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  • Silvertree

    Mod post: No wishlist posts in blogs

    By Silvertree

    Please be aware that we do not permit swap-related content on profiles or in blogs. Please post this content only in the For Sale, Swaps, and Wanted forums, or in the Wishlists topic. ~from Swapping 101  Thanks!
    • 5 comments
    • 5,099 views
Toasty Blog
 

What is this livejournal creature you speak of?

I don't like jumping on an already moving bandwagon, so I've never had a myspace or a livejournal or an actual blog. Until now. I just popped my livejournal cherry. Granted, there are no entries and it's all plain and ugly at the moment, but the damage is done. And here I am starting a blog. You people could convince me to do anything.   Does anybody remember open diary? That should tell you how long it's been since I "blogged". I think the site still exists, but I'm afraid to check. It just wouldn't be the same and it would make me sad.   Since I'm a total lj noob, any advice and/or suggestions on getting started would be welcome. Otherwise I'll just fumble along and generally make an ass out of myself until I figure it out.
kwsix

kwsix

3
Thought bubble
 

100 things about me - the second 50

Right, I've had a couple of hours sleep...   51. I wear makeup every single day. 52. I believe in karma. 53. I am a fountain of useless knowledge. Comes in handy on trivia nights. 54. I hate prankster/hidden camera shows with a passion. No matter how things might work out in the end, I don't think it is ever worth making a person feel the way they do until the 'reveal'. 55. I fall asleep in movies and usually only see the credits. 56. I am afraid of grasshoppers. They have disgusting little spiky legs and fly directly at you. 57. I love mushrooms and would include them with every meal if I thought I could. Raw, grilled, fried - whatever. 58. I'm not a gardener, but I have a few David Austen roses I just love. 59. I love charms and tiny ornaments. Just love them, and have done since I was a small child. The littler, the better. 60. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that the TAL oils work. I just wish I knew better how to use them to get the best effect. 61. I dream of owning my own business. 62. I hate driving. My father was in a very serious accident before I was born that left him with brain damage and I guess that I have always been afraid the same could happen to me or my loved ones. 63. I'm a nightowl, I like the quiet when the world is asleep and I can stare at the stars. 64. I am really driven in my work life but a terrible procrastinator at home. 65. I will not eat any meat off the bone, or things on sticks. 66. In real life, I use very passionate and dramatic language. 67. Musicians rock my socks. First time I saw my husband he was playing lead guitar and singing in a band. 68. I believe wholeheartedly in love at first sight. 69. I talk with my hands, even when I am on the phone. 70. Religious fanatics freak me out. And downright piss me off when they try to stuff their beliefs down my throat. 71. I love flat shoes and haven't worn heels for more than ten years. 72. I really love sushi, and often make elaborate family occasions around the preparation and eating of it. 73. I am a hopeless romantic and tell people I love them all the time. 74. I believe crying is cathartic. 75. I love live music, particularly folk and indie festivals. 76. I never write in cursive. 77. I wish I had a rainforest in my backyard and I could just escape into the deep green. 78. I am far more self-conscious than I ever let on. 79. I believe that people have a 'time' and die when they are meant to. 80. First thing I look at when I meet a man are his hands. They give away so much. And big manly hands make me swoony. 81. I like people who have kind eyes. 82. I really appreciate red wine and I would like to be able to describe myself as a 'buff' one day. 83. My ipod has lots of versions of Over the Rainbow. My favourites are Eva Cassidy, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and Ella Fitzgerald. 84. I hate housework. 85. I would like to live and work overseas for at least a year but am never quite brave or knowledgeable enough to know how to go about it. 86. Grunge music was my music in its day. Hearing Nirvana still brings a rush of endorphins. 87. I wish I could sleep more. 88. I am overly trusting but not naive. 89. I can become fixated on polished stones and polished wood. Pretty tumbled stones, crystals and semi-precious gems will call to me from across a store. 90. This probably also explains my love of beaded necklaces. I like them long enough that I can look down and see them or run my fingers over them. 91. Annoying ringtones really peeve me. I hate that there is a thriving industry for them. 92. I am openminded and I love to talk to people who might broaden my horizons. 93. I love art, particularly beautiful paintings, whether they are famous or not. 94. I can't sew to save my life, but I am a great cook. 95. I shudder when people describe themselves as 'whacky' or 'zany'. Experience has taught me that this usually translates to 'annoying'. 96. My best friend once told me there are two people to avoid in life - serial killers and women who spell 'thanks' with an 'x'. So far his advice has stood me in good stead. 97. I have a copy of Rudyard Kipling's 'If' on display in my home and in my office. 98. I love to meditate and am trying to learn to take it to the next level. 99. I think a really good indicator of character is how a person speaks about their partner. 100. I would much rather talk about you than me!
aine

aine

0
Golb? Blog? Bolg?
 

Blog? What the?

postal service. I really hoped my shiny, new little bottles would arrive today (Bakeneko with some friends). I needed something to cheer me up today, but no. Just needed to rant. Well, that's as good as any reason to start a blog a guess. And by the way, blog is one ugly word. Oh, I'm such a happy ray of sunshine today   But, I did get a CnS for Oborot and Groundhog today. Please come soon, little groundhog.
Maia

Maia

2
Maps and Legends
 

To everything there is a season

After almost two decades of protests, my alma mater, the University of Illinois, has decided to retire its mascot "Chief Illiniwek". They will retain the name "Fighting Illini", desipite the fact that tribe that gives the state, and the Chief, and the sports teams their name, the Illiniwek tribe, were a peaceful tribe that didn't fight - which probably helped account for the fact that they were completely wiped out in earlier centuries.   I'm taking the time to write about this because it is in part, the culmination of years of effort that I was a part of back in the early 1990s when I was a student at UofI. As a freshman and later I marched against the Chief, I met with the off-campus protesters. Somewhere I have the Daily Illini photo, not online, alas, of my sophomore year roomate and I holding up a banner bearing the admonishion - "What if the Pope were our mascot?", complete with little pope mugs and t-shirts. I think I still have the mug cut out somewhere as well.   Robert Novak and his ilk are up in arms about the PC police and caving in to political pressure. But what this really should be about is basic respect. Respect for the people around you. Respect for Native Americans on campus and for the tribes who are portrayed in the Illiniwek dance.   It's about time. And it's overdue.
emzebel

emzebel

3
Diathermanous Thoughts
 

Layers Questionnaire for Switch Witching pleasure

LAYER ONE: -- Name: jocelyn -- Birth date: 7/30 -- Height: 5'8" -- Righty or Lefty: righty -- Zodiac Sign: leo sun, aquarius moon, and pisces rising depending on your chart.   LAYER TWO: -- Your heritage: Italian, Scotch, Swedish, Heinz 57 -- The shoes you wore today: low chucks, with black laces with red stars -- Your weakness: arrogance, chocolate, and sushi -- Your fears: the boogeyman under the bed, disappointing my loved ones, losing my home to fire -- Your perfect pizza: fresh mozzerella, ricotta, and salty black olives -- Goal you'd like to achieve: get my MA and MBA, sell a ton of Sullengrey 1-4, finish 5-8, and get published by Vertigo, lose another 20lbs, write another comic   LAYER THREE: -- Your thoughts first waking up: *snarl* coffee....must..have...coffee -- Your best physical feature: big blue eyes, and crazy stand up bright pink hair -- Your most missed memory: Galloping through the fields bareback on a hot summer day, stopping to swim in the creek.   LAYER FOUR: --- What instruments can you play? piano, and I can say something really dirty here, but i won't. --- Are you ticklish? quite. if you think it, i will squirm, then kick you. --- Are you shy? situationally - if I'm selling the book, I'm good, anything else, i'm quite shy...like hide in the bathroom and puke shy. --- Are you a morning person? as long as you repsect that anything said before coffee doesn't count, and I get a good hot shower, I'm tolerable   LAYER FIVE: -- Smoke: from 21-28. Quit on my honeymoon...save for a few here and there. Jackie boy from Sin City had it right - No one ever really quits - you always turn back when you're down on your luck. I'm back on the sauce right now... -- Cuss: on occasion. -- Sing: yeah, not to badly. -- Do you think you've been in love: yes -- Like(d) high school: no -- Want to get married: I am. quite happily, and I wouldn't change it for the world -- Believe in yourself: not enough -- Get along with your parent(s): better than I used to. Not as well as I'd like. -- Like thunderstorms: very much.   LAYER SIX: -- What do you want to be when you grow up? I won't grow up. -- What country would you most like to visit? Australia, Japan, England, back to Alsace.   LAYER SEVEN: -- Number of CDs that I own: many. and many MP3s -- Number of piercings: 2 ears, a 12ga septum, and a 10ga tongue -- Number of tattoos: i have a plan in the works - designs, an artist, but no funds -- Number of scars on my body: many. I am one big scar, and they're all a roadmap to my life - from my first spill off a bicycle, to surgery, to the darkest years I've ever had - they're all a story.
salamandrina

salamandrina

0
Thought bubble
 

100 things about me - the first 50

1. I don't really know the first thing about blogs. 2. I believe that will become self-evident fairly quickly. 3. Apart from snoring like a train, my husband is pretty wonderful. 4. My two little boys are best friends and wish they were twins. 5. I am hopeless at computer games. 6. I am fiercely competitive at board games. 7. I own thousands of dollars worth of board games. 8. I would like to learn more card games. So far I know poker, 500 and euchre. 9. I desperately want to be able to do one really good magic trick. 10. My fingernails and toenails are always painted. 11. Nailpolish and books are my favourite things to shop for. 12. I got two tattoos when I was 18, a rose and an arum lily. 13. I will probably get at least one more. 14. I am so pale I almost radiate. 15. I hate the sensation of sunlight on my skin. 16. I have contact lenses but most of the time I'm so lazy I just wear my glasses. 17. I wear the same gold rings, gold bracelets and gold earrings everyday. 18. I wear a different necklace, mostly long beads, everyday. 19. I love ginger. 20. I read voraciously. 21. My favourite book is 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. 22. I watch Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends with my kids and it makes me laugh out loud. 23. I have a 30gb video ipod that goes everywhere with me. 24. I don't like meat. 25. But I can eat my own bodyweight in seafood. 26. I like all vegetables except celery and sweet potato. 27. I love all things piratey. 28. One of the greatest gifts I have ever received was a tiara which I wear more often than I care to admit and boss everyone around. 29. I had two bridesmen at my wedding. 30. I am learning more about tarot. 31. I have worked fulltime since I left university but I have no career goal. 32. I would like to travel more. 33. I need a creative outlet but I am not crafty at all. 34. I paint, but unfinished artworks make me crazy. 35. I am an INTP. 36. I cannot stand to have my stomach touched. By anyone. 37. This probably because it closely resembles porridge. Childbearing was not kind to me. 38. I have no desire to be a domestic goddess but I love Nigella. 39. Nothing riles me quite like deliberate ignorance. 40. I saw an owl somewhere every single day I was pregnant with my first son. 41. I have two chickenpox scars on the bridge of my nose. 42. I think the number 42 is lucky and I'm not sure why. 43. I sing when I am stressed. Which seems to be a lot lately. 44. I have no desire to go to the beach (hate the sun) but I would like to live near one. 45. I spend my life perpetually tired. 46. I love photography. 47. I hate having my photo taken. 48. I have some very odd handbags and purses. 49. I own lots of coffee mugs and tea cups and get weird about finding just the right one for the occasion. 50. I secretly wish I was a ninja. Or at the very least had a ninja at my beck and call.
aine

aine

1
cranberry's Blog
 

Ancilla 1 - sent out

I got this yesterday or the day before.   Ancilla 1 Rose Cross** - reviewed Hamadryad** Jack** - reviewed Dove's Heart** Lightening** Bess** Ephemera - reviewed Tombstone - reviewed   ok, I"ve had this forever and I've tested the 2 imps that I don't have, so this is ready to send on its merry way.
cranberry

cranberry

4
This Old Snark
 

Boxcar Bertha

I choo choo choose you!   Snarky has been up to her eyeballs in work. Lots of time-sucking, mind-melting office monkey duties that leave her with little time to do things like post coherent blog entries and string more than three related concepts into a happily trundling train of thought.   So here are the boxcars that are rattling around at the moment:   * The Mister has decided on a Major Career Change.   He made an attempt to return to his old soul-sucking, life-draining, anxiety-attack-making job for two days last week and has not been back since. Snarky is absolutely OK with this (beyond OK, more like -leading and just about to start a stadium-wide wave) and has already seen how much better he has been for having turned this corner on his own.   The Snarks are getting The Mister signed up for massage therapy school this afternoon. To be honest, Snarky does not consider The Mister the most adept masseuse. But he is an excellent customer service guy and a very quick study. His research into successful careers for his Myers-Briggs personality type (INFP) all point to some sort of one-on-one therapy (be it psychological or body work-related) and so... this is the direction they will be taking.   They attended an orientation at one of the local LMT institutions and got to take a class (with actual partial nudity and the touching of bodies!) and even with the clinical setting, circulating teacher, and random other nekkid and touchy people in the room... it was a really positive, instructive, and decision-making experience.   She hasn't seen such a shine in The Mister's eye since they first started casting their gazes Westward, wondering if they could make a life in the Pacific Northwest.   * Snarky has started to work out, again. This time she's focusing more on her (languishing) yoga practice. Today she feels five miles long, as if her arms could encompass whole attitudes of thought rather than just her gradually de-cluttering desk.   * Oh, and Snarky started knitting again. She is sort of doing a tangential KAL with the BPAL knitters (with whom she has regrettably lost track) and has been cranking on the Rona Lace Shawl from Knitpicks (using the suggested KP Alpaca Cloud in a Midnight, which is maybe not the best color choice given her current extremely poor lighting conditions at home). There have been numerous errata already in just the first 50 rows. This is apparently the week for Snarky to be OK with normally crazy-making things, though, because she is absolutely OK with this. She isn't even putting in any lifelines as she galumphs along on this shawl.   * Textured Vegetable Protein is amazing stuff. The Snarks will never be vegetarians, but the consumption of meat has gone way, way down on their dietary habits -- enough so that they will probably make it a luxury item (which will allow them to focus more on local, organic, "humane" (or at least as humane as possible while still being, you know, meat) options).   There were probably more boxcars to add to this train, but lunch is calling (The Mister's Magical Sweet Potato Quesadillas). Snarky hopes all of your trains are also enjoying the downhill side of this week.
darkitysnark

darkitysnark

2
Odd Thoughts from an Odd Duck
 

Random Tidbits

You know how some people are afraid of clowns? I'm afraid of cowboys.   And spiders. The husband can distinguish The Spider Scream from any other scream.   The person who invented divided plates should be knighted and sainted. I can't stand for my food to touch. (not my only "food issue" -- I also can't eat anything that's really mushy/gloppy, and I don't eat coconut because the sound it makes when I bite it squicks me out.)   On my desk at work, I have a stuffed Edgar Allan Poe doll (with detachable raven!) and a stuffed Dory (the forgetful fish from Finding Nemo)   Numbers are NOT my friends.   I gave an inner squee of delight when a rather conservative sort visited my office, looked around, and literally took a step back.   more to come as I think of them.....   this is SO me   My ring tone is "If I Only Had a Brain."   My circle of real life friends dubbed 2006 The Year of the Weird. We threatened to have "I survived the year of the weird" tshirts made, but never did.   Call me a raving feminist, but it makes me crazy to be addressed as "Mrs" instead of "Ms" -- my marital status has no bearing on my ability to do my job, thank you very much.   I'm convinced that the stork who delivered me got lost, refused to stop for directions, and eventually got tired and just dropped me off with some folks. Surely I wasn't meant to be here.   You probably wouldn't guess it from my closet full of black, but I love hot pink socks and am always on the lookout for another pair.   When we had been married for about two years (you know, that point when most "normal" women start getting baby fever), I got puppy fever. We had to move so we could be in an apartment that allowed dogs.   I should be working on my planning and performance report right now.   I've hung upside down from a seatbelt -- ice storm, flipped vehicle, don't recommend.   I went to a makeup class a week ago, and I still haven't tried out "smoky eye" -- What's wrong with me???   I use way too many dashes and parentheses.   The 71 in my screen name isn't the year I was born. It's the year Jim Morrison died. I was born in 69. Can you imagine what people would think if I called myself odd_duck69?   I've started a tradition of doing something completely appalling for my birthday every year. When I turned 34, I got my navel pierced. My parents still don't know. 35, I got the third hole in my left ear. In a way, that was more daring than the navel because it's in plain view. I was fully expecting one of my bosses to pitch a fit. 36, the husband took me to a Kid Rock concert. And had to admit that he enjoyed it. And volunteered to go to the next one. 37, I quit the job with the boss mentioned above. 38, (this January) I let my inner Goth out to play after keeping her chained up like the mad woman in the attic for far too long. I have no idea what I'll do for 39, but I'm considering a tattoo for 40.
odd_duck71

odd_duck71

2
Femme_Fatale's Blog
 

Bakeneko

At first it's a very generic perfume smell, with something...else that I can't quite put my finger on.   As it dries it becomes a slightly spicey amber musk with just a hint of citrus tea and something floral.   I think I really like this one and I'm glad I got a bottle. It semlls a bit more sophisticated on me than the other oils I tend to wear, but it's nice having something different. I have a feeling I will use this more during cool weather than in the summer.
femmefatale

femmefatale

0
giant squid!
 

my day off!

Well, sort of. Today I got to sleep in late (very late...woohoo!!) and have been traipsing around my apartment doing not much of anything for a few hours. This was much needed since yesterday was the ultimate busy day from hell. Pepper's portable lightweight crate thingie came in the mail today. I am so excited about this because it means we can go stay anywhere and visit my friends in other countries and I don't have to worry about lugging her giant normal crate on the train. (she has anxiety issues and can't be left in anyone's house alone without being in the crate...unless you want your apartment to be completely destroyed ). Anyway, I unpacked it and- she is totally afraid of it! She won't go in it, even if I go in first! I am going to have some serious work to do with this before we leave on March 1st. For now I just put some of her favorite toys and some treats in there. We'll see what happens, I guess.   On my way home from the post office I saw that Inland Empire is playing this week in the movies! I am soooo excited . I thought it would never come over here, and was looking online for downloads to no avail (bad, I know!). But yes, it is here for one week and I am SO going to see it on Friday (and maybe Sunday, too, haha). I think it's a good way to kick off my self imposed David Lynch fest; once again I have decided that it is time to watch all of Twin Peaks from start to finish. I know that part 2 of season 2 isn't out yet, but it will come out in April and by that time I will be up to that point, I think. Yay.   In other news...I have decided this past weekend that I need to join a gym. I found one right around the corner from me that has a student discount. So, for 20 euros a month I can actually get some decent exercise. I haven't exercised in, oh...2 years. I used to go to a gym five days a week. What happened to me? (well I know what happened- more work, music, pieces to learn, groups to play in, etc.) Fortunately I have not gained that much weight (perhaps 15 pounds, which is bad but not catastrophic since I am tall) but I feel like a totally lard ball. All of my muscle is now flab. Ew. Plus, I am tired of not having enough energy during the day. I am going to do a trial 2 month membership and see if I actually make time to go enough for it to be worth it. I think I can, since I don't' have a rigorous class schedule and can make my own hours for practicing and etc. It better work, because I am sick and tired of feeling gross.   Tomorrow is my second concert at the Italian Cultural Center. I am quite excited for this one, since out test run informal concert yesterday went quite well. People said they really enjoyed what I played, which is what I want to hear. I hope they were telling the truth, lol. I really should do laundry cause I am out of my 'nice all black outfits'. whoops. That and Pepper decided it would be a good idea to throw up this morning on my duvet cover. If that isn't an incentive to do laundry I don't know what is!
euterpe414

euterpe414

1
RogueFeenix's Blog
 

Switch Witch Ideas and notes.

I saw someone made a list of things that their switch witch might want to know about them. I thought it was a good idea so here I am.   I have blue eyes, and love makeup. I'm not that adventurous with it day to day but I love to play with new colors and lip glosses.   I have only recently started to get into bath things. Bubble baths, fizzes and such. I LOVE the moxie fizzyBOOMS. I wish I had an endless supply of them, actually I love all the ones I have tired.   I have not really tired anything from LUSH. My sister bought a bunch of stuff from them and I used one of her fizzes, it was wonderful. I have been meaning to make a order but haven't as of yet.   I am into tea, and Love SBS teas. All kinds of tea, I'll try anything once. I love honey in my tea also. Flavored honey is the best.   I love books, I have tons and always looking for more.   I love music and mix CD's. So a mix CD of music you love would be awesome.   I LOVE art and pictures, photography is a hobby on mine.   I am a proud aunt and with the above photography hobby I need picture frames. I never have enough.   I love baking, it's kind of a hobby/passion, cooking is good too, but I'm not as good at that.   I am pretty easy, I love crafty things, things made my hand. I'm sure I'll like anything I get, Just getting mail is the best. Anything that isn't bills :-)     I'll add more as I think of it. I hope that helped whoever has my name. :-)
RogueFeenix

RogueFeenix

0
heartspun's Blog
 

Bottles arrived, and general update

Got my first bottle order - on Valentine's day! I ordered a 5ml of Bakeneko (love it) and Svadhinaopatika (up for trade). Frimps were Baku, Burial, Utrennyaya, and Black Lily.   Sent off some imps to my friend Vashti: Dragon's Bone, Languor, The Lion, Eclipse, and Depraved.   Currently up for trade:   5ml:   Svadhinaopatika   Imps:   Sudha Segara Eden Moon Rose Burial Harlot Hurricane Veil LE: Winter of Discontent Sniffie: Sugar Skull 05
heartspun

heartspun

0
Odd Thoughts from an Odd Duck
 

Stuff I would buy if I were DRFSR

(that's Dirty, Rotten, Filthy, Stinking Rich for those who aren't Warrant fans)   a bright yellow Bug for me (or a hybrid -- the tree hugger in me might win out over the part that says, "Omg those Bugs are cute!"   a red Mustang convertible for the husband   a different house -- maybe earth-sheltered or solar or something -- ELSEWHERE!   of course, oceans of BPAL   organic, fair trade everything   bunches and bunches of hand-made, one-of-a-kind jewelry   original art. probably mostly from local artists and any artist forumites there might be   a trip to Ireland   (and a quick jaunt to Paris to visit Jim's grave)   And I'm sure I'll think of more later.   tons of music from Isotank   eliminate buying mass produced stuff as much as possible -- it has no soul
odd_duck71

odd_duck71

0
What ever happened to Generation X?
 

Moving forward

At long last, things seem to be looking up.   DH and I had a nice evening out to celebrate Valentine's Day. On Saturday, we hired a baby-sitter and made reservations for dinner at the Melting Pot. I don't know about you, but I looove fondue. I think it's a fun dining experience, and there really is no yummier way to end a meal than dipping fruit and cake into melted chocolate. Fondue meals take a long time -- we were at the restaurant for about 2.5 hours -- so that gave us plenty of time for conversation. Sometimes during the week we're so busy with the kids, we don't really have time or energy to connect with each other. It's good to feel that we're back on the same page, that we want the same things and we have goals to strive for.   I posted a while ago about DH being out of work. Yes, my Kevin Federline-ish spouse has been unemployed since November 2005. He's done some freelance work in the interim, but it definitely doesn't pay the bills; I've had to make a huge dent in our savings. It appears his ship has finally arrived -- he has two job offers. The only problem is, they're both out of state. There is a local company interested in him; they've interviewed him twice and had him in to do freelance work. If he gets an offer from this company, we can stay where we are, which is our preference. Please send all your positive vibes and thoughts for him to get an offer from the local company.   I'm still employed at the newspaper, still part-time (they wouldn't let me switch to full-time work) but taking on more responsibility. It's not the most dazzling career but I'm realizing how fortunate I am to be employed in the field of my choice, especially given how many publishing companies are laying people off right now.   There are a few situations in my life that still need improvement:   1. I'm a lousy wife. I am not good at cooking and cleaning. I cook maybe one or two nights a week; the rest of the time, it's fast food or Lean Cuisine. I realize this is bad, but I'm just too freakin' tired to cook after working all day, taking care of the kids after work (it's amazing how draining it is to pick up young children from daycare and do the whole dinner, bath, bedtime routine every night -- I just collapse afterwards!), and trying to keep the house somewhat tidy. But despite my efforts, the house always seems to be cluttered or in need of a clean-up; it's a Sisyphean task.   2. I tend not to pay my bills on time, which isn't a good thing. It's not that I don't have the money. I'm just too lazy to sit down and pay them. I've asked DH to take over this task but he's even worse at it than I am.   3. My mom's been dead for nearly a year, but I still miss her so much. So often, a thought crosses my mind that I want to share with her ... then I remember, "Oh, can't call her. She's dead." And it's like a punch in the gut. Nobody ever told me it would be this painful to lose a parent. I've still got this tremendous emptiness in my life where she used to be, and there doesn't seem to be a way to resolve it.   4. I'm spending too much money on "stuff," probably to try to fill this weird emptiness I have. I'm buying books, skincare, magazines, haircare, tea, and all kinds of crap. Never mind that I've been wearing the same four bras for the past 10 years, or that I don't have a pair of decent winter boots -- I'm buying stuff I don't really need, like trial kits of skincare, makeup, etc. I find those purchases more fun than clothing or shoes.   5. I'm eating too much candy and other sugary stuff. I've gained seven pounds in one month. True, I'm pregnant. But there's no reason for me to be eating sour gummy worms like a crazy woman at 11:30 p.m. every night, or scarfing Dunkin Donuts every weekend.   6. I need to be a better friend. I haven't been returning calls or sending birthday cards. It's not that I don't care about these people, who are an important part of my life; I just feel too lazy and lethargic to make calls, set up plans, etc. I'd like to even add some new friends to my life, so why am I doing such a lousy job with the ones I have?   This is what life is all about, though -- there are always problems, always things that need improvement. I'm not going to stress over these things; I'm going to work on being grateful for what I have and making positive changes. Spring seems like a good time of year for this.
parrot_suspect

parrot_suspect

1
Korshka's BPAL Ramblings
 

A Night of Dreams

Last night, I finally had a nice and restful night of sleep. Of course, with restful sleep comes lots of dreams. Most of the dreams were very simplistic (characteristic of n-REM sleep which is the deepest sleep) and had to deal with icing - making icing, coloring icing, decorating with icing - lots and lots of icing! However, I did have two "real" dreams. One was almost nightmarish. The only reason I'm not calling it a nightmare is because I don't remember the bad part. The dream as I can remember it started after I had been kidnapped and tormented in a strange sci-fi type prison. It was the aftermath of hysterical crying and others plotting to bring revenge down on my captures. I would try to explain it more, but it was very weird.   However, the highlight of my night of sleep was the last dream I had. It started off as a fairly standard dream. I woke up and got dressed. I walked outside and into this beautiful green meadow. As I walked through it past some other people I suddenly realized I was naked. But instead of freaking out, I stopped and thought about. I distinctly remembered putting on clothes and not to mention that I even remembered going to bed clothed. This meant that I was dreaming. Usually, I then create some clothes for myself, STAT, but for some reason, last night I didn't care. I just ran full speed at the leering guys standing around a old truck and jumped up into the air. It was time to have fun flying. I swooshed and spun, dove and looped, and had great time.   This time though, instead of just being happy doing that, I climbed way up and up and up and into space. I stopped hovering over Earth, looking around at space, the stars, the moon, the rest of the planets, and the sun. At first, it was an oddly serene feeling - disconnected from everything, but then I started to get an uneasy feeling about being up in space - ya know - naked and exposed to cosmic radiation and the whole lack of atmosphere, but I put that aside, held my arms out to either side, and let myself just fall backwards towards the earth, flipping over at the last moment to swoop back up into the air. I was consciously suspending real physic and opting for funner Dream physics - as otherwise I would have been killed many times over in this dream. It was much more fun to simply realize it was a dream and enjoy flying. I remember at one point flying over to Australia in a matter of seconds. But as I went to land, I woke up.   I love lucid dream. I learned how to back in middle school. I used it mostly to put an end to reoccurring nightmares. It wasn't until the end of high school/college time that it occurred to me to use to go flying. Since then it is what I always do whenever I become conscious of the fact that I'm dreaming. The key is to concentrate on triggers that tell you that your dreaming - I have recently added the suddenly naked dream to that list, and so far it has been easy recognize and take control over.
korshka

korshka

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Is Anybody Out There?
 

Anxiety

This is SO frustrating. I am having anxiety about going to school tomorrow. WHY? Other than my Lord of the Rings class, there's not a lot of stress there- and even that class is turning into something with potential to be enjoyable... but I digress. And it's late, and I should be asleep.... Guh.
smallvoice

smallvoice

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Korshka's BPAL Ramblings
 

Wedding Stuff and Cake Decorating

Now that the initial - Holy Cow I'm Actually Engaged - it wearing off. There is actual stuff that needs to be done. Mr Man and I have decided to go check out possible reception sites next Sunday. Between now and then, I need to research options. We are checking out Clearwater Recreational Center. It's supposed to be a nice site and a good "blank canvas" to work with and fairly cheap. Other than that - I'm not sure where else to look. Of course if I'm going to compare it to a hotel - I need to figure out catering prices too as most hotels include catering. Ya gotta compare apples to apples, ya know? This also means that Mr Man and I need to nail down an exact date.   On a plus side, I picked up Tampa Bay's Premier Bride Magazine at my salon last week. I didn't have much hope as it was free, but I gotta say it has a lot of good info. In fact, I think its advertising to info ratio is actually higher than the $10 bridal magazines at the store. In addition, all the advertising is for local businesses and not just outlandish dresses and rings. So far I'm liking it and getting some good ideas. It is definitely worth is free price tag .   I still need a wedding planner book. I picked one up last weekend, but I'm having second thoughts and am starting to wonder if I should keep it or not. I'm just not sure what would be best to help me get though this.   I have cake decorating again tonight. I still have to make the icing when I get home from work. I had all plans of taking care of it last night; however, those plans were changed when I went quickly around the corner of our kitchen to head off Mika (and give Brutus a little break from her) and slipped on a big puddle of Brutus's piss. That damn dog. He was doing so well with potty training, but the past week or so he has backtracked some. I'm mostly ok from it, I just bruised up my ankle pretty bad. I had to hobble around for the rest of the night and try to rest it as much as possible. Which meant - no icing making. Thankfully, I had just taken the cake out of the oven when it happened. Unfortunately since Mr Man was sickly, I couldn’t just lie on the couch and get waited on - instead I had to do the waiting on.
korshka

korshka

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Odd Thoughts from an Odd Duck
 

Hmm...

A journal for extra Switch Witch info sounded like such a good idea when I read it on Freya's post. Now I'm not sure what to say. The questionaire was easy because I had prompts.   Let's start with some ideas for the Switch Witch on a budget. Here are some cheap or free ways to brighten my day:   *mix cd's of music you think I would like   *e-cards of course   *links to particularly odd "news of the weird" type stories (as long as they don't involve an animal being injured or killed -- the husband has to prescreen all animal movies before I'm allowed to watch them. This weekend I was reading the new Lyndsay Sands book, and toward the end I got to a scene that looked potentially Duckie-unfriendly. The dog was bounding down the stairs to protect the heroine from the bad guys. I handed the book to the husband and said, "Please read the next few pages and make sure Julius is okay." Yet I have no problem whatsoever with movies that have a high human body count. Go figure.   *I love getting postcards (memo to me: sign up for the March Purple Ink Postcard exchange. I miss doing that.)   *links to yummy sounding beans and rice recipes from different cultures   I'll add more as I think of them.   *a link to a beginner-friendly, active board on natural/alternative healing topics would be wonderful   *If my Switch Witch happens to be handy with those awesome icon stickers, I would love stickers for imps of any of the scents I listed as favorites.   *Handy with photo software? I'd love a collage of Johnny Depp pics to use as a background for my laptop.   (I'm trying to guess talents that a Switch Witch might possibly have, so don't feel bad if you don't know how to do this stuff -- I don't either or it wouldn't be on my list, lol.)   *stickers. I particularly like Lisa Frank and am on the lookout for something similar but "darkly inclined"
odd_duck71

odd_duck71

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Femme_Fatale's Blog
 

Phantasm

mmmm....lemon verbena with just a hint of jasmine and neroli. As it dried the green tea come out, but not overpowering. A very nice summer scent. I will definately be keeping the imp, but probably not a bottle.   ETA: As it dried down further, it reminds me of maybe bathroom cleaning products? Or something, not quite sure. But I don't like it.
femmefatale

femmefatale

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Femme_Fatale's Blog
 

Jezebel

At first, all honey. Then the orange starts to come out and I think, wow I really like this. Only the slightest hint of rose, luckily.   But the all of a sudden, BAM! Baby powder.   Off to swaps.
femmefatale

femmefatale

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Femme_Fatale's Blog
 

Intrigue

This is an interesting one. At first it's all woods, but as it dries the fig comes out and sweetens it. Not getting any of the cocoa.   I do like it, though I doubt I'll get a bottle. I am glad I got to try the imp.
femmefatale

femmefatale

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