Open mouth, insert foot.

Kev doesn't like my new hair.

Oh yeah, I've got new hair! Well, less hair, anyway. I had about 3-4 inches taken off a week or so ago, and went from a blunt cut into a layered style. Everyone loves it, except for Kev. He likes my hair...well, the longer the better. This is still below the shoulders, but much shorter.

Anyway, the other day he was making an effort to be sweet about it, because he's just that wonderful. But he flubbed it. He said, "I love your hair. It's so soft, and shiny, and it makes you look prettier than you are..." The second the words were out of his mouth, you could see it in his face. "Ohhhh, I phrased that REALLY badly." We had a good laugh over it.


Also, ouch. I donated blood today, for the first time since mid 2003. I got the go ahead from my hematologist a few weeks ago, but have been to busy. I finished up the donation, hung out having cookies and a soda for a while, then packed it up and went to get Elizabeth from school. Got there early to hang out with friends per the usual. About five minutes before the final bell rang, I removed my bandage. It had been nearly an hour since donation by now, more than enough time. I tossed the bandage in the garbage and turned to continue my conversation with my friend. Felt something funny on my arm, looked down. The sleeve of my sweater was soaked with blood. EWWWW! Ew Ew Ew!!!! I ran for the bathroom, grabbed a handful of towels, slapped them on my arm, and headed for the school nurse. (I felt SO silly going there, but didn't know what else to do.) She removed the towels, and my arm was immediately dripping. Many layers of gauze and lots of gauze tape later, I left.
When I talked to the donation place later, I was told that I very likely got it started bleeding again by pulling my car door open. Oh. I didn't realize that when they said no lifting, they meant I couldn't open a lousy car door with that arm!

Anyway, there's now a disgusting, large red bruise in the crook of my arm. Interesting day. Yuck.

Open mouth, insert foot.

Whee!

I'm in scrapper heaven lately. I signed up for my classes at CKC Nashville on Wednesday, and got every one that I wanted. Our fancy-schmancy hotel suite is all reserved, and the rate turned out to be very reasonable. It's going to cost us each (4 of us) $110 total for three nights. Breakfast is included every morning, and our kitchenette has a fridge and microwave. So we're taking along plenty of microwaveable goodies and eat in the room quite a bit. They also offer a shuttle to the Gaylord Opryland, where CKC is being held. So, so convenient. I'm kicking myself that we didn't think to do it last year.
We also decided to pack along some folding tables, and scrapbook in our room some each day. Sure beats paying $35 to crop in the convention center.
Only 89 days left! (My darling set up a Yahoo Widget on my desktop so I can count down. Also? I'm a big dork.)

My cyberfriend Laura traveled up here last weekend to spend the day scrapping with me. She moved to the area from Phoenix a year-ish ago, and now only lives a few hours away. We've gotten to get together twice since then, and she is an absolute delight to spend time with. She's so much fun, and one of the most talented ladies I know. She works with Little Black Dress Designs, one of the coolest scrappin' companies around. Go, see! www.littleblackdressdesigns.com

Laura and I have been making lots of plans, and it looks like we're going to get together twice in February for all day crops. I can't wait.

At the moment, I'm posting while I take a break from Cybercropping. www.simplycreativecrafts.com is having a three day cyber crop, with lots of drawings for gift certificates for their store. So I'm cropping away, and entering every contest. Everyone send "draw Rubi's name" vibes!

The living room looks like a scrapbook store exploded. [cringe] I should really get it all put away before Kev gets home, but it seems so pointless, as I'm going to drag it all out again first thing in the morning. Yep, it stays for now.

Whee!

Taking the FUN out of Social Dysfunction

Your Social Dysfunction: Schizotypal You display social deficits and oddities of thinking. Your perception and communication are similar to those of a schizophrenic.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com Please note that we aren't, nor do we claim to be, psychologists. This quiz is for fun and entertainment only. Try not to freak out about your results.

Taking the FUN out of Social Dysfunction

Relaxing

Did I mention today is my day off?

Ahhhh.... to relax with fam and not do much running around.

 

 

Powered By Qumana

Relaxing

THINKS Vol. 4

Apparently, it's been a busy first three weeks of 2006.
Or, I've haven't been creative enough to blog about anything worthwhile.
Let's see... what have I been up to?
-Working. No overtime or third-shifts yet this year. In fact, I've already had three extra days off from work. I called-in sick with the crud my first two days back to work at the beginning of the year, and I took a comp day this past Saturday for Rubi to go to her monthly scrapbooking party.
-Sleeping. Ah... finally stocked up on decongestants so I can breathe at night. Sleeping through the night is nice. Allergies are not.
-Eating. Way too many snacks.
-Driving. Here, there, everywhere to run errands. Taking kids to and from school and to cheerleading. Grocery shopping. Paying bills. Driving here and yon for who knows what. I dislike driving. I spent most of last Friday in the van, from shortly after 7 a.m. until almost 4 p.m. driving different places around town: schools, banks, bills, etc.

That about sums up my year so far: Sleeping, Eating, Working, and Driving. Although Rubi and I actually had a nice date a couple of weeks ago. My parents took all three kiddos for couple of hours, and Rubi and I went to Moe's for dinner.

On to the THINKS:

Legos are cool and fun. Robotech is awesome. Why not get them together!
And speaking of the Bible: why not that too? (found link at Artis-Divina)

Can't get enough of Star Wars from the six movies? Here's a ton more.

Macgyver would be pround of what some people do with the cool tin.

And here's an audio interview with the voice of Larry the Cucumber.


That's all for now.
Back to work I guess.


"THINKS": Term combining the words Things and Links: an assortment of images, links, games, trivia, memes, minutia, and whatnot I find while browsing and mention collectively in a blog or message-board posts.

THINKS Vol. 4

Miscellany

Yes, I'm still here. I'm just not as good about keeping this up as Kev is.

Let me see. Work. Mommy-ing. Wife-ing. Volunteering.

Work. I have no patience for office politics. I'm bad at it because I just want to do my job, collect my check, and go home. That's why I'm there, not for the whole drama-and-trauma thing. Two days ago, though, a coworker did something really cruel to my boss, bringing her to tears. So I'm really angry on her behalf, and trying hard not to take it out on the person who did it. And the day after it happened, I found myself jumping feet first into the catty workplace gossip about this person. Yikes. Shame on me. So now I'm working hard to keep my mouth shut and my expression pleasant.

Yesterday was fun. I completely mortified my daughter by making her stand there while I pawed through the clearance bins at Victoria's secret. Snerk. She was goggle-eyed at all the tiny lacy things, and appalled when I announced to Kev that I liked this or that. Loved it.

On another Elizabeth note, she's an Upward cheerleader this year. She's having fun, and it's keeping her active while soccer's in the off-season. And oh my goodness. So, so incredibly cute. Her whole squad, in fact. Their first "halftime show" is tomorrow, and they're doing a little pom pom routine to a Jump5 song. Why yes, I'll be snapping a ton of photos. Did you even have to ask?

There are just over three months until CKC Nashville, round two. I'm traveling down with the same group as last year, hopefully with two more ladies. We reserved our hotel last weekend, and are meeting tonight to compare classes and line up our class schedules. Hurry, hurry, April 27th!

All for the moment, must shower. More later.

Miscellany

Crazy Long 49 Question Meme

1. Your name spelled backwards.
Reyab Nivek

2. Last incoming call on your phone.
Rubi

3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?
A wallpaper image: either a photo of the riverbank of the Thames in a pretty wooded area or something sci-fi from Renderosity.com, I can't remember which I downloaded last.

4. What's your favorite restaurant?
Turoni's

5. Last time you swam in a pool?
Last summer at Holiday World I think.

6. Have you ever been in a school play?
When I was in, I think, first grade I got to sing the final verse of the finale and royally screwed it up. After that I remained among the masses of the kids not actually in the play, but required to be in the choir.

7. 2 or 3?
A few.

8. Type of music you dislike most?
Anything foul. I really don't abhor any music, though I usually claim country music in that respect, but I can even listen to that sometimes. As long as there's no harsh swearing and foul imagery though, I can handle just about anything.

9. Do you have cable?
Basic cable. No premium channels. Gotta have my SciFi Friday.

10. Have you ever ridden on a 4 wheeler?
Nope.

11. Have you ever made a prank phone call?
Probably. Can't remember a specific event though.

12. Boyfriend/Girlfriend?
Wife.

13. Would you go bungee jumping or skydiving?
Most likely not. Maybe a two percent chance I'd skydive.

14. Farthest place you ever traveled?
Florida.

15. Do you have a garden?
Rubi had one last summer.

16. What's your favorite comic strip?
Zits or Foxtrot.

17. Do you read a newspaper every day?
No. I usually read at least a couple of news stories online.

18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem?
Probably not.

19. Bath or Shower, morning or night?
Shower in morning, and as needed beyond that. Bath, occasionally to relax.

20. Best movie(s) you've seen in the past month?
Serenity and Chronicles of Narnia.

21. Favorite pizza toppings?
Pepperoni and Chicken from Turonis. Pepperoni and/or bacon and/or beef and or/sausage and/or chicken from anywhere else.

22. Chips or popcorn?
Popcorn mostly at the movies. Chips just about anywhere else.

23. Have you ever smoked peanut shells?
huh?

24. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?
Oh yeah! Ms. Wow-You-Look-Like-A-Dude-Oh-Wait-You-Are-Why-Are-You-In-This-Contest!

25. Orange Juice or Apple Juice?
Orange Juice.

26. Who were the last people you went out to lunch or dinner with?
Rubi.

27. Favorite type chocolate bar?
Snickers.

28. When's the last time you voted at the polls?
Last Presidential Election.

29. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato?
Last summer.

30. Have you ever won a trophy?
I don't think so. If I did, I don't have it now and I don't remember what it would have been for.

31. Are you a good cook?
Sure, I can prepare an awesome package of Ramen Noodles!

32. Do you know how to pump your own gas?
You mean someone else will do it for me?

33. Sprite or 7-Up?
Only if I've been ralphing.
(I just wanted to say "ralphing".)

34. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work?
Had to wear a Little Caesar's polo shirt and khaki pants when I worked there. I can wear a logo'd polo shirt to work now if I want. The second time I worked at 105.3 WYNG, I had to wear a chicken costume when I was the mascot at live remotes.
Before high-school, the private school I attended had a dress code: only shirts with collars, dress slacks, no jeans, no shorts (except during gym and on field day), no t-shirts.
That same school now is much more lenient for Elizabeth. Rubi and wish they would switch to complete uniforms.

35. Last thing you ate?
Turkey sandwich and Doritos.

36. Ever thrown up in public?
Yes. When I was in elementary school. Also, once walking home from the school bus a buddy and I were both drinking sodas and as a car pulled into a driveway near us, we both took a quick drink and then pretended we were throwing up. The guy slammed on his breaks and stared at us, and we both walked away laughing. He laughed and pulled the rest of the way into his driveway.

37. Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love?
I've found true love, now it's time for the cash.

38. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Sure. I had the hots for Rubi when I first saw her.

39. Can ex's be just friends?
Sure.

40. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
Rubi.

41. Did you have long hair as a young kid?
What's "long"? We talking that 70's kid mess of hair? Or the mullet I tried in college?

42. What messages are in your voice mail?
Don't use voicemail. Oh wait. I have VM on my cell. None there.

43. Where would you like to go right now?
Home. I'm at work right now.

44. What was the name of your first pet?
My first pet was "Ebony", a black cocker spaniel/mutt mix. Before that, my sister had a dog named Friskie.

45. What kind of bag do you have, and whats in it?
I'm using a black backpack for work right now. Nothing showy about it. I've got a Dispatch logo hat for those rare Bad Hair days or if I'm not wearing a logo shirt and would need to do a media appearance ASAP. I've got my work keys, a stress ball, a note pad, a pencil bag with a 3.5 floppy in it and some emergency work notes. There's a snack or three in there. Spare eyeglass parts. Two small maglites and a spare battery for each. A multi-tool attached to one of the shoulder straps. A couple of pens in the pen holders. My work schedule.

46. What was the last thing you drank
A sip of water from the water fountain.

47. What is one thing you are grateful for today?
Today is my "Friday" this week. I'm off work for three days after today.

48. What do you think about most?
Plans: planning what I should be doing next (or planning what I should be doing now), planning for paying the bills, planning for my weekend, planning the grocery list, etc.

49. What is your new years resolution?
I don't make them.

Crazy Long 49 Question Meme

M.C.F.A.T. VI

MCF is fond of testing his readers. Here are my answers to test number six.

1) As you all no doubt remember, back in October I wrote about popular bands picking up former vocalists of other popular bands. If you could choose any one band and any one singer that have never collaborated, and put them together as a new entity, who would you choose? Have fun with this one. You can mix and match styles and eras, and choose artists living or dead. You might even NAME your creation.
Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Jon Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Billy Idol, Carrie Underwood, W.A. Mozart, Joss Whedon, Hector Berlioz, Ella Fitzgerald, and Wierd Al Yankovic all on vocals and whatever instruments they each can play. Everyone contributes to the song-writing. This band is frequently backed by a full orchestra.
The name: The International Cabinet of Curiosities.

2) How would you react in a hostage situation?
Depends on where I was being held hostage, how many hostage-takers there were, what kinds of weapons they had, if there were other hostages with me, if I know any of the otehr hostages, if I know where I am being held, what is around me and on my person (that could possibly be used as a weapon, a distraction, or to aid in escape) - basically, I'd have to assess the situation before deciding how I react.

3) What is your favorite board game?
Tie between Scrabble and Scene-It. UNO is my all-time favorite game, even though it's not a board game.

4) Which is worse, being buried alive or getting locked in a freezer? Include reasons and potential methods of escape.
Am I buried inside of anything (coffin, freezer, etc?), or just covered in the burying material? Is the freezer on? Is there a light-source? What else is in the freezer? Is it a chest-freezer like many people keep in their garage, or a walk-in? Does pounding on the door and sides of the freezer and yelling "help" count as an escape plan?

5) In light of the ”Draw Batgirl” meme I linked to, what other characters do you think would be appropriate for a similar meme? Hundreds of people with varying artistic abilities have rendered versions of the character. Some have been cartoonish, some amateur, and others professional. There have been countless variations and deviations, and all have been fun. I'm NOT asking for drawings(yet), so don't feel intimidated. Just name a comic character and at a later date I may choose one and invite readers to post their interpretations--and stick figures WILL be welcome.
Optimus Prime.

M.C.F.A.T. VI

Best. Blonde Joke. Ever!

MCF posts the best blonde joke ever!
(scroll down through the post a bit - past the pic of Batgirl)

Best. Blonde Joke. Ever!

Book Review: Help! Mom! There are liberals under my bed!

Reviewed for Mind&Media:
Marketed as a childrens book to promote conservative values, Help! Mom! There are liberals under my bed! is more an exercise in mean-spirited liberal bashing.
Now, don't get me wrong: I'm all for satire, caricatures, lampooning, parodies, making-fun-of, etc. And I'm mainly conservative in my politics as well. (Although I enjoy any good-spirited humor than makes fun of politics/politicians no matter their affiliation, like the Capitol Steps).

Help! Mom! Could have been a book that demonstrated conservative values. Instead, the book just shows extreme liberalism without explaining view-points, or even showing the conservative alternative well at all.

I wont read anymore of this series.

Powered By Qumana

Book Review: Help! Mom! There are liberals under my bed!

Upcoming Book Review

Powered By Qumana

Upcoming Book Review

RLTB: First Week of 2006

The first week of January I was either too ill or too busy to blog, let alone read other blogs to any extent. I think I might have posted a comment at MCF... but that's about it.

 

I called in sick my first two days back to work last week; not deathly ill - just one of those flu/cold things that makes you want to sleep all day and stay awake all night coughing and not breathing through your nose because, well, you can't - and that  'snot funny.

 

Then the rest of the week was just generally busy running here and yonder while not at work, and while at work I was busy catching up from my two missed days, and starting on my yearly project that's due every April.  That would be National Public Safety Telecommunications Week aka Dispatchers Week. I chair a committee to plan our week-long recognition of this week without spending any money.

 

On a positive note: Thursday afternoon our Firefly DVD box-set arrived! Booyah!

And, on a sad note, I forgot to set the VCR to record SciFi Friday for the new eps of SG1, SGA, and BSG.

 

 

Hmmm... that's all for now. 

 

 

Powered By Qumana

RLTB: First Week of 2006

M.C.F.A.T. Five

MCF hosts yet another Astonishing Test.

"The Mysterious Cloaked Figure's Astonishing Test kicks off the new year with it’s FIFTH edition!" And I make every effort to pass the test.

1) I’m not on DVD, and I may never be on DVD as much as you wish I was. What am I?

The Star Wars Holiday Special.

2) It’s going to be cold and gray for some months to come. There are no good movies playing. You don’t want to venture far or spend a lot of money, but sometimes the four walls of your home conspire to drive you mad and you just need to go SOMEWHERE. What do you do?
Barnes & Noble or the library for browsing.

3) If you had to give up one of your senses, which would it be?

Smell. I don't use it that much anyway what with my allergies keeping me congested most of the time anywho. I know it's been said that smell and taste go together, but it's also been said that if you lose one sense - one or more of your other senses becomes more acute.  Also, I rarely eat for the taste (unless I'm eating out) - I eat quickly just to move on with my day.

4) This sitcom will NEVER be made into a major motion picture, not in a million years. Then again, it wouldn’t be that unprecedented. What’s the WORST case scenario, from sitcom choice to casting, that you could imagine?

Killer Katering by Quentin Tarantino. Starring Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Jim Carrey, Uma Thurman, Raven, and the Olsen Twins.  The Olsen Twins star as the leaders of a professional hitman orginazation based in the midwest, with a catering business on the side. Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, and Raven portray the new hitters while Ben Stiller and Uma Thurman play the retired professionals training the new recruits while running the catering business.  Special Guest Stars each week as the mark. This week: Morgan Fairchild as a lower-middle class mother-of-three that knows too much about her boss at the fast-food restaurant, and Keanu Reeves as as a father-of-the-bride hiring the caterers for his daughter's wedding.

5) Now you’re a supervillain. Why? What has motivated you to use your powers for evil, what are your powers, and what are your methods and goals?
My most excellent evil laugh is reason enough for supervillainy! Muwahahahahaha!

Now! I must create a plan to take over the world and make everyone give me their cheese!

(I don't know, "cheese"? First thing that came to mind...) My super powers include "supergenius", psychokinesis, superstrength, a lifetime of martial arts training, and gadgets disguised as Easy Cheese cans.  I must use my villainy to first take over the massive cheese industry, then I'll take over the cracker industry, then the fondue chain restaurants, the macaroni factories, then I'll take over the world!  And have cheese and crackers to celebrate!

(Whoah... where did that come from?)

6) Name one artist, in any discipline, who has affected your life in some way.

Can't think of one. Sorry.

 

Powered By Qumana

M.C.F.A.T. Five

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

How can anyone NOT adore Joss Whedon? I was going to provide a link to his guest article in TV Guide, but it'll be gone eventually, so I'm just posting the whole thing here:



Many people have asked me, "Joss, what is the future of television? What will we watch? And how will we watch it? Surely you must know, for you are wise, and slender." I usually smile and say nothing, because I wasn't actually listening to the question. But it's a good one, and I think it's time I let you in on a few highlights of Television-to-Be.
The networks will all be creating exciting, innovative new spin-offs of today's shows. Approximately 67 percent of all television will be CSI-based, including CSI: Des Moines, CSI: New York but a Different Part than Gary Sinise Is In and NCSI: SVU WKRP, which covers every possible gruesome crime with a groovin' '70s beat. (Jerry Bruckheimer will also have conquered Broadway with the CSI musical "FOLLICLE!" starring Nathan Lane as a frenetic but lovable blood spatter and Matthew Broderick as lint.)
Lost has that one-of-a-kind alchemy that really can't be copied. Therefore, look for the original series Misplaced, as well as Unfound, Not So Much with the Whereabouts and Just Pull Over and Ask!
In a stunningly cost-effective move, CBS will air How I Met Your Biological Mother, That B****, which is just old episodes of How I Met Your Mother with snarkier narration. HBO's Westminster will continue the trend pioneered by Deadwood and Rome by making 19th-century England really dirty and weird, like Jane Austen with Tourette's. (Actually, I can't wait for that one.) Also, the constant slew of cable mergers will result in the creation of CinePax, a channel that's just very confused about its morals.
Every year another film actress gets "too old" for film leads and finds a (sometimes much better) home on TV. This trend will continue a few years hence when the aging but feisty Dakota Fanning headlines CSI: Vancouver Made to Look Like Chicago.
Obviously, we'll see advances in technology. TiVo, iPods, streaming video — the way we watch TV is changing dramatically. It's on our phones, in our cars — even projected on specialized eyeglasses. But don't listen to the talk about having shows beamed directly into your brain. That's science-fiction nonsense. Shows will be stored in the pancreas and will enter the brain through the bloodstream after being downloaded into your iHole.
And what of me? My short-lived series Firefly was the basis for the epic action film Serenity (now available on DVD! I have little or no shame), and the future will see even more incarnations of this visionary work, as it returns to TV as Serenity: The Firefly Years, then back to film as Firefly: Serenity's Sequel, back to TV as SereniFly, and finally end as the direct-to-eyeglasses series Choose a D*** Name Already. I promise it'll be as heartwarming and exciting as the original Serenity, now available on DVD. (Explain again this thing you call shame....)
That's all I can tell you, except for one last thing: Veronica Mars will still be on. Veronica Mars will still be on. We clear about that?
Bye-ee!

(Rubi adds: He's right. Go. Now. Buy/Rent/Netflix/Whatever Serenity. Even if you've never seen a single episode of Firefly, you need to see Serenity. Wonderful, wonderful sci-fi.)

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!