A Forgotten Miami Story!

Because we are iced in....
Not really, we can get out and about a bit, but it takes so flippin long because you have to drive too slow, so we've been doing some projects around the house that we really intended to do ages ago. Anyways, that's not important. The important part is, Richard was trying to find some pictures on his computer and in the process he came across some pics from our Miami trip that I had completely forgot about and then realized I'd never shared! Shame on me!

One of the nights we ventured down to Naughty (but, oh so fun) beach (which is South Beach to most of us), the adventurous us headed for the more questionable part of the area and stumbled onto a little 'store' that said World Erotic Art Museum. We walked inside, and entered just a little (nasty) entryway with one door to an elevator. Keep in mind this area looks dirty and drug infested and scary and dirty and there isnt proper signage and it's dirty - you get my drift. We hop on the elevator and take the ride up a few floors without having any idea what we are really getting ourselves into. The doors fly open and whhaaalllaaaaah! Nudity everywhere!!! We stepped off the elevator... our jaws draggin the floor. We are stunned.

The little girl waiting the counter greets us 'Welcome to the World Erotic Art Museum. $15 to enter'. I'm like 'WHAT?!?!?' Seriously. They cannot be charging that much! I look at Richard... he looks at me... I said 'well, let's pay her!' haha 'We're going in!'

I'll share a few of the photos here... most are too graphic to post I think!

Here's the famous Penis bed. Photos of it have been passed arond in emails for year, but we saw it here! On the wall was a serious of photographs and the history of the bed: how it was made and by whom, where, why, etc.

This is a chair. In this picture you can't really tell the details, so I followed up with a few closeup shots so you'd see why it was so intriguing. *giggle*

They wouldnt let us sit in it....

Some of the art was so graphic! Like... the picture of Marilyn Monroe in all her glory! I've never seen a picture of her in that position before....

Easy on the Ice, Please

The big winter storm that the weathermen have been talking about all week hit yesterday morning. I went to work earlier than usual to try to avoid the heavy traffic and so I could head home earlier... again to avoid the heavy traffic. When I left (6:30ish in the am) it was a bit drizzley, but nothing major and about 8:30am, we could hear the sleet hitting the skylight by my office. This is what I saw on my front porch when I got home.

We probably should have been staying inside and avoiding the dangerously slick roads, but I had a hankerin'...

This is where I was headed....

To get me one of these. I had to have a fix... and like the mailman... no rain, sleet or snow will stop me.

Today, we're supposed to get round two of the stuff and I guess tomorrow is round three (which is supposedly going to be worse than round 1).

Sleet City

Though we are not receiving the cruel ice that was predicted, a lovely wintery mix has been falling off and on since yesterday morning and should continue through Sunday. Most of us have hankered down in our cozy nooks as nature displays its vibrant white fireworks. We watch fascinated from our warms enclaves debating whether to brave January’s arsenal or just sit back and enjoy being reclusive hermits.

The Topfive.com’s 20 Bad Suspense Novel Metaphors or Similes

20> Worn down at the edges like a Times Square hooker, the 

    caretaker's last tooth lay on the floor like a yellow Chiclet.

19> When she stepped out of her dress, she had the body of a

    90-year-old nun, if the nun looked as young, attractive,

    and sexy as the dame standing in front of me.

18> The situation had become topsy-turvy -- like Christmas in the

    summer, if you're in Australia.

17> The information imbedded on the stolen computer chip was like

    an explosive so explosive it could explode, creating a massive

    explosion.

16> As I watched through the slatted shades, her bosom bounce like

    her suspicious husband's first check.

15> The killer was a misplaced comma in the jaunty, happy sentence

    that made up the party crowd.

14> His face looked like an ice sculpture.  Not one of those 

    pretty ones in the middle of a cruise ship buffet, but the 

    kind they do in a contest with a chainsaw -- and it had been 

    out in the heat too long.

13> Like any family, this house had its secrets, secrets it grimly

    refused to reveal, and would continue to refuse to reveal even

    if it could speak, which unlike a family, or at least most 

    members of most families, it couldn't. 

12> The air of danger perversely made Nina's nipples harden, 

    like that Magic Shell stuff on a bowl of ice cream.

11> From his vantage point in the balcony, the would-be assassin

    looked down on the debating candidates like a webhead looking 

    down on an AOL user.

10> The sudden darkness made the Countess tense, like Bobby Jerome

    that time with the bicycle in 7th grade, remember?

 9> There was something funny about the kidnapping crime scene

    that Special Agent Frievald couldn't quite place, and the

    thought stuck with him throughout the rest of the day,

    like those tiny little bits of the circumferent skin from

    the bologna slices on a foot-long Subway Cold Cut Trio that 

    get stuck in between the last two molars on the upper left, 

    on the tongue side where you can't possibly reach them with 

    a toothpick, your fingernails, or even a systematically 

    straightened paper clip, they just sit there and make every-

    thing you eat at your next meal taste vaguely like vinegar 

    and mayonnaise, and then somehow -- quietly but miraculously

    -- they disappear by themselves in the middle of the night 

    while you're asleep, just like the visiting Countess appeared

    to have done.

 8> Her parting words lingered heavily inside me like last night's

    Taco Bell.

 7> The bullet burned Gilmore's gut like the first piss after a

    long night in a Singapore brothel.

 6> A single drop of sweat slowly inched down Chad's brow -- 

    a tiny, glistening Times Square New Year's Eve Ball of

    desperation.

 5> His .38 barked fire, like John Goodman's butt after a chili

    cookoff.

 4> Her blazing eyes dance like Astaire and Rogers, but since they

    were crossed, it was an ocular tango, and my eyes had to 

    foxtrot just to maintain eye contact.

 3> She had a voice so husky it could have pulled a dogsled, and

    the gun she was holding gave me a bad case of barrel envy.

 2> The neon sign reflected off his gun, like the moonlight

    reflects off my brother-in-law's bald head after a night

    of beer drinking and cow-tipping.

 1> Unable to contain his rage, he burst like a pimple of emotion,

    the pus of his fury streaking the mirror of calm in the

    bathroom of his life.

Subway... Eat Fresh!

maybe... if they will keep the restaurant open!

Tonite, C and I headed right around the corner to grab a sandwich... walked in the door and immediately this chubby girl (green shirt) said 'we're closed'. No Hello, i'm sorry but we're closed, kiss my foot or nothing! I stopped dead in my tracks and repeated 'you're closed!?' YES! she says. C and I headed back out the front door... I turned and double checked the hours because I knew it couldn't be that late. I just left the gym and it was roughly 8pm. Closing time was clearly posted as 10pm! I noticed the Open sign was off.

We hopped in the MM and sat there discussing our next move. It made no sense that they were closed. There was a guy inside paying for his purchase and it's 8:15pm. A little car zips up next to me and a guy hops out and runs inside. I said 'watch this!' to C and we sat there... watching and waiting. He was all spiffied up like maybe he was the owner or maybe he was an insurance agent. lol Sure as shiat! He walked up and ordered!

Now, my blood is boiling. Chubby girl in green shirt walks over and turns the Open sign on! I turned off the MM and told C 'get out! we're going in!' I waltzed in the front door and very clearly and loudly said 'SO! Are you open or are you closed!?' Chubby girl in red shirt said 'we're open... blah blah blah blah' some explanation about how they had an emergency and she wasnt supposed to be there because she's injured but she's working and someone didnt show or some crap. Basically they were having employee problems and they were just going to close the place down and go home.

C ordered his sandwich and told red shirt girl what he wanted... turkey, cheese, lettuce and tomato... Green shirt girl (very snippy I might add) said 'we don't have any tomatoes'. Red shirt girl (who is somewhat trying to smooth things over) silently went to the back of the store and brought out a whole hand full of sliced tomatoes! I just glared and chubby, irritating, green shirt girl. We paid for our sandwich and two drinks (actually, she gave us one of the drinks free because of the trouble we went through) and headed out the front door. As I jumped in the MM, chubby green shirt girl walked over to the Open sign and turned it off again.!!!

That is the third time I've been in that Subway... and each time something catastrophic has happened with the employees. Its a shame too.. its a brand new Subway, great location, very clean... awesome potential! They are ruining it....

Nothing Major

After a chaotic morning and grabbing lunch with my sweetie in Bricktown, I'm sitting here in my unusually quiet office just listening to the wild Oklahoma wind rip and roar. I have a skylite just right outside my office door, and we are sure that this time it's going to be lifted and taken for a ride. The wind is so strong today... but other than that, its nice outside! The temperature is about 70 degrees and if the wind would die down to nothing (or just a gentle breeze) it would be a perfect day to crawl into a bikini and catch a few rays of sunshine on the back deck.

A complete 180 from what it's supposed to be like late tomorrow. Our weather guy (you choose... whichever one you watch) has been warning us of rain, then ice, then snow beginning late tomorrow afternoon. The temperature will be in the 20's by 6pm tomorrow!!! So... guess that means I'll be house bound (somewhat) this weekend. Besides a basketball game, I guess I'll work on some insurance stuff, maybe work on taxes, watch a movie, clean on my house and hopefully get some time to update the links on our site. I think some of our little blogger friends have just given up and taken a permanent vacation!

Sucky Cingular

Last week when five workdays were compressed into three and everything was building up to the grand climax we here at Chaos College affectionately refer to as ‘hell week,’ I had the added privilege of once again tangling with Ma Bell. Apparently they suffered acute memory loss of our explicit conversation a mere three weeks ago in reference to the downgrading of my cell phone plan. I had overkill in terms of minutes and the bill was killing me. Lo and behold, I checked my account online last week to find a considerably higher charge than expected leaving me a whopping DOLLAR in my checking account when that deduction was subtracted. What generosity! Thanks Cingular!!! Once again I stated my case in clearly understood terms with minimal use of syllables and received the typical runaround for my efforts. Not one to be easily dissuaded, I stubbornly clenched the receiver tightly in my determined hand prepared to wait on hold for as long as it took. It was only when I finally got testy and used the “C” word (cancellation silly, not that other word!) that they “found my notes” from our previous tête-à-tête and agreed to the cheaper plan. They promptly changed the fees to reflect the lesser amount owed and switched me to the plan I wanted thus soothing this irate customer. In talking to others, I’ve gathered Cingular is notorious for making the lowly consumer fight for their rights and this certainly held true in my case. I suggest they not renege on promised changes to this loyal customer ever again or walking papers will be served. *arches brow*

9 Months

Richard,

Today marks our 9 month anniversary! I've always been told that the first year or two is the hardest... and it's been nothing of the sort! We've laughed and had the best time whether it be alone, with family or with friends... even with total strangers! You are a fantastic husband, an outstanding dad, and my very best friend. I thank God that the events in our lives and the highways that we chose to venture down, brought us together. I wouldn't trade any of it!

I love you...

Utter Chaos

Well, to kick start our new semester which began yesterday, we have one of our dwindling IT people missing after having his jaw broke in a bar fight this past weekend. Yes, dear GFR managed to anger some guy in a local dive resulting in a sucker punch to the face and an unplanned emergency trip to the hospital. He had surgery yesterday and won’t be gracing our hallowed halls this week and possibly not the next. I left work yesterday with a tremendous headache and though I know the drill for the first insane week, I am already having to psyche myself up just to arrive here. To add to the fun, our think tank, (aka quiet place to get away from it all and hide), er, upstairs ladies potty is out of order and we are forced to make the extended trek downstairs to use the general public bathroom. I found myself sharing cramped space with Psycho and Water Buffalo this morning. Yikes! Also, we went to portals on our website and the students have no clue that the hyperlink to get their demographics is now at the bottom of the page as opposed to the top. This has created an untenable situation and generated frantic calls and mass confusion. *sigh* I would love to give you the longer version of my day but the natives are restless and work and everyone else under god’s freekin' creation is calling me. Ciao for now. :)

For Better or For Worse

I try to drag my new camera around with me everywhere I go (forgot it at TGIFridays when I needed it to get a picture of the chocolate chip in the ice) and so I took it to the wedding on Saturday to get some snapshots. I grabbed extra batteries 'just in case' and as my luck would have it, I got to the wedding and before the dang thing even started my batteries started flashing 'low'... and i went to grab for my new ones and realized i'd grabbed the old ones! So, I spent the entire wedding, rationing precious battery time. I snapped pics as fast as i could and shut the camera off. I got a ton of good shots though... i'll share a few here.

Richard finally dressed and ready to go... I fixed his crooked bow tie after the picture ;)

The wedding party. Her dress was white with black stitching and the accent color was red. The entire thing had a 20's feel to it.

One of the kiddos took this picture of us at the reception.

When the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon, most (or they used to) have rice thrown, Dale and Judy had bottles of bubbles. The only thing is, by the time they got ready to leave... everyone else had already left. It was Richard and I and about 4 other kids (and a couple of adults stuck inside) that got about 100 bottles of bubbles to play with. The big kids had the most fun.... as you can see. :)

This kiddo was chasing me and trying to blow bubbles on me. I stopped and turned... armed only with my new camera... and started snapping pictures. This one turned out really well I think!

An Extra Shot of....

Last night P and I met my sister at the mall to hit some of the after Christmas sales and to celebrate our purchases we decided to throw back a margarita (and a martini) at TGIFridays. P sat quietly coloring a picture while we laughed and whooped it up... round two of the drinks came out and Sis gasped for air and said 'what is this!' - while digging around in her drink with her straw. I was thinking 'it's a lime, you doh-doh head!' lol

She reached in (with sanitized fingers i'm sure) and pulled out an ice cube and said to our little waitress (who was as cute as a button and had the most wonderful sparkling personality flare) 'that is a chocolate chip in my ice cube!'

We busted up laughing. The little waitress girl laughed, but with shock. Sis handed her the cube and we all inspected it. I told her it was a rat turd... she insisted it was a chocolate chip. This all sparked the interest of P... who now wanted to keep the ice cube because, you know... that is 'cool'. She offered to bring P a whole bowl full of chocolate chips (probably trying to smooth all this over but we were laughing at it... was no big deal). She brought P a glass full of chocolate chips and they were frozen. So apparently they keep chips (for dessert) in the freezer and somehow one little lone chip got loose... it was the funniest thing!

I wish I'd had my camera...

Nothing in Particular other than TGIF

I'm so happy it's Friday!!! Although this week was a short week, it's been long and hard. Alot of projects happening at work and with people off on vacation, having babies, sick, etc... trying to help with their work and keep up on my own is tiresome.

We don't have much on tap for the weekend. We have a wedding in Tulsa tomorrow and massages scheduled for sunday - gosh I love those! I actually had purchased a massage for Richard, but he wants me to tag along so he scheduled me one too! C is going for foot reflexology.... we'll see how that goes. He's pretty excited about that too. He complains that his feet hurt... probably all that soccer ball kicking and basketball playing that he does!

I think i'm going to spend this afternoon googling Europe. We are itching for another trip (it's been a whole few months since Florida and a whole year since the cruise!) and i've asked my sis and a friend of hers if they'd like to go, so I guess I better get some info together. C and P have been asking about deep sea fishing... another cruise... anything. I think they are really beginning to like travel. I love it!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

"I'm No Superman"

I know this witty showed has aired for several seasons but I have just recently become a staunch aficionado of the ever popular Scrubs and remain glued to the TV between 6 and 7 pm most Monday through Fridays in a vain attempt to play catch-up. Well written, often hilarious, and possessing a well-rounded, talented cast, I revel in its strong writing and relevant themes. While JD is fantastic as the playful soul and spokesman for the show, I do have my more mature preferences. So here goes, my two favorite characters on this stellar addition to prime time viewing.

Carla (Judy Reyes) is the raven-haired caring, responsible beauty. I was thrilled she married the man of her dreams (Turk) because if anyone deserves happiness, it’s her. But by far, my favorite individual is the surly Dr. Perry Cox (John McGinley). OMG, can you say hot with me? It’s not so much his physical looks which are pretty much so-so, but rather he epitomizes the ballsy, no-holds-barred, wry, witty, tell-it-like-it-is sarcastic personality whose sharp, pithy retorts cut to the very quick. His sparkling verbal banter wins me over in spades. Even his predilection for dark-haired Medusas (aka Jordan and the aggressive nurse he dated) fail to deter me from adding him to my male wish list.

“The actor won a new set of fans when he was cast as the creatively insulting, professionally demanding but far from heartless Dr. Perry Cox on the NBC sitcom "Scrubs" (2001- ), a role that would prove defining in the actor's career by providing a showcase for his diverse comedic and dramatic skills.”

Underneath his scratchy exterior beats the heart of human who endured a rough childhood and rarely lets the audience or anyone else glimpse his soft underbelly. Only caring Carla possesses the magic words to tame this wild beast. Long live the mortal saints treading the halls of Sacred Heart Hospital.

A Few More Notes and Pictures

I danced with Richard... if that's what you call this. I think I was really just messing around and click-happy sister took a picture.
Sis told Dawna and I to growl and be Lions... OBVIOUSLY only one of us listens to directions!
They all complained because I kept sneezing (you can see my poor red eyes here) and snotting around... and eventually they said "put a cork in it!" So, I did.
I am so lucky to be married to this wonderful man. He tolerates my crazy ways so well. He says i'm 'fun'. I think its just that I keep him laughing and wondering what's next! We have a good time! (Thanks sweetie, and Happy New Year to you!)

A New Years Eve Story (clean version)

The Beads. They become important as the night goes on...

Flying high on DayQuil and Sudafed, I got all spiffied up to spend the night celebrating with my hubbie, my absolute dearest friend Fowler, my hot sister and her twin (who isn't related to me but they might as well be twins... cuz that a whole other story) and 100 of our other closest friends.

Me, Richard and Fowler. I love their baby blues! I am a very lucky girl!

My sister and her twin showed up... showin the man some lovins right here!

Apparently, Richard was really funny that night because they were totally cracking up... and I missed it. I was either taking the picture, dancing or....

... being coerced into taking a crotch shot of a girl because they wanted a picture. I just got a hiney shot. Maybe that was what they were laughing at... because I took the picture. hmmm

We aren't dancing here... thats a whole other set of pictures. I think he was trying to rewrap the beads for me. He told me I wasnt cooperating... and I quote "you keep squirming around and won't be still!"

While fiddling around with the beads I looked just over Richards shoulder and I saw boobs! Two girls were flashing their boobage and dancing around. OMG. I stood there gasping for air and scrambling for my camera and we all gawked.... One of the girls looked straight at me, smiled and started moving towards me - boobs all in my face. She danced and jiggled... This must be a pic of me looking at her. lol

I told her there was no way I was going to do that... she said 'NO! I show you and then you give me a string of beads!" okie... So I hung a string around her neck and I got the biggest hug :) hehe Richard said "why is it always you!" hahahahhahaah I dont know....

So after my boobie experience.... I partied on. I posed for pictures with people that had no idea who I was, I didnt know them and even some of them had no idea they were posing for a picture with me (see lady above who is either screaming at Fowler, or singing along with the DJ, or in some sort of pain. Gas pains maybe?!)

All this while on cold meds.... there are alot more pictures but that would take pages of posts to show all those! lol

Dagnabit!

Is this flippin' Blogger having issues again!? I will not let me upload pictures!!!! *ugly frown face inserted here*

Just a Taste

In between chatting online with my sis, answering emails and helping anyone and everyone that runs in here to talk to me.. I have managed to resize all my pictures so now I can dig through them and post the ones I want (can) share. However, now it's too late. I'm on drugs (fighting the cold still) and so i'm fixing to go curl up in my cozy bed and shove my cold toes behind Richards knees to help warm them up. My goal is tomorrow night... post pics! whooohooo!

New Year Begins with a Blow

I've started the new year off with a real bang!

I've got a cold.

For weeks I have managed to avoid the cooties that have floated the airways in my office area. Everyone here has been sick - coughing and snotting around. I've done my best to dodge the germs but over Christmas break my sweet lovie caught a cootie bug and was a bit under the weather. I'm guessing that what happened is... at night, when I wasnt looking, one of his cootie bugs crawled off him and bit me in the butt because when I woke up New Years Eve morning, I felt like poo-poo.

I was determined to carry on with our New Years Eve plans, so I drugged up and went full speed ahead. I got my hair colored, we loaded up C, P and Z (friend) and headed to Bricktown where we ate and went Snowtubing, we rented movies and later Richard and I met some friends for some fun times and boobies (not mine... and that story comes later).

I didn't notice my aches and pains so much while out whooopin and hollerin', but New Years Day I woke to have the worst headache, runny nose and congestion and the all over just poopy feeling. I laid around the house and tried to take care of myself. I downed gallons of water and had a big hit of diet coke along with DayQuil, Sudafed, Motrin and tons of vitamins.

Today, I need to be in bed. Why in the world did I try to come to work? It really makes no sense... I'm here breathing all over the people that have had it and have gotten rid of it (or still trying)... and I'll probably just reinfect them and it will all cycle over again.

Makes perfect sense.

New Years Pictures will come later... i'm still editing :)

Boys Don't Make Passes...

One thing I learned early in life was the paramount importance of possessing golden locks and lacking horrid glasses. This harsh revelation came about early in life for me in the second grade. Danny, a handsome charmer, had an overwhelming proclivity for yellow tresses and I most certainly fit the bill. I still remember his loud declaration of ‘loving blondes’ as he chased me and other flaxen-haired females around the playground at recess. I was in ‘sought after heaven’ the entire year as my natural attributes held his rapt attention and obvious approval, but oh what a difference a year can make! The lofty heights of second grade were closely followed by the depths of third grade despair as my looks went to hell in a handbasket. Much to my chagrin, my alluring mane had the audacity to darken to a disgusting mousy brown and my eyesight plummeted to fuzzy, nearsighted blobs on the overhead thus sealing my fate as a four-eyed geek. My physical failings paralleled my dismal failure to hold Danny’s interest any longer and other cuties now held his male attention. From the ashes of my abject misery rose the steadfast resolution to regain my rightful title as blonde princess. Years past as I endured the awkward prepubescent era of shapeless skinny bod topped off with a hideous thick, brown mop and pop-bottle specks, but eventually the day dawned when the glasses were replaced with glorious contacts and peroxide application lightened the dark tresses. Slowly but surely I transformed into a late blooming teenage goddess pursued by the male admirers I had long coveted. Though not yet a ravishing blonde, dear Danny’s gaze once again swiveled in my direction in our junior year and he asked me out. I declined. No, it was not out of spiteful revenge but rather a lack of interest on my part that precipitated that gracious refusal. Not long thereafter I did morph to flowing saffron-hued tresses and have never looked back. Blonde suits me and always has. And though I no long have a knee jerk revulsion for spectacles, I still prefer contacts and wear them whenever I leave the house. The days of that callous discovery have long past but the girl I was will forever have etched in her memory banks what it truly takes to charm and intrigue a guy. Funny how ancient lessons are never truly forgotten...

Happy New Year!

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN KEEP

Are you sick of making the same resolutions year after year that you never keep? Why not promise to do something you can actually accomplish? Here are some resolutions that you can use as a starting point:

1. Gain weight. At least 30 pounds.

2. Stop exercising. Waste of time.

3. Read less. Makes you think.

4. Watch more TV. I've been missing some good stuff.

5. Procrastinate more. Starting tomorrow.

6. Not date any of the Baywatch cast.

7. Spend more time at work, surfing with the T1.

8. Take a vacation to someplace important: like, to see the largest ball of twine.

9. Not jump off a cliff just because everyone else did.

10. Stop bringing lunch from home: I should eat out more.

11. Not have eight children at once.

12. Get in a whole NEW rut!

13. Start being superstitious.

14. Personal goal: bring back disco.

15. Not wrestle with Jesse Ventura.

16. Not bet against the Minnesota Vikings.

17. Buy an '83 Eldorado and invest in a really loud stereo system.

18. Get the windows tinted. Buy some fur for the dash.

19. Speak in a monotone voice and only use monosyllabicwords.

20. Only wear jeans that are 2 sizes too small and use a chain or rope for a belt.

21. Spend my summer vacation in Cyberspace.

22. Not eat cloned meat.

23. Create loose ends.

24. Get more toys.

25. Get further in debt.

26. Not believe politicians.

27. Break at least one traffic law.

28. Not drive a motorized vehicle across thin ice.

29. Avoid transmission of inter-species diseases.

30. Avoid airplanes that spontaneously drop 1000 feet.

31. Stay off the MIR space station.

32. Not worry that the Y2K bug will cause the end of the world.

33. Get wired with high-speed net connections at home.

34. Not swim with pirhanas or sharks.

35. Associate with even worse business clients.

36. Spread out priorities beyond my ability to keep track of them.

37. Wait around for opportunity.

38. Focus on the faults of others.

39. Mope about my faults.

40. Never make New Year's resolutions again.

Hair of the Dog

Good Morning blog readers! This is my first post for 2007 and I thought it would be very fitting to start with some hangover advice and information. I'll save my story and pictures for later.

If you gotten up this morning and found yourself in a situation where your head is throbbing, your mouth is dry and you have the all over aches... you might have a bit of a hangover. To help remedy the problem...

Rehydrate. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after consuming alcohol.

Eat. Eating helps decrease the absorption of alcohol systemically. Eating salty foods will also help the body retain fluids. (I once knew a guy from Denmark who swore that he never had a hangover because he took a teaspoon of table salt after a long night of drinking. Be warned - this remedy is not verified!)

Replace Vitamin B. Brits and anglophiles swear by a product called Berocca which is a fizzy tablet like Alka-Seltzer that contains high amounts of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C. Berocca is not available in the U.S. currently, but a similar product, called Emergen-C is available.

Choose your poison. Some drinks give you worse hangovers than others. Clear liquor like vodka and gin are lower in congeners (alcohol impurities) because of the filtering process involved. Fewer congeners mean a lower risk of hangover.

Good New Years Day to you!

Departing From Gate ‘06

Greetings blog nation! Yes, once again the annual cycle has completed its customary circuit and we close turbulent 2006. I believe I mentioned that I rarely write down resolutions anymore but I most certainly keep an aspiration list in my head. As usual, it contains both spiritual and physical goals and finishes up with the heartfelt desire to become a kinder, gentler human being who treats others as she wishes to be treated. Musing and contemplation are good, right? I try to forgive the past and look forward to the future so that is what I shall do. I hope to keep each and every one of you abreast of sorrows and joys in the coming year and always be there for you, our precious readers, should the need arise. My favorite part of this time of year is not the remembrance past but the clean slate and fresh start. My new calendars are ready to launch and a sparkling, pristine planner awaits the anticipated jump into 2007. My fervent prayer is all of you share it with me. So let’s start these new beginnings by sharing my delicious zucchini appetizers and chilled Chardonnay, shall we? ;)

Love always,
Circe

May All the Blah blah blah... blah blah

Happy New Year!

Everyone be safe and I hope your start for the New Year is a good one!

I'm nursing a cold (what I thought was allergies is now a cold) but I'm tough and we're heading out with some friends. Best wishes to y'all!

Sit and Spin My Friend

Ever since I've known Richard he's had a squeakie computer desk chair. The back on it was loose or something and it would wobble around and made noises that drove me (and him) nuts. He's never really made a big scene about wanting to replace it, but he did mention one time that he'd like a new one - he'd had this chair for many moons... ever since college. When we moved this summer, he did suggest that maybe one day he would get a new chair.

Considering his computer is in our bedroom, I found the nicest most comfortable brown leather chair that works with our decor and is comfy on the ole hiney when spending hours writing code and/or surfing. He was completely surprised! His gift was one of the first ones under the tree, and everyone was baffled as to what it could have been. (I think at one point they might have thought I got them an Xbox 360. HAHAHAH)

I think he was and is happy with his chair... he had big smiles while putting it together!
Here I was testing the timer on my camera. It works.
After it was all complete, I sat down and took the chair for a spin. Literally. Richard snapped glamour shots while I played.
I couldn't think of a title for this post and the first thing that came to mind was Rosie saying "Donald, sit and spin my friend... sit and spin". lol

Informed Decisions

Brown's fan vs Steelers' fan









Ker sent me this one...
Browns vs. Steelers - You make the decision!

First Christmas Story

After all of our gifts were open, Richard handed me my stocking. I began digging things out of it... opening and inspecting each item. You know how you do when you think something is empty, but you shove your hand down into it just to make sure you got it all... well I did that... and found a piece of paper.

I unfolded it and found this note:
So I run to inspect the TV... nothing... so I slide the doors open to reveal the top and there is a package wrapped in bright red paper.
Baby girl got a new digital camera!!! whooohooo! Mine went completely belly up a few weeks ago and i've been shopping around. Santa brought me a new one!
I've been testing out the different options and settings so bare with me if the pictures might not be so great. I'm testing. If they are wonderful, I definitely took them with my new camera!

The story is... a week or so before Christmas, Richard and I looked at camera's and he took notes on which one(s) I liked. That very day he ran out and purchased it for me. He knew (because I am so extremely smart) that if he wrapped it and put it under the tree, i'd know immediately what I got. So he and C plotted and planned against me. C told him to hide it on the shelf above the tv... because i'd never look there. If I watch tv, the doors will be open which will hide the package - and the odds of me dusting are dang near zero... so it was safe.

My Santa present had been looking at me for an entire week before the big day! Richard sat down at his computer to come up with something creative to get me to the gift... and he came up with 'On the last day of Christmas my true love gave to me... something above the tv'.

He rocks!

MIA Culpa

Yes my darlings, I’m alive and well in Okiedokieville! Sorry for the lack of posts but being home this past 1 ½ weeks has meant a) intensive cleaning b) excessive cooking/baking and c) fam, fam, and more fam visits and d) rare fleeting moments of computer time as TBC is always underfoot and my preshus shared online journal is our dirty little secret. (shhh!)

Though very much enjoying my time off from Chaos College the down side has been eating, A LOT of eating and fear of hopping on the scales as I shudder to think of the extra poundage I have recklessly incurred in my wild orgiastic munchfests. It doesn’t help having a broken treadmill sitting forlornly gathering dust in the utility room of all places. I really must either get it fixed or replaced as this situation is downright intolerable in my book. I know I have many tales to regale you with but it’s late and I heard an alarming crash in the kitchen. I think Oreo or Snickers has sent some dinnerware to a splintery death. However, I did want to stop in and say hi, give you my Circe love, and promise some sappy New Year’s post where I tell you how appreciative I am of your supportive patronage and regular reading. And I/we very much am/are. :) Hope your holiday was everything you hoped for and more and I’ll post again later this week, k?

hugs and eggnog kisses,
circe

One Special Picture

I'm going through all the pictures we took over Christmas... and I notice this picture. I'm all into the boys opening their gifts... HE is all into my butt bent over the coffee table.

More on Britney

SPEARS TO LEAK HER OWN SEX TAPE?

BRITNEY SPEARS is reportedly planning to leak a tape of her having sex with KEVIN FEDERLINE in a bid to stop her estranged husband from profiting from their Honeymoon movie. Celebrity porn merchant DAVID HANS SCHMIDT has already offered $100 million (GBP55 million) to a man claiming to have a digital copy of the sex tape. But the TOXIC singer is considering leaking the 45-minute film on the internet in a move which would make all copies worthless. Her close friend and confidante NYLA PRICE tells British newspaper the Daily Star, "Brit figures she'll beat that sucker to the punch. Half of nothing is nothing, and that's what her lying skank of a husband will get if she gives that video away before he can find some sleazeball to buy it."

Way to go, Brit! Beat him to his own punch. If there is one (movie), it's going to get out one way or another... so you might as well throw it out there before scumballnastysmellyskank has an opportunity to make a dime from it. Even if he does sell it, she can make it available prior to when 'whoever buys it' can get it released and make any mooolah from it.

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas!

I hope Santa brings you everything that was on your list.... and be safe!

The Sweetest Things

I love this man...

This morning, he leaned over the side of the couch, told me I was beautiful, gave me a kiss and headed off to work. I peeled my butt up and staggered to the kitchen for a glass of water and then to our bathroom to pee where I noticed this note.

One of the greatest things I've ever done is marry him..... its these little things that make me melt for him all over again.

You're Fired!

I have never really been a fan of Rosie O nor have I particularly liked Donald Trump... however he fascinates me and he does say/do some good things and you gotta hand it to him.... he makes shitloads of mooolah!

I was heartbroken when I heard that she was joining The View. I didn't think she was the right mix for the show and then when all the crap went down with Star Jones... and Barbara choosing Rosie over Star... well then I really got to paying attention. Not because I like them... but because I wanted to see the fur fly when the time came. The whole time Rosie has been on the show, she has caused problems with the cute little blonde and then last week I saw a blip where she peeved Barbara off over some comments concerning Barbara's lifestyle and luxury apartment. Now, she's tackling Donald.

Who does she think she is? She thinks that she is over and above everyone... and to even think she can tango with him is assinine. I hope he chews her up and spits her out. I watched the video on CNN this morning and heard it all over the radio... the slams that each of them were making. He made some good points. She was out of line to say what she said on the show about any bankrupcy and about his appearance.. and to attack him personally was uncalled for very unprofessional.

Did she really expect him not to come back at her personally? Her show was a flop and she isnt a pretty person at all. Inside or out. Anyone who would attack like she does (and not just him) isn't a nice person...

He can be very cutting also. I've watched many many many of The Apprentice, but he is by far more professional than she ever dreamed of!

A Car Haunting

You aren't going to believe this story... but it's true!

Here goes....

It was in the forecast for our area to get quite a bit of rain yesterday and possibly today. As luck would have it, it didnt start pouring until about 5 o'clock rush. After work, I had to rush home (rush means go about 1/2 the speed because everyone tends to drive slower and crazier when the weather is weathering) get Richard, C and P and head south about 50 miles for a little Christmas visit.

By the time we grabbed some dinner and loaded up in the MM, it was dark and the rain was dumping on us pretty good. It was hard enough to use the embarrassingly fast wiper speed! I toodled along... making my way through the residential areas to get to the highway. I followed a few cars through the stop light and onto the entrance ramp to the 8 lane highway where we should have been picking up speed so we could all get on this raceway.... but we were toodling along at a snails pace. Regardless of the rain, we can still reach a decent driving speed - there was no need to creep! The car in front of me refused to accelerate and proceeded to enter the highway at a whopping 40mph or so. A speed that could prove to be deadly because the traffic is sailing at double that (on a normal day).

On this rainy night, everyone was cruising about 60-65mph. When I had access to another lane, I accelerated into the next lane and went around the doh-doh head that was holding everyone back.

Richard said... (and I am not making this up, Egan!) "look, its a black Lexus"!!!

Sure enough! It wasn't the same one that stalks the mall... but it was a black Lexus.

AND I dreamed about Pythons last night. What is up with all that!?

7 Undies for 7 Days

I've been thinking about stocking stuffers for the boys. Richard in particular has been really hard for me to find things for.... for some strange reason. Well, I can think of things... but nothing I want him to open in front of other people!

At lunch I heard something on the radio and it hit me! I can get him Days of the Week undies! I remember those from when I was a iddy bitty wittle girl. They didn't make undies that said 'hot' or 'precious' or 'delicious' when I was a kid. They made Days of the Week undies or we wore under-roos... or just plain ol pink or white ones.

Now....... to find said item will be a chore. I'm pretty positive they arent at the mall!

Parking Lot Rage

Avoid the mall at all cost.

People are everywhere and that one chick driving the black Lexus with her unruley blonde pony tail, screaming kid in the back, and clueless mother/in-law riding shotgun will totally piss you off because she can't drive worth crap. Obviously got her driver's license at a second hand store where they teach (or dont) you to not understand the proper use of a stop sign and when you should be done stopping and finally GO already! and then to take your own flipping sweet time to turn the corner only to straddle both lanes - keeping everyone from being able to go and make the next light!

Yes, she will piss you off.