TxnGyrrl

Frankenfinger Photo

2008-10-03T14:55:00.002-05:00

Our Louisiania Swamp Tour, Airboat Adventures guide explaining that he has had 16 alligator bites to his hand.

And me showing him what COULD HAPPEN to your index finger!

Frankenfinger photo courtesy of my BFF. Thanks Sweet T!

How to Waste an Hour

2008-09-09T21:30:00.003-05:00

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

But it would be a good hour to waste.

Then when you start talking in LOLcat language, you can play with your magnets.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/abea/

And wear your t-shirt.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/generic/9505/

ER Visit

2008-09-09T13:04:00.002-05:00

No, not me, and not the other index finger.

Oscar either left the perimeter of the backyard or a dog got in. He didn't come home Sat night which had me really worried. Found him Sunday morning behind the garden shed. He wouldn't come to me, meow at me, or even look at me. Had to go behind the shed to get him and pick him up when I realized he was hurt.

1 1/2 hours at ER vet clinic. He had to stay to get stitches in 2 locations. Got home, and he's pretty much stayed inside my closet in the bathroom. Has a pet collar to prevent him from getting to the stitches, which he has already pulled out 1 stitch before I had to put some tough love on him and force him to wear the collar. He's already pulled it off his head.

The good news is that he's eating, drinking, using kitty litter. The bad news is that I'm off to DC Friday, return to Austin late Wedn, and then off to New Orleans Thurs afternoon next week. And Hurricane Ike has his eye on TX. GREAT timing.

Mini Booklets

2008-08-19T12:17:00.004-05:00

I SO need these.

http://www.shineboxprint.com/products/ready/unm/

Read some of the cards inside:

My personal faves:
You looked in the mirror today and still wore that?
Now I know why the bitch slap was invented.

These are AWESOME. And for a mere $5.95 plus shipping, I'm seriously considering getting these. But truthfully, I'm a coward. I would only WISH I had the nerve to pass these out.

Health Concerns

2008-08-19T11:28:00.002-05:00

So I'm "of age" where I need to get a mammogram. Admittedly, this is not something I'm looking forward to doing.

Even after the prodding by my GYN DR., and good friends, it has taken news of Christina Applegate's breast cancer decision to have a double mastectomy to seriously consider going to get one done.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080819/ap_en_tv/people_christina_applegate

My Hero

2008-08-14T16:29:00.002-05:00

No longer has a secret!

Announced today that Julia Child was a spy for the OSS (before there was a CIA) along with 24,000 other known and now mentionable people.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Other_US_Govermnent/Spies_Revealed.html

I swear that woman had the life I would love to have. A Chef. Lived in France. Ate a lot. Had an apparently happy marriage to a lifelong partner. Husband worked for State Dept and lived in fairly cool locales. And a spy.

So there is going to be a movie about Julie Child's My Life in France. It would be WAY cooler if it was Julia Child: International Woman of Mystery.

How to: Make The Best Margarita Ever

2008-08-13T15:45:00.003-05:00

"ever" is a bit of a hyperbole coming from these novices. They don't know the magical ingredients. Thankfully my secret is still safe.

http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/food2/entries/2008/08/12/how_to_make_the_best_margarita.html

And to even enhance it with the Mexican Martini recipe?!? They haven't had Steph's.

And to even put this on video. Don't you know that taste testing is required before you can declare the right?

I scoff at their attempt.

Anthem Songs Update

2008-08-11T10:15:00.001-05:00

How could I have even forgotten this one? Thanks to Sweet T for reminding me. I'm horribly embarrassed and ashamed this one wasn't #1.

This Is How We Do It::Montel Jordan.

Financial Advice

2008-08-10T22:19:00.003-05:00

or

How to reduce your spending during a recession.

Work both days. If you are in front of your work laptop, you're not spending your money at the mall.

Of course, don't spend your internet surfing break blowing your hard earned money on Amazon.com.

Laundry Gone Wrong

2008-08-10T22:17:00.002-05:00

Put my new bathing suit in with new beach towels (previously washed once). Threw in a white bra for good measure.

OOPS.

The bra is now pink. The suit no longer has that new suit look.

all I can say is dammit.

Anthem Songs

2008-08-09T21:23:00.003-05:00

I worked today. But, in a valiant effort to make it "more fun", I took my iPod & bad ass speakers to the office. And turned them up loud. Better than a 1980's boombox.

So as I was jammin to my own DJ mix, I realized that there are just some songs that really mean something to me. These are the songs that make me want to stand up, yell out loud, wave a cigarette lighter flame, are a piece of my heart & soul.

These would make up my best and most favorite iTunes playlist:

Tell Me Something Good::Rufus & Chaka Khan
Bright Lights::Matchbox 20
Estoy Aqui::Shakira
Anything by Aretha Franklin
Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay::Otis Redding
No Woman No Cry::Bob Marley & The Wailers
Hollywood Nights::Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Walking in Memphis::Marc Cohn
Proud Mary::Ike & Tina Turner
9 to 5::Dolly Parton
I Ain't Living Long Like This::Waylon Jennings
Cowboy Take Me Away::Dixie Chicks
Oh L'Amour::Erasure
Right Where I Need To Be::Gary Allan
I'm Like a Bird::Nelly Furtado
When You Say Nothing At All::Keith Whitley
Selling the Drama::Live
Como La Flor::Selena
Stand By Your Man::Tammy Wynette
We Belong Together::Mariah Carey
No More Drama::Mary J. Blige
The Lonely Road::Mike Farris

I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones I played more than once today.

The Day After

2008-07-30T20:28:00.003-05:00

So my little (and I say little as in younger!) brother came to visit me to go to Barton Springs. Now if you know me, you know that I do not DO bathing suits. Just typing it gives me hives. But I was interested in getting down to South Austin 2 days in a row.

Interestingly, even though it was about 100 degrees, the shade under the pecan tree and the breeze was really nice. But it was a little like bug city with ants and spiders and THIS that was ON.MY.LEG. which, if you know me, I screamed like a girl a little....

But I do think praying mantis are cool. They are scary as hell up close, but they don't bite (thank god) and they are really good on the insect population. The one at Barton Springs sorta seemed to have a crush on me and kept coming back to the blanket. I was a bit concerned that he was going to get stepped on - he was exactly the color of the grass. But Cash didn't think putting him on a tree was a good idea especially with all the birds that were in the area. Which, birds are the #1 enemy of the mantis. I hope he lives long and prospers under that pecan tree where we were sitting.

Adrienne-ukah

2008-07-30T11:37:00.002-05:00

I finally remembered 2007 birthday: My brother David & wife Debbie came to visit me. We went to a comedy club and rode the Steam train out of Cedar Park. It was nice to spend time with family - a first for all of us - but I'm a little embarrassed that I couldn't remember what I did last year.

This year was pretty relaxing. My intent was to get up by 9am, massage at noon, haircut at 3, dinner at 7. But that wasn't to quite start out that way...
7am - cell phone rings. It's Tari: so what are you doing?
Me: seriously? What am I doing at 7am on my birthday?
Tari: what do you have planned for today?
Me: Well, it was supposed to start at 9am but you seem to have gotten me off to an early start.

Truthfully, it was probably a good thing she got me awake and going. I had plenty of phone calls, ecards, and text messages from friends & family. I think I have to say that has been the best part of the day: knowing you are loved & remembered.

But the birthday was also a Keep Austin Weird Day - I had a sighting of Leslie (Austin's famous street person) down in South Austin while getting my haircut. It just reminds me that I do love where I live!

Remember When

2008-07-28T10:51:00.003-05:00

The Ghosts of Birthdays Past

Updated:
2006: Girl Trip to Houston to see Kelly Clarkson in concert.

2007: How come I can't remember what I did last year?

2008: Still no grey hair. Pool Party on Friday. Laurel visiting. Numerous lunches & dinners planned. 38 - not a WOW kind of birthday, and celebrating on Tuesday doesn't immediately bring to mind a PARTY.

You Have Been Warned

2008-07-28T10:37:00.002-05:00

I wish the movie was a sing-a-long. I bet Alamo Drafthouse will be doing that some time soon.

I have since downloaded the ABBA Gold CD to my iPOD. I have been playing it religiously. I have also been singing, humming, & whistling ABBA for 3 days now.

You have been warned.

Convenience

2008-07-23T15:10:00.002-05:00

okay. I give up. I'm not perfect.

This go-around on WW is a little different for me. Instead of trying to be little miss perfect weight watcher, I have had to give up some control. yeah - you read right.

In the past, I'd make everything from scratch, cut up my own vegetables, and make sure I was planned to perfection.

NOW? I bought frozen broccoli to steam in the microwave, already sliced carrots, celery, and mushrooms along with almost homemade Austin-made hummus. I even bought broccoli in cheese sauce "just for one!" to include with a leftover dinner for tomorrow's lunch. Barb & I went halfsies with Studio Kitchen for frozen main meal entrees (thanks for the nutritional value info guys!). It's a new Food Network cooking dramedy: "Adrienne Almost Made It!"

I'm way too busy these days. And if you can't just hand it to me and have it ALMOST ready to eat? forget it. I'm not interested. Even if my stomach is eating my spine.

Week in Review

2008-07-20T13:59:00.002-05:00

Monday - Friday: I was hungry every day. Low blood sugar daily, stomach growling. But hey it paid off - 4.2 lbs weight loss recorded at WW for Week 1. Helped out by....

Exercising! Besides laser tag, the new activity for WW guaranted to make you sweat, I also went 2-stepping at Graham's Friday night with co-workers. My 2-step is a little rusty, I still tend to lead, but I can get my polka 3-step ON!

Saturday: Cafe Java - I love you. This is how hungry I've been - I ate raw tomatoes on a salad for lunch this past week. For Saturday breakfast, I had egg beaters western omelet that even had green peppers in it! I was so hungry I even ate the green peppers.

New place for me to eat in Austin: Quality Seafood. Oysters on the half-shell, peel 'n eat shrimp, and delicioso grilled red snapper mango pico tacos. Delicious AND healthy!!!

The Dark Knight in IMAX. the mostest awesomest movie I've seen this summer. IMAX experience is amazing. When you sweep over the city skyscrapers, follow Batman on his motorcycle - YOU.ARE.THERE. I need to see this movie again - some of the action scenes were shot so close that sitting in the front row of IMAX I couldn't quite tell what ass-kicking the villain was getting. Plus, the discussion of Batman's psyche vs. The Joker's psycho-ness. This movie was impressive.

Is This My Cat?!?

2008-07-16T10:59:00.004-05:00

OSCAR ON LOLCAT?!?

more catpictures

Diet Ruiner

2008-07-15T12:17:00.001-05:00

Lobster Rolls

*A DEAN & DELUCA EXCLUSIVE. You won't find better tasting lobster rolls anywhere, even if you stop at every roadside lobster shack in Maine. We offer two versions of the New England classic: One container comes filled with sweet chunks of chilled, fresh lobster, lightly dressed with mayonnaise, celery and lemon zest. A second tub contains lobster dressed with mayonnaise and tarragon. Includes eight split top rolls for making our delicious lobster rolls.

Damn you Dean & Deluca

Out of the Blue

2008-07-15T09:03:00.002-05:00

I received a "guest book signature" on my classmates.com site today. Not that I keep it up-to-date, but I do have my school & work history on it.

The signature was from a girl I worked with at Medstandard back in 1995. She was one of the cool kids at work and I owe getting to know Birmingham to her. She didn't leave that company on the greatest of terms, but I did always wonder what happened to her.

She has a married name now so I assume she is still in Alabama living a wonderful life.

Most Fun

2008-07-15T08:38:00.002-05:00

I played lasertag & bowled last night as part of a teambuilding event for work's bootcamp.

Bowling: I suck. I wish I could say I enjoyed bowling, but I cannot muster up enough excitement about gutter balls.

LaserTag: ROCKED! Even though I ranked 6th player out of 20, I had the 2nd ranking in home base tags. I got tagged quite a bit by other players (hey! that's unfair! I'm not even your supervisor!) but not only did I laugh my ass off, I got a workout to boot!

Next girls night out: MAIN EVENT!

Stomach Eating My Spine

2008-07-13T20:59:00.002-05:00

This is my favorite Lori-ism. And in true fashion, it utterly says it all and you get the meaning.

I started Weight Watchers again. Please don't ask me what new beginning this one is. I think I've been on WW since elementary school. Joanne had been on it many times as well since back in the day. And I do mean the '70s.

But why should the 1st 2 days of my "newest beginning" be the 2 hungriest days on record?

Sure, I didn't gain this weight by being hungry. But seriously? I had so many low blood sugar episodes I forgot how to count. Then I'd eat, have a carbolicious high, and crash into a nice blissful nap. How am I going to get through my work week?

I've eaten well into my daily and weekly points. BUT - at least I'm counting my points. cheap attempt at optimism.

Growing Up

2008-07-12T22:05:00.002-05:00

Today, I bought FLATWARE. Seriously. Most of you know how old my silverware is. Or do you? It was a hand-me-down from our ranch house out in Jonesboro, TX. Given to me when I got my first apartment in 1990.

Here's my theory - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But I was tired of my crappy silverware bending on me.

So what's next? New place settings?!?

Will the craziness ever end?

by the way, the new flatware was a long time coming. but don't think I'm still not cheap. $44 spent at Marshall's today for a table service of 8. I spent less than $50, which is really frugal considering how long I anticipate using it.

It's been a long long time

2008-06-12T17:33:00.003-05:00

Wow. Seriously. It's been a while. So much has happened, that I'm not even sure where to begin.

I've been to Corpus Christi, Las Vegas, Nashville, and back to Columbia, SC and everywhere in between. Many treks to Houston (see Sweet T's blog if you need more info - she documents much better than I do!). Touring Broadway shows, camping yet not roughing it, as well as working long & laborious nights just trying to get caught up from the SC stint late last year.

And what about Frankenfinger you ask? Still crooked. Still doing physical therapy on a "when I can make it" basis. And Oscar. He's spending my inheritance with his histoplasmosis (go look that one up yourself) and his multiple trips to the vet with blood work, x-rays and meds.

So here we are. And what do I have to report?

Bath & Body Works is now carrying FLOWERING HERB again!! I totally think of 1995 with that smell. It takes me back to Birmingham, William, Medstandard, and sweet tea and fried foods in the heart of Dixie. aaahhh...memories....good times.

Biohazard

2008-02-25T22:08:00.002-06:00

Don't come near me. I've gone through a box of Kleenex, my fever is averaging 99-101 and I've got the sneezes with a runny nose. I feel like crap. Okay, like shit - but I try not to curse on my blog much.

Frankenfinger's Top 5 List

2008-02-20T22:39:00.002-06:00

update on Frankfinger: limited mobility. prickly sensation on the nerve endings when I touch it. Dr's appt on Monday with TX Orthopedics. Keeping my fingers (on my left hand) crossed that only physical therapy and/or patience and no surgery will be necessary.

So today's blog are the top 5 things I miss.
1. Piano playing.
2. Typing faster than a speeding bullet. I'm no longer a speedy 85 wpm after errors, but a rather more sedate 55. And I'm still not that accurate.
3. Come hithering. When I beckon someone, they don't quite get the hand signal.
4. Pointing. Since I can't quite stretch my finger all the way, it's a pretty lame finger wagging.
5. Gripping. Since I can't curl my fingers around the handle of anything, it just sticks out there like a finger-on-a-stick. Quite useless in general.

Sweet Treat

2008-02-18T15:32:00.003-06:00

My new favorite crack, er, sweet treat...thanks to my fellow co-worker/director who introduced this lovely confection to me while traveling through DFW airport. If you can, always go through Terminal B. It's a mallport.

This tasty treat, courtesy of Rocky Mountain Fudge Factory, is a chocolate covered Granny Smith apple. The one I had was the cheesecake caramel apple: graham crackers, white confection, caramel and a tart sweet apple.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away - can it be covered and smothered in caramel & chocolate to have the same healthy benefits?

Redneck Magnet

2008-02-17T12:38:00.002-06:00

conversation at the DFW airport in between flights. The conversation is between me and a young man (early 20s) who was working at a convenience store.

YoungMan: HI HOW ARE YOU!
Me: Fine, thanks....as I walk towards the bottled water section.
YoungMan: as I'm checking out Where's your wedding ring?
Me: I'm too young to get married.
YoungMan: What, you're like 24?
Me: HA! In a prior life maybe.
YoungMan: So where are you from?
Me: Austin.
YoungMan: I've heard that's a cool city. So do they have jobs there?
Me: Well, I think so. I believe there are jobs to be had. What are you looking for?
YoungMan: I'm looking for a welding job. Do they have those?
Me: Awkward moment. How do I answer this? I believe so - surely there should be industrial jobs in Austin...

So how can it be that I always get hit on by the rednecks of the world? They actively seek me out and hit on me. I never get great conversation with guys who are in the white-collar professions. I think it's my neon-lit forehead that says "redneck wanted".

Thoughts - 2/10/08

2008-02-10T23:00:00.000-06:00

1. Pie. How do you begin to eat it? Do you look at it like I do as art form, the perfect triangular piece of confection. Okay, so it's not an equilateral triangle (3 sides equal for those who've forgotten geometry), but when it's on your plate, do you start at the tip or at the back of the pie and scoop up crust?

2. I've become resentful of family disturbances that interrupt the only time to myself these days - you know it as the weekend. I've come to know it as that "extra day to catch up on work". However this weekend was letter writing practice to deal with estate issues. I compose letters in modified block format.

3. Grammys. I appreciate the recognition of the music that has shaped and influenced our lives. But get Kanye West off the stage please and give me more musicians who can play instruments. Your voice doesn't count unless you're Andrea Bocelli.

4. Driving to San Antonio and back made me realize that if I spent more time on the road I might be dead. Or kill someone. I could really use my car as a lethal weapon. I call it survival of the fittest, maybe even defensive driving.

5. Austin has got to be the priciest in airfare in the country. Can someone please explain to me the elitist attitude airlines have about flying into & out of this city? I could fly out of San Antonio for about $100 less, but I'd have to drive there and could kill or get killed on I-35.

Favorite Conversation of 2008

2008-02-05T19:05:00.000-06:00

Me: so what happens if you can't get pregnant?
Sweet T: are you kidding me? i'm MEXICAN! as a race, we're fertile
Me: okay, but really, what happens if you can't get pregnant? what are you gonna do then?
Sweet T: we've already talked about it. we're not going to adopt or go through any of the fertility tricks or invitro or anything. if it doesn't happen, we'll downsize the house, pay off our debt, buy big toys and travel.
Me: HA! yeah, you're so gettin' pregnant.

Just call me Dream Crasher.

Beauty & the Beat

2008-02-04T18:48:00.001-06:00

Why didn't someone tell me that The Go-Go's were playing at Antone's tonight?!? And did you even know that the bassist was from Austin?

Thoughts

2008-02-03T22:14:00.000-06:00

Today's thoughts:

1. Are you supposed to use a knife or spoon to get strawberry preserves onto your toast? I'm confused. A knife doesn't get out enough, but a spoon keeps some of the good stuff from getting it all out on the toast.

2. At what time should I NOT go to HEB on a Sunday? I thought that 3:30pm would be okay. It wasn't. Almost had a panic attack. TMP. Too many people. Touching me, running over me with their carts & their cars in the parking lot.

3. Household repairs seem to happen all at once. If things happen in threes, what's next? Need to call a handyman to grout both bathrooms as well as the food disposal has some issues and is leaking under the kitchen sink. Please let it all be fairly inexpensive.

4. Why don't they show good television on the other networks when the Super Bowl is on? Didn't watch it this year. Only watch if invited to a party where I can eat fake cheese melted with salsa & a cold beer in my hand.

5. So if no good TV, why no good movies? Even the Academy Award nominations don't interest me.

Well, that's enough for today. Beware of tomorrow.

Fixed

2008-02-03T22:13:00.000-06:00

Again, I've had DNS errors with Google. It happened back in 2007 & I fixed it. Then it happened again and it contaminated the work laptop as well.

But I fixed it. Cuz I rock. So Steph, next time you're here, you can check Gmail and even Google.

What's Going On

2008-02-02T22:16:00.000-06:00

So far, the funnest thing I've done is go to Houston and see Sweet T. Let me summarize:
Friday - took a nap after getting in at noon, shop for useless items at the greatest Marshalls in the land. Did you know there is a Home Store?!? For dinner, Sweet T made her infamous chipotle chicken tortilla soup. It's deeeee-lish!
Saturday - we finally got down to Galveston for weekend 1 of Mardi Gras. A little lame, but I did get to hear the Selena medley and I showed 'em how to do the cumbia & washing machine. Or rather, I think I showed them....I also got to shake booty at Gravity to Prince's P Control song. uh, hellooooo...1995 called and wanted their party back.....
Sunday - I do think that Jersey Boys is one of my favoritist Broadway shows. Sweet T blogged it best.

Which now brings me to this weekend. I've come to realize and remember what it was about traveling for work that caused me to have a nervous breakdown back in 2000. Traveling is not a big deal. It's when your flight gets cancelled (twice now) and your precious time off, which we shall call the weekend, has now been halfway wasted and is no longer your own. Delays and insensitive service reps are what cause the travel burnout. I'm so angry that I'm not even sure I can express myself professionally and/or succintly in a letter to Continental. But I am glad to be back home surrounded by my worldly goods & a kitty cat who acts like he missed me.

BFFE

2008-01-14T20:16:00.000-06:00

best friends forEVAH.

~If I could make BFF 3/4 sleeves tees, I would, as if I would even consider wearing it in public.
~We oughta have 1/2 of a keychain or charm that we wear always without taking off or washing.
~You know more dirt on me than should be allowed.
~I know more dirt on you that is allowed.
~We have "twin" bar names. Juana/Anita Mann sisters. We have different mommas. don't we wish
~Lately, while in SC, I say your name A LOT. I'd like an UNsweet Tea pleeeaaase.... doncha know that southern iced tea causes diabetes? Cane syrup is KRACK!
~Only you know that disciples have cheese balls.
~Temps is HOT!
~You are one of few who I've been to the dark/dock side with
~Cuz this is how we do it...

So this blog is dedicated to YOU Sweet T. For giving me hell on not including you in my vacation list.

I didn't think of Jersey Boys at the end of Jan as vacation, but I did invite myself in June to go to NASA. I want to conquer the Boardwalk Bullet with my eyes wide open. And I wanna Shrek in an astronaut suit.

disclaimer - 99% of tonight's blog consists of insider jokes. If you'd like to know what they mean, then you need to be there!

2008 Vacation Plans

2008-01-13T21:03:00.000-06:00

April: Seaside, FL; 2nd annual Tucker Family Inks Lake Camping trip; Viva Las Vegas
May: looks like Korea & China fell through.
June/July: Yellowstone. Haven't been since 1981.
Aug/Sept: Possibly Boston/New England/Canada. Eh? What's that aboot? I've never been to Montreal. Plus, I need to use the passport at least yearly. Just my personal goal - let's not get all crazy and call that a New Year's resolution.

The Korea/China thing depends on David's uncle taking the Iraq tour of duty. If he stays in Korea, he comes home in 3 yrs. Iraq, then it's immediately after 1 year of tour. There's gotta be hazard pay in there, right?

I'm holding out for Spain depending on Yellowstone dates. I'd like to go somewhere in May.

2008 is looking to be pretty active already. Book me now while you can!

Stitch in Time

2008-01-13T20:59:00.000-06:00

Look Ma, No stitches! However, the right index finger is still swollen. I still can't bend it. I can move it up & down a few millimeters so I'm thinking the tendons are okay. However, I have numbness still that only time will tell if the nerves will rejuvenate. They better is all I have to say.

1st Achievement for 2008

2008-01-13T11:55:00.000-06:00

I took my 1st shower of '08 today. And before you go thinking that "wow- that's a mighty long time to not bathe", you would be incorrect. Bathing consists of washing hair in the kitchen sink and then a hot bath. Not that I'm complaining of the garden sized bathtub (even though jacuzzi jets would be lovely), it's just that bathing is about an hour long ordeal. So much for the 10-15 min shower lately. My long hair has truly annoyed me. I've been going longer without washing so it requires a double shampoo and 2 min intense conditioning. What's annoying is that I think so much hair falls out of my head that I could make a weave if I wanted.

Itch Free in 1999

2008-01-12T14:24:00.000-06:00

That was my New Year's Resolution for 1999. I was living in Charleston, SC and was experiencing a rash of some sort down my torso and legs. After a dermatological visit, and a skin test, it came to be that I'm allergic to latex & nickel. Before the comments start coming at me about latex, you dirty minded kids oughta get your thoughts out of the gutter - I was reacting to pantyhose. Sure enough, I come home for Christmas 2 weeks, no pantyhose to be worn, and I'm almost my own self. Anytime I wear the hated contraptions, my skin crawls. But I usually endure an 8-hr day of wearing tights in the winter. Thank god Austin is seriously casual for business attire.

So, imagine my amazement when I didn't react to my bandages on my stitches. THESE are the best invention, but made with latex. However, after a week of wearing them, only to take them off to clean my wound, the tell-tale bumps of my allergy showed up. I'm not sure why it took a week, but I've got blistery, itchy bumps all over my right hand. I guess I should have gotten the latex-free ones, but I didn't see them at my Walgreen's. I figured "everything would be okay".

Now I guess I will hope to be Itch Free in '08...

The Claw

2008-01-07T20:36:00.001-06:00

T-minus-7 days til the horror movie cliches end.

Status Update

2008-01-06T19:34:00.000-06:00

Okay, so what’s been going on since early October? I feel like I sorta fell off the face of the earth. I went on my trip to Seattle and had a great time. I saw snow mid-way to Mt. Rainier, took a really cool commuter ferry to Bainbridge that put the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferries to shame, and I saw the space needle and ate some great food. After I got back, I’ve been in Columbia, SC on a project for work. I stayed over 3 weeks during December, and besides working 50+ hours a week, I even went to Charleston twice. I still haven’t putzed around my old city like I wanted, but I played a darn good touron while I was there. I’ve also “caught” myself a Southern accent. I even hear myself talking like some faux southern debutante. Then next thing I know, it’s Christmas which took me by surprise this year. It’s not too easy hauling Christmas in a suitcase. I have hardly seen my friends or family, and it seems like it's been a bit too long since I've had a real good gal-night with Steph & Lori.

Well, that should catch us up to New Year’s. How about you? Anybody doing something I haven’t talked to you about? Hopefully we can keep caught up.

Hand of Frankenstein

2008-01-03T09:59:00.000-06:00

Starting off the New Year

2008-01-01T21:59:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you, but I'm superstitious. I knock on wood and throw salt over my shoulder, nor do I walk under ladders.

So for New Year's Day, I try to make sure that those black-eyed peas are on a fork going into my mouth at a fast rate so I can get started with luck. Oh, and cabbage (greens) for money. I also like to throw in something sweet for happiness. That's my own superstition, but my sweet tooth figures it can't hurt.

Well, as I was cutting the cabbage, before any partaking of the black-eyed peas, I promptly sliced my right hand with this. (Thanks, Tari - I finally get to use it, and then I don't pay it the proper attention it needs.) Yes, blood everywhere. I got to the kitchen sink, washed it out, then paper towels to staunch the bleeding. I put my hand over my head, turn around and am woozy.

Off to N.Austin Medical Center ER. 2 hours later, I have 4 stitches in my right index finger, located at the joint connected to my palm. Besides feeling like a klutzy idiot, I'm not typing at my usual 85 wpm.

Current condition:
Right index finger slightly throbbing.
Bandaged, wrapped in gauze around a splint. Bulky and cumbersome.
No water/washing right hand for 24 hrs. Washed hair in sink. Bath in the morning.
Splint & stitches for 7-10 days.
Re-dress bandages twice a day.
Ibuprofen for pain. Bacitracin over gaping, stitched up wound. No, I did NOT watch the Dr. stitch it up. Feel woozy just thinking about it...

And that cup-half-full optimism? At least it wasn't my left hand!

2008 - Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T10:34:00.001-06:00

Any New Year's resolutions out there? I decided that after a few months, days, weeks, away from blogging, that the very least I could do while I sit here after a low-key night of reveling, that I should welcome 2008 on my blog.

I haven't made any true resolutions this year. More like a simple appreciation of the new year, my friends, my cat, my work, my personal life. I don't resolve to lose 15 lbs, though I'd like to, start gardening the back yard more often, though I should, or do something of a personal wealth investment, though I need to.

No shoulda, coulda, woulda's this year. Maybe I will start blogging again. Maybe. No resolutions or promises.

Trip

2007-10-17T16:06:00.000-05:00

Ready or not Seattle - here I come. With my raincoat, umbrella, and layers of clothing because you are currently 50 degrees during the day. I haven't felt 50 degree weather since February. I'm not entirely convinced that I'm prepared.

I totally rock

2007-10-12T18:35:00.000-05:00

I am just quoting Steph's comment on her blog.

With Lori's ingenuity and my technical savvy, we went to the www.budlight.com website and created a personalized birthday phone message just for Steph.

And I have to say it was pretty damn funny.

So read about the Admiral of the Ageless. We all need a good laugh.

Daily Horoscope

2007-10-11T21:34:00.000-05:00

When your horoscope is more optimistic than you are:

Today, someone's brilliant one-liner will do more than tickle your funny bone: it will ignite a tiny spark in your heart. Few people realize how having fun can lead to having a romance ... although you have always understood the connection, haven't you? Your ideal mate is more likely to be someone who makes you smile than someone who makes you swoon ... remember this when you are considering which crushes to pursue. Hold off on accepting an invitation from anyone who's coming on too strong.

Or just downright bossy:

You need to try a little romance, whether you're single or involved in a long-term relationship. Your interest is certainly perked up and you're as attractive as can be -- so make something happen!

Want:

2007-10-06T00:27:00.001-05:00

Real Women Want Automotive Toys. (jumpstart battery - way cooler than jumper cables, which sorta scares me.)

Spooky Season

2007-09-30T18:53:00.001-05:00

It's Official. Halloween is here. The house has been decorated. Trick or Treat? Bring it on!

Grocery Store Jammin'

2007-09-30T18:19:00.000-05:00

Thank you HEB - I was able to buy my groceries and jam out at the same time. I was on the emptiest aisle jammin' to this....

Weight Update

2007-09-30T11:57:00.000-05:00

As of July 1, I've lost 13 lbs. 12 weeks - 13 lbs - not too shabby!

I actually had to go on a mini shopping spree last week to buy some more pants to get through this summer/fall season I think TX will be having through October. I needed more cropped pants for work as three pants in my closet no longer needed to be unbottoned for me to take them off. That's a good thing! Spending money, not a good thing!

But I was able to catch end of summer clearances at Marshalls & Ross. I scored a pair of Lucky Jeans for $20! They are way cute, not low waisted, and they have button fly. I also scored a pair of dark Bandolino cropped jeans for $15. And then a pair of black cropped pants and a black skirt to get me through. All in a smaller size than before!

1st time in 3 years

2007-09-30T11:53:00.001-05:00

I've had a little bit of a breakthrough lately. I've stopped biting my fingernails. I stopped over a year ago, let them grow out, and promptly bit them down again.

I can't tell you what makes me bite them, other than my nervous/anxious habit of doing so, and I don't even know how I quit biting them. It's like I seem to just stop, they start to grow out, and at some length, they are hard enough to not really want to start gnawing on them.

So, for the first time in 3 years, possibly longer, I had my first manicure. Rounding, buffing, polishing, and even color on my nails. I didn't make the best decision on my nail color selection, but it's okay, it's shocking enough to look down and see that I have color on the tips of my fingers. And I've already been busted a few times getting caught staring at them.

Good Health Day

2007-09-10T10:17:00.000-05:00

I went this morning for a follow-up visit with my internal doctor. She has upped my thyroid meds and sent me to get bloodwork 6 weeks later. Today's results were PERFECT. My TSH levels are 3.3. I'm aiming for 3-3.5 range, and she said we've hit it spot on! YAY!

Also, I came in 10 lbs lighter since 6 weeks ago. She checked my chart and said that April 2006 I was 20 lbs heavier! 15 months = 20 lbs.

We were both happy with the good news!

MTV VMA's

2007-09-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

Here I am, my dirty little secret. I'm on the couch watching in utter fascination the Britney bomb that just happened.

I confess that my VMA obsession started back in the mid-80's with Madonna's "Like a Virgin" famous performance. Rolling around on stage in a wedding dress and tulle with heavy eyeliner. That's a classic. I even remember some good moments in MTV VMA history: When Lil Kim wore the nip covers and she walked out with LA DIVA Diana Ross who looked at her with a look of WTF and flipped Lil Kim's boob. NOT KIDDING. Another good moment for VMA was when the transvestites wore Madonna outfits that all represented certain pieces of her eras. They were pretty damn hot for men being women. She walked up to each of them and inspected them up & down. If that were me I'd have passed out completely being that close to Madge.

I watch MTV VMA's mainly to see what the kiddos are watching these days, and of course to get my fix of pop music culture. But right now, I'm not relating very well. A little less rap crap that is getting bleeped out making it even more incomprehensible, and a little more other good up and coming artists. Oh - and everyone QUIT voting for Amy Winehouse. I've had to change my ringtone because of her.

UPDATE: I just watched Chris Brown ROCK IT with a pretty damn good Michael Jackson rendition of Billie Jean dance moves. I have to say I am IM-PRUH-ESSED! Also, I'm digging Maroon 5's lastest release on their latest album "Wake Up Call".

Diet Killer

2007-09-07T21:21:00.000-05:00

Just when you try to be good on your healthy living plan, there are always things that literally throw themselves in front of you as insurmountable obstacles.

I was doing really good this evening. Eating a plum for dessert and having basmati rice & turkey cutlets. Plus, showing considerable restraint by not having a breakfast taco at work this morning.

And then Ellen starts her Season 5 shows. And I'm watching Thursday's episode with Paula Deen. The Food Network southern cooking diva. She's like a crazy and outrageous aunt that is just a bit loony, but more than loveable as your heroine. Paula makes no apologies that her cooking is not low in fat or calories, so you always know what you're getting in a recipe!

Paula's recipe is a bread pudding dish. And as they take a commercial break, I think to myself -no problem! I'm not that into bread pudding, but it will be interesting to watch. OF COURSE IT WAS INTERESTING TO WATCH! She made it with KRISPY KREME DONUTS! I'm not kidding. And the amount of condensed milk with the Butter Rum Sauce she added to the donuts to make a very easy bread pudding dessert had my blood sugar zooming immediately.

And I have to mention that her measurements for the rum called for in the sauce is "to taste". Whatever could that mean! And Paula cracked me up when she was tearing up the donuts. She'd take a bite, then put a piece in the bowl, take another bite and so on. She suggested that you buy more than the recommended 2 dozen donuts for the recipe! I guess so! And I'm also guessing that "to taste" is open to interpretation as well!

So here's the diet killer recipe that could have me falling off the wagon with a craving for Krispy Kremes and rum: Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Butter Rum Sauce.

Jazz Hands!

2007-09-05T21:46:00.000-05:00

Lyrics from the Broadway musical Chicago:
Come on babe, why don’t we paint the town
And all that jazz
I’m gonna rouge my knees and roll my stockings down
And all that jazz
Start the car, I know a whoopee spot
Where the gin is cold, but the piano’s hot
It’s just a noisy hall where there’s a nightly brawl
And all... that... jazz....

And of course - a tribute to Bob Fosse, a choreographic genius

Tonight is a BIG STEP for me. I'm pursuing my love of dance & music. And throwing in a little bit of exercise to boot. I took my first Jazz dance class this evening. I'm pretty impressed with myself remembering steps like pas de bourre, stretching and still having flexibility, as well as getting the count & new steps memorized quickly.

I also want to do ballet. But, it's on Thursday nights and I'm afraid to commit to it as Thursdays can be social nights. Any opinions?

My New Favorite Thing

2007-09-05T21:40:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my little brother for telling me about this marinade. It's called Veri Veri Teriyaki and it's DELICIOUS. I just marinated some tilapia for about 2 hours and then baked. Served over basmati rice with some cauliflower was a downright stupendous dinner.

I've seen other marinades they have: Wasabi, Island (Caribbean) and one that interests me is a hot chinese mustard & sesame one called Cha Cha Chinese Chicken Salad & Marinade.

Oh, and it's Kosher! SOY VAY!

In the Kitchen

2007-09-03T21:40:00.000-05:00

I wish I had more time to putz around the kitchen. Most days when I get home from work, I'm not in the mood to make anything, much less clean up after myself. I try to organize my week for food eating on Sunday so that I have options for cooking if I want to or just making something really quick to get me by for the night.

I eat the same thing every day for breakfast. It doesn't waver: Orange juice to take my vitamins, cereal and rice milk, 2 cups of coffee with creamer & Equal. Lunch I have to put some effort into. I need to make sure I can make it for another 3 hours before I get hungry again. And dinner, while it's not usually my biggest meal, I cannot stand to go to bed on a hungry stomach. I used to do that while traveling in my prior life. I'd be so tired when I got to the hotel, I'd have no energy to even go do drive thru. I was staying at Holiday Inn Expresses. No room service, but I sure did rack up enough hotel points for a fun girl week at Myrtle Beach, SC in 2000.

So being on the new healthy living diet, I'm trying to get a little creative so that I don't eat the same thing every day. I can do it for breakfast, just not the rest of my meals.

Today, I made hummus for the 1st time. Pretty easy, pretty tasty, and actually a way to eat some crudites. It just sounds better when you say that instead of carrots and celery. boring.

Other things I make in the kitchen that are quick for me:
Toasted corn tortillas with refried beans and hot sauce.
Popcorn. Real popcorn kernels made on the stove with peanut oil.
Scrambled eggs with corn tortillas & salsa is good for dinner!

But I've also gotten creative with turkey cutlets. I saute them in olive oil on high for 2 mins each side, then cover with chicken broth and sliced veggies. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 5 mins. It's pretty darn tasty.

One thing that I've been meaning to do but just never think about it is going to HEB and getting their shrimp which they will steam for you "while you shop". I used to do this in Waco and we'd make shrimp caesar salad. Also, shrimp with red beans & rice is a pretty good one as well. But that one takes planning on my part, which when I'm in HEB on my way home from work, I'm usually trying to get in and out as quick as I can.

So, that's my current culinary concoctions. It's been interesting. And of course, anything you could share that's easy, quick, relatively low caloric intake, is always appreciated.

Read a Book Every Night!

2007-09-02T15:51:00.001-05:00

I have to laugh at myself when I go into a bookstore. I feel like a kid must in a toy store. I get a little dizzy, all relative thinking goes out my head, and I am a little bit of a zombie in sensory overload. I went yesterday to Half Price Books to buy 1 book for Lori's book club reading. They didn't have the book, so I decided to buy 3 others instead. But they were on my reading list, I swear!

I owe my love for reading to Joanne. I cannot read a book without passing it on. I rarely every keep books because growing up in The Bookstore in Sealy, we always read it and put it back on the shelf to be sold. Books are meant to be shared, passed around, thought about, talked about, chewed on and digested, and most of all enjoyed for their escapism. I used to be notorious as a child to never hear anyone if they were talking to me. I would be so deeply immersed into the book I'd block out the whole world around me.

Which, reminds me of some favorite quotes about reading:

Go to Hell, I'm reading! - unknown

When I get a little money, I buy books;
and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.
~ Desiderius Erasmus 1466-1536 ~

Read in order to live.
~ Gustave Flaubert ~

The Best Idea

2007-09-02T12:44:00.000-05:00

Etch-it!

These were a HIT at a little Labor Day shindig that I went to last night. We had more fun writing our names on these cups & using them as a "Hi, my name is" name badge. Plus, your drink never got lost, and when it was found, it was delivered back to you from wherever you put it. Per the host, they are a little bit expensive, but when you think of all the red solo cups that get lost at a party, and people just get a new one, it probably all comes out in the wash in the end. Plus, how about less cup clean up!

Updates

2007-08-26T10:47:00.000-05:00

My argiope spider is still in her place, with an even bigger & better spider web structure. I'm leaving her alone as she's a "good" spider and is hopefully eating ALL the bugs in the backyard.

I had my second week at WW. And, I get to vent a little bit because being a woman, we all have these weight fluctuations due that time of the month. Not that I like to advertise that I've turned into a raging, emotional, temperamental female, but it just SUCKS BIG TIME that I also had a 3 lb water weight that just showed up on Wednesday and finally left today. I drink and drink and drink and drink water till my eyeballs slosh, but I barely need to make any bathroom trips. UGH. So, that translated in only a .4lb weight loss. BUT - I have high hopes & expectations that next week will show the fruits of my efforts.

Upcoming travel plans: Seattle! YAY! I am going with my Ireland travel buddies to the western side of the USA that I've never been to. I'm looking forward to it. It's only an extended weekend, 5-day trip, but it will be fun in October. Other travel plans include going to Houston to see "Lucy" the 3.5million year old human remains found in Ethiopia, as well as touring Broadway shows Spamalot & Sweeney Todd. Now that Brenda lives in Colorado, I'm thinking that a trip to Grand Junction might be in the works, but probably not until spring 2008.

Argiope

2007-08-18T15:47:00.001-05:00

The name for the yellow & black garden spider hanging out in my backyard. This is a zoomed in photo because I was too scared to get any closer to it. I noticed that the birds in the backyard were making a lot of activity, as well as a cicada that was getting hypnotized by the zigzag spider web design. This site gave me some useful knowledge to identify the spider. Her web (yes, it's a she as the bigger ones are female) spans from the side of the house to the shrubbery.

Impressive.

Week 1

2007-08-18T13:15:00.000-05:00

So, I weighed in today. I feel skinnier, lighter, less cumbersome. And, I think I need a new bathroom scale at home. My scale reads that I lost AT LEAST 4 lbs. Maybe 5. I'm not entirely sure of the total as I can hardly read the analog scale. My scale is SO mid-90's, any scale worth its weight is digital.

So, imagine my joy when the receptionist asked if I was going to be staying as I would be getting a ribbon, which in the old days signified you lost your 1st 5 lbs. She had to break it to me gently that I only lost 2 lbs, not 5, and the ribbon was a new "welcome back to week 2" they now give out as part of motivation.

Well, all in all, I am glad I lost 2 lbs. Need to start somewhere. Plus, with the challenges I faced, like dining with Steph & her parents and having a full scale dessert with coffee, and then birthday dinner with Jeanne, and sushi with Steph & Suzanne, I swear that I made it through my first week making choices that were reasonable and good and actually yummy.

I am proud of myself.

If it isn't one thing

2007-08-18T12:57:00.000-05:00

Then it is 5 other things...

I can now breathe a HUGE sigh of relief after a mild panic attack. This morning I noticed a puddle of water running down the length of the garage. The source being the A/C unit in the house.

Upon closer inspection, the drain line was leaking and causing spillage over and beyond the unit. So immediately I start thinking - "IT'S GONNA COST ME ONE MILLION DOLLARS!" for repair.

I call ARS at noon today. By 1pm, a repair tech came by, assessed the situation, diagnosed the drain line, and fixed it. All for a mere service call of $59.95. He even said that the clog drain line on the side of the house came out with such force it hit the neighbor's house! Now that's funny! Of course, my troll sony/graphics artist/gamer neighbor would never notice anything like that - he never noticed the webworms in the trees.

All I can say, er sing, is HAL-LAY-LU-YAH!

Reclaim your Jeans!

2007-08-17T10:45:00.000-05:00

Today was an exciting day as I put on a pair of jeans and they actually fit comfortably, without cutting me in half or blocking airflow. I didn’t even have to lie down on the bed to put them on! These jeans I took with me to Ireland and only wore one day because they were too tight and uncomfortable to walk around in.

Today, however, they are chicly covering my hips and thighs modestly without making me feel like sausage casings.

After the medical wake-up call, not a scare, thank-you-God-very-much, I decided that I really needed to do SOMETHING to “get back to me”. You know that girl back in 2004 that was starting to wear a size 6? Had a boyfriend, just bought my home, had no real worries or cares? Well, that’s the girl I’m trying to find again, and it’s been quite a long road getting back to where I am right now today.

Truthfully, a lot of credit goes towards my friends for putting up with me, supporting me, and pretty much ensuring that my daily life didn’t just become completely unraveled.

So, a few weeks ago, I started a program under my chiropractor for metabolic issues, hoping to address my thyroid and blood sugar issues, as well as the weight. I like it so far as it is low-glycemic, and has me consuming 2 shakes a day between meals as snacks. It keeps that hunger from going on that rollercoaster I hate so much.

I lost a few pounds, but not enough to think I was kick-starting the weight loss program in the right direction. So, I decided to re-join Weight Watchers. It’s the same program from back on 2004, so I know it works, I just need to be in the right state of mind mentally to undertake the planning and choices I need to face on a daily basis. Plus, counting, you know NUMBERS, is right up my geeky alley.

My first goal is 10 lbs. My regular doctor sees me back on Sept 10 to check the thyroid blood results since she increased my dosage. I’d like to show her that I AM taking action, and if it’s not 10 lbs I lose within the next 3-4 weeks since I saw her last, then at least more than 5 lbs just to prove it’s not water weight. And then, once the 10 lbs goal is hit, I’m going to take advantage of a birthday present (thanks Steph!) to get a real haircut and style.

Because every girl knows that a haircut is a step towards a new point of view in life.

Caterpillar

2007-08-03T21:41:00.001-05:00

What IS IT? I think it's a Wooly Moth Caterpillar. Hanging out in the jungle, the mighty jungle of my backyard.

Health Watch

2007-08-01T18:48:00.000-05:00

Every year, I get a physical. Because at my age you can never go wrong with preventive maintenance.

Last year, my bloodwork came back with high triglycerides & high TSH, which the TSH translated into hypothyroidism.

This year, my bloodwork came back with high triglycerides, slightly high TSH (depending on who you ask what the normal range is), above normal, slightly high blood pressure, and "prediabetes" blood sugar. Over the normal range, yet under the diabetic limit. All these are signs of diabetes & hypertension (excluding the thyroid, which is genetic - thanks to the maternal heritage).

And I keep hearing my Dr's mantra: diet & exercise, diet & exercise, diet & exercise.

Well, DUH! Since I am 3o lbs. overweight, that's considered obese by medical standards.

My Dr. really didn't have much to say about the blood sugar & blood pressure, but I think she's optimistic that I'll try to lose some weight which should help my medical issues.

I go back to see her for my thyroid as she upped my dosage in 6 weeks. I'd like to go back on Sept 10 at least 10 lbs lighter.

That would be a good thing.

Networker

2007-07-29T19:33:00.000-05:00

For the past 9 days, I have had no access to Google or Gmail from my home computer. And, I know it was a home computer issue, because the work laptop had no problems getting to the google sites.

I've spent the last week doing some reading in tech forums, as well as being part of anonline tech forum working with someone in Brisbane, Australia trying to help me.

Well, tonight, I finally figured it out. Even downloading Mozilla Firefox didn't help me get to google. But I found a Mozilla chat forum about the connection issue and read that it was a DNS issue.

I finally went to a DNS site that restored my host connections, and now, all is better now.

Islebehere - I know you're glad.
Euromutt - I know you're impressed.
Everyone else - just wallow in my impressive networking skills.

Best News Ever

2007-07-18T18:58:00.000-05:00

Today, the executor called about Mom's estate.

IT'S OVER.

only 4 months shy of 3 years later...

I signed, notarized and faxed back a release for indemnity, liability, blah blah blah & the check is going to be mailed.

Sort of anti-climactic but I'm really glad to just be GETTING ON WITH IT already.

Accident Prone

2007-07-05T21:28:00.000-05:00

Steph said Mercury was rising in my Leo sign. I say that I'm just downright klutzy.

Today was Accident Prone Day. And it started right from the get-go, before I could even chug my 1st cup of coffee.

In the incident that shall be filed as "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished", I attempted to make a 3rd pot of coffee for the office when I realized that #3 pot needed to have coffee plus filter to get it started. As I pulled out the filter section, it was flooded with boiling hot water and floating coffee grounds due to a double filtered, clogged section which spilled out onto my hand. As it scalded me, I took it to the sink, unable to prevent the explosion that happened as a result of coffee everywhere. After running cold water, ice bag, Solocaine & Aloe Vera gel, I went about my merry way with a nice little red rash reminder.

And then...in the incident that shall be filed as "Spatial Relationship Encounter", I opened the glass/metal door to my chiropractor's office, only to not be correctly positioned in such a way as to avoid the door from skidding across my foot and stubbing my 3rd little toe causing it to bleed. Yes, I was disabled, cripped, and unable to feel anything for a brief moment, also causing me to stop breathing momentarily.

But - in that optimistic way - the good thing was I no longer felt the stinging 1st degree burn, but my left foot hurt the rest of the day like a sonofagun.

Happy July 4th

2007-07-04T20:16:00.000-05:00

As I signed in, I realized it's been over 30 days since my last blog entry. Not much going on. Especially since Ireland.

I'm sitting here, not completely rained out, but pretty much hating a Wednesday National Holiday. Yes - I should be grateful that I can get a day off from work when I can get it and YES - I should be grateful to be celebrating Independence Day, but I have to say this Wednesday-middle-of-the-week-not-much-going-on-due-to-rain celebration is lame at my house.

If it weren't for Steph & Chad inviting me over to hamburgers it would have been a major bummer day. Because I absolultely love love love fireworks. Makes me feel like a kid again. And give me our national anthem anyday. I like red white & blue and I like being patriotic. But, dear congressman (if you happen to be reading this), please make our National Holidays only fall on Monday and/or Friday. I need 3 day weekends. Not 4 day work weeks with 2 days bookending the holiday. It's all I'm asking since I never write to you for anything important.

So fireworks this year is sitting on my couch watching the Macy's July 4th celebration on NBC while I flip to ABC to watch the Chevy celebration in Houston - which, I'm sure is almost as rained out as Austin is. And tonight's a work night so no boisterous partaking of adult beverages because I'm seriously busy tomorrow.

Recital Picture

2007-05-29T12:38:00.000-05:00

Looks like I'm playing the Bach piece.

Voyeur

2007-05-27T17:52:00.000-05:00

As I sat on the couch, I thought I could feel something watching me....I had my camera handy as I was transferring my Ireland pics to my laptop.

And of course, I missed the really good shot of him watching me. He turned away just as the flash went off.

It really DOES work

2007-05-27T17:50:00.000-05:00

To get ballpoint ink out of clothing, spray with hairspray. And for some reason, pump works better than aerosol.

It's true - I used a Pantene pump spray I had to buy while traveling to get out blue ink from a company logo shirt I have. The ink practically dissolved away immediately. And that shirt has been in the bottom of the clothes hamper for about 2 months.

Death of an Ex-President

2007-05-26T13:13:00.001-05:00

Baylor Ex-President Herbert H. Reynolds passed away at age 77 on May 25.

He was the President of Baylor during my tenure. To me, he was a celebrity and larger than life.

I have 2 memories of Herb.

The first, when I was a young lass of 17, not yet entered into Baylor passed by him at the Skaggs Alpha Beta grocery store on Valley Mills Drive in Waco. He nodded to me, and said hello, and I stopped in my tracks, in AWE that he acknowledged me.

My second memory, was during Welcome Week freshman orientation. The main point I remembered during his welcome speech was that Baylor did not condone pre-marital sex. Uhoh. I thought I was going to be in BIG trouble for that one. But, thankfully, I passed through Baylor unmindful of any judgment or discrimination others might have had of my social life of drinking and partying. I learned how to make the BEST margarita - see what college education gets you besides a piece of paper on the wall? Real life experiences.

R.I.P Herb. You'll be missed as a pretty darn good prez.

HOME

2007-05-26T13:10:00.000-05:00

I'm back from Ireland! After a 24 hour delay in Chicago O'Hare due to bad weather in Dallas, I finally made it to San Antonio Friday night late, and arrived to home sweet home today.

I plan on posting pictures some time this weekend. Only about 200. Not bad for 5 days of photo ops.

More later with an overview of my daily adventures. But I'm tired and worn out, so today is mostly catching up on email & my DVR'd shows.

postcard from ireland

2007-05-21T15:36:00.001-05:00

well, I haven't sent any, most likely won't.

several things to note: tourists are idiots in any country and speaking any language.

the irish are really friendly.

dark is after 10 and sunrise at 5am.

all is well. having fun...signing off my internet cafe acct.

No Posting

2007-05-15T18:51:00.000-05:00

It's a good reason. I'm off to see the Irish. I'll be back. Maybe. That is unless I decide to renounce my citizenship and become an expatriot. But since my politics don't extend to that extreme, I'll see you when I see you.

Until then, wait with bated breath for pictures and stories. I promise there will be tons of photos.

Nervous

2007-05-12T22:12:00.000-05:00

Tonight was my piano recital. I've been playing like a mad little Shroeder from Peanuts. I've been practicing my pieces: Gavotte by JS Bach and German Dance by Josef Haydn over and over and over.

So THANK YOU to Frank, Destiny, and Rene who came to support me and listen to my performance. Frank, my roomie who would know, said it was the best performance he'd heard me play. Trust me, as often as Frank has heard these pieces, he has the best insight as to my playing since he gets to hear it the most.

If you'd like to hear my performances, my Vimeo links at the right hand side have some pieces I've been playing. Recital #1 and #2 are the ones I performed tonight. I think I played moderately well, a few fumbles, and missed notes, but all in all, I enjoyed playing. Not often I play in front of that many people, so the experience was good, even though my fingers were sweating.

You Got Me

2007-05-11T20:54:00.001-05:00

THIS article has me anxiously awaiting NBC's remake of The Bionic Woman. I LOVED The Bionic Woman as a kid. I was a member of the fan club. I think I sent away for my Bionic Membership from the back of a comic book. I remember getting stickers, which I promptly decorated The Bookstore's bathroom with. You lifted the commode lid, and there was Lindsay Wagner staring at you. As well as on the bathroom mirror...WATCHING you.

Give me the Bionic Woman over Wonder Woman any day. (sorry Sweet T, that's how I roll with the superheroines) I mean, there was even a SHOWDOWN between The Bionic Woman and The Bionic Man. 70's classic TV. Nothing better. What with CHiPs and The Bionic Woman, a little Dukes of Hazzard - life was good.

Green Eggs and Ham

2007-04-16T16:25:00.000-05:00

I will not eat it in a box. I will not eat it with a fox. I will not eat it with a mouse, I will not eat it in my house.

This is a real, live, honest-to-goodness green egg, made from an "Aracana" chicken, which lays green eggs.

Also known as "The Easter Egg Chicken". I've been told that the yolk is the same as any other egg, but I haven't cracked it open yet, so I don't know this to be true.

DC Trip

2007-04-01T20:49:00.000-05:00

So, when asked what "sightseeing" did I do this past week in DC....

I drove by Arlington Cemetary and the Pentagon.

I saw the obligatory view of the Capitol from an office window.

AND, I saw this at Dulles Airport:

The Airbus 380 was parked at Dulles when we landed on Monday. Pretty impressive. Even though we didn't get close to it, it looked massively huge parked next to a Boeing 747.

got teeth?

2007-03-28T21:41:00.000-05:00

FYI - that's GUM in our teeth!

Feelings

2007-03-21T23:41:00.000-05:00

Today's mood...abashed. Do you think they make a mood ring for that?

ABASH: presupposes some initial self-confidence that receives a sudden check, producing shyness, shame, or a feeling of inferiority.

Well, that just summed up 4.5 years of college. And the resulting GPA. Oh yeah, and how about my SAT scores? I really wonder some times how the heck I got into college, much less graduated. Because I majored in partying. Not Accounting. Interesting to note that I do believe I have a knack for accounting. Go figure. And who knew, a mere 15 years later. And let's not discuss GMAT. I don't "do" standardized testing apparently. But give me an essay and I'll wow your socks off with all the useless info I have retained in the noggin.

This all started with my application to the Baylor Executive MBA program. And that feeling of abashedness I have when I feel unworthy to grace the academia of those who made better grades than I did. So, the decidedly pointed question that sent me over the edge: What was your GPA? I feel nauseous. AND, not only that question, but I get to detail each and every class that was my major, and list its corresponding GPA grade. oh.my.god.kill.me.now. Like I want to relive any of this.

OH - and the funniest part of all this? Is my knack for keeping all things that may be important in the future...the original application dated 1999 for the Univ. of TX MBA. I found "THE ESSAY". Steph, do you remember helping me with this? Suffice it say that it didn't get any better reading these past 7 years. AND, I have 3 essays to write, transcribe, and emote for my BU application. God help me.

Just wish me luck.

Response to Funny

2007-03-20T20:54:00.000-05:00

THIS made me snort water out my nose. Especially the mapquest pic.

Innovative

2007-03-20T20:40:00.000-05:00

But can it fix the lack of sleep?

I think I may have to consider this the most creative invention for 2007. But I'm still touting the Altoids Chocolate covered Cinnamon mints as the best food find for 2007.

Haiku

2007-03-18T20:36:00.000-05:00

Yard work, raking leaves
Blow them, bag them, work so hard
Oh so tired, nap.

My front yard full of
Oak leaves falling everywhere
Make new leaves; it’s Spring.

Sunday is no rest
Must rake oak leaves in front yard
To show green grass there.

Wear Green

2007-03-17T22:14:00.000-05:00

May the luck of the Irish

Lead to happiest heights

And the highway you travel

Be lined with green lights.

'Sláinte!'

Newsworthy

2007-03-17T09:32:00.000-05:00

An article about my mother in the Houston Chronicle about her Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo participation.

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/rodeo/4638499.html

Problem Solver

2007-03-04T20:51:00.000-06:00

You know that Arabic Spam I've complained about? Well, I searched & searched the 'net for a problem solver. And came up with Mailwasher. It allows you to view the mail on your POP server, and select mail to be friends or blacklisted (unwanted) and bounced. The bounced mail actually works because I tried it from one of my other lesser known emails. It shows the user to be unknown from the server. Hopefully, this will fix my problem. So far, I've receive on average only 2 arabic spams daily. Not bad, when it was more like 4-5 daily. Go here to find out more about my newest spamfighter. My hero.

The coolest thing on the Oscars

2007-02-28T19:10:00.000-06:00

Pilobolus - the dance troupe that performed interpretative dance & movement to create images representing movies was THE BEST THING about the Oscars. And, they're coming to Austin! Per the Paramount Theatre's 2007-2008 Season, they are "coming soon".

Oscar Award Show

2007-02-26T21:33:00.000-06:00

Kudos this year to the Oscar Award Show. Even though, 3 hours later it started to drag most likely due to a little attention deficit, I have to say that there were some new things that I liked.

1. Ellen. Good job. Some might have thought you were a little silly, but I liked the light heartedness.
2. Script reading for film editing, screenplay. Insight into how a director must translate words into a movie.
3. The interpretative dance titles. Innovative use of modern dance to form images of movie titles.
4. Dreamgirls music performance. Sadly, "Listen" didn't win, which was my chosen favorite.

And here's the movie medley. 6 Minutes Long. You know you want to watch this at work. Over and over and over.

Today's Theme Song

2007-02-26T14:26:00.000-06:00

Bachman-Turner Overdrive :: Takin' Care of Business

don't you have days, events, moods that are best defined by a "theme song"?

Today's theme song played on my digital cable '70s Music Station. I love this station. It's the only one I find that I actually like 99% of the songs, thereby I do not channel surf.

So what I've done on my day off from work:
1. Picked up my bathroom tile. Work begins next week . Hurray! After 10 months of not being able to use the master bath.
2. Groceries. Because I didn't go this weekend.
3. Close old gas & credit cards. Opened circa 1993. Not used since 2001. Time to close.
4. Update Oscar's Pet ID information to be me, and not Gatesville.
5. Talk to my CPA about sending my tax stuff. (can you hear the heavenly angels singing hallelujah it's tax season?)
6. Clean out bedroom #3. Due to #5.

Wow. I think I need a nap. At 2:30pm. It's been a long day takin' care of business!

Who's Your Oscar Winner

2007-02-26T00:09:00.000-06:00

I'd like to thank the Academy....

I picked 15 out of the 24 categories.

Ones I missed:
Best Song: 3 Dreamgirls songs and a documentary song sung by Melissa Etheridge had to beat them all. I really thought the better chance would have gone to Randy Newman. I'll always have Short People as an earworm.

Best Picture. ugh. The Departed. I really wanted Letters of Iwo Jima to win this one. But I picked Little Miss Sunshine. You know, all the press it's been getting.

Foreign Language Film. I picked Pan's Labyrinth. Besides it being a great movie, it was the only FLF I saw. I do like my subtitles though.

Short Film (Live Action) & Short Film (Animated). Guessing these are a gamble anyway. And it annoys me that the general public never sees these anyway. But I've been told that iTunes is going to carry them.

Animated Feature. I picked Cars because it was the only one I saw.

Dear Margo

2007-02-24T22:45:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite columnists is "Dear Margo", who "brings wit and wisdom to everday problems, large and small". And her mother was Ann Landers. So imagine my consternation when I read this in her column Friday:

[her response to a women fretting about a name for her nephew] DEAR FRET: I think you are not only wrong, but focused on the wrong thing. Many Anglo-Saxons have first names that are Italian, German, French, you name it. I think when people talk about "the wrong name" for a child they are referring to weird names like those of the Hogg sisters from Texas, who were named Ima and Yura.

THIS incorrect comment about Yura Hogg (there was no sister named Yura), prompted me to write an email almost immediately to Margo....

Dear Margo,

As a Texan born in Houston, I’m disheartened to read in your column that you mentioned a well known urban legend, famous around these parts, about Ima & Yura Hogg.

Ima Hogg, a prominent Houstonian and philanthropist, does NOT have a sister named Yura. As much information that is available on the internet these days, I would have hoped that even you would have prudently researched that information to determine it to be factually incorrect. The story itself sounds too farfetched to even be believable. I cringe to think how many people read your comment and actually believe it to be true, because you are a columnist I believe to speak truthfully with fair-mindedness.

Please retract your comment and provide your readers with the real information, possibly even a little biography about Ima Hogg. As a philanthropist who started the Houston Symphony, the Houston Child Guidance Center, and other numerous honors at a national level, this urban legend is shameful to represent a story of such a strong and inspiring woman.

Regards,
Adrienne

I sent that email Friday evening at 9:55pm CST. And I got a response from Margo Howard less than an hour later at 10:37pm....

"I think half of Texas has let me know my mistake by now.
thanks."

Makes you wonder how many people sent her an email.

File Category: I never knew this was a problem

2007-02-21T20:11:00.001-06:00

http://www.bettybeauty.com/

Happy Chinese New Year!

2007-02-21T19:59:00.000-06:00

Year of the Pig

And my Chinese Horoscope is pretty good for this year:

You've felt out of control in the last few years, but in this Pig year you gain power and control over your life, finances and business. You will finally attract the success you deserve. As your outgoing flow of money last year was larger than the incoming flow, you fear the same will happen now. You'll be pleasantly surprised as new career and investment opportunities present themselves and more responsibilities will be given to you. Your social life will be full of surprises, especially on your birthday. Old friends will come back into your life, and new friendships will begin as well -- most likely through creative ventures or channels. Dance and use your voice to find inspiration. Your romantic life will be based on trust and confidence; just don't forget to compliment your partner.

Quit Spamming me in Arabic

2007-02-20T23:03:00.000-06:00

If anyone knows how to set the spam filter to reject ANY AND ALL spam email that is not in English, like Arabic, please email me PRONTO.

Happy Fat Tuesday

2007-02-20T22:39:00.000-06:00

The 'Hood on TV

2007-02-18T11:09:00.000-06:00

Remember my blog about the Extreme Home Makeover Edition? This episode airs tonight on ABC for this home in my neighborhood. I drive by it nearly every day to get out of my 'hood. It's quite a nice home for my middle class neighborhood and I'm glad that it's not too much of a monstrosity. But I couldn't imagine cleaning this house. Or even cleaning up a family with 6 kids.

Info about the show on ABC's site can be found here.