25 Questions Men are Dying to Ask Women
Ran across this list yesterday... kind of interesting. I plan to gather the troops to develop a "female" version. Stay tuned...

1. Why do you all wish we were more like John Cusack?
2. Do you or don't you want us to open the door for you? Just let us know and we'll act accordingly?
3. How can you look so cute in pigtails?
4. Why the fascination with Harrison Ford? He's old enough to be your father for crying out loud. Seriously.
5. When you ask "Does this look okay?" do you want honesty or support? We really can do both.
6. How can you complain endlessly about having too much work to do and then find the time to go shopping or talk on the phone for two hours?
7. Do you ever get tired of watching The Sound of Music?
8. Why is each anniversary such a big deal to you? I'm not talking about yearly anniversaries, but our first date? Our first kiss? The first time I met your mother?
9. Do you think I'm better looking that Carson Daly?
10. How can you always remember those little things, like Great-Great Aunt Emma's birthday or the anniversary of Cousin Susie's dog's death?
11. Why do you always ask us questions when you already know the answer?
12. How can you always be up for going shopping?
13. Chest hair - good or bad?
14. Boxers or briefs?
15. Why do you find it endearing when a guy's in love and won't take no for an answer in the movies, but in real life you call it stalking?
16. Why is it so easy for you to stop and ask directions?
17. How do you innately seem to know what can or can't go in the dryer?
18. Why do you always complain about your mothers and then end up talking to them for hours upon hours?
19. Why do you always go to the bathroom in groups?
20. Facial hair - good or bad?
21. Looks or money?
22. When you ask, "If I died, would you remarry?" what exactly are you looking for?
23. If I died, would you remarry?
24. Does your dad like me? No, seriously
25. How do you manage to be so cute, charming, silly, frustrating, beautiful, mysterious, complicated, simple and unbelievably interesting?

Mix it Up a Bit
Looplabs - great interactive site

So Often Chose Sad Themes...
Not much to say today... feeling totally stressed to the max with school, work and personal issues. Haven't been able to go for a much needed long run to relieve this inner tension & I think it's really getting to me. Don't realize how much I rely on my physical outlets until the shit hits the fan & I'm left standing, bewildered. Ah well, it shall pass. The only thing that is constant is change :)

Ezra Pound
- When you cannot make up your mind which of two evenly balanced courses of action you should take - choose the bolder.

- Any general statement is like a check drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.

- A civilized man is one who will give a serious answer to a serious question. Civilization itself is a certain sane balance of values.

The Graduate
I'm bursting with excitment as my graduation date crawls closer!! Time is going by so fast (refer to countdown) - I'd better get my butt in gear :) Each new piece of graduation email/mail sends a tingle down my spine as I fight the urge not to wet myself; heh heh.

The Latest
Dear Graduation Candidate:
You are cordially invited to the 2004 Spring Commencement ceremony to be held Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. in The Pavilion.
In order to ensure that you have a seat at commencement, you must RSVP by Friday, May 7, 2004.
To RSVP, simply REPLY to this e-mail; be sure to include your name and student ID number.
If you do not wish to participate in the ceremony, you do not need to reply.

***This e-mail is to RSVP for the Commencement ceremony only.***

Congratulations on your achievement!

Sincerely,
The Graduation Evaluators

Speaking of School... The Tao of Billy Madison
~ Whoa whoa whoa, Miss Lippy. The part of the story I don't like is that the little boy gave up looking for Happy after an hour. He didn't put posters up or anything, he just sat on the porch like a goon and waited. That little boy's gotta think 'You got a pet. You got a responsibility.' If your dog is lost you don't look for an hour then call it quits. You get your ass out there and you find that fucking dog.

~ Sometimes I feel like an idiot. But I am an idiot, so it kinda works out.

~ No I will not make out with you. Did ya hear that? This girl wants to make out with me in the middle of class. You got Chlorophyll Man up there talking about God knows what and all she can talk about is making out with me. I'm here to learn, everybody, not to make out with you. Go on with the chlorophyll.

Poetry Jam
I think one of the most fun/interesting things to do is reread past essay and poetry writings. I ran across some unexpectant poems the other night, while cleaning out some schizzle, and was surprised to see that I feel the same way I did about things in the 10th grade as I do now. Sure, we all go through experiences which may shape our behavior and decision making; but in the end, how much have we changed since the 10th grade? Pretty damn amazing! A good way to see where we are in life, is to examine who we were and how we felt in the past - and that's all I have to say about that :)

I Am
by A-M (10th grade)

I am
Mountains, clouds, and snow
I like solitary runs and meaningful words
Trust, strength, and maturity are important to me
I find satisfaction in accomplishing goals
I can be disappointed when others let me down
But I don't let it get me down
I thrive on activity and the company of friends
I love the "what can be" aspect of life rather than the "what is"
I argue when I find things unfair and unjustifiable
This is me, I am


It's All in the Stars Baby
I enjoy reading the Horoscopes at the end of the Boise Weekly. I read them casually and don't take them too seriously, but sometimes I get pretty amazed at the coincidences. I also like to read my friends horoscopes; concentrating on: Leo, Cancer, Virgo, & Scorpio - after my own of course (Taurus/Gemini for those who don't know - The Fonz translation: stubborn, two-faced bitch).

Too Funny
[Background]
I was having a telephone meeting with a male colleague and we were using NetMeeting so he could share his screen with me to illustrate the issues which were occurring with the application I support.
[The Moment]
After we had looked at the odd behavior which was occurring, he said, "Okay, now let me share my mail thing." The double entendre of what he said was too funny. I acted like I didn't notice the statement, then he said, "Oh, that didn't sound right." Pretty damn hilarious!
[End Scene]

Ah Nah She Didn't

Yesterday was a gorgeous day. I hit the trails on a walk with my boy, Blue. Later on in the day, I hit the trails biking with my boys P & T. Even though I wore biking shorts, I'm a little sore; if ya know what I mean :)

It's crazy what a small town this is! As we were riding around the streets, after the trails, I ran into D-man (guy from my HTC team), Cindy Lou (gal from HTC team & sold me my house as well), then G-Thang (hairdresser, out w/her man & friends) at the ol' Parilla Grille. Crazy!! While enjoying my Buffalo Gypsy wrap at the P.G., I experienced an "Ah Nah She Didn't" moment. Man, I wish Elle Boogie would've been there!

[The Moment - Outside P.G.]
From where I was sitting, I had a view of the outdoor bar. Sunday is $0.25 beer day, so there were quite a few people there. Then it happened... I thought it was a shadow, but I was mistaken. The sun was shining at my back, which meant it was also hitting the backs of people who were sitting at the bar. There was a woman sitting at the bar with her back toward me and she was wearing black spandex shorts. The "shadow" on her shorts turned out to be a lace thong! The sun was shining at such an angle that I could see everything and I mean "everything." It was like a car wreck that I couldn't look away from; plus my chair was facing that exact direction. I took a picture of it w/T's phone, for prosperity :) but it was too far away. It wouldn've been nice to go up to her and say, "Yo, we can see your black, lacy thang; could you please turn to the side or cover it up?" How do you say something like that discreetly?
Good Times, Good Times

Self Reflective Ramblings
I'd have to say one of the hardest things in life is to look at oneself and question: What do I really want? Why did I do that? What type of person do I want to be? I feel that we have so many distractions in our lives, i.e. television, other people, activities; that we don't really take the time to find out who we really are and what is really important to us. I had a friend be hurtfully honest with me yesterday and I thank her. Even though people talk about "honesty" and wanting to hear the truth, it's hard to hear the hardcore truth and come face-to-face with who we are and our problems. I've gone through a lot this past year and have rarely taken the time to examine and question my actions and decisions. A friend mentioned that it seems to her that I'm always searching for something and I guess it's true. But I've taken time this past week to look inside myself and realize that I'm not happy with some decisions I've made. I'm not proud of the person I become when I've had too many drinks and I now know that I cannot handle more than 3 drinks while out partying. Moderation is a wonderful thing :) It's funny when I have friends tell me to "be careful" and they don't want to see me get hurt when it comes to matters of the heart. I've also been told that I'm too trusting of people which could be translated into being naive. But what's wrong with being naive? People put such a negative connotation around being naive, but I happen to enjoy it!

Definition of naive: marked by unaffected simplicity.

I know who I am and what I want out of life and I don't need to be told by anyone how I act and how I should act. I'm the type of person who attacks life with intense vigor and I don't wait for life to happen to me. I also enjoy nature and what it and relationships have to offer. Spring is one of my favorite seasons because it symbolizes rebirth and starting over fresh and clean. Each year, flowers burst forth from the ground and leaves bud and blossom on the trees. It's such a spectacular phenomenon that some people take for granted; but not this person. I love my friends and the advice they have to offer. I even seek out their advice in certain matters where I am lacking experience; but when it comes down to it, I've got to live my life and I've got to be responsible for my actions - I've got no one to answer to but myself and I'm okay with that.

You should always learn, with life comes wisdom and with wisdom comes the courage to live your life selflessly. The more you learn about yourself and the experiences surrounding your life the more opportunities you have to make your life better and more fulfilling.
~ Amy Candy

What men want from a perfect date

Key Ingredients: Roasted Garlic, Kleenex & Plenty of Liquids
As the sick man does not skip and leap around, his wishes do so all the more.
~ Ernst Bloch

Yeah, my weekend was screwed before it even began. I had all sorts of wonderful plans in the pipeline, but my body had different ideas in store. It had been giving me warnings like, "Yo, slow down girl and get some rest." Of course, I ignored warnings of this nature and my body took revenge by saying, "K bitch, I was being nice and you didn't listen; now you will feel my wrath. You thought you would have fun this weekend, well screw 'em because you're going to spend your weekend miserable and in bed." Damn body - she seems to win every time! Ah well. The movie with Elle Boogie on Friday, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" was pretty awesome on a "whoah" level. It made us wonder aloud that if you're meant to be with someone, it will happen. That's all the info I'm going to divulge - wouldn't want to ruin it :) Didn't make it to Saturday night's concert, but Elle Boogie kept me in the 411 loop on the "important" details ;) Text messaging is a great resource! I haven't used it that much because I usually just call people, but I plan to learn more about it.

My New Best Friend
I made a new best friend this weekend... my box of Kleenex. Kleenex is such a wonderful thing! I think we take it for granted until we really need it. I took my Kleenex box with me everywhere I went this past weekend - the bed, kitchen, couch, etc. After spending so much time with my Kleenex box, I noticed something peculiar about its design.
[Background]
I buy all Kleenex, tp, papertowels, detergent and stuff like that in bulk at Costco. So this particular box came from a pack of 6.
[Back to the Design]
The design of the Kleenex box consisted of beautiful flowers and cute little hummingbirds. While groaning in bed and reaching for a Kleenex, I began to study those "cute" little hummingbirds more closely and realized that they weren't cute, but rather obscene little bastards! I'm sure the artist wanted to draw curled feet for some of the hummingbirds, but dude... I swear it looked like some of the hummingbirds had testes! Not kidding!! I'm thinking about letting Tipper Gore know about this one. What about the children who use these Kleenex? What will we be teaching them? My fevered mind started to race about forthcoming generations who will be using Kleenex from boxes strutting this perverse design... how will they deal in society? It's just not right to be learning sex education from a box of Kleenex - with that thought, I realized I'd better stop. Note to self: in the future, do not relate sex education to a box of Kleenex; you know how teenage boys are ;) Damn, the things that come from a fevered mind... never good, but definitely creative in a sick & twisted way :)

Launch Bitch
Okay Launch, you think you can tell me what to do but I refuse to pay!! The next time you tell me that my service is limited, make sure your stylesheet is working, then I'll probably take the warning more seriously ;)

Me, My Dog, and I - That's All I've Got in the End
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet. - Shakespeare

My boy has a name... Finally! It came to me last night when I was walking my little man after class.
[Background Info]
I'm training my boy to be my running partner which requires him to remain on my left side. Past running partners (a.k.a Sublime/Nirvana) have performed a move I'd like to call "The Crossover" which basically flips me and leaves me flat on my stomach with the breath knocked out of me. Because of these past experiences, I take the training seriously and reward my little man with words of encouragement when he's doing a fabulous job.
[Fastforward]
So, I'm walking the little man and he's deserving some kind words because he's doing such an excellent job. I say, "That's my boy" reminiscent of the way Will Ferrell said, "Blue you're my boy!" in Old School (one of my fave flicks). Then it hits me... BLUE! What a fabulous name!! Not only is it a cool word, but the color carries some significance.

Par example:
Web Design
Blue is used to indicate trust.

Competition
In the U.S., blue is used to indicate first place.

Spiritual
BLUE belongs to the Planet Venus, the giver of Love, devotion and harmony. Its stone is the Amethyst, the super-sacred of the seven jewels. Pale blue in the aura represents devotion, while dark blue shows fanaticism. One can either be "true blue or have a fit of the "blues", according to one's outlook.

Various Other Meanings
If you are “true blue,” you are loyal and faithful.
Blue stands for love, which is why a bride carries or wears something blue on her wedding day.

The Full Name
The full name of my boy is: Blue Independence
Initials: B.I.T. (fits well with my geekness)
Variations: Mista Blue (most used), Baby Blue
Nicknames: Cutie Pie, Cutie Putie, Dork Boy, Sexy Little Man, Shart Boy...

Introducing Mista Blue - A Closet Fashion Designer
This past week, Mista Blue has gotten comfortable and we're warming up to each other just fine :) Of late, I've noticed he has quite the talent for fashion design. Since he cannot use his paws to manipulate his latest "designs", he has to use his teeth. Tuesday, after I returned from class, I saw some creations from his Spring line of clothing. Mista Blue had gotten a hold of some of my possessions and proceeded to get creative. Included in this collection was my favorite running fleece and a fitted Steelheads cap I had received as a gift from Elle Boogie (sorry!?!). Sensing that the weather was getting warmer, Mista Blue converted my long-sleeved, fleece into a short-sleeved running shirt. This guy is amazing! The lines were very straight and even; very impressive :) Also, sensing that I wouldn't be able to wear the fitted cap with a pony tail, he "created" a perfect circle at the top of the cap where I could put my hair through. How considerate is that!?! I swear, my little man is such a giver :) It's like he's saying, "Enough about me, what can I do for you?" This morning, he wanted to get inventive with my favorite purse, but I had to draw the line ;)

Ah, The Weekend Topped off with a Week of Vacation
This evening will be mellow: dinner and movie with my girl Elle. Then it's off to a concert tomorrow evening at the Sleazy. Tomorrow is also my boy T's b-day - Happy B-day Hot Toddie! I expect MEL to be in tip top performing mode ;) Then who knows... I've decided to take next week off from work so I can get some much needed R&R and work around the house. I'm totally stoked! I was supposed to go the MEXICO with a friend, but she totally sharted on that one. But it's all good, I don't hold grudges :) Financially, it's a good thing! Hasta la Pasta ;)

Marcus Eaton & The Lobby - An Elleterpretation


The Elle

Today is: St. Pat My What?
Happy St. Patty's Day! I've got some Irish in my blood, so there's reason to celebrate :) Tonight will be an evening of drinking, dancing, and debauchery (my fave 3Ds) with the Katy Kat & a possible meet up w/Elle Boogie & her man.

Here's a pict of me during my appearance on South Park.

Name That Song
This song has a great beat and the lyrics tell a little somethin' somethin' as well :)

Hot Hot Heat - "Talk To Me, Dance With Me"
You are my only girl, but you're not my owner girl.
Talk to me... dance with me here in the spotlight, girl.
Talk to me... dance with me here.
You're the spotlight girl.
So perfect you paint it... yet so manipulated.
So calm and so patient... yet oh so calculated.
So safe and comforting... this doesn't feel like flirting.
So fun I'm distracted... forgot you keep track of it.

Bitchfest 2004
I've got some pet peaves that I'd like to vent and get it all off my chest!

1. Negative People (kind of interesting that I'm complaining of people who complain, but whateva)
There's this guy at work that pisses the shart out of me! Every time he opens his mouth to speak, something negative comes out. He manages to turn something positive into negative every time - according to the laws of physics, this should be impossible! When he talks with people around my cube, I have to put on my headphones so his black words won't infect my harmonious world. I just wanna tell him, "Dude, the world is not here to please you! Why don't you quit your complaining and go find something meaningful to add to your life!" Then there's times when I just wanna say, "Could you shut the fuck up?!! Do you even hear yourself speak?"

2. Drivers who don't realize their car has a gas peddle
I just love driving behind a person who doesn't realize that their car's manufacturer installed a gas peddle for a purpose: to drive! I'm not a speed demon, but I prefer to go the speed limit or +5. I guess it takes people a while to realize that the signs posted on the side of the road are not meant to create a beautiful ambiance, but actually serve the purpose of telling drivers what speed to go. Par exemple: yesterday I was driving behind a woman who was going -5 the speed limit because she was sooo pre-occupied with her nappy-ass hair (the hair on her head; not sure if she actually had ass hair, heh heh). I wanted to pull her over, give her a card for my most esteemed hair dresser (the wonderful "G-Thang"), and advise her to go the damn speed limit. After my speech, I would then point out where her gas peddle was so there wouldn't be any confusion :)

D.O.G. spells "The Perfect Man"

I jumped the gun on Sunday and went down to the pound to search for my next love and found him. I was going with hopes of getting a female since I had a name all picked out: Zoe Isabelle. But, I gots me a boy. I haven't decided on a name yet, but I'm working on it. Here's what I've come up with thus far:
~~~
T.P.M - The Perfect Man
C.B. - Cock Blocker
Jack Black - my boy seemed to perk up when Jack Black was on the tele
Tenacious D - in relation to Jack Black (D would stand for "Dog")
Zen - no explanation needed, seems to match his temperament so far
~~~
I'll keep working on it. My boy is pretty awesome so far! I had a guest over last evening and my boy was very mellow and respectful. No crotch-sniffing or hyperactivity - it was delightful! I've never had a male before and so far the experience has been heavenly; I'm waiting for the ball to drop and for my boy to show his true colors, but nothing so far :) I plan to gush as often as possible about my newfound love.

The Saturday Evening Post
I had an awesome evening on Saturday. Attended the hockey game with Elle Boogie and the J-man. They are such an blissful couple to be around; still gots the glow about them :) Afterwards, I was in need of some partying and dancing to good tuneage. Did a little pre-func @ Katy Kat's then headed down to CB to meet J-girl and dance to DJ OJ. On the way down, KK made an apropos comment: "Man, it's like a damn sausage factory out here!" Yes, it was ;) Spring break from a northern college had introduced a stampede of fresh male bodies on the streets of B-town - ah yeah, it's a holiday :) Anywho, dancing was a blast! Ran into a couple of friends, had some good shots, and surprisingly enough even hung out with Mr. Amazing's ex. Small world!

Two Pathetic Lines:
1. So, are you waiting here for your boyfriend to get back from the bathroom?
~ Nice one, but I don't have a boyfriend & I'm here with my girl.

2. Wait here, I'll be back to dance with you.
~ Yeah right! You're so worth my time that I'm going to wait patiently for your return. Just because you're a friend of my friend doesn't mean there's a connection between us - See ya! P.S. 99.9% of the time, I don't like being told what to do.

Hilarious Moment:
[Preface]
I feel SOOO sorry for guys because they have to deal with women. Women go through mood swings, indecisions, hot/cold moments, yadda yadda and guys are expected to be perfectly understandable through the chaos and development of what is known as WOMAN.

For those Unix geeks out there: man woman

[The Moment]
I was dancing with a nice guy, down in the Iggy Boom Room, and he sees a girl he knows and says "Hi" to her. The girl looks his direction, glares, then flips him off hardcore! I about laughed my ass off; actually, I did laugh my ass off and told him that was the funniest thing I've ever seen! Outside, the girl went up to him and started to get pissed at him. She was a bit tipsy, to say the least. I guess they used to go out, he'd gotten her a job, and they were "friends," but she flipped when she saw him dancing with me. Ah well! I know I've done my job when I've pissed some girl off over a guy ;) Heh heh

The Tao of Katy Kat
If you're not sure about a guy, just leave him alone (i.e. don't call) and eventually he'll fuck things up on his own!

Song of the Day
Coldplay - Don't Panic

Hot Album
The Avalanches - Since I Left You

Oldy, but Goody
Frank Sinatra - All or Nothing At All
All or nothing at all
Half a love, never appealed to me
If your heart, never could yield to me
Then I’d rather (rather) have nothing at all

All or nothing at all
If it’s love, there is no in between
Why begin then cry, for something that might have been
No I’d rather (rather) have nothing at all

But please don’t bring your lips so close to my cheek
Don’t smile or I’ll be lost beyond recall
The kiss in your eyes, the touch of your hand makes me weak
And my heart may go dizzy and fall

And if I fell (I fell) under the spell of your call
I would be, caught in the undertow
So you see, I’ve got to say no, no
All or nothing at all

Why I Admire Angelina

"I went for about two years with absolutely no man around me and then decided to get closer to men who were already very close friends of mine," the Oscar-winning bombshell, 28, tells the New York Post, causing a collective groan of disappointment from all the men who failed to befriend her in the past 24 months. "It's kind of an adult way of having adult relationships."

"As crazy as that sounds, meeting a man in a hotel room for a few hours and then going back and putting my son to bed and not seeing that man again for a few months is about what I can handle now," the twice-divorced star tells the paper. "I can feel like a woman and get close to a man but it's not a relationship that interferes with my family."

~Sex is something we all talk about, sing about, think about so it's refreshing to see someone be candid about it.

I'll Take Potperri for $100, Alex

What is "stuff I'm into"?

Low-Rise Boy Shorts: Not only is this new panty varietal sexy, but comfy as well! I think these are the panties Will Ferrell was referring to during the shrink session with his soon-to-be estranged wife.
...
Therapist: Frank, this is a safe place. A place where we can feel free sharing our feelings. Think of my office as a nest in a tree of trust and understanding. We can say anything here.
Frank: Anything? Well, uh I guess I, deep down, am feeling a little confused. I mean, suddenly, you get married, and you're supposed to be this entirely different guy. I don't feel different. I mean, take yesterday for example. We were out at the Olive Garden for dinner, which was lovely. And uh, I happen to look over at a certain point during the meal and see a waitress taking an order, and I found myself wondering what color her underpants might be. Her panties. Uh, odds are they are probably basic white, cotton, underpants. But I sort of think well maybe they're silk panties, maybe it's a thong. Maybe it's something really cool that I don't even know about. You know, and uh, and I started feeling... what? what I thought we were in the trust tree in the nest, were we not?
...

What is "stuff I've been pondering"?

For the past year and a half, I've been questioning the idea of getting my tongue pierced. I've always wanted to get this piercing, but I've waited in case I changed my mind. So far, I haven't. Since I have Spring Break off of work, I may take a little trip down to my local, friendly tattoo parlor and get a little somethin' somethin' If this little somethin' somethin' occurred, I plan to keep the metal stud for the required time, then switch to a rosy plastic stud. It can always be removed :)

What is "stuff that's not my bag"?
I'm totally disliking the whole short, creepy, pony-tailed guy giving me a leery smile and saying "hi" as I pass him. I realize he's a person too, but still gives me the heeby jeebies.

It's my life, I'd like to welcome ya'll to the A-M Show

After last night's adventure, I've decided that I don't need to watch television ever again. I can just look to myself for mindless entertainment. Here's a recount of last night's episode of the A-M Show...

[Scene 1: Narrative]
Man, today is such a gorgeous day, I think I'll take a much deserved run in the foothills by my house. That way, I won't have to spend time driving to/from Camel's Back and I can enjoy more of the sunlight.
[As A-M changes into running clothes, the phone rings]
Yo T, What up?
[chit chat takes place while A-M finishes getting ready and pins her key to the inside pocket of the running shorts. Conversation finishes up.]
K, I'll plan to see you at your b-day. Have fun!

[Scene 2: The Run]
[A-M sets off on a run through the foothills - Narrative]
Man, it's so gorgeous out here. The foot hills are awesome and even though I'm a little out of shape, I enjoy the burn of the uphills and the glide of the steep downhills. The city looks so peaceful and serene from up here - Aaahhh
[A-M finishes off the run with a fast pace, stretching out her legs with each stride]
Damn it feels so good to run fast!

[Scene 3: A-M Returns Home]
(Rather than going into the house right away, A-M goes to the backyard to walk around and stretch out. Wouldn't want the muscles to get stiff)
[Flashback Narrative]
It was time to go inside, so I unpinned the damn key from my shorts pockets - that's when reality and stark realization of the situation I'd gotten myself into set in. WTF - I had pinned my CAR key to my shorts!! What good is my CAR key going to do if I need to get into my HOUSE!?! No one has an extra key to my house, so I had to get creative. Check all the doors and windows on the house. All the doors are locked, and most of the windows have sticks to add extra security; but then I remembered the bathroom window.
The screen had come off late last year, so it was worth a try. I ended up getting that window open, now the next task was to get up high enough to crawl through the window. My storage was locked, so I couldn't grab anything from there. Went around back and grabbed a case of empty beer bottles. Went back around front and tried to step on the box, but it was still too short. Went around back again and surveyed what I had to work with. Figured I could use the trash can and put the beer box on top and that should be tall enough. As I'm carrying the trash can to the front of the house, I'm laughing at the situation and wondering how many of my neighbors have gathered to watch the spectacle unfold. Well, the trash can and beer box worked. I was able to boost myself up into the window and get inside the house safely.
[End Show]

Moral of last evening's show: If going running from Camel's Back, or other Boise areas which require a car to get to, pin CAR key to shorts. If going running from house, pin HOUSE key to shorts. Pretty damn hilarious :)

You grow up the day you have the first real laugh -- at yourself.
~ Ethel Barrymore

Good Stuff & Not So Good Stuff
Good Stuff
Today is such a gorgeous day! I can't wait to hit the trails after work and bask in nature's gift :) I'm so excited, I could just wet myself; but unfortunately I'll have to refrain since I'm not a card-carrying member of the Depends club :)
Note to self - investigate stock options in Depends

Was on the receiving end of a flattering/surprising email today. Plan to take my girl Elle's advice: "When opportunity knocks, answer the door!" I swear, and I know I've mentioned this a million times before, life is so amazing. Just when I think I've got a handle on things and know what may happen, I get a jolt! Life is like a big ass box of chocolates, 'cause I seriously never know what I'm going to get; but as long as get a couple of nuts here and there I'll be fine - HA!

Not So Good Stuff
Damn Qwest!! I was totally anticipating placing an order for DSL today and then enjoying my high-speed Internet access later this week. But no - Qwest does not provide DSL service to my house. Which totally leaves me flabbergasted since I have a co-worker who lives 9 streets over and she's had DSL forever! What up with that schizzle?!? The dude told me to check back because they could have DSL in my area in about 60 days. Yeah right!?! Like I'm going to wait patiently for 60 days to received the same answer, "Ma'am, I'm sorry but we don't provide DSL service to that address." Guess I'll have to look into cable :( Damn we've become a spoiled society...

Sorry, but there must be some confusion...
This weekend was wonderful, but it went by kind of fast! Dinner with my Mimi on Friday was superb; the meal was excellent and the company was likewise. So happy we didn't get Doug for our server! Saturday was a dream as well - got 12 hours of much needed sleep, ran w/the Fonz and enjoyed the rest of the day doing yardwork and then hanging @ Elle's to watch a most excellent flick: Second Hand Lions. I totally recommend this one! It was interesting to see how the relationships between men, although different and less sentimental than women, still holds the same amount of love if not more - it's just on a different level and shown in different ways :)

Sunday was most excellent as well. Started off the day with a bloody at Little Richards and had fun w/Elle Boogie, Katy Kat and her new male friend. He seemed like a nice and thoughtful gentleman :) The next segment of the day leads into the beginning of my demise. Went with Elle to the mall to purchase some much needed pots & pans since I'd been using the roomies. [End Scene]

Klutzy Dork Moment [Take One]
So I get home, stoked about my new pots and pans - they are a totally bodacious set. I was all excited to take them out of the box and look at them up close, so I got started on the feat. Little did I know what was in store for me...
[Flashback to previous clutzy moments]
~ Scar on right palm of hand from stabbing self with dull knife while trying to separate bacon which had not been de-frosted.
~ Scar on top of left pinky from stabbing self with dull knife (through gardening glove) while weeding
~ Scar above each knee from thumb nail scratching while serving in tennis (two separate incidents)
~ Scar on left index finger from "stopping" fan as a child
[Return to present]
Forget the knives, my new adversary is a pot I shall dub "Devil's Spawn." I was struggling, trying to get the damn lid out of the pot and DS must have felt my frustration because it fought back. As I finally got the lid out, I was pulling with such force that I ended up smacking myself in the face with the pot lid. The lid smacked my lips against my teeth. As I stood there, stunned in amazement and pain, I could taste the blood and the swelling of the upper lip began. I felt my teeth with my tongue to verify no chipped teeth and I came back with a positive verification, but the fat lip stayed. I iced that damn thing and soaked up the blood, but it was still present when my fabulous dinner guest arrived later that evening. Yes, I admit it, I kicked my own ass - and like most things in my life, I made sure I did a pretty good job of it because the lip is still a little swollen and tinged with purple.
[End Take - Only One Take was Needed in the Filming of this Scene]

Moral: if you're going to kick your own ass, make sure you do a good job!

Positive Note
Dinner went well. I didn't get started as soon as I would've liked, but it was fun having a little kitchen helper ;) Can't wait to taste the pie he made - delegation is a wonderful thing :) The movie, The Life of David Gale, was whoah. I was amazed to see how far people would go to prove a point - deep.

AAhhhh, the Weekend
Yes boys and girls, the weekend is upon us again and I must say I am in need of some major R&R! Last evening I turned in an embarrassing exam, not worthy of being called crap, and rewarded my "hard" work by heading down to the OC to finish the St. Patty's Mini-Tour. My esteemed drinking companion and I threw down the brew like nobody's business ;) The skills of Senor Zesty are mucho appreciated, but for the record... I completed the mini-tour first and topped it off with a chili bomb! Ah yeah - what's my name, say my name BITCH! Note of thanks goes to Senor Zesty for picking up the tab - I felt like a total dork for leaving my debit card in with my badge @ home. Next time, I treat ;)

Anywho, tonight I have a hot date with a woman I greatly admire - my Mimi. It was her b-day yesterday and we will be going to her fave eatery. I've never been there, but I'm expecting some good eats. The rest of the weekend will be devoted to resting, running, schoolwork, and enjoying having my wonderful/beautiful/humble abode all to myself. That's right ladies and gents, da roomie esta el adiós.

Special Request
This next song goes out to that special lady. That's right Elle Boogie, I'm talking about you! Heard this song on my LaunchCast player today and thought of you & da J-Man. Rather than list the link to this song, I've included the lyrics... ENJOY!

Love At First Sight
by Kylie Minogue

Thought that I was going crazy
Just having one those days yeah
Didn't know what to do
Then there was you

And everything went from wrong to right
And the stars came out and filled up the sky
The music you were playing really blew my mind
It was love at first sight

'cause baby when I heard you
For the first time I knew
We were meant to be as one

Was tired of running out of luck
Thinking 'bout giving up yeah
Didn't know what to do
Then there was you

And everything went from wrong to right
And the stars came out and filled up the sky
The music you were playing really blew my mind
It was love at first sight
...

Houston, We Have A Problem...
Was feeling a little tired and the Peach Black Tea didn't cut it for me this morning. So I went down to the caf and got a Venti foo foo drink and I am totally flying high! Corresponding likeness below ;)

Passing Thoughts
"I was waiting for you to wash me. And look at what happened. Who will wash me now?"
- MULKHIA DHAKHEL, preparing a daughter's body for burial after a bombing in Iraq.

Other's grief puts things into perspective. I've been in a reflective mood lately which can be exhibited by the quotes below. Sometimes it seems like it's safer to live behind a wall than to let go and learn to live and love no matter what the consequences may be. Getting hurt and feeling broken-hearted is a part of life and must be experienced in order to appreciate the good things when they happen.

Reflective Thinking

Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.
~ Mahatma Gandhi

Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life.
~ Leo Buscaglia

You should always learn, with life comes wisdom and with wisdom comes the courage to live your life selflessly. The more you learn about yourself and the experiences surrounding your life the more opportunities you have to make your life better and more fulfilling.
~ Amy Candy

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson

True, we love life, not because we are used to living, but because we are used to loving. There is always some madness in love, but there is also always some reason in madness
~ Friedrich Nietzsche

A Toast
Girls, I'd like to make a toast on the behalf of men
Here's to the men we love
Here's to the men who love us
Here's to the men we love who don't love us
Here's to the men we love to love
Here's to the men in love with us
Here's to the men who pass on us
~Fuck the men, let's drink to us!

Lately, I have not be a fan of men, or should I say boys because that's all I've been dealing with. Needless to say, I have not been impressed or surprised by anyone's actions. But rather than go on a tirade reminiscent of Friday, I will talk of something I am a fan of - beer. I began Old Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Mini Tour yesterday and I am already halfway done! Ah yeah, me likey da beer :) There are some really good beers in this tour, if you're a fan of the stouts and other non-flavoured beers. It seems like they ran out of beers and just decided to pour Guinness with other beers and call it, "Black and Tan" or some other names I can't remember right now because of lack of sleep. And now for some lovely little quotes to reflect my mood... These quotes should bring warm fuzzies to anyone's heart ;)

I believe that women have a capacity for understanding and compassion which a man structurally does not have, does not have it because he cannot have it. He's just incapable of it.
~ Former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan

I have a great deal of difficulty with the idea of the ideal man. As far as I'm concerned, men are the product of a damanged gene. They pretend to be normal but what they're doing sitting there with benign smiles on their faces as they're manufacturing sperm. They do it all the time. They never stop.
~ Germain Greer

And to top it all off...
Why are men like laxatives?
They irritate the shit out of you.

Why did God create man?
Because vibrators don't mow lawns.

What are two reasons men don't mind their own business?
No mind-No business.

Why is it hard for a women to find men who are sensitive, caring and good looking?
Because those men already have boyfriends

How is a man like a snowstorm?
You never know when he's coming, how many inches you'll get or how long it will last.

Why are men given larger brains than dogs?
So they don't hump women's legs at cocktail parties.

Why can't men get mad cow disease?
Because they're all pigs

I fell in love, but then...
She had no name, but she stole my heart the second I saw her on the Humane Society's web site. She seemed perfect: right age, no name yet, slated to be a big dog, and best of all - FEMALE ;) (I have no gender pref when it comes to dogs, but love to emphasize the female factor.) I couldn't restrain myself, I threw all reasoning aside and made the call to inquire of this beautiful creature's adoption status. My heart was torn when I heard the words, "Yep, that one has been adopted." Those new owners had better give that girl lots o' loving! It wasn't meant to be... oh well :(

The Truth Factor
Above all things, I value being truthful and honest, even if it's not pleasant for me or the other person involved.

I care for you, and because I care, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies
~ Pietro Aretino

If the truth hurts, imagine how a lie would feel...
~ Amy Diggs

The truth will set you free
but first it will piss you [or the other person] off
~ Unknown

A Final Note of Interest...
It was interesting to find out, after my long tirade Friday afternoon, that I am just as confusing to guys as they are to me! I also come off as a man-hater and can be somewhat intimidating.

Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then.
~ Katharine Hepburn

Man! I feel like a woman!
Friday night was very interesting, to say the least. Had some awesome sushi with the bro, then hit Pie for a little muzak while I waited for the Elle to head over from the hockey game. I was pretty stoked to see Honey Tongue - a Seattle band - but sitting through the first two opening bands was a task in itself. The music was good, it's been a while since I've been to a grunge concert, but the first band was like a damn high school reunion! The lead singer was a year behind me, the guitarist was a year a head of me and the drummer played soccer with my bro! Then there was the crowd. Practically every damn person I passed in the club was a Borah alumni! It was like I was having a dream and I was walking through the halls of Borah - pretty damned whack! It was awesome to run into some of Elle's cool girlies. I totally love N-girl & La-girl! The Aud seemed pretty cool as well, considering this was the second time I've met her. Funny that a good friend of their's was a guy who became the reason I swore not to ever dance with straight men at the Balcony. But it was pretty cool that he apologized for the tripped out behavior he had displayed at BSU. It was pretty awesome to run into a good friend and hang out. Pretty damn amazing! I'd call it some quality feel good times ;) Minor freak out moment with the big bro - guess he's not used to seeing his little sis all grown up; alcohol sure didn't help matters, but it all worked out in the end.

Saturday... Beautiful, Lazy Day
For some strange reason, I was in a really good, peaceful mood on Saturday. Actually slept in for once in the ol' three-fold utopian dream. Mad emphasis on dream. I was slated to do my long run, but once I hit the trails with Nagi the Doggie I was struck with a thought. I lead a pretty hectic life and I'm always on the go - running when I get the chance, yadda yadda. So I tried something different; I walked/hiked around my beloved trails. The sky was blue, the air fresh and clean, and there was such a feeling of calm serenity that I was able to soak it all in at a nice even pace. Sometimes it's good to slow down and take it all in. Even though I had been on those trails numerous times before, there were some areas I had never taken notice of. For instance, there is a small body of water underneath some small, sandy cliffs. These cliffs have many holes where little birds fly in and out. As the weather gets warmer, more birds gather. After the walk/hike, I felt very tranquil and content - almost in a state of nirvana. Hockey and a little hang time at Pie that evening with Elle Boogie was a great way to end the day.

All in all, the weekend was well-rounded and very satisfying.