I'm back

My deepest apologies my dears for my 14 day absence. I haven't written because I've been too busy being sore and tired and oxycodoned (if that's a word). Whoever said having a cyst removed was a good idea needs to be slapped. This has taken so much out of me. My mother was right, I shouldn't give birth...it'll kill me :(

So I realize that I owe you 14 days of my life. I don't have it in me to recount each of the 14 days. Once the Oyxcodone kicked in, things got a little fuzzy. But I do recall a few highlights.

Day 2, November 8th - Faced with two weeks of lying on my side, I did the only thing any person in my position would do; popped in the complete first season of Lost and set a goal of watching 24 episodes in five days. I missed the first 18 or so episodes of Lost this past year, so I had some catching up to do.

24 episodes
1-2 oxycodone tabs every 4 - 6 hours each day
5 days before the DVDs had to go back to the library.

I'm sure you can see the challenge.

Tuesday morning I got started and was instantly sucked into every nuance, every possible clue. After about two days, I realized that no one's hair or beards were growing significantly and none of the women had hairy legs or pits. And those numbers... they're bad, I get it. But by Saturday I was seeing those numbers everywhere... 4, 8, 15, 15, 23, 42... Talk about full blown paranoia.

Well that was week one. Oh yeah, I got new windows in my apt. Marie came by and shielded me from nosey neighbors when I had no blinds. She also brought me Starbucks because no matter how incoherent you are, there's always time for Starbucks.

Week two, Nov 13 - 19th...
Yeah, umm... hmmm... err...
That whole week was a blur. I remember people coming by and calling while I was asleep. I don't remember much about the week. I do remember escaping from my house on the hunt for Starbucks. I walked across the street to the college, to the Starbucks cafe, to get a Caramel Macchiato with soy. Now my mom works at the college too, so I bought her one too so that she wouldn't fuss at me. And it almost worked. She was blinded by the caramel-ly goodness for a short time. But later in the day she called me and told me not to try that again. That was after my sister called and fussed at me about leaving the house. I remember telling Marie, but I don't know if that was the same day. I have no idea... I wasn't kidding when I said that week two was a big blur.

I can tell you this... Thursday I got my stitches out... WOOHOOO!!! The next day, I was feeling my cheerios and drove my car. Remember the starbucks incident? Oh yeah, my mom didn't like me driving even more than walking to get a starbucks. She didn't punish me because, well, I'm too old for that. But hey, the two days of pain was punishment enough.

Oh yeah, when I went to the doctor to get the stitches out, my doctor told me that I had two more weeks before going back to work. Two more weeks in the house... Oh joy. I have lots of homework to do and if I can keep a cohesive thought for more than two minutes, my plan is to get caught up this week. We'll see how it goes.

On the couch

I've been on the couch all day. Recovery from surgery is mostly lying there doing nothing. Well, I've become very skilled at that.

I got tons of movies to watch. I'm supposed to be in the house for two weeks so I got 8 DVDs. That should carry me through the end of the week. So here's the list:

Door to Door
Casablanca
Kim Possible: So the Drama
Hitch
Sleepless in Seattle
Woman of the Year
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Lost: the complete first season
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

What's Happening

I cannot believe that I spent most of this weekend watching the What's Happening marathon on TV Land. :(
I did watch other shows, but I watched more episodes of What's Happening than I probably should've.

Busy Weekend

This weekend, I have to get things in order in preparation for my surgery on Monday. I have laundry to do, groceries to buy and homework to finish. I don't want anything to worry about once Monday gets here.

I want to get some movies for the next two weeks, to help pass the time. Now I wish I had joined Netflix or Blockbuster Online. Maybe I still can...

My so called life

Ok, so maybe I do have a small problem with coffee. Maybe I do need that little shot of caffeinated goodness to get me through the day. Perhaps it's more than the warm aroma of the caramel macchiato that keeps pulling me back to Starbucks.

Hi, my name is Julie and I'm addicted to Starbucks.


I've refrained from going to Starbucks this week in preparation from my surgery and I feel like I'm going through withdrawal. I have no energy and all I want to do is sleep.

Sleep, my place of refuge. The only place where the absence of coffee is not an issue.

I can't wait until next Tuesday.

The lady is a tramp

She gets too hungry, for dinner at eight
She loves the theater, but doesn’t come late
She’d never bother, with people she’d hate
That’s why the lady is a tramp

Doesn’t like crap games, with barons and earls
Won’t go to harlem, in ermine and pearls
Won’t dish the dirt, with the rest of those girls
That’s why the lady is a tramp

She loves the free, fresh wind in her hair
Life without care
She’s broke, but it’s o’k
She hates california, it’s cold and it’s damp
That’s why the lady is a tramp

Doesn’t like dice games, with sharpies and frauds
Won’t go to harlem, in lincolns or fords
Won’t dish the dirt, with the rest of those broads
That’s why the lady is a tramp


I think the lady got a bum rap!!!

I took a chance

I heard this guy Jason Mraz on the CBS Early Show's Second Cup Cafe. He was so interesting. He sang the song, "The Remedy" and it was so upbeat and different. I was immediately impressed.

Well that was months ago. Everytime I've gone in Sam Goody, I couldn't remember his name so I could buy his CD, Waiting for My Rocket to Come. Yesterday, I finally remembered his name and the good news is that I found his first CD in the used CD bin for $8.99. I love this CD. It didn't disappoint me at all. I read that he was influenced by Dave Matthews and you really can hear that in his music. But unlike Dave Matthews, Mraz's music seems happier and more upbeat. But there's no mistaking the complicated guitar riffs... Mraz is clearly a Matthews disciple.

Hey, I don't care. I just love this CD.

I finally found them

I found not one, but two pairs of boots that fit me. I have a hard time finding boots that fit my calves because, well, to put it bluntly, they're big. But a friend suggested going to Value City to find boots and I ended up with a black pair and a brown pair and I got them for a good price too.

Finally...

New York, New York

It was three years ago, tomorrow, that I spent about 7 hours on the street outside Tower Records in New York City waiting to meet Liza Minnelli. That same day I saw Kelly Ripa coming out of Barnes and Noble with her son. It was a cold day and I almost got in a fight with an crazy old lady.

I met Kelly Ripa again, a year and a half ago...
Liza and David broke up...
That crazy old lady is probably still cussing me out.

Yahoo Mail!

Yahoo mail has got to be the most useless email ever invented. It'll give you a bulk folder which is supposed to sort out the "junk". But then it sends everything to the inbox. There have been times when I've left my mailbox unchecked for at most 36 hours and ended up with almost 300 emails, all of which were junk.

One of these days, Alice, one of these days... pow!!! right to the moon!!

It's simple science

The law of inertia states:

A body in motion wants to stay in motion

conversely...

A body on the couch wants to stay on the couch.

:)-

Stuck in the 80's

I don't care what VH1 says, this is still one of my favorite songs of all time. I'm still waiting to see Deborah Gibson in concert or on Broadway.

Foolish Beat
VERSE 1:
There was a time when
Broken hearts and broken dreams
Were over.
There was a place where
All you could do was
Wish on a four leaf clover.

But now is a new time
There is a new place
Where dreams just can't come true.
It started the day when I left you

CHORUS:
I could never love again the way that I loved you
I could never cry again like I did when I left you
And when we said goodbye,
Oh the look in your eyes
Just left me beside myself without your heart
(without your heart)
I could never love again now that we're apart

VERSE 2:
When I was sorry
It was too late to turn around (turn around)
And tell you so.
There was no reason
There was no reason
Just a foolish beat of my heart.

CHORUS

BRIDGE:
Oh, can't you see I'm not fooling nobody
Don't you see the tears are falling down my face
Since you went away
Break my heart, you slipped away
Didn't know I was wrong
Never meant to hurt you now you're gone

I could never love again now that we're apart.
(now that we're apart)
I could never love again now that we're apart.

Regina and Sandra

Ok, scratch last night's blog. M and I have finally decided who we want to be. M is going to be Regina King and I'm going to be Sandra Bullock.

Now if you don't know us or didn't read last night's blog, the irony will be completely lost on you. Otherwise, I think we make a great team!

Tyra and Halle

Last night I dreamt that my friend was black. Now, in real life, she's white. In my dream had a light complexion with curly reddish brownish. She didn't look like a white person made up to look black, she was actually black.

Wait, there's more...

I tell her about the dream today and she says, "Did I look like Tyra Banks"? Now, I can only blame this on America's Next Top Model. She's started watching it and well... I don't know what to say...

So I told her that if she gets to look like Tyra Banks, then I, in turn, get to look like Halle Berry. I mean it's only fair. I've always had good looking friends and felt like the "plain" one. So if there's a tranformation, we're both getting it. I mean, as long as we're stretching things, why not go for gold!

Livin’ on a prayer

We’ve got to hold on to what we’ve got
’cause it doesn’t make a difference
If we make it or not
We’ve got each other and that’s a lot
For love - we’ll give it a shot
Whooah, we’re half way there
Livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand and we’ll make it - I swear
Livin’ on a prayer

Wise Words

If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.
If you teach him how to use the internet, he'll leave you alone for a week.

Be there

In the grand scheme of things, there are something that are more important than other things. People are important, how you treat them, how you love them. We live such short lives and there is so much we have to do, so much that most of drown in the sea of responsibility. We fool ourselves into thinking that if we keep plowing ahead, working those extra hours to get more things, our families will achieve some imagined level of happiness.

I have news for you, no such place exists.

If you put your trust and hope in things, then things will be all you have in the end. Go find your loved ones and give them a hug. Tell them you love them. Then you'll find happiness. It doesn't reside in a particular zip code. It doesn't require a minimum annual salary. It only requires that you be there, emotionally, physically, and spiritually for your family. Be present in their lives now before you forget how to do it.

After all, today is a gift...That's why they call it the "present".

Where are the priorities?

With hurricane Wilma headed for Florida, why are all the news headlines about Katie Holmes protruding belly or whether or not Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn are dating or the whole Branelina thing? I'm tired of hearing about celebrities and their personal lives.

Personally, if Jennifer Anniston is dating Vince Vaughn, I say, good for her. Brad doesn't seem to mourning the break up of his marriage. Everyone wants to paint Jennifer as the jilted wife whose friends have to drag her out of bed and re-assure her that life will go on. What everyone seems to forget is that Jen was strong before Brad and will be strong after Brad. She's said plenty of times that she's ready to move on with her life. And this "feud" between and Jen and Angelina... yeah ok. Let it go people, let it go!

The funny thing is that we sit and talk about celebrities as if their successes and failures in relationships have a direct correlation with our relationship successes and failures. I mean people were going crazy with Nicole and Tom broke and now Brad and Jen. Celebrities are human beings just like us. They have problems like everyone else.

Having said that, I will be the first one in tears if Tim and Faith break up ;)

Interesting day

Ok, so it's not enough that I pay an arm and a leg for cable internet. Now for some reason, MSN/Hotmail is blocking all comcast email. This means that I can't get email from my friend who is also my coworker. She emails me from comcast and I use msn mail. This also means that my instructor for LIBS150 can't email me either. And of course, comcast has no idea why this is happening, nor when it will be fixed.

Ok, so was one thing.

Later, I went to Target to get socks. Ok, unless they're white socks, I don't know what I'm doing. When I get to Target, I got about 18 pairs of colored socks, two pairs of panty hose and a purse. After I left, I was supposed to go to Blockbuster to return some DVDs, but I forgot. I'll get back to that later.

I went back to work and couldn't really concentrate for the rest of the day. I got a project started and made some good progress, but my mind kept drifting. After work, I went to the pool for my deep water fitness class and then I went to my mom's house. I picked up my sister to go back to Target to exchange the purse and to return the DVDs to Blockbuster. On the way to Blockbuster, I decided to go in a different entrance to the shopping center than I normally take and a lady in a SUV hit me. We were both turning left into the shopping center, but she went too wide and side swiped me. My car has a minor dent, but her car had some damage. The part above the wheel came off.

When I got out of the car, she came over and asked me if I was ok and asked me what happened. I told her that she turned a little too wide and hit me. I have some paint from her car on my car and a small dent, but I was ok. She started to cry. She was so shook up. She told me that her husband was diagnosed with cancer today and that it had been a very bad day. She kept asking me if I was ok and asked if I wanted her name and address. At that point, with the damage to my car being so minor, I told her no and not to worry about it. I was just worried that she wasn't ok. She was so upset. I went over to her car with her to check things out. Outside of the wheel thing, her seemed ok. She said, that people were more important than things and she put the part in her car.

I hugged her again and asked if she was sure she'd be ok to get home. She said yes and then she got in her car and left. I was shaken up, not because of her hitting my car, although, from the angle that she hit me, I could've been seriously hurt. I was more shaken up by her reaction. I was nervous for her. I prayed that she would get home safely. She was so upset.

Now, truth be told, I am a little sore, but I'll take some tylenol for the pain.

This is funny, but true

The juices are flowing

After slaving over a design for my website project for over a week, today I looked at the draft that I turned in and had only one word to describe my design; "yuk".

I can never get completely satisfied with a design. There's always something better I could do. I'm at that point right now. I just worked on a second design, although, I'm not sure if my instructor is going to let me change the design now.

I hope she does because I'm happier with the second design.

Don't worry... as soon as I finish it, I'll upload it for you to see.

Matthew 6:33

(Matthew 6:33) 33 "Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to YOU.

Whenever you're stressed about all the pressures that are weighing down on you, read the above scripture and pray to have your thinking re-aligned with God's.

I forgot to do that last week and I let the careless speech of another person ruin my mood. I was told that I need to change who I am in order to achieve a particular goal. What was suggested was contrary to my personality and something that I never felt I should have to do. So imagine the negative self talk that went on in my head.

"Maybe if you were more social, you'd meet someone..." Great advice, but people have a saying that you need to be more social and then not inviting you to anything. Ok, so be social, but just not with us. Hmm...

Then today, I was reading an article in the Watchtower about Noah and the faith that he had and showed in building an ark, when no one had ever seen a flood before. He did this work for over 100 years. The article said that Noah had a faith that was so strong that it directed his every choice in live. He worked toward the goal of finishing is God given assignment and he did just so.

It made me think about all the things that I could get wrapped up in. All the things that could bring me down. Not being married is something that if I allow it to, could bring me down. But God's work of preaching and teaching will never bring me down. It's something that is a privilege and I should do the best that I can at it.

So I'm not going to let singleness bring me down. If it is meant for me to be married, I'll get married and I won't have to change myself into someone I don't like to do it. If I keep putting the kingdom (work) first then all these other things, (the desires of life that are in harmony with God's purposes) will be added to me.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Tagline: Laugh. Cry. Share the pants.

Plot Outline: Four best girlfriends hatch a plan to stay connected with one another as their lives start off in different directions: they pass around a pair of secondhand jeans that fits each of their bodies perfectly.

Actors: Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Jenna Boyd, See more

Researching...

I'm scheduled to get some surgery on the 24th and I decided to do some research. I'm a little disturbed by what I've read. I made the mistake of looking at some pictures on one website and was completely grossed out.

I will say this, though, I did find some very interesting information. It looks like I might have to take off a week or so from work, because I may not be able to walk that much. I'm all for a few days off, but I don't know if I'm up for immobility. I'll figure something out though.

I'm not afraid though...not yet. I think that by getting as much information about this ahead of time, the scariness will be minimized.

Of course, that's what I say now... it's only the 13th.

Quit Smoking

So this morning I saw a Phillip Morris (the cigarette people) commercial. The commercial was about quitting smoking. It was hard to believe that Phillip Morris really wants people to stop smoking when it's their cash cow. Why should they care about smoker's health?

Oh yeah, that's right... Maybe it's all the class action suits that have them concerned... If they really cared, how about this... STOP MAKING CIGARETTES!!!!

If you want to quit smoking, go to the American Lung Association Freedom From Smoking website.

It's getting cold

I've been avoiding this for a long time, but the time has come. It's been in the 50's and 60's for about a week now. It's been rainy and cold. So it's time to go get pantyhose.

I know that man must have invented pantyhose, but they are pure torture.

Walmart

Think Pink

I don't usually buy things like this. But I felt compelled to buy this today.

From the Target website


We’re in this together. Wear it in support of your sister, your mother, your friend, yourself. These bracelet sets come with 20 single-strand rubber bracelets in 3 shades of pink and 6 inscribed silvertone charms ("Hope," "Love," "Courage," "Mother," "Sister" and "Friend") that you can hook on to make multi-strand bangles. Or you can sport the pre-assembled triple-strand bracelets with a Target/Breast Cancer Research Foundation ribbon charm that stays on (includes 4). Benefiting the women who have fought the illness, the people who’ve borne it with them and all who have lost a loved one to breast cancer, Target will donate 100% of profits from this product to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and genetic research worldwide. For more information, visit bcrfcure.org or call toll-free 1.866.FIND.A.CURE.

Spring time in Adelphi

I got an email from my academic advisor telling me that it's time to register for Spring classes. Hello, it's only the fifth week of classes. We've still got nine weeks left and she wants me to think about spring?

Come on now :(

I went ahead and printed out the online course section of the schedule of classes because in reality, who really needs all 148 pages of that thing? I just need a list of online classes that will be available.; seven pages in total.

While I was thumbing through the schedule of classes, I discovered something that I guess I had seen before, but didn't realize. Each semester is broken into two mini-mesters. So theoretically, I could sign up for 2-three credit courses, (one in Spring 1 and one in Spring 2) and still be considered a 6 credit student for the spring. That might actually work for me. This way I can get two classes out of the way without doing them both at the same time.

Now I just have to decide what to take. I'll let you know how that goes.

Good day

There are days when I feel super-productive and the mental juices just flow. Today was one of those days. I'm happy to say that I was able to keep most of the promises I've made over the past week. And I got some stuff done faster than I thought possible.

Mary Tyler Moore to go back to ‘70s’

Will play newscaster on ‘That 70s Show’

Updated: 8:08 p.m. ET Aug. 24, 2005
NEW YORK - Mary Tyler Moore is returning to the newsroom.
Moore is going to play a local newscaster in three episodes of “That 70’s Show.” But Moore won’t play the loveable character she did in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
Fox says the episodes will air next year. The new season of “That 70’s Show” will premiere November second.

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Two shoulders

When sadness fills your heart
and despair is all you see
when you feel you have nothing else
you have me.

Be strong my friend...

September tears fall like rain

Historically speaking, September has never been a month of happiness.

9/11/1973, when the Americans orchestrated the military coup that overthrew and assassinated Salvador Allende in Chile. Over 3000 Chileans, mostly indians, were killed.

09/18/1989 Hurricane Hugo makes landfall over Charleston, South Carolina.

9/13/1996 Tupac Shakur dies from complications resulting from multiple gun shot wounds.

Late 8/31/1997, Princess Diana dies after being chased by papparazzi. The world grieves and tries to figure it out throughout September 1997.

Labor Day weekend 2000, my friend Iran is found in his apartment dead from a self inflicted gun shot wound. He was 26.

08/25/ 2001 R&B singer Aaliyah is killed in a freak airplane crash. The country spends the next few weeks trying to figure out what wrong until...

9/11/2001, Terrorists destroy the World Trade Center Towers (north and south), crash a plane into one side of the Pentagon and killed another plane full of people in Pennsylvia in an attempt to hit the White House. The United States is never really the same.

9/11/2003 Actor John Ritter dies from what doctors diagnosed as an aortic dissection (an unrecognized flaw in his heart).

9/18/2003 - Hurricane Isabel devastates the eastern coast of the US, killing 50 people and causing $3.37 billion in damage.

9/12/2003 Singer Johnny Cash dies from complications from diabetes.

9/01/2004 Armed terrorists took hundreds of school children and adults hostage at School Number One in the Russian town of Beslan in North Ossetia. On September 3, 2004, the third day of the standoff, shooting broke out between the hostage-takers and Russian security forces. According to official data, 344 civilians were killed, 186 of them children[1], and hundreds more wounded.

08/31/2005 Hurricana Katrina displaces over a million people, kills over 1000, and virtually wipes out the gulf coast cities of Lousiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.

As if that weren't bad enough, 09/24/2005 Hurricana Rita finishes off the gulf Coast, making landfall between Sabine Pass, Texas, and Johnson's Bayou, Louisiana, and refilling an already over flooded New Orleans left with even more water than Katrina had dumped three weeks earlier.

Many other sad things happened, as they do everyday. It's important to let the people in your life know how you feel. It's important to clear up any unfinished business. It takes so much energy to be negative. In the grand scheme of things, it's better to love and be loved and spend your days appreciating your loved ones because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us.

Diary of a Mad Black Woman

There exists a part of me that most people never get to see. It is a side that only comes out when I feel like I or my family are being attacked. I feel intense rage inside the very core of my being and my only instinct is to protect my family.

Once this rage led me to beat a man with a whiffle ball bat. Another time, I picked up a teenager and moved her away from my sister. I have been known to speak before thinking and verbal defend myself and my family.

Today, one of my older sisters was verbally attacked in writing and upon hearing about it, that part of me kicked in. I was ready to protect and defend my sister. No one treats my family that way and gets away with it.

Then I thought about it. Although my rage comes from a seemingly good place, it doesn't serve me well. So I decided to handle things differently. I dealt with the offender in a different manner, one that was appropriate for the situation. That person didn't need to know how angry I was at the time because that ultimately won't solve anything. But I will take care of the situation and get it resolved quickly.

Cellphone Therapy

You might want to consider your cellphone's mental state before you upgrade to a new one.

True Colors

You with the sad eyes
don't be discouraged
oh I realize
it's hard to take courage
in a world full of people
you can lose sight of it all
and the darkness inside you
can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow

Show me a smile then
don't be unhappy, can't remember
when I last saw you laughing
if this world makes you crazy
and you've taken all you can bear
you call me up
because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow

-Cyndi Lauper
from the CD True Colors, 1990

Just Do It

Maybe the NIKE people were right when they said "Just Do It". I have decided to finally create that web design business website that I've always wanted. I've already gotten a domain name, http://www.jmjdesigns.com/index1.htm.

I've also decided to build my site as my class project. We have to build a site in my Advanced Internet Class so I figured that since only my homepage is done, I can do the rest for myself and the class. Our teacher gave up some pretty strict guidelines, one of which is that the whole site has to be hand coded using Notepad or Notepad2; no WYSIWYG editors. YIKES! This will definitely be a challenge. We also have to come up with our own timetable for completion.

I'm going to look at this positively about this. I have to get use to doing web site proposals and setting up draft and action plans for real-world clients. So all this work, that I don't normally do, will come in handy one day.

Take Courage

I found this scripture interesting:

1 Chronicles 29:17a "And I well know, O my God, that you are an examiner of the heart..."

When I read this, it made me think of how what is in our hearts can recommend us or condemn us. Many people in this world don't feel worthy of God's love. They feel like they haven't or can't do what pleases God. They feel like, "God wouldn't want me, I've sinned too much". Well, guess what? Luke 15:7 gives comfort to those who don't feel worthy of God's attention when it says, "I tell you that thus there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who hae no need of repentence."

So, it's never too late. God knows what is in our hearts. If we want to be acceptable to him and don't know how or think it's too late, go to him in prayer and ask for his guidance. He'll give it to you, even if it seems to you that it's too late.

Carol King had it right

If you're out on the road
Feeling lonely, and so cold
All you have to do is call my name
And I'll be there on the next train

Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead

Good Food and Good Friends

There's nothing like fried chicken, mac-n-cheese, green beans, key lime pie and a good friend to make a meal great!

Of course, we could've had two bowls of cereal and it still would've been a great time.

*Olive Juice*

No Time to Kill

There's no time to kill between the cradle and the grave
Father Time still takes a toll on every minute that you save
Legal tender's never gonna change the number on your days
The highest cost of livin's dyin', that's one everybody pays
So have it spent before you get the bill, there's no time to kill

If we'd known ten years ago today would be ten years from now
Would we spend tomorrow's yesterdays and make it last somehow
Or lead the cheers in someone else's game and never learn to play
And see the rules of thumb are all the same that measure every day
The grass is green on both sides of the hill, there's no time to kill

No time to kill, even I've said it, and probably always will
But I can look ahead and see that time ain't standin' still
No time to kill but time to change the kind of hurry I've been in
And quit this work and worry lookin' back at where I've been
If you don't look ahead nobody will, there's no time to kill

If we had an hour glass to watch each one go by
Or a bell to mark each one to pass, we'd see just how they fly
Would we escalate the value to be worth its weight in gold
Or would we never know the fortunes that we had 'til we grow old
And do we just keep killin' time until there's no time to kill

No time to kill, even I've said it and probably always will
But I can look ahead and see that time ain't standin' still
No time to kill but time to change the kind of hurry I've been in
And quit this work and worry lookin' back at where I've been
If you don't look ahead nobody will, there's no time to kill

No time to kill, even I've said it and probably always will
But I can look ahead and see that time ain't standin' still
No time to kill but time to change the kind of hurry I've been in
And quit this work and worry lookin' back at where I've been
If you don't look ahead nobody will, there's no time to kill

No time to kill
No time to kill
No time to kill

Telecommuting

I think I could use to this! I'm telecommuting two days this week. It took me a little bit to get started today. But once I got started, I was on a roll.

I decided not to change my routine too much so I got up this morning and did my walk. I took my mom to the gym with me and we did the treadmill. Fun was had by all :)

After I got home, I took a shower, made some breakfast (why haven't I bought a coffee maker yet?), and settled in to get some work done. I have my list, my to-do list. I made it yesterday and it consists of projects that I can do without connecting to my work computer. At first I was worried that I wouldn't have enough to do, but as it turns out, I may have too much to do.

At 4:30 I'm taking a break to go to the pool for deep water fitness, otherwise known as aquafit. That will cap off my day. I'll do a little more after I get home to finish off my 7.5 hours of work and then it'll be time for homework. OH JOY!

Someone tell me that I wasn't crazy to sign up for classes.

So you want to be a web designer

webkidjulie: someone in my internet class asked me if web design was an easy field to get into
Liz41533: oh, sure...
webkidjulie: I told her that if she had an art background, programming experience, some knowledge of marketing and business and a degree, it's easy to get in
webkidjulie: that is if you want to do it right
Liz41533: LOL
webkidjulie: seriously, I told her that the industry is saturated with people who just know the software to build sites, FP, Dreamweaver, GoLive, etc. But the real challenge is knowing how to make a functional site that's attractive, easy to use, and goes along with the intended purpose of the business or individual
webkidjulie: if you can do that, then you're really a web designer
webkidjulie: more web nazi rhetoric
Liz41533: :)
webkidjulie: if it weren't offensive, I'd want a tshirt that says, "web nazi"
Liz41533: LOL
Liz41533: sounds like you go around persecuting *people* in chat rooms or something
webkidjulie: yeah, really

In the cobwebs of my mind

I don't know what's going on with my subconscious lately. I've been having dreams of the twin towers again. I want to say that it's because one week ago today was September 11th. But the dreams started a while ago. I had my second dream of the past month last night.

In my dream, I was in the hospital, which it was in the North Tower (in my dream). I was injured in some sort of way that I had to be in wheel chair. Suddenly the building started to shake. It wasn't hit, but instead it started crumbling. The floor that I was on began to split open and revealed blocks of ice. Lauren Graham was visiting me, but for some reason she disappeared and I was all alone and couldn't get to the elevator. Some how I managed to make it to the stairs and for some reason I decided that the best way to get down the stairs was to slide down the banister.

I made to the bottom floor and out of the building. It was chaos, but some how I got away. Then I woke up.

It's the strangest thing because sometimes I make it out and sometimes the dream ends before that. I don't know why I keep having these kinds of dreams. It's a little unnerving because no one wants to think about their own death.

TGIF

It's been a long week. I'm ready for the weekend. I have a ton of homework, but that's ok. I can get through that.

OK...

Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger, were we really surprised that their marriage didn't last? Zellweger is claiming "fraud" as her grounds for the annullment. Most of the articles I've read said that this is unusual and hard to prove. But if you think about it, maybe it's Kenny that should be claiming fraud.

Go with me on this one....

Reportedly, Kenny Chesney developed a crush on Renee (or should I say her character) when he saw her in Jerry Maguire. He was so enamored with her that he wrote a song called "You Had Me At Hello". That could be considered either incredibly sweet or incredibly creepy. You take your pick. So this past January when they met at a Tsunami relief telethon, well of course, it was love at first sight. Kenny met Dorothy Boyd, er, Renee Zellweger. Sorry I got Renee confused with her character from Jerry Maguire.

Oh wait, maybe Kenny did too. Maybe Kenny realized that didn't marry Dorothy, a make believe woman, and that he really married Renee.

Hmmm....

Protect Yourself

My day was filled, or maybe I should say, jammed packed with activities. It started at 7 am when my sister called and asked me to print out pictures of our family for my neice's class. They were making a family tree. I don't remember making family trees at two years old, but then again, I was two years old 30 years ago.

When I got to work, the "fun" continued. I had a ton of work orders and it seemed to me that everyone needed their work order done, not today, but yesterday. My mind was swirling and I began to feel like I was going to have a panic attack. Now, it probably wasn't a good idea to have a cappuccino, but you live and learn.

I went through the rest of the day, wondering if I had enough time to get everything done. My brain became aware of every second that passed. Oh yeah, let's not forget the Mellow Yellow at lunch. Mellow Yellow is Coca-Cola's version of Mountain Dew. What's the best way to come down from a cappucinno high? Get a soda buzz. If you are shaking your head in shame right now, you wouldn't be alone. Around 4:00 pm, the buzz started to where off and my brain started calm down. I also felt like I was getting things done.

I'm really tired right now. It's probably all the caffeine making its way out of my system. I'm still not going to fold the laundry today. But for sure, tomorrow. Although, one of my friends suggested that I just leave the clothes on the living room floor and just pick out my outfits from there. I don't think I'll do that. But it's tempting.

Who is he kidding?

I read this article about Bill Gates today and thought to myself, "Yeah right. Napolean Dynamite is way cooler than Bill Gates."


Microsoft's Gates faces off with Napoleon DynamiteTuesday September 13 10:12 PM ET

Pick your favorite geek: Napoleon Dynamite or Bill Gates?

Seeking to capitalize on the popularity of the 2004 cult movie "Napoleon Dynamite," Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday screened a video spoof for software developers in which the film's celebrated anti-hero reports to work as a programer for the world's largest software maker.
In a face-off between the two nerd icons, Jon Heder, the actor who plays Napoleon Dynamite, beats Gates in a slapping match to become the head of the software giant.

Gates is shown recruiting Heder's fictional character, after which they are seen together in ill-fitting brown suits on Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington.
In the last scene of the video spoof, Gates is seen scurrying into the office of his boss, Napoleon Dynamite.
Microsoft often uses major events to poke fun at its competitive business culture and and its hands-on chairman, Gates, the company's largest individual shareholder and the world's richest man with an estimated net worth of more than $48 billion.
Microsoft showed developers preliminary versions of its upgrades of its flagship Windows and Office programs to software developers at this weeks' conference in Los Angeles.


****Just an aside, 'Jon Heder' was paid $1,000 to play Napoleon Dynamite. The movie grossed over $40,000,000 in the United States.

More Napolean Trivia

Surprise

Sometimes you can't look a gift horse in the mouth. You just take the gift you're given and say thank you.

Katrina aid from Cuba? No thanks, says U.S.

webkidjulie: "Hi, this is George Bush calling. Yeah, I appreciate you wanting to help, but I'd rather let a few thousand more people die before I take your stinking money, you communist pig

*click* (phones slams down)

"Honey, what are we having for dinner"

hrlady99: yah, we have to remember these are the same people that turned down evacuation help from Amtrak, bus companies, etc. Amtrak had a train that they were sending out of the area anyways to put it at safer ground and offered to load it with evacuees. They ended up driving off empty because they were turned down.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9311876/

Spring Cleaning

I need to do spring cleaning in my apt. I've let things go for a while. It's not a complete mess, but my apt could stand to get an overall wipe down and vacuum. I have a brunch to go to and then I'll be back to clean.

There's nothing like a clean space to help clear my mind.

First week of classes

So ends my first week of classes. So far, everything has been ok. I did have to do an online library scavenger hunt for the information literacy class. That was interesting.

I'm getting a little more comfortable with my schedule, but I still have some work to do. I need to write out a schedule of study so that I don't get behind in my classes. I also need to schedule my spiritual studies as well. It's going to be an interesting few weeks as I grope for that balance.

BTW, on Sunday, it'll be September 11th. I'm not planning to watch too much regular tv. I probably should get some dvds from blockbuster tomorrow.

Trapped in my car

You won't believe what happened today. I got in the car after my aquafit class and when I got home, my car door was stuck. I can't get it unlocked. I had to climb out of the passenger side door. I was none too happy.

Oddly enough, I found an article about someone with the same make and model car with the same problem. So I need to break into my car to get the door open to see what the jam is. Then it's possible that I'll have to have the lock replaced.

You know, of course, that I don't have money to get this fixed. :(

Learning about the library

I'm taking the following class:

LIBS150 Information Literacy and Research Methods
They should call it, "Defanging the Library"

Here's the course description:

An introduction to the research process and methods for retrieving information in a library or through online sources. Development of a research topic and the creation of effective strategies for finding relevant information are discussed and practiced. The following information literacy skills are emphasized: understanding the research process; selecting appropriate print and electronic sources to answer research questions; effectively using Web search engines and UMUC Information and Library Services' electronic resources to find information; and evaluating, organizing, and correctly citing the information found.

Yeah, ok. I just want to know if after I take this class I'll be able to go into the library and find a book without asking the library people for help.

Incredible

I read that someone said that Hurricane Katrina was God's wrath against the United States. I cannot believe that and I will not believe that. If you take an honest scientific look at what man has done to this earth, the increase in natural disasters is a direct result of man's continued destruction of the environment.

God doesn't kill innocent people because of the sins of a few. He just doesn't work that way.
The quote that I read came from a person of a non-christian religion. I can't attest to the belief system of this person, but I can say this. If you want to look for someone to blame, you'll need a lot of fingers. Big business is to blame for deforestation, over production of the land, and general lack of consideration for mankind. The green house effect, that many people don't believe in, is basically to blame for the increase in natural disasters.

Now if you want to blame someone for the lack of evacuation efforts before the hurricane, again, you'll need lots of fingers. I'm not going to name names, because I think that at this point, it's useless. However, the resources being used to transport people out of the devasted areas, should've been used ahead of time. The resources, that were already allocated to fix the levy systems shouldn't been diverted to the war.

It's not like New Orleans and the other Gulf Coast cities were built a few years ago. The government knew about the possibility of this disaster decades ago. It's like government officials were in denial about this problem for years. Hopefully, they will fix the levies to prevent this type of disaster from happening again.

It's a sad situation.

Why Do We Get Labor Day Off?

Raise a glass to the desperate politicking of Grover Cleveland.
By Brendan I. Koerner


Cleveland's desperation is to thank for Labor Day

The nation will observe Labor Day this coming Monday, allowing millions to enjoy the waning days of summer, as well their last chance to wear white pants without earning a "tsk tsk" from Miss Manners. How did this early September holiday get its start?

Though President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a national holiday in 1894, the occasion was first observed on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City. A parade was organized by the city's Central Labor Union, a branch of the Noble Order of the Knights of Labor, a secretive labor union founded in 1869 by a clique of Philadelphia tailors. Historians still debate over whom, specifically, to credit with the idea of a holiday dedicated to the workingman. Some say that Labor Day was the brainchild of Peter J. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor. Others argue that Matthew Maguire, the CLU's secretary, was the holiday's mastermind and that he doesn't receive proper credit because he ticked off the mainstream labor movement by running for vice president on the National Socialist Labor Party ticket in 1896.

According to Ted Watt's The First Labor Day Parade, the September date was chosen because it coincided with a Knights of Labor conference in New York, thus guaranteeing a sizable turnout for the festivities. Though the event wasn't particularly festive, at least by today's standards: It resembled a protest far more than a parade, with CLU members required to march in support of the eight-hour workday. (Those who ditched faced fines.)

The CLU held the event again the following year on the same date. In 1884, however, the organization shifted gears and mandated that Labor Day take place annually on the first Monday in September. In 1887, Oregon became the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday, with Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York quickly following suit.

For a while, Labor Day had stiff competition from May 1. In 1884, the American Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions declared that, by May 1, 1886, the eight-hour workday should be in effect across the land. When legislators and employers failed to comply in time, the result was a general strike and the bloody Haymarket Riot in Chicago, which caused the deaths of eight police officers and led to the hangings of four labor activists.

Though May 1 became an important day for Socialists and Communists, state governments and less radical labor leaders feared that the date was too emotionally charged. In 1894, after President Grover Cleveland ordered the brutal suppression of the Pullman Strike, he realized that he had to do something to curry favor with the labor movement, which viewed him with contempt. Worried that a May 1 holiday would encourage rabble-rousing in commemoration of the Haymarket Riot, he followed the lead of several states and made the first Monday in September a federal holiday in honor of the workingman. The political maneuver didn't achieve its desired effect, however: Cleveland lost the Democratic Party's 1896 presidential nomination to William Jennings Bryan.

Bonus Explainer: May 1 wasn't forgotten, however. In the 1920s, it became known in the United States as Loyalty Day, and it's still observed with an annual presidential proclamation that asks all government officials to take the not-so-outlandish step of flying the U.S. flag above their buildings.

Cookout

My family went to the end of the summer family cookout today. I initially wasn't going to go because I really need to save as much gas as possible. But I decided to go and ended up having a good time. I ate way more than I should've, but I figured that what's everyone does at cookouts.

Of course, I brought home a plate of food. I won't have to cook tomorrow. WOOOOHOOOO!

Hurricane Katrina Relief

From: http://www2.oprah.com/uyl/katrina/uyl_katrina_help.jhtml

In this time of national crisis and overwhelming tragedy, here's what you can do to help with the relief effort or find support.

What a week

This week was the first week of classes. It was also the first week of recovery for the hurricane ravaged states of Louisana, Mississippi and Alabama. The devastation is incomprehensible. It makes me so sad to see the images.

Unfortunately, there are many people who are taking the opportunity to scam people into donating money. If you get emails about donations, be very cautious. Most reputable rescue agencies have no means to do mass emails. Your best bet is to go to the Red Cross.

Enegizer Bunny

Today, I had the first Caramel Macchiato in a few months and let me tell you, I was flying. I was so energized by the small cup of coffee... Ok, I'll admit it, I was bouncing off the walls and I felt like I was shaking on the inside. It's amazing how your body reacts to things after not having them for a long time.

I thought of something today. Yesterday was August 31st. On August 31, 1991 I was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I dedicated my life to serving God. I think that in the past 14 years, I could've done better in my service to God; could've shown more faith and reliance. But I do know one thing. I am in a place right now where doing my best to serve Jehovah has been more important to me than ever before. I really want to give my all. One thing that has helped me is knowing that I don't have to be perfect at it.

See as a classic over-achiever, I'm used to doing really well in most things. My field service (house-to-house ministry) is something that I've never felt completely confident in. Maybe that's a good thing. There's no room for over confidence in this humble work. But I also know now that giving a witness is done in several ways. My conduct alone gives a witness to the God that created me. If I work hard to reflect his qualities, I become a better citizen in this world and a better servant of his.

So it's all good. I'm not at the level I hoped I'd be when I got baptized. But I'm getting there.

School shopping

I went school shopping today. I bought school supplies. It was so fun.

Brad and Jen... the saga continues

I read several magazine covers today with articles detailing the post-married life of Jennifer Anniston. There are articles talking about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie buying homes, vacationing and planning their wedding. Then there are articles about Jen hanging out with close friends to help get through this time in her life, her alleged relationship with Vince Vaughn, and her feelings toward her ex.

Why has Brad and Jen's breakup caused so much conversation? It's almost like our parents breaking up and all of us being forced to choose sides. Do we live with Mom or Dad? Who's heart will be broken more? I don't know if I would want to move in with Dad and his new girlfriend. I think I have to side with Mom.

Martha's Got Her Groove Back

It's good to see that some criminals actually get reformed and that there are employers still willing to give them a break...

*giggle*


'Martha' to Show Sense of Humor
Aug 18, 7:15 AM EST


The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Martha Stewart's new syndicated daytime television series, "Martha," which premieres Sept. 12, promises to show the home-and-hearth marketing queen's sense of humor.

"As soon as I spent time with Martha I knew that her witty and engaging humor would surprise and entertain viewers," executive producer Mark Burnett said in a statement released Tuesday by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.

"Our new daytime show does just that," he said. "It's in front of a live studio audience. It's energetic, it's fun. It works."

Cooking, crafts, collecting, gardening and home design will be featured components of the hour-long show, which will originate from Stewart's new studio in the Chelsea Television Studios.

The set includes a kitchen and a glass-enclosed conservatory for gardening segments.

Stewart will hit the road in segments such as "What's Really for Dinner," in which she surprises a viewer by visiting her home and helping cook a meal.

"I am very excited about working with a live audience for the first time and relish the idea of hosting a series that is a one-stop destination for all things how-to," Stewart said in a statement.

The 64-year-old lifestyle guru also will star in the reality show, "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," which premieres Sept. 21 on NBC.

Stewart's release from home confinement in Bedford, N.Y., which followed a five-month prison term for lying about a stock sale, is set for Aug. 31.



Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

First day of school

Tomorrow is the first day of school for everyone in my family, except me. I go back to school on September 6th.

As long as I can remember, it's always rained the first day of school. I watched the news this morning and they were predicting clouds and possible rain. That rain sort of comforts me because it's a constant in my life. The first day of school has always been good for me, although the days to follow may not have.

I'm looking forward to going to school, to a new school. The University of Maryland University College is the largest school that I have ever attended. It's daunting because Howard Community College is so much my security blanket, that leaving frightens me.

I've been fighting it for years. I don't like to do things that might be too hard for me. And going for my bachelor's seemed like something I couldn't do. I don't know what I'm so afraid of. With a 3.57 GPA, you would think that I would be a little more confident about moving forward. I'm not, but I also feel like if I don't do this, I'll regret it because there's so much I want to do in my field that I can't do now without the degree.

The good news is that I have a support team that will help me through this. Although they've already told me that they don't want me weighing myself down and stressing out, I know that they'll be there to give me hugs and encourage me when I inevitably take on too much.

This is what I want to say to my support team.

Thank you in advance to everyone who:
- will be there for me.
- will listen to me complain.
- will tell me that it's going to be ok.
- will tell me to do my homework on time.
- will give me a hug when I need it.
- will tell me to relax.
- won't allow me to give up.

It's so clear now

My world it moves so fast today
The past it seems so far away
And life squeezes so tight that I can't breathe
And every time I try to be what someone else has thought of me
So caught up I wasn't able to achieve
But deep in my heart the answer it was in me
And I made up my mind to define my own destiny
I look at my environment
And wonder where the fire went
What happened to everything we used to be
I hear so many cry for help
Searching outside of themselves
Now I know his strength is within me
And deep in my heart, the answer it was in me
And I made up my mind to define my own destiny
And deep in my heart...
And deep in my heart, the answer it was in me
And I made up my mind to define my own destiny

Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Listen to this song

Laundry

I need to do laundry...badly. They are renovating the laundry room, which means the washers and dryers are gone. They won't be returned until Monday. So I have no socks to wear and very few seasonal clothes left. It's too bad I can't wear jeans to work. If I could, I'd have stuff to wear.

Oh well...

My class schedule

CMST 386 Internet: An Advanced Guide 3 units
(9/6/05 - 12/20/05)
Prerequisite: CMST 385. A study of advanced applications for the Internet and the World Wide Web. Focus is on Web page design, including features such as frames, animation, and cascading style sheets. Dynamic HTML and JavaScript are introduced. Assignments include publishing a Web page. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CAPP 386 or CMST 386.


LIBS150 Info Literacy Research Methods 1 units
(9/6/05 - 10/25/05)
An introduction to the research process and methods for retrieving information in a library or through online sources. Development of a research topic and the creation of effective strategies for finding relevant information are discussed and practiced. The following information literacy skills are emphasized: understanding the research process; selecting appropriate print and electronic sources to answer research questions; effectively using Web search engines and UMUC Information and Library Services' electronic resources to find information; and evaluating, organizing, and correctly citing the information found. Credit for LIBS 150 may not be earned through challenge exam or portfolio credit. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: COMP 111, LIBS 100, or LIBS 150.

COMM394 Business Writing 3 units
(10/26/05 - 02/08/06)
(Students for whom English is a second language should consider taking COMM 394X instead. Fulfills the general education requirement in intensive upper-level writing.) Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or ENGL 101X. An introduction to professional workplace writing. Topics include context, purpose, audience, style, organization, format, technology, results, and strategies for persuasion when writing typical workplace messages. In addition to shorter assignments, a substantial formal report that incorporates data analysis and support for conclusions or recommendations is required. Assignments include composing a total of 6,000 words (approximately 25 pages). Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: COMM 394, COMM 394X, ENGL 394, or ENGL 394X.

A Preview of Global Healing

I would love to say something that could make things better for other people. Below are two paragraphs that appeared in The Watchtower May 1, 2002 that I think help us all get through the daily pressures that life puts on all of us.


Jesus' Miracles—A Preview of Global Healing

Jesus' miracles did more than prove that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. They furnished a basis for faith in the Bible's promises that obedient mankind will be cured in the future. These promises include the prophecy in Isaiah chapter 35, mentioned in the opening paragraph. Isaiah 33:24 states concerning the future health of God-fearing humans: "No resident will say: 'I am sick.'" Similarly, Revelation 21:4 promises: "[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things [today's trials and suffering] have passed away."

People regularly pray for the fulfillment of these prophecies when they repeat Jesus' model prayer, which says in part: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10, King James Version) Yes, God's will includes the earth and humankind. Disease and disabilities, although permitted for a reason, will soon have had their day; they will not blight God's "footstool" forever.—Isaiah 66:1.*

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/5/1/article_02.htm

Friendship Quotes:

From http://www.friendship.com.au/quotes/quolyric.html

"If you should die before me, ask if you could bring a friend."- Stone Temple Pilots

"I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay."- Dave Matthews Band

"You were the one who made things different, you were the one who took me in. You were the one thing I could count on, above all, you were my friend."- Tom Petty

"Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on, for it won't be long, 'til I'm going to need somebody to lean on."- "Lean On Me"

"In good times, in bad times I'll be on your side forever more, that's what friends are for." - "That's what friends are for"

"You've got troubles, I've got 'em too. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. We'll stick together to see it through cause you've got a friend in me."- Randy Newman

"See you and me have a better time than most can dream of, better than the best, so we can pull on through, whatever tears at us, whatever holds us down, and if nothing can be done, we'll make the best of what's around." -Dave Matthews Band

"If I had only one friend left, i'd want it to be you." -Paul Overstreet.

"Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together"- Woodrow Wilson

"The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?"- Henry David Thoreau

"Friendship that flows from the heart cannot be frozen by adversity, as the water that flows from the spring cannogt congeal in winter."- James Fenimore Cooper

Mad About You

Last night, I had the strangest dream. I must really need to watch Mad About You because I dreamt about being on Mad About You. I wasn't on the tv show, it was real life for me. Oddly enough, I was Murray, Paul and Jamie's dog.

Paul and Jamie decided to move to a new apt and I was finding it hard to adjust. They let me sleep in the bed, but I didn't want to. The only place I wanted to sleep was on the floor next to the bedroom door. So I went to the bed, got a pillow with my teeth and took it to the corner by the door. Paul and Jamie laid down on the floor next to me. I started to fall asleep but as soon as they got up to go get in bed, I woke back up. This went on for several hours until I eventually went to sleep.

So, what does it mean to dream about being a dog that can't sleep?

My dream car

I just saw this car and I have to have it.


Kia Amanti

Mental Block

There are days when I just have a mental block...Nothing is right or the way that I intend it to be. Or what's worse is not having a coherent thought. My brain was swirling in a thousand different directions keeping me completely distracted.

I have a project that I have been working on for about two weeks. Today, all of a sudden, couldn't seem to get anything substantial done. I have to come up with this last piece that will finalize everything and nothing is coming together for me. I walked away from it and got a small piece of calm. When I came back, the thoughts in my head began to swirl all over again.

I've decided that since I have so many other things that have a much sooner due date, that I'm going to put this piece of the project aside for a few days and give my brain a chance to chill and refocus on something else. Maybe that'll give me the clarity that I need.

Or maybe I need to stop listening to Don Quixote while I'm working. I think that this crazy knight errant is making me crazy as well.

It's almost time for school

The stores are packed with children and their mothers (mostly) trying to get all the schools supplies while there supplies to be had. I need to get my books for school. With an online class, I don't anticipate needed too many school supplies. I do have some notebook paper left from spring classes.

Everyone seems so overwhelmed by the thought of going back to school. I am too. In three weeks, I'll begin a program that I've long resisted; gettting my bachelor's degree. It's going to be a challenge mostly because it'll take a long time to finish. But I'm going to pace myself and not over stress myself.

Super busy day

Have you ever done so much in a day that at the end of it, you look back and all that you can remember is a giant blur?

And I still feel like I forgot to do something.

HCC Fit Club

I have been trying to get in shape for about a year now. My doctor told me to exercise five days a week. It took me a while to get up to five days, but now I'm pretty regular and I go into exercise withdrawal if I don't make my five days.

I did, however, decide last year not to get on the scale for fear that I'd become number obsessed. So I didn't get on the scale for six months. People were telling that I looked like I'd lost weight and even some of my pants are fitting me different, better. So I decided in July to see how much I had lost. To my surprise, I hadn't lost any weight and in fact, I gained 10 pounds.

You can imagine the pity party that began. I emailed my exercise instructor to ask her what to do to kick start the weight losss and she told me to start a food journal and to increase my cardio. I'm not a big fan of the food journal at all. I did one before and I really didn't know what I was doing. But she told me about a website that would help you keep your journal. Fitday.com fills in the calories, keeps track of your progress and helps you set goals. I haven't been completely faithful to it on a daily basis but I'm getting better.

My exercise instructor also did something else with me. She got me to start walking in the morning, 7:30 am to 8:30 - three miles around the track. Now keep in mind, August in Maryland is hotter than hot. It'll be 90 degrees and feel like 105. In the morning, it's hot, albeit not as hot as noontime. But still hot enough that I have to take a shower after walking. But I guess it's helped because in the past three weeks, I've lost 10 pounds. So it's a good start. She's out there three days a week, walking faster than I can walk, telling me to keep up with her. It's wearing me out, but I'm doing it.

My exercise instructor jokingly asked me if I wanted to be a size 4. I don't know if I was ever a size 4, so I can't really say. I would be happy if I went back to a 8 or 10. I don't want to be thin like most of the people on TV. I really just want to be healthy and I want to feel better about my appearance. I used to take much better care of myself. I want to get back to that.

A few broken commandments

(Leviticus 19:11)"‘YOU people must not steal, and YOU must not deceive, and YOU must not deal falsely anyone with his associate

(Deuteronomy 5:21) "‘Neither must you desire your fellowman’s wife. Neither must you selfishly crave your fellowman’s house, his field or his slave man or his slave girl, his bull or his ass or anything that belongs to your fellowman.’

Ok, so today not only did I lie, but I coveted my neighbor's lunch.

Picture it. Columbia 2005. A young peasant girl arrived at work with desire to work and a dream. A dream to eat lunch with a dear friend. She text paged her friend, hoping that lunch would give them the opportunity to catch after her friend's long journey to the southern most tip of our country. She envisioned that they would laugh, cry, drink a little soda... all merriments allowed under current work policies.

But alas, it was not to be. You see the friend had already promised her mother that she would share with her today's noontime meal. So our young peasant girl, though filled with sadness on being able to spend the day with her friend, submitted without opposition to her friend's plans and resolved in her heart that they would eat yet another day.

Well, upon seeing her friend leaving work, she began to feel jealousy, covetousness, and envy over the meal that her friend had planned to partake of with her mother; that is the sumptuous culinary delight known as the grilled cheese sandwich. Oh how bountiful and plentiful the memories and bittersweet emotions that fill one's heart at the mere mention of this delicacy of the poor. No one in his right mind can resist the feeling one derives from eating one of these delicious sandwiches. It is a delicacy that should be reserved for knights-errant and their squires.

Upon hearing of the sumptous meal that lay ahead, our peasant girl, putting on the bravest face that she could muster, declared that she would not hold it against her friend for having such a meal for our peasant girl had made alternate plans for the noontime meal. She tried to be brave, fighting back the tears of pain and the anger of being without a grilled cheese sandwich. Our brave peasant girl left her friend to meet another at the local mall for lunch. She had a white pizza, but alas it was not the same. Nothing could fill the hole left by the absense of the grilled cheese sandwich that never was.

So our peasant girl, despite being a Christian, in her hurt and anger, broke two important commandmants today. Not only did she lie about feeling being fine about not having lunch with her friend, but after she coveted the lunch that her friend had. We hope and pray that these minor infractions, can be forgiven by not only her friend, but by her God as well. Let that be a lesson for you. Covetousness and deceit do more harm to the one succumbing to those emotions.

What's in a name?

I've playing around with the idea of buying another domain name. I need a name that would represent my own little web consulting business once I get it going. I want something that sounds like a design oriented business, but not too corny.

I'm leaning towards www.jmjdesigns.com. It represents me and is design oriented. I can get the domain name for $8.95 for a year, which isn't bad. I already have a ton of web space and actually have enough so that I can split my web space under two different sites.

So what do you think of my proposed domain name?

Leave your comments on my blog and let me know.

Progress

Progress is in the eye of the beholder.

Now today, I did a lot of work. But it seemed like I did a lot of work over and over again. Sometimes, some projects are "how does it look now? - No? - Ok, I'll try again." and you spend the whole day fixing minute details.

Or sometimes you spend the day trying to force the square peg in the round hole and just when you think you can't try and shove it in from any other angle, you get it in and even though it looks weird and strange, you start to make a little progress.

You see a good web designer, in my humble opinion, should have at tiny bit of perfectionism deep in soul. There's generally no settling for almost perfect. It's perfect or it's garbage. That's what web design usually boils down to. If something isn't quite right on a page that I'm working on my conscience, my external conscience, will say something like, "was that a design choice?" which is my cue to fix the not-so-right design element.

So, to have a great website/page you need the following ingredients:

2 cups of design skill
2 cups of skill in the web design software package of your choice, I like Dreamweaver.
1 cup of obsession to detail
2 tbsp of patience (you can eye ball it)
A pinch of mania
A flux capacitor
A clove of garlic (to taste)
And about 3/4 cup of EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

Warm that over 1.21 jigawatts of heat and man o'man, your site will be awesome!!

In thirty minutes, you may not have the perfect web site, but you will have a great meal for a party of four.

Rachael Ray Rocks!

How to confuse a Starbuck Employee

60 years later. Have we learned anything?

Today is the 60th of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan marking the beginning of the end of War World I. I read an article on MSN.com http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8770432/site/newsweek/ today about a reporter who visited Hiroshima today. He writes:

I didn't know quite what to expect when I stepped off the train at Hiroshima. Certainly not the spacious shopping arcade at the station, with its advertisments for cappuccinos and beer. Nor the sight, soon after my taxi turned a corner, of the Groovin' Disc Shop, selling new and used CDs. Maybe the profusion of blond heads towering above the Japanese throngs on the platform should have alerted me. History ensures that Hiroshima belongs not just to Japan but to the world.

The rest of the article goes on to tell of the remnants, though faint, that remain as a result of that deadly day six decades ago. I read the article, fully expecting that he would mention the memorials services and commemorative landmarks throughout the city.

It was a brilliantly clear day, and I walked from the center of town, bustling with shops and hotels, through the Peace Memorial Park. It sits directly at ground zero, immaculately groomed as only Japanese gardeners seem to know how, with monuments scattered here and there to the 230,000 victims of the A-bomb. One ruined building—the Atomic Bomb Dome—stands as it did on Aug. 6, 1945, a stark reminder of that summer's day when clocks stopped at 8:15 a.m. and most of the city was obliterated.

In 36 days, we will commemorate the fourth anniversity of our county's day of infamy, September 11, 2001. It is oddly awkward to read about ground zero and not think of Lower Manhattan. It's strange to think that that phrase, ground zero, did exist before that day. But what's even more unnerving is knowing that our country was responsible for Hiroshima even having a ground zero. Instead of 3000 victims, Hiroshima had 230,000 victims. To put that in perspective the county that I live in has approximately 265,000 residents. Imagine if 85% of those residents were killed or injured, by means of one military act. It blows my mind.

Reading about this day and reflecting on the brevity of life makes me want to make sure that every moment is spent with a purpose. I want to use my life for good and use my time helping people. So many of us let our lives become consumed with the mundane cares of life and never stop to consider our neighbor and what we could do to make their existence better. It starts with a friendly, "Good Morning" or "How are you?" and actually taking the time to listen, to care. These greetings have become so common place that we say them by rout like mindless automatons with no real interest in the answer.

But no more. I care and I want you to care too. Today, tomorrow and the next day, say, "Hi, how are you?" to someone and really listen to what they have to say. When you take time to give your time and attention to someone else, the rewards come back ten-fold.

My Personality Type

From: http://www.damegames.com/quizzes/per/passess.htm
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What type are you?

Introvert/Sensing/Feeling/Judging While quiet and reserved by nature, you are very warm-hearted, considerate, gentle, and trustworthy. You have a very well developed work ethic, which ensures you will complete the task before you in a timely manner. You like to help others and are very comfortable working behind the scenes to do so. Getting the job done is far more important to you than accolades for a job well done. You are detail oriented and meticulous in your work habits. Even small mistakes haunt you. While you are not one to give orders, you are very supportive of those around you. In relationships you are kind, considerate, and show your affection by fulfilling the needs of those you love. You want a comfortable life for yourself and your loved ones and will do what you can to make your lives so. You like a structured lifestyle with well defined goals. You avoid hurting others. Your need to feel needed can keep you in unhealthy relationships with overly needy people.

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Good Day

It's not often that people get to say that they had a really good day at work. So often, pressures at work be it because of personality differences, difficult projects, or simply the type of work that we are given put a heavy burden on us all. Many people feel like their to-do list never gets completed, but instead continually grows. I've had those days...

And then you have days like the one I had today. I didn't make a to-do list because that's way too much pressure for me. I simply printed out the tasks to be completed, put them in a folder for safe keeping and then I worked my way through the folder. Now granted, I didn't get through the folder completely because that would've been a serious freak of nature. But I did get to the point where I felt like I accomplished a lot of work. I got things done and made decisions that would ultimately make some of the projects go smoother and faster.

The other day I was talking to a friend and she said that she felt bad if there weren't enough things on her to-do list. I still don't know where I went wrong with her. I tried to convince her that she was in fact broken and that this type of thinking was no good. In our field of work, if you just sit still for about a minute, work will come to you; there's no need to go looking for it.

My sister, my friend

For all my sisters...

Hey girl, it's me, I just called to tell you hi
Call me when you get this
Haven't talked lately, so hard to find the time
Give the boys a big kiss
Tell them that I miss them
By the way, I miss you too

I was thinking just today
About how we used to play
Barbie dolls and make-up
Tea parties, dress up
I remember how we'd fight,
make up, and laugh all night
Wish we were kids again
My sister, my friend

Oh yeah, before I forget, I met someone
I think I relly like him
I was just wondering if I'm jumping the gun
By going out on a limb
And invite him home for dinner*
To meet the family

Seems like just yesterday
You brought home old whats his name
He had been drinkin'
What were you thinkin'
After dinner he passed out
We can laugh about it now
We've learned a lot since then
My sister, my friend

Do you think you could come and see me sometime soon?
We could just hang out like we used to

It's late, and I should go
But I can't hang up the phone
Until I tell you
What I don't tell you enough
Even though at times it seemed
We were more like enemies
I'd do it all again
My sister, my friend

Oh my sister, my friend

- Reba
From Room to Breathe

Question

The old saying goes...

"You have to keep up with the Joneses".

So if everyone is trying to keep up with the Joneses, with whom are the Joneses trying to keep up?

Day two

I started walking three miles around the track yesterday morning. Three miles a day at 7:30 am is a hard task, but it's worth it. If I can keep this up for a month, I'll segue into aquafit nicely in September.

My body is so sore :(

Don Q

Don Quixote... I told you that I was reading it, right? Well, I gave up on reading it myself and picked up the book on CD from the library last Saturday. Hello, it's 17 CDs long. What was I thinking?

But I have to say that in the past two days, I've listened to the first 6 chapters, far more than I managed to read on my own. I only have one thing to say - Don Quixote is crazy.

What's sadder is that we all know someone like him. If you don't think that you know someone like him, then chances are that you're the one who is like him.

Updating my website

I've been working on updating my Carol Burnett website for the past week. I'm doing it for several reasons that I won't bore you with right now.

Anyway, I've come up with a new design and hopefully in the next week or so, I'll go live. It's a cleaner design and technically more manageable.

After it's launched, let me know what you think about it.

Summertime

In Maryland, you really can't go a summer without having crabs at least once. Steamed crabs slathered in Old Bay are the best way to spend an afternoon along with some friends...

And don't forget the beer ;)

Annual Plan

Now's the time to write a check that hopefully I can cash by next June. That's right, it's time to do my annual plan. I always have the hardest time coming up with goals for the next year, especially since you never know what will come up that will keep me from reaching my goals.

*sigh*

My annual plan is due on Friday by COB. So, here goes.

Practicing Cubicle Etiquette

By Jill Bremer, AICI, CIP, Bremer Communications

Is your current workspace a cubicle? Is a move into a cubicle in your near future? Life in a cube presents certain challenges. And if you're being moved out of an office into a cube farm, the change can be emotional, as well. Working in a cubicle does have some upsides, such as developing an open and connected staff and creating a feeling of camaraderie. However, studies show that most workers are not thrilled with the idea of working in a cube because of the lack of privacy and the increased noise. Here, then, is a set of ground rules that will help cube dwellers remain both productive and neighborly.

Privacy

Never enter someone's cubicle without permission. Behave as though cubicles have doors. Do not enter before you have eye contact "permission" from the occupant.

Try not to sneak up behind someone in a cube. Announce yourself at their doorway or lightly knock on the wall.

Post a sign or flag at your cube entrance to signal when you can be interrupted. Avoid making eye contact with people if you don't want to be interrupted.

Don't "prairie-dog" over the tops of cubes or peek in as you walk past each one.

Don't loiter outside someone's cube while you wait for him or her to finish a phone call. Come back at another time.

Never read someone's computer screen or comment on conversations you overhear. Resist answering a question you overhear asked in the cube next to you!

Keep your hands off a cube dweller's desk. Just because there's no door doesn't mean you can help yourself to their paper clips.

Phones

Try to pick up your phone after one or two rings. Set the ringer volume at a low level.

Limit the use of speakerphones. If you must use one, keep the volume as low as possible. Use a meeting room for conference calls.

Watch your volume when talking on the phone. A headset can help keep your voice low.

When you leave your cubicle, turn your phone ringer off and let it go to voicemail or forward your phone number to your new location.

Never leave your cell phone behind in your cube without first turning it off or to vibrate.

With personal or sensitive calls, be aware that your neighbors can hear your end of the conversation.

Talking

Use your "library voice."

Don't talk through cube walls or congregate outside someone's cube. For impromptu meetings, go to a conference room or break room.

Don't bring clients to your cube to meet with them. Go to an office or conference room.

Don't yell across the "cube farm". Get up and move to the other person's location.

General Noise

Use e-mail or instant messaging to communicate silently with your coworkers.

Play radios at low volumes or use a headset.

Set your PC volume to a low level and turn off screensaver sound effects.

Set pagers to vibrate.

Work out an arrangement with your neighbors to take lunch breaks at different times. This will give each of you some quiet time in your cube.

Eat quietly. Avoid gum-popping, humming, slurping and pen tapping.

Smells

A good rule of thumb is to never eat hot food at your desk. Food odors can bother your hungry or nauseous neighbors.

Perfume and cologne should be avoided in a cubicle arrangement. Your neighbors may have allergies.

Keep an air freshener handy.

Keep your shoes on!

Jill Bremer, AICI, CIP, owner of Bremer Communications, helps organizations and individuals create the "look and sound of success". Her company offers group training, private coaching, and consulting in professional image development, communications, and presentation skills. She is the co-author of It's Your Move: Dealing Yourself the Best Cards in Life and Work (Financial Times Prentice Hall, 2004) and can be reached at 708-848-5945 or at jill@bremercommunications.com

Can You Be Fired for Blogging?

You'd better be careful what you say online...

Click the title of the blog to read the article.

Annoying credit card offers

I got the third mailing from Providian this week and I decided to call to see if they would take my name off their list. I found the address to write to opt out and I decided to send in a letter to ask them to leave me alone. I opened up the next credit card offer from Citibank and they had a phone number to get your name off of all the credit bureaus' lists.

http://www.optoutprescreen.com

Now, apparently, this doesn't take you off the creditor's list, so you still have to contact them individually to get your name off their list. But by adding your name to the opt out list, no new creditors can get your name.

State of Mind

As I sit here in front of the computer, desperately trying to think of something deep and meaningful to say in my blog, I find that nothing of any consequence comes to mind. I play a few songs in the hopes that they will give me inspiration.

I play Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart" and I instantly get sad, thinking of those who have betrayed me. The Backstreet Boys, "Incomplete" makes me long for the love that I don't have. Even the Corrs, who usually lift my spirits, do nothing but make me thinking of the wedding I've always dreamt of.

I think I need sleep... time for my brain to rest. I can't be the wise sage all the time for crying out loud!

I think I'm having vacation withdrawal... Is that a real thing?

:(

Listen to Clint Black's song State of Mind

Still Awake

I've been working on my website for hours and hours today. When I get in the groove, I find myself wide awake at the oddest and latest hours. I've watched about 3 hours of the Cosby Show while I've been working.

It's dark-thirty a.m. and I'm still awake.

Gotta go to bed.

Last day in Philly

So, if you're ever in University City in Philadelphia and just happen to be staying at the Sheraton University City, you'll be able to get around on the metro. Now, when you come out of the Sheraton University City Hotel, go across the street going towards Walnut Street. There is a SEPTA subway entrance on the corner next to the student art museum.

Now, while my brother, sister and I were out on the hunt for the subway, we stumbled onto the Drexel University campus. That subway entrance takes you to the green line, which has trolleys. I'd never taken a trolley before and wasn't sure what to expect. A trolley is a cross between a bus and a subway car. A strange site at first, but we got used to it.

We needed to get to the Liacouras Center which was clear across town, by Temple University. We found a map telling us that we could take the trolley to 15th Street, otherwise known as City Hall... I wish they had just said that. We arrive at City Hall, knowing that we have to transfer to the orange line, also known as the Broad Street Line, but do we go north or south?

I started thinking that we would've been better off driving. But I had to put on my game face and let the troops think that all was going well. My siblings haven't been in the city that often and didn't know what to expect. Their suburban snobiness was beginning to emerge, although they weren't as bad as they could've been. I think they were mostly grossed out.

We found a subway officer and he told us to take the local train northbound to Cecil B. Moore. We finally made it to Cecil B. Moore and emerged from the underground chasm, grateful for the humid, but fresh air.

We took the subway two days and it really did make travelling between the Liacouras Center and the hotel go fast. Then next time I go back to Philadelphia, I'd like to explore the city via subway a little more.