Thursday, July 31, 2008

My mother's driving me nuts. Nothing new there, right?
Anyways, I'm scraping and painting the porch for her (she keeps saying I'm staining it, but I agree with Kevin, if I have to scrape it off, I'm painting it), and every day she comes out and rubs her finger on the wood, and if even a miniscule sliver of paint comes off, she decides I haven't scraped it enough. It's a porch, it sits out in the annoyingly hot weather (god awful humid lately) it's been rained on lately, and just normal wear and tear makes it so it keeps flaking. SO IT'S GONNA FLAKE ESPECIALLY IF YOU RUB ON THE PARTICULARLY WEATHERED SPOTS.
I just looked at the weather and it might rain. Crossing my fingers that it will, beause then the porch will be too wet to paint.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Good News

Just an update for y'all. Got me a job at a Games store here (and as before, I WILL NOT blog about work), tomorrow have an interview at a bookstore (crossing my fingers majorly for this one), they will both be part time. And in case anyone is wondering, when dropped a porcelain plate shatters (or at least the one I did, will, course it's about 10 years old)

Sunday, July 27, 2008

But what's my purpose?

For The Money by Montgomery Gentry

Ah, let me tell you a little story about my family

Daddy almost made a living with eighty acres and a plow
He could've bought that place twice over working for someone in town
Ah, but you should've seen him in his fields at harvest time
He'd swear the gates of heaven opened and he was standing first in line

You can't be in it for the money
Money comes and money goes
You can't be in it for the money
Oh, you got to satisfy your soul

I grabbed the world when I turned eighteen
I turned it over and I shook it hard
I filled my pockets up with money
But it burned a hole right through my heart

You can't be in it for the money
Money comes and money goes
You can't be in it for the money
Oh, you got to satisfy your soul

You know everybody's got a purpose
From mending bones to tending farms
You might say that I found mine
When I wrap my hands around this guitar

And I still wonder if I'm crazy
Trying to bring a dream to life
But I look forward to tomorrow
And I sleep pretty good at night

You can't be in it for the money
Money comes and money goes
You can't be in it for the money
Oh, you got to satisfy your soul

You can't be in it for the money
You can't be in it for the money

Nice to know the US Media doesn't consider this news

Winning Isn't News
By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY Posted Monday, July 07, 2008 4:20 PM PT
Iraq: What would happen if the U.S. won a war but the media didn't tell the American public? Apparently, we have to rely on a British newspaper for the news that we've defeated the last remnants of al-Qaida in Iraq.
---------------------------------------------------------------
London's Sunday Times called it "the culmination of one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror." A terrorist force that once numbered more than 12,000, with strongholds in the west and central regions of Iraq, has over two years been reduced to a mere 1,200 fighters, backed against the wall in the northern city of Mosul.
The destruction of al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) is one of the most unlikely and unforeseen events in the long history of American warfare. We can thank President Bush's surge strategy, in which he bucked both Republican and Democratic leaders in Washington by increasing our forces there instead of surrendering.
We can also thank the leadership of the new general he placed in charge there, David Petraeus, who may be the foremost expert in the world on counter-insurgency warfare. And we can thank those serving in our military in Iraq who engaged local Iraqi tribal leaders and convinced them America was their friend and AQI their enemy.
Al-Qaida's loss of the hearts and minds of ordinary Iraqis began in Anbar Province, which had been written off as a basket case, and spread out from there.
Now, in Operation Lion's Roar the Iraqi army and the U.S. 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment is destroying the fraction of terrorists who are left. More than 1,000 AQI operatives have already been apprehended.
Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin, traveling with Iraqi forces in Mosul, found little AQI presence even in bullet-ridden residential areas that were once insurgency strongholds, and reported that the terrorists have lost control of its Mosul urban base, with what is left of the organization having fled south into the countryside.
Meanwhile, the State Department reports that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government has achieved "satisfactory" progress on 15 of the 18 political benchmarks - a big change for the better from a year ago.
Things are going so well that Maliki has even for the first time floated the idea of a timetable for withdrawal of American forces. He did so while visiting the United Arab Emirates, which over the weekend announced that it was forgiving almost $7 billion of debt owed by Baghdad - an impressive vote of confidence from a fellow Arab state in the future of a free Iraq.
But where are the headlines and the front-page stories about all this good news? As the Media Research Center pointed out last week, "the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News and CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 were silent Tuesday night about the benchmarks" that signaled political progress.
The war in Iraq has been turned around 180 degrees both militarily and politically because the president stuck to his guns. Yet apart from IBD, Fox News Channel and parts of the foreign press, the media don't seem to consider this historic event a big story.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Hello hotties

I'm watching Flashpoint tonight (right now), and something really bothers me. The dad in the hospital grabs the cop's gun, but if this show was realistic, he wouldn't have been able to do that, because cop's gun holsters have this little strap that snaps over the handle of their gun and prevents things like that from happening. EDIT: Kevin has informed me that if the cop has a crappy cheap holster, there wouldn't be a strap, and that it has happened because of that. (I hate being wrong, but I will admit it)
Another thing that bothers me is they show the scenario they're in (the SRU guys) right at the beginning, and then they rewind to how their day starts (person that starts the scenario and SRU guys day).
And, Goddess failed to mention how HOTT the SRU guys look in their uniform. You'd think that would be the first sentence on her blog.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Trying to make it on my own

I'm meeting with a business coach to figure out what my passion is and what I really want to do with my life. This week I had to fill out some worksheets: my ideal day, week, and year.
This is all I could come up with:
My ideal day
Waking up naturally and not to the buzzing of an alarm clock.
If I wake up early, not having to be anywhere/do anything extremely important (where I have to do deep thinking) until 10 AM.
Doing something to make a difference in someone's life and actually witness their joy/pleasure in doing that.
Working with my hands.
Wearing something that I'm comfortable in, whether it be causal or a little dressy.
I'd love to work in an office, most likely a small one where I'm interacting with the same 5 or 6 people daily.
I'd need some place to work away from home that doesn't have the distractions of TV or the mess of my house, but I'd need to be able to listen to music at least sometime during my day.
I'd like a 10-6 day then after having a half hour for supper, go and cart/shelve books as a volunteer at the library for a couple hours.
I'd want to end my work day about 8, so I could spend the rest of the day (2 or 3 hours) cuddling/hanging out with my boyfriend/friends.

My ideal week:
Monday:
No work. The day when I get all my errand done when businesses are open. The day I go to the post office at the beginning of each month for my collageatc's group, as well as mailing anything I sell online.
When I go to the grocery store, but don't have a set agenda for what I'm buying (when I get to treat myself)

Saturday:
When I make my trek to the bank and the grocery store with my list. Also when I have lists of things to get at other stores

Sunday:
My lazy day to spend doing something physical outside with my boyfriend

My ideal year:
Summer:
To go to my condo in Arnold's Park with my boyfriend for a week, relaxing.

Winter:
Not being in a place where I have to shovel the sidewalks.


What are some of your ideal days, weeks, or years?

Saturday, July 12, 2008

If I could walk on water

I hate my life.
My phone rang this morning, I'm in the living room, it's in the bedroom, but I knew the only person that would be calling me would be my mother, and she'd be pissed cause I ignored the 2 calls from my father yesterday. I didn't see the point of going in to see what the message was about, so I'm expecting my mom to come pounding up the stairs and yell at me. When I did go to check my message, she was saying how she had a window for me to get started work on, and that she wanted to deal with my light bulbs in the kitchen (they're those big long flourescents and they went out a couple weeks ago, my mom thinks its the light bulbs, Kevin says its the ballasts, I'm more apt to believe Kevin, I'd love for my mom to buy new light bulbs and then have them not work), I don't know why she's so bothered by the fact they don't work, she's not living up here, she doesn't use them, hell I don't even use them.
I hate not having money. I spent all the money my parents gave me for my birthday on bills and I'm pretty much back where I was before I deposited it, and I have more bills coming up on the 15th. I'm guessing I'll be walking down to Target today and applying there. I just wish every job that I applied for hired me. I may not really want the jobs, but I don't show that when I go in to the interviews. I hate this, I know it's part of the job process, but this is the first time (ok 2nd) that I've applied for jobs, gone through the interview process and not been guaranteed the job. Honestly I have no idea how I've lasted this long without a constant income.
I wish I could just leave and never come back here. If I didn't have Kevin, I'd seriously look into leaving here. I know I've loved living here, and it works great for me, but pair the tension of my parents and not having a job, it's really getting to me.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

It's like rain on your wedding date

Stolen from Rain

5 jobs I've had:
1. Paper Carrier
2. Gift Wrapper
3. Office Assistant
4. Librarian
5. Ticket Taker

5 movies I can watch over & over:
1. The Rock
2. The Blues Brothers
3. Ghostrider
4. Easy Rider
5. 44 Minutes

5 places I've lived:
1. Here
2. Across the street from Here
3. Downstairs from here

5 TV shows I love:
1. Supernatural
2. Cops
3. Animal Cops
4. Men In Trees
5. Bones

5 places I've been on vacation:
1. Okoboji, IA
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Arizona
4. Connecticut
5. Florida

5 of my favorite meals:
1. Steak
2. Pizza
3. Faux Mexican
4. Club Sandwich
5. Chicken and Rice Casserole

5 websites I visit daily:
1. Hotmail email
2. Go comics
3. Gmail Email
4. Etsy
5. Bloglines

5 places I'd rather be now:
1. In bed
2. Okoboji
3. In Kevin's arms
4. In the country
5. Somewhere else fun?

What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
The Lorax

If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be?
No idea

What's the longest you've gone without sleep?
23 hrs

What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?
I don't listen to him

Who's your favorite Muppet?
Kermit

What's the habit you're proudest of breaking?
No idea

What's your favorite Web site?
No favorite

What's your favorite school supply?
Folders

Who's your favorite TV attorney?
I don't watch shows with attorneys

What was your most recent trip of more than 50 miles?
probably to Vinton, IA for Mother's Day

What's the best bargain you've ever found at a garage sale or thrift store?
No idea

Where were you on September 11, 2001?
Making paper in my 2-D art class

What's your favorite tree?
Ginkgo

What's the most interesting biography you've read?
I haven't read a lot of biographies and I don't remember the ones I read

What do you order when you eat Chinese food?
I generally go to the Chinese buffet here, but I always order crab rangoon wherever I go

What's the best costume you've ever worn?
I was a ladybug one year

What's your least favorite word?
No idea

If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be?
Carolina

Who's your favorite Care Bear?
Sunshine Bear

Describe something that's happened to you for which you have no explanation.
No idea

If you could travel anywhere in Africa, where would it be?
No idea

What did you have for lunch yesterday?
I believe I had chocolate or I forgot to eat lunch

Where do you go for advice?
L, or Kevin, or Karli

Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?
Neither

Have you ever been snorkeling? Scuba diving?
No

Have you ever been stung by a bee?
No Idea

What's the sickest you've ever been?
Most likely when I had my kidney stone

What's your favorite form of exercise?
Walking or biking with Kevin

What's your favorite Cyndi Lauper song?
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

What did you do for your 13th birthday?
No idea

Are you afraid of heights?
Nope

Have you ever taken dance lessons?
Other than a section in my gym class in high school, no

What's your favorite newspaper?
I don't read the paper

What's your favorite Broadway musical?
I don't know if it's a musical but, The Lion King

What's the most memorable class you've ever taken?
2-D art in HS, made the piece that earned me $50 in the senior art show and a purple ribbon in 4-H that year

What's your favorite knock-knock joke?
Anything on The Prarie Home Companion Joke Show

What's your favorite commercial?
Pedigree's We're For Dogs Commercials

If you could go to Disney World with any celebrity alive today, who would it be?
No idea

Do you prefer baths or showers?
Baths, but I rarely take one

Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?
Eeew! I throw my gum away when I take it out of my mouth

What's your favorite breakfast food?
Blintzes (crepes filled with cottage cheese and sour cream, they sound gross, but they're really good)

Who's your favorite game show host?
Guy who plays Al in Tool Time, he used to host Family Feud

If you could have a super power, what would it be?
invisibility

Do you like guacamole?
It's ok

Have you ever been in a food fight?
No

Name five songs to which you know all the lyrics. (Better yet, sing them.)
1. Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi
2. I hope by The Dixie Chicks
3. Hell Yeah by Montgomery Gentry
4. Never Again by Nickelback
5. Hicktown by Jason Aldean

What's your favorite infomercial?
Anything about food

What's the longest you've ever waited in line?
2 hours

What's on the cover of your address book or day planner?
Blue

Have you ever taken a picture in one of those little booths?
No


This year my birthday wasn't nearly as fun as last year, course it was in the middle of the week this year. Let's see, woke up and found a sweet happy birthday voicemail from Kevin on my phone, did my online morning stuff, went to the library, met up with Loretta and her daughter Kim, and puppies, went to Hastings, went to McDonalds for Ice cream, went to park with puppies, got to open my present from them (Harley Davidson mesh shirt, frog holding bath salts), came home watched TV, Kevin came over and we went to Applebee's and I got to open my presents from him (matchbox cop cars, flamin' bicycle helmet) went to SuperWalmart so he could buy me a cute dress, went to bed. On Thurs mom, dad and I went to The Spice, came home opened gifts from them ($, Little Bit of Life by Craig Morgan, Lost Highway by Bon Jovi). Afterwards, Kevin called me and we tried to go to some fireworks, but we were too late for the night.
Friday: got up, sent Kevin to work, went to the Pancake breakfast with mom and dad, went to parade, went to Reiman Gardens (their theme was fairy tales, their conservatory was set up like Peter Pan, and part of the outdoor gardens had Moby Dick icons made out of sticks), went to Pancheros, met Kevin for supper/lunch/snack, went to Cold Stone Creamery, Kevin and I went to Target, went fishing (he fished, I walked around the lake and caught grasshoppers for him to fish with), ate supper, went to fireworks.
It was an ok week, made better hanging out with Kevin.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Happy Birthday to Me

This is it, I'm officially an adult. I've passed the last landmark to be an adult: 16 - get your driver's license, 18 - vote, 21 - drink, and now 25 - insurance changes and I can rent a car.

No giant plans here. Last night my brother came up and we went to Applebee's for supper and Hickory Park for dessert, I got a Target gift card from him (I just wish I could convert it into cash, that would do so much better for me at the moment). I'm getting together with Loretta today after I finish at the library, and tomorrow my parents and I are going out to supper for my mom's and my birthdays (hers is tomorrow)

And yesterday was HAPPY NO MORE SMOKING IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN IOWA Day!!!! If you can't tell, I'm pretty happy.

A question for my female readers: I bought a cute white shirt the other day, only problem, it's very see-through. So, do I layer it with another shirt undeneath, or do I just walk around with my bra showing? Thoughts would be nice.