This is life, Knit people Knit!

2011

2011-01-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

Is it 2011 already? wow, weird! I have absolutely nothing interesting to say, nothing has changed on the house front (not really at least) it's on the market (has been for about 7 months) and we now have a place to move into. Incidentally it's Dave's parents current house. Kind of a touchy subject for me as I am not as in love with that house as he is (also I suspect he's all over this deal cause it'll be easy we don't have to wait once our house sells to make sure the house that we are moving to sells we can just slowly move our stuff in.) however it's nice cause I know the house so I am able to walk around and picture what I want to change once we've "taken over" BWHAHAHAHA!!! Aside from that nothing, we've had three people look at our house and none are interested, the price is good and it's a cute house (for a couple starting out or an older couple) but (and I am not a realestate agent) so please don't take my word for it but, in my opinion the town we live in at the moment isn't the place to be and it's the one thing we can't really change. Maybe someone will love it there as we do but it's a hard sell, it's not very close to the city, the commute isn't bad but... it's not by any means an easy 20 minutes. it's more like 45-60 depending on traffic and weather. I'm not trying to talk down our neighborhood or house but anyone who would want to move out there would have to love it too.

Wow for not having a lot to say I sure did have a lot to say. :-)

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Pros and Cons

2009-11-15T11:17:00.001-08:00

Sullivan

Pros:

I'm sorry did you look at the pictures? You didn't? Well you need to.
2.5 Acres
Brand new barn (built in 2007) with an indoor riding arena
1 acre of pasture area
City water (as opposed to well) don't get me wrong I'd get over using well eventually but if we don't have to then why worry about it.
It's out in the country
I could have horses
The price is right
This is basically what I've always wanted
The house is small and manageable and we'd be able to add on if we wanted to (and we sort of already want to)
We could have a billy goat (that would be Dave's pet)
Dad is fully supportive
The house was built in 1997 (yes it's a manufactured house but seriously. I'm not that shallow that I care if I live in a manufactured house seeing what it has on the property completely makes up for it)

Cons:

There are some foundation problems and while I know that Dave and his father "can" fix the problems it's a matter of will they. I will have to mention it everyday and it makes me nervous
I'd like to be able to please my mom (this is not pleasing her even a little bit) I don't think she's even trying to be happy about it and I know she has her reasons but it's frustrating
It's far, while we are excited about living in the country I'll have to work at my current job and look for a new job at the same time because

A. I cannot imagine not working

B. This place is really far from my current job and while I can do anything for any given time I don't think I would like to spend the rest of my life driving 1 hour and 15 minutes to and from work.

4. Now we need to prepare our house to be sold and hope that everything falls into place because selling a house takes a lot of time and cleaning and (for lack of sounding like a whiny child) IT'S HARD!!!!

5. oh yes I don't want to have to move in with either of our parents because we've sold our home and something happens and this new house gets bought out from under us.

I'm sure that I will be adding to this list and modifying it as I go but right now this is all that I have. I know that I haven't done any posts lately but to be completely honest with all of the baby having going on around me I don't feel like I have anything interesting to say. That is by no fault of the baby having people my life just isn't interesting.

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Update on Sullivan added December 1st 2009.

Damn it, Damn it, Damn it!!! If I've seen you or talked to you since Thanksgiving you already know this but for the blog readers I don't see all the time the deal fell through. We have a bid in and everything, the people selling the property are on vacation right now and need to get back to us but we now can't do it cause Dave has hit a seasonal wall at work. Meaning he's been laid off. this is the earliest lay off we've ever had but I suppose it's better for it to happen now instead of after we've signed papers and done all kinds of stuff and are in the new house and something happnens that costs a large amount of money. So there you have it that's the update. We're still planning on a move at some point but it will probably be more like Spring.

Happy first day of autumn

2009-09-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

Again I've been slacking it's tech week in my world which means any spare time I have right now is being dedicated to sleep, otherwise it'll be bad I'll be falling asleep at the wheel and it'll be mass chaos! I'm a serious bitch when I don't get enough sleep so I haven't really been keeping up on my blog lately. Here's what you have missed... Actually I don't think you've missed much at all, Autumn has arrived (YAY!) by far my favorite season EVER! There's pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pie, apple cider butternut squash (I'm very one track minded right now and it'll all about the food.) But aside from the food I love the colors, everything is so pretty and it's cool (but not so cool that we're freezing) and there's that bite in the air Oh how I love that bite. Over the weekend I went to Presque Isle with my sister Sarah to see the horse races. I've never been to a horse race before. I know you all think I'm crazy cause probably most people who go there are there for the race and nothing else (unless you're a trainer then in that case...) but all I wanted to do is sneak back to the barns and hang out there all night. (How much do you pay warmup riders? Can I totally do that? I know I'm not the right size but I'll work for free.) Yep I'm a dork but I'll say this it was really fun and cool and I'd totally go back in a heart beat.

When we wern't cheering for the horse(s) that we bet on we were admiring how pretty some of them were.

Other then that there is not a damn thing going on for me right now at all. Hope everyone is having a beautiful first day of autumn!

:-)

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Remembering a Legend

2009-09-17T06:17:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I didn't know the last name Travers but Mary from Peter, Paul & Mary. Well that's a no brainer. this is me remembering a legend.

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Mush

2009-09-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

And no I'm not talking about "MUSH!" as in if you were in a sled race with dogs and stuff. I mean I made mush. I know it doesn't sound very appetizing and to be honest it looks equally as non-appetizing. But it was damn good. So here's where it starts My friends Joe and Paul ask hey we have eggplant from our garden anyone want some? We'll bring them to rehearsal! And I'm thinking YUM Eggplant too bad Dave doesn't eat that stuff (see post before this about eating things plain) but I love eggplant. I've never cooked it before and have no clue what to do with it but what the hell I'll take some I'm sure I can figure out something to do with it.

So I go to the store and buy some Garlic (yes the jarred kind that is already minced up and everything, I'm sort of lazy like that) mushrooms and an onion. Tomatoes are easy to come by at my house, our neighbor grows them and I frequently find a bag of them on my front porch so that is an ingredient that I don't have to worry about buying.

First I cut up and soaked the Eggplant in salt water (you have to do this so they are no longer bitter) I soaked them for about 30 minutes.

I cut my tomatoes in half and tossed them in a pot with a little but of water.

I let those cook for about 10 minutes. Then I added the eggplant.

Again let them cook (covered I forgot to mention that before) for about 10 minutes. Add mushroom and another 10 minutes.

Add Onion and again (duh) another 10 minutes.

Add basil, thyme (and any other herb of your choice) Salt and Pepper to taste and let cook covered for another 5-10 minutes.

it resembles mush (I don't know how to keep my tomatoes from turning) but it's amazing. Add Mozzarella cheese and eat!

It looks disgusting but it' tastes amazing. I need to jar this stuff up and use it on pastas and what not especially since this bowl was an entire meal and it was a bit much for me I was stuffed afterwards. But again Dave wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole so this would be my personal pasta sauce. YUM! So I think that's it for today consider my slacking erased.

:-)

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Just another amateur restaurant review

2009-09-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

I don't read restaurant reviews, I have read reviews that friends and friends of friends have written but as far as I know none of us are professional restaurant reviewers, we don't get paid and therefore are amateurs. This is no different, my husband was out of town all weekend (paint balling with the boys in Michigan.) So I figured I'd eat out at any of the places that he would probably never eat at and have all of the foods that he finds repulsive. One of these places happens to be Bar Symon, now I know what you are saying "how do you decide you would never eat at a Michael Symon restaurant?" Well as Dave said to me after I read off some of the things on the menu that I found on-line "You don't go to a Michael Symon restaurant and order a burger plain." (the Bar Symon burger by the way has a fried egg and cheddar cheese on it, he'd be removing the fried egg)

Huh, OK that makes sense and to be completely honest I don't think there is much else on that menu that he would eat, that is without taking everything off and making it as plain as possible.

But me on the other hand, Most everything on that menu looked amazing! Link for all that are interested http://www.barsymon.com/. Except for probably the bone marrow cause that simply freaks me out and the pork cracklings aside from those two things I would probably at least try everything on this menu.

Saturday after I got home from a long day at the barn and just wanted to relax and get some good food in me so I called Bar Symon and ordered some dinner to go. I have dined by myself before and it generally doesn't bother me but today was one of those self conscious days where I thought if I were to sit in this restaurant all by myself people would stare and wonder why I was there alone and the fact that it's in Avon Lake chances of me running into someone I know are really good. It was one of those days where I just wanted to go home to the comfort of my couch and eat quietly by myself. So I ordered the Lola fries with rosemary (for those of you who have been living under a rock or aren't from the Cleveland area Lola is a very popular Michael Symon restaurant located in Downtown Cleveland)

They were sort of that shoe string type of fry and they were cover in rosemary and salt and they were amazing!

I also got the Mac & Cheese which consisted of rosemary (I think Michael Symon has a thing for rosemary) Goat cheese and Chicken. Again so good definitely hit the spot.

These pictures would probably be prettier on plates but let's face it I'm lazy and just took the picture of them right in their to go boxes. I suggest of you ever get the chance to visit Bar Symon do it. The interior is beautiful, a mix of wood, brick and metal, Metal tiles hanging from the ceiling. Very low key and sort of rustic-ish.

Seems like a great place to go and grab a bite to eat I would absolutely suggest going here.

that's it my amateur restaurant review. enjoy!

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Lets face it

2009-09-15T06:33:00.001-07:00

I haven't been keeping up on my posts lately, I've been... well torn I guess there has been all this talk about having a baby and moving and all of these things while I realize are part of life are just things that I am not sure I am ready for yet. The baby thing frightens me more then anyone will ever know and the moving thing well... We have a hard enough time taking care of the postage stamp yard we have right now. If I am going to move I want it to be to acreage, I am not moving 3 times because... Well as far as I can tell at the moment just because. I have looked at some houses lets face it it's fun to look and see what's out there and say "oh look at how pretty" but do I really want it?

I don't know. I suppose I am still a bit of a child and moving is hard and it isn't like we'd be moving into a house from our parents houses as we did before no we'd have to get our house ready to be sold and pray that someone comes along and loves it as much as we did when we first moved there. Don't get me wrong I still love that house we've made some improvements and have done some work on it I know that it needs more work mainly some serious cleaning but I suppose if we were to move on I can deal with that and I could move on.

Also I am doing a show right now. Now I know what you are going to say I've done shows before and I have to be at rehearsals for what seems like an eternity every day of every week and for what? To be on stage a total of 20 minutes in a 2 hour play? Well I'm working much harder in this show as I am OFF stage for a total of 20 minutes (probably we haven't actually run through the entire show yet) It's a big part with many, many lines and it's tough. For those people who have done big parts in shows before (that are not musicals) I applaud you I don't know how you do it. I've got to say the musicals are probably difficult as well but it's so much easier when most of your lines are songs, for whatever reason songs are much easier to memorize. Why is that? We're two weeks away from opening and most of us still have our books on stage (there are only seven of us by the way)

Can you spot me??? Yeah frightening isn't it? The part is completely hilarious and a bit psycho but it's fun and different and you aren't even seeing the makeup. Apparently that's going to make the character even more CRAZY!

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Autumn

2009-09-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

It's getting to be that time of year again. My favorite time of year actually, I (like my friend Kate) was not fond of the start of school (although I suspect I dreaded it for much different reasons then she did) But Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year. The leaves on the trees start turning, there's a slight chill in the air and Au Bon is making Pumpkin Soup one of their regular soups on the menu.

I know it doesn't look great so sue me, I took the picture with my phone but it's a little sweet with clove and cinnamon and has carrot and onion in it as well it's amazing.

Yes you name it I love it. Everything autumn soon my house will be decorated in mum plants and pumpkins and smell of cinnamon and cloves and baked zucchini and it will be lovely.

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9-9-09

2009-09-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

I've got to say I'm a bit jealous, My friends just had a baby girl and they are beaming. I know, I know I've never been one to want one child of my own let alone multiple. I am now fully (well not exactly fully) aware of the pain that I would have to endure in order to have said child and I'm (more or less) over it. It's the idea of having to be responsible for a whole other human life. I'm barely responsible enough with my own life, who the fuck would trust me to have a kid. But all the same it seems that everyone around me is talking baby or having babies and I'm a bit jealous about never being sure if I could do that. At any rate Please go over to Adams page (Adam throws quarters) and congratulate them. Addison Mackenna is beautiful and as I've already said the two of them are absolutely beaming with joy. Oh and Audrey is going to make an amazing older sister.

That's all.

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I scribble!

2009-08-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

I was given this award cause apprantally my blog is liked. I don't know who would read this crap and like it but OK... OH right it was Adam :-) Thank you Adam. So now I must send it on to 5 blogs that I read and enjoy. Hmmmmmm,

(in the distance Oh, Oh pick me)

yeah I know I'm a dork,

in no order

http://kate4148.blogspot.com/ (Kate on my blogroll)

Mostly talks about her move and her pets, gramatical errors and her work definitely a fun blog to follow (it helps that she's a friend of mine)

http://www.meghanconrad.com/ (Meghan)

Again a friend of mine she posts picutres and recipes and pictures of her lovely daughter and garden.

http://dogalien.blogspot.com/ (Sensory Overload)

they talk about music and mostly our lovely city of Cleveland and goings on around town.

http://clevelandsandwichboard.blogspot.com/ (Cleveland Sandwich Board)

You want to know about all of the hip spots in town or the best place to get a cup of Joe? You've got to check out this blog.

http://erin-obrien.blogspot.com/ (Erin O'Brien Free Times Cleveland)

A lot about Cleveland, her life, living cheaply in this strained economy, her husband and life, and a lot of the time the articles that she writes in the Cleveland free times.

So to all of you

YOU SCRIBBLE!!! No go fourth and bestow this honour on 5 (or more if you so choose) blogs that you enjoy reading. or you don't have to at all you can just bask in the glory that you got so kind of an award just for writing your thoughts down.

Weekend Movie

2009-08-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

I have been falling behind on my posts (not that I talk about anything all that interesting) but I don't have the pictures for the posts that I am so far behind on so you get a movie review instead. This weekend aside from a wedding (Dave's younger brother to be exact) we rented a movie cause lets face it on Sunday after the excitement of the day on Saturday we didn't want to do a thing but lay around the house so that's exactly what we did.

We rented Obsessed

Holy Psycho-Bitch!

Again with the possible SPOILER ALERT!

I'm sure the poster speaks for itself but to elaborate, Beyonce (Sharon) and Idris (Derek) are married, Ali (Lisa) is a temp at the company where Derek works and becomes so delusional that she thinks she is having an affair with Derek. She starts following him and getting into his car in nothing but a trench coat and lingerie. She follows him to a conference and plays it off like she's his wife (and the people at the front desk of the hotel don't know any better so of course they think she's his wife) she tries to OD on pain pills in his room (again the poor people at the front desk have no clue what's going on and give her a key to his room cause "she's his wife and wants to surprise him" PSYCHO!!!) She goes into their house and tells the babysitter that she's a friend of Sharons and that she's just dropping a present to the baby (Kyle) and of course plays it off so well that the poor babysitter has no clue and Lisa takes the baby. She doesn't take him far she puts him in his car seat in Dereks car with a big red kiss mark on his forehead. As Sharon is getting ready to leave for her parents wedding anniversary party and Derek is at work Sharon forgets to set the new alarm to the house, she goes back to set it and Lisa is in the house. She's decided that she and Derek are having a rendezvous and "they" didn't want Sharon to find out this way. Lisa really is convinced that Derek her husband or they're lovers or some such psycho babble like that and Sharon is out of the picture. Lisa dies at the end cause Sharon goes up to the bedroom and finds her and beats the crap out of her, she ends up falling through the ceiling and a chandelier falls on here and kills her.

The lesson here I'm not friends with many woman cause we're all crazy!!! Kidding, but really creepy that there are people out there that get this way. Women are NUTS!

Welcome to being a grown-up

2009-08-19T06:56:00.001-07:00

Yes that's how my husband put it to me. I am a known needle-phobe (it's actually called Belonephobia I looked it up) Well we have not exactly been compliant with the whole you have to get a TB test every year in order to work at CCF. Contractors, Temps, I think even students. So I got an email yesterday (or possibly Monday but as I wasn't here...) saying you've got to get a TB test done this week or you are going to be taken off of you assignment. OK no big deal, last time I got one done (two years ago) it was a pen they pushed the button and it pricked you real fast and it was over. That's what I was expecting when I went in this time too. Boy was I wrong. I got to the clinic filled out the paperwork and thought to myself "this is going to be a breeze" they call me back into a room (that's not normal) and the nurse asks me a few questions (normal) I look on the sink counter and there it is a needle more specifically a syringe. I say to the girl "wait I may be wrong but the last time I got this done it was a pen and a quick prick and it was over" and she responded that no she had never done it that was before it's always been like this as far as she can remember. So I gave here that OMG look and said OK so here's the deal I am a freak around needles and I have to apolgize to you now I tend to have a breakdown. Poor thing I felt bad I mean I'm an adult damn it I shouldn't be having a melt down over a little needle. she shut the door I shut my eyes she gave me the shot (not bad) I didn't freak out! Holy Shit I didn't freak out! I did almost pass out (probably cause I was freaking myself out so badly) but I didn't go into fits of crying or anything like that. I got in the car called Dave and told him and he told me welcome to being a grown-up.
:-P
That's all I have to say about that. I know I am a freak around needles I can't help it I mean I guess I've found that I can but what the hell man.

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Mary Kay

2009-08-12T07:28:00.001-07:00

Now don't get me wrong I have nothing against Mary Kay I know that is how many woman earn their lively hood and that is their source of income. What bothers me is that there is this "no pressure, no pressure" facade at the beginning and by the end during your "one on one" with the consultant it's all about "so when can I book you for a party?" And "what do you mean you don't have time to do one can I call you? I can come to you I love to travel!" Really when I say I can't do a party that means I can't do a party or I don't want to do a party or (in reality) I don 't know that many women that I would be willing to trick into coming to a party. Which is what I felt like with this I was tricked into going to this party I didn't have anything going on that evening and it was for my sister so I thought what could it hurt there will probably be several people there and it won't be so bad... Right, there were three of us, myself, my sister, and her friend. And I was promised Metroburger that we never got because by the time we got out of there it was 10:30. On a weeknight by the way and about an hour and a half away from home. GRRRRR HUMBUG!!
Oh right and the party not at my sisters house at the consultants house, on the other side of town, the one bright spot in the whole night was Jonda (Love her) she was our masseuse, she ROCKED!!! I had some serious knots and she released most of them, it's making me think I need to go back and see the masseuse at the Omni again she's awesome too. Anyway I digress, our consultant decided that I would be a "great Mary Kay representitive." Really?? just cause I've worked retail before doesn't mean I am good at it nor do I want to do it, I hate high pressure sales and even though they claim that there's nothing high pressure about mary kay I tend to believe that they are trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

That's my rant for the day
(and you get three posts in one day What is up with that?)

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Blueberry Peach Crumble

2009-08-12T07:07:00.001-07:00

This is possibly the easies recipe I've ever made (OK maybe not but it's darn close)

The recipe actually is Blackcurrant Crumble and I've made it with blackcurrants and it was good but with Blueberries and Peaches... YUM-O!

Aside from the measurements for the topping (which I will put in parenthesise) most of the ingredients are a "guess"

3 c blueberries and peaches Or any other berry that you think might be good in this, there was a suggestion of blackcurrant and apple (yum) or you could do blackberry or whatever. (or however much you have lying around)

2-3 tbsp sugar (again I just sort of throw some on) and with the peaches I added some cinnamon (if you've ever read my blog and come across baking posts you know I LOVE CINNAMON!)

1 1/2 cups flour (this is topping so don't go fudging it)

1/3 cup butter (again topping)

1/3 cup brown sugar (topping)

1/2 tsp cinnamon (topping but again I LOVE CINNAMON! I tend to just throw some in there)

Preheat the oven to 350

Rinse your berries cut any large fruit you may have and peel if you are feeling that motivated (I tried peeling the peaches it was a pain I got through two of them and left the skin on the last one.) Place berries in a baking dish and sprinkle over the sugar. Put the flour and butter in a food processor (or if you don't have one your hands work just as well for this) and process or rub in the butter by hand until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread the crumble topping over the berries and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Quick, easy, and delicious!

I think what I like most about this recipe is that you don't acutally need anything but a bowl and a baking dish. technically (as long as you aren't a freak out about that kind of thing) you can just use your hands to mix, (clean hands please) don't go splashing around in the mud before hand :-)

Enjoy!

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Ride Times

2009-08-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, I have a Horse show on Saturday. When you are going to do a horse show they will (if you have given them your email) sent you your ride times. I don't know what it is about receiving my ride time but I get all giddy like a child on Christmas morning. Oh goody, goody! It means something fun is going to be happening in a few days. I get that excited feeling in my stomach. Almost jumpy but not quite, I wonder if this feeling goes away. I actually anticipate the email coming through and seeing my name there with my time and all of my other competitors names too.

That's all I really have nothing interesting to say but I may end up revamping this at a later date if I come up with anything witty to say.

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Crepes and a Food Challenge

2009-08-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

So on our "lunch break" one of the few women in my office that I actually talk with and I decided to go to the roof they were having a cooking demonstration today. They do this cooking demo every first and third Thursday of the month but this is the first time either of us saw something that sounded interesting enough to waste our time and get out of our cubes (and today for once we were both actually pretty busy.)

They were making crepes (I love crepes stuffed with mascarpone cheese and fruit or with mozzarella and basil and tomatoes so good.) Anyway sorry I was getting wrapped up in the food (that was supposed to be a crepe joke) it's OK if you didn't get it I'm not very good at making jokes.

So our hosts were Julia and Bob, Julia is one of the (I'm sure) many dietitians at the clinic and Bob is the executive chef for all of our cafeterias.

The crepes were really good (super healthy of course but you can always change that with your fillings)

The recipe is fairly easy

1 TBSP Trans free margarine

1 C skim milk

1/2 c Water

4 Lg Egg whites

2/3 cup whole grain, oat, bran, or soy flour

1/3 cup whole wheat or buckwheat flour

1/8 tsp sugar (or sugar substitute)

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt (optional)

Place the margarine, milk, water and egg in a food processor (or just use a hand whisk that's what they used at the demo) whisk till blended. Add the flour, sugar and salt (if you are using salt.) whisk until smooth.

Coat a nonstick skillet or crepe pan with cooking spray and place over high heat. when hot add 1/4 cup of batter and tilt the pan so the batter spreads evenly over the bottom. Cook the crepe until the surface seems dry and the edges begin to curl (about one minute.) Carefully turn the crepe using your fingers and or a spatula. Lay crepe flat and place a thin layer of whatever kind of filling you want. They of course suggest fat free plain or vanilla yogurt and blueberries which again great but better with the mascarpone cheese. Roll each side in carefully and tip with whipped cream cinnamon or powdered sugar (optional)

this recipe makes 16-20 crepes.

and the finished product is DELICIOUS!

Now on to a more "serious" matter Adam (Adam throws quarters on my blog roll) claims that his burger that he made (that by the way he got off of a television show) is better then my kick ass grilled cheese (which by the way I made with my own ideas no one elses.) Now I will admit as pictures go his culinary porn is much better then mine is. But that sounds like a challenge to me I'm a little offended that he doesn't think I have the "skill" that he does in the kitchen or on the grill Oh wait that's all that he does is grill anymore (grilling doesn't count as cooking cave man)
:-P and I think my grilled cheese could kick his burgers ass any day.

I am a Slacker!

2009-08-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

I've sucked at this whole keeping up thing lately, I've been cast (last minute) in a show. I'm not upset that's it's last minute but I feel bad cause lets face it, it's last minute and I had things planned for the next two weeks. So I'm going to be one of those Pre-Madonna actresses who shows up to the Monday rehearsal (last night) and can't make it again till next Monday. Does that make me a bad person? I have to stick to my prior engagements I would feel like a putz if I didn't. That and I have (drum roll please) another Horse show on the 15th of August. I did tell my director (Joe) that after that he can have me for all of the rehearsals (Monday-Thursday.) My first big role, I've had lines here and there just recently (Scrooge, The Women) But this is a whole other ball game. I'm a lead?!?!? How the hell did that happen? But I will try and keep up with the blog and keep all of you updated and post some more recipes (I just made a killer black currant crumble)

If you want to know about the show here is a link to a synopsis. There is a small change it's not in London in 1845 (or whatever the hell the original is) it's in Louisiana in the 1930's.
http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article.jsp?cid=159661&mainArticleId=188902
I'm Louisa Creed.

Also go over to Adam Throws Quarter (http://www.idontgive2centsithrowquarters.blogspot.com/) and congratulate him on being a Blog of Note! I think quite possibly he's still beside himself that, that honor has been bestowed on him.

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I have gained a reader

2009-07-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know what I have done right but I must have done something as I have gained a reader that makes for 8 and four out of those eight I have never actually met before, three out of those eight I don't know at all as cross continents is a dear friend of a dear friend.

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That's all I actually have nothing at all interesting to say except YAHOO it's Friday!! But alas it's going to be a very busy weekend which means it'll be over before I know it. Oh well I'll take what I can get. Everyone have a good weekend!

Two Posts in One Day? Stop the Insanity

2009-07-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

OK, OK, I know anyone can make grilled cheese (and yes mine is particularly messy) And on a Styrofoam plate none the less!!! Could I get any more hillbilly?? OH yes I can using a paper towel as a napkin.

But this grilled cheese was particularly good it was white bread (which I don't normally do but I didn't want to go to the store to get wheat) Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Bleu Cheese. It was SOOOOO good. Cooked to perfection if I do say so myself (and I do) buttery and crispy not burnt or anything. Dave of course had Grilled cheeses with American cheese cause he doesn't eat any of the stuff that I do (which meant I cooked them separately cause my Bleu Cheese might have looked at his American!) I know.

Remind me to make this sandwich again some time it was really yummy and totally worth it.

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Look What I Can Do!

2009-07-30T07:45:00.001-07:00

Ignore the mess in the kitchen please, we're working on it, that and there is probably still stuff there from the floor installation. (I promise I will post pictures of that too) I built a book shelf all by myself (OK so I haven't done the wall mount yet cause we are going to have to move it again this weekend to put up the base boards.) But other the the wall mount I built a book shelf all by myself. There is a great sense of accomplishment going on for me right now.

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Caption Contest

2009-07-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

OK so it probably isn't really a contest (and I'm sure some one has already come up with this on another website)

Love her or hate her this makes for a funny caption contest. Of course there isn't a prize except for a whole lot of laughs.

And I swear to you it was "this long"

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Chicken Pizza

2009-07-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

I have got to change gears after that last downer and it occurs to me that I made chicken Pizza the other night and how fabulous it is and I think I should share the recipe with everyone!! That and someone in my office is eating pizza right now and I can smell it and it smells so good it's making me hungry.

The ingredients are sort of a guess nothing is really measured except for the soy sauce and vinegar.

Ingredients List

Boneless Skinless chicken breast about 4 depending on how much chicken you want on each pizza

1/3 cup of vinegar (or more if you want more sauce)

1/3 cup soy sauce (or more if you want more sauce)

you want these two ingredients to be equal parts cause if they are off your pizza is either going to be really salty or super vinegary and you don't want either trust me I've done it before.

Garlic 2 tbsp or however much you want depending on your garlic liking (I LOVE GARLIC!)

2 Boboli Pizza Crusts (this makes it super easy cause you can eat it two nights in a row or if you are not going to be home it's a simple heat and eat for your spouse)

Mozzarella Cheese I don't care how much or little you use we use big heaping helpings

flour (this is for thickening) I would say about 2 tbsp

olive oil I don't have an exact measurement on this it's for cooking the chicken, you don't want your chicken drowning in olive oil but you don't want it sticking to your frying pan/wok either.

Instructions

If you have time to cut up your chicken a head of time and let it marinate I suggest you do, it is wonderful but if you don't it really isn't going to make or break your pizza.

pour your soy sauce, vinegar and garlic into a medium sized bowl and add your cut up chicken.

In a frying pan/wok (whichever you happen to have, I have a wok and I love it) pour some olive oil and carefully add your chicken (I would suggest using tongs for this cause you're going to need your soy sauce/vinegar mixture for your pizza sauce)

cook until done (if you don't know when chicken is done you shouldn't be cooking)

spoon your chicken evenly onto your two pizza crusts.

return your pan to the stove top and add the soy sauce/vinegar mixture add flour and whisk (I mean seriously whisk cause if you don't it'll be lumpy or really too thick)

Pour on top of your pizza crusts.

Add cheese

Bake in a 350 Degree oven for about 15 minutes

if you are reheating a pizza you will want to still use a 350 degree oven but take about 30 minutes.

You can add anything else to this pizza you want I've had it with onions, pinenuts, mushrooms, we've even added goat cheese (YUM!) But as my husband doesn't eat anything I am currently making it plain, Oh well it's still freaking good as hell.

Enjoy Everyone!!!

Haunting

2009-07-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

So I was on my way home last night and I was driving down the street (I'm not saying where cause let's face it I don't think it's that relevant.)
Heading home and I pass two cars on the side of the road, a man in the road directing traffic around the cars and, two people hugging and crying about 10 feet away from him. I assumed "my god car accident" and I saw what I thought at first was a dog or a deer or something like that and thought they had hit and killed this creature. It wasn't an animal, the image is emblazoned into my head, it was a person and I'm pretty sure they were dead. It didn't register at first cause they had this person half covered with a jacket or something like that and I was trying not to look and cause another crash. But I am certain that was a person on the side of the road. I am not sure if there was a car accident or this person was walking down the road and got hit. There was damage to one of the cars but not the other (at least not that I could tell.) My husband tells me that I need to concentrate on the road and be thankful that it isn't me or some one I love. But that person was some one that some one else loved and I can't imagine the pain that they are going through right now. I know that I've been to funerals and seen family and friends in caskets and they are (obviously) and sadly dead. But there is something surreal about seeing a dead body out of context like that. I can't even comprehend being in their shoes and being there and witnessing that. The doctors and nurses that are faced with the possibility of some one dying on their floor on a daily basis, I couldn't deal with that, I don't think I could sleep at night. I know that it wouldn't be my "fault" if I were a nurse and some one died on my watch but for real, I'm trying to handle what I saw and process it and I feel that if I write it down it might help. If you are disappointed in this post or think I should not have written it I am not sorry no one is forcing you to read this blog. If you are the family of that person and you have some how stumbled upon my blog I am SO sorry, I can't imagine what you are going through but I hope that you some day make it through this tragedy.

My crazy weekend

2009-07-21T07:19:00.001-07:00

SQUIRREL!

Have you seen UP? with his ears perked up like that, that's all I can think of. That he sees a squirrel or something that he's about to either spook at or run after. That's my boy Showoff.

So my weekend actually started on Friday (I slept till 9:15 and it's so sad when that is considered sleeping in.) Mom called and told me about a free couch that I could go out and get. I figured what the hell the cats have killed the couch we had so I figured why not. we went to her friends house loaded a couch in the van went to another house where we dropped off the couch that we had and picked up the one I was getting it worked out. I ran home changed my clothes and went out the the barn for my last ride before the show. I rode a bit and got my tests in one more time. Gave the horse a bath (cause have you seen him? Yeah basically impossible to keep a white horse white. I'm lucky he sleeps standing up.) Cleaned tack, polished my boots, packed up the trailer and helped my aunt hook the truck up and finally went home. I got home about 9ish with food in hand cause I felt bad for being out there all day and crashed around 11. I haven't gotten out of bed before 6:00 in 3 years by now and let me tell you I remember why I hated getting up that early. I am not a morning person and 4:30 is well before the sun comes out but I was WIDE AWAKE!!! I think it was part nerves, part excitement, I made sure to set out what I was wearing the night before and to hang my show clothes on the front door so I wouldn't forget them. Kissed my husbands cheek and ran out the door at 4:50 stopped for coffee (mmm the elixir of life!) water and orange juice (cause I was still getting over my cold) and was on my way officially, got to my grandfathers house around 5:45ish and sat in the kitchen with my aunt downing some donuts and coffee before we had to hit the barn make sure everyone had water, brush the horse and load him into the trailer. Can I just say I felt so bad we got him in with relatively no problems but he was visibly trembling when we got him in all the way and hooked up. (sad frightened pony.)

On the road with our trusty GPS hooked up by 6:15 and arrival time slated for 7:41 in Wadsworth. I got checked in hit the bathroom got the horse out of the trailer changed and hoped on for some practice, Mom showed up and Sarah came for the first ride. Ride number one 8:40 it got bumped to 8:32 (by choice) if the person in front of you scratches you have the option to ride early you don't have to but I figured I was there I would take it. Ride one went really well (there was smiling involved) I do have to work on my geometry (surprise) but whatever.

And we need to be "more forward" all things that I was actually aware of but after the last "disaster" I was very careful about letting him have too much freedom (I guess I need to learn to let go.)

Class number 2 was at 10:23 I had some time so we went back to the trailer took all of the tack off changed my shirt (cause with my luck I would have ruined my nice white shirt) and had some Orange juice and donuts and sat, then Dave came for the second ride (trust me I didn't expect anyone to come for the first one that was a damn early ride I even told them don't bother with the early ride that's too early and this place is at least an hour away from where any of us live) 9:45 and I'm changed tacked up and back on again, practicing before my second class.

And again smiling was involved (my geometry still sucked) but our "forwardness" was better.

the test was a bit harder but not a lot (nothing I couldn't handle) and at the end of the trip.

You got it two second place ribbons (and there were more then two of us in each class) I was over the moon about the whole thing. Dressage seems to agree with showoff. So next month we're going at it again with harder tests and hopefully good results. Bad ending to a good story the truck broke down on our way back. Lucky for us we broke down in Wellington in front of some nice mans house (Keith) and he towed the trailer back to the house for us with his truck. His wife and children came home from gymnastics before we left his girls thought they had gotten a pony. Unfortunately that means the truck is DEAD, so next month we might be riding horseback to get to the next show.

Sunday I slept till noon (did I mention I was still fending off a cold?) When I finally got out of bed I went to the grocery store picked up some essentials got home and got some cleaning done, and basically did nothing exciting. but I think I've had my excitement for the weekend with Saturday.

Good Mosh Pitting

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2009-07-16T08:44:00.001-07:00

If you have read this book you know what happens at the end and, it's sad I cried a little. But if you haven't read the book and have no desire to see this movie this post may not be for you. However if you do want to see this movie... This post may still not be for you (unless of course you have read the book then you already know what happens and there is no spoiling any of it.)

It's been a while since I've read HBP but I don't remember there being so much teenage hormones flying around, The Wealsey twins Fred and George have opened up their own gag shop with all of the things you would want to play tricks on your friends and enemies alike. Draco Malfoy has some serious personal demons that he has to face and deal with. Some how (and this part always pisses off my husband) Harry doesn't whip out the big "Bad Ass" magic, he casts some small stuff (that everyone else is casting too) but you would think being the star and "the chosen one" he would have some seriously bad ass spells and they are no where to be found.

There aren't that many action sequences one where Bellatrix (Bonham Carter) burns down the Weasley house and there is a small "battle" of sorts. Snape kills Dumbledor (Oh come on you knew it was coming) he only kills him after Malfoy can't do it (there are those personal demons I was talking about.) Harry befriends the new (ish) teacher at Hogwarts why do I say ish? well he's teached there before actually he taught Tom Riddle (Voldermort) and Harry has been charged with getting a memory from him to uncover some secrets that are of value to Dumbledor. Hermione openly falls in love with Ron (really? you're surprised?) Of course Ron had a girlfriend and it rips Hermione apart every time she sees them together. And Harry and Ginny couple up (which correct me if I'm wrong but I don't remember them all paring up in this book.)

I wish I had more to say about this movie but I don't. It was good, don't get me wrong but, it doesn't live up to the amount of hype they have gotten.

Good Mosh Pitting Everyone!!

Koko Bakery

2009-07-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

In my adventures (who am I kidding I don't have adventures I work all day) but as I was going to be going out to the barn to ride on Tuesday after work I wasn't sure what I was going to do about dinner (or if I even wanted dinner.) So on my lunch break I researched places in cleveland to get Bubble Tea

I've had bubble Tea from Phoinex Coffee and it's good but not convienent (there's one in Coventry and one on E 9th neither of those are remotly on my way home or to the barn) Koko Bakery is similar not exactaly on my way out of town but it's closer then either of the Phoinex Coffee Houses so I thought I would try it out. Well let me tell you if you are ever in Cleveland on Payne Ave. you have (and I stress the word HAVE) to go to this place, Their bubble tea is to die for and I have got to be honest it would be worth it jus to go in and take in all the pretty case displays. I haven't tried any of their regular food just bakery, a tart some cookies and the woman behind the counter threw in some kind of cake (stuff) I haven't tried it yet. I'm not sure I want to try it just yet cause I can't taste anything (stupid summer cold) so I may have to hang on to it. but look

Look at how pretty (and it tastes as good as it looks trust me.) I think the next time I go in there I will go in with the intent to order some real food.

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good mosh pitting everyone!

"Die like you live: All of a sudden"

2009-07-15T05:45:00.000-07:00

This post will probably be another botched attempt at a movie review but what the hell. We went to see Public Enemies on Saturday. First of all we went to see the 7:10 showing and there was a gentleman standing at the end of the hall of the theater telling people that the movie might start a little late (20 minutes or something like that) no big deal. Well the movie doesn't start at all because there is something wrong with the projector so we are sent across the theater with tickets in hand to another theater for the 7:40 showing completely adequate and they gave everyone who was there initially for the 7:10 showing free tickets for our trouble (really it wasn't that much trouble but now we're going to be able to see Half Blood Prince for free so whatever, I'm happy)

Johnny Depp - John Dillinger

Christian Bale - Melvin Purvis (I don't care how much of a jack ass you perceive him to be he's HOT!)

Marion Cotillard - Billy Frechette

the "good guys"

Lili Taylor - Sheriff Lillian Holley

Rory Cochrane - Carter Baum

Billy Crudup - J. Edgar Hoover

the gangsters

Alvin "Creepy" Karpis - Giovanni Ribisi

"Baby Face" Nelson - Stephen Graham

Charles "Preety Boy" Floyd - Channing Tatum

The Feds try to take down notorious gangster John Dillinger and his men (the movie was fairly predictable but I liked it anyway). I tend to have a bit of an obsession with gangsters and the mafia so it doesn't take much for me.

From 1933 - 1934 Dillingers Gang ran rapid in the Midwest, from Ohio (hey that's where I live) to South Dakota and Indiana. Dillinger and his gang were well known and beloved by the country but despite that they had made quite a record for themselves including 15 Robberies, 4 Arrests, and 3 Prison Breaks.

With a love story, gun fights and car chases, how can you go wrong? This movie is gritty, amazingly filmed and the actors chosen to portray the characters... Michael Mann couldn't have picked better people for the job.

Dillingers story begins in a prison in Indiana and ends on a cold side walk outside of the Biography Theatre in Chicago where well known prostitute Anna Sage comes to a deal with Melvin Purvis that if she "handed over" Dillinger that she could stay in the states (she's from Russia and illegally in the US). Of course for her freedom she does it, the Feds shoot Dillinger dead outside of the theatre.

that's all I got for you I don't want to give too much away, if you like Gangster movies and Johnny Depp (which who doesn't?) go see this movie.

Next Movie Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I am so excited about this movie.

Beachland Ballroom

2009-07-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

Friday July 3rd, 8 PM I arrive at Verizon wireless complete with coffee (cause seriously I am not pleasant without coffee especially staying out as late as we did) I can't remember the last time I stayed out past 11 (hell I can't remember the last time I stayed out past 10 not including doing shows cause lets face it you're lucky to get out of the theatre before 11 with most of that stuff but I digress.

So we head to The Beachland Ballroom (BTW I had no idea where that was located initially) and Dave (my wonderful loving husband) was worried (cause all things Cleveland freak him out) and he bought me Pepper Spray (cause when a thug has a gun pointed at my head the first thing I'm thinking about is how do I get to my pepper spray before he blows out my brains) but whatever makes him feel better besides I was not left alone once that night so at least I wasn't down there alone.

Read Adams blog (Adam Throws Quarters) if you want a better version of this post (as he is the one I went with and lets face it he's a much, much, MUCH better writer and story teller then I am.

The show didn't start on time (surprise!? not really)

The first act was Adam Taylor in the Ballroom

They were great, folksy, mellow, and just my pace. (oh and did I mention that in the ballroom you weren't loosing your hearing due to the size of the venue?) Incidentally he had a table set up outside the ballroom with cards and codes to get free music (although I must admit I will probably pay for mine cause lets face it, starving artists they need gas and food money too.

Next band, Hot Rails in the Tavern

Entertaining, for the most part, totally punk I would have to say yes, most of the time Adam talked to his friend (Mike?) from The Ohio Sky (which was the band that we initially came out to see) so I wandered and snapped some photos. The above one is probably my favorite of this band (I fit all of them in the frame and there's something about that hip pop that makes me smirk a little)

Next band in the Ballroom (their name escapes me) they sort of sucked, no wait what I am saying? How did that go again Adam "they have all the stage presence of 5th graders at a talent show" This is how I came up with the name 5th Graders on Parade
We thought (before they started playing) that it might be cool because you got to respect a band using old school mics and an organ. No such luck, they held no-ones attention and when I say no-ones I mean it there was a swarm of people behind Adam and I (I'd say 15 people or so) and by the time the first song was over they were gone. and by the middle of the second song we had given up as well. Adam Taylor had stayed (I'm thinking out of respect cause they sat through his set but I could be wrong)

So we headed back to the Tavern to watch

The Guile
This band held our attention (and trust me I think we both have attention spans of a 5 years old)

They were entertaining, the lead singer liked to get off stage and get in your face, guzzled beer (and spilled some PARTY FOUL!) More theatrics out of this band then the others we have seen this evening. They were loud and boisterous and very rock and roll.

We needed to give our ear drums a break after that so we stepped outside (with basically the rest of the crowd)
Ha, Ha, Ha!!!! I told you I'd post it!! this is Adam he grabbed the camera (cause to him a 35mm is fun and interesting and basically not a digital) he snapped this photo himself.
That's what you get for posting that crappy picture of me.

:-P

As we hear The Ohio Sky doing sound check we head back in (after my poor husband sends me a text asking if I'm OK) poor guy I didn't think we'd be out that late I figured that when they said the show starts at 9:00 the show would actually start at 9:00 I've learned for next time that I should never, ever go by what is on the site, local shows don't start on time what a silly girl thinking that. So I called him and assured him that I was fine (and I haven't had to pull out my pepper spray once) and that the band that we had come to see hadn't even gone on yet (this was at about 12:00 midnight)

The Ohio Sky Rocked it out!! I don't know what to say I am glad that I went.

Totally Rock and roll (catch some of the Throwing Quarters pod casts to hear their music) I don't have anything bad to say about them at all, they were entertaining and a really fun band to watch (I think I blew out my ear drums that night I've been reminded by my friend George how important earplugs are)

Next day I was up at 6 am to go and clean horse stalls (yes by choice so no I'm not complaining) but I warned my aunt that when she's yelling across the arena in my lesson to keep my head up and heels down and shoulders back and I don't do any of that, it isn't that I'm not listening it's that I still can't hear anything but I'd totally do it all over again.

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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

2009-07-07T12:49:00.000-07:00

I know I probably don't have to say it but I am SPOILER!!

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Another classic tale of good vs. evil and in the end good always wins.

Starring

Shia Le Bouf (Sam Witwicky)

Meghan Fox (Mikaela Banes)

Ramon Rodriguez (Leo Spitz, The roommate)

Josh Duhamel (Major Lennox)

John Turturro (Agent Simmons)

it's is slightly drawn out but interesting enough to keep your attention for the length of the movie

(which by the way is 2 hours and 30 minutes)

The movie starts with Sam getting ready to leave for College (and his mother having a mental break down cause "her baby is leaving") And Mikaela calling to break up cause she doesn't want to try the long distance thing. Don't fret they don't break up. However Sam finds a piece of "the cube" (if you've seen the first Transformers you know exactly what I am talking about) well he finds a piece of this cube on his shirt and drops it (through the floor cause it's radio active duh!?) and this shard brings to life all of the electronics in the kitchen of Sams home, Chaos and craziness ensue. Big explosions, fires and attacks. Bumble bee comes out of the garage to "help" (bumble bee another character that as long as you've see the first one you're good) Fire Department the whole nine yards. Basically resulting in a full house re-model. Sam stores the cube shard in a metal container and gives it to Mikalea to hold for safe keeping.

So Sam gets to College and starts seeing things (symbols specifically) and starts freaking out (at parties, in the middle of class) OH did I mention that his roommate (Leo) is a conspiracy therorists? He and his cohorts find videos of the unusual and crazy (Transformers attacks) and post them on the web. Little does he know he is about to find out how real all of this is.

Sorry back to the seeing things part, it's from coming in contact with the shard by the way. And a girl that also goes to the same school (Alison) starts to take interest in Sam when she sees this (yep she's a bad guy in disguise.) And is found in a compromising position with Sam when Mikaela comes to visit cause (you guessed it) she's got a decepticon trapped in her luggage that has been spying on her becuase the fallen knows that she has the "cube shard". (technically there was only one known cube shard on earth it was kept in a secret location and locked away. The decepticons however have sneaky ways of getting information and "hacking" into government systems they of course find where this shard is and steal it)

So bumble bee comes to the school and picks up Sam, Mikaela, Simmons and Leo and they go to Egypt (actually I think they get dropped in Egypt by a decepticon ship)

Lets face it this movie review sucks, and it's not that it wasn't a good movie it was great (with a capital G) but for some reason I am having a hard time getting it together and writing this post.

The army comes (with Optimus Prime) he's dead he died saving Sam and there is a "Key" that can turn on this huge riduculous killing machine that was built by robots (which is why they are in Egypt that's where it is DUH) or it could bring Optimus Prime back to life.

To shorten this Optimus Prime is back the bad guys are dead and all is normal (ish) again.

Sorry guys this post is very uninspired. I probably shouldn't post it at all. I think it's partly that I was just outside and that's all I can think about now is getting the heck out of this office and out from behind my desk and basking in the afternoon sun.

Next Movie

I am excited about this one and hopefully the review will not be so BLAH.

Good Mosh Pitting!!

931 Miles Later

2009-07-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

So we're going to take a trip back in time (OK not really that far back in time) but I didn't get around to posting this sooner cause I wanted to make sure I had the pictures to do the post any kind of justice.

June 22, (yes this year I told you it wasn't that far back in time).

On my way home from spinning class I call Dave so he knows I'm right behind him and will pick up dinner and smoothies and what would he like and he says "hey you want to go the Virginia this weekend? Jonathan (his brother) asked if we wanted to go and I told him it was up to you" Of course it's up to me, (then again I do usually go to my Aunts barn on Saturdays) So I called my aunt and told her basically the same thing Dave told me (that and I wanted to make sure she'd be there and not working that weekend) she said she'd be at the barn that weekend so I said OK I'm going to Virginia, I'll let you know how it goes.

Friday June 26th (Dave's Birthday) we both take the day off and sleep in (not too much) I jet out of the house to get coffee and breakfast come home so I can eat breakfast with Dave and then go to the barn to ride for a few before we have to leave for VA. When I get home we pack and then get a move on, (about 3:30 pm) we split the drive time (it's about 8 hours with stops and all) and we arrive in Virginia (Afton) at about 12:15 (yes A.M.) it was a long drive but I would totally do it again.
So we settled into our room and changed into our bathing suits and swam for a bit and then headed to the kitchen and grabbed a bite to eat before hitting the sack.

Saturday AM we wake up (around 8:00) and I peer out the window

ahhhh, can I stay here forever please?? we head to the kitchen for breakfast, coffee, eggs, bacon, sausage, cinnamon rolls, and pancakes, (did I miss anything?) YUM!!

Cindy (Jonathan's Fiance) Proceeds to call Dawn (Dawn handles the horses and we were told that we could probably ride when we got there) SIGN ME UP!! You know I can't pass up the opportunity to ride. So we gear up (when I say we I mean Frank, Mary and myself) Dawn was concerned about taking too many people out at the same time very few people on this trip have ridden before so she took three at a time.

Mary rode Rudy, Frank rode Ace and I rode Tilly. we hit the trail and everything went fairly smoothly till the end when Ace had a slight freak out and went sideways a bit. Frank didn't fall or anything but I am guess it could have very well come to that if it got any more out of control. (by the way there are 500 acres of riding trails out there) AMAZING!! it was beautiful, I never knew what it was like to fly till Tilly and I (and then Rudy and I) were cantering up hill in such a wide open space. Can I go back now?

We swam for a little bit more after our ride (Cindy, Jonathan and Dave were all up at the house swimming already) and then we loaded into two cars (boys in one girls in the other) and went to get smoothies and sandwiches and went to Belle Monte (yet another farm of theirs). The difference here is that this property is just property, and cows (just like the other place) did I forget to mention the cows? Baby cows are so cute! Also Belle Monte has a garage on it for equipment and a washroom and fridge if there are people there for the day cause that is a seriously good place to go four wheeling, (I guess) I don't four wheel but Dave does and he loves it. Us girls piled into the Gator (if you are familiar with Gators you know that they are two seaters and a small bed of sorts) I sat in the bed (I'm not complaining I volunteered) but wow did my ass hurt for a week after that I was air born so many times I've lost count but it was FUN!!!

So back to the house
we swam (again) and showered and got cleaned up for dinner (it was not only Dave's birthday on the 26th but it was his brothers birthday on the 27th) So we hit this cute little Italian Restaurant (and the food was fabulous) I wish I could remember the name cause if you are ever there you need to go. Dinner then back to sleep (around 10:30) woke the next morning around the same time (8ish) and again went for a ride (Frank and Mary had already hit the road at 6 AM crazy people) so this time I rode with Dawn (of course) Dave and his brother Jonathan. Dave rode Ace, Jonathan rode Tilly and I rode Rudy, another amazing ride we went the opposite direction from the day before (Dave even cantered I'm so proud) but pissed that I didn't get a picture of him on a horse I needed photographic evidence. hopped off changed our clothes packed our bags and headed the long drive home (that was at about 11:30 am). So all in all it was a very short trip but a good one I hope we can do it again some time it was absolutely beautiful and peaceful and perfect and I don't know how Cindy leaves that place cause I wouldn't want to ever.

so that was my all be it short but exciting road trip, I hope we do it again it was fun.

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Movie Review Time

2009-06-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

You know the drill I usually add spoilers so if you are going to see this movie I suggest you don't read any further then THIS!

The Proposal

Staring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock (Oh and did I mention Betty White? I freaking love her she's amazing!)

So the story starts out with Ryans character (Andrew) and Sandras character (Margaret) Getting ready for the busy day at work she is dressing grabbing a bite to eat and going over some prospects (she is a book editor) he is sleeping (way later then he should be) she is calm cool and organized he is flying out the door to the local Starbucks for his bosses (Margaret) morning latte (which by the way he spills all over himself) but wait he happens to drink the exact thing that she does just in case of an instance like this (she calls his bluff and calls him pathetic). Much to Margarets dismay her visa is expired (she's from Canada) and she is going to be deported, until Andrew walking into this meeting and she announces that they are engaged. Did I mention that Andrew HATES Margaret? Basically the entire office does. She's referred to as a witch and shrew. Margaret and Andrew pay a visit to the immigration office the make their "engagement" official and are called out on it (apparently the immigration office was tipped off by the supervisors at Andrew and Margarets office) They are taking a few days to get their stories straight so they travel to Sitca Alaska for Andrews grandmothers 90th birthday. What Margaret didn't know is that Andrews family are like the Rockefeller's of Alaska, they own everything in town and have a lot of money to back it up. Andrew and Margaret announce their "engagement" while they are in Alaska (and Andrews ex-girlfriend is there by the way she's adorable) and it gets suggested that they get married while they are there. Betty White (Grandma Annie) insists that they get married that weekend in the barn (it's tradition you know) because she's had 89 birthdays already she doesn't need another she'd rather see her grandson get married (before she dies). Andrews father gets a phone call from the immigration office "checking up on them" as he promised and invites the officer to Alaska to witness the wedding for himself. Also to try and get Andrew to take money to expose the fraud and walk free. (that doesn't work)

Margaret doesn't have such family ties as Andrew does her parents have passed and she has no siblings or grandparents Andrews family (even though they know how much pain and anguish she has put him through) takes her in as one of their own (it's causes a major mental breakdown) Margaret has forgotten what it's like to have family and people who are always there for you. The wedding starts out beautifully (complete with a hand me down dress that every woman in that family has worn for their own weddings) When Margaret cuts off the minister and confesses that the entire thing is a sham. Leaving the island with the immigration officer packing up her office in New York Andrew shows up wanting to marry her (for real this time) now that he's gotten to know her he's fallen in love with her and wants to help her to stay in the country.

Happy ending

Awwwwwwwwwww <3

Raise a Glass

2009-06-25T07:07:00.001-07:00

I think we all need to raise a glass on this Thursday June 25th, Justin was a best friend, a son, a brother and an amazing human being. Today would have been his 28th birthday. I know what you are thinking "why are you dwelling on the sad?" but I'm not, I think it's time to celebrate the life of a wonderful human being. Please raise a glass with me in honor of Justin I'm sure he's doing the same, forever in the sun always happy and without worry. He's raising a glass of something extremely sweet and strong and cheering all of us as we should cheer him.

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West of Cleveland the Father's Day Edition

2009-06-22T08:01:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the West of Cleveland Father's Day Edition blog. We spent the day yesterday at Stan Hwyet for their Father's day Classic car show. which I know is not exactly west of Cleveland it's more South but whatever. Normally I am pretty good with my years and makes but some of these you will have to bear with me.

This is a shot of my dad and his 1979 Corvette

Volkswagon (year and make don't ask me I just thought it was "cute" in quotation marks cause I know that cars are not supposed to be cute)

Correction I still don't have a year but the make is a Karman Ghia

this is a Triumph (again year I am not so sure of maybe 1946) I don't love this color but the car is cool and really isn't that all that matters.

Thunderbird 1955 maybe. It was one of the only t-birds that caught my eye.

Another correction by my Dad (but I was close)

1957 Thunderbird

1967 Rover TO. Don't ask me what that is exactly but it's a cool looking car.

Roadster (I'm going with late 20's early 30's)

the year and make on this one escapes me. I want to say Jag and it's going to be around the 1960's

1936 Packard (the Packards were the invited car this year)

Every year that is a featured car and this year it was Packards the Packard club of Florida was out.

1973 Ford Mustang

Mercedes Benz another one where the year escapes me but I love how the doors open up and not out.

The Row of Corvettes (can you pick out which one is Dad's)

Another Row of Cars this one was to the right of where we sat.

Jaguar

GT Shelby Cobra Replica 1965 or 66 maybe I tried not to get too close to this one for fear I might drool on it.

Ford Model T

Another Lovely shot of Dad's car.

1966 Chevrolet Corvair

1933 Auburn

1969 Mach 1 Mustang

Mini Cooper another year that escapes me but check it out.

here's a view of the back of the Mini and it's clearly European.

1958 Porche Speedster this picture does it no justice, the color is much prettier.

This is a 1948 Chrysler Woodie.

1947 Rolls Royce

1937 Rolls Royce
And a shot of the back of that same car.

Early 30's Rolls Royce.

This sign is actually the explanation for the next car

1929 Ford

1922 Cadillac (that's my sister to the left and Dad to the right)

1912 Model T Ford

And this car (not a classic by the way it's a 1988 speedster) This car runs on batteries only there are 15 of them in all makes the car weigh a lot and it doesn't make any noise when it's on which makes it really dangerous cause people expect to hear something when there is a car coming at them. The horn gets used a bunch in this car not out of being rude but just to make sure no-one gets killed. The guy who owns this car told us that you can usually get 50-60 miles per charge.

Dave said that if you closed the hood and doors that it would look like a shoe. :-P

That's all I have to say to him about that. I thought this car was cool.

So that was our Father's day it ended up getting nice and warm and sunny, (which was bad for Sarah as she was burnt to a crisp from the day before) but it was great for the rest of us. Good weather and cool cars with my family. That's all I needed to be happy.

Hope everyone else got to have an enjoyable fathers day.

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New name on my Blogroll

2009-06-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

So if you may (0r may not) have noticed there is a new name on my blog roll (actually there are several) cause I've weeded out the ones that haven't posted and the ones I don't read all that often. One of the new names is Cleveland Sandwich Board, if you live in the Cleveland area (Adam, Erin (Both of you)) I find that this blog is most helpful and frankly entertaining when wanting to find somewhere you have never been before to eat and have always wondered to yourself "Huh I wonder if that's any good". Now I know that you can only judge for yourself and that your opinion is your opinion but if you could get an "insider" view per-say wouldn't you? and who knows Cleveland Sandwich Board may give the chosen restaurant/cafe a crappy review but it's possible that you've never heard of said place till seeing it on this site and wonder if it's really as crappy as he says or if maybe, just maybe you would like it if you went there. So you go and low and behold you LOVE IT! I have not had the opportunity to go to any of these places (yet) but I plan to visit a number of them because they all sound like eclectic fun places to try and go. So if you are interested in reading some restaurant/cafe reviews and discovering what may end up being your new favorite coffee shop or sandwich shop, check it out.

http://clevelandsandwichboard.blogspot.com/

Good Mosh Pitting!!

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Weekend Fun

2009-06-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

We saw Up.Of course in 3-D cause lets face it hello you've got to see it in 3-D and (if you're my age) don't think of thriller at Disney 3-D it's more....................... background vs. foreground 3-D there is definition, it was worth it.

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

Now if you have a child who wants to see this movie I would say totally take them it's cute but (and this is a sensitive but for some people) if you have had someone older (grandparent or great aunt or uncle) in the family die recently you might not want to take them, it's pretty sad at the beginning.

Russell is funny and sweet really has no clue what the "wilderness" is. As he says "it's more wild then I expected". Russell is enthusiastic and persistent.

Mr. Fredricksen (Carl) is "not your average hero" retired balloon salesman at a theme park is being forced to leave his home which is what drives him to attach thousands of balloons to his home and fly the South America. While flying he discovers a stow away (Russell) on his porch.

Kevin is the name that Russell has given this very rare bird that is the center of the movie major trouble maker but sweet in HER own way (yes Kevin it turns out is a girl) Muntz (who I will talk about in a minute) is after Kevin because people do not believe such a bird exists and called Muntz a faker and a sham many years ago.

Dug the dog (I must admit I am a bit of a sucker for this under achieving dog) he's a golden mutt living in the wild of South America as part of a pack of dogs kept by none other then Muntz himself (oh did I mention all the dogs have the ability to talk?) Dug is sort of the nerd of the pack and constantly mocked for it. The other dogs in the pack send him on a "special" mission where Dug accidentally catches the large rare bird (Kevin).

Muntz (Charles Muntz) is a adventurer from the 1930's who inspired Carl (and late wife Ellie) to follow in his footsteps and parrot his famous mantra "adventure is out there". Charles Muntz has collected priceless relics and amazing scientific discoveries. Muntz however brought home a skeleton of the large rare bird (Kevin) and is called a fraud his discovery is discredited by the scientific world. He has vowed to bring back a live specimen for all the world to see (he fails by the way)

By the end of the movie Russell has achieved his goal and gotten his last Junior Wilderness Explorer patch and moves up in rank he and Carl become very best friends (and they gain the companionship of a talk dog)

That was our Friday.

Saturday I was up early out to the barn and working by 8ish (we needed to have a donut break first) and we loaded up the horses and went to Carlyle Park and went on a trial ride. it went well (give or take a few freak outs but nothing that knocked me off and nothing we couldn't handle). We even hit the ring for a bit cause it was open and well why not. It turns out that Showoff loves the trail riding and was actually a bit of a freak out in an unfamiliar ring by himself (which means I think it's part unfamiliar ring and part horses he's not familiar with). And possibly part me. It's completely possible that I freak out and don't realize it. But it was fun and a good afternoon and I was EXHAUSTED after we got back. I picked up pizza from Theresa's Pizza in North Ridgeville (if you live out there try their Western BBQ Chicken Pizza AMAZING! Went home ate and crashed. Crashed so hard that my sister called me and I answered the phone (little did I know) I didn't realize that I was actually on the phone till I heard Dave ask from the other room "Hey who are you talking to" and I said I was on the phone. Don't ask me how long before that point I was on the phone for I don't know and frankly neither does my sister (I asked). Sunday was lazy and fantastic we lounged around stopped by my parents house Dave helped (and when I say helped I mean he basically did all of the work) my Dad replace the valve covers in his Corvette. Now the valve covers are shiny and pretty instead of that ugly blue crap that was there before.
We hung out at the park (Dave played Basketball and I just sort of sat and hung out with Angie) But we basically lounged for the day it was nice to have a slow lazy day for once.

So that was my weekend. How was yours?

Now it's Monday I'm stuck at work and oh yeah it's raining...... AGAIN!

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Good Mosh Pitting everyone one!!

OMG WWC!

2009-06-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

So I haven't done a WWC in a really, really long time but today I am surrounded by things that are yellow and in my purse is easy,

A Yellow Rose in the flower arrangement on my desk at work

Yellow Post-it Notes on my desk (and my fabulous hand lotion next to it)

You've seen this one already and I didn't take this picutre (obviously) but I heart this skirt it's so cute

And things in my purse..........

First, a shot of the inside of my purse (yes I am super organized and never loose anything) HA

:-D

My ChapStick (an essential if you ask me)

Hand Sanitizer (it's Coconut Lime Verbena)

My GPS (I would be completely lost without it trust me)

and eclipse mints so I always have minty fresh breath.

If you would like to join the fun go the Pickled Beef on my blog roll and join us, you know you want to.

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Ruche

2009-06-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

So I've discovered this site over at lillyella, she's on my blog roll and does a regular Couture de Jour spotlight and one of the items is this gorgeous skirt

Now if you're me you think wow that looks a lot like something I could get at Anthropoligies (which I only ever get things there on mega sale cause everything is so expensive) which brings me to my second point which is it must cost a fortune but low and behold $36.99!!!! AWESOME!
So I have linked the home page here cause lets face who doesn't love a deal? And trendy clothes that don't cost a small fortune? Count me in! Happy shopping to all. :-)

http://www.shopruche.com/index.php

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Up!

2009-05-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

I am dying to see this movie.

That is all!!!

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Oh sure

2009-05-28T07:27:00.001-07:00

Oh sure I post a blog about the blog counter not working and it moves. WTF? can you tell it's a boring day? I'm pratically treating my blog like twitter today. pointless updates, "gossiping" with various people in the office, sipping my coffee, trying not to fall asleep at my desk. AGRH!!

Oh I know I'm going to post something else I found on the NODA site.

Who Can Open the Gate
This story takes you to a big pasture, filled with a lovely bunch of horses. A question has just been asked amid the herd. Let's listen in on the conversation among the many breeds of horses.
Question under discussion -- Who Can Open the Gate?"

Lipizzan: No need for opening it! When are you all going to learn how to fly?!!

Thoroughbred: I don't want to mess with that gate and I am too scared of flying! I will just jump over it and leave you all behind.

Paint: Yeah, what he said! Na Na Na Na Na Na!

Palomino: Forget it. Count me out. I am not taking any chances of messing up my chrome!

Arabian: You'll have to get somebody else to do it. I'm not messin' up my nails for no one!

Quarter Horse: Maybe if I push on it with my big buns, I could open it!

Standardbred: Pity on all of you. I'll figure it out, just give me some time.

Polo Pony: Wait just a minute, let me get my stick and give it a few bloody wacks!

Shetland: Let me at it. I'll break the stupid thing! Then you all can get out of my face.

Mule: Oh, let's just pack it in and call it a day.

Saddlebred: Now, now. I'll open it, if someone could help me with my shoes?

Fresian: I'll do it! Do you think it will mess up my hair? I always have such good hair days.

Mustang: Heck with opening it, how about I just run the whole darn fence over?

Belgian: Step back! You all aren't strong enough to do it. I'll do it. Oh, but what if I break it?

Morgan: There, there. I'll do it for you. No need to have such a big fit. Peace be with all of you. Is there anything else I could do for you after I get done with the gate?

Appaloosa: Oh, hush all of you! Ya big bunch of sissies. No one is leaving till I say so!

Percheron: I have already opened the gate while you all have been arguing! I even went down the next row and opened all the other gates. So it will be awhile before I have to listen to all of you argue again!

Another one of those things that probably only Carrie will get (probably everyone will laugh though)

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Blog Counter

2009-05-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

Is anyone elses blog counter stuck?? mine has said 141 for........... I don't know how long now and I know I've been posting. What gives?

Top 10 Signs Your Dressage Test Needs Some Work

2009-05-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

I found these on the NODA Website. I've mixed them up a bit cause there are some from each list that I really like so they're mix and matched but all in all these are funny.

1. Under judges remarks she writes only: "Nice braid job."

2. Your horse believes "free walk" means leaving the arena and heading towards the nearest patch of grass.

3. Impulsion improves only after the horse sees monsters in the decorative shrubbery near letters.

4. Your horse's response to the canter aid is - "Can't, er, what?"

5. Your halt took place in the judge's lap, instead of at X.

6. Your thoroughbred interpreted elasticity to involve trying to kick himself in the head with his back feet during the "working canter". (this one is possibly my favorite)

7. Judge's comments include words like "unusual, dramatic, explosive, and tragic".

8. Your serpentine was perfect, except that it was supposed to be a straight centerline.

9. Your circles shape reminds the judge that he should pick up eggs on the way home.

10. The judge asks you take the broken letters with you when you leave. (this one I fear happening to us after our last "experience")

And if we could manage to look like this It'll be a miracle DREAM BIG!!!

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Nothing Interesting

2009-05-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

I have absolutely nothing interesting to say except I was trolling through the news and look at the baby anteater that was born at the Tokyo zoo

It's so freaking cute!!!

Hope everyone gets a long relaxing weekend!!

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Angels and Demons

2009-05-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

This was an amazing movie if you haven't read the book I don't want to give anything away (I acutally didn't make it through the entire book cause it got awfully graphic for me). You'd never expect the "bad guy" to be who it was and the action and suspense was amazing, I liked this much better then the Da Vinci Code, I found that movie to be too............. I don't know what the word is predictable. I didn't like the end it didn't match the book (again possibly the ending of this movie doesn't match the book either but it's not sappy and corny killing the whole feel of the movie if you ask me.) so that's my short and to the point movie review (not even a movie review just sort of a "blip") but I don't want to give anything away.

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The Main Thing is That I Stayed On

2009-05-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

So as some of you know I have been back in the saddle for a little over two years now and this year instead of doing a summer musical I am going to (hopefully) do horse shows. We had our first one on Friday May 15th, I took the entire day off so I could be at the barn and get the boy a bath (he's white with some spots (sort of)) so a bath the day of is important cause the second that he rolls he's back to brown and dusty (the same horse that I am riding at the top of the page). Well so I spent the entire day at the barn preparing and getting things together and polished and organized. The show was in Avon Lake on familiar turf, Weiss field (right down the street from my childhood home) This is my first show ever.

I'll take you back several years. When I was a kid my grandparents and aunt all lived in Avon Lake which was easy so I rode (sort of) when I was a kid I wasn't good at it and I wasn't determined to do anything but ride, unfortunately I fell off when I was about ten and didn't go back to it I had school (and I wasn't a good student so extra circulars like horse back riding were not at the top of the list passing school was).

Grandpa moved and Cindy (aunt) along with him they moved to Wakeman (for those of you from Ohio that's out towards Oberlin).
That is awfully far for me and now I had jobs that required me to be there at weird-ish hours and weekends and I didn't have the time or the energy to do anything involving horses. Until about 2 years ago I got a job with the Cleveland Clinic (through a temp agency) Monday - Friday 8 - 4:30 perfect hours for me to get back into it so I go every Saturday and the occasional weekday and ride and clean and help out and get asked this past winter "hey you want to show this summer?" well of course my answer is YES so that brings us to last Friday.

The show is slated to start at 6:30 pm so we get out there and register and tack up and change (when I say we there was another girl from our barn that went as well she did much better then I did).
our class gets called at about 10:30 yes PM, we've been on since about 7:30 ish trying to get some practice in and wear out our horses (which by the way didn't work as well as I would have liked). We're asked to enter the ring at a trot (Holy Crap Run is more like it in my case) I don't know what happened but I have never pulled so hard in my entire life to try and get a horse to stop. I was even being yelled at (not really yelled at but I don't know how else to say it) to "Pull BACK!!!" and trust me I was, my nerves were shot by the end of our first class (and I was signed up for a second class) needless to say I didn't go in for the second class I traded jackets with my aunt and she went in for me there was no way showoff was getting away with running off with me that way, and he did run off with me I know he probably wasn't going as fast as it felt but I might as well have been on a race horse. Even when Cindy came out of the ring she said she had to work really hard to keep showoff in check so she realized just how hard I was pulling. I got major props for just going out there and told that I rode well (I didn't have the control I should have and those are my words no one Else's I don't know if no one else wants to have to say it to me or what but..........) So I did it I'm still alive I stayed on (barely) I didn't run over the judge (cause apparently that was an option at one time) and I wasn't asked to leave the ring (which was really big).

So our next train of thought is "I wonder if showoff would do better in a ring by himself?" so that's the next task at hand we're going to enter into a basic walk trot dressage test and see if we do any better there, in a ring by ourselves, it may be better and not so nerve racking for either of us. So that was my excitement for the weekend no I must go over and see what's making Adam famous.

Two Movie Weekend

2009-05-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

So we saw two movies this weekend, not both in the theaters one of them we rented and the other was a theater movie, the first was Star Trek.

I never really watched Star Trek but I have the basic premise of the show and I had seen it in parts once or twice. But I didn't love it, I didn't walk away calling it the worst movie I've ever seen, but it wasn't my favorite. The stupid part about this is that in actuality it isn't a bad movie the affects were good and the movie was really good but, it was all of the quint-essentially "trekie" lines that got thrown out. Dave tells me that they needed to be there because this is the original "crew" of the enterprise and that's what they said in the original but it just made those moments all the more Corny for me.

"Damn it Jim I'm a doctor not a physicist" just not all that funny to me. It did have most of the theater rolling so maybe I am in the minority or it's just that I'm not actually a fan of Star Trek. Also we had a very hard time with Zachary Quinto and I do mean we. Dave and I both couldn't get Sylar out of our heads we were waiting for some one to piss him off and for him to split open their head.

Dumb I know but he has such a distinct look that it was difficult to picture him as anyone else. He did do a very excellent job of Spock though.

The other weekend movie was Wanted

AWESOME!!! It was a great movie I've never actually heard Morgan Freeman swear so much it was a very different roll then I was used to seeing him in. I'm used to him as God in Bruce Almighty. He was bad ass!! I don't even know what to tell you about this movie, I thought it was amazing there was a lot of action, the affects were great, the language was a bit strong at times. but it was an amazing movie. If you are a fan of action and can take some blood and guts see this movie.

Aside from that there is nothing I am always working and of course it's beautiful outside (because I'm stuck inside you see).

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Next weekend Angels and Demons!! I'm excited for this movie I hope it's better then Da Vinci Code was, it looks like it's going to be amazing.

Check out how cute it is curly

2009-05-08T06:27:00.001-07:00

I'm a bit hair obsessed right now, so you all have to endure my craziness. sorry.

and the pic is a little blurry but you get the idea. it's TOTALLY cute curly!!

I Am......... also possibly a moron

2009-05-07T12:52:00.001-07:00

So I'm reading this story about the Government getting ready to erect a 9/11 memorial where the plane crashed in the field. Oh I'm sorry it isn't the government it's park services. But that's private land and I quote.
"National Park Service officials said they will begin taking land for the Flight 93 memorial in Somerset County from property owners because negotiations have been unsuccessful."

WHAT???
I'm confused, (or maybe just a moron) But isn't this the "land of the free"?? If people don't want to give up their land they shouldn't have to.

National Park Service officials said they will begin taking land for the Flight 93 memorial in Somerset County from property owners because negotiations have been unsuccessful.
The service said it will condemn about 500 acres still needed for the memorial to be built in time for the 10th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Randall Musser, who is one of seven landowners affected, said he is surprised by the Park Service's actions but understands the agency must move forward with land acquisition to finish the memorial by 2011.
Park Service representatives said they have been working with landowners for years, but negotiations have not been successful.
Musser said while there have been talks about negotiating, they have never sat down and discussed anything.
On Tuesday, Musser said a Park Services appraisers came to look at his land. Before he heard back from the appraiser, he received a letter informing him the Park Service would be using government powers to take the land.
Park Service officials said, even with homeowners willing to sell, title questions and other claims can arise that could delay the project. The Park Service will need about 1,500 acres to construct the memorial, and 500 of those acres will come from the landowners.
Flight 93 was traveling from Newark, N.J., to San Francisco when it was diverted by hijackers with the likely goal of crashing it into the White House or Capitol. The official 9/11 Commission report said the hijackers crashed the plane into a Pennsylvania field as passengers tried to wrest control of the cockpit.
Construction on the memorial is set to begin by the end of the year.
The park service planned to publicly release further details later Thursday. Stay with WJACTV.com and WJAC-TV News for continuing coverage.

Now I get it I am sorry for the lives lost that day and I know how much that has impacted the life of pretty much every American that walk this green earth. But really?? It sounds like "if you don't sell us your land we're just going to take it using our "government powers"

??????

I'm slightly annoyed.
Again possibly I am being a moron and I don't know what I am talking about but it sounds like peoples land is being taken and there is nothing they can do about it.

I Am

2009-05-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

A lover of all things Equine.

If you would like to play you need to go to the following link. http://itisjustjules.blogspot.com/

Enjoy.

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Blind Mag

2009-05-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

Newest obsession (of sorts)

Sarah Brightman as Blind Mag in the Movie Repo! The Genetic Opera.

Warning this movie is not for the faint of heart. trust me I am one of those faint of heart types and it was certinally a challenge. But it was an amazing movie and completely worth it.

It Just Keeps Getting Shorter and Shorter

2009-05-07T05:48:00.001-07:00

Just cause Adam requested pictures, and I was too stupid to notice what he was asking for at first because I was without coffee.

Before Coffee

After Coffee

And it's much shorter then it was last time I got it cut.

That's all, absolutely nothing interesting. As usual

Winner of the Kentucky Derby is a long shot!

2009-05-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

New Mexico's trainer Chip Woolley brought his first Kentucky Derby starter to the 135th running of Roses. Driving 21 hours from New Mexico, with his trainer Woolley nursing a broken leg from a winter motorcycle accident, this colt was far from a favorite in this year's race.At 50-1 odds, Mine That Bird was clearly an underdog. An inexpensive find who originally sold for only $9500 at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale, Mine That Bird more than earned his keep today with a stunning upset today at Churchill Downs -- the 2nd biggest upset in the history of the Kentucky Derby. He finished the 1 1/4 mile in 2:02 3/5 on a wet and sloppy track.
Ridden by experienced Louisiana jockey, Calvin Borel -- winner of the 2007 Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense -- Mine That Bird came from more than 15 lengths back, finding an opening on the rail and pulling ahead in a striking and unapproachable lead to win by 6 3/4 lengths. And just yesterday, Calvin Borel won the Kentucky Oaks aboard filly Rachel Alexander, said by many to be capable to beating the boys -- perhaps even Mine That Bird.
Not even 3 years old until May 10, Mine That Bird is co-owned by Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach through their partnership in the Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, New Mexico. While Dr. Blach said he was confident all along their horse would win, Mark Allen was nearly speechless with surprise. He had merely hoped to "light up the board'. Well, Mine That Bird certainly lit up the board tonight.
For a brief history of the Kentucky Derby, check out my earlier article. And tune in here tomorrow where the Sunday photo feature will feature the best shots from today's amazing race.

Great Race, and completely un-expected. Congratualtions to Mine that Bird, Calvin Borel, Chip Woolley, Mark Allen and Leonard Blach.

Looking for Amazing Food

2009-05-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

Specifically Hummus, (sorry I haven't tried the burgers yet even though I have been saying that I would)

Go to The Feve, located in Oberlin. this place is awesome, I have to be honest you need to NOT be in a hurry and be very patient. I mean lets face it this place is being run by college students and not that many of them at that. But the food is amazing and worth the wait.

That is all.

Everyone have a good weekend and have a Mint Julep!!!

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This Weekend is the Biggest Event in the Equestian Racing World!

2009-05-01T08:55:00.001-07:00

And this is the story of the very first winner of the Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Derby was fortunate to have Aristides as its first winner, for his name is exceptionally appropriate to adorn a classic race. Literally meaning "the best kind" in classical Greek, his name not only summed up his character, but it would also foreshadow the nature of the Kentucky Derby itself. While Aristides eventually ranked as the best colt of the 1875 season, the Derby has come to represent all that is finest in horse racing. The anticipatory excitement, the glamour of both equine and human participants, the festivities, the crescendo as the best three-year-olds in the land turn for home and bid for glory: this is the "best kind" of racing experience, and it was inaugurated more than a century ago when the game Aristides, "the little red horse," saved the day for his stable.
Moreover, Aristides happens to share his name with one of the most laudable figures of classical history, the Athenian statesman Aristides, who flourished in the fifth century B.C. Parallels may be drawn between Aristides the Derby winner and Aristides the statesman, foremost among them their unimpeachable integrity. The Athenian earned the nickname "Aristides the Just" because he invariably told the truth and acted in accordance with his highest ideals, even when such incorruptible honesty was to the detriment of his own self-interest.
The Derby-winning Aristides was to demonstrate similar virtues of an equine order. The Spirit of the Times would describe him as "a fellow of wonderful nervous energy and vigor, and of unyielding pluck. He will never sulk and quit in the supreme moment, but is of that peculiar mental temperament that will do or die."
Aristides was bred and campaigned by Henry Price (H.P.) McGrath. A Kentucky native, McGrath literally rose from rags to riches in a rather colorful fashion that would not have met with the approval of Aristides the Just. Originally a tailor, McGrath found gambling a much more lucrative endeavor. He had the "soul of a racketeer," in Henry Chefetz's well-turned phrase in Play the Devil. He worked his way up from shady dice games, headed west for the California Gold Rush, and lured the prospectors into gaming activities. McGrath later moved to New Orleans, where he ran a high-end gambling parlor on Carondelet St. After the Civil War, he fell into trouble with the authorities in the Crescent City and was thrown into federal prison for one year.
Upon his release, McGrath ventured to St. Louis and ultimately to New York, partnering with John Morrissey, the boxing champ-turned-politician, to operate another opulent gambling house. When Morrissey became the driving force behind the development of Saratoga Race Course, his friend McGrath assisted by serving as a timing judge at the Spa, and also by assigning weights for the handicap races.
Having amassed extraordinary wealth from his gambling proceeds, McGrath decided to return to Kentucky and establish himself as a member of the landed gentry. He purchased a 416-acre spread just north of Lexington and named it McGrathiana. On its grounds McGrath constructed a stately home styled after the United States Hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York. Twice a year, before the spring and fall race meetings at Lexington, he hosted lavish burgoo and bourbon parties for "an assemblage...that would have graced any court of Europe," in the words of the Kentucky Live Stock Record. McGrath snapped up blue-blooded Thoroughbreds from the renowned Woodburn Farm, which had achieved great success under Robert A. Alexander, and began his breeding enterprise.
In 1871, McGrath sent his mare Sarong, a daughter of the magnificent racer and 16-time leading sire Lexington, to visit the imported stallion *Leamington. A useful stayer in England, Leamington had landed the Goodwood S. and two runnings of the Chester Cup. By the time Sarong arrived at his court in Westchester, New York, he was already off to a fast start with his first crop of American runners. Leamington was eventually to rank as the nation's leading sire four times.
Back home at McGrathiana the following spring, Sarong produced a blood-red chestnut colt with a star on his forehead and a pair of white socks on his hind legs. That same year, McGrath's friend, Aristides Welch, purchased Leamington and transferred him to his Erdenheim Farm in Pennsylvania. McGrath accordingly named Sarong's little Leamington colt "Aristides" after Welch, not after the Athenian.
When the time came for his education as a racehorse, Aristides was turned over to veteran trainer Ansel Williamson, who had previously worked for Alexander at Woodburn. Ansel, as he was known, was an African-American born into slavery in Virginia around 1806. In the mid-1850s, he garnered national attention for conditioning the top-class Brown Dick for their owner T. Goldsby of Alabama. Brown Dick turned in smashing efforts in three-mile heats in New Orleans in 1855. This did not escape the notice of A. Keene Richards of Blue Grass Park in Kentucky, and the following year, Richards bought Ansel and installed him as his trainer.
Richards' wealth was largely derived from plantations in Louisiana and Alabama, and with the outbreak of the Civil War, he found himself in straitened circumstances. His friend, Alexander of Woodburn Farm, stepped in to help, by among other things, purchasing Ansel. Set free from the inhuman institution of slavery, Ansel was paid well to train Alexander's finest horses.
Ansel was a master of his craft, hailed by the Spirit of the Times as a "relic of the early turf of America, and one who has played an important part in it."
He succeeded in all forms of his discipline, whether preparing marathoners for the old-style of heat racing that was rapidly falling out of favor, or conditioning horses for the new "dash" races that were run only once. Among his best performers for Alexander were the undefeated champion Asteroid, a perfect 12-for-12, and the once-beaten Norfolk. Ansel's first top horse for McGrath was the excitable Tom Bowling, whom he soothed and managed to a sterling 14-for-17 record.
"As a judge of horseflesh he had few superiors," the Spirit of the Times observed. "His conclusions were drawn from long experience, and were delivered with a quaintness of expression and a brevity of style which pleased while it instructed."
Ansel had dedication, as well as an eye for detail, characteristics of the very best horsemen of every time and place. As the Kentucky Live Stock Record noted, "he was a remarkable industrious and attentive man to his business, which was the great secret of his success as a trainer."
Aristides was one of a trio of promising McGrath juveniles who took to the track in 1874. Interestingly, his stablemates Chesapeake and Calvin boasted more fancy entries, made well in advance of the season, than he did, according to the American Turf Register and Racing Calendar. Perhaps this was attributable to the fact that the pair were half-brothers to noted McGrath colorbearers of the past. Calvin was a half-brother to Tom Bowling, out of McGrath's blue hen mare Lucy Fowler, and Chesapeake was a half-brother to Tipperary.
In any event, Aristides came to hand early enough to make his debut on May 12, 1874, at the old Kentucky Association track in Lexington, finishing second in a half-mile sweepstakes. The small chestnut was unplaced in his next two attempts, both at a half-mile, in the Juvenile S. at Jerome Park in New York and the Hopeful S. at Long Branch, New Jersey. Aristides put forth a better effort when second in the six-furlong Thespian S. at Long Branch, but he again failed to crack the top three in the Saratoga S. going that same distance at the Spa.
Steering clear of stakes races for the rest of his juvenile campaign, Aristides won three of his last four starts in minor events. He relished stretching out to one mile in a handicap purse at Saratoga on August 18, driving to his first career victory. The improving colt cut back to five furlongs at Jerome Park and won again. At that venue one week later, Aristides finished second in a tough six-furlong affair, giving eight pounds (103 to 95) to the winner, James A. It was a sneakily good effort that stamped Aristides as a horse of some potential, for James A. had been runner-up in the Champagne S. Moreover, finishing third behind Aristides was the Champagne winner, Hyder Ali, with the top weight of 107 pounds. On that evidence, the McGrath colt had progressed quite a bit. As if to prove the point beyond any doubt, Aristides concluded his year by rolling to a convincing score in a one-mile purse at Baltimore.
Despite his upwardly mobile profile, however, he was overshadowed by the accomplishments of Chesapeake, who was regarded as the champion two-year-old of 1874. In this respect, the equine Aristides mirrored the Athenian Aristides, who was similarly in the shade of his larger-than-life political opponent, Themistocles.
Chesapeake contested high-caliber races throughout the season, capturing the August S. in his debut at Long Branch and later adding the Kentucky S. at Saratoga to his resume. Aristides and Chesapeake squared off only once, in the aforementioned Saratoga S., but it was hardly informative, as the unruly Chesapeake was left at the post.
As the 1875 season commenced, the champion Chesapeake was therefore billed as McGrath's primary three-year-old hope, with Aristides and Calvin also in the mix for the spring classics. They were under consideration not only for the big prizes in New York, like the Belmont S., but also for a brand new race in Louisville, named the Kentucky Derby. B.G. Bruce's Kentucky Live Stock Record paid a visit to McGrathiana in April and reported on the team's prospects.
Chesapeake, the first of the sophomores appearing in the article, "stands high in the betting for his Northern engagements, and is in prime preparatory condition."
The correspondent next described Aristides as a "lengthy, wiry, even-balanced horse, deep through the heart, and with long, muscular thighs," adding that "Ansel has got him pretty near a racing form already."
Indeed, the little red horse returned to action at the Lexington spring meeting, hard on the heels of one of McGrath's sumptuous burgoo and bourbon galas. In light of his late-season form at two, and his rumored fitness, Aristides was dispatched as the favorite in the prestigious Phoenix Hotel S. on May 10. Unfortunately, the track had turned into a quagmire after soaking rains, and he was spinning his wheels throughout the muddy 1 1/8-mile test. While Aristides was toiling in the rear, the up-and-coming Ten Broeck, who had raced only once as a juvenile, coasted home an impressive three-length winner. Contemporary accounts agreed that this was not the real Aristides.
"Aristides, evidently unable to act in the heavy ground, which was fetlock-deep in mud, was laboring a dozen or 15 lengths behind them," the Spirit of the Times reported.
"The colt seemed incapable of making an effort in the deep ground, and we cannot think that he exhibited anything like his true form," the Kentucky Live Stock Record opined. "Although unsuited by his formation for deep, heavy ground, we think he would have been defeated on a good track," for he did not look as physically razor-sharp as he might have been.
In contrast, the much-hyped Chesapeake was victorious in his sophomore bow in the two-mile Citizens S. at Lexington, with Ten Broeck winding up last in the five-horse field.
The Kentucky Live Stock Record was underwhelmed. Chesapeake won "after a driving and punishing finish," but "he is a sluggish rascal, and takes the whip freely." In sum, "taking all together, we do not consider it anything like an extra good race."
With that verdict, the time-honored custom of critiquing Kentucky Derby preps was born. In this vein, a whole series of questions may be imagined in retrospect. Is the juvenile champion Chesapeake all that he's cracked up to be, or is the late-developing Ten Broeck the one to follow? Was Ten Broeck merely flattered by his ability to handle the mud in the Phoenix Hotel, and consequently exposed when beaten by Chesapeake on a fast track? Should Aristides be forgiven for his flop, or is he simply a cut below as the stable's second-stringer? Arguments about the merits of performances, and the role played by track conditions, are as old as the Derby itself.

And so the stage was set for that first Kentucky Derby, on Monday, May 17, 1875, the grand opening of the Louisville Jockey Club and Driving Park Association, later called Churchill Downs. Spearheading the development of both track and Derby was Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. A grandson of the famed William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the great-nephew of Louisville founder George Rogers Clark, he deliberately sought to follow the precedent set by the English classics. Like the illustrious Epsom Derby, the Kentucky Derby was originally contested at 1 1/2 miles, and was only shortened to its present 1 1/4-mile distance in 1896.
The new race, and its host track, generated a great deal of enthusiasm. The Louisville Courier-Journal foresaw its long-term consequences:
"Today will be historic to Kentucky annals, as the first 'Derby Day,' of what promises to be a long series of annual turf festivities which we confidently expect our grandchildren 100 years hence, to celebrate in glorious continuous rejoicings, because the president (Clark) hopes to make this a duplicate for the great English turf event."
The Kentucky Live Stock Record could not quite decide whether it exceeded the level of excitement surrounding the match between Wagner and Grey Eagle in 1839:
"Never before in the history of the Kentucky turf, save the meeting in which the champions Wagner and Grey Eagle met in 1839...has there been so much interest displayed in racing. The Spring Inaugural meeting at Louisville will be far more interesting than even the great races of Wagner and Grey Eagle" because there will be more races carded, "on each of which hinge the fame and renown of a number of high mettled and high bred candidates for equine honors."
The journal envisioned the Derby as a contest that would "make this the racing center of America," while serving as "the grand trysting ground over which these great breeding States (Kentucky and Tennessee) will decide the supremacy of their youngsters."
The Kentucky Live Stock Record also thought strategically in terms of the economic impact upon Louisville:
"Louisville is the metropolis of the State, and a vast crowd of strangers will be in attendance at the race, who will leave large sums of money amongst her hotels and merchants."
Moreover, these hordes of visitors "will find a track in all its appurtenances and surroundings the equal, if not the superior, of any in America....From the report of those who have trained on the course, one and all agree that it is one of the safest, fastest, best drained and most admirable tracks in America."
Nor was this interest a strictly regional phenomenon, for the Spirit of the Times, viewing the scene from its perch in New York, was likewise captivated by the novel idea of the Kentucky Derby, "which has created deep interest throughout the country."
In addition to its national cache, the first Derby also embraced other elements that would become part of its core identity. While 19th-century celebrities, in the form of high society ladies and dapper gentlemen, graced the exclusive portions of the track, ordinary people from every station of life thronged to see the big race, many of them taking advantage of the free admission to the infield. One of those inhabiting the infield was the 13-year-old Matt Winn, the future impresario of Churchill Downs who would mold the Derby into the all-encompassing experience that it is today. Young Matt viewed the race from aboard his father's grocery wagon, and decades later in his memoir Down the Stretch, he recalled that Chesapeake was all the rage:
"They said he was a great one; one of the greatest that ever was. Little chance for any other horse. Yes, this Chesapeake would stay back until the leading pacemakers reached the turn for home, and then he would charge up at them and just run away from them. So, before the race started, I had come to believe that Chesapeake was the greatest race horse in all the world; that nothing alive could run as fast."
To set the stage for Chesapeake's closing kick, McGrath knew that a fast early pace would be essential. Accordingly, he entered Aristides to serve as his designated pacemaker, a "rabbit," who would do his job before retiring from the scene. Once again, his experience calls to mind the Athenian Aristides. Just as the little red horse was to be sacrificed for the good of Chesapeake, so was Aristides the Just sacrificed politically, to the benefit of his rival Themistocles. Aristides the Just was banished from Athens, according to the voting procedure known as ostracism, not because he did anything wrong, but because of the intrigues of Themistocles' partisans.
The statesman's banishment was cut short when Athens faced a military crisis, and Aristides returned to play a vital role in the next round of the Persian Wars. In a similar manner, the equine Aristides would also be called upon unexpectedly to rescue his owner's Derby hopes.
With all of the buzz surrounding Chesapeake, the McGrath entry was heavily favored in the wagering. McGrath turned to Ansel, a devout Christian, and asked him to enlist divine aid, according to an account published in Lynn Renau's Racing Around Kentucky.
"You must pray to the Lord to let us win with these poor horses," McGrath said.
"I don't know much about winning, Mr. McGrath," Ansel responded, "but it wouldn't do you any harm to have the Lord with you anywhere."
Fifteen three-year-olds went to the post, long before the advent of the starting gate, by lining up across the track at the half-mile pole. True to form, Chesapeake was causing trouble at first, but the starter, Col. W.H. Johnson of the Nashville Blood Horse Association, sent the field on its way in good order.
The Kentucky Live Stock Record provided color commentary:
"When they were marshaled into line, he tapped the drum to one of the most capital starts I have ever seen, the 15 going away like a platoon of cavalry, except the (unnamed) Baywood colt, who hung at the post."
Volcano flashed speed, but McCreery soon sprinted to the fore. The pace was swift by the standards of the time, a quarter-mile in :25 1/2 and a half-mile in :50. According to the McGrath game plan, Aristides was near the front, hounding McCreery every step of the way. Swinging into the backstretch, Aristides took command from the retreating McCreery and kept up the relentless march. The field began to spread out. Many were struggling to keep up, but in the case of Volcano, he was just biding his time before launching his bid.
"The others seemed to be outpaced," the Courier-Journal recapped, "for Aristides was cutting out the running at an awful speed, getting back to the finish of the mile in the neighborhood of 1:43."
With such a superb execution of tactics on the part of his rabbit, surely Chesapeake would begin to uncork his patented late run — or would he? As Aristides rounded the far turn, his African-American rider, Oliver Lewis, was beginning to throttle down on him, as he had been instructed to do. Lewis was hesitant, however, for he could not find Chesapeake, who was supposed to be flying into contention right about now. Ten thousand intent spectators were wondering the same thing.
"Where, oh where, was Chesapeake?" lamented the Courier-Journal. "Away back in the ruck and not able to do anything for his stable."
Winn knew exactly where Chesapeake was. He had his eyes trained on the colt from the start, "not paying much attention to others in the race" because he "didn't want to miss seeing Chesapeake when he moved into action….Chesapeake, instead of charging, fell back — and back. The crowd was roaring, but not for Chesapeake."
McGrath was standing at the top of the stretch, and he realized immediately that Chesapeake was a forlorn hope. Lewis, of course, could not be certain of that from his position aboard Aristides up front. Moreover, with McGrath being a celebrated gambler, Lewis had to make sure that if he kept riding, he wouldn't ruin a carefully laid betting coup. Lewis glanced at McGrath for a signal, and the owner enthusiastically waved him on, hat in hand, telling him to "go on with the good little red horse and win if he could all alone."
And so, responding to the crisis in the middle of the race, Aristides was suddenly recalled from his banishment as a rabbit. Upon him, and him alone, would the fortunes of the McGrath entry rest. But Lewis would not have driven Aristides so hard early, if he had any pretensions of winning. Now, in the most exacting of circumstances, the colt soldiered on as he braced for the inevitable challengers.
"The crowd was still roaring," Winn reminisced. "I saw a horse out in front — a horse carrying a jockey whose colors were green, with an orange band. Chesapeake's colors!"
For a split second, young Matt Winn thought that maybe Chesapeake was winning after all. But then, just as quickly, he noticed that the colt in the lead was a "bright chestnut," not a deeply colored bay like Chesapeake.
"Who was the little fellow up in front, shaking off one challenge after another, racing gamely and true to the finish line? Who was this little chestnut whirlwind?" Winn wondered, only to learn from his father that it was Chesapeake's stablemate, Aristides.
"Right gallantly did the game and speedy son of Leamington and Sarong answer the call on his forces," the Courier-Journal reported, "for he held his own all down the stretch, in spite of a most determined rush on the part of Volcano and Verdigris, and dashed under the wire the winner of one of the fastest and hardest races ever seen on a track. Aristides forced the pace all the way for his stable companion Chesapeake, and so had no respite at all, which makes his performance a very remarkable one."
As if the manner of his victory were not commendable enough, the little red colt also set a new record for the distance. His final time of 2:37 3/4 ranked as the fastest 1 1/2 miles ever run by a three-year-old up to that day.
The Kentucky Live Stock Record believed that he had scored rather comfortably:
"The race from this point home was never in doubt, Aristides winning by two lengths with something in hand."
In the process, he scored the first leg of an historic double for his sire. In 1881, Leamington's son Iroquois captured the Epsom Derby. Leamington thus became the charter member of an exclusive club of stallions who have sired winners of both the Kentucky and Epsom Derbies. In the 20th century, he would be joined by such eminences as *Blenheim II, Hyperion, Hail to Reason and Nijinsky II.
Aristides also established one of the recurring motifs of Kentucky Derby history. It would not be the last time that the supposed lesser half of the entry, the inferior representative of the stable, stole the limelight.
Ten Broeck trudged home fifth, the archetype of the massively talented horse who was just not mature enough on Derby Day. He would only reach the peak of his powers as an older campaigner. Chesapeake wound up eighth, the first in a series of two-year-old champions who failed in the Derby.
The Spirit of the Times rhapsodized about Aristides:
"His machinery is most perfectly balanced….His action is smooth, graceful, and springy; his shoulders good, heart and lungs unusually well developed; limbs most perfectly formed, clean, and hard as ivory; feet excellent; hips, thighs and gascons prominent and strong, loin perfect, and in short, the whole tout ensemble denotes a lithe, wiry, stout, never-tiring, never-to-be-worn-out racehorse."
Aristides turned in another blistering performance next time out in the one-mile Withers S. at Jerome Park. The Spirit of the Times marveled at his "terrific pace at the finish...like the recoil of a powerful spring."
Nevertheless, despite the colt's triumphs, McGrath was to render another crushing disservice to the honest Aristides, in the furtherance of a gambling scheme typical of the rough-and-tumble practices of the 19th century. Earlier in the year, he had placed a hefty wager on Calvin in the Belmont S. at Jerome Park, and if he won, McGrath stood to reap a $30,000 windfall. Therefore, Calvin must win the Belmont. Aristides was also entered, and Lewis was given his tactical instructions. Unlike Chesapeake in the Derby, Calvin came sweeping on cue in the Belmont, and Lewis had to put Aristides under a fierce hold to let the preferred stablemate win.
The Athenian Aristides had also subordinated himself to another, but he did so willingly, and for an infinitely better reason. Although it was his turn to command, in the order of rotation, he willingly yielded to the masterful general Miltiades. Aristides the Just gave up the honors for himself, in order to serve the cause of Greece. McGrath, in contrast, had compelled his Aristides to make way for a decidedly inferior animal, in a bit of skullduggery that would have shocked the conscience of the Athenian.
The legendary turf authority Walter S. Vosburgh was unequivocal about the matter in his Racing in America, 1866-1921:
"He could, and should, have won the Belmont also, but Lewis nearly pulled his head off to allow (jockey) Bob Swim to win with Calvin, and the crowd shouted: 'Let go that horse's head!'"
Aristides was defeated in his next two outings, placing second in the Ocean Hotel S. at Long Branch and third in the Travers S. at Saratoga, but he rebounded with a victory over Calvin in the two-mile Jerome S. The little red colt was then unplaced as part of the heavily favored entry with Chesapeake in the Dixie S. at Baltimore.
Might this have been another McGrath subterfuge? For the winner of the Dixie was to carry five pounds extra in the Breckinridge S. three days later. Throw the Dixie, to get a favorable weight and higher odds in the Breckinridge? Whether that was part of the strategy or not, it certainly turned out that way: Aristides went off at a generous price in the Breckinridge, the fifth choice in a five-horse field. With first-call rider Swim aboard, Aristides surged to a two-length victory, and cemented his place in the record book as the top three-year-old of 1875.
He would surely have ranked as a premier older horse as well, but he raced only three more times. At four, Aristides won both of his races in tremendous style, leading Vosburgh to declare that "at the time he seemed to be the best horse in training."
On May 10, 1876, at Lexington, he met Ten Broeck in a 2 1/8-mile sweepstakes. No one else dared to oppose them, and the affair became a match race. McGrath, at long last, was bullish about his colt, and he backed him as if defeat were out of the question. He took bets from countless Woodford County racing aficionados who believed in Ten Broeck, but he did not keep any records of their bets. McGrath's friends noted that, if Ten Broeck won, legions of people would come to him claiming that they had placed a wager with him — how was he to know?
"The little red hoss'll keep the books today," McGrath confidently asserted.

The Athenian Aristides was likewise entrusted with delicate financial responsibilities. Because of his thorough-going honesty, he was deputized to watch over the booty captured from the enemy at the battle of Marathon. Later, Aristides the Just was appointed to assess the contributions from Athens' allies in the Delian League, judging how much each could afford to pay. Only he could be perfectly impartial, and incorruptible.
The equine Aristides did, in fact, keep the books as well. He crushed Ten Broeck by five lengths in a new American record time of 3:45 1/2.
"The victor was cheered to the echo," Turf, Field, and Farm reported. "McGrath won thousands of dollars, and the speculative crowd from Woodford went home 'dead broke.'"
That was a particularly eye-popping performance from Aristides, for Ten Broeck never lost again that season, going on a tear and thrashing all comers.
Ten Broeck literally ran out of competition over the course of his career and ultimately took to racing against the clock. He set records at a wide range of distances from one to four miles, earning himself a place in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. But he was no Aristides, in the eagle-eyed view of Vosburgh: Ten Broeck "was the beau-ideal of a race-horse in appearance, but probably was overrated, for when fit and well Aristides always beat him."
Just three days after his triumph over Ten Broeck, Aristides established yet another American record by capturing a 2 1/2-mile purse in 4:27 1/2. He spotted the loose-on-the-lead Bazar either 14 or 18 pounds, depending on the source, and was all heart to collar him in the stretch.
Aristides was sidelined by injury for two years thereafter. He was not seen again under silks until May 13, 1878, at Lexington, when he came full circle in his final start. Just as in the Phoenix Hotel S. in 1875, he caught a heavy track, failed to find any traction, and was unplaced to his old foe Ten Broeck.
It was an anticlimactic end to Aristides' distinguished career. The six-year-old retired with a record of 21-9-5-1 and $18,325 in earnings. After McGrath's death in 1881, he was sold several times, and had considerable appeal as a stallion prospect. But Aristides was a disappointment at stud, and he wound up living out his days near St. Louis, where he died on June 21, 1893. This, too, comports with the evidence regarding Aristides the Just: after he had served Athens, he returned to the quiet, unassuming life of a private citizen, and he died as a man of modest means, if not outright poverty.
But history has been kind to both of them. The Athenian became a byword for moral rectitude down through the ages, and the little red horse is forever remembered as the first Kentucky Derby winner. Even though he has yet to join Ten Broeck in the Hall of Fame, Aristides has received other honors in recent years. A glorious bronze statue of the colt was cast by Carl William Regutti, capturing Aristides in full flight, and enshrined in the Churchill Downs paddock in 1987. Since 1989, a sprint stakes has been run in his honor at Churchill, a tribute to the high speed that he displayed on that very same track.
Sadly, history took much longer to give Ansel his due. In view of the pervasive racism of the day, Ansel's accomplishments, and even his complete name, were forgotten in the years after his death in 1881. When lists of Kentucky Derby winners were compiled, Aristides' trainer was mistakenly identified as "A. (or Andy) Anderson." His rightful identity belatedly restored, Ansel Williamson was duly recognized as the conditioner of the first Kentucky Derby winner, and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
Although Ansel had trained other luminaries, he will be inextricably linked to Aristides — the "best kind" of horse, who won the Kentucky Derby, the "best kind" of race.

(Mike Smith and Chocolate Candy)

(Joe Talamo and I Want Revenge)

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2009-04-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

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Quit Being Such a Whiney Bitch!!

2009-04-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

As a society we are made up of many, many personalities. All of the whiney bitches seem to work in my office. I am not a fan if super hot weather but right now I think we need to be rejoicing in the fact that we are no longer doomed to wear layers and sweaters and scarves and hats. Not that I have anything against layers and scarves (cause if you know any thing about me you know that scarves are one of my all time favorite accessories.) But seriously, it's beautiful out and it's supposed to cool down in the next couple of days (and I'm sure that then they will be complaining about it being too cold)! BLARG!!! People make me crazy.

Maybe in the middle of June or July then I will be talking about how freaking hot out it is but I don't know about you I'm sick of sitting in side all the time and being stuck in the cloudy doom and gloom. I say bring on the sunshine, screw all you crybabies that think it's too hot outside.

SLACKER!

2009-04-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

it occurs to me that I have been slacking, I haven't written a blog on two weeks and I haven't written a "decent" blog in..................... I don't think I've ever written a decent blog. So this blog will be more of that insane rambling that I am known for also some advertisement for my friend Adam over at Adam throws Quarters, he's started podcasting I am not cool enough to podcast nor should I ever have my voice recorded anyway cause it's awful. But Adam he can podcast, it's starting to sound really good and he's got good music and I suggest that you listen to Podcast #2 particularly the end cause he has a blooper reel from his 6 year old daughter that is
HI-LAR-I-OUS!!! It also helps that she's completely adorable.
but really I don't have anything interesting to say. The Ohio Sky played this weekend at the Grog Shop (and by the way if you want to hear any of their music again go to Adams blog he's got some of their stuff on his podcast #4.) And me being the old woman that I am I didn't go I don't know how you did it Adam I couldn't have gotten up on Saturday had I gone with you, Oh right I have to be up at 6:45 on Saturdays so you totally got to sleep in. You were up at what time? 9? Yeah I don't feel bad for you. but next time give me ahead of time warning that you need someone to go with and I'm there. :-P
So I've been slacking, there's nothing interesting in my life, I've decided instead of doing Music Man this summer to pursue some Horse Shows instead. A simple Saddle Club show first then the more difficult ones a few (possibly only one) dressage shows. So I'm working on my riding and posture and making sure I'm in control and not a complete freak. So if there is anyone out there that is into the equestrian life and knows about showing. Could you give me some pointers? Does the horse really loose 30% of what they know in the show ring? How do you best prepare for shows?? I didn't show when I was young I fell off when I was oh I don't know 10 and didn't get back on for years, at least not seriously, so this whole showing thing is very, very new for me.

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Oh and By the way

2009-04-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

It's April sixth!!! I know that it has happened in th past that we have snow on Easter and I think that sucks!!! It's FUCKING SNOWING outside right now!! or at least it was last time I was near a window.
GRRRRR, WTF!

Casino

2009-04-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when we are getting ready to go to Windsor I'm all for it and once we're there I turn into a super bitch?? Bet you can't guess what we did this weekend? I mean seriously there is no reason for it, Dave is super responsible and his brother and sisters went and his mom was there and I should have been having a great time instead I turned into a complete asshole. I don't mean sort of moody and crabby I mean BITCHY CRABBY!! I wouldn't have wanted to hang out with me if I were in someone Else's shoes. I was bringing the whole party down and I don't know what it was, also it's not like this is the first time this has happened. No, no this has happened before, we get ready to go on the way up there I'm fine better then fine even I'm usually great, we get there and it usually takes a few hours I'm not automatically bitchy but after a few hours I'm moody and bitchy and a complete downer. Is it the repetitive nature of gambling, the fact that none of it is skill but all chance, the fact that I get bored too easily? It isn't the money thing Dave has always been very responsible about his money and gambling he has a "Windsor" envelope and he saves some cash and that's what we go with, if we win that goes back into the "Windsor" envelope for the next time, if we loose we start all over and save again but he's responsible about it, he doesn't take money out from his credit cards he doesn't head to the ATM when he runs out of money he only spends what he comes with. So what is my problem?? I seriously think I get bored, and I guess (usually) I don't play anything, I think I need to start my own "Windsor" envelope, maybe if I had my own money I wouldn't feel so guilty taking away from his fun. maybe that's what I need to do I need to start my own envelope so that way next time we go I can sit down at a table and know that he's got his money and I've got my money. I mean I know it's no longer really "his money" or "my money" it's "our money" but when we go I feel like it's his money like if I take some of it so I can play too I'm taking away from his fun. So I end up being an insufferable bitch most of the trip cause I don't save my own little bit of money and all I do is stand (sit) there and watch him play his games?? Trust me that isn't fun, and we're usually there overnight so I stand (sit) and just watch for a long ass time. Not just a long time but a long ASS time. OK I've decided that's what I need to do, and I've mentioned it to him already too and he's said that sounds like a good idea as well. Admittedly he's given me money and I didn't do anything with it right away but I thought it was "here hold this just in case I loose what I'm playing with right now so I'll have it for later" not "here play with this have fun" I really suck at this. And now I'm frustrating myself more then I need to be. So if Dave's sisters or brother ever come across this blog I'm sorry that I was a mega bitch I don't mean to be I just am not really good at the whole casino thing. Oh and Jonathan I don't hate you so stop thinking that please.

What's more frightening then a student driver?

2009-04-02T07:09:00.001-07:00

Actually student drivers are not actually frightening they are more hilarious. but I drove past this last night,

Not this exact person obviously, but I did in fact pass up a student semi-truck driver. I know they have to learn some how but those big ass things scare me as it is. So to have a student driver behind the wheel, eekk!!

That's all I've got, sorry nothing interesting. OH except I've decided instead of doing a summer musical I'm going to do horse shows this summer but first, we need to get the bug out of Showoff's butt. I swear I thought I was going to be out of that saddle and on the ground so many times last night. He thought he should be a race horse, we played let's see how much we can scare the human tonight. ARGH!! Oh well, I've got a lot of work to do with him and we have our first show in May so I just need to buckle down and get over it.

Things that I've seen

2009-03-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

So I clearly have nothing interesting to say right now but I have some pictures that are kind of fun and I'm just going to post (cause I can damn it)

Yes fine if you "breed" welsh corgis you know that the whole long haired thing is "BAD" and this obviously isn't the exact one that I was greeted by but there is now a therapy dog at the clinic he's about 18 months or something so he's still very full of energy and he's a long haired corgi. He's so cute and all I could think is how much Justin would have loved him.

It was recently Barbie's 50th birthday and this picture is courtesy of Cake Wrecks.

DUDE THAT'S A CAKE!? I know coolest thing ever right, I've never been much of a barbie girl (I was more into my little ponies) but I think I would have like to have seen this one assembled it's so cool.

And lastly I saw this while I was walking around on St Patricks Day, I was a little disappointed in myself I should have gone to the parade it was a perfect day and I was off and I should have gone except I had no-one to go with and I wasn't about to go downtown by myself. so Instead I shopped and got some errands done (fun errands :-P) and I saw this

Appropriate no? now for those of you who don't know what Slainte means (shame on you) just kidding I can't expect everyone to be as cool as me. Slainte is Gaelic for Cheers and on St Pat's day it's just seemed all too appropriate.

Oh and there's this picture just cause I like it.

I want a GYPSY SOOOOOO BAD!!! I totally sound like a child right now but they are so pretty. Between the million o's and the "totally" I'm "like" a little kid who just wants a pony!!

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Later Peeps

Sad Day

2009-03-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

I don't really have any words cause really when a celebrity of Natasha Richardson's caliber dies what does one say? That and well, obviously I would have never known her so I'd just like to express how sad I am for her family. The movies and shows that I've seen her in she was always so extraordinary and wonderful. I'm sure that she will be missed by all who knew her and this is truly a sad day.

????

2009-03-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

So here's what I don't get, I just read this article on MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29620369/

From what I can see in this article governments (both US and Mexico) seem to have a firm grasp on the drug trafficking and what goes on. What I don't understand is that if they have such a grip on what's going on why can't they stop it? The violence, the kidnappings the be headings (yep they found 5 human heads in 5 ice chests on the side of the road in Mexico and they are pinning drugs as the cause) I think they mentioned that one of the heads is a person that is known in the community even. So if they can stop the violence and the kidnappings and be headings why aren't they?? Is it possible that the governments are in on all of this and are getting a cut of what's going on? I know that the article says that some of the "ingredients" were obtained legally but the stuff that's clearly illegal what about that?? How is that slipping through the cracks?
Just something I thought about as I was reading that, I know that I am not the smartest person in the world (hell I'm not even the smartest person in my office) but.................................. UGH I just don't understand.

Cell Phone Woes Part 2.

2009-03-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

I figured out what the problem was with my phone, (all by myself) not really Dave suggested it. I deleted his contact info and re-entered it and it worked perfectly. I still need to do the software upgrade. Translation Adam needs to do the software upgrade cause that's right I'm still a techno moron.

Also this day in history March 9, 1959

http://link.history.com/services/link/bcpid1184539009/bclid1221908710/bctid1207874426

Cell Phone Woes

2009-03-06T17:12:00.000-08:00

I am convinced that there is an entire generation of boys, guys, men, whatever you want to call them and they all have the same spiky hair cut and they all seem to work for Verizon. Sorry Adam it's true every guy that was working at your store today spiky hair. Now don't get me wrong I really like my wireless provider. They are knowledgeable and helpful but I have come to find that I am a complete techno moron. My parents have been using this term for a very long time and I used to think I knew things, I could get things done correctly and quickly, come to find out I am the latest in the line of techno morons that my family descends from. Now don't get me wrong I at least know how to turn on the computer and get on the Internet, (sorry mom) but tell me to install software onto my blackberry.......................... I have quickly turned into a ball of frustration and hate all over a little CD, and a software install, Dude I suck. I can't figure out what the hell to do, there are all these options and I don't know what I need to do or don't need to do. Make it go away!!! I'm so glad that the guy who sold me my cell phone is also a friend of mine. Because were he not also a friend he might have killed me by now. Actually probably not, the fact that I know him makes me more inclined to call him or message him when I have an issue, were it a person I didn't know they would probably never hear from me again. So, sorry Adam for making your work that much harder. And on behalf of all of the techno morons out there that you have to deal with again I apologize.

Catholic Church ARGH!!

2009-03-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

A nine-year-old girl has had an abortion after becoming pregnant with twins, it was claimed today.
The child, who lives in Brazil, was allegedly raped by her stepfather.
He has since been arrested by police and has been in jail since last week.
Despite doctors judging that the pregnancy posed a serious risk to the girl's health, the procedure was strongly opposed by the Catholic church.
Abortions are illegal in Brazil though judges can make exceptions if the pregnancy is judged to be a risk to the mother's health.
Fatima Maia, director of the hospital where the abortion was performed, said the child weighed five-and-a-half stone.
'She is very small. Her uterus doesn't have the ability to hold one, let alone two children,' she added.
However, a lawyer for the Archdiocese of Olinda and Recife, claimed the pregnancy should have gone ahead,
'It's the law of God: Do not kill. We consider this murder,' Marcio Miranda told a Brazilian newspaper.
He added that the child should have carried the babies to term and had a Caesarean section.
There are more Catholics in Brazil then any other country in the world.

SERIOUSLY??
And this isn't even one of my period enduce rants it's just a rant for rants sake.

SHE'S NINE!!!Not to mention she was raped by her stepfather, but she should have carried the children anyway and risked her own life? Catholics are ridiculous. So lets just have a hypothetical and say she had the children but died in the process, that's OK cause it's the "Law of God" not to kill?? But she was just turned into a martyer so her children can live? without a mother or father? that's a great plan. Give me a break

OH and a new Hat

2009-03-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

Yea, fine my face is crooked and fucked in this picture but we're not focusing on that part we're focusing on the new hat!! Isn't it cute? I love this hat, it was bought for me at bead paradise.

Coventry

2009-03-04T08:29:00.000-08:00

I decided to stop in to Coventry last night on my way home. It's a bit east of where I work and definitely in the wrong direction to go home but I figured what the hell. Note: I think possibly it was too cold for bubble tea as my fingers hurt from being so cold carrying my tea from Phionex to my car but whatever I haven't had bubble tea in a long time.

So as I'm walking up the sidewalk I see a sign that catches my eye, I'm acutally wondering if my eyes are playing tricks on me cause all I see is the word "Mullet" Now I know what you are saying "but Julie you're in Coventry are you really suprised?" and the answer to that is no but on my way back from Phionex I stopped and snapped a picture of their make-shift sign.

Yes ladies and gentlemen there is a new "salon" in coventry called the Crazy mullets super salon! Sadly I did not see any mullets being produced through the window nor did I see a mullet leave their shop so maybe their mullet posers!! or maybe it was just too fucking cold to stand around to see what might come walking by lastnight. That and I had to go to Verizon to try and fix a problem with my BlackBerry (BTW I am coming back today I seem to have misplaced my USB cord so the answer is no I haven't done the software upgrade yet.)

So you ask yourself (or if you're cool like me you don't ask at all cause like I already said you're cool) What the hell is bubble tea??

That is bubble tea, I know it looks scarry (I discribe this colour as grand canyon clay and yes I drank it any way) and the sales people at Verizon last night thought that the black masses in the bottom of the cup were blueberries. This is the Thai Tea flavour and the black masses at the bottom are tapioca pearls, the Thai Tea tastes a lot like Chai. You kind of need to get used to the sensation of sucking tapioca pearls through a straw but, once you get past that (or if you're like me it doesn't phase you at all) it's an awesome drink.

So that was my evening, nothing interesting or exciting just Mullets and Bubble Tea.

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I almost forgot!!!

2009-03-02T11:51:00.001-08:00

How oh how can I be so stupid?? (that's my attempt at rhyming like Dr. Seuss I know it wasn't very good or clever) I was going to wear my green eggs and ham hair clip today!!! No I don't actually own a green eggs and ham hair clip would you really be surprised if I did own one? nope me neither. But I bet they make them. Or not.... Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!

OK I know he's dead but were he alive well first of all he would be 105 years old.

Now I ask you how do you not adore Dr. Seuss?

I may even start using this Dr. Seuss quote at the end of all of my posts.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

I like it!

RANDOM!!!

2009-03-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

So Adam over at Adam throws quarters made a post about random things about himself. the rules are supposed to be 5 random things but lets face it who wants to be bound by rules (which is another point of his post) so I am going to post as many random things about myself as I want (take that!)

1. I say quirky little things like "so there" and "take that" like I am a five year old, a lot. but it usually gets a laugh SO THERE!! :-)

2. I am a follower not a leader (which would explain why I am doing this post AFTER Adam)

3. I have participated in 10+ musical theatre shows and 1 straight play

4. to elaborate on the last random fact I think I prefer the straight play although I am not sure I am very good at them the one that I was in was so much fun.

5. I really am a fan of Kanye West's song "Stronger" *Hint Hint* (not just a random fact also sort of an inside joke comment and ask if you are really interested)

6. I don't think my life is actually that interesting but I am fairly good at elaborating and adding "colorful" language to make it amusing and read-able

7. I don't give myself enough credit (for anything just ask my husband he'll tell you)

8. Not random at all I am scared to death of needles (specifically syringes sp?) Tattoo needles no problem, come after me with a syringe (correction you don't even have to come after me with it all I have to do is see it sitting there) and I crumple up like a child and scream just about as hysterically and loudly.

I think that's all I got right now, if I have additions I will add them later and if you comment I will post a link here.

So what's random (or not so random) about you??

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People are Stupid

2009-02-25T07:17:00.000-08:00

I made a trip to the local DQ last night, I know it's awfully cold for ice cream (or an ice cream like impostor cause lets face it DQ, not actually ice cream but it's close and fast.) On the drive thru window (cause I'm too lazy to get out of the car and go in) there was this sign.

Possibly you can't read it, it is at a funny angle and was taken from my car.

The sign reads as follows.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR WINDOWS CLOSED UNTIL YOUR ORDER IS COMPLETE TO ELIMINATE SNOW FROM FALLING INTO YOUR CAR.

THANK YOU

DQ MANAGEMENT

This made me laugh a bit so I questioned it cause (for once) I got an adult at the window as opposed to the irresponsible snotty teenagers that usually work there. No guarantee he is a "responsible" adult but an adult none the less. So (as I said) I questioned it and his response was that customers were actually blaming the DQ workers for the fact that they were getting snow in their car while waiting for their food. Because I don't know IT'S SNOWING OUTSIDE!!!! The sheer stupidity of people shocks me. You're getting snowed on in your car cause your window is open, there is nothing that the employees at DQ can do for you unless you expect them to hold a canopy over your car while you wait. I should not have said that people are going to think that would be proper. And by the way it wouldn't be.

Hee, Hee!!

2009-02-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

Don't worry I'm not talking about Sean Penn (yes Adam I'm looking at you)
First of all........... I have another loyal follower!! Woo-Hoo! that totally makes me cool right? Right? Oh never mind I don't care if I'm not cool. What am I talking about yes I do!!

I'm going to start a debate. Well probably not because some people don't care that much and to be honest I think the Ledger's are allowed to do whatever they want.
Here is how I see it.
It should not be up to the general public to say that they should have mentioned the disease that killed him when accepting the award on his behalf, I'm sure that they have spoken out on the proper stage in the proper settings. An award show is not that stage, and not the right setting.

Also people are criticizing them for going to the after parties and whooping it up. Really?? Because their son died they're not allowed to have fun?? ever? They're not allowed to celebrate his achievements and his life's work??

Another thing, and I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On one hand they did do a lot to honour him and his life through-out the award show but he wasn't mentioned in the in Memorandum part. Seems odd but did they leave him out because he was mentioned so much in other parts of the show?? Did they leave him out cause he won an award? I have to admit I didn't catch all of the "ceremony" so I don't know weather or not some of the other dearly departed also had awards accepted on their behalf by family. But that would be the logical reason for me is that he's been honoured by receiving an award and all of the other honourable mention.

So what is your take on all of this? I want to know.

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Bitter-ness, Silly-ness, Kittens and Travis the Chimp

2009-02-20T10:05:00.000-08:00

Wow!!! ROFLMAO!!!!!

I was just reading my posts from yesterday and they are seriously making me laugh uncontrollably at my self and my bitter-ness. Holy shit. (and breath don't forget to breath.)

In other news my friend Meghan just called me and she got new kittens (squee Kittens!!!) I love kittens. See what I meant about the rainbows and sunshine? It's back baby!!!

There really is nothing to report on today no-one is seriously pissing me off which I know, is too bad because when people piss me off, lets face it that's entertaining for everyone. I just wanted to say how hilarious I was yesterday and thank you for commenting and supporting the crazy lady ranting on about some not so serious and mostly insane shit.

Just call me Mr. Silly!!! OK Mrs. Silly I couldn't find a picture of a Mrs. Silly get off my back.

OH I do have news you know the Travis the chimp lady?? the one who he attacked, we have her here at the Clinic and I hope that they can help her and save her and I am so sad for her. Yes I am even sad (a little bit) for the owner I mean yes using him to replace her dead child and her dead husband not really normal behaviour and possibly a little mental. But knowing that she had to see her dear pet turn into a complete savage and then to see him killed. It's sad and I don't know how she sat there and watched that I would be hiding behind a seat or something I could not have watched that it would be frightening. So I hope that they are able to help her and I hope that she is able to live a normal life very soon.

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Potty Mouth

2009-02-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

When did I turn into a potty mouth sailor?? I'm not apologizing, so don't even think that I am cause if that's what you are looking for you're not going to get it. I'm just wondering when did that happen?? this blog used to be all rainbows and sunshine, Well not exactly but you know what I mean.
But now it's all Bitches, Assholes (you will notice no asterisk) and Fuckers.
When did that happen?? What has gone on here that I am so bitter and hateful?? Oh yes female hormones. Don't get any ideas I'm not pregnant and if I were I would make sure my husband were the first to know and not my 2 (correction 3) loyal followers of my mediocre blog.

But I have definitely turned into a potty mouth can someone explain this to me?

Question for all you parents

2009-02-19T11:22:00.000-08:00

In particular Dad's.
Who in their right mind comes into work claiming to be wearing their super dad cape after their child throws up in the car, they turn around to get the child cleaned up and still take them to daycare cause "well she looked fine"?

MORON!!!

Rev. Fred Phelps WOW!! What an A**Hole

2009-02-19T10:47:00.001-08:00

Remember him?? Yeah you know the asshole who protested at soldiers funerals and believes that the military deaths in the war are "god's punishment" because the United States tolerates homosexuals.
BULLSHIT!!
I am sick of being afraid of offending some one so if you are about to be offended I don't care you don't have to read this blog if I am offending you.
Well now he's been barred from entering the UK. Which if you ask me is AWESOME!
He was going over there to protest a play about the murder of Matthew Shepard and he says that God Hates the Queen Mary's College, and the fag-infested UK, England and all having to do the spreading sodomite lies via the Laramie Project , this tacky bit of cheap fag propaganda masquerading as legitimate theater.

Seriously?? Last I checked God teaches us to love everyone unconditionally (and if you are reading this and think you are going to flood my comment with homosexual hate comments you've got another thing coming I moderate mother fuckers.)

I think that Rev. Fred Phelps should be shipped off to Antarctica with his entire church and be left to die. That may be a bit harsh but seriously these are the people that give the entire Christian population a bad name. You do not have to love gay people, but do not spew hate talk about them because you don't agree with their lifestyle.
unless you are in a gay friendly place (and if you are in a gay friendly place you don't have any right to hate) Most of them do not flaunt their relationships so openly in public (mainly because they don't want to offend anyone) there are the few that don't care and feel that they should be treated as any regular couple and I absolutely agree, they are a regular couple and if you don't like it you don't have to look.
No-one is pushing this lifestyle on Rev. Phelps I wonder if he's all against the gay life style cause he's in the closet or something. He has to hate it cause if he hates it, it won't "take him over"

GAH!!!! I am in a mood today so you all better look out! I'm glad that tomorrow is Friday and I can use the weekend to wind down and chill.

Here is the article on the UK baring Rev. Phelps just so you can see exactly what I am talking about just in case you've been living under a rock.

Article Provided by MSNBC.

LONDON - An anti-gay U.S. Christian preacher and his daughter have been barred from entering Britain as they could spread "extremism and hatred," the British government said Thursday.
The Rev. Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, had been due in Britain to protest at a play about the murder of a gay man.
But British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she had decided to prevent Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper from entering the country.
"Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behavior by inciting hatred against a number of communities," a Home Office spokeswoman said.
"We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country."
Phelps believes the United States is doomed for tolerating homosexuals and that military deaths in conflicts such as Iraq are god's punishment. He organizes regular protests at events around the country. His church achieved notoriety for picketing the funerals of U.S. servicemen.
Church plans protestOn its Web site, the church said it planned to picket a performance of "The Laramie Project" on Friday at Queen Mary's College in Basingstoke, southwest of London.
The play recounts the death of gay university student Matthew Shepard, who was killed in Laramie, Wyoming, in October 1998. Phelps and members of his church, mainly made up of his extended family, staged a protest at Shepard's funeral.
"God hates the Queen Mary's College, and the fag-infested UK, England, and all having to do with spreading sodomite lies via The Laramie Project, this tacky bit of cheap fag propaganda masquerading as legitimate theater," the church's web site said.
British campaigner Peter Tatchell, founder of gay rights group Outrage!, said Phelps and his family should not be banned.
"With their extremist views, they discredit themselves and also bring great shame to the Christian religion," he said.

This is acutally sort of clever

2009-02-18T07:20:00.000-08:00

And I would totally go if I lived in London.

That sinking feeling: Audience are treated to Titanic experience as movie is screened in a swimming pool

A swimming pool was transformed into the Atlantic Ocean yesterday as moviegoers were transported back to the high seas of 1912 for a special screening of the movie Titanic.
The audience, dressed in Victorian costumes, watched the film from lifeboats during the unique High Definition screening to celebrate the 2009 Oscar season.
Organisers went all out to create the scene at the event inside the Golden Lane Leisure Centre in Central London and even filled the swimming pool with icebergs.

Presenter Alex Zane was part of the action as the fateful maiden voyage of RMS Titanic was recreated during a special High Definition screening in central London

The audience dressed in Victorian costumes and watched the action from lifeboats
'This is going to be a Titanic screening like no other!’ Richard Jakeman, head of sponsors Sky said before the event.
'Combining the excitement and intensity of watching movies in High Definition with the unique swimming pool setting should have film fans feeling like they are actually taking part in the film.'
'It's the perfect way to get into the Oscar season spirit ahead of the 81st Annual Academy Awards ceremony.'

Organisers even filled the swimming pool with 'icebergs'
The 1997 movie Titanic directed by James Cameron remains the top money-making film of all time, with $1.8 billion in world-wide ticket sales.
It launched the careers of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio who starred as doomed lovers Jack and Rose.
The movie won 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Director for and had the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time.

I mean I admit the hype of Titanic the movie was a bit much and I sort of got sick of it after the millionth time seeing it or hearing about it but watching it in a pool from a life boat surrounded by "icebergs" and fog? that would be pretty cool.

Chicago

2009-02-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

As I wait for 5 o'clock (6 more minutes) I ponder the thought of Jerry Springer as the famous Billy Flynn. Yes ladies and gentlemen Jerry Springer is the singing and dancing type. I some how never knew this. I don't know how I could have I never really followed the "career" of Jerry Springer. (5 minutes)

Apparently he's playing this part at the Cambridge Theatre in London.

(4 minutes)

And I think it sort of worries me, I mean have you seen the smut that he brings on television? I know it's funny and sort of entertaining but, (3 minutes) I don't know I just am not sure if I could take him seriously as an actor.

I know that the part of Billy Flynn isn't all that serious it's fun and campy (and I wouldn't want to be the girl playing Roxy in the scene where she is a puppet)

(2 minutes)

Cause sitting on Jerry Springers lap, GROSS!! I sort of pegged him as a pervert to be completely honest (1 minute) and maybe he's not but I don't know how do you host a show like that and be normal??

5:00 WOO-HOO!!!

Alien Life!!

2009-02-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

I am thoroughly convinced that several of these "aliens" work in my office and are not very good at hiding their "Alien" Heritage.

Alien life may be all around us (or even in us), says professor
By Fiona MacraeLast updated at 5:22 PM on 16th February 2009

Forget little green men on Mars - aliens could be right here on Earth, a leading scientist has claimed.
Cosmologist Paul Davies said it was 'entirely reasonable' to believe that we share the planet with a form of life different to anything we know of.
This 'life, but not as we know it' might be lurking in poisonous lakes or deep under the sea or could even be inside our bodies.
Professor Davies said: 'It could be right under our noses, or even in our noses. It could even be that "weird life" and real life are intermingled.'

Film fiction in 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind': But real aliens could be too small to see, Professor Paul Davies says
Calling on scientists to launch a 'mission to Earth', he said it was possible that life had evolved more than once, meaning we are not alone on our planet.
He said: 'Life as we know it appears to have had a single common ancestor, yet could life on Earth have started many times.'
'Might it exist today in extreme environments and remain undetected because our techniques are customised to the biochemistry of known life?
'If someone discovers shadow life or weird life, it will be the biggest sensation in biology since Darwin. We are simply saying "Why not let's just look for it?"
'It doesn't cost much compared with looking for weird life on Mars.'
Professor Davies, of Arizona State University, said any aliens that do exist on Earth will be too small for the naked eye to see.
Their unusual biochemistry could allow them to thrive in arsenic-rich lakes or in blistering hot vents underneath the ocean.
There is even a theory that alien particles, a tenth the size of bacteria, live inside our bodies and trigger the formation of kidney stones, the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual conference in Chicago heard.

A view of Mars from the Hubble Telescope. But alien life could be closer to home
The British-born professor said: 'Although such claims remain controversial, it is conceivable that at least some of these Lilliputian forms are alien organisms employing a radically alternative biochemistry.
'Even if alternative life does not exist now, it might have flourished in the distant past before dying out for some reason.
'In that case, scientists might still be able to find markers of their distinct biology in the geological record.
'If alternative life had a distinctly different metabolism, say, it might have altered rocks or created mineral deposits in a way that cannot be explained by the activities of known organisms.'
Even some of the bacteria that scientists find difficult to grow and work with might be weird life with an alien biochemistry, the Chicago conference heard.
The professor said that if life is proved to have evolved more than once on Earth, it would vastly boost the case for there being life on other planets.
He said: 'As more terrestrial environments are explored, it seems very likely that new and ever more exotic forms of life will be discovered.
'If this search were to uncover evidence for a second genesis, it would strongly support the theory that life is a cosmic phenomenon and lend credence to the belief that we are not alone in the universe.'
Jill Tarter of the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence project, said: 'It is really important to engage people in thinking about astrobiology and life as we don't know it on Earth.
'As we do so, it expands our perspective, it changes our point of view and it trivialises the differences between humans.
'If we can get the world to think about life in a different way, all humans as being one species, I think we can do a lot to change the world.'

General Consensus

2009-02-16T08:49:00.000-08:00

There seems to be a general consensus that people suck. I know nothing of what went on in the world yesterday because quite frankly I avoided all outside contact. I bundled up on my couch, slowly did laundry (all of the bedding smells fresh and pretty I love that smell.) and read a book most of the day (twilight) I know I've given in to the hype but it really is a good story. Possibly I have the same demeanour that a 15 year old girl has which is EEEEEE pretty boys!!! and my reading level probably isn't much higher then that of a 15 year old girl either. So what?
So of the shitty people yesterday I cannot give you any insight. Today however, there are those lovely people who are just too good to talk to the girl manning the front desk, obviously speaking to me is "beneath" them.
A simple hello I don't even insist on telling me where they are going or who they are meeting just a good morning, good afternoon?? No not even a fuck off!!!!

Now the people that work on my floor (most of them at least) are lovely always saying hello, how are you, I'm fine thank you, how was your weekend, yes mine was too short as well.
I say most of the people on my floor are lovely cause (as with everything) we definitely have our........... How do I put this without being a complete bitch? Characters, the ones who also think they are better then you, the head cases who think everyone is out to get them, and still what amazes me is that some of the nicest people on our floor are upper management. I think several of the suits around here need to take lessons from these men, they are polite and engage in small talk and even sometimes I feel, humor me in allowing me to prattle on about stupid non-important crap and they always leave smiling saying something clever, but never mean or vindictive (they save that for the privacy of their own cube.) So yes people SUCK and I just want to knock some heads together!
Maybe tomorrow will be better.

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Ode to the Letter F

2009-02-11T06:06:00.000-08:00

I was given this challenge from my friend Adam (on my blog roll he's Adam throws quarters.)

Name 10 things that I like that start with the Letter F.

If you want to play along, just comment and say that you want to play. I promise I won't give out any crappy letters (paying it forward you know since Adam, or his dog Freckles rather decided not to stick me with a crappy letter) BTW thank you for that F will be easy?? fun!!

Ten Things I like about the Letter F

Fruit Smoothies

Foggy Day in London

Fall Foliage

Flowers

Family

Fast Cars

Fashion

(Fierce!!)

Fail!

Flirting

BTW you know how hard it is to find non dirty pictures to describe this word?)

This is being added after getting a comment from Adam (since apprantly he doesn't know how to use his imagination or he just wanted me to say Fuck an expedential amount of times)

And that usually leads to my last favorite F word and you are certainly not getting a picture of

Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!!!

But since I am not actually giving a picture of my last choice I will come up with a bonus word.

Fairies

There I did it I like the letter F So there. Want to play?? write a comment!

Good Mosh Pitting

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sigh

2009-02-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

It makes me so sad that so often the pretty ones end up being complete assholes.

New Hair

2009-02-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

I wish I could say that I look like Katie Holmes now that I have gotten my hair cut (in this style)

I unfortunately am not quite that pretty. so here's the picture of the hair cut that I gave my hairstylist. and she hit it on the head. it's actually perfect.

this is what it looks like on me, not as sexy, I suppose if I were really trying and not taking the picture my self it may have looked better but I'm no good at sexy or pretty or smiling for that matter.

It work though right?? I really like it!

Good Mosh Pitting!

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Our Fabulous Cast

2009-02-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

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Corgis and Sea Kittens

2009-01-26T07:48:00.000-08:00

sorry it's been all Corgis and Sea Kittens lately, I've been trying not to make whiny sad posts, which is all I've been doing lately it seems.

But here's a change of pace, we opened "The Women" actually we opened two weeks ago, week one was a bit slow, as usual (I think that the Musical crowd greatly out weighs the Straight Play crowd) I had never done anything like this before so I wasn't even sure what to expect. Some of the other women in the show have done other much bigger things, Disney World, tours in Boston things like that. I think there are even people who have their equity cards they are all very talented and make this show great. We're all having a great time with this show and I am actually sort of sad to see it end and on the other hand it will be nice to have my weekends back for a while and take a break. I was amazed at the dynamic that we all seem to have, there is no catty-ness, no back stabbing (at least none that I know of) and everyone is very pleasant and supportive. I think it's rare that you have a cast of all women that actually get along, it really is a good cast and I hope I get to work with all of them again some time.

That's all, nothing interesting going on in my life. It's effing COLD! and my father has that death bug flu thing that seems to be going around. (I'm avoiding their house like the plague right now) so I hope he starts feeling better and doesn't give it to my mom.

Added on Tuesday January 27th Yep I should have guessed it Mom has the plague now. It seemed to last about 3 days for Dad and Mom is on day 2 so we will see how she is doing later this afternoon.

Good Mosh Pitting!

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is it me or does it seem like an oxymoron to put mosh pitting and ॐ in the same post?

Sea Kitten!!

2009-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

HA That makes me laugh!

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Corgis

2009-01-15T07:39:00.000-08:00

Just because this picture makes me smile

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Stupid brain

2009-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

So usually around the holidays my brain gets all jello like and really, really, Stupid. I think I have stupid brain syndrome. I feel like all I do anymore is work so I have nothing interesting to talk about. Unless the unexpected and sad happen (BTW sorry for all of the angst.) It just really sucks you know. I keep trying to fool myself and that probably is a bad plan, but I keep thinking my phone is going to ring and it's going to be Justin and he's going to be great! Stupid Brain! I really suck at this whole thing, I don't know what to do or say, I am lucky that he has a network of friends that I have been able to keep in contact with (or in some cases reconnect with.) well in any case, life goes on and soon (but probably not soon enough) I will not be so sad about things.

In other news I got a crack berry!!! Worst plan EVER!!! my mobile was on the fritz so I called my friend Adam and said "my phone is on the fritz! are you working today?" and he sold me a black berry (I should probably call it a pink berry since it's pink but that might be copyright infringement or something, isn't there a frozen yogurt place called pink berry??) See what I mean about SBS? I go off on tangents about copyright infringement. *sigh* I need a vacation. I swear Adam is trying to start a black berry gang or something obscene like that. all of our friends are slowly getting them. His wife (also my friend) Jen has one, our friend Josh has one and his wife (also my friend) Carrie I think is about to get one. Dude seriously what can we call ourselves? I'm done with my non-senseical (I know that is spelled wrong and is probalby not even a word but I don't care) babble now I promise and maybe some day I will have something of substance to talk about.

Good Mosh Pitting!

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I'm not sure if I'm ready for this

2009-01-02T05:55:00.000-08:00

I think that maybe I need to get it out and clue you in on the post that I made on December 23rd, it's been a very sad, hectic, numbing few weeks. So I'll start at the beginning, December 22, 2008 a normal Monday (more or less) I've just gotten to work and it's slow and kind of boring, but it's work and I'm trying to recover from the cast party the night before and the run of Scrooge. At about 2 my cell rings and it's a number that I don't know (which always makes me nervous cause I don't know if it's someone I know calling from hospital or jail etc;) so I answered it. It's Tomas (the picture from the 23rd is his brother Justin). Justin has passed away in hospital in Virgina. I wanted to pinch myself, I knew he was sick (he's been sick for the last 2 years) but it's always been able to be fixed and he's been getting better and now he's gone. Justin was a dear friend of mine for the last 10 years, any time we knew we were going to be hanging out we were attached at the hip, completely in-separable no one really understood our strange connection to each other but we had it. I got off the phone with Tomas and went straight to my bosses office told her what had happened and she immediately sent me home. I went straight to Tomas and got him to his parents, after we were done bawling our eyes out we did some reminiscing, and just sat for a while, as Tomas's dad was out getting them some food Tomas has a panic attack so I called 911 went outside to my car and pulled to the side of the drive with my lights facing the road so when I saw the ambulance I could flash them down (they have no lights on the outside of their house that face the road). As soon as the ambulance got there I got in my car and left I knew that they needed to be together as a family at that moment. Tomas called me later that night to thank me and tell me that he's OK and that he'll talk to me soon. Tuesday I woke up and couldn't stop crying that's all I can remember that day, Wednesday was Christmas eve I worked and then I went to Brunswick to my in-laws house for a party, got a flat tire on my way there and for that day, that was the straw that broke the camels back. Most of the rest of the week was a blur lots of food, lots of wrapping paper, all I knew is that my heart hurt (it still does but I'm doing a little better then I was) Saturday I went to the barn and went to Akron to visit my friends Meghan and Nick we went to Borders and got lots and lots of books for really cheap (I LOVE BOOKS!) and we went to Metro Burger (Have you heard of this place?) it's like the Chipolte of Burger joints! You go in and there's a counter with pencils and pads of paper for ordering on it, you check how big of a burger you want, what you want on it, fries, beer cheese? I was so happy! I had a burger on a wheat bun with brie cheese, portabella mushrooms, sauteed onions, and grainy mustard, we all shared two orders of fries, one regular with beer cheese (yum beer cheese) and one sweet potato fry. The food was so good and for a second I forgot to be sad. Sunday I spent the entire day on the couch cause I felt like crap (I've been so sick oh and did I mention that I had no voice on Christmas or the day before or after? not helpful) Monday I got up went to work and got sent home within two hours, on account of I was still miserable so I went home slept a bit, showered, my sister Sarah came and got me around 5ish and we went to Wellington for calling hours, it didn't even seem real, it didn't even look like him, I had determined that it didn't look like him cause he wasn't smiling. Justin was always smiling I don't think I ever saw him not smiling. We hung around there for a while and I got to meet his friends from Virgina Lee, Justin, Sean, and Grant, I am glad that he had friends like them they are all really good people and fun to hang out with. Afterwards a group of us went to Applebee's it (again) was good medicine to sit around and reminisce about Justin and who he was to each of us and just talk and laugh (we really needed that). Tuesday was the funeral did I mention that I spoke? I spoke I wasn't sure that I could do it but I knew that if ever something had happened to me before him he would have done it for me. He was an incredible human being and will always have a place in my heart, I am glad that he no longer hurts but am sad that I will never be able to just call him to say hi or talk about the non-sense things that we always talked about (Sarah Brightman, which was playing at the funeral it's what he would have wanted) mega-con, his dogs, and his undeniable obsession with all things Wonder Woman and Lynda Carter.

So Justin I will miss you but, will see you again. Until then take care of your sister. I wish you could be here to watch Addy grow up you would have been an amazing uncle.

Love you Justin.

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and now for something much happier and kind of funny (but only if you're me)

2008-12-23T10:40:00.001-08:00

It seems here at the Cleveland Clinic there is a game being played (or maybe those ornaments are supposed to be there.) I've only actually noticed them in the main lobby, but we have Christmas trees around the foundation and a few of them have "non-regulation" ornament on them (just one there doesn't seem to be more then one on any tree) can you spot what's not supposed to be there?

Yeah that random red thing............. Not supposed to be there. but I think that it's funny that people are trying to sneak ornaments on to the trees.

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Hole in my heart

2008-12-23T07:54:00.000-08:00

There is a Justin Shaped hole in my heart right now and I don't know what to say or what to do but I felt that I needed to say something cause maybe venting (more) would be helpful. As soon as I feel that I can I will make a full post about all of this.

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Wild Guess as to my next project

2008-12-16T07:04:00.000-08:00

I'll give you a hint

Yes ladies and gentlemen my first role that doesn't rely on singing and dancing. What the hell is Lester thinking? Maybe he has had a sudden vote of confidence in me or he was just desperate and needed someone on the fly. I'm going with a little bit of both. I'm excited this maybe a whole new chapter of insanity in my already insane life but I think it will be a lot of fun. The cast seems really talented and everyone seems to mesh well. It's all women (obviously) and on little girl and several of us are playing multiple miscellaneous roles. I'll be sure to keep you all updated.

Last weekend of Scrooge for anyone from Northeaster Ohio in the mood for some Christmas cheer. (it's gotten much better I promise)

Yes I said it Christmas!! Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!!! My blog my rules. if you celebrate Hanukkah then you can say Happy Hanukkah but I say Happy Christmas. SO THERE!

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And now for something completely different

2008-12-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

Life Goals? possibly. Just for fun? absolutely!
Several of these I am affriad to even answer cause I'm affraid I'm temping fate.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band. (does marching or concert count?)
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped. (not in this lifetime)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. (we call them "mental health days") but I don't do it often
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice. (recently? no but ever yes.)
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant. (Not a full meal but coffee and a muffin)
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance. (and I would like to not have to do that again!)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. (no thank you!)
65. Gone sky diving. (not planning to, either)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. (obviously a non-running one but yes and it was overwhelming)
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (does my stuffed bear count?)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone. (and I'm not planning on it either) FATE, FATE, FATE!!!!
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

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crap! Crap! Crap! BItch! BItch! BITCH!! WAHHHHHH!!!!

2008-12-12T11:07:00.001-08:00

I just attended a meeting with the other administrative assistants on my floor and let me tell you I have never heard so much bitching!! The meeting was supposed to be about a "holiday party" for the floor that was supposed to be (by the way) a potluck and next week on Thursday. There has been no discussing about any of it until today, and there is no sign in sheet. Most of the meeting was spent complaining about ordering supplies and Oh yeah their newest great idea not ordering cups anymore and bringing in miscellaneous mugs from our houses (which I get everyone always has too many mugs) but giving guests mugs to use and then we need to wash them out when they leave! (I get the other responsibility part of the job but the people suggesting this would not be caught dead washing out someelse's mug) and who wants to use a "communal" mug anyway? GROSS!!! I think my head may explode after that crap.

but for now I need to mellow and get prepared for the show tonight and get some work done. what can I think of that will help calm me down?? Puppies!! Yeah puppies are good. by the way speaking of puppies did you know that web searches for puppies are dangerous? apparently you get many, many porn sites if you simply search puppies, oh and blue jays that's apparently porn for some people across seas. Who Knew?? Not me!

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Preview Audience

2008-12-04T06:56:00.000-08:00

So rehearsal went well last night. OK the first quarter of the first act went well, around 9:00 last night the transformer that provides the theatre with power blew. We weren't sure how to proceed. Everyone changed out of their costumes and went home. We haven't actually run the show from start to finish. Yes we have run the entire show but it was second act first and first act second. So the first time we run the show from start to finish will be for the preview audience. AGRH!!!! Oh an have I mentioned that we haven't figured out curtain call yet? Yes boys and girls that's right we have no plan for curtain call. So if you live in Northeast Ohio and need a good fun (possibly train wrecky) entertaining night come see Scrooge tonight at the Cassidy Theatre in Parma Hts. Tickets for preview are 10$.

Good Mosh Pitting!

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December First

2008-12-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

Yes boys and girls it's December First. Can you believe it, I can't. I'm amazed at how quickly the holidays have snuck up on us yet again. Of course it's busy and I have had no time for anything between work and Scrooge I don't think I've had much time to see my husband, clean my house (the place is a sty) I will be so glad when tech week is over so I can get back to normalcy. Actually spending time with the husband, not going straight from work to the theatre and not getting home till 11:00. Don't get me wrong I love theatre it's fun and I'm having a great time but, I miss having just plain old hang out time with Dave. So now that I am done bitching, how is everyone? How was every one's turkey (or tofurkey in some peoples cases) day? mine was filled with pumpkintini's and lots of food and laughing and fun, and stories of my grandfather chasing his grand-daughter and her friend around on the ATV while her brother and his friend rode in the wagon and lobbed snowballs at them. All I could hear is Flight of the Valkyrie's over and over in my head every time I picture that in my head, My grandfathers neon orange stocking cap flapping in the wind as he's standing on the ATV and he's probably only going 3 miles an hour but he had a grin from ear to ear. Yes ladies and gentlemen my grandfather is the youngest 81 year old I know as he's definitely still a kid at heart.

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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

Why am I at work? I've gotten one "emergengy" phone call it's been quiet the rest of the time. The boss lady is off so I don't want to just go home and get in trouble but I want to leave because honestly this is crazy! OK I'm over it because really bitching about it isn't going to make it any better. I hope everyone had lots of good turkey and trimmings and (I had a pumpkintini) they were pretty good. And now I'm at work. I think there are about a dozen of us up here, and I'm pretty sure only 2 or 3 people actually have work to do. Yes I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE MY JOB! Oh sorry I do love my job just not the day after a holiday when there is no reason for us to even be here.

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It's that time of year again

2008-11-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

The time of year when I slowly slip into a food induced coma, that time of year when we get together and order Maggiano's for the office and have a big Thanksgiving feast. I can't believe that I am even awake enough to write this right now, I ate so much food, we had chicken pesto linguine, and baked ziti with sausage, and garlic and shrimp linguine and amazing salad with the BEST bleu cheese ever! I'm so glad we did this on a Friday I can just go home and (hopefully) lie on the couch and turn into a zombie for the rest of the evening. I hope you all have good plans for the weekend. Me I will be rehearsing because we're off next week as it is a holiday and the week after that is Tech (hell) week already so this is coming up awfully fast.

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Post with video

2008-11-20T13:04:00.000-08:00

I wish I could say this acutally was a post with a video. I was totally going to do a post with the video that my friend sent to me from the Sarah Brightman concert lastnight and talk about how incredibly jealous I was that he got to go and there is no way I'm getting to go this time around. But my computer won't recognize the video file so you'll just have to picture in your mind Sarah Brightman singing the song Anytime, Anywhere and being perfect and beautiful (as usual). Did I mention SO JEALOUS?

In the mean time my mind is sort of occupied with this little fender bender that I was in lastnight (and when I say little I mean there is no damage to either vehicle we were going about 5 miles an hour but the guy I hit says his neck hurts) I hope this doesn't blow into a big deal. It's totally stressing me out.

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Sleepwalking

2008-11-12T12:57:00.001-08:00

So my husband tells me on the phone today that he woke up last night and I was standing at the foot of the bed. I don't know what the hell is up but I do know that I've had a history of "sleepwalking" of sorts. I have never actually gotten out of bed before I usually just sit up or something like that. It really bothers me that I do that, and it really bothers me that I have no recollection of it.

GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

OK everyone think ॐ-y
Thoughts for me.

ARGH!!!! Homework!

2008-11-10T12:07:00.001-08:00

I knew there was a reason I disliked school. We have theater homework. We need to come up with a character analysis for our (duh!) Character. But where do I start with something like this. I know it's 1843 I know that my character works with her mother in a shop where they sell their wares (knitted things caps and gloves and such) but who is she? She's lower class I've already determined that She's going to have a cockney accent I've also already determined that. But who is she? a shy girl who lives with her mother most likely in back of some-ones shop. They wouldn't live in their own shop right? I mean their poor so they don't own it. GAH!!!! I am so bad at this, I'm on about 7 website right now that are all about victorian england and conditions of the working class and European History. This is so frusterating I feel like I'm in school again and I still hate doing this kind of work. I don't even know where to start. Anybody got any brighter ideas then me? (trust me it's not hard my ideas are about as bright as a 15 watt bulb). Any resources that you know of that may help me out?

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Good Mosh Pitting