Where to begin?

I have a lot on my mind this morning; so much that i think it's part of what kept me awake during the night and why i got up so doggon early on a Saturday morning. UGH! Well, ok, it didn't help that Deb's alarm went off at 6am for her to go in to work for an hour to do an oil count. As she was leaving out the door she said, "Couldn't i have counted at 8 or 9am just as well as at 7am? Good question!!

Ok, here goes...

~The "Bride" from Georgia was "found" alive and well in New Mexico. She...oh wait...i just turned to a news channel, nevermind. I was going to say that it was my opinion that she left, having had cold-feet...and was not abducted. What a pinhead. I was right! Why not just have a truthful conversation with your fiance or family instead of running away and concocting some lame abduction story? Not a good way to have a relationship if you ask me.

People who do things like this; like the "Bride" and that one college girl in WI a few months back, these types of incidents are what give law enforcement doubts and may lead to them not taking some other cases seriously. Didn't these women think of the resources that would be used to investigate their "disappearances"? Tax payer money goes into things like this. Police and FBI were busy looking for them during a time period where their abilities could have been better spent on some REAL crime. Think people! The truth does not hurt, really...it doesn't!

Next topic...

~I'm pretty new to the Blog-scene. A friend of mine from high-school sent me her politically related blog last year sometime and i remember thinking, "Oh, this is what a blog is. I should make one." But life took over as it often does and i put it on the back burner. A few months later another friend of mine created a blog focusing on Indiana politics with a bit of Federal scattered in and i went and read it and then promptly forgot about it. I'm not sure why i finally decided to put one together, but i have, such as it is.

In my browsing around looking at various blogs, i've come across some really good ones. There are some wonderful writers out there, with great stories and comments. I've found myself feeling inadequate with my lack of knowledge on things like how to manipulate the look of my blog or how to add cool banner links and such. It took me about an hour one day to figure out how to properly change the "comments" line on my posts. I have no idea how to add links into my text so far, but i'll give it a whirl soon. I guess i shouldn't be so hard on myself and to just learn as i go.

I must say that the blog i like the best so far was one that i found recommended on this site, http://www.waiterrant.blogspot.com, the topic is simple yet presented so masterfully. If you've not read it, check it out. It was also fun to find one from a man who lives in a nearby community and he has some interesting things to say on sporting news as well as other topics, http://www.palmreadings.blogspot.com . I totally relate to the ones, and there have been too many to mention here, that are just random thoughts from scatter minded people like myself. It's very nice to know that i'm not the only one!!

However, in all of my blog browsing, i've come across something quite troubling. There's a section of bloggers out there who are quite elitest and snobby. People who feel like if you're just getting into the blog-scene then you're some lameoid who must not be too bright, like we've missed the boat and it's too late to come aboard. I don't know why this disturbs me so much? Maybe it's because i think of myself as pretty hip-to-the-times and maybe i should've been paying more attention instead of being worried about earning my Club Pogo badges each week? Maybe holier-than-thou people just bug me? It's a huge world out there, it's really okay if you share, ya know?!

On we go...

~In the Chicagoland area news there developed a story this past week about a woman, a mother, who killed her children. Stabbed them 100+ times. Can someone please explain this to me? I mean, clearly she's a sick-psychopath, i don't need that explained. What i need help with is; why even become a parent to begin with? There are ways to keep from becoming a parent, several to choose from, even. Susan Smith. Why give birth to two beautiful boys only to send them off to drown in a lake- in your car? Andrea Yeats. If postpartum depression was a problem, seek help - it's out there, don't drown your 5 kids in your bathtub! And if 5 kids was too much to handle, again, there are ways of preventing pregnancy, use them!

I wonder if these people realize that there are folks out here who would give anything in the world to be a parent. People who are infertile. People who would love to adopt but maybe don't have the financial resources to do so. Members of the gay community, who would make fabulous parents, but due to mechanical difficulties - just don't have the proper equipment to make it happen natually. My partner and i fall into two of the aforementioned categories. I don't know, i guess that's why when parents harm or leave their children, it just hits me really hard. It makes me very sad.

I've rambled long enough for one morning. Anyone out there? Ramble back!

Slumping along

I'm here, barely.

The dino-puter is painfully slow and i can no longer ungrade it from '98 to XP without getting some nasty, new-to-me, "blue screen of death" error message.

Waiting for the funds to come from dc is painfully slow as well. Once the check arrives we'll be able to bury the dino and buy a new pc. I'll be so happy. Of course i'm going to take my upgrade parts out before i trash it, though. I'll try to offer the rest of it on freecycle just in case anyone knows a better way to dispose of the beast.

I just ate some home made turkey-chili and it made me sweat and cry a tear or two. That's when you know it's good stuff. It's not chili unless yer sweatin'. I left it on the stove for Deb, when she wakes up.

Deb's working a double, going in tonight at 11pm. It's been a really long time since i was home alone all night and slept alone. I hope i can sleep. the last time i was home alone must've been when she got hired at this job last November and had to go down south somewhere for training for a week. Yeah, i think that's when. Deb's working a double because one of the young punks at the shop failed three tries at a drug screen for the new company and lost his job. Hope it was worth it. More money for us this next check, thanks dude.

Well, Survivor is coming on...oh shit, nevermind, it's the Village Idiot instead. (dear secret service, i mean that in the most loving way, really i do!)

I should cut the ramble anyway...ramble back, anyone out there?

Goodbye Old Friend

Try not to miss me too much if i can't get back to post for a while. The dino-puter is on it's last toe...not it's last leg-nor it's last foot, but it's last toe. :::Sigh::: I've upgraded it and limped it along for 6-7 years now, so i guess it's time to say adios.

Will be a several weeks until suitable replacement may be had.

So long Old Dino, you've served me well, my Friend!! :(

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*******

Hmmm. Ok. Room for improvement, indeed. But i'm quite pleased with myself.

In iPod dreams...

I had a dream last night, i dream a lot and there are almost always people from my past in the dreams or i'm in school somewhere or i have to pee. Those are the three main types of dreams that i have.

In the dreams where i have to pee, i'm usually either looking for a bathroom and can't find one, find a bathroom but there's something that renders it "out-of-order" so i really can't use it or find it gross to use, or i get ready to pee and someone walks in on me and then i can't do my business. Usually these dreams frustrate me and i wake up realizing that i really do have to pee and the whole dream sequence was my brain's way of waking my ass up in time to grope my way to the bathroom in the dark.

Last night, i don't know where the hell i was in the dream...the location escapes me. But the person in the dream was a guy i went to high school with and had some pretty fun times with, what a neat guy, Jarvis Racine. I miss him. In the dream we were dancing and i don't recall ever having danced with Jarvis in real life...i'm not real good dance material...Jarvis on the other hand, he could move. But back to my dream...it was a very kind of upbeat, twirly, close dance that's fun yet somehow romantic and it was to some romantic country song which undoubtedly was triggered by one of the newest playlists i set up on the iPod right before i went to bed last night. I was listening to the iPod to fall asleep as i often do when Deb's snoring is too loud or my mind is wandering too much and i had selected the "A Little Love" playlist that i had just made to replace the "Romance" one that i deleted. I ended up putting 143 songs on this playlist, here's 100 of the songs:

1. I'm With You - Avril Lavigne
2. I Will - Ben Taylor
3. Chances Are - Martina McBride & Bob Seger(Hope Floats Soundtrack)
4. Come To Me - Bonnie Raitt
5. When You Love Someone - Bryan Adams(Hope Floats Soundtrack)
6. In The Wee Small Hours - Carly Simon(Sleepless In Seattle Soundtrack)
7. Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion(Up Close And Personal Soundtrack)
8. When I Fall In Love - Celine Dion Featuring Clive Griffin(Sleepless In Seattle)
9. Something That We Do - Clin Black
10. When I Said I Do - Clint Black& Lisa Hartman Black
11. What Makes You Stay- Deanna Carter(Hope Floats)
12. How You Love Makes Me Feel - Diamond Rio
13. Love A Little Stronger - Diamond Rio
14. I Know How The River Feels - Diamond Rio
15. I Could Not Ask For More - Edwin McCain
16. Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
17. Promises - Eric Clapton
18. Breathe - Faith Hill
19. To Make You Feel My Love - Garth Brooks(Hope Floats)
20. She's Every Woman - Garth Brooks
21. If Tomorrow Never Comes - Garth Brooks
22. The Dance - Garth Brooks
23. Unanswered Prayers- Garth Brooks
24. What She's Doing Now - Garth Brooks
25. Every Now And Then - Garth Brooks
26. I Want Your Sex - George Michael
27. Kissing A Fool - George Michael
28. I Just Want To Dance With You - George Strait
29. I See Your Smile - Gloria Estefan
30. A Wink And A Smile - Harry Connick, Jr.(Sleepless In Seattle)
31. Like Lovers Do - Heather Nova
32. When Somebody Turns You On - Heather Nova
33. London Rain - Heather Nova
34. Power Of Two - Indigo Girls
35. Love's Recovery - Indigo Girls
36. Walking My Baby Back Home - James Taylor
37. Your Smiling Face - James Taylor
38. Something In The Way She Moves - James Taylor
39. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight - James Taylor
40. You Make It Easy - James Taylor
41. Wishing That - Jann Arden
42. Ode To A Friend - Jann Arden
43. Unloved - Jann Arden
44. I Would Die For You - Jann Arden
45. With You - Jessica Simpson
46. Sweetest Sin - Jessica Simpson
47. Pieces Of You - Jewel
48. Near You Always - Jewel
49. You Were Meant For Me - Jewel
50. 2 Become 1 - Jewel
51. I Kissed A Girl - Jill Sobule
52. We Met Today - Jim Brickman
53. Closer Still - Jim Brickman
54. Your Love Amazes Me - John Barry
55. Your Body Is A Wonderland - John Mayer
56. I Need a Lover - John Mellencamp
57. I Love The Way You Love Me - John Michael Montgomery
58. Home To You - John Michael Montgomery
59. A Case Of You - Joni Mitchell
60. Beautiful In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison
61. When A Woman Cries - Joshua Kadison
62. Love Chooses You - Kathy Mattea
63. Where've You Been - Kathy Mattea
64. The Real Thing - Kenny Loggins
65. I Will Do Anything - Kenny Loggins
66. Sweet Reunion - Kenny Loggins
67. Too Early For the Sun - Kenny Loggins
68. It's So Easy - Linda Ronstadt
69. Stay - Lisa Loeb
70. I Do - Lisa Loeb
71. Why Can't I? - Liz Phair
72. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
73. Not Too Much to Ask - Mary Chapin Carpenter
74. Passionate Kisses - Mary Chapin Carpenter
75. Tender When I Wanna Be - Mary Chapin Carpenter
76. Shut Up And Kiss Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter
77. Where Time Stands Still - Mary Chapin Carpenter
78. This Is Love - Mary Chapin Carpenter
79. You Used To Love To Dance - Melissa Etheridge
80. Truth of The Heart - Melissa Etheridge
81. My Lover - Melissa Etheridge
82. Like The Way I Do - Melissa Etheridge
83. This Moment - Melissa Etheridge
84. Will You Still Love Me - Melissa Etheridge
85. Kiss Me - Melissa Etheridge
86. When You Find The One - Melissa Etheridge
87. Must Be Crazy For You - Melissa Etheridge
88. Meet Me In The Back - Melissa Etheridge
89. Keep It Precious - Melissa Etheridge
90. Lover Please - Melissa Etheridge
91. I Want To Be In Love - Melissa Etheridge
92. I'm The Only One - Melissa Etheridge
93. Come To My Window - Melissa Etheridge
94. I Really Like You - Melissa Etheridge
95. An Unusual Kiss - Melissa Etheridge
96. I Want to Come Over - Melissa Etheridge
97. Willing To Wait - Melissa Ferrick
98. Drive - Melissa Ferrick
99. Particular Place - Melissa Ferrick
100. The Moment I Saw You - Nicolette Larson

So, this list left off many artists but i took it in the order it's loaded on the iPod.The iPod. I LOVE my iPod. I think i might even love my iPod more than most people because mine was FREE!!!! Oooooh love FREE!!! It showed up at my door one day. I thought the package that Brown was bringing to my door was the candle order i had placed from the home office, for my Mia Bella Soy Candle business; however, when i saw the package it was only about the size of 1 jar candle when i had ordered two dozen, so i was like WTF? I looked over the package and there was a return address label but i sure did not recognize the sender. Hmmm, a mystery!! I love a mystery!!! I opened the box and looked inside and my jaw dropped and i couldn't speak. And i looked at Deb, and i couldn't speak for a few seconds and then i said, "It's an iPod", sort of calmly. And Deb said, "C'mon be serious, what is it?". And i said, "No, really...it's an iPod...oh my Goddess, it's an iPod!!"...I had to literally tip the box over toward her so she could see it!! I was in total shock!! So then i had to delve into solving the mystery of where the iPod came from so i got online and went over to the site where i enter sweepstakes and lo and behold if many other people hadn't been receiving mysterious iPods for a few days too!! Someone finally figured out that it had been a Bud Lite contest. I'd figure if i were a company and i were giving away 200 iPods during each of four drawing periods - for a total of 800 iPods, that i'd have at least enclosed a note saying, "Congratulations! Grab a Bud Lite and Rock On!" or something so that folks would know they'd won it from the company. But Nooooooo. LOL! I guess i shouldn't complain. That's the only thing i've won in life other than a contest in 4th or 5th grade where i had to color a leprechaun...and i won lunch at Burger King with Ms. Murray. Hmmm...i think the iPod wins over that, sorry Ms. Murray - no offense!!

And Jarvis, if you read this - call me - i'm the person you went to the Beach Boys Concert with and helped you and Dave O' smuggle "adult beverages" past "Wamba" on the way to the Zoo for Senior Ditch Day. If you Google my full, real name as it's listed in the yearbook, you should find my phone number. ;-)

Cat Attack/Music Sux

Why is it that when you sit down in front of the computer and get all comfy and settled in to do some serious writing, the cat demands to be in your lap? Oh no, she can't come and command my attention when i'm doing something silly like playing games on Pogo...oh, nono, no! Silly feline!!

So this is my first post here...nothing too exciting today i don't think...just a sample of my scattered style and random thoughts. Scathingly scintillating so far, eh?

Ok, i do have a topic on my mind and that topic is MUSIC. I really do love music. Music has such a way of setting a mood, creating an atmosphere, taking us to an exact moment in time...there is nothing that can catch me off guard quicker than a song that brings up feelings of a lost love or a missed friend. So my question is this...why does most of the mainstream music played on most of the radio stations for the past several years just SUCK??!?!

I look at my CD collection and i know i've not bought many CD's in the past, say 6 years. And of the ones i have bought, most of them are from artists i already had in my collection...James Taylor, Melissa Etheridge, Melissa Ferrick...good music, great songwriting, lyrics i can comprehend. That's not to say that i've not bought some other artists...i had a gift card to Best Buy and had already maxed out this dino-puter so we did buy a Nora Jones CD and one of Avril Lavigne's CD's...other than that, it's been a few songs here and there for the iPod from the Apple iTunes store. And those artists include: Tyler Hilton, Sugarland, Indigo Girls (i have most of their CD's already), Jessica Simpson, Liz Phair, Heather Nova, John Mayer, Joni Mitchell and a few others.

I must admit that it's been ages since i've actually turned on a radio and listened to it, unless it was Yule time and a local station out of Chicago was playing All Christmas Music/All the time. Other than that, the only time i've listened to local radio was when Air America first hit the air waves in the Chicago Market....and then it poofed and i've not found it again...so sad, because it was great.

I got so sick of radio when it was the same songs played over and over again to the point where it made me want to cry. And i often ended up just tuning into another station and then another and another....you get the drift. It was so frustrating that i eventually just gave up on radio altogether and just popped in a cassette or CD of my own choosing and then i had supreme bliss. I could listen to whatever i wanted and change CD's or artists as my mood changed....and being a Gemini, that's about every 10 minutes!

In the Chicagoland market, there've been some really great talk radio shows in recent years...but unfortunately due to management changes or ego tantrums on the part of the hosts those great shows are gone. I'm talking shows that would just have me cracking up to the point where i would almost have to pull off the road. (Roe & Garry...get your crap together will ya??)

I miss the days of "Little Tommy and Ole Uncle Lar" on the old WLS AM. I even think we still have some "Animal Stories" on vinyl at my Dad's house. Whatever happend to that sports show that Les Grobstein did? Or did i imagine that??

Ah well, i guess i've rambled enough for one sunny, Saturday afternoon. Maybe i'll go turn on the radio for a while....Nahhhhhh, where's my iPod?