killing time

my work is done. just wasting time until i can leave at 1:30. found this over on Fleur de Lisa & thought why not? =)

ETA: kind of funny that i started this on Wednesday but then never got to finish. now i'm just killing time til i can get in my car to drive home...

1. Christmas tree: pine or cedar?
pine. scotch pine. love the way it looks, so full, with the long needles.

2. Name two dumb things you did as a kid.
hmmmm... well. Josh & i used to take turns standing in his Radio Flyer red wagon, the other one pulling us over big rocks in our grandparents backyard, to see who could stay standing longer. in retrospect, that seems like heads-split-open just waiting to happen. maybe Gram was right about that being a stupid idea... i can't really think of anything else i did as a kid that was dumb, though i am sure that i did them. i can *easily* think of lots of things my brother did though! like whack leaves off trees with his baseball bat... or throw rocks at our father's brand new Camaro...

3. What foods did your mom used to make that you will never, ever cook.
i only saw my mom once a week & she didn't make anything that i didn't like. it was all kid-friendly food & pretty much at our request. except for the bologna sandwiches. bologna gives me a headache. but if i were to pick my *Gram*, who cooked for me all the time growing up, i would have to say... Spam. red cabbage with brown sugar. Cream of Wheat. American Chop Suey. creamed onions. and any sort of mushy winter squash.

4. Describe the place you go to in your head when you need to calm down.
warm. safe. peaceful. and that's all i'm sharing about my special place because it's mine & i'm not sharing... ::small smile::

5. Have you ever seen a ghost, or something you can’t explain?
never a ghost, though two of my cousins lived with one. i swear. his name was Eddie, he wore a red plaid shirt & suspenders, and he liked Patricia but not Kate. he showed his teeth to Kate in a rather menacing manner. as for things i can't explain? ::looks around:: i wouldn't even know where to start listing the things i see that i can't explain.

6. If money and image didn’t matter, what would you do for a living?
private Disney tour guide ;-)

7. Did you ever fall off a horse and get right back on?
i've only been on a horse a handful of times & never fallen off. unless you mean the proverbial horse -- as in "If you fall off a horse, get right back on!" -- not really. i tend to reapproach the situation cautiously, if at all. been pushed off or unceremoniously dumped off too many horses to trust that getting right back on, or getting back on at all, is a good plan.

8. What name did you call a sibling that was sure to start a fight?
i don't ever remember calling Josh any names that were sure to start a fight. i had other ways to bug him if i wanted to accomplish that.

9. Describe the events surrounding you first alcoholic drink.
you know... i don't remember a single detail of my first alcoholic drink. and not because i was drunk off my ass either. i've never been more than pleasantly buzzed. i hate the out-of-control feeling that comes after that. i've been close to that feeling & then eased up because i don't enjoy it & if it's not enjoyable, why would i keep going with it?

10. Have you ever had a wild animal as a pet?
well... define "wild." Casey could be a wildman. but he was domesticated. can you imagine herds of wild Cocker Spaniels?? LOL! i digress.

11. Do you have a deep, dark, secret?
i would say that we all have a few. that doesn't mean there isn't someone who knows them though...

12. Would you ever shoot a deer?
i don't know. it doesn't bother me that people hunt, as long as it's not just for sport. i don't know how i would feel about actually shooting one myself though.

13. Do you return money if you get too much change?
i do if i happen to notice it when it happens. good karma, you know? doesn't hurt to keep the universe on your side. (hmmm... maybe i need to bulk up on the good karma. the universe has been kind of mean to me...) i'm not going *back* though if i don't notice until after i've actually left.

14. What puzzles you?
"why." i just want to know "why"...

15. How do/did you act toward a person you have/had a crush on?
i don't really have crushes any more... and i can't even remember the last one i had.

16. What makes you cry?
things i would rather not think about, much less share here.

17. What’s the best bargain you ever bought at a yard sale?
believe it or not, i haven't ever been to a yard sale. i have enough of my own junk. why do i need to by someone else's??

18. How much wood can a woodchuck chuck?
beats me. i don't even know what "chucking wood" means!

19. If nobody is watching, would you run a stop sign?
no. stop signs are there for a reason. if i were to run one, luck would have it a cop would be hiding somewhere to catch me, even though i *thought* nobody was watching. or someone else would also run the stop sign & crash into me. it only takes a moment to stop.

20. Do you believe in Hell?
absolutely. i don't think you can believe in Heaven without believing in Hell & i definitely believe in Heaven.

21. What material possession do you value most?
well, i value my computer & my camera for their monetary value. i value my cell phone because it keeps me connected to some very important people. but *sentimental* value would have to be the wedding photo i have of my grandparents.

22. Which day is better…Friday or Sunday?
well... Sunday has football, but Friday is... Friday. ::small smile::

23. Do you read a book more than once?
if i really enjoy a book & have nothing new to read, i will read a book more than once -- but only if i haven't read it in a while.

24. What is the greatest problem with today’s society?
wow. i don't know that i can narrow it down to one. there is greed & self-centeredness... and lack of accountability... and so many more problems... i just don't know that i can say one is the greatest. they all come in so may forms... and have so many consequences.

25. How old were you when you first touched somebody else’s hoohah?
i beg your pardon??

26. Would you ever skydive?
not very likely. i don't enjoy the feeling of dropping in *any* situation. actually *choosing* to jump out of a plane?? no thanks.

27. Name 3 songs significant to your romantic life, and tell why.
i'll name three, but i'm not disclosing the reasons. some things are just too... personal. "Ever the Same" (Rob Thomas). "Angel" (Sarah McLaughlin). "Simple Things" (Jim Brickman).

28. Would you ever have plastic surgery?
nope. i am who i am. if you don't like what's there naturally, then don't look at it, i guess.

29. Does bigfoot/sasquatch/yehti exist?
if they do, they are outsmarting all of us, since we have yet to prove it!

30. Are you a follower or a leader?
i think it is important to be both, as each individual situation requires. i am perfectly capable of being a leader, but there are times when it is much more important for me to sit back & let another person lead. i try to do both with as much grace as possible.

31. What’s the worst thing you did when you were a kid?
i was a really good kid, all things considered. i mean, sure, i did my share of back-talking & teasing my brother, but generally speaking, i was an easy child. very well-behaved when it came to the important things & rarely in trouble, pretty innocent & naive.

32. List three jobs you would never want to do.
anything involving trash. anything involving blood or puke. anything involving law enforcement.

33. Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi, but only when a carbonated beverage is absolutely necessary.

34. Where would you live if you could move your family, friends, and job there?
i think as long as i lived near a Disney, i would be happy. even happier with just a few special people all close by, but i've gotten used to being separated from *almost* everyone.

35. Is three really a crowd?
sometimes. but not always. =)

36. What kind of interpersonal interaction repulses you?
"close talkers." people who finish my sentences. and getting into my personal space before i know you.

37. Who would you rather spend an hour with, a writer or an entertainer?
hmmmm... maybe a writer... i guess it would depend on who the entertainer was!

38. Which calendar appeals to you:
this answer won't change. i've been getting this calendar for years now. the Lang calendar, "Four Seasons" by John Sloane. i guess it fulfills my need to "see" the four seasons change, even where i have only one.

39. What would you do if life gave you lemons?
life gives me lots of lemons. i try to make lemonade. some days i really want to cut the lemons in half & squirt the juice in life's eye, though. =P

40. Do you believe in love at first sight?
absolutely. being in love is like the flu: if you have to ask, you don't have it. now. whether or not you will admit it to yourself or try to run away from it is a completely different story. but i believe that when you are in love with someone, it's there right away.

41. Did you ever wish on a falling star, and have the wish come true?
i did. it took a really long time between the wish & the realization though. so maybe one had nothing to do with the other. i've kind of given up on believing that wishes come true.

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she did it first!

no, really, she did, & i, like a lemming, must play too. ::shakes head::

Appearance

I'm short: compared to what? i think i'm above average in the height department. for a girl anyway.

I have scars: a few. most of mine aren't the visible sort though... i do have the obligatory chicken pox scars. and a very faint one on my left palm, near my thumb, from a burn i got as an infant. if i have more, i can't think of them.

I tan easily: if you happen to click on the above link, you will see that Michelle believes she would be crowned Miss Alabaster 2006. i think that i could give her a run for her money. i am so pale, i glow in the dark. i gave up trying to tan *years* ago. i just load up on the SPF now & remind myself that my skin won't look like leather when my years are more advanced & i am minimizing my risk of skin cancer.

I burn easily: i do if i don't wear sunscreen.

I wish my hair was a different color: not at all. i like my brown when i highlight, which i have. i don't think any other hair color would look right on me...

I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color: i swear i just answered this question recently... you can see my natural color between the blonde highlights.

I wear glasses or contacts: i am going to leave Michelle's answer for this one, because, quite frankly, i could have written it myself - Glasses. I will never wear contacts. I cannot even take eyedrops, and you want me to put some itty tiny piece of something in my eye? Yeah, right.

I'm legally blind without them: i don't know about officially "legally blind," but i can't see much & am probably a danger to myself.

I have 5 or more piercings: dear God, no. i have one in each ear. that hurt more than enough. if i hadn't been afraid of looking dumb, i wouldn't have even pierced the second ear at the time. maybe i should have been more worried about *being* dumb though, because i could have just stopped right there & let the first hole close up...

I have/had piercing in places besides my ears: not a chance. *ever*.


Relationships

I miss someone right now: as a mtter of fact...

I've gotten divorced: never been married. in this case, lucky for me.

I've had a crush on a teacher: no, i didn't, but a lot of people had one on my senior year band director.

I've hugged a stranger: you're kidding me, right? i have an exclusive "hug list." very few people are allowed into my personal space.


Embarrassment

I've laughed so hard I've cried: on several occasions. my friends have to be some of the most amusing people i have ever known.

I've glued my hand to something: ummmm. yeah. when i was working for Bloomingdale's By Mail, in the receiving department, we got in this shipment of purses. it was Christmastime, the purses were backordered like crazy & the ones that arrived were missing this little chain decoration that they were supposed to have on the front. the manufacturer overnighted us the missing parts. i got nominated "Girl Who Glues" & off i went. the problem was that you had to Super Glue the chain to material that wasn't terribly cooperative so it required a lot of pressing... a few drops too many of the glue & i needed some assistance in being separated from ::looks sheepish:: more than one purse. acetone is not very friendly to the skin, in case you're wondering.

I've laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose: a few very well-placed comments have produced this result in the past. i can think of a couple of people who have been trying to properly time a comical remark with my partaking of a beverage. so far... no luck. there have been some worthy comments issued, but impeccable timing is of the essence. ;-)

I've had my pants rip/drop in public: no. and it's *not* on my list of things to do.

I was born with a disease/impairment: not that i know of. i am sure my parents would beg to differ. i cried the first three months of my life. i was a very colicky baby. i certainly had an attitude impairment about joining the real world, if nothing else.

I've sat in a doctor's office with a friend: only inadvenrtantly. i happened to run into a friend who had a doctor at the same office i used, and coincidentally we had appointments at the same time, so we waited together.

I've had my wisdom teeth removed: no. not yet. i suspect that's coming though. not really looking forward to it, truth be told.

I've had a serious surgery: i've never had *any* surgery.

I've had chicken pox: oh, yes. very much so. i was in the 8th grade. my brother gave them to me. the little troll had a half dozen spots on him & was fine over the course of a weekend. i was covered from head to toe, even had them in my ears & on my eyelids. i missed two & a half weeks of school -- they contemplated not allowing me to graduate, but my grades were outstanding & my brother carried my schoolwork back & forth each day, so i didn't fall behind. they almost didn't let me get confirmed though. my Gram would have *none* of that & i was allowed to show up just before the church service & had to leave immediately afterward. talk about feeling like a leper...


Experiences

I've gotten lost in a city: i wasn't lost. i was merely on a spontaneous adventure...
I've seen a shooting star: a few times. they always amaze me & they happen so quickly, i wonder if i imagined them.
I've wished on a shooting star: by the time i saw my first shooting star, i had stopped believing in wishes...
I've gone out in public in my pajamas: yes, but unless you know me, you probably wouldn't realize that i was in my pajamas. i usually sleep in track pants & a tank top.
I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator: can't say that i have.
I've been to a casino: sure have. i even won. once.
I've been skydiving: there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of this happening voluntarily.
I've played spin the bottle: i haven't. thank. God.
I've drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour: i haven't ever had a gallon of anything to drink in an hour. and i don't drink milk. ::shudder::
I've been in a car wash: what a bizarre question. i have been in a car wash many times. i was in one on Saturday in fact.
I've caught a snowflake on my tongue: i am a native of New England. i am not sure you qualify as a true New Englander if you didn't do this at least once in your life.
I've sat on a roof top at night: i don't think i've ever been on the roof top of anything, at night or otherwise.
I've played chicken: certainly not. but in high school, my friend, Brian, would periodically scare the hell out of me when we were driving somewhere at night on a deserted road, by turning off the headlights & taking his hands off the wheel of the car. i didn't so much enjoy that.
I've played a prank on someone: sure i have. can i think of a single one? no.
I've ridden in a taxi: this is sure to floor someone. i have never been in a taxi. i've been in limos. i've been in shuttles. i have taken buses & monorails & trams. but never a taxi.
I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show: once. not by choice, really. didn't enjoy it.
I've eaten Sushi: yes, i have. i am not terribly adventurous with it, but if someone i trusted, who knew my tastes, asked me to try something, i would.


Random

I own something from Hot Topic: i don't even know what that is. i probably sound old now. old enough to be someone's mother, maybe. =P
I own something I got on E-Bay: i don't *own* anything. i have attended various events using tickets purchased tickets from Ebay though.
I own something from Abercrombie: i did in the past. i don't anymore.
I own something from American Eagle: i've gone in & looked a few times. never found anything that i wanted though.
I own something from Anchor Blue: from where? seriously, am i *this* out of touch?


More Random

I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant: do i even want to ask why someone would do this? i've never even considered it.
I watch the news: i do. not every day, but regularly enough. at least the headlines & the weather. not the sports though. i only watch those on ESPN.
I curse regularly: not really. unless you count 'ass' & 'bitch' which are *technically* real words.
I sing in the shower: no. sorry.
I'm a morning person: i sure am. =) and a late at night person. from 2-5pm though? not so much.
I have listened to more than 30 CD's in a day: can you actually listen to that many CDs all the way through? are there enough hours in the day?
I've worn pajamas to school: only for Halloween the year i was dressed as a baby.
I know how to shoot a gun: as a matter of fact, i do! did so for the first time back in October. and i was told i did pretty well.
I laugh at my own jokes: not really. although sometimes i will think of a funny comment to make & start cracking myself up just thinking about it (yes, i am *that* much of a dork!) & am then unable to deliver the comment between fits of unexplainable laughter. (i told you i was a dork.)
I am really ticklish: very. and i don't like to be tickled. at all.
I play video games: the last time i played a video game, the original Nintendo was all the rage. i used to play Super Mario Brothers, Donkey King Jr, and Burger Time. aren't they fighting over like Nintendo 32 now? i dunno. don't really care.
I'm good at remembering names: if you're someone i *want* to remember...

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Monday Madness: November 20, 2006

courtesy of Monday Madness

Fill in the blank time!! Have fun and have a fabulous week!! =)

1. In order to protect my computer from viruses, I use Norton Antivirus, which I run every night.
2. I also use Spy Sweeper by Webroot, once a week, for protection from spyware.
3. I don't spend nearly enough time with those most important to me.
4. The first person I usually talk to in the morning is Nichole, by text.
5. It takes me about 45 minutes to get ready in the morning.
6. I keep all my appointments in/on my head & it's amazing that i don't forget more than i occasionally do.
7. It takes me about a half hour to fall asleep at night.

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Unconscious Mutterings: November 20, 2006

Week 196

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

Teacher :: lesson
Fifty :: cents
Crossword :: puzzle
Stuffed :: Thanksgiving
Family :: far away
Purr :: content
Toad :: so many toads, so few princes...
Cocktail :: dress
Insecurity :: losing...
Magical :: Disney World

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The Saturday Six: November 20, 2006

brought to you by Patrick's Weekender

Saturday Six - Episode 136

1. When a bill arrives in the mail, what do you do with it: pay it immediately, hold it with others and pay at once, or put it off until the last possible minute?
i usually pay it within a week or so of receiving it.

2. Which actor makes the best James Bond?
i haven't watched all of the James Bond movies, so i can't give a truly informed answer, but i would have to say Sean Connery for the old Bond movies & Pierce Brosnan for the newer releases. in my opinion, they both have the right look for "James Bond."

3. Of the foods you enjoy, which one are you least likely to try cooking yourself?
hmmm... i can't really think of one i wouldn't at least *try* to cook myself.

4. Take the quiz: What does your birth month reveal about you?
Your Results:October
Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

5. Of the results you just got, which one seems the farthest from the "real" you?
wow. just wow. normally the October/Libra descriptions are pretty accurate for me. this one? i don't feel like i am really reading about myself at all. i definitely don't love people just because they love me. beauty? no. i really can't stand lies, but i have pretended things to myself for far longer than i should at times. i very rarely get angry. i do not constantly make friends; quite the opposite, in fact. i always care what others think, though some "others" more than other "others" (lol!). decisive?? really?! i don't *think* i'm touchy or jealous... and i have been called stubborn far more than i have been "easily influenced." i wonder how many of these characteristics might really be accurate & i am only deluding myself...

6. Will you see your extended family on Thanksgiving Day this year?
i actually won't be seeing any family at all on Thanksgiving.

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Monday morning quarter back

after throwing four interceptions & no touchdowns two weeks ago against the Colts, followed by one touchdown pass & an interception of uncharacteristically poor decision against the Jets last Sunday, Tom Brady has indeed redeemed himself by tying his career high of four touchdowns yesterday & zero turnovers. everyone still thinking he's injured to the point of panic on Belichick's part? because i'm not.

and speaking of the Testaverde acquisition.

QB Vinny Testaverde
on his coming in to take three kneel-downs
"I ran in the huddle and called the formation and said `quarterback sneak on 1, ready!' and they all looked at me like `what?' I was just kidding. I was just sitting on the sideline and Bill asked me if I wanted to take a knee. I said `sure.' It's fun, just to go in the huddle and be with the guys for a couple of plays, under those circumstances, even if you're just taking a knee or handing it off." (Reiss' Pieces: Pats Chatter, Nov.19.06)

dude cracks me up.

yes, Nichole, i said dude. can i have my brain back yet? =P

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snapped.

two-game losing skid.
SNAPPED.

woo hoo!!!

251 consecutive game start streak.
SNAPPED?

=( hope not.

nine games for an undefeated season.
SNAPPED!!

sorry Peyton.
LOL.

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if the suit fits...

sometimes i feel a real tremor in the universe. if we play a little word association (and you know *anything* about the NFL), when i say Bill Belichick, you should immediately reply track pants & hoodie. because that's what he wears. that's who he is. not a team polo & khakis. not a button-down shirt & dress pants. big sloppy, comfy track pants & an oversized gray fleece Patriots hoodie.

now i read this:
"Patriots coach Bill Belichick just held his Thursday press conference (10:30 a.m. ET) and it ended on a light note. With 49ers coach Mike Nolan and Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio reportedly granted permission to wear a suit on the sidelines for two games this season, Belichick was asked if he'd trade his trademark gray hoodie for a suit.
"I didn't even know it was an option," Belichick said. "I think it's great, really I do. When you think back to the Paul Browns and the Vince Lombardis, Tom Landry and guys like that, their busts in the Hall of Fame, George Halas, you can practically see them. I think it was really a signature for some of those coaches. ... If I had an option to wear one, would I consider it? Yes, I would definitely consider it."

step away from the suit, Bill. stick with the hoodie that has worked like a good luck charm. you see what happened when you started wearing the homeless man version even. don't mess with success, man! it hurts my brain almost as much as the day i read Surviving Grady about Trot Nixon -- Trot, of Fenway right field fame, with the pine tar covered cap & the dirtiest uniform in the line up, even when he's on the DL, because the dirt & grass stains are so embedded into the fabric that they can't be extracted -- conducting a NESN interview while wearing a suit. a what?? what is it with the suit?? my mind is just *not* designed to wrap itself around such abberations...

::shakes head furiously::

another tidbit i've been mulling around all week is that of Vinny Testaverde suited up in New England blue & silver. this, of course, caused a huge media buzz, speculating that Tom Brady *must* be injured. after all, isn't he on the injury report?? with that shoulder thing?? ::coughs:: i believe Tom Brady has been "probable with a right shoulder" for something like the last two and a half seasons. i personally want to take this a different direction. this is Bill Belichick. he's up to something. (as long as it isn't anything to do with a suit, i'm all for it.) have we forgotten that last season New England had the oldest QB in the league on the roster? one 43-year-old Doug Flutie? and the drop kick that we all marveled over as the season faded to black? Belichick is cooking something up. he likes trick plays. he likes kickers throwing for TDs and veteran QBs kicking field goals. and now we have 43-year-old Testaverde standing on the sidelines. this isn't about an injured Tom Brady. this is about the potential for some sort of trickery that only someone of Belichick's genius could devise, let alone execute, leaving us all momentarily slack-jawed before we burst into applause.

and in closing, something i didn't think i would be saying but... here we are...
GO COWBOYS!

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Friday's Feast: November 17, 2006

Feast One Hundred & Eighteen

Appetizer
Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?
i don't really know. i think about everything involved to make life on Earth possible & the delicate balance required & i wonder what the odds are that the miracle of life could actually exist somewhere else... and then i consider how vast the universe is... infinite... and wonder how life could possibly *not* exist somewhere else when the possibilties are limitless.

Soup
What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did?
leave New England & live somewhere else

Salad
Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school?
i have mentioned her before. my junior year English teacher, Anne Norton. she may be one of the best teachers i have ever had. she motivated & inspired us in ways that were so unconventional. most of the time, i don't think we were even aware that she was. she teased & used sarcasm. she called us names (nothing obscene though, at least not out loud). i often wonder if she has been able to continue teaching in her own style now that we have gotten so sensitive as a society... i digress. i was absolutely challenged in her class. so much so that when i had to write a paper in college for an education-related course, i actually went back & observed her & used her as the subject.

Main Course
If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why?
no one. i wouldn't trade my place to be anyone else... ::small smile::

Dessert
What is your favorite dish to prepare?
probably the balsamic chicken with steamed broccoli over pasta that i make. it has some of my favorite ingredients & i've gotten really efficient at making it.

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Staring at the Sun

i'm going to warn you right now. if you watch Grey's Anatomy & you haven't watched it yet but you still plan to
STOP RIGHT NOW
do not read another word of this post until *after* you watch because i am going to talk about my favorite parts of last night's episode & i will feel *really* guilty ruining for you.

that being said...

**********************************

i had a real connection to Meredith's "dark & twisty" references and i am loving "bright & shiny" too (even if, in the end, she decided it wasn't something *she* could do.)

moment of identification for Dawn:
"Us with the boobies? We make a lot of bad decisions." (Meredith)

totally loved when George cornered Cristina & told her that he picked her as the intern for his father's case because she is a robot... and then pleaded with her to please be human. loved that. i really like George.

favorite symbolic moment:
when Addison threw the wedding rings into the water

completely cracked up at Frank, the patient who referred to himself in the third person. i know this is old news, because they did it on Seinfeld years ago, but i really thought Grey's executed it in a way *I* found way more amusing. and then when Alex & Izzie started doing it too? busted. a. gut.

and. speaking of Alex & Izzie.
best OMG moment:
when Alex grabbed Izzie & *kissed* her.
now *that* was a kiss.
i'm a little jealous.

**********************************

ok. that covers it, i think. just really enjoyed last night's episode & wanted to "snapshot" my thoughts while they were fresh.

here's to:
a little less dark & twisty
a little more bright & shiny
and kisses that stop you dead in your tracks.

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what i would call a bad night...

i woke up, completely freaked out, somewhere around 4am (i think), after dreaming that zombies were trying to bite me.

settled myself down.

went back to sleep.

dreamt that Thing 1 (personal reference to someone i know, not the Dr Seuss chracter & just take my word for it ::shudder::) had started working for my place of of employment... and she was pregnant. i found this even more disturbing than the first dream when *it* woke me at 5:20.

i stayed awake after that.

freaking dreams.
TGIF

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Stuff Portrait Fridays: November 17, 2006

SPF: For Jenelle

This week SPF was thought up by Missing JTSnow. HEre is the email she sent: (I can’t quote box anything because I am THAT LAME)

Hey Kristine - loved the shout out to Breast Cancer Awareness this week. I totally have a theme for you for sometime in November! I’ll be blogging about it more next Wednesday, but November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month (You know, that crappy monster that has a hold of my little girl!)

Anyway, you can totally say I suggested this so it won’t seem so inappropriate or distasteful (LOL) but I was thinking of this…

1. Something you seize (as in seizure, get it?)

2. Something that shakes (because you shake when you have seizures)

3. And something purple (because purple is the color for National Epilepsy Awareness Month!

Just thought I’d help! Have a great weekend!

KellyAka Missing JT Snow!

I hope you all get a chance to play!!

and i present to you...

1. Something you seize - seize the day... time... the moment...


2. Something that shakes - these little guys shake *everything* like crazy when they climb out of the water! and they are just about the cutest little things you ever did see.


3. And something purple - self explanatory...


...and a bonus purple, because the castle makes me happy, even if it's a little blurry...

Read more...

Dawn's Thursday Thirteen, Edition Fourteen: all things Disney

Thirteen Ways That Disneyland and Disney World Are Similar Yet Unique

1) It's A Small World - Disney World: it's in a building. Disneyland: it *is* its own building.

2) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - Disney World: you ride in a hunny pot. Disneyland: you ride in a beehive.

3) The Haunted Mansion - Disney World: the mansion has a Gothic Revival facade. Disneyland: the theme is a haunted Antebellum mansion *and* it gets redecorated from just before Halloween until just after New Year with a "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme!

4) Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Disney World: there is only a tribute to it remaining, inside The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Disneyland: still has it!

5) "the square" - Disney World: has Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom. Disneyland: has New Orleans Square.

6) same track, different attraction - Disney World: Dinosaur in Animal Kindom. Disneyland: Indiana Jones Adventure.

7) the castle - Disney World: Cinderella Castle. Disneyland: Sleeping Beauty Castle.

8) The Enchanted Tiki Room - Disney World: has been transformed into the The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management), featuring Iago from "Aladdin" and Zazu from "The Lion King." Disneyland: has the *original* Tiki Room.

9) the tree house - Disney World: remains with the original Swiss Family Robinson theme. Disneyland: was remodeled & given a new "Tarzan" theme.

10) The Jungle Cruise - Disney World: there is an Asian temple ruins scene. Disneyland: there is a piranha attack.

11) "the automobile attraction" - Disney World: has Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, which is based on driving a Grand Prix race track. Disneyland: has Autopia, representing a "futuristic look" at a multi-lane highway.

12) "river rapids ride" - Disney World: Kali River Rapids, in Animal Kingdom, is a white water raft ride through the rain forests of India. Disneyland: Grizzly River Run, in Disney's California Adventure, is a rapids ride through a mountain mining camp.

13) Pirates of the Caribbean - Disney World: one drop. eight & a half minute ride. Disneyland: two drops. fourteen & a half minute ride. *way* better than the Disney World version. totally spoiled me.


Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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::gasp::

no watch.
no necklace.

i. feel. naked.

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in case anyone was wondering...

sometimes being able to produce a mental image in startling clarity is amusing & entertaining.

other times...

not so much.

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all right. we'll talk about it.

so. you've noticed there hasn't been much talk of football around here the last two weeks. (i suspect some of you are rejoicing.) i just don't have much to say after two weeks of


and


so pick yourself up


start acting like the three-time Super Bowl champ you are and knock this off


because it's getting old & we know you have far better in you. i'm really getting tired of reading things like *this* already.

i find the opportunity to read jabs at Peyton far more entertaining.

the only consolation you are leaving me with is that if you decide to make a third end-of-game walk off the field that looks like this


at least that will be another good game for

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no further explanation...

had this one kicking around in the "file of possibilities" for awhile...

Answer with one word only, no explanations.

1. Yourself: emerging

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife: someday

3. Your hair: highlighted

4. Your mother: ammends

5. Your father: sacrifice

6. Your Favorite Item: camera

7. Your dream last night: searching

8. Your favorite drink: water

9. Your Dream Home: comfortable

10. The Room You Are In: office

11. Your love: possibility

12. Your fear: pain

13. Where you Want to be in Ten Years: happy

14. Who did you hang out with last night: myself

15. What You're Not: aggressive

16. Your Best Friend: irreplaceable

17. One of Your Wish List Items: this

18. Your Gender: female

19. The Last Thing You Did? listened

20. What You Are Wearing: blue

21. Favorite weather: warm

22. Your Favorite Book: reread

23. The Last Thing You Ate: yogurt

24. Your Life: rearranging

25. Your Mood: pensive

26. The last person you talked to on the phone: customer

27. What are you thinking about right now: someone

Read more...

if, as the saying goes, it's a penny for my thoughts...

...does this cost you a dollar to read? =P

found this one while perusing the blog of another Monday Madness participant this morning. couldn't resist. and since apparently you all can't stop collecting useless Dawn trivia, here you go. more for your collection.

1. How old will you be in five years?
35. halfway through my 30s. i wonder what i will look back & see has changed...

2. Who did you spend at least two hours with today?
all the lovely people i work with.

3. How tall are you?
they told me 5'7" the last time i was at the doctor. i've been told they must be lying to me. i don't know. i have to believe what they tell me.

4. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks?
the next six weeks emcompass almost the entire holiday season. i am looking forward to *many* things. and none of them can possibly be ranked as "most."

5. What's the last movie you saw?
i can't even remember the last time i saw one in the movie theater. i did watch "The Wizard of Oz" on TBS Saturday night though!

6. Who is the last person you called?
Alison. i called & relayed a message to her from our former boss.

7. Who was the last person to call you?
our accounting manager called me to ask for some paperwork.

8. What was the last text message you received?
well i deleted it just a few minutes ago, but Nichole said something to the effect of "That's true. It can always be worse."

9. Do you prefer to call or text?
i like them both, thank you. sometimes one is easier or more appropriate than the other at the moment, that's all.

10. Do you have any pets?
i have a pup but he doesn't live with me.

11. What were you doing at 12am last night?
i was just settling into bed after watching the Bears stomp all over the Giants on Sunday Night Football.

12. Are your parents married/separated/divorced?
both married but not to each other.

13. When is the last time you saw your mom?
i saw her in June when my brother got married.

(Where is number 14? I'll add one.)
14. What is the last CD you listened to?
i have one of the Grey's Anatomy sound tracks in my cd player in my car. if i scan all my radio presets & don't find a song i want to listen to, i just hit play & listen to a few tracks from the cd before trying the radio again.

15. What time did you wake up today?
6:20am

16. What are you wearing right now?
comfy flowing black pants (work *great* as good eating pants!). a long sleeve brick red t-shirt. socks. black heeled boots. and a wind breaker because this office feels like the North Pole.

17. What's your favorite Christmas song?
"O! Little Town of Bethlehem"

18. Where is your favorite place to be?
Disney. World or Land. they both make me very happy.

19. Where is your least favorite place to be?
stuck in traffic when i have to be somewhere time sensitive.

20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?
my home away from home =)

21. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years?
i don't know where i'll be next *month*.

22. Do you tan or burn?
i burn. it hurts a little. i don't peel. i fade right back to "blinding white."

23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?
vampires. or jackyls. the vampires i am sure most people are familiar with. the jackyls? well, i have *no* idea what they are or were, but my Gram scared the bejeezus out of me, telling me that if i went outside after dark, the jackyls would get me. my Gram was a smart lady. i didn't ask questions.

24. What was the last thing that made you laugh?
teasing a co-worker that his Indianapolis Clots were going to take their only loss for the season the week that they play the Arizona Cardinals. i wish... unfortunately, it's not likely to happen at all.

25. How many TVs do you have in your house?
two. one in the living room & one in the bedroom.

26. How big is your bed?
it's queen size. more than enough room for one person. especially one who sleeps curled up in a tiny little ball.

27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer?
desktop! i love the idea of a laptop, especially one with a wireless connection. but i worked for a computer company for a while & learned that laptops can be very cranky. i can't run the risk of having *no* computer & i can't afford to have two, so i will stick with the somewhat more reliable desktop variety.

28. Do you sleep with or without clothes on?
comfy pajamas usually...

29. What color are your sheets?
white

30. How many pillows do you sleep with?
right now? six.

31. What is your favorite season?
Autumn.

32. What do you like about fall?
well, if you happen to mean somewhere where there *is* an actual Autumn, i love everything. the weather. the trees. the smell of the air. the apples & pumpkins. cool nights & warm days but nice & crisp. baseball post season. start of football season. there is nothing about Autumn that i don't love!

33. What do you like about winter?
well in Florida, i like that there is no snow to shovel, no ice to drive on & no slush puddles to step into. it gets colder but not frigid (not that you'd know it to listen to *me* whine! LOL!). but i do miss being able to look outside from my warm, cozy home & see the snow falling & the whole ground blanketed in soft white.

34. What do you like about the summer?
sandals & happy painted summer toes. and *baseball*.

35. What do you like about spring?
warmer weather. colors after the dreary end of winter. in Florida, we get the scent of orange blossoms.

36. How many states have you lived in?
two.

37. What cities/towns have you lived in?
Bristol. Terryville. Davenport. Winter Garden. Clermont. Auburndale. Lakeland.

38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
for what? i mean, outside, i prefer to have shoes on. inside, i wear socks, unless my feet are too warm. then i am bare foot.

39. Are you a social person?
sometimes. i like my quiet time too.

40. What was the last thing you ate?
a granola bar. and my growling stomach reminds me that it would like me to please heat up the penne alfredo with broccoli that is waiting upstairs in the refrigerator.

41. What is your favorite restaurant?
i don't really have a favorite at the moment.

42. What is your favorite ice cream?
it's awfully hard for me to pick a favorite ice cream. there are so many yummy ones. i don't like anything excessively chocolate though when it comes to ice cream. *some* chocolate, yes, but not overwhelmingly so.

43. What is your favorite dessert?
cheesecake or warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

44. What is your favorite kind of soup?
new england clam chowder

45. What kind of jelly/jam do you like on your PB & J sandwich?
grape. or raspberry.

46. Do you like Chinese food?
yes, i do. i especially like Chinese food buffets so i can pick a variety of what looks good at the moment. i am especially fond of sweet & sour chicken, chicken & broccoli, and vegetable lo mein.

47. Do you like coffee?
i love the way it smells & i love coffee ice cream. i like frozen coffee beverages (*not* iced coffee though!). but a cup of straight coffee makes me ridiculously jittery.

48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average?
i have a couple of bottles while i am at work & then when i get home, i will fill my water cup once or twice for the evening. sometimes more. rarely less.

49. What do you drink in the morning?
a small glass of unsweetened 100% cranberry juice.

50. Would you rather sleep with someone else or alone?
for right now, alone is good.

51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?
where ever i happen to fall asleep, which these days is right smack in the middle.

52. Do you know how to play poker?
nope & i would be bad at it. i can't lie & i have no poker face at all.

53. Do you like to cuddle?
yes, i do.

54. Have you ever been to Canada?
i went to Quebec in 1993. and to the Canadian side of Niagra Falls in 1996.

55. Do you have an addictive personality?
i don't know how exactly an addictive personality would be defined. i know that some people are drawn to my mellow, laid-back personality & others find it frustrating.

56. Do you eat out or at home more often?
i'm pretty good about eating at home. i'm getting back in the groove of cooking for myself.

57? I'll add one. Do you have a wall calendar in your home, and if yes, what kind is it and where is it hung?
i always get the same calendar. it's a Lang calendar. The Four Seasons with art work by John Sloane

58. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you?
no. i don't even think i know of anyone who has an October birthday. i do know three people who have a June 25 birthday though!

59. Do you want kids?
i am not planning to have any right this second but one or two, if they happen on their own, in the future. and by on their own, i mean without any heroic efforts. i respect people who are driven to have babies by any means necessary, but that isn't for me.

60. Do you speak any other languages?
a little bit of German & some fragments remaining from four years of high school French.

61. Have you ever gotten stitches?
never.

62. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
thankfully not.

63. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool?
since i prefer not to swim, the ocean, because i can be there for the peacefulness & the beauty.

64. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?
that depends. if i am flying alone & not in any particular hurry, then i like the window. if i am going to be anxious to meet up with whoever may be waiting for me, then i like the aisle so i can grab my stuff & get off the plane already. and if i am flying with someone i like spending time with, then i don't care *where* i sit, even if it's in the middle seat.

65. Do you know how to drive stick?
several people attempted to teach me. several people failed.

66. What is your favorite thing to spend money on?
little surprises for the people i love.

67. Do you wear any jewelry 24/7?
i take my jewelry off when i'm in for the day. i only wear two things anyway. my watch & a necklace. i wear them almost every single day. sometimes, if i am going somewhere that requires me to *really* dress up, i will also put in earrings.

68. What is your favorite TV show?
i can't pick between two current shows: Boston Legal & Grey's Anatomy. but of all time, it is Friends, hands down.

69. Can you roll your tongue?
sure can!

70. Who is the funniest person you know?
most of my friends can make me laugh. a *lot*. Baby Girl *really* makes me laugh though. kids say & do some of the funniest things *ever*.

71. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?
i don't think that i ever have, actually...

72. What is the main ring tone on your phone?
it doesn't ring. it buzzes.

73. Do you still have clothes from when you were little?
not that i am aware of...

74. What red object is closest to you right now?
ummmm... lol... my bra.

75. Do you turn off the water when you brush your teeth?
i know it is horribly wasteful, but no, i don't.

76. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
i hate when closet doors & cabinets are left open. i always close them when i'm done.

77. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees?
ummmm... well... the bear would be a quicker way to go, i guess. not really so thrilled with either though.

78. Do you flirt a lot?
i used to once upon a time. now? no.

79. What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!! no more chicken nuggets!! but honey mustard used to be the dipping sauce of choice.

80. What is your favorite food?
not counting anything dessert-like in nature, i think... mashed potatoes & gravy.

81. Can you change the oil on a car?
LOL! you're kidding right?

82. Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket?
no. i. have. not.

83. Have you ever run out of gas?
*i* haven't but i've been in the car with someone who has.

84. What is your usual bedtime?
anwhere from 10:30pm til around midnight.

85. What was the last book you read?
i am almost done with "The Summons" by John Grisham. i've been reading it for about three weeks now but i've been taking my time with it. not because it isn't good, but because i don't know what to read when i'm done & i always like to have something around to read.

86. Do you read the newspaper?
i dont get the newspaper but i do check the news online.

87. Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
Redbook & Good Housekeeping -- just fluff women's magazines to thumb through. and Simple Scrapbooks which i think is about to expire.

88. Best comedian?
i don't know many comedians, but i really like Steven Wright's one-liners.

89. Do you watch soap operas?
not anymore. i used to watch Sunset Beach a long time ago until it went off the air though.

90. Do you dance in the car?
BAHAHAHAHA! no. the only dancing that i like to do at all is the slow kind.

91. What radio station did you last listen to?
i am forever changing radio stations when i am in the car. i think the last station it was on this morning was MAX 98.3 -- the greatest music from the 80s, 90s & today.

92. Who is in the picture closest to you?
this photo of Baby Girl from July 2005


93. What was the last note you scribbled on a piece of paper?
"Ernest X. sand blasting. start date Nov 14."

94. What is your favorite candle scent?
oh man. Yankee Candle for sure. but i have *so* many! Autumn Wreath. Balsam & Cedar. Cinnamon Apple Berry. Mistletoe. Pumpkin Pie. Lavender. Honeydew Melon. Granny Smith. Apple Cider. Cinnamon Vanilla. Cranberry Chutney. Farmhouse Apple. Vanilla Caramel. Hazelnut Coffee. Clean Cotton. Rain Washed. Ocean Water. Sunwashed Linen. Tropical Vanilla. Holiday Bayberry. Home for the Holidays. and the new holiday scents: Sparkling Pine. Sparkling Vanilla.

95. What is your favorite board game?
i enjoy a good game of Monopoly. i also really like the game Scattergories.

96. Where do you attend church?
at the moment... when i go... it's to Christ Lutheran Church in Lakeland.

97. When was the last time you attended church?
Easter morning. yes, i know. *bad* Dawn.

98. Who was your favorite teacher in high school?
my junior year English teacher, Ms Anne Norton

99. What is the longest you have ever camped out in a tent?
i have *never* camped out in a tent. not for this girl!

100. What are you doing right now?
outside of filling out this survey (which has taken me the better part of two & a half hours since i am doing it between other things): answering the phone. printing delivery tickets. replying to email. texting. making copies. posting mail.

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Monday Madness: November 13, 2006

brought to you by Monday Madness

This week's questions all come from fellow participants and it pretty much completes all the suggestions I've received so far. Feel free to continue to offer your suggestions. I appreciate your support and your participation! Have a great week! =)

1. From ch'i:
If you could only read one blog every day- which one blog would be on your daily list?
i don't know that i could pick just *one* blog. i keep up with so many of my friends through their blogs. even the ones i talk to frequently. i think i will have to cheat & say i would just check my Bloglines account... ::looks sheepish::

2. From kat:
What do you do to de-stress from a hectic day?
come home, take a hot shower, get into comfy clothes, make something low maintenance for dinner and hang out in front of the tv & computer for the evening.

3. From paxil princess:
What is your favorite piece of clothing to wear in the winter?
i have a sweater that my Gram gave me for Christmas about seven years ago. it's deep red, charcoal gray & ivory & it has a subtle showflake pattern. i love it because it's warm & cozy, it's my favorite colors & it reminds me of her. it doesn't get cold enough to wear it in Florida though for more than a month or so.

4. From sherle:
Do you prefer discussing problems with a sibling, a parent, a significant other, a psychologist, or a total stranger?
where is *my* answer?? where is "a close friend"...?

5. From trista:
How long have you been blogging?
since December 26, 2004

6. From lisa e:
Which side of the bed?
right now? the middle

7. From elton:
How often do you pig out when you eat?
not very often. i don't tend to eat a huge amount at one time. i graze all day instead. =P

8. From karen:
Do you watch the space shuttle launches?
not specifically. but if i am standing in a good location outside & it's clear enough, sometimes i can see them

9. From dawn:
What's your favorite leisure-time activity?
just hanging out at Disney World. alone or not. *always* with my camera.

10. From sherle:
When is the last time you said, 'I love you' and to whom?
What about hugs? Who is the last person you hugged?
not recently enough.
hugs... i miss hugs.

Read more...

meme in three

Things that scare me:
hurting someone that i love
great big prehistoric-size spiders
vampire movies

People who make me laugh:
Baby Girl
Andie
the entire cast of Friends

Things I don’t understand:
why the Red Sox have not signed Mark Loretta to a new contract
how people can be cranky at Disney World
things related to numbers

Things I am doing right now:
watching Sunday Night Football
drinking some hot apple cider
drying a load of laundry

Things I can do:
take a halfway decent photo
navigate my way around Disney World without the aid of a guide map
listen well

Ways to describe my personality:
quiet
mellow
resilient

Things I can’t do:
root for the Yankees, the Bucs or the Colts
make myself eat Spam, oatmeal or bananas
drive a stick shift

Things I think you should listen to:
your heart
your gut feelings
me (lol)

Things you should never listen to:
people who seek to shake your confidence
John Madden's football commentary
anyone with a chronically negative attitude

Things I’d like to learn:
how to cook better
how to take even better photos
how to silence my own fears

Favorite Foods:
Balsamic chicken & broccoli
mashed potatoes & gravy
ice cream

Beverages I drink regularly:
ice cold water
unsweetened 100% cranberry juice
(when it gets cool outside) hot apple cider

TV Shows I watched as a kid:
Full House
Beverly Hills 90210
Captain Kangaroo

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venting from Peyton overload

i am so tired of hearing about how unfallible Peyton Manning is. he *does* fail. when it counts. in the playoffs.

know what i'm ready for?

Peyton to be on the cover of Madden NFL 08.

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Unconscious Mutterings: November 12, 2006

Week 197

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

Nick :: tiny cut from shaving
Focus :: camera
Police :: officer
Miles :: too many
Earn :: reward
Twice :: baked potato
Razor :: sharp
Personality :: cheerful
Dumped :: spilled
Reliable :: able to be counted on to come through when needed

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testing, testing!

Marianne had a fun quiz on her blog that she found at QuizBox & i couldn't resist playing along!

Get to know yourself better

Your view on yourself:
You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You are a true romantic. When you are in love, you will do anything and everything to keep your love true.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you meet that person.

The seriousness of your love:
You are very serious about relationships and aren't interested in wasting time with people you don't really like. If you meet the right person, you will fall deeply and beautifully in love.

Your views on education:
You may not like to study but you have many practical ideas. You listen to your own instincts and tend to follow your heart, so you will probably end up with an unusual job.

The right job for you:
You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:
Success in your career is not the most important thing in life. You are content with what you have and think that being with someone you love is more important than spending all of your precious time just working.

What are you most afraid of:
You are afraid of things that you cannot control. Sometimes you show your anger to cover up how you feel.

Who is your true self:
You like privacy very much because you enjoy spending time with your own thoughts. You like to disappear when you cannot find solutions to your own problems, but you would feel better if you learned to share your thoughts with a person you trust.

Read more...

Stuff Portrait Fridays: November 10, 2006

This week is a little ‘out of the box, overthinking, or underthinking, off the hook or in the oven’. Basicly it’s going to be hard or easy, it’s up to you.

SPF: NOV. 10th (that’s this Friday)

1. YES!
2. NO!
3. MAYBE.

It feels like EVERY SINGLE day revolves around those three words. Show me what is a yes, no or maybe in your house.

1. YES! =)


2. NO! no no no. no way.


3. MAYBE. if you squint. it sort of looks like a Hidden Mickey...

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Unconscious Mutterings: November 8, 2006

Week 196

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

Theft :: stolen
Storage :: bins
Pick :: pumpkins
Los Angeles :: Dodgers
The one :: I was made to love
Accent :: Boston
Rivalry :: Red Sox - Yankees
Process :: think about
Streets :: Roads
Museum :: of Natural History

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Manic Monday: November 8, 2006

courtesy of Manic Monday

All You Need Is Love

Could you ever be in love with someone you knew you couldn't trust?
absolutely not. period.

Would you rather have a strikingly attractive spouse who was disappointing in bed or a plain-looking spouse who was fantastic?
hmmm... my first reaction is to say: wouldn't my spouse *be* strikingly attractive to me?? and i will further say that if we were indeed in love with one another & what went on in bed was an expression of that love, he would take the time to learn what made it fantastic for me, as i would for him.

Is it easier for men or women to find good partners?
i think it's just plain hard, if not damn near impossible, for all parties to find good partners...

If you could spend one night with anyone in the world you desired, but only by getting permission from your partner, would you ask for it?
absolutely not. my partner would be the only one i desired. i wouldn't want to share him & i wouldn't want him to share me either.

If you found your true love, how long would you wait for him/her to return your love?
as long as it took... if this person is your true love, then no one else would do, unless you are willing to settle for less. i am not. not anymore.

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fresh meme!

found this at A Mommys Daze while out blog-hopping & thought it looked like fun. =)

Rules: Randomly list 9 people, preferably people you know. Do not read the questions below the list until you create your list. After your list of 9 people is complete, go back and answer each question, referencing your list.

the list:

1. Alison
2. Heather
3. Andie
4. Michelle
5. Nichole
6. Daniel
7. my brother, Josh
8. Chele
9. my sister-in-law, Kas

and the questions:

Where did you first meet #3?
well, technically, we "met" online, through love of Disney, photography & scrapping, but for some reason i am drawing a blank if i first *met* her at Disney or at a scrapping expo...

What would you do if you had never met #1?
i would have been minus one of my very best friends in the world & i would have been very lonely, since i "found" her at a very critical point in my life.

What would you do if #6 and #2 were going out?
i think i would be very confused...

Have you seen #4 cry?
no i have not but we've shared many a tearful conversation...

How do you know #8?
we went to high school together. =) see Chele? (hahaha, see Chele? seashell? hahaha... sorry.) *some* good things came from high school! ::big cheesy grin::

What do you think about #7?
he's my brother. i've known him his whole life. i think a *lot* of things! he's smart. he's funny. he's his own man. he's a talented writer. he's a lot stronger than people realize. he took care of our Gramp when i know *I* couldn't have done it. we didn't always get along very well, but we do now. have to say, i like the guy he's become.

What would you do if #5 confessed they loved you?
LOL! i believe she has told me she loves me more than once! ;-) it's not a confession! she's one of my dearest friends & i know she loves me. i love her too.

Fact about #9?
she's my very first sister. =)

Who is #4 going out with?
me. to Disney World. *soon*. we have a hot date with the People Mover & some Dole Whips.

What does #2 do for a living?
she coordinates a respite program to help families with children who are going through challenging times.

Would you ever live with #8?
sure. i think we get along well enough for that. of course i don't plan on living in Connecticut again so...

Where does #7 live?
currently, Connecticut, but i believe there is a move to Maine coming in his near future!

What do you think about #3?
i share a brain with the first three people on my list. the Puppet Master says i *have* to like them all. or else. ;-)

What do you love about #1?
everything. she's my girlie! she thinks the way i do. and omg, do we laugh when we get together. she just gets me & loves me no matter what.

Is #2 your best friend?
one of. and my longest friend, by far. for 27 years in fact.

Do you miss #3?
yes. i haven't seen her in *forever*. and it appears the visits will be even more few & far between now... i'm happy for her though. =)

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memememememememememe

borrowed this a while back from Jenny's Journal. i saw it there a while back & saved it for a rainy day. ::checks outside:: yep. raining.

ARE YOU:
A Cuddler? why, yes. yes i am. who knew??
A morning person? yes! a morning person & a middle of the night person but *not* an afternoon person at all!
Are you a perfectionist? sometimes. i *hate* when i make mistakes.
An only child? no. two younger brothers. one is married. the other is only 8.
Catholic? Lutheran
In your pajamas? i wish. and wrapped in my fuzzy tan blanket.
Currently suffering from a broken heart? not anymore
Okay styling other people's hair? not if they want to be seen in public. seriously. hard enough time styling my own.
Left handed? nope
Addicted to MySpace? only ever visited a couple sites that i was linked to.
Shy around the opposite gender? i am shy around people i don't know in general.
Loud? rarely

DO YOU:
Bite your nails? no. i used to when i was younger. then i started getting acrylic tips. can't bite those babies & even if you could, it wasn't cheap to replace one. and it *hurt*. i don't get them done anymore but i never resumed biting my nails either.
Get paranoid at times? not paranoid. but definitely insecure.
Currently regret something that you have said/done? yes.
Curse frequently when you get mad? i have to be *really* pissed off to curse.
Enjoy country music? some of it but i don't listen to it exclusively.
Enjoy jazz music? a little bit
Enjoy smoothies? yes. but no bananas.
Enjoy talking on the phone? the depends solely on who is on the other end.
Have a lot to learn? don't we all?
Have a pet? yes, but he doesn't live with me...
Have a tendency to fall for the "wrong" person? not. any. more.
Have all your grandparents died? no. my maternal grandmother is still alive. but my paternal grandparents have & i was very close to them. =(
Have at least one sibling? yes i do. one full. one half.
Have been told that you are smart? yes. but there are lots of people who are smarter than i am.
Have had a broken bone? just a tiny one in my foot
Have Caller I.D. on your phone? not on my home phone.

HAVE YOU:
Changed a diaper? many many many. four years working in daycare with one-year-olds. that's eight babies, five days a weeks at a minimum of four diapers a day. you do the math.
Changed a lot over the past year? a lot of diapers? no. oh. you mean have *I* changed a lot? yes.
Had friends who have never seen your natural hair color? nope. you can see it right now. it just has some highlights too.
Had surgery? no i haven't
Killed anyone? i *hope* not! but if i did, i don't know about it.
Had your haircut within the last week? no but i go on the 18th.

LAST PERSON WHO:
Slept in the bed beside you? there is no bed beside me ;-)
Saw you cry? some people *know* that i have cried, but the last people to see me cry were Nichole & Daniel.
Went to the movies with you? i have no idea when i even last went to the movies in the first place...
You went to the mall with? my last trip was just by myself. i don't go to the mall very often.
You went to dinner with? Nichole & Daniel!
You talked to on the phone? i'm at work. i've been answering the phone all day.
Said 'I love you' to you and meant it? someone who makes me smile.
Broke your heart? ::sigh:: never mind.
Made you laugh? Baby Girl

WOULD YOU RATHER?
Pierce your nose or tongue? not picking. no piercings. one in each ear was enough.
Be serious or be funny? everything has its time & place. i wouldn't want to be all one or the other.
Drink whole or skim milk? i do not drink milk. (apparently, i also do not answer "choose one" questions very well either.)
Die in a fire or drown? i don't tempt Fate with questions like this...
Spend time with your parents or enemies? ummmm... my parents.

ABOUT YOU!
What time is it? 337pm
Name? Dawn
Nickname(s)? Sunshine. Trouble. Queen.
Where were you born? Bristol Hospital
What is your birthdate? October 12
What do you want? i want what's mine.
Where do you want to live? someplace warm & happy.
How many kids do you want? let's see if i get to one & then we'll discuss.

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recurring nightmare

thanks boys. i so wanted to relive last year's special hell. only this time with more New England turnovers than we've seen in over five years. fantastic. (/sarcasm)

it's almost as if all of a sudden Tom Brady can win all the games but the ones that matter. funny, i think that's what we used to say about Peyton-freaking-Manning, leader of the undefeated Colts...

::sigh::

i'll say it now, so no one questions my stance on it later: if Peyton wins a Super Bowl ring this year, i may be ill. if Traitor #2 kicks the field goal that wins it all for them, it might push me right over the edge.

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Stuff Portrait Fridays: November 3, 2006

SPF: Easy…SOOO easy.

I’m feeling Lazy…SOOO lazy.

Next week is a thinking game, but for this Friday…just SUPER easy.
1. The Good
2. The Bad
3. The Ugly

Go grab your cameras! Get it done early, don’t follow your fearless leader who waits until the last moment and then you get lame pictures instead of thought out ones.

courtesy of Walt Disney World's HalloWishes, i bring you...
(taken without the aid of a tripod)

1. The Good


2. The Bad


3. The Ugly

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let the games begin!

so it's only mid-week. all eyes seem to be focused on Sunday night football as the Patriots & the Colts get ready to write another chapter in their rivalry. the thing that really worries me is that everyone is singing the praises of New England & everyone in sports knows that brings nothing but jinxes & bad karma. Peyton Manning is 1-7 in Foxboro & 1-5 against Tom Brady. the problem is that Peyton's one win in Foxboro & against Tom Brady came last year. it leaves me lacking the verbal swagger i had before last year's match up was played & became the disappointing precursor to the 2005 season, when the Patriots had no one but themselves to blame for going home without a fourth championship. they cannot afford to play sloppy ball this week against the Colts. they need to strike first, strike fast & get inside Peyton's head so that he starts throwing intersceptions. and they need to run run run against the weak Indy run defense. take advantage of the Patriots version of the Papi-Manny one-two punch of Dillon-Maroney.

though the game doesn't kick off until 8:15pm Sunday night, the pre-game show is already in full swing. the Patriots have seventeen players listed as questionable on their injury report & Tom Brady, who has been listed as probable for with a shoulder injury for two-and-a-half seasons now. that's Bill Belichick: man of mystery, genius disguised in a hoodie & track pants. how do the Colts answer? why, with their own injury report, listing, you guessed it: seventeen questionable players. apparently this is a head game beyond Peyton Manning. it's a new game of guess how many of our players will be available at game time & *now* see if you can set up a strategy to beat us!

at his Wednesday press conference, Belichick was quoted as saying:
"OK, we all know we have a real good football team coming in here Sunday night. We have a lot to get ready for. The Colts are pretty good at everything. They're well coached. Good in all three phases of the game. They can play from ahead, they can play from behind. They pretty much do everything they need to do. They're undefeated. It's a big challenge for us, and so we have two focuses - one is to get ready for the Colts and two is to keep improving, keep working on what we need to work on, so if it isn't about that, there's really not that much else to talk about this week."

Belichick answered a variety of questions on former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri, now with the Colts. Asked Vinatieri's Patriots' legacy in his mind, Belichick said: "I think we all know what it is. He did a lot for this franchise, a lot for this team. I think we all know that."

Belichick was all business in this press conference. It was shorter than normal, and his answers were more clipped than usual.

i wasn't aware that it was possible for him to be shorter & more clipped than the tight-lipped head coach he already is!

now i just hope that this little snippet regarding Peyton's performance against the Broncos Touching All The Bases indeed holds true: Sure, Peyton Manning still looks like he cuts his hair with toenail clippers, but man, did ever expose that speedy and talented Denver defense today. Well done, Doofus Spawn of Archie. And thanks for getting it all out of your system this week.

i'm nervous. excited & hopeful... but nervous... i can't endure another game in Foxboro ending with a glowing Peyton face, arms pumped, white jersey still pristine as newly fallen snow... and no matter what he did in a Patriots uniform, i would love to see The Other Traitor fall flat on his face on the cold New England sod.

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Question of the Day: November 2, 2006

brought to you by Question of the Day

Thinking about November

November: what is the first thing that comes to mind?
where did 2006 disappear to?? how on earth is it Thanksgiving already?! mmmmmmmm... Thanksgving....

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Friday Fiver: November 2, 2006

courtesy of Friday Fiver

Scary Spice

1. What's your favorite candy:
of the mass-produced variety? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

2. What's the best scary movie?
one that i do not have to watch alone!

3. Do you like to be alone at home?
as long as i am not watching scary movies! hehe! actually, it doesn't bother me to be at home alone & yes, sometimes i like it...

4. Pumpkin pie: eat it or throw it?
traditional pumpkin pie is kind of a weird consistency for me & i much prefer apple, but for the last five or six years that my Gram was still alive, i made a no-bake two-layer pumpkin pie that everyone in my family loved. *that* kind of pumpkin pie is definitely for eating!

5. The most distasteful Halloween costume you can think of:
i can't remember any "original" distasteful costumes that i have seen, though i am sure that i have & just did not restain it, but in a more general sense, i find it disturbing when parents let their young girls go out dressed as hookers or really anything that is "sexy"...

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Dawn's Thursday Thirteen, Edition Thirteen: Autumn-inspired

Thirteen Things Missing From Autumn When You Live In a Place With No Actual Seasons

1) apple orchards: sure i have the delicious scent of orange blossoms in March, but there are no *apple* orchards for getting bags of crisp, freshly picked apples and gallons of yummy cider... homemade apple pie, sold by the slice...

2) colorful foliage: while i do have trees down here with actual leaves & not *just* palm trees, these leaves stay nice & green until January... when they suddenly turn brown & fall off. no fiery transition painting the hills & mountains in the distance amazing colors. come to think of it, no hills & mountains either. =P

3) crisp air: something about the Autumn air itself is invigorating. even when the sun shines, there is a briskness to the air around you. the air in FL doesn't get anything that resembles crisp until mid-November. and then, it's only in the mornings & late at night. at the rate we're going this year, with highs in the upper 80s still, it will probably be January before we get more than a teaser.

4) sweater weather: along with the crisp Autumn air, you get rosey cheeks & you need that extra layer of coziness when you're outside soaking in the gorgeous weather. it's too warm still for an actual jacket but just a long sleeve tee is not enough. i only get to wear sweaters for about three weeks, in February, when it's freaking icy here in the Sunshine State.

5) hot spiced apple cider: sure you can still make that in Florida as a seasonal treat, but somehow it just isn't the same when the weather outside doesn't require a nice warm feeling in your stomach to warm you up from the inside out...

6) Dunkin Donuts seasonal selections: i don't know why, but for some reason in this state, you can't get the same yummy donuts that i had to choose from in Connecticut. sure, i can still get the year-round available apple-filled cinnamon donut, but what about the cider donuts? and the apple-filled caramel-frosted donuts? and the apple-filled donuts that are iced & sprinkled with crunchies? they don't even do the choclate-frosted donuts with the little seasonal sprinkles on them... the selection just isn't the same...

7) leaves on the ground: it just doesn't feel like Autumn unless you get to scuffle through piles of fallen leaves, kicking them up into explosions of color, rustling & crunching underfoot... and that distinct aroma that only fallen leaves possess...

8) frosty breath: something about the first time you see that cloud of breath that initiates that the seasons have indeed changed again...

9) Indian Summer: you can't have an Indian Summer when it *stays* warm. you need that first frost to edge the world in sparkle before you get back to 70-degree afternoons & one last round of short sleeves before the chill holds on...

10) trick-or-treating: i am sorry but when your childhood memories include kids having to layer themselves with sweatshirts & gloves & turtlenecks & thermal underwear, transforming into bulked up versions of the characters they are disguised as for Halloween, it just doesn't seem right to me somehow to open the door to trick-or-treaters who can be Princess Jasmine or a bellydancer showing skin without the risk of suffering frostbite.

11) country fairs: Floridians go to fairs in January & February. because they *can*. but it still seems weird to me that the fairs don't coincide with the Autumn harvest...

12) the Catskill mountains: my annual birthday trip to Cooperstown with my dad was something i looked forward to every year. we would set off on what was predicted to be a peak foliage weekend & enjoy all my favorite parts of Autumn in a place i love... it was a day trip, maybe two. now it would be a full vacation.

13) Yankee Candle: sure there are little shops at the mall. nothing can top a trip to the flagship store though. i used to go four times a year, just before each new season began, to stock up on seasonally appropriate scents & candle accessories. it was a rite of passge for each season as it made its debut. now i almost forget that i am in a new season because they are all virtually the same. Autumn scents (tied with Winter scents) are some of my favorites: apples & cinnamon, caramel & pumpkin spice... and something about seeing that great big wagonload of pumpkins...

i so miss Autumn in New England...

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