Mmmm, toast...

Check out the ultimate in toast. Thanks to Amanda for pointing it out to me!

These are the panels for the downstairs bathroom. I painted them this weekend, nice and green. I think it's going to be really pretty when we get them installed. I hope we can do that this Sunday, on Marty's day off.

One more shot of the panels:

Quiet

Sorry for the silence. It's been a productive weekend here, and we've had some fun too. Marty and I went to see the new Star Wars movie Saturday, and last night we hung out with Amanda and Frank. I'm also painting the wainscot paneling for the downstairs bathroom. I plan to finish that up this morning.

But I have had some terrible news and I can't seem to focus on much of anything else. Rebekah's boyfriend Damiao has died in an awful train accident in Mozambique.

I will be back sometime soon. I just can't seem to think about Raspberry World right now.

Dang

Steve Mirarchi takes some gorgeous pictures. His concert/performance photographs in particular are incredibly good. And he's written an interesting article about concert photography, as well.

Cool, man.

Eek.

This stuff about groupies over at the About "Music for Teens" page is just scarin' me (well, okay, and making me laugh). Especially this:

There's nothing wrong with being a groupie, as long as you are keeping it real.

Read more: About Groupies - What Are They and How To Become An Ultimate Fan

All is Revealed

Once again, I defer to Amanda for news on the happenings at work. I am relieved, and sad, and apprehensive... I guess all those things are to be expected.

Up to now it was all about the suspense; now begins the hard work of fitting into a new group and working with new people. Defining roles where there were none before. Learning to meet different expectations.

But I know it is a challenge I'm capable of meeting. I am a flexible person. Although I have held the same job for the last three years, the day-to-day reality of my position has changed dramatically several times during that period.

So that's where things stand tonight. I am feeling drained, but also very grateful for all the people who called and wrote to support me during this time. Thank you all.

Where I'd Rather Be

Bah, tension headache. But what can you do?

Haven't heard anything about anything yet. But I was just thinking, there are so many places I'd rather be than here today. Tampa, Florida. Or Orlando. Quitman, Georgia. Shropshire. Royal Oak, Michigan. London. Any one of those places would be greatly preferable to where I am this morning.

Still, life's not completely bad. It's a beautiful, sunny day outside. Marty will be home tomorrow. Long weekend coming up. And a week from today, I'm going to see JC. Definitely something to smile about.

What do you think? Is it okay to take Aleve two hours after taking two extra-strength Tylenol?

Anybody Got a Sharpie?

Those of you who know me know that I buy music. I also download it online, but I buy way more than I get for free. And frequently I download something only to buy it later.

Still, the record industry gets under my skin with its alarmist rhetoric about how music piracy is the single greatest threat to artists everywhere. The fuck? Everybody knows that the record companies are out to make money for themselves (or their conglomerate parent companies, these days) and to do it they will screw the musicians as readily as the customers.

So I was pretty bummed when reports started coming out about these new "copy proof" CDs. I mean, the first ones that were released were by artists like Charley Pride and Celine Dion, so it wasn't exactly cramping my style, but I can see where it's headed. These discs can't be copied; the tracks can't be ripped and stored on your hard drive or MP3 player. Also, I read that many of these protected CDs wouldn't play in computer CD drives or even personal CD players.

This idea, if it catches on, will greatly reduce my quality of life as far as music listening goes. I buy the music. I make my mixes. In other words, I listen to the music I buy on the mixes I make. If I can't make the mixes, my music listening habits will have to change quite a lot.

It just pisses me off. It's my music. I bought the damn disc. I should be able to listen to it whenever, wherever, or however I like, as long as I'm not making money on it.

So this article made me smile. Can you blame me? 'Copy-Proof' CDs Cracked with 99-Cent Marker Pen

Cracked Me Up

Dude! topher gave me my first belly laugh of the day with this:

not to mention that i saw an old boyfriend the other day. he once told me, that he would kill himself if we ever broke up. i'm tempted to call him and leave him a message saying, "I THOUGHT WE HAD A DEAL!"

Ha!

Okay, so it's a little stressful in my life just at the moment. That's not too surprising, right? I just keep thinking, this time tomorrow, I will know. For better or for worse, the waiting will be over.

Monday = Yoga Night

This week is the last week of my first yoga session. Next week I will move into the Beginner 2 class. Class was very good tonight. A really good workout, and very relaxing. I needed it!

Ziggy and I are holding down the fort tonight; Marty is off on a business trip. He will be back in a couple of days. I am going to spend the evenings catching up on my laundry from the trip and trying not to think about work...

Great Weekend, Stressful Week

I am home tonight from Detroit. Maria and I had a great visit. We always have a good time together, but somehow this visit was even more fun than usual. It could not have come at a better time for me.

Some highlights of the weekend: dinner at Gilbert's Lodge, where Eminem was once a busboy; many many movies (Say Anything, Donnie Darko, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Dance With Me, and The Mystic Masseur); my cosmic connection with MTV in relation to the Without Me video; Frank the bunny; Value City; Pop Muzik; proselytizing NTYNTO; two pounds of crab legs; and girly shoes!

Now starts a new week, and it's going to be a stressful one. Amanda has pretty much summed it up, so I won't get into the details here. We should know what's what by Wednesday, I think. Unfortunately, Marty is going to be out of town for work from tomorrow until Thursday. Bad, bad timing. But whatever happens, I'm sure I will be okay. Work's just work. It's important, because I need that paycheck, but it's not my life.

Still, as Amanda very rightly puts it, "It's like waiting for the season finale of your career."

Exactly.

Fun & Games

I'm pretty easygoing, I think, and I don't consider myself high maintenance. (Now, maybe I'm just fooling myself about this; I should probably ask Marty if I really wanna know.) But this conversation yesterday in the car made me laugh:

Maria: What do you want to do today?
Susie: I'm up for anything!
Maria: Do you like mini-golf?
Susie: Um...
Maria: No?
Susie: Well, it's fun, I guess. I haven't played it in a long time.
Maria: Okay, well, there's a little carnival nearby right now, with rides and stuff. Do you feel like going?
Susie: Um. Well, see, I like rides, but I have this thing about carnies.
Maria: Oooo-kay. So, no carnivals.
Susie: Sorry.
Maria: How about going to an arcade?
Susie: Well, I've never been to one, but I'm sure I would like it. We could do that.
Maria: Do you like to play Monopoly?
Susie: No. Um... mini-golf sounds good to me!

We were both cracking up by that time...

Anyway, despite my apparent lack of interest in entertainment activities, I am having a great time in Michigan! We've done so much... well, we always do a lot when we visit, but this time it seems particularly busy and fun. We've been shopping, watching movies, listening to music, and visiting with Maria's friends. We still have more plans, too. Today we are headed out to Birch Run, and tomorrow we have plans with Nikki. I'm headed home tomorrow night.

We like to watch movies together. So the other night we watched Say Anything, which of course is one of my favorite movies of all time. I was amazed to discover that Maria had never seen it before. How is that possible? Anyway, she loved it. I knew she would.

Then last night we watched Donnie Darko. I knew very little about it before we watched it, but it turned out to be a very strange movie. The casting and acting were great, I thought, but I have to admit I just don't think I got the point of it. It wasn't a bad movie, just very, very strange. Still, it was fun to watch it. We got a big kick out of it. Although I'm not sure it was for the reasons intended by the director. Also, there was this thing about an evil rabbit...

Anyway, we are having a blast! Even without the Monopoly.

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Off for a weekend of fun with Maria. We already started, with dinner at Gilbert's Lodge in St. Claire Shores last night. (I'm such a fangirl.) And hey, the food is really good!

It is great to be with Maria again. We've been friends five years and we try to visit a few times a year, but this time it's been since October (when Maria was at my place) and before that, last April (last time I was here). So we were overdue for a visit. We always have such fun. Plus it is great to be away from the stress of work for a couple of days.

This morning I woke up to sparrows having a party on the famous balcony. I think they're waiting for their breakfast!

And now it's time for Indigo Girls music and plans for the day. I'll give you a hint. There are two Value Cities in Detroit. We are so there, baby.

Monday is yoga night.

It was raining when I arrived -- pouring, actually -- and for the first thirty minutes of the class we could see lightning through the big windows in the studio. It calmed down after awhile, and by the time we finished it was dark out, and quiet, and very peaceful.

The rest of my life is pretty hectic right now. It's a busy week because I am going to visit Maria this weekend (and I can't wait!). Lots of things to get ready before I go, though. And at work... well, I don't really like to write about work here, but there is a lot going on, and some funky stuff that's about to go down, and it's stressin' me out, man!

Heh.

I guess that's it for now. Just a drive-by. Hope your Monday was good. (As good as a Monday can be.)

Heard While Washing Dishes

Just finished washing dishes with Marty. Here's a sample of our conversation:

S: This pan is dirty. Like Dirty Pop.

M: Well, I know how to clean up Dirty Pop.

S: You do? [laughing] How?

M: Give it an Eminem enema, I guess.

S: !!!!! [laughs for five minutes]

And that, my friends, is life in our house...

I Amuse Myself

Just back from a shopping trip for our anniversary presents -- his-and-her hiking boots. Somehow I managed to give myself a blister (on my pinkie) and tear off a fingernail while trying on 25 pairs of boots, but it was all worth it in the end. I came away with a nice pair of Timberlands. I also got a pair of Timberland sandals, on sale.

You have no idea how much this amuses me. (Or maybe you do.)

Last night we went to see Spider-Man. I really wanted to love that movie, and I did love parts of it, but as a whole it just didn't grab me the way I expected it to. Still, it was fun. And I have to say, I think the way Spider-Man travels (swinging by webs) is the coolest super-hero mode of transportation I can think of. Definitely much cooler than Superman's stiff-armed flying and even all of Batman's cars and stuff. (Although, yes, I do dig the car. How could I not? Chicks dig the car.)

It was a great anniversary. And the Argentinian restaurant was very good (La Vina Tavern, on Dixwell in Hamden). Very nice steaks.

It's rainy here today, and I am feeling lazy. I'd better go force myself to finish the laundry and think of something to cook for dinner.

He's not just the most adorable husband ever...

...but he's also a great sport. I woke up this morning to an anniversary card reading, "Happy *Niversary!" How cute is that?

*Nuff said.

Friday Again?

Gorgeous, gorgeous day here today. At lunch I couldn't wait to run out and do my errands, driving around town in my nice clean car, with my latest mix playing. (A birthday mini-mix, actually.) Went to the drugstore to buy an anniversary card for the most adorable husband ever, and also ended up with some new lipstick and nail polish. (Like I need more nail polish... sheesh!)

The weekend is going to be fun and busy. We'll be celebrating our 9th anniversary with dinner at the Argentinian steak restaurant (yum!), and probably seeing Spider Man and shopping for hiking boots. Then I have chores to do, of course, and things to get ready for my upcoming trip to Detroit.

I also want to see about possibly switching Raspberry World to a different host. Oh, I am dreading that so much. I think it's going to be just such a major pain in the ass... but I am out of space here, and I can get more space for less money elsewhere. It's either switch, or take down some of my pictures. And I guess I could take down some of the pictures, but which ones?

I don't really understand the whole deal with the domain names and all that, and how they relate to the host, and what to do about my domain which is registered through Yahoo, but I am going to have to figure it out. I'm already getting stressed about it.

Today Maria sent me this poem. I like it. It is strangely appropriate to my life.

Tulips

Maybe our failed hopes rise like tulips
out of the cold ground,
and, when we look around,
there their satin bowls are, chocolates,

and swaying, velvety clarets, aglow
with memories of help we thought would
appear and beliefs we watered.
And we do have something to show,

goblet-like reminders of our stubborn
labors -- or we don't, and refuse
odorless flowers and choose
to live without consolation.

Mark Halperin
River Styx
Issue 61, 2001

Spring At Last

Well, the forsythia have come and gone, the tulips are just about finished (at least mine are) and the lilacs are in full bloom. Even though this winter wasn't a hard one, I'm relieved that spring is finally here.

My yard is full of rabbits right now -- you can hardly look out the window without seeing at least a couple running across the grass or just hanging out. I took this picture out by the driveway on Friday night when I got home from work -- that rabbit let me get within about ten feet of it, which is pretty close for most of these wild rabbits.

Yoga was good last night. We did two new poses, virasana (hero pose, which is harder than it looks -- it feels soooooo good when you stop) and padmasana (lotus pose, although of course we are just starting to get into this pose -- unless you are extremely flexible when you start yoga, it can take awhile for the body to agree to this). Also, for the first time last night, my feet didn't cramp up when we did triangle pose and the other standing poses. I like my class, especially the meditation exercises, which really seem to do me as much good as the physical exercises. I am fortunate to be a person who relaxes easily through guided meditation, so I usually leave the class feeling very loose and calm.

Otherwise, life is very busy at the moment. Marty is starting a degree program and is still working six days a week. He is hardly home in the evenings thanks to class, softball, the gym, and his volunteer work with Special Olympics. I have after-work activities and responsibilities as well. On the fun side, I'm getting ready for a trip to visit Maria next week, and I'm doing some personal writing. But I am also behind on a lot of things, some of them important, some important only to me. (One of the "important only to me" things is reading my favorite journals -- I am way behind on most of the sites I normally read daily.) Well, I am thinking that after June 1 things should calm down quite a lot.

I hope so, anyway.

Pretty Day

It was a beautiful day today, so we went out for a walk on the nature trail at Sleeping Giant State Park (right here in Hamden). We took a picnic and walked the trail, which is only about 1.5 miles but takes awhile since it's very steep and rocky, and if you stop to read all the information in the guidebook about the plants and rocks it takes even longer. I took a bunch of pictures, so I'll try to post some later or this week sometime.

Now that Marty is working on Saturdays, his weekend is only one day long. He's also starting a class that meets one evening a week, so free time is really at a premium. We have decided that we should make an effort to do something fun together every Sunday.

Next Saturday is our wedding anniversary and today we talked about getting hiking boots for each other (how romantic!) so we can go on more walks. New England is really pretty and there are lots of place to walk.

Yoga is going well. Every week we do some new poses that seem impossible at first, but they get easier as we go along and practice them every week. And I still love the meditation section of the class. It is so nice to have time set aside for that a few times a week. I don't seem to have the patience to do it at home, at least not yet.

In other health news, I weighed today and found I have lost 8 pounds since we started on this healthy eating drive about five weeks ago. That is pretty decent, although it's only a percentage of what I hope to lose ultimately. I think if I kicked up the exercise a little more things would go even easier.

I was thinkin', if I could learn *NSYNC's dances, what great exercise they would be! Maybe I should consider Darrin's Dance Grooves after all!

That's right, freaker! Bring it!

Nice evening. Marty and I watched A Room With A View, which is really one of our favorite movies of all time. We hadn't watched it in a couple of years, I think. I got it on DVD earlier this year, and it was great to watch it again.

But somehow, someway, while we were watching the DVD, we hit record on the VCR. And there was a tape in there, a tape I have been working on most every night this week. I had just finished it last night. It was an *NSYNC pimpin' tape for Joanne. And I had made this tape and typed up two pages of notes about all the videos and scenes... and somehow we taped half of A Room With A View right over this tape. How? I have no idea.

Well, at least I have my notes. I can probably go back and recreate it. But... sigh. I made this tape from what, three DVDs and five or six different videotapes? It took hours. Hours. But now it's a challenge, and I'm just going to have to go back and do it again. Maybe even better this time! Gotta get myself psyched up, here.

Running Behind

Dang, I am completely wiped out. I guess it's leftover exhaustion from last weekend's trip (and excitement), but this whole week I have just been running about thirty minutes behind where I should be. In other words, I lack an abundance of energy. There's a general malaise in my demeanor.

(Biloba, Gibbons.)

So, until I have a chance to get some sleep this weekend, I am attacking the exhaustion with a 16-ounce cappucino. I expect I'll be peeling myself off the ceiling in an hour or so. I rarely drink coffee.

Movie News

On the way to work this morning I noticed that My Big Fat Greek Wedding is playing at the movie theater across the street. Has anyone seen it yet? If so, what did you think? I can't decide if I want to see it or not.

In other news, I read yesterday that the release of 8 Mile has been pushed out to November. Ack! (But The Eminem Show is still coming out on June 4.)

Finally, I would like to report that the On the Line DVD has some kind of security scrambling that makes it difficult to tape from it to a videotape. Ah well. At least the concert DVDs don't seem to have any kind of scrambling on them.