Its been awhile. I have been meaning to post some things. I will get to it, I promise. I have pics of my Halloween costume (Thanks mom!!!) and a few other things I want to share. I just haven't uploaded them yet.
So, last night I fired up my desktop machine. Its down in the basement.
I didn't realize how much I missed it. As you can see, the basement is a bit of a work in progress. We had to pull up the floor as it was a bit flooded. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the laptop, but there is something about sitting at my desk with my old computer that I just miss. I suppose it is because I have always had that computer, or some version of it, although at this point I don't think any of it is from my original, but I never replace the whole thing at once. It is my Frank. Sure, the laptop does everything I need it to and then some, but I like my track ball, they don't make them like that anymore. I like my monitor, I like the fact that it glows blue. the speakers don't match any of it. Oh well, eventually I will get things put back together. There is one thing that I love about the laptop that my desktop will NEVER be able to do. And no, its not the fact that I can take it with me. No, its not anything to do with specs. It keeps me warm in the winter - which is just around the corner.
Long time.
What do you do if you have no pillow?
Yes. I am addicted to the panda cam at the San Diego Zoo.
Irony, party of 1?
On another note: I have a confession to make. I feel so guilty. I feel so dirty. In my quest to find the proper fabric for my Halloween costume I went to Walmart. I feel so gross and wrong.
Its been a long day
Only two more days left this week. Now I just have to figure out how I got talked into doing OT on Friday. I'm such an idiot. I am so burnt out at work so what do I do? I sign up for more. It just gets hard, the abuse. Everyone gets all worked up when a customer is treated poorly but I get cursed out at least once a week. I have customers hang up on me, treat me like scum, call me names, accuse me of doing horrible things and I am supposed to just ignore it? To be honest, for the most part I can, but sometimes it does get me a bit down. If you are always told you are worthless, useless, stupid, and a nobody, at some point it is hard to remember its not true.
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us - don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know!
How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
To tell one's name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
-Emily Dickinson
I'll be okay, I just need to shake it off.
San Diego Zoo
Well, I am going to finish getting my act together. I am headed up to Madison with GB to visit her sister. I am going to take a walk down to this little bakery near the hospital that has these AMAZING cookies. I know, it sorta defeats the purpose of a walk but YUM. (http://www.lanesbakeryandgifts.com/)
Ya know what we need here in the midwest?
More rain!!!
These pics came to me via my mom, who got them from her mom, who got them from her sister in law... this is up in Richland Center Wisconsin, which is west of Madison, WI. My grandma grew up there. And so the weather forecast for tomorrow? More rain. We got more rain after these were taken as well.
So yeah... thoughts on Food
I am going through these weird eating phases. I was going through a risotto phase, thats pretty much done with now. Now its Italian. Gnocchi, Fettuccini, Cannoli, chicken tetrazzini. I miss Paradiso Perduto. That was a good restaurant. It closed and a Mexican place moved in. Yeah, not even close. Imagine the best thing you have ever eaten, this was 10,000 times better. I really want some good italian. Ooh, or some sweet potato polenta, from Heaven on Seven. They used to have a location right near my brother which would be handy but now its all out of the way. Ugh. There isn't anyplace good to eat around here anymore. Okay, I take that back. I can satisfy my sushi craving with a twenty. There is a fabu little French place not too far away that has a great Tuesday night dinner deal. But by in large, most of the places around here are giant chain places: your TGi-Applebee-Chilis places that all taste the same.
Came home today
I got a happy surprise today. I came home from work, after stopping at the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner, to an extra car in the driveway. My big bro came home to help in the flooded basement!! Howe nice was that? I have the best big bro.
Basement...
I haven't been down there yet today, but my mom says its flooded again, on the finished side. That being the side where all my stuff is. It has been a day, I tell ya. Goose was supposed to go to the vet today. I was running around for 10 minutes trying to locate his travel cage and couldn't find it. Finally I get in touch with my dad who knew where it was and I pull it out, trip on either the stool or the Treadmill, not sure which, fling the cage across the floor, hear my ankle pop, and down I went. I am not exactly sure what happened next- if I said some foul words and then said goodbye to my father or the other way around. I then attempted to stand and get goose into his cage, he bit me and flew onto the floor, I called the vet, told them it just wasn't going to happen today, crawled to the freezer for an ice pack, waited for goose to decide that he wanted his ducky, put him back in his cage and crawled back to the couch. It hurts pretty bad, but I will be okay. I just need to figure out how to get that carpet tile out of the basement and I think I am going to paint the floor a nice grassy green color.
This might make me get up in the morning
So, basically when it goes off those little puzzle pieces go flying about and the alarm starts screaming at ya. It won't shut up until you collect the bits and put the puzzle back together. I am pretty sure it would either wake me up or end up in bits against the wall.
On a side note, I wanted to show everyone my awesome new light I got for my room. A special thanks to Poppers for putting it up.
Don't ya just LOVE Ikea?
crazy mosquito!
So, last Sunday I woke up all itchy! Somehow a mosquito got in my room and decided my foot was an all you can eat buffet. You can't see the ones on my leg or my other foot either. I think the grand total was 14, 9 on my left foot alone! It was just evil. I hate bugs.
Gotta give 'em props!
I have been meaning to post this for awhile.
I LOVE the Glamazons. Check them out here They are confident, beautiful, talented, sexy, just awesome. I am not a huge reality TV show fan but I just adore these chicks and I gotta support them!
Been a long time
Good afternoon! It has been a long time since I have posted. I keep meaning to write but I get distracted. I wonder why. Lets see... So much to talk about:
Basement flooded: Found frogs in the window well:
Peonys bloomed: Hanging with my gnomies: 
There are blackberries growing along the back fence:
I've been working a lot lately. Thinking about getting a new camera, a small one so when I go places I actually take it out of the car. There are so many options and decisions. I can't decide. I must research further.
I will try to write more. I make no promises.
I really shouldn't read the news
So, according to some wench that fox 'news' and I use the word news lightly, dug up, the most recent winner of American Idol is fat. See this article. She is So not fat. This is what I don't understand:
Emaciated is defined as: No obvious body fat, the ribs and backbones are easily seen form a distance. There is noticeable muscle loss. The waist has an accentuated hourglass shape and the abdomen is severely tucked. Or this: 
Poor Puppy. He's all better now, I checked.
This is what the fashion industry tries to sell as beautiful: 
I'm sorry, but I don't see the difference. I see women who are under-nourished and emaciated. I do not see beautiful. Check back. I will be showing you what I think is beautiful shortly.
K.C.: 2 Years, Ryan: 3 Years.
The Cicadas are Coming! The Cicadas are Coming!!!
I wish the cicadas would just get here and be done with it already. I am getting a little tired of all this Chicken Little type hype. It's not the end of the world. Yea, I know. Lots of giant bugs. Big deal. I was here 17 years ago. Lots of giant bugs. It was gross and loud but move on. Any excuse not to report any actual news. So in case you missed it: The cicadas are coming! Only once every 17 years! They are loud! They Make Noise! Watch out for the annoying Cicadas! That is ALL THEY DO! They look freaky and make noise. Maybe that is why everyone was so fascinated by Sanjaya. He looked freaky and made noise, like a cicada?
A great weekend for goodies.
I found a dresser finally. I got it at the antique show in Grayslake. I LOVE it. 1930s, art deco, birds eye maple. The drawers are deep, will hold a lot of stuff. It even has the original drawer pulls. 
I also picked up on of my favorite candy bars over the weekend. They are a bit pricey for every day, about $1.30 each. They are milk chocolate on the outside and this crunchy sweet salty stuff on the inside. Its hard to describe. I love them.
A tiny neighbor.
So I was able to use a bit of vacation time today and so I got home a bit early. When I pulled into the driveway I saw this little guy sitting on the front step. All of a sudden he was gone. I had no idea where he went... I grabbed my camera and waited for a minute. He has been using this as his own personal tunnel. 
a little late...April 11th
Popper's Arm is healing fast
Downy Woodpecker
From the best big brother ever.
I have a garden.
Its a tiny little herb garden. I sure hope it turns out. Usually I just kill plants. I installed the sun lamp myself. I am so proud. Its all even and level and everything! I even used a power tool! Check me out. I rock! I have Parsley, Basil, Oregano, Dill, and Chives. I'll keep you updated.:
Oh, and Baby Goose wishes to blog a bit today too. He says
sqee- chir-chirp twrrr chirp tweet. Chirp Cheep kewaaark. chrrarrp. *kiss* *kiss* -poo-
We were way too facinated by this:
There is one thing you must know about our family. Sure, nobody likes chores, but we REALLY hate mopping in this house. Vacuuming isn't so bad, I don't mind laundry, but nobody in this house can stand to mop. So check this out: my mom got a Scooba! So we locked ourselves in the big bathroom and watched it work its magic. It works pretty good and we had quite a time watching it go round and round the bathroom. 
Don't take this personally.
This is a rant. Just thought I would warn you.
What is it with people? I had three people tell me today not to take it personally. How can I not take it personally, I am a person, right? I mean- maybe not to them, to them I am just the customer service auto-bot on the other side of their phone, but when they start yelling at me and then say that I shouldn't take it personally, well?? What do they expect? For example:
"Don't take this personally, but that is so stupid. How %!@&% stupid are you, $%#@@??!!" It what way can I not take that personally.
"I don't care what it says, I KNOW you didn't mail it then. You are TRYING to make me late. You have to mail it sooner." When I tell them that I can't mail it sooner than we print it and that I can't control the USPS, "That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Don't take take this personally but what the hell is wrong with you?"
Next time someone tells me not to take it personally, I will tell ask them how they would like me to take it, minerally? Vegetablly?
My computer
My computer is up and running. I have my mouse back! I have my keyboard back! My hard drive! My music! I will be honest though. It is very chilly down here and everything is still qute the disaster. I am not sure how much time I will spend down here computing. Perhaps once I get everything a bit more organized, the walls painted. my TV hooked up, my books put away, maybe then it will feel a bit more like home. Right now it is a bit stark. It is nice to have my computer back though. It definatly helps this place feel a bit more like home. Pictures are coming.
We've moved
I still feel like I am living in someone else's house. I am living out of boxes. This should get better shortly. I did find flooring I like.