Yesterday I was an environmentally conscious good dooby and took the bus to work (also because I don't really like driving without a spare tire). Meant to do the same today, but turned off the alarm and went back to sleep. I could have made the bus if I had thrown on my clothes and raced out the door, but decided oh, well... I'll risk driving today and get on the bus tomorrow. Two days a week will help a little. I want to get to where I'm doing that more, but I waver between the saving money/saving gas/environment aspect and the fact that I like convenience AND I can't work out if I don't drive (I also can't work out if I sleep late, but I was up later than usual last night, too--a side effect of getting home about two hours later than normal).

ETA: By "work out" I mean "go to the gym." I CAN exercise at home, the trouble is, I don't. I figured it out where I could get to the gym, work out, and THEN catch the bus, but I don't think they like having people leave their cars in the gym parking lot all day... and I'd have to get there right at 5, when they open, to finish and catch the 6:15 bus (to get me to work by 7:45 -- yeah).

ANYWAY, since I missed LJ time yesterday, I have to toss out a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to cornerofmadness and, just in case, an early HAPPY BIRTHDAY to fenchurche!!!

I almost forgot I was making yogurt cheese in the other fridge (we kept our old fridge after the remodel and put it out on the back porch); I popped out to put some sodas in there and found my cheese, completely dried of whey, so I brought it in and mixed it up with herbs to make dip (it's an Alton Brown rip - scoop about a cup of yogurt into cheesecloth on a strainer and let drain for a few hours--not necessarily the 48 I left it there for--then mix in herbs. In this case, I went with garlic, dried onion, salt, pepper, and dill--not measured, just to taste. It makes some of the Best Dip Ever).

It's that lovely time of year when the cherries and blueberries are cheap, plentiful, and delicious; my two favorite fruits, I think, really. Yum! But it is oppressively hot in Phoenix right now; it was 109 coming home, although they said the hot point yesterday was 113. I believe it -- either the 44 bus didn't have air at all or it just couldn't keep things cool yesterday. I stopped at Costco to pick up my prescription and Barb met me there, so we shopped a little and she gave me a ride home. She made guacamole last night, but it's for her office, so I doubt I'll get any.

We're having a "Heritage Food Day" on Friday -- the only thing I could think of was Irish Soda Bread (I'm aware there's more to Irish cooking, but I'm also thinking of ease of bringing to work and my essential laziness). We're almost out of flour, though.

A week or so ago, maybe a little longer, I saw a cute cat quilt in a catalog. Now I can't find that catalog, don't remember which of the numerous ones I get that it was in, and can't seem to find it on the web, either. *sigh* It was SO CUTE, and I was hoping to replace our "summer quilt" (which is quite faded and threadbare now) with it, but I can't find it!

Yesterday I made a Paula Deen cake. I love making these things, but now we have an absolutely ENORMOUS thick rich cake full of mousse. I need to have more parties. I did something wrong with the frosting, though; been a while since I made boiled frosting and it came out rather thick and heavy rather than light and fluffy. I think my weak right arm was incapable of whipping it properly, perhaps. Should have done it with the mixer.

I don't post every day because my life is not that exciting; however, because I DO put it off until the weekend, or something pressing comes up, I always forget what I wanted to commemorate in glorious print.

I went through a week where I also didn't post because I am trying to avoid posting when I'm feeling sorry for myself, and I was going through a period of feeling sorry for myself most of the past week. Since it had nothing to do with anything, I decided against recording it for posterity. On the other hand, I did have some good ideas and now I can't remember any of them.

I've been working heavily on Book Two (which still doesn't have a title), although there's still no interest in Book One. No, I don't think I can make a living at this - I read the blog of an author whom I think is one of the best writers living and I see the trouble HE has - but like I said, I just want readers who like my work. That's all. (One of the things, of course, causing the aforementioned "I hate myself" phase.) ANYWAY, the work continues apace. I've been getting some pretty good feedback, at least.

( This week in television )

The Diamondbacks won, 10-4, today, making up for yesterday's loss. Go D-backs! We have the best record in the league, 21-9 for the season.

I blame fenchurche for sitting here eating dates filled with cheese and pecans. Yum yum yum! (They also go REALLY well with little chocolate wafer cookies...)

We went to Trader Joe's this morning for our main shopping, then went to run errands and take care of things for Barb's mom. Got most of the laundry done. Don't really know where the day went to - was woken up fairly early, yet somehow suddenly it was past three. In trying to fix the vacuum cleaner (clogged hose, nothing seriously), I pinched my fingertips and now there's a slight bruise under my fingernail and it hurts. I had a hard time sleeping last night, not really sure why.

I made spicy pulled pork for Tres de Mayo, which we ate on tortillas with cheeses and the usual, Barb made guacamole, there's nice Trader Joe's salsa, and we're watching uncut Dexter. It's a good evening.

I haven't posted since Tuesday. Let's see, what has happened in my life?

Hmmmm.... nothing. Nada. Nothing there.

Okay, there was some good TV this week. House and Boston Legal were particularly enjoyable (whoever the writer was who came up with the idea of splicing in scenes from 1957's The Defenders just totally rocks), and so was Lost. Go Hurley! Scrubs, that little sitcom that could, has been once again deeply moving, making me laugh and cry at very nearly the same time.

I want real bagels. Why are the only good bagel shops in Phoenix not actually IN Phoenix? (They are in Chandler, Gilbert, and Tempe.) I don't count Chompie's - they're okay, but the last few times I've had them, they are less New York and more of that round bread with a hole in the center like the grocery stores sell - largely because we generally only get the packages of Chompie's that are sold in the grocery stores. I want a real, hard-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside, can-use-as-a-spare bagel, like the Hot Bagel Bakery used to make. I found a place online that sells them, straight from New York, but working out the cost disturbs me (.80 per bagel is an all right price, but orders must be for no less than a dozen, and they recommend overnight FedEx shipping for freshness... I want bagels, but I'm not sure I want them THAT much. Yet).

My Coke Rewards to date: Retractable ear buds, an Alan Schwartz evening gown, a SpaFinder gift certificate (will pay for my next body wrap), and an Adidas gift certificate (bought a very nice exercise bra-top). I can't say drinking so much Diet Coke is a bad thing. *g* Of course, I have to thank sillymagpie for giving me all HER points, too.

In reading Doctor Eight novels, I'm finding I really like his companions. I may need to get a few more of 'em, find out how Fitz ended up on the TARDIS. If they're at all canonical, then events in Halflife are pretty interesting...

I'm miles behind in everything. I don't know where time is going....

Oh, yes. I really enjoyed ( this article )

"I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert - "

We had rain last week, which broke the brief heat spell and put us properly into springtime weather. As a result, our rose bushes are in a frenzy of delight and producing flowers like crazy (especially the Carnival and Blue Moon climber), in addition to the orange and grapefruit blossoms, and, overnight, ALL the palo verde trees BURST into bloom - and if you've never seen a palo verde in full bloom, you're missing a treat. They go from plain, apparently leafless green sticks to glorious golden clouds, just beautiful. Many, many flowers in the desert, this time of year.

I don't want to jinx myself, but I lost three pounds! I hope it lasts!

Despite my best intentions, I STILL haven't caught up on all my writing boards. Dang it. I thought I'd have time this week, but so far, not really. I haven't even opened WordPerfect since I had to shut down the computer and try to fix the loading problems with FireFox (more or less fixed).

Yesterday I gave myself a treat of fast food - and I discovered that if you don't eat fast food often, it really IS a treat. I haven't had a Big Mac in I don't know how long, and so therefore when I bit into it, I reacted rather like the Genie in Bernard and the Genie - "Bite my beet root, that is FANTASTIC!" I also couldn't even finish the small fries, making me wonder how I'd managed to EVER eat mondo-extra-supersize-large ones, much less more than once a day!

I was out and about yesterday morning because for some reason the post office makes a tremendous deal about applying for a passport. They have these huge banners up all over the place: "Apply for your US Passport here!" No where on that banner does it say "by appointment only, and these appointments will be for three hours a day, three days a week only, depending on which post office you call." So, several weeks ago, I stand in line for almost a half hour before finding this out. I call for an appointment. The first they can get me is March 28 at 10:30 in the morning. Oooo-kay. I take the morning off. I dick around for several hours before going to the appointment. There are a total of four people in the post office, plus one child about three. I wait in line a few seconds. I say I'm here for my appointment. "Paul will be with you in a moment" (he's with another customer). He calls me forward. I fill out the form. He attaches the pictures, checks my ID. He takes my money. I leave. This took ten minutes.

Why all the fuss?

So I went to lunch and then to work. It was overall a good day. There is also a Farmer's Market during the day on Wednesday at Town & Country, plus Mervyn's Wednesday-only sales, which appear to be amazing. Too bad I had no money left.

I know better than to whimper when receiving a rejection, but still... *whimper*

Naturally this sinks me into gloom, which I assume is temporary. But it's when the gloom comes that all the little bad things rise up and circle one and seem much worse than they did. Woe! Woe is I!

And my browser has been working really sporadically, making cruising around on the Intrawebs while brooding and feeling sorry for myself more difficult. Phoo, says I. And it's a few weeks until my next spa appointment (I kinda got addicted to spas in Vegas, but obviously waiting six months between visits was getting to be too long to wait); largely because after the wild spending spree of the last several weeks, it's now time to be frugal.

The worst thing about the glooms is it makes me want to eat everything in sight. Hundred-calorie packs are good, until you eat four of 'em. *g*

On the more cheerful side, it's only five days until Season 3 of Doctor Who starts...

( This is what they had to say about me in regard to the marketing position: )

ANYWAY...

Today I went to a Toastmasters meeting and will probably join. Public speaking is one of my weaknesses. Can't hurt, anyway. And it was fun. However, one of my workmates looked at me and asked if I was feeling all right, that I didn't look right (she has a very pronounced Indian accent, and sometimes it's hard to understand her). I said I was fine. About an hour later I started feeling all scratchy-throated and lightheaded. I'm hoping it's just lack of sleep from last night, when Cuervo decided he HAD to sing outside the bedroom door all night. I try to explain to him and Silhouette that if they'd just make sure Cairo didn't get on the bureaus all night and knock things off, then all of them could stay in the bedroom with us at night, but they never do it.

Now I'm making Macaroni & Cheese, although there's so much meat in it it's hardly really just Mac & Cheese. I ground up a leftover pork chop and the last of the leftover roast to mix in with it. Unfortunately the mozzarella had gone off, so it's all just cheddar and Irish cheese rather than a cheddar/mozzarella blend. I came all over with the desire for Mac & Cheese at lunch today, when one of my co-workers was eating some.

{break for dinner, NCIS, and LOST}

Mac & Cheese came out well, indeed. NCIS, good as always, and I have to say this season of LOST has been pretty awesome. Sometimes you just gotta look death in the face and say, 'Whatever, dude.' On television, I was earlier today pondering the great horror of having to wait until April 23 to find out what happens on Heroes - but it's only three weeks until Season 3 of Doctor Who starts! Squeee!

Thanks to honkytonkdolly for reminding me that today is Johnny Cash's birthday.

Last night I made ( this cake )

I did not get my butt out of bed this morning and did not work out. I'm now full of cake and barbecue chicken. This is not the path to weight loss. Pbblllttt.

The moodiness strikes back! I was feeling very cranky and dissatisfied last night - is my writing really so crappy no one wants to read it? Even bad commentary means someone at least took the time to look at it, but no commentary at all.... *whimper* Maybe I need to belong to even more writer's groups. Oh, well. I do wish the Phoenix writer's workshop didn't meet on Tuesday nights. Maybe when the season changes I can make some of their meetings (or maybe I can finally get Tivo and not schedule my life around the television's broadcast schedule...).

I ate WAY too much pizza last night - this tells me I really need to indulge my cravings when I get them, instead of storing them up so that when the object of my craving is finally placed in front of me, I can't stop. And overeating aside, it was a pretty nice night. We went up to tiirz and edgedancer's place, hung out, watched some silly vids, and just had a good time.

Of course, I may be partially cranky because I have to work today. I hope the Post Office lets us have Saturday's mail, or it's going to be a LLLLOOOONNNNNGGGGGGG day. I did not get up and go to the gym, some of which I blame on continued sinus headache and taking Benadryl after 9:30 last night. I woke up in the middle of the night having a dream about eating a very melty ice cream cone and I'd drooled all over my pillow because I wasn't breathing through my nose. Eew. A world of eew.

( Somehow, I knew this would be the result )

Another boring day at work. I have to write a review for Chip Taylor's new disc - it's good, but I can't think of anything to say. I wonder if anyone would even notice if I re-used an old review... (okay, maybe not).

Last night we had Filet Mignon at Black Angus and it was most delicious. Now we're having our leftover chocolate cake (Big Thunder Mountain Cake, that is - the one problem with taking it home is it doesn't come with ice cream and hot fudge).

For some reason or other, the entire time I had a cold, I had no trouble at all with my allergies. Cold now gone, allergies (and accompanying sinus headache) back. Bodies am strange.

Happy Valentine's Day to one and all! I actually found a tiny potted rosebush this year, with lots of fresh new leaves and buds, to bring home to my lovely and long-suffering S.O., as well as the box of See's (which actually came from her friend Sandy, whom I'm not sure of the LJ tag of), and we're going out to default dinner tonight at Black Angus. Which I have to say I'm not unhappy about - I love sushi, but I cannot complain about steak. Especially since we have one of those "for two" dinner special coupons for Filet Mignon. Yum!

I baked refrigerator sugar cookies last night, and this morning I dared an Indian dessert dish, Lapsee, which I will bring and see if the actual real Indian girl in my unit doesn't laugh at my attempt. It was trying her version that inspired me to find the recipe, anyway.

I'm all decked out in my new red Valentine's dress (I'd show a link, but I got it at Newport's clearance and they don't have it available anymore - somewhat similar to this one, but only knee-length and smooth velvet in bright sweetheart red). I just felt dressy.

I have done no Valentine's Day memes at all. Mostly I've been doing a lot of trying to keep caught up with my Flist; I haven't been over to the country music boards in two weeks (bad me). It's amazing how time shoots past - I have only a month to study for that stupid Insurance test, and I'm only on chapter three. I never did have very good study habits even when I was in college (I squeaked by on the skin of my teeth, really). And those were subjects I was INTERESTED in! S'rsly, who dreams of becoming an insurance adjuster?

I hate that "how smart are you?" meme... I can't get better than 21/25 (about 77%). Of course, it does go to prove that I'm not as smart as all the people I hang out with. It's just out in the "real world," with the common folk, that I seem like Einstein. I *know* I'm not that smart - I can't even figure out what I'm getting wrong (although I'm assuming the "prime number" one is one of them, since I have no clue about prime numbers). I'm not even sure why I stress about such pointless things, but I do.

I realized something the other day, as I plotted and planned out my story contest entries for the coming year and trying to figure out how to get to a Phoenix Writer's meeting (they meet on Tuesday, which is not a good night for going out when you're addicted to television), and I realized something - the reason I never pushed myself as a writer while I was working on EQ fanfic or working for RSI writing in their world was that I had an audience. Deprived of that audience, I now WANT to market myself, because in my egotistical artist's heart, I want people to read what I write. I went through the "for myself/for a few friends" part - now I want money. As well as someone, anyone, to like my imaginary people and their world as much as I do.

If a football game is rigidly timed to 60 minutes, why do they take 3 hours to broadcast?

Yesterday we did the labor-intensive work of making fresh-fish sushi (sashimi), with sides of lettuce wraps. Lots of food and lots of work, and it explains exactly why sushi costs so much. My inside-out rolls were tasty, but kept falling apart. The rest of the rolls did all right. Barb's lettuce wraps were delicious. At least everything tasted good (really, really good). We watched a British indie film called "Kinky Boots," which was a lot of fun, and of course I had to spin "Groundhog Day."

( This amused me )

Now I'm doing a little writing, actually making progress on Book III.

I want pizza.

I did not make my goal of cleaning the bathroom. Oh, I vacuumed up the drifts of cat hair from the baseboards, and I did wash the mold out of the drainer (which is an exciting job, I tell ya), but I did not scrub the floor. On the other hand, I DID clean up behind my desk so we could hang new drapes in here, so something was accomplished anyway. I had taken down the old curtains to wash them and discovered the backs were so faded after years of morning sun hitting them - and they were hand-made to begin with - that we went to Tuesday Morning to see if there were good ones, and there were these, with a nice pattern, lined, full drapes, for only $50.00. I'm pleased with them. I also found some very nice Passion Fruit-flavored white tea, which I'm sipping at now. It's quite nice.

Having listened to John Mellencamp's newest album (released January 23, so it's out already), I have determined that I want to mate with this music and have its babies. For the first time in many years, I feel good about being an American again. Thank you, Mr. Mellencamp! It's as timely as Young's Living With War from last year, but a lot more timeless - and he pinpoints a number of things spot-on, such as with the song Jim Crow, where he attempts to remind everyone that changing the WORD doesn't change the attitude behind it (sung with Joan Baez, too).

Of course, instead of writing the review, I'm playing around with LJ. Figures.

I worked out this morning. My subconscious is trying to talk me out of doing so again tomorrow. Not sure way. Must beat down subconscious.

My W-2s have not arrived yet. Ergh. I can't make an appointment with either tax man until I have those in hand (the company I went to last year and the man who actually handled my account went their separate ways this last year - I'm now trapped between which to stick with. On the one hand, UFS is still close by; on the other hand, Frank knew my financial situation and I wouldn't have to explain again to a new person... but he moved his office to outer Mongolia (otherwise known as north Scottsdale... although now that I look at the map again, he's really not that far from where tiirz and edge_dancer moved to)).

I made The Glorious Pound Cake for work tomorrow - the recipe makes two full Bundt cakes, though, so there's one for home.

And now...


Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

Oh, and very important:
Tomorrow is GROUNDHOG DAY!!!

Because I'm a follower:

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Countess-Palatine Kathleen the Erudite of Herring-le-hole Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

I went out last night to see Dave Insley's final show of the year - and his first in town in several months - and although it was a weeknight show, it was wonderful as usual. The Vaquetones, out of Southern California, opened; I SO go for their wonderfully hot lead guitar player, Gene Cornwell (although it could be his gorgeous Gretsch guitar!). They're a great Southwestern-fried Americana group (the "Baja-Western" sound), a lot of awesome Hispanic-country sounds, and, as noted, terrific guitar pickin'. Their bass player is, I kid you not, Harold Hill. I was pretty certain I'd bought their CD the last time they played here, but I can't find it now, drat it.

Of course, as a result, I was wiped out all day.

I'm tired now, but I don't want to go to bed TOO early - but I'll definitely hit the hay soon. Since I wasn't home last night, everyone on my Flist posted about forty posts each. Took an hour to get caught up, and I did sort of skim a few entries - my apologies! I'll see if I can get into more detail later.

It's been unofficial treats week at the office - everyone's been bringing SOMETHING every day, and we actually made a half-hearted attempt to make a real potluck for tomorrow. I'm too tired for much, but there is a batch of truffles setting up in the fridge. Hopefully I can get up and roll them in the morning. If not... maybe next week.

Ah! Found it! What a shocker, I'd actually filed it in the "V" section!

Sounds like our packages are arriving - and UPS appears to be nearly as fast as USPS Priority. Coolness! (I had to send some priority because we used some priority boxes and my family stuff was going priority, anyway).

I ate way too much for dinner last night, on sillymagpie's dime; burger w/bacon, fries, and an Oreo shake. I knew my stomach would regret it later (and it did), but I enjoyed it while I ate! (Thanks!)

I just heard some really good reviews of the live-action Charlotte's Web, including the NY Times one; this makes me very happy, since it was of course one of my favorite books as a kid - I bet they NEVER make Trumpet of the Swan into a movie (although one would worry it would be ruined like Stuart Little was - Hugh Laurie notwithstanding).

It's been a very long week for such a busy one.

And now before I race off to work out (and burn some of last night's calories), I meme:

I sit here in the middle of a bright and beautiful Sunday afternoon wanting =something= and unsure as to what that is. If it be food or activity or something else entirely I know not.

Yesterday I put some finishing touches on ( this recipe ), and then I made ( this recipe )

With a salad and that was Saturday's dinner.

Then today we went to Tuesday Morning to see if I could find some good grilling gloves, since mine are starting to come apart due to burns from handling the coal chimney; but it's the wrong season. Instead we got some Christmas presents for some folks and a nice fuzzy blanket to replace the old cat-chewed one. I wanted to buy a very nice carry basket for carrying stuff to work on food days, but I can't think of where I'd keep it between uses (storage is at a premium in this house)... I really want it, though. Maybe that's why I'm discontented. I can't get anything because I have no place to PUT anything.

I suppose I could finish up with the laundry. It's really nice outside, a little breezy and cool (especially for here!). At least we got out and about today!

Oh, and GIP.

( The Morning Meme )

This morning rahirah is off for doctorly things, and I have started cleaning house some - the kitchen is a disaster due to a few days of cooking blitz and little tidying up after myself. I have to remember to note to myself that when the recipe calls for "a pound of rice" that it's important to use only a cup or so, especially for two people. I did it the first time I made the dish (a cheeseless saffron risotto which is quite nice), so I don't know what I was thinking. So we had risotto with fish on Wednesday, and I'll saute up some shrimp to go with it maybe tonight or tomorrow. I also made chili and Irish soda bread for our "diversity lunch" on Friday - good chili, if mild (due to many of the ladies at my office being SERIOUS lightweights when it comes to spicy food); I saved the bread despite forgetting to cut in the butter before adding the liquid. Oops. It was a good lunch. Lots of interesting German food, an Indian rice dish, Irish stew (which went really well with my bread), Menudo (which I still didn't get up the courage to try, even though I promised myself I would), some soul food, and just generally good stuff.

Cairo wants attention and he's being very demanding. It's hard to type.

My arm is doing a little better; it was killing me Thursday night and I had a hard time sleeping. Last night I broke down and bought some Tylenol (can't have Ibuprofen while on the other meds) and Valerian on sillymagpie's advice. Slept better last night. Still sore, though, but much better.

I got all three of my reviews done - the fourth disc never did show up, so it's been moved. I have at least three reviews due every week in October. Not sure how I managed that. At least one of them is the Twentieth Anniversary re-issue of Dwight's Guitars, Cadillacs, so that won't be tough - but it's an awesome reissue; not just the same stuff with a few bonus tracks - it has ALL the 1981 session tracks that were issued in the box set (so for those who couldn't afford said box set), plus an extra disc which is Live @ the Roxy, 1986 - NEVER before issued! So, awesome. (For Dwight fans, the release date is the 17th.)

One commentary on the current Capital Hill scandal: Are all politicians fifth graders, or what? "Well, THEY did it first!" (see the Jon Stewart commentary) Geez.

( Oh, and just 'cause. )

It's been a while since I posted. This week hasn't been... well, good or bad, really. It started pretty crappy (see rahirah's late afternoon entry for 01/16), and I couldn't seem to drag up my own feelings on the subject to write in even half so eloquent terms, especially since I wasn't here. And as time passed, I just got angrier and angrier over the issue, since frankly, a dog who will attack a stray cat today may attack someone's child tomorrow. I hate dog owners who don't take responsibility for their dog's behavior. It's remarkable how we get attached to critters.

So anyway, I've been doing some puttering around in the writing field and working on several reviews, including John Prine's "Fair and Square" (incredible, amazing, fantastic) and Rosanne Cash's newest offering, "Black Cadillac." It's a set of songs she wrote in the wake of the death of three of her parents (in addition to Johnny and stepmom June, her real mother, Johnny's first wife Vivian, died in 2005), so they're a little dark, but very emotionally purging. It's basically a book of poems set to music, and I've come to the conclusion in the last year or so that Rosanne Cash has one of the most underappreciated voices in country music. Then there's Jack Ingram's rowdy "Live Wherever You Are," which may have my newest favorite country song, "Happy Happy Country Country," yet another one of real country's pokes at the mainstream, and lastly there's Archer Avenue, which is actually an alt rock group, but because their disc was produced by Pete Anderson, I got asked to review it, so I am. The band is doing their own PR, so they've been sending me emails. Nice guys. They're "country" I suppose in the same way the Refreshments were, which is to say not at all, but just as much as Chesney or McGraw.

I missed out on a workout this week (I'm trying to do three days a week) because I've been so tired. Last night was the first good night's sleep I've had in a week (thank you, good kitty who didn't walk on me all night). BUT the good news is I've dropped six pounds in two weeks, so all my pants fit again. Now to keep it up and lose the rest of it. Yay for me.

There is a crock pot full of black-eyed peas and salt pork ready to head to work today, but I don't know if there will be any leftover to bring home.

I did NOT go to see Rodney Crowell on Tuesday (sad me) because of the tiredness. Today is the last day of work for a week, I'm jetting off to Vegas with Mom again on Monday (happy me).

I was listening to affairs of our state yesterday on NPR and came to the realization that for all the commotion it causes, things work better when the Executive is a democrat and the Legislative is Republican. Things are going pretty well in Arizona right now because the two keep each other on a check-and-balance (the way things are supposed to be), just like it was in the country back in the 90's when we had Bubba in the Oval Office and the Republican zoo for a legislature. He kept them from going wild and they held him to the flames (way too much, IMO, of course, but that's the way things have been for a while now, I suppose). Now, most of the Arizona Leg is going on and on about how "obstructionist" Gov. Janet is; while she's saying the same about them, but there's a budget surplus going into 2006, the right laws are being vetoed and the right ones passed, and on the whole... gee, whiz, maybe balance is a GOOD thing?!?

Anyway, that's pretty much it for me this week. I think I was going to say something else, but I've forgotten it. So much for being organized. I have to cart my beans to the truck.

I join sillymagpie in the "looks young" club; today I stopped for a lottery ticket and picked up a bottle of Mike's Hard Lime for after-dinner, and I was not only carded, but pleased when the clerk looked at my driver's license and gasped, "'64? {year I was born} No way!"

This is not right:


MYSTERY! - Who-dunnit? And How? And Why? Your
inquiring mind understands the secret workings
of the villainous murderer and thief. You feel
the need to build a puzzle so complex, and a
villain so unsuspected that you leave the
reader gasping in shock on the last page.
Dashiell Hammett and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are
your guides.


What Kind of Novel Should I Write?
brought to you by Quizilla

I have no idea how I managed to get that response. I should no more be writing mysteries than hard science articles. I figured with my responses it was a clear-cut case of exactly what I do write: Romance. Romantic fantasy, admittedly, but romance nevertheless. I CAN write comedy or action, but my plotting is so weak I can't imagine how I could come up with a credible mystery. I like to read them, but some of my favorite mystery series actually contain a good deal of, well, romance.

Getting up at 4 am is not early enough to get to work at by 5. {sigh} I just couldn't sleep last night-- I kept waking up. Phoo. I better get some sleep tonight. I was actually starting to wind down this afternoon, and didn't get nearly as much work done as I could have normally (at least, I don't think I did). Well, the overtime will be very nice, indeed.

I'm trying desperately to get back down to the weight I was before Vegas, but it's extremely slow going. Plus, I'm starving and craving Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC my butt, it's FRIED!!!) and thinking about cookies. And it's not that I'm starving myself, either. I know better. I'm eating Sensible, Weighed, and Carefully Calorie-Counted meals. I'm just still hungry and craving.

It's amazing the thoughts which come to one as you're laying in bed half asleep while cats are dancing around your head and on your bureau (where they aren't supposed to be), and you drift from the dreaming world (I was in the midst of a long and complex dream which stayed with me for a while, but it seems to be gone now) into the waking world, and I thought to myself:

If the Vatican doesn't want gay males in the seminary because of the temptation of being around a large number of men, then it seems to me the obvious solution to the priest shortage problem is lesbian women. No temptation there.

Last night I finally saw The Graduate all the way through for the first time. I knew all the famous scenes, of course, but had never watched the film. I bet those folks who despise musical montages hate this movie. One whole section in the center is Benjamin stalking watching Elaine while they play "Scarborough Fair" two or three times all the way through. Funnier movie than I expected--I hadn't realized it was written by Buck Henry.

Then we watched Monsoon Wedding. I could really come to love Bollywood movies. I love the Indian dress and music, whee!

Turkey came out good, but there's a LOT of leftovers (a turkey goes a long way in feeding three people), including a large amount of gravy. I then came all over with a craving for Big Ass Chocolate Cake, but there was none to be had, so I had to settle for Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls.