Sleep, or the lack thereof

I haven't been sleeping good lately. I've been tired since last October. It's gotten worse in the past month. It's so hard to wake up in the mornings. I've actually slept through my alarm for almost an hour a few times. Some days, it's all I can do to stay awake at work. (Says a lot for how interesting my job is, yes?) But at night, I can't sleep. I toss and turn, and wake up ridiculously early (2 or 3 am), and can't fall back asleep until almost time to get up. When I went to the doctor two weeks ago, I mentioned being tired all the time. He referred me to a sleep clinic. Last night, I went for the sleep study. I never sleep good when I'm in a strange bed. Add in all the electrodes that were attached to my head and body, and this equals a very bad night of sleep for arkie. I don't understand how they expect someone to be able to sleep with all this stuff attached to them. I had leads taped to each calf, one to my back, another to my chest, another one held in place across my chest with a velcro band, and yet another one on a velcro band that was supposed to be around my lower waist (but kept riding up during the night). I had a microphone taped ot my neck, in case I snore. Two electrode leads were glued and taped to my chin, and another two by my eyes. I'm not really sure how many were stuck to my head. I also had a pulse-oximeter on one finger, and two things in my nose. One was to measure the temperature of the air I breathe out. I don't know what the other one's purpose was. So all these wires attach to a box, which is then attached to another box.

This is what a person looks like once everything is hooked up:

(picture from :http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-basics/viewasleepstudy.htm)

I have a tendency to roll from one side of the bed to the other when I sleep, but I couldn't do that last night. Every time I tried to roll over to my other side, I ended up laying on the wires, and it would pull on the ones on my head. I woke up, not sure what time it was and laid there for a while (seemed like forever), thinking it had to be close to time to get up. Finally I sat up, and the tech came on the intercom to see if I needed something. I had to use the bathroom. Just imagine trying to go to the bathroom with all that stuff on you. Imagine the fun of trying to pull your pants back up one-handed, because the other hand is holding the box and wires. Try to wash one hand. Not fun. When I got back in the bed, I asked the tech what time it was. It was only 2:40. *sigh* Wake up time wasn't until 5:00. But I did manage to go back to sleep.

I don't get the official report until the doctor reviews everything, and he will call Monday or Tuesday. But the tech said I did have some problems. I get to go back on the 21st, and do it all over again, this time I get to sleep while wearing a CPAP machine. Oh, joy! But supposedly, this will allow me to sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed, so I guess it's worth it.

I need your creative minds

Help me with the profile, please?
Sanjana Banana blogs

Mom

When I was visiting my parents while my brother and nephew were down two weeks ago, I noticed that my mom had a really nasty sore on the top of her foot. I asked her what had she done (dropped a piece of firewood on it), had she gone to the doctor (no), well then was she at least putting something on it, like TAO? (no, she had been putting vaseline on it, but then it started burning, so she stopped, but she was soaking it in something - I think she said epsom salts). So, then when I went down again that weekend (arkieboy was in a play), I didn't mention it. But yesterday when I drove down, I asked her about it, and she said it was starting to hurt. So, are you going to the doctor? (yes, Tuesday morning). This morning, while I was drinking my coffee, I was talking to Momma, and made a crack about how they were going to cut off her foot - actually, not the first time I brought this up as a possibility - and made a "buzzsaw" noise. Arkieboy and I came back to Tennessee today, and while we were walking around in a store, my dad called me. I asked how things went, and he said not good. Mom is in the hospital, and he said that might have to cut off her foot. So, he gave me the number and I called Mom. First thing she says, "you had to joke about it. Now see?" Then she told me that the wound doctor (do they really have a specialty for this?) said that they would have to cut out some of the dead tissue, but that it should heal without any problems. She's going to have to stay a couple of days. I asked if she needed me to come back down. She told me no, for me & arkieboy to enjoy our time together because we don't get that much. I feel torn. Do I be the dutiful daughter and go down to take care of my mom, or do I be the mom who promised this week to her son? I really think arkieboy would understand if we had to go back. But I know he would be really disappointed.

Good thoughts and vibes, please??

Today is a beautiful day

These are all from my front yard. This first one was taken a couple of weeks ago? One week ago? Well, it was when aliens overtook Bob's body and/or blog and she posted about buying flowers for her co-workers.


These two were taken a couple of days ago.

I am having a very pleasant day today. It could be my meds have kicked back in (I had stopped taking one of them for about a month), or it could be that I'm on vacation now, and I'm not worrying about time, getting anywhere, just having a "me" day. I am seriously not worrying about time. Friday when I came home from work, I discovered that the electricty had gone off. After maybe an hour, it came back on. When I went upstairs to bed that evening, my alarm's digital clock was flashing. It had that it was 4:00. I hit the minute button to make it stop flashing, and I still haven't fixed the time on it. Or on my microwave, or on my stove. So, when I woke up this morning, the clock showed the time as 12:00. So, I really don't know what time I woke up, and I don't care. That is so liberating. I did have to go to the office briefly today, but the rest of the day has just been free. I like it.

I hope everyone else has had a wonderful weekend.


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Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival, May 4-6

*pouts*
I wanna go...
Friday's lineup:

The Allman Brothers Band
Three 6 Mafia
Koko Taylor
Gov't Mule
Social Distortion
Richard Johnston
Sharde Thomas and The Rising
Star Fife and Drum Band
Robert "Wolfman" Belfour
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Jerry Lee Lewis
Chevelle
Hubert Sumlin & Willie Big Eyes Smith
Plain White T's
The Derek Trucks Band
North Mississippi Allstars
Popa Chubby


Saturday's lineup:

Steely Dan
Godsmack
George Thorogood
Bobby "Blue" Bland
The Bar-Kays
Wolfmother
The Ohio Players
Walter Trout &The Radicals
Kenny Wayne Shephard
Taking Back Sunday
Taj Mahal
Ryan Shaw
Kelley Hunt
Old Crow Medicine Show
Jack's Mannequin
The John Butler Trio
Keller Williams
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Eddie Floyd
One Less Reason
The Duhks
Daddy Mack Blues Band
Hawthorne Heights
David Honeyboy Edwards
Keller Williams (I'm not sure why Keller Williams is listed twice - keying error? Maybe there are two performances?)

Sunday's lineup:

Counting Crows
John Legend
Hinder
Elvin Bishop
Barenaked Ladies
Corinne Bailey Rae
DAUGHTRY
Tab Benoit
Guster
Edwin McCain
Project Pat
Backdoor Slam
Umphrey's McGee
Ann Peebles
Papa Roach
Watermelon Slim
Billy Lee Riley
Egypt Central
The Lee Boys
James "Super chikan" Johnson

Yeah, yeah...

You nag someone to update, then they expect you to do the same...

I went to Arkansas again this weekend. Arkieboy was in a play, put on by the school. It was as good as you would expect a high school production to be. It wasn't bad, really. They had a dinner theater performance Saturday night and an afternoon matinee on Sunday. I went to the dinner theater. I do not miss cafeteria food. *blech*

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In case anyone is wondering, bestiality is not erotic. It's just not. I had went to the bookstore yesterday after I got back home, and picked up a couple of books. One was in the erotica genre. I was rather grossed out by the scene where the wolf raped the man. Call me judgemental, but I think if that turns a person on, that person is disturbed. YMMV.

*********************************************

I catalogued my books last week. I have over 340 books, most are paperbacks, and most are romances. I need more bookcases.

*********************************************

I have to make two more trips to Arkansas before this month is over. I will be driving down Sunday to pick up arkieboy. He will be on spring break, and wants to spend the week up here. Then I will have to take him back on Saturday. I swear, my next vacation is going to consist of me curling up in my bed or on the couch and reading for the entire week. I will NOT be driving anywhere. Which means I will have to take vacation again before summer. I always take the week of arkieboy's birthday (in July), and this year he wants to do something "big". I told him he's going to have to hurry up and decide what that will be, and stick to whatever he decides. I will need to book flights, etc, and once that's done, there will be no changes. *puts foot down*

*********************************************

My left lower leg is cramping.

*********************************************

The amount of perfume being used at work has been cut back. Thank you!!! Of course, to compensate for that, someone brought in a potted hyacinth. I love how they look, but their scent is so overpowering.

*********************************************

My ex-husband disgusts me sometimes. Arkieboy showed his father a picture of one of his (female) friends, who is 2-3 years younger than arkieboy (which makes her 12 or 13). DH (short for dickhead) told arkieboy "she's a hottie". Dude. DUDE! You are 36 years old. Referring to a girl of that age as a Hottie is just wrong for someone your age!!! I'm hoping that he didn't really mean that he thought the girl was truly a hottie, but was just trying to have "guy talk" with arkieboy. I still don't think that's actually appropriate conversation for a dad to have with his son, but at least it's slightly more tolerable than a 36 y.o. saying a 13 y.o. is hot.

Back home

I had a nice visit with my brother and my oldest nephew. My nephew is funny. Maybe I just think that because he has the same type of sarcastic sense of humor I do.

My parents watch my sister's two kids 2-3 times a week, and today was one of those days. My niece has a very smart mouth on her. My dad encourages that type of behavior when it's directed towards other people. Of course, he expects the kids to not talk to him that way, but they quickly develop a distinct lack of respect for him because he constantly gives mixed messages on what is appropriate. Anyway, my niece was showing out, and my oldest nephew said it was like watching an episode of Supernanny gone bad. I was LMAO.

Oldest nephew:

Youngest nephew:

Mein bruder



Tante Freda und ihre Nichte, Kaitlin

The Donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less


NOW ............

Enough of that crap . . The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.


MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

*hops*

In the next few days, I will get to see my brother and my oldest nephew, neither of whom I have seen in about 12 years. They live in Idaho, and are driving to Arkansas to see the parents/grandparents. Even though this is *not* a good time for it, my boss is letting me take a couple of vacation days so I can drive down to visit.

This is my nephew, "D", from a couple of years ago:




And here's one of arkieboy from a few days ago:

I'm a Ford Mustang!

You're an American classic -- fast, strong, and bold. You're not snobby or pretentious, but you have what it takes to give anyone a run for their money.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

New crush

Music Video:THIS IS LIVING (by Steven Strait)

Music Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

I wish I could find a code for "Boomerang" that I could get to work here. I LOOOOOVE this song.

Because you just can't have too many quizzes and other useless things...

You Are Strawberry Cake

Fresh, sassy, and romantic. You're a total flirt, who never would turn down a sugary treat. Occasionally you're a bit moody - but you usually stay sweet!

What Kind of Cake Are You?

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm. Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

And from LunaNina.com - Unconscious mutterings
I say... and you think...?

1. Nude ::


2. Support ::


3. Rachel::


4. Crane ::


5. Candy bar ::


6. Material ::


7. Mind games ::


8. Eviction ::


9. Produce ::


10. Joke ::

And to think,

I thought I was the queen of overshare. Apparently, I haven't shared as much about myself as I thought. *grin*

I came to RealityTVWorld looking for information on Big Brother. My first post, however, was on the Paradise Hotel forum. Nobody invited me to OT. Bravie had invited someone else on the AI forum to OT, and I thought I would check it out (after I finally figured out what OT stood for). Bravie was the first to send me a red wavy, telling me that no matter what everyone else said, *she* thought I was a good addition to OT.

I've had a few peep meets, my first being in Knoxville where I got to meet Nookie, Mr. Nookie, Vols, Farmboy (who no longer posts), and of course Bruiser! I still haven't met Syren, though. *pouts* I will have to make my way down to Atlanta sometime soon. My peep meet in Texas was with frankz. I didn't meet any OT peeps in Florida.

Even though I am *still* jonesing for more tattoos, I'm still at just one, my beautiful (mostly purple) pegasus. Purple is, after all, my favorite color. But that's not why I colored my hair purple once. That was an accident. I didn't even realize how purple it was until the next day at work. I wondered why the VP kept staring at my hair when he was talking to me that day. Then when I was coming back from lunch, I had glanced over at one of the windows and saw my reflection. Wow. My hair was VERY purple. But it has never been colored black.

My first kiss was with a guy named John. I know I've shared this before, when I still had my comments turned on to where anyone could comment. I remember Monsty posted a joke comment using the name "John". *grin*

My prom was not good. I didn't date much in high school. (You've seen the photos, so you know why.) I had went out with Gary once or twice, but I just wasn't in to him. But I wanted to go to prom. So, I asked a friend to ask him (this *was* high school), but to stress that it would be just as friends. I thought he was ok with this. Anyway, a couple of things happened. Gary didn't drink - he had an ulcer - so I had planned on going out to the parties by myself after prom. This hurt his feelings. Also, he had been dancing with another girl, which was fine with me, so I had danced a couple of times with Roland, a guy in my honors english class. Well, my friend Amanda took it upon herself to tell Roland that he had her permission to dance with me once more, but then he was to leave me alone for the rest of the night. When Roland told me what Amanda had said, I was so ticked off. Then, Amanda and Art (her BF, my ex) told Gary what I had planned about having him taking me home, and then me going back out. Gary started crying. I cannot deal with a guy who cries that easily. Especially when we were just there as friends! So, I left with Roland.

Arkieboy is named after Clint Eastwood. Well, he's actually named after his father, too, for the middle name, but "Clint" came from Clint Eastwood. His dad & I loved watching Clint Eastwood movies - that was one of the few things we actually did together.

I think #13 was not read the way I meant it. I asked how many cars I had in the last two years, not how many I had got. I had 3 - the Tempo which had the rear bumper ripped off. The Tempo's replacement was the Malibu, which had the front bumper ripped off and the front pushed in. And finally the Malibu's replacement, the Cavalier. Almost 12 months, and no accidents!!! Yay me!!!
I have never had a Chevy Silverado. I wanted one, and almost got one when I was 21 or 22, but the bank wouldn't finance the total amount the guy was wanting. The guy at the shop had done some custom paint on it, and was including the price of that in his price for the truck. But the bank said that made it "not the original paint" and therefore, less in value. So instead, I got the Mercury Cougar.

And finally, I have yet to try a Merlot that I like.

New test

Create your own Friend Test here

Stole this idea from HD...

Create your own Friend Test here

Personality test

Everyone has a personality of a cartoon character. Have you ever asked
yourself what cartoon character do you most resemble?

A group of investigators got together and analyzed the personalities of
well known and modern cartoon characters.
The information that was gathered was made into this test.

Answer all the questions (only 10) with what describes you best, add up
all your points (which are next to the answer that you choose) at the
end, and look for your results.

Do not cheat by looking at the end of the e-mail before you are done.

Then forward this to all your friends (including the person who sent it
to you) and change the subject of this message to what character is you.

1. Which one of the following describes the perfect date?

A) Candlelight dinner (4 pts.)

B) Fun/Theme Park (2 pts.)

C) Painting in the park (5 pts)

D) Rock concert (1 pt.)

E) Going to the movies (3 pts.)

2. What is your favorite type of music?

A) Rock and Roll (2 pts.)

B) Alternative (1 pt.)

C) Soft Rock (4 pts.)

D) Country (5 pts.)

E) Pop (3 pts.)

3. What type of movies do you prefer?

A) Comedy (2 pts.)

B) Horror (1 pt.)

C) Musical (3 pts.)

D) Romance (4 pts.)

E) Documentary (5 pts.)

4. Which one of these occupations would you choose if you only could
choose one of these?

A) Waiter (4 pts.)

B) Professional Sports Player (5 pts.)

C)Teacher (3 pts.)

D) Police (2 pts.)

E) Cashier (1 pt)

5. What do you do with your spare time?

A) Exercise (5 pts.)

B) Read (4 pts.)

C) Watch television (2 pts.)

D) Listen to music (1 pt.)

E) Sleep (3 pts.)

6. Which one of the following colors do you like best?

A) Yellow (1 pt.)

B) White (5 pts.)

C) Sky Blue (3 pts.)

D) Dark Blue (2 pts.)

E) Red (4 pts.)

7. What do you prefer to eat?

A) Snow (3 pts.)

B) Pizza (2 pts.)

C) Sushi (1 pt.)

D) Pasta (4 pts.)

E) Salad (5 pts.)

8. What is your favorite holiday?

A) Halloween (1 pt.)

B) Christmas (3 pts.)

C) New Year (2 pts.)

D) Valentine's Day (4 pts.)

E) Thanksgiving (5 pts.)

9. If you could go to one of these places, which one would it be?

A) Paris (4 pts)

B) Spain (5 pts)

C) Las Vegas (1 pt)

D) Hawaii (4 pts)

E) Hollywood (3 pts)

10. With which of the following would you prefer to spend time with?

A) Someone Smart (5 pts.)

B) Someone attractive (2 pts.)

C) Someone who likes to Party (1 pt.)

D) Someone who always has fun (3 pts.)

E) Someone very sentimental (4 pts.)

Now add up your points and find out the answer you have been waiting
for!












(10-16 points) You are Garfield:
You are very comfortable, easy going, and you definitely know how to
have fun, but sometimes you take it to an extreme.
You always know what you are doing and you are always in control of your
life.
Others may not see things as you do, but that doesn't mean that you
always have to do what is right.
Try to remember, your happy spirit may hurt you or others.

(17-23 points) You are Snoopy:
You are fun, you are very cool and popular.
You always know what's in and you are never are out of style.
You are good at knowing how to satisfy everyone else.
You have probably disappeared for a few days more than once, but you
always come home with the family values that you learned.
Being married and having children are important to you, but only after
you have had your share of fun times.

(24-28 points) You are Elmo:
You have lots of friends and you are also popular, always willing to
give advice and help out a person in need.
You are very optimistic and you always see the bright side of things.
Some good advice:
try not to be too much of a dreamer.
Dreaming too big could cause many conflicts in your life.

(29-35 points) You are Sponge Bob Square Pants:
You are the classic person that everyone loves.
You are the best friend that anyone could ever have and never wants to
lose.
You never cause harm to anyone and they would never not understand your
feelings.
Life is a journey - it's funny and calm for the most part.
Stay away from traitors and jealous people, and you will be stress free.

(36-43 points) You are Charlie Brown:
You are tender, you fall in love quickly, but you are also very serious
about all relationships.
You are a family person.
You call your Mom every Sunday.
You have many friends and may occasionally forget a few Birthdays.
Don't let your passion confuse you with reality.

(44-50 points) You are Dexter:
You are smart and definitely a thinker...
every situation is fronted with a plan.
You have a brilliant mind.
You demonstrate very strong family principles.
You maintain a stable routine but never ignore a bad situation when it
comes.
Try to do less over thinking every once in a while to spice things up a
bit with spontaneity!

The randomness that is Arkie's brain.

So. Glow said I should update. So here goes.

~I've spent probably $200 on books this month alone. I have $75 worth of books on order, just waiting for the release dates.

~I haven't been drinking as much. Don't know why, just haven't. But I have been trying new things to drink, when I drink. Tonight, I had a Woodchuck Amber Cider. It was good. Last Friday night, I finally tried a Killian's. Meh. It was ok. It really didn't live up to the hype.

~I've always felt that whatever people are in to, that's their business. Just because it's not my thing, doesn't mean anything. But I really don't get this. I guess I just always thought that people who screwed animals did it because there were no other options. (Not that I'm condoning that either way, just that was why I thought they actually did it.) But if you're buying a blow up toy, and you choose an animal one over a person one, that's just weird to me.

~I'm having lots of breathing problems at work. The other day, I could feel my throat closing up. I blame it on the stinky perfume that the bitch wears. I'm sorry, but if I can smell you from 10 feet away, YOU'RE.WEARING.TOO.MUCH.DAMN.PERFUME. Some days? I smell more than just the perfume. Those days, I have trouble keeping my food down.

~Shredded Wheat cereal may be healthy, but I hate that crap. My mom used to buy that when we were kids. That was so gross. Why bother buying the cereal? Just go graze in your yard.

~American Idol. I'm loving it. I think Simon is almost always spot on. Sure, sometimes he's a little harsh, but I think he has to be to counter-act Paula's gushing. Lakisha should win.

~Ugly Betty is my new favorite show.

~I said something really mean about one of the men in the office last Friday night. But it was basically true, so I don't care.

~I'm starting to slide back into the mode of "men are scummy perverts." What *is* the female equivalent of a misogynist? I just get so frustrated when I have to deal with a person who thinks that the dangly bit between his legs somehow makes him smarter than me. It doesn't, asshole.

~I have a crush on my bartender.

~I've never been banned from a message board.

~screen names - I'm curious... for those of you who go to other boards, do you use the same name as your RTVW name, or do you have different names for each board?

~I'm going to bed now, so I can read the book I bought today.

Bowling

A couple of years ago I posted this. Well, finally, after bowling for 7 years now, I've actually started to improve. For the last two weeks, I have bowled better than I ever have. I'm still not good, I'll probably never have a 200 game, but I'm still happy with this. Last week I bowled a 120, 109, 148, and then last night I bowled a 103, 130, and 148.

I'm on a completely different team this year. I wasn't even going to bowl. M had left the company (her position was phased out), J went back to Arkansas (the damn hussy), and when I talked to S, she didn't really want to bowl either. M had said she still wanted to bowl, but I wasn't too sure that she would want to drive down every Friday night to bowl. Plus I was really afraid that M & S would want T to be our 4th. And there was just no way in hell I was going to spend my Friday nights with someone I really don't like to be around. But then one of the guys in the office was getting a team together and asked if I wanted to be on it. Just me & 3 guys who like to drink and tell dirty jokes. My kind of people. *grin* I am really having fun. Probably because I'm actually doing better for once. One of the other men in the league complimented me last night, and said I was really improving, and that it was because my form was so much better than last year, and I was consistent. Which is funny, because I have always thought I was doing everything the same each time, anyway. When I said that, he just shook his head and said "no, you weren't."

From my fortune cookie

Cultivation to the mind is as necessary as food to the body.


In bed.

A Myspace meme/thing...

One of my friends posted this Myspace bulletin. I was actually her number 3. She totally made me laugh my ass off, and y'all might not get any of the jokes, but I wanted to post this here anyway because the bulletins fall off after 10 days, I think, and I wanted to keep this.

Can u answer 22 questions about ur number 3?
DON'T change your top friends, and answer 22 questions about the 3rd person in your top friends.

1) What's their name?
Freda

2) Do you trust them?
Yes

3) Where did you meet them?
Diversicare in Franklin, TN

4) How old were you when you first met?
I was 32

5) Is this person one of your best friends?
Yes

6) Say something that only makes sense to you and them?
*hack, hack* What's that smell?

7) Is this person older than you?
yes

8) When was the last time you saw them?
December 28, 2006...my last day of work in TN

9) When was the last time you talked to them on the phone?
Last Friday....I think

10) Are you related to this person?
no

11) When will you see them again?
Whenever I can get her to come down here and smack me...as she keeps threatening to do.

12) Describe a fond memory.
Bar at the bowling alley...nuff said

13) Are you their b/f or g/f?
No

14) Do y'all have a nicknames for each other?
Well...she's called me a hussy before...does that count?

15) Do you have pics of this person on your myspace?
No

16) How many times do you talk/write to this person in a week?
A few

17) Do you think they will repost this?
maybe

18) Could you live with each other?
it's doubtful...we both think we're the queen of the freakin' universe...

19) Who would win a fight?
It depends on who is having the worse PMS case at the time...

20) Why is this person in your top friends?
Because she is funny and a good friend...and I miss her!

21) Have you seen this person cry?
I think I've walked in on the tail end of one...

22) Do you know this persons middle name?
yes, but I don't know if she wants me to say...

Now repost this as:
"Can u answer 22 questions about ur number 3?"

I got nuttin'.

I have these random thoughts about something to post, but I'm just not able to bring them to fruition. I want to comment on other blogs, but just can't think of anything of any value to say. Not that I always let that stop me.

Meh. Maybe one of these days, you'll click over here, and there will be something interesting. I just wouldn't hold my breath, if I were you.

"Hunger affects more than 38 million people in America today - and 14 million are children. It's a challenge that requires constant attention and support, and food producers and chefs are in a unique position to help raise awareness and money through projects like The Celebrity Pasta Lovers' Cookbook.

Every time you or a friend downloads a copy of The Celebrity Pasta Lovers' Cookbook, Barilla will donate $1, with a total donation up to $100,000, to America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network, a national charity that secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. We appreciate your help in alleviating hunger in America, and we hope you enjoy the cookbook!"


download

As far as the cookbook goes, it's only 12 recipes, but it does send $1 to the food bank.

Just for Coco

Lookie what I found!

More quizzes

Nutz, did you make this quiz? *grin*

83%BON JOVI FOR LIFE!!!83%

 

**you're almost a bon jovi nut like me...they're are plenty of people who love Bon Jovi & yet don't know just 1/2 of anything about them but you know more than others to have gotten you to this score**

JON BON JOVI...how well do you know him???
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You are a 75% Movie Addict.

 

Well done, great score, you must love the feeling of those velour cinema seats. Does your diet consist purely of Popcorn, Hot Dogs and Haribo?

The Movie Tagline quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes

What's Haribo???

A quiz that starts out by admitting it doesn't make sense - ya gotta admire the honesty.

What random lyric are you? Your Result: Greenday   "Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go. So make the best of this test and don't ask why. It's not a question but a lesson learned in time."
Charlie Robinson
Simple Plan
The Fray
Bowling for Soup
Good Charlotte
Fergie
Staind
What random lyric are you? Create a Quiz

More Quizzes

I expect to see really high scores from some of you on this one...

You are 45% Canadian, eh!

 

You did reasonably well, but your knowledge of Canada is still no better than average. Most Canadians know far more about the U.S. than you do about them.

Could You Be A Canadian?
Make Your Own Quiz

Which Star Wars Character Are You? Your Result: Princess Leia Congratulations, you are a princess! That means you are often bossy and a bit of a snob. However, you are mindful and helpful of the little people in the galaxy.
Luke SkyWalker
Yoda
Jar Jar Binks
Han Solo
Boba Fett
Darth Vader
Jabba the Hutt
Which Star Wars Character Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

And I found one just for Bravie!!!!

You are a 3%Fart Master!

Either you lie or you have no rectum. We know your type secret farters who live a life of cramping and repression.

How gassy are you?

quiz time

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The South   That's a Southern accent you've got there. You may love it, you may hate it, you may swear you don't have it, but whatever the case, we can hear it.
The Midland
The West
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The Northeast
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Your 76% smarter than Jerry Springer Guests!!

 

Okay, not bad. You would not end up on TV with Leno if they were asking you questions...probably. You need a little brush up but not bad at all. Good Job!

Are you a smart or stupid American?
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At least I know it should be "you're", not "your".

I need a filter between my brain & mouth

co-worker: "I'm sorry I confused you."
me: "Oh, I'm not confused, I just thought you screwed it all up."

"Resisting Carey's mind control"

Jen, do you feel any different yet? *grin*

dream interpretation

OK, I had a very sexually explicit dream last night, doing something I have never done, or even considered doing. And while the person I was doing this with, is very hot, I'm not exactly attracted. What do sex dreams mean?

EDIT: So, I've looked up my dream at dreammoods.com and this is what I have found:

Sex

To dream about sex, refers to the psychological completion and the integration of contrasting aspects of the Self. You need to be more receptive and incorporate aspects of your dream sex partner into your own character. Alternatively and a more direct interpretation of the dream, may be your libido's way of telling you that it's been too long since you have had sex (this is soooo true). It may indicate repressed sexual desires and your needs for physical and emotional love.

To dream about sex with someone other than your spouse or significant other, suggests dissatisfaction with the physical side of your relationship. On the other hand, it may be harmless fantasy. In such situations, you may find that you are less inhibited sexually and you can even bring that sense of adventure to your existing relationship.

To dream that you are having sex with an ex or someone who is not your current mate, denotes your reservations about embarking in a new relationship or situation. You may feel nervous about exposing yourself or currently feel a resurgence of those old emotions and feelings that you felt back when you and your ex were together. Believe it or not, it is not uncommon for people approaching their wedding to experience especially erotic adventures with partners other than their intended spouses. This may be due to the intensity of your sexual passion with your fiancee. It also relates to the new roles that you will be taking on and the uncertainty that that may bring.

If you are heterosexual and you dream that you are having sex with someone of the same sex, signifies not necessarily homosexual desire, but an expression of greater self love and acceptance. You need to be in better touch of your feminine or masculine side.

To dream that you are the opposite sex, suggests that you exhibit or need to incorporate those qualities of the opposite sex. Ask yourself, how do you feel being a man or a woman? In what ways can you incorporate those feelings into your waking life.

Oral Sex
To dream that you are giving or receiving oral sex, signifies your willingness to give or receive pleasure/joy. It is symbolic of your creative energy and reaffirms that you are headed in the right direction in life. The dream may also be a pun on talking about sex. You may need to communicate with your mate about your sexual needs and desires. Perhaps you are acting out your sexual wishes.

To dream that you are performing oral sex on yourself, represents your need for self-gratification.

Quiz time

You Passed High School with an C

You have the brains of a high school graduate... at least!

Could You Pass High School?

I really thought I would do better. I just wish I knew which questions I missed.

Your Mind is PG-13 Rated

Your mind is definitely a little dirty. You're naughty, but not trashy. You don't shy away from a dirty joke, and you're clearly not a prude.

Do You Have a Dirty Mind?

Looking back

My mom made my clothes when I was young. We didn't have much money, so we really couldn't afford to buy clothes. So of course, that's what I wanted more than anything. "Store bought" clothes. Instead I had home-made clothes or hand me downs. And the school I went to, there was a definite division of "the haves" and "have-nots". Even in the first grade, there were cliques and people looked down on those that didn't have as much as them. I'm sure that has a lot to do with why I will not shop at yard sales or second hand stores. Arkieboy would ask me to take him to the Good Will store so he could look for a shirt, and I hated to do it. I hated it. A couple of women in my office shop at the Good Will store a lot, and they're always talking about some of the great deals that they get, but I just cannot stand the thought of buying used clothes. It was always such a mark of not being "good enough" when I was younger, that I just can't do it now. I won't even go to a used book store.

First grade:





















Third grade:



















Fourth grade - I finally got my "store-bought" dress.

part 2

Tenth grade - my mom made this blouse.

I had to wear it the next year, too. One day, in Honors English, our teacher was going over something in that day's lesson. We were working on creative writing. I don't remember what point she was trying to make, but she decided to give us an example, I think of descriptive writing. So, to somehow teach us something about writing, she makes this statement: "You can tell that Freda is poor because her clothes are handmade and are made of cotton materials." Maybe we were supposed to incorporate observations in our writing assignment. I don't remember the "lesson", but I do remember the feeling of humiliation.







This picture has nothing to do with the posts. I just like the way my hair looks. This was my 11th grade pic.

Frustrated

I know, I know... I said I was going to have a better attitude this year. I was going to not complain, bitch and whine about stuff, really. But I'm just so frustated at work. I work for a great company. I have a wonderful supervisor. I make pretty decent money, especially considering I only have an Associate's Degree. I should just be thankful for all that, and suck it up when it comes to anything less than perfect.

Having made that disclaimer, I will now get to my point. I feel like I am held to a much higher standard than other employees. I'm supposed to be perfect, and never make mistakes. I'm given the same training as everyone else, yet I'm expected to somehow know more and be able to explain everything to the others. Sometimes, I'm given less training, and am still supposed to be the "answer gal" if anyone has questions. I just get so frustrated with this. I don't automatically understand everything. I have questions, too. But there doesn't seem to be a source for me to go to. Today, one of the regional employees had called with questions about this claims clearinghouse we've started using for our insurance claims. (I only work with Medicare.) She has sat through the same online training that company provided that I have. So, why am I expected to know more about this than anyone else? I'm not included in any of the meetings, yet I'm supposed to be on top of everything we're doing. I'm just tired of it. Why the hell am I put down as the contact person, when I'm not even kept in the loop as to what this whole thing is?

Carey's wedding cake

Twinkies, HoHo's, Cupcakes, and Suzy Q's... It's perfect for Bravie!

I've got the wedding photos!!!!

Apparently, Carey couldn't decide on which dress to go with, so they actually had 3 ceremonies.

As you can see, the first ceremony was a combination of elegance and country (the cowboy hat). It's just a shame she couldn't find a better bra to wear with the dress. Look at the size of those straps! Now that's what you call a support foundation!
























For the second ceremony, Carey went with a Strapless Taffeta gown that has a Basque waistline and full gathered skirt. The bodice is embellished at the top with beading and crystals. The skirt features a chapel length train. I just think that if she was going to use fake tan on her arms and shoulders, she probably should have applied some to her face or not used quite so much on her torso.

























For the final ceremony, she went with something other than white. I really don't know what to say about this choice. It's interesting. Can you just imagine what the bridesmaids' dresses must have looked like?

Old photo

Feel free to *point and laugh*


















I always hated this picture of me. As you can tell, my mom cut my hair when I was young. And she kept my hair short. When I was younger, I would look at this picture, and I always thought it looked like a boy in a dress. Gawd, I had such big ears. Still do, but I guess I've kind of grown into them.

Trying for a new attitude

"If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes." ~St. Clement of Alexandra

"The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook." ~ William James

"A loving heart is the truest wisdom." ~ Charles Dickens

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." ~ Mahatma Ghandi


I generally don't make New Year's resolutions. And I'm really not making one now. But I do plan to try to have a better attitude in the coming year. I will have hope, and I will try to be wise. And I will work towards being the person I should be.

Meme

Here’s a meme I found in Puffy's blog who found it in Badger’s blog. This one asks for the first sentence from the first blog entry of each month of 2006. Anyone care to try it for themselves?

January: what a fuckbench was?
February: I'm just a little pissed now.
March: The city baseball club has started their spring practices.
April: Maybe, just maybe, Monday I will have a new car.
May: (Monsty, you (and any others who find foul language offensive) may not want to read this. )
June: I don't know if you ever read my blog anymore, but in case you do, I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday a couple of days early.
July: 1. How long does it take you to get ready in the mornings for whatever you have to do on a typical day?
August:I have hot water!
September: A couple of photos from our trip to the Memphis zoo.
October: I’m riding with my ex MIL to take my son to school.
November: Me, playing in a fountain.
December: not safe for work.


Blogger seems to have eaten my archives. I can't go past September 06 through the archives links. I had to go to "Edit Posts" to see anything past that. Maybe I should just delete the old entries, if I can't view the archives. Then I could convert to the "new" blogger. D'oh! I just needed to republish my blog!

just some random thoughts

Things I know intellectually, but emotionally keep trying to believe otherwise:
I will not find happiness at the bottom of a chip bag or an ice cream tub.
The happiness I think I find in the bottom of a wine bottle or other liquor bottle is not real.
No one is to blame for my feeling miserable, unloved and lonely except myself.
I will never truly be loved until I can love myself. I just don't know how to get to that point.
Not trusting people to be there, not believing that they really could care, is self-destructive.
Withdrawing from people or acting in a bitchy manner towards them to drive them away is just a self-fulfilling prophecy, ensuring that they *won't* be there.
I will never be as important to certain people as they are to me. Knowing and accepting this is probably a good thing, but it still hurts.

Thank God it's over.

I had enough "family togetherness" to last me for the next 3 years. Next year, I'm doing what I want. arkieboy can either spend Christmas with his dad, or he can come to my house. I am not going to my parents house. From now on, when I go down to see arkieboy, I'm staying at a motel, or I will be picking arkieboy up and taking him home for a visit.

Have you been naughty or nice?

For those who have been nice:


Merry Christmas Comment Graphics

And for those who have been naughty:


Merry Christmas Comment Graphics


What can I say? Being bad has its' own rewards. *smooch*
I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!

Read My Result
Take the Test

your name

A : You like to drink
B : You like people.
C : You are really silly.
D : You like to drink.
E: You are easy to fall in love with
F : You are dead sexy.
G : You never let people tell you what to do.
H : You have very good personality and good looks.
I : You Are Great in bed.
J : People Adore yOU
K : You're wild and crazy.
L : Everyone loves you.
M : best kisser ever.
N: You like to drink.
O: awesome kisser.
P : You are popular with all types of people.
Q : You are a hypocrite.
R : Easy to fall in love with.
S : F*&kin crazy.
T : Your loyal to those you love.
U : You really like to chill.
V : You are not judgemental.
W : You are very broad minded.
X : You never let people tell you what to do.
Y : Best g/f b/f anyone could ever ask for.
Z : Always ready

Serious, yet hypothetical, question

Say a person is experiencing, oh, I don't know, rectal bleeding. Not a lot, just a little. Could said person safely assume that it's hemmorrhoids? And if that assumption can be safely made, is there anything that can be done about hemmorrhoids? I mean, are they "cureable"? Or would said person just need to "manage" said condition?

So, here's the question...

Say you know something about someone... it's not any of your business, but you know it anyway. It doesn't have any effect on you or your life. But it has changed the way you view that person in a detrimental way. Is that being overly judgemental? After all, nobody's perfect, we all see things differently, and what's right for one is not right for another. So, how do you come to terms with it? Do you say "I think it's wrong" and distance yourself from that person? Or do you really look at the person and how you thought and felt about them prior to learning this thing about them, and decide if this one thing is enough to end a friendship? And does it matter on who the person is and how you felt about them? I mean, if two people do this same thing, and you liked one and disliked the other, does it change your perception of their actions and the "wrongness" of it? Are you more likely to accept an action by someone you like as opposed to someone you didn't?

*sigh* Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss. Too bad you can't "unknow" something.

Coooooookieeeeeeee!

I got my other box of cookies in the exchange! Thanks, Coco! The gingerbread cookies are so good, and I am REALLY enjoying the Chocolate Mint Chews! Yum!

Moo

Not work safe, either

*pout*

I've loaded a .gif file here before. And it worked. I don't know why this one keeps getting screwed up.


But it greatly amuses me. I'm easily amused.

FTR, blog wasn't messed up, I was. I had temporarily moved my blog while I debated on deleting it. I'm still not sure that I want to keep a public blog. Just been some stuff that's bothering me, and I have to decide if I can deal with it, or if I will just have a super meltdown.

Have I added enough filler that a person won't see the picture without scrolling down?

I hope so. I just wish the .gif file would work.

NOT work safe

I'm thinking this might help get me in the Christmas spirit...








Damn! I had really cool gif file to upload, and it's not working... Well, if anyone wants it, just email me, and I'll send it to you that way.

secret santa

Yay! The gift I sent was received, and well liked. I am so glad. I got someone I don't really know, but sort of admire, so I was a little anxious about what to get him/her. I didn't observe the $10 limit, but you know... it's not about how much or how little you spend. It's the thought you put into the gift, IMO. I think it's more important to take the time to think about what someone would like or would make them happy. So, based on the post on the Reveal thread, I was successful. And that makes me happy.

Oooo! another prezzie

I got a beautomous calendar with flowers of Hawaiia in my mail today! Thank you so much, Woe!

*smooch*

Cookies!!!!

So after another crappy day at work (but not as bad as yesterday), I finally get home. It's cold and I just didn't feel so great. As I pull in, I see a package on my porch! I get the rest of my mail out of the box, unlock my front door, and pick up the box. It's from Breezy! I hurried inside to find a pair of scissors to cut the tape, and I got Breezy balls! I've put the pumpkin roll in the fridge, and I am really enjoying the pretzel kisses. I love sweet and salty.

Thanks, Breezy!

couple of videos about BBWs

Lo-Rider Skinny - not safe for work.

Anthony Hamilton Sista Big Bones

May not be to everybody's taste, but I think it's good for me to see that a woman can be sexy and being large doesn't negate that.

Bah! Humbug!

*sigh* I want to go to sleep and when I wake up, I want it to be January 2. I used to love Christmas time. I loved buying gifts for people, wrapping the presents, and just couldn’t wait to see the peoples’ faces when they opened the presents, to see if they liked what I gave them. I would have to make myself NOT buy something for someone because I had already picked up more for them than I had planned. But I couldn’t help it – I would see something and think, “Oh, that would be perfect for so-and-so.” I loved going through the stores and looking at all the Christmas decorations, and picking up more stuff to decorate my home. I couldn’t wait to put up a tree and decorate it. I loved seeing houses decorated with lights, and felt like I could just watch the lights for hours. Making special treats and sharing them with others. Picking out Christmas cards and mailing them. Watching all the Christmas specials on TV – Rudolph, Here Comes Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, the Charlie Brown Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street. But this year, I’m not feeling it. I don’t see anything in the stores and think of someone, anyone. I have no interest in looking at lights. I haven’t even walked through the Christmas section in any of the stores I’ve been in, unless it was a shortcut for where I was headed. And in those cases, I didn’t slow down and look at anything. I signed up for the Secret Santa at OT, and now, kind of wished I hadn’t. I have a couple of ideas of what I’m going to get my giftee, but I’m not putting the same thought and consideration into it as I have in the past. If he/she likes it, great, and if he/she doesn’t, so what? I signed up for the cookie exchange, and now am feeling stressed about it. I can’t even decide *what* to make. How hard is it to decide what kind of cookie to make? Yet, I can’t seem to do it. I don’t want to spend Christmas with my family this year. It’s getting harder and harder to spend any length of time with them and not just lose my cool. And it’s not over anything big. People are getting on my nerves just by breathing. I’m feeling like a total Scrooge, but part of me doesn’t care that I’m feeling anti-social and selfish and self-centered.

more pictures

My sister and me. After she was born, I was asked quite often if she was my baby. Do I look old enough to have had a baby in this picture?
















This is me & my oldest nephew - this is probably December 82 or January 83.

Me & my oldest nephew, Christmas 82 (edit: actually, this is probably 83. D was born in 82, and there's no way that he was that big and riding a trike at 6 months.)



For motormouth: In case you were wondering, those strange knobs on the TV? *leans in to whisper* This is how we changed channels back in the olden days. We had to get up, walk to the TV, and twist those knobs.

Back row: My cousin Nathan, my cousin Frankie (they're brothers), my brother Joe
Front row: My cousin Carla, me, my brother Jay

Back home for a minute

Went down to Arkansas Wednesday - took freakin forever. Had Thanksgiving dinner Thursday - turkey, ham, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, mashed potatoes, dressing, some kind of peas, deviled eggs, rolls, and for dessert, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, french coconut pie, lemon meringue pie, and pineapple cream cheese pie (my contribution). Came back to Tenn yesterday with arkieboy - went to see Happy Feet and then went to Wal-Mart so he could pick up some film and a CD. He's still asleep right now, which is how I am able to get on the computer.

While I was at Mom's, I went through her pictures and got several of me. She had told me once before, that if I wanted any of the old photos, to take what I wanted. I will be posting some sporadically, as I get them scanned. Here's a couple for now.

Furniture for
Motormouth
another piece
I actually kind of like these pieces.

This is a scream!

Now you know what I do when the boss is away

My Saturday "To Do" list

1) take car in for oil change
2) rake leaves
3) do laundry
4) CLEAN THE FREAKING HOUSE ALREADY
5) pay whatever bills have come in this week
6) maybe pick up some groceries?
7) Do something with the bumper from the Malibu that has been in the back room ever since that accident.

The next trip?

Arkieboy wants us to go to San Diego next summer. Why? Because he wants to go to the SD zoo. I've told him I will try to work it out. I think Southwest flies there, and if I can catch the airfare on sale, that might run me around $400 roundtrip for the two of us. I've checked online, and admission to the zoo will be $32 each. They do have package deals that would also get us into Seaworld and the Wild Animal Park, and also covers (I think) the bus tour at the zoo and maybe the aerial tram.

Any recommendations as to what hotels to stay at, and more importantly, which ones to stay away from?

My vacation

I flew into Oakland Wednesday. The flight was late arriving, and as soon as we landed, I turned on my cell phone and I no sooner got off the plane when catty called to find out where was I. I let her know we just landed, and I was headed to claim my luggage. While I'm waiting on my suitcase to come out on the baggage carousel, Catt calls again and says she's standing by the information desk. I look around, and there she is! We start talking while we're waiting on my suitcase, and it wasn't like talking to someone you had just met, it was such an easy conversation. We went back to her apartment and just hung out and talked.

Thursday. Ah, Thursday. Catt was not able to get off from work, but I told her I could go into SF and do the tourist thing by myself - it would be fine. I would be fine. Heh. My day starts off with me calling a cab to come pick me up and take me to the BART station. I could not understand the guy at the cab company, but we finally got that worked out. Then the guy couldn't find the apartment complex for a while. But he finally shows up, and I learn that the whole "cab drivers stink" stereotype is true. *gag* It's called deodorant, dude. Try it. I buy my ticket for BART, board the train, full of excitement that I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and confident that I can do this thing. I get off the train where the San Francisco Information Center is, thinking this is a piece of cake. I walk out, and start walking down the street. I see several people who look like they could be homeless. I keep walking down the street for a few blocks, and it's just getting worse. And it totally smells like pee. It's around 1:00 by this time, and I still haven't eaten anything all day. I'm not seeing any place on this street that looks like anything I would want to go into. I tend to shy away from eating establishments that have NO customers at what I would presume to be a busy time for such types of business. I've gone, I don't know, 5 or 6 blocks perhaps? and it's not getting any better. So I finally turn around and head back to the train station. By the way? I need to pee, badly. I did think that if I were to just squat down on the sidewalk, I would probably fit right in. On the other side of the train station is the Westfield San Francisco Centre. Freaking huge. It's a nine story structure. I believe the top 4 floors are office spaces. By now, I'm getting the shakes from not eating, and my back is starting to hurt. I go to the food court and start feeling like a total hick just down from the hills and in "the big city" for the first time ever (which, ok, I was) because unlike any other food court I've ever come across, here, the food is served on "real" dinnerware. Yes, actual plates and silverware, not Styrofoam plates and plastic forks and knives. I select where I'm going to eat (some Thai place), get my meal, and then wander around the very crowded dining area looking for an empty seat. The food was ok, but it wasn't anything special, but still a step up from the normal food court cuisine. After eating, I go up a couple of flights and look around. Unfortunately, I left it too long without eating, and I have the misfortune to have my body react badly when I do this. I don't get cranky, I get weepy. Being a bitch would be preferable, believe me. So now I'm shaking and just barely holding on to keep from having a complete and total meltdown. I get out of there and get back on the train, headed back to Catt's. Can I tell you how much I hate crying? And I have.no.control. over it. It's humiliating. So I'm on the train, thinking this was the biggest fucking mistake of my life. Tears keep running down my face, so I just stare out the window the whole time, and try to discretely wipe the tears off my face. Catt had something about I could use her laptop whenever I wanted, so the thought that keeps running through my mind is I can go online, change my flight, hopefully to one that day and just go home. After the train gets to final stop, I get off, and then it just so happens that arkieboy calls me to ask how my trip is going. I hate when I lose it around him. He amazes me sometimes. For a 15 yr old, he can be so mature and wise at times. When I told him I was thinking about coming home early, he started telling me I shouldn't do that, that I would regret it if I did. Anyhoo, as if all of this wasn't making a bad enough day, it gets more Griswold-ish. The cab ride had cost $14, and the driver had a hard time finding the apartment. I knew if I got another cabbie who couldn't find it, I would not be able to give any directions. Catt had mentioned that there was a bus stop just right there on the street by her apartment. I notice that the bus fare is only $1.50. So I call the bus station, give the woman the address of where I'm going, and ask what bus I would want, and what my stop would be. She tells me take the #8 bus, and to get off at _______ & _________. So, ok, I'm good, I can do this. (Have I mentioned, that other than flying, I have NEVER taken public transportation before this trip. This is all new to me. Cabs, buses, trains - all new.) I get on the bus, pay my fare, and I'm good. I miss the stop that the woman told me to take, so I get off at the very next stop. I'm one street over from the street that Catt lives on. But nothing had looked familiar at all. I call Catt, and leave her a voice mail to let her know I have no idea where I'm at. The police station was just a couple of blocks away, so I walk over to find out which direction I need to head. I notice that I'm on the #### block of the street. Catt's address would be 13 blocks away. So, if I had gotten off where the bus station told me to, it still wouldn't have been right. So, after asking someone at the police station whether I wanted to go to my left or my right, I head off. I call Catt to let her know that I'm not completely lost now, and have to leave another voice mail. Hills suck. Walking 13 blocks suck. Walking 13 blocks that include two hills really sucks. Catt calls me back, and I think I'm about halfway there at that point. She tells me that she will be getting off work soon, and will head straight home - I ask that she please stop and pick up some Diet Coke, because I'm going to need it. So I finally make it to her apartment, let myself in, and basically collapse. My feet were hurting to the point that even the tops of my feet hurt. So, that was my Thursday, and yes, I did want to go home then. If I had been able to get online, I probably *would* have changed my flight.

Catt asked me if I wanted to do anything Friday, and I said no, I was quite good with just hanging out at the apartment until Carey's birthday party. There was no way in hell I was going to venture out again by myself. Friday night was Carey's birthday party, and I'm not going to go into that because you've probably already her account of the party. I didn't drink very much - I don't know if I just wasn't feeling like myself or what the deal was, but I couldn't hang with the drinks. I actually gave one of the shots to someone else to finish. And people who know me, know that never happens. I do not waste a drink.

Saturday was really cool. Catt, Jimbo and I went to a few wineries in Livermore, and did the whole wine tasting thing. Loved it. I had never done this before, and I really enjoyed it. I wish that I could have gotten a copy of the wine lists that we tasted, so I could make notes as to which ones I liked and which ones I didn't, because I can't remember exactly which ones I even tasted, much less what I thought about all of them. Catt had offered to pick some up and ship them to me, but I discovered today that it is a felony in Tennessee to ship wine to a TN address. So, I guess that's out. *pouts*

Sunday, we went to see Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D, which is always really fun. I *heart* 3D movies. We also ate at In & Out Burgers, which was pretty good.

Monday, I packed up, took the bus to the BART station, and headed off to meet up with Carey. She picked me up, and we went back to her house to drop off my luggage. We then headed off to the Wharf (after turning around and going back so I could get my camera). So, I got to see the Wharf, see the sea lions, see where Alcatraz was (I don't do boats and water, so we didn't take a ferry out to it), and I picked up a few souvenirs. We then grabbed a bite to eat, and then went to the wax museum. If you ever go, don't sit in the electric chair. It didn't really hurt, but I don't care to get shocked on my ass. *grin* Because I wanted to see the ocean more than anything, Carey took me for a drive along the coast. We had lunch at Nick's, which is right on the beach. I could have just sat there and looked at the ocean for hours, probably. It's weird, I hate to be on the water, but I love being next to the water, and watching it. Then Carey took me to the Golden Gate Park. That's where we saw the fountains with no water, and the outdoor bench museum. Seriously. There's this one area that has all these benches, just bunches of them. That night, Carey and Michelle took me to the mall that has the 2 story Target. I have to say it - the cart escalator was freaking cool. After that, we went back to their house, and talked for a little bit. Michelle and I were talking, and suddenly, we hear this snoring. Carey had crashed on the couch. Then Tuesday, Carey took me to the airport, and I came home.

Parts of this trip surpassed my expectations and was so much better than I would have thought. Other parts where less than I expected. So. I'm glad I went, but I'm not sure I'll be doing anything like this again.

Strange sights

This? was the strangest thing I saw on my trip.

















Freaky, huh?

More pics

Denny the kissing bartender, Jimbo, and Catt (note the placement of Denny's hand)













Group/grope shot

Me, playing in a fountain. Don't get me started on the garden at this park.