The REAL 24 Season 7 preview

Okay, here's the real season 7 preview of 24:


I'm totally geeked to see Jack go off on Red Forman and WTF is up with Tony? Soul Patch can't go bad - say it ain't so!! Is he still pissed about Bitchelle dying? Though you may remember that Tony did NOT get the silent clock when he "died" and M.Giant totally predicted his resurrection in Season 7. Maybe Bitchelle survived too - we never actually saw her dead body and she didn't get a silent clock either, I don't think. Well, we can at least thank God and all the saints in heaven that Chloe is back - I was worried she'd disappear into mommying. Maybe Morris is a stay-at-home-dad. I can so see him wearing their spawn in a Baby Bjorn carrier and hauling a diaper bag around - lol! I'm still wondering if Charles Logan is dead - they never addressed it! Did crazy Martha kill him or did the EMT save his sorry ass? Inquiring minds want to know! Are Martha and Aaron still together living at the crazy-shack bungalow? Will this be the season that they finally put Spawn (Kim) out of our misery?

See the spoof again here.

HNT!

click for another view

Why do we get half-nekkid? Want to join the fun? See Os at

Warholized!

Sue had one of these on her blog and I totally stole it - it was too cool not to steal! You can make your own HERE.

* * * * *

My Sexual Horoscope from Zodiac World:

Virgo women: You have no illusions about sex and wish everyone would stop magnifying its importance. Prefer men who will wait for the relationship to develop to the point where sex is inevitable. You love mutual masturbation and enjoy a little punishment, and your grace and modesty is a great turn on. You become an artist at pleasing your lover. Favorite kink: can't truly enjoy it unless a third party is present. Best sex mates: Gemini, Cancer and Aquarians.

Hmmm. Maybe that's my problem, I've been married to a Pisces all these years . . . . But wait a second - "You . . . wish everyone would stop magnifiying its importance" ("it" being sex) - um, I don't think it's importance CAN be magnified. It's a pretty important thing. Lack of it is a big reason my marriage has collapsed; not the only reason, but a major one. Aside from the "stop magnifying its importance" part and the preference for men who wait (???), this is pretty accurate, kink and all.

Leaked 24 Season Preview!!

If you know me, you know I am obsessed with 24. I love me some Jack Bauer.
Also, I love lolcats. Two tastes that taste great together:

TMI Tuesday! (Yes, it's still Tuesday . . . )

It's TMI Tuesday! Click the "I kiss and tell" icon to come play with us!!


1. Are you a member of the mile high club?

No . . . something to look forward to, right? Anyone want to take a trip with me?

2. What is the most public place you have ever had sex?

On the fairway of a golf course (at night).

3. What is your most embarrassing family moment?

I have to choose just one? My family provides an embarrassing moment anytime we go out in public. And since we like to eat out together, that is fairly often. Expect a new "OMG, I swear I'm not related to these people" moment this Saturday, as it is my mom's birthday.

4. What kind of birth control do you use?

Abstinence mainly. My husband has had a vasectomy; PiC has had a vasectomy. Condoms otherwise, though I really, really hate them.

5. Have you ever had sex in the snow? Rain?

No to both. Neither really appeals to me either. Rain sounds all romantic and such, but really it isn't terribly practical.

Bonus (as in optional):Describe your flirting technique: innuendo, telling a dirty joke, talking about sex life, or physical contact?

I suppose it would be innuendo combined with light physical contact. It's not really something I do consciously - it just happens. It's just who I am.

As you can probably guess from the fact that this post is here, I got my DSL back!! Woo hoo! Only out about 32 hours this time. You would think living in the city would mean we wouldn't have these outages. You would be wrong.

I'm Not Dead or Anything . . .

I just have no DSL currently. That's right, our good pals at 01-20-20 have f*cked up my internet access again. No telling when it will be back. I'm at the library right now, with an impatient toddler, so I have to make this quick.

Be back when I can - xo for your patience!!

Mute Monday - Rebel

Update

Kids come back this afternoon. Spousehole is at church - I begged off after a miserable night last night. We had an intense emotional discussion about the breakdown of our marriage and how we feel about it. It ended with me being very glad we've made this decision. It boils down to our vastly different outlooks on life. Spousehole focuses on what we don't have; I am thankful for what we do have.

He sees his siblings and parents being able to afford nice vacations and new cars and big houses and resents that we do not have the financial means to do the same. I see that we have a home with a reasonable mortgage payment, food on the table, cars that we bought used but are reliable, no debt aside from the mortgage and a car payment well under $200 on one car, clothes on our backs, enough money to keep the house warm, etc. Our children are healthy and reasonably happy - I don't think we can ask for much more. We are able to put the max in his 401K at work and maximize the company match, we have health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and a steady income from a stable employer.

I just hope my children can adopt my "glass half-full" attitude over their father's.

It Got Better, Then Nose-Dived Again

Warning: Ridiculous ranting and complaining ahead. Plow through at your own risk.

After I posted last night, he decided he wanted to go to the arcade. Though "arcade" is perhaps too simplistic a term. The place we went is an entertainment center - arcade games (new and old-school), VR games, indoor go-karts, indoor bumper cars, laser tag, all kinds of stuff. In good weather they have outdoor go-karts, mini-golf, and bumper boats too. If you can't find something you like there, you aren't trying very hard.

He's the 3rd Nascar driver from the left

Spousehole mostly played fighting and shooting games while I played Galaga (I kick ass at Galaga; of course, after 25 years I suppose I better) and carnival-type games. I'm really good at Skee-Ball. I like winning a bunch of redemption tickets and then giving them to some little kid before I leave. That's fun. At Sea World last year I only played one game of Skee Ball and won a stuffed animal so big that we couldn't take it on the plane. (My in-laws drove it back the following spring).

I watched kids playing DDR. Some of those kids are really, really good. I could never keep up with them. My sister has the Nintendo version and I get confused a couple rounds into it. It's great exercise though!

After we used the allotment on our cards (they don't take quarters anymore, you have refillable cards that you scan at each game or activity), we went to dinner. It was nice and peaceful without any kids.

We even slept in the same bed for part of the night. He moved to another room partway through the night. I asked why this morning and he said that he felt "crowded." Whatever. He did snuggle with me for a couple hours this morning and that was nice.

We went out for breakfast and he was all mopey and quiet again. That's lasted all fucking day. It's depressing as hell. I hate when he drags me down with him like this and I hate that I let him.

I've tried doing what he wants - I watched LOTR: Return of the King for the umpteenth time with him - but he won't do anything I want. I have A History of Violence from Netflix and I proposed that we watch it together when LOTR was done, but no, he wasn't in the mood to watch anything "new." I HATE THAT. He will watch the same movies, and read the same books, over and over and over - to the exclusion of anything new. I don't get it at all. I have no problem with watching a good movie multiple times, but not to the exclusion of anything else. He has about 10 movies he watches over and over and about the same number of books he reads over and over, until they are worn out. Then he buys another copy of the same damn book!!! What is up with that? I know he says he has memory problems - and he does - but does he not remember what happens in Shogun after reading it 60 times???

I knew it wouldn't be easy . . .

I was aware that this weekend would likely not be all fun and games. We took the kids up to my in-laws today and left them for the weekend. Spousehole was all quiet and withdrawn the whole time we were there, kind of like he was yesterday with my family. We drove the hour and a half back to our house in near total silence, except for NPR news droning from the radio.

I asked if he wanted to see a movie together. No, nothing appeals to him. I asked if he wanted to go out to dinner. No, he isn't hungry. I asked if he wanted to watch something on DVD. Maybe later. I asked if he wanted to go blow some cash at the arcade (only his favorite thing in the world!). Maybe later.

Apparently he's too depressed to want to do anything. I guess I don't want him exactly doing cartwheels over our impending separation, but I'd like to at least be able to interact as friends during this time. He says he wants that too, but right now he's just too depressed to have fun. He points out every now and again that he doesn't want to separate, even though he agreed last weekend that it's for the best. Basically putting it all on me. So now his depression is my fault too.

If I had someplace to go, I would leave for the weekend and let him be depressed alone. But if I go to my family, they'll want to talk about it. They always want to talk about things. Sometimes that's great, but sometimes I just want to have fun and specifically NOT talk about things.

Anyone within a couple hours of Grand Rapids want to go out and have some fun this weekend? Seriously. IM me or call me if you have my cell. He's just dragging me down and I don't want to end up depressed myself.

The Hook-Thingy -- identified!!

Naughty K (aka Karen) of Tits -n- Toast was the only person to correctly identify the "hook thingy" in my HNT yesterday. Yes, she correctly identified it as a turkey lifter!! Get your own right here. It really does make moving the turkey (or a chicken) from the roasting rack to the serving platter much easier.

Thanksgiving HNT!

I know, we were supposed to have our .mp3 players this week, but mine died a tragic death a while back (it involved a bottle of Diet Coke, Lil Monsta - the .mp3 player, and a red Coach backpack purse . . . it was horrible) and hasn't been replaced. So I posed with some of my instruments of today's feast:

Can you identify all the kitchen implements in this picture?

Why do we get half-nekkid? Want to join the fun? See Os at

Today I am thankful for my children, my family, and all my invisible friends here on the interwebs! May God bless and keep you all!

NO FROZEN PIE CRUSTS - EVER!

(Read the title of this post in Faye Dunaway's voice, playing Joan Crawford in Mommy Dearest)

A friend confessed this evening to using frozen pie crust on occasion. I'm am so disillusioned. I'm disheartened. It's just so sad. It takes almost no time at all to make a real pie crust. Whether all shortening (for my dairy-free son; a very flaky crust) or half butter/half shortening (for the best flavor/flakiness combo), pie crust takes no time at all really. Just mix your flour and salt in the food processor, then cut in the frozen shortening and/or chilled butter using the pulse function. (I buy the Crisco sticks and freeze them. They stay fresher and frozen shortening leaves little pockets in the crust for intense flakiness). Drizzle the ice water in through the feed tube just until the dough is combined and VOILA, pie crust. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to roll, then let it rest a couple minutes before rolling. See how simple it is?

Here's what my work area looked like today after 7 crusts rolled:



No big. Especially with the non-stick rolling pin.

Pumpkin Pecan Pie & other stuff

When opening a can of Libby's pumpkin, do you hear what I hear? I hear "If it says Libby's, Libby's, Libby's on the label, label, label, you will like it, like it, like it on your table, table table." No? Just me? Okay, nevermind.

Have you seen what "premium" turkeys go for these days? I'm not talking Butterball here. I mean high-end, fresh turkeys. They have Bell & Evans turkeys at my local (nicer) grocery store. I saw turkeys priced at $65 to $80, depending on size. Holy shit! Makes that $15 Butterball look pretty damn good, doesn't it? Still tastier than Tofurky or Gardien's Veggie Stuffed Turkey Roast to me! My in-laws get a turkey from their Amish neighbors for almost nothing. It's slaughtered & cleaned Wednesday morning for pick-up Wednesday afternoon. That is fresh. And they are freakin' huge. My MIL orders a "small" one every year and usually the smallest ones they have are around 20 lbs. The Amish grow some big turkeys.

Enough about dead birds. Bring on the pie!

This has become a family favorite in the last few years. It combines pumpkin pie and pecan pie into one yummy dish. Try it!

Pumpkin Pecan Pie

• 1 9" pie crust (unbaked)
  
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling, just pumpkin)
  
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
  
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup granulated (white) sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons butter
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup pecan halves

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F.

1. COMBINE pumpkin, brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract and spices in medium bowl; stir well. Spread over bottom of pie shell.
   
2. COMBINE corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter and vanilla extract in same bowl; stir in pecan halves. Gently spoon over pumpkin layer.
3. BAKE for 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack

TMI Tuesday!

It's TMI Tuesday! Click the "I kiss and tell" icon to come play with us!!


1. What's the sexiest gesture a woman can make?
I got nothing this morning - perhaps I'll edit later. My cold has me feeling a bit foggy today.

2. What are 3 inevitable things about you?

I will screw up, I will be unhappy, I will always want more sex

3. What do you want . . . . now?

Someone to hold me and tell me it's all going to be okay

4. What asset do you have besides the physical and the material?

Intelligence

5. Describe a sexy mind

First and foremost, a sexy mind is an intelligent mind. It is one that focuses on the sensual in life generally, that enjoys all aspects of a sexual interaction - not just the "tab A into slot B" part, but all the sensations including touch, taste, smell, sound, one that is interested in getting to know all aspects of one's partner in order to enhance the experience for both.

Bonus (as in optional):What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

I am thankful for my family, my children, and my friends, including (especially?) all my invisible/imaginary friends here on the internet.

Edit: I am thankful that my daughter makes me laugh. This morning she was running around buck nekkid. She placed a nickel between her butt cheeks, squatted down so the coin fell, and said "Mommy! I poop money!" How can you not laugh at that?

More: I asked her to come into the kitchen. "Mommy," she replied with exasperation, "I watching my stories!" (Thomas the Tank Engine)

She refers to herself as "Baby" instead of her name. When I tried to put her in time-out last week: "No put Baby in corner!!" I didn't even know she had seen "Dirty Dancing."

Diabetes and Thanksgiving and a Recipe!!

In the United States, November is American Diabetes Month aka National Diabetes Month or National Diabetes Awareness Month. November is also when we celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S. Kind of incongruous, to focus on diabetes in a month when many of us throw caution to the wind for a one-day binge of excess eating. Or more than one day, in my case, because the leftovers are so damn good. The only thing better than stuffing with gravy on Thanksgiving Day is stuffing with gravy on the day after Thanksgiving. Yummmmmmm.

I have been diabetic for over 30 years. It's just part of who I am, so much so that I hardly think about it sometimes. It just is. I watch my carb intake, but not super-closely. I try to eat right most of the time, with occasional splurges on pie or cheesecake. My A1Cs have never, ever exceeded 7.0, so my doctor feels I am doing a good job. My insulin needs have increased, however, even though my weight and carb intake have been fairly steady. My doctor thinks I am experiencing insulin resistance, which is generally associated with Type II diabetes (which runs in my family also). Apparently, you can have kind of a hybrid diabetes. I mean, a Type I is always a Type I, short of islet transplantation so that one's own body will produce insulin itself. But you can have Type II insulin resistance on top of that, where your body resists the effects of insulin, natural or synthetic. Interesting. Of course the way to fight that is losing weight, watching my diet, and exercising more. Yippee!

Our Thanksgiving will be pretty traditional. While the turkey cooks, we'll nibble on cheese and fruit, including pickled watermelon rind - a family tradition. We usually have a baked round of brie and an assortment of hard cheeses. There will also be crudite - carrots, celery, green onions. The main meal will consist of a whole turkey, sage stuffing cooked in the bird and sage stuffing cooked outside the bird, mashed potatoes, homemade gravy using pan drippings and stock made from cooking the giblets (but we don't actually eat the giblets), shoepeg corn, green beans, sweet potatoes, crescent rolls and yeast rolls served with cranberry butter, cranberry relish, and whatever else Mom makes or my sister and I show up with. Dessert is pie, of course, pumpkin, lemon meringue, and a pie to be named later (often rhubarb, pumpkin/pecan, or mincemeat). I make all the pies. Homemade crust, homemade filling. Everything we have is homemade. No store-bought gravy or Stove-Top stuffing, no canned cranberry sauce, nada. Well, the crescent rolls are Pillsbury - we cheat there. But the hot yeast rolls are homemade.

The wine choice is always complicated for Thanksgiving. So many people think a white should be served because the main dish is poultry. But because of the intense savory flavors of the day, a red is really more appropriate. I like a Shiraz/Syrah, myself. My mother is inclined to serve a Pinot Noir. We'll see. And we always serve a white for the Philistines too, usually an inoffensive Chardonnay. And we always have sparkling white grape juice for the kids. They like that.

Bunny's Cranberry Butter

3/4 cup fresh cranberries, rinsed and dried
6 T powdered sugar
1T freshly grated orange or lemon peel
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)

Process cranberries, powdered sugar and citrus peel in food processor until coarsely chopped. Cut butter into smaller pieces and place in food processor. Process until combined.

Serve with hot rolls or . . .

Place 1 tsp cranberry butter in center of an unrolled, unbaked Pillsbury crescent roll (the kind that comes in a tube). Roll as usual. Repeat until entire canister of crescent rolls is rolled. Bake as per package directions. YUM!! These are good cold too.

What are y'all having?

A Sad Day

I'm kind of weepy today. Feeling very emotional, vulnerable, heartbroken. Spousehole has been good, pleasant. He admitted to me that he cried last night over where we've ended up. I have never seen him cry in 10 years that we've been together. He had tears in his eyes before he returned to work after lunch. We're being very pleasant, very adult, with one another. It can't last.

The holidays will be hard. I know I'll constantly be thinking "This is the last time we'll do (whatever) as a family" and will be on the verge of tears all the time. My family will be able to read what's going on, I'm sure of it. They'll figure it out before the pie is served on Thursday.

His family is generally more oblivious to such things. They probably won't have a clue until we tell them. We are planning to wait a while to tell them, get through the holidays and get closer to being able to actually divide into two households.

When we get along as well as we have the last couple days, part of me wants to run to Matthew and tell him that I was wrong, we can work it out, our children need an intact family. But that's the emotional idealistic part of me and the intellectual part of me knows that the idealistic part is always wrong. We can't make it work because neither of us really wants it to work. If we did, we would have been working harder all along instead of driving ourselves further and further apart every day.

We said yesterday that we still love each other, so hopefully we can use that love to keep things civil as we proceed. That and our mutual love for our children. I'm terrified of the future, but hopeful as well.

Mute Monday - Fashion

Create a Free Slideshow

Start like a jackrabbit, finish in front of it
On the night is jack , that's it, understand?

Um, no, not so much

The End Begins

We talked today. It was calm and halfway rational. We agree that it's not working and not likely to ever work. We agreed that we will endeavour to share custody of the children and try to spare them as much pain as possible. We agreed to continue living together until the end of the school year. We agreed that we won't tell our families until after the holidays that we are planning to split. We agreed to try to be as pleasant as possible to one another while we are still sharing a household and bank account and not to stand in one another's way just for spite.

He told me that he truly loves me, but he agrees that love is not enough to make it work. He held me, really held me, and I felt closer to him than I have in years. Ironic.

And so the end begins . . .

Sunday Memes

Unconscious Mutterings, the Free Association meme

I say _________ and you think _________

1. Toasty :: Warm
2. Allegations :: False
   


3. Herb :: Spice


4. Bacon :: Grease


5. Neck to neck :: Giraffes


6. Simon :: Schuster


7. Heels :: Pain


8. Fundamentals :: Basics


9. Middle :: Child
   


10. Seasonings :: Flavors

Play along! Unconscious Mutterings


BTW Sunday

~I'm Late, I'm Late~

By the way...

Are you generally early or late?
Early more often than late, because I'm kind of anal that way. But I am late on rare occasions, though I try to let people know what my ETA is and why I am delayed.

Are you concerned with being on time?
Yes, very much so. I hate being late.

If you are chronically late, do you believe it's the result of poor planning or choosing to be late?
I think when people are late they generally have planned poorly. That is the case if I am late. I never choose to be late. I don't even know why someone would do that, except for attention.

When others are late, does it bother you?
Very much. My daughter's Godmother and Godfather (my husband's siblings) are late for everything, including their Goddaughter's baptism. They showed up shortly after the baptism was completed. I was extremely annoyed, to say the least. Most of my husband's relatives are late for everything. Drives me insane.

Do you have any tips for being on time?
Plan ahead. If you are chronically underestimating how much time you have, set all your clocks and watches ahead 5 minutes to help you. And if you are going to be late, call or text me and let me know!!!!

I Give Up; Game Over

I've always heard that what ultimately is the last straw in a marriage is often something relatively inconsequential. It's not something big - an affair, money issues, abuse - it's something that would otherwise be a small thing, if not for the history.

That's how it is with me. It was something smallish that has made me finally ready to pull the plug. I've had enough. It's over. If he agrees, I'll stay through the end of this school year and then when summer comes, I'm moving out. I'll propose that we share custody of the children 50/50 and I will endeavor to remain in the same school district so that we won't have a problem there. The next 7 months should give me time to get a job, save a little, and prepare the kids for our separation. If all goes smoothly (ha!), we should be able to be divorced within a year. We'll argue over the how to apportion the equity in the house and 401K and IRAs, but hopefully we can be reasonable adults.

What pissed me off today? We were supposed to drive to the other side of the state to attend our niece's 3rd birthday party. I had to go have some blood drawn first thing this morning (fasting test) and was gone about an hour. I came home and Spousehole announced that I was not going. Boy coughed a couple times and he didn't want to take a sick child, so Boy and I would be staying home. Whatthefuckever. He told me to hand over the checkbook and I told him I didn't have it and he got all pissy. I let him search my purse and coat pockets until he was satisfied. If it's missing, it's on him because I haven't seen it in more than a week.

He took us all out to breakfast, where he was a complete asshole to me the whole time. He then dropped the Boy and I off at home and he and Girl left for metro Detroit. Thirty minutes later, I tried to log onto the computer and found that the SOB had changed my password. Again. Changed Boy's too, to try to keep me from logging on that way. Goddamnmotherfuckingasshole.

I couldn't even call and bitch him out because he said before he left that his phone wasn't charged. He seemed a little pissy that I didn't offer him mine, but whatever. His problem.

Thoroughly pissed, I used a Ubuntu live CD to log on. He had disabled booting from the CD to stop me from doing that, but I know how to fuck with BIOS too. I'm not the complete goddamn idiot he thinks I am. But I was so pissed, I decided to just reinstall the whole operating system. It meant losing all my data (probably 500 pictures, all my mp3s, everything) but to me it is worth shooting myself in the foot. Now the computer only responds to me. My passwords, my system admin rights. Fuck him.

Edit @ 8:50 p.m.: He called a while ago to say he and Girl were heading home. He was as nice as could be. I'm not going to tell him my plan right away. Next weekend the kids will be gone with his parents and I'm going to talk to him then. I plan to present it as a done deal. I still want to go to counseling - not to save the marriage, but to end the marriage as peacefully as possible and help the kids (and us) with the transition. After all, we've been together 10 of our 40 years. Letting go will be hard for us too.

My Favorite is 5½" of Hardened Steel

I like to have a variety at my beck and call, of course, but my favorite is 5½" and oh so perfect for me. I love how it feels in my hand, how very hard and sharp it is, how it's heavy enough, but not so heavy as to be a burden. It goes everywhere I need it to go. I know that some feel that bigger is better, but I love my 5½" the best.

It's 5½" of forged steel, ice-hardened, with a full tang and a comfortable handle. It's a santoku, my favorite general purpose knife style. I use it for just about everything. It slices, it dices, it minces - veggies, fruits, fish, chicken breast, herbs, almost everything. The smaller size fits my smallish hands and the weight is comfortable for me. It's perfect for mincing onions, garlic, or ginger, or for chiffonade, being fairly small.

For bigger jobs, I have the brothers of the 5½", the 7½" santoku & the monster 9½" santoku. I also have a traditional 8" Wüstof chef's knife and my beloved J.A. Henckels boning knife, which is also ideal for skinning fish. And bread knives, carving knives, and paring knives, of course. But the santokus, the chef's knives, and the boning knife are the core of my collection.


All my favorites are German. Not sure why that is. I guess because they are nice and hard and stay sharp a long time. I hone my knives regularly at home, but do have them professionally sharpened when necessary. A dull knife is a dangerous knife!!!

The wood-handled ones never, ever go in the dishwasher, of course. The non-wood handled ones do, laying sideways in the upper rack, edge up to prevent dulling. I do not keep them in a knife block, as I find the block tends to dull my knives. The most used are kept out in plain sight, within easy reach, on a magnetic strip. The lesser-used ones are in sleeves or cases in a drawer or cabinet, out of the children's reach and sight.

One of Spousehole's main objections to how I keep my kitchen is that the knives are in full view. He feels that they are a temptation to the little ones. I say they are well back from the edge of the counter, where the children would have to stand on something to reach them, and I have taught the children that they may never, ever touch Mommy's knives as they are dangerous. Just like they leave the hot stove or oven alone, the children have left the knives alone. Go figure.

HNT!

I've been a naughty girl
In need of some discipline
Make me beg
Make me crawl . . .

Make me work for it
Make me earn it

Why do we get half-nekkid? Want to join the fun? See Os at

Blogger Meet-Up!

Last night I got to meet and hang out with one of my all time favorite bloggers! He's not blogging anymore (mostly), but is still a favorite. He was unexpectedly in my town and we got together for coffee, except that neither of us drinks much coffee - lol. He had tea and I had diet Coke and we hung out and talked for a couple hours. It was way cool.

That's right, boys and girls, Bunny got to meet SCM!

Aren't you ladies jealous?

TMI Tuesday

It's TMI Tuesday! Click the "I kiss and tell" icon to come play with us!!


1. Have you ever met a fellow blogger in person?

Yes; I'd tell you more but then I'd have to kill you.

2. Did you ever play an innocent game of "I'll show you mine if you show me yours"?
How old where you?

Yes, 8 or 9; anyone want to play now?

3. When did you get your first not so innocent kiss?

14

4. Have you ever awoke with someone who's name you did not remember?

Only briefly, then I remembered.

5. Have you ever let someone else wash you while you were perfectly capable of doing it yourself?

Of course! Where would be the fun in showers/baths for two otherwise? I love the feel of soapy hands sliding over my breasts, making sure they are shiny clean before moving lower . . .

Bonus (as in optional): What makes a great first date for you?

When the other person and I are both relaxed and comfortable from the beginning. Doesn't matter what we do, so long as that connection is there.

Mute Monday - Party

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.

"Pity Party" by Valery Milovic
(click for more info)


Search Party

Landing Party

Pajama Party

Bachelorette Party

After the Party

You Gotta Fight . . .

Made Me Smile - No Mean Feat These Days

This guy on YouTube took Joe Jackson's classic "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" and paired it with pictures from a British photobooth and odd celebrity pairing photos, including Woody and Soon-Yi, Kate Moss and Pete Doherty (I have never understood that one - he's just gross). It made me smile, so I wanted to share.

For something similar, but without the tunes, check out "Hot Chicks with Douchebags." No, it's not women and their feminine hygiene products, it's hot chicks with doofy guys.

Unconscious Mutterings & BTW Sunday

I say _________ and you think _____________. See link at the end to play along!

1. Treadmill :: YMCA


2. Stroke :: Death


3. Exclusively :: Monogamy


4. Lash :: Eye


5. Red carpet :: Celebrity


6. Credit card:: Debt


7. Points :: Driver License


8. Domestic :: Tranquility (for ourselves and our posterity . . . )
   


9. 21 :: Blackjack


10. Inject :: Insulin

Play along! Unconscious Mutterings

BTW Sunday

~Reality or Not~

By the way...

Do you watch reality TV shows?

No. I watched the first season of Survivor and used to watch The Amazing Race, but I rarely watch TV anymore and when I do I prefer to rot my brain with something of a little higher quality.

If so, which is your favorite?

If I had to pick one, it would be The Amazing Race. It's about the only one where the people aren't complete idiots and the producers don't treat them like idiots. I also like Orange County Choppers & Mythbusters- do they count as a reality shows?

If not, what is it that you dislike about reality TV?

I dislike that so many of the people are complete idiots and/or so into themselves that they lack common decency and humanity. Ignorant people behaving despicably is not entertaining to me.

Fan or not, which reality TV series would you absolutely refuse to watch?

Those Bachelor ones. They are awful.

In light of the writer's strike, there has been talk of more reality TV to fill the void.
Will you watch yet more reality TV or will you settle for reruns?

That's why God made Netflix, so I have another choice.

While It's Nice That I'm Not Alone In My Depression . . .

. . . doesn't it seem odd how very many bloggers are going through a rough time right now?

Maybe it's just the particular group I read, but it seems like A LOT of people are experiencing depression right now. Whether new for them or yet another battle in an ongoing war, it just seems like everywhere I turn bloggers are talking about their depression.

I know I'm going through a really bad time right now. Lots of crying for no apparent reason, inability to enjoy things that should be enjoyable, intense desire to kill my spouse . . . oh wait, that last one is pretty normal for me. I missed my meds for a couple days and thought that was the problem since I did feel some better when I returned to taking them, but it didn't last. Depression brings out "thrill seeking" behavior in me and I find myself inclined to such behavior lately.


I have battled clinical depression for many years. I take the "maximum therapeutic dose" of a common anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drug. In the past I have had to add a second anti-depressant for a while and I think that this may be one of those times. I am not suicidal or anything, but I am certainly not doing well. I confessed to my doctor on my last visit (last month) that I do think about suicide every day, but I feel no compulsion to act on those thoughts. I thought that was a good thing, but the doc didn't think so. Apparently normal people don't think about suicide every day. Hmm. Having never been "normal," I was not aware of that fact. Seriously.

In the middle of an argument this morning where we threatened to leave one another and take the kids, Spousehole said it would be better for the children and him if I just disappeared and never came back. And I'm in such a bad state lately that I actually thought he might be right. Of course, he is NOT correct, as my children need me and I need them. I will not be taking his suggestion. I don't think he was suggesting I kill myself, just leave and never come back.

I'm beginning to think that there is something to the idea of S.A.D. - Seasonal Affective Disorder. Really, can it just be coincidence that so many of us have gone downhill in the last few weeks as the amount of sunlight has decreased? What do you think? What's up with all of us?

Suicide is Painless

Amazing how things change so quickly . . .

I came back motivated to try to be the wife Spousehole wants me to be. Maybe lack of sleep was clouding my judgment, I don't know. But it is absolutely amazing to me how quickly Spousehole made me not even want to try. I'm still going to try, but I sure don't really want to after the way he has been.

First of all, he cleaned the house while I was gone to make sure I knew just how much more he can accomplish in a day than me. He did a lot and I thanked him. But again, he didn't do it for the gratitude, he did it to show me up. And he keeps reminding me of that.

He changed my log-in password on my computer. As overall administrator on the system, he can do this without having to know my original password. I had to beg and grovel to get him to tell me the new password. His idea was that if I could only use the computer if he logged me in, I would get more done. While this could be true, pissing me off is not the way to get me to do your bidding. I respond much better to the carrot than the stick. The asshole did give me the password and I reset it to something I can actually remember. But the fact that he can fuck with me like that will always be hanging over my head.

I met with the core of my son's teaching team (ASD teacher, kindergarten teacher, speech therapist, school psychologist) yesterday to try to figure out his problem with riding the bus. We really are running out of ideas. He'll be fine for a day or two, then break down again. It's very frustrating. And Spousehole's complete lack of interest in attending the meeting and in hearing about from me just piss me off further. From his point of view, apparently, it's all my fault even though Boy had the same problems when I was gone. Spousehole's theory of why it is my fault changes minute to minute, but his certainty that everything that ever fucking goes wrong is my fault never wavers.

My daughter's refusal to sleep in her own bed 99% of the time is also my fault, somehow, I was informed last night. So I put her in her own bed, but crawled in with her to try to convince her that her bed is wonderful place to sleep. For her, it may be. For me, not so much. I'm not tall, as you all know, but a toddler bed is NOT comfortable. And then I ended up moving later to the Boy's room, because he couldn't sleep without me. A twin bed is an improvement over the toddler bed, but not much when you factor in a wiggly 6-yr-old. And the Girl got up part way through the night and crawled into bed (my bed, damn it, that I haven't slept in for almost a full week now) with her Daddy, who did not take her back to her own room. So "mission get girl to sleep in her own bed" was once again a failure. But still my fault, I'm sure.

On the plus side of the ledger, I did hear from someone I've not had a lot of contact with recently and he managed to make me feel better with just a few simple words. Amazing how that works sometimes.

**************************

Some Friday tunes:

Vintage Bruce, 10th Avenue Freeze Out


Manfred Mann's Blinded by the Light (written by Bruce, of course)

HNT!

This is from the same set as last week's Halloween picture. Enjoy.

Why do we get half-nekkid? Want to join the fun? See Os at

*****************************

I did a lot of driving on my getaway, so I had a lot of time to think. Automotive solitude is a good thing, sometimes. Some of my thoughts:

*The radio stations in the midwest could use a little more variety. I just kept hitting "seek" on the radio to see what I could find. It tended to go like this: Christian talk; Christian music; classic rock (playing Pink Floyd); old school country; more old school country; classic rock (finishing a Led Zep song, then starting some Pink Floyd); new country (playing Rascal Flatts); classic rock (finishing a Pink Floyd song, then playing another, because it's TWO FOR TUESDAY) . . . repeat. I once counted 6 Pink Floyd songs in one hour on 5 different stations. No joke. The closer you are to an urban area, the better the variety. But I was mostly not near urban areas and the choices were few.

*Yahoo maps SUCK. Never believe those people. Use ANY OTHER map service. Seriously.

*My cat Max and I are a lot alike. He is an Abyssinian. They are smart and intensely curious. Sometimes the curiosity overwhelms the intelligence. That is, you can see him thinking "I have to check this out . . . I know that no good will come of it . . . but I must know . . . " and he ends up crashing down through 3 feet of bushes because he wanted to find out what that thing on top of the bushes was. I think I am like that too sometimes. The curiosity overwhelms my better judgment.

*I need to try to be a better wife. I know Spousehole is an asshole, but perhaps if I try harder to do the things he wants (keep the house cleaner, for instance) things will be better. I have been trying, but I'm going to try harder. If that doesn't help things, I think I'll be done trying.

*It's funny how life doesn't turn out as anyone expects. I saw on old friend from college on Wednesday. I hadn't seen her in person in YEARS. We both have gained some weight, but the big changes were in how we saw ourselves 20 years ago and where we are today. She's basically living the life more people saw me living and I'm living the life people thought was destined for her. We got caught up, discussed the mystery of a friend who we hear from every 5 years or so and is never in the same place or doing the same thing twice, had some coffee, and it was good.

*I must not drink coffee anymore. OMG, the caffeine makes me shake and the acid bothers my stomach. I need to stick to caffeine-free diet Coke, except first thing in the morning (regular Diet Coke then). Tea when I want something hot. I was seriously shaky from caffeine when I reached my destination the other night. Alcohol to balance it was my next mistake. And that's all you are going to hear about that.

*I must sleep more.

*I must eat regular meals and take my insulin properly. Too many lows lately because I don't eat right. A few highs because I didn't take my insulin when I should have. I must do better. My life and those of my children depend on it. Thing is, my A1Cs have still been great, so my endocrinologist doesn't see the problem on paper. I need to have him download my meter stats and go over them with me so he's can see how I've been messing myself up.

*"Stacy's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne just never gets old for me. I still smile big when I run across it on the radio. See the video here.

Have a great Thursday everyone!!

Just checking in . . .

to say I am surviving my trip, enjoying the automotive solitude. More tomorrow.

It's Tuesday, But I'm Not Feeling Like TMI Today

I'm in a funky mood and the questions this week just don't speak to me, so I'm taking a pass on TMI. Sorry.

Hopefully by Thursday I'll be back to my cheerful, half-exhibitionist self. I'm going away tonight and tomorrow. I think a little time away from the kids and husband will be refreshing. I have no plan at this point. Just going to get in my car, pick a direction, and drive. Though that direction is not likely to be due west, since the mommyvan is not equipped with flotation devices (Lake Michigan is due west).

Talking about my going away on Sunday, my husband actually suggested I take the newer of our 2 vehicles (the one I usually drive anyway). I was touched, thinking he was concerned for my safety and wanted me in the newer, nicer car. I thanked him for thinking of me like that and he said "Well it gets better mileage. Don't want to waste gas at these prices." So much for his concern for me.

But I really shouldn't complain. He took tomorrow off work to take care of the kids so I can get away. That was a pretty significant thing for him. He's not always a complete ogre. (You'll notice I even referred to him as "my husband," not the disparaging nickname. Don't worry. This niceness toward him won't last.)

I'm feeling like a real asshat today. I hurt three people's feelings yesterday. One was family and that person is over it already; that's the nature of our relationship. The other two were friends. One has been something that has been simmering a while and it just bubbled over yesterday. I don't really regret it because what I said needed saying, but I regret how I said it. I could have been a little more kind about it. The third person I lashed out at impulsively in frustration. I was frustrated with circumstances beyond his control, but took it out on him. I hope he'll forgive me, but the friendship won't be the same after this idiocy. I regret that one the most.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. I know I will try to as well.

You ever have one of those days when . . .

*you make all the wrong choices regarding your friends and your family?

*and those choices drive away your friends and family?

*you really want some chocolate?

*you really, really want a drink?

*you can't have chocolate & wine together because you'll get a horrible headache?

*you decide that the best way to resolve the chocolate/drink dilemma is to combine them? (check this out: Kahlua, Creme de cacao, vodka, Hershey's syrup, & skim milk - not bad at all; especially if you go light on the skim milk)

*you really want to grovel for forgiveness, but your self-esteem hasn't sunk quite that low yet?

*or you're not quite that drunk yet?

Repeat after me: "must not drunk dial . . . must not drunk dial . . . must not drunk dial . . . ohmmmmmmm"

I sincerely hope you all have NOT had a day like that.



But if you have, try to at least laugh at your own stupidity.

I want to stop the world . . .

just stop the world and get off the merry-go-round, if only for a short time. KWIM?






I am planning a brief getaway. No kids, no spouse. Perhaps that will be the momentary escape that I need.

__________________________

My daughter is watching an episode of Star Trek at the moment. I hadn't realized how into it she is, or how much she has been exposed to it, or whatever. Spock came into the frame and she yelled "It's Spock, Mommy!" I laughed and I've been asking her to name characters as they came into view. She got "Docca Coy," "Scotty" and "Captain Jim." OMG, she is her parents' daughter . . . Maybe I can get her to dress as Uhura for Halloween next year. Of course, that would likely mean I would have to get out my sewing machine. Perhaps it's not such a good idea after all.

__________________________

I had lunch with a girlfriend today. She tries to talk me out of everything fun in my life, phrasing it all in religious terms. Then she tries to get me to go spend my money (okay, Spousehole's money) on psychics and astrology readings. She's sure I would be so much happier in life and in my marriage if I just got my cards read, my stars charted, my numbers divined, and prayed more. Okee dokee. Oh, and since she's in the mortgage industry, I should also refi my house. Yeah, great time to do that (NOT). And since her marriage is on extremely shaky ground, I'm really comfortable taking her marriage advice. Sheez. I need to get some new friends.

Mute Monday - Emotion

In front of St. Pat's, looking down 5th Avenue toward the World Trade Center 9/11/2001

48th Street Firehouse, FDNY, 9/12/2001

U.S. Men's Hockey Team, Lake Placid Olympics

V-E Day NYC




V-J Day NYC

Unconscious Mutterings

Unconscious Mutterings, the Free Association meme

I say _________ and you think _________

1. Assets :: Divorce


2. Concern :: Worry
   


3. Over the top :: Behavior


4. Supplies :: School


5. Mustache :: No


6. Doug :: E. Doug


7. Coach :: Knight


8. Bleachers :: Seats


9. Stripes :: Tiger
   


10. Assortment :: Candy

Play along! Unconscious Mutterings

BTW Sunday

~State by State~

By the way...

What's the best thing about the state you live in?

The lakes! Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie, plus thousands of inland lakes.

What one thing would you like to change about your state?

The economy, which is in the toilet currently.

What do you like about the climate in your state?

We have all 4 seasons and activities in all of them.

What do you not like about the climate in your state?

We have all 4 seasons . . .

If you didn't live in your state, which state would you like to live in?

Washington or Oregon, I think.

Name something unique about your state.

It has two peninsulas.

Tell Me on a Sunday

Tell Me on a Sunday - Sarah Brightman

My Spartans lost yesterday, as expected, but they made Michigan work for it at least. It's all my fault, of course. I was working in my attic yesterday. Any part of the game I watched, the Spartans sucked. If I was up in the attic, the Spartans shone. They were ahead and late in the 4th quarter I came downstairs and plopped down on the couch. Michigan scored the touchdown that clinched the game for them moments after I sat down. I need to just stay away from the TV and the Spartans will be okay. I'm realizing this too late to save this season, however.

As I said, I spent much of Saturday in the attic. Our church is having a second best sale (rummage sale) next week and I was cleaning out stuff to donate for the sale.

We have been in this house 9 years this month (and if you're keeping track, yes, that is longer than we've been married; we shacked up before marriage - are you shocked? My in-laws are still recovering from the horror of it all). How does one family accumulate so much cr@p in just 9 years??!?

Some stuff is just stupid. We have a Christmas tree stand. That my not seem weird, but it is for a live Christmas tree. I am violently allergic to evergreens, so we have never, can never, and will never have a real tree. So why the stand? No clue.

I found dishes I have been looking for and wedding gifts still in their boxes. Some nice stuff too. The kids now are madly in love with all the toys I am donating and are devastated. There was boat stuff up there- riggings, cleats. Isn't that why God gave us a garage? Because He surely didn't intend for us to put a car in that tiny little garage.

I should get rid of some Christmas decorations. I have enough for several Christmas trees, but I haven't even put up one tree for three years. It's a pain to have a tree with little kids. And three cats. What kind of lousy mom doesn't put up a tree for her kids? Oh yeah, a lazy one. I put up a lot of other decorations though, so it's not like the house isn't festive. In fact, on any holiday it looks like a Fitz & Floyd store display. I may have more Fitz & Floyd than the local MacyHudsonField's.

Spousehole ticked me off some yesterday (I know, you're stunned.) He bitches and bitches about me not getting things done. So I work my ass off in the attic all day and still manage clean the kitchen and mop the kitchen floor and what does he do? He was on his laptop for 7 hours straight and watching TV at the same time. WTF? He was watching motorcycle videos on YouTube, surfing Ebay for stuff he can't afford, playing games, watching Ninja Warrior on G4 - just farting around! And then he had the nerve to say last night "You going to do some laundry too? It's starting to pile up." Oh hell no. Like he doesn't know how to operate the washing machine? He could have done several loads just running down during commercial breaks! Butthead.

************

My Liberal Identity:

You are a Reality-Based Intellectualist, also known as the liberal elite. You are a proud member of what’s known as the reality-based community, where science, reason, and non-Jesus-based thought reign supreme.

Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com

And now, I'm off to church (go figure!)

Thanks Polt!

************

Have you ever had an underwire bra that you are sure is out to get you? The one I have on today is so cute, but it's trying to kill me. It keeps poking me on the left side. It's managed to find a spot where it can dig in right against a rib. Now, if you've seen my pictures, you know I am not exactly skin and bones. I come equipped with ample padding. Yet this underwire has found a spot with a direct connection to bone. I'd just take it off, but it's so cute and it matches the panties. The things we do for fashion that no one can see anyway.

Itz Caturday!

Why yes, yes it is CATURDAY.

So I made my very own lolcat (below), using my cat Thomas:

****************

Today is the long-awaiting Michigan State-Michigan game. I'll watch, but I don't have high hopes for my Spartans. Even with the home stadium advantage, I think they're going to get creamed, especially if Michigan's Hart is back to full strength. Dude is a force of nature. Of course, if the Wolverines bring the game they brought to the Appalachian State game . . . but I think they've learned from their mistakes and grown. (Did I tell y'all that I had a personal connection to Appy State? My uncle was the ROTC coordinator/recruiter there in the early 70s. Small world.)

****************

Man, I was excited for a little bit this morning. I saw this headline: "New Device May Stop Red Wine Headaches" Then I read the article. Unfortunately, it would stop the headache by alerting you to high amine levels so you would not drink the particular wine. What use is that?? I want something that lets me drink the reds I adore without the headache later. Sheez. Develop something that neutralizes the high amine levels without affecting the taste of the wine. That would be news. And something that would let me have chocolate, aged cheese, and red wine at the same time without triggering a migraine? Even freaking better. As it is, I can have any one of those things and only get a regular headache from the red wine. If I combine any two, migraine. I've learned to not combine them, of course, and haven't had a migraine in years (though my doctor thinks having children may have cured my migraines. I'm not going to have some Lindt, some Dubliner, and a nice Cab together to test his theory).

Call the Pope! It's a Miracle!

I am having a good day.

That is a miracle for sure, if only a minor one.

Boy got on the bus today with no fight at all. None, zero, zip, nada, zilch. We are using Social Stories™ to help him cope and understand. Why that is necessary after years of riding the bus with no problem, I do not know. But he's riding the bus and doing well at school, so I am happy.
Edit: He rode the bus home with no problem too! He's enjoying drawing the bus and telling stories about the bus, so the Social Story thing may be working!

The Girl was relatively well-behaved while grocery shopping. She only opened a couple packages and did not have any major fits. That's a good day for us.

Spousehole invited me to lunch. I had to pay, but that's okay. I was the only one with any cash. He was pleasant and less critical than usual. (Don't even get me started on the crap he was shoveling on me last night . . . )

and best of all:

MY MUSIC WAS RECOVERED!! Nothing from the last two weeks was on the backup, but everything else was. Yippee!!! I'm home alone now and have music blaring from my computer speakers once again!! BTW ~ thank you to The Silent Male for his post on the Inappropriate Music issue!

I suppose I better clean some stuff now, since that was my excuse for sending Girl off with Spousehole - that I wanted some time to clean the pigsty that passes for our home. But at least I have tunes . . .

Funeral Protesters Despicable, But Have 1st Amendment Rights

I'm sure you've all heard this story, about Fred Phelps' Kansas church that protests at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church maintain that God is punishing the United States, killing and maiming troops, because the country tolerates homosexuality. They have gained much notoriety for their funeral protests over almost 20 years. The church first gained national attention when they picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming student who was murdered in 1998 for being gay. They have also picketed the funerals of Frank Sinatra and Bill Clinton's mother, celebrated the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as an act of God's wrath, and have even targeted Santa Claus and the Ku Klux Klan. More recently, they carry signs at soldiers' funerals that say things such as "Thank God for IEDs" and "God Hates Fags."

The family of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, killed in a vehicle crash in Anbar Province, sued the church, Phelps, and his two adult daughters for intentional infliction of emotional distress for picketing Snyder's funeral carrying placards with virulent anti-gay messages and ones that said "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" and "God Hates You." A jury awarded Snyder's family $10.9 millon in damages for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

I believe the actions of Phelps and his church (whose 75 members are drawn mainly from Phelps' family) are reprehensible. Their anti-gay bigotry is highly unChristian, in my opinion, and to use that bigotry to torment the families and friends of soldiers killed in service of their country is vile and disgusting. Their targeting of soldiers' funerals gives them the publicity they seek - that's why they do it.

While I believe the actions of members of Westboro Baptist Church are shameful and ignorant, I also must defend their right to assemble and speak. What they have to say is horribly disgusting, but they have a right to say it. Since their diatribes are against the government and society in general, their First Amendment rights fully apply.

They followed the law, which in Maryland required them to stay 1000 feet from the funeral site. They were on public property. Yes their actions were offensive and caused pain to Snyder's family. But those actions constitute an exercise of their rights to speech and religion and are constitutionally protected.

The author of the First Amendment, James Madison, noted that the purpose of the Amendment was to protect the minority against the majority. This is true if the minority is a foaming-at-the-mouth bigoted extremist. On these grounds, I expect the Snyder vs. Phelps verdict will be overturned on appeal to the 4th Circuit.

What do you think?

Edit: Please note that the courts have limited the right to sue others who are acting to exercise their constitutional rights. Because it is the government's alleged tolerance of homosexuality that the Westboro church members are protesting, they are acting in furtherance of exercising their First Amendment rights when protesting. That they also impact on individuals (the deceased's family and friends) is likely to be found by the 4th Circuit to not be outweighed by the fact that the Westboro group is exercising a constitutional right. A suit like this might be considered a form of a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). Generally, a "SLAPP" is a (1) civil complaint or counterclaim; (2) filed against individuals or organizations; (3) arising from their communications to government or speech on an issue of public interest or concern. These suits almost always fail as the defendants are found to exercising their right to free speech. They generally only succeed if the speech is found to be inciting or false.

Halloween HNT!

I didn't dress up this year (lack of time/interest), so you get this:

Why do we get half-nekkid? Want to join the fun? See Os at