Sunday, February 29, 2004

Decisions, decisions, decisions...do I shower now for work tomorrow or pack up all that crap take it over to mom and dad's and do it in the morning? Since nephew #2 did so well at his tournament - won 1st place - they couldn't leave New Mexico till 5 p.m. Being that, Seamus needs a babysitter for one more night because they can't make it back tonight...........aaaarrrrgggg! I love that dingbat but I hate packing up my life just because he's terrified of my apartment!

Okay, yes I got bored and changed the look of the blog again. The dark look was too... well, dark. Don't know if I like this one either but it gave me a challenge playing in HTML land.

The plant karma has gone from bad to worse....the peace ivy finds no peace in my house. It's so sad, if it lives out the month I'll be surprised! It's not all my fault, when you live in an apartment that is half underground there is not sufficient light to make my plants thrive. No more plants till I move into a more plant friendly place.

Saturday, February 28, 2004

I am glad Seamus enjoys my company but is he killing me! He hogs the bed and keeps up half the night! Boy howdy, does he ever snuggle. At 2:30 a.m. 45 pounds landed on me and darn near knocked all air out of my lungs. He sleeps with is head on your pillow with his leg flung across you. Not very comfy. I am exhausted and need sleep and alls I have to look forward to is another sleepless night.

Nephew #2 won his wrestling matches today. One by forfeit and one by pin, he continues on tomorrow. So far, elbow is holding out!

Finally, went grocery shopping and totally fell off the wagon and bought a 2 litre of Coke and big bag of chips! I've eaten so much I hurt!

Thursday, February 26, 2004

Who now finds drug commericals terribly frightening? "if an erections last longer than four hours immediate medical attention is needed." Guys do you really wanna try that viagra-like pill? Every pill has the potential to kill us but shouldn't that be discussed with your doctor prior to his writing the Rx?

Can you tell I sit here doped up and I am having trouble putting two thoughts together! I hate this ruptured disk that I am now force to live with. I think I pissed it off last Saturday trying to carry in all those books I bought. Sunday I started taking my mega strenghth motrine to reduce the swelling that causes the intense pain in my back and the burning down my left leg but its getting worse not better.

I have a date with Seamus tomorrow night. Mom and dad are going to watch nephew #2 wrestle in New Mexico. He dislocated his elbow at the begining of the season so this will be the second time he's got to wrestle since recovery. Cross your fingers it's all better - wrestling is darn tough and doesn't allow for injuries or playing through pain.

Work isn't as bad when your taking drugs but people look at you funny when you respond ten seconds after they expect you to. I happen to be a bit slow in processing information but still functional...the Krispy Kremes helped.

OOOOOhhhh! Nooooo Mr. Bill..............LOL, I miss that. Am I showing my age. Okay rather loopy now, I'll sign off and crawl in bed.

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

I need constructive things to do or I start messing with things (i.e. the look of my blog). Boredom is a dangerous thing for me or anyone working with me. I tinker.

The comment boxes I had in this blog crashed and instead of fighting them - I removed them but send your thoughts via email and really goods ones I might share.

Today, I did my duty...I voted for Mayor (for all the good that will do). I rarely know what our city mayor is up to and city politics do not interest me. Maybe this Mayor won't wear so much make-up that we won't have work the photos over in Photoshop to make his eyes look natural. Okay, that was tacky - sorry.

Tangent Tuesday: Is Mel Gibson getting a fair shake? I am conflicted about his recent movie. I was raise in a religious home and know this story. Do I need to see it so graphically depicted - that I am not sure about. Why are so many afraid of this?

Tangent Tuesday: Is Scott Peterson guilty? Hmmm....I admit I've judged that SOB guilty!

Tangent Tuesday: Why does the phone always ring when your on the toilet? Do friends have "potty esp"?

Ice...Gross!

Monday, February 23, 2004

In a day that boredom reigned supreme, someone made me laugh out loud and therefore has become my friend. Friend Andy whom I've never met but is a friend of a co-worker - noticed my love of the word "snarky" in my blog ramblings and sent me the link to Snark Hunting. Check out the Pom Juice bottles........ there is just something wrong here. I don't think I could walk around work with a bottle such as that. Pomegranates? Ahhhh, I really just can't imagine. I don't think I do pomegranates!

I am not one to re-rant so I won't bring up the issue again of Kerry War-Hero status - I'll let some else do it. FrontPage Magazine article.

Seamus has a new trick, if your on the phone with mom, he's running around the room crying so loud that you can hear him. He's learned that if she on the phone, she's not paying attention to him. Mom had dad toss the old wooden dog house and of course I am not pleased. It was Henri's and I am not ready to let go of his things. He passed last September but he was my baby dalmatian. Domino, my other dalmatian, never claimed anything - he just bulldozed his way into whichever doghouse was already occupied. He liked to snuggle. Dom passed last July. Take my advice never own dogs the same age. Arrgggg...I can still cry over their passing.

Sunday, February 22, 2004

It was like slipping on your favorite jeans opening my most recently acquired Delderfield book. His works aren't filled with action or fantasy, they are just simple stories but for some reason he really captures my attention. Yippee! More than 1,000 pages to go and I can't wait. To pin point the reason I like his work I can't, I just do.

This year at the Friends of the Library book sale, I was less focused on getting in the door and just stood around and chatted with dad. These 20 minutes opened my eyes, especially with him point out people, avid readers can really be strange. I've often laughed at those who bring suitcases on wheels but honestly a big trash can on wheels? That was beyond odd and I was almost embarrassed that I was in the same company as these oddities.

I didn't think about bringing a suitcase, a child's wagon or a trash can, even though I intended to stock up - I just thought when I got an arm load and couldn't carry anymore I thought I'd purchase them and run them out to the car then return to my search. People can shock you in ways that make you laugh and think "hey, I'm not as crazy as I thought!"

Tonight is really tough, I am already dreading going to work tomorrow! I hate it when the dread creeps up into my Sunday night! Arrrgggg!

Saturday, February 21, 2004

I am so exhausted! I made a killing at the Book Sale and hope I got some good books. They are so cheap you tend to grab and go. The price went up this year from .50 to $1 but in all reality $23 isn't bad. By the time I had 12 books in my bag, my back was killing me, my legs hurt from standing on the concrete floor and my dad had been searching for me for about 45 minutes. So I took a break and we went to breakfast. Re-energized with a full tummy I returned - an hour and half later I had 11 more books and was completely worn out.

These are the great finds I got!

The Secret Life of Laszlo Count Dracula by Roderick Anscombe
Jade by Pat Barr
The Return of the Gypsy by Philippa Carr
A Horseman Riding By by R.F. Delderfield
Come The Morning by Shannon Drake
Lieutenant Colonel du Maumort by Roger Martin du Gard
The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier
Irish Whiskey by Andrew M. Greeley
Gilgamesh by Stephen Grundy
Walking The Moon by Elizabeth Hand
Bronte by Glyn Hughes
Shield of Three Lions by Pamela Kaufman
English Passengers by Matthew Kneale
The Sugar Pavilion by Rosalind Laker
Gondar by Nicholas Luard
The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough
The Grass Crown by Colleen McCullough
Fortunes Favorites by Colleen McCullough
Space by James A. Michener
The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley
The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith
The First Circle by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
S. by John Updike

Friday, February 20, 2004

Thankfully the work day ended, for awhile there I didn't think it would! I worked steady and had much to do but each and every thing I did today were the things I don't care for. I keep forgetting about this or that, so I made a to do list....ekkk mistake now I really feel pressured. I am tired and bored with my job but I am afraid a different job would be so slow and un-varied that I would truly die of boredom. Hmmmm, in light of things would that be bad?

I am so excited about the book sale tomorrow! I finished my last book today and need a fresh stock. Working were I work doesn't truly support my book snobbery. I will read a paperback but what I really want is a hard cover. The whole principle of the library dumbfounds me - no I don't want to return the book. I've read it - it's mine! I love used old books. They emit a history or past of their own.

As far as the daily dilemma goes...Would You Rather...

Be a member of another race for a month
-or-
the opposite sex for a month?

Men are very frustrating to me and it might give me a great insight but I don't think I want to be a man....Chinese that's what I would like especially with an old fashioned family, their culture really fascinates me and living under communism would definitely different.

I boycott the Friday Five on account of lameness.

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

If I sleep tonight it will be a minor miracle. I fell asleep afterwork and woke up at 7 p.m. Naps are forbidden for people like me who don't sleep well - I am bummed. Probably I will lay in bed [going nuts] and finally fall asleep 20 minutes before my alarm goes off.

Last night, I recieved word that a family friend was dying from terminal cancer. I cannot remember a time in my life when L was not a part of it for the simple fact that he is my father's best friend and has been since they were ten years old. They grew up in a small town in the mountains of California, graduated high school together, joined the Air Force together, became Air Traffic Controllers together and raised their families together. I call him my other father.

Tonight my hearts hurts. I do not feel quirky or witty tonight. I am just numb.

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

Tangent Tuesday

Today, I felt like James......and the Giant Peach! No. No. No. I am just being "snarky." Co-worker T took a lot of crap today and of course I had to get my jab in. It all started from one guy at work. Could it be that that one guy is not comfortable in his own masculinity and harasses T. because he doesn't have same confidence T. does? (just teasing).

Is there anyone out there that likes Acrobat 6.0? I know two days into it I am longing for the 5.0 version that 6.0 made me remove. 6.0 has funked up my Word program, now every time I open Word I get an error message that says something about Acrobat and disabling Macros. It's a freaking blank document and there are no macros in my Word templates. NOT HAPPY!

It was a crappy day where I didn't get a single project finished! I have business cards printed but need to cut; an external newsletter 1/3 written; an internal newsletter shell built and commencement programs screaming at me to begin. Reminds of David Bowie's song Pressure. Hey T. that would be my theme song. Yippee, finally I have a theme song.

Tangent Tuesday: Why are jock straps butt-less? Why can they build them into a regular pair of tighty whities so that they won't be so obvious when the football guys get all sweaty and their uniforms become transparent? The sports bra is a full bra and doesn't just strap around the breast.

Tangent Tuesday: Is it true that mice can't fart? If you set out a soda pop and they drink it, is it true they will explode?

Ice's dilemma:
Would You Rather...
Have your butt get a little bigger every time you lie
—OR—
never be able to lie again?

I'm doing everything in my power to reduce the size of my butt now, I chose never be able to lie again. Just don't ask me questions that start out "Do I look...."

Monday, February 16, 2004

Snarky

I just spent the last ten minutes on another blog and had so much fun that I am feeling a bit snarky. Snarky, I love that word! For me, it means a bit mean in a fun way. Maybe, it's the full tummy thanks to the fabulous Mexican dinner and right now I can't imagine eating ever again.

It's a bummer having a ton of energy and not a darn thing to say. It's hard to be profound when one: your blond and two: feeling spastic. I'll just bounce over to the Daily dilemma.

Would You Rather...
Have one opportunity to ask God anything
-OR-
have the ability to control the content of your dreams for the rest of your life?

This one is easy for me since I don't remember my dreams. I am almost an insomniac but that's another blog not tonight's. I would love the opportunity to ask God anything. My question would be "Why?" and would let him tell me all.

Enough for now...maybe I'll come down from my Mexican high and be profound later.

Sunday, February 15, 2004

Today was relaxing yet, productive. My feet never came out of their fuzzy yellow happy face slippers and my hair did it's best Janice Joplin impression (a darn fine impression if I might say so myself).

I spent the morning drinking my coffee and reading for three hours - finally, my book has picked up. Then I finally cleaned my house. I picked up at least four pairs of socks by my bed (why is it that socks disappear in the dryer yet multiply on the floor?) and I am not even going discuss my bathroom!

I decided to go loud. If you feel the new colors are screaming at you then I've accomplished my goal. As I surfing around checking out other blogs I came across one that looked exactly like my own and quite frankly, that would just not do!

A long soak in the tub brought me to mellow state in which I sit here now. Problem is with this mellow mood, I can't decide whether or not to play addiction solitaire or read more of my book. Hmmmm....just can't decide.

Mom warned me that I have to babysit Seamus next weekend. He has now taken to eating her fake flowers that cause him to throw up afterwards. LOVELY! He's a true spaz allowing him to fit in our family perfectly.

Thursday, February 12, 2004

Politics

I am a private political person. I love the intrigue and spin but I am not a debater. I don't discuss politics with anyone but my family. You see, I am right in my opinions - always. Therefore if someone disagrees with me and tries to change my opinion, it's annoying and sometimes uncomfortable. I have yet to meet someone who could change my political opinion. I am stubborn that way. I know this, so I stay out of political conversations.

But today I have to comment on the campaign of John Kerry. If one more person calls him a "war hero" I will scream! He is not a war hero, he forfeited that when he protested against the war when we still had military men engaged in the war. Two of my uncles fought in this war, both came home to a country that reject them. Uncle D was so disillusioned by what he experienced here that he re-enlisted in order to escape the protests. Uncle John endured horrendous statements on his homecoming. Those are America's heroes - the right men during the wrong war.

Yes, the Vietnam War was bad. Yes, Kerry had the right to protest. Freedom of Speech is just that Freedom of Speech, not freedom from my dislike because you opened your mouth. People may not like my politics or what I have said and may not like me in the future because of it. I respect their right to do so, simply put if you speak out be ready to be judged on what you say.....In my opinion John Kerry is no hero, he turned on the solders he fought beside.

Okay, I'll move on. I definitely need to get Friend Shana blogging. She is the most brilliant writer I know. Her ability to make words turn into pictures and emotions is uncanny. She wrote a great short story for an assignment in our English class in College and darn near made me want to run out the door so I wouldn't have to have my story in the stack with hers. I felt her lead character's pain as "she pressed her cheek against the cold car window wishing she was anywhere but there...." I will probably always remember thinking how does she do it? As soon as she begins blogging - her link will be there on my sidebar. Blogging will never replace the Pioneer Pies "bitch fests," but maybe bridge the gap from OKC to Dallas.

Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Mellow

I've moved on from that database evil and have decided that I am a little too blond to teach myself that crap! That is until I can get my hands on a reference book at least! But I've moved on to my next quest - getting web pages to post to a pdf! The more forms I can create for the web, the less I have to depend on the print shop to print - I won't go on that rant tonight! I was hired to write and have turned into a mechanical artist for forms! Not sure what that says about my writing skills?

I was all reved up to post the most intriguing blog on the drive home but after my microwave taquitos and my hour soak in the tub with my book - I have mellowed drastically and really don't have a rant.

Co-worker T. says that I can't opt out of Ice Chick's Dilemma that I have to chose. It's the mental pictures that I object to! Take yesterday's dilemma for example where one had to chose from posing nude for a magazine or or dancing naked, I read co-worker T.'s response then I had this awful mental picture of him doing a jig buck naked. I have to work with him and really don't need that sort of mental picture! Quite honestly, I can't visualize T. dancing. He just doesn't look like a dancer to me. lol

Okay, I'll be a trooper. The dilemma of the day is :

Would You Rather...

Shave the hair off the back and butt of an 85-year-old man with a straight-edge razor

-OR-

clip the yellow, brittle toenails of his 80-year-old wife?

Senior citizen's are usually cold so the old man is gonna need the hairy back and arse for warmth plus an old man's butt is the last thing I want to see! My question is why his wife just doesn't bite her toenails off like the rest of us? Since she doesn't guess I'd do it for her.

Tuesday, February 10, 2004

Tangent Tuesday

Let me first state that Icechick's dilemma is no dilemma for me at all ... I'll be keeping my clothes on! My body would require so much air brushing even with the photographer using the fuzziest filter known to man. And the thought of me gyrating on a stage with nothing on but my insecurities...no way! I'll stay poor.

Don't think I am a prude, I just know what my "bod" looks like. I plan on keeping it a closely guarded secret.

Tangent Tuesday: Why do we have to wear pantyhose? Why do we squeeze ourselves into them daily? Would men find them so attractive if they had to squirm into a pair occasionally? Especially, on those days when he wakes up late and rushes to get dress, then discovers five minutes after he arrives at work that one leg is on crooked pinching in places undesirable. Would men expect/want women to wear them after such an experience.

Tangent Tuesday: Is it time to cut my hair short again? I swear I shed more than Seamus! I am getting so tired of spending 25 minutes just to blow dry my hair? Just pondering whether or not to return to world of ease.

Tangent Tuesday: Why is it so hard to empty the dishwasher? It only takes roughly 3 minutes to do, yet it seems that I never get to it until I have another load to wash sitting in the sink waiting.

Tangent Tuesday: how do you spell...the red condiment that most people eat with French Fies?

Monday, February 09, 2004

Here Brain, Brain! Here Brain

I hate to admit it, I had to ask for help! I am usually one who can teach myself computer programs but hey, web based databases are way out of my league. Thanks to the web guru upstairs my database and web forms are now working and I am happy girl again! [I am doing a jig - can you see it]. Now, if my co-worker doesn't show me anymore groovy things that can be done (just not by me), I won't spend hours upon hours telling myself I can figure it out!

At noon, today, I looked up and realized I was working through lunch - whoops! So I quickly, gathered my purse and went to see if Dad would buy me a coke. When I got there, I told him my brain hurt, he laughed and asked "So you found it?" And here I didn't even know I had lost it. Papa is great for a laugh now and then.

Sunday, February 08, 2004

Call Me Bookworm

Two weeks and counting! For those who read, the Friends of the Library Book Sale is better than Christmas morning! Hardbacks for only 50 cents! woo hoo! If I do right, I can get enough books to last me a whole year! What's so fabulous about it too is that often times you have no idea what your getting. With the prices so low, I tend to throw the books in without reading the jacket to see if it is of interest to me. Also, there are many books without dust jackets so there's absolutely no way to know what it's about.

A couple of years ago, I discovered one of my favorite authors because of this sale. RD Delderfield tells wonderful stories about regular people living their lives. If I had known about him, I would have researched and read his Swann family series in order but alas I did not know....So let me give you a bit of advice, if you'd like to read about a family in post WWI England start with God Is an Englishman but be ready to finish the series with Theirs Was the Kingdom and Give Us This Day.

Another wonderful find was the author Raymond E. Fiest. If you liked Toliken, which I really do, then you'll like Fiest. BEWARE...if you are a Toliken purest he may piss you off a little. The similarities between his books and Tolikens are great. Elves, magicians, different world, etc

It's gonna be a long two weeks, I still can't get into the book I am reading.

Saturday, February 07, 2004

You know how they say that once a snapping turtle has bit down on someone or something, it'll never let go....I'm afraid I have mutated into a snapping turtle AND I BLAME MY CO-WORKER, T.

I have spent the entire day trying to make a stupid .asp web based crap of a file work and have completely and utterly failed! I wasted today on that, and I also spent part of the day trying to format this stupid site AND I BLAME MY CO-WORKER, T. Before I was content with hum drum blog but no, then I had to add the "map," then format the text, and finally then try to figure out how build up a side bar (I failed there too.)

Seamus had fun last night but kept me awake till 3 a.m. so I put him out in the backyard 'cause I thought he had to "go" but no he just wanted to play and I couldn't get him back in. I wanted to strangle him.

Tonight, I got nothing profound to say my brain is mush.

Thursday, February 05, 2004

!@#$! !@#$! !@#$!

Did you hear me or should I repeat that? Working above my skill level is more frustrating by the day......okay, ranting about work just prolongs my frustration! Big news of the day-I had microwave pizza for dinner. The kind where the cheese melts into the plate and once it cools it becomes a permanent part of the plate. Ummmm, think I need a life?

I get to babysit Seamus this weekend and I don't think I want to. If I could bring him to my place that would one thing but he's afraid of my apartment. He just runs around the apartment carrying his baby and crying. The last time I brought him over he peed in my car - the old one not my new car.

I am bored! Can't get into my latest book, Warlock. I hate when a book takes 100 pages before it gets interesting. Dang, gotta fill my car with gas tomorrow, got more work than I can finish, and it's freaking cold and I get pissy when it's cold. Man, does this blog thing always encourage such whining. I'm gonna have to work on that!

Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Frustration reigns supreme tonight! I am trying to teach myself about asp web forms. Not sure if my mind can wrap itself around that frustrating program! I am tired and doubt it was a good idea to attempt it but I did.....I am quite amazed that this computer didn't actually get thrown out the window but hey, that would have required me exerting myself. Not in the mood.

February 4th and I've already gotten my state tax refund. Who would have guessed Oklahoma government could move so fast? Anyway, tonight I'm rich!

Monday, February 02, 2004

Faux Happiness

These are my words, my feelings, my life. I do not suppose anyone would understand or always agree but my thoughts understood or not or agreed on or not are valid all the same. They are mine therefore they are precious to me.

Do I start with heartache, disappointment or jump right into faux happiness? With heartache, it is what it is and if you ponder it repeatly it grows into more than what it is. With disappointment, it becomes disfunction. But with faux happiness, you just might fake yourself into believing you're happy. That's what I chose to do. Fake it.