I'd been having this weird headache thing going on. I'd be fine, and then -wham!- it felt like someone was holding a stun gun to my right temple. Literally, this stinging, burning, shocking pain for about 30-45 seconds, followed by a crushing headache. So I went to see the fabulous Dr. D. yesterday, and she's sending me in for an MRI of my head. See? I'll be able to prove to everyone once and for all that I do have a brain in there (instead of a gerbil on a wheel, or feathers, or cotton candy, or any of the other things y'all might have thought were happening in there). I have to go to a neurologist too.. for all the docs I've been to over the past 3 years, a neuro has never been one of them. How do they test your neuros, anyway? :-) Luckily, I'm not claustrophobic, so the scan thing isn't that big a deal. Give me some headphones, I'll close my eyes, I'll be fine.

Go Go Lady Gophers! We're in the FINAL FOUR! Whoo hoo!

I haven't been to the labyrinth at St. Kate's yet this year (it's a little too early, it's probably not mown into the grass yet), but I know that I'll walk it in the spring and summer. There's nothing mystical or magical about it or anything..maybe because it's on campus, which is still one of my favorite places to be. Who knows?

10 Things to do in the Twin Cities Before You Die. Uh oh. I've done all ten! What happens now?! Quick - someone think of an 11th...

Unbelievable. But I love the fact that he wants to tell Simon "I'm not the worst singer". Well, he is... but I guess it just doesn't matter.

Go on over to Lileks and laugh at the next installment of the Gallery of Regrettable Food. This one is especially good.

Ciao, Bellas.

RIP Alistair Cooke.

Oh for the love of God - enough, already! Show of hands - who's tired of hearing about Janet Jackson, and her various body parts?

We called this one exactly right. Buh-bye Kingdom Hospital.

What do you suppose happened here? Did she meet someone? Did she run away?

About the only line the Hatch sisters didn't use was "Don't you know who my father is?". Note to self: if you ever run for public office, don't have kids.

What a great story! This woman IS Nancy Drew!

That's all for now. Have a day - whatever flavor you want. Ciao.

Or maybe one of these two?





I don't know why I'm on such a shoe-thing right now.. maybe because I got the front closet cleaned out, so now I have room for more.

RIP Peter Ustinov.

They can dress up the new "Joey" series as much as they want... it's not gonna last more than one or two seasons. Just leave well enough alone, and go out gracefully.

On the other hand, I'd watch a "Practice" spinoff with William Shatner and James Spader any day!

All righty, then. Time to start another fun-filled week. God help us all. (sometimes it's harder to feign excitements than other times..) Ciao.

Sunday morning can only mean two things - coffee and QVC. So how cute are these Birks? (picture them light blue - same color as my soon-to-be-new-beetle)



I woke up today and thought "what is it that I want more than anything?" And then the answer came to me - NOT a Wham! musical.

This will be my new job. Just call me Martha.

Well, I sure feel safer now, knowing that the airports can spot explosive cheese. Note to self: do not fly. ever. again.

Mare! Let's go to BELIZE! (sorry for the inside joke...e-mail me if you want the whole story.)

I bet their dad is just proud as proud can be. Girls, you're grounded. For life.

I remember when dad brought home the color TV. I think I was maybe 4 or 5 years old... and I watched cartoons in color for the first time (it probably was the Jetsons, or the Flintstones).

It's officially spring - time for the Flower Show!

Time for lunch with the Dame, and then on to meet the fam for dinner (so it's all about the food today, I guess). Ciao, bellas.

First and foremost, let me say: I Am Famous. For Thursday, March 25, who was the Minnesota Blog of the Day?
Oh yeah, that's right.... CHELEBLOG. Whoo Hoo!

This makes me nervous. I don't care what they say, they're gonna use this to start chipping away at Roe v. Wade.

McDonald's is going to start taking credit cards. Soon, I'll never have to carry cash!

If I were the guy that Richard Simmons slapped I'd never admit it. "Yeah, I'm a big 6'1" guy... I got bitched slapped by a 5'7" workout queen". The only thing worse would have been if a girl hit him! I think - no, I KNOW - that I could probably take Richard out with a single push.

True confession - I've been in love with Andrew McCarthy since St. Elmo's Fire. I've always wanted the dark, brooding, sensitive boy... turns out he was just hungover. Doggone it.

Okay, well, this just makes me sad, on so many levels: that someone actually thought to figure it out and write it down, and that someone might actually DO this.

More on the Lottery Director. Puts the whole 'getting whipped up about the job' thing in perspective, doesn't it? It's just a job - it's not your life.

It's a lovely day, and I've got the day off now... only because I will have very few days off in April - but that's a topic for another day. For now, time to relax, rest, and recreate.. and have chinese food, too. Spero che abbiate un giorno bello - Ciao!

The hair is newly red - a little darker, a little less bright.. Only because I lost my mind and bought the wrong kind yesterday! Someday I'm going to get really brave and do the burgundy/purply color one last time. I'm almost too old to do that anymore. Almost - not quite.

I agree with Rep. Karen Clark - everything about this proposal IS mean. Someone needs to explain to me WHY people are so threatened by 2 men, or 2 women, getting married. One thinks that, 40 or 50 years ago, these same folks would have been threatened by people of color drinking from their water fountains or eating at their restaurants. Live and let live. Does who these people are married to - same sex or different sex - affect the way YOU live everyday? Can you not say your rosary or shop at KMart because of who they are married to? Of course not! So you just do what you want to do, they'll do what they want to do, I'll do what I want to do.... we'll all be just fine. And there will be a lot less yelling.
Ahhh - if only chele ruled the world!

And so the week roles on. Have a good day. Ciao, bellas.

Buh-Bye Frasier. I confess - I haven't watched it regularly for a couple of years. It got a little too slapstick there for a while.

I love this. What a rip-off! I've been throwing money into social security for years, and I'm not even gonna get to collect on it??? And there are people now who contributed, like $1.50 in their lifetime who've been on it for YEARS. That's it, Grandpa. Enough slacking. Back to work for ya.

Whoo Hoo! Spring is Here! It's gonna be 60 degrees today!

I've travelled through all the papers, and that's all I've got - so I guess it's time to get going. Unless you've got stories?

Ciao.

I'm starting to have vacation-fantasies now....I need days-in-a-row off. Somewhere warm and sunny, with a beach and little umbrellas in drinks. No alarm clocks, no phones, no "I know you're really busy right now and having acknowledged that I'm going to put something else on your plate anyway". The fantasies kicked into high gear yesterday, when I realized that every single other person on this project has either been on, or will be going on, a vacation before this is over except for me. Honestly - I'm going to just topple over one day.

The Queen of Soul is ailing. Someday I want articles to refer to me as the Queen of something.

And isn't this ironic. RIP, Mr. Powerbar-Creator Man.

I haven't been to Burger King in years. Scary food! Will this guy be able to turn it around?

Oh, c'mon. This is funny!

Hey! y'all want to come to a party at my house? eeeeeeek!

Not that I'm wishing away summer (far from it!) - but look at what's gonna happen in August! I gotta get us some tickets for that...

My same old question again: why is it that so-called "christians" are so mean? I thought they were supposed to have the joy of the lord in their hearts (or a spring in their step or something). Mostly they're just mean and vengeful. Not a happy existence.

Anyway - that's what's in my mind this morning. Have an adequate day. Or more, if you so desire! Ciao.

As Mac says - another day of "living the dream". It's tough to start the week again.

I keep telling you people that I'm on a health food diet.

Or should I say, my eating is healthy as long as I lay off the Chaca Chaca.

That's all - there's never much news on Monday morning... except I've noticed that when I look out the window now at 5:43 AM, it's starting to get light outside. We're through the long, long winter folks. and because I forgot to say it the other day:

Happy Spring!

Ciao!

I'll write about the news later. First the important stuff.
We went to the Auto Show last night, and I found my next car:



Honest to God - could that BE any cuter? It's so me... not that I don't love Hello-Kitty Saturn, but this will be the next generation chelecar.

It's all about the laundry today, and then hockey hockey hockey tonight.. the U is in the WCHA finals.

Ciao, Bellas. Buon Giorno!

Not much of a blog this morning. I have a migraine, and have the little wavy lines dancing in front of my eyes, making it difficult to see and type! I've taken tylenol, had my coffee, and I'm gonna just move slowly for a little while.
Yeah... I know it's from too much stress. I'm working on it!
One cool thing before I go. I got my first iBook from iTunes a couple days ago, a collection of essays from the Dalai Lama.I didn't know how I'd like listening to a book rather than reading it - but it's good, especially in the car. I don't know that I'd sit around at home and listen to a book..

Ciao, bellas.

It's going to be an insanely early day tomorrow. I have to get the fam up and on the road before 5:00 in the A.M.

Lately it seems that everyone I know feels vaguely - dissatisfied, I guess is the right word - with life right now. I know I am. Work is hellacious-busy, I'm burnt out, fam-stuff going on... I feel the need to make changes, and I know what I want to do, but I have to be patient. It's all about the timing. I'm too old to make rash, drastic decisions any more.

The one decision I CAN make now is to go to sleep. So I will. Ciao bellas.

Happy St. Paddy's Day... or something like that, from this Italian Girl.

Whitney Houston is in treatment? Hold on, while I fall over from NOT-surprise.

About now, I'm feeling pretty good about trading in the Blazer for a non-gas-guzzling Saturn. The last time prices jumped like this was the week after I bought the Blazer... and as I watched the gas pump chug past $25, I thought "what have I done?!?" And I filled that thing up at LEAST twice a week. Hello-Kitty-Car goes a minimum of 10 days between fill-ups, and more often 2 weeks. And even at $2 a gallon, the most I'll ever pay is $20. I can handle that.

Oooh, it's a rumble.. in Lake Hanska?? My favorite thing is when the farm-boys think that they're gangstas. C'mon up to MY neighborhood for a day, boys.

You just knew that sooner or later the "alcohol may have been a factor" was gonna come out.

I'm happy to note that I've contributed my share to the 50 million.

Ciao!

I've got another early day - yeah, you never get tired of those... I've got nothin' else now. Stories later, though. Ciao.

Update at 8:41 PM
Exhausting day... I'm glad to just be home, in my jammies with my Alice in Wonderland blanket, on the couch with the kitties and Ryan Secrest (well, he's on TV). I've heard it's snowing all over the place.. but not here, not yet. It's too cold, though. c'mon spring.
buona sera, bellas.

I agree - this year's group of American Idol contestants aren't as good, overall, as last year's. But yet I'll watch every minute of it. Because I get just that sucked into it.

The Game Show Network is going the way of MTV. Remember when MTV actually showed music videos?!?

Lisa Marie Presley - now THERE'S a real Rhodes Scholar. So interesting. So articulate! If she weren't Elvis' daughter, would we even know who she was?

There's gotta be more to this story than meets the eye.

Gotta Run - Ciao.

Fresno, California: oh. my. god.

Yet another reality show! "Airline" is pretty good. I think that ALL workplaces should film reality shows. Imagine what we'd see - heh heh...

Good for these ladies! It proves that sometimes you CAN work the system.

I agree - there are fewer jaywalkers and loiterers around now that the buses aren't running. It's a relief, frankly.

I got the Creature Speakers last night. Whoo hoo! I've never had bass like this before. We got them all set up and then the freakin' fire alarm went off again. Down to the lobby (we didn't even bring the cats with us) - where we discovered it was a broken water pipe. Did I mention that I can't wait to move? It might happen sooner than expected.
Today is all about getting all my cords in order behind the desk, and doing some major organizing and clearing out clutter. Have an excellent day, okay? Ciao.

Aaaah - a day off, but with lots of stuff going on. Quick look through the news:

The catholic church says that fans can't eat hot dogs at the opening game. Of course they granted dispensations when St. Patrick's day fell on a Friday. Oh, and molesting children? That's okay anytime. (want me to have an opinion about all this???)

But they left out the last part of this conversation between Dianna and Camilla - the part where they had the HUGE catfight! (that was for you, Mac...)

Laugh at me if you must, but I'd go see this movie - just because Joan of Arcadia is in it.

Yeah - the government doesn't need to be worry about people buying candy with foodstamps. That's a little bit too much intrusion..

Have a good day. Ciao.

Just suspend him. For life. What the hell? "I don't play the game that way". Yes, you do, Bertuzzi. "I had no intention of hurting you". Why, I thought you'd LIKE it if I sucker-punched you in the back of the head and slammed your face into the ice. Amazing how apologetic you become when faced with the fact that your career - probably the only thing you're bright enough to do - might end. GRRRR. I don't know why this has me so whipped up, but it does.

American Idol starts in earnest now that they have the final group in place. I'm rooting for that pen-salesman guy, and the kid who is channeling the spirits of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. In a couple of weeks I'll know their names, too!

Marshall Fields Will always be Dayton's to me.. and it's just not the same anymore. Mervyn's, though? Eh - it could go away. It used to REALLY irritate me when it was called "Mervyn's California. What was up with that? I'll always just be a Target girl, I guess. I don't need the fancy clothes. Not when there are fancy speakers to be had!

What else? Not much. We're into phase two of construction so no moves for a while, just builders and subs right now. My slammed finger is better, my slammed foot is not. I couldn't figure out why my foot was sore... then I remembered how I dropped a box on it during the move last week. I'm not gonna get out of this alive, I tell ya! Be careful out there. Ciao.

Todd Bertuzzi is a thug. I like a good hockey fight as much as the next guy - but this was a cheap shot, and it left Avs Center Steve Moore with a broken neck.

RIP Robert Pastorelli. I liked Eldin.

Um, yes... I'd like to buy a stick of gum, please. And I'll be paying for it with my brand new one meeeeeellion dollar bill. At least the clerk caught it. Some of the cashiers I used to work with probably would have just given her the change!

Moral of the story: don't get all liquored up and get on a plane, or you'll go to jail for eight months.

I've had to fire friends in the past. I've always called it "friend house-cleaning" though. Sometimes it's time to just sweep out the stuff that's bad for you.

I love Nancy Drew! "The Hidden Window Mystery" is my favorite. I tracked down the same edition that I had when I was a kid - the one with the yellow spine - last summer. This calls for a re-read.

Buon Compleanno, Mike. Siete il papa piu grande nel mondo!

Ciao.

I forgot to set up the automatic coffee maker last night. Hate it when that happens.. I'm all discombobulated without coffee right from the start.

They've predicted - what - four or five 'storms of the century' so far this winter. Ironically, yesterday we had a mini blizzard, and we didn't have a clue that it was coming.

RIP Spalding Gray.

Remeber encyclopedias? We had the regular set AND the kids' set.

What. the. hell.

Go amuse yourselves with some games. I've gotta go to work. Ciao, bellas.

Yikes - this is a Stephen King movie come to life. (Speaking of S.K. movies... Kingdom Hospital? not-so-much.)

I have a big ol' sick-too-my-stomach headache this morning, and I have to go in to work, at least for a while, to make sure that the latest move-in folks are settled. My body's tossing out signs left and right: headache, slammed finger, bad stomach.. it's all saying 'slow down'.

Onward. or something. Ciao.

I lived through (yet another) storm of the century AND moved 14 people on Friday and Saturday. Quite an accomplishment. We finished up early on Friday - I was done by 5:00 - and I was just going to go home and do some laundry. CuzGirl (aka 'the devil') had other plans for us, however. We had a little wine and cheese (and decadent chocolate bread pudding) at W.A. Frost. Far more fun than doing laundry.
Saturday I was up at 5:00 to meet the movers. It all went very smoothly, and I've decided that no matter how many people we move - 95, 22, 14 - it always takes 3-1/2 hours. This last group was only 14.. but they had almost 300 boxes and 20+ file cabinets. I don't push stuff any more. I let the big strong guys do that. Still, though, it's a lot of running back and forth and answering a gozillion questions. Glad that one is done. When that was over, we had to do some important chele-project work (details to be announced later) and treated ourselves to steak. Today is all about laundry and cleaning, thanks to the above-referenced devil-girl. And a little more work on the chele-project (if you e-mail me about it and i know you well enough i'll even TELL ya what the chele-project is!)
And now in the news:

Eeek. My worst nightmare come to life.

Will Martha Stewart have the best-decorated cell in the block? She should have just come clean in the beginning. It was such a ridiculously small amount (for her, anyway.. something like $50K that she saved herself). This will take her empire right out.

This is sad. David Crosby is, like, 102 isn't he? (oh no, it says 62..) But still.. you're a grandpa, David. Stop it with the geef, already.

More good news in breast cancer research. Keep donating! See the links in the left column for more information. The life you save could be your own, or that of someone you love.

I know that I like to carry 186 pounds of fish when I travel.

Would you like fries with that? And.. Hey! You're not wearing any pants!

Mmmmm.... Doughnuts.

Have a beautiful day! Ciao.

It's the storm of the century! (or so they'd have you believe). We're gonna get - gasp! - six inches of snow. Too much hype. Drive slowly, and we'll all be fine.

Old people food fights always make me laugh.

Oh, you, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - We love you! (does anyone else remember that song, or is that funny just to me?)

Ironic story of the day.

The other overhyped story of the day - the huge traffic tie-ups because of the bus strike.. it just never happened. Traffic was actually a little better than normal. Why do we watch the news, anyway?

I really like Andrew McCarthy and Bruce Davison, and I really wanted Kingdom Hospital to be a good show. . Sounds like not-so-much. But don't tell me about it - I haven't watched it yet. What would life be like without TiVo?

In other move/serious injury news.. remember the finger I slammed in the door? Yesterday, I whanged that hand into a WALL. I discovered a whole new dimension of pain. I saw stars, and I think I even peed a little. YEEEEOW. Damn, that hurt. No time for pain, though. The next move starts today and ends tomorrow afternoon. Wish me luck. And no more injuries. Ciao, Bellas.

Lots of TV stuff this morning:

Yay! Stewie Lives! Family Guy is my favorite cartoon.

One more year of Raymond, and that's it.

This sounds like it would be good.

The big bus strike is on here in the Twin Cities. Because I leave for work before God is awake, I don't think the traffic will be bad in the morning. I might have to make a move on the way home, though.

Okay, listen everyone: Randy Moss isn't going anywhere.

Happy Birthday to my hometown!

Oh, no. Not the ladybugs! YUCK!

I slammed my ring finger in a DOOR yesterday. The nail is sort of a lovely purple/red/blue/black combination. I'm sure I'm going to lose that nail... one of the carpenters on the jobsite told me that he could poke a drillbit thru the nail :::shudder::: but I politely thanked him and ran away screaming. It really only hurts when I hit it against something. Still - yikes. It looks nasty.

That's what I've got. Have a good day. Ciao.

Saw them off at 4:30 AM, and I'm nodding off right now. But first... just because everyone else is doing it:
The first 10 random songs to come up on my iPod:

Africa - Toto
Nao Esperando - Kirsty MacColl
Down to the Waterline - Dire Straits
Broken Hearted Savior - Big Head Todd
Need You Tonight - INXS
Dancing Gold - Belly
Better Not Tell Her - Carly Simon
Battersea - Hooverphonic
Wonder - Natalie Merchant
Concerto - Pizzicato Five

That is all. I'm going to bed. Ciao.

I have to be up at 4:00 tomorrow morning to see the family off... so I'm getting ready for bed NOW. I'm going to see if I can drive over there while still half-asleep. (kidding, of course).

Ciao, bellas.

I didn't watch the Oscars. Not one second of them. Mostly because I didn't see ANY of the films that one. Surprisingly, I don't live under a rock. I'm just picky about the movies I watch. (that, and the fact that I can't sit through anything that's more than an hour long, because I have the attention span of a gnat.)

Take a look at the growing list of what's not safe to eat. Then notice that CHOCOLATE is not on the list. Eat up!

Off and running early today. Have the best day possible. Ciao!

Catch up time.

Wrapped up equipment on Friday night and moves Saturday by noon. 140 down, 160 left. Did a little window shopping and chinese food last night. I'm so looking forward to being able to walk OUTSIDE rather than in a mall.

When my life is chaotic like this, little things go out the window. Like paying bills, doing laundry, cleaning the kitty box... but I got all that done this morning. I feel like life is back in order to start the week. Some of the fam (the good branch of the tree) will be in town for the early part of the week starting today. It'll be a little running with them, too, but I'll get to focus on something besides work.

I've been mired in negativity - caused by stress - for weeks now. I don't do the lent thing anymore, and since it's already started, is it still kosher to give up something for lent? I want to try, though, to give up negativity and focus on the things that ARE going well. For a while I had that 'grateful' blog going - where everyday I tried to list 5 things I was grateful for every day.. even stupid things like close parking places! It was a good exercise, and I liked doing it. I think I'll start one up again. If I do, I'll link it and ask for contributions.

I'd better finish getting ready. Have a most excellent day, bellas. Ciao.

UPDATE AT 7:38 PM

The fam is settled in at the hotel, and I've put up the grateful page - the link is in the third box down in the left column. Everyone is welcome to play! What are you grateful for?