Siriusly

Channel 113 is a special "halloween noises " channel tonight and it has been freaking kids out all night. I have deck speakers and one is right by the door. They sort of peek in my doorway like "WTF is going on?"

Carly(via Blackberry)

How I wasted 2 hours

But it was fun....

Carly(via Blackberry)

Oops

Mr and jr accidentally got a pumpkin that is starting to rot.

The whole time I was doing it, gross black stuff was coming out (twss)

It took 2 hrs to carve this damn thing and I'll have to throw it in the woods tomorrow.

At one point it was necessary to say "you are annoying and I'm holding a knife" (special Lorena Bobbitt edition of twss)

Carly(via Blackberry)

yes, I do wonder

what did you dress up as today?

you know that I didn't...

Oh no

here it is again, my least favorite day of the year....

I have a new box of wine in the fridge. I'm ready. Sigh....

TWSS

That's what she said - a special Stanley edition from choir practice tonight:

"Let's do it again, my organ wasn't set up right"

Carly(via Blackberry)

Seriously, part 2

A high heeled Timberland boot? Seriously?

I can't bring myself to contemplate wearing this.

That's what she said

My 14 year old, trying to open a childproof bottle of vitamins, muttered "Wow, these really ARE hard to open...."

I guess you had to be there.

Also, apparently the girl my son chats with on Club Penguin told him today in class that she's writing a song for him.

The next fight at school will be about the lunch helper handing out expired milk and telling kids to drink it anyway. (In the "if I Only Had a Brain" league, that one there)

Carly(via Blackberry)

ShiftHappens

This is hard to explain, but interesting to watch. Don't bother with sound, it's just bouncy sort of music to keep you awake.

Seriously, Mike...

I can't even eat these anymore, and still one of my kids threw it into the cart. Seriously. It's a good thing I like you.

Edit - I took a picture of the cereal boxes too, and wrote you a note thanking you for making my trip to the supermarket almost bearable... but that vanished into cyberspace, and I deleted the picture without knowing that it never made it to the blog. (Crushing problem, I know...)

Carly(via Blackberry)

Dear mp...

I still hate grocery shopping, but today not as much. Thanks!

Edit - this post vanished... then came back... damn computers...

Carly(via Blackberry)

Hard rock casino

I just went over 1.5 million dollars on my blackberry game. I'm a whale. Ok, so I need to stop screwing around with this game. That's it.

I'm going to put on that little black dress I bought for the wedding and drive down to Atlantic City tonight.

No lie.

Oh hell. It's snowing.

Never mind.

Carly(via Blackberry)

Your daily dose of Muppets

By request of child number 2, I had to play this clip a few times.

The genius in this (direct link in case you can't view as embedded below) is that each Beaker interacts with the other squares throughout the piece.




Incidentally, my brother in law made fun of my love for Pino Grigio wine once by singing "Pino Grigio" over and over to this tune. That would be the same one who gave me Humphrey as a gift. And my birthday is in a couple of weeks, and I'm scared. Because I don't think he'll give me something benign like this candle top or something cool - ya know what I mean? Not even the books I want. Nnnnnope. I'm doomed.

It's here

The first icy, bonechilling raw day of winter has arrived in the northeast. .

You know how in the one Christmas cartoon for kids, the cold wind blasts down from the north pole, with big curlique swirls?

It's doing that. Here. Today.

I went out for a quick errand. The sleet/rain was pelting against me and the cold was creeping down my jacket sleeves. The wind was trying to push me back, away from the door I so desperately wanted to reach.

Horrid.

Carly(via Blackberry)

Dear Michael

Love the new commercial. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAgj5eKm8kg )




I had to show my daughter the original movie clip with that Scientology freak, to explain why this commercial was so well done ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilaUVGjMkJo )

She wanted to know why Kobe's shorts are so long, and we can't even see yours when you're on the couch. I sent her to her room.

But thanks for making my day.

Smooches,
Carly

The grind

So for the sake of this post I need to repeat myself and say I got a new manager yesterday.

Last night I dreamed that I was in a grocery store and trying to find the ground beef. I went over to the back corner, where there was this strange contraption that you could combine things like beef and pork to make your own ground meat.

So I didn't know how to use the machine, of course, but William Shatner was right there.

I know.

He attempted to demonstrate using some chicken but it came out all wrong (that's on you, A).

I asked if I could ask just one question about the show, and he allowed it. Can't recall the specifics of that now. It's immaterial. Of course after he responded, without thinking I asked another question, and then in a VERY very WS tone he said "I agreed to answer ONE question." He would then not talk to me any further. How transparent is my subconscious? Geeeez.

There was a whole subplot about a bus to NYC, that I missed. Any second year student in the field of psychology would have a ball with me.

Damn Right

At least google gadgets like me (snicker). I'm not so sure about my new boss ::::sigh:::: who has never said hello to me before yesterday. I'm not taking it personally, he is just all about getting the work done. Hmmm. We'll have to break him in gently to the crazy that is me.

New ringtone

So I can't wait until the next pta meeting, when I will arrange for someone to call me, so that all of the church ladies can hear my phone ring as follows:

Some days I'm a super bitch
Up to my old tricks
But it won't last forever
Next day I'm your super girl
Out to save the world
And it keeps gettin' better

Funny

Angela & Andy's wedding site: http://www.angelaandy.com/index.shtml

Compliance

So my friend at work has an iPhone and that's neither here nor there, except that he captured this little beauty and forwarded it to me.

This is the tray that we were all given to place our laptops on while we are at work, so that they are at eye level (we have external full-size keyboards which we leave in the office). The lower tray is meant to be a handy receptacle for pens, pencils.... whatever.

Og, the caveman occupant of this office, has carefully complied with the "clean desk policy" (that top circle's on a brush to clean crumbs out of your keyboard, helpfully labelled to remind us of the policy) by gnawing clean the pits of the cherries, peaches, and whatever other fruit he has eaten at his desk. He then carefully arranged the clean pits on his tray.

A+ .

Finally

At last my blog has achieved a milestone I've been secretly hoping for. I've watched other bloggers and been envious, and I am thrilled that now it"s finally my turn.

I was offered free stuff! All I have to do is review it in my blog! Hey! I always wanted to be JUST LIKE HEATHER. No, I'm kidding. But, free stuff. Awesome.

So I read down a little bit further in the email and the product they asked me to review is... an ENHANCER. Yeah. For the oscar meyer weiner I don't even have. Just what every girl dreams of scoring for free.

So obviously when I stopped laughing I told myself that I'm going to have to pass up that TEMPTING offer. (I won't even pass the link on to y'all because who knows what is even actually on that page.... )

Maybe some day all of my dreams will come true.

P. S. When I was typing up this post I accidentally typed "free stiff" and I almost left that in......

Carly(via Blackberry)

Huh?

For some reason I'm in an insanely good mood today and nothing is rolling it over. Even my clients. (and they ARE trying).

I am happy about how good my BK croissant with egg and cheese was this morning(shut up) and how much I like the new-ish Jason Mraz song, which I repeated 3x on my way to work, and my favorite dragonfly pin.

Ok, so I've gone over the bend. But I'm cheerful. At work. It's so weird.

Carly(via Blackberry)

And I hurt my back doing it

("That's what she said")*

So tonight at the meeting there was an hour long discussion of the side salads the VOLUNTEERS serve when they VOLUNTEER to help with the school lunch program, which is run entirely by unicorns.

And those unicorns volunteer.

To be specific (and some were SO exquisitely specific) the element that makes our program a living nightmare is the lettuce. Depending on who was speaking, the lettuce alone is boring or it is sheer insanity to consider adding ANY other vegetables to keep the lettuce company. (It is a salad mix. The lettuce actually isn't flying solo!!)

There is lettuce around for so long it goes bad -- but somehow simultaneously we are always out of lettuce.

Does your head hurt yet? Mine does. The capper was when someone said that one of the weekend prep people put the lettuce too high in the fridge and jammed it somewhere that it got icy and then mushy.

That would be me, and I hurt my back pulling 10 lb pans of ziti in and out and rearranging things five times and by golllyyy I did shove that last bag of lettuce in there up on top. Because there was no room anywhere else, with all that unicorn food in there.

It just goes to prove my motto:
No good deed goes unpunished.

*i can't stop. (That's what she said.)



Carly(via Blackberry)

Fainting goats

My back is once again operating pretty much as it normally does. Yeehaw. So, things are getting back to normal.

By "normal" I mean that today at lunch someone brought up Fainting Goats and I heard a secondhand story about Shop Dungarees' plans in the event of someday meeting redheaded twin midgets. (Just shake your head in quiet resigned bemusement along with me. Eat your lunch. ) At least I could laugh without back spasms. Awesome. I have to close this paragraph with one word to bring a joke up ONE last time and wring every last drop of humour out of it: Mahogany.

Yes, people talk. What they say doesn't always make sense. Especially if it's a political debate on national television. Badump bump.

People SAY they respect one another's opinions in this country, which is french for "Oh man, you are such an idiot, and why can't you understand my perfectly logical and correct argument?"

And in that vein, I have a PTA meeting tonight! What fun! I fully support the current team of officers, especially now that I am not one of them... (oh, my grammar is so poor today) ...but I feel an icky meeting coming on because people are so testy about The Election and The Economy and McCrappy Stocks (many now cost only a dollar) and other stuff that all sorts of things lead to bickerfests. My radar usually warns me about an oncoming storm - the funny part is I am always wrong about WHAT gets argued savagely about at these meetings, and it takes me off guard EVERY TIME.

So, I'm going to practice my impression of a fainting goat. Stiffen up, and then fall over. ("That's what she said." )

Bork bork

Went to see my friend sing today in a new choir she just joined, and one of their songs was a humourous piece that included the familiar "Bork Bork" of the Sweedish Chef from the Muppets.
My daughter had no idea what I was talking about, so when we got home I went to YouTube and found this just as a starting point.




Man, I miss Jim Henson.

Sunday art

Photos by my other kid, from a trip this summer to Plymouth... and yes that's my boat on the right there... ;-)

Fred

My great uncle Fred has passed away... the memorial service was today. He was the last sibling (fourth from the left in photo above). What can I say? He was 96. He had a great life. Served his country, had his own successful business, got to kiss most of his great grandchildren. Nice, funny man.

His favorite saying was, "A place for everything, and everything in its place." Kind of makes me glad he's never seen my office.

How to waste time

1. Download a casino game onto your blackberry. Figure out you win on the slot machine 20% of the time. Each time you "win" more cash than you bet, drop down to the minimum bet for the next four spins. Then crank up to a high dollar amount, and within two or three spins win big money. Cry because it's not real money you can have. Smile at the realistic sounds of a slot machine.

2. Go to http://thisissand.com/ (click on the tiny gray box for hints once you get there) and fill up your screen with a sand painting. Very relaxing. Read more at their blog.

3. Go to the craft store to return popsicle sticks that you bought to help the school lunch program differentiate which kids are getting hot meal, turkey sandwich, ham sandwich, etc. Only they didn't want them. But now they get it, and they bought colored popsicle sticks. Instead of asking for the ones I had. Which at least were unopened. AND I STILL HAD THE RECEIPT. Spend next hour or more at said craft store. Buy a Purple Cow Freestyle Mouse cutter. (for scrapbooking and no, I'm exhausted, didn't try it yet)

4. Go to nearby brewing/winemaking supply store looking for dairy thermometer and cheesemaking supplies that they mentioned in the class and find that the owner is chatty and wants to tell you all about making wine. I don't have THAT much spare time. Maybe someday.

5. Blog. This allows you to waste not only your OWN time but that of other people. Bonus! But remember, always use Google reader.

Have a nice weekend.

I don't think

...that cup of tea REALLY was decaf. But oh my god, Dwight birthed a watermelon.

Carly(via Blackberry)

Edit - insomnia is a terrible thing to put on the internet. I got home from choir (back spasms the ENTIRE TWO HOURS ever 10 or 15 minutes...gahhhh) and made a cup of tea to watch the office. I know it SAID decaf on the package. But at 11:30, while I was staring at the ceiling, I didn't think so. And the Office is the greatest show ever.

PS: I'm going to make my kid be Joe the Plumber for halloween.

dear Internet

I really HATE HATE HATE school picture day. I wish I'd gone to see Scrappy Chick instead. Her photos are more better - go look ( @ same old scrap, see sidebar)

Photo by Toutouke on Flickr . (Please don't sue me, I have NO MONEY. And I damn sure won't make any money from this blog. Peace out. )

Let's NOT do lunch

So a Person I wouldn't normally expect to come to the cafeteria for the sole purpose of keeping me company did today (aka I have formerly referrred to this person as my arch nemesis ...and yet he knew I was going downstairs alone and he showed up five minutes later... with no food, he had eaten at his desk) and then confided that the company has finally broken his spirit, and he just doesn't care anymore. I knew SOMETHING was wrong with him.

Oy. Don't get me wrong, I actually did empathize with him, and the whole "no joy in my work" scene.

I narrowly avoided an uglier topic - I stated in reply to something he said that yes, I think calling Barack "B.O." is, yes, in my mind, obviously racist -- without thinking through that I really DIDN'T want to have that conversation over lunch and have to explain that it's not "just that they're saying he smells, it's a juvenile joke". They're saying he smells. It totally escaped my nondining companion. Right over his head, it did. I really need to remember to keep my mouth shut at times.

He then got in a debate with The Kid about whether it's ok to call politicians stupid. That amazing discourse went on for over 30 minutes. I pointedly said after five minutes "LET'S TALK ABOUT BASEBALL" since it was just the four of us, but Andy and I gave up, more or less laughed at them, (each trying to change the other person's mind when YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH POLITICS, FOLKS) and discussed iPhone functionality.

I really really want the election to hurry up and be over.

On the DVR

Here's a little sample of what I'm trying to remember to watch these days:

• Amazing race - I prefer this one to Survivor, since generally teams make or break themselves here... I never liked the "let's gang up on a strong contender and vote them off the island" aspect of Survivor. This one is complicated by sunday football games running over their alloted time slot. Eff you Andy Rooney, I hate you, you old curmudgeon. I hate that I have to see you (even in fast forward) before I get to watch this show. And I hate that I forgot to watch it the other day! Damn!)
• The Office - but of course! Baby shower this week!
• Life On Mars - really, take the time to go watch the first episode online if you missed it. Then watch, Thursdays at 10 on ABC.
• The Chef Jeff Project - (ignore Aida's ten second clip first...) These kids make me want to cry - because their life has been so far from puppies and rainbows. I want so badly for them all to stick with the project and get their scholarships (to culinary school). I heart Jeff.
• Dancing with the Stars - I love Chloris... I hope I am like that when I'm 80.
• The Cooking Loft - Alex makes even meatloaf seem interesting. I'm intrigued by the shuffle that took place - two of her students vanished after three episodes, and two other ones appeared. (Don't get rid of Iffey!!! She's cute!)
• The premiere of Top Chef, whenever the heck it is. (Tay???Poly??)

I love my dvr.

not the kind of financial support the candidates wanted

Interesting... "people are voting with their wallets" via buying tshirts for certain candidates... this site ranks the purchases accordingly - cafepress.com

(this is the store that I bought my daughter a "no punchbacks" (volkswagen bug) t-shirt from)

and Vermont

The kiddos took a hike with Suzy & Him*.... this was D's contibution to the Give Mom a Nice Photo to Hang on her Ugly Cubicle Wall for her Birthday. I lovvvvve it. B had several other nice ones as well that I will get around to sharing soon.

I didn't really accomplish much myself yesterday. I was invited along for the trip to Vermont but didn't feel up to hiking and still had vague hope/ intentions of working on the mural. Haaaa. My back still hurts. Slow going. Stupid pans of ziti!!

I did get to a couple of stores over on the Road to run errands like picking up a new electric mattress pad cover, so I will have toasty heat rising up around me all winter while I sleep.

I also went over to check out the new giant bookstore in the mall, where I made an ass of myself - there is a raised platform where they sell coffee and goodies from the cheesecake factory... there is a hallway to the left of the display case full of cheesecakes that has a plaque saying "handicapped access" and I didn't comprehend... I thought the restrooms were there... so I wandered in there, DOWN THE SLOPING RAMP, and found myself walking out at another part of the bookstore, feeling like I had just followed PT Barnum's Egress sign. Silly girl. I mean, it's labelled, for crying out loud. The restrooms turned out to be WAY over on the other side of the store. I couldn't stop laughing at myself.

At that point it was pretty cloudy outside and I figured it was best to get home and keep the rest of the world safe from my critical thinking skills which are clearly not as sharp as my biorhythms might indicate.

*We like Him, very much, I am not using his name simply because I just don't think he knows about the blog so I don't know if he'd want his name splashed all over it for my 12 daily readers to see ;-)

Columbus day in upstate NY

No work today.... and Suzy is taking my little darlings off my hands. Not sure what I will do but maybe I'll find myself somewhere to go with the camera.

Photo by me at my sister in law's house.

Sunday Art

This is the get well card I made for my amigo after his recent misadventure. (I used his spanish-ized name inside the card and made a few lighthearted references on that theme to try to cheer him up. )

As usual I struggled with my "creative process"... midway in all of my cakes and cards I Hate It and It's Ugly. This one very nearly got discarded, until I came across the fringe in my stash of supplies. Then I decided it was kind of cute, and it could live.

Ole!

Below the line

I used to read my biorhythms every day in the newspaper ...when I was about 12.

I had to laugh at the bleak outlook today (shown above). If you need me I'll be sitting somewhere with a heating pad on my back, quietly sulking and popping Motrin. I thought it was better, now today it's worse again. Kind of like the bronchitis, which won't go away.

Gahhh... and it's gorgeous today ...whenever I feel like crap on a beautiful day like this, I feel like I've wasted the day -- since winter is coming all too soon and it tends to suck around here (I hate to ski or do anything like that in the winter... I prefer sunshine and 70's please...) -- is this a horribly long sentence or what, Marco??

Love Lockdown

Edit: they deleted the video. Must be some pesky copyright issues.

New Kanye video on Ellen (technically, the video's on Perez) will stick in your head but goood

See if you can happen to figure out my favorite line... ;-)

Verse 2:
I'm not lovin' you, way I wanted to
I can't keep my cool, so I keep it true
I got somethin to lose, so I gotta move
I can't keep myself, and still keep you too
So I keep in mind, when I'm on my own
Somewhere far from home, in the danger zone
How many times did I take 'fore I finally got through
you lose, you lose
I'm not lovin you, way I wanted to
See I had to go, see I had to move
No more wastin' time, you can't wait for life
which is wastin' time, where's the finish line

Chorus:
So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Keepin ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Now keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Now keep ya love locked down, you lose...



Verse 3:
I'm not lovin you, way I wanted to
I bet no one new, I got no one new
I know I said I'm through, but got love for you
But I'm not lovin' you, way I wanted to
Gotta keep it goin', keep the lovin' goin'
Keep it on a roll, only God knows
If I be with you, baby I'm confused
You choose, you choose
I'm not lovin' you, way I wanted to
Where I want to go, I don't need you
I've been down this road, too many times before
I'm not lovin' you, the way I wanted to



Chorus:
So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Keepin ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Now ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Now ya love locked down, you lose,...you lose,
...you lose,...you lose,...you lose

Life on Mars

I. *HOPE* you all watched the premiere of the new series, "Life on Mars". Finally.... Something different! Fun to see all the retro styling and think about all the technology we have now. A little hard to see the twin towers though (parts of the show are set in 1973 NYC, if you've missed the previews.)

I am hoping the premise/plot doesn't go too far down some of the back roads that Lost has gone on. If someone goes down in a frickin' subway tunnel and turns a wheel and the whole island of Manhattan disappears, Carly will NOT BE AMUSED. .

Icky was very rude at choir tonight pissed that no one updated his book for him. Uh, here's a thought...show up on time and get your own music like the rest of us. ;-)

Carly(via Blackberry)

Unrelated collection of stuff

1. You must go here and watch Jeff Dunham's blooper. I missed him when he was in Albany. Damn!!!!!! (Suzy is a huge fan and gave the kids a video for their birthday. There are a few jokes that I hope my son doesn't quite catch... but he's hilarious.)

2. I made a sombrero card for my favorite Amigo and I am so happy that he's doing a bit better. I can't find the phhhhhoto that I took of the card but I'm sure it will turn up tomorrow or the next day. Stay tuned.

3. My mother bought pajamas for her dog. It's very complicated... but (apparently) when you walk a tiny dustmop dog with long white fur the dog gets "too dirty", and so my mother puts pajamas on the pooch so that all of the other neighborhood dogs can cruelly laugh at her when Mom walks her (daily). In discussing this new development at work with Andy we came across this website which sells these:






and, yes, pajamas. That is all for today, kids.

Nuts

I am a little bit better today, it no longer feels like I'm being tasered when I try to do any dog tricks like sit, stand, or roll over. I'm not exactly sure what I did to my back, but I suspect it has something to do with resuming running (I am old) followed by trying to shove 10 lb pans of ziti into a school refrigerator two sizes too small. And juggling and moving the box of apples and the salad mix when I try to make everything fit, and perhaps the Hail Mary I seem to say every Sunday now during this part of the volunteering just wasn't sincere enough through my gritted teeth.

At any rate I am improved enough to be working from home today and experiencing what for me is a truly strange phenomenon. Someone brought a small candy-bar sized box of chocolate covered almonds home from school, left it on the counter. and I Can. Not. Leave. Them. Alone. Every chance I get, I hobble out there and nosh on one while the microwave re-warms my beanie heating pad.

To say the least, this is very unusual for me since all of my life I have endured everything from "that's so weird" to "are you communist?" when I mention that I don't like chocolate. At all.

Couch day

I needed to take a sick day today and when I got tired of squinting at Food tv, I came across Amazing Wedding Cakes. I wouldn't say "Amazing" but it did kill the time.

In short, it follows the progess on cakes at three different custom bakeries:

I hate Cake Divas, Joan seems like a total smug LA bitch to me and holy royal icing she wears way too much makeup. You can see glimpses of how much she and her partner/ coworkers hate each other - it would be more fun to really see some of the catfights.

The Cake Girls seem nice, but don't seem to plan their timing or supporting construction as well as I could, given the many episodes of Ace of Cakes under my belt. Also they let a GROOM order a cake. Hello! (His fiancee freaked TWO DAYS before the wedding. What the hell was she thinking?)

The Cake Atelier owners work in Manhattan and one of the things one owner talked about is how too many wedding cakes are overloaded with detail (right after LA talked about how lavish and over the top is fabulous - heh).

One big stress they deal with is delivering their cakes BY TAXI. In MANHATTAN. I am by no means a pro, but I do a cake now and then. If I bring a cake anywhere, it's on a heavy cakeboard on a beach towel in my lap while Mr drives me, NOT boxed up and transported in a cab. Oy vey.

There are not enough martinis in Manhattan.


Carly(via Blackberry)

Fall

...is definitely here in upstate NY. Today, it's beautiful outside.

Took a long walk, listened to random stuff on the ipod.

Tonight, stew.

Carly(via Blackberry)

Sunday Art

More photos from York Minster, courtesy of Marco... (thanks!!!)

Oh and go here for the Face Puller, and the Christmas cards. (Awesome and beautiful, in that order)

It's JUST not my week

I was just getting to the good part of Survivor (if there is one, yawn) and my son came home with the Mr.

My son immediately brought me some school papers to sign, bumped into the folding "tv tray" table I was using, and knocked over my glass. Of red wine. All over my new family room rug.

I managed not to swear, but found myself saying his name over and over in one continuous wail of despair. Red freaking wine. On my new rug.

Luckily the Mr. has been drinking tons of club soda lately (to do me a favor by not having Coke or Pepsi in the house, at my insistence) and so about 5 or 6 cans later, the stain seems to be narrowly avoided. Junior washed the five or six towels we used to blot up can after can of soda, as his penance. I know he didn't MEAN it. Aiyeeeeeee.

Prehistoric goodness

Boring Saturday but I'm making the best of it.

For dinner (alone in my lovely house with a Survivor episode I haven't seen yet) I put Dinosaur bbq sauce, chicken, red onion, and cheddar on a flatbread pizza dough. Not quite as good as I'm sure Suzy's dinner is (she was making a Paula Deen recipe for twice baked potatos that have sour cream, two kinds of cheese, buttah, and SHRIMP mixed in. OMFG. )

There may have been wine around here somewhere.... perhaps...

And I did run today. Not very much, but I walked the mall for 2 hours, and then I walked most of my running route. There were two flimsy sprints that left me red faced and sore, but ya gotta start somewhere.

Money to burn

I love, love, LOVE the Yankee Candle store. It's an addiction. I love things that are seasonal like pine trees or autumn smells or florals in the spring. If I go to the mall, I know it won't be long before my feet carry me there.

Today while my teenager was trying to shore up the economy, I went in, intending to spend under $20 to get a box of tealights of some sort, and a couple of votives.

Then I saw Fireside in a large jar, which I haven't seen in years. Cha-ching! They had me.

Happy hour

Friday evenings I "let myself" have some wine and cheese and crackers. I'm on my porch but it's chilly! Only 60 degrees.

I am working on yearbook. Look out! I hear these kids are picking at each other and quibbling over everything. Ahh, teens. I have already gotten an email from a parent looking to interferUMMMM offer input.

Carly(via Blackberry)

York Minster

From a friend of mine... more on Sunday....

In a small coincidence, tonight I start choir rehearsals again. Two hours, plenty of Latin. (In case you're not sure, I'm looking forward to it.)

I'm sure Stanley will send us home in time to eat a banana split and watch the Chapstick Pitbull talk in circles.

Stingers

Instead of cooking dinner tonight I just ran.

I am frustrated, angry and discouraged about several things. Things that went on at school and work today. Things that are just WRONG.

I was all but called a liar TWICE for not "admitting" something I didn't even fucking know. I was sick, I wasn't in the loop and then I got crap for it. Twice, dammit.

And I am so worried about my friend, and upset by how complicated and confusing "simple" things can be

Midway through the park, it started to rain, of course. Pelting my face, a cold fall rain - not a warm gentle spring rain, which I love to run in. .

I couldn't do anything except keep running. It was like the universe was in agreement with me: "yeah, this all sucks".

Oddly enough, the rain comforted me. It hid the tears and kept the cheery walkers inside. (The ones with "how have you BEEN??!!" who don't see that today it's "not fucking great, I gotta run" )

And I ran and I ran and pounded it out and now I ache all over, especially my foot, but two minutes from now I will sleep soundly. And I didn't cough ONCE the entire time, until I STOPPED running. So there.


Carly(via Blackberry)

Today in Corporate America

...I got dinged because I printed 19 pages more than my target max last month. My "limit", by the way, is 29 pieces of paper. For a month.

Shaking my head......

Carly(via Blackberry)