Fruit answers

Ok, here are my very carefully thought out interpretations of what your favorite fruits say about you. Please highlight one sentence in your description that you think best describes you, and paste it in the comments. If you disagree with the description, then umm, pick another fruit?


mom2bjm

Apple - If apple is your favorite fruit, you are an extravagant, impulsive & outspoken person, often with a bit of a temper. While you may not be the best organizer yourself, you make a good team leader & are good at taking things forward. You can take quick action in most situations. You enjoy travel immensely. You ooze with charm when you are with your partner. You have an enthusiasm for life, unmatched by most.

HistoryDetective (and maybe Lightsy)

BANANA - You are a softy! Loving, gentle, warm and sympathetic by nature is the banana lover. You often lack in self-confidence & are quite timid by nature. People often take advantage of your sweet temperedness, & sheer vulnerability to a situation. You adore your partner in every which way, both for their mental & physical beauty! Because of the way you are, your relationship is always very much in harmony!

Carey & motormouth (I didn't put it in the comments, but this was my pick)

COCONUT - The coconut lover is a serious, very thoughtful &
contemplative person. Though you enjoy socializing, you are particular about the company you keep. You tend to be stubborn but not necessarily foolhardy. Shrewd, quick-witted & alert, you ensure that you are right on top of any given scenario, especially at work. You need a partner with brains, & while passion is important it certainly isn't everything for you.

Nookie, Jen & Arkie & Seana

PINEAPPLE - You are quick to decide & even quicker to act. You are brave in asking for changes, if that is what is to your advantage. You have exceptional organizing abilities & are undaunted by the size of the task at hand. You tend to be self reliant, sincere & honest in your dealings with others. Though you are not given to making friends very quickly, once you do, it is for life. Your partner is often impressed with your sterling qualities but disappointed in your ability to show affection.

Swami

PAPAYA - You are truly fearless & take much that happens in life in your stride. You give considerable thought to things you do. You have a sense of humor that, along with your generous nature, keeps you in most people's good books. You are a go-getter in
your professional life,& have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. You
enjoy meeting new people & seeing new sights whenever you can. Your sense of humor is what attracts members of the opposite sex to you more than anything else. It is simply charming!

Frodis & Seana

MANGO - A mango lover is a personality to be reckoned with; quite often, you are a person who has quite fixed ideas, & influencing you is not an easy task. You tend to be an extremist with strong likes & dislikes & at times even like to control a situation. You enjoy getting involved in something that presents mental challenge. Strong as you may be, you are like a kitten when you are with your partner. You accommodate the love of your life, & make up for all the strong will elsewhere!

Kim, Bob, MTW, Frodis, Lights and Carey

CHERRY - If cherry is your favorite fruit, life isn't always as sweet for you. You often face ups & downs, particularly professionally & find that you make small sums of $$$, instead of a lump sum. You have a fertile imagination & are often involved in creative pursuits. You are a very sincere & loyal partner, but find that expressing your feeling is not very easy. Your home is your haven, & you love nothing more than being surrounded by close family & your beloved partner.

Nutz and Puffy

PEACH - Like a peach, you enjoy the juice of life & all its lush ripeness! You are the friendly sort, & are quite frank & outspoken, which adds to your charm. You are quick to forgive & forget & value your friendships highly. You have an independent & ambitious streak in you that make you a real go-getter. You are the ideal lover, fiery & passionate but sincere & faithful in love. You don't, however, like to display all that passion in public.

Anyone? *Here is a link to what A custard apple is.*

CUSTARD APPLE - You are a modest & conservative person who can be quite sensitive at times. You tend to be thoughtful & contemplative, & therefore are rarely rash in doing things. You are quite ambitious & are good at anything that requires much detailing or working with numbers. You are quick at finding fault with others. While looking for a partner, you value a person's intellect far above their looks or good old passion. You are quite shy & not very comfortable demonstrating affection.

MTW and Kim

PEAR - If you put your mind to something you can do it successfully, but by & large you tend to be fickle & have trouble completing a task with the enthusiasm you started it with. You need to know the results of your efforts almost immediately. You enjoy mental stimulation & love to get into a good discussion! You tend to be a restless & high-strung person, & are easily excited.
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect! It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!

Arkie

ORANGE - If orange is your favorite fruit, it speaks of a person who has enduring patience & will power. You like to do things slowly, but very thoroughly & are completely undaunted by hard work. You tend to be shy, but are reliable & trustworthy friend. You have an aesthetic bend of mind. You select your partner with care & you love with all your heart, & are not in for just a fling. You avoid conflict at all costs.

Pick a Fruit...

Any fruit on the list. Just tell me which fruit you'd most likely choose, if offered one of the following:

1. Orange
2. Apple
3. Banana
4. Coconut
5. Pineapple
6. Papaya
7. Mango
8. Cherry
9. Black Grapes
10. Peach
11. Custard Apple
12. Pear

I'll come back (prolly Monday) and tell you everything I now know about you, based on your pick. *psychic grin*

Oh! I found a hilarious picture of me in a bridesmaid dress. If someone else was willing to post a pic of themself in one of the hideous dresses, I *might* post mine. :)

Blah (as opposed to yesterday's "bleh")

Perhaps it's because I have not had the house to myself since last Friday. Or maybe because my parents meddle too much. Could just be that I've been sick. I dunno, but I feel the "blahs" right now. What do I do to get out of it? Eat chocolate? Listen to some good music? I tried washing dishes tonight and my arms just wouldn't stay up. From having the flu? I guess so. *shrug*

I'm also very bummed that everyone has been forced to switch to the new blogger. I hate change. Now I have to go through that extra step when I read the blogs. And when I comment. Ugh, I sound so lazy, lol.

Ok, this is it. I got nuthin'. *waves to Carey*

Bleh.

Yep, I got it. The stomach flu. :( How naive to think I would be the only one who wouldn't. So I spent two hours on my mom's bathroom floor trying to sleep through the nausea. I cannot remember the last time I felt this sick (including the night not so long ago that I overdrank). I think I feel better today though. Only got "sick" once (at my mom's) and now I'm just dealing with the all over achiness and headache that follows.

I sincerely hope that nobody out there in blogland gets this!

On Sunday, before I got sick, I went out with a friend. We saw Catch and Release (not very good, I'd pass) and also went to one of my favorite consignment stores. I fell in love with a couple of rings there. One is Peridot, which is my kids birthstone, but it's set in yellow gold. I rarely wear yellow gold anymore. Who here prefers yellow to white? I know white gold is more popular, and *I* think it sets off the color of the gemstone better (than yellow gold). What do you think? Will yellow gold make a comeback?

Last thought for the weekend:

EDITED TO ADD ~

my family has the stomach flu this weekend. :( I'm the only one who hasn't. *crosses fingers*
Monday's update will have to wait.



I want to live my next life backwards:

You start out dead and get that out of the way.
Then you wake up in an old age home feeling better every day.
Then you get kicked out for being too healthy.
Enjoy your retirement and collect your pension.
Then when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day.
You work 40 years until you're too young to work.
You get ready for college: drink alcohol, party, and you're generally promiscuous.
Then you go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, and you have no responsibilities.
Then you become a baby, and then...
You spend your last 9 months floating peacefully in luxury, in spa-like conditions - central heating, room service on tap, and then...

You finish off as an orgasm.

Is there a God? (and a small eBay rant)

And if so, why would he create something like this? I've struggled with the idea that sharks were really created by Him. Flowers, I get. Puppies? Absolutely. Babies and rainbows are a gift from him, I know. But sharks? Why? What service do they provide? And please don't bother citing facts about how good they are for the ecosystem. That is irrelevant. These new sharks are ugly and scary. That is really all that should be noted.

And besides the link (that most of you have probably seen on the News) I will add a pic or two of my most horrific shark images. The bottom pic looks like a Megalodon (which *may* still be alive, you never know!).


link to disgustinghorrifyingmonstershark

Oh, and for the ebay thing. I am so pissed at a seller right now. I bought some new lip balm and when it arrived, I opened it to find it was expired (smelled old and waxy). I have written to the seller 4 times, starting with a *very* nice note saying that I will still leave positive feedback, but would like some help addressing the problem. I have not heard back and after looking into their feedback, I noticed that if anyone leaves *them* a negative, they will leave *you* a negative, regardless of whether you paid promptly or not. So not fair! It's like blackmail! Do I take the negative hit and leave them a negative, or let it go? I'm pissed! I have 100% positive feedback right now. I can't believe they're allowed to withhold feedback after the the one part of the transaction is done. /rant]

What comes off first?

I noticed some blogs talking about routines, like how you dress or shower, so it made me wonder; what's the first thing you take off, when you get home?

Before I take off my coat or shoes, I start with jewelry. I have no idea why. Everything, my earrings, my necklace and rings, all come off immediately. I put lotion on a lot, so that might be part of it. And I hate sleeping with earrings, so everything comes off. I usually leave my coat on all day. I get too damn cold otherwise. My bra comes off second, followed by shoes. What do you remove first?

Oh, and this test was fun...I thought it was neat that I got the actual city I live in!

Your Inner Californian

You Belong in Sacramento

You're a little too down to earth to be considered a true Californian... But you still too weird to fit in anywhere else! With it's diversity and cultural opportunities, Sacramento is just enough California for you.

Where Does Your Inner Californian Belong?

Monday Randoms

1. Watching my son play basketball is fun! Seeing Nutzy rave about her son's games always made me wish I was more into watching sports. Finally, my own son plays on his school basketball team and so far he's had two games. They were so exciting! I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed watching and cheering. The only down side is that one team always loses. :(
So far, his team has won both games. *yay*!

2. My nephew has embedded himself into my heart. Before he was born, I was skeptical about getting too close. I'm nervous about my brother owning two pitts, mainly because I am not confident he has treated them really well. I was so afraid (and still am) that something bad would happen. Anyhow, the kid, now almost 6 months old, just makes my heart swell. His smile, his eyes, his good nature....*sigh* Plus, he's actually cute! (I know, I know, all kids are cute)

3. My camera turned up! Yay! It ended up being in the tote bag I took with me to the baby shower where I last used it. *smacks forehead*

4. Writing lists really help. *waves to Boo* So far I have accomplished 8 of the 12 items on my to do list. :) Who knew?

5. My daughter's feet are officially bigger than mine. Heh. I hope it means she will be taller than me. It was weird buying boots for her and realizing we can't share shoes anymore. :( On the plus side, she can't borrow my shoes anymore! :)

Do you have any randoms today??

Have you hugged your bra today??

American Idol Rant

(regarding Darwin/Meesha)





Yes, her hair was dry. And her voice was horrific. I think it (her speaking voice) was like Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, only drug out at a slower pace. Her lipstick was hideous. Her confidence mind boggling. But she WASN't WEARING A BRA!!! Why? Why why why??? I couldn't take my eyes off of them. Her mother's looked better! She was dancing with no bra! Where were the nipples, btw? Wouldn't the excitement of being there have well, *excited* her?

*sigh* I actually had a whole other thing to blog about but this is all I can think about tonight.

So here's your question: When is it ok to not wear a bra? Is there a size limit? Age? Place? Type of clothing? Have you ever done it?

my confession; I've done it. It's been a LONG time, but I have done it. *hangs head* I gave it up after I realized that how it looked while standing motionless in front of the mirror, is not the same as it looks while you are moving. That was years ago. I've grown to love my bras and what they can do. I do think it can be pulled off and look kinda sexy, but it depends on a LOT! Oh, and not by me.

Back from the trip...

I'm back! I survived the cold. :) Mom, kids and I all got to the party a little late, after everyone was seated for dinner. It was very intimidating (to me) to walk in like that. Not only was everyone sitting, but they were *very* dressed up! We were told "formal" but I kinda thought "hicksville formal" and went in a black pant suit. I *did* wear my new tall high-heeled boots though. :) Anyhow, it was pretty boring, truth be told. I was surprised that the husband (guest of honor) was 91 years old and completely lucid and clear. So is his wife. It was remarkable! Everyone should be so lucky. I met some neat people while there, including an old woman who reminded me of the old lady from The Wedding Singer. You know, the one who sang rap and danced (if my memory serves me correctly)? Anyhow, she was adorable, and telling me she wished there were men there to dance with because she likes to salsa. She wore some boots that made mine look pathetic, lol!

On the way there, I noticed lots of icicles in the canyon. They were just hanging off the rocks. There were also parts of the river that were actually frozen! I'd never seen that before! I took some pics I'll share.

I managed to get to the crystal mine again this time, and took a woman who lives in Alaska that was in town for the anniversary party. She found a large one and was very excited. After that, the kids and I went into the meadow and played around the frozen pond (too chicken to play *on* it, lol!). We tried to break the ice but it was pretty thick.

All in all, it was a fun trip. The kids had fun, and we got to see relatives. Can't complain about that.

Quick question; what is the difference (in your opinion) between being friendly and flirting? There is one guy who visits at the same time we do, and usually stays at my uncle's house as well. His wife complains that he is too flirtatious. I can see what she means, because he is very affectionate (putting an arm around your shoulder, patting you as he walks by, etc.) and he also uses your name a LOT. It can come across as flirting if you don't know him. It made for an interesting conversation between his wife and him. What do you think? What is the difference?

Ok, so blogger won't let me add the pics here, so I added them to my slideshow to the right. I think you can click on the magnifying glass icon, to see them bigger. Not sure though.

Have a great weekend!

I'm going to be gone this weekend, from Friday night until late Sunday. I'll be going with my mom to the mountains (about 3 hours north of me) to attend a 70th anniversary party. Hard to imagine being married for 70 years, eh? I've known the couple my whole life, as they are the parents of my uncle (by marriage).

Anyways, I'm nervous about going because it's supposed to be really cold, and the thought of hitting ice in the canyon scares the carp out of me. I'll also be taking the kids. The low temp will be 17 degrees. I might not make it back. Just tonight as I drove to my parents house it was around 34 degrees and I could barely drive because I was shivering so bad! I hate being cold. *pout*

The good thing about this weekend is that it is buying me a weekend to myself in February sometime. DH will enjoy the house to himself while we are gone, so he agreed to do the same for me next month. Yay!

How should I spend my childless - DHless weekend next month??

New shoes, a movie review and more!

And when I say "new shoes", I mean several pair!
*big smile* I've needed some new regular boots for a while now. I always wore Skechers boots and they were comfortable to me. When the last pair finally wore out, I had a hard time finding a new pair that offered both comfort and heighth (an important factor for us petite girls)! After searching everywhere, and seeing tons of *cute* boots that didn't fit the description I needed, I finally found these, online:




My search for the perfect boot (above) led me to these boots (below). These are boots I found at the Shoe Pavilion (great store) for only $40. For dressier occasions, or short term wearing, I bought these because, well, I thought they were cute! They are a bitch to zip up, so I leave them zipped and just slip my foot in. Not easy, but I like that they don't bunch up around the ankle(the ones pictured are brown instead of black, but otherwise identical).





Next, is my thrift store find. These are made by Chinese Laundry and were brand new. I paid $4 for them. *big grin* They are not super sexy, but they give me heighth and are comfortable. And? They were only $4!! :D

Lastly, these are some that I forgot I had, but kinda resemble the previous pair. I really prefer the look of these ones to the other ones, but the problem is they make a slapping noise as I walk. *grrr* Is there anything I can do to combat the noise?



Ok, for the movie review...I went to see "The Children of Men" with Clive Owen *swoon* and I must say, it was dark and violent. I loved the premise, and it was definitely thought provoking, but it was also very violent. *sigh* Guess I'm just too much of a baby to take it. I'm glad I saw it, but some images will be hard to shake. And I don't want to give anything away, but I wish it had ended a little differently.

Update on the lip balm crisis ~ I got some more on Ebay! 10 more tubes for $20! That leaves me with about 18 for now. I *did* buy the Blistex Silk and Shine and really like it, but to me, nothing compares to my vanilla lip balm from B&BW. I'm feeling really relieved that I have more for now.

Oh, one more thing! I need to know what the consensus is for wearing high boots (like my new ones) with skirts. Does the skirt have to be long? Can I wear them with a knee length skirt, or is that trashy looking?

in addition to the last post...

...here's a couple pics I've never shared before, of the kids.






<--can you tell who's pissed off? And who looks guilty?

Back to school

::Warning::

This is a long and personal post (meaning it is not very interesting to anyone but me) so feel free to skip it. And I mean that sincerely.

The kids are finally going back to school. Even though the two week break flew by quickly, I very much enjoyed the time with the kids. I don't write about them an awful lot here, maybe because I treasure my space here as being more "adult" but still, I'm feeling inclined to share a bit about my kids. Humor me, please.

Here's a confession: I don't typically adore kids. I love my nieces and nephews unconditionally, but other than them, have not found myself enamored by kids. Babies are adorable, yes. Young children I find cute to look at, and I think they are fun to be around for a while. Kids that reach the pre-teen age are usually highly obnoxious, in my experience. My own included.

Having confessed this though, I must also add that even though I'm not crazy about babysitting and hanging out with children long term, I do really, genuinely enjoy getting to know kids. Once they can talk, I will spend time visiting with them, asking questions, telling stories, etc., perhaps because I know I won't be there when it's bedtime and they are screaming, or when they are throwing fits about one thing or another. Short term, children are loads of fun. I know many on the blogs have children, and I hope so much I have not offended anyone. I happen to be fiercely protective of children, and I am decidedly judgmental towards anyone (parents or otherwise) who I think mistreat them (emotionally or mentally, as well as physically). Kids are my soft spot, while at the same time, something I feel as though I've already been through, and am glad to have certain parts over with. Ack, I sound like an awful person I guess.

I might not have ever decided to *have* children, had things not happened "naturally" there. The funny thing was, when I found out I was pregnant, even though I knew I was not ready to be a mother, and even though I knew the consequences would be great (long story there) I immediately went into a maternal mode. I wanted to *not* be pregnant, more than anything in the world, and yet there I was, making healthier choices in my diet, and protecting the baby inside, that I was horrified to have. It was something I accepted quickly, and knew I had no choice but to embrace. If I could go back in time and do it over? I would in a heartbeat.

Having twins was probably the only way I would have had two, so I'm grateful it worked out that way, lol!

Toddlerhood was difficult for me. Being a consistent parent was immeasurably important to me, and it was a LOT of work. I had to learn to choose my battles wisely, as trying to teach them that my "yes" meant "yes", and my "no" meant "no", was a never ending job. I'm sure all the parents can relate to this. It was exhausting, but the payoff was priceless. I had good kids. Respectful and well behaved.

As they got older, the distinct personalities that I already *knew*, were becoming more evident. And they were able to communicate! That was so exciting. To listen to them convey their thoughts, and communicate with each other was the best gift I could have ever gotten. I remember just listening to them talk outside their bedroom door, and sometimes laughing hysterically (and silently) at them try to work through their disagreements, or play "pretend" with the toys...it was delightful.

Sending them to Kindergarten was terrifying. I had sheltered them and protected them for so long, and sending them out into the world (lol) was unimaginable to me. The only way to combat the fear was to volunteer constantly. *grin* I fell in love with some of the kids. I've loved watching them all grow and change together. I kept volunteering, basically until the teachers stopped wanting the help. Now they are in 6th grade, and I hate not knowing all the classmates as well as I once did. I still try to do all the field trips, though.

Which brings me to the present;


The twins turned 11 last summer. My son is what my dad calls "squirrely". I have a bond with him that I can't describe. Maybe all mothers and sons have a special bond? I guess the term "momma's boy" comes from somewhere, lol. He has always been super affectionate with me. When he was 4 or 5, he went through a particularly charming stage where he would kiss my hand and call me "my lady". He was often overshadowed by his precocious sister. He had a quieter nature, but was more vocal about his emotions. Now, as an 11 year old, he is absolutely obnoxious, lol! He is silly and loud, and girl crazy! He doesn't care that he makes a fool of himself with silly songs or dances. He knows my family (parents or brothers) are laughing at him, and that's why he acts so amusing (for lack of a better word). I'm not sure they (my family) realize that he is so aware of the way he *looks* when he does these things, which is why my dad calls him squirrely (to me in private, not to DS). I admire that he lacks the self-consciousness that afflicts so many others. I also fear that he may not censor himself in front of his peers, and will later feel silly. I guess it's all a learning experience. For now, I just love his odd little sense of humor and "squirrelyness".

I love that at 11, he still wants me to tuck him in every night (even though his sister has been putting herself to bed on her own for a couple years now) and I love that he hugs me in public, and kisses me all the time. I love his need to say and hear the words "love you, sweet dreams, goodnight" every. single. night., whether he is sleeping over somewhere else, or regardless of who tucks him in (DH does too sometimes). I dread the day he "matures" to the point that these things become embarrassing, or unnecessary. He is doing well in school, though he is happy at being "mediocre" even when capable of doing better. We struggle to get him to try harder than he feels he has to.

Then there is my daughter. Her and I are not as physically close as my son and I. She just doesn't naturally want to cuddle and be affectionate, as he does. We've been spending alot of "mother - daughter" time together lately, and I've noticed her starting to touch me more, in thoughtless ways (not just to give a hug for something, but just wanting to be closer, with contact). I'm eating it up, and encouraging it. She is in GATE at school, and very smart. School comes easily for her, but admitting her feelings on things has been harder. She's getting better at it. When she was around 4 or 5, she was great at it. I remember she used to bug the carp out of DS all the time by asking him "Michael, how do you feel about this" or "what are you thinking, Michael?" He used to roll his eyes and smile. It was fun to see the stereotypical female and male qualities in them, coming out. Odd how it changes as they get older.

Now, she is so unlike her brother. She's very aware of herself, and doesn't like bringing attention to herself. Very shy and quiet. She is also very considerate of other people, which is one of my favorite qualities (in people, in general). We have to watch ourselves around her, because she is *always* listening, and picks up on things quickly. No use in speaking in "code" around her. She always knows, lol! I have a feeling she won't be giving me a hard time as a teenager. She is a lot like I was, and being good is important to her. She's not impulsive, like her brother. Now that she's 11, she is starting to show signs of puberty (gah, I hate that word!) and she's acting more emotional than she used to. I am so lucky to have a boy *and* a girl. Both are unique relationships, and I could not have known until I had them.

(the end)

Wow, that all came out so quickly and I didn't mean for it to be so long. It was all just thoughts that had been going through my mind lately, and it felt good to get them down. If you read it, thanks! I don't typically share this type of stuff here. I'm more comfortable talking about smut, oddly enough, lol!

P.S. I bought the Blistex Silk & Shine and am not sure yet. I didn't like that the lid is the length of the whole tube...and the balm itself was kinda wobbly (not packed in tightly) but I suppose I can get used to it. It feels nice and I like the smell. I also bought the Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Guava and Champagne. Their not great for constant use (too much color, like lipstick) but so far, not bad. Thanks ladies!!

Evolution of an Addict

When I was younger (teens, I believe) I started using Chapstick. I don't even remember why. I doubt it was chapped lips. Maybe I liked the slight glossiness? Anyways, after using that for a while, I started experimenting with Lipsmackers. They were good and tasty, but didn't have the longevity of Chapstick. Now, I think most people are aware that Chapstick is addictive. We've even discussed it in this blog, as I recall.

Anyways, after alternating between Chapstick and Lipsmackers, I eventually found NYC Lip Smoothie (strawberry flavored). It was heaven sent. Not only did it last, but it left a pinkish shine on my lips. And it tasted wonderful! I bought it constantly. Much to my dismay, after too short a time, it was discontinued. I have no idea why. I wrote to the company, and they offered no explanation. It was disheartening. I don't even remembered what I used after that. I started compulsively buying lip balms everywhere I went, in search for the replacement. I even bought the lip balm at Jamba Juice! I'm not sure how long ago it was, but I eventually came across the Vanilla Sugar lip balm from Bath & Body. At first, I wasn't in love with it. At least not when comparing it with the NYC lip gloss. But the sweet taste and smooth texture won me over, and I had a new favorite. I bought in bulk each time I went in. It smells like warm roasted marshmallows, to me. Quite a few months ago, I realized I was running low (maybe had 4 or 5 left) and I went to the store to get more. I'm sure you can guess what happened next. It wasn't there!

I was upset, obviously. I immediately came home and got online. To my delight, it was all over eBay! I bought a dozen that day, and I think I paid maybe $20 for it. Tonight, I decided that I should buy some more, since it can't last forever, and to my shock, there was hardly any left on eBay. Not only that, but they are selling approximately for $5 per lip balm! Nothing in bulk, either. There were groups of two or three, max.

Now, I am faced with a dilemma. Do I buy everything they have, at a ridiculous price, or do I start a search for something new, since I'll eventually need to anyways? I know how dramatic this all seems, I really do. But the addiction is very real, and I have no idea what to do next. Chapstick just doesn't really cut it for me, though in desperate times, it'll do. Lipsmackers are pretty much out.

Here's my question: What happens if I try to quit? Will my lips ever go back to not needing it? It's like hand lotion. I crave the feel of it, all the time. If I don't buy a replacement, will I turn to lipstick? And how practical is that? And lip glosses on wands with little sponges? Too sticky.

Does anyone have any advice? I'm open to suggestions for new things to try, but here are my guidelines:

Can't be too expensive, as I use it a lot.
Can't be applied with the finger. That grosses me out.
Has to be small enough to fit into my pocket.
Preferably a twist up kind of balm, (as opposed to a roll on, or wand) similar to chapstick.
Preferably shiny, but not too much actual color, because I hate getting color on my water bottle.

Spider Watch

I am on high alert for a close encounter with a spider. Why? I have no idea. I guess I just feel "due" for one. I think one may live somewhere very close to me, like in the living room. Wherever I am, I have that "being watched" feeling, and I am constantly checking everything around me. Every little black spot is suspect. I can't stop looking around. Ack!

______________________________________________________


I'm looking forward to both American Idol and Beauty and the Geek. DH thinks I'm an idiot for watching these shows. Any other idiots out there? *waits*

______________________________________________________

I have a question for everyone; what are your eating arrangements? Do you eat at the table, or in the living room? Do you read while you eat? I have to be honest, if I'm not talking to someone, I cannot eat without also reading something. Can't do it. And I'll read anything, if nothing better is available. Eating by itself bores me to death. I've read it's really bad to do that though. What do you think? What is your / your family's eating style? (*snort* I wonder if I read it was bad to do that *while* I was eating?)

Odds and ends

A couple new things to share...

• My DS broke his finger playing in his first *kinda* basketball game, on Wednesday. It was a scrimmage(?) game, I guess. He bent it back a couple times and by the end of the game it was swollen and purple. It's now taped to his ring finger. Poor guy. :(
  
  
• DH will be starting a new job this week, and it is going to affect my time here. *pout* I think he will be working on weekends, and having two weekdays off. I am not happy about this, but what can I do?
  
  
• I miss television! Where are all the new episodes? This 'repeat' crap sucks!

• I think I'm turning more into a woman. Lately, I've been craving chocolate. What's up with that? Should I be worried? Will I start crying more? Am I going to start wanting to cuddle!? :o

• I watched the movie, The Village (pretty scary choice for me) and I ended up liking it! That night though, I had the funniest dream. I dreamt that I was in a parking garage in a busy city, and everyone was talking about a "creature". At first I assumed they meant Bigfoot (because duh, that's the *obvious* one) but instead, it was a big mean monster they called Motormouth! It looked like a blow up version of Godzilla. I didn't think it looked that awful, but apparently, we needed to get inside the building, and fast! I ran into what turned out to be a hospital waiting room, and knew that I still needed to get further (deeper) inside, because the creature couldn't get all the way inside, I guess. I ran into this little break room, and there were doctors everywhere, making out. *giggle* I apologized, and then headed into the closet. They all followed, and I was standing next to a hot doctor! It was actually a good dream! ;-) (oh, the reason I think it was related to The Village was because while we were all in the closet, we could hear the creature walking on the floor, above us!)

• I have found a couple new artists I have loved lately. Since I have no idea how to post a video directly on my blog, I'll just add the link, in case anyone's interested. Perhaps I'm late to the party and everyone already loves these women?
  
  Carla Bruni is a supermodel in Italy, I believe. She is Italian, but sings in french. I don't care for the song in the link provided, but I could not find one of the songs I bought, to share. I don't mind that I have no idea what she is saying, I just love her voice.
  
  
  Carla Bruni
  
  
  Regina Spektor is another one I just discovered, but I'm guessing I'm late on this one. I love the song provided in the link, and a couple more that I bought. Very upbeat, and different.
  
  Regina Spektor

Taking a Poll

I have been thinking about something for a while now, and don't think I've ever addressed it here, though maybe I did and forgot...anyhow, my question is this:

How much time do you, as the adult child, spend "helping" your parents do something? Anything. Like projects around the house, preparing for company, cleaning, decorating, shopping, etc. I have been feeling more and more unusual, like I have an unreasonable amount of pressure from my parents. Mother mostly, really.

Just last week, she was going to be having company, and she said (in passing one day) that she would like me to "help her for one or two days, next week". I had quite a bit already going on, including dental and regular doctor appointments for myself and the kids, but I made a mental note that I would help her out. I knew the company was coming on Sunday, so onFriday when my brother invited me to go do some shopping with him, I figured I'd just get to her house on Saturday. So Saturday comes, and there I am, when for some reason, she makes a comment about "wishing she'd had more time with my help" and then something like "well, you decided to play with your brother instead". I got very quiet and she asked me why. I told her I felt confused, because I really felt as though I gave her more time than other people give their parents. She defended herself by saying she was always willing to pay me, and that she could always pay someone else, if I couldn't do it myself. I knew that was true. I could just say no, but I feel guilty. I kinda told her I really wished she didn't *need* help from other people. I wish she was in control of her own house. But, it runs in her family. Her mother always had hired "help" around, and her sisters do as well.

I guess the bottom line is, I need to be ok with not ever being able to do enough. She realizes she is hard to please, and she pretty much told me to learn to say no, and then be ok with it, whether she caves in and acts pouty or not.

I just want to know what is "normal". Maybe I get too hung up on the word normal, but it really is important to me. I would never say 'no' to her because I have already met a quota of "normal" hours, but I would feel less guilt for saying no sometimes, if I knew I gave more than most people.

And when I said she is hard to please, I mean she is hard to please. When I was moving for them (they both work full time) she would come home from work, force a smile, and say something like, "oh, you packed the kitchen? *fake smile* Ok, *I* would have done the dining room, but that's ok". When I pointed this and other examples out to her on Saturday, she started crying, and really understood how it felt, because her dad was the same way. She hates it, and wants to change, but it comes so easily for her. I guess it's good we talked about it, and that was progress, but still, as always, I want to know; what is normal??

{sidenote} I do want to acknowledge that as awful as she can be, she does try really hard to act appreciative. After the talk we had, she was really pleasant to work with, so I know she tries. Both my parents just want my brothers and I to be *really close*, which we are. Most people who know them marvel at how much time we all spend together, usually happily, and by choice, but it comes with a price.*sigh*

Favorite new thing

My brother got me a Vintage 1985 Cabbage Patch Doll. :) He got it at the Antique mall. I was very touched. Not sure if I should open it or not. I'm hoping she still has that smell they all had.

Funny how a thoughtful, sentimental gift is worth so much more than something more costly.

So, what's your favorite new thing?

Whoa! Another update! :P

Hey! They're out of Beta! Did you see that same message when you came to your blog? Yay!

Coupla things to say here;

First, I know I said I needed a break from my blog, and I did/do. The thing is, for me, saying, "I am on a break" makes me feel released from any self-inflicted pressure I feel to update. Things at home are about the same, so I may or may not be updating often, again. Unless something really cool and exciting happens. ;-)

Right now, I am focusing on myself. I have been trying to exercise, drink more water, take better care of my skin and hair (and damnit my nails too, until I broke one yesterday. The only upside is that it was my middle finger, so at least I got the joy of showing everyone. *grin*). I know that sounds really selfish, but it's keeping my mind occupied for now.

I finally requested a new psychiatrist, but have not heard back from them. They wanted to know why I wanted to switch, and it was hard to explain. I felt awful saying I just didn't feel comfortable with the current doctor. I still don't know why I am going... it seems the biggest question I always have is, "is this normal?" when referring to my feelings about things. How can someone tell me if I am normal? {*smirk* go ahead and make jokes, I made it easy}

One thing I want to know is, can we change our feeling about people? If we don't like someone, but we *want* to, can that be changed? Can we make ourselves think someone is funny? Or smart? Or attractive? *sigh* If I get these answers, I'll report back to you, lol!

In the meantime, my children are now home for two weeks. Wish me luck, prozac and rum, please.

Everyone have a great and safe weekend!!

2 Questions

(and really, I'm embarrassed that I went looking online before coming to you guys first...)

1. I need some really good hair care stuff. I have shampoo I like, but I need some good conditioner. Last week, I dyed my hair. It's a dark brown. I used the temporary kind because I am scared of damaging my hair and was told the the semi-permanent dye was gentler. Now, I want to condition the carp out of it to keep it soft and shiny.

What do you recommend?

2. Do I have to wash my eye makeup off every night? I'm doing really good with the rest of my face, but have a hard time wanting to attack my eyes. What difference does make if I leave a little mascara on until I shower in the morning?

Ahhhhh....

Nice evening last night. I got to spend time with my friend who came to see me! We went shopping, went to dinner, and then went to my parent's house and sat in the hot tub. Oh! Here's a fun tidbit; when we got to my parent's house, my brother was upstairs in his room with the music on, and no-one else was home, so we went upstairs and hid on the landing. Then I called his phone and asked him to come down and unlock the front door. *giggle* Yay! We got to scare the carp out of him!

After getting out of the hot tub, I came thisclose to falling in the pool. I would have been PISSED if I had fallen in. a) I would have been semi-nekkid and b) it was somewhere around 35 - 40 degrees out. *brrr* It was a close call, and I'll remember to not back up with my back to the pool again.

We ended the night somewhat early due to a headache that needed tended to. Overall, it was a nice night. :)

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Unrelated to last night, is the fact that some of my fears are becoming irrational, I think. The spider fear is fine, IMO. Crossing the train tracks is understandable, I think....but here's the other one; when I go on the nature trail in my parent's neighborhood, I often get the very strong feeling that an alligator is watching me, and might lunge at me from the creek. There are lots of cattails which could easily hide one. I know they don't *live* here typically, but couldn't someone have let one free, maybe one that was a pet? When I walk alone, walking past the part where the creek is on both sides, is more than a little unnerving. My legs get weak and if *anything* moves or makes a sound at that time, I jump out of my skin. And really, have you ever noticed that when a duck's head is under water, the rest of it's body looks just like an alligator snout?

Charlotte's Web (my review)

Today my brother and I took the kids to see Charlotte's Web.


Ok, so as I sat in the theater, I was all excited because I wanted to *see* Fern and Wilbur. Then I started remembering the other characters, too, like Templeton and Gussy. I couldn't wait to see them all, and hear their voices. Completely lost in my selective memory, was the fact that one of the main characters was a spider. Yes, I am a complete idiot. Because I have Tivo, I hadn't even seen one preview, so I hadn't been reminded of the fact. My brother is the one who told me it was out, and invited us to go.

So, as I'm sitting there, it quickly dawned on me that I had mentally skipped over that particular detail. I think I always pictured the cover of the book, when picturing the words "Charlotte's Web" and kinda transferred the name to Fern, without realizing it. Anyways, it was a major *stupid moment* for me. As soon as Charlotte made her appearance, I knew I would miss half the movie. And I did. Every scene with her in it I had to look away. I watched the people in the theater, and was surprised that not many other people were disturbed by her. Actually, nobody else seemed bothered.

I must say, she looked horrible. Lots of hairs and realistic detail. Once or twice, in scenes where she wasn't moving, I watched her. I thought maybe her face would eventually seem warm, or easy to look at. Nope. Hideous. I was jumpy and on edge throughout the movie, and for a long time afterward.

As for the movie in general, it was very true to the original, and I thought it was done very well. It's been so long since I read it or watched the animated version, that I am not sure whether this movie favored one or the other, or even if the original was true to the book. At any rate, it was how I would have pictured it, minus the spider. *shudder* The kids should like it, and the parents too, providing spiders don't make you uneasy (or downright nauseous).

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Now, in other spider news, I live in Northern California, where as far as I knew, no tarantulas are supposed to live. Tonight I was told by DD that my cousin, who lives about 45 minutes away, has discovered that they DO live here. I immediately called her and she confirmed it. She saw something HUGE while driving along, and pulled over to see if it was really a spider. It was the largest tarantula she had ever seen, she said (and she's not the type that exaggerates). She's a tomboy who is not afraid of those kind of things. She said they stood over it while it crossed the road, and later she asked some locals (she lives in a tiny community on a lake) and they said they knew they were around, though they were not often seen (as if that makes it ok).

So, where can I go where there are no spiders? Alaska? Do they like cold climates?

Perhaps tomorrow I will share my fear that there are alligators on the nature trail I walk on. (and yes, I am very serious)

My gift to you all....

Is the side of me that you didn't know existed. :)

Click here.

Everyone have a fantastic weekend!!!

*smooches*

P.S. Officemax.com has a bunch of neat holiday looking games and stuff, including this one, if anyone wants to do their own.

Can I update while on a break? *head tilt*

What the heck, here I go....

Okaaay, so, where shall I start? It's hard not to make a list *waves to Boo* of all the sucky things in life right now, so in an effort to be upbeat, I am going to instead, make a list of the *good* things in life right now.

Here goes;

1. Ok, here's something: I went out with a GF that I had missed, recently. She was a breath of fresh air, after dealing with another friend who would have made the *other* list, had I decided to make it.

2. I have lots of good drugs. I realized tonight after stabbing my tooth with a sharp piece of ice, that I need to go the dentist (ok, I already knew it). I have been clocking the pain much like a woman in labor times her contractions. I have no idea why I'm doing this, considering it means nothing. Since 4pm today, I have taken some Tylenol with codeine, Vicodin, and lots of motrin. 11 pills in all, I think. *begins to levitate*

3. I have saved a lot of money recently because when I go shopping, I keep coming to the conclusion that nothing in my cart seems to be worth waiting in the long lines, for.

4. Ack, my mind keeps going to the sucky things....*trying to get back on track*

5. I know! I do not carry a concealed weapon. Trust me, this is a good thing. ;-)

6. I think I need new boots. This is good because usually when I buy boots, I don't need them. Right now I have 4 pairs of black boots, and the Skechers seem to be breaking apart at the heel. When I take big steps, I can feel the heel 'give a little' too much. Now I get to go out shoe shopping! :)

7. I have rediscovered the nature trail I love to walk, and have decided I can do it alone. I used to be too skeered to walk by myself, but now I find it relaxing. If it's not raining, I'll try to walk it several times a week, at least.

8. ::TAR SPOILER::

The boys won! Or more accurately, Alabama didn't! Yay! I realized that as awful as Rob and Kim were to listen to, the reason I didn't dislike them nearly as much as I disliked Alabama, was because their nastiness was mostly directed at each other, and they otherwise seemed to have a decent attitude. Guess I just didn't see anything like that in 'Bama. Tyler and James had a great edit, and I think they may be as nice as they were portrayed. I was happy they won.

Do you have anything for a Happy List?

Ummmmmmmm

I kinda wanted to update, to tell you guys I won't be on much right now...but there is no way to explain anything without, well, explaining. *sigh* Bottom line; things going on at home are making it hard for me to concentrate on this blog. But then I stopped writing because it sounded so dramatic, and I didn't want to make everyone wonder what was going on. Really, it's nothing big. So, I guess I'll just say that I'll be busy for a short while, and then will be back as usual, I hope. I'll still check in and lurk (mostly) and I'll check in on OT (to make sure nobody makes moves on any of my crushes! *squinty eyes @ Nutz*).

Because I'm all girlie and emotional right now, I also want to say that I really lvoe each and every one of you, and have needed this place so much. I think of you all often, and sometimes forget that I've never met most of you. The family we've created here is truly special.

*smooches*

p.s. wanted to explain that the "emotional" part is also related to the fact that I just watched The Lake House. *sniffle*

Ack!

I got a speeding ticket on Saturday night. It was my first one ever. I was so shocked to get pulled over, that speeding never even occurred to me. I had to *ask* what I had done wrong. Apparently, 88mph was the answer. *pout* I never speed. At least not like that. I had only sped up to try to catch up with my brother, who I was trying to follow. I had already slowed to a reasonable speed again when I noticed the lights behind me.

I was horrified for the cop to see me, because a) I had a tiny bit to drink earlier in the evening (I knew I was completely sober, but had he asked if I had been drinking, I would have had to say "yes" which might have led to having to walk the straight line, and all that) and b) I had a noticeably dirty shirt on, and felt really icky. Which leads me to my question. How does one get candle wax out of a shirt? It's a polyester and spandex blend, black, lace halter top kinda shirt. The wax is a light color. Without spelling it out, guess what it kinda looked like? *mortified*

Girlie stuff...

Ok, ever since my Sephora wish list, I got the impression that most the bloggers here are not especially girlie, and into makeup and whatnot, but I want to blog about makeup damnit...so;

1. Liquid eyeliner. Have you tried it? I just started, and I only use it on my upper lid. It makes a thin smooth line, and looks better than the pencil, IMO. I haven't dared to use it on my lower lids yet, because I can't figure out how to get the eyelashes out of the way.

2. I recently noticed that when I get out of the shower (other times too, but especially at this time) my cheeks are naturally very pink. Since I do my makeup right after the shower, I noticed that my blush was nowhere near my natural color. It was more of a peach-ish tint, instead of my natural pink. I changed my blush, and I think it has made an improvement in the overall look. Did everyone else already know you were supposed to match the blush to your "natural" color, and if so, while in the store, how do you *see* your natural color?

3. Skin care - what is your regime? Wash daily? More than once? I have to buy the disposable wipes, because bending over the sink and splashing water all over my face is *not* appealing to me at all. It looks really refreshing in the commercials, but IRL, it's messy and cold. How often do you wash, and what do you use?

4. Wrinkle control - I will be *gulp* another year older soon, and now I am wondering if now is the time to think about wrinkles. Is there some magic cream that will help keep them at bay? What should I use?

and finally (un-makeup related)

5. Who here wears bathrobes? I? Was a bathrobe virgin. Other than using one when I get out of the hot tub at my mom's house, I never use them at all. But my mother just bought me one, and I must say, I can't imagine how I lived without one for this long. For me, it's like a blanket with the arms cut into it, that I don't have to hold onto as I walk around. It's black, and super soft, and not too thick (bathrobes can be so unflattering!). And I love petting the arms. So soft! I am in love with it. Am I late to the world of bathrobes?

Confessions (again)

Updated confession ~

This morning, after eating my cold cereal, my cat Bailey kept coming up to me while I was sitting at the computer desk. Then he would start sniffing, and move closer to the bowl of milk. It really pissed me off (can't stand begging animals) so I put him on the floor, after scolding him, and then washed my bowl so he would have nothing to come after. Much to my surprise, he still kept coming back to me on the desk! He just wanted to cuddle after all! I feel awful for being so mean to him, and accusing him of only being after my milk. :(



Why I feel the need to confess, I have no idea, but here goes...

1. I watched The Bachelor. I got emotionally involved, and the outcome upset me. More than I should admit. *sigh*

2. I lust after my old boss. Even after (heck, maybe especially after) he made a crude comment to me, while I was wearing knee pads.

3. More than once tonight, I called my mother a bitch (in my head only).

Ok, your turn. I only want three confessions. Bob's blog topic from Sunday counts as one for her. :)

Let's not try and pretend we're all angels, k? *looks at Nutz, Arkie and Jen*

Edited to add ~ this isn't really a confession, but I had to share how stupid I am; every time I walk into the bathroom, a grey, small, fluffy feather floats across the floor, making me jump out of my skin, every. freaking. time. I always think it's a spider. The question is, why have I not picked the damn thing up?

Long week!

::warning:: extremely long post ahead (with nothing very important inside)
Read at your leisure. :)

Wow, it's been an insanely busy (long) weekend. I actually started out on Tuesday, taking DD to the mall. I knew if I didn't do it by Wednesday, it would be too late to beat the rush. I went to Sephora and got the Creme Brulee perfume, and also the Pink Sugar perfume. Both are really delicious smelling! I got some hand cream in Bath & Body Works that is called Pink Buttercream Frosting. OMH, if only it were edible! It smells wonderful, and while applying it at a party (more on that later) I had a girl tell me she would make out with me, knowing I smelled liked that. :) I had bought the matching Buttercream lipgloss, but it was $14, and after getting it home and realizing it had no taste, I decided to take it back. It was an impulse buy, anyhow. On Wednesday evening, I met my mother at Kohl's and I bought a dark grey blazer and matching slacks. I hate saying I got a "suit". *shrug*

Anyhow, Thursday was spent at my parents house, with the family. It went fine and was really pleasant.
Finally, Friday came along and I was really looking forward to it. I was planning on going to a friends house where they have a big party every year, on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I usually never take the kids, as the atmosphere is a little less than ideal for younger ones, but this time, another friend that was coming, asked me to bring them, for her own to play with. It started off really badly, with more drama than I ever care to be a part of. Everyone seemed to have an ex going, or someone they were fighting with, or something like that. One girl accidentally was overheard on my answering machine, (friend Jennifer called and didn't hang up when she thought she had) saying something, not actually "bad" about me, but her tone indicated that she wasn't fond of me. At first I was quite miffed, and baffled really, since I had only been around this girl one other time. Then I remembered that the one other time, she had basically accused me of making out with her boyfriend. I later found out that she was mad that *any* other women were coming, because she had brought along a guy she likes, who doesn't like her that way. I commented to my brother later that apparently "Deanna" doesn't like me, based on what I heard, and he, being all protective I guess, called Jen's house and blasted the girls for "talking bad about me". *sigh* I had to do lots of damage control, and tried to reassure everyone that nobody had been saying anything bad, it was just the TONE of the one girl. Ack. At this point, I didn't even want to go anymore, but felt if I didn't, it would only create more tension.

So we went, and at first, I was a wreck. I had been taking lots of medicine all day, trying to fight a headache, and because of the headache, I hadn't eaten all day. The result was a very jittery, shaky me, who was on the verge of a meltdown. *embarrassed grin* When I got there, I was greeted by Angela, who is married to the guy who was especially nice to me the last time I was there, when I drank too much (remember that recent blog update?). She is insanely jealous of other women around her husband, and had even made it known she was unhappy about him and I being there that night. So, I felt the need (pressure) to make nice with her, at least for her DH's sake. Right after seeing her, my brothers ex-GF saw me, and decided I was the only person there who was happy to see her, which meant of course, we had to remain glued together for the night. I had Angela calling me over to her, and brother's ex, begging me to stay with *her*.

My head was pounding, I hadn't eaten, and couldn't drink. I was really ready to head home at that point. Oh, and Deanna, the girl who I assumed didn't like me, wasn't making any effort to say hello to me (nor was I to her), which made me all the more uncomfortable. At that point, I needed a breather, and decided to go to the store. I finally found one (don't know the area) and walked through it having no idea what to get. In the end, I got a 2 liter of Coke (for the rum, of course), and a small package of peanuts. By the time I got back to the party, I was feeling much better.

I saw a boy (man, really) who I knew from when I used to babysit him! It's lovely to be introduced as "my old babysitter". *sigh* He had brought another young man with him, who I had also known when I was younger, and he was a toddler. It was so weird to be hanging out, watching these young men drink and dance and flirt, knowing I was so much older. Of course the group consisted of people varying in age from infancy to 40 maybe? Anyhow, at least I wasn't the oldest. {insert *impending birthday panic* here}

The girl Deanna was walking past me at one point, hours after I had gotten there, and she acted all happy to see me *rolls eyes*. We hugged and made phony nice faces. She is the one who said later she wanted to make out with me, after walking around for ten minutes asking everyone what smelled like cake. (it was me! *smile*)

Another interesting side note (to me) was that at one point, I headed to the backyard to take a phone call, and this lady that I see there frequently made a joke about me needing to "lay on the grass" again, referencing the last time I was there. Frankly, I had no idea she was there last time (lol) and I looked surprised, I guess, because she said, "yes, I was here that night, and I must say, I liked you a lot better that night. It's like you were human". Umm, ouch. I've asked a few people who know me well, about this, asking them what they make of it, and they all pretty much said the same thing. I am a little standoffish at first, and hard to get to know. I'd like to NOT be this way, but I have no idea how to change. :(

We eventually left, very late that night. Lots of people were spending the night, including my brother and his kids, but I was ready to go home, as were my children. In the end, I can say we had a really good time. It just took a while for everyone to relax and enjoy it. Deanna actually followed me out and gave me a hug as I was leaving. Perhaps she forgives me for kissing her boyfriend over 12 years ago? (didn't know he had a GF, btw /defensiveness)

Thank gawd tomorrow is Monday, and the kids go back to school...
and DH goes back to work, and I...*looks at messy house* will play on the blogs and OT! *grin*

Has everyone recovered from the Holiday? Any leftovers to share??

Dirty thoughts

I recently finished reading the most decadent, fun, brain rotting book that I've read in a while. It's called The Bachelorette Party, by Karen McCullah Lutz. I stayed up until 5am Sunday night finishing it. Once I was done, it left me pondering (what? Brain cells were left!!?) something I've often wondered about, but have purposely pushed out of my mind. In the book, Zadie is a 31 year old high school teacher, who is in lust with one of her students. Her and her colleagues would often stand around in the break room, talking about how hot he is.

As inappropriate as it obviously is, it made me wonder, do professionals really do that? It makes me wonder about teachers (men and women alike) and also, doctors. I've always forced myself to believe that when I'm in the hands of a trained professional *whatever*, they keep all human thoughts at bay. But then I thought about one of my best friends (my cousin) who is a nurse, and has shared countless horror stories about the things she's had to do, or see. I for one could not handle being in a position where I had to turn naughty thoughts, off. Not because I'm smutty, tyvm, but because I'm just too human, I guess. When I was talking to DD's teacher recently, I couldn't help but think a couple of inappropriate thoughts. Not because I wanted to um, do him or anything, but because, well, that's what I do. He is a man, after all. *blush*

So, while your doctor is delicately inserting one or more fingers, what are the chances he's NOT thinking something kind of indecent (indecent includes thoughts like, "eww" and "mmmm")? When my gym teacher stared at the girls as we did jumping jacks, was he being a man, or just a teacher? I guess there are not really that many careers where you have to constantly disregard your natural carnal instincts, but for those that do, how do you/they, do it? And what if they don't? I think this book will have me feeling paranoid now, that the people I've always assumed are not allowed to "judge" us, may in fact, be doing just that.

Your thoughts or experiences??

Best blogging subject EVER!

• Ok, so lately, I'll admit to having a hard time coming up with things to blog about. I guess my life is boring. So, you can imagine my happiness when I realized that I had something really interesting to share with you guys! :)
  
  I have this friend, who I'll call Amy (because that's her name) and she decided to have some plastic surgery done, on her face. She was also looking into having permanent make-up applied. *ouch* I was really excited for her, because she's never been very girly, and I thought it would be good for her (is that mean?). Anyhow, the doctor she chose makes house calls, and he came over to go over the details, and all her options. But get this; he brought along with him, a bunch of jewelry, that he sells on the side. WTF? He laid it all out on the table, and said things like, "when your eyes look larger and your brows have been lifted, imagine how these earrings will look". I was not only shocked by this, but very eager to share this with you all, imagining that you'd be as horrified as I was.
  
  So? Here's the problem with this. None of it happened. :( I took some Nyquil on Saturday night, and dreamt for about 11 and a half hours. I woke up, and remembered that I needed to blog, and was actually looking forward to it, when I realized that it hadn't happened. *sigh* I also *don't* know where my missing deodorant is, and the clock on the living room DVD player is NOT wrong, after all (both things that were in the dream). I recently posted about dreams because this is often my life. Confusing reality with them. In the past, I have gone as far as sharing things with people, completely believing it to be true, only to find out later that it wasn't. Gosh how my stomach sinks as I realize something that seemed so real, in fact, was not.

• In other news, I saw The Da Vinci Code. I should have known it would be nowhere as good as the book. I was not impressed at all.

• Oh! I also dreamed about Carey again! *yay* I don't remember the details, but there were lots of women, and I didn't want to leave. That's about all I remember.

***TAR SPOILER***

• I was sad to see the Cho brothers go, as I would have MUCH preferred to watch "Bama" leave. I cannot believe how much I dislike them. However, the Cho brothers seemed ok with everything, since their big goal was to play with dignity (or some other bizarreness).
  

I am in love

Who watches The Office? I think Jim is the most adorable man on TV right now. *swoon*
I'm hoping he gets with Pam, but I can't help but like Karen, too. Who are you rooting for?

Dreaming

I had a lovely dream last night, of my grandparents. Both are dead, so it was really nice to "see" them again. I'm one of those people who dream in vivid detail, often experiencing everything physically, as it happens in the dream (if I'm crying, I'll really cry, etc.).

Did you dream last night? Do you usually remember your dreams? Do you ever confuse reality with dreams? I've done that, and it's so embarrassing! Do you have recurring dreams? Do you try to interpret them? Have they ever affected the way you feel about something, or someone?

"Shabby fat mom shave pubic"

I have a tracker on my blog that tells me how people get to it. Most of them are listed without any referrer (maybe since you have it linked?). I'm not sure how it all works, and I don't check it too often, but I checked it tonight, and it had a hit from someone who found me through google, after typing the words "Shabby fat mom shave pubic". I think I am truly horrified!

In other news, I saw Borat this weekend. I laughed a lot, as much of it was hilarious. There was some truly uncomfortable moments too, as I think momma mentioned in the last post. If you're not easily offended, you might like it.

Completely off topic question for you: What do you put on your pizza? I like either pepperoni and olive, or pepperoni and pineapple. *yum* I was recently brave enough to try some weird chicken pesto combo, though. I'll stick to my kind, tyvm.

This is not good...

::Disclaimer:: I realize that this very well might be the most boring blog post ever, but I couldn't help it. I was so excited at finding the products, I had to share. Sorry!

The Sephora ad came in the mail today. I have a bad feeling that I am going to be over spending, in the very near future. :o I'll be honest, when I get these ads, I normally toss them in the trash right away because a) I don't want to spend the money and b) I'm not usually impressed with what they offer, anyhow. I mean, c'mon, aren't eye shadow and lipgloss colors all about the same anyhow? But today, the colorful and playful cover caught my eye, and inside I went. There is simply too much here to list it all, so I will just list the ones I feel I *must* have.

Do you buy Sephora stuff? Are you suckered into ads because of the great marketing? Are you a fan of sweet (edible smelling) perfumes?

Here is the start of my must have list...

Creme Brulee
Creme Brulee contains warm caramel, vanilla, and butter notes that bring back delicious childhood memories.


















Price ~ $23


Mat;Yellow
The fragrance equivalent of a tangy tropical cocktail, this exuberant blend of fresh fruits has the
notes of: Grapefruit, Nectarine, Passion Fruit, Juniper Berry, Bamboo Sap, Tea Leaves, Watermelon, Lotus Flower, Reed Wood, Crystal Musk. Style:Unexpected. Fresh. Sparkling.

Price ~ $60


Lemon Drops
What it is: A trio of Fresh sugar and lemon-laden favorites in a gorgeous gift box.What else you need to know: Set includes a 2 oz SugarBath Body Lotion in Lemon (soothes parched skin and leaves behind a zesty lemon scent), 0.5 oz Lemon Sugar Eau de Parfum Spray (a refreshing citrus blend), and an 0.34 oz Sugar Shea Butter (a 100 % natural massage balm).

(sorry, no picture. It didn't really show anything)

Price ~ $35


The Ski House *damn it, blogger is done uploading pics now*
What it is: A three-piece, wintertime-inspired gift set.
What else you need to know: After a perfect day on the slopes, your body is tired but you feel amazing and are ready to indulge in a little après-ski fun - and Philosophy's Ski House beckons. Set includes a 4 oz Double Rich Hot Cocoa ultra rich, award-winning 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath, a 2 oz Marshmallow Body Souffle, and a .5 oz Kiss Me Pink peppermint lip balm.


Also, there is another set called "The Holiday House" and it sounds really delicious too, with the same stuff but in Eggnog shower gel, Cinnamon buns body souffle and Powdered sugar cookie lip shine! *yum*

Price ~ $35

Sephora Lip Butter Confections
Flavors: Bananas foster, triple layer cake and tiramisu

Price ~ $15


And finally, (because I have to stop somewhere), here is another one that caught my eye.

Pink Sugar, Pretty in Pink set
The scents of the circus, boxed: cotton candy, vanilla and caramel swirl together to create a sweet aroma that's both playful and fun.

Price ~ $35

I can have it all for just over $200!! *off to beg DH now*

Questions and more!

I have many things I need opinions on. So please;

1. What word would you most likely say if your child *or anyone* dropped a heavy can, on your toe?

2. Am I morally obligated to prevent my cat from killing birds (which he proudly brings home to share, after decapitating them).

3. Borat. Anyone know if it's good?

4. The Da Vinci Code. I just finished it (the book). Who has read the book, or seen the movie? Did you love it? Hate it? Why?

5. Self-esteem issues. What are the signs of this? Is it coming off as boastful? Or is it the opposite? This has always confused me.

6. DS made the school basketball team! Yay!

7. How long can you go without sex, before you get cranky? Is it ever an excuse to become an asshole (or bitch)?

8. How long will it take my foot to heal? The one I sprained/twisted almost two weeks ago. It still hurts. *pout*

9. I lost my camera. Where is it?

10. Pogo. Does anyone here play on Pogo? Mahjong Garden? Tripeaks Solitaire? Anything?

All things are not equal...

For example, take this bottle of Malibu Rum. It has a 21% alcohol content. I love this drink. It's cheap, and tasty. I usually drink this, on the rare occasions that I drink. Now, let's consider...






Bacardi Coconut Rum has a 36% content. That is a very important thing to consider, before drinking the same amount you usually drink. I'm guessing that MOST people already knew this. I? Did not. I quickly caught on at about the same time my face became numb, and I announced I was going to go "lie down in the front yard". Fortunately, I was with a very nice group of people, and they suggested I go in the backyard, instead. I laid on the ground (where they quickly brought me a futon thingy) and rambled nonsensically for about an hour. I told the guy who took particularly good care of me, that the moon was cute, and had freckles. I also agreed with him (because he was drunk too, lol) that I would likely become a vampire and bite him.

This was the absolute drunkest I have ever been, in my life. Very new experience for me. I can't say it was a lot of fun, because I really don't like feeling out of control. I was with my brother, at our friends house, and the nice guy who was taking care of me, was our childhood friend, whom I haven't seen much of over the years. I feel pretty stupid now, but I guess it was mostly a novelty for *me* since everyone else seemed to have "been there" before.

The next morning, I was sick (second time in my life I've had *that* happen). I will never drink that much, that quickly, on an empty stomach again. /solemn swear]

How was your weekend?
I want pictures of the Weltek peep meet too! I'm sorry I missed them, and hope they had/are having a wonderful time here in California.

Ok, humor me, please...

Let me explain this picture, because when I found it this evening, I got a huge kick out of reminiscing about the incident. (oh, and notice my very first attempt at "paint")

So, my twins were *totally guessing here* umm, maybe 2 or 3? I'm terrible at guessing. *ashamed* Anyhow, they were in the bath at their grandma's house, and I was mostly in the bathroom with them, but had stepped out long enough to have something *just awful* happen. I was in the hallway, right outside the door, talking to my mom when I heard the most gut-wrenching scream ever! I assumed one was drowning or something. I ran in, and found my DD, much like she is in the picture, except both her legs were scaling the narrow edge of the tub, and she was of course, screaming. Screaming as though I dunno, a bathmonster? had come through the drain or something. She was incoherent. My son, was sitting in the tub, ever so innocently, looking at her as though she had three heads. That's when I noticed it. A piece of poop, floating in the bathwater. *snort*

As you can see in this picture, the poop has been removed (not by me, tyvm, (that's what grandmas are for, I guess)) and has been placed in the toilet, where DS is about to flush it. Can you see the look on DD's face? *lol* I think I peed myself from laughing so hard, at the time. I actually did not know we had photographic evidence of this, until tonight. Blackmail pictures, maybe? *grin* She refused to bathe with him ever again, after this night. What a prissy girly girl. ;-)