Dash Away, Dash Away, Dash Away All

Gosh, these past 2 weeks have FLOWN by. Just like I was afraid they would! It frightens me the older I get, how time just keeps speeding up and speeding up. Anyway, I am just about FINITO with stuff and hope to enjoy the countdown under a warm, fuzzy blanket with a cup of WHISKEY, er, non-fat milk.

I just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas that you are able to enjoy with your loved ones and make many memories and I just want to thank you for reading my gibberish throughout the year.

Happy, Happy Holidays!

Tune In Tuesday

I wanted to post this video last Thursday, but Tune In Thursday just doesn't roll as well as Tune In Tuesday, does it?

Anyway, I'm trying to get SPIRITED instead of SCROOGED so this just might help. :O)

Fast Answer Friday

A blog-less friend email-tagged me with this and I thought it was sort of fun to answer:

What wakes you: Dogs
Your initial look in the mirror reveals: Samsonite
You usually first put on: Lights
Your closet: Nightmare
Your mood before 11am: Manic
The first thing you look at online after email: Blogs
Something you tend to snack on: Everything! (Ask me what I don't eat!)
What you see out your front door: Driveway
Your takeout menus: Memorized
Number of boxes of tissue out in your home right now: Three
The way you sneeze would read: "Ahchoo Ahhhchooo Ahhhchhhhhooooo"
Number of times a day you probably brush your hair: Two
The most predominant thing in your pantry: Beans
A smell commonly coming from your kitchen: Coffee
How you sort your books: Sort?
The way you keep your place in a book: Scrap
Something you hide when people come over: Myself
Number of people normally at your table during dinner: Many
Something you put on your nightstand before bed: I don't put anything on but I take a cat off of it
How high you pull the covers when you go to sleep: Neck

Time After Time

I had a post about Christmas all written and ready to go but as I was proofing it, a truly strong sense of deja vu came over me and I got weirded out by it all.

I may or may not post it in the future, but for now, here's something I don't mind seeing and hearing over and over!

Don't Want None Of That

Dear Hoodie,

As I watch you changing daily, gnawing on your cuticles and picking at your face, trying to figure out what's real about this world and what's fabricated, I want to jump on your ass and cram you into a box and not let you out ever again.

No really, it upsets me to see you changing all the time, doing this "I'm growing up" thing. I could really care less if I did it to my parents because MY growing up didn't rip their hearts out like you're doing to me!

I can't stand to see you leave your childhood behind. You loom in the distance like a tall, willowy figure. Except for the times you hunch over with your hands thrust into your hoodie and your chin at your chest because walking upright isn't cool.

Oh sweet child of mine, one minute you're wanting to play (just for old times sake) the old peek a boo game that would cause you to emit hiccup-laced giggles as a baby and the next, your ass is stuck to the desk chair because you're addicted to MySpace or you're texting on your cell phone to "too-pretty-for-their-own-good" girls.

You can definitely be four seasons in one day. I know you have a lot of turmoil to put up with inside your head. I know that sticking out for ANY reason is far too stressful than being one of the walking lemmings. I know that while your nearly 16 years of life haven't been the most conventional, they certainly have been hundreds of times better than most.

Which is why I cannot abide by the disrespectful nature you have been adopting lately.

My son, until you are old enough to leave the house and begin your own journey through this world, you WILL abide by my rules. These rules are set by me for your own protection, safety and all around wellness.

I am trying to help you become a sensible person who makes decisions based upon logic instead of flipping a coin. I would also rather see you come to despise me for making you get up and go to school only to be "BORED TO DEATH" for six and a half hours a day, than hear you asking me if I want to upsize my order a few short years from now.

I do NOT want to run your life. I repeat: I DO NOT WANT TO RUN YOUR LIFE! You're a totally cool cat for the most part who makes sound decisions and gets decent grades (you could do much better though with just a small amount of effort!).

However, until the day comes when you are sufficiently capable of doing it ALL on your own, I will be your superior officer lording over you with the 40 years of experience you lack.

I may not know everything, but I sure do know a lot more than you! So don't you DARE give me that icy glare through your hair, because I will catapult you into next week so fast, your clothes will be last year's cast offs!

I know you love me. I know you're a good person. I know you detest waking up in the morning just as much as I do. But guess what? Going to school is the EASY part! Getting an education is so much BETTER than working day after day in a dead-end job. You can be ANYTHING you want my boy. The sky is the limit, and with the space program -- it probably isn't even that! You are so smart and you're a natural at so many things, just don't sell yourself short!

You know I'm your #1 fan. You do for me and I'm there for you. Please take the trash out and make sure the dogs get their dinner. Please just cut out this business of being conveniently lazy! Your brain is too good to waste.

I love you my boy, my son, my darling baby.

Would You Like Fries With That

My office is having their annual Christmas party in 2 weeks at a nice country club. I don't have "country club" attire that I feel is passable for said party. So I have been browsing and looking online for clothes that would do the trick that night.


I don't already own "party attire" because I have so many other things to spend money on and RARELY, RARELY do I go anywhere I need to look better than in a nice pair of pants or jeans and a nice blouse.

Sadly, work clothes won't cut it either in this case. Most of my work wardrobe is becoming, how shall I say this...worn out and ill-fitting. You see, I hate to shop for clothes for myself. I watch Clinton and Stacy on "What Not To Wear" all the time and pray every single night that someone who cares about me will nominate me for televised humiliation, just so I can get that $5,000 brand new wardrobe!

I am a big girl and I can't pop into any little ol boutique or store in the mall for a cutie-pie dress.

Not these thighs, not these hips, not these boobs and CERTAINLY NOT this ass.


Which brings me to today's rant: Why do fashion designers feel the need to shove loud and ugly clothing down the throats of bigger-sized women? Do they honestly believe that since we obviously can't control our weight and size, that we won't give a damn about the clothes that cover our rolls?


And by we, I'm really meaning ME.


I think the clothes that I'm finding online are horrendous looking, over-priced and probably shoddily made. NOT to mention that hardly a single model for most of these places are NOT size 14 or higher. NO WAY JOSE, you can't make me believe it.


Take this chicka for instance:

She's modeling some loungewear that's on sale at a BIG name retailer for plus size women. See those clavical bones PROTRUDING out there? See that tiny waist? She's not a big girl.

Why would I want to see how these clothes are going to fit on her, when I'm trying to imagine how they're going to drape miserable over my rolls of fat? It's just not going to work.

Clothing store owners hear this: Do not hire buyers for your store who go looking for the tired, old crap that you think no one is going to realize makes them look like they escaped from the crazy tiki hut, or Omar's tent shop. And hire some models who look like the women whose money you're trying to get.

We really do care about our presentation, even if you think our bodies tell a different story.

Lessons Learned

Last month when I signed up for NaBloPoMo, I knew I wouldn't make it through posting every single day. I knew I didn't have the material to write about and I knew my life would get in the way.

Which leaves me with an even greater appreciation for those people who CAN come up with talented, thoughtful and hilarious things to write about day after day or at least a majority of any given week.

These people have husbands, wives, children, pets, jobs, family and plenty of distractions - but they still post. And for that, I am grateful. Grateful for the inspiration and for the chance to ignore all of my distractions.

Thank you bloggers!

Blue Plate Special

The Friendly Neighborhood Blogger would like to wish everyone and their families a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Remember to take time out this busy time of year, to give a little extra (in any way you choose) to those who need it.

Cheers!

Wrinkled - What is:

1. The shirt I'm wearing was earlier, but the wrinkles fell out.
2. My dog is on her face, she's a pug.
3. My hair is from the damp air, okay so it's more wavy than wrinkled.
4. Tiny lines around my face, a little.
5. The newspaper in my office lunchroom, from yesterday.

Reading material

So it's November 20th and I have only blogged half of that time.

And that's not bad for me. It's not as much as I'd hoped, but still it's not bad.

My co-worker got me started on the Stephanie Plum series of books by Janet Evanovich. And I like them!!!!

Dammit.

If you're looking for something fast-paced, witty and semi-crime, semi-spy -- this is the stuff for you.

I'm far too lazy to post a link, just GOOGLE Stephanie Plum or Janet Evanovich and you'll find it.

For Pete's sake...you think I can post a link when I can only NaBloPoMo blog half the time?

Flip my wig

I've been waiting a long time to get my hair cut.

Normally, that's no big deal. My hair is an enigma and plain just does whatever the hell it wants to do despite the GREAT pains and effort I take to coif it nicely.

This summer, I realized that I am VERY, VERY lazy when it comes to trying new ways to wear my hair. The laziness is directly related to the abovementioned issue and I had my hair-stylist give me a modified Victoria Beckham/Rihanna bob. I didn't want to go WAAAAYYYYY up the head in the back, just enough to give it a slight stack and I wanted the sides to be longer, but not tooooo long.

So anyway, my stylist did the job....a little too well and it ended up shorter than I had hoped for. So I let it grow for awhile and then when the shagginess became too much to deal with, I called my stylist for an appointment.

She was just getting ready to go on vacation for 2 and a half weeks and would get me in when she returned.

She has returned and I go in tomorrow and WWWWHHHEEEEEEEE! I'm not going to let her talk while she's cutting my hair because I think there is a direct correlation between the amount she talks and the amount she cuts.

I'll let you know what happens.

Christmas spirit

I've been researching HEAVILY craft ideas for Christmas. My personal budget was in a crisis waaaayyyyy before the country's and I've had to come to terms with taking the "easy way" (read: store bought) out of gift giving this year.

In a way, I don't really mind because there's this part of me that truly adores making things and watching the look on people's faces when they realize that they've received something that you've really put time and effort in.

On the other hand, the things that I have decided to make, first of all because I can afford to do it and secondly, because I have enough patience and skill to do it are also going to be things I would want to keep for ME!

But I know, it's not very GIVING and it's not what Christmas is about and I will certainly get over the need to covet and hoard for myself.

Do you think ol' St. Nick ever had that problem?

Rememebering

Too old to stay up late

I really try to stay up late. At least on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hoodie went to a football game Friday night and by 10 pm, hadn't called yet. At 10:15, I texted him and asked how much longer the game would be. People, I had fallen asleep on the couch at 8:00! Full on snoring and everything.

I just can't keep my peepers open no matter how hard I try.

Watch Dexter try to stay up long enough too:

Wordle

Wordle is cool
Wordle is nice
Wordle is never the same thing twice!

These boys just make me happy

(Beatles in Japan, 1966)

Hoodie

My son is growing up.

I know. I know.

Everyone goes through this. Mothers and fathers everywhere have witnessed the changes come over their babies as they make their transitions into adulthood. Some of those can be subtle undercurrents while others are lightning quick!

This particular baby's voice has changed. Last year, it was still sort of high but about 6 months ago it began to get lower. It never cracked though, not like Peter's did on the Brady Bunch. It reminds me sort of like an old, torch singer's voice.

A few days ago we were both outside and I caught a glimpse of his profile in the autumn sun. In addition to the line of dark hair that's steadily growing on his upper lip, WHISKERS are growing like dandilions on my baby's chin! I think we're going to have to trade in his shaver for a weed-eater!

There's nothing funnier to him than the fact that he's taller than me. Mr. 5 feet and 11 inches thankyouverymuch. He's got the matching feet too.

He laughs at me in a surprisingly non-patronizing way when I tease him and say, "I'm killing my neck just to look up at you to yell, 'Did you take the garbage out yet?!?' or 'Don't take that tone with me, young man!!!'."

And then he leaves to return to his computer or cell phone, while I wipe away the tears.

Every single one of us the devil inside

Lately, I've been playing a lot of Rock Band and Guitar Hero with Hoodie. I'm fairly good at both of them, if I do say so myself. Okay, not good enough to be on some reality-based tv show where real rock-n-rollers are looking for their next band member!

Speaking of rock and roll. Did I ever tell you about the spring of 1985 when E (one of my best friends from high school) and I begged my Mom to drive our fishnetted-flouncyminiskirt and pastelcolored-tanktop-under-the-neck-cutout-ofthesweatshirt-soyourshouldersshowed-wearing selves to a theme park to see a semi new to the USA band who was playing there?

E was way ahead of everyone at our school with her taste in music, and I owe my love for Duran Duran, Billy Idol and all things SKA to her! Anyway, she was forever reading SPIN magazine or the cool magazine from the Sunday LA Times and told me that Adam Ant and this other Australian group of hotties were in California playing small venues and did I want to go see them with her?

See, her Mom wouldn't let her go most places unless I went too because her parents had this silly thought I was this safe and stable influence in her life. While I wasn't so goody-goody that I'd sit and polish my halo, I WAS forever dying to be adventurous and sublimely cool like her.

So one Saturday when my Mom got off work at 2:00 in the afternoon, I fanagled her to drive E and I to this particular theme park about 90 minutes south of where we live. There were a lot of new wave groups that played live throughout the 80's there and many of them got their "big break" with all of the exposure.

Adam Ant was supposed to headline a concert with INXS that day, but come to find out -- he had taken another gig elsewhere, which was fine by us because we had been listening to Shaboo Shoobah nonstop on our Walkmans and were already loving all the songs. So we get there and scramble away leaving my Mom to figure out how to kill 4 hours!

The line into the concert already snaked throughout the waiting area of the pavillion they were playing in. It was situated on the side of a hill and no breeze could get to us. We were all getting sweaty and bored, and the throngs of girls wearing ripped INXS t-shirts gathered in clusters to moan and mooch off strangers with sodas. All I remember after that, is somehow getting to be about 6 feet from the end of the tiny stage and jumping up and down constantly while screaming my brains out all of the lyrics to their music. I don't remember what the guys were wearing or what order they sang the songs in. I do remember that "Don't Change" was the very last song and that somewhere in the middle of the concert, two other events happened.

E and I were so starstruck by these drop dead gorgeous men that desperation to meet them prodded us to scribbled some sort of honey coated dribble professing our undying love and devotion to the entire band and promising "acts" which we knew not of, but figured if we wrote them down anyway we'd have a better chance of reaching our goal. We took the piece of paper and rolled it up in a small tube and tied it with a skinny hair ribbon E had been wearing, and decided that she would be the one to take aim and chuck it onto the stage whereby the glorious Michael Hutchence himself would pick it up mid-song and read it while still singing, know miraculously and instantaneously it was from the 2 most beautiful girls in the third row that threw it to him and passionately motion to the concert staff to usher us backstage!!!

Shut. Up. It could've happened!

Anyway, E launched our love note with all her might and it sailed -- nay, it SOARED in slow motion over two rows of bouncing teenage heads, across a 3 foot wide trench of sweaty faced security guards and kerplopped perfectly at the feet of Andrew Farris -- who although we were sure he was very nice and all, was NOT the intended receiver of our unrequited lust.

After stomping on it a few times, he noticed something under his foot and looked down, bent over and picked it up. This look of what can only be described as apathetic blankness took over his face as we watched him shrug his shoulders and set the scroll on top of an amplifier all while E and I kept screaming, "READ IT READ IT OR GIVE IT TO MICHAEL PLEASE ANDREW PLEASE!!!!!" Less than 10 minutes later, half of the audience had figured out what we had done and began throwing their own notes, pieces of candy or gum, lapel pins, and whatnot at the stage much to the confusion of the band. They obviously hadn't experienced EVERY aspect of up and coming stardom as obviously no one had ever tossed anything before at the stage during a concert.

By the end of this "Chuck your stuff at INXS" free for all, underwear and bras started making it onto the stage which brought happier and more appreciative looks from the Aussie boys than squares of Bubble Yum did. Which leads to the second thing that happened.

E decided that she would not be "one-upped" by anyone else in the audience and by GOD if our efforts to get the band's attention was going to be stripped away by all these blatant hussies, then she too was going to hussify herself. Sooner than you can say "Tie me kangaroo down sport" she took off her 36C racer-backed bra (because those were the only bras you could still wear tank tops with and not have the straps show which was a NOT acceptable back then and not have your mother yelling at you to "house those girls" before you could leave the house), ripped it in half (she's mighty strong!), and sent one half flying Frisbee style to Garry Gary (my personal fave) and the other half to Kirk (even though it was meant for her fave, Jon).

After the concert was over, the only thing we regretted was not thinking to write our names and phone numbers down on the bra halves first. Needless to say, when my Mom let us go on a few rides before we left that night, E found out about gravity the hard way!

Already blown

Good grief, three days in on NaBloPoMo and I've already blown it. I have no excuse, only that time got away from me yesterday and after all of the other things I did, I plain forgot to blog.

That's okay though. I'm still going to try my best to post as many days in November as possible. Baby steps, right?

On a happier note, I am happy to announce that the lovely Nissa won the earrings and paper giveaway. The random number generator told me that "50" was the magic number and low and behold...there she was. I took a desktop shot of the results from Saturday morning and I will be happy to send it to anyone who would like to see. Just email me from my profile.

Thank you again to everyone who entered this time. Most of you agree that there is so much talent out there between writers and crafter and finding new ones is part of the Bloggy giveaway excitement.

And if I haven't bored you to tears yet, please come back and see if I am making it through November and NaBloPoMo and say HI or just snicker at me and my floundering.

:O)

Needful things

A few posts ago, I was complaining about needing a new bra. I finally got one and it was a huge pain to find it. I didn't know my correct size and I didn't have the guts to have myself measured or fitted. But, this one seems to be holding everyone up just fine.

But now I need a new pillow. Dammit. This is worse, if you can believe it, than needing a new bra. I don't know if ANYONE else in the world has as much trouble with pillows as I do, but I can NEVER find a pillow that stays lofty without murdering the outer cartilage of my ears.

For a long time now, I've been accustomed to sleeping with 2 pillows so that I wouldn't have an aching neck. Being a side sleeper, my ears end up being pressure points and need to be cushioned.The kind of pillow arrangement that suits me best is to have a not-too-thick but moderately firm pillow on the bottom, and a lofty and super soft pillow on the top. That way, I have the height for my neck but my ears don't feel like burning embers either!

My problem isn't usually with the bottom pillow as much as it is with the top. If the pillow is soft enough, it's either far too thick or far too thin, and I've even tried making my own from the innards of those softies. It's a cumbersome task that winds up with the looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man just blew up all over the windows and the floors.

I realize this is probably a very lame rant. I know you're probably thinking that pillows are the least of ANYONE's worries. I agree. It should be that way. Lord how I WISH it were that way.

And as long as I'm wishing, I wish that my arse didn't look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's either!

P.S. Check your email for a note from me to see if you're the winner of the giveaway! :O)

Tis better to give

Well hello there, nice to see you!

I had so much fun participating in the last Bloggy Giveaways Carnival that I knew I had to be part of the next one. And lucky for you, that starts TODAY!

I spent a lot of time during the last carnival entering giveaways for jewelry and handbags. Yes, I tried to get the megagroovy Visa gift cards and Target gift cards, but my true weakness is jewelry.

I love to collect beads and buttons and those rare occasions when I actually have time to be "crafty" - I can put together earrings and things that are pretty darn cute...if I do say so myself.

That's my PRIZE this time, two pairs of hand-made earrings and some really cute note paper with magnetic strips on the back for putting on your fridge or file cabinet.

Here's what the earrings look like:

Sorry for my "mad" photo skillz....HA!

The pair on the left have light amber glass beads on top of light aqua blue glass beads. They hang from a silver fish-hook wire.

The pair on the right are really fun. The top beads are metallic and have dimples of pink all over them. They remind me of what the New Year's Eve ball in Times Square is made from. I stuck a round clear crystal at the bottom to give them that "little something extra"!

Here is the pretty note paper:

They are put out by the company Blueink Studios and are quite lovely.

Last time, I had contestants tell me about their most favorite blogger or author. Reading the comments ended up being for me, the best part of the giveaway and because of that question, I'm now a faithful reader of several awesome writers!

This time, leave a comment and tell me what (aside from great prizes), your favorite part of participating in the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival has been in the past, or now. Remember, I'm not looking for "I won a $500 Coach purse and that really rocked" because...DUH! Tell me something you found out that you wouldn't have if you hadn't participated, or tell me about someone who entered your giveaway and maybe has become YOUR new, loyal reader.

Yeah, yeah....there's a little work involved, but it won't hurt too much. I promise!

This contest will end Friday, October 31st at 11:59 pm Pacific time. I will use a random number generator to pick the winning post number. Also, make SURE you leave your email address in the comments. On Saturday, November 1st, I will email the winner to get your mailing address. Once I've heard from the winner, I'll announce his/her name here.

Good luck to everyone!

Blister in the sun

So I guess having unrealistic expectations for myself is something I excel at. 30 days have screamed by and I have not even thought of venturing over here to post on this poor, lonely, dusty blog. sniffle

And then WHAT do I go and do just now? I sign up for 30 days of Naplobomo, that's what! I guess the fumes from the lavender & vanilla Airwick in the office lobby have been getting to me.

I've always said I'm a better blog reader than blog writer, and now I'm challenging myself to what, fail? Well, maybe I shouldn't look at it as failing per se, but dragging myself from behind the safety of non-blogging...and letting it all hang out. snicker

Okay, so maybe it won't ALL hang out, cause that would just be disgusting. But I do want to bring my Friendly Neighborhood butt back here every single day next month and write. It is certain to be crap and garbage, but at least I'll be writing - right?

"and I'm high as kite, I just might stop to check you out."

Twelve things

1. It's been 12 days since I last posted.
2. I cannot stay awake past 9:00 pm no matter how hard I try, which doesn't matter because I wake up at 5:00 am feeling like I never even went to sleep!
3. I've been craving an orange smoothie.
4. I need a new bra.
5. Is is me or does it seem like stores put out Halloween stuff earlier and earlier every year?
6. Grey's Anatomy starts Thursday and I can't Mcwait!
7. My left foot is just under a quarter of an inch longer than my right foot.
8. I collect beads. I really wish I had the talent to make things with them, but I can't resist their shiny, loveliness.
9. I rode in an elevator with Sammy Hagar once. He was eating Godiva chocolates and talking to some other dude. My best friend thought he was Ted Nugent.
10. I currently have Jackson Browne's "Running on empty" stuck in my head.
11. I bet you're glad that this list is nearly over.
12. I think I'm going to have another give-away next month. I will let you know!

Not forgotten

I would just like to ask you to please take a moment today, to remember the lives of those taken from their family and friends seven years ago, and also to thank those who fought so courageously and selflessly to save them. And for the lives of those who still fight on.

Hands by Jewel

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all ok
And not to worry because worry is wasteful
and useless in times like these

I will not be made useless
I won't be idled with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
for light does the darkness most fear

My hands are small, I know,
but they're not yours they are my own
but they're not yours they are my own
and I am never broken

Poverty stole your golden shoes
but it didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
but i knew it wasn't ever after

We will fight, not out of spite
for someone must stand up for what's right
cause where there's a man who has no voice
there ours shall go singing

In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters

I will get down on my knees and I will pray
I will get down on my knees and I will pray
I will get down on my knees and I will pray

My hands are small, I know,
but they're not yours they are my own
but they're not yours they are my own
and I am never broken

My hands are small, i know,
but they're not yours they are my own
but they're not yours they are my own
and I am never broken

We are never broken

We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
God's hands
We are God's hands
God's hands
We are God's hands

Out from under a rock

The month of August pretty much swallowed me whole. Between new projects starting at work and trying to cram in a few fun weekends for Hoodie before 10th grade started...I just didn't have it in me to write.

Hoodie is my 15 year old son. This pseudonym comes from his undying affection for hooded sweatshirts. A girl's love of shoes and purses pales in comparison. Which is unfortunate for him because the armpit we live in is cold only about 6 weeks out of the entire year. Anyway, he's trying really hard to get back into his academic groove and I can empathize completely.

Hey, on a completely unrelated note...is it me or could Sarah Palin and Tina Fey pass for twins?

Politics aside....eerie, no?

A little bit me, a whole lotta you

First of all, let me just start by giving each and every one of you a very sincere THANKS for stopping by the neighborhood. I sure wasn't expecting to meet 247 of you (including one double poster and one late poster).

And you guys have some WONDERFUL authors and blog writers that you shared with me. The Pioneer Woman came up so often that I had to go visit her site Friday morning to find out more and about 2 hours later, I realized I needed to get some work done. Ree IS amazing and I'm going to be reading her for a long time to come.

I'm also going to be checking out Rocks In My Dryer too. Many, many of you must have solid budgets because financial and money saving type blogs are also a huge hit.

I was thrilled to find out that a few of you like authors that I too read faithfully, including Donald Miller and Gregory Maguire.

Most of all, even beyond hoping that my writing is enjoyable to some of you and that you might want to keep reading me, I am so excited to become a new reader of your blogs. You guys really have it going on and I am really looking forward to becoming a faithful reader of yours!

Well, I guess it's time to get down to business and tell you who won themselves some Red Lobster and a super fun surprise. Before I do, I also want to say that I really enjoyed having a giveaway and I think I might make it a regular feature on the blog. I don't want to wait several months for the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival though. I might do this every other month...it's still something that I want to mull over.

Okay, using the random integer generator yesterday morning, I told the program to randomly select a number from 1 to 246. Remember, the comments show that I have 248 but one of you posted 2 times and the other person posted a comment after the deadline.

And the program said:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

51
Timestamp: 2008-08-02 16:08:28 UTC


So I counted down 51 comments, being sure to account for the one person who posted twice and my winner is: Shilo Beedy of Samsakara! Congratulations Shilo!

Be sure to check her blog out, she lists blogs and websites that are having contests DAILY! So, if you just can't get your fill of trying your luck, this is definitely your place.

Again, thanks to all of you who took the time to share your thoughts with me and please know that I have read all comments and I am interested in visiting your blogs and I hope you'll come back to mine soon!

Bitten by the bug

Yowza, well if there isn't anything like the possibility of winning something nice that will snap you out of your Dark Knight funk...I don't know what will!

So this morning, I am reading one of my new favorite blogs, Mocha Momma and feeling happier by the minute because not only did she reveal that she’s working on a novel of her own, but that she’s also giving away some awesome items to boot! And to that I say YAY for great writing and swag!

She also linked her giveaway to Bloggy Giveaways which is
a site that allows bloggers to post links to their own sites when they too are giving things away.

AND....before you go rushing off to try your hand at winning, I have decided to throw my own hat into the giving ring! That's right, you have a chance to win something from your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger.

Before I drown myself in excitement, let me tell you what you could win and how --

I am giving away a $25.00 gift certificate to Red Lobster* along with some other little "surprise" that I know will knock your socks off! What's not to love about the prospect of winning hot buttered fish AND the unknown?

All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me who your favorite blogger or writer is. That's it! Just be sure to do it by Friday, August 1st at midnight Pacific Time.

I will either use a random number generator or some other highly scientific means to pick the winning post number. Also, make SURE you leave your email address in the comments...otherwise, how else are you going to receive your stuff?

On Saturday, August 2nd I will email the winner and post the news within the next few days.

So what are you still doing here? Get out there and read and comment and win! YAY!


*Also redeemable at Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and Bahama Breeze.

Why so serious?

Last weekend, my 15 year-old son and I gave in to our movie-needing ways and went to see what all the hub-bub is about Dark Knight.

Let me just say that I haven't felt so depressed leaving a theater since Sweeney Todd! I'm wondering if I'm getting to be too sensitive in my old age? I'm mean, come on...it's Batman for heaven's sake!!

Or maybe I was having a delayed reaction to Ledger's death? Could be. His portrayal of the chaos-loving Joker was entirely too believable. And if you really paid attention, it looked like this film would have been his foray into the big time. Sure, there were many memorable roles he played before, but there was just something about this that made me say, "Wow...look what he can do."

And then I started to analyze the movie and how in the midst of all the car chases and crashes and buildings blowing up, how it kind of asks us all to be what the world needs us to be. And how we all need to endure this life because it really IS darkest just before the dawn. And really, why can't we all be heroes?

And then my son said, "Come on Mom, it's only Batman! Geeze!!"

Red and Salty!

I think I'm finally getting over the worst of whatever it is I have. If there was a place to be congested in my body, I was -- sinuses, chest, even my eyes.

My sinuses decided that they couldn't take the pressure anymore (ha!) and let my eyes in on the fun. I woke up from a nap late on Saturday with my eyelashes glued together. Talk about a freak-out, man!

Once I finally worked it all of it off and could see again, I was greeted by a ghastly reflection! Oh yeah, I just got off my month long bender...uh huh! Looked like someone had taken a red Paper Mate flair and scribbled every centimeter of white on my eyeballs.

I quickly got on the net and Dr. Google told me that I might possibly have conjunctivitis or pink eye and that I needed to see my physician soon. Except that it was evening-ish on Saturday and I really didn't want to substitute going to urgent care. I rememberd seeing a phone number for a 24-hour nurse line listed on my health insurance card and hoped that it was still in operation.

A patient and lovely nurse named Gail determined through a series of questions, that waiting to see what my eyes did or didn't do for the next 24 hours would be the best bet. She was leaning more toward my body going for broke in the All-Area-Congestion-Trials than me having pink eye because I failed to have a couple of key symptoms (itching and burning sensations as well as swollen and irritated eyelids).

Still, because of the highly contagious nature of conjunctivitis, she strongly suggested that I throw away my eye makeup and wash or disinfect my hands every 5 minutes. While I didn't especially enjoy dumping $30 worth of fairly new cosmetics in the trash, I understood the point.

Besides the congestion, my throat has been non-stop sore for a week. Gail also said that longer-lasting sore throats can go hand in hand with a sinus infection and that if I was using nasal sprays to clear my sinuses, chances were that I was making my throat more irritated as the solution could be running from my nasal passages down the back of my throat. Needless to say, I smacked my hand to my head upon hearing that.

Stooopid, stewped, STUPID!!!

Soooo, after hanging up with her, I dragged myself into the kitchen to dig out the neti pot that we just had to have but gave up on using because we didn't like drowning in salt water if it wasn't happening in the Pacific ocean! I re-read the instructions and made up a batch of water and you know what? We were feeling so very much better and we could breathe!

Who are "we" you ask? Just me and stupid!

p.s. As of 10 a.m. my eyes are still pinkish, but not blood-shot and they have not itched or produced any more eye-glue. My throat is still sore-ish, but the pain is tolerable.

If I had a dollar, I might give you 99

Wow, I have been remiss dear reader...haven't I?

What have I been doing? I've been Facebooking, MySpacing and Twittering -- well, I've been Twittering when their system allows it or there aren't too many "tweets."

Also, I have been trying to live in a state of which nearly half has been on fire recently. Last year, the smoke from the southern California fires didn't envelope where I live even half as much as the northern California fires have. Every day, the sky and air have a milky-brown haze and my sinuses and throat are trying to throw in the towel because of it. I've been drinking all the vitamin-laced beverages I can get my hands on to coax them out of the "sick corner."

You know, the idea of a sick corner or sick side of a doctor's office is sort of lame. Every time I took my son to the pediatrician's we had to sit on the appropriate side depending on if he was sick or there for a "well baby" visit. Do germs REALLY observe the fish tank boundaries? I don't think so.

So anyhow, I know I promised to be here and I haven't been here and if you want, I'll get an excuse from my Mommy, if I can find her through the smoke!

Blow em out

A girl is taking a hot bath on a nice night. When she gets out of the tub, she's frightened by a group of people holding a birthday cake in a dark closet. But instead of getting pissed off, she wonders if they would all have liked presents too.



Today I'm 40!

Muscles muscles everywhere

I wasn't really sure I wanted to blog about this, but I decided "What the hell." It wasn't like I had visited a strip club and watched nubile bimbos frolicking in cherry jello, right?

I just went to a WWE event. That's World Wrestling Entertainment in case you didn't know -- uh huh, pro wrestling. More than half of it is totally fake and I don't even care, you know why?

First of all, there are amazingly muscular men flinging each other around like rag dolls. Most of them aren't so bad looking. You know, really, a couple of them are down-right hotties. And don't take MY word for it. There are plenty of other women in the audience who think so too. Here are just a few reasons why women would subject ourselves to 3 hours of such a display of testosterone: John Cena, Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Chris Jericho, and Brian Kendrick.

Also, they give money away to their fans!!! Sure, contests and sweepstakes aren't anything new but WWE owner, Vince McMahon, is unloading MILLIONS every week! How's that marketing ploy for capturing loyalty?

Did I mention there are hot, toned men?

And finally, something many people might not know, it's one giant sports soap opera! Who'da thunk it? Back stabbers and rivalries and bastard children interwoven into this sweaty mess. So the next time someone gives you grief for watching daytime television, grab your championship belt, and give em the old pedigree or figure 4!!

Kick off your Sunday shoes

I have horrible feet. I can't remember a time I've haven't ever thought so. They're about one size too long for my height, and plenty of other angst-causing flaws that I won't go in to because it's just too much information. So I cope the best way I know how. I ignore them.

Most of the time, this situation works well enough. I keep the nails tidy and painted, they get washed every morning in the shower and that's that. But then Summer rolls around and out come the flip flops and slides and sandals and my toes are peeking through, getting some sunshine and we're all happy for about a week.

Then my heels get dry and start to crack. I've endured the searing pain of fissures before and I don't want them again. The problem is, I'm highly allergic to most of the drugstore creams and remedies. I'll break out in hives around my ankles because of the fragrance or one of the ingredients. Sometimes the smell of the product is so very bad that my dogs and cats try covering up my feet in protest!

I Googled for a scentless homeopathic remedy and got a plethora of information about how to take care of my tootsies. Some of it was stuff I knew already (Well if you already knew it, then why haven't you done it? -- I'm LAZY, that's why!) and some of it was new and quite "interesting."

For example:

Never wear shoes with wet legs and never wear wet soaks. [sic] Uh huh, just for the record, I rarely run around with wet legs and I think if you're soaked, you might as well take off all your clothes and shoes anyway.

Walk on the grass barefoot early in the morning. It rejuvenates the feet and improves eyesight. Well, I never knew my feet could see. Maybe that's why they're cracked, they can't see themselves!

I did find a suggestion for wrapping my heels in Vaseline and Saran Wrap at night, which was guaranteed to soften up the dry skin after a few consecutive times. Either that, or the next post will be about how I ended up with a fractured arm from sliding down the hallway because I forgot to unwrap the gooey mess before I got out of bed!

Mama said knock you out

I had a lovely Mother's Day weekend. Did you?

My son and I went to the movies to see Iron Man. It's totally worth the ridiculous movie house prices, y'all. It's got many, many superhero-themed movies beat down! BLAMMO -- Into the ground!

Except maybe the new Batman movie, which also looks quite tantalizing.

Tasty treat

I enjoy watching tv shows online. I can't wait for Fridays because I can watch LOST and Grey's Anatomy on the ABC website. Similarly, on Tuesdays I got hooked watching NBC's Medium.

The other day, I was on YouTube just looking for various clips and I stumbled onto a link for Hulu, where my dear friends, you can watch various tv shows AND movies for FREE -- that's zilch, nada, nothing. And it's also practically commercial free too.

Wow, that was like setting a 2 pound box of Godiva chocolate in front of me and telling me to eat all I want because it was calorie-free!!!

Mmmm, Hulu.

Besides, you knew the job was dangerous when you took it

Hello gentle reader! I'll be casting my blog into the sea of millions of others today.

I can't promise I'll be funny, witty or worth your time, but I will be myself. So when you've spent your day reading and rereading all of your favorite blogs and no one has updated in a few days because they're off filming interviews for TV, or promoting books, or becoming a celebrity, you can always turn to me.