I have Cat Scratch Fever. It's not just a song, it's a real thing, but it's not serious. It's Cornflake's handiwork-- thus upholding his reputation as the "dirty kitty" (he keeps himself clean but he loves to make a mess). He usually doesn't have his claws out when we play, but sometimes he'll get a quick scratch in. I'm usually pretty vigilant about getting the peroxide out if I get scratched, but I missed it this time-- lesson learned. 
Cat Scratch Fever
Got a feel for my automobile
HOORAY!
Since I'm crummy at updating, many of you may not have known that I've been taking the bus to work for about, oh, 3 months. THREE MONTHS. It was getting old, let me tell you. Due to some boring and tedious circumstances I won't go into, neither my nor John's car were drivable the past few months. But now John's car is fixed, and I was able to drive to work today. It will be so nice to have my independence back, and not be at the mercy of Metro Transit's routes and schedules.
The bus wasn't terrible --I did enjoy being able to sleep on my way to work-- but it is definitely not my preferred method of transportation. Especially as the afternoon driver on my route must have paid someone off in order to get his job: the man cannot drive. He is by far the worst bus driver I've ever had. Sometimes I would work late just to avoid having to risk my life by riding his route.
In other news, I started working part time at the video store by my apartment in the beginning of October. The neighborhood the store is in is a bit "different", and we get some interesting (read: crazy) people in the store. I also discovered that the most annoying question to ask a video store clerk is: "Is this movie good?" Why is that the most annoying question? Because it presupposes that I've seen every damn movie in the store! No, sorry, I haven't seen Gwendoline but I'm sure it's greeeaaat...
I'm proud to say that I voted...
in the Best CNN Poll EVER:
CNN Quick Vote
Heather Mills: Should she just shut up already?
Yes 94%
No 6%
Fight Malaria!
I love this campaign because it's straight forward and simple: buy nets, save lives.
http://www.nothingbutnets.net/
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match your donation, net for net. Nets can prevent malaria transmission by 50 %. To learn more, check out the site-- and tell others!
Substance
If you have five minutes to spare, this should be read-- and the man it references, Michael Yon, has an excellent site:
hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/645fe332-765f-4ee4-940c-5819a72c2d44
Babies Are Not Like Pets
This is objectionable on so many levels, I don't even know where to start...
Just Let the Brows Do All the Work
HA! I just read this post on Go Fug Yourself-- (read my post from earlier today first to make more sense of this...)Whit, this is for you/us:
And how can they kill off John Black on Days Of Our Lives while he's wrapped in head bandages, thus giving us no time to say a proper goodbye to Drake Hogestyn's Irresistably Incredibly Incomprehensibly Amazing Eyebrow of Shock/Terror/Amusement/Boredom/Vengefulness/Arousal? I mean, talk about a fugly thing to do, NBC. If we don't get a cocked-brow montage by the time John draws his last breath, I am going to... sit here and think unpleasant thoughts for five minutes before catching up on Bionic Woman. TRUST ME, YOU DON'T WANT THAT. And, frankly, neither do I -- Bionic Woman is terrible.
Do you guys know how many laughs Whit and I got out of that eyebrow? It cheered us in our darkest hour...
Not Much
I am just sick of seeing that last post when I pop onto this page, so I'm updating just so I don't have to look at that post anymore.
On Monday I didn't feel well (I'll spare you the details) but stayed at work, but on Tuesday morning when I woke up I still felt icky, so I stayed home. I watched daytime tv, including that old favorite of mine, Days of Our Lives. John Black is on his deathbed, after getting hit by a car. Apparently Stefano is back (for the 1,000,000th time) and it's all his doing. There was some super dramatic "acting" by the actor that plays John Black-- he must be one of the cheesiest actors ever. Good times. I also got to see Martha, and found out Rachel Ray has a talk show: gross. I do not enjoy her personality or fugly face. I shut her off and took a nap.
In other news, I started a part time job at the Hollywood Video by my house. The first shift was a nightmare, but every one after that has been good. I get free rentals, so that's awesome. Apparently my store has the biggest selection in the state, so pretty much anything you can think of, I can rent it for free.
Otherwise, not too much going on. Cornflake has an appointment to get neutered on Oct 26th...can't wait! It was supposed to happen in November but I moved it up-- he's naughty enough, he doesn't need the extra testosterone to help him out.
I was born in small town
On Saturday, I went up north with my mom to help clean out the lake house before winter. On the way there, we passed Onamia, and my mom told me a story.
One of my dad’s friends, Kenny, is from Onamia, and he used to drive to Princeton every day to get to work.
One morning, he sees a naked man in middle of the highway, on the grassy area that divides the lanes. Kenny stops to see if the man needs help, thinking that maybe he was robbed and beaten up and then stranded, naked.
He pulls up to the man and says “Hey buddy, is everything okay?” and the man says “Yeah, but I need a ride to Princeton,” and Kenny says “alright” since he was going that way.
On the way, Kenny asks the man what happened to his clothes, and the man says “Oh, the devil was chasing me, so I took off all my clothes so he wouldn’t recognize me.”
Kenny drops the guy off in Princeton. That morning, my mom was at work and just happened to be near the front window of the store she worked at, and sees a man running down the street (still naked). When my dad came home from work that day, first thing he says is “Oh man, today Kenny picked up Rick, and he was naked!” and my mom says, “Yeah, I saw him running down the street!” Turns out the naked guy was a guy they knew (small town) and poor guy has some mental issues.
This, my friends, is the kind of stuff I missed out on since we moved away from Princeton when I was five.
Congratulations!
Kerri and Justin welcomed their son to the world this morning! I am so excited and happy for them.
Back when Kerri and I shared an office, we'd talk about how one day we'd be mommies, and we'd look back at that job and laugh. Can't wait to join you in Mommydom, Kerri, but until then, I will thoroughly enjoy your mommy stories and baby pictures (cannot wait for the baby pictures!!!) 
Second Most Wonderful Time of the Year
My favorite time of the year is Christmastime (my definition of Christmastime begins the day after Thanksgiving and lasts through New Years). My second favorite time: State Fair time! The State Fair closes out summer and heralds my favorite season, Fall. Soon it will be cool enough to wear sweatshirts (God I hate summer clothes!) and jeans everywhere, but not so cold that you can't still wear flip flops. It's the Best!
The Fair is the one place where I can stuff my face with all kinds of treats and not feel an ounce of guilt. In fact, I only feel remorse if I forget to eat something that's on my list. Roasted corn: you're number one on The List.
Here's a picture from last year's trip to the Fair. Maybe one of these lil' guys grew up to be the Biggest Pig in Minnesota! :)
Germs are invisible, but they are there!
There was a gum wrapper on the floor of the bathroom stall I visited at lunch. I have never been struck by the immediate need for fresh breath while in a bathroom stall. And if such a need did strike, the very fact that I am in a bathroom stall would prevent me from putting anything in my mouth-- you have to touch gum to put it in your mouth, and that, my friends, is just gross, considering that you have probably touched the handle of the stall door to lock yourself in. Think about what the person that touched the handle before you had just been doing. Now, does gum seem like a good idea?
I'm still kind of freaked out
about the bridge collapsing, but everyone I know is okay.
Also, somehow I chose the most ill fitting pair of underwear I own out of my drawer this morning. I'm considering making a trip to Target on my lunch break to obtain a new pair, just so I can have the satisfaction of tossing this pair in the trash. I had no idea they were so uncomfortable until I was well on my way to work. Lunch cannot come soon enough
Schedule Change...
I've been debating this in my head for weeks, and have finally come to a decision.
After about a year of working 1030-7, I've decided to change to 8-430...
There are pros and cons for each shift, but I need a change. So, now I'll be getting up early and dealing with traffic, BUT, I will get home at a reasonable time OR be able to go shopping/run errands after work.
That's my big announcement. I realize it's pretty boring. I really don't have much else new going on, though.
I do have a picture of Cornflake getting ready to run around with a cup on his head, though.
Enjoy!
I'd rather be "fat" than vindictive
I read this in the miscellaneous section jkrowling's website (jkrowling.com), and it is not Harry Potter related-- I was quite surprised and pleased to find these words of wisdom... I'll repost a condensed version here (my favorite part):
'"Fat" is usually the first insult a girl throws at another girl when she wants to hurt her,' I said; I could remember it happening when I was at school, and witnessing it among the teenagers I used to teach. Nevertheless, I could see that to him, a well-adjusted male, it was utterly bizarre behaviour, like yelling 'thicko!' at Stephen Hawking.
His bemusement at this everyday feature of female existence reminded me how strange and sick the 'fat' insult is. I mean, is 'fat' really the worst thing a human being can be? Is 'fat' worse than 'vindictive', 'jealous', 'shallow', 'vain', 'boring' or 'cruel'? Not to me; but then, you might retort, what do I know about the pressure to be skinny? I'm not in the business of being judged on my looks, what with being a writer and earning my living by using my brain...
I went to the British Book Awards that evening. After the award ceremony I bumped into a woman I hadn't seen for nearly three years. The first thing she said to me? 'You've lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw you!'
'Well,' I said, slightly nonplussed, 'the last time you saw me I'd just had a baby.'
What I felt like saying was, 'I've produced my third child and my sixth novel since I last saw you. Aren't either of those things more important, more interesting, than my size?' But no – my waist looked smaller! Forget the kid and the book: finally, something to celebrate!
The trouble is, when you say "well, yeah! I'd rather be "fat" than, say, vindictive, or bitter, the retort is "well, of course you'd say that, you're fat, hahahahaha" It's hard to actually believe it, but who you actually are has so very little to do with your physical appearance. You are more than the size of your waist, you are the choices you make. And while some choices may regard what to eat for breakfast, and you may chose a cookie, when you could have chosen yogurt, the much more important choice regards how you chose to treat people.
I Miss My Book!
It was so nice to be in a quite apartment, with a good book to read and a few days off from work.
Harry Fever!
So, about 11 and a half hours to go until the book is released. Everyone at work is asking me what my plans are for tonight. I haven't decided yet. John volunteered to get wrist band and then go back to the store and buy the book... I think it might be mayhem, though, and I wouldn't want him to have to go through that. I think I would like to go to a release party somewhere (probably Barnes) and then just leave around 11 or so, before any one can ruin the ending.
What I'm looking forward to finding out:
What really happened on the tower between Snape and Dumbledore in Half Blood Prince... there was that mysterious snippet of conversation between them earlier in the book that will have to be revisited, and that will shed some light on what really happened, and if Snape is indeed good or evil (or neither?)
How Dumbledore will speak to Harry again...will it be his portrait? Will Harry see more of Dumbledore's memories through the penseive?
What the significance of Harry having Lily's eyes is. I have a half baked theory-- in Snape's Worst Memory, Lily is the only one who sticks up for Snape. Maybe he liked her? She sticks up for him, and is excellent at making potions, like him (although he did call her a mudblood). Maybe he hated James so much because he married Lily? And maybe at some pivotal moment, Snape looks at Harry, and instead of seeing James, like he always does, he sees Lily, in Harry's eyes. Or not. But in some way, Harry having Lily's eyes will be important-- like, save his life important.
The two way mirror Sirius gave Harry. Where's the other half? It has to be useful, why else would it have been introduced to the plot?
Wormtail owes Harry a life debt... how will he repay him?
What is Harry's power that the Dark Lord knows not? It seems agreed upon that it is his capacity for love, despite everything that has happened to him. How does this help him defeat Voldemort? And at what cost to Harry?
Utah!
So, it's been a gazillion years since I've been to Utah for a visit, and I finally was able to book my tickets today...Hooray!!
And some that die deserve life
A coworker of mine passed away this past Saturday, quite suddenly and unexpectedly. She was 24.
Many people have been consoling themselves with thoughts that she is in a better place, and those types of things.
I'm sure that is true.
But it also seems trite. She was young and sweet and beautiful, and I'm sure given the choice, she'd have chosen to continue her journey on this plane for quite a bit longer.
There is no fairness or meaning to her death-- it wasn't "her time" and it wasn't part of any plan, it just is.
At work, there is still laughing, and people complaining about work issues. Everyone was upset this morning, to be certain, but if you walked in here right now, you wouldn't necessarily know that a co-worker just passed away.
And what I am left with is the thought that our own life means the very most to only us, an idea that can be both formidable and empowering.
Headphones...preventing rampage killings since 1910
Every morning, someone I work with buys a bag of chips, then proceeds to inhale the contents as fast and and loud as she can. I honestly don't think I could eat that loud if I tried.
Happy 4th of July!
This comes from the Medved Memo, which is written by Michael Medved and goes out every Friday. I thought it was perfect and wanted to share it with you guys:
On July 2, 1776, after long and wrenching debate, the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from the Mother Country and the next night John Adams went back to his rooming house in sweltering, sticky Philadelphia to write, by candlelight, perhaps the most famous letter in American history. Addressing his beloved wife Abigail in far-away Boston, he exulted in the birth of a new nation:
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.
You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these states. Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means. And that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even although we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not...
It may be the will of Heaven that America will suffer calamities still more wasting, and distress yet more dreadful. If this is to be the case, it will have this good effect at least. It will inspire us with many virtues which we have not, and correct many errors, follies and vices which threaten to disturb, dishonor and destroy us. The furnace of afflication produces refinement, in States as well as individuals...But I must submit all my hopes and fears to an overruling Providence, in which, unfashionable as the faith may be, I firmly believe.
The prophetic nature of his vision still makes the heart race and takes the breath away, some 231 years later. Predicting "illuminations" (the 18th Century term for fireworks!) to celebrate Independence Day from "one end of the continent to the other" remains almost freakishly prescient. When Adams wrote those words, the colonies occupied only a narrow, intermittent strip of settlements along the eastern seaboard; the very notion of a true continental nation looked wildly implausible, all but unimaginable.
The one mistake in Adams' view of the future involved his assumption that future generations would celebrate the Second of July (the date of the adoption of the resolution for Independence) rather than the Fourth of July (the date Congress approved the specific wording of the Declaration which Adams had helped his friend Thomas Jefferson to write.
In any event, those who insist on dismissing or denying the nation's deeply religious heritage should ponder the words of this "Atlas of Independence." Adams expects that we will celebrate the nation's founding through "solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty" (don't tell the ACLU!). After bitter, exhausting political battles in Philadelphia (corresponding to simultaneous -disastrous- military battles conducted by Washington's army in New York) he recognized the role of Providence in the ongoing struggle and, at a moment of exultation, proved himself not just a far-seeing leader, but a prophet.
May we celebrate our nation's beginning in a manner worthy of such founders.
Happy Independence Day!
total hate
SO SICK OF IT:
"Some 83.33 percent of California's urban interstates are overcrowded, followed by Minnesota at 77.78 percent and New Jersey at 73.35 percent, according to the 16th annual survey by The Reason Foundation, a Los Angeles-based nonpartisan group"
What does that mean? That means traffic all the time. On Sunday, at 3pm, for no good reason. And me yelling. A lot.
So, you're twins, then?
Happy Birthday to my Dad!
And also to my Uncle Allen, born the same day, 8 years later. A waitress once made the comment above about them being twins...yeah...
Ohyestheydid
Well, it's happened already.
The ending to the last Harry Potter is rumored to have been leaked, and some ass decided to post the information on a site that has zilch to do with Harry Potter-- ONTD (Ohnotheydidnt). ONTD is my guilty break time pleasure twice a day, it has random movie, music and tv gossip. I read the leaked info without even knowing what I'd read, because what I clicked to read about was the chick who plays Callie on Grey's Anatomy doing one of those milk ads-- something that has nothing to do with Book 7, at all. Once I'd realized what I read, I couldn't forget it. It was a list of the characters who die.
I hope that the ending hasn't been leaked, and I suppose I won't know until I read the book if it's true or not, but I'm pissed just the same. Why are people so mean?
I guess I have to move the date of my ban on the internet up to a whole MONTH before the book comes out. Actually, I will just have to ban checking out ONTD, I doubt checking my bank account or scanning CNN is going to contain spoilers...
I desire...pot roast
I had a great visit with Whitney-- there was the aforementioned pot roast, Winzerstube, pretty flowers, Twins (they won!), Hebrew Nationals on a Foreman Grill, Lessons About Wisconsin, creepy antiques, Sebastian Joe's, depressing polar bear, homemade cheese curds, Magic Pan crepes, pretty things from La Rue Marche, vintage shoes (heels that actually fit a size 4!), sniffing the Allspice tree, Nice Old Ladies, never ending sunburn, crazy bumper stickers, missed flight, bonus day off & extra visiting time...Whitney has the pictures, and since she stands by her Old Timey Camera commitment, we have no idea what our pictures look like and get to be surprised. I will admit, it's kind of fun not knowing how the pictures look, and it gives me a little something to look forward to when I go pick up my mail :)
Can I give my superpower back? Thanks.
Hi, I'm Barometer Girl, able to predict pressure systems with uncanny ability. How, you ask? By the pounding pain in my cranium! Yes, it feels like my right eyeball is going to go shooting out of my skull any moment now...must be a pressure system rolling in.
Dammit.
The Two Gentlemen of Fremont and the Fiery Death Avoided
I came home to find my two cats looking guilty-- I think I caught them right after the Naughty Act had occurred. Smokey was on the windowsill, and Cornflake was on the counter, and below them, a broken antique lamp lay in the kitty drinking fountain (which is powered by electricity, and is necessary as it encourages Smokey to drink there instead of out of the toilet, thank you very much). So, the lamp was still plugged in, laying in the bowl of water that was also plugged in. Everything was fine, however, I couldn't help but wonder, over the years, how many cats have been responsible for apartment fires?
Not exactly the mystery I expected...
I rented the Lake House last night, to satisfy my burning curiosity-- how could two people have a love affair two years apart? I would come up with scenarios, but ultimately none worked. My problem was that I was limiting myself to reality, which apparently this movie did not feel encumbered by, because the driving plot device behind it was a MAGIC MAILBOX.
At least I didn't spend $8.50 to find that out.
Beverly Strikes Again!
Check out this bit from The Bleat, the blog belonging to James Lileks (linked in my Favorite Sites section). He recently took a vacation to Disneyworld, and Epcot also has a Coke sampling area (it's more fun than the one in Vegas, b/c it's self serve and it's FREE):
"I enjoyed the Cokes From Around the World pavilion – a place where you could sample beverages produced by the Coca-Cola Sugar-Water Concern, free of charge. I got to sample Krest, a Mozambique fluid. It was ginger ale, more or less. But ginger ale from Mozambique! Of course, I had to take their word for it. Could have been Root Beer from Bongo Congo for all I knew. They also had something called “Beverly,” an Italian drink with a nasty bitter anise taste, and a Spanish fluid as sweet as the Pope’s tears. The drinks were free. You were gently encouraged to peruse the Coke-themed merch, but to my regret the items for sale lacked any foreign soda logos. Opportunity lost."
Beverly-- universally hated by Americans everywhere.
Two Mews are loads of fun
This was the only picture I could get of the little mew this weekend (we have a name, we think, but I won't announce it until we're certain), because he is so CRAZY I can't get a good one unless he's asleep. He LOVES to play, and is completely fearless. He is also quite the daredevil. Smokey has adjusted beautifully, they play together all day, it's extremely entertaining. The cat tree was well worth it! Nothing's been broken-- yet.
Sublime Sucks
That's right, I hate that band, I've always hated them. I was reminded of how much I hate them when I had to place a call for work, and instead of getting to listen to the phone ring, I had some crap Sublime song inflicted on my eardrums. I have never understood why they were so popular. What is the big attraction? It's gutter pop. The songs often featured crude and vulgar lyrics and glorified drug use (look how great that turned out for them...). Wow, how awesome. Keep it.
On the path to Crazy Cat Ladyhood?
I think not, however, I do now own a leopard print cat tree (it was the only one on sale!). Since my apartment is cozy, this particular piece kind of dominates the living room now, and so it appears that I'm All About Cats. And when Kitten comes home, and does his damage, it's really going to be the Lair of the Cat Lady. Which is fine with Smokey, because he thinks everything is his, anyway.
kitten update
I didn't see my kitten this past weekend (first weekend I haven't visited him), but I am picking him up on Wednesday to bring him home, so, there will be lots of pictures from here on out :) I am preparing to enjoy my last nights of peaceful sleep for quite awhile...
Saturday John and I went to the Twins game w/Jeff and Angie. It was my first game of the season-- unfortunately they did not win, but I had my Dome Dog, so, I can't complain. :)
Kitten at 5 weeks: almost ready to come home...
More pictures of the kitten! He's sooooooo cute and fuzzy! He's starting to run and pounce, it's very cute. We're still undecided on his name, we should probably settle on one sometime soon, though. 
He was yawning, and the picture came out fuzzy. John wanted me to keep it because it kind of looked like he was roaring. Fierce little mew! 
Here he is next to a shoe-- yes, he's really that small! :)
It was hard getting him to hold still, he wanted to run and explore-- here he is about to take off.
Diet Coke is PSYCHIC!
The makers of my beverage of choice, Diet Coke, are starting to frighten me with their anticipation of my every need.
When I desired that Diet Coke be made with Splenda, it suddenly appeared. Recently -ok, last Friday, to be exact- I thought "I should stop drinking so much Diet Coke, it's leaching vitamins from my system" and lo and behold, that very night, what do I find at the store? Diet Coke Plus, with VITAMINS! How did Diet Coke know?
Friday afternoon...time for KITTIES!
I took these last Sunday-- look how much he's grown!
Check out mama Sidney waving for the camera:
Lunchtime!
John says that our kitten looks like Simba in this picture:
A Book Worth Reading:
Exposing the Real Che Guevara: And the Useful Idiots Who Idolize Him, by Humberto Fontova. 
The fact that people admire this scumbag is pathetic. He committed atrocities against humanity, and losers wear him on their t-shirts. LOSERS.
Kitties! Part II
I've been meaning to post these pictures of the kittens. One is a boy, one is a girl. John and I are taking the boy. Haven't thought of a name yet.
These were taken when they were a week old (they'll be 3 weeks old this Sunday, I believe).
My little mew's on the one on the right:
New momma Sidney and her nursing babies:
Teeny Tiny
More fuzzy, furry cuteness to come soon!
In other Nerd News...
X-Files creator Chris Carter and writer Frank Spotnitz are said to be working on a script for a second movie. Sweet
And: 
Star Wars postage stamps. You can vote for your fav at http://www.uspsjedimaster.com/main/vote/view_stamps.html
Excellent.
KITTIES!
John and I have been discussing getting a friend for Smokey. The weekend before last we visited the Humane Society and met many nice mews that need homes. It was hard to see all those cats there, and to know that some of them might not find homes. I felt like I might cry the whole time I was there. There were some older cats, 7 or 9 years old, and I wanted to take them all home because I was worried no one else would. However, I don't think Smokey would like living with 12 other cats. Actually, I'm not sure how happy he'll be about one other cat... I wish I could ask him.
I thought a male, around one or two years old, would work out best. But John met a very pretty girl mew, and we considered her for a bit. She was tagged with the most unfortunate moniker: Football. She was far too pretty a kitty to be named Football! I wasn't sure how Smokey would get along with a girl, though. We left the Humane Society without adopting a mew, because we weren't sure yet what kind of cat would be best.
Then this past weekend we were vistitng John's sister Sue, and she asked us if we thought her little kitty Sidney was pregnant. We both said it looked like she was, and that we'd take one if she has a litter. Well, Sue called last night and said "my cat's in labor!" so, in a few weeks, I will have a kitten. I am worried that a kitten may annoy Smokey, or destroy my apartment, but there are already 4 cats living at Sue and Jackie's, so, these kittens will all need homes. I can't help feeling a little guilty about all those mews at the Humane Society, though... :(
You can have my share, I don't want it
This made me laugh:
According to Wcco.com: "No matter what we think about ourselves, we drink more alcohol per capita in Minnesota than almost anywhere in the country."
Essentially, I'm not a drinker. On average, I might have a drink a month. Some months, no drinks at all, other months, maybe a few drinks on a weekend. But on the whole, not a drinker. Neither is John.
So, who's drinking our share to drive up the average?
Financial Wizard
I bet you all think John is the brains of the operation here, especially when it comes to finances, but trust me, I have my moments. Take today, for example. Today I desire Benihana for lunch. However, instead, I'll be eating a .43 cent frozen burrito. That's a savings of about $12 or something like that. Yeah. Who's smart now?
Let them eat pretty cake
I've been having wedding nightmares (which would make more sense if I was actually engaged and planning one, but, whatever). I think it's rather telling that in the worst case scenario my subconscious created, the cake was ugly and the music was bad. That was enough to make me upset. Apparently those are my two main wedding concerns: cake and music. Sounds about right.
BLEEEEEEEARGGGGGGH!!!!
OH.MY.GOD.
I just looked at the amount in taxes coming out of my next check.
I feel like vomiting.
Robbery.
YES!
It's 45 degrees right now, and the high today is supposed to be 52. Hooray!
I think winter is good for us. It helps us appreciate the loveliness of mild spring days. 
My not-so-secret Secret
I wear a sports bra to work.
That's right. To work.
And I love it.
Look, maybe it gives me uniboob, but I really don't care. It's comfortable. Waaay more comfortable then an underwire digging into me all day long, or straps falling down constantly. I feel supported and secure and comfy. And if I wear a button down shirt, there's no gaps between the buttons any more. Yeah, the girls are a bit flattened down, but really, do I need to be boobalicious at work? No.
Cheers to you, sports bra. You make my work week infinitely better with your low key support and racerback straps. I love you.
Let's take a dip in the Strawberry River!
Last night John and I watched "Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny", and there was a part that made both of us laugh so hard that we cried. My jerk neighbor banged on the wall-- that's how hard we laughed (then the cat fell off the bed and we laughed even harder).
so money, baby
Ok, so, I know it's not really polite to talk about money, but, I am too pleased to be polite.
First thing this morning, my boss met with me to go over my direct compensation statement and let me say, it was a great way to start out my day! My raise is actually a real raise, and will make a bit of difference to me. This is the first time I've experienced a decent raise, and I have to say, I quite like it.
Another first: a bonus. I've never worked at a company that gave out bonuses, so this is pretty nice, too.
Icing on the cake, really.
It's only been a month or so...
So, I have a really slow wireless connection at my apartment, but I can't complain, because it's free. However, it precludes me from posting pictures on blogger, because it's just way too slow. It'd take all night to get one picture up. Anyhow, I'm at John's today, and so I can finally post some pics from when Whit came to visit.
someone's sassy!
all visitors must pass inspection
A series of pictures in which we make silly faces:
Whitney experiments w/my Mac's special effects:
Know This: it was a good times!
Snow Day!
Yesterday was a Snow Day, and it was fantastic.
First, I have to give props to the Buick-- say what you want about it, my car is awesome, especially in the snow. I never slip or slide. I was extremely proud of the Buick this morning, too, as I didn't even have to dig it out of the snow, it just plowed right through and I was on my way.
Twin Cities news was in a froth over the storm, so the night before I hit up the grocery store for Provisions, as well as the video store (very important), so I was well prepared for my Snow Day. I watched Dr Phil, I called my mom for a chat, and I called Sydne's mom back and we chatted, too. Then John came over after class and we watched movies and ate treats all day, while kitty snoozed (and occasionally attacked our feet). All in all, very cozy, and a nice little reprieve from the ordinary work week.
aaaaah....
I'd just like to share what a pleasure it is to meet my boss for my review without being nervous or anxious, and to be able to chat with her for an extra half hour. She is a peach! And my review was good to boot! Raise and bonus talk is in a few weeks-- looking forward to that, too.
Moral Obligations be damned...
Nothing improves a Monday like shoveling your car out from a foot of snow (seemed like more) for an hour before work.
I am a wee bit cranky.
Happiness Is a Moral Obligation
Many of you have heard of my love for the book Happiness Is a Serious Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual, by Dennis Prager. I'm reposting an article he wrote regarding happiness here-- hope you guys like it!
Happiness Is a Moral Obligation
by Dennis Prager
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
For much of my life, I, like most people, regarded the pursuit of happiness as largely a selfish pursuit. One of the great revelations of middle age has been that happiness, far from being only a selfish pursuit, is a moral demand.
When we think of character traits we rightly think of honesty, integrity, moral courage, and acts of altruism. Few people include happiness in any list of character traits or moral achievements.
But happiness is both.
Happiness -- or at least acting happy, or at the very least not inflicting one's unhappiness on others -- is no less important in making the world better than any other human trait.
With some exceptions, happy people make the world better and unhappy people make it worse. This is true on the personal (micro) and global (macro) planes.
On the micro plane:
Consider the effects of an unhappy parent on a child. Ask people raised by an unhappy parent if that unhappiness hurt them.
Consider the effects of an unhappy spouse on a marriage.
Consider the effects of unhappy children on their parents. I know a couple that has four middle-aged children of whom three are truly extraordinary people, inordinately well adjusted and decent. The fourth child has been unhappy most of his life and has been a never-ending source of pain to the parents. That one child's unhappiness has always overshadowed the joy that the parents experience from the other three children. Hence the saying that one is no happier than one's least happy child.
Consider the effects of a brooding co-worker on your and your fellow workers' morale -- not to mention the huge difference between working for a happy or a moody employer.
We should regard bad moods as we do offensive body odor. Just as we shower each day so as not to inflict our body odors on others, so we should monitor our bad moods so as not to inflict them on others. We shower partly for ourselves and partly out of obligation to others. The same should hold true vis a vis moods; and just as we avoid those who do not do something about their body odor we should avoid whenever possible those who do nothing about their bad moods.
The flip side of the damage unhappy people do when they subject others to their unhappiness is the good that people do when they are, or at least act, happy. Just think of how much more you want to help people when you are in particularly happy mood and you realize how much more good the happy are likely to do.
On the macro plane, the case for the relationship between happiness and goodness is as apparent.
It is safe to say that the happiest Germans were not those who joined the Nazi Party. Nor did the happiest Europeans become Communists. And happy Muslims are not generally among those who extol death. The motto of Hamas and other Islamic groups engaged in terror, "We love death as much as [Americans, Jews] love life," does not appeal to happy Muslims.
Cults, hysteria and mass movements all appeal to the unhappy far more than to the happy. It is one more example of the genius of America's Founders to include "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence. No other major civilization so enshrined happiness as a core value. This American belief in the moral and societal merit in pursuing happiness is a major reason America has developed differently than Europe. The American emphasis on happiness is one reason no fanatical political or religious movement, Left or Right, has been able to succeed in America as such movements have repeatedly succeeded in Europe.
The pursuit of happiness is not the pursuit of pleasure. The pursuit of pleasure is hedonism, and hedonists are not happy because the intensity and amount of pleasure must constantly be increased in order for hedonism to work. Pleasure for the hedonist is a drug.
But the pursuit of happiness is noble. It benefits everyone around the individual pursuing it, and it benefits humanity. And that is why happiness is a moral obligation.
Dennis Prager is a radio show host, contributing columnist for Townhall.com, and author of 4 books including Happiness Is a Serious Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual.
Be the first to read Dennis Prager's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox. Copyright © 2006 Salem Web Network. All Rights Reserved.
Happy Where I Am
This morning I was telling a co-worker that I'd like to take a vacation to some place warm, like Hawaii or Mexico. About an hour later, I processed a claim for some poor lady who took a trip to Costa Rica in January and came home infected with some unidentified tropical disease. She has a fever every day, a rash, and excruciating muscle pain from head to toe. Her doctors don't know what it is. Hmm...Minnesota's looking pretty great right now!
Maybe I should just take the whole week off?
I've requested my Harry Potter time off-- July 23 and 24. I'm hoping that four days is enough time for me to finish the book (it comes out on the 21st). I really don't want to rush through it, as it's the final one (*sniff*) but I also do not want the book spoiled for me, which is what I anticipate happening. If Harry dies, I'm guessing there will be people talking about it-- at work, in the news, etc... When Half-Blood Prince came out, there were many stories in the news about people ruining the end for fans in line waiting to buy the book. If that happens to me with Deathly Hallows, I might commit some kind of assault against those individuals...maybe I should have John go out and buy the book for me? My plan is to seclude myself in my apartment until I'm done with the book. No tv, no radio, and no internet will hopefully equal no one ruining the end for me...
Who shares your birthday?
I share my birthday with these folks... I think this proves astrology/zodiac stuff is bunk, as the people on this list tend not to have a lot in common:
1504 - Pope Pius V (d. 1572)
1706 - Benjamin Franklin American statesman (d. 1790)
1763 - John Jacob Astor, American entrepreneur (d. 1848)
1820 - Anne Brontë, British author (d. 1849)
1899 - Al Capone, American gangster (d. 1947)
1922 - Betty White, American actress
1927 - Eartha Kitt, American actress and singer
1928 - Vidal Sassoon, English cosmetologist
1931 - James Earl Jones, American actor
1933 - Shari Lewis, American ventriloquist (d. 1998)
1939 - Maury Povich, American talk show host
1942 - Muhammad Ali, American boxer
1949 - Andy Kaufman, American comedian (d. 1984)
1959 - Susanna Hoffs, American musician
1962 - Jim Carrey, Canadian actor and comedian
1971 - Kid Rock, American singer
1980 - Zooey Deschanel, American actress
1982 - Dwyane Wade, American basketball player
Da Moon Rulz, #1
We are the Mooninites and our culture is advanced beyond all that you can possibly comprehend with 100% of your brain
(well, at least the brains of those in charge in Boston)
Glad I'm not Canadian...
I was checking out the Year of a Million Dreams contest/promotion that Disney has going on, and while reading the rules, I started laughing. There's the normal legal type jargon, and then, this little gem:
"For residents of Canada, a mathematical skill-testing question must be correctly answered to win any prize. "
WHAT? A mathematical skill-testing question to win a prize? What is the deal with that? Is it some government program to get people interested in math? Why math? Why couldn't you chose to diagram a sentence instead? Whatever it is, it's a good thing I'm an American, because my math skills are less than stellar, and I'd never be able to win anything.
.Back at Work.
I have a lot of updating to do...Unfortunately, now is not a good time to do it, as I also have a ton of work to do, since I was out of the office for 3 glorious days last week. But I will update very soon.
Also, my profile picture looks weird. It looks cool on my Mac, but not so much on my computer here at work. I'll have to update that, too, I guess.
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