hunt for October...

THE RED SOX TIE THE YANKEES FOR 1ST PLACE IN THE AL EAST WITH A 5-3 WIN AT FENWAY!!!

still in the hunt for post-season play...dare i take a breath?

no...probably not just yet...

Read more...

unrelated Friday morning ramblings of cameras & Quiznos

no not the stuff weird dreams are made of.

Andie loves me. she is helping me find a new camera since mine is acquiring vampire-like qualities. no not feeding off of blood. but it's VERY unhappy out in the sunlight. if you know my propensity toward being at Disney with my camera & understanding how much of Disney is OUTSIDE, you may start to grasp that i break into cold sweats at the thought of being limited with my photo-taking...and worse, that my camera is slowly giving up the will to live. =( all i know is only in bright light & no matter what i do to avoid any glare, i will get results like this:

that *should* have been a photo of the male lion at Animal Kingdom, up pacing & roaring (which he never ever does since he is usually ina state of repose on the air-conditioned rocks). the sun was actually behind me & i was in a covered safari-vehicle but i still get a bad glare that never used to be there before. happens every time there is any sort of bright daylight & the camera's definition of "too bright" is slowly expanding to include the more vague "all of outside".
as i was saying...Andie, whose camera knowledge i take very seriously, has introduced me to my potential new love:


that would be the Kodak EasyShare Z740 Digital Camera. yes...DIGITAL. *swoon* i think i'm going to go test her out this weekend just to see if the fit feels right in my hand. no sense entertaining thoughts of a new love affair if the chemistry isn't there ya know? ;-) (in case you're curious the image is a link to some more camera-related info...)

and as the post title indicates, in totally unrelated ramblings, this little guy makes me laugh so hard:

for those of you residing under rocks & boulders, that's Bob the Quizno's baby. i see those commercials & i crack up. you can check them out online using the image link below:


and with that, i bid you all a happy Friday morning...and i'll be back with more insanity shortly. ;-)

Read more...

trapped inside my own head

you ever feel like you have something to say but the words just can't shake loose from your subconscious? that's how i feel today. the type-written words just aren't doing the thoughts justice...

Read more...

the hurrier i go, the behinder i get

so i didn't get to this last night. so sue me LOL!

football picks for week 4 have been added to the sidebar. or should i say the week 4 schedule as i have only made a couple picks so far. this is getting more difficult rather than easier as the weeks march on. teams that shouldn't win do. teams that should dominate a game don't. the sky is down, the sun is dark & the rain falls up. i just don't get it...

and maybe just maybe if i stop picking the Packers they will finally win...*sigh*

Read more...

so i'm a day late & a dollar short

what else is new?! LOL

i know if i don't find something to say here i'm going to hear about it from certain people who check here frequently ;-) so i'm doing the meme thing this morning. hey a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!!

sponsored by: Monday Madness

1. Ice cream or Yogurt? ice cream...although there's a flavor of store brand frozen yogurt that i have been loving lately: Road Runner Raspeberry--vanilla frozen yougurt with a raspberry ribbon & tiny raspberry-filled chocolate cups. yum.

2. What’s your favorite board game? Monopoly

3. Do you play video games? If yes, what game system(s) do you use? nope. the last game system i had was the original Nintendo--and about 4 games lol: Super Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong's Son, Burger Time & some other game i can't remember the name of right now.

4. If you were given a chance to change your name, would you do it? If yes, what would your new name be? well my dad always wanted to name me Megan & growing up i used to wish that he had. i still like Megan better than Dawn but i've gotten rather used to Dawn now so...i think i'll just stick with it. ;-)

5. What are the last 2 blogs that you’ve visited? Stacy: Exceedingly Mundane and Lisa: Mommy Musings

6. What’s your biggest frustration? how about my biggest frustration at work: WHEN WILL SOMEONE FINALLY GRASP THE CONCEPT OF HOW VACATION TIME WORKS?! we have only been discussing this for...oh i don't know...6 months now!! how hard is this?! you earn your time for next year based on the hours you work this year and you must use it by your next anniversary or you lose the time--it does not roll over. *sigh*
-----------------------------------------------------
courtesy of Tuesday Twosome

What are the last two…

1. TV shows you watched? Monday Night Football and last night's Sex & the City reruns on TBS

2. household chores you finished? clean the kitchen & wash a load of towels (can't say dried 'em--Ken did that lol)

3. food items you ate? classic single (with cheese, no onion) from Wendy's & some Pringles which you know had to be shared with the pup lol

4. websites (before here) you visited? National Hurricane Center/Tropical Prediction Center (sorry--i'm a geek. if you're just figuring this out then you obviously also just joined the program & you're late so you've got no one to blame but yourself LOL. either that or you seriously don't pay attention. i digress. as usual.) and Two Peas

5. things you do before you go to sleep? check my email & brush my teeth

Read more...

(still more) key injuries & playing with heart

what would a New England Patriots season be if not plagued by season-ending injuries to key players? an already patched together defense, with a noticeable hole left by Tedy Bruschi, Matt Light (top) was carted off the field with his leg in a cast, no formal announcement made either by his agent or the team, as to the extent of the injury--just the vague answer that the injury report would be released on Wednesday. and it's already official that Rodney Harrison (bottom) is done for the season with a torn ACL. *sigh* i know they won the Super Bowl last year with guys playing multiple positions, injuries on even the back-up players' back-ups & almost no one who *was* on the field could have really been considered healthy. but how many times can they pull off the unbelievable?!



speaking of injuries. as much as i am not an Eagles (translation: Donovan McNabb, T.O.) fan, i like a player who shows heart & dedication. i have a whole lot of respect for the Eagles kicker David Akers, who despite an injured hamstring that was causing him a good deal of obvious pain, he came out onto the field to kick the winning field goal. he did his job & then dropped to the ground in visible discomfort. but that's the kind of passion i enjoy seeing on the football field--players who don't cry about every hangnail & who tough it out on the field when the game is on the line.

in other football news: week 4 picks will be updated in the sidebar sometime this evening.

Read more...

*sigh*

...and i feel just like i’m living someone else’s life
it’s like i just stepped outside
when everything was going right...
(Michael Buble: "Home")

Read more...

remembering

was there ever a date of something not so good that stuck in your head? then you know how i feel about September 22.

9/22/00: my dad had a stroke. i thank heaven every day that he was ok. it took a lot of therapy & some major medical miracles but he came through it--he's a little slower these days but he's here & that is what matters.

9/22/01: my grandmother had a stroke. she didn't fare as well. she passed away a month later. i miss her every single day.

as you can imagine, i am not a big fan of the phone ringing on 9/22. and i am always very conscious of the date.

it occurred to me tonight though that i missed it this year. i wasn't feeling all too well Thursday so that may have been part of it...but maybe time really is the great healer. i haven't forgotten but i don't feel quite so haunted.

Read more...

i think it might be safe to peek now...

this was a loooong day of sports for me. if there's anything more tormenting to watch than the Packers losing, it has to be the Packers losing to the stupid Bucs. Green Bay starts the season 0-3. =(



in case anyone is keeping track, we have a new addition to Dawn's list of "Most Annoying NFL Players". joining the likes of the Manning brothers, Randy Moss, Keyshawn Johnson & Warren Sapp (just to name a few) is Cadillac Williams. no surprise that he plays for Tampa. *rolling my eyes*



and after a *major* nail-biter, somehow the Patriots did what the Patriots do best & that's pull one out of their backside when they played a lousy first half, suffered a key defensive injury & played so sloppy on offense they were almost unrecognizeable.

thank God for halftime.

seems they got their game on when they stepped back into the locker room because when they started up the 2nd half they looked a whole lot better.

even so, in true New England fashion, they won it in the last seconds of the game on the trusty foot of Vinatieri. good thing *something* on that team is reliable.

as much as i like Big Ben & the Steelers, i don't want them to outshine my Patriots. i'm hoping they successfully got under Ben's skin & into his head...cause quite frankly, Pittsburgh is one scary team & the Patriots will need any edge they can get...

...and speaking of nail-biters, the Red Sox keep pace with the Yankees, tied for first place in the AL East. i have a feeling it's going to all come down to that least Boston/New York series. just the thought makes me feel somewhat ill...

Read more...

word association for the week of September 25, 2005

I say ... and you think ... ?

Crave:: irresistable urge
Whole package:: the whole thing
Roommates:: college
5:30:: when my alarm goes off in the morning
Lesbian:: not my preference
Poignant:: impressive
Hurtful:: inconsiderate
You and I:: us
Grateful:: thankful
Giggle:: chuckle

Read more...

are you ready....

...for some *gulp* football? this is how i will be watching today's games...

Read more...

To: God, From: The Dog

Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the "Chrysler Eagle" the "Chrysler Beagle"?

Dear God: If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?

Dear God: We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good dog.

1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.

2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.

3. I will not munch on "leftovers" in the kitty litter box, although they are tasty.

4. The diaper pail is not a cookie jar.

5. The sofa is not a 'face towel,' Neither are Mom and Dad's laps.

6. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.

7. My head does not belong in the refrigerator.

8. I will not bite the officer's hand when he reaches in for Mom's driver's license and registration.

9. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.

10. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying "hello."

11. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table.

12. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house -- not after.

13. I will not throw up in the car.

14. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.

15. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch when we have company.

16. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.

Read more...

first of all

as promised:
how to be obnoxious around the world in under 2 hours

go from country to country at Epcot's World Showcase with the explicit intent of hunting down mischief. which rapidly becomes how can we look the most ridiculous in international hatwear. as you are donning said head fasions, you must laugh hysterically, to the point of tears pouring down your cheeks, stomachs aching & gasping for air. once you reach the point where the laughter makes speaking nearly impossible & certainly unintelligible, target a victim--preferably an innocent tourist who is simply taking in these international cultures, but a Disney Cast Member will do if necessary--and try to ask them to take your photo, not once but twice because of course you need to get one for each camera.

if you happen to be at Epcot and see something similar to this, my suggestion to you would be to move to your nearest exit in a calm but quick manner...and then run far far away! LOL

Read more...

if i must

football picks this for week 3 have been completed. since i had to suck it up & pick the Bucs over the Packers *sob*...and there's no way that the Colts *gag* won't win against the Browns (have i mentioned i hate having to pick teams i strongly dislike to win games?)...then i have chosen to hang it all out there on the Patriots being able to beat the Steelers even though my boys have shaken my confidence pretty sufficiently in weeks 1 & 2.

*crossing my fingers & hiding my face in my hands*

let me know when it's over...

Read more...

tag, i'm it!

got myself tagged on Heather's blog, My Corner Space!

1. What is your occupation? admin, recpetionist, human resources, accounting, QUEEN

2. What are you listening to right now? rerun of Friends--the one where Rachel & Monica throw Pheobe a baby shower and Chandler & Joey throw Ross a bachelor party

3. What was the last thing you ate? a yogurt for lunch which apparently my stomach is unhappy with as it has been showing its displeasure with my choice ever since (sorry lol...)

4. Do you wish on stars?
when you wish upon a star
makes no difference who you are
anything your heart desires
will come to you...
like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
when you wish upon a star
your dreams come true

5. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? navy blue...or a rich barn red color

6. How is the weather right now? cloudy. 75*, feels like 81*. 94% humidity. in layman's terms? GROSS

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Ken when i called him from work to say i wasn't feeling well & to plan on fending for himself for dinner

8. How old are you? 28 years, 11 months, 10 days

9. Favorite drink? ice cold water please, hold any & all bubbles

10. i could tell you but apparently it's a secret

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? multi-tone blonde highlights--which incidentally i have been missing lately

12. Pets? 1 beastus pestamus of the Cocker Spaniel persuasion: Casey

13. Favorite month? March: orange blossoms, perfect weather & NO HURRICANES

14. Favorite food? it would be much quicker to just ask me what i DON'T like

15. What was the last movie you watched? Must Love Dogs

16. What do you do to vent anger? get very quiet, spend time by myself till i cool off. if i'm REALLY ticked off, i will yell accompanied by angry tears which only further makes me mad.

17. What were your favorite toys as a child? my Cabbage Patch Kids

18. Fall or Spring? Fall in New England but in FL Fall=Hurricane Season so down here it's Spring, also refer back to question 13

19. Hugs or kisses? yes please

20. Cherry or Blueberry? blueberry

21. Do you want your friends to email you back? that's the idea & they all are very good at it =)

22. Who is most likely to respond? i guess blog rules for these things means you tag someone. let's see...i tag...Andi...we'll see if she's paying attention! and anyone else who wants to is welcome as well of course! =)

23. Who is least likely to respond? well i would imagine people who don't want to ;-)

24. Living arrangements? with man & dog in house. soon to be relocated to a new dwelling of some sort, date & location to be determined by builders, banks, realtors & Fate.

25. When was the last time you cried? 2 days ago...sometimes i think way too much...

26. What is on the floor of your closet? shoes. laundry waiting for a bath. 2 baskets full of ironing that i am trying to ignore--which is why the laundry is on the floor lol.

27. Who is the friend you have had the longest? hands down Heather. can't beat knowing someone since you were 3.

28. What did you do last night? set up the new tv & move the old tvs around & set them up as well. watch the stupid Red Sox lose & fall into 2nd place behind the even more stupid & annoying Yankees.

29. Favorite smell? anything apple-cinnamon baking; fresh clean man!; newly fallen snow; Autumn in New England; orange blossoms; real Christmas trees (i know that's more than one but Librans *never* have just one favorite lol)

30. What inspires you? the people i love

31. What are you afraid of? HURRICANES. having my trust betrayed. hurting the people i care about most. something happening to anyone i love. spiders.

32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? cheeseburgers

33. Favorite car? the Nissan Altima

34. Favorite dog breed? i believe i am obligated to say Cocker Spaniel here ;-)

35. Number of keys on your key ring? 6 & a car remote

36. How many years at your current job? 1 year & 5 months

37. Favorite day of the week? i like them all for their own special reasons

38. How many states have you lived in? 2, CT & FL

39. Summer or winter? in FL? winter lol...

40. Do you find these annoying? nope! =)

Read more...

P & R are for...

yes i know i am extremely late in doing these 2 lists. i am simply suffering extreme hurricane burnout. let's see if i can make this happen...

...Prepared: there is just NOTHING more important than this when it comes to hurricanes. if you live in a hurricane-prone area, you should have your "kit" stocked & ready to go before June 1. the essentials? a gallon of water per person per day enough to last one week; non-perishable packaged foods & snacks to last each person for one week; hand-operated can opener; paper plates & plastic utensils; seasonal clothing including raingear & sturdy shoes; first aid kit; any necessary medications including prescription drugs; toiletries; flashlight; batteries; more batteries; battery-operated radio and/or tv; cash; keys; important documents (insurance records, bank account information; medical records, social security cards, birth certificates, etc) sealed in a waterproof container; fuel tanks filled on vehicles; a set of tools; any special equipment required by elderly or infant family members
...Pets: i am not sure how people overlook or abandon their pets in situations like this. if i were heading out, you can rest assured that my pup is coming with me. your pet will need to have all its important documents in your waterproof container as well--immunizations records & any other pertinent documents; any medications; ample supply of food & water; leash & cage/carrier ready for transport; and of course your pet should be properly tagged & identified.
...Panic: the feeling i usually have to some degree before tropical weather hits
...PMS: what Mother Nature appears to be suffering from SEVERELY this year
...Reckless: what i think a lot of people are when they think it's fun to go stand along the beach as one of these storms approaches
...Relentless winds & rains
...the Pacific where the majority of these tropical weather systems appear to stay away from land. i wish the Atlantis side would take a hint.
...Record-breaking: what the 2005 hurricane season has been for months now
...Pressure systems, the atmospheric kind, that steer the tropical storms & hurricanes
...Projected path: what we watch closely as these storms approach
...Relieved: how Dawn will feel when hurricane season ends
...Prayers: what we've all been saying for those in the paths of hurricanes
...Predictions have been made for higher than normal tropical activity for the next 10-20 YEARS. i feel a major headache coming on...
..."Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy." (MAX MAYFIELD, DIRECTORNATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)
...Phillipe who was kind enough to mind his own business & stay out in the ocean

...Rita who is NOT minding her own business & is further carrying out Mother Nature's vendetta

...Pacific Tropical Storm Kenneth who has been amusing someone in this house (lol)...funny when i'm trying to tidy up around here seems i have my own TS Kenneth following me around. =P

Read more...

can i whine for a minute?

my fantasy football is not cooperating & it's making me grumpy. thought i was correcting my unproductive running back situation. new running back is questionable for play this weekend due to injury. at least i got one good week out of him before he came up too hurt to play. i hope my gamble choice is a good one--how much worse can he be though than the 2 starters i had that played for a combined point total of 3...for the whole season to date. *shakes head in disgust* had an injured tight end that i replaced with someone i think is a very good choice. problem is he's on a bye week. grabbed another someone new to be his back up & now he is doubtful for this week's game. need to scramble & find yet *another* tight end. seriously. i thought football players were supposed to be tough?!

i now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging...

Read more...

i've decided it's outright denial

i can't even worry properly anymore about all these hurricanes. that part of my brain has just shut down completely.

what was that Max Mayfield said last year about wishing they would just take their finger off the hurricane button already...?

*sigh*

Read more...

*baffled*

parlez Francais?

i am not entirely sure what happened but when i logged in just now, everything was in French...

Read more...

what can i say?

we're completely out of our minds...

Alison at WDW (September 2005)

...but we had SO much fun!
(click on the photo to see the rest)

Read more...

and btw

in case this isn't painfully obvious

i'm baaaaaa-aaaaaack!

lol

Read more...

coming soon to a blog near you

well actually to THIS blog...LOL

something otherwise known as:
"how to be obnoxious around the world in under 2 hours"

stay tuned.

Read more...

you notice there is no mention of sports

that is because sports-wise, this weekend, in a word, STUNK.

Patriots lost.
Packers lost.
Red Sox lost.
=(

Yankees won (yuck)
Bucs won (yuck)

i went 7-9 in the football pool *sigh*

and i think it's garbage that the Saints don't at least get to play their "home games" on neutral territory. it's not fair that everyone they play will get home field advantage.

one small shining moment: 2-0 in my fantasy football league so far. not sure how since Marshall Faulk is still freaking useless & i keep picking the wrong QB...

Read more...

word association for the week of September 18, 2005

as always...brought to you by Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Less filling:: great taste
Glue:: white Elmer's school glue with the black label & the orange tip
Surprise me:: "i don't want to know until we get there"
Model:: make and... (sorry, worked for a car dealership lol)
Fee:: charge
Microphone:: singer
Choices:: something i hate making
To the bone:: bad...
Run!:: what i yell at anyone running the ball on a football team i picked in the football pool
Appeal:: something that catches my eye in a good way

Read more...

the best ab workout ever

LAUGHTER

i swear i have laughed so much since Alison has been here that my stomach muscles ache more than any time i have ever done any crunches or sit-ups

Read more...

And I Quote: September 19, 2005

The morning glory blooms but for an hour, and yet it differs not at heart from the giant pine that lives for a thousand years.
(Teitoko Matsunaga)

Read more...

*bouncing off the walls*

Alison's here! Alison's here!!

off to Magic Kingdom today...so photos will be abundant after this weekend. check back soon!!

(oh & i did not forget my weekly "meet the bloggers" post...but i may not get to it till after the weekend...coming soon though!)

Read more...

good thing i don't carpool

i am not sure why but i think it is impossible for me to hear "A Lot of Leavin' Left to Do" by Dierks Bentley & not start tapping on the steering wheel to the beat of the song. next thing i know, i'm singing along at the top of my lungs. i am aware of how ridiculous i look (not even touching how ridiculous i *sound* lol) but it's a totally involuntary reflex. so if ever you are in a car with me when that song comes on the radio & i switch it...just know that i am doing so in your best interests.

Read more...

oh sweetness

can i tell you just how much i love this baby girl??

how does that sweet little face not make you smile?

i do believe i have the most precious god daughter ever. =)

Read more...

celebrity couples

started thinking about this with all the new Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes morsels that have been stirred up again...

first of all can i just say that i am so glad that MY relationship is not under the microscope of the public eye. i van't imagine having people i will never even meet scrutinize every nuance of my relationship, every solo appearance, every squabble, eye roll & kiss. NO THANK YOU.

that being said, i do have some particularly favorite celebrity couples (and by this i mean couples where they are both well-known of their own accord, not just by association).


Brad & Jennifer (yes i know they aren't together any more. i'm not over it. Jenn'll probably be over it before i am LOL)


Jada & Will


Brad & Kimberly


Faith & Tim

portion of interview from Redbook June 2005

Redbook: so how does it feel to be Redbook's number one hottest husband?
Tim McGraw: [laughs] women swooning over me--that is not even a part of my program. all that attention comes with success. if i was working down at the Kmart, i don't think it would be happening.

RB: are you a good husband?
Tim: [laughs wickedly] i am always striving to be better. we're happy as a couple but there is no "perfect couple".

RB: maybe, but in the public eye you two appear to come awfully close.
Tim: i think people pick up on how i feel, which is that i can't imagine being with anybody else. but like any couple, Faith & i have our disagreements. which she usually wins, by the way.

RB: what has marriage taught you?
Tim: it's shown me how to see somebody else's point of view. i've always been very focused on my career, but now i have a partner. it isn't all about me anymore. now, Faith can focus on 20 things at once. that amazes me. i think that's a woman thing. if i have to ficus on more than one thing, i'm a wreck.

RB: if you could relive one day of your life, which would it be?
Tim: the day i met my wife. i remember the excitement of falling in love. how that felt. the freedom we had at that time.

RB: you've spoken often of your deep connection to her.
Tim: i feel like i knew her before i met her.

RB: like fate?
Tim: this weird thing happened in the beginning. my grandmother saw Faith on tv and called me and said, "i just saw the perfect girl i want you to marry." oddly enough, her grandmother saw me on tv and said the same thing to Faith. and for months, our booking agents kept saying we needed to meet, but i didn't pursue it. i thought she was out of my league. i didn't think she'd let me get within 20 yards of her.

RB: what was Faith thinking?
Tim: she thought she shouldn't let me get within 20 yards of her. i think she thought i'd be trouble. maybe that was part of the initial appeal. but then she got to know me and saw that i was a lot duller than she expected.

RB: do you worry about the day, a few years ahead, when one of your daughters brings home her first date?
Tim: they're already talking about boys. Gracie asked me how to spell "Lewis" the other day. and i was like, "why do you need to spell 'Lewis'?" she was writing a love note. she's 8! i suspect i'm not going to handle dating very well...

Read more...

on the job perks

you've all heard me gush over my job. i really do love it. but for all the perks, THIS is not one of them:

having to page the production manager that Mr Fun is holding on line 2.

talk about feeling stupid...

Read more...

how true it is

someone gave me their fortune cookie from their lunch today. i don't eat them but i love the fortunes. today's little gem:

You have an unusually magnetic personality.

ha!! thanks...knew that already. *big cheesy grin* LOL

Read more...

happy birthday Alison!!

she's the one on the left. sorry for the grainy image but i had to crop & zoom in so you could actually see her LOL! i'm sure there will be better ones after her vacation down here that starts on FRIDAY!! *happy dance*

Read more...

remedies for rotten days--part 3

(Good Housekeeping July 2005)

10. play with paint
raid some art supplies and do a quick finger painting or crayon sketch of what you feel., free of anyone's judgment (including your own). it doesn't have to look like anything. it should just be an expression of your mood. let yourself experience the relief that comes from putting your feelings down on paper as if you were an uninhibited preschooler.

11. treat yourself as you would a friend
what would do for a pal who was feeling bad? tell her everything will be ok? encourage her to get into bed for an hour and pull up the covers? recommend that she buy herself a new sweater? whatever you would tell someone else, say to yourself--right now!

12. be the sky
sit quietly for a few minutes and imagine yourself as the wide blue sky--with your feelings of frustration, worry, irritation or fear as distant clouds moving across the horizon. in doing so, you will be reminded that the self is far bigger than these feelings and moods, which are temporary and passing through you rather than taking over.

13. have a chocolate bar
women in particular tend to crave chocolate, especially before their period, and there's good reason for it. chocolate contains mood-lifting chemicals; it also increases endorphins abd serotonin in the blood, promoting a sense of well-being. according to Aztec legend, cacao seeds come from paradise and eating them brings wisdom and power. so give yourself a chocolate break and notice the effect. after you indulge, don't scold yourself. experts believe that moderate amounts of treats are better than complete deprivation.

Read more...

it may not be a popular view but...

...every time i get this Andy Rooney email forwarded to me, i read it & think to myself: i may not agree with every single thing he says here but he's got some very valid points...

I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.

I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, that is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?

I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.

I have the right "NOT" to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling, it is the Law of Probability.

I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake , a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!

My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours.

I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry ass if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word "freeze" or "stop" in English, see the above lines.

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.

We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations.

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.

I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them.

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building.

It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say "NO!"

I think tattoos and piercing are! fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

I am sick of "Political Correctness." I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be "African-Americans"? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America and nowhere else.

And if you don't like my point of view, tough...

Read more...

on a (sort-of) different note

the Yankees are a game out of the wildcard. omg that makes me laugh. not even in the play-offs...could you imagine?? do you think Mr. Steinbrenner will have a temper fit & just buy himself a whole new team?? GO REDSOX!!!

this is a little disconcerting about Johnny Damon though...hope he can suck it up just a little bit longer...

Read more...

*sigh of satisfaction*

ahhhhhh...i am SO happy it is football season once again.

finally found out where Vinnie Iyer is posting his weekly primers & picks (used to be FoxSports.com but he's over at the Sporting News site now--link in right hand sidebar) AND discovered that he is blogging this year! woohoo! i am not saying he's the most brilliant sports writer but i like his style & his presentation. plus stuff like this just makes me laugh:

To Jets, Ravens, Packers, Chargers, Cardinals, Rams, Broncos, Texans, Vikings fans: Your teams aren't really that bad.
To Chiefs, Colts, Lions, Cowboys, Giants, 49ers, Dolphins, Bills and Buccaneers fans: Your teams aren't really that good.

started making my picks for Week 2. got some that i need to ponder on. beginning of the season is tough for this because you don't know who's going to do what yet & who was a fluke win & who just had a bad game...after all the Patriots lost 31-0 to the Bills in Week 1 of the 2003 season & then went on to win their 2nd SuperBowl in 3 years so nothing is for sure quite yet.

a couple of comments on the picks i have settled on for Week 2:
**there's a lot of people saying that the New England/Carolina game is a premonition of the Super Bowl. too early to say in my opinion. but unless the Patriots start on a tailspin to hell, expect that i will be picking them no matter who they are facing.
**the Packers HAVE to win against the Browns...right...?? they can't really be that bad can they? a little concerned about Javon Walker being done for the season. they didn't need any more stumbling blocks. but c'mon. the BROWNS?? even with ex-Patriot coordinator Romeo Crennel at the helm, they are still the Browns lol...i better be quiet before I jinx Green Bay.
**much as it turns my stomach to say this, i don't see how you can pick against the Colts. unless they're playing the Patriots. or maybe the Steelers.
**there's no way the Bucs are beating the Buffalo defense (puh-lease!) or that the Titans stand a chance against the Ravens. those just seemed like no-brainers to me.
**Steelers against the Texans? i think you're crazy to pick against Pittsburgh. Big Ben looks like he got his game on just right in Week 1. like they say: pre-season means nothing.
**call the Saints & the Chargers picks a hunch. i've learned one thing in all the years i have been participating in this pool: NEVER EVER go against your gut. if you go with your gut & lose, at least you don't regret it. if you second guess yourself though & change your pick just to lose--nothing makes me want to slap myself harder.

the rest of the picks? check back later in the week.

Read more...

monday night footBRAWL??

someone forget to tell these guys this isn't hockey?

in other news...won week 1 of the fantasy league i'm in. no thanks to my worthless running backs. picked up Davis from the Panthers maybe he can do better than Pittman (should have expected no different froms *Bucs* player...ha). now if Bettis could just get healthy, Marshall Faulk would find himself benched too. hmph.

off to update my sidebar with my week one wins...

Read more...

(way) back to school

borrowed this from Marianne =)

Everybody's doing it - this week's Meme Challenge is 10 fun/crazy/silly memories from your years in school.

1. new school supplies. i shopped & deliberated. every notebook, every folder, every pen was of the utmost importance. i used to slip each new purchase into my new bookbag & then check it all out almost every day. then a few days before school, each item was meticulously labelled, a final inventory taken, ready for that first day of school where they would be unloaded in their new home.

2. Mr. Art: he was my bus driver until i was in the 7th grade. he was the nicest old man. actually i have no idea how old he was. maybe in his 50s. but when you're 8 that seems ancient.

3. 7th grade trip to Washington DC: Heather locked herself in the bathroom with her electric razor & threatened to slit her wrists in some fit of preteen drama. looking back i see that she was in more danger from dropping the thing into a tub full of water than anything else but what do you know at 12 years old??

4. 11th grade: Chele & i in after school geometry tutoring with Jason Fuster. i am surpised he didn't just stop showing up completely. would have been just as effective considering all we did was goof off in there & drive him crazy...or make him feel Fuster-ated as the case may be. *hysterical giggling* (sorry some things just take you right back to the moment)

5. high school music department. you had the "hall group" and the "band room group". yes there was even social distinction amongst the band geeks. maybe you had to be there to understand...

6. one of my favorite high school memories? walking home to Brian's after school. big cups of juice, reading the comics from the paper, watching a movie...and plenty of nights dirving aimlessly with cups of hot chocolate from Dunkin Donuts...good times. =)

7. i got threatened to ask my senior prom date to go with me...or the band director was going to do it for me after we did our daily warm-ups. i didn't doubt for a second that he'd do it either. so i sucked it up & asked. only took me like a dozen or so attempts to work up my nerve but i figured anything had to be better than the humiliatin of having it done FOR me in front of a room full of my peers!!

8. then there is the history made by my class at Immanuel Lutheran where i went from nursery school through 8th grade. we were legendary & NOT in a good way. they probably still tell the tales of the class of 1990. like the time we took all the bolts out of one of the art tables so that when the evil art teacher came & leaned her smelly self over us the table would collapse beneath her. or the substitute teacher we sent home in tears who NEVER subbed again. or the fact that we almost didn't get to take our class trip to Camp Koinonia in the 6th grade because we were so badly behaved. *shaking my head* we were the epitome, the very reason for the phrase "kids these days".

9. chapel. every Wednesday morning at 10am. grades K-8. in the church with our little white children's hymnals.

10. the one & only time i ever cut class in high school, i slipped on a puddle of melted snow in a stairwell & sprained my ankle. my guilty conscience took that as a sign & i never skipped a class again.

Read more...

overload

blahblahblahblahblahPeytonManningblahblahblahPeyton
ManningblahblahEliManningblahblahblahPeytonblahblah
EliblahblahblahblagManningManningManning

not even done with week one yet & i am already sick of all the gushing over the Mannings.
ppppfffftttttthhhhhh =P

Read more...

word association for the week of September 11, 2005

I say ... and you think ... ?
brought to you as always by Unconcious Mutterings

Related:: family
Soothing:: music
Flashback:: reliving a moment
Turmoil:: not at peace
Immense:: enormous
Guitar:: strings
Nonsense:: what tv football announcers are full of
Blame:: point the finger
Childlike:: innocence
Duff:: Hilary

Read more...

idiots

should i warn you that Sundays will bring a lot of football commentary to blog-land?

i really hate tv football announcers. have i mentioned this?? FOX switched to the end of the 49ers/Rams game. the 49ers just intercepted a pass. says the announcer: "this is the biggest play for the 49ers for the season!" that's impressive...considering it's WEEK ONE. *looks in the direction of the tv with disgust*

Read more...

stating the obvious

i am sitting here watching the Packers game in frustration. i know this is going to be a long season for green & gold. but i swear listening to the announcers just makes it that much worse. take for instance the following statement: "that's the reason the Lions brought in someone new to do the playcalling for the offense, this year they want to move the ball down the field." well duh Sherlock. i thought that was the whole point of the game. *rolling my eyes* you know these guys arn'te getting paid chump change to point out the blatantly obvious either.

Read more...

dumb luck

doesn't it figure that my 2 choices from early games today are the Dolphins/Broncos game & the Bucs/Vikings game? not even one team that i am indifferent about. every single one of them teams i *really* don't like.

oh well...it's still football. i'll live...

Read more...

i need donuts

i don't know what it is but the start of football season just says "Autumn" to me. it doesn't LOOK like Autumn (but then it never does in Central FL lol) and it doesn't FEEL like Autumn (81* at 11am)...but here i am wanting some nice fresh Dunkin Donuts--apple cinnamon & the frosted apple filled with the little crunchy things on top & cinnamon podwered--and a cup of warm apple cider...

*sigh* it's not going to happen though. the nearest Dunkin Donuts is 30 minutes away & i can't spend $10 in gas to get $3 worth of donuts. i guess i'll just have to deal.

stupid cravings...
(no i am not pregnant lol)

Read more...

where were you when the world stopped turning...?

did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
rising against that blue sky...
(from "Where Were You" by Alan Jackson)



...never forgotten...

Read more...

Mother Nature is an "equal opportunity destroyer"

i've had to really step away from the media & discussion of Hurricane Katrina with all the racial undertones that are shadowing the horrors of her aftermath. it seems like so many people are using this as a platform for showcasing their own political agendaswhen now is the time for focusing on getting those who have been displaced & stripped of virtually everything they own back on some sort of solid ground, and trying to get the ripple effects our whole country is feeling under some sort of control. it frustrates me to no end to hear people act like the poor & the non-white population were the only ones who suffered Katrina's wrath. the fact is Mother Nature takes no prisoners. she doesn't care what color your skin is. she doesn't pay attention to how much money you made last year. she isn't concerned by how famous you are. she levels it all on her own whim. from the family who lived in utter poverty in New Orleans all the way up to professional athletes & wealthy beachfront home owners. some people suffered more destruction than others but that was affected more by proximity to the coast or the number of trees with the potential to fall--and yes even sometimes blind luck--than with your race or social class. seriously.

*deep breath*

i wasn't going to get into this. that's not what i came here to say. i read a quote that made me think:

"I've found myself over the last 24 hours a couple times saying, 'Why me?' Or, 'Why of all places ..."' Favre admitted. "As quickly as that thought pops in my head - and it probably pops in my head more than I'd like it to - I try to remind myself of the things to be thankful for, which there are a lot." (he speaks in this story)

digging way in the back of the vault for this one but i mentioned this sort of thing before in regard to Brett Favre & how this man has been through more personal heartache in the last couple of years than anyone should have to bear. and he always holds his chin up. i have so much respect for him. so many people would have just thrown in the towel, beaten down by the fates. so many of us, myself included, feel like it just won't stop & we wallow in self-pity. we barely regain our footing from the last blow before the next one sucker-punches us in the gut & knocks the wind right out of us again. i feel as though he has every right to ask "why me?" at this point, but somehow he finds a way to square his jaw & keep his eye on the goal.

we say that those who spend time in the spotlight of America--the performers & professional athletes & such--shouldn't be the role models our children look up to because their job isn't to provide a good example. (i have my own feelings on this but now is not the time i choose to stor that pot.) all i can say about this man is if the kids of today need a solid example to follow for having a good attitude when Life does everything in its power to bring you to your knees...this is the man.

Read more...

back in business!

after a quick celebration of their 2004 World Championship, there was kickoff...followed by a slow-to-warm defense...which was my worst fear for this year. it was good to see Tedy Bruschi on the sidelines at least--i'm sure it was eating him up inside not to be out there though. after a shaky (at best) defense for the first half, things picked up a little. i'm breathing a little easier about that. but special teams was pathetic. not sure WHAT was happening there?? my confidence in the offense was validated (of course!!) & the defense seemed to shake off the rusty start. maybe we'll be ok...cause THIS is what i like to see:
TOUCHDOWNS!!





the Patriots are back NFL & they are hungry. there's still a long long way to go but all i have to say right now is 1-0!!

Read more...

you can call me paranoid...

...but remember i was right about my bad feeling with Katrina becoming more than "just some heavy rain & strong breezes"...

i don't have a bad feeling yet but Ophelia is starting to make me rather uneasy.



it's the big loop they are thinking she might make. she may be struggling to organize but all this time spent over that nice warm ocean water as she slowly wander along is just giving her time to strengthen. if she decides to loop around & slap FL upside its head anyway, it would have been better of she'd just done it as a tropical storm, not wait till she's a full-blown hurricane.

i'm starting to wonder if the Farmer's Almanac might not be right about this prediction after all: 12th-15th. Thunderstorms Tennessee east. Hurricane threat Gulf Coast, then fair. but she's off to the EAST coast & that prediction says the GULF coast you say. yeah well she'll be in the Gulf if she loops around & comes straight across the state now won't she.

i'm not ouright worried yet. just concerned & cautious & uneasily watching. i think Andie had the right idea when i was talking to her via email this morning: i wish we could just bunch her in the eye! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Read more...

who's ready for some FOOTBALL?!

ME!!!

i am so loving what Adam Schein has to say about the Patriots this year. (i *am* choosing to ignore his #10 prediction though LOL):

9. Corey Dillon is the league MVP; Patriots go back to the Super Bowl
Dillon didn't get anywhere close to the credit he deserved for his spectacular play and tremendous attitude last year in New England. He's a great running back.

Dillon should more than duplicate last year's superb first season with the Patriots by topping 2004's numbers of 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns. Remember, it actually took the former Bengals back a game or two to become acclimated to New England. Dillon is a big, physical bull, and still possesses breakaway speed. And with New England scoring first in so many games, Dillon becomes the ultimate game-controller and clock eater. Dillon's the ultimate balance for Tom Brady in the regular season.

With Charlie Weis at Norte Dame, look for Brady and Bill Belichick to bank on Dillon even more.

The Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson will be the runner-up for the top individual honor.

The AFC East, and the AFC for that matter, still belongs to the Patriots in 2005.

I can't believe how many people are writing off the Pats. I understand Tedy Bruschi isn't playing, Weis is coaching college, and Romeo Crennel is the top dog in Cleveland. But Brady's Brady. Belichick is still a genius. And personnel guru Scott Pioli made up for key losses with Logan Mankins, Andre Davis, Monty Beisel and Chad Brown.

It's the Patriots world, and we are simply living in it.

so tonight



host


i'm ready! bring on the football baby!

Read more...

amusement

ok so i had a little cold. it's become a full blown case of laryngitis. i literally have no voice above a barely audible whisper. i feel fine so i am at work but everyone else is sharing coverage of the phone & i am just doing all the other aspects of my job.

what's funny about that you ask?

well. it seems being unable to make any vocal sounds beyond the occasional pathetic squeak must mean you also can't *hear* (or perhaps that i no longer understand much English??) because everyone who comes in here to ask me for something is speaking loud & slow & clear, pointing at whatever will best illustrate their point. either that or they respond in a whisper too. i am getting REALLY good at giving people the "raised eyebrow" strange look today!

ya know...the silence was supposed to be because that annoying little yapping dog went back home last night, not because i am suddenly mute!

Read more...

gotta have...SOLE??

sometimes i see things that just make me wonder. like this morning as i was leaving the gas station, i saw just the sole of a shoe laying in a parking spot. i realize there is likely a reasonable explanation for this but the first thing i thought was "i wonder if that happened as someone stepped back into their car. maybe they stepped OUT of their sole at the same time...i wonder if they noticed? i wonder is a shoe without a sole looks strange...."

please don't ask. i've known me all my life & even *I* don't understand how my brain works some days. LOL

Read more...

O is for...

...Oceanic temp which is having a huge effect on the number of tropical storms we've been getting this year. Current coastal water temps on the east coast of FL range from 82-87* F.
...Tropical Storm Otto was the last named storm of the 2004 season. he was tracked from November 26-December 5 & was located out in the middle Atlantic. he was never a threat to land.
...SO OVER THIS HURRICANE SEASON ALREADY!!
...October is considered the last of the "peak tropical weather" months. what is the busiest month in recorded history? by far, September has it; 36 of the 64 major hurricanes hit in September. the next busiest month the August, with only 15.
...Oh yeah: what Andie types everyday after i remind her to take her pill (not sure what this has to do with tropical weather but she dared me so there it is LOL!!)
...Outlook: the program that reminds me to remind Andie of this everyday
...Other interesting trivia: 1. 36% of all U.S. hurricanes hit Florida; 2. 76% of category 4 or higher hurricanes have hit either Florida or Texas; 3. approximately half the hurricanes to strike the middle Gulf coast, southern Florida and New York were major hurricanes; and 4. the busiest season on the history books so far? in 1995, 11 hurricanes were recorded in the Atlantic. named storms got all the way up to Hurricane Tanya. Allison, Dean, Erin, Gabrielle, Jerry, Opal, and Roxanne all made landfall in the US that year.
...Tropical Storm Ophelia who seems to have a new track in mind this morning that i am liking better than the one she previously was considering

Read more...

just a little ha-ha...

Monday's Pooch Cafe (you can click on it to see it bigger)


Sunday's For Better or For Worse

Read more...

N is for...

...NO MORE STORMS!!!
...New Orleans =( don't think i need to elaborate on this one
...November 30: last day of hurricane season. can't come soon enough
...Names of hurricanes that have been retired: 1954 - Carol & Hazel; 1955 - Connie, Diane, Ione & Janet; 1957 - Audrey; 1960 - Donna; 1961 - Carla & Hattie; 1963 - Flora; 1964 - Cleo, Dora & Hilda; 1965 - Betsy; 1966 - Inez; 1967 - Beulah; 1968 - Edna; 1969 - Camille; 1970 - Celia; 1972 - Agnes; 1974 - Carmen & Fifi; 1975 - Eloise; 1977 - Anita; 1979 - David & Frederic; 1980 - Allen; 1983 - Alicia; 1985 - Elena & Gloria; 1988 - Gilbert & Joan; 1989 - Hugo; 1990 - Diana & Klaus; 1991 - Bob; 1992 - Andrew; 1995 - Luis, Marilyn, Opal & Roxanne; 1996 - Cesar, Fran & Hortense; 1998 - Georges & Mitch; 1999 - Floyd & Lenny; 2000 - Keith; 2001 - Allison, Iris & Michelle; 2002 - Isidore & Lili; 2003 - Fabian, Isabel & Juan and newly added this past spring: 2004 - Charley, Frances, Ivan & Jeanne. the retired 2004 names will be replaced with Colin, Fiora, Igor & Julia when that list rotates through again in 2010.
...No more names left on this year's list? if we keep going at this pace, we will have to start using the Greek alphabet for any named storms after Wilma.
...National Hurricane Center website which i have bookmarked & keep a careful eye on through hurricane season--as if you hadn't figured that out already...LOL
...Tropical Storm Nate who looks like he will also stay out to sea...

...Not overly thrilled with this though ("this" being Tropical Depression 16)...

...(edit to add) Nagging: what Andie does until i put my next list up LOL--don't believe me? check out the comments & you will see that this addition was *her* idea!

Read more...

word association for the week of September 4, 2005

brought to you by Unconcious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Julie:: of the Wolves (thanks a lot Andi)
Emotional:: how i've felt for the past week
Head of household:: the one responsible
Diva:: prima donna
Devastation:: northern Gulf Coast =(
Business or pleasure:: trip
Crown:: tiara
Eastern:: Daylight Savings Time
Buzzed:: tipsy
Officer:: of the law

Read more...

what brings me back down...

i just can't shake the image from my mind of the elderly woman they showed going into the SuperDome last Sunday. she was all alone. and she only brought with her an apple pie & a paperback book. i pray that she is ok & safe somewhere now. i will probably never know. but when i think of her i have to fight the urge to cry every time. =*(

Read more...

M is for...

...Major hurricane: we've seen now the destruction it can cause which i find a high price to pay to learn to take these things seriously. a major hurricane is one rated a Category 3 or higher.
...Max Mayfield: director of NOAA's Tropical Prediction Center
...May the rest of these monsters stay way out to sea & harm no one...
...Tropical Storm Maria


forgive my lackluster list...i am so storm weary but in keeping with my "list trend" i had to mention this one too (albeit late)...not sure what we'll do when we run out of 2005 names...

Read more...

HOPE ARRIVES...

true beauty...

Read more...