Yes, nineteen years ago, on this very day, I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I married "the estranged one." I wish that I had known then what I do now. But, alas I thought I was in love, and perhaps I was. I do not know. I also do not know why I leave myself stuck in this miserable non - relationship. I have plenty of grounds for divorce. We haven't lived together for over two years, he is seeing someone else (although he is not aware that I know this), I have no desire to reconcile, we tried that several times before and obviously it did not work, so what is stopping me? I've been giving this a lot of thought and have come up with a few theories.
1. I fear paying him spousal support. Because I make much more than he does and the length of time we have been married, he would be entitled to make a claim for it. I wouldn't put it past the greedy but lazy bastard to do so.
2. He is still useful for some things, even though sex is not one of them. I can still get him to cut the grass and make minor household and automotive repairs, gratis.
3. I don't trust him not to drag old skeletons out of the closet during divorce and/or custody procedings. I'm a recovering alcoholic. I've done some things in the past that aren't pretty. They are put behind me now, and I don't want to see them dragged out into the open again.
4. Division of property! Argh! I don't even want to think about that...
So there you have it, my exceptionally lame reasons for remaining in this marital limbo of mine. Will I ever gather enough courage to file for divorce? I don't know. I hope that I will. I need to get on with my life...
To all of the kidlets out there in Mamboland, Happy Mambo Day! After all, everyday is a Mambo Day in Mamboland. But before you think that the Moodylady is off her Mamboing Rocker...
August 29, 1966 was the day the Beatles played their last concert in Candlestick Park. And since it's the end of August, it's time to wrap up the summer concerts.
So for a warm up let's take the letters C-O-N-C-E-R-T and being as crazy and creative as you can, tell us how you feel about live concerts, what you love and what you hate about them. Tell us how you really feel!!
Can I ever go to one and not be sitting next to the worst drunk at the venue?! Oh! If only I could be so lucky! Never do I fail to be sitting next to some drunken slob! Can I never be allowed to watch a show in peace? Even at The Music Of Andrew Lloyd-Weber I got seated by a drunk! Ridiculous, that's what it is. The secutity people never seem to notice them!
Now let's get mamboing!
1. Which 5 bands/artists would you like to see the most in concert? The Scorpions, Def Leppard, The Moody Blues, Elton John, and Jimmy Buffet. I have seen two of these five in concert at least once.
2. Where's your favorite place to enjoy a live show and why? The Tropicana in Atlantic City was exceptionally nice. Security wasn't evil, and there were so many other fun things to do both before and after the show.
3. If you could go back in time and see a concert that you missed, or that you weren't alive for, what show would attend? I would like to see The Scorpions play at The Moscow Peacefest in 1989. Why? Just to see those 100,000 Russians that Klaus is always talking about!
4. How do you rate you city for getting good shows to come through. On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent and tell us why you rated it that way. I'll give Pittsburgh one point for being nearby, but that's it! They hire former KGB agents to work security. Parking is either non-existant or overpriced. Getting to most of the venues is a nightmare, especially Poat Gazette Pavillion... I could go on and on... If you can catch a show anywhere besides Pittsburgh, do!
5. What band would you most like to see reunite and go on tour? In the late 80's there was a metal band from Russia called Gorky Park. Their music was great and they were quite attractive. After the novelty of their being a Russian band wore off, they just disappeared. I would love to have the opportunity to see these guys in concert.
There you go kidlets. That's this week's Mambo. So go out there and get dancing!
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It's time for Monday Madness again! Let's play!!
Name 3 of your favorite.......
1. Colors - Purple, black, and red. You never would have guessed that by looking at this blog, would you?!
2. Pizza Toppings - Ham, pinapple, and green peppers. Pizza Hawaiian style. Mmmmmm...
3. Department Stores - I used to love Montgomery Ward, we had one in our town. It was a great place to have around when you needed just about anything. Unfortunately, these stores are all gone now. I also like J. C. Penney and Kaufmann's for their excellent sales.
4. Flavors of Candy - That would depend on what type of candy it is, but generally cherry, strawberry, and raspberry are good choices.
5. Scents of Candles - A vanilla scented one is burning even as I type this. My other favorite scents are baked apple pie and jasmine.
6. Days of the Week - Sunday, because it is my only day off work, Tuesday, because there is never much mail on Tuesday, and Saturday, at least when my kids go with their father. Ah! Peace and quiet!
7. Vegetables - I love spinach. Popeye would be so proud! I am also fond of broccoli and cabbage.
8. Fruits - Ruby red grapefruit, grapes, and peaches.
9. Meals to cook - TV dinners, frozen pot pies, or something in a can. Have I mentioned before that I don't cook!
10. Kitchen Gadgets - The miocrowave, the can opener, and the toaster. The only kitchen gadgets that I ever use. See answer to the previous question!
11. Olympic Sports - Hockey, figure skating, and skiing. I occasionally watch the winter Olympics, but they could cancel the summer games and I wouldn't even notice!
1. Indoor or outdoor weddings? Marriage is a foolish and outdated institution which should be eliminated! NO WEDDINGS, I say! If you do feel the need to waste your money on a fancy event to celebrate a marriage that probably isn't going to last, then do it right. The ceremony should be in a church and the reception anywhere but a firehall!!! Do I sound bitter here?
2. How many weddings have you been in? Not counting my own, I have been in two. I was maid of honor at my friend Vera's first wedding. She is on husband number two now. I was also a bridesmaid at my brother's first wedding. That Cassanova is on wife number three now! Talk about unlucky in love...
3. When you were married, what type of wedding did you have? I was three months pregnant with my first child when I married "the estranged one." I had a freaking shotgun wedding!
4. Have you caught the bouquet or garter? Doesn't that mean that I would be the next in line for the foolishness of marriage? Why would I want to do a stupid thing such as that? The answer is a resounding "NO!"
5. Tell us about a funny, scary or memorable wedding moment. When I was a teenager, my brother took me to his friend Greg's wedding. The bartender there didn't much care who he served and neither did my brother. I got totally trashed that day on vodka and orange juice! Awwww... my very first drunken episode!
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If I Were A Rich Bitch La-da-dee-dee! La-da-dee-dee! La-da-dee-dee-dee-dee-dum!
If I were a rich bitch, indeed! If such were the case, I would have flown to the south of France at the beginning of this month to attend concert and champagne reception that a certain Moody Blue Meanie (who shall remain nameless) held in Monte Carlo for his fans, or should I say his rich fans...
I would have loved to have been there, but let's face it, my financial straits just would never permit such a thing. I'm afraid that feeding and clothing my children must take presidence over the lovely Moody Men, no matter how lovely they might be.
There are certain Moody Bitches out there who claim that they are not rich, that they scrimped and saved for two months to get the money to attend. (Two months was all of the notice given for this event) I find this laughable. Even if I were to scrimp and save for the amount of time mentioned, I still would only have just barely enough money for tourist class airfare to the event! Perhaps if no one in my family ate for those two months, I might have been able to scrounge up enough money for tickets, but I'd still have to spend my nights sleeping in a tent somewhere... Moody Bitches need to learn what it is really like to be poor. Perhaps then, and only then, would they learn not to be such bitches.
It seems that since this event, a certain Moody Blue Meanie has felt a little bit of remorse. He states that "He will never forget those fans who were unable to be there." I find this to be of little consolation. Perhaps he has learned something from this event, though. Maybe the next time he wants to appreciate his fans, he will do something that is accessable to all of us, a free concert in Central Park, perhaps.
In closing, I would like to state that if certain Aryan type lovelies ever get it into their minds to do a thing such as this, I will forgo the eating and fly to Germany to personally throttle each and every one of them!
Do I make myself clear, guys?!
Is it my imagination, or do these three look like they might just enjoy such a thing?!?! The throttling, that is...
1. How many pets do you have? At the present time, I have three pets. That could change at any time, though. My customers are always talking me into giving homes to their unwanted puppies and kittens!
2. What are their names?
Lady
Mew
And
Princess P. P. for short. Full name, Princess Penelope the Pisser! If you want to know the story behind that one, go ask The Music Whore.
3. What Type of pets do you have? As you can see from the photos above, I have Two cats and one dog.
4. What pet is oldest? Princess P. P. is the oldest. She is either eight or ten years old. I cannot remember whether she was three or five years old when I adopted her in 1999, so I am not certain of her exact age.
5. Whats the weirdest pet you own/owned? That would have to be the injured box turtle that I found along the road while I was working.. She never fully recovered from her injuries, and died a few months after I brought her home.
Yesterday's Dirt looked like so much fun, that I just have to do it!
Kill! Kill! Kill!
What would your method of killing be for the following people?
1. Avril Lavigne I think that this Sk8ter chick deserves to be run over by a five hundred pound skater wannabe on a runaway skateboard!
2. George Bush I DO hope you're referring to George W Bush. I am not certain that the elder Bush has done anything to merit killing, unless you count fathering a total jackass! As for W, I'm not so sure that killing him would be a very good idea. The historians would probably use his death to turn the idiot into some sort of hero. We don't want that, do we? Let's just use our brains when we go to the polls and not re-elect him!
3. Britney Spears The words "Hit me, baby, one more time" keep popping into my mind. Let's give the trashy little ho what she wants and beat her to a pulp!
4. Justin Timberlake Let's just lock him in a room with a bunch of his silly little fan girls and let them maul him to death!
5. *insert someone you hate* Decisions, decisions! Who shall I insert? I can't make up my mind, so I shall choose two, one male, one female!
* Jack Sproul* I have a definite lust/hate relationship with this lazy bastard who seemingly comes to work to get paid for drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes all day! My fantasy method of offing him would be by doing this with him until his heart gives out and he dies from the sheer pleasure of it!
* Gabi Meine * The aliens shall land and take her away to be studied and (anally) probed. This shall prove to be more than the lady can handle, and the stress of the experiments shall cause her to expire. The aliens shall feel great remorse at this occurence and come to get me to offer to her sweet and sexy husband as a replacement...
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It's Exchange Day!
Everbody knows what that means. Yes, it is that lovely day that happens approximately twice a month when my employer so nicely bestows upon me a certain sum of money. It is time to pay bills, and give anything that is left over to Wal Mart! Or, at least that is how it seems. I really should buy stock in that company. Hell, for all of the money that I spend there, they should GIVE it to me.
Today's Wal Mart excursion was rather odd for a couple of reasons. I spent nearly double what I normally do, but I chalk that off to the fact that both of my demon children were with me to aid in the spending. The really strange thing was that "the estranged one" volunteered to take us. Since my car has been in a rather nasty mood recently, I graciously accepted his offer, but I've still got to wonder why it was made. Could it be that his girlfriend was also planning a trip to Wal Mart tonight? This is, after all, where my sources have reported seeing them together. Perhaps he did not want us running into each other. This is the best I can figure, because he sure did high tail it out of here as soon as we got back. He didn't even stick around to help put it all away. I think that he may have even left without saying good-bye to the boys. Tee hee! Can't leave the girlfriend waiting...
1. Are you very handy? Can you fix things by yourself? Is it out of need, or just because you're good at that type of thing? That would depend upon what it was in need of fixing. I've replaced a few dead computer parts, and done some very minor automotive repairs, but as a rule I call upon other people to fix things for me. When necessity calls, I can often manage some sort of temporary patch job on many things.
2. Have you ever taken a vacation/trip by yourself? What was it? Did you have fun by yourself? Nope, never! But if I ever get enough money saved for that trip to Germany, I plan to go alone.
3. How about cooking? Can you cook for yourself (or others) or are you Fast Food King/Queen? I have been told that when I do cook, the food that I prepare is quite good. Unfortunately, I hate cooking. Actually, I hate cleaning up after cooking, so I tend to be more of a Fast Food Queen than a Gourmet Chef!
Bonus Question for Comments: Is there something you'd like to learn to do on your own that you have to ask for help with now? If so, what is it?I'd really like to learn to write my own css style sheets. I'm fairly good at editing existing ones to my liking, but when it comes to starting from scratch, I am completely lost!
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Holy Shit!!!
I took a quiz to find out what my life would be rated if it were a movie:
Today, August 25th is Healthy Lifestyles Day! But!! (or should I say "butt"! lol) ...we're all crazy here, and so we're opting for the holiday of Thursday, August 26th which is: Toilet Paper Day!!! Yeah, much more our style here at BDInsanity!!
Toilet Paper Day is in observance of the invention of toilet paper in China, in the year 580! Here's the warm-up! Using the word T I S S U E, tell us what "crap" is annoying you today!!
Too many vowels, again! I still haven't been to Kennywood this year! Scorpions North American tour, no east coast shows! Subs.I'm supposed to have one but I don't! Ugly moody bitches who have the nerve to call me the same! Email programs that do not let you directly edit the html source!
All set?? Let's move on to hump it up you cwazy loons! A little 'getting to know you' humpin' action!
1. If you were to nominate a celebrity (or their screen character) to the Presidency, who it would it be and why?
Jack McCoy for president, Yay! I like the way that the Law And Order assistant DA sticks to his principles. It's about time we got someone like him in office.
2. If your best talent were an Olympic event, what it would be? Instead of a gold medal, what would first prize be? The Olympic wisecracking team. What a novel idea. The first prize would be the golden raspberries, of course!
3. If you had a warning light on your forehead what would it warn people of if it were flashing? Warning! PMS in effect. May explode at any time. Approach with extreme caution.
4. You live in a cage...what are you? Do they ever let you out? "Lust is in cages Till storm breaks loose Just have to make it With someone I choose..."
Did you ever see the video for Rock You Like A Hurricane ? I wanna live in that cage, as myself, of course.
As long as I have these five hotties in there with me, I need never be let out!
5. Scientists have discovered a way to bottle the essence of you. What does it smell like? I often joke that were a doctor to analyze a sample of my blood in the morning, he would discover that it was, in fact, 100% pure coffee. This leads me to believe that essence of Lady Starlight would probably smell like freshly brewed coffee!
There it is, the Wednesday Mind Hump, brought to you by those loooonatic staffers here at BDI! Have a great Wednesday!
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Tuesday, August 24, 2004
I Got Excited For A Moment...
I got an email from the good old list of torture. The subject, North American tour dates. When I saw it I began bubbling over with excitement. At long last The Scorpions were coming to the U. S.
I could make up for that missed concert of the 2002 tour. The email did not list the dates. I quivered in anticipation as I clicked on the link to The Scorpions Official Website. Time seemed to move ever so slowly as I waited for the page to load with my painfully slow dial-up connection. Geez, Wolfgang, could you use ane more Flash?!
My excitement quickly ebbed as I scanned the North American tour dates. They were all on the west coast! The closest show to my location was in Chicago. Not much chance of me getting there. If I'm going to have to travel great distances to see them, I may as well save up my money and catch a show in Germany!
A big hello to all the Mamboers out their in Blogland!
Music is a part of most everyone's life. We hear it when we're at the mall, at restaurants and sometimes even in our place of work. That's the focus of this week's mambo. How music affects us and shapes our lives.
Yup, this mambo is going deep!
So to start out this week, we'll do a little "I say ____, You think ____." (Music style, of course)
Drums: James Kottak, The Scorpions' drummer, of course!
Station: Radio station
Concert: Anywhere but Pittsbugh, please!
MP3: Torment the record company execs. Share 'em with your friends!
CD: Oooo... Shiny!
Burn:"Come on, baby, light my fire..."
Seven: If I find my missing guitars, and buy one more, I will have seven!
Who: Roger Daltry, Pete Townsend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon
London:"London Bridge is falling down..."
Vinyl: Vinyl albums were so much more fun than CDs...
OK, so are you ready to really Mambo? OK then, let's get dancing.
1. What is your definition of music? (What it means to you, etc) Music is a part of me that I can't deny. It can bring a smile to my face when I need one. It can comfort me in times of sorrow or calm me when I am angry. I can worship through music or just have fun with it! If I am feeling creative, I can "make my own kind of music." Without music, there would be a huge hole in my life that nothing else could fill.
2. What do you say about music? (Do you talk about bands and songs or do you gossip about the artists...that sort of thing) I could go on about The Scorpions forever, but I choose not to. My experience with the Moody Bitches has taught me to avoid other fans of the bands that I like. I discuss music only with those closest to me. To do anything else would only be annoying to me or them.
Ooooo... but I do love these guys!
3. Here's a quote by Arnold Bennett about music, "Its language is a language which the soul alone understands, but which the soul can never translate." Tell us what your thoughts on that quote. It is true that music touches our hearts in ways that mere words never can. How and why this is I cannot explain.
*Note To Mambo Author* No more of these deep mamboes, puh-lease! My brain hurts!
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Again, our topic is 'potpourri.' Thank you to all participants who contributed questions!! The following are the final selection from our fellow Monday Madness players.......Have fun!
1. Which is more fun, kid's toys or grown-up kid's toys? (ie. Lego's vs. power tools) I always enjoyed playing with my kids' toys. The ones that they make now are so much more fun than most of the ones they made when I was a kid. Tee hee! Grown-up toys can be fun, too! Sex toys!
2. What's your favorite food and why? Which food is your number one weakness? I would be hard pressed to select a single favorite food. I love Asian and Italian cuisine equally. I have major weaknesses in both categories as well! If I find liguine in white clam sauce on the menu at an Italian restaurant, I am overjoyed. When I'm having Asian, egg foo yung is my favorite choice. Why do I like these foods so much? I really can't say. I just do!
3. How many blogs/journals/diaries would you say you read? Too many! I do a lot of memes, and I like to check eveyone's answers. Couple that with the blogs of my friends and family and that's a hell of a lot of blogs!
4. Do you feel you have an obligation to spread your religious belief system to others, or do you think religion is a private matter that everyone needs to decide for themselves? A person's religious beliefs are a something that should bring peace to his or her heart. What works for me may not work for someone else. I do not have an inside track to God. Who am I to say what someone else should believe?
5. Did you keep a paper journal before blogging? I remember keeping a locked diary when I was in high school. I got in trouble a couple of times after my mom read it. The locks that they put on those things were worthless. After that, I kept my journal in a notebook labeled "Math", because nobody would think to look there. Ain't it funny? Now I keep my journal on the web, where anyone in the world can read it!
6. Describe your life in 3 words. Mundane Musical Mess!
7. What was the last thing you were wrong about? I am never wrong. I thought that I was wrong once, but I was mistaken!
8. What one thing would you do to help the world be a better place for all? Vote "Not Bush" in 2004!
9. Are you a dog person or a cat person? I am a cat and dog person. I love them both, and could never choose between them!
10. If you could start your own meme (And you can!), what kind of questions would you ask? I think that I would rather do a writing meme, so I wouldn't be asking questions. Perhaps I'd do something with a fan fiction theme...
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Sunday, August 22, 2004
It's Been A While...
Yes, it had been by far too long since the last time that I saw Van Helsing. The situation was quickly rectified when it was discovered to be playing at the Maxi Saver Cinema. At a buck fifty a showing, I could've sat in that theater and watched it all day. I can't think of many things more enjoyable than sitting around looking at a guy who looks like Dracula all day!
Alas, we only stayed for one showing. Hunger insisted that we get something a bit more substansial than popcorn to eat. There is a Quiznos behind the theater. I had never been there before and we had coupons, so it was there that we ate. It was there that we also made an interesting discovery...
Rather strange male Moody Blues fans are not the only ones who harbor the twins fantasy! Tee hee! My sister and I were hit on by a middle aged, hippie lesbian! Krikees, lady! Live like you want to live. We've got no objections to your choice of lifestyle, but sorry, we're not interested. Lady Starlight and The Music Whore like men. We like men a lot!
Oh, well, at least it was good to know that we're attractive to someone...
Instead of boarding your connecting flight in a never before visited airport, the airline announces that the flight has been cancelled. You will, however, have a seat on the next flight to that destination--tomorrow. To help make up for the inconvenience, the airline has given you a hotel room for the night and $100 USD. You have 24-hours to yourself in a new city. Where are you? What do you do?
It has been my experience that the most convenient trans-Atlantic flights have layovers in New York City, at least if your departure is from Pittsburgh. It would stand to reason, then, that the city I would be stuck in would be New York. I have been there before, but it has been twenty - four years, so I don't think that should count! The hundred bucks that was so nicely given to me by the airline would be used to buy a seat at a Broadway show, something like Avenue Q would be nice. Any money left over from the ticket purchase would be spent buying myself dinner at one of the city's fine restaurants!
What I Did During A Real Seven Hour Layover
The year was 1980. It was the Saturday after Easter. I was returning from Spain with a group of other students from my school. We arrived at JFK at 3:30 PM. Our flight into Pittsburgh did not board until 10:30 PM. I had seven hours to kill, and I was unfortunately not too friendly with any of the other students in my tour group. Time to explore the airport! After walking around for a bit carrying my carry-on bag and recently purchased classical guitar, I started to feel a bit weary. I saw a snack bar that looked rather inviting. I scrounged through my purse to find enough money to buy myself a coke. Whilst scrounging, I also discovered that there were still a few cigarettes left in the pack in my purse. I decided that I would have one of those as well (You were still allowed to smoke in airports back in those days). Alas, my lighter was nowhere to be found. I scanned the snack bar, looking for some smokers who might be able to help me with my little problem. I quickly discovered such a couple with a vacant seat beside them. I sat down in the seat with my coke. The two people were involved in a conversation. ARGH! It was not in English! Think fast! I pointed to the lighter on the table and made a sort of flicking gesture with my hand. The man looked at me with a big smile. "You want to use my lighter," he said. Feeling silly, I said, "yes, You speak English?!" We had a good laugh, and spent the next several hours sitting at that table talking. We were heading in opposite directions. I was returning home to Pittsburgh, they were heading back home to Germany (of all places)! I don't remember much of what we discussed during all of that time, but I do remember that these two people were a final highlight to my much enjoyed trip. I shall never forget the time I spent at that snack bar with those two.
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Friday, August 20, 2004
Meine Phantasie!
Yes, I'm being snitty and pretentious, as Michael would say. Titling my posts in German. Harumph! It's fairly easy to translate, I would think...
Anyway, I was over at Andrea's Blog when I saw this little tidbit. The idea came from a Live Journal group called Vintage Meat. The gist of it was,
List all of the men over the age of forty, living or dead, who you would like to do the wild thing with.
Now ever since I was a little girl, I have always dreamed of having my own private harem of men. The members of my harem have changed a lot over the years, but I've always held on to the fantasy. Since I'm a bit vintage myself at 42, most of my harem members fall into the vintage category as well.
OK, I know you're dying to see it so here you go...
My Concubines:
Matthias Jabs Klaus Meine Ralph Rieckermann Rudolf Schenker John Lodge Justin (The Rat Bastard) Hayward Phil Collen Joe Elliot Joe Montana David Wenham Richard Roxburgh Dennis Quaid Bill Clinton (The former president is a hottie!) William Shatner (My oldest living concubine) Harrison Ford Paul OBrien (A former boss of mine) Neil Young (Really, he cleans up quite nicely) Clint Black Peter Cetera Christopher Walken Johnny Depp
And a few who are no longer with us...
George Harrison Robert Palmer The Red Baron (Rich, titled, and drop dead gorgeous! Every girl's fantasy)
There are also two non vintage men on my list:
Pawel Maciwoda (Gotta love a guy who likes aliens!) Drake Bell (I think he could get me arrested!)
So there you have it. That list would surely keep me busy and happy for a good long time!
Posted on Saturday morning due to power outages and internet failures...
Precious Moments
1. Ah, love can be a beautiful thing. And a horrible thing. Can you remember a specific time that you fell for someone? What was it like? Do you remember the circumstances? Details, details! I think that I shall tell the tale of my beginnings with "the estranged one", for it is quite a sweet and romantic tale. Yes, I did love him, once upon a time. It's such a shame that the whole thing went sour.
It was New Year's Eve 1983. I was at a party at the local Vets Club with my current boyfriend, who was dancing with every chick at the club except me. I was not happy. Then I saw him. He was sitting at the bar talking with some friends. Tall, thin, longish hair and wearing a brown leather blazer, Oooo.. I was in love! I spent the rest of the night trying to muster up the courage to go over and talk to him. I never did. I left the party with my current boyfriend, feeling sad that I would never see that guy again.
About two weeks later, a friend of mine who had been living out of state for a while came home for a visit. She wasn't going to be home for very long, so when she said that she was going to bingo with her mom, I decided to go with them. Imagine my surprise when I got there and discovered my mystery man working there! I think that I spent more time that night staring at him than I did talking to my friend or playing bingo. I still didn't have the courage to talk to him, so I decided to go back the next week. By then all of the ladies there had figured out that I had a crush on this guy and teased me mercilessly about it. To shut them up, I told them that if he gave me a winning card I would give him a big kiss after bingo. Needless to say, I won that night, for the first time ever at that particular bingo. The ladies there weren't going to let me out of the hall until I did what I said either! Not wanting to disappoint the old ladies who probably needed a bit of excitement in their lives, I approached him, explained the situation, and gave him that big kiss!
This behavior continued for two more weeks, including at least one "I didn't win but here's your kiss anyway", before he finally asked me out.
And thus my fate was sealed...
2. Can you think of a kidhood memory that sticks out? Or any memory at all that meant something to you? What was it? How about the time that my Uncle Ray broke my sliding board?! At 6'2" and well over 200 pounds, did he really think my kiddie swing set would withstand him? Oh, well, I guess he did! I have long since forgiven him for that. He was just a big kid at heart, wanting only to have some fun. Damn, I miss him. He annoyed the hell out of me when I was little, but as I got older I realized that his merciless teasing was his way of saying "I love you." Once that was taken into account, I was always able to laugh right along with him.
3. Do you remember your first house? What was it like? How long did you live there for? Ah, the old duplex on Eighth Street. It's still there. I really should take a picture sometime. We lived there from the time I was born until about a month before my sixth birthday, when my parents bought the house where they still live today.
1. What is your favorite kind of candy? I chocolate! It doesn't matter whether it's a Kit Kat bar, M & Ms, Raisinettes, or gourmet chocolates. I love them all!
2. If you were a Jolly Rancher, what flavor would you be? WHY? Passion Fruit! I like to think that I'm a passionate kind of person!
3. Are you big on gum? Gum makes absolutely no sense to me. You chew and chew, but you never get to swallow it. What's the point?
4. Is there one candy you can't stand? White chocolate! What an imposter! It is not chocolate at all...
5. Do you like the classic candy better, or the recent kinds? I like a lot of new candies, but nothing beats the old classics which have withstood the test of time. It's a shame that they don't make some of the old classics anymore. I really miss Clark bars...
We are smack in the middle of National Friendship Week which occurs annually during the third week of August. What better way to warm up for the Mind Hump than by bragging on our friends -- after all, we are all about sharing the love. Using the letters F-R-I-E-N-D list six qualities that your best friend possesses.
Family. I don't get out much. My sister is my best friend. Really, people, she reads this. I don't wanna do this! I hate these "use the letters in this word to tell us" things! Every one of them has too many vowels! No, I'm not telling you about my sister. Don't want to get in trouble for saying something she doesn't like!
This week let's have some fun with free association or "I say ___, you think ___." Using the following words respond with your first thought. You can respond with one word, a sentence, or just babble like crazy! Ready? Do the Humpty Hump!
1. protection - Condoms. Those AIDS awareness public service announcements are starting to get on my nerves!
2. twist - Chubby Checker. "Come on, baby. Let's do the twist!"
3. furry - Awwww! What a cute little bunny!
4. buck - OK, so it's a moose. That's close enough...
5. purple - A one eyed, one horned, flying purple people eater!
6. wave - "Oh, say, does that star spangled banner still wave..."
7. flash - Flash Gordon. Argh! My mind is being invaded by cartoon superheroes!
8. pokey - My great-uncle's nickname.
9. neon - "They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway!"
10. elastic - Super Elastic Bubble Plastic
11. chips - Must get some...
12. float - Root beer float. Mmmmm...
And there you have it, the Wednesday Mind Hump fresh from those cheeky buggahs here atBlogdrive Insanity!
1. What color hair do you prefer in a guy? Generally, I prefer guys with dark hair, but blondes can be nice, too! What can I say? I'm an equal opportunity employer!
2. Do you like older or younger? Usually I like them to be close to my own age or a bit older. Guys are so immature!
3. Tall or Short? I'm only five feet tall. They all look tall to me!
4. What kind of style? I like guys who look good in leather pants!
5. Really muscular or really skinny? I am the chick who digs pale scrawny dudes!
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Unwanted Projects
I hate new features, I really do! Every time one gets added, something gets screwed up! So it was yesterday with the new search bar that Blogger so nicely added in place of the banner ads at the top of our blogs. I guess that the folks at Google finally figured out that a lot of us had codes to hide those ads, myself included. Something had to be done to get their shit back onto our pages, hence this new search bar. Now you can search my blog. Isn't that just so bloody exciting?! I know that you all have just been dying to do it!
I suppose that's enough sarcasm. I can deal with the ugly thing at the top of the page now, but this was not true when it first appeared. Something in my template was causing the search button on the bar to stretch itself to hideous proportions. I had no clue as to what it was. It took well over an hour of playing with my style sheets to find and remove the offending code. I was not done yet. Although the search bar had been restored to a normal size, I quickly discovered that my images were now out of alignment! I was really getting tired of playing with style sheets (I had to make corrections to another blog with a similar template as well), so I decided to just re-do the images. I thought I was done... Until I realized that I also use this template for my Scorp-Fic! ARGH! I've gotta do all of this again before I can publish the next Chapter. Not tonight. I have a headache!
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Monday, August 16, 2004
Discoveries
My sons came home early from ther day with their father (AKA the estranged one) yesterday. I thought this was quite odd, especially considering the fact that their grandma was having a graduation picnic for my oldest. I was not expecting them home until late, at least 10:30 or 11:00. It seems that their father had other plans, plans which he would not discuss with his children, but it seems that they are onto him anyway. Following is a summation of the conversation that I had with my youngest son last night.
Michael: I figured out where dad is going all of those times when he won't tell us.
Me: Oh, really? Where?
Michael: He's not going out drinking or playing cards.
Me: Then where IS he going?
Michael: Remember what you said about when he was living in Uncle Dave's house?
Me: Yeah, that he had a girlfriend living with him...
Michael: *nods*
Me: He has a girlfriend?
Michael: We're pretty sure.
Michael: Davey has seen him with her a couple of times.
Me: I see.
Michael: Please don't say anything. He'll know that I told you and get mad at me.
So, there I have it. Even more grounds for divorce from that miserable, worthless, no good, cheating bastard! The problem is that I need someone else to catch them together. I don't want to get my sons or my nephew into any trouble with him.
I also wonder what kind of lies he is feeding to the woman he is seeing. He's probabably telling her all about his evil wife who won't let him see his kids if they get divorced, or something like that. Ha! I say. I would do just about anything to be rid of him. He is the one who promised to make trouble if I filed for divorce. I really would like to meet this woman, just to tell her that she could have him. That would blow all of his lies straight to hell, leaving him with no one. It would serve the bastard right...
Top 40 music you either love it or you hate it. That's what we're mamboing about this week guys.
The dancing dude is here and he's ready for some Mambo action. Are you?
Let's get started with this. Tell us your feelings about top 40 music, using the letters T-O-P F-O-R-T-Y. Tell us why you love it. Tell us why you hate it. Tell us anything you think we might want to know about it. Go ahead, you can do it!
Too much airplay can make even the best songs annoying. Older bands seldom make the top 40. Plenty of crap makes it there!
Few of the bands that I like have had recent top 40 hits. Only time will tell if something from Unbreakable makes it there. Really good music seems to have disappeared from the top 40. Try though I may, I just don't like much of the new top 40 music. Yuck!
Now it's time to really get down and mambo.
1. What song from the recent top 40 charts is your favorite? (Recent being that last 6 or so months) I don't listen to the radio, so I don't much know what's in the top 40. As a rule, I only hear music by newer bands when my kids play it. Some of it I like, some of it I don't. If I really like a particular song, I'll ask who it is. The last song that I asked about was by Linkin Park, but I can't remember what it was called.
2. Do you think that most songs in the top 40 are overplayed or not? Tell us why you feel that way. I was involved with a guy who worked in radio once upon a time. That being so, I know a good bit about how the music rotations work for most stations. Believe me, these rotations are designed so that current top 40 material (the hot list) gets the most airplay. Recurrents, songs over six months old, come in next, and once a song is over a year old it is classified as an oldie, giving it nearly no airplay at all!
3. What band do you think most deserves a top 40 hit, but hasn't had one yet, or hasn't had one in a very long time? I don't know if The Scorpions have had a top 40 hit in the U S since Wind Of Change , but certainly just about every song on the new album deserves that honor. It would also be nice to see a new song by Def Leppard in the top 40.
4. In the recent past, Top 40 was mostly rock/pop music. How do you feel about the inclusion of other genres into this grouping? In the 60's, a lot of soul music crossed over into the top 40 charts. In the late 70's and early 80's there was a lot of country crossover material. I think that this was a good thing. Crossover material helps to introduce people to artists and music that they might have otherwise overlooked.
5. Radio airplay helps to determine how well a single or album sells. Do you think that listeners should have more input into what radio stations play? In a perfect musical world, the listeners would be the only ones deciding what gets played. Unfortunately, we do not live in that world. Radio is about making money. The advertisers have the most say in what gets played, and they think that the music that is supposedly hot will help them to rake in the most bucks! That is the way that it is and probably always shall be...
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Another selection of questions suggested by our fellow participants!! Have fun!! =)
1. If you could only take one item with you on to a desserted island what book, movie, music would you take? No question about it, if I didn't have the sound of Klaus Meine's voice ringing in my ears at some point of the day I would go positively insane. I'd have to have a Scorpions CD with me, the only question is, Which one? Eye II Eye and Unbreakable would be difficult to choose between. I suppose I would have to toss a coin.
And the winner is...
2. What's the most disgusting thing that you have ever eaten or even just put in your mouth? When I was in elementary school, one of my teachers made everyone in the class sample a bit of blood pudding. EWWWWW! Gross! That was many years ago, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth just thinking about it!
3. What one thing would you do differently if given the chance? I'd like to say that I never would have married "the estranged one", but if I hadn't, my youngest son would never have been born. I guess I'll go for something a little less monumental. I never should have put my handmade classical and Yamaha twelve string into storage. They would not be missing now if I hadn't!
4. What political party, if any, do you belong to? I am a registered democrat, but I vote on each candidate by his or her merits, not by party.
5. Do you like icees? Mmmmm....
6. East or West? East or west what? I live in the eastern part of the U S if that's what you want to know.
7. Will we ever "all" be happy with the current political situation? Never! We all have different ideas about what should be done politically. What is good for me might not be good for you...
8. Cookies or Crackers? It depends on my mood. I like 'em both!
9. What fun thing did you do today? Absolutely nothing! Hey, for me that IS fun!
...and #10 has nothing to do with any of the above questions.........
1. Did you like or dislike high school? I participated in a lot of activities and enjoyed them thoroughly, but they are the only thing I miss about my high school days. I didn't fit into any of the established cliques. Most of the time I was quite miserable. I was quite happy when I graduated and was done with it.
2. Did you walk to school, ride the bus or catch a ride with someone? Our local high school was, and still is, out in the middle of nowhere! Since I did not have a car and the ability to drive to school was strictly regulated back then, I was forced to ride the bus. ARRGH!
3. What was your favorite subject? I enjoyed all of the more creative classes. Music (Chorus) Drama Creative writing.
4. When it came to doing homework, did you do it right away, wait 'til the last minute or just do it whenever you felt like it? Homework was not the big issue back then that it is now. Teachers seldom checked to see if it was completed. I managed to be an honor student without wasting a lot of time on such things. I did it whenever I felt like it, sometimes not at all.
5. Would you go to your high school reunion? Not even if you offered me a million dollars to do so! There have been four of them already. I throw the invitations away!
I was feeling quite bored and in need of a good meme when I stumbled across this one. It's quite different from the others that I've tried, so I thougt that I'd give it a go!
This week's fragments are:
* how old were you when * through their neighborhood * went into the bathroom
This is what I came up with:
A brisk breeze whipped though the air in the park. Julie might have shivered at its effect had she not still been numb from the shock of the recent events. She and her dog had been out on their nightly walk through their neighborhood and into the park when she made her grisly discovery.
Nothing appeared to be amiss as her energetic golden retriever pulled her ever so slightly down the walking path with which they were both so familiar. They had departed on their nightly constitutional a bit later than usual that night, so the benches littering the path were all vacant except for one. From her distance, Julie could see the occupant's shaggy red hair and recognized him to be a vagrant who frequently bedded down on the benches of the local park. When she and her dog came through the park at their normal time, she often sat on the bench beside the old man and listened as he told her tales of his adventures. She would not be doing so tonight, since Rusty, as he was called, was already lying prone on the bench, apparently bedded down for the night.
As they approached the bench, Julie's dog stopped pulling and started to whimper. Surprised by the dog's unusual behavior, Julie asked, "What's wrong, girl?" In response the dog whimpered again and cautiously pulled her towards the man on the bench. Julie smiled. "That's just old Rusty. He's already sleeping. It's probably best if you leave him alone."
The dog once again proved why she had flunked out of obedience school. She put her paws up on the bench and began to lick the old man's face. He did not budge. Julie began to feel a bit concerned, perhaps the old fellow was ill. She could not imagine any other reason for a person to sleep through one of her dog's face washings. She approached the bench and looked down on the man resting there. Even in the dim light of the streetlamps in the park, she could see the bullet hole in the man's forehead. She stifled a scream and reached for her cell phone in her purse to call 9-1-1.
Now Julie found herself awash in a sea of fashing lights and yellow tape as police arrived upon the scene. A rather nice looking officer in plain clothes was asking her questions, seemingly in order to ascertain the identity of the victim. "How often have you seen this man in the park?" "How old were you when you when you first met the victim?" "Do you know of anyone else who may have had contact with him recently?" Julie had answered the questions to the best of her ability, but her shock was causing them to play themseles over and over in her mind.
Finally, the officer completed his questioning and offered Julie a ride home. She graciously accepted. Her legs were beginning to tremble as the true horror of what had occurred began to sink in. She did not think that they could carry her the half mile back to her home.
Once she was within the safety of the walls of her own home, Julie let her dog off the leash. She stood unmoving in the middle of the room for a few minutes before she went into the bathroom to be sick...
How's that for a work of fiction? I think I just may be watching too much Law And Order.
1. Music or TV? No question about it, music! Especially if it is being made by these guys!
2. Hosting others or being hosted? They say that it is better to give than receive, but I don't think so. I'd rather be hosted.
3. DVDs or VHS? DVDs often have extra features, do not have to be rewound, and can be played on my computer as well as on a DVD player. This makes them a much better choice.
4. Burning Cds or Buying cds? Burning Cd's is a big pain in the proverbial hiney! If I want a CD I prefer to buy it. Besides, the homemade versions don't come with the pictures and other assorted goodies that are often on the CDs that you purchase.
5. Board games or Computer games? Computer games, because you can play them all by your lonesome. When I lose I often feel like doing this...
1. How do you take care of yourself when you're sick? Do you keep pushing yourself, or do you take the time to rest? When I'm sick, I am usually forced to medicate myself to the max and keep on working. It's not that I want to or that I don't have enough sick leave (I have over three months of sick leave stockpiled!). My problem is that every time that I'm really sick there is no one to fill in for me at work. Even though our contract states that I am supposed to have my own substitute carrier, in the six and a half years that I have been a regular carrier not a single attempt has been made to hire one for me!
2. Time to get into this debate finally: What's your take on gay marriage? Do you think the California Supreme Court's decision to void all the marriages that took place was just? Why/Why not? Let's see. A gay couple functions in the same way that a heterosexual couple does, so why should they not be extended the same privileges? Don't go spouting any Old Testament biblical bullshit about this at me. This is America. We are supposed to have separation of church and state. Any ban on gay marriages is unconstitutional, if you don't like it then move your homophobic butt someplace else.
3. Are you a cat or dog person? Or an all-animal person? Could you live without a pet? Why/Why not? Would you ever want to *be* a pet? I love all animals. They are so much better than people. I can't imagine ever not having a pet of some sort. Even when I lived in a college dorm, I managed to sneak in a hamster to keep as a pet. As for being a pet, I wouldn't mind being reincarnated as a house cat! What a life they have, lying around the house all day!
Bonus Question for Comments~ Who are some of your favorite comedians? Why? I suppose that Brad Sherwood tops my list because I met him and he is a really nice guy!
A really bad picture of me and my sister with Brad!
I also like George Carlin. His bit about the words you can't say on television is an absolute classic!
Remakes - we see them more and more frequently. Taking an old movie and completely reshooting it with a new cast, new effects, new styles and even new genres can be a hit or miss proposition. This summer we've seen several remakes already, from The Stepword Wives to The Manchurian Candidate, plus there's even an Alfie remake in production.
1. What is your favorite remake of an older film? Did it actually improve on the original? I'm a big fan of Disney films. They've done a lot of updated versions of their older movies. One of the best is The Parent Trap.
Perhaps choosing Dennis Quaid to play the father had a large effect on my choosing this movie as my favorite remake!
2. What remake was handled so poorly even if the original was not great it would've seemed Oscar-worthy? Disney also holds the title for the worst remake that I've ever seen. The remake of That Darn Cat barely resembled the original picture. The storyline and characters were changed a little too much. I didn't like it at all!
3. Are there any classic films you feel would cause the fabric of space/time to rip apart were a remake made of it? I think that the gods of the movie theaters would be greatly angered if anyone even attempted to remake Gone With The Wind.
BONUS~ What film would you most like to see remade, and what would be your dream cast? Since I'm such a fan of Disney movies, I'd like to see them give Mulan another go, this time as a live action flick. Jackie Chan and Jet Li would absolutely have to have parts in this movie. I'm not certain about the rest of the cast, but it would provide an excellent opportunity for any up and coming Aisian actors and actresses!
This memeaholic could hardly pass up today's dirt, especially since it is about one of her favorite things.
Chocolate!
1. Which do you prefer, Dark or milk chocolate? It depends on my mood. Both are equally yummy.
2. What's your favorite brand of chocolate? Sarris chocolates are produced locally, and are absolutely addictive! They produce such delightful confections as cappuccino meltaways and raspberry truffle Easter eggs! Godiva chocolates also make me drool.
3. How often to you eat chocolate? I must have my daily chocolate fix!
4. Do you mind when there are nuts or other stuff in your chocolate? Everything tastes better when covered in chocolate!
5. What's the worst chocolate you've ever tasted? They sell a brand of chocolate called "Zachary" in a lot of our local dollar stores. The stuff looks and smells like chocolate, but the taste... EWWWWWWWW!
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Wednesday, August 11, 2004
What Do I Believe?
I have asked myself this question many times. I have always been quite certain that what I truly believe spiritually was not contained in any mainstream Christian religion, so I was quite intrigued when I discovered a link to The Belief-O-Matic Quiz on Khali's Blog.. Following are my results. I have bolded the name of the faith of which I am actually a practicing member.
The top score on the list below represents the faith that Belief-O-Matic, in its less than infinite wisdom, thinks most closely matches my beliefs. However, even a score of 100% does not mean that my views are all shared by this faith, or vice versa.
Belief-O-Matic then lists another 26 faiths in order of how much they have in common with my professed beliefs. The higher a faith appears on this list, the more closely it aligns with my thinking.
1. Neo-Pagan (100%) 2. Liberal Quakers (96%) 3. Reform Judaism (94%) 4. Unitarian Universalism (94%) 5. Mahayana Buddhism (93%) 6. Bahá'í Faith (90%) 7. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (88%) 8. New Age (83%) 9. Sikhism (76%) 10. Orthodox Judaism (73%) 11. Jainism (71%) 12. Theravada Buddhism (71%) 13. New Thought (67%) 14. Hinduism (66%) 15. Islam (66%) 16. Secular Humanism (65%) 17. Orthodox Quaker (63%) 18. Scientology (60%) 19. Taoism (58%) 20. Nontheist (43%) 21. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (41%) 22. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (39%) 23. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (38%) 24. Seventh Day Adventist (34%) 25. Eastern Orthodox (32%) 26. Roman Catholic (32%) 27. Jehovah's Witness (23%)
Wow! According to this I am really in the wrong church. I always knew that my personal beliefs were quite different from the doctrines of the Catholic church, but I never realized how much until I took this quiz! It seems that the only faith less suitable for me is the Jehovah's Witnesses. Fascinating.
August 11th is Alcatraz Day which commemorates the arrival of the first prisoners in 1934 to be incarcerated on Alcatraz aka The Rock.
Let's warm-up ... using the letters T-H-E-R-O-C-K list seven material things (try to think of something other than your computer for "C") that would make you miserable if they were taken away from you.
T-shirts. They are my favorite attire. Hair. I don't wanna be bald! Even if this guy does like it... Electricity. Life would be pretty damned boring without it! Razors. Without them the world would be forced to look at my hairy legs. EWWWWWW!!! Oven, microwave to be exact. Is there any other way to cook? Car. How else would I get from there to here? Kids. Mine drive me crazy, but I'd be lost without them.
Warmed up? Okay ... let's break free and hump like we just don't care!
This week a getting to know you hump with a crazy twist. Ready?
1. If you could read ANY person's blog (living or dead), whose blog would you love to immerse yourself in? If such a thing were possible some two thousand years ago, I am certain that Jesus would have had a most fascinating and faith enriching blog. Imagine being able to see his life and teachings through his own eyes!
2. Mattel decides to make a Barbie-like (or Ken-like) doll of you -- what would be the most important accessory or accessories they would absolutely have to package you with in order to portray your lifestyle? Mail carrier Barbie would come with her own LLV (AKA postal vehicle), but I doubt that anyone would want to buy her. BORING! The off duty version would be a bit more popular. Her accessories would include a laptop computer, a guitar, a stereo, and lots of mini Scorpions CDs.
3. It's been said "The eyes are the windows of the soul." If your eyes were truly a window into your soul and your character traits were represented by objects, what things would people see when they gazed through your windows and what would those things represent? I am obsessed. When people looked into my eyes they would see lots of this:
4. We've all said it, we've all done it ... said OOPS that is. What was your most memorable OOPS? My life is filled with them, and though their numbers are plentiful, most of them are too embarassing or painful for to want to talk about. I suppose that my biggest OOPS! would be marrying "the estranged one." I never should have done that...
5. Cave drawings -- the blog of the caveman. If we drew pictures on our walls what sort of scrawling might we see on your walls? Want more fun? Actually draw, scan and post your "cave drawing". A day in my life as recorded by your friendly neighborhood caveman...
Because I need to do something a bit more upbeat after that last post...
Travelling...
1. When travelling, do you prefer long drives or going by plane? I have always preferred to make long trips by air, but with airport security being as it is since the 2001 terroist attacks, that has changed. I'm not big on having my rights violated in the name of security. I'd rather take my chances with the terrorists! Any long trips that I have been taken since then have been by land.
2. Where was your first out-of-country trip? Being from the northeastern U. S., my first out of country experience was with our closest neighbor, Canada, Niagra Falls to be exact. I was but a wee girl for that trip, still in grammar school. Such a long time ago... I have been back a few times since, once going as far as Toronto. Our neighbors to the north have the distinction of being the only country that I have visited more than once.
3. Who do you usually travel with? I can only recall ever making one trip without having a member of my family with me, so I suppose that I travel most often with my family. The members of my family who accompany me have changed a bit over the years though...
4. What's your favorite destination? I have a motto: "Anywhere but here!"
5. Do you usually travel for fun or work? I seriously doubt that my employer will ever call upon me to travel anywhere farther than the city of Pittsburgh. When I travel, it is for fun, unless I am going to my brother's house to get a computer fixed. That would be for the simple preservation of my sanity!
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The Worst Thing About My Job
No, this is not a rant. It is not even a complaint. It is mostly an expression of grief, which is not something that this joke cracking smart ass handles well.
You see, when you deal with the same people six days a week for well over six years, you are bound to form some sort of bond with them. I serve over 450 families on my relatively small rural route. Many of them have come and gone, while others are there for the long haul, but no matter, these people have all become a sort of extended family for me. That is a damned big extended family!
Most of my customers, at some time or another, come out to talk to me. During theae conversations, I learn much about their lives, sometimes more than I really want to know! I listen, all the same. Many of these people are older folks who can no longer get out much. I may very well be the only person that they have to talk to. I enjoy being a part of these folk's lives and I believe that in most cases the feeling is reciprocated. It is not unusual for me to be greeted by one of my customers with a big hug when I am met while off duty! I do not mind, because underneath my cynical, wisecracking exterior lies a very affectionate person.
Needless to say, I miss many of the families who have moved away over the years. I wonder what they are doing now, how their children have grown, are they happy? But this is not the worst part. The worst and most painful part of my job is when one of my extended family dies. This is what I am having difficulty dealing with right now.
There is an older couple on my route, about the same age as my parents, who have lived there since I first learned the route as a sub over fifteen years ago. The wife has been plagued by many serious illnesses over the years but has always maintained a pleasant and cheerful attitude. She is truly a joy to know. Her husband has always cared for her with a little help from some visiting nurses. It is because of the visiting nurses that I got to know him. These ladies seem to think that people have mailboxes to save their parking spaces for them! When the nurses would block his box, "Whitey", as he was called, would always come out to fetch his mail so that I would not have to struggle to put it in the box. We had many conversations when this happened. We talked about many things, his wife's health, the weather, his latest woodworking project... Whitey liked to make things. His lawn is littered with his creations. He even made a special mailbox that looks like a mail truck. When he wasn't making things, he was always doing something, mowing the lawn, planting a garden or whatever. He was a very special breed of man, one that I don't think that they make any more!
A week ago on Friday, I heard the news that Whitey had suffered a massive heart attack and was in a coma at a local hospital. He was not expected to live. To make matters worse, his wife was in another local hospital, due to be released that day. Now she could not be, since there would be no one at home to care for her. I was deeply troubled by this and prayed that God would grant Whitey a miraculous recovery. For whatever reason, God chose not to grant my request. Whitey passed away on August 6. I wonder who will care for his wife now that he is gone. Will she be able to maintain her good attitude with her beloved spouse departed? I sincerely hope so. She remains in my prayers.
So, death has taken one of my extended family from me. I will miss him terribly. It hurts to think that I will never see him again in this life, not to mention the fact that his death reminded me of the mortality of my "real" family. He was, in fact, a few years younger than my dad.
And so, I leave you with this as a tribute to a very special man...
"I do believe you're still around me You're still around me all the time I have no doubt one day in heaven I will see you again"
Music evokes many emotions in people and can affect your moods in many ways. That's the subject of this weeks Music Mambo. So to get started let's do something a little wacky. Using the letters E-M-O-T-I-O-N, tell us how music affects you on an emotional level. You can use song lyrics, poetry...anything you want. Oh and since there are so many vowels, the letters don't always have to be the first letter of the world. Just bold that letter...and have fun!
Get ready for a Scorpions obsessive mambo, people. I'm going for it!
Everything about Matthias Jabs turns me On! The way that he rips through those Incredible guitar riffs... Ooooh! It leaves me feeling weak! No one else can make me feel that way!
Now are you ready to mambo? The bear is..that's for sure.
This week, since we're on a mood/emotion theme, I'm going to list some moods and you tell us the song that makes you feel that way or makes you think of that emotion.
Are you ready to mambo? Good, then let's get dancing!
Happy:Du Bist So Schmutzig. Dirty lyrics in German make me giggle!
Sad:Eye To Eye . Klaus and Rudolf wrote this song after the deaths of their fathers, but something about it hits close to home for me as well.
Angry:Crossfire . It brings to mind the stupidity of things such as the war in Iraq, and that just makes me mad!
"Understand that we don't wanna fight. Understand that we are much too young to die. Understand no one will survive. Understand that we love our life..."
Amorous:Rhythm Of Love . "Exploding shot of pleasure is what I've got for you." Oooo, Klaus, I want it!
Dreamy:Obsession . "It feels so good to be your lover when my lips are kissing you all over." I can almost feel it!
Freaked:Freshly Squeezed . That is one freaky song, and it ain't about orange juice, either!
Independent:Moment Of Glory . There is just something so liberating about that song.
Misunderstood:Deep And Dark . "Yes, I'm down. Should I like it?" Need I say more...
A special thanks goes out to these guys for providing ALL of my answers to this week's Mambo!
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I received some really great questions from our participants and I want to thank each and every one of you who submitted a question. Since I will be asking 10 questions per week, all of the questions submitted will be used at some point within the next month. So our theme for the next month will be 'Potpourri!' I've randomly selected 10 questions from my list and here's what came up. Have fun! Remember, you're answering your fellow Monday Madness players' questions! Again, thank you! =)
1. What's "it" all about, anyway? I'll be damned if I know!
2. What radical political ideas do you have, if any? Tee Hee! This is my question. I have LOTS of radical political ideas. I think that I listed a good bit of them in last week's Madness. My most mainstream radical idea is that I support gay marriages. Separation of church and state people! There is no valid reason for it to be forbidden.
3. Do you believe that you 'fit' the profile of your astrological star sign? Oh, yes! I am 100% Scorpion! Seriously, I took a zodiac personality test a while back. It did not ask for my birthdate, but my results still came out as Scorpio!
4. Will blogging survive 2005 or is it a fad? People have been keeping journals of one sort or another for ages. The internet is a very popular media. I think that blogging is here to stay for a very long time.
5. Do you Ebay? If so, what and how often? Is it a full-time job, part-time hobby, or just to clear the junk from your house? I have bought from Ebay from time to time, but I do not sell. I am a pack rat. I cannot bear to part with my junk!
6. True or False: When I vote, I am all for one party. False. I vote on each candidate by his or her merits, not by party.
7. Meat or veggie sauce on your spaghetti? I am a hopeless carnivore! I want my meat sauce!
8. Would you ever be on a TV Reality Show? I would never degrade myself by participating in such a ridiculous thing. Reality, my ass! I have never seen a single thing on any of these shows that vaguely resembled reality...
9. What is one thing (or place) that you would like to do (or see) that you have not yet done (or seen?) I wanna go to Germany!!! 'Nuff said...
10. Do you answer memes honestly? Of course I do. It wouldn't be any fun if I lied!
1. Do you think that secrets are OK? Yes. There are just some things that are best kept private.
2. Can you keep a secret? Sometimes, but not always. So, if you have a secret that you really want to be kept "just between the two of us", I am probably not the person you should share it with!
3. Do you have a secret that no one knows about? Of course I do! Doesn't everyone? And no, I'm not going to tell you about it...
4. Have you ever kept a secret from your best friend? When I was in high school, my best friend's dad made a huge pass at me. I have never told her about it to this day. There is nothing to be gained from her knowing.
5. Have you ever blabbed a really important secret? See my answer to #2. Although I can't think of a specific incident, I am quite certain that I have.
1. How do you like your eggs? "I like eggs..." Excuse the Amanda Show moment. I watch that way too much with my kids. I really do like eggs, though. I don't believe that I've ever met an egg that I didn't like! If I have to choose something, I guess that omelettes are my favorite.
2. What do you collect? I used to collect porcelain dolls, almost exclusively little boys, but I ran out of places to put them. I haven't bought any for quite a while. I also have a collection of guitars. It's small compared to most, but they are very precious to me. I'd like to get myself a 12 string Fender Stratocaster sometime soon, but I haven't got enough money saved for its purchase yet. Anyone out there want to buy me an $800 gift?
3. Do you carry a purse, backpack or briefcase on a regular basis? If yes, does it contain only the essentials or a whole lot of everything? I usually carry a large black tote bag. I think that the only thing missing from its contents is the kitchen sink. Let me check. It might be in there now, too!
4. When is the last time you've read a book, put together a puzzle, built something or did something crafty? About the only thing on the list that I ever do is read. I read Brian Kelleher's Iron Star a few months ago. Very twisted, but quite interesting. I really should make more time for reading. I own several books that are just screaming to be read.
5. What was the highlight of your weekend? Weekend... What's a weekend? I don't have them. I work six days a week. All I have are Sundays. I'll get back to you on the highlights. Its still too early in the day.
1. What is your natural hair color? I'd like to say that it is a very dark brown, that is what it once was, but that would be a lie. Underneath all of the dye, my hair is just as gray as Rudolf Schenker's.
Tee hee! Maybe I should call myself a blonde, too!
2. What is your hair like now? Cut, color, style? It's short, but definitely in need of a good cut. It's starting to lose its shape. It's wedged in the back and gets a bit longer as it falls forward. I have it dyed to my former natural color right now, but that can change at any time!
3. What famous person has hair you are totally envious of? Cher! And not just her own hair. I want her wigs as well. It would be so nice to be able to change my hair any time I felt the whim to do so!
4. What kind of shampoo/conditioner do you use? My hair is exceptionally thick and healthy, so I just tend to buy whatever shampoo is cheap that smells good. I don't need to use any conditioners.
5. Do you use hair products (hair spray, gel. etc) on a regular basis? If so, what? Just call me the Queen of Hairspray! If I don't use lots of it, my hair will just hang in my face and I will strongly resemble a sheepdog!
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Friday, August 06, 2004
So Many Rants, So Little Time...
I am feeling ever so squirrelly today. I may just boil over from the rants which are bubbling up inside me. I suppose that it all started with an email that I got this morning from a friend who is leaving on an extended vacation. I appreciate the fact that he let me know that he was going away. It bothers me to no end when friends seem to disappear from the face of the earth for weeks at a time with no explaination. I start to wonder if I have done something wrong. What irked me was his mention of all the Scorpions CDs that he was taking with him on his journey. I get REALLY sick of him raving on and on like he is their number one fan or something! Let's set this matter straight. The only reason he ever even bothered to listen to them was because I said that I liked them. Had I kept my big mouth shut, he would probably still be unaware of their existance! I won't even touch on the fact that he got to see them live because he has the good fortune to be living in Europe. GRRRR...
This brings to mind another rant of mine, boredom. With many people going off on summer holidays the internet can become a very lonely place indeed. I try to take a bit of solace in my rants and my beloved memes (Yes, I am a memeaholic!), but guess what! There are no good memes on Tuesdays or Fridays at the present time. I need a meme fix!
Then there is the work situation. I admit that the paycheck is quite nice, but working six days a week leaves me feeling more than a little bit drained. I can only do it for so long before start getting cranky and biting people's heads off for no apparent reason. I am getting dangerously close to that point at the present time. June already seems to be a long tome ago. I need a day off, dammit! Of course, the whole work situation would not be nearly as bad if they had not sent us the wicked witch of the west to be our OIC! Why must they do this "musical postmasters" thing? So far this year we've had two different OICs while our real postmaster is off god knows where doing god knows what. Mike is a great guy, a pleasure to work for, I want him back.
Starsky & Hutch is the top selling DVD this week. With that in mind, this week the topic is TV shows that have been turned into movies.
1. What movie based on a television show is your favorite? Actually, it was being aired tonight on TNT! I loved the movie version of Wild Wild West. They did a great rewrite of an old script, and although the cast was much different from the original, they were able to pull it off quite well.
2. Your least favorite? That would have to be Charlie's Angels. The original cast had some class. The ones in the movie were more like Charlie's Bimboes!
3. What television show would you like to see turned into a movie? The words Law And Order: The Movie Keep popping into my mind. They've done a made for TV movie, but that's not good enogh for me. I wanna see this man on the big screen!
Bonus~ Should the actors that portray these characters on TV also be used in the movie? Or would you like to see different actors? That would depend upon how the movie was written. If it is going back into the original time frame of the show, then a new cast is probably a must, especially if a lot of time has passed since the series aired. If we are moving into the future with the movie, then it is also great if the original cast can be reunited!
1. Politics have gotten *so* far out of hand, that it's no longer about voting for the best person for the job, but the lesser of two evils. Does this matter to you? Why/Why not? Of course it matters to me. Elected officials make decisions that effect all of our lives. Unfortunately, I don't believe this to be a new problem. We are just more aware of it today. What is it that they say? "With power comes corruption."
2. The media in this country is also a joke. How do you get your news (tv, radio, internet), and *where* do you get it (CNN, Fox, other websites)? Let's face it, the news media (especially television) is not really interested in informing us about important events. They're out there to get ratings which equal more money from sponsors. Why else would they always have those "Watch and Win" sweepstakes during the Neilson sweeps weeks? I avoid television news at all costs. If I want news, I tend to turn to local newspapers or their websites.
3. Do you pay attention to the world around you, or do you say 'forget it' and just concentrate on your own life? Why/Why not? Really, I have enough problems of my own. I should try to solve them before taking on the problems of the world, but I just can't help myself. Sometimes a cause catches my attention and I feel the need to get up on my soap box every chance that I get!
Bonus Question for Comments~ Are you happy with the way y2k+4 is shaping up? Do you think it'll get better or worse? Are you referring to the elections? Whoopie! What a great selection we have, George W. Bush AKA The Idiot vs. John Kerry (not much better). This two party system has got to go. I want more and better choices, dammit! No matter how you slice it, this country is going to be run by an idiot for another four years. The only question is which one? I personally am hoping for a fresh new idiot for the next four years...
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Bust Out The Bubbly, It's Time To Celebrate!
Lovegate is gone, Hoooray! It was a long and difficult struggle, but I finally won. Not without a bit of help though. Did that help come from Norton, or McAfee, or any of those many other software companies who sell their antivirus programs for exhorbanent fees? Hell, no. Did it come from my free version of AVG anti virus? Once again, a resounding no! The lovely Lovegate virus has special ways of avoiding detection by these programs. So, how did I manage to get rid of the virus which I have affectionately dubbed, "that nasty little fucker"? (Pardon my French, people, but if you were on the receiving end of this virus, you would understand why I gave it that name.) To remove it, I used a little something of my own creation, Raymond antivirus! "What's that?" you ask. "I've never heard of it!" Well, of course you haven't, because it is my oldest son, Raymond. (OK, I did have a little bit of help in the creation!) Armed with three pages of instructions and much more courage than I could muster, he went into my system and removed all of the offending files. There were plenty of them too! When they say that this virus drops files in your system , they are in no way joking. There were SUCHOST.exe files everywhere, all masquerading as something important. In one folder, it had the nerve to call itself Windows Updater. You'd never think to delete a file calling itself that, would you? The main file buried itself within the confines of my system 32 folder. Cleaver of it, really! That is not a place where the faint of heart, such as myself, want to go and start deleting things! I fear reformatting my hard drive more than I fear the apocolypse! So, Woot! to you, Raymond, for having the courage to do what your mother feared. I must say that anyone who picks up this little nasty has my deepest sympathy, unless it is the Moody Bitch. She deserves it!
The strange conclusion of this matter is that when all was said and done, I chose to spend tonight in front of my laptop! What can I say? We really bonded these past few months!
Are you ready to HUMP??? Are you sure? Let's do it!
In honor of August 4th in 1693 when Dom Perignon invented that great bubbly, champagne, let's take the letters of the word C-H-A-M-P-A-G-N-E to tell a little about yourself.
Can't get enough of Matthias Jabs. Has an extensive collection of photos of him. Always looking for some more. Matthias could fulfill her every fantasy. Please, let the Unbreakable tour come to the U. S. Another year without seeing The Scorpions live might kill her. Get those guys over here, NOW! Not at Post Gazette Pavillion, please! Everyone knows that the security people there are evil!
OK, now that you're all warmed up and on a humpin' roll, lets get right down to the humptiness of a dozen "I say _____, you think _____"!
1. pop - Pop Tarts 2. toast - French toast. Breakfast, anyone? 3. glass - Glass Tiger. Does anyone else remember that band? 4. holiday - Holiday Inn. I've stayed in better places. 5. bottle - Time In A Bottle by Jim Croce. My age is showing! 6. join - Join in the fun. Do the Hump!!! 7. barrel - Beer Barrel Polka "In heaven there is no beer. That's why we drink it here! And when we're gone from here, All our friends will be drinking all the beer!" 8. beach - The Beach Boys 9. paper - Paper towels 10. bottom - Bottom of the barrel. 11. love - Love At First Sting 12. wrap - A cute little sandwich made with a totilla.
From those happy humpin' wenches of BDI... PEACE and humptiness forevah!
1. When is your birthday? Birthdays? What are those? I don't have them anymore. I refuse to get any older! I do like getting presents, though, so November 20 of each year has been declared to be "Buy Lady Starlight A Present Day!"
2. If you change when your birthday was, would you? Now that IS an interesting question! I'd like to be a bit younger, but I also value the experience that life has given me. Can I move my birthday up about twenty years and hold on to my experience?
3. What was your favorite birthday party you ever had? I have discovered that I don't much care for parties. I prefer small intimate gatherings. When I was a kid, I always wanted one, but when I had it I usually ended up crying at some point before it was over. I really can't recall ever having a birthday party that I enjoyed.
4. Do you have any original birthday traditions? The "birthday person" in our family always gets to select the dinner menu. On "Buy Me A Present Day" our menu is chicken and dumplings with a rather unique type of birthaday cake, the chocolate cherry cake. Mmmmm... good! Not all that original, but it's what we do.
5. Do you do any of the unoriginal birthday tradions, such as adding an extra candle for good luck, being the first to cut the cake, or smearing your name on your cake and putting it on your nose? I never heard of the cake on your nose one before, but I have no plans on trying it any time soon! As for unoriginal birthday traditions, I deal with them all even though I hate them. They sing at me, I get my birthday smacks, the whole nine yards.. Why do they insist upon doing this. I know that I told them I don't have birthdays anymore. I'll pass on the extra candle on the cake. I wouldn't want the cake to catch fire! Blow out the candles. Make a wish! Now, where the hell is Matthias Jabs?!
Another week has come and gone and it's time to get out our mambo shoes once again. This Mambo-er can't believe that it's August already. Where has the summer gone?
Ah, but that's not the point...it's mambo time...time to get up and dance. But first a little warm up.
A little I say...You think...Musical style...I'm going to post 10 words..and you tell me what songs or bands these words make you think of.
jazz: Ella Fitzgerald. Now where did that come from?! white: Nights In White Satin goodbye: A Moment In A Million Years. Listen to the song. It's on The Scorpions' Eye II Eye.
You'll understand why. summer: Summer Breeze avenue: Electric Avenue hungry: Hungry Like The Wolf blue: Blue Suede Shoes moon: Blue Moon On Monday fire: Light My Fire bird: Free Bird
Now it's time to get our mambo on....are you ready?
Name...
5 bands that you can't live without. 1. The Scorpions. You knew they'd top the list! 2. Def Leppard. I love 80's metal bands. 3. The Moody Blues. It's most of their fans that I could live without. 4. The Beatles. One of the greatest bands of all time! 5. The Monkees. I love the Pre-Fab Four!
4 albums that are important to you. 1. The Scorpions - Unbreakable. I love the new album. It's one of their best ever. I own three copies of it! 2. The Scorpions - Eye II Eye. Another of their finest works. 3. Def Leppard - Hysteria. Not a bad song on it! 4. The Moody Blues - December. The best Christmas album ever!
3 of your favorite songs. 1. The Scorpions - Deep And Dark. I only wish that Klaus would've let Matthias write all of the lyrics... 2. The Moody Blues - Don't Need A Reindeer. It's just so damned catchy! 3. The Scorpions - No One Like You. I just vanna be loved by you too, Klaus!
2 albums that you've bought recently. 1.The Scorpions - Unbreakable. Multiple copies, because I love it so much! 2. Bernie Barlow - Golden. This moody lady had tons of talent. Her solo album is cute and catchy. It is available only on her official website. You really should buy it!
1 Band [or Artist] whose music has would be described as writing the soundtrack of your life. The Scorpions, because their music is almost always playing in the background anyway...
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And now for this week's questions.......
True or False:
1. I always exercise my right to vote. True. I haven't missed an election since I first registered to vote in 1980.
2. I pay little or no attention to the campaign ads aired on television prior to a presidential election. True. I pay little or no attention to the cammpaign ads aired prior to any election. If they are not slinging mud at on another, they're showing us what a lovely family they have. Sheesh! What does that have to do with anything? It seems like no one knows how to run a campaign on the candidate's merits anymore.
3. I can see myself running for some type of political office someday. False. Having me in political office would be a very bad thing! Once elected, I would become an evil dictator. Muhaha! You must all listen to The Scorpions now, or else!!!
4. I believe we will see a woman become president in my lifetime. False. As much as I'd like to see it, I don't think it's going to happen any time soon, sexist attitudes are still to prevailent.
5. I try to keep an open mind regarding all political issues. False. I have very definite opinions on political issues which are not easily changed.
6. I believe the drinking age should be raised. False. I think that it should be eliminated. Attaching an age to drinking merely glamorizes it, making those who are prone to abusing alcohol more likely to start at an earlier age. That kinda defeats the purpose of the whole thing, now doesn't it? The people who write laws such as these have a lot to learn about addictive personalities. So, what makes me such an expert on this topic? Lady Starlight is a recovering alcoholic (Oops. There goes my anonymity!).
7. I think the legal age to vote should be raised. False. I actually think that anyone who knows how to read should be allowed to vote. Children are not stupid, why should they not have some sort of say about those who pass the laws that effect them?
8. I thought these qustions were interesting. True. They most certainly provided me with an excellent opportunity to rant!
9. I will be back to play again! True. Aren't I always...
~Bonus Question~ (stole this idea from wild fl0w3r!) 10. If I was the moderator of this meme, one question I would ask is... What other radical political ideas do you have? At least that's what I'd ask with this week's questions.
1. Which amusement park is your favorite? Anyone who lives in my area is familiar with the signs that look something like this... It just isn't summertime if you don't go there at least once!
2. Are you the kind of person who loves to go on most rides or just a select few? I'm just a big kid at heart. I love amusement park rides, especially roller coasters. I ride just about all of the rides in the park at least once.
3. What is the scariest ride you've ever been on? I can still remember the first time that I rode the Steel Phantom.
I could see my car parked in the upper lot as I went up the very first hill. It felt as though I would never reach the top. It was terrifying, but FUN!
They have since then revamped this coaster and given it a new name, The Phantom's Revenge. They took out the loops! That first hill is unchanged, though!
4. Do you prefer rollercoasters, water rides or the kind that go round and round? I think that I've already said it. I love roller coasters! My favorite one would have to be this old standard.
The Thunderbolt at Kennywood.
It was once listed at #2 on a list of the world's best roller coasters.
5. What is the longest amount of time you would stand in line to get on a ride? I get antsy when I have to stand in line for longer than a half hour or so, but if it's a good ride I will wait indefinitely. Once I'm in line, I don't get out unless the ride closes before I get on it.
It's Time For
