Weekend Fun

Wanted to wish everyone a happy weekend. We are off to a wedding out of state AND the whirlpool suite at a local hotel. Hot damn, we will have fun this weekend! :) I'll be back posting early next week.

A Little of This, A Little of That

It has been rather quiet around here. Nothing terribly interesting, but here are some of the details of my unspectacular life:

We took a ride up north on Friday. Catie's birthday had been on Wednesday, so we had to bring her gift. I had never been to C.'s house, so it was interesting. She has really come a long way with her mom and wife skills--I was very impressed by what I saw. The house is quite small, but she had it very neat and done up about as nice as you can with a rental. She had just taken dinner out of the oven as we got there, so we only stayed for about a half hour. I guess that was fine for the first time--we still are being overly careful. I don't know if we will ever get back to being completely easy with each other. The kids sure are cuties--the babies are growing fast and furious.

Didn't do anything special at all for Easter. I don't know where my head was at this year, cause I didn't even make a special dinner like I usually do. No big deal--K. was on day shift so he didn't get home till after 6:00 pm. It was really neat to look out the back window that morning and see one of the neighborhood rabbits--the Easter bunny had arrived!

The weather has been rather nice. K. broke out the grill on Saturday and we had the first hamburgers of the season. Can't wait till we grill bratwurst--my personal favorite. Today the temp has been hovering around 60, so I have windows open in every room. The poor cat is trying to adjust (as she has to every spring) to the outside noises. For a relative of the "king of beasts," she sure is skittish--can't handle anything from a leaf blowing past the window to a UPS truck out on the street. Her "allergies" seem to be bothering her--she's been sneezing a bit more than usual. Oh, well, hers must be seasonal! :)

Interesting (?) Fact

Something only one or two people know about me: I have NEVER put gas in my vehicle by myself. Whenever it is needed--and I am forced to buy gas--I go to a full-service gas station.

Email Madness

I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 different email accounts--I should count how many, but I feel particularly lazy right now. :) Three of the accounts are my "main" ones--used for personal, business, etc. and the rest are there to, supposedly, keep my main accounts from getting too much junk mail. And this is where I am having a problem. My Hotmail account, one of my main ones, is again getting more junk mail than all of my other accounts combined! For awhile, there was next to no junk mail coming and all of a sudden the account was flooded--and most of it has reference to "Mark Gibson" (whoever that is supposed to be) in the subject line. I don't open junk mail, so I can't even block this junk, and there is no filtering that can be done just by words--it all has to be done by address or domain. I report all of this as junk, but it seems to increase what I get instead of stopping it. Microsoft sure has to get its act together or there will be a rebellion--more so than already! The main reason I got my Gmail account was to get away from Hotmail--unfortunately I can't get away from it completely. Too much of Microsoft depends on Hotmail as is the case with IE. I really am thinking about trying Linux--but that won't solve all of the problems, either! We just seem to be in a Microsoft world and there is little we can do about it--change is too slow in coming.

Peeps

I haven't quite figured out whether I consume more sugar around Halloween or Easter. The real difference is that there are some things that only are available at Easter, so it seems as if I eat more candy then.

Even after all these years, I wait for Cadbury creme eggs to show up on the store shelves. My favorites are the originals, but the fudge ones come in a close second. They can stop making the caramel ones any time--definitely not a fave.

Another thing I like at this time of year are Peeps. I know they make Peeps for different holidays, but the Easter ones are special--they remind me of Easter baskets from my childhood. I can't really eat too many of them--they are, after all, pure sugar. But they are fun once a year.

The candy that I wait for all year long is made by a local candy maker. Every year I must have one of their fudge eggs--they are to die for. I can gain 5 pounds just walking past the display, they are so gooey, fudgy, and rich. I think I have to go out and get one tonight--something to snack on while watching 24!

And finally, for anyone who has never been to the sites, here are the links to the Peep Research site and to the Bunny Survival Tests. Absolutely hilarious, even if they are slightly sadistic. Enjoy!

Uninteresting Post

I have a sinus headache today. I hope I can shake it off as I can't just baby myself today--way too much to do. Oh, well, this too shall pass. :)

Sorry

So I completely forgot to wish everyone a happy St. Patrick's Day, but more importantly, I forgot to say happy St. Urho's Day on the sixteenth! I can't believe it. I'm losing my mind. :)

Chipmunks, Hockey, and Not Guilty Verdicts

Just some random thoughts from my mind.

This month is well on its way to becoming one of the coldest, if not THE coldest, month of March on record. Needless to say, we still have snow several feet deep on the ground between us and the neighbors' house. With the snow and the cold, I cannot understand why I am seeing chipmunks running around already! In the past, the chipmunks have been out when there has been a lot of snow left, but it usually is during a nice spring thaw. I know they don't totally hibernate, but they usually stay in their dens until it's a little warmer. Just think it's strange, is all.

Was thinking about the non-hockey season this year. Imagine, there was NO NHL hockey, AT ALL, and NO ONE died as a result! Some people would have you believe they absolutely would die if they couldn't watch their favorite sport, but this proves you can get through it--even here in the land of hockey! Years ago I lived and breathed hockey--just couldn't get enough of it. For the past 20+ years I haven't followed it at all, so it wasn't as big a loss for me as it was for some. I really was hoping to get back into the game this year, but it just wasn't meant to be. The whole thing has been interesting, though. I would love to see the same thing happen to football--but that would NEVER happen. I'm sure they would get the Supreme Court to rule it unconstitutional to not have an NFL season and force them to play. :) But anyway, I think this has hurt hockey very badly--not here, of course, but in places (the south) that haven't had the game treated like a religion for decades as we have in the north. Hope the game can recover.

So Robert Blake was found not guilty. What to say?

It is amazing just how much my shopping habits have changed since I've started buying on the Web. For example: I searched high and low for a case for my Zen Micro--just don't want my baby to get scratched--and there are none here in the States. I know there are several companies planning on making the cases, but as of now, they aren't available. So, that brings me to the Web. Did a search, found the absolute best case I wanted--and there really weren't that many of them to choose from--and ordered it. Now, the beauty part of the whole thing is this: I had to order it from Hong Kong. Directly. Just blows me away to order things from other countries as easily as ordering from the next state. I find it a hoot.

Right now I'm writing this post using Internet Explorer as my browser. I really don't use IE very much at all--I use Firefox and love the living daylights out of it. However, I just don't seem to be able to do everything quite as easily on Blogger with Firefox as I can with IE. Can't figure out what the problem is--guess I should email Help and ask, but it isn't THAT much of an inconvenience.

More Geekiness

Something isn't right here--I tried to post an answer to the comment on the previous post and things went horribly awry, so I will answer the question in a new post!

iPods are small, portable MP3 music players--and the gold standard, according to some. You use your computer to transfer music to your player, so you can take it with you. Depending on the capacity of the player, you can transfer several hundred to 10,000 songs onto a player. Of course, this depends on the length of the song--the full version of "Stairway to Heaven" will take up much more space than "Pretty Woman" would. The physical size of these players are different, also. An iPod Shuffle is about the size of a pack of gum, my Zen Micro can fit in an Altoids tin with some room to spare, and a full size iPod is a bit bigger. These players appeal to several different groups of people (in my opinion): the "young ones," music addicts, and geeks. I bought my Zen Micro for two reasons: I love tech gadgets and this way I can listen to MY music while the hubby listens to HIS music on the CD player when we travel (I don't share his love of certain music, so he has to listen to something we both like all of the time). So, that is a VERY long answer to a simple question. :) I guess I just love to show my geekiness!

All Tech

Might as well get some of my tech geekiness out of the way, so here goes. I don't believe I ever posted about my new computer--probably scared to be too optimistic! Anyway, I got my new baby in December and I am absolutely thrilled with it! I went with a Dell, again, and so far everything seems to be fine. The small problems that have come up are more software problems than anything else--and I think it is a matter of two programs not wanting to play nice with each other more than any major concerns. I have put the baby through the paces except for burning DVD's--I have to get to video editing soon! I have been trying to organize ALL of my music and just seem to not have much time for anything else.

Talking about music brings me to my next item. I got my Zen Micro 5G MP3 player on Monday and so far it is one of the best purchases I have EVER made. I've wanted an MP3 player since before there was an iPod and haven't been able to decide on which one I wanted. I bought a Rio Chiba and had to bring it back because I just wasn't satisfied. It was so cheaply made I was afraid to hold it too tightly for fear of breaking it! Instead of looking like a $100+ piece of electronic equipment, it resembled something you might get in a McDonald's Happy Meal! Several years ago I bought a Rio CD player and that was built like a tank--I just don't know what is up with the Rio brand these days. Anyway, back to my Zen Micro. I got it in dark blue--I was too afraid of NOT being conservative--and it is absolutely beautiful. It will take me a little while to get used to the controls and the software was a bit confusing, but it is definitely worth what it cost. I know a lot of people really like iPods, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy one. (I guess I don't like Apple the way a lot of people don't like Microsoft!) While reading comments in a forum about Zen Micro, some people are calling it the "antipod." :) Funny!

I finally set up Trillian so that I could IM C. I don't care too much for instant messaging, but I find it gives a more immediate response than email does. Of course, if I want to have a regular back and forth conversation, I'll pick up the phone, but this will do every once in awhile. C. and I had a short IM session and she had to go and change a diaper. (She leads a REAL exciting life.) I was here reading my mail when a new IM came through and it was from her--only it was just a bunch of letters. I thought it was an acronym or something, like LOL, so I was about to ask her what it meant when a new message came through. This one made even less sense and then about five more gibberish messages came through. Finally C. came on and told me Noelle had been sending the messages! I laughed so hard. Noelle has been in the terrible twos since she turned one and she will continue until she's sixteen! I told C. that this one will be her problem child, and she sure is--and she isn't even two! That made my day. :)

Maximum PC magazine comes out with their Geek Quiz once a year and this month's issue had the one for 2005. About four(?) years ago I took the quiz and got almost 75% of the answers correct. After glancing though the quiz today, I don't think I will even get 10% of the answers right--even by guessing! I don't know if I just haven't kept up with stuff enough or if everything has changed that significantly, but it sure made me depressed. Oh, well, I still learn new things almost every day, so my brain isn't turning to mush, at least. :)

Some Bits and Pieces

The season premier of The Shield was on last night. It looks as if it will be another good bunch of episodes--I have high hopes for Glenn Close's character. A very good show if you like "gritty drama". (Translation of "gritty drama"--mature language, situations, nudity, violence, and sex.)

I am becoming truly convinced that I am addicted to gossip! I read WAY too many gossip columns online every day. Must just mean I'm missing much excitement in my own life! :)

K. has been suffering a very bad sinus headache today. He finally took a Claritin-D and said the congestion seems to be lessening. I don't understand why he waits so long to take meds. Maybe I would understand better if I didn't take a pharmacy's worth of meds every day. I told him to call in sick for day shift tomorrow, but he said he'll wait and see. I just want him to sleep through--if he can--and not have to get up with the alarm to make the phone call! Can't get him to see that, though.

I had to laugh, it just seemed so funny: I walked through the living room earlier and glanced at the TV and K. was watching the "Love Stories" channel! Now, I'm sure it wasn't a real "chick flick," but it just made me chuckle to see my big, brawny, middle-aged husband watching a movie on that channel.

I Have Arrived

After almost ten years online, I feel I have finally arrived. Today I received my first official "phishing" email! And the scary part of it is, if this wouldn't have come from a bank I don't do business with, I just might have clicked through and answered the email! ME! The person who goes on and on to anyone who will listen about being careful, and spyware, and viruses, etc. etc.! Hopefully this was my wake-up call and I now realize I am no more immune to this crap than anyone else!

On another note: I found out The Parents were in town recently and visited with someone other than us. A guy K. works with said they visited with him and his wife while in town last week. Now, I can say I don't care, but deep inside I do feel a bit hurt by it. I also feel a little grateful that they are leaving me alone. I am just one bundle of contradictions. I know I am doing better when I don't have contact with them, but I still feel as if something is missing by not having family to be with. I guess I got to get my sh** together and finally decide what it is I really want.

Where Are Our Priorities and A Creepy Feeling

First, the creepy feeling. Every time K. and I go to Milwaukee, we stay next door to the hotel where seven people were murdered. And to top it all off, K. has even stayed at that Sheraton when he's been there for work! Creepy.

I read Parade magazine's annual "What People Earn" article today and , once again, I wonder where our priorities are in this country. Lindsay Lohan earned $10 million this past year and a youth minister earned $30,000. LeBron James (basketball player) earned $21 million and a child-care provider earned $32,000. John Travolta: $25 million, teacher: $24,300. Jessica Simpson: $4 million, firefighter: $34,000. Lance Armstrong: $19 million, school-bus driver: $26,000. Peyton Manning (football player): $42 million, ER nurse: $47,000. If we really think these over-paid celebrities and athletes are worth so much more money than people who care for our health, safety, and children, then I have lost all faith in humanity. May God forgive and help us all.

Last We'll See Of Michael Moore? We Can Only Hope

Well, it sure looks like Michael Moore is finally getting his come-uppance. Seems pretty much EVERYONE is just plain done with him. Read Kathleen Antrim's commentary in the San Francisco Examiner here.

Are We A Little Paranoid?

I always thought Teresa Heinz (she has dropped the "Kerry" now that the election is over) was a bit of a whacko, but now she is just plain paranoid! Read the article here.

She's Out

"Someday, I hope to have the chance to talk more about all that has happened, the extraordinary people I have met here and all that I have learned." (a direct quote from Martha Stewart's website--bold emphasis, mine)

Does anyone ACTUALLY think she isn't going to milk her stay in "prison" for all it's worth? She must have deals made, or being made, to earn herself MILLIONS!

I know a lot of people think she should never have gone to prison, but I'm not one of them. Why should people with money and privelege not have to pay for their crimes? The trouble is, she still has not (I believe) accepted the fact that she did something wrong! Because she is Martha Stewart, and is rich and famous, she acts as if she can do whatever she pleases--and so far, there doesn't seem to be any indication of a change in her attitude.