Elynn's Random Life

Thunder and lightning

2008-05-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning to one WICKED thunderstorm! My whole house was shaking and it sounded like each strike was hitting in my yard. I jogged downstairs, turned off all the computer equipment (yup, I leave it on overnight) and thanked my stars that nothing got zotted.

Looks like it was much worse in other areas though - tornadoes ripping through four states last night brought death and devastation to a lot of the Midwest. So I'll thank my stars and enjoy the now lush green grass outside. Not to mention all the flower buds which opened up after they got pelted by the rain - the trees look amazing.

People I'm glad I don't live next to...

2008-04-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

Tops on the list would be this guy, who has been setting off fireworks in his house because "he didn't like the neighbors". Turns out he also had narcotics and firearms - yeah, not TOO unstable.

Read the original article trying to figure out the source of the mysterious lights and explosions here, then check out the follow up story about the guy they arrested.

I am so glad my neighbors are sensible!

Hot Water Heater blew up

2008-04-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Yup, it went kablooey all over my basement. OK, not "mythbusters" level kablooey, but still. It was disgusting too - it corroded and rust, etc was everywhere. So I spent this morning mopping, cussing and waiting for the great repair guys to come fix things. And for the record they had it all straightened out, lickety split, which was a real relief!

Is it just me?

2008-02-18T12:34:00.001-08:00

Well I think it's official - I've missed two weeks of American Idol and I just have no interest in trying to catch up. And it isn't just me - my Mom, as big an Idol fanatic as I've ever seen,has also stopped watching.

What's happening here? Well, for one thing the talent they've picked up this year is even more vanilla than in previous ones. I don't know if the judges have just somehow not been able to get their fingers on the pulse of what makes us tick - or if there really is no talent left out there. I find I'm more interested in watching other shows - I enjoyed Knight Rider on Sunday (yeah I know, but it was a guilty pleasure!) and I'm still hopelessly addicted to Ghost Hunters. UFO Hunters, not so much - it was kind of a wash. I love Torchwood and watch it religiously. And once April comes and I can have my BSG fix well, that's gonna be my #1.

Are you watching American Idol? What do you think of this season?

Sunshine Kitty 2, Other Cats 0

2008-01-31T11:05:00.001-08:00

Well now that our newest cat, Sunshine, has received a clean bill of health we started integrating her into the family. We weren't sure quite how to go about it though - she's tiny, about 12 years old according to the vet, and such a sweet, loving little soul that I was sure that Bunny and Nyoka were going to run roughshod over her.

Yeah, turns out I had nothing to worry about! Sunshine likes to sleep in the cat carrier (small, dark and warm in there I suppose) so when Nyoka walked up she had no idea anyone was inside. Until Sunshine erupted with a growl and yip that would make a wolverine proud - at which point Nyoka cut out of there like some lit a rocket under her butt!

So far Sunshine has made it 100% clear to our other cats that our bedroom is HER TERRITORY, and anyone who walks in will be eviscerated. Meaning nobody is going in or bothering her.

I think Sunshine is going to fit in just fine :)

Sometimes you have to let it happen

2008-01-17T00:06:00.000-08:00

When I got up this morning, I still wasn't really sure which way the day was going to go. Good? Bad? Or one of those forgettable, middle of the road days where you look back two weeks later and can't remember anything remarkable about it, not even what you had for lunch.

So I walked in to the coffee shop yesterday afternoon, craving my vanilla latte (I am such an addict!) It was going to be my special treat, a little indulgence that I could have even now, when money is tight and time even tighter. I had already ordered when I saw the handwritten sign taped to the cash register that said "Sorry, credit card machine is down. Cash only."

Stifling my interior whiner (and she can be SO loud) I stopped the clerk before she started fixing my drinks, apologized and said I'd have to skip the drinks as I didn't have any cash with me. One of the drawbacks about blogging for a living is that my cash, what there is, is almost always spoken for. Groceries, major utility bills, unexpected and yet somehow regular emergencies, etc. When I buy a treat it is often funded by my PayPal MasterCard where my blogging money goes. There's almost never much there after bills are paid, but it's my secret stash - sometimes only $2, sometimes as much as $10, that I can dip into now and again.

I turned to go when a woman just ahead of me in line picking up her order stopped me. "Let me buy your drinks today," she said pulling out a $20. I was... I don't know what I was. I stammered something about no, it was ok, really, I'd just come back later, the coffees weren't a big deal - which I think she and I both knew was a lie, the coffees were a very big deal at that moment. I'd been looking forward to this one stupid little thing all day as I worked, and scrimped and generally muddled through, and now I felt it slipping away again, I'd just have to do without - when she did the most amazing thing.

She put a hand on my arm and said "Let someone else be good to YOU for a change. Accept a random act of kindness." It took a moment to sink in, and suddenly I realized I was being a martyr. I was also not being selfless, I was being selfish; depriving this person of the opportunity to do something good for someone else... and feel good about HERSELF for the rest of the day. I accepted and thanked her (I hope graciously - I was still so stunned by the whole thing) and as she climbed into her white SUV and drove away I realized I didn't even know her name.

Neither, it turned out, did the barista. "Not a regular," she said. She had slipped a package of chocolate covered coffee beans in my unknown benefactor's bag, and she too seemed surprised and touched by the act. I took my latte outside, climbed in the car, sipped my drink and thought - thank you God, thank you universe, and thank you to the unknown woman who saw somehow that i needed that moment, driving right now on some highway in her white SUV. Thank you - for all those little random acts of kindness.

Great time was had by all

2008-01-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

Well we had a blast last night - we went over to a friend's house for dinner. I'm helping his new wife learn a bit more about cooking, but honestly she did great. We had Chicken Marsala, noodles, roasted broccoli, Caesar salad and chocolate cake for desert.

It was nice having a night out - we played Trivial Pursuit (fun) and some game named 10 something or other - not as much fun basically because with that many people (there were six of us) it took to long to run a turn. In both cases we actually quit before the game would have finished, simply because after an hour or two you're tired and need a break.

All in all, though, a great evening. I came home and crashed, and now it's time to get back to blogging!

RealRank is really cool

2008-01-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

Well Izea launched RealRank today and now that I've had some time to look it over I feel qualified to give an opinion. (And weren't you all waiting with baited breath?)

I think Google is going to have some stiff competition with this latest offering. First of all, I love, absolutely LOVE, that it isn't a black box. I know what they are measuring to get my Real Rank (which isn't nearly as good as I'd like but at least I know what to do to improve!) RealRank weights your daily unique visitors as 70% of your score, active daily inbound links as 20% and daily page views as 10%. This seems about right to me and gives me a great view of exactly what I could be doing to improve.

But what I really like most is being able to view the top 100 blogs. Why? Because I learn by seeing how other people do things. By seeing exactly what it takes to crack the top 100, and what each of these blogs do to achieve that status, I am developing a real idea of how I can improve my own work. My writing is pretty good - it's my marketing that sucks :) Networking and interacting with the community as a whole are what a high RealRank is all about - and it gives a MUCH more accurate assessment of exactly what sort of reach your blog has.

This changes the whole ball game, and I for one am excited to see it!

If you haven't given them a look-see take a peek at IzeaRanks and maybe get your blog listed! Oh and if you do, drop me a comment so I can check you out :)

A Kitchen Optimist

2008-01-08T14:09:00.000-08:00

I don't know why they call them refrigerators. I call mine a "food graveyard", where all that expensive healthy food I buy goes to die. The veggie drawer alone is simply terrifying - when did I buy green onions? And what IS that weird purple spongy lump in the ziploc at the bottom of the drawer? Could it be ginger?

Isn't ginger brown, not purple?

Anyway, today I girded myself, filled the sink with hot soapy water and attacked the fridge. And I can proudly state that as of this moment, everything in there is *ahem*

Edible.

Better still I washed out both sides - how the HELL did chocolate get on the walls of the freezer? Seriously, how? And I threw out no fewer than ten half bags of freezer burned vegetables. So help me I'm going to start using the whole bag. Honestly.

There's a feeling you get when you bring order to that untamed wild that is the kitchen. I feel positively Martha Stewart, tying on my seldom used apron and scurrying around, coming up with ways to preserve those odds and ends ("I know! I'll pre-chop the celery and freeze it for use in soups and stews!" Never mind that by the time I get around to this it will be buried under a mountain of freeze died mystery meat.)

It seems like in a crazy world, sometimes the only venue left I have control over is the kitchen. And it is the one place where my optimism shines through each and every time. My gardening efforts have long since faded, I no longer sort my socks - but I still lust after those cute little wicker organizers for my kitchen and scheme methods for turning those leftover veggies into a delicious homemade chicken stock with the carcass of the chicken I bought at Boston Market last night.

Muffins, anyone?

Warm and wonderful

2008-01-07T07:56:00.001-08:00

What a treat! Well after a busy, busy weekend I woke up this morning to a warm (if cloudy) day :) It's almost 60 degrees here in the Cleveland area which is WAY out of the norm. We expect tomorrow to be much the same before things go back to the normal cold, snowy and gray days of January. I'm just tickled that I can go outside without a coat for a change... I may get Nyoka on her leash and go out for a walk later.

Can you hear that sound?

2008-01-04T06:21:00.000-08:00

Yup, it's that time again - American Idol time! I can't believe that in less than two weeks I will be cringing to the sounds of deluded pop star wannabes, and trying to pick out early returns of future contenders. Last year we saw the Sanjaya phenomenon appear early in the season, will there be any stand outs in the premiere? Hard to say but one thing is for sure - I'll be watching with baited breath!

The words are still unwritten

2008-01-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

Wow, this is a gorgeous day! There's quite a lot of snow outside, but it's the fluffy white and pretty kind. I like that, because it's pretty and easy to shovel. In fact it's perfect Christmas snow, only a week late :)

It's a fresh New Year and the world just seems full of possibilities. Yesterday i cleaned out the front hall closet, and today I'm getting ready to break in the new vacuum cleaner and maybe do some pantry organizing. May not sound like fun to you, but for me this is the height of awesome! The house looks better every day, and I feel better too. I've lost 20 pounds so far (check out my diet blog via that "Blog Log" link in the sidebar) and I'm feeling better all the time.

A new year, a new day, a new life

2008-01-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

Isn't it funny how when you're in your 20's you look forward to staying up late on New Year's eve - but by the time you're approaching 40 you are pumping coffee into yourself with an IV and just hoping to make it to 12:01? Well, that's how I felt anyway :)

Our family tradition has always been to "sweep in the New Year". As a child my mom would wait until the stroke of midnight, then grab an old straw broom. Propping open the front door, she'd sweep with long slow stroke, pushing the new year in the front door. It's a tradition I've followed every year, but I had no idea where it came from.

Turns out it's a New Year's Tradition she learned growing up in Pennsylvania, and actually is Eastern European in origin. Although she didn't follow all of the steps often associated with this tradition, it provides a great sense of connection for me. I can picture my Grandmother patiently using her broom just as I do, and helping to secure another year of blessings for her family.

Now if you'll pardon me, I have a pot of pork and sauerkraut to see to. Happy New Years!

A riff riff here and a riff riff there...

2007-12-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

A fine mist of crispy white frost coats the blades of grass all the way to the tree line this morning. I hope your holiday was as nice as mine was - good times with family and friends and plenty of memories.

Our nephew finally got his Wii this Christmas and it was an immediate hit with everyone :) From age 9 to age 69, everyone got up and gave it their best. Most of us "old fogies" (meaning over the age of 15) likes the sports game best out of all of them - lots of tennis, bowling and boxing going on and still the Christmas tree survived LOL.

Best on my list for the holiday, though, was Rifftrax - if you haven't checked these out you are missing one hell of a treat. If you remember Mystery Science Theater 3000 you were probably disappointed when it went off the air... but Mike, Kevin and much of the gang are here, recording audio tracks of jokes to watch with all your favorite movies. We picked up Star Wars episodes 1-3 and have been laughing until tears run down our face (and they have a handy player so you can synchronize the jokes to the audio and watch the movie right on your computer's DVD drive!) Well worth the money and if you need a pick me up, you just gotta check them out.

Out of grayness, a shining light

2007-12-22T12:41:00.000-08:00

It seems like all I have been for the last few months is sad. But today I woke up and it was like the storm clouds broke. The sun is shining through, and for the first time since dad passed I feel calm - peaceful - even happy. I don't think he'd mind a bit.

I turned on the holiday music, got my lace up shoes on, and boogied my butt into the kitchen and started working on the desk area that's been bringing me down for weeks. Every time I looked at it, I'd think "See, you will never get your finances organized - you can never get the house straightened out - you're a failure." Well today I remembered that I love myself and I am not a failure! So after a good dose of Flylady I went in and started working. Every hour I work 45 minutes and take a 15 minute break - and I already threw dinner in the crock pot so I don't have to worry about getting my fella something to eat when he gets in. And lo and behold, it's coming together even better than I hoped!

I know that anything I got done today was a blessing, and that I can do anything 15 minutes at a time :) I'm going to flutter my way out of this depression and get my good vibes back. Because Christmas doesn't have to be a depressing time - unless I let it be one. And tonight I'm making cookies for gifts for my family & friends :) Why be depressed that money's tight when everyone always raves about my cooking? Heck, I'll put together some music CD's too for everyone to enjoy - it will be a wonderfully happy holiday. And I bet Dad will enjoy it too, wherever he is!

Every one of us can only count on one day - the day we're in. I'm going to make my "today" the best day I can :)

Covered in snowflakes

2007-12-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Well this weekend was our first major snowstorm, and as I sit looking out my window my entire yard is buried in almost a foot of snow. And wow, is it gorgeous! It may stick around for Christmas (I sure hope so) since it looks like it's gonna be cold for the next couple weeks. My fella dug out the snow blower and started excavating the driveway, so that we can get out for groceries today. If I was a kid, I'd be begging for a sled, it's absolutely the kind of white, thick frosty day I remember from childhood. And all the cats are hovering at the windows, blinking as they stare into all that whiteness - isn't it great how everything is always fresh and new to animals and children?

My fella's cousin is looking so good!

2007-12-12T15:48:00.000-08:00

OK if you've read my blog you know that I have struggled with weight loss. Well I'm not alone - my fella's family has also worked hard to try and maintain a healthy weight. Guess that's one reason we get along so well - similar tendencies :) Anyhow, his Cousin Sue has some laparoscopic surgery and everyone sort of gave her a hard time. But being the holidays we got a chance to see her, and well - WOW.

I don't really qualify for surgery myself - I'm not morbidly obese, just kinda cute and chubby ;) But it really was stunning the transformation it made in Sue - she's down from a size 24 to a size 12 and looks fantastic! I decided to look up more about the procedure and have found a couple websites that talk about it, especially the new lapband system (it's less invasive). So if you've struggled with weight loss and are interested, then check out the site offered by JourneyLite - they perform lapband Houston, L.A. and Tampa. The site includes lots of information and a free seminar you can enroll in. It really did work for Sue, so I think it's worth considering as an option.

Visited mom today

2007-12-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

It felt weird to go home for a visit today and not see Dad waiting on the porch as he'd always done. But it was so good to see mom. Kiddo has been doing an absolutely fantastic job in getting the house straightened up, so we took Mom out for lunch.

We were hoping to check out Great Wolf lodge, but they are closed in Wednesdays in December (which, by the way, is really ODD) so we ended up at Red Lobster instead. We all had a great time and mom really enjoyed everything. I'm going to try to make this a weekly event - although I suppose maybe I'd better not do it on Wednesdays!

Anyhow we're back home now and I have enough time to get a bit of fun in playing City of Heroes before I get started on dinner. Onward to save Paragon City!

Revenge is a dish best served... cold...

2007-12-10T15:43:00.000-08:00

Hollywood has always had a fascination with the act of revenge and the fallout that it leaves in its wake. My fella enjoys the old movie classics, and when he got a chance to visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site, he was really excited! Much like the old classics, this revenge-themed dark musical shows the aftermath of revenge and it's effects on everyone involved.

A perfect example of the "revenge movie" is the Universal Horror classic The Black Cat (1934). Bela Lugosi plays Vitus Werdegast a man who is returning home to his native country of Hungary after eighteen years, having spent many of them in a Russian prison camp thanks to the treachery of his one time friend, Boris Karloff’s Hjalmar Poelzig during the Great War. Werdegast is also seeking the whereabouts of his wife and daughter, who Poelzig had taken with him when he betrayed the fort they were station at to the enemy and escaped. After learning that his wife had died almost immediately after his imprisonment, Werdegast is ready to exact his revenge but holds off in the hope that he may yet be reunited with his daughter. Things come to a head when he discovers his grown daughter’s body; Poelzig killed her to keep from losing her to her father. Berserk, Werdegast straps Poelzig to a rack and skins him alive before blowing up the man’s castle, built on the ruins of the fort he had originally betrayed, and ending both of their lives.

Powerful stuff, that still has impact on the audience of today. Similar in many respects to the similarly themed Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). Johnny Depp plays Benjamin Barker, a man falsely imprisoned by Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman), so that the man can steal his wife and child. Escaping after fifteen years he returns to his old barber shop, taking the name of Sweeney Todd. He eventually learns that his wife killed herself after Turpin forced himself on her - and Turpin now plans the same fate for Barker’s maturing daughter. When Sweeney Todd's true identity is discovered by another barber, Todd kills him but doesn’t know how to dispose of the body. The downstairs pie shop owner Nellie Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who is in financial trouble, suggests making meat pies with the body. The result is a perfect murder by Todd and sudden success for Lovett as the pies sell out. While she dreams of getting enough money from this to retire to a life with Todd, he only has thoughts of revenge as people keep visiting his shop and then disappearing...

For more information on this grisly upcoming movie, be sure and visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace. But I'd caution you against eating the pies...

Grocery time!

2007-12-10T09:51:00.000-08:00

Well it's my most favorite day of the week - grocery time! It's kind of a challenge to figure out how to buy enough food for us on a strict budget - especially when we're trying to eat healthy (which can be pricey). I have a couple of resources which help me with this:

Saving Dinner - my favorite cookbook by Leanne Ely. Healthy balanced food, with weekly menus pre-planned and grocery lists. Yay! She has also done a holiday version, a low-carb version and a vegetarian version. Here's a list of cookbooks by Leanne Ely

The Dinner Doctor by Anne Byrn - on weeks where there is a time crunch, this book has fantastic ideas for ways to make healthy food fast. The downside is it is expensive to buy prepared foods. Like the old saying goes, it either costs money or time. Here's the list of Anne Byrn "Dinner Doctor" cookbooks.

Good news is that looks like I can do the week's groceries for under $90. I'll know just how MUCH under $90 once I'm done, since I'm going to start with Aldi's (just opened in our area) and finish with meat and some veggies at Acme. Sorry Aldi's but the veggies just aren't up to par :) I'll post the final total later today!

Diet blog up and running

2007-12-07T13:41:00.001-08:00

Well I finally did it - I built that diet blog I've been wanting to write. If you want to follow this chubby chick getting skinny, then you can hop out to My Diet, Health and Fitness Blog for my thoughts, progress, etc. Why Chris-diet.com? Because this diet plan originates with him, and he and I are jointly working on exercising and losing the weight. But the blog posts are all me :)

Hopefully as I get healthier my attitude will improve - and isn't that important? It's easier to handle life's curve balls when you feel well.

The good.. the bad.. the month in review

2007-12-06T06:06:00.000-08:00

First I'm guessing you're wondering where I've been. (Or maybe you're not? Somehow that would be worse) Well, I had several life altering events in rapid succession these last few weeks and I'm just now getting my mind straightened out to the point where I can think. Let's start with the worst one and successive posts will move to happier topics, mmmkay?

November 12th was one crappy day. First, I started a new job. I was (in my own mind) so desperate for cash that I took the first thing I could get, which I was told was working as tech support on inbound calls for a reputable firm. My first day was going well - chit chatting with my new co workers, hanging out and generally trying to remember what this whole "going to work thing" was like.

That was when my fella showed up at work, face white, and my trainer called me out of class to tell me my father had just died.

I don't really remember much else of that day. It was a nightmare of crying, disbelief, and panic. No, my dad wasn't sick (at least not that we knew then) and in fact walked 3 miles a day and was generally considered one of those healthy, stubborn bastards :) Only 68, he had just retired and was settling into a well-deserved retirement after a lifetime of service. He helped the disabled and the poor my entire life as a social worker, and the number of lives he touched is impossible to guess.

Unfortunately that was the beginning of what I'm thinking of calling "my month of crap". Turns out he had no life insurance and although he had *some* money, he has left my mom with a pile of bills, problems and other difficulties which will literally take months to sort out. Worse still almost all that money was tied up in the stock market - great if you're an investment guru. He was, but none of us are. So many changes are going to be made to insure that Mom has some sort of stability in the months ahead.

Returning to my new job, I soon found out they had been less than honest with me regarding my job duties. I never took a single inbound call - instead the had me calling people to solicit donations. Yes, it IS as bad as you imagine. I was throwing up before work, sweating through the shift and hating myself every time I looked in the mirror. And it didn't even pay that much! Yesterday I finally snapped and quit, which means I am right back where I was before. Or am I?

Fact is, I have a small income stream right here. I do get paid to blog on occasion, and I could certainly be writing more than I did. Also I do consulting and after calling people to give to charity, I don't think calling small businesses and asking them to sit down and discuss building a website is nearly so terrifying as it was.

Hell, I have the perfect job - I get up, get some coffee and work from home doing things I really truly love. Of course, this whole experience has changed my attitude a bit. For one thing, starting right now, I pay myself first. If I had been doing that all along I probably wouldn't have needed a job and I could have been growing and really turning things around. Also, I really do view this as my JOB now - I get up at 8, get breakfast and get my butt in the chair to work from 9 until 6. No solitaire and no goofing off, instead a nice lunch break and me doing what I love the most every day. Who could ask for better than that? I don't really need to earn that much to replace the job I just left, and I know I can do it. Watch for more blogging from me - a LOT more - in the weeks ahead.

Until tomorrow - take care all :)

Thanksgiving behind me, a new year ahead

2007-11-30T06:38:00.000-08:00

Well, I won't go into detail now (saving that for a future post) but it has been one difficult and stressful month. We ended up buying one of those "prebuilt" Thanksgiving dinners for mom - Bob Evans, and it was yummy. I can't even think about shopping right now, but maybe in December I will be able to. Looks like winter is coming early as it is getting chillier and snowier. Hopefully I will have more time to update "soon".

Not enough days til Thanksgiving

2007-11-02T02:02:00.000-07:00

There really aren't, you know. And I'm in (yet another) money crunch which is making me so sick to my stomach that I'm still up! We have a wedding to go to next weekend, and somehow i have to find the money to go, to pay the bills, to buy groceries and to pay the hotel bill. And it's looking like I am going to be around $50 short, at the minimum. So now I have to figure out where in the hell to get $50 in five days and honestly I can't think of a thing. I have tried writing, selling things - I am going to pick up a job, but even if I started tomorrow I wouldn't get paid in time. So I'm at my wit's end literally. My stomach is sore and I am just tired and worried. Not my usual upbeat post, but sometimes you just get so sick of fighting and trying to get things together! And with only three weeks til Thanksgiving I have no idea where I'm going to get the cash for Christmas. It's ironic because a couple months ago things were starting to turn around - but like all good things, it didn't last.

Well, I will get the money for Christmas - I just have to get another job for it. But it's going to make for one very tired holiday. Ah well, as long as I can get SOMEthing I will be fine.

What's one more?

2007-10-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a very interesting week. First, I now have another (yup another!) cat in the house. I think my fella would like to strangle me sometimes ;) OK not really - bringing this one in was his idea.

It started last Saturday night. We were watching TV when Bubba (the downstairs kitty) let out SUCH a howl! We thought he was hurt or sick, so we both ran down to check on him. And when we got downstairs he was sitting at the windows having what I can only describe as a conniption. Opening the curtain I expected to see a racoon or maybe a skunk - he is scared to death of both of them. But what I found was teeny tiny black kitty who looked at me and started the "lost kitten" cry.

Well I went outside. I wasn't really sure whether I was going to shoo her off, or what - until she stood up. What I thought was a VERy young kitten was instead a starving adult. Her fur falling out in clumps, so thin I swear I thought I could see through her. And she was walking a bit funny, like she'd been dropped. No question that this was a drop-off cat - probably tossed out of a car window. And at the worst time of the year for a black kitty, Halloween.

Before I could even ask my fella was back outside (I didn't even realize he had left!) and was holding out a can of cat food. When I opened it the kitty stumbled to me, and started wolfing it down. She ate and ate, and between bites she kept getting up and trying to rub on me. Well no way was I leaving this poor baby out to starve, but then again I knew from experience I couldn't put her with any of the others. What if she had kitty leukemia, or kitty AIDS? So I fixed up a spare room with her own new litterbox food, water and a nice fluffy bed for her to sleep in. She collapsed in relief and although she did wake up in the night and threw up (from overeating most likely) since then she's gotten better every day.

I'm still working to "de-flea" her as in my opinion she hasn't put on enough weight to stand up to flea meds yet. I have to wash the sheets every day, keep the room clean and of course I snuggle with her lots and then wash up after. But she's improving, and I think I've even found a home for her once she's better.
If I can stand to let her go, that is :) Next Monday I cart her to the vet for blood tests to be sure she's safe to mingle in the group, and if so we can start getting her ready for her new home. Yay!

Her name? Well for now, we're calling her "Sunshine" since she's definitely been a ray of it :)

OK enough, I need a camera

2007-10-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I don't post enough (or any) pictures. I mean to, I really do, but my camera died and that has made it well, freakin impossible! Not that you need any pix of my ugly mug dirtying up the joint, BUT I bet you'd enjoy a few shots of my cats being cute, the fall leaves etc.

Then again, maybe not. Well regardless, I'm in the market. I've been looking for a few good ones, and this one caught my eye. I guess one thing that freaks me out these days about digital cameras is how powerful (and cheap!) they are getting. My old camera wasn't even a megapixel and set me back a hundred bucks - now I can get a Casio Exilim EXZ75 Digital Camera with 7 megapixels for less than $200 - that's just freakin crazy. In a good way. I found this on Shopping.com, and did a little comparison shopping to find the best deal (I wish there were more online comparison shipping sites, it really is nice to see all the prices in one place!)

After reading the digital camera reviews, the Casio sounds like about the perfect choice for me - I'm not worried about bumping into it and accidentally turning it on, that's what a camera case is for! Hope it arrives soon so I can get a few more pictures up on the site - the big question being, which cat should I take a picture of first!

OK I am in LOVE with Bionic Woman

2007-10-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Not because of the star, but because of Katee Sackhoff's amazing performance. Any sci-fi series is really only as strong as the villain they introduce - and this is such a strong character with so much complexity that I can't wait to see what happens every week. What a shame that Flash Gordon couldn't have learned this lesson; and how exciting to have another "Oh I gotta see this!" TV show to watch.

My week in TV now looks something like this:

Monday
- "Chuck" - guilty pleasure :)

Wednesday
- Bionic Woman
- Ghost Hunters

Friday
- Doctor Who (though this week is the season finale - BOO)

Saturday
- Torchwood - I LOVE this show

Disappointments for the season

Journeyman - for some reason it's just too damn depressing for me. I know some people are nuts about it, I'm just not one of them. Go figure. All I can think about when I watch it is "Did they hire this guy because he looked like Michael Anthony Hall or in spite of it?" It's like Quantum Leap + Dead Zone. Mind you, I LIKE the Dead Zone.

Flash Gordon - Mongo 90210 is probably my LEAST favorite scifi show in the last five years. And no, I won't watch it just to see the BSG: Razor promos. I watched 3 episodes already that I can never erase from my mind. Can't be canceled soon enough. My luck, it will have a five year run. And is it wrong that now I blame Flash Gordon for nuking my other favorite show, Dresden Files which has been canceled because apparently studio execs are insane and/or stupid? Cancel this show, bring back Dresden Files, be my favorite network forever.

Things I bet you're surprised I don't watch

Heroes - I am the only person I know that isn't watching. I know it's an amazing show but at some point last year I was like, I can NOT follow another heavy, dark show. Heroes is the show I stopped watching, because not watching BSG was unthinkable. Maybe I will catch it on DVD - but it isn't like they need another viewer or they'll be off the air.

Well that's what I'm watching - what about you?

So is anyone else as disappointed in Flash Gordon as I am?

2007-09-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

OK, I have given it weeks, and weeks and weeks. I was SO excited that Flash Gordon was going to get the Sci-Fi Channel treatment. But talk about a miserable disappointment... not enough ray guns, WAY too much angst. And NO spaceships? NONE? Going to Mongo appears to be about as difficult as hopping the subway (and about as interesting) and although according to the completely gutted and silly character Zarkov too much travel "could shatter the Universe"... well... they do it a LOT.

I gave up when Flash, Dale and Belen were sitting around a table at his friend's wedding, talking about "meaningful things" while the angst-y teen music played in the background. Don't get me wrong I LIKE Belen, but honestly, I can see her with Flash more easily than Dale. Which is a real problem.

And Zarkov - he was supposed to be basically an "older" Flash. Smart, athletic, handsome. This guy.. I mean I actively DISLIKE him. I find myself ROOTING for Ming - now that just isn't right. And the whole show is scene after scene of talk, talk , talk. I mean, good grief, Sci Fi canceled Dresden Files but promotes THIS schlock? Talk about a let down.

I guess it's time to pin my hopes on Bionic Woman.

I'm WHAT? Blog of the Day?!?

2007-09-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Wewt! OK, maybe everyone gets one of these - maybe it isn't a big deal - but imagine how excited I was to see that my blog was listed today on Fuel My Blog as "Blog of the Day"! Talk about starting the morning off right - I was so tickled that of course, I dropped everything and put my shiny new .PNG file in the sidebar right where everyone could admire it.

For the record, if you haven't dropped in on Fuel My Blog yet, you're missing out on a great way to discover talented up and coming bloggers who have a variety of diverse and often thought provoking ideas. (I still have no idea why they let ME in, I am hardly thought provoking! More like junk food for the brain...) And when you see one you like, fuel their blog by clicking on the "Fuel" icon.

I guess that means people actually READ my blog - *waves* Hi out there!

ARRGG!

2007-09-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

Yup it's that time again - talk like a pirate day is in full swing, and I be scrubbing the deck and hoisting the sails. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!

Enjoy!

Great Cat Escape, part two

2007-09-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Well, last night ny cat Bubba got a touch of the wanderlust again. Maybe it's the cold autumn air that's making him stir crazy, or maybe he's just crabby that I haven't gotten him his booster shots so he can't officially go back outside. (As soon as I get paid he's having them, I swear!) But he popped out a window screen last night and headed for the hills, to return this morning with a full belly and totally worn out.

Well, all's well that ends well. But until next week, those windows are staying CLOSED.

Britney child custody hearing today

2007-09-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

So it all comes down to this - the self-destruction of Britney Spears is in full swing. A "mystery witness" appearing in court today, apparently to testify that she's an unfit mother.

I am really divided in how i feel about this. For one thing, well, I DO think she's too young to be a mother. That isn't a crime, of course, and it happens to young women every day. Many of them develop support networks, with family an friends. Some don't and struggle to keep body and soul together while they raise their children as best they can. So why is this such a hot button issue, when it's happening around the country every day?

I think it boils down to money ion this case. We feel less sorry for Britney because she has the money to provide for her kids. She may be struggling emotionally (and in fact she is) but with the money she's spending on lattes and clubbing, she could have hired the best nannies money could buy to take care of her boys. To make sure they got to bed at decent hours, were fed healthy and nutritious foods, and taken to the playground. Her money could have provided them a ROUTINE (which every parent knows is one of the cornerstones of successful parenting and something kids crave.) Instead she is fumbling her way through it, and with cameras watching every step of the way of course she will screw up.

My advice to Britney now is, swallow your pride. Go to a reputable agency that specializes in child care to the stars. GET REFERENCES - why are you still hiring rejects from Craig's List? And hire a STAFF, yesterday that you then listen to with regards to your children's well being. Will having nannies damage the kids emotionally? I have a hard time believing that they will be worse off with a kind, well mannered, stable and professional influence in their lives than they are right now! It's no wonder that Kevin Federline looks more responsible - that's exactly what he's doing. Hiring the best, and being aware of his own limitations. If Britney had done the same this custody battle would have been over before it began.

I has a mash...

2007-09-16T22:06:00.000-07:00

Yup, a Mash account at Yahoo! I guess I'm a bit of a dabbler - I like to try new social networking sites to see how they act and what they have that's different. And now I'm at Mash so - come check me out!

Wanderlust

2007-08-20T13:40:00.001-07:00

This time of the year, as the seasons change and the days start to shorten, I get restless. I want to go visit new places, learn things, explore new cultures. So I try hunting up a good travel guide. And I found a nice one today - RealTravel.com is more than just a standard "book a hotel" travel site.

One thing I liked was their free travel blog service. If you are planning a trip, you can get a free hosted travel blog. Set up your itinerary, post pictures and entries about the places you've visited. They even have a way for you to plot your stops on a world map which I really thought was nice. And the main website features different blogs so that you can get a real feel for the experiences of fellow travelers.

Of course they do have the more traditional services - message boards, activity planners, price comparisons and so on. If you're like me and are feeling a bit of wanderlust as the seasons march on, then I recommend you check out RealTravel.com. It might be just the site to cure your end-of-summer blues.

Why the new Flash Gordon sucks.

2007-08-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

If that title sounds inflammatory it was meant to be. I have given the new show two full episodes, and I won't be wasting my time on a third. With so many great new shows out (Mind Control by Darren Brown being one of my new favs) why continue to waste time on this stinker?

Where did they go wrong? The idea was sound - re-imagine a classic science fiction serial for the modern age. With newer, darker story lines, better writing and tons of drama. It worked SO well for Battlestar Galactica - why does it fail so miserably here?

I think at the end of the day the fact is that the writer's didn't grok what Flash Gordon was really all about. They over analyzed it, dissected it, and generally talked it to death. I can sum up what's wrong with the show in one sentence.

Too much talk talk talk, not enough BANG! Bang! BANG!

Flash was a man of action. An honorable man who did what was right, against all odds. He didn't do long introspective dialogue, he said "OK, I'm taking out Ming." And Ming was simply and only a despotic ruler who was out to destroy Earth. What is so hard about that? When you start showing the "softer side of Ming" as he wrestles with his decision to execute a traitor - um, hello, he's the BAD GUY. At this point you need to establish him that way. Don't make ME doubt he's bad - otherwise why would I root for Flash? Deep introspection, if it comes at all, can show up in season two.

And Dale? Please. There is mor chemistry between Dale and her Fiancee than Dale and flash. Just saying it's so doesn't make it so - that was a really por casting choice.

If I want to watch a melodramatic teen angst-fest there are thousands of them on TV right now, If I want to watch good sci-fi - well I'm gonna watch BSG, Doctor Who, or the Dresden Files. I sure as hell am not wasting any more time on Flash!

What a shame.

I am not as young as I used to be

2007-07-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

So why no posts for a couple days? Well the universe handed me a life lesson.. namely that I am much closer to 40 than 30. MUCH. And that was hammered home to me by my attempt to work on my backyard this weekend.

We live on an acre and a half in a nice house that was originally my grandparents. When my gramma passed away a few years ago my fella and I moved in to manage the property for my parents (they lived a ways away and it was just too much for them to handle.) And the whole thing had been negelected in the years leading up to gramma's death, so there was and is a LOT of work to do. Since I work online from home, I was elected to move her - after all I can post from anywhere!

Well this weekend I decided to tackle the back yard. To give you a feel for it, let me throw in a picture:

Yup, overgrown and tons of work. Well I may be pushing 40 but I thought "Hey no problem, I get out the ditch blade, hit that and start clearing the brush." Umm, yeah - about that. BAD idea. So I hit the yard and went all "maniac", cutting brush and generally trying to be superwoman. And when I got up this morning to get to work I could barely move my right arm - the wrist hurt so much I was figuring I wouldn't be able to work today.

Fortunately I remembered my fella had picked up some samples of this new gel for his bad shoulder last week, so I hit the bathroom and grabbed it. It's this new stuff I haven't seen before so I just squeezed it out and rubbed it in. And for a minute I thought yipe, that is some BRIGHT green, I hope it doesn't stain!

Tried to get a pic of the neon green, ended up just making a hash of it - oh well it gives you an idea anyway.

Anyway, once it hit my wrist I was really blown away... it sort of cooled everything down and the pain just melted, it was the damnedest thing! Oh and it totally disappeared into my skin, so no worries about the green (it smells a bit like menthol, but considering I'm always congested this time of year from my allergies thats actually a bonus!) Anyway, I went ahead and rubbed it into all my finger joints too, and it's really amazing how good it feels. You'll notice that I can type again just fine, though I'm thinking I will have to apply it again in a few hours. It's called Freeze It and they have it at Wal-Mart so I am going to go pick up a tube for my desk downstairs. And since I'm in supa-picta-mode here's a pic of that as well :)

The moral of the story is that I am NOT 20 any more and I shouldn't be trying to be. I'm going to go hire one of the neighborhood kids to finish the rest of the yard work while I supervise from the patio :)

Freezer Dinners from Saving Dinner.com

2007-07-29T02:28:00.000-07:00

If you read this poor little blog on occasion then you know I am forever looking for new ways to save time in the kitchen .Working from home means I'm often right on the edge of running out of time especially where dinner is involved! Well the Menu Mailer has certainly been a godsend but sometimes even THAT is too much for me.

Now they have Freezer Meals and I couldn't be happier. They have everything from chicken, to ground beef, to (yum!) steak. Plus side dishes. So I can make them ahead pop them in the frezer and then defrost and cook on busy days. What a timesaver :)

Check them out at SavingDinner.com :)

So who's your favorite companion in the new Doctor Who?

2007-07-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

Seriously - who is it? I was skeptical but i have to say that I'm liking Martha Jones more and more every week. I thought without Rose Tyler the show would flounder but I was WRONG. I miss her, but each week I find myself starting to yell at the screen "You idiot, Martha is amazing! Why aren't you paying more attention to her?!?"

So who's your favorite companion from the revamped series - Rose or Martha?

Have you been watching Ice Road Truckers?

2007-07-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

If you haven't, you are really missing out on one nail-biting reality show. These guys drive the "ice road" basically frozen lakes in northern Canada - to transport heavy freaight for 60 days to the DeBeers diamond mines. Talk about a terrifying premise! This week a truck broke through the ice - a little. Didn't sink to the bottom (which at these temperatures would be instant death for the driver) but it was luck that saved him, not skill.

Ice Road Truckers is probably my favorite reality show right now!

Mashup with The Newsroom

2007-06-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

I think that the hardest thing for any blogger is finding relevant, timely content. I mean sure, I COULD write about Paris Hilton going to jail right now, but that would be SO last week - and that's "not hot". So what to do?

Enter a great new service called The News Room. It allows bloggers - heck, any website owner looking for content - to display licensed videos and articles from AP Newswire, Reuters and TONS more sources. You can then Mash them up (appropriately called "making a mashup") into a nifty embeddable video player like this one:

Sporty, isn't it! And I can add more videos to my feed, make more feeds... and it gets even better. Use these and you get paid when people watch the videos. Obviously TheNewsRoom benefits by showing advertisements in these video streams - but we're all used to that at this point, and the ability to use licensed video at no cost is a really strong incentive for anyone who is looking for more website content. You could, for example, embed an editorial and then type up a rebuttal. Or create a stream about a specific topic - an upcoming movie, a hot celebrity, a favorite hobby or any number of things - and place it on your site. It's really a fantastic tool.

I think what I liked best was how easy it was to search and find news. You can build customized searches called "feeds" (Yeah that term is a bit confusing; I kept thinking about RSS Feeds) and then embed the video of that feed into your website for a constantly updated source of information. How cool is that! And you get paid pretty well too - CPM starts at $1, very respectable indeed.

So why use TheNewsRoom instead of, say, YouTube? Well for one thing, since this is licensed content, it isn't going to be pulled down. Major headache when that video of Britney Spears suddenly disappears. And it's free to use just like YouTube - plus you get paid a portion of the advertising revenue. Finally, the quality of the videos is much better (since they're licensed news content rather than someone's rough TV screen capture) and that's important to me. I for one will be using them pretty frequently. My only advice would be that they come up with a sidebar style as well, for those of us who might prefer to embed one on the side of ever blog page, rather than have a single video smack dab in the middle. Otherwise, job very well done indeed.

I Love New York - 2

2007-06-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

Were you as shocked as I was to find out that things didn't work out between New York and Tango? Apparently I Love New York 2 is coming out, and already there's controversy (although not enough that I even knew the show was in production until now). Rumor has it that the producer's said they would include the internet viewer's choice - until they found out it was The Fireman. Now they've removed him from the running.

Fixed, THIS show? Nah...

Wish I could get the air moving

2007-06-11T18:53:00.001-07:00

It's been pretty warm the last couple days - I suppose I'm glad because, well, it's a heck of a lot better than this winter when everything was so blasted cold and gray. I'm considering getting a couple ceiling fans for the kitchen, since I don't want to run up the natural gas bill by running the air conditioner until I just can't stand it any more!

My thought process was to paint the walls a really sunny yellow, with the existing white woodwork. Then add in some tropical accents - tiki masks, hawaiian styled fabrics, and the scent of plumeria would be nice, and one of those gorgeous period-style Ellington fans (the one I like is the Tahiti, you have to scroll down a bit) which look SO scrumptiously Hawaiian, although they do have quite a few fans that would look nice; you can click the "Fans by Style" link on the left and actually hunt for ceiling fans with palm leaf blades which is pretty nice!

Well, until I get my tropical hideaway, I think I'm going to go grab an iced tea. Whew!

Apparently if you're rich enough, you're exempt from "laws for us little people"

2007-06-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

You know, I was really, REALLY trying to keep my mouth shut about the whole Paris Hilton debacle. In case you're logging in from, say, Mars and don't know about this, Paris was senteced to 45 days of jail time for repeatedly driving under the influence. Her entire excuse was a classic blonde "But I didn't KNOW I couldn't drive" with the puty face, and oddly enough, for once it didn't get her out of being responsible for her actions. So off to jail she went...

for three whole days. Gee, what a MARVELOUS execution of justice!

Young Ms. Hilton doesn't see anything wrong with her behavior, and why should she? Her entire life has been spent as a child of privilege, partying and taking NO responsibility for any of her actions. Now she doesn't even have to sit in jail for a measly 23 days for endangering the public with her reckless behavior; she can hang out at home, watch TV, text on that blackberry 'til her fingers bleed, and eat her gourmet meals while other people - poor people - rot in jail for breaking the law.

Wow, that's just dandy.

Paris, let me put this in terms you MIGHT understand. What if a drunk driver had run over your beloved doggie? Would you not want that person to spend more than three days in jail? Because by drunk driving REPEATEDLY, that's a distinct possibility in your future. You are likely going to hit someone, and injure or kill a person or pet who is beloved by someone else. Can you for ONE MINUTE wrap your empty blonde head around that? For that matter can ANY of the young "starlets" in Hollywood GET that concept? The reason the public is SO ANGRY WITH YOU is that you have absolutely no regard for any life other than your own - as evidenced by your repeated drunk driving infractions. And the thing that sends me over the edge, for real, Paris Hilton?

You are RICH. You could afford a DRIVER. There is NO REASON, NONE for you to drive drunk. Take some of the change out of your couch and go hire a driver and let him ferry you from party to party where you make a drunken fool of yourself. You could even sublet a seat to Lindsay Lohan if you like. What you do with your body on your time doesn't concern me - so long as it doesn't impact anyone else. Which is exactly what's going to happen if you continue on this path.

So all you drunk, slutty Hollywood celebutantes? Show some responsibility. Get as drunk as you want, screw as many people as you like... but DO NOT DRIVE. Hire a driver and be chauffered to those meaningless drunken debacles in style!

Thanks for this edition of "Elynn's Soapbox". You can now return to your regular, relaxed and informal blog.

Grow your own house?

2007-06-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

OK This really tickled me. Even though it's made out of, well, trees - it reminded me of a hobbit hole with the round doors and windows. I think what I like BEST about the idea is how environmentally friendly it is - growing a house is just a neat idea. The problem, of course, is that we're an impatient sort - waiting FIVE YEARS for a house to grow seems a bit improbable. Maybe if a developer grew them and sold them when they were done?

Anyway - here's a fly through and a link to the article. Enjoy!

Finally saw Spiderman 3...

2007-05-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

You know, I actually enjoyed it! It's not nearly as bad as the reviews would have you think - being a marvel girl at heart I'm always up for a little drama and angst, and this movie certainly provides on that score. Watching Peter Parker go all "Saturday Night Fever" was a riot also - but as always, what really made the movie for me were he special effects.

I'd have to say that the best villain award goes to the Sandman. I don't know why, but Venom just didn't appeal to me... and no offense meant, but I never got the "evil" vibe from Topher Grace. He just seemed like your common average jerk. Not "evil". And as for Mary Jane Watson... I really started to get annoyed with her character. The fights were fantastic, and it really sped right by. Didn't hurt that I got to watch it with good friends, either :) We all sat and talked about it afterwards, and decided it was pretty good.

Now I'm all psyched up for the Transformers!

New Pay Per Post feature - PPP Direct

2007-05-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

I think everyone knows that I've been a big proponent of several online "pay to blog" services. So long as we're honest about what we do, and only take jobs which we feel are appropriate and that we can ethically promote, I see no reason why the independent blog owner shouldn't be able to make money blogging.

That's why I'm so pleased (tickled, really) about the newest feature added to PayPerPost. PPP Direct allows advertisers to contact small blog owners directly and request an article with that blogger - and allows both sides to negotiate on prices, article size, tone (I only take neutral opportunities, myself - if your service isn't good enough for me to WANT to write positively about it, then why even begin?) until an agreement is reached.

Obviously this is great for independent small bloggers - now we have a vehicle to manage and negotiate directly with advertisers. We can build relationships, one on one, with companies that we like; and advertisers can really decide what blogs they want to work with (not just have a "basket" of random blogs). It gives us a sort of "advertising escrow service" which provides us both some safety and structure over the whole negotiations process.

But it's great for advertisers as well, because PPP Direct cuts out a lot of the overhead other blog advertising services use. Many companies charge a 50%-100% markup on these posts - so if you want to pay a blogger $25, you're going to have to spend $50 on the post (ouch!) But if you use PPP Direct, there's a 10% fee (5% of which covers their credit card processing fees) so for that same $25 post you'd spend $27.50. That's a REALLY good deal and allows advertisers to spend more money on the blogger, for higher quality posts.

Of course, this isn't the only new feature the latest release has added. It is, however, one of the nicest I've seen in a while. The availability of PPP Direct means that I can maintain my standards when it comes to selecting opportunities, and still be able to pay my costs. Which is nice, because lately I hadn't been able to find as much that interested me - now I'm excited about personal opportunities that will really "fit" the style and mood of my blog. So if you're interested in me writing about you - just click that "Hire Me!" button on the right and let's talk :)

It's Caturday!

2007-05-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I've been in love with LOLcats for a while now - I don't care if it is an internet meme, it's a funny one! LOLcats have been mentioned on Slate, quoted in countless Fark threads... and there is a great blog which lists them as they show up called (appropriately) ICanHasCheezeburger? It's now my first stop every morning before I start work, just for a quick grin.

My favorite today? O HALP! Enjoy :)

A snapshot of my high school life

2007-05-25T16:41:00.000-07:00

One of the most exciting events of my life was during high school. Picture me, 14 years old (no snarky cracks about dinosaurs back there!) on a school trip - for a week - to Quebec. Our French class got permission to go visit this gorgeous city as part of our education and a chance to practice our French in "the real world".

We spent a glorious time exploring the city (and in my case, exploring the contents of an unlocked mini bar. Hey, I never said I was an angel!) I had my first shrimp cocktail. I also was the unofficial interpreter for my group of friends as I'd actually taken French for several years at this point and could muddle my way through most situations nicely. And then, finally, sadly, we got on the tour bus and started the LONG bus trip home.

It's dark, the rain is falling as the lights of passing cars shine across sleeping faces, and from the back of the bus... suddenly, in the middle of the night, a lone voice pipes up...

"ROXXANNNEEEE... you don't have to PUT on the RED light...."

a moment of silence, and then another voice... perhaps still a wee bit drunk? chimes in...

"you don't have to SELL your body to the NI-e-IGHT"

a moment later the entire bus full of high school students is singing, bouncing up and down on the seats and generally having a total musical meltdown. Our chaperons (worn out, no doubt, from chasing underage drunkards throughout the hotel for a week and finding new ways to apologize to hotel staff - in French) sighed and simply put on headphones while the bus driver gritted his teeth and mentally figured how much of a tip THIS was going to require.

Ever since, I've had a HUGE soft spot for The Police. I bought the album as soon as I got home, and my mom and dad were also treated to various renditions of not only "Roxanne", but "Synchronicity" and "Don't Stand So Close To Me". I like Sting, but I never really liked him AS MUCH solo as I did with the band. The groove really speaks to me - I think almost everyone does better work in creative collaboration with a partner, you know?

That big old vinyl LP got played about to death and is now lost to time (and probably to a sledgehammer in my Mom's backyard) so I got really pumped when I saw that The Police were getting together this summer to tour AND releasing a compilation of, well, ALL the good songs. Check out the police cd track list:

Track Listings
Disc: 1
1. Fallout
2. Can't Stand Losing You
3. Next to You
4. Roxanne
5. Truth Hits Everybody
6. Hole in My Life
7. So Lonely
8. Message in a Bottle
9. Reggatta de Blanc
10. Bring on the Night
11. Walking on the Moon
12. Don't Stand So Close to Me
13. Driven to Tears
14. Canary in a Coalmine

Disc: 2
1. Do Do Do de da da Da
2. Voices Inside My Head
3. Invisible Sun
4. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
5. Spirits in the Material World
6. Demolition Man
7. Every Breath You Take
8. Synchronicity I
9. Wrapped Around Your Finger
10. Walking in Your Footsteps
11. Synchronicity II
12. King of Pain
13. Murder by Numbers
14. Tea in the Sahara

I mean, HOW awesome is that?! I can't wait to get the new police cd and slap it in the CD player - maybe I'll even grab a few mini-bottles of rum "for old times sakes"... just don't tell my mom :)

ROOOXXXANNNEE...........

Thunderstorm central

2007-05-25T16:39:00.000-07:00

Well, from sunny and 85 we go to rainy and 65 - but to be honest I'm not really minding it. It's been a wee bit humid lately, so I can deal with the rain "washing out" the air. Better still it cuts the pollen which was definitely getting thick for my taste.

DOH! Now I have to go pull the fan out of the bedroom window - crud!
*scoots*

Tropical daydreaming...

2007-05-25T14:02:00.000-07:00

I think what I like best about summer is that it reminds me, a tiny bit, of when I went to Hawaii. I went there with my Mom and Dad two years ago (before she was wheelchair bound) and it's one of my most treasured memories. There's a certain magic in the air there that you just don't find anywhere else... the lush plant life everywhere, the total lack of mosquitos (which blew my mind, being from the bug-ridden midwest) and the way you can hear the ocean from almost everywhere. The people are so much calmer and more relaxed, and who can blame them? They live in paradise on earth.

Someday I'm going to go back there. My plan is to get a little place in Oahu , or maybe one of the Wailea Makena condos - a month would be a good start (why not dream big?). Renting a condo rather than staying at some large, impersonal hotel intrigues me - the privacy and personal touch of feeling like a real native just sounds heavanly. And I'm telling you, someday I'm going to retire there. Although I loved Oahu (the nightlife is fantastic!) I'm very intrigued with a little Hawaiian villa in Maui for the peace, quiet and natural beauty it offers... my cousin was married in Maui and she had nothing but good things to say about it! With such perfect weather and happy memories, I can't really think of anywhere ele I'd want to spend my golden years.

Oh well. Until then, I can put a tiki in my garden and pretend....

Silver Surfer Quarters

2007-05-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

So.. in yet another viral marketing manuever in the summer movie wars, 40,000 silver surfer quarters have been slipped into circulation (try saying THAT three times fast)

What intrigues me is the contest behind it - find one in your change and you're entered to win a trip, a private screening and other fabulous prizes :) You can also visit the website, http://www.riseofthesilversurfer.com/, to flip a "virtual coin" with the chance to win additional instant prizes.

As for the silver surfer himself - will he still be the Herald of Galactus? Will the Fantastic Four be able to save earth (well, duh, it is a movie)... find out June 15th. Hopefully this movie will be at least as good as the original - I love a good summer sci-fi flick.

And the winner is...

2007-05-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

Jordin Sparks! The biggest surprise for me was that Melinda got voted out so early... no I haven't talked about it because frankly, I was stunned. But once it got down to either Jordin or Blake, well - it IS a singing competition after all! I do like her voice, but the ironic thing is that I can't see buying any of her albums.

Kelly Clarkson? Sure... I have some of hers on iTunes.
Chris Daughtry? DUH.
But.. Blake and Jordin? Nah, too young for me.

Well, now I can spend mroe energy getting ready for the summer shows :)

Back from Disney World

2007-05-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

... and wow... the best AND the worst week I've had in a while, Hard to explain, but hang in there with me and I'll try :)

My mom is currently unable to walk under her own power. She has difficulties breathing (she should probably be on oxygen, but she is stubborn, just like her daughter!) so we had to make special arrangements for the trip. Obviously we weren't going to be riding many (if any) rides. Mostly I'd be pushing her through the parks, talking, looking at the flowers, and taking in a show here and there.

The staff at Disney was, as always, BEYOND fantastic. You want to have a great vacation, I do recommend that you go. It's so much more than Mickey Mouse! For example, EPCOT had a flower show which was amazing, and the Lights - Action - Motorcars show at MGM was unreal, it was so good!

The problem was - how can I say this without sounding like a jerk? Oh yeah, that's right; it's my blog so I can be a bit peeved if I want to. The problem was the other visitors!

How so? Well, there were the teenagers who would LITERALLY vault over her if she was in line for a show. Not "Pardon me" not "Please" just SHOVE and run! As if there were limited seats and it was somehow appropriate to cut off an elderly woman in a wheelchair so they could sit closer! Or the woman who (I am NOT making this up) tried to push my mother out of HER way to see the parade - while actually saying "I hate these darn wheelchairs!" Um, Ma'am? She's not deaf, and neither am I! Obviously I didn't allow her to do this, and I pointed out that she was actually in the wheelchair section!!! To which she replied "Says who?" at which point I pointed to the sign. Unbelievable.

This happened again and again, every single day. It got to the point where we started making jokes about it, but inside I was fuming! I sincerely hope none of the dozens of people who were so thoughtless and rude is ever confined to a wheelchair - or if they are, that the people they encounter show more tact and empathy than they showed my mother.

But enough of this negativity - I've said my piece. What I was happy about was the care that the Disney staff showed her. In many cases they gave her good seats, or escorted her to the front of the line (not always, but often enough that she didn't feel excluded) and they were always polite and cheerful. It must be something in the water!

It was wonderful to have a whole week to just relax and unwind. I've been so busy lately it felt like I never slept.. but now I'm a bit more focused. I've also picked up some new vitamins which I think will help me feel better. I should have done that weeks ago!

American Idol Charity Album

2007-04-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, so maybe I was BIT harsh on American Idol last night (I was tired, what can I say?) but one thing I do agree with is the idea of using such a powerful pop culture vehicle to generate awareness and money for the disadvantaged, here and abroad.

If you enjoyed the broadcast, I encourage you to hit iTunes for the exclusive album charity download - and enjoy!

Click here (and have your iTunes open) to select audio or video tracks from the American Idol Gives Back show
6 songs, including Kelly Clarkson - only $4.99
Proceeds being donated to charity

Back to basics

2007-04-27T23:35:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to flutter with Flylady for a couple years now. The last two months I've been SO busy trying to build my business (this month I did a ton of invoicing, so something is going well!) that my house just fell apart.

It isn't that I don't try, it's that I try too hard at the wrong things. I end up at my computer at the oddest hours doing just one more blog post (STOP looking at the timestamp on this post - yes I mean YOU - stop it! I'm SERIOUS!) so yesterday I decided to just stop, take a deep breath and jump right back in where I was doing baby steps.

And after only two days, I've got the dishes caught up, the living room rescued - I'm so pleased, my house is starting to recover and feel like a home! BTW, I'm a big fan of FlyLady and if you haven't been able to find peace in your home because you're a victim of the clutter monster (like me) then I do really recommend her. It's all about learning to love yourself, really. And that's something I need a lot of help with, constantly.

Mom will be coming up Monday, and then on Wednesday at 7am we're flying to Disney World - just the two of us. I can't wait - we both need a break so desperately. Mom works with my kid brother at his store and her health has been not the greatest - a few decades of smoking has taken it's toll and she's having trouble walking now, so we're going to get ourselves a limousine (actually, a wheelchair for mom) and I figure the exercise pushing her will be a blessing for me. I'm really glad I quit smoking years ago - I may never have been able to stay on a diet consistently but I can feel good about that. It was a struggle but definitely worth it - I quit about seven years ago and have never smoked since - not once. Basically because, like an alcoholic, if I smoke just one I'll be right back on the pony. So no cigarettes for me :)

If only it was that easy to diet! The problem is I have to eat every day... if I could go cold turkey on food I'd have licked this thing years ago. I just have a hard time with moderation - and sugar and caffeine are how I regulate my moods. Well, I'll just keep trying... one thing I am proud of is that I've learned how to eat meals and since March 1 I've done just that.

Yeah I guess that made no sense... see as a kid generally we didn't get "meals" - money was tight, and my kid brother had a lot of allergies so a meal was meat and maybe potatoes and corn. Maybe. Salad? not a chance. Milk? Didn't have it. We had coke. No I'm not kidding - no milk or juice, we were a coffee and pop only household LOL. But I've been working on balancing my meals first, and once I've got the knack of that, then reducing portions. So tonight for example I had a biscuit (ok, two) a caesar salad, broccoli and cauliflower, roast chicken and rice. See? A meal, with side dishes and everything. Even a salad! I've been doing this for weeks now and the other day I got mad because we were out of salad and dinner just didn't seem right without one!

Yay ME! Could I eat less? Yeah, but it's hard overcoming 40 years of really AWFUL food habits all at once. I've tried that before and failed. So this time I'm going to take baby steps and see how I do. For May I'm going to start slowly reducing portions... hopefully by fall I will see an improvement. Oh, and I'm walking two or three times a week now - a mile at a brisk pace. (It wasn't real brisk at first but now I can chug right along) so I'm all ready to go see Disney World! Maybe next year I can go back and be thin enough to actually ride the rides... wouldn't that be something.

Oh, and for those of you wondering why I didn't write about the results of this week's American Idol - well it's because, in my mind, there weren't any. "Postponing" voting someone off is just that - postponing it. To be truthful I thought it was silly and disingenuous. Has American Idol just jumped the shark? Well, only time will tell.

Well that's MORE than enough for one night - my mouth runneth over :) I'm going t try this sleeping thing I've heard so much about - chat with you later!

Last night's "Idol Gives Back"

2007-04-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

Well, last night was something else. It was American Idol full of telethon-style goodness and schmaltzy "inspirational" songs. And without Sanjaya... it was boring. Really boring! Out of all the performances last night, Jordin Sparks was the only one who really grabbed my attention. What a great performance - it gave me chills!! Melinda was decent, but whoever told her she should wear a big clunky necklace ought to be fired - it draws attention to her short neck. She needs to find ways to look more long and lean! I was also really disappointed in Lakisha's performance - singing Fantasia's winning song seemed indulgent, not to mention that she screamed through most of the song. Tonight doesn't look good for her...

Oh FINALLY...

2007-04-23T17:37:00.000-07:00

Well, today I sat out on my porch, had a cold coke, and relaxed in the now-temperate weather. After several false starts, it seems that spring has finally arrived! I've thrown open all the windows, turned off the furnace (hopefully for good this time!) and am basking in the sunlight and the little bits of tiny green leaves that are emerging on my maples.

It's funny how often we all are so busy 'looking forward' or 'looking back' that we don't appreciate what we have right now. Today was in my mind, a perfect day. But I still found myself wondering about tomorrow's weather! Somehow, I have to stop doing that and learn to relish the moment.

Not long til the elimination...

2007-04-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

So who will it be? I guess the best way to figure this one out is to start with who it won't be:

Jordin Sparks - That girl can sing her butt off - wow, I'm channeling Paula. She must be good.
Melinda Doolittle - I really thought she'd have trouble this week, but instead she surprised me. Great job.

Now, who's in the "Maybe yes, maybe no" category?

Blake Lewis - He's been great until now, but honestly that was a pitchy performance. I was not impressed.
Phil Stacey - An amazing performance, but after so many lackluster weeks, will it be enough? Hard to say - depends on how long the memory of the audience really is.

And finally - the DANGER ZONE!

Lakisha Jones - Yipes, shouty, cold and lately her tag line at the end is becoming predictable and oh-so boring. She just doesn't take advice or direction well, and it's beginning to hurt her - singing a Carrie Underwood song was a very bad idea.
Sanjaya Malakar - I love my papaya but this was a darned bad week. It remains to be seen if his charisma can carry the day - whatever happens I'll be pulling for the underdog (as usual.)
Chris Richardson - Nasally (which in country can be forgivable) but snapping back at Simon over it might have been a mistake. The song actually started decent for me, then got progressively worse. Hard to say for sure.

All that said, who do I think will go? After a bottom three of Sanjaya, Lakisha and Chris, I think Lakisha will be the surprise vote out (remember, we haven't had our "shocker" episode yet!) My second choice "shocker" would be Sanjaya - with so many people pulling for him, and in the technically weakest position, his vote out might also be a surprise.

We'll see tonight how it goes. Get that popcorn out!

OK One quick note before the show is even over...

2007-04-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

Good gravy, Phil Stacey - that ROCKED! Where the heck is your cowboy hat? If you'd been singing that way throughout the competition I'd have loved you from day one.

Way to go Phil Stacey!!!

The Greatest Living American?

2007-04-16T22:21:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it is true, in a sense. Tonight on the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert found out about Google bombing. Once he realized the potential power of this opportunity, he called upon us, the heroes and loyal members of the Colbert Nation, to christen him as the Greatest Living American.

Given his stellar wit, charm and devilish good looks, how could I (or any other devoted follower) deny him such a simple request? Not to mention his fantastic taste in ice cream. Considering all he has done for our great nation, this particular honor seems LONG overdue.

So heads up, Stephen Colbert - I bequeath you with my vote for the Greatest Living American. Oh and Stephen, if you see this - I want a Colbert Nation T-Shirt :) After all, I am a blogger, and you now know what ungodly powers we wield.

Is it spring yet?

2007-04-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

I really, REALLY am sick of winter! My poor daffodils got nuked by the last round of winter snow, and I'm SO ready to go grab a flat of flowers and put them out... if only the temperatures would cooperate.

But good news! In two weeks, I'm going to go where it's sunny and warm - Mom and I are taking a spur of the moment trip to Disney World (WOOT) where we can relax, soak up some sun, and I can finally get a decent night's sleep. I don't know why but i haven't been able to sleep through the night in months. I'm guessing it's stress, what with working from home, mounting bills and so forth. I wouldn't be able to afford to go anywhere, but since Mom and Dad are paying... well, I'm going to go and try not to feel TOO guilty about the trip. And when I get back maybe it will finally be above 40 degrees.

Look out Mickey Mouse, here I come!

And the journey ends for...

2007-04-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

Haley Scarnato. It's always hard to see anyone go at this point in the competition, since really they all have talent. However I'd have to say that it was a relief to see Haley Scarnato go rather than Chris Richardson. Next week, barring any surprises, I'd say will be Phil's last week.

But I've been wrong before!

Latin heat on American Idol

2007-04-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

I was really surprised by the performances this week, and not necessarily in a GOOD way. Some random thoughts on what is sure to become an infamous week...

Melinda Doolittle - well of COURSE she sounded good. The biggest shock here was her dress - for once I really liked it. Fit well, flattered her, and made her look like what she is - a star. Well done to whomever got her ready this week!

Lakisha Jones - Uh oh, kiki... that was not a good performance for you. We won't even discuss the dress, except to say that if you're going to be turning your back to the camera frequently, you should probably take a good look in the mirror from that direction. Being almost your size, this is just friendly advice from one 'lady of size' to another. Voice was ok, but honestly? Not in love with the song choice. My worry is that she will get eliminated since her fans may not have come out in record numbers for this week - which would be a shame since she is so talented.

Chris Richardson - sorry folks but I really liked him AGAIN this week! Could he be our dark horse for the final three?

Sanjaya Malakar - OK, now I'm sure of it - he's been orchestrating this whole persona all along just to get the votes - and it worked! He sounded great and honestly I think he is in no danger this week - the tween girls will go nuts for what was one of the better performances of the night. As Randy said - he's one of the smartest contestants they've ever had.

Haley Scarnato - man, oh man, I wish she was going to be out this week, but i have a feeling bottom two may just be her and Lakisha, with Lakisha going home. Please, PLEASE let me be wrong on this one.

Phil Stacey - Another not-so-good performance. I had to look it up just to remember it, which is not good... either he or Haley could be voted off and i'd be happy. However I think this will be the 'shocker' week.

Blake Lewis - Good performance, plenty of latin heat. I think he'll be here for a few weeks yet. And that Marc Antony song, which normally annoys the heck out of me, actually sounded good coming from him!

Jordin Sparks - perky, bright and charming. Good sound, great personality. My concern? Her fans may be so sure she's safe, they may not vote enough. Another possible 'shocker' removal in the next two weeks, but let's hope not.

Is Sanjaya Your Papaya?

2007-04-05T13:02:00.000-07:00

Well - is he?

Huh? Gina Glocksen?

2007-04-05T00:43:00.000-07:00

Somebody do a recount, because this week's vote was seriously NOT what I expected!

What made this week on American Idol interesting was the fact that for the first time in the competition, I felt like they were all actually trying... and for the most part, succeeding! Oddly, my favorite was Chris Richardson, who up to this point has mildly annoyed me. But something about that country twang behind "Don't get around much any more" just worked for me - He may be a Timberlake-alike but for once I felt like I was seeing originality. Award to him for most improved. I bet when this is all over we find him in Branson packing them in.

The award for "He/She's still HERE?" goes to a surprise entry this week - Haley Scarnato. I really thought (hoped?) after Tuesday's performance that she'd finally fudged it up enough to override the "perky factor". Unfortunately I was wrong - this week. But being in the bottom three, there's still hope.

Which brings me to Gina Glocksen. Gina, I really LIKED you! I'm surprised you didn't make it, but I can only speculate that your beautiful, understated performance was just way to subtle for the tween crowd (which is becoming more and more of a staple viewing segment now that the Sanjaya Effect is in full swing.) I truly believe you will have a successful career - just keep your wits about you and I'll be in line to buy your first album, kid :)

As for Sanjaya - I think the judges finally got it. He's no singer, he's an entertainer - and a darn entertaining one. Who needs to sing when you've got that much charisma? Ride the wave, Sanjaya, and enjoy it. I think you'll be with us for weeks to come.

Bye, bye, Christopher Sligh

2007-03-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

Well, to nobody's surprise (except possibly his own) Chris Sligh got voted off on American Idol this week. Phil Stacey seems to have taken my advice about covering the bald head and getting some style and that helped him.. while poor Haley Scarnato is now the front runner for elimination next week. (Is that even possible, to be first at coming in last?) Depending on how much skin she shows, it will be either her or Phil leaving us next week.

As far as Battlestar Galactica.. well I don't want to spoil it for anyone... but WOW, what an episode. However I do NOT believe the people who think they are cylons, actually are. My guess is they may be the descendants of the Priests from the Temple of Five, and therefore have some sort of religious or mystical connection to 'the Watchtower'. As for Starbuck... well, we'll see. But how am I supposed to wait until January!

So this is it - the season finale

2007-03-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

I still can't believe that Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica is about to end. I'm even more frustrated that I'll have to wait until January (again!) to resolve the cliffhangers. And I'm so nervous/excited/eager to watch I am like a kid before Christmas!

That being said, they did such a good job this year, it's almost worth the wait. Forget some of the whinyness that Starbuck showed, the overall stories this season were fantastic. Peeks into the inner workings of the Cylons, the ongoing portrayal of so many characters as not being good or evil, but somewhere in between - this is easily my favorite show on television. But it begs the question - after tonight, what will I watch?

Well of course, there's American Idol - junk food for the brain, as mindless and yummy as salt-and-vinegar potato chips. I'm also eagerly awaiting the season premier of Ghost Hunters. I've always had an interest in the paranormal and what really makes this show stand out is their willingness to debunk and discredit investigations. Which, of course makes their unexplained findings FAR more credible and creepy - like the shadow man in one video who is clearly there - yet not there...

I've liked Dresden Files a LOT more than I originally expected. A LOT. This is a fantastic show, really meaty. My fella says it isn't following the book, exactly, but he doesn't hold that against it - it's very difficult to translate a book into a television show or movie. They've done a good job with this one.

Also, I'm dying for the next season of Dr. Who. I can't wait to get to know the new companion, and I have become a HUGE fan of the new Doctor. And they'd better bring Torchwood over - come on, I really want to see more of Captain Jack!

So, basically I'm sure that I'll find enough to watch to keep me busy blogging for the long dry spell ahead. And I'm sure you'll be hearing a LOT from me after tonight, as it's rumored that some (or maybe all) of the final five cylons will finally be revealed. The question is - will it be a reveal, or a clever misdirect by the show? My guess is that only SOME of the revealed 'cylons' actually will be - but we simply won't know until next year.

MySims videos for the Wii

2007-03-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

After watching these videos. I'd have to say that MySims has a lot more in common visually with Animal Crossing for the Gamecube than it does Sims for the PC. That could be considered either a good or a bad thing depending on your leanings. I know after a few minutes I was saying "NOOK! Where the heck are you hiding, you swindler!" and muttering about needing more bells.

Anyway, since I'm hoping to finally have my Wii this summer, this will be on my short list of things to buy. My only concern is the interface - I'm just not sure how easy it is to use since it seems like the player 'stumbles' a lot trying to select an action. Maybe he's just indecisive though (or maybe that's me.)

Anyway - go watch these Wii videos of MySims!

Shyamali Malakar: Almost an Idol

2007-03-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

I'm ceaselessly amazed at the Internet celebrities who rise out of the American Idol phenomenon. One of these would of course be Shyamali Malakar, Sanjaya's sister who is rocketing to the top of the Internet searches. Just check out the Yahoo Buzz Index - there she is, climbing like crazy. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she's very attractive and can sing moderately well, plus she has the sympathy vote for folks who thought she should have been in the finals rather than her brother.

How long until she gets a recording contract? Hard to say... but I guarantee you she will profit from all of the attention.

I'm so glad I'm settled..

2007-03-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

..because honestly, I love my sweetie and I can't even BEGIN to figure out how I would stand to date these days. I was talking to one of my friends who just got engaged this week (CONGRATS JUSTIN AND LEIAH! And forgive me if I spelled a name wrong- I'm a lousy speller) and I realized how tough it is to find someone in this crazy, work-all-day-and-night world. Justin and Leiah met at work, and how lucky and blessed it's been for both of them :) I'm watching the mail for my invitations!

My kid brother met his wife of almost three years now through an online dating service, but that just seems pricey for the most part. Although there are some free alternatives popping up, like PlentyOfFish and JustSayHi. Of the two, JustSayHi looks more professional to me, and they advertise themselves as being really free - they don't require a credit card, ever, which is not something a lot of these 'free' dating services can match. I really liked the well-designed interface (very Web 2.0), and especially the 'Meet someone within X miles' feature. After all, the perfect person might be in a town you haven't heard of, so giving it a miles radius would seem to be the better option in my opinion. I may just have to throw a link to JustSayHi.com to a few of my single friends!

Hey twitter types!

2007-03-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, after some peer pressure was applied, I am officially twitter-enabled. (Twitterpated? No I'd better not say that, I'll get sued by Disney) Although I doubt I'm all that interesting, it would still make me feel much cooler and web 2.0-ish if a few folks would consider following or friending me. Heck, I'd be happy to return the favor - so, you know...

Would you be my friend?
//cue big puppy dog eyes

So long, Stephanie...

2007-03-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

Well, unfortunately looks like I called it this week. Stephanie Edwards was elminated. At this point in the competition, you really can't afford not to stand out - and Phil Stacey should probably be watching his back in that regard.

Thanks for all the comments and emails, also - even the folks who don't like Sanjaya and are sending me a wee bit of hate mail ;) I love hearing from you, so keep it coming!

American Idol - Wednesday the 21st and the "British Invasion"

2007-03-20T21:52:00.000-07:00

Wow - that's all I can say. Wow! This week it felt like everyone raised their game. I'm beginning to wonder how much of that has to do with the celebrity coaching sessions - Lulu and Peter really seemed to take time with the contestants and CARE, as artists, about how they did. I found myself nodding my head a LOT to their feedback - and wow, what a difference it made to the contestants! Here are my impressions, take them or leave them :)

Melinda Doolittle: Sang "As Long as He Needs Me" from Oliver
Well, it was a good performance - quite good - but I didn't get the chills. That's a standing joke around my house, by the way... if someone gives me physical chills during the performance, they're not leaving. I've never missed yet! Although NOT having them doesn't mean you will go home - it's just that a really powerful performance give me goosebumps. Anyway, if I was grading, solid A-.

Phil Stacey: Sang "Tobacco Road"
How do I say this? It isn't very nice, and i know it but... how can I get into this song when I'm obsessing over your outfit - again? Every week an oxford shirt and pants, nothing star quality or special - just some guy singing. And even though I thought he sang it well... well... it was forgettable. I hope they get a stylist to work with him. Soon!

Blake Lewis: Sang "The Season for Loving"
I just loved the vocal - seriously. Even the beat box was GREAT! However, the Michael Jackson dancing got more than a bit distracting - but maybe that's my age showing. Overall one of my favorites tonight.

Lakisha Jones: Sang "Diamonds are Forever"
Well, at least she got to wear diamonds. Great voice, but I really have never been a fan of the song - feel like I should be seeing a bunch of half clad girls prancing around and waiting for the movie to start. No chills here, either, but a solid performance.

Jordin Sparks: Sang "I, who have nothing"
Holy smokes. When the season started I wrote her off as a Diana DeGarmo clone.
I. Was. Wrong! This girl is amazing and I will be absolutely shocked if she doesn't make final three - and maybe top two! The emotion, the perfect phrasing and pitch, this young lady has it all. Oh - and I got chills :)

Sanjaya Malakar: Sang "Girl, you really got me"
Wow, talk about a guy who inspires extreme emotions! You either love him, or you hate him. I have supported him from day one but not because of his voice - because with that charisma he could make a recording studio some very respectable moolah! I'd be willing to bet there are a lot of tween girls tonight dialing until their fingers bleed - enough that he will sail through to the top ten. Great song choice as it didn't depend on perfect vocals to carry the performance (and he was fun to watch!) Maybe he read my advice from earlier?

Chris Richardson: Sang "Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying"
Nice. Sweet, tender and lovely arrangement. On the other hand that nasal country 'twang' got in there and made my teeth ache in some of the high bits, and I'm not really sold on his outfit either. I think he's safe, but then again, who really knows at this point?

Haley Scarnato: Sang "Tell him"
Oh, Haley, sweetie. You poor thing. I think she's going to have a tough time sticking around for another week, I really do (but she seems so sweet I hope she does.) Pitchy doesn't adequately describe the performance. Charisma? I don't know, but she sure does show more skin each week, so I suppose she has a good idea of who's voting for her. But if you close your eyes, the song really really grates - I just don't think it was her best performance.

Chris Sligh: Sang "She’s Not There"
Good. I started getting distracted wondering why he didn't put down the microphone stand towards the end, just carrying it in one hand and the microphone in the other. My guess? Still new to the stage, and he forgot - it's funny how when you're that focused on getting the notes right you can totally forget where your hands are or what they're doing. Solid performance, but I'm not sure how much further the 'Fro Patrol' will take him. I'd say he has three more weeks for sure.

Gina Glocksen: Sang "Paint It Black"
You know, a lot of folks are dissing on her for this performance, but the fact is I thought it was pretty good! She had a couple bobbles on the low notes (I hate it when my voice cracks at the bottom of my range, so I'm really probably over-sensitive about it in others) and those bobbles showed up when she started 'forcing' her voice. Probably nerves. Still it was pretty good and despite what anyone else thinks I think she'll stick it out a couple more weeks at least. Why? Because she's got personality and she's memorable (are you listening, Phil Stacy?)

Stephanie Edwards: Sang "You don’t Have to Say You Love Me"
If I had to guess who would be voted out this week, it'd be her. Two lackluster performances in a row at this stage in the competition will almost always take it's toll. I kept yelling 'Tempo, tempo!' at the television as she dragged the beat throughout the whole song. (Ballad does NOT always equal SLOW!) and it was just - it felt mechanical to me. I like her, I like her voice, but I just think that she's about at the end of the road.

So to sum up - I'm guessing either Stephanie Edwards or Haley Scarnato will be voted off this week. But I was very pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the performances, almost everyone made improvements this week.

Brandon Rogers - out!

2007-03-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

It's official - the first American Idol to go from the top twelve is Brandon Rogers. This former backup singer made it all the way to the top twelve, so we'll be seeing him again this summer on the inevitable Idol tour; but I'm not sure how much of a fan base he amassed. I wasn't even sure of his name until last night!

Amazingly, after another lackluster performance, Sanjaya is still with us - but it looks like he's been following my advice regarding hairstyling. Now if he could get that voice back under control and pick better songs, we'd be in business. I don't really expect him to survive more than two or three more rounds though. The obvious top three are going to be Melinda, 'Kiki', and Jordin. This is a girl's year, for sure.

Tax time and I'm thinking financials

2007-03-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

This happens to me every year about this time - I put off doing my taxes until the last minute (hey it's MARCH already, it IS the last minute!). Pretty soon I'm flustered, trying to get a grasp on my financial picture as I pull together all those W-2's, I-9's, and whatever other obscure forms I need to get things in gear. And every year I realize just how badly starting my own business impacted my credit score.

I suppose it's not unusual for people who decide to start a small business - a few small credit card advances turned into a larger debt consolidation. Then a couple large clients defaulted on their account and suddenly I can't pay my bills - hmm, guess I'll try to get some sort of loan. Before I really knew it my credit score was in the gutter. And I'll probably be digging out for quite a while!

The most important thing is to be armed with as much knowledge as you can get BEFORE you try to start a business. Think before you open yet another credit line. Remember that payments aren't the ONLY thing which affects your score - even a simple inquiry by a bank can ding your score a few more points, even if you don't apply for the loan! And don't fill your credit card - make sure to keep it below 50% of the approved balance if you can. The irony is that my parents, who have quite a bit more money than I do, probably don't have any better a credit score. Why? Because they don't need credit cards! They pay everything in cash, and have even paid off their house and cars. Hopefully things will begin to get better soon, but until then I'm just going to file those taxes and keep a close eye on my credit score :)

So - who's gonna go tonight?

2007-03-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

Dial Idol is saying that the guys are too close to call, so at this point it's anyone's game... but the girls seem to be angling towards losing Haley, Stephanie (WTF?) or Sabrina. It amazes me that Antonella keeps coasting through considering everything that's happened, but I suppose there's no accounting for taste. I suppose tonight all I can do is curl up on the couch and hope for the best...

Maybe I should have bought my own domain

2007-03-02T12:45:00.000-08:00

You know, I am really happy with this site, but sometimes I think I should have bought my own domain. Well, technically, you don't BUY domains, you lease them, but you get the idea. It can be really exciting to think up a new concept for a web site and then brand it starting with a unique domain name, and then working your way up to a logo and full site layout.

There's a certain freedom you get when you host your own web site rather than using a free hosted service (even a really good one like Blogger). You can do more than just the basics - stretch out, build custom PHP applications to drive some of your sidebar widgets, that sort of thing. It gives you more access to the nuts and bolts of your site, so you can really personalize it and make it your own.

In the end, though, I suppose that I made the right choice hosting this blog at Blogger. It's not that I don't have great domain name ideas, but that this is supposed to be relaxing for me - a place where I can let my hair down. A place where I don't have to worry about my server performance, or the bandwidth - where I can just pull up a chair and chat a while. And so far that's exactly what I love about Elynn's Random Life :)

Who knows though - maybe someday I'll pick up a new domain and then do a site redirect. Maybe if my Alexa gets high enough :)

Sanjaya Malakar, this is for you

2007-03-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

Hey guy. I hope I spelled your name right. I'm definitely a fan. The last couple weeks have been pretty rough for you on American Idol, and I know you're a bit confused right now. But take a deep breath - I'm here to help you.

First, stop taking singing advice from your family. They love you and they're good people, but they have a different view of you than the American viewing public does. They see you as a son and brother, and these aren't BAD things, but they are not going to win you this competition.

So here's what you need to do. I'm breaking it down for you very simply.
Go buy the last five issues of the magazine 'Tiger beat'. While you're at it, go to a local high school, find any four girls aged 14 or under, and see what magazines they read. Just ask them, after they are done swooning over your dark eyes and dreamy hair, they will pretty much give you anything you want - double entendre intended.

Every person placed in the top 24 of American Idol tends to represent an archetype - the soulful single mom who sang in a gospel choir, the ditzy blonde with a heart of gold and the voice of an angel. You, son, were cast as the 'teenage heartthrob'. You need to start singing songs that make the 14 year old girls swoon (oddly enough, this will get you the middle-aged mom vote too. Don't ask me how i know this.) Wear trendy clothes and see what the guys in Tiger beat are wearing, singing and saying. You should be patterning yourself after them as much as possible.

Fair? Nope. But if you want to win, that's what you need to do in this show. Figure out your archetype and play to it without exception. Once you win, make at least a couple albums 'in character' before branching out into other genres. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood got this. Reuben Studdard? Not so much.

Just pick up those copies of "Tiger Beat" this week son. Consider it your homework. And don't sweat the singing - your natural talent will carry you there. And I'll see you in the finals :)

Did somebody say Thin Mints?

2007-02-25T20:45:00.000-08:00

Seriously, I totally overate today. I don't know what it is with me, why I feel the need to eat not until I'm full, but OVERfull. Tonight I had a nice small bowl of pasta with sauce.. and then polished off an entire sleeve of Girl Scout cookies watching TV (Battlestar Galactica, of course.)

Actually, now that I think about it, that's the problem. I'm an automatic eater - put it in front of me while watching TV and it's gone before I even know it's there. Hell, I'm not sure if I even really REMEMBER eating the cookies.

Although they WERE thin mints, which are yummy normally.

If I'm ever going to start making progress on losing weight, I have to figure out the eating thing. Problem is, I sit in front of a computer all day working on code for my clients, and then when I finish working I park in front of the TV or worse, play video games. It seems so easy when I write out goals and so HARD to actually DO them. I have so many things pulling at me - promises and commitments for other people, and so forth - that theres no time to take care of me!

Wah wah wah. Wow I'm whiny. Must be the sugar from the Thin Mints kicking in.

I wonder if we have any more cookies?

Just kidding ;)

Just when "Dog" Chapman thought it couldn't get worse...

2007-02-24T19:51:00.000-08:00

... now the government is pursuing him for back taxes owed in excess of $200,000. I'm having a hard time believing that figure is right.

Part of me is just absolutely devastated by the news. Mr. Chapman evokes extreme reactions from everyone who knows him - you either love him, or you hate him. As for me, I like the guy. I always felt that he provided a positive role model - in that, you can screw up your life and still turn it around no matter how far you have fallen. He seemed to be living proof of that, as he had everything I ever wanted; a loving family, adorable children, a beautiful home and meaningful work improving the community. He was the ultimate example of redemption.

But in the last year it seems as if God has decided to put this man through a test of Job... his daughter died on the day of his wedding, Mexico has decided to extradite him for bringing a known sexual predator and fugitive back to justice when they refused to extradite him (apparently a criminal's money was good enough for them, but Mr. Chapman's isn't? Interesting the standards they have there) and now this. It is a hard blow to think that someone I looked up to might not be all I thought he was. I hope that this is a misunderstanding, a mistake, because if it isn't it will indeed be a test of faith, and for more than just the Chapman family. It will be a test of faith for everyone who believed in him.

The online information economy

2007-02-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

I just read an interesting top ten list that lists "10 new ways to make money online." I enjoyed the article since the author references a few of the things I do, but I was surprised that they didn't make the leap to discussing the overall picture - in my mind, the switch from a product based to an information based online economy.

In almost every example what the author is talking about is placing value on the information you generate. Whether it's a blog post that you write from a unique perspective, a photograph of your family dog, or helping someone troubleshoot their open source software, in every case what's being bought and sold here is only information, not a physical product. In the original online commerce boom, everyone was selling a tangible asset - using eBay to sell junk from their attic, setting up Amazon affiliate stores, and so on. In the 'new' virtual job search, people are finding ways to monetize the stuff they keep between their ears - lifetimes of unique experiences which can filter the massive amount of information available.

In short, the person who does a good job converting DATA into INFORMATION is the person who's going to be successful making money online today. The downside? It's pretty tough to scale that - I couldn't possibly write for fifty blogs, it's all I can do to keep up with two! But maybe that's just as well... in the long term I think we'll all be better off with a more diverse blogosphere anyway :)

Debt consolidation and you (or me)

2007-02-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing I know about, this is it! Being a small business owner, I've run myself into the ground not once, but twice in trying to self-finance a startup company. Starting your own business isn't fun, and it isn't easy (and I hate it when my friends make offhand comments like, "Well you're a business owner, you have PLENTY of free time. Oh and why don't you pick up the check for lunch?" GRR! But I digress.) However what saved my bacon was using Debt Consolidation Services. Now before you roll your eyes on this, I am serious!

There are a number of not-for-profit agencies out there who will work with you to help get things straightened out. What's great is that they can get the interest on your credit cards reduced or even eliminated AND they talk with your creditors so the phone calls stop. I think that was the biggest thing for me - I grew to dread the phone ringing because I KNEW it was a creditor, not a friend or family member. When my kid brother got into trouble, I advised him to go this route and it has really worked for him also. The key is not to spend money to save money - a good not-for-profit debt consolidation company should not have service charges, although they may ask for a donation to finance their efforts (I added $10 a month as a donation to my payments because I was so grateful for what they did for me!) and I'd NEVER advise taking out a debt consolidation LOAN in these situations - why would you risk your home or car for your credit card bills?

I don't think a lot of people realize just how much financial trouble my generation has gotten itself into. Working two jobs, poor health care coverage and job instability has led to an entire generation that uses credit cards for daily expenses - and savings are almost an impossible dream. One reason I tried to start my own business was simply that I didn't want to continue running on that never-ending debt race - and debt consolidation services plus credit counseling helped me get there. Fortunately I'm finally beginning to get ahead :)

American Idol voting means it's "Dial Idol" time!

2007-02-20T16:27:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of DialIdol (and it's hard to believe anyone hasn't) then pop by their site. They not only have a software program you can use to dial for your favorite idol over and over but the real attraction is the predictions page. They have an ever-improving track record of predicting the winners (and the folks who are voted off each week) which makes for a must-click for me.

The Dial Idol Predictions Page
Frequently asked questions about Dial Idol

Surprise, surprise...

2007-02-20T13:42:00.000-08:00

Britney checked in rehab. I for one am shocked... especially since in my opinion her widely publcized 'breakdown' is simply another publicity stunt.

"Look at me! Stop talking about Anna Nicole! Stop paying attention to the latest crop of starlets. Me! ME ME ME!"

I think the real losers here are her kids. If she IS having a breakdown, she needs to get help so she can be a mom to those babies. And if she's not - well then it's the single most selfish thing I've seen in quite some time. The worst part (or best part depending on your perspective I suppose) is she's adding SO much fuel to the fire for Kevin to get custody of those kids. I mean, lets see - so far shes been partying all night, EVERY night, with a crowd who aren't exactly known for maternal instincts; she's been drunk, or stoned, or both. She gone around getting tattoos and shaving her head - does any of this sound like someone you'd want raising your kids? And don't tell me about her 'staff' that can do it - there's absolutely no substitute for a mother's love.

The final thought on this before I abandon this topic completely? This is a young lady who got married too young, for the wrong reasons, and rushed into parenthood. It happens all the time to a lot of girls less famous than she. But now it's time to 'woman up' and get her stuff together (hopefully rehab will help with that) and be there for the kids. Her career will be there when she's done being a mom - or not. But whatever happens she is now responsible for those two little lives, plain and simple.

New Desi video sharing service

2007-02-19T22:49:00.000-08:00

I think one of the things that intrigues me most about the internet are the infinite variations on a theme that you can stumble upon. Sure, we've all heard of YouTube, but I'll bet you haven't heard of AapkaVideo. This video upload/sharing service is targeted for the Indian market, and it's a fascinating visit. Have you heard of Bollywood, and the unique and interesting movies they make there? What about watching a cricket match, or a music video, and in the process learning about one of the fastest growing societies on the planet. Watch some clips and learn about another culture. AapkaVideo - Indian (desi) Video Sharing - this is what the internet is really all about. Drop by and look around!

How deep is your love?

2007-02-19T22:20:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness someone posted this on youtube - it's been stuck in my head for a WEEK!

Fact is, I'm an American Idol junkie - but if they would release THAT VERSION of "How Deep Is Your Love" I would buy it on iTunes NOW. Catchy, and sugar pop-tastic. This looks to be a darned good season, and my early favorites for the show are Sanjaya Malakar and Chris Sligh. Hates? Antonella Barba - I can't remember when I saw such a catty, so-so talent on the show. Believe me, regardless of HOW well she sings, after the way she treated her co-groupmates for the group singing round, I will never, EVER vote for her. The only Hollywood quality she's shown so far is an outstanding talent for being a shrew. Let the countdown to her vote-off commence!

It's so my life

2007-02-17T21:50:00.000-08:00

I remember the first time I saw Clerks, the movie. As it happens, the first preview I saw was when I was working at a video rental store. And the preview clip? It was of course Randall... working at the video store. And I said to myself, "Oh my god, that movie is my life!" I went from one counter-jockey job to another, trying to make a buck and forever whining about having to be there at all. Watching that movie hit me as being exactly what I was going through, and also gave me enough movie quotes to drive my friends crazy for about a year.

So tonight I FINALLY got to see Clerks 2 on video (my fella picked it up). And I have to ask - how does Kevin Smith do that? Because Clerks 2 is so my life now that I'm in my thirties. That moment where you look around and say, hey, I just don't care what other people think about me... I'm going to do what makes me happy, and live the life I want. And if that isn't what someone else would do - well tough. This is my life and my happiness here.

If you haven't seen the movie - do. Mind you there is some rough language and adult situations - this is NOT something to watch if the kids are, say, within a half mile of your house. Pack them off to grandma's, then grab a beer, kick back and enjoy. You're going to thank me later, and you're going to laugh yourself sick. Kevin Smith has his usual gift for dialog and screen writing. And lucky me, I have tickets to go see him at E.J.Thomas hall next month - I'm so excited I can hardly wait!

Oh - but if you're easily offended? Then don't watch, you're only going to leave nasty comments on my blog and totally harsh my mellow.

So you want to earn money blogging...

2007-02-16T21:49:00.000-08:00

...but you're not comfortable writing 'sponsored posts'? Maybe you serve a very narrow niche (for example, my fella writes about movie serials - not exactly a huge audience!) and just want to stick to one topic, so you're afraid that there won't be any good post opportunities for you. After all, there has been controversy surrounding the ethics blogging for pay (even though last time I checked, we all had to eat and pay bills.) One reason I chose PayPerPost was because they have been at the forefront of ethical sponsored blogging - they require disclosure on the blogs that use them so you always know whether you're reading a sponsored post or not, and PayPerPost is selective in the blogs they accept.

Well then, PayPerPost has a new program that's right up your alley! The 'review my post' program helps you increase blog traffic and get paid for writing anything you want! Yup, as in ANYTHING. Here's how it works:

You put a badge like this one at the end of your post:

Maybe your article is about the classic Disney serial 'The Adventures of Spin and Marty'. When you include the 'Review this Post' button at the end of your post, PayPerPost will create a custom paid posting opportunity to write about your post. And if they sign up? You'll get $7.50 - and they'll get paid $7.50 for writing about you. Better yet, you'll get more in links and more traffic, helping your blog become even more successful.

I was a bit skeptical at first but it really does seem to be a win/win situation. More traffic for me, a nice payout for me, and a nice payout for people who sign up to try the service. Why not drop in and check it out?

Spiderman, spiderman...

2007-02-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

I just know that song is going through your head now.

A few facts:
#1 - I was a Marvel geek as a girl. All that angst was just the ticket, and Peter Parker was the KING of angst.
#2 - I was a HUGE fan of the two Spiderman movies, and you know I'm gonna be lined up to see the third one.
#3 - I love video games.

Is it any wonder that I was tickled TO DEATH to be invited to Spidey's Web for their new game, coming out May? SQUEEE!

I have 20 invites to give out if this is something that interests you - drop your name in the comments and I will pass them along until I run out. Did I mention members are entered into drawings for cool stuff, like, you know - a Wii system this February?

Oh I am SO there!

PayPerPost now offering blogger segmentation

2007-02-15T08:51:00.000-08:00

You're probably saying at this point, "Huh? So what, and what is segmentation anyway?" Well it's a good thing - good for bloggers, good for advertisers and good for my wallet :) What it basically means is, if you have a high traffic blog, you're going to get paid more for posting! Rather than $5 or $10 for taking an opportunity, you could get paid in the hundreds (in fact, one opportunity was listed at $1000! Can you imagine?) And since every blog now requires disclosure, you're not going to be misleading your audience and that's important to me - I don't write about ANYTHING I don't like.

So whether you're a low traffic blogger who needs to make money blogging to pay the hosting bill, or a big name blogger who is used to a bit more cash for your opinions, PayPerPost has you covered.

In fact I've been considering signing up with them as an advertiser - since in addition to this blog I also do web design for a living, it only makes sense for me to be able to promote web sites I build, and the service fee is a lot lower than similar 'blog post promotion' programs out there. For example, ReviewMe charges advertisers a 100% markup on every post (Ouch!) where PayPerPost is a much lower and more reasonable 35%. That means more money goes into my pocket, which is a VERY good thing.

I have never been so proud to be from Cleveland

2007-02-14T17:32:00.000-08:00

Stay classy, Channel 19 news. Stay classy. I'd say it was NSFW but you can't really see anything, although the intent was clear.

I can't believe he did that... no wait. This is Cleveland. I most certainly CAN believe it. (And I laughed myself sick when I saw this.)

Morgan Spurlock and Supersize Me

2007-02-12T20:14:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate enough to go see Morgan Spurlock who appeared tonight at E.J. Thomas hall. Morgan is a filmmaker who helped light the fire of controversy under McDonald's nutritional practices with his outstanding documentary film "Super Size Me". I highly recommend EVERYONE go see it, as it really changes your perceptions of the food industry in general and fast food in specific. For example did you know how many cows go into the average McDonald's burger, thanks to our high-tech industrial processes?

Wanna guess?

More than ten - more than a hundred - in fact OVER A THOUSAND COWS have contributed organic material to the Big Mac you might be eating. Let that sink in, because it ought to scare you - I know it scares ME. And don't get me started on the foodlike properties of french fries - because if you think they're natural happy potato strips you can forget it. Good grief, they add SUGAR and BEEF FLAVORING to them among other things!

Morgan is a great, funny speaker who really seems to care about his audience. I was lucky to meet him after the show and he's very down to earth and friendly. He's very excited about his next project, a film he's producing which should come out in November called 'What would Jesus Buy?', exploring the rampant commercialization on Christmas and the general creation of 'consumerism' as almost a religious force. As a former member of the retail management army for a decade or so I am excited see his findings, as I have some definite experiences that I hope will be reflected.

globalwarming awareness2007

2007-02-08T17:37:00.000-08:00

So now you're reading this and wondering "Whats with her? Is she about to go all environmental on me?"

Nope. (Though I DO think it's an important issue.)

I am talking about the SEO World Championship! And the keyphrase for this year is globalwarming awareness2007 - the winner must rank the highest in organic search results across the major three search engines (Google, Yahoo and MSN) for this phrase. Announced on January 15th, plenty of participants are vying for the grand prize of a new car (they are also giving away Caribbean cruises and plasma TV's!) - and of course, bragging rights. So obviously I just had to jump on the 'Global Warming' bandwagon (A great cause to raise awareness about anyway) and see if I could get a wee bit of ranking. Am I eligible for the prize? Nope, because I didn't register the domain AFTER January 15th. Ah well - next year I think I may just throw my hat in the ring!

Got my cake all ready...

2007-02-06T22:34:00.000-08:00

Yup here it comes - tomorrow is my birthday! I went out and bought a chocolate cake from thr bakery, got the ice cream in the fridge, and am going to settle in for a nice long spell of goofing off tomorrow.

What? How is that different from every OTHER day?

Well for one thing, normally, I don't get cake.

You never outgrow playing with dolls..

2007-01-30T07:58:00.000-08:00

When I was a little girl and sick, mom would prop me up on the couch, bring me a nice bowl of soup and watch TV with me - and of course, my dolls would be there too! Dolly (yeah, REAL creative name, I know, give a kid a break) would hang tough with me, help me eat my soup, and lay there patiently as I changed her clothes a few thousand times.

In this modern age, though, dolls can take many shapes. Check out this site where you can play Dress Up Games with adorable little doll avatars. Once you've dressed your doll to your liking, use her to play games, or save her as a new forum avatar or chat icon! I thought they were really adorable and the "girly-girl" in me had fun for quite a while, building and dressing doll after doll - you can see a couple examples below.

I'm surprised more sites don't offer customizable forum and chat icons - the marketing chick in me thinks it's a great way to brand a site and remind you of it even when you're off doing other things. And with so many doll types to choose from, there's good reason to come back and make new ones every week - they even have special holiday themed dolls! I think the winter fairies are particularly appropriate today with all the blowing snow. I'll just make one more while I drink my soup...

Oh man, I've got a cold..

2007-01-30T07:43:00.000-08:00

I've been fighting this thing for days now, but it's time to admit it: I have a cold, and it's just going to make my life miserable. Ever since I was a little girl I've been susceptible to bronchitis when I get sick - something about the way my body works means that if I have a headful, when I sleep it's going to drain right into my lungs, even if I sleep sitting up. I've been fighting for the last couple days trying to prevent it because frankly, I HATE bronchitis! You can't breathe, you feel weak and sick; it put me in the hospital once as a teenager and that's not an experience I care to repeat.

I'm drinking lots of hot tea and coffee, trying to keep active, and taking my vitamins. I really hope this passes soon! I have a lot of work waiting for me...

Who's ready for some funny videos?

2007-01-29T07:46:00.000-08:00

There are two words that never let me down; funny videos. To be more specific, I love going to search for funny videos when I'm in a funk. Whether it's the old stand by of cats fighting to music, or dominoes tumbling; it's really hilarious to see all the online videos people come up with. Jokeroo is a new site that has quite a few great time wasters that will make you smile :)

A blanket of white

2007-01-29T07:38:00.000-08:00

Well, the snowstorm has passed. My entire yard is the most peaceful blanket of white... about 12 inches, clean and calm. I don't really mind a nice covering of snow, as long as I don't have to deal with the icy slush that usually goes with it. Yeah, it's cold, but why not appreciate the seasons as they come? Soon enough there are going to be tiny buds popping up all over my yard - crocuses, daffodils, the first of the peonies - but right now I have this gorgeous fir-lined winter vista, and I like it :)

When it comes to dating, why settle?

2007-01-25T13:21:00.000-08:00

I must say, at least this site is honest. Date a millionaire pulls no punches - it's a site that caters ONLY to singles with a net worth of a million or more. They even spell it out - if you're looking for a relationship or a sugar daddy, they have someone for you! Millionaire Dating - what next? Well at least the folks have to know what they're getting into, and I'd guess that it's a refreshingly honest setup - you have to know that your income is a big part of what they're looking for!

How does that old song go - you can't buy happiness, but at these prices you can probably rent it?

January 30th, RSS goes mainstream

2007-01-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

Well, OK, maybe it's not THAT big a deal. But with the upgrade of Internet Explorer and the release of Vista, more people will be exposed to RSS feeds than ever before. Wired has a great article about ways to "supersize" your RSS experience - by rolling your own feeds, getting your feed delivered by SMS or email, and so forth. My favorite tool is feedburner - the amount of things you can do with any feed boggles the mind!

I think the most important point of the article is that, with RSS now fully integrated into the browser, the casual user is ready to discover RSS for themselves. Sure tech junkies like me have been using it for years, but now my mom will be able to subscribe and actually use an RSS feed without making a frantic call to me. And that is a Good Thing ™

For the whole Wired article, click here.
To visit Feedburner, click here.