You're gonna wanna see this...

Day One - Picture of Yourself...

This one really had me stymied since I didn't want to "expose myself".

I mean, when you're 'anonymous', the last thing you want is your face ridiculed plastered all over town the internet.

But I knew that I'd have to do it when I started this project.

So, here goes...


Woo Hoo! I'm done! That was the longest 10 days of my life! Btw, that's all you're ever gonna see. Call me a tease, it won't be the first time. ; )

Thought of the Day...

Has anyone seen the commercial for Justin Bieber's perfume?

That got me thinking (never a good thing) and I headed straight to Google.

A song lyric...

"If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go."

My thought...

If I was your girlfriend, I'd need a vibrator.

I'm just sayin'...

Okay, I'll stop ragging on Justin.

But it's just so easy. : P

Imaginary Meme, Part Three...

41. Ocean or pool?
Pool. I don't EVEN want to know what's in our Southern CA waters.

42. Fridays or Ruby Tuesdays?
Neither. I've never heard of Friday's and never been to Ruby's.

43. Did you want to go to college?
I not only wanted to - I did. As soon as possible...to get it over with.

44. When was the last time you were at a mall?
September, I think. I only bother to go once a year.

45. Which close friend have you known the longest?
My female bestie. 40+ years. It helps that she's a relative. She can't dump me. : P

46. Why do you like the music you do?
Because I grew up with it. Isn't that the case with everyone?

47. Do you read much?
Haha! A LOT. Ironically, I haven't opened a book in a couple of weeks. Damn Facebook!

48. Favorite country?
Mine!

49. What is something you wish you were better at?
Walking. *snort*

50. What’s your favorite album/CD?
It's a tie - Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' and/or Elton John's 'Live in Australia'.

51. What's a good dinner order?
I assume you mean food, rather than the order in which you eat it. Mine would be: big, fat, fried shrimp and crab legs.

52. Planes or boats?
Planes. Gets me there faster. But I immediately open a book so my neighbor doesn't strike up a conversation.

53. One rumor that’s been spread about you:
That I'm a bitch. Oh, wait...

54. Who is your newest friend?
Her name is Marie and we went to the same high school. But we only met about 2 years ago.

55. Have you ever sat on a rooftop?
No, but I would've if I could've!

56. Was your last text useful?
None of my texts are useful.

57. Favorite soda?
Pepsi, preferably not diet but a girl's gotta watch her figure. Even if it's a hopeless pursuit.

58. Do you like yourself?
Of course, I'm awesome!

59. The worst weather: Hot or cold?
Cold. It's 44 degrees outside right now and the only thing I'm not freezing off is my ass. And the only reason I'm not is because I'm always sitting on it.

60. Do you play an instrument?
Not the kind you're probably talking about. ; )

A Blogger Day of Silence...

So sad...

It's hard to fathom why someone would instigate a shooting spree. But, unfortunately, it happens far too often these days.


Sadly, it was an elementary school this time. :' (

Maybe now someone will do something about the gun laws...

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with protecting yourself with a hand gun.

But NO ONE needs an assault rifle.

9 years and counting...

Since I attacked a man in a park.

Uhh, I mean it's our...

 anniversary!
It seems like it's been just a couple of years instead of nearly a decade. Yikes!

He says hugging me feels like home.

He makes me laugh...or tries to...every day.

He knows I want to be as independent as I can be, but he also knows when to step in.

His actions speak louder than words and he's made my life SO much easier over the years.

I think that's pretty cool. : )

We had to celebrate early because of 'family stuff' but he might surprise me afterwards. I didn't have the heart to tell him that telling me he might surprise me...isn't surprising me. : P

But I'll take anything I can get. Me-owww!

Girlfriend? GIRLfriend???...

Maybe I'm behind the times but I just found out that Justin Bieber has a fragrance called 'Justin Bieber's Girlfriend'.

Does anyone else find that as funny as I do? I mean, he freaked out when Jenny McCarthy planted a kiss on him at the American Music Awards.

Take a look at the closeup...


I know it's Jenny McCarthy (who doesn't exactly have a reputation for being virginal) but come ON! Any other 18 year old male would eat it up. But to look, well, horrified?

Makes you wonder, doesn't it? : P

Californians be crazy, yo!...

It's been raining here since last Wednesday night. A whopping .40 of an inch, so far, in my neck of the woods.

And drivers don't know what to do with themselves...

"The California Highway Patrol reported more than three times as many accidents (294) between 12:01 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Thursday than in the same time period a week ago (90), on Thanksgiving."

In other words, So. Cal. drivers suck. ; ) On Saturday, I heard sirens all day long and commented, "Someone must've hit something."

The good news is it's supposed to be 80 by Wednesday...and I don't have to be anywhere til then.

Shwew!

How are drivers in your neck of the woods when it comes to bad weather?

Honk! Honk!...

The visit went VERY well...



Obviously. : D

Short and sweet. And so is she...

I'm soooooo excited! I'm going to meet a good friend that I've never met before.

Well, in person. We've known each other for somewhere around 3 years. Maybe longer. I'll have to ask.

I was going through a horrible time a while back and once she found out, she sent me sarcastically funny
uplifting cards that cheered me up immensely.

We were supposed to meet once before but my health issues noticed that I was WAY too excited and said, "Nope, ain't gonna happen!"

But she's in town (well, in state) again and it's gonna happen!

Woo! Hoo! Let the ( . )( . ) grabbing commence!

It felt better than being carded (because I was in a fully-lit room and not a dark bar)...

About a month ago, I altered my skin care routine because, let's face it, I'm getting old.


I don't wear makeup at home, but I like to 'dress up' my face when I'm out in public (I don't want to scare anyone, after all). I'm not trying to impress anyone, I just like the feeling of looking good.

Anywho, while getting my hair cut this week, I was talking about what I wanted to do to celebrate my 50th birthday (happening sooner rather than later).

The stylist working on someone next to me, asked, "You're almost 50? You look like you're in your 30s!"

My first thought was, "Are you okay?" Then I thought, "REALLY? My 30s??? Holy crap!"

I belatedly thanked her for the compliment, because I was still trying to wrap my mind around it.

This skin care thing really DOES work! Either that, or I do a damn good makeup job. ; )

Having good genes doesn't hurt either, but still!

Day Two - Songs...

#1 American Pie - Don McLean

Do you have a song that just sends shivers down your spine? This has been mine since I was a kid...




#2 Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

Can I just say, I LOVE Freddie Mercury!? I've sung this, while driving, many times...



What are your favorite songs?

Imaginary Meme, Part Two...

21. Growing up, who was the easier mark: Mom or Dad?
Dad. Milking the disability helped. ; )

22. What is the stupidest pet that you ever saw?
Someone I know kept a goat in his backyard. That was one mean-@$$ goat!

23. Tell us about a band whose every CD is a “must have”.
For me, it's Styx. Although, Elton John (his old stuff) is good too.

24. Were you surprised when Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory) came out?
No. But my first reaction was "Who the *f* cares?"

25. Have you ever shoplifted?
Who hasn't? It was little though.

26. Why are you reading this blog/meme?
Because I'm a meme whore. : P

27. Have you ever driven a Ferrari?
No. And I've never worn Gucci either. "Status" symbols do nothing for me.

28. What do you call those little plastic things on the ends of shoelaces?
I don't.

29. Have you ever walked more than a mile?
The question should be 'Have you ever walked?' lol! And the answer is 'for most of my life'.

30. Do you believe in magic?
Depends on what kind you're talking about.

31. Have you ever been arrested?
Nope. But I have been in the back of a cop car - twice.

32. Have you ever skinny dipped?
Ohhhhh yeahhhhh, baaaaaby!

33. Explain what you think about hippies.
Had a hippie uncle and I thought he was kinda gross.

34. New York or California?
Pfft. California, of course!!!

35. Have you ever been dumped?
Yes, over the phone even. Looking back, I dodged a HUGE bullet.

36. What are you wearing right now?
A short-sleeved dress and a pajama top.

37. John Edwards had a mistrial. How do you think he conducted himself after the verdict?
It's not after that matters. Once a pig, always a pig.

38. Did you watch the series finale of House?
Couldn't even watch the whole 1st episode. If I had a Dr. like that, I'd run his @$$ over!

39. Who was the last person who asked you out?
Duh! My guy. I don't cheat. lol!

40. Do you have any collections?
State decals, when I was a kid. I don't even know where they are anymore.

John Edwards and House...can you tell this is an o-l-d meme? : D

Is there something in the air?...

Several people, including my guy, were in pissy moods today. But I let it roll off my back because I was having a good day. I try not to take my bad moods out on other people, so I hibernate til I'm over it.

Luckily, I told my guy YEARS ago that he'd better not take it out on me (teach 'em early, girls!). So, whenever he felt the urge, he told me that he'd "call me later".

I can't do that with family, though. But I wasn't the one on the receiving end of that pissiness, thank goodness.

I KNEW there was a reason I don't have kids. ; )

How do you deal with someone's pissy mood?

The toilet roll poll...

Over?...


Or under?...


And why?

Mine is 'over'. The holder is next to the toilet so I'd probably break my wrist, jamming it into the wall, if I kept the roll under. And I have to reach for it blind, so I don't wrench my back.

Yeah, my bathroom is awesome. ; )

Hurricanes, and earthquakes, and elections, oh my!...

It'll be a busy week...

A hurricane on the East Coast that they're (who are 'they' anyway?) calling 'Frankenstorm'. I have relatives back east and I hear they're (there's that word again) battening down the hatches.

At least an earthquake doesn't stare you down for days.

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake off the western coast of Canada on Saturday. Personally, I'd rather go through an earthquake than a hurricane.

Although a 7.7 is a BIT much.

And the election. Ahh, the election. Still causing problems in So. Cal. Gal's casa. *sigh*

Maybe an earthquake would change the subject.

I hope everyone stays safe this week, no matter where your casa resides.

What is your favorite natural disaster? And don't say 'election'. : P

A warm and fuzzy post...

I saw this on someone's Facebook page...


...and had to laugh because it reminded me of this cat...


Who just happens to be my guy's spoiled rotten kitty.

Although, in this pic, he looks like a deer in headlights (in cat's clothing, obviously).

I'm freaking out!...

About my mortality.

Last night, I was lying in bed and, as usual, couldn't sleep. I started thinking about my age, which is closer to 50 than 40, and I thought, "Yikes!"

I know I only have a few decades left (God willing!).

Then I got to thinking...

If I live another 30 years, I'll be close to 80. But if I count backwards 30 years, I was in my teens.

30 years is a LONG time.

I feel better now. : )

Do you ever think about your mortality?

November can't come fast enough...

Are you sick of all the election coverage yet? Well, be glad you don't live in my house.

Not only is the tv on political channels practically 24/7, but there even fights debates going on, what seems like 24/7.

That happens when you have one Democrat and one Republican in the house. Neither one is shy about expressing their feelings, either.

Recently, not 10 seconds after one of them said, "I'm not going to argue with you," guess what happened?

A half hour of screaming raised voices and anger. Another person in the house, who's usually right in the middle of the fray, yelled, "Knock it off!"

I was behind closed doors, trying to resist the urge to go out there and bang some heads together. I succeeded, but barely.

I'm an Independent so I don't have a dog in this fight. But even if I did, I know that the odds of changing someone's mind is practically nil. So why even bother?

Needless to  say, I can't wait til the election is over because I'm hoping the bitching stops. I'm not holding my breath, though, because someone has to lose and someone (here) won't be happy.

Day Three - Films...


The Dead Zone is pretty much the ONLY movie (that I've seen) that actually mirrors the book. And Christopher Walken was a hottie! Shut up, I said "WAS".


The Princess Bride is one of the few chick flicks that men like too. I think it's all the sword-fighting. For us girls (okay...me), it's Cary Elwes.


Benny & Joon has two things going for it. Aidan Quinn (the shower scene *DROOL*) and Johnny Depp (*SLURP*). Oh yeah, it had a good story too.

What are some of your favorite movies?

Out of the mouths of babes...

My guy brought his grandson over last weekend and he asked, "How long have you known each other?"

My guy replied, "Since before you were born...and I haven't dated anyone else."

At the EXACT same moment, this happened...

He: I better not have!

Me: You better not have!

Great minds. : D

~~~~~

Then, the other night, I was teasing him about me being 'the center of his world'...

He: I'm sorry, but you're not the center of my world.

Me: I know that. Your kids and grandkids are.

He: No. I am.

I proceeded to laugh my ass off.

Imaginary Meme, Part One...

1. Have you felt that life is like being on a roller coaster?
Yes, especially in the last 3 years. They've (mostly) sucked. lol!

2. Favorite year so far?
1981. It was sooooooo fun being a teenager in the 80s.

3. Do you consider yourself religious?
When you grow up Catholic, you either get sucked in or you leave. I left.

4. How do you dress to impress?
I undress. ; )

5. Have you ever been to Connecticut?
Haha! I have unfortunately.

6. Do you eat sushi?
I took one bite and gave it to my lunch companion, who devoured it. Being Japanese, I wasn't surprised.

7. Would you smoke pot providing there was no risk or driving involved?
No, the stuff reeks.

8. What do you think of Idol Winner Phillip Phillips??
Don't give a rat's ass.

9. Do you believe that animals have souls?
Never thought about it.

10. Who did you last talk to? Share, if you dare.
My guy. Nothing racy, though. We do that in person. : P

11. What is one thing that ALWAYS annoys you?
Able-bodied people parking in handicap spots. D'oy!

12. Do you believe in a higher being?
Absolutely. It's the 'religion' thing I have an issue with.

13. Have you ever fallen in love with a neighbor?
No. You wouldn't either if you knew my neighborhood.

14. Any plans for this weekend?
A b-day party Friday night, a house party Saturday afternoon, and Sunday with my guy. Fortunately, I can sleep in Monday morning.

15. Would you like to rule your country, if you could?
No, I wouldn't...but I'd probably do a better job. lol!

16. Do you like watching films about the nature of animals?
Yes, especially their mating rituals. *snort*

17. What's the difference between lust and love?
Feelings.

18. Do you have a soul?
I'd like to think so.

19. One best friend or many good friends?
Many good friends. I already have 2 besties (1 male, 1 female).

20. Do you believe in spontaneous combustion?
Sure. It's called lust. Or fire, depending on your mindset. You can imagine mine. ; )

Once in a lifetime...

I didn't take this picture, but this is what I saw Friday morning...


It was pretty exciting, even for the few seconds it was in view.

And, yes, you can call me a geek. You know you want to.

Is last week over yet?...

I hope so because it was rough.

It started last Sunday when our cable/internet went out. We had a total of 4 technicians come out, Monday-Saturday.

Tuesday was especially harrowing with the DNC on tv that night. Not for me, I don't do politics. But doing without the internet was annoying. Yes, I'm a computer nerd.

Then there was the heat. Now, I usually love heat. Except when I feel like "shitwa".

I felt, not exactly sick (no cold/flu), but not exactly well (no appetite/energy). It lasted 3 l-o-n-g days and l have no idea what caused it.

While I'm feeling better in that regard, I had stomach issues this weekend. Have you guys ever heard of the Bathroom Reader series? It's pretty good.

It's supposed to be in the upper 90s all week and I'm soooo happy! : ) See?

I missed 2 days of a certain favorite activity (no, my guy wasn't involved) and I'm hoping to take advantage of the weather while it lasts.

So...how was your week(end)?

As my guy likes to say...

I've been feeling like "shitwa" lately and haven't been in a very bloggy mood.

I'll get back to you guys when my various pains get better and my stomach stops revolting.

Hmm...that's a VERY good word for it. Totally unintentional but an apt description. *sigh*

Day Four - Books...

My ALL-TIME favorite book


My favorite author's best book


Anything from John Callahan (cartoonist)


If you like chick lit (and Pride and Prejudice), this is a fun read.


I usually give books I've read to a used bookstore. But I'm keeping Trials...it's that good. If you're a girl, uhh, I mean woman. It's pretty racy. *wink, wink*

Is this supposed to be sexy?...

I'm sure you've heard the flack about Michael Phelps going against Olympic rules and participating in a photo shoot for Louis Vuitton.


Well, I don't see what the big deal is.

I mean look at him...


Sexy? Not in this lifetime.

Ryan Lochte, on the other hand?


Come to mama!!!

I have to make a confession...

I read romance novels.

Mostly in Drs. offices...because they're easy to put down when my name is called.

My 'reading for pleasure' preferences are Dean Koontz, Anne Rule, and Stephen King. My all-time favorite book is Stephen King's 'The Stand'.

My mind needs to be challenged to "get into" a book and romances don't quite cut it. I always know how it's going to end.

As a matter of fact, after finishing most of them, I actually say to myself, "Well, that was stupid."

Especially the stories where the female "falls in love" with an asshole. You know the type, he treats her like shit til her total sweetness brings out his hidden tender side...

Gag!

Then there are the stories where the woman is a total bitch, doing nothing but screaming and yelling (and sometimes slapping the guy).

Who, of course, "understands" and takes it til she has an epiphany. Realizing how selfish she's being, while he waits in the wings to sweep her away.

Double gag!

What it is about "bad boys" and "bitches" that attracts someone?

Who needs dinner and a movie when you have a wheelchair?...

I went to lunch with a friend recently and this question came up: "What impressed you/him the most about each other?"

For me, it was on the 1st date. We met at a restaurant then went to a park. As I got the w/c out of my car, my guy held the door open for me. It impressed the hell out of me because he didn't try to help.

You're probably thinking, "WTH?" But, as he later said, "I assumed you knew what you were doing. I would've just gotten in the way."

You can't imagine how often people (mostly old men) ask if they can help. I want to respond, "If I needed help, would I BE alone?" But I ignore my baser instincts and respond, "Thank you, but I've got it."

One guy actually tried to take the w/c, saying, "Pop your trunk." I replied, "And what am I supposed to do when I get home?" He said, "Oh." Sometimes sarcasm is the only thing that works...and it's fun!

~~~~~

What impressed my guy the most, happened the 1st time he came to my house.

He was sitting on my bed (don't worry, nothing happened...that day) and I had to go to the restroom. If there's ONE place I want privacy, it's the restroom.

So I went in, pushed the w/c out of the room and closed the door. From where he sat, he had a side view of the bathroom door.

When I opened it, I grabbed the leg of the w/c with the crutch I use to transfer, and pulled it into the room.

He thought that was "very cool" and "inventive" as he put it. Probably because he was hoping it translated to the bedroom.

Which it did...eventually. ; )

Chick-fil-A is A-okay...

Catchy title, isn't it? ; )

I have never been to a Chick-fil-A, nor do I have any desire to go to a Chick-fil-A. But when did it become 'not ok' to state your beliefs, religious or otherwise? Especially in the United States?

The only thing that proponents of same-sex marriage have done is made a hell of a lot of money for a company they are against, due to the company owner's personal beliefs.  

Good job! 

I don't believe that a person 'becomes gay'. I think it's in their genetic makeup, just like everyone else. I do believe that they have the right to live their lives without threat of violence, just like everyone else.

We all should be treated equally, despite our beliefs. Have the proponents ever heard of agreeing to disagree? I have my beliefs, and I don't begrudge anyone else their beliefs. 

I might not understand where they are coming from, but if they respect me, I will respect them. 

But why is it SO important that everyone HAS to agree with them? I don't get it. 

What's that saying? Oh yeah...live and let live.

What the hell has the world come to?...

I just sent 2 e-mails back-to-back in Yahoo and I got that damn captcha crap on BOTH of them? WTH?

It's more like craptcha!

I can see if I was mass-mailing people - but TWO e-mails???

It doesn't help that I'm getting old and have to wear "old people glasses" just to read.

Personally, I think it's an intelligence test for people over 30.

Who's with me?

And here I thought I was a badass...

I guess I'll just have to be like Avis and try harder. : P

And they call ME blonde...

While watching the news last night, I saw a clip of a woman in a motorized scooter trying to get on an escalator.

WOW!

She doesn't need a scooter...she needs to take the short bus.

Just call me Cleopatra...

I hosted a birthday party over the weekend but needed some extra hands. This is the conversation I had, on Facebook, with an old high school friend the day before the party:

He: Sweety, well, I'm there. I will help out the best I can, ok? See you tomorrow.

Me: Thank you, 'A'! Between you and 'F' offering, I might just start acting like Cleopatra and make you guys carry me around.

He: Haha! I'll carry you, sweety, anytime.

Me: Hon, there's a reason I only post head shots. You might want to, but...

He: Sweety, I said I would carry you anywhere. But the chair has to be rolled because papa can't do both.

Me: Wonderful! How about if I let you push the chair? I hate being pushed so you can consider it a GREAT honor! lol!

Fast forward to the party...

A few of us wanted to take a picture together, near where we were sitting. Suddenly, 'A' started pushing me and I thought, 'What the hell?..." when it suddenly dawned on me.

I had told him that he should be honored to push me.

I started laughing my ass off, turning a lovely shade of red, and 'A' lost it too. I'm sure the rest of the group was thinking, 'What the hell?...' themselves.

Everyone began taking my picture because they wanted something to bribe me with to preserve the moment.

I laughed so hard, I had tears running down my face. Thank goodness I don't cake (mmm...cake) on eyeliner and mascara.

I was, eventually, able to tell everyone else what was so funny. Although, it was probably a "you had to be there" kind of story.

The party was SO much fun that I might do it again next year. It has nothing to do with the gifts I got.

Really! ; )

Day Five - Foods...

1. Pasta


The picture doesn't lie, I don't even need sauce.

2. Bread


Hawaiian bread is my favorite. Oh, who the hell am I kidding...it's all good.

3. Green bean casserole


Who needs turkey and yams when you have green beans and fake fried onions?

4. Funyuns


I used to stop after college almost every day to buy these as a snack...and it still shows.

5. Chocolate cake


With cream cheese frosting (in case you want to bake me a birthday cake).

If you've never experienced it, keep your mouth shut...

I read the obituaries every day (yes, I'm weird) and I usually read the long ones just to see how 'important' that person was in life.

Yesterday, I read about a woman who did a study about the effects of divorce on children. This was the blurb in the article, "After studying the effects of divorce, Wallerstein came to the conclusion: If parents could swallow their misery, they should stay together for their kids".

This from a woman who had been married (I'm assuming happily) for 65 years.

So, couples are supposed to be miserable 'for the sake of the children'? I'm sorry, but that's just stupid.

Granted, I was a young adult when my parents divorced (and I understood why) but kids aren't stupid. They can probably tell when mom and dad aren't getting along.

In my parents' case, there wasn't a lot of yelling but there was a BIG silence. We felt like we had to walk on eggshells all the time. How can that be better than parents going their separate ways?

Some might argue that children of divorce end up not believing in marriage. But let's use a brother's kids as an example - one married her high school sweetheart and the other one is engaged. So much for that argument.

If parents were honest, saying something like, "Your dad and I aren't getting along anymore. We both love you VERY much but we have to live apart from now on," I think kids could handle it. Honesty goes a long way.

That's what this woman didn't seem to understand. She's basically saying that parents should lie to their kids.

Sure, marriage is the ideal...IF you're happily married.

What do you think?

The Imaginary Meme, Part One...

If it's 'imaginary', does it really exist?

1. Have you ever peed your pants as an adult?
Only in the hospital when the nurse didn't arrive in time.

2. Who do you have a celebrity crush on right now?
Charlie White. Just call me 'Cougar'.

3. Would you date someone you met online?
I've ONLY dated guys I've met online. They may like girls who wear glasses but not so much the w/c. Online, it's not about how a person looks, at first.

4. Do you always wear underwear?
Not while showering or peeing, etc.

5. Do you hate yourself at times?
Not myself, my disability.

6. Do you have a favorite sibling? Least favorite?
Yes and yes. lol!

7. Do you like dirty movies?
I do have a favorite. lol!

8. Could you believe Josha Ledet was voted off Idol?
I don't give a rat's ass since I've never watched it.

9. When was the last time that you bought a car?
1998. And I still love it!

10. Have you ever been camping?
A lot when I was a kid. Whether I liked it is a whole 'nother issue.

11. How many times a day do you go on Facebook?
Too many. I'm already a procrastinator and I don't need Facebook to help me. 

12. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
Dark Shadows. I liked it.

13. Have you ever worried that you'd cut off a limb?
Not myself, but the doctors???

14. Where did you get your last email from?
Hell if I know. I have 3 e-mail addys.

15. Favorite website?
Mine. : P

16. Are you down with ghetto?
No. I'm about as white as you can get.

17. Will the world end in fire or ice?
Fire, I hope. I'm always cold.

18. Do you believe in the after-life?
Not in the "they're looking down upon me" kind of way.

19. Would you be upset if Facebook stopped working?
No. Someone would come up with something else.

20. How did you start your blog?
Well, I turned on my computer, then I typed in the URL...I think you know the rest.

Make a phone call, it's the least you can do...

This thing keeps popping up, so I thought I'd make (sort of) a Public Service Announcement.

When you invite a disabled person to an event, take the time to call or visit the place to make sure it's actually accessible.

I was invited to a party on Sunday but didn't feel well enough to go. I found out, after the fact, that I couldn't have gotten very far into the building, even if I had wanted to.

Then again, if you're talking to an idiot, calling doesn't always help. I was invited to a wedding where the groom did call the reception hall and was told the women's restroom was handicap accessible.

Turns out, I could get into the restroom but not into the stall.

EPIC FAIL!

I should've asked the bride to check out the hall. Or had my guy do it (didn't know him at the time, but still).

He went to a restaurant where a few friends were going to have dinner and talked to the manager, insisting on seeing the woman's restroom himself.

The manager got a waitress to see if the stalls were empty and let my guy into the room to check out the handicap stall.*

Now, THAT'S dedication.

*it was more than adequate and he's still proud of it.

Sorry...

...I haven't been around much lately.

I've had...

*At least one Dr. appt. a week. Sometimes two.
*Conversations with people who just. don't. get. it.
*Family issues up the ying-yang (not as pleasant as it sounds).
*A bug that's making me feel like something you scrape off your shoe.

So I'm crossing my fingers, toes, and eyes that July is full of rainbows, unicorns, and birthday cake.

And that life calms down enough so I can start blogging on a regular basis again.

I love a good conversationalist...

The most I have talked to my guy (on the phone) in one day was 18 times. The least we talk is twice a day. And his is the last voice I hear before I go to bed.

During our Friday night conversation...

He: If I ever win the lottery, I'll take you out to (fancy-ass) restaurant.

Me: Maybe I should ask for 10% for every year we've been together...

He: I'll take you out to (fancy-ass) restaurant.

Me: Hmm, maybe I should ask for 25%....

He: I'll take you out to (fancy-ass) restaurant.

Me: 50% is even better...

He: I'll take you out to (fancy-ass) restaurant.

Me: (laughing so hard I can barely hear him).

He: That's right.

Day Six - Places...

1. Do I really need to say it?


Oh, come on...are you surprised? : P

2. Home


When you're disabled, home is always the most comfortable place.

3. New Zealand


I've always wanted to go there. It won't happen but a girl can dream.

4. Sequoia National Park


I've always had a 'thing' for trees.

5. Alaska


I've only been up the Inside Passage, but still.

6. Minnesota


Don't judge me.

Do I look THAT weak?...

I had 2 Dr. appts. this week and something that annoys the holy hell out of me happened both times. The medical assistant started to reach out as if to push my chair for me.

I'm in a manual w/c and who do they think pushes me when I'm not in a medical building?

I would say that 95% of manual w/c users are stronger than the average person. Okay, that may be pushing it (no pun intended) but we're not weaklings. When your legs don't work, your arms have to.

I get that some people need assistance, but it would be nice if they tried asking first. You wouldn't approach an elderly lady at a crosswalk, grab her elbow, and start yanking her along.

Would you?

Weekend Update...

And no, I'm not talking about the Saturday Night Live skit.

We baby-sat on Saturday...for 8 hours. That's right. EIGHT hours. And I didn't even get to see Toy Story. The sittee was a sweetheart and it wasn't difficult, at all. Except it was loooooooong.

And because I had to sit around for 8 hours (pretty much in one spot), I woke up on Sunday morning in major pain. So I didn't get my pancakes. Instead, I slept til almost noon. Ahhh, sleep!

I spent most of the day relaxing and trying to feel better but it wasn't happening. Then I got a phone call that pissed me off to no end. Not the first time, but it had damn well better be the last time.

So, in conclusion, an SNL skit would've been more entertaining than most of my weekend. Although, I did get to see my guy. *sigh*

My weekend...

I have an exciting one planned...

Saturday: co-babysitting a 6 y.o. and (I think) I'm finally going to see Toy Story. What else can you do to entertain a 6 y.o.?

Sunday: eating pancakes and seeing old friends. Then going home and trying not to explode. THEN trying to go to bed early so I can make my 10:45 am Dr. appt. on Monday.

I think watching a 6 y.o. will be easier.

Charm vs. Smarm...

The other night, I told my guy, "Don't take this the wrong way, but charm doesn't charm me. It's used when you want something from someone. I like that you don't b.s. me."

The next day, he brought me flowers from his garden.

After thanking him, I said, "I thought of a better word for it. Smarmy. This is nice."

Proof that I'm a true Californian...

On the news yesterday, they reported a 4.7 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand...and my immediate reaction was "big deal".

When there's a 6.0+ quake, we can talk. ; )

While trying to figure out which 10 Day 'You' Challenge I left off at, I realized that I skipped one.

So here goes (in no particular order):

Day Eight - Fears...

1. Black bees

2. Yellow jackets (yes, I know they're bees too, but it's my list) : P

3. Tight/enclosed spaces

4. Abandonment

5. Losing my independence (as I age)

6. Drowning

7. Confrontation (unless I'm REALLY pissed off)

8. Marriage (see #4)

Discuss...

It's been f-o-r-e-v-e-r...

...since I've done a meme.

1. Why is your favorite color your favorite?
My fav color is blue because my childhood bedroom looked like someone threw up Pepto-Bismol all over it.

2. Do you prefer dogs or cats or do you just hate animals, and want to kill baby seals?
I'm a cat person now but I grew up with dogs. Hmm...that's probably why I'm a cat person now.

3. How much time do you spend on the computer?
My computer is turned on (no pun intended) about 12 hours a day but I'm not ON it all that time.

4. Not including porn, what do you do on the computer?
What else is there? ; ) I spend an obnoxious amount of time on Facebook and Ebay.

5. Are you a clock watcher?
I'm anal about being on time, so yeah. Although, I hate wearing watches. That's what cell phones are for.

6. What do you/did you look for in a partner?
Kindness, patience, loyalty, support, sarcastic sense of humor (nailed it!), and I'm a sucker for blue eyes.

7. What type of clothing do you prefer?
The type that doesn't get caught in my wheels. You'd be surprised how often that happens. Grr!

8. What is your favorite type of music?
Classic Rock. Pink Floyd, (old) Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, The Doors YES, etc.

9. Do you believe in the paranormal: ghosts, ESP, levitation, spoon bending?
No. I don't believe in anything that I can't see with my own eyes...unless I'm drunk.

10. The most important question: Do you have a innie or outie belly button?
Innie. And thank goodness! Outies kinda gross me out.

11. What kind of car do you drive?
A Chevy (imagine me with a cholo accent).

12. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun or The Boys Are Back in Town?
When the boys are back in town, girls just wanna have "fun".

13. Camping or the Ritz?
Camping during the day and the Ritz at night. The best of both worlds.

14. What food are you craving RIGHT NOW...did you eat it?
A tamale with extra chili. And no. *sigh*

15. The most thrilling place you've ever visited. Why?
My 1st (serious) boyfriend's bedroom. I think the 'why' is self-explanatory.

16. If you could slip into the skin of one public figure--celebrity, artist,--who would it be?
Johnny Depp's girlfriend. She's famous in France (not so much the US) but I'm still counting it.

17. Look up from your computer. What do you see?
A wall. Who's computer is in the middle of the room?

18. Sum up your philosophy of life in one sentence. You can borrow it from someone else, if you'd like.
"What goes around, comes around." I've seen it in action and it ain't pretty.

19. Name the one thing you just don't understand about kids today.
(Most of) their crappy music. Wow, I'm old.

20. If you could steal one work of art from a museum or gallery, which would it be?
Starry Night (no, not THIS one, but it's nice too) by Vincent van Gogh.

Just call me Knuckles...

I grew up swimming but the last time I got into/out of a pool myself was in 2008. Disabled people usually have excellent upper body strength because their arms become their legs (so to speak) but due to 'old age' and overuse, my shoulders are shot.

So I've been pondering the purchase of a pool lift to be able to swim again. I'm not getting any younger...or thinner. After age 40, woman seem to attract flab. Especially this woman. Grr!

Anywho, I've been talking to my guy about the feasibility of a lift. It's not cheap and I'd only use it about 3 months out of the year, but he always makes sense of these types of issues.

He: "It's becoming a necessity, right? What would you do without the w/c? I'll tell you. You'd be dragging your body around on your knuckles and people would be calling you 'knuckle dragger'. Wouldn't that be fun?"

Me: *snorting* "Okay, okay, I get your point. I'll look into it. Are you done?"

He: "For now."

Smartass. : P

I'm a sick little girl...

 

Does this remind you of anything?

Hint: Men can only rent them. Well, they could buy them...but it still wouldn't be theirs. *snicker*

They say people who like photography have an 'eye' for it. But I don't think they meant THIS kind of eye.

(it's a palm tree, btw)

I'm done...

I realized today that you can't make an old dog learn new tricks.

I saw a relative who's always been in it for himself. And I've always had the hope, in the back of my mind, that he'd realize what an ass he is and make an effort.

Well, not anymore.

What the hell are they thinking?...

Jessica Simpson* just gave birth to a baby girl that she named Maxwell.


Does she know the sex of her baby? Did she even look?

What is it with parents saddling their baby girls with (typically) male names?

I was watching a tv show the other day where a couple was planning on naming their baby girl Justin.

That's right, Justin.

When the woman's friends questioned her (who wouldn't?), she said, "I think it's cute."

Cute? You might as well put a bullseye on her forehead.

The friends asked, "What if they tease her in school?"

The future mom naively replied, "She'll be a strong person and deal with it."

Mmm, hmm...that's why there's a movie out right now called 'Bully'.

I'm just sayin'.

On the other end of the spectrum, some couples name their baby girls ridiculously cutesy names. Like the couple who named their daughter Lulu Bell.

Sure, it'll be cute until she's ten. But I can tell you one thing...Lulu Bell is going to be the teenage girl from hell.

1) The other kids are going to tease her mercilessly. Probably starting in 5th grade, if not sooner.
2) She'll eventually realize that people name their poodles Lulu Bell.

To be fair (who me?), in high school I wanted to shorten my name to change my image from the 'girl' to the 'woman'. But then I would've have the same name as a brother and that was unacceptable. Believe me! : P

Do you know any girls with male-centric names? Or vice versa? I do know a guy named Joy (it's his middle name, but still). Yikes!

*I heard she gained over 50 pounds during her pregnancy. Holy cow! Literally.

I'm baa-aaack!

I got my greasy (uhh, not so much, I wash my hands like a junkie on crack), little hands on my keyboard again, so be afraid.

Be VERY afraid.

You've been warned.

My computer has a boo boo...

It's official. My computer is screwed...and not in a good way.

I finally had it looked at and the verdict was 'Windows was totally compromised by a virus'. Grr!

Luckily, the tech is a SUPER nice guy. He's backing up my files and reinstalling Windows. For the same price that he quoted to me before he realized what a mess my computer ended up being.

I should be getting it back next week and, while I loved how my computer was set up, it'll be like getting a brand, spanking (she said 'spank') new computer.

Can't complain about that!

Well, I could...we'll have to see. ; )

I loves me the strong, silent type...

I was pleasantly surprised, over the weekend, when my guy said, "There were a couple of times this week that I wish you were with me."

Then he called out of the blue (I pretty much know when to expect a call) and said, "I just wanted to talk to you."

Both instances made my heart happy because I know how hard it is for him to express his feelings.*

Knowing him for as long as I have, it's like someone else saying, "I love you and I miss you."

You know the saying 'actions speak louder than words'. Well, his actions have always shown me how much he cares. The words are a nice bonus. : )

*We're both that way, actually. lol! (it sucks having baggage from previous relationships).

Some things should just never be explored...

Michael Jackson's former bodyguard is claiming that he's the biological 'father' of M.J.'s youngest son, Blanket.

I have only 1 question...

Why in hell would you want to admit that? Have you SEEN him?

Hmm, I guess that was 2 questions. : P

~~~

Btw, after a month of almost non-stop coughing, I'm officially cured. Woo hoo! You gotta love antibiotics!

You gotta love that 1%...

I hate surprises. Mostly because 99% of the ones in my life have been bad. Like a death in the family. Or friends introducing me to someone they thought I might like over the phone then him showing up on my doorstep on a day I didn't think I'd need makeup.

Awkward!

But sometimes surprises can be very sweet. Especially when they come from my guy...

He: Hello!
Me: You're calling early!
He: I'm calling in case I forget later...I mean I wanted to talk to you.
Me: (grinning)
He: You're supposed to say "What a nice surprise!"
Me: What a nice surprise!
He: (laughing) Too late.
Me: I'll surprise you the next time I see you. You know, to make it up to you?
He: Well, okay...

I know he  likes surprises. *wink, wink*

My hellth has been, well, hellish...

2 1/2 years ago today, all hell broke loose. It started with an ambulance ride and I was hoping it would go away but that's not going to happen (I figured this out during my 2nd ambulance ride, last month).

They say 'time flies when you're having fun' but these last couple years have been the LONGEST of my life because, healthwise, it's been anything but fun.

I made changes after the 1st ambulance ride but I now know that I need to do more.

So I'm finally doing something (hopefully permanent) about it. And I'm not talking about surgery. I've had to go through too many to go through another one voluntarily. lol!

Wish me luck!

And the crap, I mean cough, continues...

I've finally recovered from the hospital stay (went in 3 weeks ago, tomorrow) but the "cold" turned into a hacking cough that isn't going away.

A friend came over yesterday and kept making me laugh. He said that I sounded like Snagglepuss and I knew I had to do something about it.

So I'm seeing my G.P. on Wednesday and I'll probably have to take antibiotics since it's probably due to chest congestion and not the 'common' cold.

I want my obnoxiously loud laugh back. I don't consider sounding like Snagglepuss a compliment.

Life and all that other $#!T...

By the time you'll be reading this, it'll have been 2 weeks since I went into the hospital. And I wish I could say I'm better now...but I'd be lying.

When you're disabled, it takes longer to bounce back from things. Add old age on top of that and you're pretty much screwed for the duration...especially when you get a cold on top of everything else. Grr!

But I'll be back. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Being a b!tch doesn't win you any friends...

It just pisses off the important people. And when you're in the hospital* that's the nurses.

But they were all nice. Especially the male nurse who kept calling me 'sweetheart'.

And I was woken up at 2 am by a HUNK.

He was trying to poke me, but still.

*I was in for 4 days last week but I'm fine now.

Crap! Crap! Crap!...

My desktop crapped out on me Friday night and that's where I "create" all of my masterpieces posts. So I may be hit or miss til I figure out the problem and find a way to fix it.

I'm on the netbook right now but I can only use it from bed (long story). I am not going to stay in bed any longer than I have to (been there, done that, HATED it!) to blog.

Know that I am working on a solution but I probably won't be posting on a regular basis for the foreseeable future.

Grr!

It's been a l-o-n-g week...

“How can I clearly see what’s wrong with someone else, and then look at myself as though I’m standing in front of a fogged mirror?”

~ Jarod Kintz

There's are 2 things I absolutely cannot stand. People parking in handicap spaces and hypocrites. I'm going to talk about the latter.

There is:

"Rev." Jesse Jackson, who had an affair which resulted in a child.

Bill Clinton, who "did not have sexual relations with that woman".

Larry Craig, a married senator opposed to gay rights, who was arrested for an attempted same-sex hookup.

You get the idea.

The worst kind of hypocrite, imo, is the one who trashes other people without looking at themselves and/or the people close to them.

I recently heard someone bitching about someone else's faults while totally ignoring their own backyard, so to speak.

I wanted to confront this person but the timing wasn't right.

Someday.

*stepping gingerly off my soapbox

How do you feel about hypocrisy?

Why me???....

And I don't mean the whole disability thing. That, I can deal with.

But there's someone (you can guess but don't name names) that I can only take so much of because he frustrates the crap out of me. If I could kick, I would've kicked him in the backside most of the weekend.

Luckily, I got 2 cohorts to do it for me.

Unfortunately, it'll start all over in the morning. Grr!

How do you get rid of someone who annoys the holy hell out of you? I could use some pointers.

What a nice surprise!...

I got an award from Everyday Goddess, last week, for having a cheerful post.

The Goddess Award
It's about time, right? February was a rough one.

Well, not exactly 'rough'...thankfully, my bed is pretty comfortable. ; )

Thanks again, Everyday Goddess! You made my day!

2 down, 10 to go...

February is (almost) a done deal but I only rocked one of my goals...

#4. I went to bed before 2 am a total of 9 times (twice before 8 pm). Of course, pressure sores will force you gently encourage you to do so.

#7. I went to Red Robin (big deal, right?) but I'd never been there before, so I'm counting it. 

#10. I actually cleaned out one of my e-mail boxes. I should really do the other 2 soon because keeping track of messages is sooooo much easier now.

#11. I only called my guy once this month. I really should do that more often, especially after the 'Gummy Bear incident'. 

I'm planning another gathering (#1) but since it's not til March 3rd, I can't count it (yet). I could've done better this month but, still, not too shabby.

Does this mean I'm sweet...

...or a bear?

This was my (belated) Valentine's Day present from my guy...


Do you see the red circle? 6 lbs!

I guess I'm a bear. Why else would he buy 6 POUNDS...unless it was to sweeten me up? : P

Compliments up the wazoo...

1. The guy who cuts my hair said I smelled like cotton candy. I doubt that's what Calvin Klein had in mind when he created Sheer Obsession, but whatever. A compliment is a compliment.

2. He asked if I was engaged because he noticed the diamond ring on my left hand (you can guess which finger). I reassured him that it wasn't that  kind of ring, but a present to myself for my 40th birthday. And it fits on both ring fingers.

3. A woman stopped me and asked if I worked at (insert store here). I told her 'no' and she said, "You look just like someone who works there." I (kiddingly) asked her, "Can I take that as a compliment?" She replied, "Sure! You're both cute." I'M sure she was just being nice. lol!

When my guy called last night, I told him about all the compliments I'd received. He said, "So you don't stink and you're not ugly. I already knew that."

He's such a charmer. ; )

After laughing my ass off, I replied, "Now the world knows."

Tag - You're It!...

First of all, I had the beginnings of a pressure sore and spent time in bed. Hopefully it's gone completely.

Anywho...

I was tagged by Pat at A View from the Edge. She's an RVer who's travelled all over the U.S. (I'm jealous!) and an animal lover. She's also pretty damn funny.

All games have rules, so here goes:

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 11 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 11 new questions to ask the people you've tagged.
4.Tag 11 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!

11 FUN FACTS ABOUT ME:

I'm missing a toe, by choice.
I love to travel and miss it.
I sometimes milk my disability.
I hate, and I mean HATE, the color pink.
I was never pulled over by the police, even though I drove for 20 years.
I don't like Christmas.
Or Halloween.
I could eat pasta every day for the rest of my life.
But I hate tomatoes, so that pasta doesn't even need sauce.
Summer is my favorite season - it's a "dry" heat. *snort*
I won't watch a movie if I don't like the actor/actress in it.

MY 11 QUESTIONS:

Do you have a hidden talent?
Yes. But I can't tell you what it is. *wink, wink*

What is the best book you've ever read?
The Stand by Stephen King. The unabridged version.

Do you buy popcorn when you go to the movie theater?
I don't do movies. I'd rather read the book.

Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate/Vanilla Swirly.

Best vacation place?
Wow, that's a toughy. MN, San Francisco, Sequoia, Grand Canyon...

Do you believe in the afterlife?
Sort of. I don't believe in the 'they're looking down upon me' kind of thing, though.

Who do you most resemble: Felix (neat-freak) or Oscar (slob)
Definitely Oscar. I call it 'organized chaos' but it works.

How many hours a day are you on the computer?     a) 1-3 b) 4-5  c) 6-7 d) all day
d) all day. Well, the computer is on, but I'm not always in front of it.

How often to you comment on everyone's blogs?
Whenever I have something to say. I'm not the type to write "Nice blog".

Do you come from a big family?
Do I??? You have no idea! Probably because I'm 'anonymous'. If you're curious, ask.

Can you drive a stick shift?
That would be kind of difficult since my legs don't work. ; P

Shwew! I'm done!

I'm not going to tag anyone (you're welcome) but if you want to do this, have at it!

Here are my 11 questions:

What is your worst habit?
What is your favorite food?
Are you a night owl or early bird?
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
And your biggest pet peeve?
What is your favorite album/cd of all time?
If you could talk to a dead person, who would it be?
And what would you ask them?
What is your favorite cuisine?
Are you allergic to anything?
Have you ever broken a bone?

If you say so...

I'm on my tablet and wanted to tell you guys something that made me laugh the other day...

I went to the Dr., got up on the table, and he said, "You're quite athletic, aren't you?"

I never thought of it that way, You see, I can get out of the chair anytime I want to...as long as there is something else to sit on.

That's why I hate the expression 'wheelchair bound'. I am not bound to my chair, by any means.

I prefer to think of the chair as my freedom, but being able to get out of it whenever I want (or need to) is hardly being 'athletic', lol!

Sometimes it sucks...

When you have a disability, there's always more to it than the actual problem.

And, sometimes, those other issues* raise their ugly heads en masse and bitch-slap me, just to get my attention.

So I'm going to take a few days off to deal with it. But I'll be back as soon as things are under control.

Don't miss me too much! Aww, go ahead... ; )

*it's nothing life-threatening or hospital-worthy

It's almost Valentine's Day so...

I thought I'd write about the most "romantic" things the guys in my life have ever done for me.


In my 20's, my bestie would bring me yellow roses (my favorite) every Valentine's Day. But he went a step further when I was 30 - I guess he thought he'd better help me out since I was getting old, with no "prospects".

He introduced me to his roommate over the phone and we talked for weeks. But it never occurred to us to meet in person...til my bestie brought me that year's flowers. He also brought his roommate without telling me. And I, of course, looked like crap.

~~~

My first 'official' boyfriend was out-of-state on Valentine's Day so he sent me a card. Something about soulmates. I don't quite remember because he dumped me (via phone) 6 months later and I threw it away. It was a nice card though. : P

~~~

Another boyfriend wanted a picnic in the park. We're both in w/c's so we thought it would be easier to go to KFC first. But we didn't think about getting the food to the picnic table. I carried the bag while he put the drinks between his legs. By the time we got to the table, soda was all over his lap, the chicken fell out of the boxes and I had to start chasing after the napkins.

~~~

My last boyfriend (who saw me through a BIG surgery) brought his laptop to the hospital so I could check my e-mail. I was in there for 16 days and he was there nearly every night...and we had only been going out for 3 weeks when I was admitted.

~~~

My guy likes to surprise me and the most memorable time was while I was out-of-state at a wedding. At breakfast, the day after I arrived, he sent me a picture message with the text, "I'm under lock and key til you come home." You can imagine.

I burst out laughing and everyone wanted to know what was so funny. But there was NO way I could show them the picture. It did make me feel a whole lot better, knowing he'd be there when I got home.

What's the most romantic thing a guy/girl has ever done for you?

I stand (I mean sit) corrected...

I've always said that kids are cute.

I was wrong.

While at Costco yesterday, holding a table til my food magically appeared in front of me a brother brought my yogurt, I saw an 18-month(ish) old boy and thought 'Oooookay'.

Then I saw his mom and thought 'Ahh! I get it now'.


I was afraid to take a picture because there was no WAY I could've been subtle about it.

Damn! ; )

Have you ever seen a kid and found yourself wondering what his/her parents look like?