What's On Our Minds

Jill Scott

Yesterday we bought Jill Scott's new album, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2.

I wasn't planning to rush out and buy it the first day in stores, but we just happened to be in Best Buy and just happened to notice that it was there. Naturally, we had to get it. Jill's first release (yes, I called her Jill... we're tight like that) is one of the rare albums that I've liked every single track. I'm happy to see, although I've only listen to 10 out of 16 tracks, this new album may have the same appeal.

It's very mellow and jazzy like her first album, but so far, I haven't noticed as many "upbeat" tunes like It's Love. Still, all the songs have a very positive poetic vibe that she's made into a trademark. I can't wait to hear those last 6 tracks. Even if they're terrible, I've alreay gotten our money's worth on the first 10.

Theme Songs

Since buying an iPod, I've been listening to music a lot more lately. I got the iPod to use when I go running, but I've found myself playing it when I walk to work, wash the dishes or fold laundry.

This brings me to theme songs, ala Ally McBeal. When I was in my twenties, my theme song was a house song called Just Let go by Petra. The hook was essentially, "Just let go, hey there, just let go" with a pulsating beat behind it. Nothing complicated, but it was jaunty and upbeat.

I haven't really had a universal theme song since then, even though I liked the idea when it was re-introduced to me on Ally McBeal. Now, I've come to realize that I have theme songs for different occasions.

My writing theme song is Make it Happen by Mariah Carey. "If you believe in yourself enough, and know what you want, you're going to make it happen... make it happen." It summarizes my feelings about my writing career.

My jogging theme song is Beautiful Life by Ace of Base. It has nothing to do with working out, but while I'm out in the neighborhood, enjoying trees and nature and sunshine, I bask in the fact that it is a beautiful life. "You can do what you want, just seize the day. Whatcha doing, tomorrow's going to come your way. Don't you ever consider giving up, you will find, oooh, it's beautiful life, oh oh oh oh, it's beautiful life, oh oh oh oh." Song lyrics always sound a bit lame when type them out, but you get the idea.

My relationship theme song is This Will Be by Natalie Cole. "This will be an everlasting love." We have other songs that are "our song" but we have come to the agreement that this is the song that makes us feel upbeat and happy about each other when we hear it.

Hmm... but I still don't have a theme song for life. Still thinking about that one. I'll get back to you.

Writing Journal

I'm doing a miserable job keeping up with my writing. If anyone in the world is reading this journal, come on over to my writing journal to encourage me to keep working. Or in this case, START working.

Too bad no one is reading THIS journal. :)

General Comments about Life

I was out of work all of last week. After all that time, nothing much has changed with my condition. Between the doctors and health insurance I'm just about ready to give up on ever feeling completely well. It's more of the same old same old, so I won't go into it.

Weight Watchers is out the window. Last week I was sick (too sick to go running) and I had my period. I also had to up the meds that are making bloated... so fat is just a way of life for now. I hope to still eat healthy foods and try to keep running when I up to it. But hard core dieting seems useless until I can change things.

I'm tremendously behind at work. I know have a week to publish my newsletter and as of today, I only have one article. For some reason I'm not stressing about it. I'm just trying to do the best I can.

I've done zero writing in the last week and my writing group meeting is tomorrow. I'd really like to quit my job, so I have to find some way to motivate myself to get these chapters done.

We had a video-viewing party of our wedding video Sunday. A few people came over and we got to show off all the painting and redecorating we've done. As an added bonus, the house is spotless. I hope we can keep it that way for a while longer (neither of us are neat-freaks) because it's so nice to live in a clean house.

Today is my mother's birthday! Shout-out to Mom!

New Favorites

I've discovered some cool new things lately. Here they are:

New Favorite Web Site:
Worth 1000
This is a neat web site for anyone who is creative or enjoys other people's creativity. Basically, this site holds themed contests for people to show off their photoshoping skills. If you enjoy looking at amazing images, you'll find some to blow your mind here. They also have other creative contests like animation, photography and text.

New Favorite Magazine
Real Simple
Doesn't everyone wish their life could be more simple? Well this magazine has some very cool tips on just about every aspect of life. The layout is clean and easy to read, the writing is down-to-earth and the tips are both insightful and practical. My sister first introduced me to this magazine, and I think I'm going to subscribe.

New Favorite Television Show
Celebrity Poker Showdown
Let me start off by saying that I've never been a big fan of playing poker or watching others play it. Until recently, I barely understood the rules. I'm surprised at how easy it was for me to get sucked into it watching Celebrity Poker Showdown. On the show, an eclectic group of stars play Texas Hold 'em for charity. Sounds boring, right? Not even. I was glued to the set. This show really reflects how the fickle finger of fate can change your life.

New Favorite Way to Rent Movies
Netflix
Why was I so late to jump on this bandwagon? Several friends tried to explain the concept to me, but I just wasn't interested. But, after several trips to the video store and not finding what I wanted... I realized there was life beyond Blockbuster. I had forgotten just how much Blockbuster filters their stash. I haven't given up on them entirely, but now I can catch up on all my old favorites, tv shows I could never break in on and movies too independent for the mainstream rental shop to bother with. Yay!

Cute Survey

1: Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says:
"Cara"--he let her name slide from his lips like molas-
Promise Me, by ME!

2: Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What do you touch first?
My glass of water

3: What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Mad About You (on Tivo this morning)

4: WITHOUT LOOKING, guess what time it is:
9:10 AM

5: Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
9:22 AM

6: With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
My radio, outside traffic, co-workers in the hallways

7: When did you last step outside?
This morning when I got off the Metro

8: Before you came to this website, what did you look at?
Wedding Channel

9: What are you wearing?
Hot pink button down shirt and black pants

10: Did you dream last night?
I can't remember any dreams right now

11: When did you last laugh?
This morning watching a Mad About You rerun

12: What is on the walls of the room you are in?
A clock, two framed pictures of flowers, two framed pictures of butterflies, two Ann Geddes pictures, on collage photo frame, a list of proofreader's marks, a bulletin board and a white board.

13: Seen anything weird lately?
A homeless man screaming about politics at the Metro station

14: What do you think of this quiz?
It's unique

15: What is the last film you saw?
It's been a while since the theater... the last movie I saw on cable was Biker Boyz

16: If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first?
I'd pay off all my outstanding debt then buy a house for my mom.

17: Tell me something about you that I don't know:
I took my driving test 5 times.

18: If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
I'd make war nonexistent.

19: Do you like to dance?
I love it!

20: George Bush: is he a power-crazy nut case or some one who is finally doing something that has needed to be done for years?
Uh, power-crazy nutcase, for sure!

21: Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Danielle

22: Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him.
Probably Michael

23: Would you ever consider living abroad?
Probably not

24: Will you pass on this survey?
Sure

What's Next

With our wedding so close to the horizon (less than a month away), it seems I've begun thinking about what comes next. Not necessarily with our relationship... that's clear: More Love & Happiness! But I'm talking more about life events and changes in general.

Will we change jobs, buy new cars, re-decorate the house, etc...? Probably all of that will occur and then some.

I look forward to Robyn writing more... and me too. I want to try it, but I know it's challenging. Believe me, I've watched Robyn and her writing friends. It seems that writing books is like having a perpetual monkey on your back.

Murder Mysteries, Snow Storms & Oral Surgery

The Weekend John and I went to our Murder Mystery weekend Friday afternoon in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. I stayed on a regular schedule of pain killers and was able to get through the entire weekend without pain. There was a ton of food, and I had to eat lightly because I could only chew on one side of my mouth. We really cleaned up on prizes, too... John and I won a prize for our love bird costumes at the masquerade party -- a nice bottle of white wine. We also won 2nd prize in solving the mystery at the end of the weekend, we got all the quiz questions right except one. We won a T-shirt and a book... We're thrilled because the mysteries are SUPER HARD to solve, and this is the closest we've ever come to figuring the whole thing out. Following are a few highlight pics:

To see all the pics from the weekend, look here

Snow Storm Sunday night it snowed and I stayed home from work Monday. I don't remember doing much other than recovering from the weekend. John and I watched some videos, American Wedding, Bad Boys II and League of Extrodinary Gentlemen. Tuesday I went to work, but my train was delayed, and I didn't get to the office until 11AM. The Federal government closed early, so I went home at 1:00 PM. I should have stayed home.

Oral Surgery Today, Wednesday, I got my wisdom teeth (top 2) taken out. So, I didn't go to work again. So far it hasn't been painful (knock on wood). They gave me such powerful drugs in the dental office that I wasn't even aware they were working on me. I woke up and it was over. I went home and started taking pain killers every four hours. So far, so good. The worst thing is not being able to eat solid food. So far, I've eaten two jello pudding cups, a cup of yogurt and a tiny bowl of mashed boiled eggs because I'm on sugar overload. I can't drink anything carbonated or eat anything hot.

Sigh.

Long Weekend

Friday After work, John and I met my friend Louis and his girlfriend for dinner. Louis is a reader in my wedding. He and his girlfriend are going to Africa this week, two weeks ago they were in the Caribean. This couple travels a lot. We had a great meal of Greek/Turkish tapas. The restaurant was really nice and we had a lot of good conversation.

Saturday I was supposed to go shopping with my MOH and one of my bridesmaids, but I had already started feeling sick and I didn't feel like tramping around the mall. Instead they came over that afternoon and we watched a video (Bruce Almighty) and ate snacks. When John came home that evening, we all went out to Outback Steakhouse to celebrate my BM Kristin's birthday (it was the day before). By the end of the night, I felt like dirt and we stopped at the drug store for medicine. Kristin spent the night.

Sunday I woke up early and Kristin and I sat in the living room talking for hours. When John got up for the day, we ordered pizza and sat around in our pajamas. Eventually Kristin went home and John and I watched television together.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I was still sick so I mostly laid in bed and watched TV. I feel like those days were really wasted, but there wasn't much I could do.

Hurricane Isabel

Even though the strength of this storm has supposedly decreased to a Category 2, it still appears to be a mighty impressive force.

Let us all pray for the best and prepare for the worst.

9-11

Today is a depressing day. I don't really want to go to work and I wish Robyn could stay home. The world does not feel any safer. In fact, because of Baby Bush's war-mongering in Iraq, I believe the world is far LESS safer than ever.

Procrastination

When I was in high school, we studied Greek mythology and Shakespeare. The interlocking theme is that the epic heros always have a fatal flaw. Oedipus would have been a great man if only he didn't lust after his mother <--now that's what I call a fatal flaw.

So, epic heroine that I am, I'd have to say my fatal flaw is procrastination. One day it will truly bring me to ruin. I love to put things off until tomorrow. Tomorrow comes but it turns into today, leaving me a new tomorrow.

I have more to say on this subject, but I'm feeling tired, so I'll finish it up tomorrow.

Picture Post

I want to post a pic

Didn't I see this on Three's Company?

Check out this news article! Apparently, things like this really do happen in real life. I could have sworn I saw this on TV somewhere. But, I'm rolling on the floor laughing that this woman got herself arrested.

I'll have to warn my girls that this is NOT what I'm looking for in a Bachelorette party!

Rent-a-Negro

I was reading the newspaper today (I know, don't fall off your chair, John) and came across mention of this site Rent-a-Negro.com. It's a satirical performance piece.

I got the joke...but I'm not sure how funny it is. I laughed out loud reading that "Tell them I'm not racist" goes for $1500 per vouch. I think I'd be way more interested in seeing the actual applications she receives. That really tells the most interesting part of the story and would really make her "art" project work.

Long Weekend

I'm so happy we're going into a long weekend. Finally. It's only Thursday, but I really need the time. I've been feeling so tired lately, even though I haven't been doing that much. Maybe it's because the weather has been so lousy and gray. Where is spring?

It's not even supposed to be sunny this weekend, but I'm not going to let that get me down. I need to find a way to vacation every day and get paid for it. Hmmm... what could I do and still earn enough money to live?

could I surf the Internet all day? Or watch television? Read books? How do I get people to pay me for these things?

Critics have the life. All they do is indulge in some activity or food then tell their opinon. I should combine all of these things and start an opinion web site called Robyn Will Steer You Right and spend all my time going to restaurants, surfing the Web, watching TV and telling people what the best ones are.

Okay, now how do I make money for that? Send your solutions to this problem to P.O. Box ...

I can't sleep at night

I tried to go to sleep relatively early for me (12:30 AM) last night but couldn't. Next thing I knew it was 1:30, so I finally got up and went to my computer to surf and make myself tired.

Been restless lately.. Not sure why.. As soon as I close my eyes, a million thoughts run through my head.. Hmmm? Maybe I'm still trying to figure out that damn Matrix movie or who will win American Idol. Or maybe I'm wondering why Clark Kent's father Jor-El wants Clark to rule earth and why he sounds like General Zod from Superman II (interesting choice of actor voice over). Or maybe I'm just trying to figure out why the First kept taking Buffy's form. Is it just because Buffy was dead once. Hmm? I thought there'd be deeper meaning.

Well, whatever it is, I can't sleep.

No More Buffy ...

Boo Hoo! Or should I say Grrr! Arrr! ?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is finally coming to an end, which to me feels like the last of clever, witty, funny yet dramatic television with "hot chicks with super-powers". I'll miss it.

So.. I wonder if anything good will replace it on my MUST watch tv series list which includes: Enterprise, Smallville & Alias (I don't include reality shows in this list... I watch some of them, but they are HARDLY clever and I wouldn't care if they were cancelled).

Mondays Are Hard

I hate Mondays. I hope this week goes by quickly, because I have so much to do. Then we get to be in our best friends Sharon & Bill's wedding. But, before then, so much work. And Johnny is still MIA on the proposal work that he said was finished. Oh well.

One Nite Alone

Robyn is throwing a bachelorette party for Sharon and they are all coming back to the house for a slumber party. Which means, I'm evicted. What ever will I do?

I'll be all alone tonight, wandering the streets, missing my Robyn..

Well.. actually, I'm going drinkin' with the guys and plan to crash at my friend George's house. But I will still miss my Robyn.