I have a new blog!

Check it out! I have a new blog....one which will have recipes on it. Recipes that I have tried, and friends and family have enjoyed. If anyone would like to become a team member, or has any recipes they'd like to share, please let me know

http://single-girls-intriguing-recipes.blogspot.com/

Movie Madness

It appears that the film industry has been giving us a lot of choices this summer, films that would appeal to all movie goers. I’ve seen quiet a few of the ones that have all but been drilled into our subconscious to go see: X-Men III, Superman Returns, and Pirates of The Caribbean. (Somehow I feel like I am missing one or two of what I had seen.) Anyway I have been anxiously been waiting the release of Miami Vice, and on Friday night went and saw it. Last night mum, Ida and I went and saw Lady in the Water. These are my critiques of both films.

Miami Vice: Michael Mann did an AWESOME job of taking a well loved TV series, and making it into its own. There was no pastel colors, and no funky electronica music, and no crocodile named Elvis. It was dark, and edgy. Colin Farrell’s Sonny Crocket was equal parts hard core cop, and tortured soul when it came to certain parts of the movie. Jamie Foxx was a bit too gangsta for my taste, not at all like Rico Tubbs from the series at all. But he did a very good job as well. The plot at times did get a bit complex, and they never really established who the TRUE bad guy was. But I enjoyed it…A LOT. And for it to have made more money opening weekend than POTC: DMC, that says something. M.V. brought in $25.2M and POTC brought in $20.5M on their opening weekends. I can totally see this Miami Vice becoming the twenty-first centuries Lethal Weapon….stay toned for a sequal.

Lady In The Water: When I had originally seen the coming attraction for this movie, was very skeptical. M. Night Shyamalan has made some mind-twisting and thrill tingling movies, and I have seen them all. My least favorite of his was Unbreakable…and when I had seen The Village in the theater, was totally expecting a horror flick, so was disappointed. However watching it a second time, knowing what it was, I did enjoy The Village. So when they released the extended commercials and trailer for LITW, was very intrigued. Last night, in an attempt for us to get cool, in the newest heat wave we’re experiencing…went and saw LITW.

It was everything you could hope for in a movie and more. There was comedy, sadness, suspense and happiness. The characters were ones you felt like you knew, or were people you would WANT to know. You worried about what was going to happen to them, what would happen to Story, the Narf (Sea Nymph.) Paul Giamatti gave an outstanding performance of Cleveland, the maintenance man of the apartment complex where this film takes place. He is a shy, timid man who has his own demons to fight, yet he always gives his all to the people in the complex and to Story. He goes from a stuttering, frustrated person, to a clear, and calm man and back again. M. Night Shyamalan had a very large part in this movie, for a change and I think his acting was rather good. His character does have a very weighty matter (I REFUSE to give away any secrets) but he is not the most important character. This is a fantastic movie for people of all ages, and I look forward to owning it on dvd once it is released.

Too tired to come up with anything else

So the weekend is upon us, and as usual, I have a ton of plans up in the air, and no energy to be excited for them. It seems that the world is getting all wonky too with news and stuff. So I figured I would just lump together a compilation post as I am stuck in the office today until 5pm (it’s my turn this week.)

Anderson, Kid Rock to Wed Numerous TimesJul 27, 12:29 AM EST
The Associated Press
http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=228831&GT1=7703
Now, does it really make an impact on your life or mine, the number of times Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock get married? Does their exchanging vows multiple times, and in different locations mean that they are more in love with one another and more unified as a couple, than any other duo on the face of the earth? I am going to have to stand firm in my opinion of ‘Erm NO!’ And for someone who has Hepatitis C, I am pretty sure drinking copious amounts of ANY kind of liquor would be considered a GINORMOUS NO-NO by any doctor.

Whatever happened to people being honest???
Back on July 15th, mom and I went to an Irish Festival a few towns away from us. There was live entertainment, a huge variety of food, and vendors upon vendors. This one vendor had really funky jewelry crafted from diacritic glass. Long story short, I bought a b-day gift for Ida and purchased an unfinished necklace which the man promised to have done and shipped to me by July 21st. Ida’s gift I had in hand, so that was no big deal. The total purchase was $32.21, no crazy amount, but still a nice chunk of change. As of today (July 28th), still no necklace and have placed 2 phone calls and an e-mail. NOTHING…I just want to know where my damn necklace is…because I think I know where the damn necklace is. UNMADE and NOT on its way. Yesterday Ida blocks our phone number, and calls the guy AGAIN. This time his wife answers and admits to Ida, that the guy (who is her husband) is in the midst of starting a new business, and is NOT working on any new pieces of jewelry. So now what??? I contacted my bank and told them that this was a disputed charge and to reverse the amount. Now this morning I get an e-mail from the jewelry vendor stating he is working on the necklace. SO WTF? Do I trust him? Did he decide to get wrapped up in this new venture and put my job on the back burner? Or is he just trying to hang on to my $$$ and not produce what he promised?

Harry Potter naked on stage
By KATIE FRETLAND, Associated Press Writer Fri Jul 28, 11:42 AM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060728/ap_en_ot/people_daniel_radcliffe
I feel sick after reading this! SICK I TELL YOU!!! I can understand an actor not wanting to be type cast, and I can understand Daniel Radcliff wanting to break away from the ‘poor and pure Harry Potter’ image that drives the young girls wild. But the thought of seeing him NAKED on stage kind of makes me want to squench my eyes closed in horror, not to mention what his character does to the poor horses in the play. It took my mother a long time to convince me to see the Harry Potter movie, which turned me on to reading the series (she had long been a fan of H.P.) And now, in all honesty, I am not quite sure I want to follow the tales of Harry Potter, regardless of the fact that Harry Potter is fictional, and Daniel Radcliff is a real person.

I think I may pick up the pen
All my life I had enjoyed writing. Whether it is about family members and pets. Or poetry which several pieces had been published or just fictional stuff. As far as I can remember I have enjoyed writing. This summer I have been on a reading binge, just finishing a goofy, yet fun-to-read vampire series by Mary Janice Davidson. Was it thought provoking or made me want to run out and save the world? No, but the last book I read in 24 hours, and I could somewhat relate to the main character. With that all being said, Ida asked me whatever happened to my writing because she used to enjoy when I read to her my entries in a vampire RPG from years ago. And this has made me think. Perhaps I should try to write. It will be fun….and if I ever get the nerve, once done maybe should even shop it around. Hey if Shondra Rhimes can create Grey’s Anatomy because she loved medical shows, why can’t I write a vampire story?

Religious and Spiritual beliefs

When it comes to people’s religion and beliefs, the subject can get sticky so I am going to try and be as UNsarcastic and glib as I possibly can in this entry. Under no circumstances do I wish to mock or make anyone think I do not have my faith. But first let me share two definitions I found on Wikipedia:

The word faith has various uses; its central meaning is similar to "belief", "trust" or "confidence", but unlike these terms, "faith" tends to imply a transpersonal rather than interpersonal relationship – with God or a higher power. The object of faith can be a person (or even an inanimate object or state of affairs) or a proposition (or body of propositions, such as a religious credo). In each case, however, faith is in an aspect of the object and cannot be logically proven or objectively known. Faith can mean believing unconditionally. It can also be defined as accepting as true something that one has been told by someone who is believed to be trustworthy.
Religion is a human phenomenon that defies easy definition. It is commonly understood as a group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object (real or imagined), person (real or imagined), or system of thought considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine or highest truth, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, and rituals associated with such belief or system of thought. It is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system"[1] In the course of the development of religion, it has taken many forms in various cultures and individuals. Occasionally, the word "religion" is used in the more restrictive sense of "organized religion" — that is, an organization of people supporting the exercise of some religion, often taking the form of a legal entity (see religion-supporting organization). The fact that there are so many different religions, most of them with groups of followers that have a very rigid and shallow interpretation of their respective holy texts, such as the bible, the torah and the kuran, has lead and will lead to most wars
My family is Catholic…and when my mother was a child and young woman, she was not only very active with our church, but would spend many of her hours assisting the nuns that had a convent on our street in Brooklyn. To this day, my mother attends mass every Sunday, and when possible she will go in the morning before work. Mom devotes much of her time to special ministries in our church, and is a lecture and a Eucharistic Minister as well. Granted there have been times in her life (I am sure) where her faith was shaken but she knows God will provide for her.
I on the other hand, am what people call a CAPE Catholic. I attend Mass at the ‘important’ (Catholic) religious times; Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday and Easter. Does that make me a bad Catholic? And should I feel guilty for not attending Mass as often as my mother and her friends? I tend to think not. Because I know that God (or whatever you wish to call Him) exists and looks out for me. I pray every night before I go to sleep, and I try to live my life how I think ‘The Big Guy above’ would like people to live. I believe in reincarnation, and in karma. Basically not intentionally harming our fellow man, or committing any of the major ‘no-no’s. With the Catholic religion, suicide is a sin, and you are not welcomed to rest with God because you took the life of one of His children. But I do not believe that. I believe He knows if someone resorts to ending their life, which they must be in such pain that they truly need Him, so he would welcome them. There are other issues I do not totally agree upon with the Catholic religion, but like I stated earlier I rather not make this uncomfortable for anyone.And the reason why I bring this up today is because Religion is always a hot topic. Especially with the wars that are going on these past several years. But I also feel that we should all RESPECT one another’s beliefs. So if I am at my desk, in my office….do not need to be told that ‘the end of the world is at hand’ or that ‘if you do not accept Jesus in to your life NOW, you are going to be living under the reign of the anti-christ’. If you believe that, fine. And if you need to believe in that, that’s ok. But you do not know what MY relationship is with my God. I am not going to start reading a book about the prophesies are coming true, and I most certainly am not going to start reading the Bible. Sorry, that is not what I am about. If you do enjoy reading Scripture or the Bible, and it gives you peace or comfort or helps you with your faith…I am cool with that. And I am glad that you get what you need from these readings. But don’t push this on other people

Pets for the Pets

Ok, so this one requires a tad of a back story. (Yeah I know, you’re saying when her entries don’t have a back story.) Anyway, here we go: Last year Crazy-Cat-Cousin’s brother-in-law bought his Russian Blue a goldfish and left it in an accessible place for the cat to ‘go fishing’ and possibly get a live meal. Well Crazy-Cat-Cousin thought this cruel and horrid and just disgusting. I thought it clever and hysterical and decided that we’d have to try this with our two cats. (I used to have a red-ear slider turtle so was used to watching it eat live food.)

So last summer when our church had its annual festival, I went and attempted to win some fishies and went home with a prize for Pooka and Cro`i. Uh yeah, I won fish with the full intention of having ‘Snack’ and ‘Lunch’ be chomped on by my babies. Well I got home, and put them in a bowl and placed the bowl on the kitchen floor. Pooka and Cro`i was in awe of these two ‘things’ that were swimming around. Their little heads rotated like crazy as they tracked the fish. Pooka made a timid strike with his paw, dipping it in the bowl and with eyes dilated jumped back like he was shocked. Next Cro`I stuck her nose in, and jumped back because ‘no way in hell’ was she going to be ‘wet and icky’. And there it was confirmed. Pooka and Cro`i enjoyed their meals from the can.

Well, its festival time once again for the church, and mom asked me if I was going to win Pooka and Cro`i their ‘lunch’ and ‘Snack’ fish again. So last night I went down, and instead of winning 2 fishies….wound up with 4 fishies!!! Once again, I trekked these cute little guys home, three are orange…one is silver. And they were placed in the bowl. Well Pooka and Cro`i are fascinated with them. Have not passed a paw anywhere near to the water to investigate. Nope…my little angels now have PETS. My pets have their own PETS! How twisted is this? What ever happened to survival of the fittest? Pooka and Cro`i could barely keep their eyes open this morning because they watched the fish all night. And what you ask are their fishies names? Why, Snack, Lunch, Captain Jack, and Will Turner of course!

Wedding Bells ringing and Celebrities singing

Pamela Anderson, Kid Rock to Tie the KnotJul 18, 4:14 PM EST
The Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Next week, Pamela Anderson will make an honest man out of Kid Rock. The couple, now vacationing in St. Tropez, France, will marry July 29 on a yacht near the glamorous hotspot, Us Weekly magazine reported Tuesday on its Web site.
Anderson confirmed the good news in an entry in her online diary: "It's been a whirlwind ... spontaneous but well thought through."
When contacted by The Associated Press, Marleah Leslie, Anderson's spokeswoman, declined to comment on the report.
Photographs posted on the Internet show Anderson, 39, and Kid Rock, 35, embracing and enjoying the sun on the coastline of France.
The actress and the rock star, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, became engaged in the Las Vegas desert in April 2002, but never set a wedding date. They broke up the following year.
Anderson and her first husband, Tommy Lee, divorced in 1998 after three years of marriage. They have two sons, Brandon, 10, and Dylan, 8.
Kid Rock has a 13-year-old son, Bob Jr.
"Feels like I've been stuck in a time warp," said the "Baywatch" bombshell in her cryptic diary entry. "Not able to let go of MY family picture ... it's been sad and lonely and frustrating ... I've raised my kids alone in hope of a miracle.
"Well my miracle came and went. And came back and back because he knew that I'd wake up one day and realize that I was waiting for nothing."
Anderson, basking in soon-to-be-wedded bliss, said her sons "know the truth" — whatever that means — and love both Lee and Kid Rock.
"I'm moving on," she declared. "I feel like I'm finally free ... I'm in love."

And my question is what is the world coming to??? I am friends with people who had worked with Pam, back in the day…when she and Tommy had just hooked up. So I had the opportunity to experience her whole ‘persona’ and believe me, she’s not all that and a bag of chips. I do not like her for many reasons, and I do not buy in to her whole “Tommy is evil and gave me hepatitis C’ boo-hooing. There are other things I am privy to, but no need to blab all and everything because I am not one for slamming people. This is just my opinion that I like to post here. Granted I am pro Tommy, but I only know of Tommy Lee what the public knows. I like his whole ‘media personality’ stuff. I do not agree with him having laid his hands on Pam in anger. No one has the right to hurt another human being. But I DO NOT like Pamela.
Anderson, basking in soon-to-be-wedded bliss, said her sons "know the truth" — whatever that means — and love both Lee and Kid Rock. So what is she implying here??? That her kids know that their mother is a guy-hoping bimbo that changes her bra cup size as frequently as most people change their shorts? Or maybe they know their father has finally come to his senses and refuses to go back to Pam and the chaos that she would bring into their 3rd union? Or MAYBE the kids know that all parties: Tommy, Kid Rock and Pam are total wack-jobs and are going to screw up their own lives, and share said screw ups with the public?
Why is this news? Why does America care? Why aren’t we more concerned about children in our own country being homeless, starving and uneducated? Why isn’t our own government working harder and faster to get its overseas citizens evacuated from a dangerous situation and land? Why?

Coming soon....to my left foot!

This will be the tattoo (THE LAST TATTOO) I get unless something drastic or important happens. Anyway, in Novemember my doctor says I can have the scar from the operation tattooed over to hide it away. Yesterday I went to Tattoo Lou's, in St. James NY to speak with the artists there and see what they said about the area, the art I can have done, etc. So this (or something similar to this) will be what grace's my left foot.

http://www.tattoojohnny.com/tattoo-design-gallery.asp?sku=HSF-00055

Wacky & Wild Weekend Events

Ok, so the weekend always goes way to fast for any of us. I think they should officially make weekends 3 days (because lets face it, who wants to go to work on Monday?) It seems that almost every weekend, I've had stuff to do...which is mad cool. But still it would be nice to just chill, right? Anyway, here comes the weekend recap:

Friday: Went to dinner to celebrate my co-worker's birthday. She is an older lady, probably around my mom's age (yet slightly younger.) However, 'L.' as I will refer to her as, is so sweet, and so nice. She is from Russia, and just so demure, and soft-spoken. I always tease her that her ears must fall off her head with the things she hears, and the colorful vocabulary the boys and I use. She just laughs and claims to 'hear nothing.' So Friday night, a bunch of us went out to celebrate 'L.' birthday, and when it came time to pony-up, found out SHE had paid the check, giving her credit card at the beginning of the evening to the hostess. Turns out that it is Russian custom for the birthday person to cater to their friends on the day of their own birthday, and she had wanted our company, but insisted on sticking to her custom and paying. SO for any of you with Russian friends, if you do want to take them out for their birthday, you must be prepaired to go covert, and slip the hostess your c.c. so as not to run in to this same situation that we had.

Saturday: I had planned on going to the beach if the sun was shining. It sure was hot enough, but was so over-cast knew my pasty-white skin would do naught but crisp. So instead, mum and I went to the Irish Festival and walked around, browsed at all the lovely jewelery, trinkets, etc. It was really nice having a mother-daughter day, and was rather stress-free. I purchased a pendant for Ida's up-coming b-day, a purse for mum's up-coming birthday, a Guinnesse tee for me, and a necklace which is being custom made. After that we went to Wal-mart, and that evening Ida and I went to Borders where I purchased yet more books to add to the piles I have in my bedroom.

Sunday: Woke up to a beautiful blue sky and heat. Went to Smiths Point, my favorite beach and planned to stay there for most of my day. Got there at 9:30 in the morning, and by 12:30 felt my face getting crispy. The water was very rough, so rough that I partially lost the bottom of my suit, got tossed upside down, and dragged, getting way to friendly with the sand. Was home by 1:30, slightly water-logged, scraped, and took a shower, to go to Gabby's (7th birthday party). She is our cousin's daughter and such a GREAT kid. So at the party it was announced that my cousin's Frank & Lynn are expecting another little one, which with God's blessing will arrive, healthy and happy in February of 2007. Please say a prayer for them, because they have been trying to have a second child for a very long time, and it is difficult. And Gabby so wants a baby brother or sister so badly.

Oh! And I am unsure who is being wooed, if it is Pooka or Cro`i. But one of the stray cats that seem to hang out in our yard and watch my two precious kitties through the back door is now bringing us presents. DEAD presents! On our way to the b-day party...I had to remove a dead (obviousley cat-gift) from my front stoop area. When I went back out to remove the corpse, it had been moved slightly...so I guess Pooka or Cro`i hadn't thanked their wooer promptly enough. But the odd thing is that my precious kitties are strictly indoor cats..and both of them are fixed! So why are they being brought gifts? Because none of the humans in my house feed these strays. I told Pooka and Cro`i the only gifts they're allowed to get from now on are: jewles, cash, or vacations that I can go on.

A thought to ponder

What would you do if you hadn’t spoken to someone in 12 years and just wanted to reach out to them? This wasn’t an ordinary falling out or spat. This isn’t an ‘ooopps I lost your number and now I found it so decided to give you a call’ type of situation.

What if the reason you haven’t spoken to this person in such a long time is because they have greatly wounded you? A hurt so deep, that it pretty much shaped your life, jaded the way you looked at a certain situation. Perhaps this person walked away from you twice; making it clear that you were not wanted or needed in their life?

But you always wonder about them. Because there are ties to this person no matter how badly you want to ignore or deny it. And now you found out this said person has done something…something that that is BIG. Something like working on a tribute to the 9/11 hero’s and victims. And you’re proud of them for this. Because this person is a talented artist, and the tribute they worked on was a big deal, and you were proud of them. So proud, that you’re contemplating reaching out to them once again to just tell them how proud you are of them. Even if it means you’ll once again be hurt, cut to shreds by them.

Would you reach out? Or would you ignore what you found out?

Things that make you go 'hhhhmmmmmmm'

Well things are rather quiet today, in my neck of the woods. Aside from the woman I work with (see past entries) going ballistic on me the other day I don't have much to share. But with summer being here, thought maybe some light reading would be a nice change.

Urban Legends:

Bride and Seek
During a wedding reception of a young couple the guests decided on a drunken game of hide and seek. It was decided that the groom was "it" and he eventually found everyone but his new bride. Eventually the man became furious and decided it wasn't funny anymore and left her there. As weeks went by he accepted that she'd had second thoughts and went on with her life so he did the same. A few years later a cleaning lady dusted off an old trunk in the attic of the building where the reception had taken place, out of curiosity she opened it. Inside the trunk was the rotted body of the missing bride who'd apparently became locked in the trunk she'd hid in. Whether she'd suffocated or starved was unknown, but her face was frozen in a scream.
The Keg
A couple had just moved into a small castle they'd recently purchased and were excitedly searching all the nooks and crannies. In a large underground room they found many empty barrels that had been tapped years ago, and one that appeared to be full. They immediately tapped it to find that it contained a delicious brandy. They drank and served it at parties enjoying not only it's flavor, but that it could have been hundreds of years old. Months later when the barrel ran dry, they noticed it was still too heavy to be empty; they cut it open and found a shriveled corpse curled up in the barrel.
The Nut & the Nuts
A young woman was driving alone one night near the local Insane Asylum when she heard on the radio that a dangerous Lunatic had escaped. Within minutes she heard a pop and felt one of her tires go flat. She built up her nerve and got out and began to change the tire. Just as she slid the spare on she noticed a man in a plain white uniform staring at her from the bushes. Startled, she dropped the lug nuts and heard them scatter on the ground, as she vainly searched in the darkness for the scattered lug-nuts she heard the man slowly approaching. Terrified, she asked herself in a trembling voice, "What am I going to do now?" and the Lunatic replied "Why don't you take one nut from each of the other wheels and put them on the spare?" She did, and was soon on her way.
The Roommate’s Death
A young coed was lying in her room alone one night, her roommate had warned her she'd be out late, when she heard a gurgling, groan coming toward the room. Frightened, she jumped in the closet and locked the door. The sound came closer until it was obvious it was right outside the door, then whatever it was began to scratch on the door. It didn't stop for what seemed like a long time, and even after the trembling girl was afraid to move, and eventually fell asleep curled up in the closet. The next morning she opened the door to find her roommate lying dead, her throat cut and her fingers and nails bloody from scratching the door for help.
The Hitchhiking Prophet
During World War II a couple was driving home one night and picked up a hitchhiker. The man barely spoke during the ride, but as he got out he thanked the couple and told them to repay their kindness, he'd answer any question they may ask. The driver smiled and said "All right, when will the war end?" the hitchhiker replied "The war will end in July as surely as you will have a dead man in your car before you get home." Unsettled, the couple said good-bye and drove off. Before they reached home they saw a wrecked ambulance by the road, they picked up the driver and a badly hurt patient. By the time they reached the hospital, the patient had already died. As the shock wore off, the couple regretted that they hadn't asked the hitchhiker what year.
The Message Under the Stamp
During the war a soldier faithfully wrote his mother every week so she would know he was all right, until one week she didn't get a letter and immediately began to worry. Within a couple of weeks she got a letter from the Army saying that her son had been captured and was being held in a Prisoner-of-War camp, and they assured her that they had no reason to believe the American prisoners were being mistreated in any way. A few weeks later the woman finally received another letter from her son, it read: "Dear Mom, Try not to worry about me, they are treating us well and I'll be released as soon as the war is over. Make sure that little Teddy gets the stamp for his collection. Love you, Joe" The woman was overjoyed to hear the news, but was confused because she had no idea who "little Teddy" was. She decided to steam the stamp from the envelope and have a look. When she did she saw that written on the back of the stamp were the words: "They've cut off my legs".
This may be one of the oldest Urban Legends in existence; it's been circulated during every war since the Civil War. It's ironic since POW camps didn't stamp their mail, being a government institution the mail was metered. It was especially popular during Vietnam, and the part of the body cut off varies

HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP:

In Touch magazine did a poll…Who looks hotter naked while pregnant Demi Moore (years ago) or Britney Spears (now). 67% said Demi and 33% said Britney!

Where is baby Suri? Not only has the public never seen Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ baby, but apparently Tom’s closest friends have also yet to see her. Tom’s good friend’s John Travolta, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have not seen Suri and not for lack of effort. Jada Pinkett Smith has apparently called Tom repeatedly to see Suri and to give her a gift, but Tom always makes up an excuse such as “He’s busy” or “Katie isn’t feeling well.” Jada thinks that “it’s really weird.” Tom and Katie’s wedding is supposedly still on, but Tom is apparently waiting for Katie to lose the rest of her baby weight.

Attempting to relive the childhood

I am a wuss. A few months back signed up, and actually enjoyed practicing Hot Yoga. Within just a month, saw a noticible change in my body and loved that too. I had vowed to never, EVER give it up. I vowed it to myself, and declared it here in la blog. Yet after a bad sinus infection that lasted almost a month, the humid summer heat, and going away I am a Hot Yoga drop-out.

However that does not mean to say I have given up all forms of exercise. Oh no! Because at the age of 30, Orelinde thinks she is still a kid. And wants to partake in activities she did (not necessarily well) in her youth. Come the fall, I will return to tap dance class (I studied tap and jazz for 15 years). I have gone as far as to sign up at my old dance school, so I can even be in the recietal at the end of the year. I envision myself being the Cyd Charise of the adult tap class, shuffle-flap-shuffle-flaping my way in to my dance instructors heart and having the school owner beg me never to leave them again. (Like I said, envision. Who knows how much talent I have left here.)

But it gets better. Yesterday, after work I went roller blading. Because in a half hour of roller blading, I found you burn the same amount of calories as you do in 90 minutes of Hot Yoga. Now, roller blading I was NEVER skilled at. I had always feared falling and breaking a wrist or arm, or bashing my head against concreat and cracking my skull. Ok, maybe I over-dramatize, but I did have these fears. So I went out and bought the elbow, knee and wrist guards at Target (and ok, had to get kiddie size. But so what, I'm reliving my youth!). And away I went. I drove up to the junior high track, thinking no one would be around and the track (that I walk at times) would be nice and smooth.

Wrong-o!!! There were two women with a bevvy of small kids tramping all over the track, wandering aimlessly, not in one lane but several as their kids (ranging fromthe ages of oh..I'll go with 3 years old to 8 years) were riding their bikes. Strapping on my protective gear, and deciding to take the plunge I wobbled off on my blades. Now mind you, I have not been on the blades in 15 years, I did the math as I scooted around. And as I tried with all my might not to wipe out, and yet had to manuver around the track hogs...hear this one little brat say "Mommy...what is she doing?" And the mother replies "Roller blading. You have skates but those are roller blades." To which the snot answers, "Well she sure has a ton of stuff on," and with that he takes off and decides he is going to race me.

Now I am no where near a racing ability. I studied the ground as I tried to stay up right. Cringed every time I went over a crack. I did NOT need show-off to be in the lane next to me, on a bi-cycle showing he can go worp-five. His smug little face as he looked back over his shoulder at me. Me who had a determined grimace on my face because I vowed to go 4-times round the track, making it a mile.

But I could only do half a mile yesterday. Because I am not a roller blader. I haven't bladed in 15 years. I was proud to say I only fell once. And as I tugged my blades off my feet, rationalized that I have to build up to a mile. Because this is all new to me. Little tykes on bikes be damned...I will roller blade on that black strip of tar again!

It puts the lotion on its skin and puts it in the basket

And the headache begins yet again. When I had started my blog, wasted a lot of time and shared funny anecdotes about the two co-workers in my office, frick and frack. The thorns in my side, the ones put here to annoy the crap out of me. My boss has an office with a door…so when it gets too much for him, he shuts the door. However, I have a cube…no door, no solid walls…no peace. Some days are better than others. Some make me run from the building screaming. And some days I feel like I can plunge a knife through the black hearts of these two nightmares I work with, when other days I just want to take them under my wing and tell them we can work through any project they throw at us.

In past post’s, I had commented that ‘Big Bad’ had been inquiring about the work antics and productivity of the one person who annoys me. Almost to the point where he was all but booting her out. My boss, and myself (knowing her personal situation, needing the medical benefits) have covered for her, taken the brunt of some of her errors, have gone out of our way to ensure she would still have her job. And I feel bad, because I thought I liked her. AS A PERSON. As a co-worker, she is dumb as a bag of rocks. This, the woman who thinks Pacific and specific are one and the same word. The woman who has no idea how to file or use a digital scanner although there are directions on the scanner stating: place document face up.

I’ve been overlooking her short-comings. I have been able to rally with her, again because I know she has ‘stuff’ going on that is not pretty. But last week, she accused me, and our other co-worker (the other numb-skull) of being backstabbers because she decided to take the day off without calling in and we didn’t lie for her and say she did call in. She got called on to the carpet by my boss, who then came down on her for five other things she does not do properly. So when she left his office, she took it out on me when I asked if she was ok. She ACTUALLY told me: “I have a life outside of ______{insert company name}. I have a commitment and obligation to my family and I have friends that I do things with. If someone has to work late to cover the time off I take, it’s not MY problem. I’m entitled to taking time off.” I just stared at her….slack-jawed. Because I didn’t do anything to warrant being called a backstabber. I may not be all peaches and cream 24/7…but I do not back stab, underhand, or try to get the jump on anyone I work with. That is not how I operate.

Next thing I know, last Friday I am working on a situation that arose with another co-worker of mine…and it began to eat in to my lunch break. Which was no big deal, because instead of going at 12:30…there is no rule saying I can’t go at 12:45? Well ‘It’ as I now refer to her, goes ballistic demanding I go to lunch because if I go late she has to go late, and she’s hungry. So using the patience and tone I would with a child, I say to her, “I’m in the middle of something, so you go now, and I’ll go when you get back.” So she went, and to spite me, came back 10 minutes late. This again was fine by me, because I still took my full hour. She has flipped out on our boss because he does not personally say ‘good morning’ or ‘good night’ to her with fan fare. It really is like working with a three year old.

So last week, after she had pulled the lunch thing with me, I refer to her as ‘It’ on the sly to my friends. Because there is only one line rolling through my head when I hear her voice: “IT puts the lotion on its skin and puts it in the basket.” Granted I am not a cannibal or take to making skin clothing. But this is the one thing I think of when I see her. On the weeks that I have summer hours, I love the hour between 8-9 am and the hours from 3:30-5:30 as she is not here. I mean It. The bane to my existence. It…the thorn in my side. It. The one person who doesn’t know to keep her mouth shut, because she’ll lose one of the people she has shielding her if she keeps it up.

Block Party 2006

I never....ever thought I'd utter these words. And I cringe because by even just thinking them I feel my energy being zapped from me. Now I know how Superman felt when he came in to contact with kryptonite. But I will say it anyway: I. Am. Partied. Out.

Yesterday was my block's annual block party, and this year I decided that we would invite a load of people. We always participate in the block party...But this year I wanted to have PEOPLE. So between mum and I we composed a nice guest list of friends and various family members. And we agreed to go SIMPLE: burgers, hot dogs and chicken kabob's. ( wanted the kabobs.) Pasta & potato salad and we bought a HUGE peach pie from Costco. Drinks consisted of soda, beer, and Pink panty Pull-Down's. That was it...done. No fuss, no muss. Right??? WRONG!!!!!

We ended up having 23 people attend the party at our address. Not too bad. One of mom's friend's is a chef at some swanky restaurant, so he made an awesome salad, and a chicken dish thing. Cousin's brought more dessert...And a few friends brought arbor Mist. I had planned to man the grill and was quickly ousted by 'the men'. Ok, no sweat...that meant I could drink and socialize. Only it wasn't as easy as it sounds. People were so helpful...They disrupted how I had planned to set up. They converged on the kitchen to take things outside, as well as packing up. Gang! I can't even open my fridge without having leftovers spilling off the shelves in tupperware and baggies! Everyone wanted my attention. My one friend told me her parents separated, so I tried to be there for her. My other friend is getting married in October, and I tried to be there for her. My friends from work wanted to participate in the balloon toss and Cowboys and Indians game...We did. The last of our guests left some time after midnight...and my mother and I tumbled in to our kitchen, wired yet exhausted. Ida was already snoozing on the couch with the mc-kittens.

But that isn't it. The block party is exhausting because our neighbors who plan the annual block party are exhausting.The (3) women who are on the block party committee have children. {Children who yell and scream from 7:00am until 8:00pm as the frolic on their front lawns...and that is a totally different story}. Anyway, these three women...only one of them is NICE, all but keep the block party events a secret. And if you do not decide to participate (as the house next to me does not) you are blacklisted, and glared at for the rest of your days. Nice huh? These are people you want to block party with huh? Anyway, yesterday mum and I are setting up the tables in the street in front of our driveway, so our guests would be sitting. The one committee lady (whose first name and last name rhyme in some funky way) comes over and begins to tug our tables in the opposite direction informing us 'you can't put your tables there as the bouncy kid thing will be there'. I wanted to hit her over the head with one of the tables, and told her we paid our fee, we can put our tables there. She then said she would 'help me move the tables' and got pissy when I told her 'I don't need your help because I'm not moving my tables.'

The rest of the block party went off without a hitch, and we all had a nice time. Exhaustion be damned! But between mum, Ida, and me...and I think the mc-kittens by the look of it...it is unanimous that we will NOT participate in next year's block party. And I informed my mother we're not signing the petition to have the street closed either next year. Yeah...I can be a bitch, and I admt it freely. After the whole table incodent though, my mother agreed with that too. And just out of curiosity....How much do people normally chip in for block party participation? Because we seem to pay A LOT....And we don't even have kids.

So since I just woke up from a nap...Another nap sounds really good. Because I am exhausted. Exhausted from being the hostess with the mostest...and from battling evil block party committee people.

Yo-ho-ho and a Pirate hit!!!

As I have professed, I am a movie geek. Love them ever since I was a little kid. I am not so sure if it was watching E.T. countless times in the theater (not because I love the alien that much…but because family members all insisted on taking me at various times.) Or if it was watching a movie at the drive-in, or even if Indiana Jones had just had my little heart thumping for action and the enchantment that the silver screen brought to me. Whatever the reasoning….I am a movie geek…any genre…any time. If it talks to me, then I must see the movie. Anyway, Pirates of the Caribbean is no exception to the rule….and all year I have awaited Dead Man’s Chest. Normally I would have gone to see a movie of this magnitude on opening night…but alas I have a block party this weekend and invited pals, buddies, and co-workers so I have much to do in order to get ready for the party on July 8th. So what did this mean??? Would I miss the opening night and have to wait until next week to see the POTC: Dead Man’s Chest??? HELL NO!!! Aunt Ida and I braved the midnight showing last night at the local theater.
I could rave and rave about how fantabulous the movie was. How funny, how action packed, how great the special effects were. And all that would be true. The costumes were beautifully done, and extremely authentic….the ‘bad guys’ were extremely repulsive (more so than in the 1st installment, in my opinion). Bill Nighy is unrecognizable as Davey Jones, unless you pick up on his infamous eye squint…and the way his tentacles which would be his beard flow/wave the computer graphics and cgi’s are just awesomely done. The fighting was beautifully choreographed, and there is one scene where Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) is fighting Mr. Norrington (Jack Davenport) on this HUGE water wheel. It was equally comical as well as riveting (remember the fight between Will & Jack in the smithy in POTC???) Like I was telling my cousin and friend this morning via e-mails: the movie has a story….a storyline that is creative, well thought out, and elaborates. Due to the storyline being as detailed and thought out, I am unsure if as many people who awaited the follow-up will appreciate (as I did) this fact or be disappointed that it wasn’t just sword fight after sword fight. And there is a surprise at the end. I mean, the way it ended…I was a tad shocked in that itself. But at the end, end…there is a SURPRISE. I am not going to give it away and ruin it for people…because I am actually intrigued by this surprise. And in the same fashion of LOTR…the way they concluded POTC: Dead Man’s Chest, such as it doesn’t really end…the 3rd installment will pick up like no time has lapsed.
I am just as psyched for the next chapter and know that it will not be a let down. I mean c’mon….Keith Richard’s is going to play Jack’s dad! Now that tells us things will be very interesting!

Orelinde's blog is both fun AND educational

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Jones'_Locker

Davy Jones' Locker is an idiom for the bottom of the sea — the resting place of drowned seamen. It is used as a euphemism for death at sea (e.g. to be "sent to Davy Jones' Locker"); Davy Jones is a nickname (used primarily by sailors) for what would be the devil of the seas.
[edit]
Origin
The earliest known reference to Davy Jones occurs in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle by Tobias Smollett, published in 1751:
This same Davy Jones, according to the mythology of sailors, is the fiend that presides over all the evil spirits of the deep, and is often seen in various shapes, perching among the rigging on the eve of hurricanes, ship-wrecks, and other disasters to which sea-faring life is exposed, warning the devoted wretch of death and woe. [1]
He is described as having saucer eyes, three rows of teeth, horns, a tail, and blue smoke coming from his nostrils.
The term appears to have been common among sailors, as the name Davy Jones appears often in popular nautical literature.
As is common with slang, the exact origin of "Davy Jones" is hard to discover. These explanations have been proposed: [2] [3]
A pub owner named David Jones who used to incapacitate hapless drinkers in his ale locker, and send them off aboard ships.
Duffer Jones, a notoriously myopic sailor who often found himself overboard.
Davy comes from Duppy, a West Indian term for ghost, or from Saint David, also known as Dewi, the patron saint of Wales, while Jones comes from the prophet Jonah.
A euphemism for a "Devil Jonah"; Jonah being a term referring to any bad luck on the ocean.
David Jones, a pirate on the Indian Ocean in the 1630s. - Jan Rogoziński, The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pirates, Ware, Hertfordshire, 1997
Only the first theory explains the locker. The name may have originated in Wales, where David Jones is a common name.

In Popular Culture


Davy Jones as depicted in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Davy Jones is the main villain in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006), played by Bill Nighy. He appears along with his crew of half-human half-crustacean sailors aboard The Flying Dutchman. He is portrayed as a mutated cross between a man and an octopus, with a wriggling beard of tentacles. His character seems to be a sea-bound version of the Devil, as he deals with souls, as is common in Devil mythology.
In SpongeBob SquarePants, in one episode, Mr. Krabs is threatened by the Flying Dutchman to be sent to Davy Jones' locker, which is full of smelly gym socks.
In the videogame Banjo-Tooie, in the fourth world the boss (a giant anglerfish called Lord Woo Fak Fak) is inside a locker that says: "D. Jones".
In the beginning of the PC Game The Curse of Monkey Island, the wanna-be pirate Wally describes his toughness by saying "I'm so tough, that in high school I stuffed Davy Jones in his locker!"
In the computer game "Blood Money" (developed by DMA Design, published by Psygnosis in 1989), the shops in the under water level bear a sign that says "Davy Jones Equipment Locker".
In the song "Run Silent Run Deep", by Iron Maiden, there is the sentence "The tar black smell of burning oil all the way down to Davy Jones".
In the song "The Irish Ballad", by Tom Lehrer, a girl, among other crimes, "weighted her brother down with stones and sent him off to Davy Jones".
In the song "Rhymin' and Stealin'" by the Beastie Boys there is a line "Deliver Colonel Sanders down to Davy Jones' locker".
In the comic book series "Hellboy", Davy Jones' locker is an underwater room full of jars in the shapes of men. This room is owned by the villainous Bog Roosh, a fish-like witch that draws her power from the souls of drowned sailors.
In the constructible strategy game Pirates of the Spanish Main, Davy Jones appears as a unique crew for the Cursed faction, and his flagship is the Flying Dutchman.

Faint-hearted need not read

Faint-hearted need not read

I don’t know how true this is and was trying to Google the subject. But unfortunately I was not able to come up with much, other than a recipe. And trust me…I DO NOT want the recipe.

Over the weekend, I was at a pig roast, and a (younger) girl was getting sick watching the pig get cooked on the spit. When my mother questioned the girl if she was a veggie, the girl proclaimed she only likes her meat packaged; Fair enough….I can understand that.

She (the young girl) told my mother, that the guy, who was in charge of making sure Wilbur (the pig) was cooked, so we didn’t get ptomaine poisoning, was once in Korea (as he was in the Marines). And when the guy was over in Korea….he chowed down on dog soup. Dog soup! As in bow-wow, come Fido, sit at the master’s feet. And then when he had visited her house, after getting home from Korea, her dog (who used to like him) went nuts, growling at the guy, and cowering. The reason is, she told my mother, that when someone eats dog…the odor of the dog is exuded from the person’s pores, and another (living) dog will smell that the person had eaten dog….and not like said person.

So I was wondering if anyone knows if this is true. That should a human eat dog (as in dog soup)…another dog will smell it off them. I attempted to Google this, and came up with no info. So I was curious as to whether or not the guy (who is a friend of mine) was pulling the young girl’s leg with this story or not. And if someone really wants me to post the recipe for dog soup…..I can. Just, I would hope those of you who read my blog would NEVER want the recipe for dog soup.

July is Hollywood hoopla month

Pirates of the Caribbean:

Keith Richards to Be in 'Pirates' MovieJul 4, 11:15 AM EST
The Associated Press
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is lined up to play the swashbuckling father of a pirate in the third installment of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, star Johnny Depp said Tuesday.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer said Richards would have a cameo role as the father of the flamboyant Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Depp, in the third "Pirates" movie, which is due to resume filming next month in California.
Depp, 43, has said he adopted the body language and mannerisms of the veteran guitarist to create Captain Jack's character.
"We're all looking forward to the idea of Keith coming in and doing a cameo," Depp told a London news conference to promote "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," which opens in Britain on Thursday.
"You never say it's definite until the guy steps on the set and the camera is rolling. But it's looking very, very good," he said.
Co-star Orlando Bloom said he was similarly enthusiastic about working with Richards — provided the rocker is in good health.
"I can't wait to see him — well, if he doesn't kill himself falling out of coconut trees," Bloom said. "Very rock and roll."
Richards, 62, suffered a head injury in late April, when he reportedly fell out of a palm tree while vacationing in Fiji.
Having made a full recovery, Richards will join the Stones for their rescheduled European tour, beginning Tuesday in Milan.
More on "Dead Man's Chest"

Then you have the 'Chick Flick': The Devil Wears prada

I had thought I had purchased the books months ago. Before it was even thought of being turned in to movie foder. But to my chagrin, and three (yes count 'em three) stacks of unread books, I do not own such book. So, Friday night, Ida and I went and saw the movie. It was cute. Meryl Streep does not disappoint, and I must say 'evil' looks good on her. Not only did she look stunning, short white hair and all...but she had the tyrant, spoiled...hard-ass down to a tee. Anne Hathaway I think is enjoying being 'the 'next Julia Roberts'. I said it when I saw 'Princess Diaries'...and I stick to it. She looks like a younger version...shetakes the 'cutsie roles', and she has the bawdy, raucous laughter. Being that the book and movie focus's on the fashion industry....it was nice that they didn't sugarcoat any of the characters. They were underhanded, and back-stabbing. They were mean and obnoxious. It was pretty much true to life with how that profession runs. Women and men (even straight) men seem to be enjoying this movie and I will probably own it when it comes out on dvd. There is one line that Meryl Streep's character says, and it pretty much her coin phrase...'That's all.' And it works. It works no matter how often she utters it...because of her dismissive tone. Yes...I do not think this is a teeny-bopper movie...I think this is all MERYL in this one. And I won't even touch Stanley Tucci's character. Because he has once again delivered.

Which now brings me to: Superman Returns

As a kid, I enjoyed the Superman flicks. All of them. Not enough however to own them on dvd or watch them repeatedly. As an adult, I am more a Batman and X-Man fan. So when they began discussing remaking Superman, especially after the whole Christopher Reeves (and Dana) heartbreaks, felt that it was appaling. I mean, why fix what is not broken? And ok, with the movie technology we have now, yes the Superman movie was in need of being re-done. But still I think it is safe to say that why strip Christopher Reeves of a role?

But then I found out Kevin Spacey was playing Lex Luther. Kevin. Spacey. Taking on the super bad role of a super hero movie. And that made me want to go see Superman Returns. I think the cast was a good selection. Routh who got his start on soap operas has no where to go but up. And if he selects his roles carefully, think he will be Hollywood's next 'it boy'. Kevin Spacey as Lex....made the role his own. His one liners, the way he pronounces Kryptonite....even when he has to deliver lines from the old movies. Kevin Spacey is back. I strongly recommend people to see the movie. Superman fan or otherwise.

Which brings me back to Pirates. Thursday night Ida and I will be going to the midnight showing. Because as the tag-line for the film says: "Jack IS Back". And I for one can not wait!