Wedding Bell Blues

Not blues, actually. Greens.

Going to a wedding in Florida this weekend. This is the dress I'll be wearing. The best part? It has pockets!!!



Would love for someone to pick out some shoes to go with. The wedding itself is on the beach, with the reception afterwards at a beach hotel. I'm thinking black to go with the sash and halter.

Are the wedges I just bought not beachy enough? I'm thinking probably not. If I went with a shoe like that I'd go barefoot at the ceremony and only wear the shoes at the reception.

How I feel

With all I've had on my plate lately, I feel like this kitty.

Thanks to my new fluff link on the right.

Slammed

Sorry kiddos. Work is chaotic. House is chaotic. Leaving for Florida on Thursday. Hope to get to blog before then.

Miss you!

I on Iraq

The ubiquitous clash of the parties happening so visibly lately has really made me start to think about Iraq. Not that I hadn't before - it's always there below the surface, pulsing away like an infected wound that just won't heal. But I'm at the point where I actually want to verbalize.

We shouldn't have started the war in the first place. Certainly not under false intelligence. At the time I didn't agree with what we were doing even if the intelligence was good. If Saddam had intended to use the illusory WMDs against the US, he would have done so before 2003. True, he wasn't following the agreement he'd made with the UN by not submitting to required inspections, and that was a problem that should have been dealt with. But it wasn't a threat that justified a war.

But we went in. We shredded the country to bits. And yes, ding dong, the dictator's dead. We drew in terrorists that want to kill Americans and don't seem to have a problem with taking a few Iraqis along for the ride. I'm convinced that the real reason we're still there is so that Islamic terrorists have some Americans to target without having to set foot on our own soil. Bush will never admit publicly to that, because that's not supporting the troops, and he's not a Democrat.

Now if it were just the American military at risk, I frankly wouldn't have a problem with this. That's not an easy thing to admit to, but it's pragmatic. People who go into the armed service are expected to protect our country, and risking their lives is a clear part of that arrangement. And we are at war with a significant portion of the Islamic world, which was the case well before Dubya was elected. Maybe if the Repubs would have been more concerned about that and less interested in where Clinton was putting his dick, we could have focused on that and saved some lives. Alas, I digress.

But it's not just our troops lives that we're risking here. It's Iraqi people too - policemen and teachers and doctors and mothers and children. And I can't stand behind that.

The spousal unit argues that he doesn't pay his government to be ethical. I understand where he's coming from, but I just can't stomach that position.

So, I say let's get the heck outa Dodge. Honestly, I believe most of the bombings that are so common now will taper off when we're gone. And if they don't, well, we can go back. I think that the Iraqi infrastructure still needs triage and will for some time, but that doesn't have to be handled entirely by the US Military.

Shoes!!!!!

Since I've been homebound and thus unable to justify my crazy shoe-shopping habit of late, I haven't been posting about sweet zapatos . However, my work trip this week meant that I had a good excuse to wrassle up a new pair. This combined with Zappos new free overnight shipping option sent me to heaven.

These are what I picked out. I wore them to the office today, and though they do need just a touch of breaking in, they are mostly comfy and they look divine.


Thanks to Cat and Barb for reminding me that I've been so remiss in the shoe blogging arena.

Made up word of the day

I haven't done this in awhile. Today's word is:

blogtied - the act of employer blocking access to websites such as blogspot, thinking that they can force their employees into actually doing work.

I am blogtied while I'm at my current customer's office. Strangely enough, I do seem to be getting more work done. I can't wait to get home.

Off to Columbo

Columbus actually, but bad investigative TV is much more fun.

Any fellow geeks out there? Check this out.


Which Programming Language are You?


I was SO hoping to be Java. Pout. I don't think I could even identify Prolog if I saw it written, but I do like the description.

Good weekend. Bridal shower. Impromptu BBQ set up by the spousal unit. Fun with kerpupples at the dog park. LOVE the dog park.

Sweet Girly Retro Purple Smirk

I love that none of the songs on this Random 10 were released before 1993 (I'm not counting the Sublime song on here since it's a Marley cover). What a great year. Back when I was unlucky in love but having a great time being so, working like a madwoman getting an engineering degree, and not gunning down any of my fellow students.

Seasons Change - Expose
The Metro - Berlin
I Love You So Much It Hurts - Patsy Cline
Highway Patrolman - Johnny Cash
New Agenda - Janet Jackson
The Gypsy Baron, RV 511 - Einzugsmarsch - Strauss
Scherzo #2 in B Flat Minor - Chopin
The Reflex - Duran Duran
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses - U2
Trenchtown Rock - Sublime

Lots of blog controversy this week, which leads me to my weekly smirk.

Folks like James and Creepy sneer condescendingly at Christians because they believe in something they have no proof of. [Interesting side note: why just Christians? Why not Jews and Muslims and Hindus and.....]


Personally, I think that this incident proves that there just might be a god, and his name just might be Prince. Another reason for me to worship his Purpleness.

And in case you couldn't tell....I'm a girl. Mostly.

You Are 72% Girly

You're a pretty girly chick, and you're not ashamed to admit it (or wear pink). But you're also practical. You can hang with the guys, as long as they're not too gross!

How Girly Are You?

Gross-out

I am a festering pustule.

Actually, I am two.

I'm feeling better, but now I'm suffering from the delightful consequence that oft comes from me getting sick. Or sunburned. Or stressed. Or a hair crossed the wrong way. That consequence is a fever blister. Yes folks, I am an unfortunate carrier of herpes simplex 1. And I'm having an outbreak.

Not just one. Two.

And one is nestled firmly in the corner of the mouth, the most painful place to get one. Youch. It cracks every time I open my craw.

Ooh, here's a comforting fact I just found about this particular strain:

"In very rare cases HSV- 1 can spread spontaneously to the brain, causing herpes encephalitis, a dangerous infection that can lead to death."

Cool, huh?

And just because I know you're dying for it, here's a peek at my herpetic ulcers.

My new baby

I know what you're thinking. Crazy b!@ch got another freakin' dog.

Ha. If the city I lived in would allow it and the spousal unit wouldn't strangle me, I just might do it. Alas, not to be.

So, allow me to introduce you to my new...
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orchid!


Picked it up 2 weeks ago on special at the grocery store. And I haven't killed it or turned it blue yet. In fact, the buds have been blooming nicely so far.

How's yours doing, Chelene?

And take a look at my purse. Baby needs a brand new bag, wouldn't ya say? Any suggestions? I've been drooling over Netflix for purses, but the spousal unit is wary so I haven't taken the plunge yet.

Misled

I had people yesterday telling me they thougtht I might have strep or bronchitis. I was thinking hantavirus since we'd gone to New Mexico to help the mother-in-law unit with some yardwork over the weekend.

Went to the doctor. Strep? Negatory. Bronchitis? Nope. Flu? Nada.

A measly upper respiratory infection. I was sent on my way with a prescription for cough syrup with codeine and a note to get off work for yesterday and today.

I'm feeling somewhat better today, but not well enough to work.

Anyway, on to the tale of deception.

On my list of upcoming trips I had included a work trip to New York city, during which I'd hoped to meet the luminous Chelene in person. We were told last month that the summer meeting would happen in The Big Apple.

Last week we were polled for weekends we'd be available to make the trip. Once results were in, we were sent an email detailing the dates and location.

It's in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Don't get me wrong - I've heard Maine is beautiful, especially in August. But I seriously doubt there is a Century 21 in K'port. I've the right to be disappointed if you whet my appetite for filet mignon and then serve me lobster instead.

Death warmed over

That's me today. I don't think my chest has ever hurt this much. I'm coughing up Nickelodeon slime.

Trip to Columbus this week - off. Seeing my doctor at 1:30.

Another trip has changed too. I'll write more about that when this elephant gets off my chest.

Random 10 and Weekly Freaky

OK, I know I said I was going to start a series. So this week I'm giving you a picture of something that freaks me out - the hairless cat. It's just wrong for a kitty not to have any fur. I can seriously picture a horror movie where people are being devoured by these beasties.

And now for the music. And yes, I am aware of the missing acentos in my espanol (great, now a missing tilde too), but I tried to follow instructions for typing these characters, and it no worky.

Estoy Aqui - Shakira
Halo - Depeche Mode
Mr. Man (Duet With Jimmy Cozier) - Alicia Keys
Here Comes Santa Claus - Elvis Presley
Passover - Joy Division
The Sleeping Beauty Suite, Op. 66a - Tchaikovsky
Door - Luscious Jackson
Girls - The Beastie Boys
Machine Head - Bush
With A Shout - U2

Post yours here.

Dark days

Though I am relieved that Imus and Rutgers have mercifully shrunk back into oblivion, I'm horrified at what happened to make it so.

Now they are showing the tributes to the people that died at VA Tech. The one about the Holocaust-surviving instructor who died trying to ensure that his students escaped tugs particularly hard at my insides. This takes me back to the days following 9/11. I think I wept for like a month straight.

Lucky for me, I have the spousal unit and the kerpupples to keep me happy and centered.

Are you feeling dark too?

Ending on a less gloomy note, here's a vid of Sasha proving that she's smarter than a blanket, with Roscoe watching nervously off-camera.

Going, going.....where?

Here's a layout of the trips I'll be taking this year so far.

UPDATE:
NEXT WEEK - work trip to either or both of Columbus, OH and Birmingham, AL. I can feel your jealousy seething through the screen.

May - wedding, Sanibel Island, FL. Lovin' the beach time.

July or August - comany meeting, NYC. You bet I'll be looking your ass up Chelene. With any luck the meeting will be scheduled the weekend of the Barney's warehouse sale.

August - wedding, Orange County, CA. This is family, will be good to catch up.

September - possible week's vacation. Our plans to drive the Belgian and French coasts with friends have fallen through. So we're kicking around - Yellowstone and Montana (the spousal unit is a rabid camper), Prague, Spain (not sure where), or Ireland. Thoughts?

A Jetta-son of topics

So I have to thank Sarah again for including me on this most prestigious list of Thinking Bloggers. As such, I must pass on the love myself. I tag the following:

Mur - for wonderful tidbits from down under that I'd never find on my own as a Yank

justacoolcat - for his intriguing Random 10 lists (Steve Jobs also thanks you for my increased rate of iTunes purchases), his non-rabid liberalism, and of course his ninja bunnies

Snay - for his hilarious adventures in pizza delivery

Chelene - for her wry wit, lively yarns of dating, working, eating at restaurants I never get to go to, spirit consumption, and her razor sharp fashion sense

Tanya Espanya - for her tales of kooky relatives and upbeat sense of humor


The rules:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the origin of this award, and
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.

Goo Goo G'joob

You Are the Index Finger

You are ambitious, driven, and capable. You aren't afraid to take responsibility for your actions - or place the blame on whoever deserves it. You are honest, free thinking, and objective. You see things in your own way - and you aren't afraid to let everyone know about it. You get along well with: The Thumb Stay away from: The Ring Finger

What Finger Are You?

I am the pointer
They are the lame ones
I am the index

Thanks to Sarah Ashlee for pointing me to this quiz. Though she's a pinky and I doubt she points much. Unlike me. Goo goo g'joob.

Friday's Random 10

You Could Be Mine - Guns N' Roses
Il Mare Calmo Della Sera - Andrea Bocelli
High Hopes - Pink Floyd
Where Did It All Go Wrong - U2
Underneath It All - NIN
El Farol - Carlos Santana
Tomb of the Boom - Outkast
Blue Monday - New Order
Let's Get Retarded - Black Eyed Peas
Breathe - The Prodigy

I'm a busy, busy, busy bee with work. But my mind's eye still glances over you all periodically. Hope you're having a good Friday!

ENOUGH!!!

Will somebody please, please, please get fucking Don Imus and the fucking Rutgers basketball team off my television? Please?

Yesterday morning, the Today Show dedicated the whole first half hour to this drivel. The spousal unit finally changed the channel in disgust.

I hate to say it because I think he's creepy, but I agree with Imus - he's apologized enough.

I'm wondering why anybody is so surprised that this happened. WHAT? A shock jock made a nasty comment about someone? Blast! And how about all the rappers and comedians who say the same thing? Why is it sometimes OK? Wouldn't it be more effective for the black community to police themselves (I feel similarly about the Muslim Middle East and terrorists, BTW)?

I'm of the opinion that the team members, and most certainly the coach, are hamming it up immensely. They keep saying it's especially hurtful because he doesn't know us personally. So you're saying this would be nicer or more appropriate coming from your boyfriend, or your teacher, or your boss? Get a thicker skin, ladies. There's many worse things that could happen to you. Life is not all lollipops and hugs and butterflies and somewhere deep inside I think you know that this man bore you no ill will. He's just trying to get paid by spewing the nonsense his listeners want to hear.

And it is nonsense. I've seen interviews. There's not a nappy haired young woman in the bunch. Can't speak to Imus' other characterization, but I doubt he'd be privy to that information either.

Some years ago, Howard Stern got yanked off the air in Denver because he made comments that were offensive to surviving Columbine family members. There was no big to-do, no massive media coverage. His advertisers yanked their money and one day he was just gone. Why can't that happen now?

If it's written, it must be

Trying out a new category here, kids. Lemme know if I'm biting off more than I can chew.

The category is - things that either freak me out or make me smirk. I'll kick the series off with the latter variety.

Today's smirk - Wikipedia.

Specifically, a quote from the glorious Michael Scott in last week's episode of The Office:

"Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting the best possible information."

Don't get me wrong - I'm certainly not bashing the place. I love it and visit it nearly daily. But due to its nature, you certainly have to carefully scrutinize what you read there.

Just like pretty much the rest of the Internet.