World AIDS Day

Time to take a moment out of my day to be a little less self-absorbed and think about someone else for a change. Not just one person, but 44 million other people.

World Aids Day is Friday, December 1st. I know it's easy to get desensitized to things in the world we live in. We're bombarded with the troubles of so many, we hear so much, that you can become immune to it. But I'm asking you to listen up, please.

Why care about what's happening a world away? To people you don't even know? People are dying, at a rate that you've probably never even realized.

Did you know that 6600 people will die today in Africa due to HIV/AIDS? Everyday. Not just today, but tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that.

Let me put this into perspective for you. 3000 people died on 9-11. So more than twice that amount of people will die today, tomorrow...and...well you get the idea.

If that number can't put it into perspective...how about this number. More people gobally will die of HIV/AIDS this week, than the 58,000 who lost their lives in Vietnam. Staggering, isn't it?

What's worse is that the cycle doesn't end there. 15 million children have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS, and are often times left to fend for themselves or to be cared for by older siblings.


So yes, these facts, these numbers are heartbreaking and may make things seem hopeless. But all is not lost. One of the coolest things you can do is sign up to sponsor a child in need. You don't even have to go it alone, sign up to help a child with a group of friends, with your family...spend a little less this Holiday season on presents for eachother, and instead give the gift of life to a child who needs you.

World Vision also has a website that lists 12 other ways you can help out!

Please visit: www.worldvision.org/hope

You can check out a slide show the L.A. Times did here.

If these numbers don't move your hearts...maybe this will:

RICH STEARNS, president of WORLD VISION: "I believe that this could very well be looked back on as the sin of our generation. I look at my parents and ask, where were they during the civil rights movement? I look at my grandparents and ask, what were they doing when the holocaust in Europe was occurring with regard to the Jews, and why didn't they speak up? And when we think of our great, great, great-grandparents, we think how could they have sat by and allowed slavery to exist? And I believe that our children and their children, 40 or 50 years from now, are going to ask, what did you do while 40 million children became orphans in Africa?"

A few other websites for your consideration:

Product Red...various products available in the colour red to help support the fight against HIV/AIDS.
World Aids Day...A website dedicated to this Friday, with personal stories, ribbons, and importantly information.
World Aids Day Myspace...For you Myspacers out there.
Red Ribbon Fondation...More information

BONO: "What is happening to Africa mocks our pieties, doubts our concern, and questions our commitment to the whole concept of equality...Because if we're honest, there's no way we could conclude that such mass death DAY AFTER DAY would ever be allowed to happen anywhere else."

Wear a Red Ribbon this Friday and show your support for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS.

Here I Am, This Is Me

I don't know what it is about Pickles, but she always feels the need to be into something. She loves climbing into stuff, whether it be a box, a coat sleeve, a backpack, a dresser drawer...she insists on having a peek around. I was packing up some stuff to go to Brandy's and imagine my surprise when my backpack started wiggling and squirming around he couch.

Isn't she clean though? Her furr is really white. And she's incredibly soft.


The toilet saga continues. Landlord never showed up last night. At all. And I have an appointment tonight at 8, so I'm not sticking around for him this time. I don't want him in the apartment while I'm not there. Not that I think he'd steal or do anything. But I just don't want someone I hardly know in there. And there's the cats, they could get out. And he doesn't always take his boots off and I'm not on with that. I just did a huge cleaning and scrubbed the floors. I wouldn't be impressed to find his boot marks on my floors.

I have some news on the romance front. I'm a little befuddled about what I should do, really.

• Frank who's really cute. He's French (no, that's not a point against him in that sense) so sometimes it's hard to understand what he's driving at because his English isn't so hot. He's working on upgrading his math skills so that next year he can take the woodworking/cabnet making program at the college. He's pretty sweet, and he seems to think we would make a good couple. I think he would to (at this point anyways) since he's so friendly and such. Drawback is that he's a horn dog. Not entirely his fault, he is a guy, and guys are like that (mostly).

• Andrew who I have a lot in common with. We both dig WoW, we both like Anime (or at least some of the same ones). I drive (he likes that), he cooks (I like that)...he gets my jokes and apparently enjoys my sense of humour. We like some of the same tv shows, musically we're pretty close on that (he hates Country...but then I don't listen to a lot of it these days). Both of us like the same sorts of books, and he even plays D&D now and then. Drawback...sheesh I don't mean to sound shallow but...unemployed ATM and lives with his mom because of it.
  

• Andrew #2 who we'll call Mutches. He's funny and outgoing. Pretty cute. But he's a drinker and I think he does recreational drugs which I'm not down with at all.
  

• Greg. I really like Greg but he lives so damn far away. He's in Halifax going to University. He's smart, funny, interesting, we enjoy a lot of the same stuff and he's cute. But he lives really far away.

• Randy. I think he's just...as much as I care about him I'm not sure that can ever happen. No point spelling it all out, because I'd be here all day writing it and you'd be here all day reading it.

• Mystery doctor. I don't know anything about him really. He's in his late 20's early 30's. Wants to meet me. His specialty is the mind.

So...yeah. Doctors appointment tonight at 8, if I don't get a phone call this afternoon stating otherwise. Topics to discuss? My ongoing sinus problem. Allergy testing. My love life (the whole Keith thing, the whole several guys but totally unsure thing, etc), Abby. Just an update really. He likes to see me once a month, just to get an idea of where I am, what sort of mindset I'm in. I'm not ashamed of that. I was really depressed when I first started living here. It was mostly work related (one of my co-workers was harassing me daily) and home sickness.

CSI: Miami was really good last night. I enjoyed it. Heartbreaking episode about a killed Marine recruiter and a murdered Marine. The most moving scene was when Alex was undressing and washing the Marine. It hits really close to home as two more Canadian soldiers died in the line of duty. My thoughts are with their families. One of the men was from not far from here, and both of them stationed at CFB Petawawa where I grew up.

Here's hoping I'll feel better as the day continues.

I Don't Feel Like Dancing

I don't know why I haven't posted a picture of Brandy yet. Oh wait...yes I do, because we took like 9000 pictures (the night we took this one) and she never sent me any! The only reason I have this one is because it was posted on a local message board we are members of (I'd link it, but it's dying and the people there aren't welcoming to newbies anymore). I cut myself out of it because I look like crap from the angle it was taken. So we'll just leave me out of it. Brandy and I don't drink really, but I had some of Abby's leftover coolers in my fridge that had been there for God only knows how long. Actually, Brandy asked me if we should drink it because it was Abby's and I explained that Abby had ruined 3 bottles of Caesar's, not to mention she and I weren't friends anymore and I was hardly going to walk over 2 bottles of Smirnov over to her. Consider them a casualty of our friendship. At any rate, Brandy is a hoot when she's got somethin' in her.

She's such a great friend. Saturday we came into town to get her out of the house. Tyler (one of the brats she sits for) was especially bad and so was his sister. I think she was ready to pull her hair out. So we shopped at Walmart. I got her Christmas pressie...or at least part of it. She really really loves that movie/musical Rent. And it was on for $12.50 at our local Wally World. She got so excited and was going to put it (along with a bunch of other stuff) on lay-away but I told her not to be silly, I would get it for her. Oh...oh...also while we were there they had Season 1 of She-Ra! I LOVE She-Ra. I might order it from Amazon.

So after we did our shopping thing, I had to stop at my place to check on the toilet. Yeah yeah, I know that sounds weird but a few days ago the toilet started running really really really loud. At first, just when you flushed it, and then progressed into all the time. Then, I went in to brush my teeth, and the towel I had covering the ugly tank was soaked! I pulled the cover off, and the water was WAY too high. For years it's been higher than what it should be, but now it's even higher than that. And loud as hell. So, we went up to check to see that it hadn't flooded or something (I had a nightmare about it believe it or not). Brandy said she thought she could fix it, and I fought her on it, because...ew...I don't expect anyone to stick their hands in my toilet unless they're a pro or my landlord (that's why I pay rent) or...me...(which I had done and couldn't see anything wrong). She fussed, and tinkered, talked to Craig on the phone about it. We figured out the problem, but in the end could do nothing. Brandy was ticked that she couldn't fix it (it's like a puzzle). Craig teased her about it when we got back to her place, so I did what he claimed was all it needed (a small turn to a screw)...and it didn't do a darn thing. Theo is coming to fix it after supper.

What a freakin' week this has been. I have been fighting off (as best I can) a sinus cold that has been clinging to me. Yeesh I wish it would just end already so I can get on with things. My whole system is just bogged down with it. At least my place doesn't look like it snowed Kleenex anymore. Saturday night I caved, and took a blue flu pill (even though I don't have the flu) I have a lot of the other symptoms and I wanted to be able to sleep through the night. I didn't roll out of bed til almost 1pm on Sunday cause I just felt so...icky. Normally I don't sleep that long (I took the pill at 2am ish, so I should have woken at 10am).

So, after I dragged myself from bed, I kicked it into gear. Really cleaned the apartment. Pulled out the futon, the wall units (I have 3 of them, all heavy and tall), the fridge, the table, retaped the cords down (long story) and cleaned the bathroom. Tackled the dishes I was too sick to stand and wash during the week. I finished around 4:30 and then just lazed on the couch til 6:30 when I got supper.

My parents were supposed to be back Saturday from visiting my sister and her husband. But they stayed longer, and spent the night in Bangor, Maine. I didn't hear from them yesterday, so I hope they got in alright. My sister had called Saturday night to let me know, left a message since I was only home for a few hours between work (10-12) and then going out to Brandy's at 4:30ish.

Excited about CSI: Miami tonight. I heard some bummer news about the cast for next year. I can't remember the guy's name at the moment, but he's joining the cast. And I don't particularly care for his work. I hope it's in a minimal role and not as a detective or Heaven forbid, a new CSI. I bet it's a detective. Which makes me wonder if he's replacing Frank Tripp or what. Who knows? Anyone?

It Ain't Pretty When the Pretty Leaves You With No Place to Go

Lookin' pretty good for someone who's on the verge of getting sick, eh? For whatever reason (new clothes maybe) I was feeling a little saucy and camera-hammish. So, I decided to snap a few pictures. This is the best one, the others would have been good except that thanks to my little friend who likes to visit for a few days each month, I had a bad breakout and am in some desperate need of Seabreeze or something. That stuff is the shiz-nit. It is all minty and makes your skin tingle and you feel great after using it. Unfortunately, it's really really hard to find.

Despite feeling great, and rather playful yesterday...I am feeling tired and sick today. Gah, figures. Had the flu last weekend, and I get a cold this week. Damn immune system. I never use to get sick this often! Then again, I never had this much contact with kids either. Not that I care that I probably get sick from Brandy's kids (it might not have been them, but I see them once a week, so the odds are pretty high). I just hate being sick period. Not that anyone likes it, but I hate it more because I still have to come to work and talk (hard to do when your throat feels like sandpaper and you're coughing so hard you think you might be sick). This morning I can barely keep my eyes open. It's not even 9am and I'm already thinking about going home and going to bed, just catching a few hours of sleep to try and kill this bug. It's all in the sinuses, to make matters worse. I feel as though I've been hit in the face with a 2 by 4. It's so bad that I've taken to putting echinacea and golden seal drops into my morning dose of green tea.

Hey has anyone heard that new Daniel Powter song "Love You Lately"? It's really catchy. Give it time though, and it will be beaten to death like his other songs. Man, I can't stand "Bad Day" anymore. I blame American Idol for that, since they used it every time someone got the boot.

So everyone is talking about that whole Michael Richards racial slur video today (big news if you missed it...he went off on a couple of African Americans who were heckling his act). I figured I'd go a different way and show you this hilarious video of Jason Alexander pimping the McDLT. Remember that? Came in a styrofoam package with hot meat on one side and veggies on the other. Check it out here. It's been floating around for some time, but I thought it was worth sharing.

Every hear something that makes your ears just go crazy? Something that, when you heard it, made your flesh crawl, your hair stand on end and your stomach do summersaults? Now you can vote! Yes, you can vote on the worst sounds in the world. I'm trying to think of the sounds I hate the most.

1. When someone leaves their radio on while calling in to a radio show, and it echos.
2. When someone turns a microphone on, and gets a pair of headphones too close. The sound of digital feedback is most painful.
   
3. Fingernails on a chalkboard.
4. The sound of something cutting flesh (no I'm not a sick-o...but if you ever watch a real life ER show, or a horror movie...I can't handle it).
5. Someone getting sick. Makes me want to get sick.
6. Woman screaming.
7. You know when you're about to get a needle of something and the nurse/doctor flicks it, then squirts some of the fluid out before sticking you with it? I hate that sound.
   
8. Oh oh...Britney Spears "singing"
9. Paris Hilton talking

So those are just some of the sounds I hate. That flesh cutting sound really bothers me in horror movies. I can't even stand to watch it on a ER show. Just...eeeh.

Speaking of horror movies. I still haven't gotten around to finishing Saw II! I'm not actually afraid of the movie, it's just really really gory. Plus...is it the first one (I think) that has the thing with the needles? If you haven't guessed, I can't stand them. Nothing puts fear into my heart like the knowledge I'm going to get a needle. I cannot, under any circumstances stand to watch myself or anyone else be pricked either. I had to have a big ol' needle after my allergy test because I had a bad reaction to hazelnuts. I dunno what the needle was by the doctor was pretty nice about it. He ran in when the nurse told him my lips were numb... "Hi, I haven't seen you in a while. Doing okay? Sorry about the needle" and then he stuck me. It's one of the more painful ones, I daresay.

Did anyone watch CSI: Miami last night? I was on the edge of my seat the entire episode since I found out that Calleigh was going to be shot. I wasn't sure if it was Tim Speedle (Rory Cochrane) season 1 shot (kevlar) or season 2 shot (dead). But, Calleigh was smart enough to wear a vest, but she got shot when her ex showed up and distracted the perp. His gun went off accidentally, or so it looked. She went down like a sack of Irish Potaotes. But she'll live to solve a few more crimes. They'd be stupid to axe her from the show anyways. If anyone is going to go it's got to be Delko (Adam Rodriguez). What an ass.

Nothing special on tap for today. Gonna rest, take it easy. Ugh. Dread working on Saturday morning. I hate hate hate working weekends. As if I don't spend enough time working, now they're cutting into my personal time. No more meetings though.

Drive Until You Lose the Road

Isn't he cute? That's Francois. Or Frank, as it were. I met him online, and he's pretty friendly. Can always use a few more friends, especially if they look like Franky. He invited me to come watch him play hockey last night, but I didn't get home til about 9 (his practice was at 10) and I was too tired to go back out. I feel bad, but I'm sure he'll understand. Maybe next weekend I'll go.


I'm not sure where thing with Randy are this morning. I don't consider myself an overly shallow person. First off, I'm nothing super special to look at. Sure, I'm cute and I have great eyes. But not without my faults. However, Randy sent me a picture of himself a while back and it looked as though his teeth were rotting out of his face. I cannot, under any circumstances get involved with someone who doesn't have good teeth. Maybe that's shallow and mean, but c'mon! You have to press your mouth on theirs, and chances are their teeth got like that from lack of proper care, and that means they probably have death breath and a plaque monster growing on the back of their tongue. That doesn't exactly foster a good environment for kissing or even arousal. It's my big turn off. I can deal with crooked teeth (hell I had some til the braces) and as long as your mouth is clean it's not an issue. But...gah. I can't kiss him if they're rotten. I just can't.

Friday, Chris and I went to Miramichi to do some shopping since I had the day off. It was nice to be away from work and not think too much about it. I couldn't get completely away, since we had another one of those "raise" talks. I really hate having that talk, mainly because we've had it before and it's like beating a dead horse. It's bad enough that when I eat their on Sunday when Dad prays, he mentions the raise to God. Sheesh. At least he didn't do that this week. Either he forgot, or they realize I'm growing weary of these talks. Knowing Dad, he probably just forgot.

Got a sweet pair of cord pants and a few new shirts to go along. And finally a black bra! My last one broke and I've been wearing a sports bra since that who "daisyfresh" debacle where I spent a fortune on a bra that felt great the 5 minutes I had it on in the changing room. Only to get home and have it chaffe so bad it made me want to cry, and I had to stick band aids on it just to make it through the day. But this one is my size, lifts and seperates AND hey, no underwire. How great is that?

I wasn't planning on going to Brandy's since I didn't get home til around 9ish. But she wanted to hang out so we did, played a game of Uno Spin, and 3 games of Racko. She totally kicked my ass at that game. All 3 times. But in my defense I was exhausted at that point. We'd only started playing at around 11:30-12 and it'd been a long day. Tysin started screaming and crying, and Craig had to go sit with him for over an hour. And it didn't do much good. I left at around 1:30 when he wouldn't settle down to sleep, and I was tired myself. Headed home, had a hot bath, watched a bit of TV cause the bath woke me up. Didn't end up falling asleep til 3 or 4.

Saturday I didn't do much of anything. I wasn't feeling up to snuff. I slept in til 11:30, but stayed in bed, groggy and congested (still fighting that cold) til around 12. I got up, had something to eat, showered. Did a bunch of housework and then had to lay back down. Sheesh...I feel like all I do is sleep and even then it's not enough. Part of it was the cold and part of it is that I'm just exhausted from my job. Honestly, I think I'm burnt out.

Sunday wasn't much better. I was up early but not doing much. Made pancakes, puttered around the house. Did some chores. I thought about playing WoW but I couldn't muster the energy. I talked with Frank a bit, and I chatted with Brandy on the phone before heading to my parents.

Dad and Chris are going to see my sister and her husband for Thanksgiving (USA). My sister lives in New Hampshire, so they'll spend some time there. Then they'll head to Christopher's fathers home for the holiday. He lives in Maryland and I think Dad is nervous about the drive there. It's about a 12 hour drive from Machester, and you have to go around NYC, Pitsburg and I think Philly. Talk about a drive!! I gave them a Christmas gift for the happy couple. A cutting board made of Canadian Maple, with dove tail sides (not a whole solid piece).
I guess Chrisopher doesn't like to buy inferior stuff, so when my sister asked for a cutting board, he spent $50 on a bamboo one that you can cut lemons on. So, when my sister mentioned that to me, I decided that's what I would get them. Not that she can cook, but meh.

I fell asleep last night rather quick, to my surprise. I slept through the entire night and woke up at 4am before the alarm clock went off. Lately, I've been waking up at 1:30-2am during the week, and then after some tossing, falling back to sleep. Not sure why, exactly, but it was nice to sleep all the way through last night.


Keith PMed me on MSN yesterday morning but I didn't get it when he sent it. Couldn't have been that important if he didn't actually call. I added him back to my msn list to find out what it was, but when I pmed him last night he didn't talk to me. Fine, whatever. I deleted him back off. I don't have time for his little games. After being here this morning, I'm assuming it's the board short in the headphone jack that threw him off. It's annoying, distracting, and somewhat temporary. I'm accustom to it, but then, I've been here almost 2 years now, so...I guess I have that going for me (or against if you prefer haha).

Better get back to the ol' grindstone.

Hope my parents have a safe trip today.

Show The World The Beauty Underneath

Last night I had so much fun giving the cats a bit of a hard time. That sounds a bit cruel, but it wasn't. I was playing them bird sounds from this website. Hysterical! Meeko took off like a shot when I played the crow sounds, checking out the window to see if any of his black feathered arch enemies were on the balcony. Pickles came running into my room to check out the strange sounds, her ears swiveling around like some crazy cat radar. The look on her little face was priceless.

I'm impressed with myself, today. Last night, I not only found some energy to work on my website but I skipped two episodes of CSI:Miami to do it (granted they were season 1 episodes I have on DVD). And I almost missed the new one at 10pm. Glad I didn't, cause it was really good. Anyone else loving the new season?

Oh right, the website. Last night I did some work on the main page, and I also uploaded the interview I did with Erika Griffin about her book. I tweaked a few other pages so it isn't a complete blank canvas. I'm trying to learn how to get an image rollover thing to work. Or some sort of slideshow. Nothing cheesy. And a guestbook so people can say "hey".


I would seriously like to smack the *#$% shit out of Vanessa Minnillo. I really, really, really would. She's some sort of MTV VJ, who's shagging Nick Lachey. I guess she's got a couple of movie gigs out of the deal too. Good for her. That's not why I want to smack her though. I want to smack her because of the stunt she pulled with Entertainment Tonight. If you check out that link, there's a story about how Vanessa wanted to become "Ugly Vanessa" and don a fat suit in NYC to see how people would treat her. Haven't enough celebrities subjected themselves (and us) to this abomination they call "entertainment"? I think so. It's not always fun to be bigger than a plus 2. But I'd rather big and curvy than thin and boney. Damn straight. That's why I bring you the following:


The Hot Fat Girl Manifesto

Because being a hot fat girl is a lot of work and is undervalued or unrecognized. Because a fat girl still has to pay more money for uglier clothes or spend 11 hours at the thrift store to find anything hot to wear. Because if you take the elevator, people think you're lazy but if you're on the treadmill, people laugh.

Because men like John Goodman and Bernie Mac get to have careers on television but sitcom-moms-of-three still have size-two waists. Because even feminist magazines publish fat-phobic articles under the guise of it being a "health issue." Because anti-capitalist activists still use expressions like "fat capitalist pig."

Because girls are dieting at the age of nine. Because side effects of the most popular diet drugs are seizures, heart failure, fecal urgency, breast cancer, lung disease, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, dangerously high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat, psychosis, strokes, hallucinations and sudden death.

Because the Cooper Institute's ongoing study of 30,000 people has found that those who are fittest live the longest, no matter what they weigh. Because the doctor who said that there were 30,000 "obesity-related" deaths each year received over $2 million in research funding from Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers. Because that study prompted the FDA to approve Phen-Phen and Redux. Because fat-hatred is a money-making industry. Because fat people who exercise live longer than thin people who don't.

Because if you lose weight 'cause you're sick, people telling you how great you look. Because hatred is so ingrained in every single one of us, especially inside the heart of even the hottest fat girl. Because even the most progressive people don't talk or write about it.

Because I am tired of being ignored, invisible, de-sexualized and told that I have such a pretty face.

Because it's not fat that kills, it's fear of fat. For all that and more I am a part of the HOT FAT GIRL REVOLUTION!

~ written by Zoe Whittall

Amen to that, Zoe! I'm not saying that being overweight to the point that it's causing health problems is a good idea (it's not). BUT what I'm saying is that if you're not a plus 2, don't worry about it. As far as I'm concerned, girls like Parasite Hilton, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and all the rest of the skeleton crew need to EAT A DAMN SAMMICH! It reminds me of the movie Jawbreaker, and that table of model wannabe's who SHARE a box of raisins for their daily meal. EAT SOMETHING! You know what I'd love to see on E.T? Me. Me cramming food into the mouths of these starving girls. Yep. And no throwing it back up a-la P!NK's "Stupid Girls" video either.

All The Colours of This World Will Run Together

Shew it's been a busy couple of days! I haven't had the time nor the energy to find my way back to the ol' blog for an update til today.

Thursday, November 9th was my birthday. Nothing too big going on. As you get older, birthdays tend to be less and less important. The Sunday before my birthday I had roast chicken and trimmings and cake with my parents and grandparents. Got a card and a cheque. Brandy, Craig and the boys gave me Uno Spin, which is WAY more fun than any other version I've played (even more fun than Uno Extreme). My sister sent me candies for my birthday, a box of Van Otis Chocolates, that are world famous and I daresay better than Laura Secord. She also sent a box of maple sugar candies and a Willy Wonka Bar (the gram cracker one)! I had heard you could get actual Wonka Bars in the states, but never have I laid eyes on one. Here in Canada, you can get Wonka Candy like Nerds, Runts and other tastey treats but no chocolate confections.

I hope all my Canadian brothers and sisters remembered their Poppy this year for Remembrance Day. I didn't make it to the ceremonies this year, I didn't get to bed til 4am Saturday and wasn't feeling so hot. I really wanted to be there, but I couldn't do it. I could barely get out to Brandy and Craig's to dogsit Nellie (pictured with Tysin on the right) and Sasha.

Saturday I dogsat...er...actually I pet-sat. Brandy and Craig have 2 dogs, 2 cats (3 since they came back with Belle), 1 African Grey, 1 other parot (I have no idea what Murphy is), 2 cockatiels, and a vast assortment of fish.

Nellie has to be crated, because as a lab, she's a chewer. She ate their last couch! Friday Brandy and I picked her up a tennis ball with a bungie rope on it for tug of war. Within oh...an hour it was in shreds. No ball, no rope just tattered remains. I kid you not. Tattered. Anyways, when I got to their house, I could hear her outside crying and howling to be let out. I got inside quick as I could. Sasha greeted me at the babygate at the top of the stairs excitedly. This made poor Nellie cry harder, I could hear her banging around in her crate (which is HUGE). I walked into the kitchen, and her blanket was in shreds, and she was ramming her head on the door to get out. I'm surprised she was still there, cause she's been known to let herself out. I kneel down trying to get the latches open and I can't, and Nellie isn't helping. I jiggle one, and she rams her head, and it comes unlocked but I didn't see how. Now she's shoving her head through the opening while I'm desperately trying to open the last latch. I did and she tackled me and covered me with wet dog kisses. Good thing I like dogs. She cried and jumped and ran around me. I knew that meant I had to let her out (she needs to inspect the yard, not to actually go to the bathroom). The dogs got a bit of air and they came back in.

Millie, was caged up when I arrived but after a few hours I decided to let her out since she normally spends all her time perched on top of her cage with her toys (jolly ball, ropes, food dishes, stuff to chew etc). That was fine til about 8ish when she wanted to come sit with me on the couch, and I had her 'step up' onto my hand. It was at that point that she bit me! Grey's are just like that, and since I'm not bonded with her (Brandy is) she'll never fully trust me like that. She could have bit my finger clean off but thankfully, I remained calm and didn't jerk my finger back (2 reasons...1 she was on my hand and I didn't want to hurt her and 2 Grey's will bite harder if you pull away). I got up to put her in the cage when the dogs started fighting agressively over a cow knuckle bone (it's a big cow knuckle with meat and fat left on it that's smoked). Millie freaked out and flew off my hand, I got her to step back up, but she kept taking off when I couldn't get the dogs calm. So, I let her sit on the couch while I got an oven mitt and picked her up with that (she was trying to bite me while I was taking her back to the cage) and set her inside the cage and closed it up. I didn't want to lock her in, but if she wasn't going to be able to settle down, and not bite me or take off for another room she would have to stay in.

Moe and Kayman were pretty quiet. Moe must have gotten into a fight cause he got blood on the recliner. I let him in but he had bolted downstairs like always, so I didn't get to check him. He got up on the dryer and munched at his food as if all was normal.

I didn't feel so hot yesterday. I woke up around 7:30 to snowfall. It was beautiful. I let the dogs out, made the bed, showered. Grabbed breakfast and then decided to go back to sleep on the couch. After about an hour I had to go get the comforter of the bed because I was freezing. Then I was hot, so the blanket went back, then cold again but I refused to get it. Don't ask me why. By the time they got back I was ready to go home, have a hot bath, something warm to eat and sleep. I watched Home Alone and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (original animated 1/2 special) before putting on CSI: Miami season 1 and watching that in bed til I fell asleep. I kept waking up, hot/cold/hot/cold. Sore throat that wouldn't quit.

Not fairing a whole lot better this morning. My head is achey, my throat sore and I've got a few other less than desirable symptoms I won't get into. I want to go back home, make some Lipton Chicken Noodle soup and crawl into bed for a few hours. I'm a big sook, I know, when I'm sick.

Nothing else going on, really. Trying to get some work done on the ol' website but with not being home this weekend/being sick that's been slow going. I want to get my rants up since everyone seems to enjoy them. Also, on the slate for this week a shopping trip on Friday and the purchasing of Christmas gifts. Another 3 day weekend for yours truly and a short work week to boot. Not too shabby. I hope I shake this cold/flu/whatever rather quick.

Her Face Is A Map of the World

Awww. Wee-Me is so cute. Thanks to Rosie for posting that up the other day. I never seem to find that stuff on my own. Mind you, what do you look for? Come to think of it there isn't much on the net that I do outside of my routine. E-mail, MSN, blogging, gaming, myspace, and a few other things here and there.

I need to work on my website. It's pitiful. I want to link up my rants. Plus, I've got to upload an interview I did with an author friend of mine. Erika Griffin, who wrote a great short story called "The One Who Waited" on Halloween cause it's like a twist on horror romance genre! I know what you're thinking, "Horror Genre?" Think about it, every horror movie where there's a love element, it's generally vampires (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution just to name 2 flicks of the top of my mind) and it's some grand story that's kind of mushy and romantic in it's own bloody and twisted way. Well, this story isn't like that at all. You can check out Erika's site (linked above) for deets on the book, other titles, etc. Pick it up, it's a good read.


Last night was my birthday supper at my parents house. I was a bit surprised, considering it's not my birthday til Thursday. (I turn 22 people, try to keep up) I think getting older definately sucks. Not because I'm a year older, and I feel like I've done nothing (I have, although the ole love life could use a little work). No no, it's because no one makes a big deal about your birthday after a while. No special request supper (not that the roast chicken wasn't delicious), no candles on the cake (at least there was cake) and a card with some money handed to me while I helped my step-mom clean up the supper dishes. My grandparents came over for supper, wished me a happy birthday. Nothing serious or special. It's not that I wanted more stuff, or anything but you realize after 21 years of people making a big deal of your day, it's kind of a let down when you hit that "it's not important" age. Honestly, not about the presents. I think I was more disappointed with no candles on the cake than I was by anything else. Oh well, c'est la vie.

Thursday (the 'big day') I'll probably go see my stepmom. Dad and Grampy are going to check out a hockey game that night. So, we might watch a 'chick flick'. Not sure what we'll watch. I'm thinking Over the Hedge
which isn't exactly a chick flick persay. Not sure what else is out there for girl movies. I'll figure something out, I have over 100 DVD's in my collection. I should be able to find something. Hopefully.

Friday I'm going to hang out with Brandy. Maybe we'll go into town and have some fun for a bit. Brandy found where they sell that game Mille Bornes. Both of us have wanted that game (I've played it on the PC) and we ply cards so much that we need a new one every now and then to keep things fresh. We play a lot of Wizzard, Double Series and Skipbo (which I can't friggin' find anymore) and Uno. I kind of wanted to go out on Saturday but I refuse to go alone. Besides, I'd get there, be too nervous to talk to anyone and even if I did, the whole time I would think it would turn out like JP or worse, like Keith.

On a note about Keith, I have to laugh at what I've been hearing through the grapevine about his new girl. The one who's "perfect". She, apparently, stayed the week at his place (not like that...he lives with his parents, older brother, and his neice and nephew) and they had some sort of a scrap after he was already bitchy about being woken up by his brother's kids, no hot water, and he said the wrong thing to Marie-Claude. She got pissy, he got pissier. According to his journal, they have a lot of little fights. At least I can say that about our time together, we didn't fight. Even when a bug crawled up his ass, we didn't fight with eachother. Sucks to be him. He thought the grass would be greener on the other side of that fence. Turns out it's the same grass, different yard.