Happy Halloween!

And Happy Birthday to me!  I'm 26 today.

DJ made sure to yell "Happy Birthday" as soon as the clock struck midnight on Halloween.  We watched 28 Days Later, which he insisted is the greatest zombie movie ever - but my money is still on Shaun of the Dead.

Since I'm working this weekend today will just be a typical day.  I've got laundry to dry this morning.  I have to run to the grocery store to pick up taco dip supplies for my charge nurse's birthday party tomorrow.

I made Halloween cupcakes & took them to work for this weekend.  You know, like you did for your birthday when you were in kindergarten. Lol!  And I'm picking up hoagies from the pizza shop around the corner for dinner.  We're having a makeshift party with four people, but that's ok with me.  Some of the other people I work with wouldn't even do that, & if I have to work on my b-day, I'm happy to at least be with people I like.

Until then, it's whatever horror movie I can find on TV.

Have a great Halloween everyone!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

This is my favorite time of year.  I love fall; the leaves changing, the smells, the cool air.  And I especially love Halloween & everything about it!

In order to get time off for my weekend away with DJ, I had to agree to work this weekend. : (

Last night was trick-or-treat night in the MIL's neighborhood that I would have loved to go to.  There are scary movie marathons I'm going to miss this weekend.  And I won't be home on Sunday night to watch the Ghost Hunters live on the Sci-Fi network.

So please, get out & trick-or-treat with your little ones, hand out lots of candy, watch a monster movie, tell some ghost stories & soak in all the fun this weekend has to offer!

And now, we've reached acceptance.

As I mentioned a few days ago my house is a train wreck.  The only thing I've managed do get done around here is litter boxes & dishes...both of which seem to regenerate overnight.  Sigh.

I can't seem to get motivated to do a ton of cleaning in the morning because I don't want to overdo it before I go to work.  My job is very physically demanding, & it would not be good for me to be run down by the time I start.  So I try to do light housework before I go (dishes, cooking, etc).

I tell myself that when I get home at night, I'll straighten up quickly & it will be taken care of.  As you might imagine, that has not been happening.  When I get home my ass gets planted in it's favorite spot while I catch up on what's been DVR'd for the night.

I've been telling myself all week that DJ is having company on Thursday, so I'll just need to be cleaned up by then.  Well, it's Thursday.  The cleaning didn't happen last night.  And I'll let you in on a little secret - it ain't happening anymore today.  I don't have time for it I've got daytime TV to watch.

Wordless Wednesday: It'll be here before you know it!

It's times like these I wish I was an electrician.

I have a confession to make.  My house is a little messy right now.  Okay, it looks like a bomb went off.  I really try to keep things tidy all the time, but it tends to get this way after my normal four day stretches at work.  I then do a big cleaning overhaul on my day off.

I mention this for several reasons.  First, yesterday was my day off, but I chose not to clean.  Secondly, I chose not to clean because yesterday was my last day off for 8 days.  Sigh.

So, I just inhaled a bagel while I was reading some blogs.  When I finish this post I'm going to peel myself off of the couch & get moving for the day.

Here's what I'm hoping to accomplish before work:

• Wash the mountain of dishes in the sink.
• Empty litter boxes.
• Take out the trash.
• Sweep & vacuum 

The one thing that's throwing a wrench in that plan is the laundry I need to dry.  It's gray outside & supposed to rain off & on for most of the week, so I can't hand laundry outside.  But we got a brand new washer & dryer delivered last week!  No problem, right?  Wrong.

Apparently there's something wrong with the line running to the dryer outlet.  When the very kind delivery man tried to turn it on, it kept turning itself back off.  So even though I own these brand new appliances, I have to find the time to go to the laundromat dry a few loads.  Great.

I'm trying to keep calm & just accept that it's not all going to get done today, because there's simply not enough time.  Unfortunately, in these situations my OCD gets the best of me.  Wish me luck!

Day 30 - Crossing the finish line.

Today is the final day of the MEme!  Although there were times when I just didn't feel like it, overall I did enjoy the experience.  The thing I learned is this:  I will never be an everyday blogger.  Sure, I'll blog almost everyday, but sometimes I just won't have time for it.  I'm okay with that too.

In any event, onto today's post.  Naturally, the prompt asks for another picture...and once again, I didn't take any.  So let's forget that part & just go with the rest:  3 good things that have happened in the last 30 days.

Here goes...

1. There was some debate about whether or not I'd be able to have off for my much anticipated upcoming getaway.  After a whole lot of unnecessary back & forth, the time off was granted!  I'm very excited.

2. Even though I work on my birthday, I celebrated with my family tonight.  We had a lot of fun.

3. I finished this MEme, which I honestly had doubts about at times.  I'm glad I did.  Thank you to everyone who followed along!

Day 29 - We're in the home stretch!

The MEme is almost over!  This was fun, but I'll be glad to get back to spur of the moment blogging.

I'll be honest.  I had an idea for this post a few days ago, & then the last few days we're pretty terrible at work.  That's important to know because all that drama spilled over to home.  DJ & I had one of those those totally pointless fights.  You know, the ones that are so pointless that you take them totally seriously at the time because you're a crazy person?  No?  Well, maybe that's just me.  Anyway, in the aftermath I questioned for a minute whether it was appropriate to go ahead with my original plan.  I decided the stupid fight was just that:  stupid.  There's no reason to change the plan.

The prompt today is:  something you could never get sick of doing.

 The answer is simple.  I will never get sick of waking up next to this guy.

I picked this picture because it looks like he was probably yelling at me not to take his picture, which would probably be his same reaction to me writing this post.  Tee hee!

You should know that after our ridiculously stupid fight (which I'll freely admit, was my fault) I had to leave for work.  I got less than 5 minutes from home before I called to apologize. 

Our relationship isn't perfect, but I don't think anyone's is.  And even though we sometimes frequently have stupid fight, I never question for a second that this is the man I want to wake up next to in the morning...except for maybe when he hogs the bed.

Day 28 - My favorite movie

This post will be short & sweet. 

My favorite movie is The American President.



Image from Google.

It's a chick flick, but the writing & acting is excellent.  I would recommend it to anyone!

Day 27 - The times, they are a changin'

This was last August at the SIL's wedding.  Even though I was just a few months away from turning 25, I couldn't resist a throwback to the My Space photo.

What has changed since then?  A lot of things, actually.

I changed jobs, which was a really difficult decision.  I had stability as a Call Center Supervisor.  I had been with the company for 5 years with benefits, vacation & lots of other perks.  The economy wasn't great, so people weren't leaving jobs like that to start over.  But I did, & it was absolutely the right thing to do.  Besides, I think the poop stories enhance my blog.  Don't you?

DJ & I moved into our new home since this picture was taken.  What a long, strange trip that's been.  The house was built for us with help from a very generous family friend.  The plan was always for us to get a mortgage & buy the property from him, & that's proving difficult because of our unusual circumstances.  It annoys me that the hold up is not our credit or anything to do with us, it's red tape at the bank.  It's frustrating because I just want to get my bill in the mail & pay for my house like everyone else.  I don't like the delay, but I know it will work out in the end.

Day 26 - European Vacation

When I was 17 I was lucky enough to spend 22 days in Europe.  I went with a group of students & a teacher from my school, but it wasn't a school trip.  This teacher goes to Europe every summer, & every other year he takes a group of students.

In those 22 days I visited Englad, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria & Germany.  I have a shit-ton of pictures from the trip, but unfortunately those were my pre-digital camera days & I don't own a scanner.  Since I can't share a picture, I'll share one of my favorite European stories.

First, you need to know that I'm an Art History buff.  I took Art History classes for 3 years in high school.  I was good at it; really, really good at it.  My love of art has never gone away.

The trip I took to Europe was during the summer after my 2nd year of Art History.  One of our scheduled stops was the Academia in Florence, Italy.  That is where Michelangelo's David is on display.  This is the David.  I think most people are familiar with it, even if they don't care about it.  I was so excited to see it & was just sure that I was going to burst into tears when I did.

Well, there were no waterworks.  Don't get me wrong, it's amazing.  It's more amazing than I could have ever imagined.  I had an emotional response, just not the one I expected.

A few days later we were at the Vatican, another scheduled stop.  There is so much amazing art at the Vatican that I didn't have time to think about one particular thing I would see.  The exterior of the building itself is a work of art, & religious or not, anyone would be in awe when they saw it.  One of the stops I did want to make at the Vatican was another of Michelangelo's great works:  La Pieta.

For those of you that don't know, La Pieta (the Pity) has been done over & over throughout art history.  It's the image of Christ with Mary immediately after he was taken off the cross.  I had seen pictures of Michelangelo's sculpture, as well as the other depictions, more times than I can count.  I wasn't expecting any fireworks, especially after having seen David.  I was so wrong.

Walking into the Vatican is like being in New York for the first time.  It is enormous, & you can't help but look up & try to take it all in.  The main room is cavernous, & there is something incredible everywhere you look. 

Just as I'm getting my bearings, a friend of mine says, "There she is." 

I turned to my right &, shoved in the corner aside of the entrance, is the La Pieta.  In hindsight, I think I it caught me off guard because I sort of expected it to be somewhere prominently displayed.  But I suppose that, in the Vatican, everything needs to be prominently displayed & you just run out of room after a while.

The point of this story is, that when I saw it for the first time I immediately burst into tears.  I'm not talking watery eyes, either.  I'm talking loudly, openly sobbing - right there, in the middle of the Vatican with a crowd of people from all over the world.

It was totally, breathtakingly beautiful.  Not to mention the back story.  If nothing else, this is the image of a mother cradling her adult son on her lap like a baby after he was murdered.  That is probably enough to make you cry, but knowing the story makes it more intense.  It also reminded me that Michelangelo lost his own mother when he was very young & what a tribute to motherhood this was.

One of the chaperones on our trip was an Art teacher.  She was crying too, even though she had seen it in person many times before.  She said something to me that's always stayed with me, "No one who hasn't seen it for themselves will ever understand."  After being there myself, I think it's absolutely right.



Image from Swagbucks.com
 

Day 25 - That's an excellent question.

What's in my purse?  Here goes:

• Wallet
• Sunglasses case
• 2 make-up bags (1 for make-up, 1 for brushes)
• Checkbook
• Gum
• 2 green pens & a highlighter (for work)
• Hair ties
• Miscellaneous change

Day 24 - La Familia

So, the picture prompts seemed like fun before I started this MEme...but now I'm getting a little sick of them.  That being said, I don't feel that way about today's prompt.  Today I'm supposed to share a picture of something that makes me happy.  Believe it or not, I can't pick just one...

Day 23 - 15 facts about me

• My birthday is on Halloween.
• I don't like gravy or marinara sauce.  Yes, I eat my mozzarella sticks plain.
• My favorite color is green.
• I've owned two cars in my life, both of which were used.  I'm hoping my next car will be new.  If it is, it will probably be a Volkswagon.
• I want to be a nurse when I grow up.
• I love to cook, but I don't do it often enough.
• I complain all the time that DJ doesn't help around the house.  The truth is, when he tries I tell him to stop.  I don't think anyone else will do it "right."
• I have struggled with my weight my whole life.  I try to eat healthy, but I'm a victim of my busy lifestyle...and my total lack of will power.  I'm addicted to carbs.
• I try to avoid caffeine as much as possible because I've had kidney stones twice.  It's really not something I want to experience ever again.
• I laugh at most inappropriate jokes.
• I swear like a drunken sailor.
• I believe there are spirits & other-worldly things around us, & I believe the people who see/experience them.
• I wish I was crafty, but I don't have the attention span to finish anything I start.
• I watch too much TV.
• I bite my nails, which I absolutely hate!

Day 22 - Better late than never

You all thought I just skipped this post yesterday, but I really wrote it weeks ago! Here's the link, How 'bout them apples, y'all?

In all seriousness, yesterday did not go my way.  As you all know I work in a nursing home.  I started there in June.  My CNA training classes started in July & lasted until the end of August.  Since then, I've been waiting to be contacted to test for my official state certification.

A few weeks ago some of the ladies from my class started getting their letters, but mine didn't come.  No biggie, right?   Except the last day I can work as an NA without being certified is November 6th.  After that, I have to do other things aside from direct care until I take my test.

Although I really don't want to do that, the real problem is this:  a coworker & I are supposed to be switching weekends soon so that DJ & I can go away November 5th, 6th & 7th.  Because of all this nonsense, I'm not sure we can switch.  In a perfect world, we would both pass our test before the end of the month.  She passed yesterday!  While she was there, she found out that I was also supposed to be there...even though no one ever notified me.  I made some calls & found out the testing facility entered my address incorrectly into their system, so I never got the letter, nor was it returned to them.  FML.

So I was on the phone with the scheduler from work yesterday trying to explain that I have non-refundable tickets to a convention & hotel reservations for that weekend.  Her response was, "Mondays are busy, so I'll get back to you by tomorrow."  Well that sounds optimistic, doesn't it?

And now, the waiting game.  I feel like my employer is not going to help with out with this, even though it's not my fault.  But if they don't, I am so going to be a thorn in their side.  I plan to plant myself in the scheduling office until they decide to do something for me...or have me removed.

Wish me luck!

Day 21 - Didn't have a camera by my side this time.

I'm supposed to share a picture of something that makes me happy.  I had this plan to take tons of pictures yesterday at my PopPop's birthday party, because my family is what makes me happy.  I had also planned to tie this into the post I skipped from earlier this week, which was supposed to be a picture of my family.

Perfect, right?  Well, it didn't happen.

They were all here, & I had my camera in my pocket the whole time.  But instead of chasing everyone around with a camera all day, I chose to participate in what makes me so happy.  Our day including:

• Discussing if what we ate was pork or turkey.  We ultimately decided it must have been "porkey."
• Several trips into the corn field behind the house, which resulted in my deck being covered in corn.
• DJ & the little ones "hunting" my cats in an attempt to get them out from under the bed.  I walked into the bedroom at one point, & my 4-year-old cousin was flat on his stomach staring under the bed saying, "If you come out, I won't find you!"
• Once again discussing my aunt's belief that my dog's name should be Cocoa instead of Ripley.
• Opening my birthday gifts from my mother & having her explain where I'll be putting all of them.  She had it all figured out when she bought them, you know.
• And of course, there were the spiked lemonade slushies.

Day 20 (On day 21) - Everyone is at church.

I did not blog yesterday.  Gasp!

My PopPop's birthday party was held at my house yesterday, & there was far too much going on.

Yesterday's Today's 1st prompt is the meaning of my blog title, Closed on Sunday.

Ever since I started working at age 16 I have hated working on Sundays.  I've always worked rotating Saturdays & several nights a week.  That has never been an issue for me.  But for some reason, Sundays just made me crazy.  I didn't have anything pressing to do, like go to church, I just simply felt that Sunday was a day to sit around & do nothing.

The second part of the story stems from me moving in with DJ.  I didn't grow up in some sprawling metropolis or anything, but it's a far cry from the rural area where we live now.  One thing that will always drive me crazy is that everything here is closed on Sundays.  We're talking restaurants, stores, etc.  Basically, any family owned business (and some not family owned too) are all closed on Sunday.  So on those days when I refuse to clean or do anything productive, there's nothing for me to do.

Ain't that a pisser?

Day 19 - Really? Another picture?

This is another "old" picture, but I like this one.  This is the MIL & I at the SIL's bridal shower last year.

Could you tell it was a Hawaiian theme?  What gave it away?

Anyway, I think I really like this picture because I'm really thankful for her.  DJ & I are in an unorthodox situation, & we all know how MIL's can be.  She's not that way. 

If he calls her to bitch about me, she usually takes my side (Don't you love it?).  She doesn't step on my toes when it comes to things in my own house, & she trusts me completely to take care of her one & only son.

I have an "interesting" relationship with my own mother, & at times it's not a good interesting.  But, MIL will  listen to me, even when she & I don't see eye to eye on things.  And whether it's what I want to hear or not, she gives her honest opinion when I ask for it.  Everyone needs someone like that.

And you know that the best part is?  I can always count on her to come get rid of the freakish monster spiders that invade our house.  I think that's a story for another day though...

Day 18 - I scream. You scream.

Something I crave a lot?

Umm...ice cream - every single day.

I could eat ice cream all the time.  Who couldn't though really? 

Unless you're lactose intolerant, that is.  In which case I'm really sorry.

This is my favorite kind of ice cream:



Image from Google.


A peanut buster parfait from Dairy Queen.  Delish!

Hold please!

I have a million things to do before I leave for work today, so I'm putting Day 17 on hold.

I'm going to combine today's prompt with a post a little later on.

But, I have not jumped ship or anything.  I'm just too busy today.

Day 16 - Do I have to pick just one?

I don't really have a "celebrity crush."

I will admit, I'm an avid Perez Hilton reader/celebrity watcher.  I can easily keep track of who is dating, who is breaking up, who is getting arrested, etc.  But for me, it's more like a hobby.  I'm not obsessed with these people.  They're pretty.  They have the fancy clothing & fancy lives we would all love.


In the interested of keeping up with the MEme, today I'm writing about Mr. Efron.  I've never (nor will I ever) see the High School Musical movies.  For the last few years when everyone was swooning over this kid, I wasn't paying much attention.  That has started to change.

I saw him in Hairspray, which is a really cute movie.  Then recently I saw him in 17 Again, also a really cute movie.  Neither of these roles were Oscar worthy or anything, but it made me notice that there's just "something" about him that I can't quite put my finger on.

These days, whenever I see him on TV read about him on Perez I find myself saying, "That one is going to make something of himself."

He really is a cutie though, isn't he?

Day 15 - It's still today, so it counts!

I'm not gonna lie - I'm phoning this one in today.

I had some stuff to do that took longer than I expected.  After that, I went to dinner...& then I just kind of forgot.  Sorry.

Anywho, the prompt for today is "something you never leave the house without."

Easy:  my iPod, Manfred iPodington.  That's his name.  It's a long story.  Click here if you care to read it.

I promise I'll do better tomorrow...maybe.  It's going to be a busy week.

Day 14 - "I transcend race, hombre."

My newest TV obsession is Eastbound & Down on HBO.  This show is hilarious.  Imagine the most ridiculous person you've ever met having no idea they're ridiculous.  That's what this show is about.

Oh, & it's also about the greatest mullet I've ever seen.



Kenny Powers is a former baseball superstar who hit rock bottom & is now trying to find his way back to the top.  It's the Office, HBO style (eg, lots of nudity & foul language).  What I mean to say is, it combines the dry, sarcastic humor I love with lots of wildly inappropriate jokes & behavior that makes you cringe - & it's uncensored!  Yay!

If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

Day 13 - And look at the stars. Don't they remind you just how feeble we are?

I have an eclectic taste in music.  My Pandora radio station list includes the following:  Jon Secada, Gin Blossoms & Cold...among other things.  I'm one of those, "I like everything," kind of people who make you crazy when you're trying to decide what radio station to choose for a long car ride.  But, it's the truth.  I'm a "greatest hits" kind of girl & can hum along with a lot of songs on the radio.

But don't get me wrong, I can delve deeply into the music & lyrics hidden on an album because they're not deemed radio worthy.  And that is why, out of all the classic rock, bubble gum pop & everything in between included in my musical library, I can name without a doubt my favorite artist.  John Mayer.

I found John while he was touring for his second album.  He actually came to little-ol'-Reading, PA for a concert because he wasn't a mega-star in those days.  I had heard the songs on the radio, but didn't know much about him.  I was tagging along to the concert with some friends, & I'm so glad I did.

Yes, there were screaming girls & soccer moms, but that's not enough to scare me away - I've seen the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys in concert.  My friends & I weren't in the last row, but we weren't up front either.  They were "eh" kind of seats, but that didn't matter either.  Because all the shrieking aside, there was the music.

Since then I've seen John many times.  I've had "eh" seats.  I've been in the third row of the Borgata casino in Atlantic City.  I've been crammed like a sardine in the front of Webster Hall in NYC.  I've gotten up at 3:30 in the morning to drive to Philadelphia & stand in line for a signing at Tower Records on Broad Street.  People have asked me why I go again & again, & the answer is simple:  the music.

He's got a velvety kind of voice - & let's be honest, he ain't exactly hard on the eyes either.




Image from Google.

But what you may not know is, he's an incredible guitar player.  I never realized it until the first time I saw him live, & it's what's kept me going back.  Even if I knew my seats were in the last row with a pole obstructing my view, I would go to his concert because the experience would be the same.

In recent years his ego has grown with his career.  He's said a lot of stupid things on Twitter & in interviews.  Most notably, he made some ridiculous comments in Playboy earlier this year.  That did not go over well with the masses, & his sarcastic sense of humor got him in some hot water.  I saw a concert in February, shortly after all this happened.  He was acting like a man making his last effort to save his career.  My friend appropriately called it his "Apology Tour 2010."

Funny thing is, it was the first time in a long time that he seemed like the John I saw in Reading way back in the day.  And he said something that night that struck a chord with me.  He sent his band off the stage & standing alone with his acoustic guitar said to the crowd, "I want to do less talking & just get back to the music."

Works for me.

Day 12 - B.F.E.

I'm supposed to share pictures of the "town" I live in, but there's really not much to show.  The town part consists of one main road where there is a bank, a post office, a tiny movie theater, a pizza shop, a small grocery store, a bar & a country decor shop.  Everything is one one place, & it's nothing spectacular.

So, I'll share these pictures instead.

These pictures were taken from my deck.  The view is definitely a lot more interesting than the post office of bank.  Although I sometimes complain about living in BFE where everything is closed on Sunday, I have to confess that I enjoy it from this angle.

I'm it.

Lisa at the The Sarcastic Lab Rat tagged me for an 8 question survey.

What you're supposed to do is answer the questions posed by the person who tagged you, then come up with 8 new questions & tag 8 new people.

I've tried this before, & it hasn't worked because the people I read don't want to be tagged.

So, I'll play along with the first part & answer Lisa's questions - which I love, because she threw in a True Blood question.  Holla at ya' girl, Trubies!

Here goes:

1.  What is your favorite food?

My MomMom's homemade pierogies. Delish!


2. If you could go anywhere on vacation (money is not an issue),  where would you go?

Greece

3. What is your perfect weekend?

Every other...when I'm not working.


4. If you could drive any car, what kind would it be?

I'd really like a Volkswagon of some sort; probably a Jetta.

5. Eric or Bill? 

Bill.  I know, I know - he did a bad thing & he wasn't honest about it, but I don't care.  The reason I watch is because of the moment in the first episode when Sookie & Bill saw each other for the first time.  I kid you not, that look got me hooked!  So, yeah, Bill...forever & ever & always.


6. Who is your favorite author?
 
 James Frey, no matter what Oprah says about him.  He's amazing.  I've read My Friend Leonard 5 times, & I cry like a baby every single time. 

7. What is the last movie you saw?

Iron Man 2.  I love Robert Downey Jr.  He's delish like the pierogies.


8. If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?

I would have gone to college right out of high school.  Some how, some way - in spite of my mother - I would have gone to school.

Day 11 - Keep it simple

What's in my make-up bag? 

The essentials:  bare minerals foundation, bare minerals bronzer, eyeshadow, eyeliner & mascara.

Day 10 - Simply delicioso

My favorite place to eat is a Mexican restaurant called Alebrije.  There are 3 of them in the area, but there's one in particular that I prefer.  Unfortunately, this is the best picture I could find.

I love Alebrije because the food is authentic.  We used to have a ChiChi's (yuck!), & a few years ago an On the Border (bleh!) opened - but Alebrije is by far the best.


They give you their freshly made chips & salsa to start, & we always add guacamole for good measure.  The menu has everything from quesadillas & burritos to "Mexican" hamburgers & taco salads.  Just about everything comes with their awesome rice & refried beans.  My personal favorite is their pollo ranchero, but I've never had something I didn't like there.


And of  course, no Mexican dinner would be complete without fried ice cream!  That is definitely a must.


Now I'm hungry.  Alebrije also does take out - so I think DJ & I have dinner plans.

Day 9 - Shop till you drop

The last item I purchased was this:

Our TV wasn't ancient, but it wasn't new either, & so it was on it's last leg.  It started to crackle when we turned it on & was really discolored until it warmed up.  Although it still did work, we decided to buy a new TV before it died completely.

I was so looking forward to Christening this TV over the weekend.  Unfortunately, new TV's very first football game was a Steelers loss.

Boo.

Oh well, we've got the rest of the season!

Detour from the MEme

Meet me on Monday is hosted by Java at Never Growing Old.  It's a blog hop/survey/fun way to meet fellow bloggers.


1. What is the best dish you can make?

I make a mean chicken parm & spaghetti.





2. How often do you change your sheets?

Weekly usually.

3. What is the longest car trip you have ever taken?

Last year DJ,his sister, his brother-in-law & I drove to Florida - on sis & BIL's wedding night!  The drive there & back is sooooooo long, but it was worth it.

4. What is your favorite fruit?

Berries - strawberries, rasberries, blackberries, etc.

5. Would you rather have breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast?

Breakfast for dinner...following breakfast for breakfast.  I love breakfast food!

Day 8 - For no mere mortal can resist

A song to match my mood?  That's easy, because it's that time of year - the best time of year.  October!

Halloween is approaching, & there is an anthem for the season:

Thriller, Michael Jackson

It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one's gonna save you from the beast about strike
You know it's thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight

You hear the door slam and realize there's nowhere left to run
You feel the cold hand and wonder if you'll ever see the sun
You close your eyes and hope that this is just imagination, girl!
But all the while you hear the creature creeping up behind
You're out of time

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
There ain't no second chance against the thing with forty eyes, girl
Thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight

Night creatures calling, the dead start to walk in their masquerade
There's no escaping the jaws of the alien this time
(They're open wide)
This is the end of your life

They're out to get you, there's demons closing in on every side
They will possess you unless you change that number on your dial
Now is the time for you and I to cuddle close together, yeah
All through the night I'll save you from the terror on the screen
I'll make you see

That this is thriller, thriller night
'Cause I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try
Thriller, thriller night
So let me hold you tight and share a
Killer, diller, chiller, thriller here tonight

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
Girl, I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try
Thriller, thriller night
So let me hold you tight and share a killer, thriller, ow!

Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize your neighborhood

The foulest stench is in the air
The funk of forty thousand years
And grizzly ghouls from every tomb
Are closing in to seal your doom

And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver
For no mere mortal can resist
The evil of the thriller

Day 7 - Goin' to the chapel

I'll admit it, I've been talking about my "dream wedding" for years.  The funny thing is, it's changed dramatically over time.  I never expected to be the girl who got engaged & didn't marry that person...so naturally, that's exactly what happened to me.

Before I met DJ I was engaged.  Getting married was something that he & I had casually mentioned, but it wasn't something we seriously planned.  When he proposed, I was totally shocked.  Like most women, I wanted to start planning immediately, & that's when the trouble started.  Suddenly there were all these specific reasons why we couldn't get married for several years, & so he didn't think there was any point discussing it - ever.  And so, things slowly deteriorated until the eventual end.

It was around the same time that my plans for a big, fat, fancy wedding went out the window.

DJ & I have no plans to get married anytime soon.  There are financial factors, as well as emotional ones.  He was engaged before too, & I think we're both a little jaded about what happened before.  Plus for us, it's just a a piece of paper that doesn't change what we already have, so there's no real rush. 

When we do decide to get married, here's what I want:

• We live at the base of the mountain, & there's a great view from our backyard, so we'll get married there.  It will be fall, when the leaves have already changed colors but before it gets too cold.
• Because DJ & I have some alternative beliefs we'll have an alternative ceremony.  I'll leave it at that.
• Afterwards we're going to party because, well, I like to drink.  I'm thinking picnic food, or maybe a pig roast.  We'll have music & a bonfire.  When it's over, everyone can find a spot on the furniture or floor to pass out.

All that will matter is that I'm surrounded by the people I love...& I'll be drunk.  Who's coming?

Day 6 - You can't keep it in the house.

I was born & raised in the city, so it was a huge adjustment for me to move to the country when I moved in with DJ.  It's far too dark & quiet when I come home at 11:30 each night - which makes it impossible for me to see the crazy hillbillies that I know are stalking me from the cornfield.  But, I digress...

One thing I do love about living in this area is all the animals.  There are farms everywhere you look, & there are plenty of birds that you just wouldn't see in the city.  Since I moved here & started sizing up our big backyard, there is one pet I've told DJ I really, really wanted:  a goat.



I'm sure there's some kind of law that says I just can't have goat, but it drives him crazy so I continue to share my goaty plans with him. I tell him I'm going to keep it in the house because it gets cold at night.  I tell him I'm going to teach it to use a litter box & let it sleep in bed.  This does not make him happy.

There's a place near us called Green Dragon, which is like a flea market/farmer's market kind of place.  It's the place where everyone goes to buy their knock-off handbags & homemade Amish woopie pies.  If you've ever seen the movie Mall Rats, it's kind of like the "dirt mall" where they meet the fortune teller with three nipples (While I've never seen her at Green Dragon myself, it wouldn't surprise me to find her one day).

The reason I tell you about Green Dragon is that you can actually buy a goat there!  I think they're tiny goats, pygmy goats maybe?  DJ & I were there once with my friend Amanda & her husband Ross.  There we are, eating our deep-fried vegetables (that's right, I live in Pennsyl-tucky, & that's how we roll) when Ross shouts, "You know that you can buy a goat here, right?"

DJ's eyes turned a shade of red that I've never seen on a person before.  He wasn't mad at Ross for making the joke, he was mad at me because he knew he couldn't stop me if I really wanted a goat.  And he's right, he couldn't. 

But I wouldn't bring a goat home as a pet...would I?

Day 5 - M-m-m-my Sharona!

This is a picture of me two years ago...exactly two years ago.

This picture was taken at my friend Amanda's bachelorette party, which was held during the last week of September two years ago.  It was such a fun time.

Amanda's sister, SIL & some very close friends were still underage at the time, so we started out with dinner at bowling alley (I know that sounds gross, but the food is awesome!) & a few games of bowling.  I'll be honest, for Amanda, her MIL & I there was more drinking than bowling.

After the youngsters went home, we went to a hole-in-the-wall hotel/bar in the middle of nowhere, which happened to be in walking distance of Amanda's mom's house.  We opened the door to walk in at the same time as a troupe of drunk guys were coming out.  The drunk guy up front yelled, "Dude, there's like 8 girls out here.  Why are we leaving?"

They did end up leaving, which meant the bar was left to us & the few stragglers that were still around.  We played pool very poorly & listened to ridiculous songs on the juke box until the bar closed at 2:00.

I had to wake up at 7:00 AM & drive to Philly for a baseball game that day.  It was awful, but I did it.  And for as tired & cranky as I was, I wasn't sorry I stayed out so late.