Erin B.

That's awful, Des. I hope things get better really soon.

It was 9 o'clock my time.

I just had the perhaps the most uncomfortable experience of my life to date. I was out Christmas shopping when I get a call on my cell. I don't know the number, but I don't have all the numbers of people I know, so I'm thinking it's someone I know calling from an unfamiliar number. It was someone I knew, but never wanted to talk to again: My ex-boyfriend. This would be the ex-boyfriend who I dated in high school five years ago, who cheated on me, then told our friends that we were breaking up before he told me. Anyway, he makes some small talk, meanwhile I'm wondering how he got my number. Then he asks if I'm seeing anyone. I say 'no' when I probably should have said 'yes'. He then has the nerve to ask me if I want to get back together. Now I'm not normally a violent person, but I told him that if he called me again that I would kick him in the balls, then break his nose. I promptly hung up on him and went home. The whole experience has put me in a dark mood. Hopefully wrapping presents and listening to some Christmas music will put me back in the holiday spirit, but it's not looking good right now.

This is a sad, sad world we live in ladies and gentlemen. It makes me wanna cry to hear about such things. Does this mean next time we watch Homer try to strangle Bart, we should report it as child abuse? Or the next time Kenny gets killed, we need to report a murder? What has the world come to when cartoon characters are given more attention when there are real children out there that we deserve our attention, love, and support during what are the most disgusting, vile moments of their young lives. I beg of you, someone please think of the real children who need us.

An Ace Ventura Jr. movie? MY GOD! THE HORROR. Quick hide the children and lock up the puppies and kittens before innocence as we know is lost forever!

And comfy chairs and soft cushions with the stuffing pushed to the pointy end complete the arsenal. :laugh: I can't tell you how that just made my day. And it's only 9:30 in the morning.

It's -4 here in Anchorage, Alaska. And it's snowing. I love winter!

Right now... Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Season 3. Next... Not sure yet. It's going to be a long night.

Jesus Christ, that sucks James. I went through my own stomach problems last year. It's never fun.

They do mostly vocals with some guitar and Irish whistle. Some of the songs have sound effects. It really is worth a listen at the very least and a buy at the very most.

Okay, I don't have a CD to promote. I couldn't sing well if my life depended on it. But my friends have a CD to promote. Every year at the Three Barons Renaissance Faire here in Alaska there is a band of rogues and wenches that entertain us with songs of the sea and ballads of the bar. They are aptly named The Rogues and Wenches. They have a great CD full of seafaring favorites (Mingulay Boat Song, Rolling Home), pub songs (Seven Drunken Nights and Finnegan's Wake), sorrowful ballads (The Fields of Athenry, Loch Lomond) and some downright bawdy melodies (The Workman and the Maid, The Cuckoo's Nest). The album is called Spirits. It is available for purchase on iTunes for the bargain price of $9.99 for the whole album or individual songs for $0.99. Buy the album and help support the Three Barons Renaissance Faire, The Rogues and Wenches, and all around mischief everywhere.

Right now: Princess Mononoke Next: Spirited Away I just had a sudden urge to watch Anime (of which I own very little), so I'm watching Miyazaki movies.

Man that really sucks Dubs. I remember those days of having very little money in my wallet. But I know you'll pull through this and have a great Christmas season. I'll think positive thoughts for you. Suave- When I say graduation, I mean high school graduation. I don't know what you call it across the pond. But I think my "friend" who likes wedding dresses with gaudy and completely useless accessories is a little young for your taste. She's under 65 and I mean way under 65. I'm 21 and she's a year younger than me. Needless to say, I managed to get out of Day 2 of wedding dress shopping and for forever. I never thought the day would come when I would be glad for finals week, but boy am I glad for finals week.

My problem is I'm too nice for my own good. I always manage to get myself into these situations with helping friends plan their weddings, birthdays, whatever. Then when I need help planning my own event, everyone is too busy. I've come to the conclusion that I will be the proverbial bridesmaid for forever, even for weddings I'm not invited too. Sigh. Why me?

Okay, as you may or may not know I was really, really sick yesterday. But that's not what I am going to vent about. Oh, no. This vent is about the day I spent after being sick. I have a friend that I have not seen since graduation is getting married. That's all well and good. She wants me to come wedding dress shopping with her fine The kicker: I'm not invited to the wedding. So I had to spend the part of my day after being sick going shopping for a wedding dress with someone who is not going to invite me to the wedding. Oh joy. But...MY GOD! THE HORROR! I would rather be bent over the toilet vomiting my guts out again than look at one more wedding dress. The whole experience would not have been so bad if the dresses were pretty, but they were the type of wedding dresses that make the bride look like the cake. Bows, lace, gaudy sequins, the works. To top it off, not only did she not find a dress, but she wants to go again tomorrow. Maybe I can get out of it by getting sick again. :ph<_<r: When and if I get married, I am so going to either make my own dress or elope. I'm leaning heavily towards latter after this experience.

I'm not a podcast host, but drinking Coke, diet or otherwise, won't help. It's not an instant shot of caffeine. It takes time to work through your system and when you want to sleep, you won't be able to because of all the caffeine, thus making you very tired the next day. My advice: Record during the day when you're more alert.

Soup would be great...if I could keep it down. For the time being, it's ice chips and a little water.

I like Des's answer. It just made my day. :happy: Oh what a crappy one it's been so far.

It isn't her business. When people press the question, just politely say that you're not comfortable talking about it and move along. When I worked in retail, it came in handy when the tourists would come up for the summer and try and convert me. It's firm, while still being polite. If that won't work, change the subject. Baseball is a good safe topic...unless you're a Red Sox fan talking to a Yankee fan, then leaving the room is a good option.

I especially like religious lectures during class when they have nothing whatsoever to do with the book we read or the topic at hand.

Probably only if you have the biological ability to have babies. Personally, I've never tried it.

The last time I was in a Wal-Mart was ten years ago and I don't plan on setting foot in one anytime soon.

I won't go to Wal-Mart even if I need to make a run to the store at an un-godly hour. Thank goodness for a 24 hour Carrs-Safeway less than a mile from my house. :happy:

I still watch the news, to at least be informed. Who knows world peace might be declared (which has a snowball's chance in hell of happening anytime soon). I don't understand why the people (these the people who get caught in the crossfire of these conflicts) of the world banned together and say with one voice "This stops NOW!" When the people speak, the world listens (in theory anyway). Fuck! Now I'm depressed. I need a hug.

As for me, I don't work in retail anymore, but to Des's other point, I'm almost afraid to watch the news anymore. I don't want to hear about all this shit that people do to each other. I can go without hearing about countless deaths, mob mentalities, and hate at the end of my day. Where do these hateful people fucking come from? Makes you wish that we had Phantom Zone projector, then we could get rid of these hate filled fuckers and never, EVER let them out.