Wednesday, July 30, 2008

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.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

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!!"

Monday, July 14, 2008

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.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

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!