Luna Watch - Day 3

Well, Luna is getting there! She's spent the past few days in the back bedroom (what will be OUR bedroom now that I'll be moving in - details to come). She is beginning to want to venture out into the apartment and has a couple times until she saw Cliff and Titus. Titus isn't too bad as far as she's concerned. He just sits where he is and watches her, and I get the feeling that as long as he does that, she'll be fine with him. Cliff, on the other hand, is Mr. Friendly Welcoming Committee. Every time he sees her he tries to walk towards her - slowly. He just wants to be friends and get to know her. But she wants none of it. For every step he makes towards her, she reciprocates with a hiss or two.

She IS making progress - we can both see it - its just glacially slow!

As for US...? Well, yesterday Anthony finally asked me to move in!! I pretty much have been living there for the past few weeks (couple months?) anyway, so at this point it was just a matter of time. So now begins the task of going through my stuff and see what I'll keep and what I'll donate/toss. But one of the coolest things is that I can FINALLY get rid of my storage unit at the end of January! Three years plus is way too long to live out of boxes! I'm looking forward to getting rid of those boxes once and for all!!

Luna's Big Moving Day!

Yesterday, Luna finally packed up her cat nip and scratching post and made her way over to her new home. Although WE haven't officially moved in yet (that's a whole other blog entry for another time), I've been spending basically every night at Anthony's and to sleep at home (as in where mom and dad are) seems weird. So finally we decided that if I'm always over here, Luna should be also.

One catch - she hates cats.

And Anthony has 2.

Cliff and Titus are wonderful. They're sweet. They're curious. They're loving. And they're social. And while I cut Luna's claws before coming over here last night, we decided it would be prudent to keep them separated for the next few days or more until she gets more comfortable with her new surroundings. She's in the back (spare) bedroom with a nice big bed, lots of windows and all her toys and other needs plus I brought over my quilt from home (which she loves to sleep on) so she'll have lots of her own smell around her.

When she first got here, we didn't let her see the boys and we just took her to the back bedroom. She could definitely smell them because she was just a ball of hisses, but as the night wore on, she calmed down more and we were actually able to pet her.

We're also trying out a diffuser I found at Petco called Comfort Zone with Feliway. Basically its like a plug-it-in thingie that diffuses cat-friendly pheremones - the ones that they rub when they rub their faces on things. Its supposed to ease a new cat into new surroundings. So we'll see if it works. I'm guessing it can't hurt at the very least.

Last night I slept with Luna in the spare bedroom. I figured it would help if she knew I was in this strange place too. She calmed down enough to climb into bed with me for a little while and she did find her food and ate too. The only thing really missing was "her" nightstand which she's slept on almost every night of her life. That's still at home. So I set up a box next to me and then the small nightstands in that room were also there. She found both and when I rolled over she meowed at me like "look what I found Mom!". That made me feel better.

By this mornig, she seemed a little better. We put her up on the perch by the bedroom door and she loved looking outside. There's a park behind the apartment so there are plenty of critters to be eye candy for her! At one point, she was able to look OUT of the bedroom into the hall just enough to see Cliff coming down the hall to see her. GROWL. Alrighty then....she'll need much more time to get used to them!!

Cliff and Titus have been great through this all. But they are definitely curious as to who is in the bedroom they can no longer go into. At any given time, at least one of them is sitting outside the door in hopes of getting a glimpse of her under the door.

I hope Luna will settle in quickly. She's gotten very accustomed to being at home with my parents and her and my dad are buddies. I hated taking her away from them, but I just can't be without her anymore. I know they'll see each other soon enough anyway. Dad can visit or Luna can take a dreaded car ride over to her Grandma and Grandpa's house too.

I'm sure it's going to be a rough couple weeks but I hope in the end it'll all work out and that we'll all become a happy family.

Or at least one with limited hissing!

Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas! I hope your holidays are safe and filled with happiness and joy!

MELE KALIKIMAKA!!

HOLY SNOW, BATMAN!!!

Could it be?

Well, today they are forecasting the first BIG snow storm of the season...

Rumor has it we're going to get a solid 6"+ and maybe even more. We shall see. I've got my camera ready to go and am going to hunker down at Anthony's after work (yes, I still have work today - let's not get me started, shall we?). It should be fun though - I love snow storms. We're forecast to get another on Sunday and MAYBE one on Christmas Eve into Christmas Day (depending on what news channel you watch). So this year, we might have a White Christmas after all!

(my favorite holiday movie, by the way!)

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW! SNOW! SNOOOOOWWWWW!!!

Brrrr!

Greetings from Pulaski, NY...!

Its frickin freezing here, and we're in a lake effect storm warning....4-8 inches of additional snow by tomorrow. Never a dull moment, my friend!!

Momma's baby

Ever since I started my new job, I've spent more and more nights at my boyfriend's house rather than at home. And while this is what I've wanted and it makes me happy to spend so much more time with him, I can't help but miss Luna ever so much. Because spending time at his place has meant leaving her at home. And that makes me sad.

I miss you, Luna. And I love you very very much.

Arrrr!

Ahoy matey! My name is Mad Charity Vane...! Sorta. Click HERE and you can take the pirate quiz and find out what your pirate name is!! Here's what mine said about me:

My pirate name is:

Mad Charity Vane

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. You tend to blend into the background occaisionally, but that's okay, because it's much easier to sneak up on people and disembowel them that way. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Hee hee...disembowel. Hee hee! :-D

Great...!

Seriously, my father has ruined one of my favorite current songs.

You know that Pocket Full of Sunshine song by Natasha Bedingsfield? Well, this morning, he starts singing HIS version of it (I'll tell you in a minute) and since I'd JUST gotten up, I wasn't amused.

It just came on my iPod. And all I can hear? His version...

I GOT A BUCKET. GOT A BUCKET FULL OF CHICKEN....

Why my boyfriend ROCKS!

This morning, after waking up to coffee in bed, I went to the kitchen to find breakfast waiting for me - with milk in the bowl waiting for the cereal to be poured!

My boyfriend is the best!

Election Day at last!

After 2 years of campaigning, primaries, debates and such, we've come to the defining moment when Americans choose who will be the next President of the United States.

And all I can say is WOW!

I dragged myself out of bed at 5:45AM to get to my polling location by 6am when the polls open in NJ. We got there AT 6am and there was already a line of I'm guessing maybe 100 people or so ahead of me!! To put it in perspective, I've NEVER EVER waited more than one or two PEOPLE ahead of me to vote - even in all the other presidential elections I've voted in! So to have THAT MANY PEOPLE there when the polls open blows my mind!! Regardless of WHO they were voting for, its clear that people are really participating this year!!

So I voted and it "only" took me 30 minutes. ONLY. WOW. 30 minutes! REALLY??

Here are some really BAD QUALITY photos to show what the lines were like outside of the polling area. My apologies on the quality, but really, what can you expect from a camera phone BEFORE SUNRISE.


Waiting in line or not, I'm so excited and thrilled that people are taking voting so seriously and are obviously so enthusiastic about having a hand in the future of our country!

If you haven't already - don't forget to vote!!

Happy Birthday!

I just want to wish a VERY happy birthday to my wonderful boyfriend!! I love you baby!!

PS - Yesterday was my best friend Nicole's birthday and I didn't mention it here. So I bow my head humbly and send out a happy birthday to her as well!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAYs TO MY TWO FAVORITE PEOPLE!!! :)

Question du Jour

I have a question for the state of New Jersey - drivers in particular. And since the question I'm about to ask most likely could pertain to drivers in other parts of our country, well, this is directed at them too....

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE NAME "FAST LANE" ON A HIGHWAY THAT DOESN'T GIVE AWAY ITS PURPOSE??

I commute about 12 miles each day on the highway. Now, granted, I'm normally running late and am already frantic and wanting to GO GO GO!

However, why is it that people who are driving in the FAST lane find the need to MATCH the speed of those in the middle and slow lanes? Even when there is no one in front of them??? Its not the MATCH lane people! Its the FAST lane!

And I'm not talking about traffic here. I'm not talking about stop-and-go conditions. I'm talking about normal driving conditions where there is room for slow pokes to be NOT in my way!!

Why is it that these people are oblivious to the fact that others are up their, well, you know, and that they need to get over???

And why is it that often times, I find myself going faster in the SLOW lane??

VERY FRUSTRATING.

Those are the times when I wish I had lasers on my car so I could zap them into oblivion and OUT OF MY WAY!

Talk about having a good morning! :)

So true...so true...

Nicole just said the most accurate and best thing ever about me...

"you're not really the super outwardly non-normal type...
it's only when people get to know you that they figure out you are not right in the head...."

'Tis the season

Fall arrived last night overnight with a strong gusty wind. I know Fall officially began a few weeks ago, but its been warm, and you could feel Summer hanging on for all it was worth.

But the winds blew in from the north last night, and with it came Fall. Its in the air. You can see it in the sky. The sun looks different. Its hard to pinpoint what changed from even just yesterday, but it looks like Fall out. The change is palpable.

Summer is over.

But with Fall, the winds of change also brought in lots of news of Mr. Stork coming to visit so many people I know! Noooo...not me. Oh heavens no. Please! Don't even.

No.

No! No! No!

But in the past week I've gotten news that three people I know are pregnant. I guess its true, good news travels in threes. And I couldn't be happier for all those in my life who will become parents in the next year.

May your babies, juniors, and others be healthy and live long and prosper (ok, where are my pointy Mr. Spock ears?).

Anyway. For me? The winds of change brought me a new job. And Fall.

And that's more than enough change for me! :)

Revelations

Things I've realized since starting my new job....

• There IS a 6:15AM, and its still dark out then!

• Luna is more affectionate and wants to snuggle just when I have to get up - making it that much harder to get up! But she's worth the extra snuggle or two....

• People like to drive slow in the fast lane on the highway. There's a reason its called the FAST lane, people! Pass, drive fast, do anything but just SIT there matching the speed of the cars in the other two lanes. Its annoying and makes others want to drive you off the road! (ok, maybe it just makes ME want to drive them off the road...)

• A 9-hour work day is a long day - even if one of those hours is lunch!

• There's quite a bit of traffic at 7:45AM...

• The same trip that takes 15 minutes normally takes twice as long at rush-hour on the way home!

• I miss my lunchtime walks that I used to take at my last job more than I thought I would...of course, winter will rear its ugly head soon, so I guess I won't mind being inside then!

• Nicole and I WILL find a way to communicate all day - even if IM isn't available!

• I still LOVE designing - no matter if its produce or car parts! :)

Damn I'm proud of this picture!!

Everyday @ lunch I go over to the Carp Pond - which is about 5 minutes away from work and it happens to be where Anthony goes in August to fish (when there is not "season" anywhere else). He introduced me to the place, but I took it over as my lunch spot.

ANYWAY...

For a few days I've brought my camera and have been photographing the birds there and also the carp when they expose their fins while they dig for grubs and food... AND I've been trying to photograph one when it JUMPS out of the water.

Well, today I was photographing the white bird in the foreground, when...whalla!! Check out the "background" of the photo...

View it and weep!!

Growing pains

Its funny because now that I have my new job, I feel almost like I've left the planet...

I'm still getting used to the new routine. Up at the crack of dawn, new people, new place, new desk, new dress code.... And I knew to expect all that.

But what threw me for a loop was how isolated I'd feel.

I got used to spending the day with my boyfriend (there, I said it!) and even though some of my old co-workers drove me nuts, I did socialize with some of them at work, so I was constantly talking to someone. And when I wasn't, there was something going on at work - rubber bands flying around, a chance to go outside for a walk, someone to talk to....and even Nicole to chat with online! So even though I don't have a group of friends outside of work that I socialize with, I at least had human contact and socialized (limitedly) at work.

Now that I'm at my new job, its a much different situation. I don't really know anyone yet. My direct co-worker (the girl I share a space with) is very nice and helpful when I ask a question, but she doesn't talk. My boss is, well, all work (understandably) and I don't even have the chance to go online to chat with Nicole (BOO).

I don't get joke emails anymore, don't have people to talk to, and don't really socialize. And I guess I wasn't ready for that. Not that work is a place to socialize, but it helps pass the time. But as I look around when I'm there, it doesn't seem like people socialize much at all. So its been a little rough on me.

I guess I've found myself a little "home sick" - or "work sick" - as in missing my old routine. And I know, I know, once I get settled into my new routine, I'll feel better. But I guess, even with all the stuff I wasn't happy with at my last job, you never realize how comforting it is to be surrounded by what you know, until its not there anymore. Does that make sense??

Anyway - I guess its just par for the course when you get a new job and move on to do different things.

"You'll get used to it"

What's "it"?? Being at work at 8am and getting up at just after 6am.

And yeah - I'll get used to "it" just like I'd get used to a metal spike through my head!

Not so much my friend.

But I'm proud of myself... Day one over, and I'm only mildly comatose. Of course, it's after 10:30 and it feels like 2am!!

I got to work on time - WOOT! That's partially thanks (well, mostly, ok, all-ly) thanks to my boyfriend. He woke me up at 6:15. A.M. (!!) I made coffee, waffles (I need food, sorry) and I hopped in the shower. Ok, I slothed into the shower. I got dressed, he got my travel mug full o-joe ready and I was out the door.

The commute wasn't bad (15 minutes, but 20 would've been better - next time leave earlier!), but I made it on time. We'll see how tomorrow goes... ;)

I got there, my boss met me, took me on a tour of the place and I met way too many people (all very nice) for me to remember at an hour when just last week I was still asleep! :)

After filling out my HR paperwork (we get direct deposit - WOOT!), I went back to my desk, "unpacked" and waited for IT to come to set me up. Turns out the IT department (new and only 3 people big) aren't Mac peeps. They're PC types. So it was a difficult day to say the least for them to get me set up with email and get access to the server. As of now, I still don't really have email. Well, I do, but only partially. They promised to get me up and running tomorrow morning.

I'm going to hold them to that!

My boss took me to lunch along with the girl I work with. We had a nice time and it was more of a get-to-know-you deal. After lunch, I spoke with him about the company, and we just discussed broadly what I'd be doing, etc...

Around 3:45 I finally was able to open Quark. Of course, the computer still wasn't 100%, so neither were the fonts I needed. Long story long, I didn't get to do any design work today. Just lots of sitting and reading the catalog I'll be maintaining (who knew there were so many o-rings and nuts and bolts in cars??). :)

My parents asked me (when I finally got home) how my first day went and asked if I liked it, etc. I told them its too soon to know, but that I know I don't like the morning part. I DO think that my first impression of the people who work there is good. Everyone was very nice to me today and they all seem easy going. My boss and co-worker seem nice. And the office itself isn't half bad. Other than that, I can't say much. I guess its too soon to say if I'll love or hate the job - especially since I did no design work today. But I will admit that I took comfort in opening Quark for the first time ever. And not because I like Quark (Quark blows, afterall), but because it was something familiar in an unfamiliar setting... However, my co-worker and I spoke to my boss, and he seems receptive to switching over to InDesign (since she and I are the only two who use Quark anyway). So there could be a silver lining to showing up early - InDesign could be waiting for me! :)

So, that's about it. Day one done. How many more to go?? Who knows. For now, I'm taking it one day at a time - you know, like recovering addicts. I'm recovering from sleeping in "late" and still getting to go to work! So I'll just take it one early morning at a time. Oh, and just count down to sleeping in on Saturday mornings! Cause if I had a penny for every time I heard "you'll get used to it", heck, EVERY DAY would be Saturday to me!! :-D

Tomorrow!

Well, I can't say the past couple weeks were easy.

I got a new job, resigned from my old, and spent the last 2 weeks saying goodbye, doing mad amounts of work (to not leave them in a lurch) and cleaned out my desk.... Not to mention the mental and emotional exhaustion of it all...

But I survived.

And tomorrow I start a new chapter - the one where I start my new job at an earlier time (no, I'm not a morning person, so why pretend I am?). But I'll be fine.

Its been hard, and I'll admit that I'm nervous, but, nothing worth doing is ever easy. I know this will be good for me - I just have to get past the nervous period and settle in. And get a new fish tank for my desk!! :-D

So keep your fingers crossed that when the alarm goes off between 6am and 6:30am (SHOOT ME) that I hear it and get up!! And from there, it should be easy as pie! (yeah, right) :)

Please inform yourselves!

Its no secret I have been an animal activist for a while... And given the upcoming election, I've become more so because I truly believe that we are at a cross-roads for supporting the environment, the planet, and its animals.

A lot has been written about John McCain’s pick for Vice President (Sarah Palin), but here are a few things you might not know:

• She has championed aerial gunning of wolves and bears and approved a $400,000 state-funded campaign to promote this awful practice. If you don't know what aerial gunning is, basically, Alaska officials allow airborne gunners to kill hundreds of wolves. Easy targets against the snow, hundreds of wolves have been shot from above or chased to exhaustion and then killed by aerial gunners who land and execute them at point-blank range. While I'm not a supporter of hunting, I believe if you ARE going to hunt, there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. There is something cowardly and pathetic about not doing the work - not hunting on the ground and going after the animal the way it should be done. Instead, these people just fly over the animal, frighten and exhaust it, and shoot it - how pathetic.

• As governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin proposed paying a $150 bounty for the severed left foreleg of each dead wolf.
  

• Just this summer, Palin's Alaska Fish and Game personnel, with authorization from the Alaska Board of Game, helicoptered into known denning areas knowing adult wolf pack / family members would remain to protect their pups. As a result, 14 adult wolves were killed in addition to 14 one-month old pups they were protecting, for a total of 28 wolves killed. This killing of wolf pups via denning (denning is the practice of killing wolves in or around their den, in this case by shooting them in the head) is against the law, regardless of whether it is done by the public or Alaska Department of Fish & Game.

Its important for citizens to be informed and not just vote on looks, popularity, or man vs. woman. Please inform yourselves...learn more about Palin’s record online at:

http://actionfund.defenders.org/palinvideo

Well its about time!

After searching for a new job for about a year (give or take), I was finally offered a new on this past Friday. One I've decided to take.

My boyfriend and my best friend both have been very supportive, patient and understanding while I've weeded through the jobs, asked for advice, gone on interviews, asked ad nauseum about should I do this or that... And I couldn't be more grateful.

My family and friends have been supportive of me as well. They've listened to me talk about potential positions and given me advice. Again, I couldn't be more grateful.

When it came time to resign from my current position, my friends and family (boyfriend and best friend both included) all gave me great advice. They told me I was doing the right thing and not to second guess myself. They supported me and they were there for me.

None of that changed how scared I was today - right up until I walked out of my boss' office after resigning. I was scared! I was nervous. I was anxious. I was numb. Thought I was going to be sick. You name it...

But even through all the advice and support that everyone gave me, I think the one thing that sticks out is what my boyfriend said to me as I got ready to go into my boss' office. I told him I was scared and didn't think I could do it (no matter how much I wanted to). He told me that I'm strong and that I'm not the person I used to be.

I'm strong and that I'm not the person I used to be.

After all the dust settled and now that I'm lying here at home in the cool evening air with the fan on...it hit me. I'm NOT the person I used to be. I've changed and I've grown a lot. This new position that I'll be starting in a couple weeks is yet another materialization of that. And while its scary to make a change, I'm looking forward to the challenge. Because if I've survived all the other stuff I've gone through in my life, I know I'll get through this and be great at it!

So thank you to my boyfriend, my best friend and all of my other friends and family for being so wonderful to me - not only in my job search, but always. You all mean the world to me, and without your help and support, I couldn't have gotten to where I am today.

I love you all!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Hector RULES!

Today I finally got my hair fixed... Knowing full well that I couldn't have the length I wanted (that would be shoulder length - what I could've had last month if it was cut properly in the first place...but I digress), I instead opted for evening out the bizarre do I've been sporting for almost a month. Yes, that same one that had me crying for the first week I wore it...

Now that its all over, I can post the badness.....hold on to your seats...

Before:

I took a chance and went to a salon at the mall. I'd already (in the past) gone to the salons that my mother and friends go to and they'd been ruled out. I figured if I'm just going to walk in anywhere, might as well be at the mall - where I can do a little shopping afterwards! I walked in and they gave me Hector.

HECTOR RULES. Period.

I told him my story and how "all one length, shorter in back, longer in front" somehow got me the "haircut" above. I told him how I hoped it would grow on me and that's when he told me "honey, its not going to grow on you." I told him I understood that it would be shorter than I wanted if he fixed it but to pleeeeeease fix it and get me as close as possible to what I wanted. I had photos, I had diagrams, I was ready to run if I saw even one layer cut! But lo and behold, Hector didn't let me down...

After:

Keep in mind these photos were taken indoors on my camera phone by me holding it at arms length, but, would you look-e here?? Its just what I asked for...all one length, shorter in back, longer in front!

Can I get a woot woot??

If your best friend can't tell you the truth, who can?

I sent pictures of my "haircut" (if you can call it that) today to Nicole....one's I can't even bring myself to post here... Here's what my best friend had to say about it:

"seriously, i'd cut it off and start over... you can still do graduated.... so it's longer in the front. i can't even imagine why she would do that to your hair. i think it doesn't look that bad from the front. but from the back and side, it's like wtf? it's a reverse mullet."

and when i asked her if i was overreacting, she said:

"no, that's a bad hair cut. your hair should never be layered and texturized like that. i'd sport an ugly pony tail and gymnast barrets until i could get it cut but that's me."

See?? I can always trust Nicole to give it to me straight! Thanks Nice Slady! YOU ROCK! :)

Best quote (of the day...)

To all my friends and family...

You're a great friend,
but if the zombies chase us,
I'm tripping you!

Happy Labor Day Weekend! :)

In defense of Crocs

More than a few people have been known to hate Crocs. There are blogs dedicated to Croc-haters. Websites all about how horrible Crocs are. Articles have even been written about the woes that are Crocs.

Why?

What's so bad about Crocs? And why do people care so much that they have to complain about them? I mean, they're shoes people! Why are you getting so fired up about them??

Now, I don't work for Crocs. I just own a few pairs. Including lime green ones like the ones above. And I like them. And that's the only reason I own them. I. LIKE. THEM. And why lime green you ask? Because honestly, if you're going to own a pair of shoes that look so odd, why try to tone them down by getting black or brown? Might as well go all the way I say!

But why are there so many Croc haters?? I mean, if people can wear UGGS, why can't they wear Crocs?? And while I don't own a pair of Uggs, I can say they're just about as ugly as Crocs! (I do have eyes, you know)

So maybe its because celebrities like Paris, Britney and Lindsey haven't been spotted wearing a pair of yellow or lime green Crocs? I mean, you can't do anything without being bombarded by images online, in print and on TV of them and other celebrities sporting Uggs - even when its hot out (you know, just in case there's a freak snow storm in July!). So maybe celebrities wearing Uggs make them more acceptable?

And since no one famous (that I can tell) has been photographed sporting Crocs, maybe THAT is why they're not as popular??

I mean, everyone I know (including my best friend) has questioned at least a few of my footwear choices pre-Crocs, so why disappoint now?? In the end, it comes down to the fact that I wear what I like. Even if that means being an equal-opportunity footwear offender! :)

I like Crocs and will continue to wear them. Even my lime green ones. Even if Paris and other celebrities don't jump on the bandwagon and even in the face of all the Crocs-hating sites!!

They're all just jealous I say! :)

Enjoy it while it lasts...

I went for my daily lunchtime walk today and I must say, its a glorious day outside. Bright, sunny, not a cloud in the sky and 77 degrees.

But as I walked, I realized something...Fall is just around the corner.

I realized the bright green leaves from even just last week have now been replaced by dull green ones - I can see the reds and yellows slipping in to their colors.

Fall is coming.

I realized that I didn't hear the cicadas that I always hear during the hot summer days. All was quiet - just a few crickets cricketing.

Its been cooler at night - upper 50's to low 60's. Just cool enough to need a light blanket on the bed and to be grateful for when Luna jumps up to cuddle. I appreciate her extra body warmth.

Football season is just around the corner. While I'm thrilled about this for Nicole (Geaux Tigers!), I can't help but feel a little sad too.

Summer is my favorite season. And when Fall rolls around, I tend to feel a little sadness creeping in. Summer is almost over.

But never fear!! There is still time left! Labor Day is still just under a week away. And there are plenty of beach weekends left. The Jersey shore in the Fall rocks! All the warmth, all the high ocean water temps, and none of the crowds!

So I'm looking forward to soaking in all the goodness while it lasts....because in no time, we'll be pulling out our warm wooley blankets and toasty warm shoes!

FINALLY!!

I'm finally on the eve of my summer vacation!  First vacation since last year (not counting the week we close @ Christmas) and let me tell you - I NEED IT!!

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, when I'll do....well, most likely nothing!!  YAY.  Fester.  Veg.  You name it, and whatever it is, I won't be working!  WOOT!!

My friend Mike is coming to visit on Thursday through the weekend, so that should be fun.  We'll hit the beach for the day on Friday and then do some fun day stuff around here the rest of the time.  Relax.  And enjoy!!

And then I'm off on Monday too...  But that was just so I didn't have that feeling on Sunday night of "oooh, tomorrow I have to work".  Because now I won't have to!!  Can I have a woot??

WOOT WOOT!!

So....here's to vacation!!!  Aaaaahhhhh - I can feel myself starting to unwind already! 

No Comment

We've all been taught from a young age that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

I must ask this though.

When you say to a stylist (or really anyone) "all one length but shorter in the back and a little longer in front" in reference to your hair, how is it possible to come out with a head FULL of layers and nothing at all resembling A) what you described and B) what you'd been finding photos of for 2 weeks??

I will say this, though - its nice to not have hair stick to me in the heat.

No photos to come. Sorry. I'm waiting for my hair to grow out to high-tail it to a new stylist so I can get the style I REALLY asked for.

I'M BALD

Ok....so I'm not bald. But she did take a good 8" or so off my hair. So to me, that's bald!!

And while I have to admit she did NOT do what I asked her to (I said "all one length" - so how does that translate into short choppy layers??), it came out pretty funky and cute. So I'm happy.

And nothing beats getting out of the shower in the summer in the morning to NOT have your hair stick to you! Can't beat that!!

WOOT!!

So I look forward to playing with it over the next few days and giving it my own spin!! Should be fun!!

I'm gonna do it!

After half a summer of hot, sticky humidity with hair that is mid-back, today I'm finally chopping it off! Well, not totally off. We're not talking short bob or anything. But I've decided to take a good 6" + off and have the back of my hair end at just around shoulder length.

I'd been teetering on the precipice of doing it and finally fell over the edge yesterday morning when it felt like 100% humidity and my LOOONG hair stuck to me like a fly on honey.

Ew.

So today, my stylist was able to squeeze me in at lunch time and I'm gonna do it! I so can't wait!!

Photos to come in the next day or two... I have a concept in mind - keep your fingers crossed that it comes out how I imagined!

Heat relief, here I come!! Woot!

Holy Big Cat, Batman!

I'm sure by now, everyone has heard about the 44 pound cat that was found wandering the streets of south NJ. After a search for the cat's owner, it turns out that he was abandoned by his owner when her home went into foreclosure.

Now, I realize that foreclosure of one's home is horrible. It must be a terrible feeling to experience and I don't wish that on anyone. However, how can someone just abandon a living creature who is dependent on them? The cat's owner should have found it a new home or, at the very least, they should have hand delivered the cat to the shelter! Any responsible person knows that.

But I wonder how someone can just give up a family member like that? If they had children and were faced with the same situation, would they abandon them? I can say with 100% certainty that if I were faced with the same situation, I would live in a box under the highway overpass with Luna rather than abandon her to the streets, the shelter, or any other life without me. But hey, that's just me.

People need to start taking responsibility for our planet and its living creatures. If you take on the responsibility of pet ownership, you need to see it through to the end, not just give up when times get tough. People would be appalled if this was a child, why aren't we just as upset about the irresponsible abandonment of a furry member of the family?

I hope Powder (as it turns out the cat's name is) finds a good home with loving "parents" and lives a long happy life with them!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUNA!!!!

Today is the most wonderful day of the year....ITS LUNA'S BIRTHDAY!!! Happy 4th birthday to my little baby girl!!


We made her a wonderful gift that she seemed to like right away. Its a little structure that has brushes on either side because she loves to brush her face even when I'm not holding the brush. She played with it a little this morning, so I hope she's found a new favorite toy!!

Happy Birthday Luna!!

Mommy loves you!!! (kisses)

Hodge Podge

Hodge Podge is not a bait and tackle shop in Avalon, its also a slew of things (ok 2 things) for today's post....enjoy and TGIF!

-------

A typed message to Nicole....

Claudia: so we got Luna's g-i-f-t done last night! ITS AWESOME! I can't wait for her to use it!

Nicole: I'm glad you spelled it so I don't read it out loud and she hears me.

-------

This is a really cool site I found yesterday that really makes a great point about where our "stuff" comes from and where it goes after we are finished with it... Its a little long, but definitely worth a look! Just click on the link below and you'll be taken right to the site!

ZA-ZUUUU-UUUU!

Happy Birthday to Zuzana (aka Zazu)!!!

ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY!! HA HA!!
ITS NOT OUR BIRTHDAY!! NO NO!!
CAUSE ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY!! HA HA!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZAZU!

ZA-ZUUUU-UUU!
(that sounds like the Yahoo singing guy, by the way)

WOO HOO!

No...not WaMu! Woo hoo! I got a new swim suit last night!

Now, like most women, I'd rather have a lobotomy rather than swim suit shop. Actually, I'd rather have one to get me through swim suit shopping!

Macy's was having a clearance sale on suits, so I figured why not head over there! When I got there, I realized clearance really translated into "we don't have your size"...but I kept hope alive. I scoured the racks for anything that wasn't hideous and would cover me that was in my size. I finally found 4 suits and headed into the dressing room.

In the dimly lit closet I found myself in, I peeled off my clothes (strategically avoiding looking in the mirror) and put on the first suit - a green and blue tankini. I turned around and braced myself for the horror....but guess what...I LIKED WHAT I SAW! Could it be? I just found a suit on the very first one I tried on?

That's not possible!

I tried on the others and they were horrible. So I fished into my wallet and found a coupon for an additional 15% off. WOO HOO!! So I bought it! At a steal of a price!! I figure I'll leave the tags on and try it at home tonight. Where the lighting is much more flattering! And then go from there.

But if memory serves me right, I think I'll be keeping it!

Honestly though - what are the chances that I found my suit on the first try. REALLY?

WOO HOO!

Never a dull moment...

...even when Sleeping Beauty rests...

10th Street & Union?

Yesterday on our way home from Avalon, my boyfriend and I decided to take the long way home and go to Ocean City (NJ, that is) to fish where he fished with his dad when he was little and also drive past the house he stayed in a few times. Being that all his memories are from when he was 12, even if he wasn't 12, ("hey babe, when did you learn to walk?" "I was 12"....), I warned him that the house might not look the same or even still be there!

So we packed up the car and headed north on Ocean Drive from Avalon. About 30 minutes later, we found ourselves at the southern end of Ocean City on a one lane road sandwiched between the ocean and bay. I asked where we were going...."I'm not sure. I know it was maybe 4 or 5 blocks from the beach". Wait, what? We don't have an actual address? Or coordinates?? Or anything that could give us more info than it being a house on a barrier island that is 12 miles long and 2 miles wide?? Are you kidding me??

After driving north for a while, he finally decided to call his mother (who wasn't sure) and then his cousin (whom had gone with them). His cousin was positive it was on the corner of 10th Street and Union Ave. PERFECT! We were already at 25th Street and the numbers were heading down, so in no time, we'd be on the corner of Nostalgia and Old School and then could head to the ice cream shop he used to go to - which he was sure was "nearby" too....great!

We finally got to 10th Street and were just 2 blocks from the beach, so we decided to hang a left off of Central Ave and head towards the bay. Wesley Ave. West Ave. Bay Ave. Water.

Nope.

Turn around...

By the time we hit the ocean, we realized, hey, we never crossed Union Ave. Hmm.... We revised our scientifically devised plan, and decided to just drive around...I mean, it has to be here somewhere, right?

We finally asked a beach-heading older woman if she knew where 10th and Union was. "Union Ave? I've never heard of it." Fabulous. Back to wandering aimlessly....

We finally found what we thought could be the bridge that he fished off of, and called his dad. Not the right bridge, but lo and behold, the bridge was on Wesley Ave and that WAS the right road. Because, you know, Wesley and Union sound the same.

After driving around for almost an hour and a half, we found the house.

HALLELUJAH!

And what's crazier is that it turns out in our scientifically motivated "driving around" we'd passed the house several times! And of course the façade was slightly changed! Though, I'll admit I was so happy we found it I wanted to jump up and down.

And then....we found the old ice cream shop. Only now, its the Island Grill Steak House....but that's ok! We ate there anyway. Because after driving all over Ocean City and seeing every inch of it, I built up an appetite.

I have to admit, though...even if it was my first time in Ocean City, I had a blast! And having him there - and both of us laughing like goof balls because of the craziness we went through - made it even more fun!

Oh, and no, no fish were caught either....but, hey, that's ok too!

Is Social Couth Passé?

My best friend told me about a text message invitation to a baby shower. A text message. For this Friday. Received this past Tuesday. For what is being called a "Beer & Diapers" shower. At a BBQ joint.

Yee haw.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the TEXT MESSAGE said to reply ASAP.

Guess they wanted to make sure there's enough beer?

(you can't make this stuff up!)

Her husband - much to his credit - pointed out the drastic social faux pas by saying that whole situation - including the text - lacked social couth (which is the best thing I think I've ever heard)...!

So I wonder, is social couth passé?

Not to top that (because I doubt you can)....I was in the ladies room earlier today at work doing what ladies do in ladies' rooms. As I'm doing what I'm doing, a woman walks in ON THE PHONE and enters into the stall next to me where she continues to speak to the man she was on the phone with. And I knew it was a man because I could hear him! And I'm sure he could hear me.

Talk about stage fright!

What is with people these days? Not to sound like an old codger, but come on people! Put the phone down for 5 minutes while you "go"!

Holy cow. What's the world coming to?

Its Dad's Day!!

¡Felíz Cumpleaños a tí!
¡Felíz Cumpleaños a tí!
¡Felíz Cumpleaños a papá!
¡Felíz Cumpleaños a tí!

Happy Birthday Daddy!! I love you!

Couldn't have said it better myself...

Thanks to Zazu for sending me this!

My two cents...

I just read an article that told of how some extreme animal rights groups have been using violent means of activism against professors and scientists who conduct tests on animals.

A long time animal rights supporter myself, I often speak out about the horrors that go on in the name of research and education. I've written letters, spoken to people face-to-face, posted here of what's going on, heck, my mother and I even went to Washington DC and participated in an animal rights march! These tests are not necessary as there are other means of research. The barbaric things that are done to cats, dogs, mice, monkeys and other animals in the name of science are sickening and must be stopped.

HOWEVER

I believe that using force against these scientists isn't helpful.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was an advocate for change through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. He was able to do wonders for this country in the area of civil rights because of his beliefs that violence doesn't pay.

Groups who use violence to get their point across aren't doing that. True they may get a handful of people to stop what they're doing, however, they also loose credibility and are dubbed "wackos" and other names for their scare tactics. And other scientists are able to continue.

Now, don't get me wrong. I would LOVE for the scientists who do these barbaric tests to have the same tests done on them. I'd love it. Wouldn't want to see it, but I'd love for it to be done to them. Or worse. However, violence doesn't pay.

Instead, people should hold rallies and protests. If they go to the homes of these scientists (as the article pointed out), then stand outside with signs and use the public areas (streets and sidewalks) to make a point. Yell through a bull-horn, post fliers and signs. But don't invade the homes of these people by throwing items. Don't paint their houses and use violent confrontations. That does no one any good and gets the protesters put in jail.

I'm all for stopping these experiments! I'm all for making people pay for their atrocities. But do it in a way that will get the point across and do it in a way that won't make things worse!

Happy Birthday...

...to our country!

Tomorrow, our country will celebrate Independence Day. Not to be all mushy and reminiscent and such, but I do think this is an opportunity to remind people that this year we have a historic situation in our country and now is the time to be part of history.

Whether you support Barack Obama or John McCain or whatever other independent presidential candidates might join the race in the next few months, I truly believe that everyone in this country should participate in November's presidential election. Take an active part in the direction this country will take in the future... It doesn't take long to vote and registering to vote (if you're not already) is easy as (apple?) pie!

A lot of people say that they don't like any candidates, and so therefore, they don't vote. To that I say that it is everyone's responsibility to do the research and see where candidates stand on issues that are important to them and then pick whomever is closest to their beliefs.

Often people don't like the direction the country is going in morally or economically or with our policies, but then they don't vote. One huge way normal citizens can have a say in how things go is by voting! Even if your candidate doesn't win, at least you had your say and your voice was counted. Otherwise, what did our forefathers fight for? What did the men in the revolution fight for if our own citizens won't speak out? Why did women and other minorities fight for the right to vote if their descendants (US) don't vote?

Tomorrow our country celebrates it's 232nd birthday. Maybe that should be a time for more than just parades, fireworks, and bbq's. It should also be a time for us to look at what our forefathers fought for and take a stand and decide to VOTE!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!

Who knew?

So I was checking out Expedia.com this morning for last-minute deals for this weekend. Since we have a 3-day weekend thanks to our country's birthday, I thought, lets try something other than going down the shore or going fishing.

I figured I'd take my chances and see what was available for a great price locally. None of the "featured" locales were good - either too far, or too expensive, or they required a plane ticket, which wasn't on the agenda. So I decided to look through the "See more last minute deals in:" window to see if anything looked interesting.

London, NYC, Madrid, Orlando, Washington DC....and JERSEY CITY, NJ?????

REALLY?

So I had to look. I mean, its like a car accident. You don't want to look, but you have to!

Now, I've been a NJ resident for a majority of my life (minus that brief stint in FL). But never did I know Jersey City is a "destination" for anything other than, well, undesirables. I mean, do they even have anything other than hourly-rate motels?

I guess according to Expedia - yes!

Jersey City?? REALLY?

Who knew!

GO ME!

Well, I have to pat myself on the back. Little Miss I Don't Cook actually made a pretty good (in my opinion) and healthy dinner last night!

Inspired by Veggie Terrain, I actually made a variation of the Edamame & Black Bean Summer Salad.

My boyfriend wasn't too hungry, and I quite honestly, wanted something different than the run of the mill salad I've practically lived on. So we scoped out the salad above and decided that if we got rid of the cilantro (his kryptonite), it might be pretty good. I also added chick peas and black olives (YUM!) and can I tell you? IT WAS FABU!! I'll be honest and admit I forgot to add the scallions and didn't wait for the 2 hours for it to chill, but I'm not a big fan of cold corn, so really, it worked out!

I made 2 little bowls for us with a side of fresh French bread and water crackers and let me tell you, I was way proud of what ended up being a pretty healthy meal. And quite tasty too!

Sorry no photos - maybe I'll post some later if I remember to take them!!

Lookie what I found!!

A friend of mine was in the market for special straws for bubble tea. Since I'd never heard of it (and wondered why he needed tapioca pearls and special straws to make it), I Googled it and inadvertently found a great vegetarian website. Its called Veggie Terrain.

Now, I'm not a vegetarian - yet. I've been working towards it s-l-o-w-l-y. A couple years ago I tried going cold turkey, and I can now appreciate what smokers must go through when they try to quit smoking. A life-long omnivore with a father who has a talent, no, a gift for bar-b-que, giving up meat wasn't easy.

I renewed my efforts a few months ago, and its been difficult to say the least. I went cold turkey again for a few weeks - maybe a month tops. And then I just had to sneak a little meat. But instead of falling off the bandwagon (and being dragged behind it as I did a few years ago), I just realized that going cold-turkey wasn't for me right now, so I severely restricted my meat intake.

Now, I eat meat maybe once or twice a week - but only if I really (REALLY) want it. Some weeks I even go without! If there's something else on the menu that looks good, I go for that. Of course, when dad pulled out all the stops on the bbq front a couple weekends ago, I couldn't resist. But "quitting" isn't about beating myself up if I fall, its just about picking myself up and forging ahead.

SO...on that front, I found that site. So far my non-meat meals have been pretty pedestrian - pizza, pasta, salads, fruits. All things I love. Until I realize that that's it. I don't enjoy cooking (much) and I'm not much of a culinary experimenter. So I want it to be good, quick, easy, comforting and yummy! And not be all tofu and veggie burgers. I don't mind going vegetarian - but I don't want to to go all soy and weird either because I know me - I won't like it and then I'll fail.

So Veggie Terrain has recipes that look pretty good. Now I'm not (and most likely won't go) vegan (that's where you don't even eat animal bi-products like milk, honey, eggs, etc) but I do do cage free and organic. So those recipes (if you're feeling adventurous) can be re-altered back to using mayo, milk, honey or what not if that's your thing!

Anyhoo - I'm looking forward to trying the creamy dijon-dill potato salad...but the bubble tea? Yeah, not so much my friend!!

I SURVIVED!

Well, since I'm posting, its pretty obvious that I survived my trek to the podiatrist.  Not to give too many details, but they said that after a few laser (!!!) treatments, I should be fine.  SO....we'll see what happens after the first. 

I just might whimper like a wuss through the whole thing.  But if I didn't, it wouldn't be me! :)

Call me Yammie McPeginstein

Well, after last week's yarn and yam fiasco, I've been dubbed "Yammie" by Nicole (among other names!)...

THIS WEEK, after many years of suffering with my foot thingies (as I call them), I've finally sucked it up and am going to the podiatrist tonight. Not to be too gross (cause in my opinion its more painful than gross), I have some nobbies on the ball of my foot that hurt - but aren't dermatologically healable. Basically, 3 dermatologists a few years ago couldn't heal them. Ok, TMI, I know (sorry) but they don't LOOK like anything, they just FEEL like heck!

SO for those of you who know me, you know I'm deathly afraid of doctors. I avoid them like the plague. I'd rather have The Plague than go. So you know how painful my "foot thingies" as I call them, are if I actually made an appointment myself!

Tonight, my wonderful boyfriend is accompanying me to the podiatrist to hold my hand as I whimper like a wuss while they most likely chop my foot off so I can be rid of my thingies. Of course, that will make me foot-less. Or worse! I might die to death! (lets just hope that doesn't happen)

So just call me Peg Leg.

Or...

Yammie McPeginstein, as Nicole has newly dubbed me.

Yes, I'm a wuss. (nice knowing you all!)

REALLY?

I didn't think the yam/yarn post could get any better until I asked Nicole if she told her husband about it and she said she couldn't because he was having work issues.

What would those work issues be??

Nicole: a one legged man driving an 18 wheeler backed into his warehouse and screwed up the building. and i swear to god, i'm not making that up. but i am laughing my ass off.

Could it really get any better than that??

Typical Day at Work

Nicole (in OKC): did you see my blog post of the yarns i bought last night?

Claudia (in NJ): no! will look now

---- (minute or so passes) ----

Claudia: OMG! i thought you said YAMS! i'm all wait, this is about yarn, not YAM

Nicole: why would i show off yams?

Claudia: I DON'T KNOW! THAT'S WHY I RUSHED TO READ IT!

Nicole: well, i guess the same reason i show off yarNs

Claudia: i figured they must've been fabulous yams!

---------------------------

**Keep in mind this whole sick conversation was TYPED, not spoken, hence the confusion of yams vs. yarn.

UPDATE: Check this out...its more proof that we're sickos that share a brain!

Can it be true?

Tonight on FX, I watched the show "30 Days". Its a show where someone with certain beliefs or lifestyle will spend 30 days with someone (or a family) with completely opposite beliefs. For example, a few weeks ago, a person who believed all Muslims are terrorists, spent a month with a Muslim family and realized that they're really no different than anyone else - they just pray to a different god.

Tonight's episode of "30 Days" had a life-long hunter from the South spend a month with a vegan family and PETA activist in California.

As you'd figure, the hunter was gun-ho about his hobby. He agreed to participate in whatever the activist had planned for him (which included working in at an animal rescue farm, going to protests and living a vegan lifestyle), however, for the first half of his time with them, he stuck to his beliefs. He believed (among other things), that animals are here on this planet to serve humans. For example, he has dogs, but they're just dogs - not members of the family and don't deserve "rights" of any kind.

About half way through the episode (and half way through his time there), he went to visit a dairy factory farm with the rescue guy from the animal sanctuary, and he witnessed first hand the baby cows that were left on the ground after they died. And he witnessed first hand the cruel way the male baby cows were pulled out of their 2'x4' pens by their tails and hind legs so they could be pushed into the truck to be taken to slaughter (can you say VEAL?). And that's when it started to click for the hunter. He still believed in eating meat, and he still believed in hunting, however, he started to realize that maybe animals weren't just here to serve us - or JUST to be served to us...

And then he visited a shelter where he learned of the 6 million or so animals - dogs and cats - that are euthanized each year simply because no one wants them. And he got to witness the euthanization of a sweet, bubbly, excited, tail-wagging pit bull who did nothing wrong but be born the "wrong" breed. And he witnessed them dispose of the body in a plastic bag in a cooler.

And it clicked... And from there, he became a self-proclaimed activist.

He helped rescue a baby calf in the middle of the night who was left out in a pasture to die. He helped bring it back to life and bonded with it - and even named is Sugar. He helped paint PETA activists in plaid to protest Burberry's use of fur. He helped get signatures to support a farm bill that will lead to humane treatment of farm animals.

He got it. Or at least started to.

And by the end of the episode, he actually admitted that even though he will continue to hunt, he now believes that animals do have rights. They have a right to humane treatment while they're alive and a right to a humane (and quick) death.

It was a really difficult show for me to watch. I've been an animal rights supporter for a long time and knew about the stuff that goes on with animal testing, the fur industry, farm animals and dairy cow treatment. But even I found myself in tears at some points during the episode. And it helped to reaffirm my beliefs that all animals - domestic, farm and wild, deserve to have a humane life and death.

Kudos to the PETA activist who opened her home to the hunter and helped to open his eyes to what goes on. He started off believing that all animal activists are just out to make a statement by using shock tactics, but ended up realizing that they do, in fact, have a very real and important statement to make. I'm just thrilled that the episode aired because I think it'll help to bring more light to the suffering that goes on that a lot of people don't know about, or don't want to know about.

Kudos to PETA. Kudos to "30 Days". But more importantly, kudos to that hunter for learning an important lesson!

**I'm trying to "hunt" down a link to the episode, and once I do...I'll post it here!

WOAH!

Well, after 3 days of extreme heat (including almost 100 degrees yesterday), the heat wave finally just broke...

At 9:30pm, the temperature outside was 89 degrees. EIGHTY NINE! At almost 10pm!

Just around 8 or 8:30, Dad and I were leaving the mall and I noticed it was eerily quiet outside. WAY too quiet. No breeze, no birds chirping. Nothing. It sounded like we were in a sound-proof booth. And way off in the distance, we could see faint lighting.

By the time I got home and got on the phone with my boyfriend, the lightning was still way off but it was becoming very frequent. And I could hear the first few rumblings of thunder. And then the wind picked up... He was on his way back from near Sandy Hook (fishing) but I was glad he was in the car already. We got off the phone and I grabbed my dinner and attempted to sit outside to watch the oncoming storm, but in the couple minutes I was out there, it started going CRAZY! The wind went wild, things started flying, lightning was non-stop. So I went back inside.

And checked the radar (of course) and this is what I found:
YOWZERS! Purple?? Fuchsia?? What is that about?? And we were right in its path! I don't know (or can't remember) seeing that color for the severity of a storm in a long time. And then the warnings came...hail, 70mph winds, rain, cloud-to-ground lighting, the whole slew!

Luna was in the bedroom (with the A/C on) and was crying by the time I walked in. The storm got so severe that I actually got a bag ready to put her in in case we had to rush down to the basement or into an interior room. The lighting was so intense - non-stop for a while there. The thunder was incredible. A couple of thunders actually sounded like bombs. And my poor baby girl got so scared. I tried holding her to comfort her, but it got so bad that she freaked out and ended up scratching me to get down. As soon as I put her down, she retreated to her "safe" spot under the bed.


The storm lasted a little while - maybe a good 20 minutes or so for the worst of it. And then it passed. But while it lasted, it was incredible. My boyfriend (who was driving up the Garden State Parkway into rain and could see the lightning off in the distance) said that on the other side of the highway, it even looked like trees or something off the highway was on fire! I'd be willing to bet that was the result of cloud-to-ground lightning! He said the same thing.

Its now 10:45pm and the storm has been gone for a little while now. But you know what?? The temperature is down to 70. SEVENTY! It dropped almost 20 degrees in just about an hour. That's insane!

But let me tell you, the A/C is off and the windows are open for the first time in 4 days....and I'm loving it!

The morning after...

Yes, to quote that sappy Carpenter's song (I think it was them), "there's got to be a morning after..."

DMB was last night! DAVE! WOOT!! And let me tell you, the concert ROCKED!! It was AWESOME! I really forgot how much I really enjoy hearing music played LIVE!!

Unfortunately, they wouldn't let us bring cameras into the concert (even though it seemed that everyone else was able to smuggle theirs in), so since I got no photos, I've recreated Dave for ya....

He wore a pale blue shirt and everything - so I'd say my drawing, though quite rough, its pretty accurate! Picasso watch out!

Show was rockin'. Loved it. They played all the songs I like and left me wanting for more! There were a few songs I wish they'd played, but hey, that's my excuse for seeing them perform next time!

Here are the interesting NON-DMB points from the night:

• We had lawn seats which meant we plopped down wherever on the grass. We chose a nook near the wall so we'd be out of the way, but it turns out we chose to sit near the corner where all the drunkies (girls included) decided to go to pee rather than wait for the bathroom line. Made for an interesting experience. Although it got to be fun to watch security show up and flash their flashlights on the pee-ers!
  
• Later in the evening, when it started raining - YES RAINING - people tried to get out of the open area and several people SAT in the pee corner mentioned above not knowing it! I seriously hope they went home and showered in turpentine and used a brillo pad. EEEEEW!!!
• Evidently the "thing" to do now when you're in college is to go to a concert and get exceedingly drunk (ok, that's nothing new) but then not pay attention to the concert, and instead, either A-make out with your "other" (or whomever you can grab) or B-text and spend the time having a photo shoot with friends, but NOT even photograph the stage. Figure that one out! :-D
• They wouldn't let me bring my camera in, but they evidently DID allow (or "happen to miss") the weeeeeed that some peeps smuggled in. I got a whiff of the good stuff every once in a while. So, cameras bad, weed good? I guess so!

None of that was BAD per se, it was just interesting! I think next time, though, I'll opt for the more expensive (read: dry, under the roof and away from the pee-ers) seats!! Other than that....DAVE MATTHEWS BAND WAS EVERYTHING I HOPED FOR AND THEN SOME!! So what if I only got three hours sleep last night...it was SO worth it! ;)

Tonight! Tonight! Won't be just any night...

To borrow some more lyrics from West Side Story's "Tonight"...

Today the minutes seem like hours.
The hours go so slowly,
And still the sky is light.
Oh moon, grow bright,
And make this endless day endless night...

Yes folks - tonight is FINALLY the Dave Matthews Band concert!! And I can't wait!

And in the spirit of DMB and his well-known environmentality...I got a great compliment this morning!

Long story short, my co-worker's plant got infested by no-see-ems (you know, those pesty bugs that fly in your face). Well, he sprayed chemicals to be rid of them, but it seems some migrated to my plant. Since I didn't want to use chemicals, I took my plant home, washed the roots, removed all the dirt, and replanted it completely - well, DAD did - and I helped him! Upon bringing it back to work today, another co-worker told me (when I told her what I did)..."wow, Claudia, you really are green!"

That just made my day! And DMB will totally make my night!!

Pics tomorrow (unless my brain isn't functioning!!)