Booking Through Thursday - Recent Worst

What’s the worst book you’ve read recently?

This would have to be Violin by Anne Rice. It was not horrible, but the first three-quarters were like pulling teeth to get through. It might not have been so bad if I hadn't been searching for the damn vampire that does not exist. You know since Anne Rice is known for vampire novels, I would have thought there should be a warning - **Beware: This novel does not contain any blood sucking.** Or something to that effect.

Stopping By To Say, "Hello"

Hello!!! I am attempting to turn off my work brain, so this doesn't become my curious rant about all things work related. I am however having a bit of trouble turning work off right at the moment. Nothing bad. Just a very full day, so when I turn work off there is nothing floating around tonight. So to keep up with my daily blogging, I figured I would complete this meme I read over at Vixen's place. The point here is that you can only give YES or NO answers.

Been arrested? No
Kissed someone you didn’t like? No
Slept in until 5 PM? Yes
Ran a red light? Yes
Been suspended from school? No
Experienced love at first sight? No
Totaled your car in an accident? No
Been fired from a job? No
Fired somebody? Yes
Sang karaoke? No
Pointed a gun at someone? No
Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? Yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? No
Kissed in the rain? Yes
Had a close brush with death (your own)? No
Seen someone die? No
Played spin-the-bottle? Yes
Smoked a cigar? Yes
Sat on a rooftop? Yes
Smuggled something into another country? No
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Yes
Broken a bone? Yes
Skipped school? No
Eaten a bug? Yes
Sleepwalked? No
Walked a moonlit beach? Yes
Rode a motorcycle? Yes
Dumped someone? Yes
Lied to avoid a ticket? No
Ridden in a helicopter? No
Shaved your head? No
Made your boyfriend/girlfriend cry? No
Eaten snake? Yes
Marched/Protested? No
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? No
Puked on amusement ride? Yes
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? No
Been in a band? No
Been on TV? No
Shot a gun? Yes
Skinny-dipped? Yes
Gave someone stitches? No
Ridden a surfboard? No
Drank straight from a liquor bottle? Yes
Had surgery? Yes
Streaked? Yes
Taken by ambulance to hospital? No
Passed out when not drinking? Yes
Peed on a bush? Yes
Donated Blood? Yes
Grabbed electric fence? No
Eaten alligator meat? No
Killed an animal when not hunting? No
Peed your pants in public? No
Snuck into a movie without paying? No
Written graffiti? No
Still love someone you shouldn’t? No
Been in handcuffs? Yes
Believe in love? Yes
Sleep on a certain side of the bed? Yes

Well, I apologize for being less than a ball of fire tonight. I'll be back tomorrow.

TMI Tuesday #199

1. How do you differentiate between love and lust?
Can you picture growing old with them or just riding them until your toes curl? Growing old? = love; Toes curl? = lust; Both? That would still be love.

2. You are happily married, engaged, or committed in a relationship, yet you have a hot sexy dream about someone you have always wanted to do it with. Have you cheated at least in your mind?
Hell no!! That is most definitely not cheating. What I got married and the rest of the world suddenly became unattractive??

3. Do you trust your significant other?
Absolutely, positively, without a doubt!

4. How important is your Husband or Wife wearing their Wedding bands? Is it important to you and why?
I went through a bit to find that perfect ring for him, so I would be sad if he did not wear it. I would say he feels the same.

5. Do you feel that flirting is OK if you are taken?
Of course.

Bonus (as in optional):If you were 100% guaranteed not to get caught having a one night stand with someone else, would you?
Ummm... No... Weird question... So is the only reason I don't cheat on my hubby because I might get caught? No. But then this is an impossible situation, so if the world starting spinning backwards would you walk on your head?

Mute Monday 'John'

Sunday Image #4

Here is an image that caught my attention for one reason or another at some point in time.




So what are your thoughts?

Saturday 9: On Broadway

1. Have you ever seen a Broadway play? If yes what and when?
Nope... I have only been to one play actually, but it was Cats.

2. Tell us about one strange event in your life this week.
Strange event... hmmm... this week...There has been a random beeping noise in my house. The hubby and I deduced that it must be the stupid smoke alarm, but we could not figure out why it would beep since it is hardwired into the house. The hubby undid the alarm only to find out that touching it makes the lights in the house flicker. Electricity and the hubby are not on friendly terms, so I made a call to by father the electrician to come save the day. After a bit of investigation he discovered that it was the battery powered smoke detector that we never knew we had that had been beeping and the hardwired one did not even work. I've been try to shut the wrong smoke detector up for over two years...

3. Have you ever lied to "get the guy/gal"?
No.

4. Tell us about your best friend.
She is like the sister I never had, except I've always had her. Last month she told me that her plan was that we would both die in our sleep on the same night, so we didn't have to live without eachother, after I asked her to make sure my marker wasn't stupid. We're odd I know, but she knows me better than I know myself and she even knows when to pretend she doesn't.

5. What was the best vacation that you ever had?
I don't think I could just pick one. There was the one when I meet my husband and that was a pretty life changing one. But then there was the one when I was sixteen or seventeen just me and my dad and we got the truck stuck at the desert and then got it pulled out, realized we forgot the whip and had to go get new ones and had the best time ever. Yeah, that one really sticks with me.

6. What was the last big purchase you made?
A lawyer??

7. What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink and when did you start drinking it?
Shirley Temple. I couldn't say...

8. When was the last time someone did not believe you?
When I said I don't want kids anymore anyways...

9. You have signed on to direct a romantic comedy. Who are your stars?
Jenifer Aniston and Kate Hudson... Can I make a gay romantic comedy? You know that you would come watch that movie... Honestly, I don't know. I'm not a big romantic comedy movie lover. Typically, they are full of shit. I did like The Break-Up though, no sunny fix all ending.

I'm Sorry, but I'm Back....

Oh dearest blog I have neglected you and I am so terribly sorry. Please know that I have not forgotten you. I think of you often, of stories I wish to tell you and secrets I wish to confess, but I find time passes much to quickly between my visits. I know that I quick "Hello" is all you ask of me, but I find I am too short on time to say all I wish and then say nothing at all. Our friendship was just beginning to blossom and I have abandoned you and now must begin again. A good friend told me that daily writing is a habit and it is one I will attempt to form. I must overcome another habit, procrastination, first and I have practiced this one far longer than I can recall.

Hmmm... now that I've gotten that off my chest; let's start new or again, whichever. Thank goodness today is Friday and I have a drink in my hand. Well, on my desk. This week has been a bit much and I am very ready for a nice relaxing weekend. I have been fighting our lawyer to get descent or should I say any service for the past three months and have almost won. Okay, won is the wrong word, since all I really did was get a headache and a full refund. I'll keep the refund and am currently washing the headache away with Tanqueray and grapefruit juice. Would that be a Gin Greyhound?? I have no idea, but it is tasty. Sorry, I got thirsty, but I'm back... again...

So, on the other front of my long week was work. Now I must say, that I truly love my job, not even just the paycheck portion of it; I really do enjoy what I do all day. Minus the waking up to an alarm clock part I wouldn't change much. Oh, did you catch the "much"? Well to be honest, if I ran the world, I would change all types of things, but that is a bit beyond this conversation. I adore my assistant, I really do. She's great, but I need her to learn three things that I have no idea how to train her for: 1) To follow-up... If I ask you to call somebody about something, I don't mean just leave them a message or send them an e-mail and forget about it... I mean get me an answer, and that answer should be the one I'm looking for. 2) Know when not to talk... When I'm pulling my hair out attempting to make a deadline, it is not a good time to bitch about your boyfriend and when other people are in the office don't spout off like it is just the two of us bullshitting. 3) Take some initiative, instead of just taking the shortcut... Just because it is easier for you to ask me for the answer does not make it the right thing to do... If I wanted to come up with the answer I would have taken care of the project myself; figure it out...If you have nothing to do, find something, anything, so you keep busy; wait... anything except screwing around and looking for a reason to leave early. Is this too much to ask?

Wow... Apparently, I had a bit more to rant about than I thought. I really do appreciate the assistance I receive and some days she is "on it" in a big way, but I need that everyday all the time. Still, I have to remember that she is young. As I type this, I wonder how many people have said this same thing about me... I am young too, not that young, but still, I also was not as young as she is when I was her age, but such is life. I could go off again on this subject, but I'll save that for another time. It has been a long while and I wouldn't want to over do it right out of the gate...

Sunday Image #3

Here is an image that caught my attention for one reason or another at some point in time.





So what are your thoughts?

Sunday Image #2

Here is an image that caught my attention for one reason or another at some point in time.


So what are your thoughts?

Saturday Ramblings

I sat down to work on my "List" update, but I'm just not feeling it. I am continuously thinking of things and thoughts that I want to post and I never seem to make it to my keyboard to make the connection between brain and screen. I am currently rocking out to Girl Talk, so a huge thank you goes out to Miss Sex and Food for turning me on, and just felt the need to start typing. I apologize in advance if this post jumps from thought to thought and topic to topic.

Last Friday I escaped work a bit early, so the hubby and I could go watch my fabulous spoiled brat of a niece sing Taylor Swift's Love Story in her school talent show. I must tell you that little girl was amazing, actually all of the kids were impressive, but I'm a bit partial to the one who runs up to me every time I see her and jumps into my arms. I did however almost break into tears a few acts later when a little girl did a ballet dance to Miley Cyrus' Butterfly Fly Away. It was not her dancing that evoked the tears and I had no idea who was singing as I listened to the lyrics of this song for the first time. If you are not yourself familiar with this song take a moment to read the opening lines before proceeding.

Miley Cyrus Butterfly Fly Away Lyrics

So here I am in the first row of an elementary school talent show seated between the hubby and my father holding back tears as I listen to a Miley Cyrus song, sometime my life surprises even me. Okay now for the explanation.... My dad is amazing, that's the short story and here is a longer version: After my parents divorced when I was five, my father was twenty-eight and my mother was twenty-four, my dad proceed to raise me, alone. My mom has always been around in her own way, but has been much too wrapped up in her own world to actually play the role of mother. My father on the other hand paid the bills and took care of me, all the while dealing with a daughter who had to push the limits and got away with murder by simply spending the night at Mom's. When she was too wrapped up in men and drugs to return phone calls, he was there every time without doubt or question. When I sat in the halls of the courthouse nervous as hell that I may be called to testify, he sat holding my hand, while she walked by holding hands with the defendant without even looking at me. Every other weekend when I waited hours for her to pick me up, he assured me that this time she didn't forget to pick me up, she always had. When my mom was overwhelmed by her life and disappeared for months, he held me when I cried, but never stopped her from seeing me when she returned, although I'm sure it broke his heart. At my wedding, he was there early and helped clean-up and packed up all my gifts to store at his house until after my honeymoon, she arrived late and left early. My father waited over ten years to live with his girlfriend, so I would not have to change schools and still asked me if I was okay with her moving into our house when I was eighteen. He still calls it "our" house, even though I moved out years ago and own my own home with the hubby. My mother once left me sleeping in a house with her two boyfriends while she moved into a hotel room with her new young stud and then finally called a week later, as I laid sick as a dog in bed, asking me to tell them she wasn't coming back, "feel better, baby, bye." My father still stores Barbies and My Little Ponies in his rafters; I store my mother's Bible and keepsakes in mine. I never understood when I was a teenager just how thankful I would be for everything my father did, but I do now, and I am constantly hoping that he knows how grateful I am and how much I love him. I learned never to expect anybody to stick around in my life, but I've always known he would be there no matter what. So to summarize, my dad... well there are simply no words to describe him properly and my mom... is my mom.

TMI Tuesday #6

TMI Tuesday #188 - Rambling Edition

1. Before the industrial revolution, most people never traveled more than 30 miles from their home. How far from your birth place do you now live?
About 40 miles.

2. What is the farthest distance from home you have you have ever had sex or an orgasm? What is there farthest distance you have traveled from your home to have a sexual encounter
Okay, I had to do a little research because geography is not my strong suit and it turns out the New Jersey is farther away then Hawaii. I can't say that I have traveled more than 1/2 and hour for an encounter, no crazy stories here.

3. How many states (or Canadian provinces or your country's geopolitical division) and counties have you had sex and/or an orgasms in?
Six states, but only one country (I have had sex in international waters, but not in another country).

4. Have you ever had sex in a vehicle? While the vehicle was moving?
Yes, in a vehicle (we had it down to a science), not while it was moving.

5. Do you have any travel related fantasy? If so, share, please.
Travel fantasies.... No, I can't say that I have any.

Bonus: On holidays that honor our military do you tend to remember those currently serving or veterans of military service?
Both, equally I think.

Mute Monday 'Trip'

Sunday Image #1

Here is an image that caught my attention for one reason or another at some point in time.



So what are your thoughts?

Four For Friday #1

Four For Friday

Yes, I am aware that it is Sunday, not Friday, but I don't care. I really meant to respond to these questions on Friday, but as you may have noticed I am a bit of a procrastinator. I still wanted to participate and this is my blog, so I can do Friday memes on Sunday if I want to. So there...

Q1 - Pillow Talk: Over a quarter of UK employees are so work obsessed they can't resist using a mobile device such as a laptop in bed before they go to sleep, according to a survey released this week by CREDANT Technologies. The survey discovered that of those people who do work in bed, 57% do so for between 2 and 6 hours every week, while nearly 10% admitted they spend more time on their mobile devices during the evening than talking to their loved ones (i.e., husbands or wives). Do you work at night while in bed (hey, it's a serious question... get your mind out of the gutter)?
I have to put a bit of effort into leaving work at work, because honestly I love my job. I do draw the line at bringing the computer to bed with me, however. I typically read while the hubby watches a bit of TV to wind down. We make a real effort to go to bed together most nights. Bedtime and dinnertime are the real "us" times around here.

Q2 - Staying Home: Nearly 350 Boulder, Colo. teachers played hooky this week in protest of that town's school district's latest teacher contract offer. Last week, contract negotiations broke down between the Boulder Valley School District and the local teachers' union, the Boulder Valley Education Association. The union wants a permanent cost-of-living increase to the pay scale, but the school district says it does not have the guaranteed revenue to make that change. Do you think certain 'essential' professionals -- such as teachers, firemen, doctors & nurses -- should be barred by law from walking out and striking, or is going on strike as American as musicals, college football, and apple pie, and therefore should never be viewed as illegal?
I don't know that making the practice illegal would do any good, but I am not sure that walking out or going on strike does these or other professions any good. In my opinion when these practices are used the strikers tend to loss public sympathy which typically hurts their cause.

Q3 - Turning Around and Going Back: Everyone's done it at some point in their lives... forgotten something at home or work and had no choice but to turn around, go back and retrieve what was forgotten or left behind. When was the last time you had to do this, how long did it take, and what was it that you forgot in the first place?
I did this a few months ago. I left the house without my laptop. Luck for me I only made it half way to the freeway before I realized my mistake. I commute over an hour, so I was so glad I remembered only ten minutes from home.

Q4 - Different Path: Assuming you had never gone into the career you are currently in, what would be doing now professionally?
This is a tough one. I basically fell into the career I have now and fell in love with it. I would like to think that had this not happened I would have gone back to school, but who really knows? I use to want to go into psychology before construction built me up.

Saturday 9: Hot Fun in the Summertime

1. Is summer your favorite season? Why?
Yes, I absolutely love summer. Long hot days, BBQs, and river trips, what is not to love??

2. Do you exercise more in the summer because you wear less clothing?
Ummm... No. I always tell myself I will, but I normally just drink more instead.

3. Do you enjoy tanning or are you more concerned about the dangers of basking in the sun?
I should be more diligent with sunscreen, but I love to lay out and soak up the rays.

4. You are on the beach when a waiter appears for your drink order. What do you ask for?
A Bloody Mary, Greyhound, or a Michelob Ultra - It just depends on the time of day...

5. Do you camp in the summertime?
If by camp you mean in a tent, no.

6. What was your favorite summer vacation as a kid?
Trips to the La Jolla Indian Reservation. We would spend the week tubing down the "river" and swinging in the water and then hit the water park on the last day.

7. Do you enjoy sleeping outdoors?
I can't remember the last time I did, so I don't know.

8. Do you throw a summer barbecue every year?
Nope.

9. Have you ever been to a nude beach? If yes, what did you think?
No, I have not. The one near me is a little mmm... I don't know...

Updating The List

When I started my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days I thought to myself, "I'll post an update of my progress weekly and that will help keep me on track." Well, 129 days later I am making my first update post and I am not on track, at least I'm not a half ass procrastinator.
#1 - I have to research this one. I have no idea where to start, but I have a source at work and I hope to have a chance to pick his brain next week.
#2 - I will be beginning to complete this task next fall, I hope.
#3 - I am currently enrolled in the last required course. I need to apply for the certificate.
#4 - I own a typing program that I need to install on my computer and get a baseline measurement.
#5 & 6 - Haven't started
#7 - I found one, now I have to actually go.... They are on Tuesdays, maybe I'll make it this week.
#8 - I signed up for the OSHA 10-hour course offered through my office that will be held in July.
#9 - This may happen sooner than I was hoping, we'll see.
#10 - I am listening to podcasts during my commute. We'll see how well this method works.
#11 - I've learned that my 401K is sinking like a rock, does this count?
#12 - Not yet.
#13 - Three down and one tomorrow. I might even how found a new member.
#14 - I wrote one to a soldier that I adopted.
#15 - Not yet.
#16 - Done. I don't have any more money and she still owes me a bunch, but I called her out regarding ignoring the situation.
#17 - 22 - Haven't started.
#23 - I completed week one of the nine week program yesterday. Tomorrow I start week two.
#24 - 25 - Haven't started.
#26 - Started, quit, need to start again.
#27 - After #23
#28 - See #26
#29 - Tried one day, horrible timing. Need to try again. I do own a juicer now.
#30 - 37 - Haven't started.
#38 - He is joining me on my runs. We need to start walking on the off days as well.
#39 - 40 - Not yet
#41 & 42 - Done and done.
#43 & 44 - Not yet
#45 - I tried, it did not work well, and I need to try again.
#46 - 48 - Not yet
#49 - I have read 8 of 101. This list is as follows, no particular order: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Wicked, Violin, The Gnostic Mystery, Slathbog's Gold, Lolita, Match Me If You Can, and Bones to Ashes.
#50 - 52 - Not yet
#53 - In progress
#54 - 72 - Not yet
#73 - One down and one to go.
#74 - Done. Happy birthday to me.
#75 - 78 - Not yet
#79 - Here I am.
#80 - I bought a journal, now I just have to open it.
#81 - 84 - Not there yet
#85 - Done and it was fun.
#86 - 89 - Not yet
#90 - I'm trying, but it is not fun.
#91 - He loved this, I have to take him again.
#92 - 94 - Not yet
#95 - Done, finally.
#96 - 101 - Not yet

So there is the official update. Thanks for visiting.

Wednesday Media Mix #3

Wednesday Media Mix

[Listen] Do you tend to go through genre phases–maybe listen to nothing but blues for a month, and then nothing but industrial the next? If so, what phases have you gone through lately?
Yes, I definitely do. I have actually been listening to mostly country recently. This is simply due to the fact that it is workplace friendly. I have a nice long commute, but after a long day commercials and blabbing radio heads drive me nuts. I have recently discovered the wonder world of podcasts where I can learn Spanish, listen to our president's ideas, or have a book read to me all the way to work and back.


[Watch] At what age did you see your very first horror movie? Do you remember what the movie was?
I was about seven or eight I believe. The movie is still one of my favs. Silver Bullet I loved that the movie scared the shit out of me. It would give me nightmares, so my dad would tell me not to watch it again and I would beg him to let me. Yeah I know, I was a weird kid.

[Read] Name one pet peeve you have with writing styles.
Long descriptions with no point. I can live with an author spending three pages describing a field, but something really important better happen in that field. If the character just watch it pass out their car window, I am going to be a bit upset. Why the hell did I care how tall the grass was?

In Other Words #1

...in other words...

Quote for May 19

All things are difficult before they are easy.

-- Dr. Thomas Fuller

Sometimes I need a little reminder that the things that I find simple were once challenging and the things I find impossible will one day be a breeze. This is especially important to keep in mind when I am attempting to teach somebody else. It is a bit of a struggle for me to realize that the task I know like the back of my hand is brand new and overwhelming to those who are see it for the first few times.

TMI Tuesday #5

1. Have you ever participated in HNT? If so, when? If not, why not?
No. For lots of reasons I guess. I hate the pictures I take and have not mastered the concept of photoshop by any stretch of the imagination, I am a complete procrastinator and that would require advanced planning, I don't feel strongly enough about it to persuade the hubby that it is a grand idea.

2. Have you ever avoided certain sites because of the HNT pictures that were posted?
No, I love (most) of the pictures people post and admire them for doing what they please. Hey, you got to love the skin your in.

3. Have you ever posted a HNT picture that you wish that you hadn't?
See answer #1

4. Do you email/text/call anyone regularly with someone you met through HNT?
Nope

5. What percentage of your online friends are current or former HNTers?
I'm new to all this, so...

6. Does anyone in your "real" life know that you do HNT (if, of course, you do)?
See answer #1

7. Other than previously-known friends, have you met any fellow HNTers?
Nope

8. Have you ever downloaded someone else's HNT pictures?
No.

Mute Monday 'Liberty'

Mute Monday
















Mute Monday