I have 3 metric tons of laundry I need to fold and stow. I hate this stage of laundry. Ugh. Oh well........must be done! There's ironing too, but not tonight!

I watched the whole Twin Peaks series.....I had forgotten how mush it warbled all over the place......interesting. I had also forgotten about the whole David Duchovny in drag thing! LOL!!!! That got me thinking X-Files, so.........I lined up my NetFlix cue with ALL of the X-Files beginning at the very start.......so I have the first 3 discs of season 1 here waiting to get started! I have a feeling I will be rekindling my crush on Duchovny any evening now! LOL!!!!

I have been working on some health changes. Some are being easier to adopt than others. I am doing MUCH better at the 10,000 steps a day goal than I had thought. I have my pedometer I strap on every day and I have been amazed at how many steps I do crank out in a day at work and how few at home, even when I think I am really busting my buns doing housework and such. It's been interesting......still waiting for my walking partner to be up to joining me.....I totally understand!!! But I'm looking forward to us getting to walk together soon! =)

Other than that.......the 2 Hell projects I have had going at work are done, so now I am sort of settling back into my own job again. This is good. I like it! It makes me a happy girl........

I guess that's about it......at least for now!
Cheers!

This has been a pretty good weekend, sickiness aside and all. I have been doing lots of thinking and mental sorting and plotting! WOO HOO!!!! I have many things I want to do, make changes in and whatnot and I think I have some do-able plans. So that is good!

One of the things I have been working on the last couple weeks is NOT bringing so much work home!!! I am still in an hourly category rather than a salary category at the U and I have NOT been working like it. I have been working like I was owned by the company store and haven't been billing the overtime because there is NO MONEY for the overtime....so I have been donating the time, in essence. Not good. Not good for me. Not good for the kids. Not good for the wallet. You get the idea! So, I am trying to actually leave work at the office as much as is possible most nights and the weekends! I have successfully done so the lst two weekends and they have been glorious!!!!! My kids like me again.....lol........and I am just happier and more at peace with my life. I needed to find that space.......because I need to be there for someof the other things I want to work on to be more accessible and easier to to work with.
It's a good thing!!!!!!

This weekend the boys were with me, they'll be with their dad next weekend.......means I get some me time as well! WOO HOO!!!!! Or at least a date night, and that's not all bad either! lol! We didn't do anything really big or anything, just hung out and enjoyed each other.....and I loved it!!!!! very good.......


Anyway....it's bed time.....and I am still amazed at what a princess I feel like in my new king size bed....lol!!!!! I think I'm so special! LOL!!!!!! GOOD NIGHT!!!!!

I've been gone quite a while........sorry about that. Been off checking out other things/on-line venues.....found some other things that are interesting, but.......nothing that I actually like so much as LJ, so here I return.

Lots going on...changes at work, changes with the kids, changes in the way my brain is firing these days, and the deep seated need for yet more changes. I'm still trying to pull some plans together on how it will all work, but I am sure that I will be back here babbling again on a slightly more frequent basis......nothing else I have encountered really gives me the sort of babble outlet I really want/need at this point.......so I thank you in advance for enduring my posts and if at some point you decide you don't really want to "hear it," say so and we'll make other arrangements! =)

Until next time.......

Yes, that is right.....free books!

My attitudes about my book collection have changed over the years and I have decided it is time to start slicing it down. So, every week or so I am going to post a list of 10 (or so) books that are up for grabs.......first come, first serve. I will be cross listing this to my LJ account as well. You can respond to either buleltin or post and the first one in for each volume will be the proud owner of the book! WOO HOO!!!!!

I will mail them to you, if you like, or we can arrange for an in-person drop off if you'd like. If youopt for mailing and feel inclined to throw a buck or so to me for mailing costs, that's cool. Let me know and I can get you my paypal info.

So..............here is the first list! (all books are paperback unless indicated)
1. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed - Alan Alda (hardcover)
2. Red As Blood - Tanith Lee (hardcover)
3. The Private Memiors and Confessions of a Justified Sinner - James Hogg (from my Scotish Lit course in college)
4. Casting Fortune - John M. Ford (hardcover)
5. Match wits with Mensa - quiz book
6. Lanark: A Life in 4 Books - Aladair Gray (also from the Scotish Lit course)
7. A Scots Quair - Lewis Grassie Gibbon - (you guessed it, more Scotish lit course)
8. Moll Flanders - Daniel DeFoe (yup......)
9. Waverly - Sir Walter Scott (again.....)
10. Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them - JK Rowling....part of the HP series, but in mini-form........

So let me know.......books not scooped up will be taken to the local Jellybean's or donated to the library......

THANK YOU!!!!!

Wow......been a bit of time since I wrote......keep intending to update and then one thing or another jumps in and draws me away........ Where to start? I guess we'll pick up with Christmas break........

The boys and I have been off for about 2 weeks. Not really looking forward to the whole school/work thing again today, but I know it will be good for us all! My dad spent Christmas Eve here while I finished up a few things at work.........he surprised me when I got home by having bought the boys twin beds!!!! No more little boy beds for my guys, they are in the BIG BOY beds now! LOL!!!! They look soooooooo little in them! LOL!!!! But thye are good beds and it is very likely they'll be in these until the go off to college, so..........*sigh* Christmas Eve with dad was pretty good......the boys got a ton of great stuff! (Including a set of Lego Castles that still need to be constructed.....)

Then Grandma Zoe came over that night and spent Christmas day with us...........we got up, opened prezzies, had breakfast.......and then the boys' dad picked them up in the afternoon and kept them until the 27th........they had a great time with everyone.

While the boys were gone, Zoe and I hit the movie theatre......and saw Bedtime Stories, Valkyerie, and The Spirit...............and were amazed at how incredibly civilized the world was as NOTHING else was open in my area........but that sort of sucked, too, because we were thinking of goingto lunch beforehand.......instead, we opted for the refills on popcorn and were sick the next day! LOL!!!!!! But it was fun and the place was PACKED! OMG!!!!! Mark and I used to do this in California and NEVER saw the place as packed as it was here.......wow!

Anyway, got to spend time with friends here and there over the break.......had a lot more ME time over the break, which was great for me!!!!! But the boys have been complaining that they were going too much here and there and have become a bit clingy in the last few days......I had anticipated that! We'll have to balance that out more later...........something to think on...........

Spent New Year's Eve downtown at The Loft.......Oh My God played as did Rev. DJ Mikee, so that was great fun!!!!! Had an amazing conversation with a little twit working on his freshman year at Mott.....lol!!! Cracked me right up........ And how many rounds of champagne was it, Mikee???? Holy shit.........not allowed to do THAT again. Ugh! And thanks for not mentioning that one that mainly ended up down my blouse.....lol!!!!!!! Amazing that the blouse was never damp! LOL!!!!!! Good times..........

So now here we are.........scraping things together to get off to work and school again..........thinking about the usual resolution kinds of things.......but not officially committing them to blog or anything.........but do need to make some changes this year.........but then what year don't we need to make changes, right?

Anyway........I hope the Holidays found you all happy and healthy and well fed! =) And that the New Year will be very good for us all........Cheers!

Who did you last shoot a dirty look at?
one of the boys this morning........


What kind of car do you drive?
Chrysler Voyager Van

Have you ever had a garage sale?
Yes.........when I lived on Menton........


What color is your iPod?
green!

What kind of dog do you have?
I had a terrier mix as a child....Garth.......he was HELL on the moles in the yard and once caught a snapper turtle! LOL!!!!!

What's for dinner tonight?
Spiral sliced ham..........


What is the last drink you drank?
water at lunch

Last time you were sick?
a few weeks ago...........mild stomach junk.....but nothing that kept me out of work.



How long is your hair?
approaching my shoulders again..........long enough it hangs in my eyes! LOL!


Are you happy right now?
For the best part...........yes!


What did you say last?
Have a good Holiday Break to someone in the office.



Who came over last?
Deidre was the last guest in my office.........

Do you drink beer?
I'm really a Cider girl, truth be told........


Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted?
Nope. Of course, my only sibs are steps, so.........there you go! Neither of my parents can deny me.....much to their shagrin!

What is your favorite key chain on your keys?
Ricky! lol


Who introduced you to your boyfriend or girlfriend?
Since there isn't one in play, there is no story! LOL!!!!!


Who is the last person you had a phone conversation with?
Zoe

What DVD is in your DVD player?
Becoming Jane


What's something fun you did today?
We had a potluck for the department this afternoon! Great fun hanging with the peeps! LOL!!!!!


What do you think of when you hear the word "meow"?
*sneeze*


What are you listening to right now?
Rob Zombie........

What have you had to drink so far today?
coffee, water, lemonade


When is your birthday?
July 3rd

What's the area code for your cell phone?
810

Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing now?
On one of my RARE trips to the mall.......


Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror?
my parking permit for the U


How many states in the U.S.

have you been to?
a lot...........about 26 or so.......


What are you going to do after this?
get some work done! lol


What is something you need to go shopping for?
hmmm.......nothing at the moment, though I suspect Superman might have a suggestion or two.....


Do you like pickles?
Yes - sweet

How about olives?
Not so much

What is your favorite kind of gum?
I really liek the silly IceCube gum........

Do you have any tan lines?
I do have a few hang-overs from the summer.......faint strap marks


Do you remember the name of your kindergarten teacher?
Mrs.
Wagner

Who was the last person to call you baby?
Doc Marsh

When you're at the grocery store do you used the self checkout?
I try not to........support local jobs!!!!!!!!! (such as they are....)

Has anyone ever sang to you?
Yes..........on a few occasions.......lol!!!!!! Mikee is most memorable, though!


Has anyone ever given you roses?
Yes.


If you were abandoned in the wilderness, would you survive?
Of course..............I'm scarier than anything out there! LOL!!!!!


What is your favorite color?
hmmmm.........with the holidays, I am drawn to red more, but I usually favor green and black


What color are your eyes?
usually blue.......though thye ahve been known to go gray depending on mood/clothing


What is a compliment you receive way too often?
That I am a good mom..............I disagree! lol


How tall are you?
5'4"ish

Who was the last person to say they loved you and when?
Suzy

Do you like your parents?
Most of the time! LOL!!!!

Why did your last relationship end?
incompatibility on an emotional intensity


Who was the last person you said you loved on the phone?
Momma

Where is the furthest place you've traveled?
Scotland

Which do you prefer, to eat or sleep?
Sleep!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you look more like your mom or your dad?
Momma Zoe.........we're the original cloning experiment


How long does it take you to shower?
10-15 minutes........depends on conditioner time! LOL!!!


Can you do splits?
Yes.........but I have to stretch first.....unlike when I was 12! LOL!!!!!

Can you use the grill?
Yep!

Are you flexible?
not too bad for this little chick!


What movie do you want to see?
Valkyrie and The Spirit.......................wanted to see Punisher again, but it ran away too fast! *pout*


What did you do on New Years Eve 2007?
Hung out with the boys!


Was your mom a cheerleader?
Not even maybe!


What is the last letter of your middle name?
A

How many hours of sleep did you get last night?
somewhere in the ball park of about 6


Do you wear your seatbelt in the car? Are you scared of flying?
yes........no........


What do you sleep in?
whatever feels like a good idea! LOL!!! usually a tank and yoga pants


Do you have any tattoos?
2.........................my black roses on my chest and my ourobourous on my right ankle


Have you ever been to Los Angeles?
Yes. Wasn't impressed.



What jewelry do you wear all the time?
my rings.........and my "charms"..........they jingle! LOL!!!!

What is your favorite song at the moment?
I've really been grooving on Amy Winehouse - Stronger Than Me....though there may be a reason or two for that! LOL!!!!!


Do you like chocolate?
Is the Pope Catholic?!

Are you easy to get along with?
Usually.........though there are those that just can't take me the way I am..........oh well! lol


Any up coming events you're excited about?
Christmas morning with my boys!!!!!! Love it!!!!!!!!

WHO DANCED THE DARK MORRIS???????????????

NO MORE OF IT!!!!! DO YOU HEAR ME?!?!?!?!?!?! THIS IS QUITE ENOUGH.............and yes I did notice they all look like Tiffany.......very clever! Now go back to sleep Wintersmith........

Leave your name and
1. I'll respond with something random about you.
2. I'll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.
3. I'll pick a flavor of jello to wrestle with you in.
4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.
5. I'll tell you my first/clearest memory of you.
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. I'll ask you something that I've always wondered about you.
8. If I do this for you, you must post this on your journal. You MUST.

On Wikipedia, search your birthday and pick 4 events, 3 births, 2 deaths, and 1 holiday.

Events
1250 - Louis IX of France is captured by Baibars' Mamluk army at the Battle of Fariskur while he is in Egypt conducting the Seventh Crusade; he later has to ransom himself. 
1754 - French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French forces. 
1938 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and lights the eternal flame at Gettysburg Battlefield. 
1996 - Stone of Scone returned to Scotland.

Births
1423 - King Louis XI of France (d. 1483) 
1866 - Albert Gottschalk, Danish painter 
1883 - Franz Kafka, Czech writer (d. 1924)

Deaths
1642 - Maria de' Medici, wife of Henry IV of France (b. 1573) 
1971 - Jim Morrison, American singer (The Doors) (b. 1943)

Holiday
Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is perhaps best known for disbelieving Jesus' Resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus. By tradition it is held that he went to India to preach the gospel there. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates his feast on 3 July. In the traditional Catholic calendar, his feast day was December 21 (the day with the shortest daylight hours). It was moved in order to accommodate the commemoration of St. Peter Canisius, who died on December 21.

 

Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

Thanks to Joz for making me aware........
Do what needs to be done..........

Well, took Friday off as comp time after the dreaded grant deadline! WOO HOO!!!!! So what did I do with my time? I went to the movies!!!!!!! I saw Dark Knight and X-Files. When that was done, I went and picked up the boys and the three of us helped my friend move into an apartment. I feel bad for her........this is supposed to be a separation to help bolster the marriage, give them space/time to work out the issues, but........well........he seemed a bit TOO enthusiastic and helpful in getting her out. ouch. But she is settled in well now........so we'll see what happens. I hope I am wrong.......

Saturday had breakfast with the boys, mom and above mentioned friend. Went off to get my hair cut..........came back and chilled with the boys. They were on a rampage and having a hard time listening, so I was disinclined to take them out for anything exciting.

Today I recanted and took them to an early show of Space Monkeys (wasn't as bad as I feared it would be...), had the customary Sunday afternoon lunch with my Dad, then took the guys to the pool (meeting the friend from Friday night's move there as well), got a bit of sun.......looking less corpse-like! LOL!!!!!! Just finished dinner with the guys and have a sinus head encroaching.......yay? OK, not really........

I'm still off for two more days........yay!!!!!! Got more movies planned for tomorrow and visiting friends on Tuesday! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, I'm usually not this girly......or at least I don't let on that I am......but I just hauled out the super cool nail file thingy mom got me last Thanksgiving and used it again and am back in love with it! If youare local to Flint and have ever seen their kiosk outside HOT TOPIC, this is the nail file thing that has the diamond, cotton and silk sides to it.......makes the nails look totally like they ahve been manicured and painted with clear coat......but NOT!!!!!!!!! I am a happy girly-girl.......but shhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........don't tell! LOL!!!!!!

Your results:
You are Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy 80% Apocalypse 76% Dr. Doom 71% Catwoman 69% Mystique 68% Lex Luthor 66% Magneto 64% Mr. Freeze 61% The Joker 56% Juggernaut 56% Dark Phoenix 53% Riddler 49% Venom 48% Green Goblin 44% Kingpin 43% Two-Face 40%

You would go to almost any length for the protection of the environment including manipulation and elimination.

Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz

......and I was joyously NOT disappointed!!!!!!!!!

Surfing + Vampires = Totally Bad Movie!!!!! But I had to see it..........

The Lost Boys: The Tribe totally lived up (or down) to my expectations.....
Basically the same plot as the original, updated a bit but with fabulous nods to the original.....right down to the same song playing during the obligatory sex scene in the vampiric nest.......though it has been updated...............

I have to say, I will probably have to own it.........

And Corey Feldman is my hero!!!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!! The new and improved Edgar Frog is fab........as is the special Corey Haim appearance..........gotta love that they got the Coreys back together for it...............

That is all.

If there are people on your friends list who make your world a better place just because they exist, and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the Internet, then post this same sentence in your journal.

The Torch
8-ish
Drinks, food, silliness, who knows what else or where else we may end up.........

Be there!