Angel reruns started Monday on TNT, and I'm already behind! Of course it's because I decided to join Jeff and Jenn down at the pool instead of watching it during the time between 7th Heaven and CSI: Miami. Was fun, but now I need to get two watched tonight.

Which means unpacking just isn't happening. And I'm ready to get stuff on my shelves.

Ok, I feel like ranting again, so here goes.

First of all, you might remember when, almost two months ago, I announced (here only) that I wasn't going to post on the Amazon customer review board any more. As soon as that had hit the blog, I got an e-mail from the friend who was banned saying he'd be reinstated. And yes, I wound up being sucked right back in.

The last couple of days have been horrid. First, a thread got out of hand and wound up with two regulars threatening each other. One of them went back and deleted his posts on the matter, which makes him look like an innocent victim, and people seem to be siding with him over the other guy, who's just vanished from the board. This guy who deleted his posts thinks he knows it all because he was a college professor and served in Vietnam. His posts to those of us who disagree with him are always condesending, so I'll be very happy if he actually leaves.

Meanwhile, we have our own little troll over there. Everytime he shows up, he posts a political message. Several of us have tried nicely to tell him to take his vile Bush hatred elsewhere, but he refuses to go. The only time he posted something at all review related was to talk about how inferier we who review for Amazon are over "real" reviewers. Naturally, that went over well.

In his latest thread, started Monday, one of the regulars has jumped to his defense, calling the rest of us hypocrits because we don't agree with him and because we don't want to get involved in flame wars over politics. Several of us called him on that, but he's just ignored us. Meanwhile, one of the people who was in the shouting match over the weekend has announced he's leaving, and spent all day yesterday on the board. Including a couple closing pot shots in that thread that were uncalled for and mean-spirited. Someone keeps posting in that thread, and the comments are deleted. Sure wish I knew who it was.

Needless to say, things have been interesting over there the last couple of days. Looks like, as always, things will quite down and everyone will think they won/were right until it all blows up again in a couple of weeks. I try to avoid most of the threads that look like problems, or I'd be ranting like this every day, I'm sure.

But, looking at the time, it's dinner time. Then comes grocery shopping and home to relax and watch TV.

Yesterday was fun, but long.

After the morning service, we loaded the kids up in the bus and took the jr. high and sr. high to the Northridge mall for a mall scavenger hunt. The day before, Becky had gone down and made up a whole lot of questions reguarding signs in store windows, number of things in the mall, etc. Then on Sunday, we broke up into teams and had to find the right answers. It was lots of fun, even if my team didn't finish near the top. And I thought we'd done so well, too.

Anyway, we got back just in time for the evening service. Afterwards, the worship team was supposed to practice, but we all decided we were too tired. So we'll be practicing during the game time of Bible study.

Of course, it'll just be high school that night. The jr. high will be at a spiritual life retreat. Yet, I'm still going since the jr. high Bible study isn't officially canceled. Why Dave won't cancel it, I have no clue, but there you are.

Meantime, a co-worker is waiting for me to take her to pick up her car. So I guess I'd better go. If I feel like it tomorrow, I'll rant about the latest on the Amazon customer review board. You know, that board I was going to stop going to a while back. I have no self-control!

BTW, still making no progress on that account I can't reconcil! Frustrates me to no end, too!

Man, I've hardly been here all week. What have I been up to?

Not much, actually. Work, going home and watching TV. Exciting stuff like that.

Went and played ultimate at the college today. First time I've had a chance since I learned "he" is in IBEX this semester. Small group, but I had fun.

Discovered last night I misset the VCR for recording Survivor Thursday night. :( I'm so used to my digital cable (not that I mind giving it up) that I set the VCR to channel three. So I got an hour of the scroll of the programs that are on. Really riviting watching. Read about the episode on the CBS site, but it wasn't the same.

In case you missed it, the recall election here in CA is back on for the 7th. But watch for the ACLU to sue over the results on the 8th. If Davis looses, and especially if Bustamonte looses as well, it will happen. Trust me.

Meanwhile, I've already spent longer here then I intended to, so I think I'm going to go home and spend some time by the pool, followed by some time working on unpacking. I guess I should get started on moving my books and DVD's from the garage to the condo at some point. :)

Don't forget, Alias season 3 starts tomorrow night! BTW, Sue, have you watched the season 1 DVD set yet? What do you think?

Morning, and welcome to this week's Thursday Threesome, brought to us by the Greed and The Back Porch.

Onesome: Green- Are you ready to go from all things green to the vibrant colors of autumn? Or for those of you down under, from winter to spring green? What do you like best about the change of seasons?
Actually, fall is my least favorite season. We get high winds, and I hate wind. And the trees just kinda turn brown if they change color at all before the leaves fall off. The weather actually seems colder then winter (probably the wind again.) Just not something I look forward to.

Twosome: Eyed- Have you eyed anything lately that you absolutely had to have? Or have you had your eye on something for a while now that you want to splurge on?
Well, there’s the entertainment center I’ve been looking at. Or the I Love Lucy season 1 DVD set. But I’m trying to be good and not buy them so I can pay such things as car and condo insurance and my utility bills.

Threesome: Monster- Are you a monster movie/ thriller fan? If not, what kind of movies do you like?
I have a fascination with movies like that, but I wouldn’t call myself a fan. Hardly ever watch them. I prefer comedy. Lighthearted stuff. Of a good mystery that’s not a thriller.

You can actually get around my condo with great ease. Of course, all the bookcases are bare, but that's ok, right? Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be changing that as I unload boxes. But I don't see a need to rush on that. After all, there's no deadline.

BTW, did I mention we're having 100 degree heat here right now? Yep, made things hot on Saturday. But it got done, and was still better then the time I moved in the rain.

So I'm at the SNYF last night, wearing the summer league shirt from 2000. Yes, three years ago. The last time a team of mine won the ultimate frisbee tourney (you know, the year I couldn't make it.) When one of the jr. highers points out something I've never noticed before. As part of the drawing on the back, there's a picture of someone with their hand out of a limo window giving the finger. Now why did they have to put that on the shirt? And why has no one pointed it out to me in the last three years? Since this was the only shirt I had with me, I had to keep wearing it, but it was embarrassing to find that out in a church group where I'm supposed to be setting an example.

Tonight, I must go to bed early. At the same time, it's the season premier of CSI: Miami. What to do, what to do?

And, the results of the new Bob-White quiz. I honestly thought I'd get Brian, but I didn't.


You're Trixie Belden. You're the hero. You're
impulsive and spunky, and everyone likes you,
except Mr. Lytell


Which BWG are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Not sure if this is me or not. But there you have it.

It's done! Just popping in for a quick minute on my way from my old apartment to my new condo. This is the last trip, just went over to grab a couple last minute things and vacumm. Everything is somewhere in my new apartment. Now, the trick is finding it.

Right now, however, I need to grocery shop and eat dinner and relax. More work on stuff tomorrow. Tonight, I'm just too tired from all the work this week.

My boss just left early for the weekend, and he said we could go, too. I'm out of here to get a couple extra hours of work in on my move.

Things are going well in that front. I keep alternating between thinking I have everything under control and thinking I don't have nearly as much done. But I'm to the point where it would be as much work to move back into my old place as to keep moving into the new one, so I must be doing something right.

Looks like there will be six of us helping tomorrow, with the possibility of more. And since it'll mainly be adults this time around, things should go well. Not that I wasn't greatful for the help of the jr. highers last time, but more adults can handle more.

I really do think this will be a couple hour activity unlike last time where it took all day to move my boxes and furniture from one place to another. I know I won't be fully moved in when next I blog, but I hope to have everything in one convenient location, MY NEW CONDO!

Done with that ramble.

Kyle did fine joining the worship team last night. (Guess I forgot to blog that he did make it to practice Sunday.) The feedback I got when I asked was that he was a possitive addition to the group, which was great. And I must remember to tell him that people thought he blended in well with the guitars, which was my biggest concern.

Ok, if I'm going to take advantage of this time, I'd better get going. Have a great weekend, and relax extra for me. :)

Morning all! This week's Thursday Threesome is brought to us by a scientific theory and The Back Porch.

Onesome: Darwin's- Hmm... Ever run across someone who could be a Darwin awards candidate? Can you share your story? If not, what's your favorite story (true or not)?
You know the problem with these quizzes? I can always think of the perfect answer three weeks later. :) The only story I can think of right now is the guy who put the rockets on his truck to make it go faster then they was killed because he couldn’t control his truck. At least he tried this in the dessert so he didn’t hurt anyone else.

Twosome: Survival of- What kicks you into survival mode during the week? Kids? School? Driving? Spouse (nope, better leave that one alone!) The News? What makes you yearn for your next break?
Work! Is it the weekend yet? Of course, this weekend, I’ll be moving, so that’s not exactly a break. Seriously, I like my job and my co-workers. I just prefer to be doing what I want to do. But that applies to everyone, I supposed.

Threesome: the Fittest- Hey, how are you doing in the fitness wars? Are you the drill sergeant leading the troops on the five mile hikes or are you the person waiting back at camp with the chips and dip ready for when they come to their senses?
I was doing well for a while, working out at lunch time anyway. But I’m become lazy again. Right now, I’m working on stuff for the move every spare second, so I have a good excuse. Starting next week, I can’t run home at lunch like I’m used to doing, so I’ll have to start working out. No other option.

My mind is going a million different directions at the moment.

I thought I'd found an entertainment center I liked at Wal-Mart quite by accident a few weeks ago. Went back to look at it last night, and I notice one that only $30 more that I like better. Except for one thing. It's fake cherry finish. Two problems with that. 1) I don't especially like cherry wood. 2) Every thing else I have is fake oak, except for the coffee tables, which are real oak. I was hoping to decide something by tomorrow and buy it and work on assembling it Thursday while waiting for the cable guy to come. I think I'll just move my cart over and wait a while longer.

Meanwhile, I found a place that sells the surround sound mounts like I want for $40 less then everywhere else I've looked. That's the good news. The bad news? It's the Good Guys. So I guess I'll be breaking my self-impossed boycott. Maybe in the three years I haven't bought anything from them, they've learned to treat customers better. I'm sure they've noticed that money I haven't spent there. :)

Other then that, I packed up my Trixie's last night. Must really be moving!

Really need to go home tonight and focus on getting things packed up and moved over so I can feel like I've made a little more progress. Although I did get a ton of boxes moved over last night. Scratched my new watch on the concrete wall in the process, so after only two months it's got so nice scruff marks on it. But I guess I'll live.

In my pocket right now are the keys to my new condo! And in my car are about a million copies (that I don't have to make!) Yes, I'm excited, although how I'm going to get all the furniture in there and still have room for roommates is beginning to concern me.

Actually started packing Saturday. Well, I wouldn't want to rush into anything. :) And I moved my bike and guitar over last night. The carpets should be professionally cleaned by now and dry, so I can do whatever over there tonight, although I'm just planning to put most of my boxes in the garage until the furniture is in there Saturday. 5 days!

Saturday morning, I headed down to Thousand Oaks for a book signing. One of the former writer/producers of Diagnosis Murder has started writing books based on the series, and he was signing the first one. Again, I got there late, but it was lots of fun. He and his writing partner were there and telling stories about what it's like to work in Hollywood. You guys think your characters talk back to you? Try dealing with actors and studio execs. :) Anyway, it's going to be the next book I read. Can't wait to get to it.

Jeff is moving back sometime this week. At least as of last night. But with the carpets cleaned, that won't be a problem now.

And now to the issue I've been steamed over all day. In case you haven't heard, the Ninth Circuit Court has delayed the recall election here in CA until March so that the final 6 counties can get rid of the punch card ballots. This is after sample ballots AND absentee ballots have been mailed out. Yet one of the reasons to oppose this election is because of what it's costing us tax payers.

Ok, now I will admit that punch ballots have problems. But I've been voting with them for the last six years. It's what I used to vote for Bush in 2000 and against Davis in 1998 and 2002. So, why is it they are suddenly so bad we have to postpone an election that has been announced and ballots mailed for? Somewhere on-line today, I saw that punch ballots only cause 1.63% more problems then other forms of balloting. That's right, no one has found the perfect system yet. And the problem with computer voting is much worse.

Yet, if the Supreme Court overturns this, they'll suddenly be the activist judges and not the ones who gave us this stupid ruling to begin with.

Innitially, I didn't think this election was nearly the circus that some in the media make it out to be. Now it is.

And, as long as I'm ranting about politics, I missed something in my Monday rant last week. Again, in case you missed it, Governor Davis signed a law making it legal for illegal immigrants to get driver's liscenses here in CA. Come on! Driving is a priveledge. One we shouldn't be giving to those who are breaking laws. His rational? This way they can get to work. Um, jobs they aren't supposed to have? And, since this is a legal form of identification, and there will be no note on the card that they are illegal, it will make it harder then ever to tell who is here legally and who got into our country by breaking the law.

I actually saw someone commenting that they and their friends needed illegal immigrants. If they had to pay real wages to someone, their arguement went, then they couldn't afford the lifestyle they currently had. Poor baby. They have to have a maid or gardner that they can take advantage of and under pay then do the work themselves? I certainly am not springing for a maid. You can live by doing that kind of work yourself.

Ok, it's dinner time. I think my tirade is over. :)