Not much happening lately

So I've been gone awhile. I've been very busy at work. So much so that by the time I get home I just don't feel like doing anything but vegging out. I have so much catching up to do on all the sites. I'm doing this little blurb on my lunch break. I'm hoping to be able to have a little time after work but before I wake up HD for the evening to have a little more time for another update. But I have to run to Target to get some things so I might not. We shall see. Well gotta go for now.

Later...

So I didn't go to the store.  I received another migraine this afternoon.  I've been suffering from those on and off again for the last couple of weeks.  Another reason for the non posts.  Have you ever noticed that when you go awhile without doing something or having something that you'll either crave it big time or you'll realize you couldn't care less.  Well, it's been almost two weeks since my last post and I was almost to the point of not caring at all about posting again.  

As mentioned I've been super busy at work.  We got a new girl and I've been helping quite a bit with training her.  There was also some friction between her and bosslady that I thought I might get stuck in the middle of.  But it looks, at least as of today, that it might have worked itself out.  I'm hoping so since I really like both of them very much and I think this new chick could really work.  That is, as long as she decides she wants to stay.  She doesn't much care for the fact that we have to basically be collection callers.  I'm thinking bossman didn't stress that in his interview with her.  At least not like it was in my interview.

Home life has been basically pretty damn boring for the most part.  Because I've been so damn busy at work by the time I get home all I want to do is veg out on the couch.  This is the first evening in two weeks, if not longer, that I've been on the computer other than to pay bills.  

I'd say the most stimulating thing I've done in the last two weeks is mow the lawn.  And that's not being facetious.  Well, I guess I could take that back.  We had a few friends over the Saturday before Mother's Day and hung out but didn't do much other than that.  And on Mother's Day HD and I went over to my mom's and hung out with her for a short while.   Then came back home to make dinner for his mom and youngest sister and her baby and hang out with them for awhile.  His other sister was in Florida with his dad and stepmom going to Walt Disney World with his nephew.

There was a family brouhaha that happened the Thursday before that weekend that hasn't completely resolved itself yet but I can't write about it here.  Sorry, I'm doing this more for my own diary part of this whole site.  Suffice it say that there's much heartache and headache going on.  But HD and I are going to be the supporting big brother and sister that we always are.  Oh yeah, we're ok, the brouhaha isn't us.  Although it did cause us to argue but that's almost a given since it involves extended family members and finances which is almost never a good mix.  Ok, that's it, enough said.  I'm just going to make my migraine that much worse.

I had to take a pill this past Friday and Saturday nights and now it seems I might have to take another one tonight.  I really don't want to though.  I'm so tired of taking medicine.  UGH!!

Ok, I'm done for now.   Maybe I won't go so long next time.  We shall see.

Media quotes of the day: Your sister's becoming a real annoyance - Jubal Early - Firefly

It's so stimulating being your hat.  -  The Hat - Labyrinth

Damn snooze alarm

Here's the down side of having a husband/significant other that works nights. And not only works nights but works over time. Monday and Tuesday were supposed to be his two nights off but he had to work over time both of them. Last night he went in at 10pm and worked until 6am. But Monday he went in at 2am. That's 2:00 in the morning. The middle of the friggen night people. When I should be sleeping peaceful.


So when I was sleeping peaceful his alarm goes off at 1am. And he's one of those people that have to have it very loud or he won't hear it. Luckily this night he decides to only go with one snooze so I only had to hear it one more time before he got up. But I was just dozing off when BAM there's the sound of some 80's song in my ear.

But last night since he went in at 10 there was no problem. Except I went to bed late. Because I was watching Bride and Prejudice. Silly movie but I couldn't help but like it. And my God but Aishwarya Rai is absolutely gorgeous! I would love to have her eyes. Anyway. After that it was about 10:40 and I should've just gone to bed but I didn't feel like it so I decided to take a bath. Now as long time readers know, I can't take quick baths, I take long ones because I read while in them.


Which is what I did last night. So sure enough I didn't get in to bed until close to midnight. And by now I'm sure you've already guessed what happened to me. Yep, that's right. His DAMN ALARM WENT OFF! At 1:00. In the am. In the middle of the night. When I was sleeping peaceful. When my eyes where shut and I was dreaming. When I had been asleep for less than only one hour, yes because of my own stupidity but still that's beside the point.

Does he not know he's supposed to TURN OFF THE ALARM? Not just RESET it? I mean really. COME ON!

Hi honey, love you. Mwah

Media quote of the day: I'm a hopeless dancer, but this looks like you just screw in a light bulb with one hand and pat the dog with the other. - Will Darcy - Bride and Prejudice

Lazy Sunday

I felt like an absolute slug yesterday but it was wonderful. I pretty much did nothing but read all day. I got up around eight when HD got home. We watched a few half hour comedy shows until he was tired enough to go to bed. After, I went back downstairs to see if there was anything worth watching but there wasn't and I realized that I was still pretty tired myself. I hadn't slept very well at all. But rather than go disturb him I decided to stay on the couch. So I took a nap there for a couple more hours. It helped since I was developing another headache.

Oh yeah, except for Saturday because I had finally broken down and taken an Imitrex on Friday night I've had a migraine or at least a very bad headache every day again since last Monday. And no, I'm not going to the doctor. Although it was bad enough on Monday and Tuesday for me to stay home the other days haven't been so I'm not seeing him. Other than having me take the steroids again there's really nothing for him to do.

After I woke up I debated on what I wanted to do and decided to read for awhile. Turns out I decided to read all day. I did cook dinner and send HD off to work so it wasn't a completely unproductive day, but mostly it was. It was very nice. But at the same time I did feel like a slug.

Media quote of the day: Crack a book, you lazy son-of-a-bitch. - Fez - That '70's Show

Blueberry Fluff

In my comments from yesterday's post Saintseester asks, "What on earth is blueberry fluff? I can see where it wouldn't be enough sustenance for a night out drinking."

In today's post Kat answers, "It's a little bit of fluffy heaven. Yum!"

It's also one of the two good things I took away from first marriage. The other being experience. HD is one lucky man.

So if you're so inclined to make it you can either go the easy route which is what I did on Thursday night or go the longer route which is what I normally do but it was late Thursday so I didn't do it that way. Heh

Wait, did I put this out there once before, hmmm, let me peruse my posts. Oh well, it'll take too long looks like. Apparently if I did this before I didn't label it so I'm not going to go searching for it the long way. It'll be easier just to redo it and label it this time.

CLARIFIER: I am wordy so the directions look worse than they are, honestly!

So you will need:

1 box of Graham cracker crumbs or 3 graham cracker premade pie crusts
margarine or butter (your preference)
a bunch of bananas
3 12oz tubs of cool whip
1 8oz whipped philly cream cheese
1 cup sugar (or splenda - it's what I use)
1 16 oz or larger can/jar of blueberries (I've been using a 20oz jar lately much better, sorry can't remember the brand)

While preparing the crust and cutting your bananas let the cool whip and cream cheese sit on the counter "thawing."

Yeah, as I'm typing this I'm almost positive I've done this before. Oh well, never hurts to do it again for all my new lurkers. Hi there!

So. If you're doing the crust yourself you'll also need a 13 x 9 glass cake pan. I've never used another type so for all I know another would work so if you don't have a glass one try it out, it couldn't hurt.

Get a microwave safe bowl and melt your margarine/butter. A goodly amount as you'll be dumping the graham cracker crumbs in to make your crust. Basically as soon as it's melted you do just that and you'll add and melt as needed to make a good enough crust to your liking for thickness and moistness/dryness. I've never used more than a box and usually even slightly less then a box for the whole bottom and up the sides of the pan. You won't want to go up the whole side but at least half of them. I don't do the whole box at once either. Do a little as you go, it makes it easier.

Once you have your crust done slice your bananas into a thin layer across the whole bottom and one layer across the sides. Not too thin but not too thick either, maybe about an 1/8 inch or so thick. Same thing of course if you're using the premade crusts

In a bowl spoon mix 1 1/2 containers of cool whip, 1 cup sugar and 1 80z cream cheese. Once mixed well spread evenly across pan or your 3 crusts.

Pour blueberries evenly across pan or throughout the 3 crusts.

Spoon whip the last of the cool whip together to get it light and fluffy and spread across the top. I try to spread without getting any of the blueberry mixed in so it remains nice and snowy white but it's your preference of course.

And that's it - Blueberry Fluff. Good stuff Maynard. It sounds heavy but it's really very light. I've heard many people say they'd like to try it with different things such as strawberries and bananas. I say go for it.

My brothers have told me I don't have to bring anything else to gatherings but this. Which is kind of nice considering it doesn't take very long to make. Oh, and you might get someone who says they don't like cream cheese (I don't) or bananas or blueberrys but tell them to try it anyway. More than likely they'll like this. Every single person I know who has said something like this has liked it. And most have not only liked it but have raved about it and gone back for seconds.

Media quote of the day: It's payback time... Blueberry style! - Dot - A Bug's Life

Hate, hate, hate migraines! That's all I'm gonna say about that.
____________________

So, this weekend went well. Friday after work I went home and got HDiTty up out of bed and we went over to his coworkers house to take over a blueberry fluff and visit him and his family. His mother had passed away the previous Saturday so we were paying our condolences. We hung out there for a good 2 1/2 hours or so and then headed out to a bar to meet another coworker of his for her birthday. Other than eating a slice of the blueberry fluff neither of us had eaten anything. So I was really hoping to get something to eat but by the time we got there she and the rest of the people were in a room where the band was going to be playing so there was no chance of me even finding out if there'd be food to eat or not. They had already eaten earlier so they were doing just fine. Oh well.

So HD and I ordered a couple drinks and proceeded to drink on empty stomachs. HEE! No one had any idea as to who the band was going to be so that was interesting. At least, that seems to be my memory as of right now anyway. I know HD didn't know anyway.

Turns out it was an 80's tribute band called Sixteen Candles. Now I had mentioned in my post from awhile back that I don't feel like doing the linking of right now, that I wasn't a huge 80's music fan even while growing up then. At least, not of the pop music of the time unless it was of the hair band variety that is. There were some of course, I wasn't completely hopeless and snobby, but yeah, for the most part couldn't stand most anything that was on the top 40 list. And I'll admit I didn't even know of the punk/alternative/emo bands such as Erasure or The Cure. Actually I did learn of the The Cure my senior year when I met Sharon. Annnnywaaaay...


I was still looking forward to them though. I'd rather listen to music that I know from a band that I don't than music I don't from a band I know "of" even if it's music I don't care for, if that makes sense. I don't remember what they started with but I do know it was one I didn't care for and it seems to me the second song was the same way but the third song was one I liked - Radio Killed the Video Star - love that song. So that's when I started keeping count. I should've counted how many songs they played but I didn't. It was probably at least 12 to 15 though and out of those there were 6 I officially liked and 2 that I were ok with so I counted them as a total of 1. So it was close to half of the songs which really isn't bad really. Turns out I liked more than I thought I would.

And I have to give the singer credit in the fact that he didn't shy away from the female singer songs. And he did them justice too. The whole band did great. But I still couldn't get into songs I didn't care for though, sorry Duran Duran (don't hate just don't care for) and whoever sings Jenny Jenny 8675309 (hate, hate, HATE!).

I was glad when they did Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol rather than White Wedding or Rebel Yell. Although I like those two songs they're the more popular of the three so therefore it was more surprising and good to hear Dancing.

At midnight they took a break and HD and I decided to leave. We were pretty darn hungry by then and my legs were hurting from all the standing. I am an old lady dont'cha know. I told him more than once I was ok with staying since I knew he was enjoying more of the songs than I was but he was ok with going so we went. I'd definitely like to see their whole set though. There was no Bon Jovi or Def Leppard or Tears for Fears or, or, or so I can only imagine how many more songs they could've gotten into.
_______________________

Saturday Jim came over. His birthday was the 21st so we had him come over for a good steak dinner (he has them even less than we do) and to hang out. We gave him a bottle of Rumplemintz (sp?) also. HD decided we should do a shot for each of our birthdays since we each just had one: he in February, me in March and Jim this month. HD likes Southern Comfort, I like Jagermeister (sp?) and Jim the Rumplemintz. So Jim and I were thinking we'd take one of the drink we like but HD says no, we take one of each in the order of the birthdays. So we took 3 shots all before eating. It was 7:30pm when we did this, I hadn't eaten since 10:30 that morning, my stomach was growling big time by this time let me tell you! I thought for sure I was gonna upchuck but luckily I didn't. Hell, as we're preparing everything he comes in from grilling the steaks and says it's time to do one more so we each do one of our favorite and I still kept it all down. Phew!

While eating we watched Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem since Jim hasn't seen it and we haven't since it was in the theaters. I had one more shot after dinner but HD said he was starting to get tired so he didn't want anymore 'cause it would just make him more so and Jim was starting to feel a bit off so he didn't want to. Bunch of fuddy duddies I say.

After the movie since the evening was for Jim we let him choose what we'd do next and he chose to play poker so we played Texas Hold'em. Winner would get to choose what we'd do next. I went out first and during their heads up Jim started to get a migraine. He took some of my Excedrin Migraine and whenever he was waiting on HD to play he'd lean back on the couch and relax. Luckily he took the medicine early enough that it started to work right away. It never went away fully so after the game was over (HD won) we packed it up for the night and decided the next time we got together HD would make the decision on what we'd do.

Sunday we slept in. Then HD had to go in to work for four hours overtime. I mostly read and watched a little tv. Then paid some bills. In the evening one of the chicks that went to Mexico and is in his most recent Spanish class with him came over. They're doing an extra credit assignment together. While they worked on that I finished up paying the bills and then read some more while also chit chatting.

So that was our busy but very fun weekend. Too bad the start of my week had to be ruined by the damn migraine. HATE I tell you. HATE!

Media quote of the day:
Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself

I'm dancing with myself
When theres no-one else in sight
In the crowded lonely night

F-F-Friday

In following Saintseester's lead I'm doing a Fucking Floral Friday.

Now I apologize in advance.  These were all taken with my iphone so the quality won't be the best.  Also there's part of my arm, truck and garage in one or more of them.  But since I was doing it by myself and none of the branches are low enough for my short shit self that's what had to happen.  I was going to edit them but I'm sitting here doing this at 10:40pm on Thursday and I'm pretty damn tired and want to go to bed.  So once again, please accept my apology for the non quality.    

All flowers are on the South facing part of the tree as the most of the rest of the tree hadn't really done much.  Well, a lot of the East had but those limbs are way too high.  The buds on the North side had barely even begun to be exposed.  But they are now so by tomorrow they should be blooming.  Just in time for cooler weather again.  Plus rain.  Oh well.

Click on each image to see in full size.  Happy Friday!

Saturday's Magnolia
As you can see, they're just starting to open.

Sunday's Magnolia
It's amazing how quickly they open.

Monday's Magnolia


Tuesday's Magnolia

Tuesday's Close Up
Already getting slightly bruised looking

Wednesday"s Magnolia

Wednesday's Close Up
And even more so looking like they're ready to die and drop off.  Which many already had by the time I got home.

No photo(s) from Thursday because I didn't get home until almost 9:30 and then I had to make 3 blueberry fluffs.   So it was too damn dark out and camera on the phone doesn't have a flash.  Which sucks sometimes as some of these shadier photos show.

Media quote of the day:  I don't know. I'm starting to like this poetry idea now. "Here lies my beloved Zoë, my autumn flower, somewhat less attractive now that she's all corpsified and gross." - Wash - Firefly - Episode 1.6 - Shindig 

Statcounter - Results for certain posts

I check my statcounter almost every day. I love to see how people get to my site through searches. Following is the list of the most popular pages: The first number is how many times that post has been visited

75 katspeanuthead.blogspot.com/2006/09/douglas-d-ketcham_08.html Douglas-D-Ketcham

56 katspeanuthead.blogspot.com/2007/02/nothing-much-to-say-but-im-gonna-say-it.html Nothing Much...

53 katspeanuthead.blogspot.com/2007/08/another-meme.html Another meme

50

37 katspeanuthead.blogspot.com/2007/02/keep-your-mind-wide-open.html Keep your mind...

36 katspeanuthead.blogspot.com/2007/04/red-dots.html red-dots

33 katspeanuthead.blogspot.com/2007/03/pretty-boys-trip-to-vet.html Pretty boys trip...

Now I have no idea what 50 is and why it's blank, makes no sense. I didn't delete any entry so why would it be that way? Don't know.

Numbers 56, 53, 37 are mostly gotten to by the media quote of the days. 53 is because of question #57 about some celebrity quiz type thing that turns out to be fake. 75 is because they're actually googling his name. Most of the 75 were on the 5 year anniversary of 9/11. The people were getting here either through the tribute site that I did it from or from this one chick's site that linked to me specifically for him. But every few months or so someone searches his name and gets me. #36 most people google red dots on stomach or some other part of their anatomy.

But this weekend 5 people went to #33. Now it'd be one thing if it was one or two people and that's how they got here and then came back the same way. But no, this was five very individual people. Let's see where they came from shall we:

1st person: April 20th at 7:13am - Amsterdam Noord-Holland, Netherlands
2nd person: April 20th at 11:36am - Norwalk, Ohio
3rd person: April 20th at 7:07pm - Austin, Texas
4th person: April 21st at 10:25am - High Springs, Florida
5th person: April 21st at 8:05pm - Portland, Maine

This post seems to be moving up fast in the most recent visits section. Every few days some one googles Pretty Boy.jpg or something of the like and gets to that site. So today I decided I was going to google that myself. I went to page 43 before I quit looking for the link to my site. So either I missed it somewhere or it's even further in. But by the time I quit the two words were no longer together. It was either Pretty or Boy. So I'm thinking I actually missed it somewhere. But still, I wrote it a year ago so it would still be pretty far in on the lists.

What came up the most was Pretty Boy Floyd. Must be some musical group. It kinda sounds familiar but since I didn't click on any of the links I didn't find out anything about them. I originally figured it was gay men looking for some pretty guys. And I suppose many of them still could be. But I'm sure they're very disappointed when they get a photo of my kitty cat and the sound link of his car ride to the vet.

Ok, I'm gonna look them up for my media quote. Here we go.

Media quote of the day:
I Wanna Be With You - Pretty Boy Floyd

As I was walking out of class
The other day at school
I saw you
Don't think I've ever seen you
'Round here before
You must be new
What's your name?
Where are you from?
Our conversation's just begun
Maybe we can talk more after school
I know that we just met but maybe
You'd like to let me
Go out with you
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
And only you
I got your number from a friend
So I called
To talk to you
I don't live too far
We could walk down to the park
If you got nothing else to do
Being that you're new in town
You probably want to look around
But I could tell you, before you do
'Cause you really mean a lot to me
And you don't have to look no more
'Cause I've found the girl I'm looking for
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
It's only you, yeah
If I could have any girl in school
I wouldn't take but one
The only girl I want is you
If I could do anything
Anything I wanted to
It wouldn't be too hard to choose
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you


Yeah, I'm not too sure about this one. Maybe with music and depending on how he sings it maybe it'd be better. But I gotta say, the lyrics are pretty cheesy

All scraped up

So I see the guy who rear ended me almost every day of the week on the way to work. For the last two weeks, except for yesterday and today because I left a few minutes earlier than normal, I've either been directly in front of him or directly behind him.

The other day as we're sitting at the light waiting to turn left I noticed his back bumper on the left side along with a portion of the side of the car. It was all scraped up. I didn't see any dents just bad, bad scrapes.

I find this funny. The man seems to be a driving hazard. The scrape looks like the kind that you yourself would make while backing up and turning.

He's this little old man who can barely see over his steering wheel. I'm amazed his car doesn't look worse than it does now. He still hasn't completed fixing his hood from our wreck. He had his bumper and hood fixed but the hood is still an off white color. It may be primer, I'm not quite sure. Either way, although it was fixed it still hasn't been painted. His car is green, so it looks really funny with this white hood.

Next time I'm behind him like that I'm going to try to take picture. I didn't think about it then. Hopefully it'll come out since it'll be with my phone. We shall see.

Media quote of the day: I listened to your program as I was driving home last night. Here's a bill to replace the front grille of my Mercedes and another to repair the back bumper of some wretched little domestic car. - Niles to Frasier

Why oh why do they want me to freeze - EDIT

So, I get Emails from the New Orleans Saints Ticket Office every now and then. I get the schedule for this year in today's Email.

2008 New Orleans Saints Schedule
Day Date Opponent Time TV
Sun. 9/7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12PM FOX
Sun. 9/14 at Washington Redskins 12PM FOX
Sun. 9/21 at Denver Broncos 3:05PM FOX
Sun. 9/28 San Francisco 49ers 12PM FOX
Mon. 10/6 Minnesota Vikings 7:30PM ESPN
Sun. 10/12 Oakland Raiders 12PM CBS
Sun. 10/19 at Carolina Panthers 12PM FOX
Sun. 10/26* San Diego Chargers 12PM CBS
11/2 BYE WEEK
Sun. 11/9 at Atlanta Falcons 12PM FOX
Sun. 11/16 at Kansas City Chiefs 12PM FOX
Mon. 11/24 Green Bay Packers 7:30PM ESPN
Sun. 11/30 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12PM FOX
Sun. 12/7 Atlanta Falcons 12PM FOX
Thur. 12/11 at Chicago Bears 7:15PM NFLN
Sun. 12/21 at Detroit Lions 12PM FOX
Sun. 12/28 Carolina Panthers 12PM FOX

As you can see the Chicago game is in December again. Why oh why do they want me to freeze!?! And then it's a Thursday. I'm gonna have to take a half day off work to be able to go. Well, I guess I wouldn't have to take a full half day but definitely will have to leave early, that's for sure. Of course, that's always if we can get the tickets again. And unless I take time off on Monday and Tuesday I won't be able to make the Packers game this year at all. Besides these two games none of the others will be feasible. UGH!!

I'm sad, very sad. So sad there won't be a media quote today.

EDIT: So I didn't pay any attention to the home and away games. Turns out there's no way we can go to the Packers game anyway since it's in New Orleans. So that leaves the Bears game and maybe, just maybe the Minnesota game. Since that game falls on our Anniversary and he took time off I might too. Depending on what's going on then we may go up there to see that one. We'll have to talk more about it though.

Wicked was wicked!

Friday was a whole lot of fun. Got out of work at 5:35 like always and headed over to one of my coworker's homes to meet her and a few others before we headed over to bosslady's house for the Surprise Party. On our way another coworker who was going was spotted on the road, she was getting ready to turn left as the directions indicated but since we were going straight I had her get in front on me to join our convoy. The girl in the lead has been to bosslady's house several times and knew a quicker way to go. We had a great time munching on some really good finger foods, drinking and talking about sex.

I scheduled my party for August 23rd. That's four months away so by then all the girls should be ready for another one.

By 11:30 we were done with all the ordering and ready to hit the local bar. All but one girl went (bosslady's friend who had to get home to her family), including bosslady's boyfriend who met us there and a couple showed up at her house as we were helping the saleslady pack up her things in her van. She considered going along (she's bestfriends with one of the coworkers who went) but she also had to get home to her family.

We had a great time drinking some more, chatting, some of the girls flirted big time, many of them danced around too. We were the best entertainment in the place. Although people were playing pool, darts and some shuffleboard type game they were watching our corner just as much. Lots and lots of photos were taken but alas, none by me. I had left my phone in the car. This was a sort of bachlorette party for the coworker her sits on the other side of my cubicle wall. Bosslady had bought the vail of condoms and flashing penises for her to wear while we were out. That got a lot of attention of course.

When the bar closed at 2:00am one of the girls went home, bosslady went home with her boyfriend, her friends (the couple) had already left about 1/2 hour ago and the rest of us (5 total) decided to go to the local boat casino. But that ended up being a bust. Two of the girls and I wanted to play blackjack but all they had were $25, $50, and $100 tables. Nope, no can do, thank you very much. So each of us played a few slots here and there and then decided to call it a night.

I got home right around 4:30am and ended up in bed right around 5:30. When I got home Jim was over and he and HDiTty were watching Raiders of the Lost Ark and doing something on the computer. I stayed up talking with them and then finally made myself go to bed.

When we were on our way into the boat I checked my phone to see if HD had called. He hadn't called but he had texted me saying not to make any plans for Saturday night, that he had made plans for us and it was a surprise. When I got home I asked him what it was but he of course wouldn't say. But I was ok with that, I didn't really want to know, I love surprises.

When I woke up at 10:30 and couldn't fall back asleep I got up and he was gone still. He had let me know earlier that he was leaving to do some errands. He finally got home around 11:30 or so and decided he had to tell me what the surprise was in case something came up while he was sleeping or anything else that would happen such as needing gas or whatever. So he pulls out of his pocket two tickets for us to go see Wicked at 8:00pm. I squealed a little and gave him a big hug. We've been wanting to see it since it came to Chicago. Several family members and friends have seen it and have sworn it was absolutely awesome. Which had just made me want to see it all the more.

We got there with about 20 minutes to spare so we browsed the souvenirs. There was a simple Christmas Ornament that I wanted but wasn't willing to spend $26.00 on. It was, hmm, now I'm not sure if it was glass or just a really thick plastic, I believe it was glass though. Anyway, it was one or the other in a circle with the letter Z in it. That's it but I really liked it but not enough to spend that much. There were also a couple jackets, one a black zip up hoodie and the other a grey pull over but they're both $65.00 and once again, not willing to spend that much. HD asked if I wanted to get the CD but I said I'd rather wait to see if I like it enough before we do that. We did decide to get a mug but figured we'd wait until after so we wouldn't have to worry about it during the show.

And what a show it was! Absolutely worth the money no matter what you spend on tickets. Both leads were utterly fantastic but we both agree that the girl who plays Glinda the good witch stole the show. She was very funny but especially when she was swooshing her hair and dancing. Picture Molly Shannon's character Superstar from Saturday Night Live. Very much like her only a blond, shallow, ditsy and popular girl. I kept thinking SNL, SNL, SNL but couldn't picture who from there. Because this girl is blond I kept trying to see a blond SNL character but couldn't put my finger on it. But as soon as HD leaned over and whispered something like, "The girl from SNL would be upset if she ever saw this" for some reason that's all it took and I was able to picture Molly Shannon doing her superstar character.

The only drawback were the two guys in front of us. Both were tall and my guy had a big head also. I had to lean to the left for the whole show and HD would switch back and forth for his leaning. But I was able to see everything, a few times I leaned to the right if they happened to be in the far right corner of the stage but otherwise I was good. My neck was a little sore after but not much.

After they all came out and did their bows the lady who played the school headmistress did a speech about how they're collecting donations for people who are living with HIV and AIDS and also for women with breast cancer. They've almost reached their goal and if everyone in the audience would donate $5.00 then they'd reach the goal of One million but they'd take anything at all. That no donation is too small or too large (haha). But the kicker was that for a $100.00 you would get a Wicked poster signed by the whole cast. Yeah, we did that. We also bought the CD but not the mug since we did the donation.

We both agree that this is one we'd like to go see again. As his dad said you'll never be able to look at The Wizard of Oz in the same way again. Weelll, I don't know, maybe several years down the road I'd be able to but not any time soon. Now I have to read the book. I can't remember if I bought it or not. I know I held off for a long time because I wanted to go into the theatre totally fresh not expecting anything. But for some reason I'm thinking I finally broke down and bought it. I'll have to look around to make sure, if not I'll definitely have to do so along with getting Son of Wicked which I know for a fact I didn't buy.

Go see it, you won't regret it!!

Media quote of the day:
A portion of What Is This Feeling from Wicked

GALINDA(spoken): Dearest darlingest Momsie and Popsical:
ELPHABA(spoken): My dear Father:
BOTH: There's been some confusion over rooming here at Shiz:
ELPHABA: But of course, I'll care for Nessa:
GALINDA: But of course, I'll rise above it:
BOTH: For I know that's how you'd want me to respond. Yes, there's been some confusion. For you see, my room-mate is:
GALINDA: Unusually and exceedingly peculiar. And altogether quite impossible to describe:

ELPHABA: Blonde.

Weekend Update

So I was wrong on the date for the Surprise Party, it wasn't last Friday but it is this Friday. It would've been better with HDiTty's work schedule if it had been last Friday but oh well, so be it.
_________________________

On Saturday I met my mom at her house just before 9am and we, my stepdad and his sister all piled into their truck to head up to Wisconsin for a 3hr trip. My mom and I were going to my 2nd cousin's bridal shower and dad and his sister went to see their sister-in-law. This is the type of shower I like, everyone there was family so I knew everyone and it was completely comfortable. Her father is my cousin and he lives down here in Illinois near my mom and me but all the rest of his family lives up in Wisconsin including his mom, the brides grandmother. Well she told the bride that she'd throw her a bridal shower but she'd have to go up there since it would be really hard to be able to get everyone from there down here.

My mom was talking to my aunt one day last week and found out about the shower and kind of invited herself and me saying if she were going to go to a shower she'd rather go to that one than one with a bunch of bridesmaids and other people she doesn't know. And she knew at least she if not both of us will be invited to that shower and I'd agree with her on this issue. So yeah, we went to this one which was just the bride, her grandma (my aunt), my aunt's 2 daughters, 1 daughter-in-law and 2 of her other granddaughters. Very small but perfect really.

It's weird to know she's old enough to be married and buying a house and everything considering I babysat her a few times when she was just a toddler. It just doesn't seem like that much time has passed. UGH!

Everything she received was for the kitchen and she was completely excited and happy about it. The whole time I'm seeing this I'm thinking on how ripped off my mom was. It took her 5 times to finally get a daughter and I couldn't care less about being in the kitchen. There is no way I'd be as excited as she was to get all those kitchen items. Growing up I never wanted to be in the kitchen unless it was Easter Egg decorating time or maybe baking some cookies. Otherwise keep me out of there. I told that to my mom on the way home and she said she thought something similar too. Not that she was ripped off but that she wished I had shown more interest in learning to cook. If for no other reason than for us to have the quality mother/daughter time that so many others get. But even without that we still have a wonderful relationship so we did ok anyway.
________________________

On Sunday we went to HD's niece's 1yr birthday party. His sister had rented out the gym at a local church since she had invited over 40 people. It seemed to me excessive but then I'm used to my brothers only inviting the immediate family to their kids parties. At the most one brother invites their son's bestfriend's parents and only because they're good friends with them too. Otherwise it's only parents and us aunts and uncles and cousins of the one other brother who has kids. Now this sister has a different father than HD and has a whole other set of half brothers and sisters from her father. So they were of course invited, the father of the baby and his family was invited, her boyfriend and his family and a friend or two were invited, HD's mom's best friend, her daughter & granddaughter were invited and then a bunch of friends and coworkers were invited. Tons of people. Now I know this is a 1st birthday and all but still it seems excessive to me.

And as she's lighting the candles she said, "I have to do this every year?" in a joking way but you know that's what she's going to do. I wanted to say no, from now on just make it immediate family. Especially since she's not with the father, let him have his own party. Which by the way his family is doing. They're having one on the 19th. But no one from our side has been invited to it except for HD's sister. Seems kind of selfish that many of them came to this party but they're not willing to do the same and invite any of us to theirs. But whatever, I doubt we would've gone anyway.

His other sister gets me upset and I know I shouldn't but I can't help it. I went out and did the shopping and I did the wrapping. Now many times this is the way it goes, there are times that he comes with me, quite often actually but many times he doesn't. This was one of those cases. Anyway for some reason when it comes to gifts she leaves me out when answering people on who gave what. Both his sisters and his mom are huge White Sox fans. I got his niece an outfit that was black and white with stitching that made it look like the outfit is a baseball and it said Sox on the left side of the front. The panties were black with tan ruffles on the butt. I also got a pink zip up hoody that says Chicago across the front and Sox on the hood and also a pink baseball cap that says Sox on the front. The hat and jacket were the first two things she pulled out of the bag and everyone was oohing and awing over them and someone asked who they were from and sister who's baby it is said, "Katrina and HD." Then she pulled out the black and white outfit and more oohing and awing went on and someone asked again who it was that gave them and asked his other sister if it was her. Her response, "no not me, my brother." That's it, didn't even mention me. She does this all the friggen time even when she knows I was the only one who did the shopping and decision making of what to buy.

It drives me up the wall and makes me feel like shit. HD tries to make me feel better by saying that we've been together for so long that when she says "her brother" I'm included in that, that we're basically one person. But I'm sorry, I don't see it that way, never have never will. When someone asks me something similar it's always, "my brother and sister-in-law." They may have been together for years and years but they're still two separate people and deserve equal recognition. I know she loves me and appreciates me and all that, she's not doing it deliberately or maliciously in any way, but it still hurts. It doesn't matter that I know this logically because feelings don't always follow logic. Oh well, so be it.

Media quote of the day: The Dundies are kind of like a kid's birthday party, and you go, and there's really nothing for you to do there, but the kid's having a really good time, so you're kind of there? That's... that's kind of what it's like. - Oscar - The Office from The Dundies in season 2

My ideal TV boyfriend

I saw this on Dirk's site and decided I had to try it myself. I don't think I could be happier with my result. Although I'm gonna take it again because there were a few questions that I could've answered differently so I'll see what the other result will be.

Who is Your Ideal TV Boyfriend?

More on The Office. Created by BuddyTV

So this was my other result. It's the same as Dirk's. Yeah, I'm gonna say, even though Dean is a better looking man I'd still rather go with Jim.

Who is Your Ideal TV Boyfriend?

More on Supernatural. Created by BuddyTV

Media quote of the day: Because right now, this is a job. If I advance any higher, this would be my career. And if this were my career, I'd have to throw myself in front of a train. - Jim Halpert - The Office

TV talk

I just read an article that said Bret Favre was debating on not retiring now, that he was in talks with other teams besides Green Bay. I said when he announced his retirement that I wasn't holding my breath about it. I was being cynical about it because of the last time he said he was retiring and didn't. He still has never given his written notice to the league, so see, until it's official official I'm not buying it.

In more happy news, Battlestar Galactica starts back up tomorrow night. This is one of the best shows on TV. My emotions are mixed though because although I'm very excited that it's starting back up I'm saddened because it's the final season but then we're going to find out all the answers we've been wanting so I'm right back up again. It's a roller coaster that's for sure.

While we were out sick we caught up on everything we had DVR'd since January or was it December? I'm not sure now, I just know some of the shows were recorded while the writers strike was still going on. We cleared out everything but 3 movies and finally decided to try Torchwood which we had from Netflix. We had the first 3 discs of the 1st season but we only got through the third show before we decided not to watch anymore. It wasn't that it was bad, because it wasn't, it was actually pretty good. But after watching one show we didn't want to immediately watch another one we did just because that's all we had. We both agreed that although it was a pretty good show we could take it or leave it so we decided to leave it and try the next one. Sorry Natalie, I know you like it.

I've heard such great things about Freaks and Geeks and Entourage and I have both in my queue. I'm thinking I'll go with F & G first though since there's only one season of it or are there two? I can't remember now how many seasons it lasted before it was canceled. Anyway, we'd be able to fly through those and get to Entourage and try it out to see if it's worth watching. I really love me some Jeremy Piven. He used to be on my list of 5 for the longest time. Ok, I went and fixed my queue to go with Freaks and Geeks first. I forgot I also have The Tick on there too. Loved that cartoon and I think we only saw an episode or two of the live action show but we both like Warburton so I'm a little excited to watch it also. I might have to go to that one before Entourage also.

And what the hell happened to Lost? I didn't know they were going to go on hiatus this season. I thought since it was a shortened season it was going to run straight through to the end but nope, hasn't been on for the last few weeks. Just went to their website and they're not scheduled to return until the 24th! Unreal! Whatever.

What else, oh yeah, Jericho has been canceled. But we sort of knew that was coming. We're just glad that the fans were able to bring it back for the shortened season to be able to resolve everything and have it end in a way that could have left it open if it got renewed but still resolved everything else in a way that was good enough in case it wasn't. I hate when shows get canceled without being able to resolve things, sucks big time.

We've been rewatching Friends. I had actually done it from the beginning last summer and got as far as 1/2 way through the 9th season but for some reason didn't finish. So while sick I finished them up. I convinced HDiTty to rewatch them so I've been watching them again with him. I still laugh just as hard, such a great show.

I've been wanting to rewatch Buffy and Angel too but we don't own those so I'm thinking we need to go out and buy 'em. I have 100 bucks burning a hole in my pocket that I received for my birthday (isn't that nice, I'm 38 and I still get money for my birthday!) and I haven't made up my mind what I want to use it on. I've gone back and forth between the latest seasons of Gray's Anatomy and Battlestar or both even but I'm thinking either Buffy or Angel would be better. I could get a whole series instead of just one season, sure I'd have to kick in some of my own money but that's ok. Or even better yet, if they're at Border's Bookstore I have two gift cards for there also so I wouldn't have to kick in any of my own money. Hmmm, I'm going to have to seriously think on this.

Media quote of the day: I am the wild blue yonder. The front line in a never-ending battle between good and not-so-good. Together with my stalwart sidekick, Arthur, and the magnanimous help of some other folks I know, we form the yin to villany's malevolent yang. Destiny has chosen us. Wicked men, you face The Tick. - The Tick

Ducks go a waddling

Man, how bad is this. Since we've been sick we've done less than normal so nothing has happened in our lives so therefore nothing has happened to be written about. But I feel like writing so I did a Google search for blogging ideas. I went to three sites, two had a list of 10 ideas and one had 100 ideas. Some of them were the same but overall they were different. And out of all of them I didn't even like one. Not one idea. That's pretty bad.

So let's see. . . I'm feeling better. I'm still coughing but every day is a little less than the day before at least. My voice is still shot though. But at least it's that kind of sexy low gravelly voice which is nice. Heh

Tomorrow is Popcorn Wednesday at work and I can't tell you how happy that makes me. They started this a few months ago. Every Wed. they make popcorn for us and one of our receptionists is in charge of doing it. She's the best at it. Whenever someone else makes it for whatever reason it always comes out burnt but when Maria does it it's perfection. Everyone in my department looks forward to Popcorn Wednesday!

This Friday is another Surprise Party that I'll be going to. Bosslady is hosting this one. It's also going to be a bachelorette party for another coworker of ours. Her wedding isn't until June but this is the perfect opportunity to have a great party for her. From what I hear it might be turning into an all-nighter too. As in hotel rooms have been talked about even. Sounds like it's going to be a grand ole time. I guess I better remind HDiTty about it. It's a good thing he works this weekend.

There are these two Mallard ducks, they're a couple, that nest by our office every year. They came back sometime over the weekend and for the last several days the female has been waddling around trying to find where she wants to nest and the male has been following her wherever she goes. It's the absolute cutest thing. Yesterday as I was walking in from the parking lot she was standing in front of our building looking around with her neck all craned quacking away. Then she starts to walk to the right and he follows her, she stops/he stops, she starts back up and turns right again and walks all along the front (which is all windows & I'm inside talking with a couple of girls while watching them) of the building with him right on top of her practically. She stopped abruptly and he ran right into her, too funny. But I didn't see them this morning so they might have found a spot finally. We have a water fountain that they like to swim in. I don't know why they don't go up the road a little bit further where there's a pond, it would make more sense. It would seem the food source would be better there but for some reason they like it by our fountain more so every year they're back.

So that's really about it I guess. Not much of a post but a post nonetheless and it was done without using any of the lame ideas found on those three sites. Yes, I know, this was a lame post but at least it was my lame idea to write about these lame topics and not someone else's lame idea. See?

Media quote of the day: Why couldn't Xander be possessed by a puppy? Or-or some ducks? - Willow - Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Pack

Sick as a dog

So I've been out sick as a dog for a friggen' week. A week ago Wednesday on my way home from work I call HD up to make sure he grabbed a change of clothes for me as I was meeting him at his dad's house. The 19th was his dad's birthday. He proceeds to tell me he's sick. He's all hot and feeling icky. When we got home we took his temperature and sure enough he was running a fever.

Thursday I felt fine but by Friday I was feeling kind of sinusy and my throat was a little sore. I bought us some Vicks 44 cough and nasal decongestant because he also had a cough to go along with his fever.

Saturday morning I woke up late and decided to take a nice long hot bath in hopes the steam would relieve my sore throat and nasal congestion. It sort of did. Afterward I went downstairs and snuggled up on the couch with some Entertainment Weeklies that I'd fallen behind in. I wasn't sitting there for 5 minutes when I felt really warm all of a sudden. The thermometer was sitting right there so I decided to take my temp. It wasn't much, just 99.7. I had glanced at my watch when I started and it was close to 11:30. A little bit later I felt even more warm so I took it again and this time it was 100.4. Another 5 minutes or so later it was up again and in less than an hours time it had shot up to 101.7. Yep, I was officially sick.

From that time on it didn't go down to normal again until Thursday. On Sunday it got to it's highest which was 102.5 a couple times. But mainly it stuck around 101.5 and went up and down from there. I coughed and coughed and coughed. Saturday I had muscle aches but that was it, no other day but then. So that was it, a shit load of coughing and a fever but I was out. That's all that HD had too.

I called in on Monday and went to see my doctor. She figured it was viral since HD was already starting to get better on his own without doing anything more then just NyQuil and Motrin. Although the Motrin wasn't doing anything for our fevers. But since my work needed reassurance that I wouldn't be spreading anything around she gave me a prescription for antibiotics anyway. Said to take Tuesday off too and as long as I felt better I could go in on Wed. I was her 5 patient that day with same symptoms. There's definitely some kind of bug going around.

By then my fever was down to just one degree over which did make me feel better so I did go in. I was able to last the morning, barely. But at noon I was out of there and soon as I got home I changed clothes and crawled back into bed. I was hoping to be able to go in on Thursday but I still wasn't feeling any better so I called in again.

But by Friday I was finally not coughing quite as much and I wasn't so exhausted anymore. I wasn't sure if I'd make it the whole day but I did. I just took it easy all day and refused to stress over anything so that helped.

I'm still coughing and it's annoying the hell out of me but it is better. I've lost close to 10 pounds because nothing tasted good and also I just had no appetite for anything. Even if something tasted half way decent I could barely eat any of it, I just got full so quickly. Let's hope that little side affect lasts.

Other than checking my Email once on Wed real quick when I was at work and then once on Friday this is the first time I've been on the computer. I've got a lot of catching up to do. But that's gonna have to wait. HD wanted me to wake him up when I got up so I guess I better go get him.

Media quote of the day: Do you have a cough due to cold?- Forrest Gump

SNOW

IT'S FRIGGEN SNOWING!!! AGAIN!!!

Eating habit

I had soup for lunch today and it reminded me of a conversation a few of us had a couple weeks ago. I'm a very picky eater. I'm also one of THOSE PEOPLE. I don't like my food to touch. I mean Not. At. All.

If say my corn or beans touch my mashed potatoes and I can't get enough of the potatoes off of the corn or beans then I won't eat them. Whereas most people I know mix them together, well, at least they do their corn and potatoes. Not everyone does it with their beans.

If we're having steak and the juice is still bloody enough and it runs into my veggies I won't eat the veggies that it touches. Nope, won't do it, that's just too damn gross.

And as mentioned I'm a picky eater too so it's actually pretty good that I am. At least at holidays when there's so much food. Because I don't eat very many foods I don't have to worry about them being piled on top of each other like so many people do with their foods. There are times that I'll look at someones plate and almost, not quite, but almost get a little grossed out.

I had read an article in Reader's Digest last summer about a girl who was so bad with the need to keep her food separate that she actually used a different dish for each food. Now I'm not that bad. My family, mainly mom and I, joke about my need to keep my food separate. I told her she should thank her lucky stars that I didn't turn out like that chick. She just laughed and said she wouldn't have put up with it. Which, yeah, no, she wouldn't have.

But back to the soup. If the foods are cooked together such as soup, stew, Chinese food, etc. I'll eat them that way. I don't know what it is. I guess because there's usually some kind of sauce that "binds" them together. But without that sauce I couldn't do it. I could not stab a bean, potato and piece of meat individually off a plate and eat them together. Nope, just couldn't.

Oh well, it's just one of my lovable quirks I guess.

Media quote of the day:

Eat it - Weird Al Yankovic

Don't want to argue, I don't want to debate
Don't want to hear about what kind of food you hate
You won't get no dessert 'till you clean off your plate
So eat it

I called it

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Got your green on?

So Friday night was a lot of fun. If you don't recall or didn't read, we had tickets to go see REO Speedwagon. They were at a small local venue. We had orchestra level seats in row X so not real close but at the same time not real far away either. We were in the middle though so that was good, I was worried we'd be off to the sides. And the two seats directly in front of us remained empty so for a short shit like me it was really good.

A little before it started a small group of people came in and sat directly behind us with a very loud and obnoxious woman. Her voice was extremely grating. It actually made me cringe quite often. And right when the lights went down one of the guys dropped his phone and it slid right in front of HDiTty's feet and she leaned over me screaming about it in my ear with her phone lighting his phone up. I reached down, snatched it and tried to hand it back to her right away so she'd sit back down but she just kept standing there screaming about it. Then HD hollered back at her but at least his voice is deeper so it didn't hurt as much. Plus it was funny. She finally took the phone and sat down.

Then a few minutes into the first song two couples came into the seats two rows in front of us. One of the chicks was deemed "The Drama Queen" right away. Now granted, this was a concert but most everyone there was of the "older" crowd and we started out sitting down. I know, I know but that's how it was. These four come in and the one couple was considerate and sat down but the other couple stayed standing which of course made everyone behind them have to stand. And the girl kept yanking on the other couple to get them to stand too. Which they did on and off. Luckily they were the ones in front of us so when they sat I'd be able to also.

But this chick, oh my god! She kept messing with her hair over and over again. This lady I was standing next too she and I were saying how we both just wanted to reach forward and yank her hair right off her head. She was hanging all over her boyfriend/husband/date/whatever. I cannot describe the annoyance well enough that was The Drama Queen. At one point the two guys left and were gone for a couple of songs and the moment they came back The DQ sat down in her seat (and at this time no one was sitting it was during the encore) and proceeded to cry. She had been perfectly fine, dancing and singing before hand with her friend just before he showed up. And then those two even left before they were done playing. DRAMA QUEEN!

Anyway. The concert itself was great. Those guys can still play and Kevin Cronin can still sing. I admit I'm a radio fan. Until last year I never owned an album and the one I got then was The Essential REO Speedwagon. But even still every song I've ever heard I've liked. Also, I saw them years ago when I lived in Louisiana at the State Fair in Baton Rouge. I think it was '90 or maybe '91. Anyway it was one of the best concerts ever. The crowd was totally into it and singing every song and the band fed off the crowd so the energy level was off the charts. I was hoping this one would be similar. I figured it wouldn't be quite the same since it was going to be indoors and there'd be seats so we'd be sitting (and we did) and we're all almost 20 years older, but still, a girl could hope.

For some reason HD thought we were going to see Cheap Trick and when I reminded him it was REO he asked what songs they played. And I drew a complete blank. I could not remember a single damn song, how bad is that. Well, none except for Ridin' the Storm Out. And when we were there he asked me what song he should say if anyone asked him what his favorite song is, I told him to say that one. It's a safe one to use, but no one asked. They did a good mix of rockin' and ballads. They also did a good mix of radio and non radio songs. They also played a few off their new album from last year that I didn't even know they had. I liked all of them so I guess I should go and get it. Different songs had people standing but for most of them we were sitting. Until they played Time for Me to Fly. That put everyone on their feet and for the rest of the concert that's were everyone stayed.

The encore was Ridin' the Storm Out and 157 Riverside Avenue Two great rockin' songs. At one point Kevin was talking to the crowd saying how he's glad they finally quit passing up this venue. He didn't know why they did before, probably because it was so close to Chicago they'd just pass it over. But now that they discovered it and have seen for themselves how lovely the venue is hopefully they'll be back. I'd definitely go back and see them again.
____________________________

Saturday was a bust as I predicted it would be. Well, as far as people coming over anyway. Every single person but two canceled and one of them we called to tell her not to bother before she had a chance to cancel herself. The other was the only one we had a yes from the very beginning. So Jim came over and we three went out to dinner. On the way home we were debating on what to do and started talking about movies. The Chronicles of Riddick wes mentioned so since it'd been quite awhile since any of us had seen them we decided to watch Pitch Black and Chronicles. It was 1:00am by the time they were all done and since I had a huge mason jar full of long island ice tea with dinner I was pretty tired. But HD didn't want me to go to bed so to keep me awake we decided to play a game.

We played Scene It - Movie then Scene It - TV which Jim won both games. Then because of something I said HD put in Firefly and we watched the first show of that. By then it was 4:30 and I just couldn't stay awake anymore so I went to bed. I have no idea when Jim left or HD came to bed. He said to wake him up when I got up but I knew that wouldn't happen.

I got up around 11:00ish. Watched a little tv and close to 1:00 I could barely keep my eyes open again so I laid down on the couch and from 1:15 until 4:15 I dozed on and off. Then I went and got HD up. We watched a few shows then a few more Fireflys then I went to bed.

Even though no one came over Saturday we still had a good time. I was disappointed and a little saddened but since I called it I wasn't surprised. And since we still had a good time that's all that matters.

Media quote of the day: - Of course I was going to use this one, and it fits with all the damn snow we've been having this winter too

Ridin' the Storm Out - REO Speedwagon

Ridin' the storm out, waitin' for the thaw out
On a full moon night in the Rocky Mountain winter.
My wine bottle's low, watching for the snow
I've been thinking lately of what I'm missing in the city.

And I'm not missing a thing
Watchin' the full moon crossing the range
Ridin' the storm out
Ridin' the storm out.


My lady's beside me, she's there to guide me.
She says that alone we've finally found home.
The wind outside is frightening,
but it's kinder than the lightning life in the city.
It's a hard life to live but it gives back what you give.

Two pretty damn scary moments in my life when I was kid (It's a long one, so kick your heels up and stay awhile)

As mentioned in my 100 things, that I don't feel like finding and linking to right now because I'm lazy, I had a paper route when I was a kid. I had it from the age of 10 to 14. A few days ago a few of us girls at work were talking about the scariness of the world today and how it wasn't that way when we were kids. Sure there were scary people out there that did things but as kids we just didn't hear about them. And it certainly didn't seem like they happened nearly as much as it does today. I'm sure parents do what they can these days to protect their kids from hearing about them as best they can but it seems that every other week something is going on somewhere and it seems like a losing battle. Even if the kids don't hear or see anything at home they could find out about it from friends or even overhear while out and about.

For the most part kids these days are brought up to not talk to strangers, they have cell phones to connect on a moments notice and parents and kids are just more aware. So although it seems like kids are being abducted or molested more often these days I don't think they are, I think it's just that it's talked about more. It's not a taboo subject anymore. For the most part kids do know who and what to look out for and know when something isn't quite right.

As a kid I didn't know any of that stuff. I don't remember being taught not to talk to strangers although I'm sure I was but not to the copacity that kids are these days. And if I was then it had been when I was really really young because I have no memory of it at all. But I was a very shy child so there really wouldn't have been much of a need anyway for that lesson.

I either walked or rode my bike to deliver my papers. Ours was an evening delivery except for the weekend edition, which was done on Saturday mornings. I did this like your postal person. Neither sun, nor rain, nor snow, nor anything else kept me from delivering my papers. I was never driven by my mother or any of my brothers or ever accompanied by them either. The only time that had ever happened was when I helped the boys from the ages of 8 to 9 when it was their route and I was their helper.

In all those years I never felt worried, not even during the winter months when it was dark as can be the whole time I was out there. It was my neighborhood after all. Sure my route didn't start for two blocks south from our house and end six blocks down and 3 blocks over but it was still my neighborhood. My elementary school was in the middle of those blocks and a couple of friends lived in there as well. And of course my customers.

Well, I never felt worried until one early evening in the spring of '83. I remember it was pretty warm and I was in jeans and a t-shirt. I had just started out and was on the in-between block. You know, the one between my block I lived on (we lived in the 1st house way at the other end) and the 1st block of my route. From about the middle of my block on there was this van that had been sort of by me off and on. The van was white and dirty. It wasn't a utility van but I don't remember windows in the back or on the sides either. I think it was closer to the kind that you would normally see the murals painted on the sides. But no murals for this one, just white and dirty. It had started off behind me for a few houses then went ahead a few houses and slowed enough that I caught up to it then sort of kept pace then I passed it then it started over again; until the middle of the in-between block. By that time they had gotten ahead again but this time they stopped in front of a house close to the end of that block.

But no one got out. That's what finally made me get a little weirded out. They had been sitting their for a good full minute or two without getting out while I was walking up. Which I had slowed considerably by this time. So, little ole me who had never been taught anything about abduction or molestation or anything like that deduced in a matter of seconds that there was no way I'd make it back to my house quick enough if these people meant to do me harm. So as natural as could be I turned up the walk to the house just before the house they were parked in front of and knocked on the door.

A little background info on this house and block. There was a parking lot in-between these two houses. Well, more an entrance and exit and one lane of parking between but still, there was some space between us. As mentioned this was the in-between block, but it was also one of the blocks on my brother's route. These two routes, plus one other route, had been in our family for years and years. There are 5 of us kids, as also mentioned in my 100 things. All but two of the routes were passed down to all of us. I didn't take the other two routes, at 14 I was done. So, although I didn't deliver to this house I knew who the owner was and he knew me. Also, the owner was the pastor at the Methodist church, which sat right behind the house that the van was parked in front of, and the parking lot was for. I felt completely safe and comforted in going up to the house.

I knocked on the door and turned to look at the van while waiting. Still no one had gotten out of it yet and it was still running. I knocked again, getting nervous now since no one answered and I wasn't hearing any noises inside. But finally the inner door opens and a young man in his mid 20's is standing there in a pair of shorts rubbing a towel on his wet head. I glance back at the still running van and tell him who I am. I tell him quickly what was going on and where I live and asked him if he'd walk me back home. He asks if I'd rather come inside and wait awhile until the van leaves but I say no, that doesn't mean anything. They could just drive down a few blocks or into an alley (which all the blocks had alleys) and wait. No, I'd rather go home and wait until either a brother or for my mom to get home and could come with me.

The whole time we talked the van stayed there. Never shutting off, no one ever getting out. He had me step inside while he went to get a t-shirt and shoes on and run a comb through his hair. Not until we were almost to the end of the block did the van finally drive away. We saw it go about 3 more blocks down then make a right up to the main road through town. We waited on the corner to see if it made it's way back our way but never saw it again.

He still walked me back home anyway just to be safe. I stayed there an extra 15 or so minutes before hopping on my bike this time so I'd get through the route quickly and also be able to boogie on home if I saw the van again.

Neither of us thought to get the license plate or even call the cops. In this day and age that would be one of the first things done. At least, I would think/hope it would be.

That was the 1st incident. The 2nd one happened a few months later. It was summer now and I was on my bike and on my way home this time. There were two guys in a hot rod. They had driven around the block and I hadn't thought anything of it, figured they were looking for a house. But when they came up the second time by me and hollered out at me driving on the wrong side of the street I got a little scared.

I didn't recognize them or their car. My youngest brother and I used to get strange people saying hi to us all the time because of our oldest brothers. They were the "bad" boys and many of the druggies knew who we were from sight but we didn't know them. But that's not how this was. This was completely different. Those people almost always knew our names and came across hippie like. These guys didn't say my name and were quite menacing.

I dropped my bike on the sidewalk and flew up one my customer's sidewalks to their house pounding on their door. As soon as I did the driver took off, he flew around the corner into the alleyway. I leaned over the porch to look between the two houses and saw that he had stopped and was looking back at me. We stared at each other for a bit before I leaned back and started pounding again. I heard him take off and since no one was answering I jumped off the porch and ran next door. I pounded on that door too but no one answered there either.

I could hear the car still in the alley but going pretty fast so I went into hurry mode. I ducked low and ran up grabbed my bike and staying as low as possible went back to the house and hid behind the bushes under the porch. I had just finished hiding when they came into view. I could see them but they couldn't see me. I was hoping they would think the people had been home and let me in or that I had just taken off. Either way I was gone. They sat there for a few more seconds and then took off.

I heard them go into the alley again and I quickly hopped on my bike and took off for home looking behind me every few seconds. But luckily didn't see them again.


Having never heard of the Ted Bundys or any of the individual cases I somehow had the wherewithal to not take a chance and go for help immediately. I would hope that my friends would have known to do the same but I honestly can't say if they would've. I think part of what helped me think that way was growing up with 4 older brothers and all of their friends. I was surrounded by males and was protected from an early age. But although I was protected I still learned how to fight and take care of myself BECAUSE I was girl. It was very odd really.

I don't know if I got "lucky" those two days or if Someone was looking out for me or if it was just "coincindence" what those two men were doing at those times or if I was just savvy enough to elude two bad men or what. All I know is that I'm grateful nothing happened and for the most part I forget that those two incidents even existed. The only time I think about them is when a discussion happens and the memory surfaces again. Sometimes I talk about them and sometimes I don't.

That day I did because one of the girls was saying how she won't let her daughter ride her bike around the block without her. And one of the other girls said she thought that was a bit much since she could see her daughter the whole way. That's when I spoke up and said it wouldn't have mattered if my mom could see me those two days, which she could have, both those days, clear as day. She wouldn't have been able to do a damn thing about it if either man would have decided to do a grab and drive other then describe the vehicle.

I know there's such a thing as being too over protective but at the same there's also such a thing as you can never be too careful. Also, I'm not a mom so I couldn't even say what I myself would do. I'd like to think I'd be able to find a happy medium though. I remember telling my mom about both incidents but I honestly couldn't tell you her reaction. It's been too long so apparently whatever it was must not have been too dramatic because it obviously didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I'm thinking she made sure I was ok and and praised me for doing the smart thing and going for help to homes of people I knew. At least I hope that's what she did.

Anyway, I did this post not because I wanted to discuss what to do or not to do with your kids but just to relate what happened to me when I was a kid.

Media quote of the day: I'm letting you have shotgun. But cuz it's cuz only 'cuz I'm goin' inside. - Slater - Dazed and Confused
This is the type of guy that would normally come out of the wood work that would know my brother and me but we wouldn't know them. Dazed and confused but harmless.