Toasty



I drove to work this morning feeling very toasty with my wool hooded coat and gloves, though, credit must go to spouse for reminding me to wear them! It was another bitter cold morning and I really had to push myself to get out of bed. I was lying in bed envisioning scenes from Misery of ice and snow covered mountains in blizzard-like conditions. Hey, my imagination's vivid! LOL



I started my crown work yesterday and am so glad that I waited until after the Thanksgiving holiday. I have to chew my solids on the opposite side and the temporary crown's very tender, indeed. I'm stuck like this for two solid weeks, so I'm grateful and hopeful that I'll be A-Okay for Christmas dinner. I can't have anything messing with my food! LOL

Toasty



I drove to work this morning feeling very toasty with my wool hooded coat and gloves, though, credit must go to spouse for reminding me to wear them! It was another bitter cold morning and I really had to push myself to get out of bed. I was lying in bed envisioning scenes from Misery of ice and snow covered mountains in blizzard-like conditions. Hey, my imagination's vivid! LOL



I started my crown work yesterday and am so glad that I waited until after the Thanksgiving holiday. I have to chew my solids on the opposite side and the temporary crown's very tender, indeed. I'm stuck like this for two solid weeks, so I'm grateful and hopeful that I'll be A-Okay for Christmas dinner. I can't have anything messing with my food! LOL

Ugh, what is up with Blogger?? It is taking forever to access my page. Forget about updating it. It seems to be DOA. Anyone else having problems? I uploaded photos using Hello and now I can't access them to edit them. I've been waiting for like, 25 minutes, this is ridiculous!



I arrived home late this evening, and was surprised to see the police and fire department approximately five houses down the block from me. Spouse and a neighbor both thought the emergency vehicles were at our home as they returned from work!



It appears there was an auto accident and fuel spilled. I can't be certain since I'm not allowed closer than the photo, but I could see an object in the middle of the road and fluid. It's pretty nippy outside, so I'm sure they can't be happy about having to hang around outside diverting traffic and pedestrians.



I went to Circuit City to take advantage on an awesome DVD sale. I bought Doouble Jeopardy and Frailty for $5.99 each. Both are good movies and if you haven't seen Frailty, run out and buy it (at this price it's a steal) or rent it. I also bought Christmas CDs by Luther Vandross and Ray Charles, two of my all time favorite artists!



Now, if I can ever access my blog, maybe you'll be able to read this!

Ugh, what is up with Blogger?? It is taking forever to access my page. Forget about updating it. It seems to be DOA. Anyone else having problems? I uploaded photos using Hello and now I can't access them to edit them. I've been waiting for like, 25 minutes, this is ridiculous!



I arrived home late this evening, and was surprised to see the police and fire department approximately five houses down the block from me. Spouse and a neighbor both thought the emergency vehicles were at our home as they returned from work!



It appears there was an auto accident and fuel spilled. I can't be certain since I'm not allowed closer than the photo, but I could see an object in the middle of the road and fluid. It's pretty nippy outside, so I'm sure they can't be happy about having to hang around outside diverting traffic and pedestrians.



I went to Circuit City to take advantage on an awesome DVD sale. I bought Doouble Jeopardy and Frailty for $5.99 each. Both are good movies and if you haven't seen Frailty, run out and buy it (at this price it's a steal) or rent it. I also bought Christmas CDs by Luther Vandross and Ray Charles, two of my all time favorite artists!



Now, if I can ever access my blog, maybe you'll be able to read this!

Ten for Tuesday

Ten Things You're Thankful For



- B. my wonderful spouse who is the light of my life!

- My family (including nephews and nieces) and the abundant love and support they give me.

- Buddah my faithful fur companion and protector.

- My job

- Living in the U.S.A. where I can blog freely without fear of reprisal

- My computer

- My digital cameras

- Friends

- Good health

- For being loved and loving.







TV Tuesday

What'd you watch?



1. What's your favorite thing you've watched in the past week? The Punisher on DVD. A friend bought it for me and I was pleasantly surprised. The music reminded me a lot of the first Batman movie.



2. Have you found anything new you liked? (You can use disliked or any other adjective you want.)



3. For those who had access to them, did you see any really cool parades on TV? I watched the Hollywood Christmas Parade on TV, even though I'm literally 25 minutes drive from it! LOL It was too cold, though, to be there in person.



~Bonus~ Holiday dinner: TV on or off? Definitely off...TV can be watched after dinner.







Tuesday Twosome

Holidays...



1. Are you almost finished with your holiday shopping or you haven't started yet? Almost finished. B. is pining for a Tivo and it looks like this is the year to buy it! I'm not saying it's a sure thing, but close enough.



2. What do the holidays mean to you? How does this affect how you celebrate the holidays? It means another opportunity to spend time with family and create more memories. It means recoginiizing how fortunate I am and appreciating what I have and who I have in my life. It means counting my many blessing and reaffirming what is most important in life. Material things are not what is important. God, love, family, health, happiness and serenity are what is important.



3. Are you going away for the holidays or staying home? I'm stayhing home, very close to home.



4. What two things do you like about this time of year? Reminiscing and the wonderful and colorful decorations, both indoor and out.



5. What two things do you dislike about this time of year? The commercialism and the stress.

Ten for Tuesday

Ten Things You're Thankful For



- B. my wonderful spouse who is the light of my life!

- My family (including nephews and nieces) and the abundant love and support they give me.

- Buddah my faithful fur companion and protector.

- My job

- Living in the U.S.A. where I can blog freely without fear of reprisal

- My computer

- My digital cameras

- Friends

- Good health

- For being loved and loving.







TV Tuesday

What'd you watch?



1. What's your favorite thing you've watched in the past week? The Punisher on DVD. A friend bought it for me and I was pleasantly surprised. The music reminded me a lot of the first Batman movie.



2. Have you found anything new you liked? (You can use disliked or any other adjective you want.)



3. For those who had access to them, did you see any really cool parades on TV? I watched the Hollywood Christmas Parade on TV, even though I'm literally 25 minutes drive from it! LOL It was too cold, though, to be there in person.



~Bonus~ Holiday dinner: TV on or off? Definitely off...TV can be watched after dinner.







Tuesday Twosome

Holidays...



1. Are you almost finished with your holiday shopping or you haven't started yet? Almost finished. B. is pining for a Tivo and it looks like this is the year to buy it! I'm not saying it's a sure thing, but close enough.



2. What do the holidays mean to you? How does this affect how you celebrate the holidays? It means another opportunity to spend time with family and create more memories. It means recoginiizing how fortunate I am and appreciating what I have and who I have in my life. It means counting my many blessing and reaffirming what is most important in life. Material things are not what is important. God, love, family, health, happiness and serenity are what is important.



3. Are you going away for the holidays or staying home? I'm stayhing home, very close to home.



4. What two things do you like about this time of year? Reminiscing and the wonderful and colorful decorations, both indoor and out.



5. What two things do you dislike about this time of year? The commercialism and the stress.

Brrrr!



Whoa, it was so darned cold this morning. My heater never warmed the car. I pulled in to the parking lot 25 minutes later and it was barely getting warm. Thank God for my wool hooded coat, I would've been chilled to the bone otherwise. For the first time, I wanted my Isotoner driving gloves and a scarf. They don't need to be lined even, just enough material to cover and warm my hands.



I know, it doesn't get that cold in southern California, right? Well let me tell ya this, it's plenty cold enough for me and I don't want anymore. ;-) When my car's heater doesn't warm the car, that's good enough reason for me to require gloves, a hat and wool coat. I'm also noticing the need for hand cream, which means I'm pruning!

Brrrr!



Whoa, it was so darned cold this morning. My heater never warmed the car. I pulled in to the parking lot 25 minutes later and it was barely getting warm. Thank God for my wool hooded coat, I would've been chilled to the bone otherwise. For the first time, I wanted my Isotoner driving gloves and a scarf. They don't need to be lined even, just enough material to cover and warm my hands.



I know, it doesn't get that cold in southern California, right? Well let me tell ya this, it's plenty cold enough for me and I don't want anymore. ;-) When my car's heater doesn't warm the car, that's good enough reason for me to require gloves, a hat and wool coat. I'm also noticing the need for hand cream, which means I'm pruning!

Monday Madness

It's a sort of 'pot pourri' this week. Since I'm moving in a couple of days, I'm inviting everyone who participates this week to offer a question for next week's MM. I know I've done this before, but I really appreciated all the wonderful suggestions. I will use them if they've not been asked in the recent past. Thank you all for playing, and I wish you a wonderful week! =)



1. How did you choose a name for your blog? In retrospect, I wish I'd given it more thought. I didn't think about it enough.



2. How many times have you changed the name of your blog? Twice, if it were easier, I'd change it now. I have a name I'd really like!



3. How many blogs to you update regularly? Three and it's a lot of time and work. LOL



4. How many times have you moved in your life? I've moved nine times and that's enough for me. I hate moving and all the work and stress that's involved.



5. On a scale of 1-10, how stressful is moving (in your opinion)? Ten a solid and unequivocal ten.



6. When moving, do you/would you rent a moving van/truck? I hire movers. They load everything up and unload it to the respective room marked on the box. My advice is mark, mark, mark each and every box with it's contents and the room it belongs in. Don't write kitchen, write Kitchen - utensils, serving spoons, etc. The worse thing is being moved and being unable to find your utensils, plates, napkins, etc. Keep your primary items together: paper plates, napkins, disposable forks, knives, spoons, cups, etc. you'll be happy you did when you're eating your first take out meal in your new home!



7. Do you wear glasses? If so, how old were you when you needed them? I've worn glasses since I was a child.



8. What one question would you hope someone running a meme, would ask? Why do you blog. Are you a writer at heart? Is it a passion? Or because it's en vogue?

Monday Madness

It's a sort of 'pot pourri' this week. Since I'm moving in a couple of days, I'm inviting everyone who participates this week to offer a question for next week's MM. I know I've done this before, but I really appreciated all the wonderful suggestions. I will use them if they've not been asked in the recent past. Thank you all for playing, and I wish you a wonderful week! =)



1. How did you choose a name for your blog? In retrospect, I wish I'd given it more thought. I didn't think about it enough.



2. How many times have you changed the name of your blog? Twice, if it were easier, I'd change it now. I have a name I'd really like!



3. How many blogs to you update regularly? Three and it's a lot of time and work. LOL



4. How many times have you moved in your life? I've moved nine times and that's enough for me. I hate moving and all the work and stress that's involved.



5. On a scale of 1-10, how stressful is moving (in your opinion)? Ten a solid and unequivocal ten.



6. When moving, do you/would you rent a moving van/truck? I hire movers. They load everything up and unload it to the respective room marked on the box. My advice is mark, mark, mark each and every box with it's contents and the room it belongs in. Don't write kitchen, write Kitchen - utensils, serving spoons, etc. The worse thing is being moved and being unable to find your utensils, plates, napkins, etc. Keep your primary items together: paper plates, napkins, disposable forks, knives, spoons, cups, etc. you'll be happy you did when you're eating your first take out meal in your new home!



7. Do you wear glasses? If so, how old were you when you needed them? I've worn glasses since I was a child.



8. What one question would you hope someone running a meme, would ask? Why do you blog. Are you a writer at heart? Is it a passion? Or because it's en vogue?

Music Mambo

"Holiday Wishlists"



It's officially the holiday season. Time to shop and be shopped for. So in the spirit of the busiest time of the year, the mambo will be about musical gifts.



What album do you want the most for the holiday? It's a gift set of either The Beatles (the Capitol albums) or Elton John's Anthology.



Are you buying any of your friends or family music for Christmas? What are you buying them? Well, this year we're not exchanging gifts, only the children are receiving gifts. I'm having extensive dental work done, so for me, it's a good thing. I don't usually buy music, though, because it's hard to know who has what. Gift cards for Best Buy, Frys, or Circuit City are my favorite gifts to give.



What was the best musical gift you ever received? (Doesn't have to be for the holiday season)



Are there any holiday concerts you want to attend? No. This time's too hectic as is and I wouldn't have time for a concert! LOL



Other than CDs what music or music related gifts are on your wishlist? Oooh, a hard drive MP3 player and a flash drive MP3 player. The hard drive for the main unit and flash player for walking/exercising. Also, if it gets stolen I won't be as upset.



I saw an awesome book on John Lennon at Target Saturday night. I was so tired, I can't remember the name now!!!! It sold for $39.99 and it had....wait, spouse is so smart. I was told to go to Target.com and do a search....I found it. It's titled Lennon Legend and is at amazon.com forf $28.00.



Do you keep a wishlist at Amazon or any other site for your musical wants? I do keep a wishlist at amazon.com, though, I've never known anyone to use it! LOL It's been suggested that I add it to my blog, but that just doesn't feel right for me. I don't know. Anyone else tried it?



I'd like gift cards for Frys, Best Buy and Circuit City - no surprise, huh? I love receiving gift cards because I can pick what I want, rather than receive what's the current hit or what the media says is popular.

Music Mambo

"Holiday Wishlists"



It's officially the holiday season. Time to shop and be shopped for. So in the spirit of the busiest time of the year, the mambo will be about musical gifts.



What album do you want the most for the holiday? It's a gift set of either The Beatles (the Capitol albums) or Elton John's Anthology.



Are you buying any of your friends or family music for Christmas? What are you buying them? Well, this year we're not exchanging gifts, only the children are receiving gifts. I'm having extensive dental work done, so for me, it's a good thing. I don't usually buy music, though, because it's hard to know who has what. Gift cards for Best Buy, Frys, or Circuit City are my favorite gifts to give.



What was the best musical gift you ever received? (Doesn't have to be for the holiday season)



Are there any holiday concerts you want to attend? No. This time's too hectic as is and I wouldn't have time for a concert! LOL



Other than CDs what music or music related gifts are on your wishlist? Oooh, a hard drive MP3 player and a flash drive MP3 player. The hard drive for the main unit and flash player for walking/exercising. Also, if it gets stolen I won't be as upset.



I saw an awesome book on John Lennon at Target Saturday night. I was so tired, I can't remember the name now!!!! It sold for $39.99 and it had....wait, spouse is so smart. I was told to go to Target.com and do a search....I found it. It's titled Lennon Legend and is at amazon.com forf $28.00.



Do you keep a wishlist at Amazon or any other site for your musical wants? I do keep a wishlist at amazon.com, though, I've never known anyone to use it! LOL It's been suggested that I add it to my blog, but that just doesn't feel right for me. I don't know. Anyone else tried it?



I'd like gift cards for Frys, Best Buy and Circuit City - no surprise, huh? I love receiving gift cards because I can pick what I want, rather than receive what's the current hit or what the media says is popular.

A Day in My Life

A Day in My Life

Sunday Brunch

Malling



"George Washington had a vision for this country. Was it three days of uninterrupted shopping?" -Jeff Melvoin, Northern Exposure



1) Do you enjoy shopping at the mall? Sometimes, but most often not. I don't mind going when I know exactly what I am looking for, can walk in, find it and pay for it!



2) What is your favorite mall food? Favorite drink is the Hot Dog on a Stick lemondae and food would be fast food Chinese.



3) What are your three favorite “mall” stores? Discovery Store, Anthropologie, and electronics store.



4) What is your favorite mall? None. I do like the Camarillo and Oxnard Outlets a lot. They're basically two freeway exits apart, oh so convenient!



5) Do you have one special person that you enjoy going to the mall with the most? Of course, B. We do most things together and shopping's just another.

Sunday Brunch

Malling



"George Washington had a vision for this country. Was it three days of uninterrupted shopping?" -Jeff Melvoin, Northern Exposure



1) Do you enjoy shopping at the mall? Sometimes, but most often not. I don't mind going when I know exactly what I am looking for, can walk in, find it and pay for it!



2) What is your favorite mall food? Favorite drink is the Hot Dog on a Stick lemondae and food would be fast food Chinese.



3) What are your three favorite “mall” stores? Discovery Store, Anthropologie, and electronics store.



4) What is your favorite mall? None. I do like the Camarillo and Oxnard Outlets a lot. They're basically two freeway exits apart, oh so convenient!



5) Do you have one special person that you enjoy going to the mall with the most? Of course, B. We do most things together and shopping's just another.

Decorating



Well, we made it through completion yesterday. Everything's in place and lighting up beautifully! Thankfully, it didn't rain, though, many an ominous cloud hung around and we kept scurrying to finish.



We've learned through the years that in our neighborhood, we need to tether the decorations very securely or they will be taken. Over the years, we've had several wreaths disappear from our door and hanging decorative lights from our terrace. Determined to not fall prey to thieves again, we've taken to suspending the decorations from the second floor.



We received help from our neighbors and it turned out to be a fun group project. With the angel and wreath weighing in at 30 pounds, we could use all the help we could get. In the evening, we adjourned and feasted on leftover pumpkin, banana cream and pecan pie. Nothing like a solid sugar rush!



Today, we went to my mom's to decorate her outdoors. Luck was not with us, though, as it rained pretty hard and steadily. No matter, we decorated in the rain and Mickey Moused the basic set up with the tools we had. We wanted to get an idea of what we needed to ensure the decorations aren't easy to steal or blow off in a stiff wind.



We then ran off to the awesome sale at Mission Hardware, where we bought some proper tools and accessories for my mom's decorations and uh, ahem, a few items for ourselves. This sale draws shoppers from all over the San Gabriel Valley and we anticipated empty shelves, as it was late in the afternoon.



I think the rain kept folks at bay, so it all balanced out. Not the usual parking snarl or long lines. We actually found everything we wanted and extras! We returned to mom's redid the MM set up correctly with our new purchases and everything works!

Decorating



Well, we made it through completion yesterday. Everything's in place and lighting up beautifully! Thankfully, it didn't rain, though, many an ominous cloud hung around and we kept scurrying to finish.



We've learned through the years that in our neighborhood, we need to tether the decorations very securely or they will be taken. Over the years, we've had several wreaths disappear from our door and hanging decorative lights from our terrace. Determined to not fall prey to thieves again, we've taken to suspending the decorations from the second floor.



We received help from our neighbors and it turned out to be a fun group project. With the angel and wreath weighing in at 30 pounds, we could use all the help we could get. In the evening, we adjourned and feasted on leftover pumpkin, banana cream and pecan pie. Nothing like a solid sugar rush!



Today, we went to my mom's to decorate her outdoors. Luck was not with us, though, as it rained pretty hard and steadily. No matter, we decorated in the rain and Mickey Moused the basic set up with the tools we had. We wanted to get an idea of what we needed to ensure the decorations aren't easy to steal or blow off in a stiff wind.



We then ran off to the awesome sale at Mission Hardware, where we bought some proper tools and accessories for my mom's decorations and uh, ahem, a few items for ourselves. This sale draws shoppers from all over the San Gabriel Valley and we anticipated empty shelves, as it was late in the afternoon.



I think the rain kept folks at bay, so it all balanced out. Not the usual parking snarl or long lines. We actually found everything we wanted and extras! We returned to mom's redid the MM set up correctly with our new purchases and everything works!

Weekend Wonderings

TV



1. How happy are you with your tv service? My cable provider sucks, big time. Of course, because it's a monopoly and no other cable service is offered, I don't have much choice. I could switch to dish where they to will nickle and dime me to death and I get to mount an unsightly dish on the house's exterior.



2. How much tv do you average watching a week? Maybe seven hours, maybe.



3. Are there any shows that you can’t stand to miss? What are they? The are all season and rarely air at the same time:

- The Wire

- The Sopranos

- Dead Like Me

- Six Feet Under

- Touching Evil

- The Dead Zone

- Stargate SG1

- Stargate Atlantis

Weekend Wonderings

TV



1. How happy are you with your tv service? My cable provider sucks, big time. Of course, because it's a monopoly and no other cable service is offered, I don't have much choice. I could switch to dish where they to will nickle and dime me to death and I get to mount an unsightly dish on the house's exterior.



2. How much tv do you average watching a week? Maybe seven hours, maybe.



3. Are there any shows that you can’t stand to miss? What are they? The are all season and rarely air at the same time:

- The Wire

- The Sopranos

- Dead Like Me

- Six Feet Under

- Touching Evil

- The Dead Zone

- Stargate SG1

- Stargate Atlantis

Decking the Halls!




The angel and wreath are made of sturdy wrought iron and each weighs approximately 30 pounds. We have to make certain they're securely anchored and can withstand windy days.

Decking the Halls!




The angel and wreath are made of sturdy wrought iron and each weighs approximately 30 pounds. We have to make certain they're securely anchored and can withstand windy days.

Weekly Capsule



- Chit Chat, our adopted cat, is still missing. A lady would enter our unfenced yard with plates full of cat food in an attempt to entice him. We kept chasing her away and telling her that he was our cat. She stopped coming around about one month ago and now he's gone. He was a very friendly cat and would throw himself on the ground and let anyone pet him. He had a very trusting and gentle spirit. I pray he's alright and in a good home.



- Disappointed that the fryer I ordered from QVC hasn't arrived yet. I thought about buying turkey parts (i.e. breast, thighs) and frying them for Thanksgiving. Have you ever had a fried turkey? They're the absolutely delicious and not greasy at all. I have a whole turkey fryer, but it's so large and takes so long to heat the oil, that the QVC electric fryer looked like an ideal solution.



- It was so cold this morning, the car's heater took ten minutes to heat the interior and I was chilled to the bone. Thank God for my mega cup of hot tea! B. can make all the fun she wants and tell our co-workers how my cups of tea just aren't big enough, but my core will be warm and toasty!



- Seeing Giselle as I pulled in this a.m. She keeps her car parked at the station and uses it to drive to the office and back. She then boards a train to and from home. We see each other infrequently, but it was nice to commiserate and wish each other a happy holiday.



- "What, I thought the grocery store would be busy on Wednesday, not today!"

Standing in a snaking line with my mom at Ralphs.



- Spending time with mom grocery shopping, buying specials at Rite Aid and finishing the evening off with dinner at Chinese Gardens. Some delicious Chinese food before the traditional holiday meal sounded real good to me. Love the vegetables, noodles and variety. Don't need to eat heavy meat dishes right now!



- Must be the holidays....traffic's moving and the freeway meters aren't on. I know many schools are closed Wednesday through Friday, so parents have to take time off to be home with the kiddies. Woo hoo for the rest of us!



- Dying to leave work early from the moment I arrived! We were allowed to depart two hours early, which was fine by us. The place sounded like a morgue in a matter of seconds.



- It's was so warm today and still sunny and light when I arrived home, we decided to wash both cars and let Buddah play outside. It's wonderful to be able to wash the cars and feel warm sunlight upon us.



- "Well, our tree's bare, so I guess autumn's passed."

Spouse surveying our bald tree.



- Getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner and scouring the ads, while listening to Los Lonely Boys. Realizing we don't need or want anything they're offering at 60% discount for the early birds. Sure, we could buy stuff just because, but where would we put it?



- "How many Dominos should there be in a set of double nines? I think we may be missing one."



- Decorating the outdoors with our wrought iron angel and wreath. (Photos will follow) ;-0

Weekly Capsule



- Chit Chat, our adopted cat, is still missing. A lady would enter our unfenced yard with plates full of cat food in an attempt to entice him. We kept chasing her away and telling her that he was our cat. She stopped coming around about one month ago and now he's gone. He was a very friendly cat and would throw himself on the ground and let anyone pet him. He had a very trusting and gentle spirit. I pray he's alright and in a good home.



- Disappointed that the fryer I ordered from QVC hasn't arrived yet. I thought about buying turkey parts (i.e. breast, thighs) and frying them for Thanksgiving. Have you ever had a fried turkey? They're the absolutely delicious and not greasy at all. I have a whole turkey fryer, but it's so large and takes so long to heat the oil, that the QVC electric fryer looked like an ideal solution.



- It was so cold this morning, the car's heater took ten minutes to heat the interior and I was chilled to the bone. Thank God for my mega cup of hot tea! B. can make all the fun she wants and tell our co-workers how my cups of tea just aren't big enough, but my core will be warm and toasty!



- Seeing Giselle as I pulled in this a.m. She keeps her car parked at the station and uses it to drive to the office and back. She then boards a train to and from home. We see each other infrequently, but it was nice to commiserate and wish each other a happy holiday.



- "What, I thought the grocery store would be busy on Wednesday, not today!"

Standing in a snaking line with my mom at Ralphs.



- Spending time with mom grocery shopping, buying specials at Rite Aid and finishing the evening off with dinner at Chinese Gardens. Some delicious Chinese food before the traditional holiday meal sounded real good to me. Love the vegetables, noodles and variety. Don't need to eat heavy meat dishes right now!



- Must be the holidays....traffic's moving and the freeway meters aren't on. I know many schools are closed Wednesday through Friday, so parents have to take time off to be home with the kiddies. Woo hoo for the rest of us!



- Dying to leave work early from the moment I arrived! We were allowed to depart two hours early, which was fine by us. The place sounded like a morgue in a matter of seconds.



- It's was so warm today and still sunny and light when I arrived home, we decided to wash both cars and let Buddah play outside. It's wonderful to be able to wash the cars and feel warm sunlight upon us.



- "Well, our tree's bare, so I guess autumn's passed."

Spouse surveying our bald tree.



- Getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner and scouring the ads, while listening to Los Lonely Boys. Realizing we don't need or want anything they're offering at 60% discount for the early birds. Sure, we could buy stuff just because, but where would we put it?



- "How many Dominos should there be in a set of double nines? I think we may be missing one."



- Decorating the outdoors with our wrought iron angel and wreath. (Photos will follow) ;-0

Happy Thanksgiving!



The day was spent with the family and again I was reminded of my many blessings. I am blessed to have my mother, spouse, sister and nephews with me. Many friends and co-workers have deceased parents/a parent and/or a spouse. I'm very fortunate to be surrounded by my loved ones; I really am and I realize it.



So on the drive home, I was looking around and noticing the pulse of life. I saw a Subway open and there were diners inside, eating as if it were just another day. Which made me a little sad that for those people, Thanksgiving Day wasn't a day to celebrate and be with friends and family. It occurred to me that may not have family, which brought me full circle to being thankful for my family.



It's all very bizarre, I know. I actually have thoughts sometimes! Ah, so we had a very filling and delicious dinner of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, homemade cranberry sauce, yams, green beans, rolls and pecan and sweet potato pies. Ugh, we were stuffed, but very content and comfortable.



My nephew's gf's son, who's five years old, is an adorable little boy. He brought his backpack, as all children do, filled with: a Nerf football, soccer goal net with ball, tractor truck, hat, and a Sponge Bob Squarepants book that also has five games. It was the coolest little book and we played four rounds of various Sponge Bob themed board games. I just loved the little game pieces of Squigword, Sponge Bob, Patrick and Sandy (you know, the squirrel).



As is my custom in game play, I did not win one game. B. won once and our little Sponge Bob won three times! LOL What's neat is the child learns reading, counting and thinking skills. He has to read and comprehend what's in the square he lands on and respond accordingly. I was sent back to the Start line twice in one game, so it's no surprise that I fared so poorly.



I hope everyone had as delicious and wonderful a holiday as I've had. If you're rising early to partake of the sales, I hope you score what you're looking for. I'm staying away from the madness and decorating the outside. It's time to put up the lights.

Happy Thanksgiving!



The day was spent with the family and again I was reminded of my many blessings. I am blessed to have my mother, spouse, sister and nephews with me. Many friends and co-workers have deceased parents/a parent and/or a spouse. I'm very fortunate to be surrounded by my loved ones; I really am and I realize it.



So on the drive home, I was looking around and noticing the pulse of life. I saw a Subway open and there were diners inside, eating as if it were just another day. Which made me a little sad that for those people, Thanksgiving Day wasn't a day to celebrate and be with friends and family. It occurred to me that may not have family, which brought me full circle to being thankful for my family.



It's all very bizarre, I know. I actually have thoughts sometimes! Ah, so we had a very filling and delicious dinner of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, homemade cranberry sauce, yams, green beans, rolls and pecan and sweet potato pies. Ugh, we were stuffed, but very content and comfortable.



My nephew's gf's son, who's five years old, is an adorable little boy. He brought his backpack, as all children do, filled with: a Nerf football, soccer goal net with ball, tractor truck, hat, and a Sponge Bob Squarepants book that also has five games. It was the coolest little book and we played four rounds of various Sponge Bob themed board games. I just loved the little game pieces of Squigword, Sponge Bob, Patrick and Sandy (you know, the squirrel).



As is my custom in game play, I did not win one game. B. won once and our little Sponge Bob won three times! LOL What's neat is the child learns reading, counting and thinking skills. He has to read and comprehend what's in the square he lands on and respond accordingly. I was sent back to the Start line twice in one game, so it's no surprise that I fared so poorly.



I hope everyone had as delicious and wonderful a holiday as I've had. If you're rising early to partake of the sales, I hope you score what you're looking for. I'm staying away from the madness and decorating the outside. It's time to put up the lights.

Work- Related Thankful

I'm thankful for...



- gainful employment and a work environment that makes it nice to go to work.



- great co-worker's that make my time there feel like a second family.



- great office location where there's plenty to do and see during lunch. Also, plenty of photo opps!



- a safe and relaxing work environment with a great supervisor



- an abundance of eateries within five minutes of the office and a large variety of cuisine.



- music in the workplace. B. and I listen to music daily and share our CDs. I can't work without music!



- being in the basement. We don't get a lot of the office politics associated with several departments on one floor being separated by cubicles. Of course, we don't have any windows either and can't receive radio/TV reception, but that's okay.



- working twenty minutes from home (local surface street commute). I don't encounter much congestion and it's relatively stress free. Working so close to home allowed me the flexibility to pick Buddah up from the vet and take him home. I couldn't stand the thought of him staying at the vet all day waiting for us to pick him up. That's a very long day!

Work- Related Thankful

I'm thankful for...



- gainful employment and a work environment that makes it nice to go to work.



- great co-worker's that make my time there feel like a second family.



- great office location where there's plenty to do and see during lunch. Also, plenty of photo opps!



- a safe and relaxing work environment with a great supervisor



- an abundance of eateries within five minutes of the office and a large variety of cuisine.



- music in the workplace. B. and I listen to music daily and share our CDs. I can't work without music!



- being in the basement. We don't get a lot of the office politics associated with several departments on one floor being separated by cubicles. Of course, we don't have any windows either and can't receive radio/TV reception, but that's okay.



- working twenty minutes from home (local surface street commute). I don't encounter much congestion and it's relatively stress free. Working so close to home allowed me the flexibility to pick Buddah up from the vet and take him home. I couldn't stand the thought of him staying at the vet all day waiting for us to pick him up. That's a very long day!

Wednesday Whatevers



1. What is happiness? God, family and home, pure and simple.



2. Are commercials annoying or fun? Hmmm, before I would say annoying. Now, however, there are actually some entertaining, downright funny ones. The straight up boring ones are still annoying. The witty, entertaining ones are fun. How's that for wishy washy answer?



3. In what instances can one be "too nice?" When assisting someone who doesn't appreicate a damn thing and simply keeps asking/expecting more. "Thank you" is a phrase that's not used enough!

Wednesday Whatevers



1. What is happiness? God, family and home, pure and simple.



2. Are commercials annoying or fun? Hmmm, before I would say annoying. Now, however, there are actually some entertaining, downright funny ones. The straight up boring ones are still annoying. The witty, entertaining ones are fun. How's that for wishy washy answer?



3. In what instances can one be "too nice?" When assisting someone who doesn't appreicate a damn thing and simply keeps asking/expecting more. "Thank you" is a phrase that's not used enough!

The Continuing Bike Saga



So it's been two weeks since my last post and the darned bicycle is still tethered to the same pole. Grass is growing around the tires, as the gardeners dare not mow or trim the grass near the cycle. Since my last post inquiring what's become of this steed's owner/rider, my outdoor cat Chit Chat has gone missing. It will be one week tomorrow and our community is very upset.



We've looked for him, hoped and prayed, and contiue waiting. CC's very resourceful; he once wanted in to my neighbor's house from outside. He tore her screen door with his claws and teeth and her dog Punky was raising hell. She couldn't figure out why she was so upset, upon entering her bedroom where Punky was barking and barking, she found Chit Chat comfortably lying on her pillows asleep! LOL



That's the kind of character Chit Chat is. It's also what may have led to his demise. He'd allow anyone to pet him. Being too friendly has its disadvantages, but since he's so resourceful, we're hopeful that if someone's trying to force him to be an indoor cat, he'll bite and claw his way out through their screened door/window and return home! Prayers for Chit Chat, please.

The Continuing Bike Saga



So it's been two weeks since my last post and the darned bicycle is still tethered to the same pole. Grass is growing around the tires, as the gardeners dare not mow or trim the grass near the cycle. Since my last post inquiring what's become of this steed's owner/rider, my outdoor cat Chit Chat has gone missing. It will be one week tomorrow and our community is very upset.



We've looked for him, hoped and prayed, and contiue waiting. CC's very resourceful; he once wanted in to my neighbor's house from outside. He tore her screen door with his claws and teeth and her dog Punky was raising hell. She couldn't figure out why she was so upset, upon entering her bedroom where Punky was barking and barking, she found Chit Chat comfortably lying on her pillows asleep! LOL



That's the kind of character Chit Chat is. It's also what may have led to his demise. He'd allow anyone to pet him. Being too friendly has its disadvantages, but since he's so resourceful, we're hopeful that if someone's trying to force him to be an indoor cat, he'll bite and claw his way out through their screened door/window and return home! Prayers for Chit Chat, please.

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Great Video Games



(Atari)

PacMan

Dig Dug

QBert

Centipede



Super Nintendo)

Super Mario

Donkey Kong



(PC)

Scrabble



(X-Box)

Dance Dance Revolution

Halo series



(PS2)

Grant Theft Auto series

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Great Video Games



(Atari)

PacMan

Dig Dug

QBert

Centipede



Super Nintendo)

Super Mario

Donkey Kong



(PC)

Scrabble



(X-Box)

Dance Dance Revolution

Halo series



(PS2)

Grant Theft Auto series

Brainstorm

Photography



1. Have you ever been interested in photography or are you now? I've always had an interest in photography, but never pursued it because it was always very expensive, especially experimenting and having to buy and develop the film to see the results.

My first digital camera purchase completely changed my shooting. I shoot several photos without worry and enjoy taking photos. I don't think twice about shooting something that may be ordinary to others, but interesting to me.



2. If so what kind of pictures do you prefer to take? (ex: black and white or color or other) I prefer color and the greater the kaleidoscope, the better!



3. Do you enjoy taking pictures of nature, people, still life...etc.? I don't have a favorite subject, but I do enjoy photographing folks in normal situations. I don' like posed shots.



4. Do you own a digital camera? Do you like digital better than the old professional cameras? I love my digital cameras and wouldn't trade them for anything!



5. What do you like best about photography? If you don't care for photography tell us why! It's the opportunity to capture snippets of time for posterity and, with digital, for all to enjoy quickly and easily.

Brainstorm

Photography



1. Have you ever been interested in photography or are you now? I've always had an interest in photography, but never pursued it because it was always very expensive, especially experimenting and having to buy and develop the film to see the results.

My first digital camera purchase completely changed my shooting. I shoot several photos without worry and enjoy taking photos. I don't think twice about shooting something that may be ordinary to others, but interesting to me.



2. If so what kind of pictures do you prefer to take? (ex: black and white or color or other) I prefer color and the greater the kaleidoscope, the better!



3. Do you enjoy taking pictures of nature, people, still life...etc.? I don't have a favorite subject, but I do enjoy photographing folks in normal situations. I don' like posed shots.



4. Do you own a digital camera? Do you like digital better than the old professional cameras? I love my digital cameras and wouldn't trade them for anything!



5. What do you like best about photography? If you don't care for photography tell us why! It's the opportunity to capture snippets of time for posterity and, with digital, for all to enjoy quickly and easily.

Spouse-related Thankful

I'm thankful for...



- a loving, considerate, caring and attentive spouse. B's my best friend, confidante, and love of my life! When we're not together, I feel lost. Not because I can't make decisions by myself, but because I truly feel separated from my better half. It's no fun doing things alone or even in a crowd, separated from each other.



- my soulmate. God blessed me with someone who knows me - good/bad, happy/sad, positive/negative, brave/scared and still loves and respects me. How many people have that? Honestly, not many. I am very fortunate.



- the laughter and fun. I'm fortunate that my day's begin and end with smiles and/or laughter. Without fail, we're talking about something that makes us laugh, smile and count our blessings. We don't retire to bed angry or harboring ill will. It makes for many nights of good, sound sleep.



- my spouse's gentle soul, which allows Buddah, Little Girl and Chit Chat (come home!) to enjoy a relaxed, loving and nuturing atmosphere, replete with good medical care and plenty of pets, hugs and kisses. We're both animal lovers and are passionate about respecting all beings.



- a supportive, encouraging and patient spouse who puts up with my zany interests and bursts of energy. I can be incredibly scattered and hyper and yet, B. always manages to keep pace with me. Never complaining or whining - which I appreciate so very, very much! As an example, look at how much time blogging and photography take? Not too mention the expense...okay, let's move on!



- B. enjoying cooking. I eat some awesome homemade meals and never tire of B's experimentation and new recipes. We also enjoy eating out a lot and trying different cuisine, a real plus for the palate!



- that we share the same tastes, interests and don't mind sharing. We know things can't be perfect and we strive to make them better or recognize our good fortune and appreciate it and each other.

Spouse-related Thankful

I'm thankful for...



- a loving, considerate, caring and attentive spouse. B's my best friend, confidante, and love of my life! When we're not together, I feel lost. Not because I can't make decisions by myself, but because I truly feel separated from my better half. It's no fun doing things alone or even in a crowd, separated from each other.



- my soulmate. God blessed me with someone who knows me - good/bad, happy/sad, positive/negative, brave/scared and still loves and respects me. How many people have that? Honestly, not many. I am very fortunate.



- the laughter and fun. I'm fortunate that my day's begin and end with smiles and/or laughter. Without fail, we're talking about something that makes us laugh, smile and count our blessings. We don't retire to bed angry or harboring ill will. It makes for many nights of good, sound sleep.



- my spouse's gentle soul, which allows Buddah, Little Girl and Chit Chat (come home!) to enjoy a relaxed, loving and nuturing atmosphere, replete with good medical care and plenty of pets, hugs and kisses. We're both animal lovers and are passionate about respecting all beings.



- a supportive, encouraging and patient spouse who puts up with my zany interests and bursts of energy. I can be incredibly scattered and hyper and yet, B. always manages to keep pace with me. Never complaining or whining - which I appreciate so very, very much! As an example, look at how much time blogging and photography take? Not too mention the expense...okay, let's move on!



- B. enjoying cooking. I eat some awesome homemade meals and never tire of B's experimentation and new recipes. We also enjoy eating out a lot and trying different cuisine, a real plus for the palate!



- that we share the same tastes, interests and don't mind sharing. We know things can't be perfect and we strive to make them better or recognize our good fortune and appreciate it and each other.

Music Mambo

"Be Thankful"



If you could thank one artist/band for their contribution to your life, who would it be and why? It would be The Beatles and John Lennon as a solo artist. During the sixties The Beatles sang about love, peace, acceptance and unity. Lennon continued creating music around these central and important themes. His dedication to love, peace, acceptance and unity was unwavering.



What albums are you thankful that you purchased or heard this year?

Ozomatli's Street Signs

Tantra Lounge

Ray Charles - Ultimate Anthology

George Lopez - Team Leader

Guns N Roses - Greatest Hits



If you wanted to tell someone thanks in song, what song would it be?

Atlantic Starr's Always



What musical things are you thankful for?

CDRW Burners

Hard drive MP3 Players

Concert DVDs

Satellite Radio

Digital video cameras for capturing concerts

Awesome improvements in sound quality

Mega speakers! LOL

Music Mambo

"Be Thankful"



If you could thank one artist/band for their contribution to your life, who would it be and why? It would be The Beatles and John Lennon as a solo artist. During the sixties The Beatles sang about love, peace, acceptance and unity. Lennon continued creating music around these central and important themes. His dedication to love, peace, acceptance and unity was unwavering.



What albums are you thankful that you purchased or heard this year?

Ozomatli's Street Signs

Tantra Lounge

Ray Charles - Ultimate Anthology

George Lopez - Team Leader

Guns N Roses - Greatest Hits



If you wanted to tell someone thanks in song, what song would it be?

Atlantic Starr's Always



What musical things are you thankful for?

CDRW Burners

Hard drive MP3 Players

Concert DVDs

Satellite Radio

Digital video cameras for capturing concerts

Awesome improvements in sound quality

Mega speakers! LOL

Moody Monday Theme - Safe

Wild About Music Store



You may remember that back in May I was lamenting the closure of an indie bookstore named "The Midnight Special", well a new store named Wild About Music is nearing its grand opening in the once vacant spot. They're still setting displays and and getting the lighting worked out, but they allowed us to enter and even snap a few photos.



They have a wonderful collection of art: paintings, photographs, drawings and sculptures that I was not allowed to photograph, but if you go to their website, you'll get a very good idea of the merchandise they offer. Of course, everything's related to music and they have very unique and adorable ornamnets. I already have three items I plan to buy, each costing $40.00! LOL

A Day in My Life

A Day in My Life

The Weather



Well, all the Doppler radar and computers did not help our weathermen forecast rain Saturday night. I was at Santa Monica in mid afternoon where it was sunny with a slight breeze. About thirty minutes of shooting photos and storm clouds arrived, hiding the sun and causing winds. Do you think our local meteorologist's said rain? No. By 10:30 p.m. it began raining buckets and it continued through the night.



MIL phoned this a.m. in a very excited voice to say they received a dusting of snow. It's all melted away by now, but considering she lives in the lower desert, it's very remarkable that it happened at all. I can't help but think of the film The Day After Tomorrow and how the melting of the polar ice caps and global warming is affecting the climate.



It is so cold today (we're in the mid-forties) and I awoke with bad back, shoulder and neck pain - that we decided to cancel attending the The Doo Dah Parade. I don't want to get sick or exacerbate my arthritis pain. I want to feel good this holiday! LOL

The Weather



Well, all the Doppler radar and computers did not help our weathermen forecast rain Saturday night. I was at Santa Monica in mid afternoon where it was sunny with a slight breeze. About thirty minutes of shooting photos and storm clouds arrived, hiding the sun and causing winds. Do you think our local meteorologist's said rain? No. By 10:30 p.m. it began raining buckets and it continued through the night.



MIL phoned this a.m. in a very excited voice to say they received a dusting of snow. It's all melted away by now, but considering she lives in the lower desert, it's very remarkable that it happened at all. I can't help but think of the film The Day After Tomorrow and how the melting of the polar ice caps and global warming is affecting the climate.



It is so cold today (we're in the mid-forties) and I awoke with bad back, shoulder and neck pain - that we decided to cancel attending the The Doo Dah Parade. I don't want to get sick or exacerbate my arthritis pain. I want to feel good this holiday! LOL

saturday-8 :: celluloid



1. my favourite film star, british hunk sean bean, is starring in the newly-released film "national treasure" with nic cage. i plan on seeing it this weekend, like i do ALL of his films released in the US. what film star do you HAVE to see when he/she is out in a new film, regardless of what it is? None. I'm not that avid a fan of anyone, anything or genre. They're no different than the rest of us. If a film strikes my curiousity and I have the time, I'll go the theater. If not, it's relegated to rental.



2. i collect movies; between my husband, children and i, we have about 300 DVDs. do you purchase movies at all to watch at home? Definitely. Watching movies at home is oft-times preferrable to the theater because there are no ringing cell phones, play by play Bubbas explaining evertything or lost Arnolds asking why did that happen? Who's she? LOL I don't have as many as you, though! I'm waay behind and, if my interest in a movie lasts beyond the initial DVD release phase, I'll buy it.



It's like DVD Tuesday is the day to buy the new releases because Target and Wal-Mart often advertise "absolute lowest price" as an enticement. I often miss these days because I'm just too tired to stop after work and by Thursday, I've long forgotten about DVDs. But, if I remember the follwoing week or weeks, I'll go back and buy it.



3. my favourite genre is a period movie, and jane austen's works are probably my favourite. what genre is YOUR favourite: drama, romance, comedy, historical, horror, thriller (or put in your own if i've forgotten it)? I like all of the above, so it's easier for me to answer what I least like: Sci-Fi films.



4. i refuse to see children's movies, even though i have two young daughters. i will NOT, under any circumstances, sit in a theatre filled with little kids. do you like kid's flicks? Love them! Although, I'll see the film in theaters like three to four weeks later, after the "kiddie rush" has subsided. LOL



i belong to netflix AND blockbuster's 'unlimited plan' movie deal because i'm HORRIBLE at returning movies. i didn't rent movies for years and simply purchased them because i'd wind up paying more in rental return fees than if i'd just purchased the movie to begin with. so...



5. do you belong to netflix or the blockbuster 'keep 'em as long as you need to' programme where you don't have to pay late fees? Not yet. Spouse has been strongly suggesting we try NetFlix, though I feel it's a waste. We live within ten minutes of two Blockbusters and one Hollywood Video chain, we rarely forget to return a movie, so it's not a problem for us. I can't see paying a set monthly fee for three films, just for the convenience of not rushing.



6. do you purchase more films or rent more of them? It's 50-50. My co-workers are always recommending films and lending them to me. Or they tell me ahead of time, "this films a must see rental when it's released on DVD."



7. my husband purchases ANYTHING that is 'new to him.' i think this is a waste because i won't watch them, and he really only buys them for HIM. do you discriminate before purchasing a movie, or do you like to buy new releases? I definitely consider my purchases, unless it's a steal of a price like $7.99. Heck, for that price, it's a lot cheaper than if you'd gone to the theater!



My neighbor loaned me Unfaithful and I really liked the film. However, I didn't want to spend $15.99 for it. Well, Target has it for $7.99 and I'll now buy it. It's a film that I will not mind seeing again and again. It's in the category of Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Falling In Love and Frailty.



8. so, are you going to see 'national treasure' this weekend, like me? why or why not? No, I'll wait. I want to see the The Grudge first before it leaves theaters. You know, films have such a short life span! Of course, a co-worker loaned me Ju-On, which is the Japanese film the Grudge is based on. So, I'll watch it first, then The Grudge. I love foreign films!



see you at the movies!!!

saturday-8 :: celluloid



1. my favourite film star, british hunk sean bean, is starring in the newly-released film "national treasure" with nic cage. i plan on seeing it this weekend, like i do ALL of his films released in the US. what film star do you HAVE to see when he/she is out in a new film, regardless of what it is? None. I'm not that avid a fan of anyone, anything or genre. They're no different than the rest of us. If a film strikes my curiousity and I have the time, I'll go the theater. If not, it's relegated to rental.



2. i collect movies; between my husband, children and i, we have about 300 DVDs. do you purchase movies at all to watch at home? Definitely. Watching movies at home is oft-times preferrable to the theater because there are no ringing cell phones, play by play Bubbas explaining evertything or lost Arnolds asking why did that happen? Who's she? LOL I don't have as many as you, though! I'm waay behind and, if my interest in a movie lasts beyond the initial DVD release phase, I'll buy it.



It's like DVD Tuesday is the day to buy the new releases because Target and Wal-Mart often advertise "absolute lowest price" as an enticement. I often miss these days because I'm just too tired to stop after work and by Thursday, I've long forgotten about DVDs. But, if I remember the follwoing week or weeks, I'll go back and buy it.



3. my favourite genre is a period movie, and jane austen's works are probably my favourite. what genre is YOUR favourite: drama, romance, comedy, historical, horror, thriller (or put in your own if i've forgotten it)? I like all of the above, so it's easier for me to answer what I least like: Sci-Fi films.



4. i refuse to see children's movies, even though i have two young daughters. i will NOT, under any circumstances, sit in a theatre filled with little kids. do you like kid's flicks? Love them! Although, I'll see the film in theaters like three to four weeks later, after the "kiddie rush" has subsided. LOL



i belong to netflix AND blockbuster's 'unlimited plan' movie deal because i'm HORRIBLE at returning movies. i didn't rent movies for years and simply purchased them because i'd wind up paying more in rental return fees than if i'd just purchased the movie to begin with. so...



5. do you belong to netflix or the blockbuster 'keep 'em as long as you need to' programme where you don't have to pay late fees? Not yet. Spouse has been strongly suggesting we try NetFlix, though I feel it's a waste. We live within ten minutes of two Blockbusters and one Hollywood Video chain, we rarely forget to return a movie, so it's not a problem for us. I can't see paying a set monthly fee for three films, just for the convenience of not rushing.



6. do you purchase more films or rent more of them? It's 50-50. My co-workers are always recommending films and lending them to me. Or they tell me ahead of time, "this films a must see rental when it's released on DVD."



7. my husband purchases ANYTHING that is 'new to him.' i think this is a waste because i won't watch them, and he really only buys them for HIM. do you discriminate before purchasing a movie, or do you like to buy new releases? I definitely consider my purchases, unless it's a steal of a price like $7.99. Heck, for that price, it's a lot cheaper than if you'd gone to the theater!



My neighbor loaned me Unfaithful and I really liked the film. However, I didn't want to spend $15.99 for it. Well, Target has it for $7.99 and I'll now buy it. It's a film that I will not mind seeing again and again. It's in the category of Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Falling In Love and Frailty.



8. so, are you going to see 'national treasure' this weekend, like me? why or why not? No, I'll wait. I want to see the The Grudge first before it leaves theaters. You know, films have such a short life span! Of course, a co-worker loaned me Ju-On, which is the Japanese film the Grudge is based on. So, I'll watch it first, then The Grudge. I love foreign films!



see you at the movies!!!

Weekly Capsule



- Almost creamed this morning when a driver turned into the lane I was occupying. I blared my horn I entered the lane next to me. The driver seemed oblivious to his action and never slowed! Thank God I had a lane to zip into.



- Feeling extra spicy on a Monday morn and singing a Village People medley: YMCA, San Francisco, Macho Man, In the Navy, Everbody is a Star (Hollywood). Co-worker's concerned about my sanity, as they laughed it up and some sang along with me!



- There's always one person who has to act "cute". B. (who enjoys torturing me with the song Afternoon Delight) said I didn't know the words to In the Navy. Unfortunately for her, I had the Best of the Village People CD in my desk and she was forced to listen to the entire 75 minute CD at 8:00 a.m.



- Wishing my work computer had USB ports (yup, it's that old), so I wouldn't have to save to floppies. Yeah, who knew they still served a purpose! Of course, every other day my data's lost, so I must immediately transfer documents.



- We're in the mid-seventies and loving it. Should be great weather for the upcoming Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena, CA. I'll be attending and snapping photos.



- Went to Wal-Mart after work, a rarity for me (I prefer going directly home), because the "children" ran out of Fancy Feast cat food. While there, I spied a Checkers/Backgammon/Chess game set for $2.97 - what a steal. It's nothing fancy, all cardboard and plastic, but it will definitely suffice for game play at work. LOL



- Wal-Mart also has the most adorable 8 foot inflatable Santa Tigger for $50.00. However, having no yard to properly display it, I abstained and briskly walked away. Temptation can too easily get a grip on me! The crowds weren't as bad as I'd antipated, either.



- Watched The Day After Tomorrow starring Dennis Quaid and for a film I did not desire to see, it was suprisingly engaging. My co-worker loaned me the movie and she's a pretty good judge of what I'll like. The number of hokey premises or lines was low and overall the movie was good. I would not, however, have paid to see it in the theater.



- Went by the 99 Cent Store after work to buy paper plates for a birthday celebration at work. This store was much more crowded than the Wal-Mart I visited yesterday, which surprised me. The majority of shoppers were buying staple items (i.e. canned goods, dairy products, bread, detergent, etc.) and I felt this was a good indicator of how many people really need to make their dollars stretch.



- Woo hoo, B's mom received the 2005 Monthly Bible Calendar (daily you're assigned chapters to read and by year's end, you've read the whole Bible) and I'm excited about reading it again. This year was my first year reading the Bible and there's much that whizzed by me. My hope is that the second time, more will sink in and become understandable!



- Working O.T. today but thankful it's our department's holiday party. The food was delicious and everyone seemed to be having a good time, save for two very unsavory characters who were invited by N.H. They filled their plates to mountainous proportions, ate a few spoonfuls, rose and filled two more plates each. They then ate a little food from plates one and two, then took plates three and four back to their respective departments.



- Greedy humans never cease to amaze me. I was astounded by their behavior.



- Everyone spent the remainder of lunch angrily discussing the actions of the two women and how they'd managed to clean out our table. It seemed the more I tried to convince them to "let it go", the more they carried on.

Weekly Capsule



- Almost creamed this morning when a driver turned into the lane I was occupying. I blared my horn I entered the lane next to me. The driver seemed oblivious to his action and never slowed! Thank God I had a lane to zip into.



- Feeling extra spicy on a Monday morn and singing a Village People medley: YMCA, San Francisco, Macho Man, In the Navy, Everbody is a Star (Hollywood). Co-worker's concerned about my sanity, as they laughed it up and some sang along with me!



- There's always one person who has to act "cute". B. (who enjoys torturing me with the song Afternoon Delight) said I didn't know the words to In the Navy. Unfortunately for her, I had the Best of the Village People CD in my desk and she was forced to listen to the entire 75 minute CD at 8:00 a.m.



- Wishing my work computer had USB ports (yup, it's that old), so I wouldn't have to save to floppies. Yeah, who knew they still served a purpose! Of course, every other day my data's lost, so I must immediately transfer documents.



- We're in the mid-seventies and loving it. Should be great weather for the upcoming Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena, CA. I'll be attending and snapping photos.



- Went to Wal-Mart after work, a rarity for me (I prefer going directly home), because the "children" ran out of Fancy Feast cat food. While there, I spied a Checkers/Backgammon/Chess game set for $2.97 - what a steal. It's nothing fancy, all cardboard and plastic, but it will definitely suffice for game play at work. LOL



- Wal-Mart also has the most adorable 8 foot inflatable Santa Tigger for $50.00. However, having no yard to properly display it, I abstained and briskly walked away. Temptation can too easily get a grip on me! The crowds weren't as bad as I'd antipated, either.



- Watched The Day After Tomorrow starring Dennis Quaid and for a film I did not desire to see, it was suprisingly engaging. My co-worker loaned me the movie and she's a pretty good judge of what I'll like. The number of hokey premises or lines was low and overall the movie was good. I would not, however, have paid to see it in the theater.



- Went by the 99 Cent Store after work to buy paper plates for a birthday celebration at work. This store was much more crowded than the Wal-Mart I visited yesterday, which surprised me. The majority of shoppers were buying staple items (i.e. canned goods, dairy products, bread, detergent, etc.) and I felt this was a good indicator of how many people really need to make their dollars stretch.



- Woo hoo, B's mom received the 2005 Monthly Bible Calendar (daily you're assigned chapters to read and by year's end, you've read the whole Bible) and I'm excited about reading it again. This year was my first year reading the Bible and there's much that whizzed by me. My hope is that the second time, more will sink in and become understandable!



- Working O.T. today but thankful it's our department's holiday party. The food was delicious and everyone seemed to be having a good time, save for two very unsavory characters who were invited by N.H. They filled their plates to mountainous proportions, ate a few spoonfuls, rose and filled two more plates each. They then ate a little food from plates one and two, then took plates three and four back to their respective departments.



- Greedy humans never cease to amaze me. I was astounded by their behavior.



- Everyone spent the remainder of lunch angrily discussing the actions of the two women and how they'd managed to clean out our table. It seemed the more I tried to convince them to "let it go", the more they carried on.

Disaster Drill



Today spouse had an emergency drill at work, keep in mind that B. works at a hosptial. So during the disaster drill hospital personnel were posing as injured victims with a variety of ailments and injuries. Doctors, nurses and ancillary staff were at their stations ready to process the injured.



Processing consisted of a series of pre-determined questions, designed to expedite the admission process. The questions, typical of any hospital, were quite extensive and thorough. One 'victim' became alarmed and ran off, much to the surprise of the drill participants. Confusion spread and some believed this victim's action to be part of the drill, while others were positive this wasn't part of the script.



As it turned out, the 'escapee victim' was, in fact, not a dummy patient and was in genuine need of care! He became alarmed by the questioning and urgency of the staff and ran off. Oh, B. and I laughed, and laughed, and laughed about how frightened this man must have been. I said, "He probably thinks you guys are body snatchers!" Oh Lord, the best made plans.

Disaster Drill



Today spouse had an emergency drill at work, keep in mind that B. works at a hosptial. So during the disaster drill hospital personnel were posing as injured victims with a variety of ailments and injuries. Doctors, nurses and ancillary staff were at their stations ready to process the injured.



Processing consisted of a series of pre-determined questions, designed to expedite the admission process. The questions, typical of any hospital, were quite extensive and thorough. One 'victim' became alarmed and ran off, much to the surprise of the drill participants. Confusion spread and some believed this victim's action to be part of the drill, while others were positive this wasn't part of the script.



As it turned out, the 'escapee victim' was, in fact, not a dummy patient and was in genuine need of care! He became alarmed by the questioning and urgency of the staff and ran off. Oh, B. and I laughed, and laughed, and laughed about how frightened this man must have been. I said, "He probably thinks you guys are body snatchers!" Oh Lord, the best made plans.

Thursday Threesome

T3

In honor of Thanksgiving in the U.S. next week: No one diets on Thanksgiving --Erma Bombeck



Onesome: No one- ...to talk to? Nah, who is it you look forward to seeing at one of the holidays just to be able to sit around and chat with? Sure, even someone you see during the rest of the year! You know, I look forward to just hanging out with everyone. I guess, I should be embarrassed to admit this, being that I'm an adult, but I enjoy playing with the boys and listening to their excited voices talk about video games. I don't see them often enough.



Twosome: diets- Have you ever tried one of the "fad" diets out there? Yes, I include Atkins in this category! How did it work for you? Would you do it again or try another one? Oh god, which one haven't I tried! LOL Definitely tried the Atkins and yes, it worked for awhile, but like everything other one, didn't last.



Threesome: on Thanksgiving- What's your favorite dish? Would you be happy just pigging out on turkey, or do you need all the fixings? Does the pumpkin pie make the meal or do you prefer Mom's green bean casserole? Turkey's the least favorite food item of the holiday. I need all the fixings and they're what I look forward to. I'm not big on pumpkin pie, either. My mom's stuffing and spouse's cranberry sauce make the meal. Wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them.

Thursday Threesome

T3

In honor of Thanksgiving in the U.S. next week: No one diets on Thanksgiving --Erma Bombeck



Onesome: No one- ...to talk to? Nah, who is it you look forward to seeing at one of the holidays just to be able to sit around and chat with? Sure, even someone you see during the rest of the year! You know, I look forward to just hanging out with everyone. I guess, I should be embarrassed to admit this, being that I'm an adult, but I enjoy playing with the boys and listening to their excited voices talk about video games. I don't see them often enough.



Twosome: diets- Have you ever tried one of the "fad" diets out there? Yes, I include Atkins in this category! How did it work for you? Would you do it again or try another one? Oh god, which one haven't I tried! LOL Definitely tried the Atkins and yes, it worked for awhile, but like everything other one, didn't last.



Threesome: on Thanksgiving- What's your favorite dish? Would you be happy just pigging out on turkey, or do you need all the fixings? Does the pumpkin pie make the meal or do you prefer Mom's green bean casserole? Turkey's the least favorite food item of the holiday. I need all the fixings and they're what I look forward to. I'm not big on pumpkin pie, either. My mom's stuffing and spouse's cranberry sauce make the meal. Wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them.

Theater Thursday

So Tell Me Why....



We've all watched films and wondered why an actor or director did a scene in a certain way, or what was going through their minds when they shot a particular sequence. Now here's your chance to ask them!



1) What question(s) would you ask any actor (past or present) about their film work? Robert De Niro has worked on several films with Meryl Streep, does he see/feel the onscreen chemistry? If not, whom does he believe he has an onscreen chemistry with? What was the meaning/moral of The Deer Hunter? I know what I believe it is, but have always wondered if I'm right.



2) What question(s) would you ask any filmmaker (director, producer - past or present) about their film work? I'd ask Peter Jackson is his remake of King Kong will remain true the story or his he going to embellish it in such a way that it's a whole new feature? Would he consider doing a Godzilla remake? What challenges exist in doing King Kong vs. The Lord of The Rings Trilogy? Why is even interested in remaking King Kong? Is this his favorite story/film?



3) What question(s) would you ask any other person on a movie crew (costumer, composer, special effects wizard, best boy) about their film work? I'd like a glossary of various crew titles and I like to know if they got into the 'industry' because family brought them in or they have friends in the business. I've often been told that it's "who you know in the movie industry" that hooks you up.



BONUS LITERARY QUESTION) What would you ask any author (past or present) about their writing or body of work? I'd ask Stephen King where his characters and scary ideas come from? As a child, was he traumatized? Does the story come to him in a vision (like dreaming replete with imagery) or does he agonize over the story each writing session? Does he write only when the story/next plot materializes or does he force him to maintain a writing schedule?

Theater Thursday

So Tell Me Why....



We've all watched films and wondered why an actor or director did a scene in a certain way, or what was going through their minds when they shot a particular sequence. Now here's your chance to ask them!



1) What question(s) would you ask any actor (past or present) about their film work? Robert De Niro has worked on several films with Meryl Streep, does he see/feel the onscreen chemistry? If not, whom does he believe he has an onscreen chemistry with? What was the meaning/moral of The Deer Hunter? I know what I believe it is, but have always wondered if I'm right.



2) What question(s) would you ask any filmmaker (director, producer - past or present) about their film work? I'd ask Peter Jackson is his remake of King Kong will remain true the story or his he going to embellish it in such a way that it's a whole new feature? Would he consider doing a Godzilla remake? What challenges exist in doing King Kong vs. The Lord of The Rings Trilogy? Why is even interested in remaking King Kong? Is this his favorite story/film?



3) What question(s) would you ask any other person on a movie crew (costumer, composer, special effects wizard, best boy) about their film work? I'd like a glossary of various crew titles and I like to know if they got into the 'industry' because family brought them in or they have friends in the business. I've often been told that it's "who you know in the movie industry" that hooks you up.



BONUS LITERARY QUESTION) What would you ask any author (past or present) about their writing or body of work? I'd ask Stephen King where his characters and scary ideas come from? As a child, was he traumatized? Does the story come to him in a vision (like dreaming replete with imagery) or does he agonize over the story each writing session? Does he write only when the story/next plot materializes or does he force him to maintain a writing schedule?

I love Southern California in autumn. Lots of sunshine, palm trees and outdoor concerts at noon!

Darkness



At 4:30 p.m. on the drive home, I could no longer wear my sunglasses because it was too dark. I know we're nearing the time when it will be dark at 4:30 p.m. and headlights are required. This is my darkest moment and the period I dread most. I need sunshine and sunlight and I hope the shortened days don't last too long. They do affect me, not in a grumpy or menacing way, but in a sad or depressed way. I become very lethargic and don't want to leave the house. B. has a heck of a time getting me to go to the market, even! LOL

Darkness



At 4:30 p.m. on the drive home, I could no longer wear my sunglasses because it was too dark. I know we're nearing the time when it will be dark at 4:30 p.m. and headlights are required. This is my darkest moment and the period I dread most. I need sunshine and sunlight and I hope the shortened days don't last too long. They do affect me, not in a grumpy or menacing way, but in a sad or depressed way. I become very lethargic and don't want to leave the house. B. has a heck of a time getting me to go to the market, even! LOL

MidWeek Music

Can I get an “Amen”?!



What album do you have that most people haven’t heard of and you would proselytize to your friends? That would be a CD by Ring titled Soul to the Pleasure. I'm sure it won't be liked or appreciated by most, but the compositions and harp playing are wonderful.

MidWeek Music

Can I get an “Amen”?!



What album do you have that most people haven’t heard of and you would proselytize to your friends? That would be a CD by Ring titled Soul to the Pleasure. I'm sure it won't be liked or appreciated by most, but the compositions and harp playing are wonderful.

TV Tuesday

Holiday Habits



The Holidays are quickly coming upon us, what will be on your TV?



1. Any holiday favorites you can't live without? Oh yea: A Christmas Carol (three versions), A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation and You've Got Mail (I know, but it does take place during the holidays)!



2. Holiday viewing: Parades or Football? Neither, DVDs or listening to music.



3. What's your favorite holiday TV memory? Okay, I know this sounds hokey but...whatever...The Waltons Christmas movie. In my recesses, I must have this desire to go waayy back in time and live in their era! LOL



~Bonus~ Holiday remakes, are you a faithful fan of the old classics or do you prefer the newer versions? I'm an old faithful. Just this weekend I saw an ad for

Christmas Vacation 2 and immediately began wondering if Chevy Chase starred in it. Especially since Randy Quaid is receiving top billing, he played Chevy's cousin in CV.

TV Tuesday

Holiday Habits



The Holidays are quickly coming upon us, what will be on your TV?



1. Any holiday favorites you can't live without? Oh yea: A Christmas Carol (three versions), A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation and You've Got Mail (I know, but it does take place during the holidays)!



2. Holiday viewing: Parades or Football? Neither, DVDs or listening to music.



3. What's your favorite holiday TV memory? Okay, I know this sounds hokey but...whatever...The Waltons Christmas movie. In my recesses, I must have this desire to go waayy back in time and live in their era! LOL



~Bonus~ Holiday remakes, are you a faithful fan of the old classics or do you prefer the newer versions? I'm an old faithful. Just this weekend I saw an ad for

Christmas Vacation 2 and immediately began wondering if Chevy Chase starred in it. Especially since Randy Quaid is receiving top billing, he played Chevy's cousin in CV.

Ten on Tuesday

10 Bad Foods that You Love to Eat



Pizza

Pie

Chocolate cake

Fried chicken

Lasagna

Ravioli

Stir fry

Bread

Avocado

Peanut butter

Ten on Tuesday

10 Bad Foods that You Love to Eat



Pizza

Pie

Chocolate cake

Fried chicken

Lasagna

Ravioli

Stir fry

Bread

Avocado

Peanut butter

Precious Moments



I think I've been a loner most of my life and this comes from being so far apart in age from my siblings. When they were 17 and 16 years old respectively, I was 5. That's not to say that I'm lonely, but that I've always engaged in many different interests, which entailed me doing things alone. So when B. and I went to B's work yesterday, I knew the remote possibility of seeing spouse's co-workers existed.



As it turned out, several co-worker's decided to come in on Sunday to catch up and towards the last hour, Y. decided to phone B., after hearing through the grapevine that we were there. My first inclination was "No, don't tell her I'm here. Let's just go, you're finished anyway." But B. admitted that I was present.



Y. came down and conversation and laughter ensued. Midway I found myself thinking, "This isn't so bad. She's a very funny and witty person and thank God we're all in good health, able to enjoy this moment together." (Y's sister passed away in July of this year). It was just another way of God reminding me to slow down and enjoy gifts masked as precious moments.



Sometimes, we think our eyes are open, when in fact, they're closed and we're missing what's most precious about being alive. Don't let your precious moments pass.



You talk, I listen.

I talk, you listen and laugh.

Our lives are enriched.

Praise God for this rich blessing.

May I learn lessons.

Precious Moments



I think I've been a loner most of my life and this comes from being so far apart in age from my siblings. When they were 17 and 16 years old respectively, I was 5. That's not to say that I'm lonely, but that I've always engaged in many different interests, which entailed me doing things alone. So when B. and I went to B's work yesterday, I knew the remote possibility of seeing spouse's co-workers existed.



As it turned out, several co-worker's decided to come in on Sunday to catch up and towards the last hour, Y. decided to phone B., after hearing through the grapevine that we were there. My first inclination was "No, don't tell her I'm here. Let's just go, you're finished anyway." But B. admitted that I was present.



Y. came down and conversation and laughter ensued. Midway I found myself thinking, "This isn't so bad. She's a very funny and witty person and thank God we're all in good health, able to enjoy this moment together." (Y's sister passed away in July of this year). It was just another way of God reminding me to slow down and enjoy gifts masked as precious moments.



Sometimes, we think our eyes are open, when in fact, they're closed and we're missing what's most precious about being alive. Don't let your precious moments pass.



You talk, I listen.

I talk, you listen and laugh.

Our lives are enriched.

Praise God for this rich blessing.

May I learn lessons.

Monday Madness

This week we'll choose one or the other of the following....



1. bar soap or shower gel shower gel

2. cd's or cassettes CDs

3. television movies or documentaries documentaries

4. wall calendar or desk calendar wall calendar

5. dsl, cable, or dial-up dial up

6. summer or winter summer

7. city or country city

8. camping or stay in a hotel hotel

9. gold or silver gold

10. fiction or non-fiction books non-fiction

11. mashed potatoes or baked potatoes both!

12. ranch, italian, or catalina dressing ranch

13. solid or spray deodorant solid









Music Mambo

"Counting Them Down"



Five albums you'd recommend to friends

Street Signs Ozomatli

Ultimate Hits (CDs 1 & 2) Ray Charles

The Piano Keiko Matsui

Tantra Lounge Various Artists

Soul to the Pleasure Ring





Four songs that show how you feel right now

San Francisco The Village People

(Hollywood) Everybody is a Star The Village People

Girls Just want to Have Fun Cyndi Lauper

Everybody Madonna



Three artists/bands you'd like to see in concert

The Moody Blues

Hilary Stagg

Keiko Matsui



Two videos that you love

Michael Jackson's Thriller (it holds up extremely well)

Madonna's Justify my Love



One song that you just can't get out of your head

That stupid song from the film White Chicks. You know, the one sung in the car as the four chicks are going shopping. That stupid ditty won't leave my brain. I hear first thing in the morning, too! LOL