings, but was extrememly focused and organized? Someone who could argue a point into the ground and then break into tears the moment they win the debate? Prolly a Scorp...

Point is: Emotionally, we Scorpios are screwed (at least the women and most of the men). We invest so much of our life energy in ensuring the "right" things happen in situations that when something doesn't (or even does), it breaks us down. So step lightly around those November babies you know when it comes to passion - they will out shine even the most determined Taurus.

Candlebright in the Window

Well, another year gone... and I've decided it's high time I updated this journal. For those who read it (hi, you two!), don't freak - and don't expect much. But I thought I might as well be cliche and document my new year's resolutions for 2005.

1. Lose weight. (This is a cop-out for most people - but as I am comfortable with how I am now, I would just like to lose it for the pride of it...)
2. Update my journal at least twice a week. (We all know how that one's gonna go...)
3. Be more aware of my tone before speaking. (A very recent development, complicated by excess emotional stress... )
4. Save, save, save... and get out of debt as much as possible... (very important!)
5. Grow a tougher skin at work. (Needed to sort out some current issues not to be mentioned.)

So there you have it - first entry of the new year. More interesting and lovely stuff to come. I'll have loads of great stories to tell, I'm sure. Have a happy 2005!

To satisfy the requirement to update...

200 Things I May or May Not Have Done

blue items are things I have done

01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink

02. Swam with wild dolphins

03. Climbed a mountain

04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive

05. Been inside the Great Pyramid

06. Held a tarantula.

07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone

08. Said ‘I love you’ and meant it

09. Hugged a tree

10. Done a striptease

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise

15. Seen the Northern Lights

16. Gone to a huge sports game

17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa

18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables

19. Touched an iceberg

20. Slept under the stars

21. Changed a baby’s diaper

22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon

23. Watched a meteor shower

24. Gotten drunk on champagne

25. Given more than you can afford to charity

26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope

27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

28. Had a food fight

29. Bet on a winning horse

30. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

31. Asked out a stranger

32. Had a snowball fight

33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier

34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can

35. Held a lamb

36. Enacted a favorite fantasy

37. Taken a midnight skinny dip

38. Taken an ice cold bath

39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar

40. Seen a total eclipse

41. Ridden a roller coaster

42. Hit a home run

43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days

44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking

45. Adopted an accent for an entire day

46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment

48. Had two hard drives for your computer

49. Visited all 50 states

50. Loved your job for all accounts

51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced

52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

53. Had amazing friends

54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country

55. Watched wild whales

56. Stolen a sign

57. Backpacked in Europe

58. Taken a road-trip

59. Rock climbing

60. Lied to foreign government’s official in that country to avoid notice

61. Midnight walk on the beach

62. Sky diving

63. Visited Ireland

64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love

65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them

66. Visited Japan

67. Bench-pressed your own weight

68. Milked a cow

69. Alphabetized your records

70. Pretended to be a superhero

71. Sung karaoke

72. Lounged around in bed all day

73. Posed nude in front of strangers

74. Scuba diving

75. Got it on to “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye

76. Kissed in the rain

77. Played in the mud

78. Played in the rain

79. Gone to a drive-in theater

80. Done something you should regret, but don’t regret it

81. Visited the Great Wall of China

82. Discovered that someone who’s not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog

83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better

84. Started a business

85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken

86. Toured ancient sites

87. Taken a martial arts class

88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman

89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight

90. Gotten married

91. Been in a movie

92. Crashed a party

93. Loved someone you shouldn’t have

94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy

95. Gotten divorced

96. Had sex at the office

97. Gone without food for 5 days

98. Made cookies from scratch

99. Won first prize in a costume contest

100. Ridden a gondola in Venice

101. Gotten a tattoo

102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on

103. Rafted the Snake River

104. Been on television news programs as an “expert”

105. Got flowers for no reason

106. Had sex in a public place

107. Got so drunk you don’t remember anything

108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug

109. Performed on stage

110. Been to Las Vegas

111. Recorded music

112. Eaten shark

113. Had a one-night stand

114. Gone to Thailand

115. Seen Siouxsie live

116. Bought a house

117. Been in a combat zone

118. Buried one/both of your parents

119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off

120. Been on a cruise ship

121. Spoken more than one language fluently

122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone

123. Bounced a check

124. Performed in Rocky Horror

125. Read - and understood - your credit report

126. Raised children

127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy

128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour

129. Created and named your own constellation of stars

130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country

131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did

132. Called or written your Congress person

133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over

134. …more than once? - More than thrice?

135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking

137. Had an abortion or your female partner did

138. Had plastic surgery

139. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived.

140. Wrote articles for a large publication

141. Lost over 100 pounds

142. Held someone while they were having a flashback

143. Piloted an airplane

144. Petted a stingray

145. Broken someone’s heart

146. Helped an animal give birth

147. Been fired or laid off from a job

148. Won money on a T.V. game show

149. Broken a bone

150. Killed a human being

151. Gone on an African photo safari

152. Ridden a motorcycle

153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph

154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced

155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol

156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild

157. Ridden a horse

158. Had major surgery

159. Had sex on a moving train

160. Had a snake as a pet

161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing

163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours

164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states

165. Visited all 7 continents

166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

167. Eaten kangaroo meat

168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground

169. Been a sperm or egg donor

170. Eaten sushi

171. Had your picture in the newspaper

172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime

173. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about

174. Gotten someone fired for their actions

175. Gone back to school

176. Parasailed

177. Changed your name

178. Petted a cockroach

179. Eaten fried green tomatoes

180. Read The Iliad

181. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read

182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them

183. …and gotten 86’ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you

184. Taught yourself an art from scratch

185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt

187. Skipped all your school reunions

188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language

189. Been elected to public office

190. Written your own computer language

191. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream

192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care

193. Built your own PC from parts

194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you

195. Had a booth at a street fair

196. Dyed your hair

197. Been a DJ

198. Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal

199. Written your own role playing game

200. Been arrested

The Truth About Love

All I can say is this:

When it rains, it fucking poors.

Never Forget

All We Are Saying Is Give Peace A Chance

September 11, 2001

"Peace First, Then Love!"

Legendary Producer and Musician Mark Hudson and I

I've been away a while and later I will write a long long entry as to why. However, for those that read this, I thought I would include this pic. Mark Hudson is an inspiration to me and I love the fact that I have had the pleasure of meeting him several times.

Peace and Love Mark!

Useless Information Bank

As those who know me are aware, I have a lot of information in my brain that many would think completely useless. There are topics, people, places and times that fascinate me, which in turn drives me to study them in depth. One such example is the 1960's music scene and the culture surrounding it. In fact, I even wrote a long paper on the influence of the Beatles on the culture and trends of the 1960's when I was in high school (can be found on my website - My Home to the right). If prompted, I could tell you the story of the night Donovan met the Beatles in Bob Dylan's London hotel room or let you know the long complex story behind the song "Layla". As I study these little obsessions of mine, I store the stories and facts into my memory. At any given time, I can recall and spout out these juicy tidbits, many of which are complete useless for the real world.

On the other hand, if you were to ask me what I did last Saturday night or what date I last talked to my friend in LA, I probably wouldn't be able to give you the right answer. Strange.

Many find this facet of my personality interesting and even charming. I guess it has a purpose then.

More later...

Mixology

If you've ever watched the movie or read the book High Fidelity, you'll know that the main character goes into a diatribe over the importance and significance of making a good mix tape.

I am a student of this ideology. I work very hard on my compilations when I take the time to create them. I tend to include appropriate dialog from movies or television that seem to fit the theme of the mix. And of course, the mix always has a theme or at least is geared for a certain person, creating a theme all its own. I've made mixes with names like "Wild Plums and Agrimony", "Staring into the Abyss", "Take A Drive...", "Beatle Bites", "True Romance", "Happy Crimble To All" and many more. I've compiled songs to create the illusion of a lover's quarrel or even a mental spiral down into depression and suicidal feelings.

There is an art to mixing together the masterpieces of others in order to convey a message to the listener. It's something I take very seriously with every mix I make. Music to me is one of the most intense forms of communication, second only to writing a letter. But imagine writing a letter through the music of others... what a power that could emit!

For Good

I don't usually do this, but I can't seem to express my feelings lately, so here's some lyrics that sum it up:

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are lead to those
Who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return

Well I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today because I met you

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes the sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever ways our stories end
I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend

Like a ship run from its mooring by a wind off the sea
Like a siege rocked by a sky bird in a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For all things I've done you blame me for
But then I guess
We know there's blame to share
And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes the sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better
I do believe I have been changed for the better
And because I knew you
Because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good

~Wicked

Inside-Out Girl

Inside-out girl, what's your game?
Wandering through life
Visible heart engulfed in flame
Inside-out girl, what's you name?

Inside-out girl, please don't cry
Who burnt you
Until you can no longer recognize
Inside-out girl, please don't die

Inside-out girl, why so low
Tough outer skin
Isn't something you can show
Inside-out girl, don't you know

Inside-out girl, pink and red
Once you were
Wholly in tact, toes to head
Inside-out girl, you've made you bed

Inside out girl, how's it to be
When the world
Tramples you under its feet
Inside out girl, aren't you me?

Original work - Copyright Maple de Fische 2004