Friday, May 30, 2008

Hasn't stopped raining for days

So, it's been a little wet here. Yesterday it pretty much poured from 11am to 3pm, I heard we got over 4 inches. The river here crested at 26.8 feet, flood stage is 20 feet, the creek crested at 15.85 feet, flood stage is 9.0 feet. So we got floods. People are saying in some parts of town it's worse than '93, that was considered a 500 year flood (pretty rare).
A couple pictures for y'all:
This is one of our main intersections on S. Duff, at S. 4th st looking east at the Target store.
This one is on S. Duff looking south by Old George's Pizza (used to be Gregory's), S. 3rd which the bowling alley and the Boys and Girls Club is on is behind the Pizza Hut. Here's a look at a sign in one of our parks, by s. 4th and University Blvd (used to be Elwood)
Apparently someone parked their car in Brookside before it started to flood. I have a picture that's a close up of the car, the driver's side window is smashed (most likely with the piece of road sitting on top of the car), inside the car, the water is up to the dash.
This is a picture of US 30 looking east after the water had gone down a bit. I heard around 1pm they had closed it from the east side of town to the west side of town.

Monday, May 26, 2008

OK, I'm massively tickled about this video, just cause it seems to be in a lot of places.
Here's an aol link to it.
And here's another. In this one you have 2 of them: Spotters Talk About Parkersburg Tornado and Storm Spotters Catch Tornado On Tape. See if you can guess which one's my guy (not a hard thing)

Thank you

Because I can't say it any better, I copied and pasted this from AD, word for word, so with your comments, go to his blog and comment:

When you partake in your Memorial Day barbecue today, try to remember a few things.

When the smoke from the grill blows into your eyes, try to imagine the terror of the young pilot as the smoke fills the cockpit of his F4 Wildcat, spiraling into the sea off Guadalcanal.

When you sample those pork ribs, remember the Iowa farm boy whose life blood stained the surf at Normandy.

When you eat a bite of potato salad, think of an Idaho preacher's kid who died with a prayer on his lips, asking God to forgive him for the enemy soldiers' lives he had taken.

When you welcome your niece's new boyfriend to the table, remember the black kid from Mississippi who died right beside his white buddies in Vietnam, though he wasn't even allowed to eat in the same restaurants back home.

When you scold your misbehaving grandchild, think of the little boy whose only knowledge of his father will come from stories told by family, because Daddy died on a dusty street in Fallujah while he was still in the womb.

When you fetch your wife another glass of tea, think of a young wife living in base housing at Fort Benning, as she hears the news that her husband died at Ia Drang.

When you invite Grandpa to say grace before the meal, think of young men cut down by a hail of fire from a Maxim at Belleau Wood.

When you reflect with pride on your daughter's recent graduation, think of a young woman cartwheeling into the sea in her F14 Tomcat after a failed carrier landing.

When you look with distaste at the tattoos on her new boyfriend, think instead of the former gang kid from Detroit who found a way up and out of poverty in the Army, only to die from an IED blast in Baghdad. And remind yourself that what matters is how he treats your daughter, not the ink on his arms.

When you sit at the table, think of a Navy Captain, a husband and father, who died at his Pentagon desk on September 11. His death was no less honorable.

If you're traveling today, think of the passengers of United Flight 93, for in a field outside Shanksville they became the first soldiers in our war on terror.

When your boys fight, as boys will do, remember the boys on both sides who died at Gettysburg.

If a loved one can't make it to the gathering today, think of Mrs. Bixby and her five sons.

While your kids play in the pool this afternoon, think of other kids not much older, trapped below decks as the Arizona went under at Pearl Harbor.

When you take a shower tonight, think of young men reeking of machine oil and sweat, desperately trying, and failing, to surface their wounded submarine somewhere in the Pacific in 1943.

I tell you of these things not to spoil your appetite or your day, but to remind you that the things we enjoy in our lives are made all the sweeter when you consider what made them possible.

Remind yourself also that your sacrifice is infinitely easier. All you need do is sacrifice a moment of your time every few years to pull a lever. The way to honor a dead soldier is not simply to fly a flag on Memorial Day. Vote to preserve the freedoms they died defending.

And stop by your local Veteran's Cemetery and put out some flowers on the grave of your choice. It need not even be the grave of someone you know.
Bring your children along, and explain to them why. It's important.


And while a lot of people are honoring fallen heroes, some are picking up the pieces from a devasting tornado in Iowa. My boyfriend was out yesterday following this tornado from the moment it formed. Go here for his and his buddy's video. Once you get to the page scroll down to the video module on the page and click on the video titled Storm Spotters Catch Tornado On Tape.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

2 and 2 is 4, 6 and 2 is eight

Time to celebrate. I shaved 4 minutes off my 4 mile walk, and someone said something about my ass. I'm pretty sure it was a comment by the way they were yelling it. Normally, I would buy something for myself, but not now. Can't do that until I get about $800 or so more in the bank.
I'm wondering if relocating will get me out of my rut. I'd love to be a cowgirl, that would be fun. I'd love to do anything where I'd get to ride a horse, I haven't been on one since 6th grade (that's like 12 years ago, ick I feel old), but I'm pretty sure it's not that hard to remember. I'd also love to do construction, that would be fun too. I'm thinking about seeing if I can help build the Habitat for Humanity house that's going up in my neighborhood. That way I could get experience without having to have a background in construction to get my experience, cause I'm pretty sure any construction business would look at me and laugh if I asked to be a part of it.
I had a dream the other night, that's been sticking with me. I start out in my aunt's house (not really, but that's how it was in the dream) and it's raining (cause it was pouring outside) and all the windows are leaking and everything is soaking so mom sends me up to the 3rd floor to find the problem and a tornado sucked me up and threw me down somewhere near another house, to which the old lady let me in and I ushered her and her dogs to the basement, and then she writes a will leaving the house to me if she died, and of course she did, so then I'm in this house with a cousin I haven't seen in ages. It's weird I haven't even thought about him in god knows when, but now it's like he's lurking in the back of my mind.
Another one that's been lingering is I'm working at some food place and I get in trouble with another employee and so we're sent to walk up and down stairs. When I get sick of that and quit, I'm traveling through Paris (I don't think it was, but for some reason it felt like it?) and I can change things with the flick of my hand, then I'm walking with a friend and we go into a house and find an old guy to which I procede to have sex with, and then my friend's father comes in and I tell him to get his wife and we'll have a 3-some (don't ask me) and he runs off scared and then I wake up.
The one I had last night, I was in a school and some horrible car accident happens outside, so I go to check it out and ends up in some house where there's some big fight happening outside and Kevin and someone else comes along and we all fight to get out alive.
I tell ya, I only remember the weird ones.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Pinch me

Somebody pinch me. I just saw the MOST GORGEOUS CAR ON EARTH!!! The Impala from Supernatural, this baby:

Damn, I wish I had a camera

(ok so the Supernatural car has 4 doors, I didn't notice how many this one had, I was too busy recovering from my heart attack)

Thursday, May 22, 2008

The things I learn

The people that work and live in my neighborhood are so lucky now that my boyfriend's working 12 hr days at the mine. I've noticed people that park illegally (like the person across the street that has his whole back tire over the yellow line) don't bother me nearly as much as when I can call up my boyfriend and get him to come over and ticket them, unless of course they are impeding my walking path, then you can guarantee I'm calling the police on them.
There was one car yesterday that was parked on the wrong side of the street and earned themselves a ticket. Today, I'm opening my mini-blinds on my bedroom window and I notice the same car parked legally in front of my house. How do I know it's the same car you ask? Because it's still got it's ticket on the window tacked underneath the windsheild wiper. Now I know for a fact, if it rains today, and they have to use their wipers on their way home, and don't notice the ticket fly off in the rain, they'll sill get a summons to come to court and pay that ticket. The great things you learn when you're boyfriend works with the police.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Pure bullshit

It's so wrong. I was watching Friends, so naturally when it became 7:00, I'm still on the CW, and Farmer wants a wife comes on. You'd think they could pick girls that weren't Barbie. Goddess complained about the farmer, I'm complaining about the chicks. Every single one shows up in short skirts and high-heeled shoes. Cause ya know that's the staple of clothes on a farm. Could we try to wear jeans and boots (or at least sneakers) like any normal human being. All the chicks are staying in this house, and once they get the full tour, one of them comments on how old the furniture is inside and it needs some serious remodeling, same chick wants to know if there's a maid and if there are flush toilets. Cause apparently living out in the country, you wouldn't have running water. They were all surprised that the farmer's wife was able to move to the country from the city because she fell in love with a farmer and they didn't understand how she could cope.
One of the chicks introducing herself at the beginning was saying she had to have manicures and pedicures every week but she wasn't a snob or anything. Good luck getting those in the country, at least she can have as many mud baths as she wants.
They're all scared of the chickens and whinning cause they're stepping in cow shit. One of the chicks was saying how she'd love to be the farmer's wife cause she wouldn't have to work, cause the wives have people to work for them, quite funny since Farmer wants someone able to pull their own weight. Guess that wasn't a question to answer, just are you big busted, beautiful and know absolutely nothing out of city life? Guess you're able to come on the show. Personally I think it'd be fun to go do that, oh but I'm not drop dead gorgeous city girl, wouldn't fit in with y'all.

Sometimes people write the things they can't say

Stole this from Goddess. Answer these questions with only a photo or other graphic, NO words allowed. So apparently blogger rearranged my photos (as long as it took me to figure this out :S), so I'm rearranging the questions, just so I don't have to deal with photos again.
1. What is your favorite band/singer?
2. What is your current mood?
3. What is your current relationship status?
4. Who do you look like?
5. Where do you work?
6. Where do you live?
7. What kind of pets do you have?
8. What is your favorite movie?
9. What do you drive?
N/A
10. What is your favorite candy?
11. Describe Yourself.
12. What is your favorite network TV Show?
13. What did you do on Sunday?
14. What did you do on Saturday?

Feel free to play along

Monday, May 19, 2008

Where do you wanna be?

A question for my readers: If you had enough money, where would you like to live?
I was just thinking about this today, as me and mom chatted about life and jobs again today. I know Kevin would like to move closer to his family. I'd like to move somewhere I've never been, where I don't know anyone and start fresh. I wish I had the guts to do that (and maybe $1000 to start out).

Sunday, May 18, 2008

You shoulda said No

Just finished watching most of the Academy of Country Music Awards. It was kinda cool they let the fans vote for Entertainer of the Year, of course the group I voted for (Rascal Flatts) didn't win, but Kenny Chesney did, and I wanna know why the hell he didn't hug Reba when she went to close the show and congratulate him. The camera shows her going to congratulate him, and he bypasses her and goes off with the award holding lady onto back stage. Are we too good to hug Reba?
Also, whatever Carrie Underwood was wearing when she didn her performance made her look very old. I loved Taylor Swift's new song, that was really cute, but could they stop playing her Teardrops on My Guitar song on non-country stations, she's not pop, and it sounds horrible. Stick to what you know and are good at Taylor. Also, loved Miranda Lambert's performance, and Toby Keith's and Montgomery Gentry. Can't say I'm a big fan of Shiftwork, though the performance of Kenny and George was pretty good. And Brooks N Dunn's song Add a Girl (or something like that) with Reba stepping in at the end was pretty good too.
I didn't really pay attention to the awards, didn't really mean not to, I just didn't and since I was going to meet Kevin when he got off work, I couldn't really keep a tally (didn't really seem to care either). So, I guess if you're looking for a list, here you go:

Entertainer of the Year: Kenny Chesney
Top Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley
Top Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood
Top Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts
Top Duo: Brooks N Dunn
Top New Male Vocalist: Jack Ingram
Top New Female Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Top New Duo or Vocal Group: Lady Antebellum
Album of the Year: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend by Miranda Lambert
Single of the Year: Stay by Sugarland
Song of the Year: Stay by Sugarland
Video of the Year: Online by Brad Paisley

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Are you where you want to be

The other day, I mentioned Americorps. The whole reason mom brought it up is because I "haven't figured out what I want to do with my life yet". She said I wasn't any closer than I was when I graduated high school. The thing is, in high school and college you're supposed to learn about yourself and I think my mom kind of hindered that. I was pondering this last night. I didn't really start to explore/find/learn about myself until I moved out (or across the street into one of my parents apartments, as the case may be) and wasn't around my parents, didn't have them looking over my shoulder and breathing down my neck. I got my first tattoo the spring after moving out. That I think was the first part in finding myself, and then the whole posting about motorcycle rides online, dying my hair red, and getting more tattoos. I still haven't figured out who I am, but with most people starting to learn in high school (or at least the summer after high school and into college) I have a couple more years to figure it out. I am so much more comfortable in my own skin now that I've added ink and started wearing clothes that fit my body. When I was in school (elementary through hs), I pretty much just wore t-shirts and jeans, the whole damn time. I remember when I wore a cute summer dress (still got it and it still fits pretty damn good) for my high school graduation, I'm pretty sure my mom tried to convince me to wear something different. Of course at that time I was still wearing bike shorts underneath dresses and skirts, I didn't stop that until some time within the last 3 years. It has also helped having a boyfriend constantly telling me I'm hott. Parents are obligated to tell you you're beautiful, and siblings are obligated to tell you you're not, so you don't actually know what you are until you get a significant other (unless you're one of those people that are gorgeous to begin with)
I feel so free and good looking when I wear cute dresses and form fitting shirts. Though I'm still getting used to short shorts. I never had any until Kevin bought me some last year for my birthday, but I still haven't really worn them when I'm not around him or mowing the lawn. I'm not quite sure about my legs yet, though I have had at least 3 people tell me they like my long slim legs.
I've been watching America's Next Top Model and The Tyra Banks Show lately (I've watched other shows with this topic, but these are the most recent), and I notice how much they push self-esteem, and self-worth, and how we see ourselves. How we don't think others think we're gorgeous until we fully accept ourselves and who we are. They should really teach that in high school or college. Especially in high school when people can be so cruel to everyone else. I'm thinking I started to be freer with myself after reading something in my intro to psychology class, spring of my sophomore year of college. 75% of your peers don't even notice you, they're too busy worrying about themselves (or something like that). When I started to realize that, I think that's when I started to focus more on me. And I have felt better about myself since then.
Am I where I want to be? I don't know where I want to be in life. I don't know what I want to do for the rest of my life. When I was in 2nd grade we had journals and one of the topics was to write about that, I said I wanted to be a police officer. Then I got to high school and took a 2D art class found out I was pretty good at at that and wanted to be an artist (but we all know artists don't really make a living on their art), when we had career day in 11th grade, I went to a library. That was interesting, and I think I could handle that. When I was accepted into college, I was originally accepted into the Art & Design program, then my parents convinced me there was no money in art and I transferred into the Business program before actually starting. But I took and Intro to Sociology and Intro to Criminal Justice class to fill out my schedule and really enjoyed those. I found out if I had an enjoyable class (something NOT business) every semester, I could handle the semester. When I failed my accounting class my sophomore spring semester, I realized I couldn't fake it in business anymore, I never got better than a B- in any of my business classes, though I was getting B+ and B's in my LAS (Liberal Arts and Sciences) classes, so I transferred over to that program, chose to do a major in Sociology and minor in Criminal Justice (I think I would have done the minor in CJ even if I continued in Business). I enjoyed it, I don't think I thought that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, but I realized I paid more attention to the content and ingested the material.
While I was in college I worked at the campus library, I really loved that. I wouldn't mind being a librarian for the rest of my life. When I graduated college, I didn't have a job lined up, and was looking until May last year, when I landed a great job working at an art store. That was fun, I got to play with the products and teach others about the products. I learned fast. I really enjoyed that job, but things happened and the store closed, so once again I'm looking for a job. I really don't know what I want to do. I know what I can do, but Goddess told me not to look for a job to pay the bills because then I'd get stuck in it for life. I'm trying not to do that, but my money's running out. I wouldn't mind what I'm doing now (OK yesterday morning), listening to music and making art. I wish I had a job I could just go in and make some money to keep me going for awhile and not have to work every day (Good luck getting that, huh?)

Monday, May 12, 2008

I've walked this floor

My parents had their 35th anniversary today, we went out to eat, and as they have figured out, it's the only time they can talk to me about jobs and shit. My mom suggested I look at this Americorps thing (I haven't yet, but I'm guessing it's kinda like the Peace Corps but in America), and how it's only a 10 month commitment, and maybe I should get out of here and get out of my grove. The thing she doesn't know is, that if I ever leave this town, you can bet to hell I'm never coming back. I don't want to be that close to her. I think that's part of the reason I'm still here, it's such a big jump to go out of my comfort zone, everything here I can get to, I know it, and now I don't want to leave my boyfriend behind, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't get up and leave with me. He's got two very stable jobs that he's more or less happy about, he wouldn't leave, even to be with me.
Though it was a nice glimmer of hope, my mom actually suggesting I leave my comfort zone. Course like I said, she doesn't know I'd never come back, not even for a 1 day visit.
But like I've said before I could never afford it. I was born here and I'll die here, the sad fate of me.

Sunday, May 11, 2008


Go celebrate with your mother, or at the least give her a call. She's the reason you're here today.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

I'm sitting here in second place

WOW!!!
I just had one of the best showers in a while.
Something about the mix of temperature of the water, music, temp of my apartment and the new body wash I got. It's 82 degrees in my apartment with all the windows open, and 76 degrees outside. I'm trying to save electricity and wait as long as possible before turning on my AC. Being so hot in my apt, I knew I wasn't going to take a scalding hot shower like I usually do, it wasn't quite warm or cold, maybe somewhere around lukewarm, and if felt great. And this new body wash I got, smells so nice and clean. Put some Nickelback on the radio, and it was great. I think part of it was cause it was the first time I'd showered since going on my walk yesterday, so I was all sweaty (yeah, yeah, I know shoulda showered all that dried sweat off yesterday, I was tired), plus certain people weren't home to complain about me being in the shower too long.
Wish I had something to do now that I'm all refreshed and clean.

Sunday, May 04, 2008

50 Things about me****

Logged on to Bloglines and saw this, so I stole it. Thanks Rainstorm

1) Do you like Bleu Cheese? no
2) Have you ever smoked heroin? No
3) Do you own guns? No
4) What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? Never been there
5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No, I get impatient.
6) What do you think of hot dogs? Yummy
7) Favorite Christmas song? Anything by Trans Siberian Orchestra
8) What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Vault
9) Can you do push ups? No
10) Can you do a chin up? No
11) What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Ring Kevin gave me
12) Favorite hobby? Making art
13) Ever been in a car wreck? Yes
14) Do you have A.D.D.? No
15) What IS one thing that you hate about yourself? I procrastinate
16) Middle name? J
17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? 1. I’m hungry, 2. Still tired, 3. Hope I get that job
18) Name 3 things you bought yesterday. Didn’t buy anything yesterday
19) Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? 1. Vault 2. Mtn Dew 3. Water
20) Current worry? Will I get that job
21) Current hate right now? My mom
No 22
23) How did you bring in the New Year? Kissing Kevin
24) Where would you like to go? Some place in the country, and hike with Kevin, preferably some place around water
25) Name three people who will complete this? Nobody
26) Do you own slippers? Yes
27) What shirt are you wearing? Black peasant-type shirt
28) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Never been in satin sheets
29) Can you whistle? Yes
30) Favorite color? Green
31) Would you be a pirate? No
32) What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatevers on the radio
33) Favorite girl's name? Fiona
34) Favorite boy's name? Don’t know
35) What's in your pocket? Lint
36) Last thing that made you laugh? Kevin running over his yard
37) Best bed sheets as a child? Clouds
38) Worst injury you've ever had? Broke my toe
39) Do you love where you live? I love the place, not the actual dwelling
40) How many TVs do you have in your house? 1
41) Who is your loudest friend? Diane
42) How many dogs do you have? None.
43) Does someone have a crush on you? I don’t know
where’s 44?
45) What is your favorite book? What Cops Know
And 46?
47) Favorite Sports Team? None
48) What song do you want played at your funeral? Go Rest High On that Mountain by Vince Gill, When I Get Where I’m Going by Brad Paisley
49) What were you doing 12 AM last night? Watching t.v.
50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I don’t want to lose my teeth

****So, technically it’s only 47 things about me. Ever notice on these numbered things there’s always numbers missing, either someone couldn’t count, or people before me didn’t like certain ones and omitted them. I hate that.

the grass and the dirt and the gravel all meet

I hate it when I have bad dreams, they rarely happen, at least the ones that might actually come true (certain parts of them), but they do happen. The last dream that I woke up from was just bad part after bad part. I started back in HS, somehow messed up in gym, left some stuff behind in a classroom, forgot an assignment, went home and my mom got mad at me for being on the computer, then she sent me somewhere with someone, made me do some crap I didn't want to do, then I got lost in a train station, and when I finally got back home, I was evicted and my teeth were falling out. How's that for bad crap in dreams. Course I could get evicted if I don't get a job soon, I think the lost thing was lost in life (I've had that dream before, just in a different place, though it was an airport, don't know something about a traveling center lots of people and being lost), and my teeth were bothering me yesterday. I woke up with a very freaky feeling. I hate that.
So, I'm sure you're all wondering what I got Kevin for out anniversary (and maybe you're not, oh well), I made him a pillow saying May 1, 2008 1st anniversary I love you. and needlefelted some hearts on the other side. I was meaning to take a picture of it, cause I think it's rather cute, but I forgot. And I got him a rock. We're all about rocks, we have a tendency to find neat ones when we go to places, I told him when he goes on storm chases, or just away in general, he should find me a (neat) rock, so I can have a rock everytime he goes away. He came over after work with quite a few gifts for me: frog trash can, frog toilet brush holder, frog soap holder, frog soap dish, and silverware. Not that I don't like him spending money on me or anything, but this shit was expensive, don't get me wrong, I love it, but....
I am so sick of having a cold (no pun intended). Kevin was getting sickly from a cold last Sat when we went to the Hog Roast, he said a guy at the mine had a cold, that's where he got it, and then he passed it on to me. Sunday, I had a sore throat, and it got worse from there. I still have a cough and a stuffy nose. You never know how much you love breathing through your nose until you can't. I think part of the reason I've had it so bad and so long is cause I have nothing to do/go to. When I was in school I never took a sick day, and when I was working last year, never took a sick day either, but now that I don't have to go somewhere regularly, I guess my body decided it didn't have to work so hard to fight it. Yay?!
Oh, so I found out dream guy is moving away. It doesn't bother me that much, except I like seeing a cop car across the street at times (not much lately, cause he's on overnights), and the other day I saw him ride his bike to work, I will miss that. But, I've got my own guy now, dream guy, not much of a dream guy anymore. So, no big loss.
Nothing else exciting here, hope this will tide you over until I have exciting stuff again.