Monday, January 30, 2006

scattered thoughts

i was thinking of my Gramp, today being what would have been his birthday & all. just traveling through the scattered & random memories that i have filed away in my mind. there are all these little details i recall. not just the big things that defined him, but the things that made him who he was.

how he liked popcorn made in a popper in the stove top. and popcorn balls. and apples. and my Gram's bacon & lettuce salad.

how he drove that old Dodge pick-up truck that he got 3 months before i was born & never traded it in.

the way he knew just how to tend his gardens & orchard. he was outside as the sun came up every morning, spring through fall. and chomped at the bit all winter long, aching to get back in the dirt. and he knew the name of every single type of fruit & vegetable he grew--which tomoatoes were "Beefsteak" & whoch were "Sunglow" & which were "Super Sonic".

his red, white and black plaid coat with the zipper that he wore. and his cap.

how he called my Gram, "Ma" or "my sweetheart". the way he would hold her hand when they rode in the car together. and how he would kneel by her side by their bed every night to say The Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm.

his hearty laugh. man he had the best laugh...and a twinkle in his eye.

how he spoke so little but when he did, you listened. and he lived by the belief that actions speak louder than words. how everything he did spoke volumes of the love he had for his God, his family, his country and his life.

all these thoughts...and so many more...as i remember the man he was & how unbelievably blessed i was to have him in my life.

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ouchie: the reprise

just a little follow up on the ouchie entry from the other day. it got bad. and i mean bad enough that i wasn't eating. (if you know me AT ALL you know this speaks volumes in & of itself). i don't know if it is just the worst one i've ever had or if it's the location of it making it more irritated or what but even drinking water was hurting. so on my weekly grocery store run, i caved & finally picked up something for the first time ever.

that little tube of Orajel Ultra claims that it has powerful pain relievers for fast-acting relief. sounded good to me! so i bought it & waited for dinner time so that it would be the most effective when i was trying to actually eat. we went to Planet Hollywood & i placed my order, then went to the bathroom to apply the magic numbing gel.

well. let me tell you. i put a little dot of that innocent-looking clear gel on the tip of my finger & then applied it to the canker sore. pain relief? i heard singing but it wasn't angels. i think it was demons straight out of hell. and maybe that was laughing more than singing. i saw stars. and speaking of hell, my mouth BURNED. my eyes watered. actually i think they almost bulged out of my head. and i stood there, mouth open, forming an O, in stunned silence. i think what they really meant was that this gel would cause a pain so blinding, you would forget about the canker sore. you would WISH for just the canker sore. my lower lip finally went blisfully numb but i am pretty sure that it had nothing to do with the "pain medication" or the "protective film". i think it just killed all the nerve endings all together.

i'll admit that i was able to eat my dinner without wanting to cry. but i think it might have been just out of fearing the thought of putting more of that fire gel in my mouth...oddly enough, i used it again this morning. it didn't hurt so bad. might have been because i had already assaulted the area with a good rinse of Listerine though. it's doing ok right now. i don't think i have feeling in my entire bottom lip. just ignore the drool if you would be so kind...

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Saturday, January 28, 2006

bloginality

My Bloginality is ISFJ!!!

As an ISFJ, you are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging.
This makes your primary focus on Introverted Sensing with Extraverted Feeling.

This is defined as a SJ personality, which is part of Carl Jung's Guardian (Security Seeking) type, and more specifically the Protectors or Nurturer.

In blogging, your journal will always be immaculate and have a touch of style. You may also feel overwhelmed because you want to be a part of everything going on. Because of your wonderful memory, other bloggers may come to you to ask about things you posted months before.

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Friday, January 27, 2006

ouchie

you probably won't appreciate this unless you are prone to canker sores but...

i hate when you accidentally bite the inside of your mouth when you're eating--hard!--the sort when you actually hear the *crunch* of your own flesh...and then you cringe because you know soon...very soon...you will be suffering the birth of a canker sore. brings discomfort to a whole new level of fun.

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Thursday, January 26, 2006

a long night...and a complaint

had a haircut tonight & then went to pick out a curio cabinet for the new house. got this:

(got a coffee table, 2 end tables & 2 lamps as well but can't find images of those online)

and on an unrelated note: i have to say, if you never have to get cable internet from Central Florida BrightHouse, DON'T. save yourself the headache. my internet has been out more times in 6 weeks than it was in almost 4 years at my old house. it was out today for TEN HOURS. aggravating. i pay out the nose to be connected ALL the time, not 60% of it. i never thought i'd hear the day i said this but i am so glad i will be back in Polk County, land of the rednecks...where the cable is provided by Tampa Bay BrightHouse (yes same parent company but different region) & the service is incredible--i didn't lose my connection even while 3 major hurricanes roared outside in 2004. the only time it went out was when i lost electricity.

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didn't you need to know this?!

borrowed from my buddy Krystyn before she de-blogged. miss ya girlie! =(

1. How old do you feel?
ummm...29 i guess. i don't know. i'm just glad to be done with the teen years.

2. What do you believe is the meaning of life?
i know something you don't know! i know something you don't know! *mischevious smirk* (remember question 1 asked how old i *feel*, NOT how old i *act*! LOL)

3. Why is the sky blue?
ties into the meaning of life & i am not at liberty to disclose such information at this time.

4. What is your favorite thing to cook?
ravioli with tomato sauce & garlic bread. it's the one thing i make that the whole meal comes together all at the same time. (how did my Gram manage to accomplish that feat with every single 12-course meal she made anyway?!)

5. What would your last meal be?
a nice big cheeseburger with lettuce & tomato and a side of fries

6. What is the youngest age you have memories of?
i was 3 turning 4. 1st day of nursery school. Matt Wentland was crying as the teacher was sitting us on the brown line & i was sitting next to him wondering what the heck he was so sad about. oh yeah & the Big Bird cutout in the bathroom at school too.

7. What is your favorite thing in the world?
loving someone

8. What living person would you want to meet?
Brett Favre

9. What dead person would you want to meet?
Walt Disney

10. Where in the world would you like to live?
IN MY NEW HOUSE ALREADY!!!

11. Who has the most influence on you?
i do. and i like it that way. =)

12. What is your favorite dessert?
cafe latte cheesecake from Macaroni Grille

13. Can you make cookies from scratch?
sure can. sugar. chocolate chip. gingerbread. oatmeal raisin. those peanut butter ones with the Hershey Kiss on top.

14. Would you rather be single forever with a great family or be with your soul mate and have no family?
as much as i love my family with all my heart & they are most certainly great, i would have to say that i would choose to be with my soulmate because there comes a time in life when you have to spread your wings & fly...and make a life of your own.

15. What is your favorite scented candle?
Vanilla or something apple-cinnamon-y

16. Have you ever read the Bible?
quite a bit of it over the course of my life. not cover to cover though & i am sure there are parts that i haven't read yet.

17. Who do you dislike most in the world?
those with a cruel or dishonest heart

18. What is your ideal date?
just being together & seeing where the date takes you...dinner...a walk...dessert...who knows? let the event be the guide.

19. What color do you feel represents you?
a deep rich red: warm. comforting. vibrant. classic.

20. Would you rather be honest and poor, or a liar and rich?
honesty. hands down.

21. What is your ideal ice cream creation?
i don't create with my ice cream. i just eat it. and it's allllll good. ;-)

22. What is your favorite thing to do?
football season: watch the Patriots win. off football season: wander around some area of Disney World with my camera.

23. What is your favorite junk food?
chips & dip

24. What is the longest you've gone without talking to anyone?
**6 years without talking to my mother, another 3 after that till i saw her, since been resolved
**9 years (i think?) where i lost touch with my friend Chele
**7 years (i think?) where i lost touch with my friend Heather
**3 years & counting since i last spoke to someone who used to be one of my best friends

25. What is your favorite board game?
Monopoly. or Scattegories.

26. What is your favorite book?
"Phantom" by Susan Kay--it's kind of the life story of The Phantom of the Opera

27. What item could you not go without during the day?
excluding those necessary for survival, my computer/internet connection

28. Do you consider yourself smart?
yes...not brilliance of genius propotions but definitely smart. sometimes more like smartASS lol.

29. How old were you when life was the hardest?
well i've gone through many times when i thought it was the hardest but i would have when i was 26-27. or to pinpoint it to a year: 2004.

30. Is there anything you have to do every day?
(again i will assume this is barring the obvious things like eat, drink, use the bathroom...)i HAVE to shower everyday even if it's right before i crawl into bed. and i LIKE to be able to check my email at will. ;-)

31. Do you curse in front of family?
nothing stronger than "damn" or "hell". although i could probably say "ass" in front of my brother at this point lol...

32. If you had to get back with an ex who would it be?
ummmmm...can we just not go here...?

33. When was the last time you felt truly loved by someone?
right now =)

34. What character trait would you change about yourself?
my need to not disappoint anyone ever

35. Which of your five senses would you give up?
i'm kind of fond of them all...i hate tempting fate with these kinds of questions. i think i will just be grateful to have them. there's so many things i would miss if i gave up any one of them.

36. What do you do when the power goes out?
light candles. go stir crazy without the tv/phone/computer. walk the dog. go out in search of someplace WITH electricity.

37. Would you rather spend the night out or in?
i have fun going out, but i am perfectly content to stay in--i am a major homebody. =)

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Wednesday, January 25, 2006

please-oh-please just shoot me...please?

just found out that the house won't be ready for moving into until 2/7 at the earliest, potentially as far out as 2/10. that means *gulp* alternate living arrangements since the rental house has to be given up on 1/31. *sigh* i don't wanna live there for a week to 10 days...and yes i am whining even though i know i should be grateful...

my head is starting to ache all of a sudden...

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12 things you're about to know about me

got a little taggity-tag from the "other" Andi (hmmm...like the "other" white meat?? never mind...lol...)

1. What are you actually supposed to be doing, instead of filling out this
forward?
getting ready for work. just not feeling motivated at the moment. maybe i ought to kick it up a nothch though after yesterday's little morning oversight. don't know if i can take it two days in a row...

2. If you had to get a tattoo, what would you get and where (and why)? i don't know. i would be in a state of hysteria if someone tried to stick me full of needles. it probably wouldn't look like much of anything what with all the thrasing around to escape...ha! i know! remember that episode of FRIENDS where Phoebe & Rachel got tattoos?? i'd get one like Phoebe's. =P

3. What's the most annoying ringtone you've ever heard? most of them annoy me. mine is the T-Mobile sound. but then again my phone is never on lol...

4. What kind of calendar did you get for 2006? John Sloane 4 Seasons: i get it every year for Christmas from my dad. well not the same exact calendar. but the new one for the coming year. just seasonal paintings by the same artist.

5. What is the last dream you had (at night, while you were asleep) that you can remember? last night i dreamt i was in a house where EVERYTHING leaked every time i tried to run the water...yeah i don't know. house anxiety maybe?

6. What song do you find yourself singing in the shower? i don't sing in the shower. just the car.

7. What's the most inappropriate place you've heard a cell phone ring? Easter morning in church in the middle of the sermon. even more inappropriate than that? taking the call while sitting right there in the seat! i know some people need ot be reached but for crying out loud, put your phone on vibrate & then step outside to take the call.

8. If a $100 bill fell from the sky right now, what would you spend it on? something for the new house, i'm sure.

9. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? been on a frozen yogurt kick lately but ice cream would be...Edy's Espresso Chip i think...

10. What skill do you wish you had without training for it? mind-reading. ha.

11. If you could only keep one modern convenience, what would it be? my computer. the rest i could somehow manage to live without but my computer ties me to everyone & everything.

12. What's the most beautiful thing in nature that you've ever seen? ONE THING?! you think *I* can really pick JUST ONE THING?! surely you jest. you must know me by now...I love love love (did i mention love??) Autumn in New England, every last little thing about it. and i am absolutely blown away by the sunrises & sunsets i've seen here in FL...

and since there is no place to tag someone...i tag anyone who reads this & feels like playing along =)

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just a little note to Boy Wonder

Theo:

we're so happy you're back in your GM role. the Red Sox were coming apart at the seams. or showing their true colors perhaps, not sure which. (grrrr...Johnny Damon...) but really now. having a fit a couple months ago & now you're back where you started....you know we have more than enough drama on the team already right? it's name is Manny...

just thought i'd mention it. welcome back.

**Dawn**

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

allllllrighty then

so all day today everyone kept asking me if i felt ok. and i kept saying "yes, i feel fine. why?" and they would just look at me with some cross between concern & skepticism & say "you just don't look like your usual self..."

kind of started giving me a complex...

just walked in the door from work & happened to glance in the mirror. i never finished putting my make up on before work this morning! =O i did foundation & then started doing my haor & never did the rest. i guess i looked pale or something without the rest of it.

(yeah. great. so basically i look sick without make up on. just what every girl longs to hear.)

just another reason why i don't buy the whole "guys don't like girls to wear make up" thing. =P

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Monday, January 23, 2006

meet the fishies

these are my saltwater buddies here at work. i only see the eels when they decide they are hungry enough to come beg for food. i thought i would take some photos since we're going to start phasing these guys out for some new fish. these guys are just plain outgrowing their home. you can't tell from the photo but the black & white eel is about 18" long & then spotted eel is about 2 1/2 feet! =O





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seduced by the sunset...


photo take outside my house on Friday

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My Old Friend

and by "old", i mean the one i have had the very longest... ;-)

(i'm stunned, absolutely STUNNED that the most recent photo i have of the 2 of us is almost a year & a half old! it's not like you weren't just here in October...sheesh. i am usually so much better about making sure we get at least *one* of just the 2 of us. )

so i'm going to quote the first section of the new Tim McGraw song & dedicate it to you:

My old friend
I recall
The times we had, hanging on my wall
I wouldn't trade them for gold
'Cause they laugh and they cry me
Somehow sanctify me
They're woven in the stories I have told
And tell again...

My old friend

Happy 30th birthday Heather! i wish you many many more filled with happy memories, laughter & health. i love you!

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Sunday, January 22, 2006

ah well...

this game was awfully reminiscent of one i watched last week...

i'm bummed that Carolina didn't make it but i will say that even though they lost, they certainly played with heart right down to the very last seconds. more than i can say for my Patriots last week...and i have a *smidge* more respect for Hasselbeck. he still hasn't made me believe but he's proven that he's good enough to get to the Big Game at least. and maybe he's not COMPLETELY overrated. poor Delhomme though...he had a bad case of Tom Brady's performance from last week. just couldn't seem to do anything right.

and there's still this--hopefully in 2 weeks this will be the Lombardi trophy! ;-)

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ya! hoo! STEELERS!!

buh. bye. Broncos.

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i have one question for you Denver:

how's it feel?!

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house shopping

kind of toying with the idea of this for the family room--have no lamps for this room at all at the moment


and this for the kitchen--need someplace closer to the window for my plants...

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new house update

i know you have all been holding your collective breaths for this lol...




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word association for the week of January 22, 2006



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

Alone:: quiet
Science:: biology
Deposit:: direct deposit
Faithful:: devoted
Tender:: "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" by Billy Joel
Chocolate:: yum!
Homework:: no thanks
Tamper:: mess with
Friend:: blessing
Wire:: telephone pole

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Friday Fiver: Sam I Am



1. What do you normally eat for breakfast? glass of cranberry juice & some chocolate chip mini muffins...or a Toaster Strudel...or a Yoplait yogurt...or a fruit cup...or some Special K...or...

2. Are you more likely to drink coffee or tea? neither. tea tastes yucky to me & coffe gives me the shakes so bad i wanna scream.

3. Would you consider yourself a good cook? i used to be. who the heck knows if i still can...?!

4. What is your favorite meal? i have so many favorite meals...one i miss is my Gram's Yankee Pot Roast with carrots, mashed potatoes & gravy

5. Green eggs and ham: would you eat it? ummmm...i guess if the eggs were just green from food coloring...

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Friday's Feast: Feast #77

courtesy of Friday's Feast

Appetizer
About how many times per day do you check your email? is there a number that big? i am logged into my email almost all day long. i check it when the "new mail" noise sounds.

Soup
If you had the money to collect something really valuable, what would it be? Steven Power paintings, which i fell in love with at Wyland Galleries of Florida (which can be found in Disney's Polynesian Resort & on Disney's Boardwalk)--the painting that sparked my interest in Steven Power is Diamond Head Sunrise which truly must be seen in person to understand the wonder of this piece of art

Salad
Write a sentence using the letters of your favorite beverage. (Example: The egret admires.) Walk around the eerie ruins.

Main Course
If you could be on a game show, which one would you want it to be? ya know i an drawing a blank & can only think of Jeopardy & The Wheel of Fortune...and i stink at both of those. i don't really think i would enjoy being on a game show...

Dessert
Name 3 computer programs or web sites you would hate to be without.
gmail
Bloglines
Blogger
AIM
yes i am aware i picked 4...but i couldn't eliminate any of them so...deal ;-) LOL!

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everybody knows...

...the best comics are found on Sunday morning! ;-)

The Blogger's Mission Statement :



as seen on Welcome to the Monkey House :

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Saturday, January 21, 2006

making the call

after reading a lot & watching some more, i've decided why i think it will be the Steelers & the Panthers in Detroit for the Super Bowl.

as far as Pittsburgh playing in Denver, i think you have an unbelievably well-matched game. you've got seasoned coaches, who are no strangers to the post season: wash. Denver has home-field advantage & has not lost a game at home this season...but this is against a team that has only lost 3 road games in 2 years, 2 of the 3 Big Ben did not play, and last week's preparations for Indy included making sure crowd noise was not a factor: wash. both teams have a very strong running game with Bettis/Parker combining size & speed to move the ball for yellow & black; Anderson/Bell packing a punch for navy & orange: wash. both teams are aces at *stopping* the run with Champ Bailey & John Lynch posing threats at forced turnovers & relentless sacks; a group of productive physical linebackers & wildcard Troy Polamalu popping up all over the place like an unpredictable wildcard as crazy as his mane of black hair: wash. you've got 2 QBs who have been consistent all year, who have strong arms, the ability to move around & sheer size in their favor: wash. my prediction as the one key to the outcome of this game? Plummer will be forced into several 3rd-and-long situations where the running game gets factored out & he has no choice but to throw, old demons that appeared to be laid to rest for hime finally the 2005 season will resurface & Pittsburgh will successfully put Plummer in the same hotseat Peyton Manning found himself in last week with an uncontrolled passing game leading to turnovers (have we forgotten that Jake is prone to interceptions of epic proportion?) & blitzing being disguised well enough that it goes undetected, leading to sacks.

on to the Seahawks hosting the Panthers in Seattle. i don't have a well-define breakdown like the AFC game. i think this comes down to one thing: Delhomme to Smith. i just don't see the same fire in Seattle's passing game, have no real confidence in Hasselbeck yet, and if you're predictable to run the ball with Alexander, how do you win against a team who has been to the Super Bowl before and can focus on taking away your running game? even if Foster sits this one out for Carolina, their #3 guy Goings has been strong & tough & reliable any time they have used him as the go-to man. the one key for Carolina is Peppers, who finally practiced on Friday & John Fox won't say whether or not he'll be present in Sunday's line up. but really now...what player is sitting out the Conference Championship game unless he absolutely has no other choice? my vote stays with the Panthers, even on the road, as long as they play the same ball they've been playing throughout the last few weeks.

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ollie-ollie-oxen fr...oops i got tagged =P

Andie got me!

The rules for this particular tagging are as follows: Remove the blog name in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add yourself to the bottom slot.

Amy
Traci
April
Andie
Dawn

Then you get to select five people to pass the love on to.

Michelle
Amy
Sue (kolkamtay)
Stacy
Marianne

Here are the questions.

What were you doing 10 years ago?

oh jeez...i was 19. i was in college with a 24-credit class load, working full time, doing my field work for school, had been in a relationship for about a year-and-a-half (though we had broken up & just gotten back together the recently passed Christmas night)...and i dunno, just being 19!

What were you doing 1 year ago?

ummmmm...working. that's about it. the house wasn't even a vague notion yet, can you believe that?!

Five snacks you enjoy (in no particular order, as all snacks are created equal):

1. Sundried Tomato & Basil Wheat Thins
2. ice cream/frozen yogurt/sherbet
3. chocolate chip cookies
4. Pringles
5. donuts

Five songs to which you KNOW all the lyrics:

1. "My Immortal" by Evanescence
2. "Kind & Generous" by Natalie Merchant
3. "Old Blue Chair" by Kenny Chesney
4. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (yes, the Christmas carol & there are 4 verses to it)
5. "When I Get Where I'm Going" by Brad Paisley

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. have no more debt at all
2. set up a trust fund for Baby Girl
3. make sure that my favorite girlies could come to FL any time they wanted
4. NOT quit my job--i *love* it there
5. make anonymous donations--to charities, to my family, to my friends, to anyone i felt like

Five bad habits:

1. procrastination
2. saying "i'm sorry" even when i didn't do anything to warrant an apology
3. not cutting myself some slack when i have no problem doing so for others
4. intending to scrapbook...and then getting distracted
5. not shutting up on my blog LOL!

Five things you like doing:

1. taking photos
2. playing on my blog
3. going to Disney World
4. watching football
5. going out to eat

Five things you would never wear, buy, or get again:

1. get my ears pierced--once hurt bad enough (yes i know i am a wimp lol)
2. a Mitsubishi
3. a membership with Columbia House
4. a non-digital camera
5. high-waisted pants

Five favorite toys:

1. my camera (well right now "my" camera is really Andie's camera that she is so generously sharing with me till i can get a new one)
2. my computer
3. my blog
4. my puppy =)
5. my Disney pass

First time you got kissed: How was it?
shocking. i was totally caught off guard & not expecting it.

First time you drove a car: What kind of car?
it was my mother's 5-speed Chevy Nova. i still can't drive stick.

First time you scrapbooked: When you look at your page do you love it?
it was of my baby brother when he was born...and i like it just because it's photos of him & i am reminded of how much i have learned since then

First time you went on a date: Where did you go and with who?
it was with Michael but actually 2 years before we ever really dated (seriously!) & we went to see the movie "Far & Away"

First time you fell in love: How did you know?
i knew because it was the first time i wasn't asking myself if maybe i was in love. i just *knew* that i was without a doubt.

First time you cooked for someone: Was it yummy? What did you make?
the first meal i truly cooked all on my own? i think it was chicken parmesan when i was still living at home with my dad & my brother Josh & as far as i know it was good. they ate it. chicken parm is the one meal i have never ever messed up. for some reason it has always come out perfectly for me.

First time you got on a plane: Where did you go? Were you scared?
it was in 1992 for the LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans. i wasn't scared of flying, just a little nervous, not knowing what to expect. but i was & still am a little scared of turbulance.

First time you shaved your legs: Did you cut yourself?
i have no flipping idea! that was something along the lines of 17 or 18 years ago! i can't even remember if i cut myself the *last* time i shaved my legs & that was about 36 hours ago! LOL

First time you put on make up: Looking back how did you do? Did you look good or like a clown?
i think i was a freshman in high school & i have never worn a crapload of make up so it's hard to look like a clown. i've always been drawn to more subtle make up colors.

First time you moved out of your home: Was it an apartment, house, etc?
i moved into Angela's apartment with her when i was 23 i think because she needed a roommate...

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Thursday, January 19, 2006

HOLY CRAP!!!

well Red Sox fans...it appears Boy Wonder is back!

well i didn't see THAT coming!

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a reminder for me

the lyrics to the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence haunt me. they remind of when i was younger & more careless with emotions than i should have been. back when i couldn't comprehend how fragile a heart really is...

and when i hear them i am reminded that i never want to be that person again...

Life teaches us some hard lessons but i've found the hardest lessons of all are the ones we learn about ourselves...

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face, it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice, it chased away
All the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me...

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excuse me?!

i get out to my car this morning & there's some condensation on my windshield. so i turn on the windshield wipers & instead of wiping it clear, they kind of scrape over it. i do a double take. this isn't condensation. it's not even frost. it's ICE!!! in FLORIDA!!! i thought i was hallucinating.

ya know...if i wanted to deal with ice, i would be living back in CT. ;-)

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remedies for rotten days--part 4

(Good Housekeeping July 2005)

i thought after yesterday's cranky post, it would be appropriate to do the last "rotten day remedies" post that i've been saving up...

14. dance away
put on your favorite music and get into the groove. dancing has lots of benefits and, because it's aerobic (and gets those endorphins going), will make you feel great. many of us don't dance because we're afraid of looking foolish, of not knowing the right moves. the remedy: do it without a partner, with no one watching. don't be inhibited. maybe closing your eyes will help. give it a shot and see how you feel.

15. smell the happiness
these essential oils are known to elevate mood: lemon, ylang-ylang, rose, chamomile, clary sage, geranium. find one you really like and mix with a fragrence-free body lotion--or combine a few drops with olive oil, then add to bath water or apply directly to pulse points.

16. pay a compliment
saying something nice to someone else is a great spirit-lifter not only for the other person but for you as well. there's nothing like the high that comes from brightening someone else's day.

17. take a "gratitude moment"
this is the easiest and quickest happiness enhancer. take a deep breath and think of three things you are grateful for right at the moment.

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Tuesday, January 17, 2006

i know you might have otherwise lost sleep over this...

...so i thought i would let you know that i finally found something to snack on.

YUM!

and while we're talking about food, i've tried some of the Bird's Eye Herb Garden Collection vegetable varieties. (i know i can make these very simply myself without the frozen packaging but sometimes you just need something mindless to toss in the microwave--cut me some slack! i'm eating my veggies! can YOU say that?!)

Baby Gold & White Corn with Thyme (Tiny gold and white corn with thyme, shallots and a touch of real butter) - have this one in the freezer, haven't tried it yet
Baby Broccoli Florets with Thyme (Baby florets with thyme and extra virgin olive oil) - haven't seen this one yet to try it
Baby Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets with Chives (Baby florets with chives, lemon and a touch of real butter) - this one is SO yummy!
Green Beans with Thyme (Crisp green beans with thyme and extra virgin olive oil) - tried this one, not so much crazy about the way thyme tastes with green beans...
Petite Peas & Mushrooms with Chives (Tiny peas and sliced mushrooms with chives, garlic and a touch of real butter) - much as i love peas, i will NOT be trying this one. mushrooms. *gag*
Baby Red Potatoes with Rosemary (Baby red potatoes with rosemary, garlic and a touch of real butter) - i haven't seen this one yet & as good as it sounds, i am skeptical to try it...for some reason the idea of frozen potatoes unnerves me a little bit...

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ya know what i hate?

when i know i'm hungry but it's late & i don't know what i want. actually that's not true. i wasn't hungry earlier at dinnertime so i just had a bowl of cereal. now i am suddenly craving a big bowl of pasta. at 10:16pm. which is not only too late to eat so much food but i am also not really feeling ambitious enough to cook it.

so i keep opening the cabinet. looking. closing it.
opening the pantry. looking. closing it.
opening the refrigerator. looking. closing it.
opening the freezer. looking. closing it.

give up. nothing looks good. stomach growls.

repeat.

*sigh*

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still sinking in


this look on Tom Brady's face upon being intercepted for the first time in some 140+ passes in the playoffs about sums up my shock as well--at just how stunningly bad they played in that game & how this season ended. i hope it's a long long time before i ever witness that sort of sloppiness from my New England boys again...

and i know the playoffs aren't even over yet but i'm already wishing we were closer to kick off again. man i miss football...

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and i thought *I* was an emotionally involved fan!!

Steelers fan had heart attack after fumble
holy crap! i know it was a nail-biter but even i'm not THIS into it!

speaking of heart attacks...my dog has a habit of sleeping on the coffee table. (don't ask. i have no clue lol)

well i don't know what just transpired out there in doggy dreamland but he just fell off the table with a huge thud after a whole lot of scrambling sounds as he must have tried to catch his balance. after i jumped a half mile in my chair (it was quiet in here till his misadventure!) i started to chuckle because i bet that was a sight to see! don't think he hurt himself since he came in here tail a-wagging to say hello...and now he's gone back to his napping spot so he's clearly not traumatized in anyway.

strange little pup...
*shaking my head*

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Monday, January 16, 2006

tagged again LOL!

got tagged again--TWICE!!--this time by Amy: Confessions of a Crazy Cropper and one of my favorite girlie-girls Andie& not wanting to decline (since hey! i'm feeling the blog love!!), but also not wanting to bore you with my answers (cause let's face it, i've probably already been as creative as i'm going to get in "oops...i've been tagged!" and "oops...i've been tagged! (part 2)"), i decided i would improvise & do the as-yet unanswered "fours" that i found on this Tag on {Dar-vah-lous} --hopefully this will satisfy both needs. ;-)

4 things you have done to embarrass yourself in public
1. was at a murder mystery dinner theatre & on my way to my table which was up near the stage, i didn't see the slight step up & tripped & landed on the stage on my butt in front of a room full of people. in my defense, these murder mystery dinner theatres are kept dark for atmosphere. =P
2. the half a million times i need to page someone over the loudspeaker at work & i trip over my words & sound like a complete idiot.
3. the time i came down with an intestinal infection at work & was trying to tough out my shift just running the register while fighting the waves of nausea (i worked at a sandwich shop, which you learned already if you've been paying attention in the other tags!!) but a pastrami sandwich being wrapped next to me pushed me over the edge & sent me fleeing to the backroom where i was SO sick. i know i couldn't help it but i was still MORTIFIED.
4. OMG...the time i had my dad give a letter to a guy i liked at work (my dad & i worked at the same place at the time)...i didn't end up regretting it but when i first started thinking about what i'd done, i wanted to die...WHAT WAS I THINKING?!

4 things you wear that you shouldn't
1. my ratty old Nikes that Casey chewed the back of the left one when he was a puppy. i have another pair of sneaker but they just aren't as comfy as the old ones & i am guilty wearing the chewed up ones just cause they feel so much better.
2. oversized mens button-down shirts which i am sure are not in any way flattering but again with the comfy thing...
3. my favorite red warm-up pants from Old Navy that are 6 years old & have small hole near one ankle but i love them...and (surprise surprise) they are so comfortable.
4. my white adidas track jacket with the yellow stripes (that goes with the matching track pants) to work because my place of employment is NOT the smartest place to wear white

4 bad habits you have
1. i apologize for things that are in no way my fault
2. i can be extremely unmotivated & procrastinate with the best of them if i don't keep myself in check
3. running late when i am supposed to meet up with Andie--i do NOT know what it is about meeting up with her that makes me perpetually late lol!
4. i can't shut up on my blog =P

4 things you don't do well
1. play any sort of sport, from baseball to bowling--i stink at them all! i am the most unathletic person you have ever seen--maybe that's why i enjoy WATCHING them so much?!
2. anything math-related--and this might scare you if recall another job i had: accounting clerk for a car dealership!!
3. fold a fitted sheet
4. tell a lie--seriously. i laugh. can't help it. i guess that's why i stick with brutal honesty. THAT i can do with a straight face! =P

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ohmygosh is she not the cutest thing?!


love my Baby Girl! i'm going to pretend that's a kiss she's blowing to her favorite Auntie! ;-)

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any other football fans notice this?

did anyone watch all 4 games this weekend & notice that there was some *horrendous* officiating going on in this round of the playoffs? downright crazy calls. some very questionable calls. calls that should have been made & were completely ignored. i was NOT impressed by the officiating i witnessed this weekend.

not to be confsued, i am NOT hedging that the Patriots lost due to bad calls, lest anyone think i am gearing up to make excuses. i don't care that the Asante Samuel interfernce penalty was really screwed up (be honest, you know it was) & that the Champ Bailey-Ben Watson play when the ball went through the end zone that was ignored in the Broncos favor & gave them the ball at the 1-yard line & gifted them a TD--the Patriots were not playing to win that game & i don't dispute that they were going to lose anyway when errors are made & the opposing team is good enough to capitalize on them. i'm just saying i thought the officiating STUNK this past weekend--in ALL the games.

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"Favre-esque" play wins my vote


if you've read much here at all when i talk football, you are aware that i have definite opinions on whether or not i like a team or a player & why. you know that i like tough, scrappy, hard-hitting players. i don't have much appreciation for finesse-style offense. i like passion & enthusiasm. i don't like show-boating. i like quiet confidence. i dislike cocky attitudes. i like QBs that aren't afraid to get hit or throw a block. i have no patience for feet-first sliding.

well i determined something this weekend, watching the Carolina-Chicago divisional playoff game: i really enjoy watching Jake Delhomme play ball. he possesses a lot of Favre-esque qualities: tough. passionate. raw enthusiasm. the ability to pull off a win. some inconsistency. (you take the good with the bad.) i am not saying he's the caliber of QB that Brett Favre is--you're talking about one of the best QBs ever here!--but i *am* saying that i find him exciting to watch. he'll never replace Brett Favre for me in that aspect, but maybe when the time comes, he will at least lessen the blow. i do know that i've struggled to pick a #2 NFC team. i've really just been a Packers fan in that conference. but i think the Panthers have pushed into that slot thanks to the play of their QB.

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Monday Madness" January 16, 2006

from Monday Madness

Good Monday to you all! Let's fill in the blanks! As always, I want to thank you for playing my meme! =)

1. Before I walk out the door, I always check to make sure I give the pup a cookie.
2. I can't seem to catch up on my ironing.
3. The one surface in my house that always seems to get cluttered fast is the kitchen counter.
4. If I sleep past 8am, I feel that I've slept in too late.
5. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to answer some of the emails i really need to reply to so if you're waiting on me, please know you are not the only one!
6. I hope to have my income taxes done by February 4th.
7. This year I'd like to make more time for scrapbooking.

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Tuesday Twosome: January 10, 2006

from Tuesday Twosome

Two things that catch/caught your attention...

1. Outside your window:
the UPS truck that is exceptionally loud today for some reason. 2 of the shop employees using 2 forklifts to load an emormous piece of pipe onto a flatbed.

2. On your desk: my new water bottle. the stack of paperwork mocking me that i just do NOT feel like working in right now.

3. The last time you were in a car: the driving the SUV that cut me off getting on the interstate on-ramp this morning. that i hot EVERY SINGLE LIGHT GREEN on my way into work today!

4. The last time you watched TV: the terrible officiating taking place in all of this past weekends' NFL Playoff games. that i really enjoy watching the Panthers' QB play.

5. The last time you listened to the radio: "She Don't Tell Me To" by Montgomery Gentry. "My Old Friend" by Tim McGraw.

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Friday Flings

from Friday Fun

1. If you could choose 5 things that belonged to someone else in your household to fling, what would they be? hmmmmm...i have to say nothing really! there's only 2 of us & he's not a sob or a collector of junk. ;-)

2. What would be the worst 5 things that someone could fling of yours? barring the obvious things you mean? my stack scrapping magazines. my folder full of decorating ideas, paint chips, etc. my stack of coupons waiting to be filed. my scrapping supplies. my box of cards that i've received in the past for holidays, birthdays, just cause, etc.

3. What are you the best at keeping organized? The worst? best: my recipes (not that i ever get to use them anymore). worst: my scrap supplies (i am convinced they have a life of their own!).

4. What is the one thing in your house that needs organizing the worst? right now? nothing. everything i own is in storage. it is about as organized as it can be! LOL now when i move in? it will be the whole house that needs organization lol...

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Sunday, January 15, 2006

i finally figured out what it is


i've said for a long time now that i just don't like Peyton Manning. he's extremely talented for sure. he's a model citizen. yeah yeah yeah. there was still something lurking just beyond my grasp to articulate what it is that i don't like about him. just now during halftime of the Panthers-Bears game, i finally put my finger on it.

they showed a clip of his postgame press conference. he had the sad "i still haven't made it to the Super Bowl" look plastered all over his face. and he said "i'm going to be a good teammate. i'm not going to name names. but we had some major protection issues during this game."

i thought Terry Bradshaw was going to fall out of his chair.

i paraphrase: he's going to be a good teammate & not name names?! you can't call your offensive line out like that & lay the blame on them. YOU are the leader of the team & you did not lead them today. take it on the chin & own up to the fact that you didn't get it done today. stop pointing the finger.

THAT'S IT. that's what i don't like. he whines & cries & pouts when he loses. and he oh-so-graciously does not "name names"...but he sure does cast the blame off on everyone else when it comes to losing. never mind that he didn't come out confidently. that he spent the large part of the game rattled. that when there was a breakdown on the offense, he didn't get his men regrouped & lead them like a QB is supposed to do. he likes to give that modest golden-boy smile & bask in the glory but he never takes the loss on his own shoulders. no matter how much talent he possesses or how much of a good guy he is off the field, i have no respect for the "it's not MY fault" attitude.

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consolation prize

if the Patriots can't play in the Super Bowl, neither can Peyton =P


after some truly questionable calls on the field by the officials & Troy Polamalu getting robbed of an interception that turned into a Colts TD...after the Steelers managed to stop the Colts on downs & take over right at the Indy goal line with a little more than a minute left on the clock but lost a fumble which fortunately led to a Vanderjadt missed FG...the Steelers advance to the AFC Championship game!!

i hope the Patriots were watching & got reminded that THIS is how a Super Bowl hungry team takes the field in a playoff game hosted in someone else's house!

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home stretch

it's crazy how fast they get built down here...

this past week the following was completed:
*the baseboards & trimwork, central air vents & other various minor details
*hardware for the doors installed
*driveway & front walk poured
*exterior stonework
*tile floors installed--foyer, kitchen, laundry room & both bathrooms
*carpet installed--office, family room hallway & all 3 bedrooms (wasn't supposed to be completed until Monday 1/16)
*kitchen cabinets installed (wasn't supposed to be done until some time this coming week)
*yard cleared of building debris in prep for upcoming landscaping

i fully expect that everybody has their fingers crossed for me here!!! just a few favorite photos from this last trip down there (and for some reason i apparently forgot to get one of the whole kitchen showing off the newly tiled floor. must have been the complete & total shock of seeing the carpet installed 2 days earlier than the builder said it would be. will have to remember to get one the next time i'm there.)

driveway & front walk


exterior stonework


close up of stonework


carpet!!!


close up of carpet showing color


kicthen cabinets


kitchen cabinets: detail/hardware


close up kitchen-foyer-laundry tile showing color


bathroom cabinets: hardware


bathroom tile (and yes there's a difference--a slight one. hard to tell but the kitchen tile is a bit darker than the bathroom)

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deployed

'For those of us that fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know'
been saving this quote for this day since i saw it on to make a short story long

Godspeed Saber Three & be safe.

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word association for the week of January 15, 2005



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

Paralyzed:: with fear
Bossy:: Ken! (i'll be in trouble for this one LOL!)
Worth:: value
Breathing:: life
Uneventful:: quiet
Return:: tax
Splint:: broken
Notice:: catch your eye
Hero:: super...
Vulnerable:: exposed

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oops...i've been tagged (part 2)

all righty. most likely as a result of the fact that i never ever stop to take a breath here, much less limit myself to a post a day or so, i've done this already, but far be if from me to not rise to the challenge of a blog tag, so because The Knotty Girl has bestowed upon me said blog tag, i will play again & see if i can give some different answersor least some creative variations on the ones i gave before.

4 jobs you've had in your life
1. sandwich artist (doesn't that sound impressive?! LOL!) for d'angelos
2. cashier, then front desk cashier lead/customer service and also early morning stock shift for Caldor (department store like Kmart that has since gone out of business)
3. receptionist/admin for a computer business
4. admin assistant for the event coordinator at a Holiday Inn

4 movies you could watch over and over
1. As Good As It Gets
2. The Cutting Edge
3. The Notebook
4. A Perfect Murder

4 places you've lived
1. an apartment
2. a house
3. a condo
4. a furnished manufactured home rental

4 TV shows you love to watch
1. PTI (ESPN)
2. Without a Trace
3. What Not to Wear
4. The Ghost Whisperer (yeah yeah, i know...i always get sucked in lol)

4 places you've been on vacation
1. CT
2. Maine
3. Boston
4. Washington DC

4 websites you visit daily
1. Gmail
2. The Bristol Press webpage (have to keep up on what's going on back there in CT)
3. Pooch Cafe comic strip
4. For Better or For Worse comic strip

4 of your favorite foods
1. mashed potatoes & gravy
2. Roadrunner Raspberry frozen yogurt
3. ziti with red sauce
4. broccoli

4 places you would rather be right now
1. playing with my god daughter
2. celebrating a Patriots post season advancement
3. living in my new house (yes this IS a different answer than the last #3 of this category--go ahead & check! =P LOL)
4. not someplace i would enjoy being by any means, but i wish i could go to the wake for my friend Gosia's father-in-law & give her a big hug...

4 bloggers you are tagging
let's see...who *hasn't* done this yet?! LOL! we'll see how successful i am this time. i was 1 for 4 in my last group =P
1. Abby
2. Nichole
3. Lora
4. Krystyn

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Saturday, January 14, 2006

pictures worth a thousand words...





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dethroned

3 fumbles, 2 interceptions. otherwise known as beating yourself.
congrats to the Broncos for capitalizing on 4 of the 5 New England mistakes.

my game summary?
when you play like crap, you don't deserve a playoff win.
cocky attitude prior to the game. turnovers. lack of communication. penalties. not executing plays. giving up.
these are not the qualities of a champion.
these are not the qualities i expect to see from the Patriots.

my one "atta boy" for New England: Ben Watson not giving up on the 100-yard interception return, running his brains out & knocking Champ Bailey out at the NE 1 when everyone else had long since given up.

but overall?
poor play.
no excuses.
disappointed. more in the way my boys played tonight than in not moving forward.

season over.
see ya next year.

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emotions running high

evenly matched game until the end of the half.
no score.

Asante Samuel on a Plummer interception.
Patriots momentum.
Vinatieri field goal.
First points on the board.

2 New England fumbles in 18 seconds.
Questionable call in the endzone.
Denver TD.
pendulum swings in the other direction.

half time.

*holding my breath*

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in case you somehow forgot...


GO PATRIOTS!!!

and just in case you needed to be reminded of what to look for in tonight's game:

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Friday, January 13, 2006

opportunity taken

everyone knows that commuting to work in the morning isn't usually something synonomous with having a jolly good time. there's lots of traffic. everyone is in a rush. you're still kind of waking up. add to that the fact that i am currently driving almost an hour right now AND they are doing construction on the main road i am temporarily living off of...and you can see where this is starting to go right?

or can you....?

the road i was on narrowed down from 4 lanes to one lousy lane this morning while the night crews collected their orange barrels. (hmmmm...was almost starting to think i missed those guys from the I-4 construction commute days but decided not so much really...) so while i waited my turn, i could have fumed & sighed & worried about the fact that i still needed to stop for gasoline (at a stunning $2.34/gallon!) but instead my attention was held captive by this beautiful sunrise...

the soft colors. the quiet shadows. nature just starting to wake up. it was that perfect moment just before the sun actually lifts into the sky to cover the earth with light. that moment that vanishes in an instant & i caught it...

freed at last from traffic purgatory, i made my merry way almost to work where i got stopped by the world's longest & slowest moving train. i kid you not, i sat there for almost 20 minutes & the train had already been going by when i reached the crossing. you'd think i had already paid my dues with the sitting & the waiting this morning. apparently not. so i put the car in park, got comfy & ate my breakfast. which killed all of about 2.5 minutes lol. i started looking around me. since i'm normally paying attention to my driving while i'm on this stretch of road, i took the stand-still time to take in the surroundings. much of this section of my commute is industrial in setting but this particular area is owned by the power company and hasn't been developed in any way. it was shrouded in a light morning fog. the sort that doesn't really distort your view as much as it softens the edges. so peaceful & serene.

twice today i was forced to stop. i could have been frustrated & annoyed. instead i took the opportunity to absorb the beauty that surrounds me every day that i don't often grant myself the permission to absorb. and somehow my day started out with a good feeling...

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*evil laugh*

just for Heather

wanna offer me another bite of your banana nut muffin?!?
=P

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