The iPhone is sexist?
Current mood: annoyed
Category: Web, HTML, Tech

The latest blurb on my Yahoo! homepage states that some people, mostly women, can't use the iPhone.  I had to read more.  The article was a blog by Yahoo! Tech's Gina Hughes: Techie Diva.  She seems to be taking the same "whatev!" stance as me as she reports that bunches of long fingernailed women just can't manage the touch screen of their iPhone.  Some even going so far as to say that Apple could be considered misogynistic for not including a stylus for them. 

Can you imagine how that would've went over? 

Introducing Apple's latest invention, the iPhone!  The touch screen is great for the guy on the go.  Don't worry ladies, we've included a stylus so you won't have to worry about breaking a nail!

That wouldn't have been sexist at all!!!

(Read it here.  Myspace's blog editor won't let me make a hyperlink today: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/hughes/29052 ) 

Currently reading : Beautiful Children: A Novel By Charles Bock Release date: 2008-01-22

2:18 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Looking up!
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Life

So Murphy's Law really kicked my ass these last two weeks, but I'm back to win the second round!  Today I spoke with the first mother I ever worked for and she gave me a job!  It's part time but that's ok cause I can work another job or family around it.  The kids in this family were 3, 5, & 7 when I met them.  Now they are 14, 16, & 18!!!  My job will be to make sure they are where they are supposed to be and run some basic household errands for the family.  I'm really excited about it and I start TOMORROW!!!

I've also been hearing back from a lot of the ads I've been answering on Craigslist.  So now I'm just needing to match one or two up to the job I just got.  My current hours will be 1pm-7pm Tues-Thur.  So that leaves all day Monday and every other weekday morning.  It also leaves me open for weekends which are great to offer parents as date nights!!  I feel like I'm definitely heading in the right direction now!

Tomorrow my Brother-in-Law is gonna help me fix Junebug!!  So even if I need to borrow their car to get to work tomorrow, I shouldn't need to after that (fingers crossed really hard!).

PLUS. . .  In July I'm gonna be back in Terre Haute for about a week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't wait to leave that place, but once I left I realized how many friends I was gonna miss!  I can't wait to see everyone!

I am also a ChaCha guide as a part time work at home type income.  I basically sit at my computer and people text a question to 242242 (ChaCha).  When a question comes in, I get a doorbell sound and I look up the answer and text the person back!  I get 20 cents for every question I answer.  So it's not a ton of money, but if I'm just sitting here bored anyway, what the hell?  Anyway, try it!  Think of a question and text it to ChaCha at 242242 and someone will send you back an answer!  It's fun!

Last but not least, I came up with my own formula to feed Storm and it worked.  25 cans of special diet Friskies, one can of whole berry cranberry sauce, and a dash of cider vinegar.  I mixed it all up and portioned it out into 4 containers and threw 3 in the freezer.  I keep the other in the fridge and mix a scoop of it with a lot of water and zap it for 30 seconds.  He loves it and he's acting totally fine now.  Hooray!!!

Well, I guess that's all for now, I need to get to bed!  I finally have a reason to set my alarm again!  WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Currently playing : Wii Release date: 2006-11-19

6:15 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Crappy Crap
Current mood: bummed
Category: Life

Wow!  Just when everything is looking great, everything just falls apart. 

To start, my one year, "contracted" job just let me go last week.  I am trying to keep my house from foreclosing and while I was at WalMart getting some money stuff taken care of my beloved Junebug broke down.  She needs a new alternator.  So then we are trying to figure out how to get home before Mackenzie and call a cab who doesn't show up for almost an hour.  We decided to risk asking a really nice person for a ride home and thankfully that ended up working out.  Then that night while I was feeding the cats, little Gracie never came to eat.  All the next day we couldn't find her.  Sunday Teresa and Terry were drivign to Lowe's to buy a washer (because the washer pooped out on us, too) and Teresa saw little Gracie lying near a fence.  She had been hit by a car.  It's so hard to answer a five year olds questions about why her cat won't come back. 

Yesterday things seemed to be looking up when I got a phone call for an interview on Wednesday, but then today the Range Rover stopped working.  We are a household with 4 cars and we are down to one.  So now I need to fix two vehicles, one of which I am behind by 2 payments! 

On top of all that, I think Storm's FLUTD is acting up cause he's straining to pee.  I have no money for a vet.  None whatsover.

3:59 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Reincarnation. . .
Current mood: curious
Category: Religion and Philosophy

If reincarnation exists, would it follow a straight timeline the way that we do?  For instance, instead of saying, "I was Cleopatra in a past life," could I say, "I'm hoping to come back as Cleopatra?"

I ponder this because I've always said in case of reincarnation, I'd like to come back as one of my cats.  However, this always posed two questions, could I came back into the past?  And who would be me?

The thing is, I have never studied any one religion or philosophy.  I take the fun path and sort of fly by the seat of my pants.  So in my own little spiritual world, reincarnation is based on the theory that we all have a spirit and that it doesn't die when our body does.  Instead it just sort of waits for a new opportunity.  So take that and then mix it with the idea that time is all relative (it's unreal, we're just babies, we're just babies man!) would that make our timeline relative, too? 

Maybe there is more than one timeline.  Would this make time travel possible?  Is reincarnation a form of spiritual timetravel? 

Well, I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but at least I've come to one conclusion.  When I tell people that I'd like to come back as one of my cats and they ask, "Who'd be you?" my answer will be, "Cleopatra, of course!"

3:01 AM - 4 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Yay!!!
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Blogging

When I first moved to North Carolina, my sister ended up moving down as well about 3 months later.  When I decided to move back to MI, I called her to tell her and she tells me that she'd probably be moving back there about 3 months after me.  So now I'm back and when I first started at my new Starbucks, I mentioned this to a new coworker and said, "so I give her 3 months to get here!"

Hahaha!

OR SOONER!!!!!!

My sister has just listed her house and she and her darling girls and hilarious husband will be moving down to my house!  I don't know exactly when, but soon!  

They will be helping me out with my ridiculously high mortgage and this will in turn save them about 900 bucks a month!  In the meantime, I will be able to build my small house as planned RIGHT IN THE BACKYARD!!!  In the long run, we will each have a house of our own for the price of one. 

Step Two:  Moving the mom!!!!

Yeah mom. . .  That means you!  Start packing! 

Currently reading : The River Wife: A Novel By Jonis Agee Release date: 17 July, 2007

4:07 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Going Home
Current mood: adventurous
Category: Life

Well everyone, I'm finally doing it!  I'm moving to North Carolina on January 4th!!!  I have everything set up and I've just gotta finish packing.

I took this week off of work to finish that up and get down there and it looks as though I will be able to get 40 hours a week at my new Starbucks!!  And what more could I ask?  40 hours at a store that isn't open 24/7 and has no drive thru!!!  How???  It's a frickin' miracle!!!

The manager there is Amey and she seems super friendly and very welcoming.  I think we'll get along and that makes me less nervous.  I will miss my Terre Haute Starbucks though.  If any of you TH Starbuckians are reading this and you have pics of the last couple years you could send me, please do it.  I wanna make a scrapbook out of them.

It was hard leaving this afternoon.  I was fine and really quite amazed at my ability to keep it together all day.  But then I handed over my shift keys and wrote out my drop bag and my hands started shaking and that was it.  I went to the back and punched out and started to cry.  Eric came back to give me a hug and then I cried even harder.

I came to this town in July 2005.  I thought I'd be gone by May of 2006.  I never intended on gaining an entire family while I was here, but that's what I got.  We loved eachother, argued and got on eachother's nerves, we were sad together and happy together, we gossiped about one another and defended eachother.  A true family!!! 

I will miss everyone more than I can say!

Please keep in touch with me!!!

Currently listening : More Adventurous By Rilo Kiley Release date: 17 August, 2004

10:40 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

My first sports related injury. Does that mean I can call myself an athlete now?
Current mood: sore
Category: Sports

Ow.

I went running a couple days ago and by the end my legs were killing me.  Not really my muscles, but it felt like my bones were throbbing.  So I took the next day off of running and then went back.  Yikes!  I could hardly go for ten minutes!  And my legs have hurt ever since!

So at work I was asking everyone what the hell was up with that.  They all said, "Oh, shin splints!  That sucks!"  So I looked that up and yeah, that's pretty accurate.  So according to everything I've read, I am supposed to take about a week (at least) off of running.  The weather is finally tolerable!  Grrrrrrr!

Does anyone out there know about this stuff?  Any advice?  Suggestions? 

Currently watching : Late Night with Conan O’Brien 10th Anniversary Special Release date: 10 August, 2004

11:23 PM - 10 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The Blahs
Current mood: blah
Category: Life

So. . .  I was gonna try to lose three more pounds in the two weeks that John spent in Paris.  I have managed to gain three.  I'm not too worried.  I think that I've hit a plateau which is fine.  I just need to take my workout up a notch, so I'm adding strength training to my routine.  I've also been pretty lax in watching my calories this past week.  So starting this morning I'm gonna start keeping a food journal again.  I need to get back on track!

I slept way too long today.  And I had really strange dreams!  Paris Hilton was in my house spilling stuff on my floor and I had to tell her three times to clean it up before she finally did.  Then I had to go to work at Wal Mart and it was like 20 miles away and on the way I heard a weather update that they were expecting about 4 feet of snow by morning.  Since I was working the overnight and didn't want to be snowed in at WalMart, I called in halfway there.  But then I got lost on the way home and had to take refuge in a house where there was a woman who had 8 husbands and she was totally the boss of them!  All the husbands slept in a giant bed and she slept alone unless she wanted to procreate.

Yeah. . .  weird!

I work at 5am and it's 1:30am now.  I have only been up since about 5pm so I don't know if it's even worth trying to go to bed.  But if I don't then I'll be tired at the wrong time of day.  I'm all messed up! 

Well, I guess that's all for now.  Very boring.  That's exactly how I feel right now, so I guess it's accurate.

10:16 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

I Want A Doggie!
Current mood: Tipsy
Category: Tipsy Pets and Animals

I really want a puppy!  As soon as I get myself settled in NC, I'm getting a dog!  I cannot wait.  Everytime I go running I see people with dogs and I want one sooooooo badly!  I'm pretty sure Storm wants one, too!  Every cat needs a puppy, right?

Before I can get a puppy, I need to get all my kitties up to date!  They all need shots and Freida STILL needs to get fixed!  BAD CAT MOM!!!!!

Well anyway, that's all for now. 

10:40 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I am a hypocrite
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

I have adult onset asthma.  When I don't properly maintain it, it can get pretty serious.  Anytime I get really bad or have an attack, I tend to spend the next few days extremely bitter towards anyone who smokes.  I see these people with naturally disease-free lungs voluntarily polluting them and I can't believe it.  I want to say, "Hey you with the healthy lungs, lets trade and you can fuck up these already fucked up lungs!"

So why am I a hypocrite?  Well I was watching a news clip the other day that was talking about cancer survivors.  People who were diagnosed with cancer as babies or children and who have now been in remission for at least 5 years.  Then I thought of the kids who didn't survive.  And the other people in the world whose bodies aren't naturally capable of doing what we all take for granted everyday. 

I am a hypocrite because I can walk and I tend not to.   I can even run when I push myself.  I have the gift of a perfectly capable, strong body and I have not respected it in the way that I should.  I was not born with diabetes but I have spent a lifetime putting myself at risk for it in the future.  I guess I saw that news clip and I thought about how bitter I feel when I see someone wasting their lungs and thought about how bitter someone would have every right to feel if they saw me wasting my entire body! 

So I am proud to say that I have been living a healthier lifestyle this past month.  I have lost 10 pounds and actually managed to jog an entire 1/2 mile without stopping!!!  I've been eating good foods and trying to sleep more.  I think I have broken my addiction to candy and sugar and I've cut waaaay back on caffeine.  I still have a ways to go, but I will not stop trying!

11:34 AM - 1 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Sad
Current mood: nauseated
Category: Life

Tonight I realized that the majority of the 18 to 30 year olds today care more about what goes into their latte than who is running their country.

Currently watching : Wicker Park Release date: 28 December, 2004

6:06 AM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Feeling Positive and More Like Myself
Current mood: rejuvenated
Category: Life

Sometimes I feel like I'm not even sure who I am.  But I think that lately I am beginning to figure it out.  I found out that I have hypothyroidism.  So now that I'm treating that, I'm feeling so much more energetic at work and I'm sleeping like a normal person!!!  No more insomnia!  My doctor says my weight gain back in 1997 when I went from 120 pounds (size 5) to 195 (size 18+) within about 6 months was probably when my thyroid stopped working properly.  Also my depression is most probably related.  So now that I'm not dealing with all of these weird side effects of my thyroid, I feel like I'm finally starting to know who I really am.

Besides all of that, both of my jobs are going really well, it's getting (gradually) warmer outside, and my plans for North Carolina are becoming increasingly more specific.  I'm trying to spring clean my apartment and myself.  They go hand in hand for me.  My apartment and/or bedroom has always mirrored how I feel in my mind.  So it's a little sad that about 90% of the time my space is such a mess I usually won't let anyone inside.  It's not healthy.  Not for me or my cats.  And now that I'm treating this thyroid issue, I don't want to be like this anymore.  All this clutter and junk, it's on it's way out. 

It has to be.  When I move to North Carolina I plan on building a very small house.  A lofted cottage.  There won't be room for anything but the necessities.  It will be a total of 12' x 30' with another 6' x 12' shed built off the side as a laundry room.  I'll sleep in the loft and there will be a small kitchen and bathroom.  Besides that, the rest of the space will be living area.  I hope to find a nice acre to build on and plant a garden and set up my hammock and a rocking chair for the small front porch.  I want to start taking up only what I need.  Food, earth, energy, etc.  I am gonna build a huge area for my cats, too!  That's the part I'm most excited about!  About 12' x 12' chain link.  A cat door in a window so they have unlimited access.  Hammocks, hideaways, posts, etc.  Eventually even a small pond!  Then a catwalk leading to the laundry room where the litter boxes will be.  They will be indoor cats who get to play outside whenever they want!  I'll have the tiniest house I've ever lived in, yet they will have more space than they've ever had!!!  I just can't wait!

My business ideas are really coming, too.  Everyday a new idea pops into my mind.  I know that once I'm down there everything will work out. 

Well that's my update for now.  I'll try to blog more often!

7:00 AM - 4 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment

Figuring it out!
Current mood: Eager
Category: Eager Life

Hold on. . .  I gotta pee. . .

Ok, whew, that's better.

So I got a haircut and then I dyed my hair.  I love it!  If you don't love it, then you are obviously wrong and your opinion is pretty much worthless!

I feel hotter than I have in awhile.  I have been eating terribly but still manage to fit in my butt loving size 12 jeans!!! 

I just found a website for Tumbeweed Tiny House Company.  They sell plans for these teeny tiny houses.  The plans are $850.00 and you build the house yourself (or hire someone to do it) and the houses are super efficient.  I'm thinking about it for NC.  I mean it may be an affordable way to live in the city of Carrboro.  Well it's a thought anyway.

May is coming everyone!!  And maybe May isn't exactly when I'll move, maybe it'll be June or July, but it's coming!  I went to the bookstore tonight and got myself a new calander.  As I was shopping for it, it suddenly hit me, this is the calander that will see me into my new life in North Carolina!  I looked for a theme that went with that.  Something North Carolina-y.  But what I found was even better!  It's The Bad Girl's 2007 Weekly Calander!  It's great!  A great philosophy and exactly the mindset I need to be in this year. 

Ouch.  By the way, I've been tanning and my boobs are burnt.  Sexy, yeah???

I feel so alive at this moment.  This is the point in my life where it's all do or die.  I mean, if I don't do this now, as in this Spring, I may as well go back to Grand Rapids and do, I don't know what.  I mean, I have two jobs that transfer and an even better job once I get there working with kids like I did before.  That's three sources of potential income.  I just gotta get there.  The biggest battle will be finding a place for me and the kitties.  But once I find it, I'll be fine. 

What a busy 5 months I have coming up!  In January I plan on heading to GR to celebrate the holidays with my family.  In February I hope to make it to San Diego for my birthday.  Then in March I'm heading back to GR for the birth of my new niece.  April I should probably chill but I may need to head to NC to look at houses.  Then May/June/July I finally move!!!!!!

How am I gonna do it all?????

Anyone have any suggestions?  Let me know!  But keep it positive. 

Love you all!

Currently reading : The Bad Girl's 2007 Engagement Calendar: Your Bad Girl Life on a Weekly Basis By Cameron Tuttle Release date: 01 July, 2006

3:25 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Broken Umbrella
Current mood: grateful
Category: Life

Last week Friday, I came home from work and attempted to get John up to go to breakfast before he had to go to work.  It was a rainy, kind of cold day.  The kind of day that you just want to keep sleeping.  So those of you who know John can probably guess that he chose sleep over breakfast.

Well whatever, I was still hungry so I decided to go to Hardee's to get a breakfast burrito.  I went through the drive-thru and when I got home there was a little boy standing on the corner in front of my house. 

He was about 10 or 12 and had a broken umbrella.  Half the spokes were broken so it was flapping around in the wind.  As I pulled into my usual parking spot, he seemed a little nervous.  I parked and took my time getting out so he wouldn't think I was some kind of child snatcher.

So I gather my food and purse and some other odds and ends that I needed to bring in anyway and open the door to get out.  When I open the door, the little boy is standing right there!  I was a little startled, wondering what he was doing, when he says, "Need an umbrella Ma'am?"

"Aww, you don't have to do that!"

"I know but it's pooring out here and I'll be darned if I'm gonna let that happen!"

This little boy proceeds to walk me to my front door holding the broken umbrella over my head.  When we get to the door I tell him thank you and say, "You look like you need a new umbrella!" to which he replies, "Naw, it does me just fine." 

11:22 AM - 8 Comments - 7 Kudos - Add Comment

Migraine Depression
Current mood: hopeful
Category: Life

Well I'm back on anti-depressants.  This time it's Cymbalta which is something I'd been thinking about asking for anyway.  You've probably seen the ads. . . really cheesy about how depression hurts.  Well it does.  Cheesy ads or not.  And it's causing migraines which are causing blind spots and other weird visual problems.  So I'm taking Cymbalta everyday and Zomig when I feel a headache coming on. 

Hopefully I'll be in a better state of mind now.  I'm hoping to find some motivation and get back on track with working out and losing weight.  I always hear about people going through depression and losing too much weight.  Well go figure, I'm on the other side of that.  I go and gain weight!  Whatev.

7:10 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment