Sara's Blatherings

Things I Hate

2009-10-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Dreaming I'm sick, then actually getting a cold the next day. :( At least I have paid sick leave. And who doesn't love experimenting with funny-sounding OTC meds, like Umcka? Or chanting them over and over again--umckaumckaumcka--until even your pets look at you weird. :D Anyway, I don't know if it actually "speeds recovery time" like it claims on the box, but at least it tastes delicious.

Computer Fixed

2009-10-29T01:03:00.000-07:00

I always take it for granted, but the Internet--I freakin' love it! For the past couple days, I thought I'd somehow fried my laptop, because it wouldn't turn on. It's amazing how much I rely on that little modem of mine, especially since I almost never watch TV anymore (stupid HD conversion) or listen to the radio (90% ads, 10% music--and about 1% of that I actually like).

To make a long story short, I fixed my laptop (thank god for Google!) as soon as I got home. (Who knew that unplugging it, removing the battery, holding the ON button for 30 seconds, then reconnecting everything would actually work?! I thought I found bogus troubleshoot help, but I guess not everyone's a prick online. Pessimist, me? ::scoffs::)

Anywho, back to pointless online games and LibraryThing-ing! :)

Harriet Tubman: Vampire?

2009-10-24T14:16:00.001-07:00

Wow, just when I thought our patrons couldn't get any more stupid, we had one person ask when Harriet Tubman would be showing up for the special presentation going on in one of our meeting rooms. I guess I can kinda understand the confusion, since it was called "Visit with Harriet Tubman", but come on, people! I'm not the brightest person in the world (and I seriously suck at History), but even I know the lady isn't alive today. (In case you're curious, she was born in 1822 and died on March 10, 1913.)

Good News, Bad News

2009-10-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

Oh, yeah, I'm a bad blogger; but here's a quick update of my goings-on:

Good News: I finished my 75 Books Challenge @ LibraryThing today! Yay, go me.
Bad News: I may be laid off before the end of the year. Unfortunately, I'm not the only one. Our library has apparently been invaded by @*#!^!% sadists who like messing with people's lives. Not gonna go there in this post, but let's just say I'm less than pleased about their decision.

‘Vampires’ tie the knot in Columbia Township

2009-10-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

Normally, I think marriage should be outlawed (after all, it's the #1 cause of divorce ;), but this is more my style--plus it's approaching Halloween--so I had to share it:

Vampires vow till death do us part at Ohio wedding
Monday, October 5, 2009

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio - An Ohio bride and ghoul have vowed to love each other and haunt and howl at the moon together at a Halloween-themed wedding. Sixty-one-year-old Jack Holsinger and 44-year-old Connie Spitznagel were both made up as pale-faced vampires for their scare-emoney Saturday night at a haunted house near Cleveland. The two chose the location because it's operated by the same people who own a campground where the couple met.

Holsinger arrived in a coffin inside a hearse, and the coffin was carried to the altar by six pallbearers. Minister Greg Kopp was dressed as Jason in the "Friday the 13th" movies. After the vows were exchanged, he ordered Holsinger not to kiss his new bride but instead to bite her on the neck.

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Information from: The Chronicle-Telegram, http://www.chronicletelegram.com/

My 1st Blog Award

2009-09-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

Aawww, my first bloggy award. I feel so special, more shortbus special than usual. ;) Thanks, Miranda! :) Ta da, here 'tis:

The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that shows great attitude or gratitude. Here are the rules for accepting this award:

Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.
Nominate some blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
Link your nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

P.S. Gotta update later. Break's over.

I'll Explain Later . . . For Now Try to Figure the Photos Out

2009-08-31T16:12:00.000-07:00

Things I Hate

2009-08-28T17:53:00.000-07:00

People. (Hmm, that would probably sum up my entire Things I Hate list.) But specifically, people who speed on residential roads and hit/kill animals. Some a-hole killed a squirrel this afternoon right in front of my house and really did a number on his/her skull. The jaw was split in two, and I still can't find all the bone fragments. Hopefully it was a quick death. But the worst thing out of it, is the other squirrel that's been making these mournful noises for the past hour up in our tree. :( Who says animals don't feel anything? (I didn't take pictures for obvious reasons. I'm odd, but not disrespectful.)

Tampon Crafts

2009-08-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Hey, cool, an even better way for kids to learn twice as fast--merge art and health/sex ed. :D Check this site out:

(Oh, the things you can find by just Googling harmless words like "toupee". LOL!)

July Book/Movie Challenge Update

2009-08-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

Oh, yeah. Them challenge thingies and where I'm @:

75 Books Challenge -- 49 read. (44 was the goal, so yay! It kinda helps, though, that I've been reading very small books. ;)

200 Movies in 2009 -- 110 watched. (Should've been done with 117. Le sigh.)

More Things I Love

2009-07-20T07:27:00.001-07:00

Signs with sexual innuendos on them. Or maybe it's just me reading more into it. Yeah, it's just me. :D (Ignore the word "traffic" when you read it. I can't take pictures for snot.)

My walk home from the grocery store. Wheeeee! I'd love to take my bike down this hill, but I know I'd just biff it on the first block. It's even more gorgeous at night with the stars out and all the street lights on (on this side of the water, as well as the two islands--the one in the background and the itty bitty one just visible on our shore, which is more like a peninsula with a stream running across it, imo). It's a pretty good cardio workout going up, but only in the early mornings or late at night when it's cooler. Otherwise, you'll probably sweat yourself to death. It can be e-vil during the day.

Micky/Minnie Visits Me in the Night

2009-07-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

I love finding live mice under my dresser. Seriously. Yeah, I know it'd probably freak most (normal) people out, but I'm not most people. Obviously. ;)

It snuck into my room via my window (hey, it's summer, all right?) sometime early Sunday morning and hid behind my file cabinets at first. I know this because two of my cats (Cali--who has (unfortunately) killed mice before--and Gabi) were clawing the metal. It sounded exactly like nails down a chalkboard, so of course it woke me up. :/ But I was already half-awake anyway, because just about an hour prior, I heard some poor mouse/rat get killed outside my window. At first, I thought it was my cats who caught something on the windowsill; but when I realized it wasn't, I went racing outside to see if maybe I could save it. Fat chance. Whatever had caught it was off through the bushes.

Anywho, back to the mousie in my room--which I wasn't even aware of until a few minutes before I had to leave for work. (Murphy's law. And I was late.) My dog finally realized there was a mouse hiding under my dresser--how it got from one corner of my room to the other without getting killed by my 6 cats and 1 dog downstairs, I don't know!--and started barking like a maniac.

Long story short, I was able to grab the mouse without it being injured (though it did jump out of my hands once) and take it to the upstairs bathroom (probably the only private room in the house). Funny thing, only my dog and a couple of the cats were even interested in what I had. Everyone else just kind of blinked at me, then went back to sleep. :D Lazy cats!

At first, I was planning on keeping it as a pet. It was so soft and docile (probably shock, now that I think about it), even though it did bite me a few times. (I didn't even feel it. I had to see it to realize, "Oh, hey, you're biting me. How cute!") I put it in a pet carrying case (what you see the mouse in in the photos) and gave it some food. But after realizing it wasn't going to move, I took pity on it and let it loose outside. I've never seen anything so happy to get away from me; it kinda hurt. :( I just hope it survived the day.

Things I Hate

2009-07-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

The heat. Seriously, I'm about to see mirages in my living room.

I hate summer.

Things I Hate

2009-07-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

1) Last night, I lost track of one of my cats in the back yard--only to find this:

Of course, I thought it was my cat, because the dark fur matched hers exactly. And when I had gone inside a few minutes prior, the dogs had gone ballistic over some noise outside. Thankfully, it wasn't her. My cat was off in the opposite direction, playing in the grass, totally oblivious to all this. (This morning, the guts were gone, so I don't know what it was. Still, poor critter.)

2) Appliances that break. So far, the dryer's dead, and now the dishwasher. I don't mind the dryer going kaput--it's summer, so everything can airdry--but come on! The dishwasher?? I'm going to be eating with my hands off the floor pretty soon.

June Movie/Book Wrap-Up

2009-06-30T22:53:00.000-07:00

It's the end of June, so where am I in my book and movie challenges? (gets out calculator)

75 Books Challenge -- 38 read (37.5 is where I should be at, so I'm finally on target with one challenge! Woo hoo! I'm not even going to list my Paranormal 999 Challenge, because I'm so behind on that one; I might as well give up on it.)
200 Movies in 2009 -- 94 watched (I should've been done with 100, but I've been watching several TV series at once--I haven't finished any of them yet--which has slowed me down considerably.)

What's That Smell?

2009-06-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

Man, I am in trouble if this happens at my work. ;) First they make us wash our hands, now this??

And P.S.: Mayor Joe, you're my hero. :D

Fla. city to workers: Wear underwear, deodorant

Thursday, June 18, 2009

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. - A Florida city is cleaning up with a new dress code that requires city workers to wear underwear and use deodorant.
The city council in Brooksville north of Tampa recently approved a dress code that instructs employees to observe "strict personal hygiene."
It also prohibits exposed underwear, clothing with foul language, "sexually provocative" clothes and piercings anywhere except the ears.
Repeat offenders can be fired.
The city council approved the dress code 4-1 as part of a wider effort to update existing policies and ordinances.
The one vote in opposition came from Mayor Joe Bernadini. He said the underwear edict "takes away freedom of choice."
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Information from: The Tampa Tribune, http://www.tampatrib.com

Things I Love

2009-06-12T16:05:00.000-07:00

1) Being stalked by crows for food. (I guess that's better than actually being the food.)

2) Reading with furry critters. (And, no, I didn't slam the book shut, you sadistic sicko. But I'm sure you'll be glad to hear it peed on me the second I put the camera down.)

Jackass: The Return

2009-06-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

This Monday, June 15, is National Man Day.

Hmmm.

Am I the only one seeing this day ending badly for 90% of the men--with a trip to the E.R.? (Could National Man Day just be a conspiracy cooked up by our health care system to make even more money off men? Hmm, could it?)

On the other hand (snickers), I'm betting the remaining 10% of men will actually get the gist of this covertly homosexual holiday and, well, celebrate it appropriately--with each other, if y'know what I mean. After all, the 15th is also Steal a Kiss Day. Coincidence? I think not.

All I've got to say is "Viva la testosterone!" You keep the remaining 50% of this earth wildly entertained. XD

Oh, and for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, here's the news article:

Be a man, would-be holiday organizers urge

Thursday, June 11, 2009

CELESTINE, Ind. - Two Indiana men have declared Monday "National Man Day" only to find there's already a romantic holiday that falls on that date.

Ninteen-year-old Joel Longanecker of Celestine and his 26-year-old brother Aaron, of Indianapolis, have for months been rallying thousands to their masculine cause on Facebook. More than 260,000 people have pledged to "stand up and do manly things" on Man Day.

But it turns out June 15 is also "Sneak a Kiss Day," a day for sweethearts to steal smooches from their sweeties.

The Man Day organizers urge participants to take part in "manly" activities such as football, hunting or watching Rocky movies. They claim real men don't "sneak" kisses.

On The Net:

National Man Day: http://sn.im/jxwsz

Information from: The Herald, http://www.dcherald.com/

Birthday Cake for Me

2009-06-11T15:24:00.001-07:00

Had to post this. How freakin' weird is that? My b-day was just the other day. Not my cake, but they spelled my name right. :)

Things I Hate

2009-06-11T01:24:00.000-07:00

Getting my hopes up, especially regarding LibraryThing's Collections feature. I had hoped it would include ways of making certain books public or private (at least that's what I had been told), but unfortunately that's not gonna happen. Yet. (sigh) I guess I can wait another year or two till then . . . . (starts to grow a beard--yeah, baby, sexy! ;)

Chicks in the Library

2009-06-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

More things I love:

When patrons bring their pets into the library. No, I'm not being sarcastic. The other day, a girl brought her baby chicken in and even let me hold it. Aawww. (turns all gooey and maternal) We should just put up a sign: "Pets Allowed (only if you let Sara play with them)". Sounds right, yes? ;) But really, we should allow them in. After all, they do less damage than our patrons. I have yet to see a dog steal a computer, pee on a seat (well...), graffiti our walls, etc. We even had a patron ride his/her horse to our library. Very startling to see a horse outside our doors, but still awesome. Better yet, we should put up this sign: "Patrons must be accompanied by a pet." No pet; no letty-inny.

I'm Never Gonna Be Able to Eat Fritos Again. . .

2009-06-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

. . .not that I really eat them a whole lot, but that's not the point. The point is, there were some Frito chips in my dogs' bag of Pedigree. Yes, they were already inside a sealed bag. I didn't put them there; and, well, I live alone, so no one else could have done it. But I can imagine some Neanderthal Joe Schmo getting hungry while working the puree machine @ Pedigree HQ--"Mmmm . . . processed meat products"--and accidentally dropping part of his lunch in there. Or--an even worse image--is that Pedigree and Fritos share the same factory, so their foods just mix together. Hey, what's a little protein, right? (dry heaves) Now I dare ya to eat some Fritos and try not to imagine what they were touching last week.

Apologies for the really bad photo. The big yellow chunks are the Fritos.

Cakes As Books

2009-06-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

Usually, I don't pay much attention to our online staff bulletin board. Who really wants to read about HR meetings, wellness newsletters, etc, other than the people it applies to (maybe 10% of us)? But since it's slow tonight, I popped over to our staffweb and stumbled across this: Cake Wrecks, a blog about when cakes go "horribly, hilariously wrong." Loved it! Check it out. :)

Book & Movie Challenges

2009-06-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update of where I am book and movie-wise (as of the end of May):

Movies Watched in 2009
(Goal: to watch 200+ movies)
78 watched out of 83.3333333333... (I like to be annoyingly anal--or is it anally annoying? And speaking of anal, what is the purpose of the visual thesaurus, other than to make me giggle like a perv at this.)

75 Books Challenge for 2009
(Goal: well, duh, read 75 books)
30 read out of 31.25

Paranormal 999 Challenge
(Goal: to read 72 books in 9 paranormal categories)
8 read out of 30

Guh, that's depressing. I'm behind on all of them.

Romeo & Juliet 21st Century Style?

2009-05-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

Family axes wedding plans, Egyptian cuts off organ
Sunday, May 31, 2009

CAIRO - A 25-year-old Egyptian man cut off his own penis to spite his family after he was refused permission to marry a girl from a lower class family, police reported Sunday.

After unsuccessfully petitioning his father for two years to marry the girl, the man heated up a knife and sliced off his reproductive organ, said a police official.

The young man came from a prominent family in the southern Egyptian province of Qena, one of Egypt's poorest and most conservative areas that is also home to the famed ancient Egyptian ruins of Luxor.

The man was rushed to the hospital but doctors were unable to reattach the severed member, the official added citing the police report filed after the incident.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the press, added that the man was still recovering in the hospital.

Traditionally, marriages in these conservative part of southern Egypt are between similar social classes and often within the same extended families - and are rarely for love.

Uh . . . woah. For once, I am speechless. No, wait, here it comes . . . . All I can say is I hope he doesn't go Van Gogh on her and send her a gift of his, um, love. And god only knows what she's gonna cut off and send back to him. (shudders @ the thought) Gaahhh! Someone, get that damn "Detachable Penis" song out of my head.

P.S. Forgive me for not adding a picture to this article, but I'm sure you all have very vivid imaginations.

Woman Acused of Killing Peacock with Baseball Bat

2009-05-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

Woman accused of killing peacock with baseball bat

Friday, May 29, 2009
WAIANAE, Hawaii - A woman accused of clubbing to death a peacock with a baseball bat has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty. The woman was charged with second-degree animal cruelty, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 19.

The woman previously admitted to killing the bird to reporters because she was tired of its constant squawking.

She said she brought up her concerns at board meetings at Makaha Valley Towers, but was never addressed.
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Information from: The Honolulu Advertiser, http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com

This article goes into much more depth, including the fact the peacock "lived" an additional 45-60 minutes with "a broken leg, a broken neck, [and] a smashed-out eye." I guess I shouldn't be surprised by all this--I mean, people kill things for lesser reasons--but why would other people support her? Theoretically, humans are smarter than animals, but you can't prove it to me by this. It just takes a little anger management and two squishy things called ear plugs to drown out the noise (believe me, I have noisy neighbors). Or maybe move the peacocks to a bird sanctuary. That said, I just hope she gets some kind of punishment, maybe cleaning up peacock crap with her hands for awhile.

Early Reviewer Snag

2009-05-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

"Congratulations. You've snagged an Early Reviewers copy of What's a Mother (in-Law) To Do? by from the May batch. . . ." (blahdy blah blah)

Um . . . yay? Stupid me and being so request-happy. What am I gonna do with this one? For starters, I'm definitely not a mother, let alone a mother-in-law. Then there's that whole I'm-against-marriage thing, so, thankfully, I'll never have to worry about the in-law trouble. Maybe someone at work will want it . . . . (I've only donated one E.R. book from LT--As a Palm Tree in the Desert Volume 1 by Zvi Ankori--because I just couldn't get into it.)

RateYourMovies?

2009-05-25T16:19:00.000-07:00

So, RateYourMusic.com is adding movies to their format (read their FAQ). I had noticed something was up the other day with their search box, but ignored it, figuring it was a goof. I may eventually dump my MyFilmz account, but only if they work the bugs out @ RYM first. Too bad there isn't ONE catalog site that lists everything--books, movies, music, etc.

To be continued . . .

Scared Shitless in Japan and High School Black Markets

2009-05-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Two words that always catch my attention: horror and t.p. (ok, so t.p.'s technically two words, but whatever). Read this:

Horror story printed on toilet paper in Japan

Japanese author Koji Suzuki, of the 1998 Hollywood film "Ring," poses with toilet paper rolls printed with drawing of a ghost on them to promote the product in Fuji, central Japan, Saturday, May 23, 2009.

Sunday, May 24, 2009 TOKYO - In a country where ghosts are traditionally believed to hide in the loo, a Japanese company is advertising a new literary experience - a horror story printed on toilet paper.

Each roll carries several copies of a new nine-chapter novella written by Koji Suzuki, the Japanese author of the horror story "Ring," which has been made into movies in both Japan and Hollywood.

"Drop," set in a public restroom, takes up about three feet (90 centimeters) of a roll and can be read in just a few minutes, according to the manufacturer, Hayashi Paper.

The company promotes the toilet paper, which will sell for 210 yen ($2.20) a roll, as "a horror experience in the toilet."

Toilets in Japan were traditionally tucked away in a dark corner of the house due to religious beliefs. Parents would tease children that a hairy hand might pull them down into the dark pool below.

Niiice. So that's why Japanese kids are so messed up. ;) But really, doesn't it sound like Mr. Suzuki's already poo-pooing his own story? I mean, it is a clever idea (who wants to read bathroom graffiti over and over again?), but I can think of so many things that could go wrong with this--toilets getting plugged (especially if you read the entire roll in one sitting), accidentally losing your place in the story when someone else uses the bathroom, ink poisoning (hey, just thinking from a legal standpoint), etc. etc. etc.

Anywho, kinda following in the whole book theme, I read this on Yahoo Answers (courtesy of one of the threads on LT) and really got a kick out of it: Is it OK to run an illegal library from my locker at school? Never mind that this kid'll always be a mini-goddess in the eyes of her underclassmen, but I'd like to know what school just happens to have empty lockers around the place? If I remember right, I shared my locker with at least half a dozen other people (but that was because 1) they were friends/sister, and 2) the senior hall was closer to our classes). And just curious, does she charge late fines? :D I'd like to see her try and enforce that.

Randomness

2009-05-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

Awesome day @ work yesterday, because we were still closed for remodeling, so no patrons! Yay! We should remodel more often.

Still, I feel like complaining, so here are some more additions to my ever-growing Things I Hate list:

Dubbing. Seriously, if someone's watching a foreign movie, they probably don't mind reading English subtitles or--if they speak that language--listening to it. So why hire terrible voice-overs?? It totally kills the movie.
Cheap-ass headphones. Granted, I hate expensive headphones just as much, because they always break on me (I'm destructive, what can I say?), so I settle for the middle-priced ones that loop around and fit in your ear. But what I'm talking about are the cheaply-made, tinny-sounding headphones that still cost around $20. I just bought a pair yesterday, because my current ones just died in one ear; but as soon as I find my receipt (big laugh), I'm returning 'em.
Getting phlegmy on my day off. Why don't I ever get sick on a work day?? Stupid Murphy and his laws. As one great man named Cartman once said, "I'm gonna kick you square in the balls." That goes for Murphy; not you, whoever you are.

And just to balance it out, I'll add some Things I Love:

Putting my ear to Taylor's and listening to the ocean. j/k, Tay. You're the smartest doggy I know, even if you do have blonde roots. ;)
Umm . . .
. . . ummmmmmm

Naw, I think today's gonna be one of those days . . . sucky.

HPB Shopping

2009-05-25T00:59:00.000-07:00

What are the odds of this? I went Half Price Book shopping yesterday after work (actually, I went just to get my purchase corrected from last time--the cashier placed some random CD in my DVD case--grrr); and I found a copy of District B13. Frickin' awesome! I love that HPB's foreign and horror movie section has really grown. And another bonus: they were having a 20% off Memorial Day sale. Score! So, of course, I had to browse around for a couple hours and bought:

DVDs: (will add @ MyFilmz)

District B13 (One of my favorite French movies.)
The Tattoist (I was kinda hoping our library would've ordered this one by now, but it's been out for quite awhile. Oh, and Gary, if you're reading this, I'll pop this in your cubby on Wednesday or whenever I get the chance. I kinda figured you'd like a horror movie on tattoos. Just a guess. ;)
Cabin Fever (LibraryThing's horror forums got me thinking about this movie again, so I had to buy it. Love unhappy endings!)
Haven (Oddly, this was the above-mentioned DVD with the wrong disc in it. They couldn't find the match, but I found another copy in even better condition. What are the odds, huh?)
August (Josh Hartnett. 'nough said. :)

Books: (will add @ LibraryThing)

Abadazad #2: The Dream Thief by J. M. DeMatteis (Awesomeness. I read the 1st book earlier this year, so I plan on adding this one to my 75 Books Challenge on LibraryThing.)
Daughters of the Moon #3: Night Shade by Lynne Ewing (YA)
Drawn to the Grave by Mary Ann Mitchell (horror)
Circle of Three #1: So Mote It Be by Isobel Bird (Finally(!), I found the 1st book. I only have books 2-5, but at least I can now start this series. A possible addition to my Paranormal 999 Challenge.)
Fatality by Caroline B. Cooney (One of my favorite authors as a kid. I'm still collecting her books.)
Samurai Girl #4: The Book of the Wind by Carrie Asai (YA)
The Ninety Days of Genevieve by Lucinda Carrington (erotica)
The Curse by John Tigges (horror)
The Golden Compass and The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman (I already have The Subtle Knife, so now I can start on this series too. Maybe eventually watch the movie too.)

CDs: (will add @ RateYourMusic)

The Hard & the Heavy: Volume 1 by Various Artists (mostly metal)
Chamber Music by Coal Chamber (wanted it mainly for "Shock the Monkey")
Metropolis 2004 by V/A (mostly industrial/goth)
Faceless by Godsmack
Solace by Sarah McLachlan (lol--what an odd CD in this collection, but I like her)
Demanufacture and Fear is the Mindkiller by Fear Factory
Resident Evil: Apocalypse by V/A (movie soundtrack)
Nachtstrom by Sielwolf
Adema by Adema (my sis had this CD, and we both loved it)

Luv John Waters

2009-05-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

I saw John Waters last night--no, wait, early this morning--on Craig Ferguson's show. I always love watching him (John, of course; Craig I'd like to deport back to Ireland or wherever he's from--j/k). You never quite know what he's gonna say, but you know it'll be perverse. Oh, like his sexual attraction to Alvin the Chipmunk or his advocating of date-raping cookies. LOL! No, I'm serious; he was talking about sploshing. You know, that fun activity of erotically playing with your food, which most people grow out of by the time they're adults (then some revert, I guess). And if you never did that as a kid, let me be the first to tell you: "You poor thing!" Anyway, I just wish I hadn't been eating at the moment. Yuummm, tempting . . . "That pie was askin' for it!"

Oui, Oui

2009-05-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

One more reason to learn French.

On second thought, it took me several years to learn German, and I can't remember a word. Wait. Fubar--that's German, right? ;)

(The pic is from District B13. Go watch it. Now. Lots of martial arts action, which I'm a sucker for.)

I Know What Bank I'm Opening An Account With

2009-05-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

Couple withdraws money, flees after bank error

Thursday, May 21, 2009

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Police launched an international search for two New Zealanders who allegedly took the money and ran after a bank mistakenly put 10 million New Zealand dollars ($6.1 million) into their account.

The couple, who operated a gas station in the northern city of Rotorua, applied to Westpac Bank for a NZ$10,000 ($6,000) overdraft, but 1,000 times that amount was paid into their account. The two then withdrew some of the money and disappeared, Detective Senior Sgt. David Harvey said.

Westpac said Thursday it considered the money to be stolen, but conceded it was human error at the bank that made the couple accidental millionaires. Authorities did not release their identities.

Harvey said Interpol has been contacted for help, suggesting authorities believe they may have fled abroad with the cash.

"We are currently conducting an investigation into the individuals that may have been involved in the withdrawal of that money," Harvey said.

Westpac spokesman Craig Dowling said the huge deposit appeared to be the result of human error. He said the bank had recovered some of the money but declined to give details about the case.

Westpac Bank said in a statement it was "pursuing vigorous criminal and civil action to recover the sum of money stolen," but declined further comment.

Banking Ombudsman Liz Brown said it is generally considered a criminal offense for people to spend money accidentally deposited into a bank account if they are aware that the cash is not theirs.

In her 15 years as banking Ombudsman, Brown said she had been involved in 10 to 20 similar cases.

Hey, finders keepers, losers weepers. I'd do the same damn thing. I hope they get away!

Pre-Pube. Boys Are Such Spazzes

2009-05-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

...like today @ work:

Some boy comes into the back room ("Why didn't any of the B.A.'s up front stop him?" was my first thought) and tells me there's cake icing on one of the desks. The immature part of me was laughing her ass off, imagining some kid finger painting with the stuff; but the real apathetic part of me said, "Huh, really?", and I passed it on to someone else. Too bad it was only a can of icing sitting on a table, not what I had imagined. I was kinda hoping to take some nice messy pics to share.
While shelving, I heard this mom and her son talking. He's like having a total OCD moment or something, 'cause he's pulling every book on astronomy off the shelf to check-out. Why? Because he wants to--no, HAS! to--know when the world's gonna explode. The mother just humors the boy and says, "Ok, dear." Me, I flat-out laugh, which gets a laugh out of her too. I could've totally freaked the kid out and told him to check-out Sunshine, I Am Legend, The Day After Tomorrow, 28 Days Later (my fave!)--all those nice fuzzy apocalyptic movies--but I didn't want to mess with his head. Too much. I may get him next time. ;)

Totally unrelated, today was my last day @ this branch. I'm back to my original one on Sunday, which has got me totally bummed and excited. Excited because I get to see my old coworkers; bummed because I'm back to riding the stinky ol' bus again (joy).

Chestnuts

2009-05-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

I ate my first roasted Korean chestnut today (a coworker brought them in), and sorry, but they get a thumbs down from me. They're not terrible, but like one of my coworkers said, they're more of an acquired taste.

Anywho, we got to talking about chestnuts, and I was shocked that there are so few of them here in America. Poor chestnuts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Chestnut.

Laziness Rules: Another Thing I Love

2009-05-20T12:54:00.001-07:00

Sunny afternoons doing nothing with the pets.

Things I Love & Hate

2009-05-19T14:44:00.000-07:00

Love: Finding clean dishes* when I thought I was out. Unfortunately, I don't remember loading the dishwasher anytime this week. So where did it come from . . . ?

*The same could be said for clothes. As long as it smells clean and looks clean, it's clean.

Hate: Chasing pets. Naught, naughty, unruly pets that like to slip through fences into the neighbors' yard, so I have to chase them in my pj's and without makeup or a bath. (Yes, people, just ignore the creepy-looking bag lady running through your yard.)

Humorscope

2009-05-19T03:58:00.000-07:00

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

Good day to take up crime fighting, as a hobby. First, make yourself a really awesome leotard and cape, and maybe some sort of unusual headgear. That's how most of them get started.

Get started as what? Gay superheroes? Seems they kinda forgot their cape, among other things . . . .

Things I Hate

2009-05-19T02:23:00.000-07:00

New jeans that give me painful melvins. What gives? The jeans fit fine everywhere else, so it's either because 1) I have, er, extra junk padding down there (oh joy, now doesn't that sound sexy?), or 2) the designers have never actually seen a woman naked (other than a mannequin), so they sew the crotch up to the belly button. Niiice. :/
Leaving my clean laundry to dry outside while I'm @ work and having it downpour. Fu--...un. Shoulda listened to the newscaster. But at least I finished mowing the yard Sunday, because--this is just a guess now--electric mowers + rain = um, not a good thing. Just gotta fix that damn dryer of mine.
Shelving books @ work and having a cute kid fart next to me--then getting dirty looks from nearby patrons who think I did it. Believe me, if I had ripped one, they woulda felt it, not just smelt it. (Smelt . . . is that even a word?)

Things I Love

2009-05-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

The smell of rain. (Guess I kinda have to, living in Washington.)

More Things I Hate

2009-05-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

Missing my favorite radio show--On the Edge--because 1) I can't pick up the freakin' station on any of my radios (even though it's in Seattle), and 2) it won't play online. (pouts) Gotta wait till next Sunday. . . .

Din-Din

2009-05-17T23:22:00.001-07:00

Tofu and beans tonight.

There goes the ozone layer.

Things I Hate

2009-05-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

Unsolicited advice. Here's me walking home with both arms full of groceries (very heavy, I might add). Here's an oncoming lady about to give me the advice of a lifetime--apparently, I need a backpack with wheels. Now, why didn't I think of that? (smacks forehead) Ok, end of sarcasm. And to actually answer that (no, it wasn't rhetorical this time), I don't use a backpack with wheels because, for me, it's the epitome of laziness, almost like dragging your groceries home in a wagon (which, if I lived in the middle of nowhere, would be pretty freakin' awesome, considering I have to walk downhill). But, no, I still have the use of my back and arms (thank god), so it's all about building the girly muscles. So, unless someone plans on backing up this "awe-inspiring" advice with a free (electric!) car or (god forbid) a little red wagon, please tape this woman's mouth shut. For all we know, she's ruining innocent people's days. The horror!

Whee. Now I get to go to work and share my warm, fuzzy personality with library staff. :) You lucky coworkers, you.

Things I Hate

2009-05-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

Not being able to read while walking. I could get sooo much reading done if I did this, since I walk everywhere. Nobody thinks twice if you're texting and walking (though I wouldn't advise it; speaking from experience, trash cans always win); but try and read, and you'll get someone yelling at you (from their car, of course): "You'll get killed that way!" Yeah, well, pay attention to your driving instead of yelling at pedestrians. Maybe then we won't get hit.

And as for being assaulted, make sure you either bring a heavy hardback (those are great for breaking noses) or disguise a penknife, nail file, razor, what-have-you as a bookmark and use liberally anywhere on your attacker's body, preferably somewhere soft and vital, eg, eyes, throat, abdomen, and/or groin. Ahh, this is giving me some wonderful--ie, sick--ideas . . . . (rubs hands together) I should patent a lethal--um, self defense?--bookmark. That'd be sweet. And evil. Hmm, more evil than sweet.

Oh, and for those newbie bookworms who want to get their written word fix while walking, here's a little how-to (no shit) courtesy WikiHow (laughs @ the idiocy of things posted online, including this blog):

How to Read While Walking

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

We usually read sitting down, at a table or in a comfortable and cozy recliner. However, at times you might need to read something quickly, and do not have the time to sit. We might have the need to read while walking to our destination. This can be dangerous, so follow the following steps to be safe.

Steps

Pick a document you want to read. The bigger the writing, the safer it is to read.
Before going on the street, try practicing it indoors such as in a department store, mall, or even in your own home.
Hold your document with either one or both hands and start walking while reading. Do not cover your face with the reading material. Hold it around your chest area and occasionally look up to see where you are walking
Try to see the shadow of objects instead of looking up completely from what you are reading.
Practice it while walking slowly.
After some practice, you will be able to walk a little faster, but don't walk too fast as you can really get hurt.

Tips

Use and trust your senses. If you think there's something in front of you, stop or raise your head and look. The key is to practice slowly and raise your speed.
Your walking will be stabilized.
Use your peripheral vision! VERY IMPORTANT!
With enough practice, you will be able to fully utilize your peripheral vision and navigate by what you can see around the book, instead of having to break your concentration by constantly looking up.

Warnings

Do not concentrate on reading if you are reading and walking. You have to be careful, especially in the street. No matter what, put the book down and look up when you are crossing the street.
Do not try to do the same thing while riding a bike or car. It is dangerous enough while walking.
You will walk slower when you read and walk, no matter how experienced you are. If you're trying to review notes before heading to a class, tack on another fifteen minutes to be safe.
DO NOT try to walk down stairs. You might fall.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Read While Walking. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Things I Love

2009-05-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

'nough said. :)

P.S. They're vegan, too.

LibraryThing

2009-05-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

"Congratulations. You've snagged an Early Reviewers copy of Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland from the August bonus batch.You should get your copy in the mail shortly. The publishers ship the books directly--some are speedier than others, so please be patient (some really do take over 6 weeks to arrive)!"

--(from LibraryThing to moi)

Hmm, think I should give up waiting for it? ;) It's going on 8-9 months now. Not that I'm dying to read it (it's received some really bad reviews), but I love free stuff, especially books.

Oddly enough though, it's been almost a week since I've stuck my nose in one. (A book, ya perv. Pphbtt!) I've been too busy watching movies. A lot of them have subtitles, so does that count? Meh, didn't think so. I'm still trudging through Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, Garage: Reinventing the Place We Park by Kira Obolensky (good god, this is from last year's pile!), Wilding by Melanie Tem (kinda waiting for it to get gory, but then I remembered it's published by Abyss--d'oh!--so it's more psychological), The Rights of the Reader by Daniel Pennac, and Roswell High #1: The Outsider by Melinda Metz (yum, hot alien guys).

Anywho, what's on the agenda for today (besides book talk):

~~Get a sunburn~~
~~Grub shop~~
Mow the jungle I call a back yard
Housework (whatever strikes my fancy--laundry, mopping, etc.)
~~Read~~
~~Watch the telly~~
Take some pictures of the critters

Things I Hate

2009-05-05T03:57:00.000-07:00

Having a crush on someone who doesn't like you back.
Old people who steal, eg: 1) @ Freddy's, they're always sneaking grapes, carrots, etc, in the produce section. My grandmother even does this! (shields face & walks away as fast as possible); 2) Yesterday morning on my way to work, I saw an old woman park her car in the middle of the road so she could walk into one of my neighbors' yards and pull their flowers. Wtf, lady?! And if I were to turn one of them in, I'd be the bad guy. I don't know which I hate more now--kids or old people.
Updating my 75 Books Challenge for 2009 @ LibraryThing & losing all my work. Grrr. I may redo it, but... (shrugs) I'm just frustrated I guess.
Putting up with my own negativity.

Things I Hate

2009-03-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

Being scared shitless by something as pathetic as a blown lightbulb. Seriously, how silly is that? I can read/watch the scariest books and movies, but have a lightbulb suddenly burn out a few feet from me, and I jump and scream like a little girl. Maybe it's just the caffeine. Gotta have an excuse, right? ;)

Things I Love

2009-03-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Finding cheap products that are "accidentally vegan", like White Rain. Hmm, pay $1 per bottle or $10+ per bottle for my current Abba shampoo and conditioner . . . ? Decisions, decisions. (Don't get me wrong; Abba's a great company; but I like my money in my bank account better. :)

Things I Love

2009-03-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

When the Internet goes down on the public computers and almost all of our patrons leave. Yes!!! Even better, our computers still have Internet access. Bwa ha ha! I love it. :D

Things I Love

2009-03-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a birthday card I found in the book drop today. Totally made my day. :D

Front Page

The Roman numerals for "30" are XXX.

Need I say more?

Inside Card

It's gonna be a great year!

(handwritten below)

Hi baby, :)

When I saw this card, I really

thought about us creating our own

different types of positions . . . Ho Ho . . .

It kinda goes on, but nothing nasty. It was also signed, and I almost wanted to look that patron up, but instead I put it up for my coworkers to read. Ha! Lesson learned: check your stuff before returning it to the library--or the staff will make fun of you. Think they're laughing at you? It's not paranoia; they probably are. ;)

Things I Love

2009-03-20T17:36:00.000-07:00

What better way to celebrate Spring than to spend 5 hours at a library book sale! Here's what I came home with (approximately 100 books, 5 CDs, and 1 DVD):

Admit it: you know you're jealous ;), especially since I only spent $50-odd. A third of the books were horror/fantasy/sci fi; the other 2/3rds were YA/juvenile, chick lit/romance/erotica, nonfiction, and mysteries. It was kinda disappointing not finding a whole lot of horror (my favorite genre), but it'll be good for me to "expand my horizons" (not to sound cheesy or anything). I only bought 2 or 3 duplicates, which isn't bad considering I went by memory. Usually I have a shopping list of missing books in a series, but I was running really late this morning, even though I woke up 3.5 hours ahead of time. Go figure.

Random Pet Musings

2009-03-13T17:27:00.001-07:00

Why do my cats prefer the expensive bags of catnip from the store over the catnip plant I've somehow still been able to keep alive?
Why does cat crap/vomit taste oh so much better to a dog than their own doggie treats?

Another Strange One

2009-03-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

Here's another news clipping kind of in the same animal/vet vein. I've been lucky that I've never had a boss that warranted this kind of punishment (not that I would drug anyone), but I have had one Supervisor From Hell when I worked at a vet clinic. Coincidence? I think not. Unsociable people seem to be drawn to odd jobs like that. (Not that I would know anything about unsociable oddballs. ;)

Police: Woman drugs boss's coffee so he'll 'chill'

Friday, March 13, 2009

BRYANT, Ark. - Police said a woman has been arrested for allegedly slipping some tranquilizers into her boss's coffee because she felt "he needed to chill out." Police said the 24-year-old woman admitted to detectives that she slipped the drugs into veteranarian John Duckett's drink. Officers said Duckett knew something was wrong shortly after drinking some of the coffee Tuesday morning.

Officers said the woman cleaned the cages at the the Reynolds Road Animal Clinic.

A judge set bond at $25,000 Friday and a jailer said the woman was still being held Friday. Her next court appearance is scheduled for April 21.

Information from: KLRT-TV, http://www.fox16.com

Strange News

2009-03-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

Woman finds hungry calico cat hiding in $27 couch

Vickie Mendenhall holds "VeeVee" the cat at her job with SpokAnimal Thursday, March 12, 2009 in Spokane, Wash. Mendenhall got a couch at Value Village and after having it at her home for a few days discovered the cat was living inside the piece of furniture.

Friday, March 13, 2009

SPOKANE, Wash. - The mysterious mewing in Vickie Mendenhall's home started about the time she bought a used couch for $27. After days of searching for the source of the noise, she found a very hungry calico cat living in her sofa.

Her boyfriend, Chris Lund, was watching TV on Tuesday night and felt something move inside the couch. He pulled it away from the wall, lifted it up and there was the cat, which apparently crawled through a small hole on the underside.

Mendenhall contacted Value Village, where she bought the couch, but the store had no information on who donated it. So she took the cat to SpokAnimal CARE, the animal shelter where she works, so it could recover, and contacted media outlets in hopes of finding the owner.

Sure enough, Bob Killion of Spokane showed up to claim the cat on Thursday after an acquaintance alerted him to a TV story about it. Killion had donated a couch on Feb. 19, and his 9-year-old cat, Callie, disappeared at about the same time.

Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com

Things I Love

2009-03-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hard green bananas. Even better if I can get them home without bruising them.

Things I Hate

2009-03-13T01:53:00.000-07:00

Neighbors who hack up their tobacco-ridden lungs outside my house at all hours of day/night. Dude, go somewhere else and die quietly, like preferably inside your own home! Or better yet, stop smoking. Dumbass.

Places You Pee

2009-03-08T21:47:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one who finds this web address immaturely funny? What were they thinking when they decided on that one? LOL!

(FYI: The U.P. stands for University Place, Washington.)

Alexia Yukon Gold French Fries

2009-03-07T18:21:00.001-08:00

I'm not a big potato eater. In fact, I sometimes lump potatoes in with other unhealthy white foods--flour, sugar, salt, etc, because I know I can always find something with fewer calories and still get the same nutrients. But I love trying new vegetarian/vegan foods, especially when they're on sale, so I tried these--

--and, I'm sorry to say, they didn't convert me back to the McDonald's French fry addict I used to be. You know, before Mickey D's said, "Oh, by the way, people, we soak our French fries in animal fat."

Ok, getting a little off track there.

I probably won't buy these again, but I'm not going to throw them out either. 1) It's nice to eat oily food once in awhile (and, for once, I didn't have to drown them in ketchup 'cause they're so dry). 2) My dogs love 'em. LOL! Just don't tell their vet. ;)

More Things I Hate

2009-03-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

when cat litter companies hide coupons in their containers

when your cat pees next to the coupon before you have a chance to fish it out of there (but I'm sure it could've been far worse . . .)

Low-Rise Jeans

2009-03-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

I must be getting old, because I freakin' hate the jeans they have out nowadays. No, I don't mean men's urban-style down-to-your-knees jeans (though those are just as bad); I mean women's down-to-your-pubes ones. What ever happened to jeans that fit over your hips instead of hanging off them? Seriously, only a few women can wear these jeans with style, instead of the rest of us with our muffin tops, stretch marks, and untoned abs. All I've got to say is thank god long shirts are in fashion right now. But please, someone make jeans that fit right!

(Yeah, I know the photo isn't of women's low-rise jeans, but I got a kick out of the photo, so I had to share. You're oh so welcome! ;P Check out more "Dangers of Low Rise" @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/malingering/sets/1802016/ . Lots o' buttcracks.)

Zombie Pets

2009-03-06T00:39:00.001-08:00

Generally, I hate surprises, but this was so freakin' awesome! G. H., one of my coworkers, gave me these cute little zombie pets as a thank you for letting him borrow some of my horror movies. So now I've turned the top shelf of my 600's into a zombie petting zoo--lol!

My Work Is Never Done

2009-03-06T00:17:00.000-08:00

This is why I hate going on vacation or taking sick leave--the substitutes who fill in for you almost never do your work, which they're supposed to do. So this is what was waiting for me when I came back from vacation--6 shelves (the bottom shelf is barely visible) full of books, some having double rows. GAH!!!

My Name's Not Lisa!

2009-03-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

You can tell how (un)important you are at work when, after 2 years of working there, your supervisor still calls you by the wrong name, even when you're wearing a freakin' name tag and repeatedly correct him.

One Day . . .

2009-03-04T09:06:00.001-08:00

. . . this thing will drop from the ceiling and brain me in my sleep.

Things I Hate

2009-03-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

Arthur probably hates this so much more than I do, but shortly after I brought the dogs home this morning, Arthur broke out in a rash all over his body. It started with just a couple red, raised areas around his penis, but it soon spread all over his body. Not only that, but he vomited twice (on our walk and at home) and had diarrhea (ditto). Poor guy. I didn't know what to do for him. His appetite was good, so I knew he wasn't severely sick. Still, I called the vet, and all they said was to put some cortisone cream on the rash; Benadryl wasn't necessary at this point. The vomiting was probably due to excitement of being home, and the diarrhea was possibly from the different dog food they fed him. She might have been right about the last two, but I went ahead and gave him some Benadryl after talking with my mom. (Sadie had a similar rash months back, and this did the trick.) He's been doing much better. Very tired, but the rash has subsided. (Crossing my fingers that the vomiting and diarrhea doesn't hit for a third round tomorrow.)

Salt Lake Airport

2009-03-02T20:31:00.001-08:00

SeaTac Airport needs to take a lesson from what Salt Lake does at their aiport:

A park and wait lot--how awesome is that?!

(FYI, if you didn't know: "The Park & Wait Lot is an area where drivers wait in their vehicles, free of charge, while passengers deplane, pickup luggage and walk to the curb for pickup." At SeaTac and a lot of other airports, you have to either pay for parking or drive around in circles. This is so much better.)

Back Home

2009-03-02T19:21:00.000-08:00

I got back home from Utah yesterday evening. I almost didn't even make the whole trip, though. To make a long story short, I was running all over downtown Tacoma to make my bus connection (stupid mislabeled street signs) and running through SeaTac to catch my plane (luckily, the security line was almost nonexistent). I was almost afraid they'd confiscate my sister's ashes, but I placed them in my bag so they weren't visible. Technically, they're not supposed to mess with cremations, but you never know.

I know my trip only lasted Saturday and part of Sunday, but it was all a blur! Mom picked me up at the Salt Lake City Airport, and we visited an LDS bookstore where she bought me Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. Score! I've been looking for a cheap copy of it forever. New and free's even better. Thanks, Mom! :) We also walked around Temple Square for a bit. It looked vaguely familiar (especially the night sky painted overhead where the Jesus Christ statue is in the visitor's center); I think we visited it once before when we lived in Utah years back.

We later went to the Draper Temple (obviously Mom's idea, not mine, since she's Mormon ;). We had to park at one LDS church, and they shuttled everyone in groups up the mountain (or at least it felt like it by the incline) via buses. There were tons of people! I was shocked by the turn-out. And we literally walked forever. I'm so glad I wore my crocs and nothing with heels. Probably the thing I loved the most about the temple was the baptismal font. The mischievous side of me wanted to cannonball right into the water, but there was a tour guide blocking the steps into the water. Smart woman. ;)

Afterwards, we drove to 2 family friends' homes and visited with them. I was surprised they even recognized me after 20+ years (though a few people were honest enough to say they didn't recognize me at all--lol). We stayed at one family's home instead of going to a hotel so we could chat more. Of course, we talked a lot about Meg. It's been almost 6 months since she died, but it feels like a lot less than that.

I actually went to church with everyone on Sunday, and no I didn't spontaneously combust. :P We only went for the hour or so of sacrament (I chug-a-lugged Jesus' blood, but I didn't eat the bread because of possible milk, etc.), and I was quite moved by all the testimonies that were given--they all seemed to be about death or the loss of a loved one. Mom even bore her testimony. I don't think any of us were dry-eyed. It was hard not to think of that hospital room Megan died in. That's one memory I wish I could erase.

We ate lunch together before Mom and a family friend drove me back to the SLC Airport. And again, I barely made my plane. :D I swear, I got more cardio in this weekend than I did all week. It was so nice to see Mom and everyone who helped raise my sister and me, plus the mountains and the area I grew up in. But it's wonderful to be back home with my furry babies too. :)

Things I Hate

2009-02-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

Leaving my pets so I can go to Utah this weekend. Not that the trip's bad, but the dogs have never been kenneled before, and Taylor especially was reluctant to leave with the vet tech. The house is really lonely without them. :(
Airports (unless it's an itty bitty one). Just the thought of being surrounded by that many people and being scrutinized by security just sends me into panic mode. Strangely, I feel safer on the plane.

Things I Love

2009-02-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

The spazzy little squirrel that lives in my carport and mooches oatmeal and peanut butter from me. S/he drives the dogs nuts, though. (I had to take the photos from the dining room because of the dogs, so there's some glare from the window.)

Socks

2009-02-27T15:13:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I love being tacky and breaking every fashion don't, like these: neon striped socks with toes (Thanks, Mom! :) and white socks with sandals.

Things I Love

2009-02-27T13:48:00.000-08:00

Big salads. Can you believe this sucker expired on February 17 and it still looks edible. Kinda smells funny, but what the hell. :D What I usually do is wait for the big bags of salad to go on sale at Freddie's, then I buy the lot of them and shove them to the back of the fridge. That's why they last so long. If there's not enough room, I'll put some in the freezer. This totally grosses my mom out, because once it thaws, it's all slimy. Tastes fine, but I wonder if it decreases nutrients or something. (shrugs)

And more often than not I get asked the question, "You're going to eat that WHOLE thing?

Me (with my mouth full of salad): "Yesh."

It's like people are allergic to veggies or something.

Naked Barbie

2009-02-27T10:14:00.000-08:00

This happened at work on Wednesday night, so I'm a little slow in updating. Anywho, we found an abandoned nude Barbie doll in the kids section, and I decided to play dress-up with her since she was a mess. (Yes, your hard tax dollars hardly at work.) I dressed her in tissue and one of my coworkers (S.) gave her the belt. But why am I even mentioning this? Because of 1) some of the reactions of my coworkers to her being naked, and 2) my surprise that she had painted-on underwear. Since when did Barbie go from commando to wearing briefs? Did too many parents complain? Has America seriously gotten that conservative? It's not like she has genitals. She doesn't even have nipples or a belly button for freak's sake. And besides, I don't see Ken wearing boxers. I need to Google this. For some reason, it's gotten me a little tizzied up.

P.S. My supervisor christened her Sara. Oh, har har. :P Meet our new (temporary until some poor kid comes to claim her) library mascot:

I hate it . . .

2009-02-27T09:18:00.000-08:00

. . . when little dogs (ahem, Sadie) chew the lid on my prescription bottle so I can't open it without a wrench. I know, thankfully she didn't eat any of the pills, but how on earth did she get on that table?? She's part kangaroo--that's the only explanation.

"Revenge Gifts" and Chickies

2009-02-26T12:20:00.000-08:00

One of 4 books I'm reading right now is Revenge Gifts by Cindy Cruciger, and it's got me laughing with its chicken/rooster scenes. I can totally relate with their antics (pooping all over the place, attacking strange people/animals, eating anything and everything), because I used to have 4 chickens several years ago when I was a semi-vegetarian and eating their eggs. Which lead me to pulling out the photo albums and reminiscing like a senile old fart. Here's one of them back in May 2003 when we first got them:

I can't believe they were so small we could keep them in a kiddy pool. But probably one of the best things I loved about them was carrying them around and having them fall asleep in your arms. Aaww, very cute. Now I need to think up some annoying things to offset this saccharine moment.

More Things I Hate

2009-02-25T10:13:00.001-08:00

The wind, especially walking in it just after doing my hair.
Smelling poop in the living room and not being able to find it. I'm hoping it's just one of the dogs farting, but I'm never that lucky. And I know how I'm going to find it, too--in the middle of the night when I'm walking barefoot. I just know it.

Things I Hate

2009-02-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

Taylor probably hates this more than I do, but I hate accidentally cutting her nails so short they bleed. :(

Things I Love

2009-02-25T08:34:00.001-08:00

I probably shouldn't admit this, but I love it when Sadie sneezes so hard her forehead hits the floor. LOL! I'm goin' to hell for that one.

New Shoes

2009-02-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

There's something almost zen about shopping. Either that or it's the rain.

I also bought some crocs, but I'm loving the boots the best. (The photo's a day late, but I was too pooped last night to care if I posted a pic or not.)

Do you have the dictionary in audio?

2009-02-24T09:37:00.000-08:00

I had the funniest request from a patron last night at work:

Did we have the dictionary in audiobook form?

I don't laugh at our patrons (not to their faces at least), but I couldn't help myself this time. He was good natured about it and laughed himself, so I think he may have been joking, but still, what's next? Phonebooks on audio?