April 2005

Let the packing begin! Three bookshelves and CDs - done. I can tell already, I will need several boxes just for the knick-knacks.

So she just got cold feet. I'd heard on the radio this morning at about 3:00 AM (yeah, yeah, insomnia) that she'd been abducted and released by "a man and a woman in a blue van". Just abducted in her own head, I guess. I can understand how people can snap. I really can... and I've wanted to just walk away from everything more than once. But then you have to think about what that does to the people around you. Your parents, who are worried sick (well, not mine, but most people's!). Your fiance, who is instantly a suspect, your friends... Man. It's a pretty selfish thing to do. Admit that you need some help, and get it.

Yay! The soup nazi is going to open a chain!

And in other Seinfeld news.. yada, yada, yada.

I watched the first few episodes of American Dreams, then mostly lost interest. I'd heard that they'd moved it to a different night - which is generally the kiss of death for most shows. And there it goes.

Oy. Stop this madness. Stop it. Right now. Dr. Phil needs to just go away.

This story about Peter Jennings touched my heart. You can only know what it's like when you've been through it. There's a connection.

Stupid criminal story of the day.

This headline made me laugh and laugh! And it just goes to show how very paranoid we all are.. it's kinda sad.

I'm going to a Southern Living party this morning. I'm just going to look, not buy.. because anything I buy I will have to pack. It'll be fun to look and to nibble on some munchies. Plus it takes me away from packing for a while. Have a most wonderful day, Bellas. Ciao.

What a fun evening! The restaurant we chose was really less a restaurant, more a fun coffee house. And they were packed. I'm sure they'd never seen that many people ever before. I had wonderful rosemary chicken and cheesecake to die for. Good food for a good cause... I'm all about that. When I got home, I watched a pretty funny movie while chatting on the phone. It's interactive TV! I'm all about that, too.

Now I'll read the news so you won't have to:
I'd almost forgotten about this attack. I still don't know how I feel about the death penalty sometimes. This attack seemed pretty pre-meditated.. but was he sane? Can you really be totally sane if you're capable of killing another human being? It's too early in the morning to be thinking of such things...

Here's a picture of Bill Gates hypnotizing you. "You are getting very, very sleepy. Buy my software or else". Sorry, Bill. The Apple chip in my head keeps you from influencing me.

Ooh, now this isn't a very flattering article at all.. And I know of at least two Packer fans who will get a little whipped up about this if I link to it. Sorry, guys. (see how I am?)

Maybe sometimes there's just not enough treatment in the world.

This is sad.   ::singing::   There she is, Miss America....     And she's eating leeches and getting thrown out of a plane.

Hmmmm. Perhaps it's time to take in a movie this weekend!

There's a book in here somewhere: Nancy Drew and the Case of the Exploding Toads.

Okay. That's about as much news as I can take. So I will bid you all a happy Friday and move along. Ciao, Bellas.

I've been so good lately - I've been in bed sleeping by 10:00 two nights in a row. It feels great. I wake up at 4:00.... but at least I feel rested and don't require 17 cups of coffee to get going. I may yet find normal sleeping patterns.

Oh, and I finally gave in and turned the heat back on. I got home from work at about 5:30 and realized that I'd left my badge and cell phone sitting on my desk. Gah. I waited until 6:00 to turn around and go back in (having unsuccessfully tried to convince a few people that they might want to come with me!). The drive back across I-94 was wild. It was cloudy in St. Paul, started raining at about Snelling, and by the time I crossed the river into Minneapolis it was SNOWING - big, fat snowflakes that were melting the minute they slapped against the windshield - and when I pulled around the I-35 bend into downtown Minneapolis it was bright sunny. We live at the vortex of the freakin' weather universe, don't we? When I got back home it was sunny in St. Paul, too, but it was 30 degrees by my thermometer. So on went the heat. Spring was nice for that one day it lasted.

What's the story here, do you suppose? Did Michael Jackson pay her off? He's going to get away with this... Nice justice there.

Target is redesigning the pill bottle. Why didn't anyone think of this before?

The creepiest line in this story? "The couple first met when he was in second grade". EWWWWWWWWWWWW. The whole thing just gives me the heebiest of jeebies.

Hmmm. I don't think I'd want to be buried standing up for all eternity! That should be the one time you get to lay down and rest.

God's up in Heaven, saying "Get off my side, all of ya."

Holy nightmare. Exploding toads.

Meeting Mare and some other fun folks for Dining Out for Life tonight. I can always get behind eating for a good cause! Boxes get delivered today, too, so packing can commence this weekend. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and fully tax-deductable. Well, maybe not-so-much the last thing..
Have an excellent day! Ciao.

PS - Go look at the Vegas pictures: here and here

So. Good morning, then. Big Yawn.

Someone needs to do some 'splainin' to me this morning. First, why do these bus or train accidents always seem to come in twos or threes, and second what holds this up in the air, again?

Looks like there still won't be any hockey for Bertuzzi for a while.

It's 37-freakin'-degrees this morning. I refuse to turn the heat on again, so I'm dressed in seventy-hundred layers. I'm pretty sure the weather does this every year - quick warm-up in spring and then right back down to freezing again.. but I get amnesia about it.

People kept telling me that my house purchase was going along way too easily. Turns out there was an almost-glitch, but most of it happened last week when I was gone in Vegas and Pam the Wonder-Mortgage-Girl took care of it for me. Yesterday I met (by phone) Uber-Banker Matt, who came to my rescue before I even knew I needed rescuing. I'm so lucky to have such good people watching my back. Frankly, I'm not used to it.
I spent years fighting the battles alone, with the very people who were supposed to be on my side dead-set against me. What's a little sad is that I didn't do anything about it.. I just assumed that that was the way life was supposed to be: anything good that I wanted in life was going to be hard to get and I really didn't deserve it anyway. Once I was able to get beyond that way of thinking and realize that hey - these people DON'T have my best interests at heart, and they've been lying to me for a lot of years - once I stepped out of that... well, good things started happening. I know that I'm happier now than I've been in a long, long time. I'm learning to accept, expect, and WELCOME the good that life throws my way.. and that the more you expect good, the more good you get.

Well - where the hell did THAT all come from??? I turned all-into a motivational speaker for a moment there. Anyway... I'm gonna get myself ready for work so that I can actually PAY for said house-purchase. Buon Giorno, Bellas. Behave yourselves. Ciao.

So I get to work yesterday and every possible maintenance guy in the world is there, and I hear fans blowing and wet-vacs, well, vac-ing. A pipe had burst on the floor above us and there was water soaked through a big section of our floor. And, in fact, it had seeped through to the floor below. Welcome back to work. Stay on vacation next time. That was how the day started, and while it didn't go downhill from there, it stayed at right about that level. So can you understand how happy I was to get this call?: "You come over here. I'll cook dinner."     :::smile:::

And in the news - Look: the Pope is already making with the Italian jokes!

Pretty soon there'll be no more lawyers left in the world for Michael Jackson.

I can't believe there's even a slim chance that Bertuzzi could play hockey again. Thug.

Pssst. Hey, Guy. It's just a movie.

Congrats, Elton John.

Carole King is touring. She's at The Orpheum here in July, which is cool... but look: she's at the Santa Barbara Bowl in August! That would be a cool place to see her. Hmmmm. Time to start looking at fares again....

Here's hoping for a little calm in the day today. I slogged through almost 150 e-mails yesterday, and I have about that many left. As long as there's no water to contend with, I might get through everything. And if a nice guy wants to make me dinner again at the end of this - or any - day, well, who am I to turn that down? Heh. Ciao, Bellas. TiAmo.

Just like that - vacation is over and it's back to real life. But first, yesterday, I got to go to one of my favorite places for a little breakfast with Mare, and then to Chicks with Sticks. I put about 18 rounds on the second striped sock.. everyone remembered how to knit from last time, and there were no newbies knitting, so I didn't have to teach anyone.

Thankfully, we didn't wake up to snow, like they did in other places. We got off SO lucky this winter. Go Global Warming! (er.. that's not politically correct, is it?)

The most amazing thing in this story is that I didn't know that Felicity Huffman is married to William H. Macy. (And he looks more and more like Ron Howard and Jeff Foxworthy's LUV child everyday).

Oh my Lord..Note to self: no taking trains in Japan.

What else? I gotta get some boxes this week and then I have to actually starting packing things into said boxes. Like books and CDs. And knick knacks and stuff. Good Lord.. Maybe it just seems overwhelming because I haven't started yet. But I look around this place and realize - man - I've got a lot of sh*t! It'll be fine. Just fine. Right??

That's all, folks. Behave yourselves. Ciao.

There was lots of sleeping to be done yesterday afternoon AND last night. Think I'm all caught up again. I can rest for the whole morning, then it's off to Chicks with Sticks, the other knitting group, this afternoon. (yeah, yeah, they're not as much fun as you, my Monday night knitties...)

I haven't read the news in days - what's going on in the world?

Note to self: Don't go skydiving. Or if I do, don't hit the plane and sever my limbs. Or if I do, don't go to that hospital.

Pope Benedict begins - well - pope-ing now.

Too late! He's already pleaded guilty. No changes, no backs.

Yeah yeah yeah... there was a time when I would have cared more about who we picked in the draft. Now - whatever. Can we have hockey back next year, please?

Show of hands - how many say that Paula will go into spin-dry after this season of American Idol? Uh-Huh. Thought so.

Tony Danza is the Italian American she most admires?     ::chele's head explodes::

This guy has to learn to let things go. What's that Don Henley lyric? "You keep carryin' that anger, it'll eat you up inside."

Catch me, while I fall over from NOT surprise. How much longer til Joey gets cancelled, anyway?

I'll work on trip pictures later. In the meantime, I'm going to get just a little more coffee. Have a good day, kids. Ciao.

There was no sleeping on that plane last night. The bumpiest flight ever. They ended up not even feeding us. Luckily we had a deck of cards, and played Gin and Poker and Black Jack and anything else we could think of to distract me from the turbulence. By the time we landed I was exhausted and starving.. NEVER a good combination for chele! Thank goodness I'd left some noodles and sauce in the fridge. Had a little comfort food and crawled into bed at about 1:00.

And then I was awake! I was awake at 6-O-Freakin'-clock in the morning. I figure at about 4:30 I will crash and burn, but for now I'm going to get unpacked (and find the many treasures scattered throughout the bag. I just threw all the souvenirs in with everything else!) and get some laundry done. And, of course, get more pictures posted. It's nice to go on vacation, and just as nice to get home again. Ciao, Bellas! TiAmo.

This is how I know I'm at the Las Vegas Airport.. I can hear that Wheel of Fortune "ding-ding-DING-ding". The moment I heard it, it was just like I never left.

New York New York is a GREAT hotel. Seriously. Does this look like fun or WHAT??

I just hope I can sleep on the plane a little bit on the way home...

And of course, a girl has to do a little shopping when she's in town:



We've both decided... NO MORE WALKING today! Well, no more marathon walks, anyway. We have to be out of the room at 11:00, and have a few hours to kill before we have to be at the airport. We'll do the other end of the strip - Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay.

It's been great! Back to weekend life tomorrow.. which was the smartest thing I ever did. Never come back from vacation and go right back into work mode. Talk to youse later... Ciao, Bellas!

It's true... what happens in Vegas STAYS in Vegas. Except, of course, when you meet the KING.



Ciao, Babies.

We're IN VEGAS!!!

We walked and walked and walked and walked.... and now we have to rest. We've been to Monte Carlo, Bellagio (awesome pictures forthcoming), Caesar's Palace - and the Forum Shops, of course, and the Flamingo.

The moment we got to the hotel, we had to stop at the bar. Not my idea, of course... :-)  

More later! Ciao.

The alarm went off... and I almost started with the "Oh, no..." but then I remembered: VEGAS, baby!. Whoop! I've filled up the automatic feeder dish, set out 26-3/4 gallons of water for them, made some coffee and I'm ready to go. I'll try to post from there.. otherwise, back on Saturday A.M. YeeeeeHaw!

Good Morning, You. I found all kinds of good stuff in the news today:

I'm somewhat intrigued by all the pomp and mystery and ritual of electing the new pope. You couldn't write this stuff.

Thank God - gas prices are coming down again. Do I ever regret giving up that Blazer? No way, man.

Oy. Please... Make this whole Michael Jackson trial go away. I'm so sick of all of 'em.

Martha Stewart on Sirius Radio! Well... now I kinda want that.

Best of luck to Tom Snyder. Attitude is everything..

Clay Aiken talks about being bullied. And now he's laughing all the way to the bank.

It's the end of an era.. No more Monday Night Football on ABC.

I love Family Guy and American Dad! That might be a good addition to the DVD collection.

Whoops.

It's good to have lofty goals. And I want one of those "ESB" drinks.

Where were these fare deals when I was making our Vegas reservations??

Did I tell ya? VEGAS, BABY! We're going tomorrow! It'll be more than fun. Gotta Go! Talk to youse later. Ciao.

Things from the weekend (again):

1. There is nothing cooler than a guy who says "wanna picnic?" (and doesn't have to be begged or coerced to go on one. who comes up with the idea himself. Yep. WAY cool.)

2. Contrary to what anyone else says, I can throw a softball. And catch one, too.

3. I really, really suck at murder mysteries. I thought the cook did it, and she wasn't even one of the suspects!

4. My bathroom is so clean I don't even want to use it and mess it up. Too bad I don't have that Y membership anymore...

5. Why the heck are my arms so sore? Oh.. See #2.

6. There wasn't a whole lot of dejunkification going on this weekend. But two bags of clothes did go to the Goodwill (and yes, Mare, I got a receipt.).

7. Speaking of Mare  ::waving::  When does your broadband get installed?? Dame... I'm lookin' at you next.

8. Two days 'til VEGAS, baby! I think we'll do some remote blogging from there.

9. I can't think of anything for #9.

10. The thunder - or the kitties running away from the thunder - woke me up at 3:00 this morning. Now they're both sleeping again and I'm still awake. How wrong is that?

Okay, peoples, I'm going to get my groove - er - move on here. Have a most excellent day. Ciao, Bellas.

It's time for another pointless meme (because I'm done cleaning the house and it's too early to get ready to go out yet.) This one is the "Have you ever" one..I found it over at Mitch Berg's blog.

Have you ever:

Snuck out of the house - Yes, when I was in high school.

Gotten lost in your city - No, never in St. Paul.

Seen a shooting star - Yes, at CYC camp.

Been to any other countries besides the United States - Canada, Mexico, Cayman Islands.

Had a serious surgery - Yes, a few times.

Gone out in public in your pajamas - Yes, for a costume party at work.

Kissed a stranger/hugged a stranger - Once I've hugged or kissed them, they're not strangers any more!

Been in a fist fight - No.

Been arrested - No.

Done drugs - Just once.. and that was enough.

Had alcohol - Yes, indeed.

Laughed and had milk/coke come out of your nose - Again, just once, and that was enough.

Pushed all the buttons on an elevator - Yes!

Made out in an elevator - Yep.

Slept in an elevator - No.

Sworn at your parents - Yes.

Kicked a guy where it hurts - Accidently, once. Boy, it looked like that REALLY hurt!

Been in love - Yes.

Been close to love- Yes... Always!

Been to a casino - Yeah, Baby! Viva Las Vegas!

Been skydiving - No way.

Broken a bone - What HAVEN'T I broken? Leg, foot, arms, fingers, toes, ribs, jaw, eyesocket, head... well, maybe I exaggerate just a little. But ONLY a little!

Been high - Not on drugs...

Skinny-dipped - No.

Skipped school - Just a few times.

Saw a therapist - Yes.

Done the splits - I'm not very bendy.

Played spin the bottle - Surprisingly, no.

Gotten stitches - Heck yeah.

Had an IV - Yes.

Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour - Ewww.. No! Why would I do that?

Bitten someone - Maybe when I was a toddler.. but not recently.

Been to Niagara Falls - Yes.

Gotten the chicken pox - Yes. I remember them being really itchy.

Kissed a member of the opposite sex - Why, yes, yes I have!

Kissed a member of the same sex - Why, yes, yes I have!!

Crashed into a friend's car - Almost, once. but no.

Been to Japan - No.

Ridden in a taxi - Of course.

Been dumped - Yes. And unceremoniously, too.

Shoplifted - No.

Been fired - Laid off, but never fired.

Had a crush on someone of the same sex - No.

Stole something from your job - Pens, maybe. And Legos (accidently) when I worked at the day care.

Gone on a blind date - Yes. Ugh.

Lied to a friend - No. (that's a lie!)

Had a crush on a teacher - No.

Celebrated Mardi-Gras in New Orleans - No, but I was there for the jazz festival.

Been to Europe - Not yet.

Slept with a co-worker - Yes.

Had children - Kitties. Do they count?

Saw someone die - Yes.

Been to Africa - No.

Driven over 400 miles in one day - Yes.. to Wyoming.

Been to Canada - Yes.

Been to Mexico - Yes.

Been on a plane - Yes.

Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show - Yes.

Thrown up in a bar - Ewww. No.

Purposely set a part of yourself on fire - Who writes these questions, anyway? NO!

Eaten sushi - Yes. Kinda yucky.

Been snowboarding - No.

Met someone in person from the internet - Yes.

Been moshing at a rock show - Nuh uh. I'm not that hip.

Cut yourself on purpose - No way.

Been to a moto cross show - No.

Gone to college - Yes.

Graduated from college - No.

Done hard drugs - Didn't I answer this already? No.

Taken painkillers - Yes. See various broken bones above!

Love someone or miss someone right now - Yes.


Again.. completely pointless, but it kept me amused for a little while. I've gotta go wrap the canollis up now. Buona Sera, Bellas.

Hello, Bellas! Come va?

Quick trip thru the news:

Please, for the love of God, can we just be done with this now? The poor woman is dead.. let her rest in peace.

And please, for the love of God, can we just be done with The Simple Life, too???

It's official. I'm sick of all these people now. Michael Jackson, that mom, the prosecutors, the defense, ALL OF THEM!

Here it is! My new career path. Not a bad gig if you can get it...

Would it be geeky if I said I wanted to go to a Neil Diamond concert? I saw him a few times when I was in high school. Of course, I went to EIGHT John Denver concerts, too. (yeah, my secret is out. I'm not cool, am I?)

Good for him. That's no small feat.

Holy Nightmare part 2! Stuck in a tub for 5 days..

I have to run fifty jillion errands today, finish the canollis and then go to a murder mystery dinner tonight. Oh, and get ready for VEGAS on Wednesday! Whoop! So I must go. Have a good day. Ciao.

I woke up before the cats did this morning. In fact, I think they're still a little ticked off about it. I had WAY too much dinner last night.. but omigosh it was so good. I wasn't quite brave enough to try the sushi just yet. Maybe next time.

And yes, happy tax day (or extension filing day, if you're that way). Next year it will be a much happier day, I think. I don't know what I'll do when I don't have to write those huge checks every year...

Hey! The new Knitty is out.

I really am excited to move.. but I will miss my neighborhood a little. No, a lot. This is one of the views I'll miss the most:


(they have coffee shops over there.. right, Mare?)

Ciao, Bellas.

No internet... No cable TV. As I said, Comcast must have the tin can and string network here. When I called in, it was comforting when they told me that if my service was out for more than a DAY that I would start to get credits back. A whole DAY without internet or cable?????? I think my head would explode.

I thought that cigarette lighters were already banned on flights.

Well, the story of thte finger found in the chili is certainly unraveling quickly, isn't it?

I love the Onion!

Here's your perfect role-model for motherhood of the day.

I would never be a geek and wait in line for the Star Wars movie. However, I'm not above counting down the days until Apple's Tiger software is released. Ha!



The one advantage of no cable and no internet? I finished the first stripey sock. It fits! (well, almost. they're still a little big on the freakishly tiny feet, but I don't feel like messing with the pattern any more.)

I'm outta here! Have an excellent day. I probably won't get to see you on the internet tonight, since we're only allowed to have access at 5 AM (thanks, ISP), so I'll talk to you tomorrow. Ciao, Bellas.

Again last night - no internet. It LOOKED like I was online, and suddenly I realized that I was getting any e-mail and everyone that I was chatting with was ignoring me.  :-)   I hope I don't have the same troubles at the new place.

So quickly, while I still have a connection:
I admit it - if I go to Rome, I would go to the Pope's tomb.

In the next sign of the coming apocalypse....

I can't believe we missed out on an entire season of hockey. They better get this settled by next year.

And in the revolving door of rehab: Joaquin in, Billy out.

Would you look at this? Not one NBC show in the top ten. Who'd have believed it?

I'm crying over this episode of Extreme Home Makeover already... and it hasn't even been taped yet!

Dinner at my favorite place last night, with my favorite (and only) realtor, her hubby, and Mare. I consumed about 40 jillion calories, but SO well worth it. Now it's time to start another day, and I hope you have a good one. Ciao, Bellas.

I'm on a roll.. two mornings in a row at 5:01 AM. Shouldn't I get some sort of prize for this?

I don't quite understand why Martha is being so whiny right now.

What the hell? Can't someone just lock Michael Jackson up right now?

I watched exactly 37 seconds of the Miss USA Pageant last night, and I knew that Miss North Carolina would win.

Why, exactly, would I watch Celebrity Charades?

It's official - ABC is the big network now.. Sunday nights are ABC night. (No, I haven't watched Desperate Housewives or Grey's Anatomy yet. After knitting I had to do some more chatting. Man who cooks, you know...)

Well, EWWWWWWWW. Just, EWWWWWWWW. Kid steals head from a tomb, because he wants to use it for a bong. Mom & Dad must be just bursting with pride.

Heh.. If you're my next door neighbor, don't ever make me mad. Or else I'll blast music at you for 20 years!

Oh yeah - no ulcer. My regular Dr.D wasn't there. The guy I saw looked scarily like this boyfriend of mine. Not that that's a bad thing... it was just a little freaky. And with that, I'm outta here. Ciao. Have a nice day.

Things from the weekend:

1. There's nothing cooler than a guy who cooks.

2. If I ever say that I need to buy more socks, tell me to go look in that sock drawer, where I keep twenty thousand pairs of them.

3. I really only need to buy one chest of drawers now, have spent the better part of yesterday cleaning stuff out.

4. Did I mention? Guy who cooks...

5. I need to show these cats how to set up the coffee maker for the morning. In fact, I dreamed that I did just that last night.

6. I'm thankful today that I don't live in Colorado, where they just got pounded by a huge blizzard.

7. This reads like a vatican spy novel. Have to admit, I'm sort of over this now.

8. See #1. There's this guy who can cook...

9. I haven't watched Trading Spaces in a long time. It really was the same thing, every week. Just like Queer Eye, just like the way Extreme Home Makerover is going to be. Yeah, I'll watch the same show 437 times... but that 438th time puts me over the edge.

10. A. guy. who. cooks.


Ciao, Bellas. Have a good day!

I've cleaned out two more closets, did my taxes, and read the by-laws and regulations for my new place. Then I braved the great tangle of cords behind the entertainment center and disconnected the VCR - it's going to the garage sale. Now I'm sick of doing responsible stuff, so I found this very fun name game:

1. YOUR PORN STAR NAME (Name of first pet / Street where you live): Colette Sibley.

2. YOUR FASHION DESIGNER NAME (First word you see on your left / Favorite restaurant): Crystal Pazzaluna.

3. EXOTIC FOREIGNER ALIAS (Favorite Spice / Last Foreign Vacation Spot): Cinammon Cancun.

4. "FLY GIRL/BOY" ALIAS (First Initial / First Two or Three Letters of your Last Name) :M-Spe.

5. ICON ALIAS (Something Sweet Within Sight / Any Liquid in Your Kitchen): Sugar Merlot.

7. BARFLY ALIAS(Last Snack Food You Ate / Your Favorite Alcoholic Drink) : Cracker Baileys.

8. SOAP OPERA ALIAS (Middle Name / Street Where You First Lived: Jean St. Clair.

9. ROCK STAR ALIAS (Favorite Candy / Last Name Of Favorite Musician): Truffles Etheridge.

10. YOUR STAR WARS NAME ( First 2 letters of your first name and the first 3 Letters from your last name makes your first name. Take the first 2 letters of your mother's maiden name and the first 3 letters of the city you were born in for your last name) : MiSpe OlSai.


In other news... I swear - it feels like I have an ulcer again. I had 'em when I was in school.. that same kind of dull, burning pain in my gut. I haven't even been eating too much junk food lately. Not a lot of pop or alcohol lately, either. I'm just going to treat it gently for a couple more days and if it doesn't feel better by the middle of the week I'll go get it checked out. yuck. I'm off to find some Mylanta now. Later, kids.

I had no internet last night. Comcast was having a "significant outage" - which meant that when I first called in right after work their tech support was so busy that my call didn't even go through. When I got home at about 10:00, still no internet. When I called in at that time, there was just a recording saying that they were working to fix the problem. It's so funny.. I spent the first 30 years of my LIFE not having the internet. Now if I don't have it for 15 minutes I get panicky. What if something happens in the world and I don't know about it for an hour?? Sheesh.

The Pope was laid to rest today. John Paul II was everyone's Pope. There's still a part of me that loves all the pomp and ceremony of church stuff. 16 years of Catholic school will do that to you, I guess.

Interesting. CAT scans of mummies.

I'm having Ferris Bueller day today.. But not just all playing. I have to clean out two closets (that's my goal), and make at least two trips to the Goodwill store. Time to de-junkify! Hope your day is excellent. Ciao, Bellas.

Happy Birthday Dame!

You look marvelous! Who loves ya more than me, really? I hope I look that good when I'm 67. Er... 58? 41? Do I hear 26...?

Another huge piece of the home-buying puzzle fell into place yesterday, and all of the money stuff should be done. I don't know why I was ever afraid to do this. The key is to have good people that you trust around you. It couldn't be easier.

Good news part deux: I actually found my favorite coffee at the store yesterday! No more buying it online.

Can you imagine standing in line for 24 hours and then being turned away? I also can't fathom what a million people standing in line must look like.

They're getting ready to launch another space shuttle. I'd be nervous to be the first ones up after the last disaster. What am I saying? I'd be nervous no matter when I'd be going up. Which is why it's a good thing that I'm not an astronaut I guess ::smile::   Hence the name of the blog today (do you check out the title bar everyday? Maybe I should have a contest and ask for suggestions. Nah.)

Everyone - Go show your support and sign this declaration.

Yes indeed - he is a big pussy. And a violent jerk.

Good God. Note to self: do not carry a grudge for 30+ years.

Gotta go, kids. Take care. Ciao.

Good day, eh? Made better by the fact that the coffee is extra strong.. I think I lost count when I was putting the scoops in. WOW. I'm really awake now and I'm typing really really fast!

I found LOTS of stuff in the news today. Read on:

Yes, we should really watch those borders more closely. We wouldn't want any of those darn pesky Canadians sneaking in. (waving at Ryan.... are you reading this?!?)

RIP Prince Rainier. He was a handsome fellow back in the day.

Peter Jennings has lung cancer, but will still continue on air. A couple of quotes I heard from him yesterday were so positive and inspiring: that he was living with cancer (attitude is everything!) and that you are a survivor from the moment you are diagnosed. Good on him.

Bwah Ha. Thanks for coming, Qwest. Now go away!

What a weird, weird story. Was it stockholm syndrome?

Oh, well now... this just makes me sad. They're lining up in front of the wrong theater?

Smellen, you'll have to explain all the twists and turns of the royals to us one day. It makes US politics seem rather boring.

Yeah, thank goodness for TiVo. When Diana got married we got up to watch it live. Now I can sleep in!

Yay - All of my shows have been picked up for another season.

The season finale of West Wing is tonight. Who will win the nomination? I say Jimmy Smits. If he does, he'll be my new presidential boyfriend. (Is anyone keeping track of how many I have now? 5? 6?)

Holy Nightmare! Stuck in an elevator for 80 hours! This is why I'm a little glad the new place doesn't have an elevator. If the fire alarms go off, I only have to walk down three floors with the kitties.

Has anyone else been follow the story of Ms. Wheelchair? And does it seem like a Seinfeld episode to you?

Okay... that's enough for one day! Behave yourselves, now. Ciao, Bellas! TiAmo.

:::Yawn:::

Yes... it's morning again. I've been making a concerted effort to go to bed at a reasonable, consistent hour every night, and it does seem to be working. I've only had a couple of really bad sleepless nights. I might skate through this insomnia season after all.

I agree, but it's never going to happen. Women won't be ordained and priests won't be allowed to marry (or to be openly gay) until there's an "American" Catholic Church. And as long as they remain unwilling to mention the scandal and unwilling to change their stance on things like reproductive rights and women's issues and...and a million other things, I'll always be a used-to-be Catholic.

Please - let's just put him in jail forever.

You see, she's doing her time, and wacko jacko is still out running around. Yes, what Martha did was wrong, but on the degrees-of-wrong scale, not nearly as bad as what he did. Oy. I'm just never leaving the house again! It's all madness, I tell ya!

Never saw one single minute of JAG.

Note to self: don't go to school in Dallas - teachers are thugs.

Blah blah blah, Yadda yadda yadda. I got nothing else. Have a most excellent day, and I will talk to youse all later! Ciao.

I found a wardrobe, dresser drawers, computer desk (or maybe this one, depending where I put it) and these drawers for the big closet. Now, I didn't actually buy any of these yet... but it's good to know what I want. Then I drew up a little scale map of the living room and bedroom so I know where stuff is going...
Did I mention that I have a house???? Whoop!

After IKEA, I took a little walk on Summit Avenue. At first I was sad, thinking that I'll miss being so close to the Avenue... then I remembered that I actually have a car and can drive over here to walk after I move.   ::smile::  

Got home, knitted for a bit, watched Joan of Arcadia (sniff! sniff!), talked to Dame! and Mare (welcome back!), decided that I couldn't watch that Extreme Home show after that, because I didn't want to cry anymore, then went to the regular Sunday night chatroom. You all wish your life was as exciting and glamorous as mine.

The downside of daylight savings time is that it's dark again at 6AM, so I'm having a harder time getting motivated. But yes, I have to get on with it. Have a good day, all. Ciao.

Did you remember to set your clocks ahead? The first day of daylight savings time always messes me up a little. But I love that it'll be light at 8:00 tonight!

Today I'm going to take a run out to IKEA (I'm hoping that sicklet Dame! might feel well enough to run out there with me.... what do you think, hon?) and take a look at desks, dressers and maybe a wardrobe (the thing to put the clothes in... not the clothes themselves!). Those will be the only pieces of furniture I may need to buy for the new place, and I'm not going to buy them until I actually have possession of the place. Then I'll buy 'em and we'll just drop them off right there. I want to do something today that just makes it feel like I AM a homeowner!

The Pope died yesterday afternoon at 1:37 our time. Again, it will always be one of those moments in time when I'll remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news. And now begins the political game of who will be his successor.

Bono's description of the Pope - "a great communicator of ideas even if you didn't agree with all of them, a great friend to the world's poor.." captures, I think, the way a lot of people felt about him. That finally puts words on my feelings about him.

Okay - This whole family - both sides of it - needs to go away right now. I'm tired of hearing about all of ya.

You go girl! Martha speaks!

Well yikes. Note to self: If I ever have to have radiation again, don't go to Florida.

That's what I know today. Thus far, anyway. Talk to youse all later... Ciao!

I can't even believe it. I own my very own home. Some things that make this even more important:

1. I realized as we were writing up the purchase agreement that I am buying my first home at the same age my dad was when he was buying his first home. Cool.

2. For as much personal stuff as I write on this blog, I don't touch on personal family stuff all that much. It's a sorta-rule. But in this case, I wanna bend the sorta-rule a little. I know I've at least mentioned that my immediate family really started to fall apart right after my dad died, and that for the last six years I've been completely estranged from the rest of my family. In fact, I was rather unceremoniously tossed out of the family in November 1999. I've talked to them just a handful of times since.. and none of those times went well. (Call your mother to tell her that you have cancer and have her hang up on you. That's a day-brightener!)
I was always looked at as the one who was never gonna make it - the one who was a flake - the irresponsible one. When we lost our stores and I had to file bankruptcy, I swear to God that they were almost gleeful in their "I told you so". But putting my life back together, having a good job for which I'm paid very well, and now buying my own home with no help from them whatsoever - proves to me and to the world that I HAVE made it - no thanks to you, Ma. The best thing I ever did was to walk away from all of you - my family of origin - and I haven't looked back. I have my "family of choice" now - a circle of good friends and extended family members who love me unconditionally, support the choices I make, and stand beside me through good and bad times. It took me forty years to find them, but I'm so glad I did. I'm so proud of myself for doing this. And I know with unfailing certainty that my dad is so proud of me too.

ANYWAY.....

(aren't ya glad I don't write about that everyday?!?!)

It's a gorgeous day! I'm going to teach some friends how to knit this afternoon - bringing even more people to the knitty-cult! - and get some erranding done. I hope you all have a most excellent day as well. Ciao, Bellas. TiAmo.

UPDATE:

I got a verbal agreement on the house!

The seller is signing everything this afternoon, and it'll be a done deal by the end of today.

WHOOP!

We wrote the offer after work. I have never signed that many pieces of paper (it's practice for closing, I think). And then we waited to hear from the other agent.
And waited.
And waited.
And then she sent me home to wait, because I was getting a little mental.
And I tried to knit. And waited some more.
My agent called at 9:00, and she still hadn't heard from the seller's agent. So I still don't know if it's my house yet. There were no other offers, and I'm giving him full price on the place, so unless she was out there last night drumming up competition I'm guessing that I'll get it. But we all know how extremely patient I am (NOT) once I've decided that I want something.
So until I hear anything different, I'm just going to pretend to be calm and go about my everyday assigned tasks, I guess. Keep those fingers crossed, please.

The Pope is in very serious condition. I was raised Catholic.. I know that they don't play around with the Last Rites thing.

Now that Terri Schiavo has died, I don't want to read about her family feuding over her memorial ceremony, etc. These are private matters. It seems sick and wrong to be playing all this out in the public spotlight. For the love of God, all of you - let her be at peace. I am SO glad that I have a living will and that my wishes - and who I do and don't want around me in the end - have been clearly spelled out.

Best drag name ever: Flotilla DeBarge!

Oh - is ER still on? Kidding, kidding. It doesn't surprise me that Noah Wyle is leaving. And it doesn't sound like he's going to meet a fiery and/or tragic end.. they're just going to ship him off.

Ted Koppel is leaving Nightline in December. That's the end of an era. I remember when Nightline was literally just the show about the hostages in Iran - America Held Hostage - Day XXX. I also remember where I was the day the hostages were released: at my college intership job in Sioux Falls, SD. I'm very, very old.   ::Settling back into rocking chair::

I suppose 5:30 AM is a little early to call the realtor, isn't it? I'll still just wait around a while longer. Updates later. Ciao.