I know, a Saturday post from me. It does happen every so often.

So, Marcus came over last night after he was done with his Bible study, leaving the rest of my weekend free. And I'm thrilled with the new light fixtures. I was a little worried that they wouldn't let as much light out as the old ones did. The old ones had four bulbs, and these only have two. But they're up higher, so maybe that makes a difference? I'm also using some of those energy saver bulbs. Boy do they put out lots of great light. This will certainly be a change for the better.

And I now have keypad entry to my garage. Which means I don't have to carry a remote back and forth everytime I head down to the garage or get into/leave my car. One less thing to carry is always a plus. Of course, I also have to enter the code still, so I still need a hand free, so maybe I'm not much better off.

Got up today to play ultimate frisbee. Yes, he who tried to drive me away was there, but it was someone else who was acting immature and that I didn't get along with. And the wind didn't help at all. I didn't notice it at my condo, but it was howling on the field. And all afternoon here at work.

So, why am I in my office this long? Because, I was finishing the latest draft of Jennie's book. Much better ending then the first ending I read. And certainly better then the last draft, which kinda stopped. :) Needs more polishing to be better, but certainly an all around good story.

Now, however, I need to get home and finish my published novel and watch some TV. (Taping Fox news as we speak.) Take care everyone.

I found out last night that Marcus is going to be in town to change my light fixtures for me tomorrow. I thought he said he'd call me in two weeks, not he'd be here in two weeks. Throws my plans for tomorrow out of whack, but that'll be ok for the most part. The thing that will suffer the most is Jennie's book. I thought I'd finish tomorrow, but now I'm not going to finish until next week some time.

In other news, I did it today! I ordered DSL, so for the next year at least, I'll have DSL at home. I hate having another monthly expense, but I do need this at home to keep roommates happy. Well, at least internet access of some sort. And considering how much I like to get on over the weekends, this will save me trips into the office. Heck, maybe I can even be extremely late to chat occasionally. Anyone still around at midnight on Thursdays?

Didn't quite get through my reconciliations. One more to go. But I'm still happy with my progress. And I'm about 100 pages from the end of my book. Finally. That's on my weekend agenda. Along with a super bowl party and Babar the Movie. Can you believe the released that on DVD? It's wonderful, I don't care what anyone says, with some great lines. And I certainly couldn't pass it up for that price!

Right now, I need to get utilities for the month figured out so I can bill my roommates. :) I'll leave you with a quiz. Have a good weekend everyone.

alt="Trojan" border=0 width=200 height=100>

Love the new image, you've come along way since wooden horses, but as popular as ever. Computer virus quiz

Aleta and I are the same again, aren't we?

Surprise, surprise, I'm back. This afternoon, I present an interview thanks to Keith Snyder, author of Coffin's Got the Dead Guy on the Inside as well as three other novels. (I really do need to get the second two read, don't I?)

1. If you could choose someone besides yourself to live 300 years, who would it be?
I’ve been thinking about this and have rejected various people for various reasons. I think I’m going to go with Walt Disney. Surprised? Probably not, but I did put some thought into it. Disney was such a pioneer in family entertainment I would have loved to have seen what he would have come up with had he lived another 240 years. Beside, maybe I would have had a chance to meet him. :)

2. What would your Secret Hideout be like?
It would be a cozy room hidden in a tree or a tower. It would have TV/DVD/VCR as well as computer with internet access in it. But it would more then anything be filled with bookshelves of my favorite books. And an easy chair. I could go there for hours on end with no phone and only contact that outside world if I choose. I could spend hours reading uninterrupted if I so desired, so spend time with the TV or computer or some combination of all three. The exit would be a circular slide. During winter (ok, cool weather), it would land on the ground, but during summer it would let me splash down into a pool. There would be windows on all sides to let in light and fresh air.

You know, I’ve never given this much thought before, but I think I’m going to have to build this now. :)

3. Finish this sentence: "Telephones ___________"
Telephones are wonderful for keeping in touch with family and friends. As long as you actually pick them up and use them.

4. What do you beat yourself up about, with the full knowledge that beating yourself up about it doesn't make sense?
I beat myself up about stupid things I’ve said in the past. Recent past or long past are equal fodder if I get in the mood. I’m also beating myself up for not buying a condo sooner. Not much I can do about that now.

5. What do you get out of book reviewing?
I have always shared my thoughts on books with anyone who will pretend to listen. By writing reviews, I know I’m reaching an audience that might actually care about what I have to say. Hopefully by writing reviews, I can keep my favorite authors in print because of increased sales. Plus I hope that people find new authors they'll enjoy. And I must admit I get a huge thrill when I see my positive votes and rank have gone up. Talk about an ego boost.


RULES:
1 - Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
2 - I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3 - You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
4 - You'll include this explanation.
5 - You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.

Morning. Time again for the Thursday Threesome brought to us this week by Edgar Allen Poe and The Back Porch.

Onesome- The happiest day: Tell us about the happiest day of your life.
The first thing that came to mind was the day my offer on my condo was accepted. But I don’t know if that’s the happiest. I’m really not sure what I’d say.

Twosome- The happiest hour: What’s your favourite time of the day, and why?
Early evening. Just off work and have all the hours with possibilities to do whatever I want with.

Threesome- Mine eyes shall see: What’s the one thing/place you would really like to see in your life?
Australia, Hawaii, Mt. Rushmore, and Disney World all sprang to mind. What those four choices say about me, however, is anyone’s guess.

I'm downright excited about what we got done last night. Jeff and I were actually both home all evening, so I pulled out my hack saw again, then went a got a new blade. When I got back, Jeff gut the metal dowl into the right sized pieces and we made the beds in our room into bunk beds. Opens the room up so much and makes so much more room. Of course, we still aren't completely sure how we want to put everything, so we might be moving things around more in the next few days. But this means that once we decide on what we're going, I can finish unpacking boxes. Which means I'll have to decide what books to leave packed up in the garage. Horror.

Meanwhile, the special assessment for the repipe on my complex went through, so I can call the escrow company and get the funds released and then start paying the extra every month. Yet another monthly expense. :( But it needs doing, as the leak in my unit in November made me even more aware then I previously was. It'll mean I have to empty the garage, however, probably. :(

The guys are coming over early tonight since Enterprise is a rerun. We can watch the two episodes of Babylon 5 early and I can hopefully have them back and be home in time to watch Angel and Celebrity Mole tonight.

It's sad how much my life revolves around TV, isn't it?

Ok, catching up on city and state quizzes. First up, cities:

New York (Does Yonkers count? I've been lost in Yonkers at Trixie camp #1. Also been to JFK airport.)

Los Angeles 30 miles from LA seems to be close enough for my parents. I live in LA county....

Chicago

Houston

Philadelphia

San Diego

Phoenix

San Antonio

Dallas

Detroit

For states, I'm only going to list ones I've visited, including airport layovers. California is the only state I've lived in, so I'm not going to worry about marking that.

Arizona
Arkansas
California
Georgia
Idaho
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New York
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wyoming
DC

I think I'm leaving a couple we just drove through out from the trip with my family on the East Coast in 2000. And I may be a little off on states I've only visited the airport in, but it was between two states each time, and I just put one of the two states.

So, who can notice what I did to my blog today? Did you say add the a reading list from All Consuming? Right in one! I think it'll start doing books in the order I want as I add them in, but either way, it is in correct order now from longest ago read to current read. I've been wanting to do this since I spotted in on Aleta's blog, and finally did it!

My weekend was nice and relaxing. I was going to play ultimate Saturday morning, but I just couldn't get out of bed in time. So I came in and spent some time on Jennie's book then went home and watched TV.

And I've decided I'm nothing but a big softy at heart. (Like this is a surprise to anyone else.) One of the things I watched was an ABC Family original film "I Want to Marry Ryan Banks." I recorded it because of Emma Caulfield and Bradley Cooper being two of the stars. (The third is Jason Priestly.) I loved it! The ending was just so sweet. If you get a chance to catch it and like romantic comedies, by all means catch this one.

Also on my viewing slate this weekend were the remakes of "Annie" and "Freaky Friday." No, I didn't get a lot read this weekend, but it was nice to just spend some time vegging. Benjamin wasn't home and Jeff and Erik were gone most of the time, so it was just me. Ah!

I decided to hold off on the laptop for a little while anyway. Pete talked some sense into me Friday night. Of course, I went out and spent a tone of money at Wal-Mart today. But it was all stuff I need. Well, maybe not the new Alice in Wonderland two disc set. Naturally, this afternoon I got a $3 off coupon. :(

Trying hard not to spend all kinds of money on DVD's still. You know, filling in the gaps from what was on my Christmas list but I didn't get. I need better self-control skills. And I need them know!

As seen at Kathy's:

20%

There's a 20% chance that I'll win a Bloggie™.
What's Your Chance to Win a Bloggie™?

Wow, that's better then I thought it would be! (I was expecting about a 0%. Of course, if this were an Amazon reviewer award, I might actually care a bit more.)

And this week's word association:

1. Political:: News (like the kind I really like)
   
2. Concentration:: Memory game
   
3. Fish:: Swim
   
4. Lunacy:: Crazy
   
5. Red:: Stop
   
6. Imply:: Suggest
   
7. Recognize:: I know who you are!
   
8. Sexist:: Pig
   
9. Commercial:: Can't we get back to the show?
   
10. Stricken:: Seriously ill
    

Every so often when I move, my muscles remind me that I haven't been to the fitness center for a few weeks, but for the most part I'm fine. Of course, it was incredibly hard again today. Hopefully by next week it'll feel more like it should.

Spring weather is certainly here today. No cold bitter breeze from the last couple of days. I was actually pleasatly warm heading to the fitness center at lunch time. Of course, we still need rain desperately. If only it would rain. And the wind all week has kicked up my alergies big time.

Never happy, am I?

Meanwhile, I got sucked back into the Amazon Customer Review message board for a little over 24 hours. Now take a look at that title again. What would you expect if you went into that board. Well, if you were me, you'd expect messages about customer reviews and reviewing, right? Well, anymore you'll find very little of those. Now it's a general free for all with people making lots of friends there.

A new representative of Amazon showed up there this week. In the middle of a fight about what the purpose of the board is. Those of us who thought the purpose of the board should primarily be about reviewing and issues with Amazon were treated like dirt. It seems like people there think they have the right to post what they want when they want where they want. Just one problem, this is a message board devoted to customer reviews. Someone suggested that we have different frames on the same screen for Amazon related stuff and for off topic stuff. You'd have thought that person suggested that those who posted off-topic stuff were lesser beings or something. Those of us calling for more focus on Amazon have been labled as arrogant and whiney because our posts aren't what the general populace of the board wants to post on. EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE TOPIC OF THE BOARD!!!!! So I've left again, which is being likened to a little kid taking his toy and going home because others don't want to play his way.

Sorry, but I don't have time to wade through hundreds of messages every day from people I will never consider more then acquaintences for a few posts on something I'm interested in. I went to the board for one specific thing, but if the board doesn't want to talk about it any more, I don't need to bother to go back. And the nerve of some of the people telling me I was out of line for saying we needed to return to the topic at hand shocked me. It shouldn't have considering their behavior in the past. It makes me feel so glad for the civil adult people we have in the Trixie community. I still marvel that we can have so many different personalities and other interests yet get along so well most of the time. Even on our bad days, we are nothing like what people on this board are like. And I'm not even including my fiend from this and a different board both.

Ok, I'll stop ranting now. Have a good weekend everyone.

Welcome to this week's Thursday Threesome brought to us this week by a confused me and a servering switching Back Porch. (I certainly didn't know this was coming...)

Onesome: Out-- Are you getting out and about lately? ...or is school/the weather/work/illness keeping you cooped up inside?
I’m getting out to work and my activities. Did play ultimate on Saturday. Hope to do so again in two days. Weather has cooled off her to low 60’s/high 50’s. But that wind chill factor is the real killer. :)

Twosome: of the-- Blue? Does the Winter season 'get to you'? ...or do you handle it as well as you do Summer?
I do better now that I have an office and can enjoy sunshine during the day. But I much prefer the warmer weather and more daylight of summer. Still, winter doesn’t really depress me as such.

Threesome: Loop-- Hey, Spring is coming (and Winter is still here for some); do you have a loop you drive or walk to check out the scenery? What do you see when you're out and about?
Nope, don’t really change my plans because of the season. And with how little rain we’ve gotten for the last few years, all I ever see is brown grass anymore.

You know, maybe I should clarify something from yesterday. Looking at it, I came across as a bit whiny. Ok, probably more then a bit.

I hate telling others what to do. Especially my friends. And I like to have my day figured out when I get up in the morning. Even if it "I might do thus and so, we'll see how I feel later." Actually, I kinda like to have time with people mapped out several days in advance. So to spring something on me last minute does go well with me. Especially if it's a change of plan that I should have known about several days before. Yes, it goes back to my character flaw of not being very flexible. I am well aware of that. But it would be nice if I were told things that possibly affected me before the last possible second, especially when I am affecting others by what I am doing.

In other news, I finally got to hit the fitness center at lunch time today. First time in a month, and could I ever tell!

Shall we see what I have in common with Susan?

1. Copy this whole list into your journal.
2. Bold the things that you have in common with me.
3. Whatever you don't bold, replace with things about you.

01. I am highly self-concious. (I'm just leaving this one. Not even sure what being self-concious means.)

02. Water is my favorite beverage.

03. In my goal to visit all 50 states, I probably have 35 or 40 more to go.

04. I am a TV addict.

05. I like pumpkin foods, but not more then anything else.

06. I love it when I get some free time, even if it's only ten or fifteen minutes long. You can often get a chapter of a book in for that. :)

07. Being a youth worker rocks!

08. I adore driving. Sometimes. When I'm in the mood and don't have a deadline.

09. I adore writing too. And I feel guilty for not doing it more.

10. My muscles hurt right now from their first workout in a month. (Gee, wonder why I changed that one.)

11. I have realtively good vision. Should see an eye doctor however. It's not what it once was.

12. I'm an excellent procrastinator.

13. I hate to write checks for bills. I'd rather have the money to spend on whatever I want to spend it on.

14. I got a haircut two weeks ago.

15. I like to bowl.

16. Whiney wannabe punk music is starting to annoy me. Actually, it's always annoyed me. *G*

17. Most of the time, I really like my job.

18. Cheese is one of my favorite foods.

19. I have all my original body parts with the exception of teeth. I'm assuming we're talking about baby teeth here. I have all my teeth, just not the first teeth I got. :)

20. I like to just stand in the shower and let the hot water run. To the annoyance of my roommates when I run them out of hot water.

21. I love my mom.

22. I have many days when I think I don't want to be married at all.

23. I have way more DVD's then I ever did video tapes.

24. All my pictures are in bags someplace in the condo.

25. I read The Hobbit, but couldn't get through The Fellowship of the Ring.

26. I like to hold a conversation.

27. I like to save money on small things like toilet paper and blow it on extravagant purchases like computers and overseas travel.

28. I love to read as much as I love to watch TV. (This makes for an interesting fight sometimes.)

29. I love to sleep and wish I could sleep more.

30. I sure could use a vacation. (And yes, I know I just got back from one. :P)

31. I'm oblivious to people's personality streghts and flaws and find people watching boring.

32. I think I have changed a lot since graduating high school.

33. I wish all my closest friends didn't live so far away.

34. I wish I had motivation to get in shape. I thought I had motivation, but it doesn't seem to be helping.

35. I adore singing.

36. I detest cooking.

37. I wish I had more time in my life to do the nit-picky every day things that never get done.

38. I need more energy.

39. No matter how early I go to bed, it's still hard for me to wake up in the morning.

40. I have very dry and chapped skin.

41. I like living in Santa Clarita.

42. I can't wait to watch Mr. Roger's Neighborhood with someone appropriate.

43. I wish I had more ambition. Or as a friend pointed out, my ambition lacks motivation. (Said about her, not me.)

44. I can't wait to have a lazy day of sleeping in. Not that I will sleep in.

45. I feel very fortunate.

46. I wish I could keep a sense of peace.

47. I need to learn how to sew. But I never will.

48. I leave scabs alone to help them heal.

49. I call people back. It may take awhile, but I do.

50. I want to go to Ireland.

51. I am an internet addict.

52. I am SO ready for my tax refund. Who isn't?

Saturday was certainly a weird day. Didn't go at all like I had planned.

Friday night, I went to dinner expecting to confirm times with the convention. However, Matt told me that he and John were going over to another friend's house that day and didn't know if they'd be able to make it work or not. Believe me, I was frustrated. We'd only been talking about them coming over to catch last week's Enterprise (which I hadn't watched) and some Babylon 5 for weeks. I made sure all my roommates knew so it wouldn't be a problem. Finally, they decided they'd do one then the other, making me the evening entertainment.

Meanwhile, I found out that one of my new roommate's parents were going to be in town that day only.

Everything managed to work out. I left a little before noon and went to see the new Peter Pan. Gorgeous scenery. It picks up the story a little eariler then the Disney cartoon does and fills in a few gaps. Takes things slightly differently. And really plays up the romantic angle of things. Still, absolutely wonderful and I can't wait to get it on DVD.

Then I came into the office for about an hour for internet purposes, then I headed out to play ultimate Frisbee. And the person I quit last year because of wasn't there! Maybe he won't be back. Went home, took a quick shower, then headed out to the college for dinner and to pick up the convention. Watched four hours worth of sci-fi, then brought them back. And went to bed exhausted.

Sunday was much quieter, with plenty of time to read Perfect Sax, Jerrilyn Farmer's new book. Wonderful, as always. Finished it at lunch time yesterday.

And I've got a new bee in my bonnet (so to speak). I'm seriously looking into getting a lap top and DSL wireless internet access for my condo. It would be much better then coming into my office to get on the internet (duh!) and since my parents are doing the same thing, I could even use it at home. The man problems right now are financial. As in, do I really NEED this, or is it a want I should deneigh myself till I'm a little better off financially, like a few months down the line. Seems like people are always having deals on DSL, so I could wait until later and get just as good a deal I'm sure.

Man, I hate decisions.

And a late breaking headline for you. I just love satire.

And finally, today's word association.

1. Berry:: juice
   
2. Fiendish:: mildly evil (Ok, how can you be mildly evil?)
   
3. Bar:: alcohol
   
4. Frank:: and Joe
   
5. Bend:: break
   
6. Fanatic:: My "fiend" at the message boards I'm always talking about here
   
7. Belch:: Excuse you!
   
8. Flagrant:: rule breaker
   
9. Burden:: sin in Pilgrim's Progress
   
10. Flimsy:: likely to break
    

So what does my theme of breaking things say about my state of mind right now?

Ok, I'm going out on a limb and possibly make half my readers so mad they'll never speak to me again (if not all of them.) But I have to post this. You see, I've been thinking today. (Danerous pastime and all that jazz.)

It all started when I found this link via Instapundit. Glenn finished his link with his normal "I blaim John Ashcroft," which he posts everytime there is a story like this one.

For those who don't want to follow the link, it's a story about a man in Brittain who was arrested and fined for starting a "riot." What did you do to start it? He held a sign saying "Stop Immorality, Stop Gays, Stop Lesbians." And from there he was physically attacked by about 30 people who were in the area. And he's the one held responsible for their actions.

I also thought back to run ins I've had with flaiming liberals on other boards. The ones I complain about from time to time here. Like the one who has promised to leave the country if Bush is elected again because he thinks all people who dissent will be rounded up and made to disappear if Bush wins in 2004. And my "favorite" fiend who so harshly bounces on any hint of a scandel and talks about the evil Republicans. (A comment about him later.) And I think it hit me.

The reason so many strong liberals fear Bush and Ashcroft is because of projection. What do they want to do? They want it so that only those who agree with them are allowed to speak. After all, they are tolerant, and I'm not. So the idea that someone who disagrees with them will let them speak is completely foreign to them and therefore they worry when someone they disagree with so strongly is in power.

Now I realize that this isn't necessarily the case for every person who has a problem with the current administration. And I'm not a fan of everything they've done either. (Don't even get me started on the new immagration policy. Why do we have a policy if we're just going to look the other way whenever anyone wants to come into our country?) But I don't think that they are pure evil, which is what I get from some of these people. And I think it's because they would truly like to silence all who disagree with them, and fear that conservatives are as willing to do the same.

Meanwhile, back to my posting fiend. He's recently been accused of calling me evil by a couple of different people. (You know, on the board I wasn't going to visit again. Why do I bother making resolutions?) He seems shocked anyone would think he thought I was evil. Yet he takes every opportunity possible to call Republicans evil, conservatives evil, and Christian conservatives doubly evil. Let's see, am I all three of those? Yep. Then by logic he calls me evil every chance he gets. Then he wonders why people who disagree with me are defending me to him.

In other news, I think we've finally got worship team practices figured out for the next couple of weeks with kids being gone for the Mexico missions trip, etc. Last night was the first regular Bible study I was at all of since the 1st week in December.

March is going to be packed. Not only do I have Donald's wedding one weekend and Carol's the next, but I will have a jr. high retreat another. Can I just say how glad I'll be when April rolls around. (Of course, by then I'll be swamped with other things, so it won't be any better.

And, finally, my stolen quiz of the day, coming from Aleta.

p>

You're Vatican City!

You're pretty sure that you're infallible in all that you do or say, and
it's hard to say whether you're right.  You have a lot of followers, most of whom will
do whatever you say without question, or line up to see you ride around in your spiffy car.
 Religious and reserved, you have some wisdom, but also a bit much contempt for everyone
around you.  You're also fabulously wealthy, no matter what you say to the contrary.

Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid

I was intending to say I didn't think this was right, but after my post today, maybe it is. :)

Time for this week's Thursday Threesome, brought to us by ancient Chinese proverbs and The Back Porch.

Onesome- I hear and I forget. What’s the one thing you’ve had explained to you over and over, but it still goes in one ear and out the other?
Anything related to do something to a car or computer. Anything mechanical at all, actually. I can remember useless facts like you wouldn’t believe, but trying to remember how to do anything useful? Forget.

Twosome- I see and I remember. Is there anything you’ve learned how to do just by watching someone else do it first?
I’m sure there’s something. What it is escapes me at the moment.

Threesome- I do and I understand. Is there anything you excel at that you taught yourself to do?
You might say I taught myself a lot of what I do on the guitar. Only thing I really learned from the class I took was to practice. :) Reviewing, too, for that matter. Of course, I use the term excel loosely in both cases. :)

I had a blast last night. Naturally, I left my office later then I had intended to. Started working on the powerpoint slides for worship Thursday night, and discovered that two of the songs I didn't already have typed up, so that added some extra time. Anyway, left here just in time to get to the bookstore right on time. And I ran into Jan, friend from Linda's bookstore I hadn't seen since April. We wound up talking until almost 10 PM. Yep, got home later then I had planned on. But it was a great time.

Meanwhile, Jerrilyn knew us right away and we chatted for a couple minutes. Not as long as I would have liked, but there was a huge line waiting for get books signed. Still, she signed the new hardback for me and two copies of the softback of the last book with my name in it. And when Jan saw that, she bought one and had both of us autograph it. Yes, that was fun, too.

Woke up this morning with the pipes making a horrendous racket again. I can't figure out what it is, but every time it does it, it will drive me crazy until I figure it out. And that means I'll be awake when I'd rather be asleep.

And they finally came from the HOA and fixed my wall from the hole they cut into it last month to fix the leak. No more plastic blowing whenever the door is opened or closed. They want to come back one more time for touch up and paint, but I'm thinking I'll wait on that until I have a better idea what's going on with the repipe. If that's happening, odds are they'll need to cut a hole in that spot to repipe, so I think it'd be better to leave it as is until the repipe is done.

So that's the exciting news in the land of Mark. Now to get home and watch 24 from last night.

I was so excited. I was going to be able to sleep late Saturday morning. Jeff wasn't even working, so I could sleep really late if I wanted to. So, guess who was up by 7:30 Saturday morning. Yep, that's right. Something weird was going on with the pipes. They were making a strange noise and I lay awake until that stopped. Then I got up and started watching the stuff I'd recorded. And the extras in the Babylon 5 season 4 DVD's. Then the remake of The Music Man. Worked on all that until after 3.

Then Jeff and I decided to get serious about the carriage bolts and metal rod we needed for the bunk beds. Would you believe that it's almost impossible to get 1/4 in. by 7 in. carriage bolts? Home Depot and Lowes just had them up to 6 in. One place I called had them in 6 and 8 in. sizes. Finally did find some and got them yesterday at lunch time. Now we just need to cut down the rod and we're good to go.

Meanwhile, I'm rather proud of myself. I hung a new towel bar all by myself, including the sheetrock screws, or whatever they're called. Of course, one side the SRS wound up slightly too far apart, so I can't get that screw in all the way no matter what I try. But considering this was me, I was very happy with myself.

Let's see, what else? I cleaned Jeff's clock at the Stock Market game. About time! Monk starts up again on Friday! I'm going to the launch party for Jerrilyn Farmer's new book tonight. And it's my first dinner in the caf for this semester tonight, too!

As seen on Kathy's blog (amoung others):


My life is rated G.
What is your life rated?

And if you didn't see that coming, you don't really know me. :)

This being Tuesday, I'm a day late for this week's word association:

1. Mitchell:: Adventures in Odyssey (that is Connie's boyfriend's name, right?)
   
2. Mercury:: Venus
   
3. Cycle:: Dryer
   
4. Engagement:: Party
   
5. Alternative:: Route
   
6. Gang:: Member
   
7. Emotional:: Cry
   
8. Skinny:: Dipping (wait, there goes my G rating. :)
   
9. Hypochondriac:: Faking it!
   
10. Insecure:: Me
    

Ok, I'm getting better, but I am pretty insecure. I wonder, are most single people insecure? It was really bad a few years ago, but I've gotten better in the last couple of years. Just kinda accepting me for who I am. Of course, it helps that I have more friends now who accept me for who I am, weirdness and all. (I still maintain that liking Trixie the way I do isn't weird!)

Can I be lazy or what? Did I bother to go back and return stuff to Home Depot and get what I needed? Of course not! I went straight home from work Wednesday night. After spending 45 minutes cleaning out a drawer that is. I had personal stuff in there going back to 1998. Now I have lots more room to stash personal stuff for a day or two.

Anyway, I did get one thing done I needed to Wednesday. I took down the Christmas tree. Now, I just have to actually tape up the box and put it in the garage until next year. Of course, one of my new roommates is going to put a bookshelf there. Have no clue what we'll do come December 2004, but we have 11 months to figure that out.

Thursday brought a new round of problems to me, however. They gated off the dirt parking lot across Sierra Hwy that my roommates were using to park. Parking is so tight around the complex as it is. Now we'll have more cars fighting for non-existant spaces. And even if we figure out a way to get two cars in the garage (there goes our storage), that still leaves two people without a place to park. I'm not a happy camper about that.

Since last night was the Home Owner's Association meeting, I cut out of Bible study early and headed to that. Didn't find out a thing about parking, but was able to air my complaint about my wall. They'll be fixing that on Wednesday next week! And found out they're extending the deadline for voting on the repipe. Man, I hope that passes before more stuff happens in my unit. Some of them sound bad.

And I spent a ton of money on stuff over at Wal-Mart today, too. Isn't home ownership grand? At least I have new roommates to help me cover things like that.

Time for the first Thursday Threesome of the new year brought to us this week by a bookcase and The Back Porch. (I think I'm missing something with this threesome, but that's ok. I have a feeling I really don't want to know.)

Onesome: Top-- Now that things have calmed down, what's at the top of your list to take care of? School? The garden? Shoveling the snow?
Finish moving into my condo, including getting the room set up with the bunk beds as bunk beds. Didn’t do much on that front yesterday, but still, that’s the goal.

Twosome: Dead-- ...and then again, what got so dead and buried in the holiday fluff that you may not be able to get get it restarted? That weight loss thing? Reading? Relaxing???
Reviewing? :) Seriously, I intend to get the weight loss/exercise/get in shape thing going any day now.

Threesome: Center-- Yeah, relaxing! What are you doing to try to keep yourself centered this year? Some serious down time? Yoga? Long walks in the country?
More balance, more time with people and less time worrying about reviewing. Ironically, this year may be less stressful then last without the reviewing thing to add to it. :)

Last night was certainly a mixed bag. I started out stopping by Home Depot needing to pick up new light fixtures for the bedrooms and some stuff to connect the rails to the upper bunk and the two bunks together in my room. I got home only to discover that the dowl I bought was too small and the bolts I bought two big. Furthermore, one of the two lights I bought was one I didn't want hiding in a box for the one I did. So out of all the stuff I bought, I'm actually keeping one thing. :)

Fortunately, my evening got much better from there. I'm caught up on all the stuff I have recorded except the hours of Monk I need to watch. Of course, it helped that I watched four episodes of Angel in fast forward. But I got to enjoy an hour of I'm With Her as a result. And then a few nice surprises in 24.

Then, I stayed up way too late trying to finish my book. I succeeded, and what a great ride it was, too. It was Murder Off Mike by Joyce Krieg. I absolutely loved every minute. I'm sorry that it's over, and can't wait to see what comes next. Unfortunately, that won't be for another six months.

So tonight will bring about the return of stuff to Home Depot and hopefully get the right sizes this time. Then I'm going to try to undecorate the Christmas tree. Yep, that's still up.

So I haven't told you my incredibly fun news yet. Next time you're in a bookstore, go look for a copy of Mumbo Gumbo by Jerrilyn Farmer. Assuming you can find it (local bookstores seem to have plenty), take a look at the acknowledgements. This is only cool if you pick up the paperback edition, however. I've come down off cloud 8.5, but I'm still floating pretty high from it.

Last night, I headed over to Pete's for a haircut. I know this will sound weird coming from me, but it's shorter then I was looking for. Didn't plan to get it cut really short until this spring or there aboust. Still, it's very nice not to have hair growing over my ears and rubbing on the collar of my shirt.

My mom mentioned several times how much she prefers my long hair when I was home. And Mike's girlfriend mentioned it, too. And the beard is a huge hit. Don't think they'll let me shave it off any time soon. Or get a short haircut anytime soon.

Fortunately, they don't seem to control that, because my hair is short by Mom's standards again. I kinda figure at my age and status in life it really only matters what they think on days that are very special to them. Like if Mike gets married this summer. Other then that, it's mine to control.

Anyway, Pete and his new roommate came over last night. I got to show off my condo and then we hit the hot tub and pool. Even with the bitter cold wind blowing, it was wonderful. The pool wasn't as warm as it had seemed previously, but after sitting in the hot tub for a little while was still certainly enjoyable.

There have been no Thursday Threesomes the last two weeks because of the holidays, but I will do this week's word association. (The weeks I missed? O well.)

1. Vintage:: Clothing
   
2. Longing:: Passion
   
3. Specimen:: Science
   
4. Mock:: Humiliate
   
5. Sh**:: Bad Word
   
6. Friday:: Payday!
   
7. Cruel:: Mean
   
8. Insufficient:: Funds
   
9. Pessimistic:: Gloomy
   
10. Grin:: and bear it
    

How's that for something a little different. Probably never thought you'd see one word up there on my blog, did you?

So why did I get a completely different look when I logged in from my parent's?

Yes, I am home and back to work. Man, I need a vacation. :)

Things were certainly crazy last week as the things Mom felt needed doing took the entire time we had to do them. They were much less for my other grandparent's services or got done much quicker or something.

I did get to get together with a couple different friends while I was home, however. Had a good visit with both sets. And really got to spend some time getting to know Kevin's wife (the wedding I went home for in February.) Was at their condo for three hours before I even knew any time had gone.

The memorial service went very well on Wednesday. I don't know what my uncle thought, but my family loved it. And hey, if my uncle hadn't wanted it to be that Christian, he shouldn't have picked that pastor. :) He didn't say anything one way or the other, but what could he say since he'd picked the guy. Now we'll see if we have any more contact with them outside of just signed birthday and Christmas cards and any weddings in the future.

Speaking of which, got to spend alot of time with Mike's girlfriend. She's great and seems to fit in with the family well. Don't know if that's a compliment or insult, however. :)

Friday night, I spent with Donald on the way home. Got to have dinner with him and his fiancee. Found out that the minister who will be marrying them is a friend, so that will make the wedding even more fun. I cleaned his clock at the Stock Market Game, but then he got his revenge on Tetris World. The only problem was, I just didn't sleep that night. But I made the rest of the drive home with flying colors, some of which were on my car. I think I made record time getting back down here.

And I have two new roommates! They both seem nice. I still need to scrimp some to save up some money again for when I'm between roommates. But still, this is a huge step in the right direction.

Thanks again for all your responses to my last post. It really does mean alot.

Here's to a happier 2004 then the last couple years have been for my family. (Of course the condo is a bright spot!) Hope all of yours are great as well!