Cold Hard Cache

Ayyyyy, Mateys! We got treasure to be a findin' in them thar woods!

Yesterday was a lovely, bright shiny day, so my boys and I packed up our Monsters, Inc. backpack and went Geocaching! YAY!

Geocaching is catching on world-wide as a fun outdoor activity. We started doing it about a year ago and we are hooked. All you need is a GPS, internet access and a sense of outdoor adventure.

If you go to the geocaching site, you can put in a city or zip code of where you want to start, and it will list caches that are hidden in that area. It will give you some hints and the GPS coordinates of the cache. You put the coordinates into your GPS and off you go on your hunt! You drive to a point as close as you can get, and then you set out on foot. You can encounter all kinds of terrains, areas you didn't know about and discover parks and forests while looking for the treasure. We normally choose several in the area we want to go to (the lakes north of town, this time, for instance) and print them out so we can do several in one trip.

Caches are usually a small to medium sized tupperware or gladware container (must be weatherproof, obviously) and contain a log book and treasure. If/when you find one, you sign the log book with who you are, where you're from, when you found it and what you took and left. The treasure is usually just little trinket-type stuff like pens, keychains, toys and such. You take whatever you want, and leave something in it's place. I normally carry some hot wheels to put in the caches we find. Yesterday, we got a cool little kaliedescope viewer thing and some guitar picks.

When you return home, you login to the website and comment on each of the caches you found (or didn't find, for that matter). It's fun to see who else has found it, their observations as they were looking, and what they took/left.

I planted my own cache last fall, so we also went to check on that cache yesterday. The last person who looked for it couldn't find it - probably because of deep snow. When we found it, it was right there in it's spot, safe and sound. It's in the park that is only 1/2 block from my house, in this little woody section that has this concrete-enclosed stream that makes a cool pathway. It's called "hidden pathway" if you want to search for it on the geocaching site. I think I'll plant another one some time this spring when I think of a good spot.

A fun extra element to geocaching is a travel bug! Since these caches are planted all over the world, some contain a coin or token that has a registration number on it - it's a travel bug. They are planted in their first cache with a final destination in mind. For example - my parents found one in Colorado before the last Olympics. Someone had started it in Utah with the final destination set for the Olympics in Greece! They brought it back to Iowa and planted it in a cache here - a few hundred miles closer to it's destination. The last time they tracked it on-line, it had made it's way to Turkey so it was getting close!

Derrick loves Geocaching. For him, it's a treasure hunt because I always let him choose what we take from the cache. What a fun and adventurous way to get out and enjoy nature. You should try it!

A Breath of Fresh Air

aaaaaaaahhhhhhh...

Let me just say this:

Friends are a gift from the Gods
Valium is a gift from the Gods
Chocolate is a gift from the Gods

hee hee

I've really not wanted to blog lately - I've been feeling like all I do is complain. I've had a bit of a mental turn-around, however (funny how those happen often immediately following a nervous breakdown...) and have decided that I shall make every possible effort in every aspect of my life to be positive. I must concentrate on the positive things in my relationships, my job, my self-image and self-esteem.

I was searching for something good to talk about from the news today and couldn't find anything. No wonder so many people in our society are so depressed, stressed out and nasty! There is even nastiness going on in blogland which I, so far, have been fortunate enough to have not yet been sucked into. Can't we all just get along, folks?

I want to do as many nice things as I can for people who are in need. I want to squeeze and kiss my little boy until he squirms. I want to shower my friends and family with affection...ok, this is just getting a little too sticky in here. Ew. Making my teeth hurt. lol

Anyway, we'll see how this goes. It's a new leaf - a bit worn & tattered from it's journey, but isn't it beautiful?


"The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be."
- Robert Fulghum

Canon Fodder

Friends Of 'Gonzo' Journalist Planning Wild Sendoff

12:45 pm CST February 23, 2005

ASPEN, Colo. -- Friends of "gonzo" journalist Hunter Thompson say he used to joke about having his ashes blasted from a cannon after he died.

He may just get his wish.

Actor Johnny Depp and others close to the late writer are on the lookout for a cannon. They're also studying proper firing techniques for such a final salute to the author, who often referred to himself as cannon fodder.

As Thompson's attorney says, "if it can be done, we will do it."

The 67-year-old gun lover shot and killed himself Sunday in the kitchen of his Colorado home. Friends say Thompson had been in considerable pain during the past year after breaking a leg and undergoing hip surgery.

He was cremated Tuesday, and a family spokesman says there are tentative plans for a private commemoration of his life on March 5. A larger event to celebrate Thompson's literary career may be staged in April.

I LOVE it. That is just excellent.

"Depression of Love" by Jay Alders

RIP Doctor Gonzo

Today, I pay tribute to one of my favorite writers because yesterday, February 20, 2005, Hunter S. Thompson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. I really never expected that he would go this way, being such a brave and bold man. One can only imagine what prompted him to do such a thing.

Thompson, 67, was associated with the "New Journalism" movement of the 1960s, in which writers took a more novelistic and personal approach to their subjects. His account of a drug-fueled trip to cover a district attorneys' anti-drug conference as a writer for Rolling Stone magazine was the seed of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," perhaps his best-known work.

Subtitled "A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream," the 1971 book included his lament on the passing of the 1960s and its "sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil."

"There was no point in fighting -- on our side or theirs," he wrote. "We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave. So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark -- the place where the wave finally broke and rolled back."

In "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72," he described the campaign leading to Richard Nixon's re-election as president with terms like "brutal" and "depraved," speculating that Democratic Sen. Ed Muskie was under the influence of an obscure African psychoactive drug and bemoaned Nixon's looming victory by proclaiming, "Jesus, where will it end? How low do you have to stoop in this country to become president?"

Other works included "The Great Shark Hunt," a collection of Watergate-era essays; "Generation of Swine," his lament on the youth of the 1980s; and his account of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential win, "Better than Sex." His lone novel, "The Rum Diaries," was published in 1998, while a collection of letters, "The Proud Highway: The Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman," came out in 1997.

In recent years, he wrote a column for the sports network ESPN's Web site. In his most recent piece, posted February 15, he describes shooting at golf balls like skeet with a friend near his longtime home -- he called it "a fortified compound" -- outside Aspen.

Thompson was a private person. "The most news we heard from him was when a pack of dogs killed his peacock, Attila, and he broke his leg in Hawaii last year."
Thompson also was the model for the character of "Uncle Duke" in the "Doonesbury" comic strip. But Thompson strongly disliked the characterization, once telling an interviewer that he would set "Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau on fire if the two ever met.

In later years, however, Thompson said he had made peace with the "Uncle Duke" portrayal.

"I got used to it a long time ago," he told Freezerbox magazine in 2003. "I used to be a little perturbed by it. It was a lot more personal ... It no longer bothers me."
In 1980, actor Bill Murray portrayed Thompson in the film "Where the Buffalo Roam." And in 1998, the film "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was released, based on Thompson's book and starring Johnny Depp as the journalist. A new film reportedly is in production based on Thompson's novel "The Rum Diaries."

The writer himself, Hoag said, will be missed. "There's no one in the world these days who writes the truth ... as he seems to, to me," he said. "He spoke to the world and said what people were afraid to say."


Hunter - Don't stop here! This is bat country!

CommentThis is back

Yay! I finally got my commentthis comments back up and running. I'm going to leave the blogger comments on for a bit so as not to lose the recent comments. CommentThis is just so much more friendly. :)

Hope you're having a groovy weekend!

Short Attention Span Friday

These Dreams
I’ve been having some very vivid dreams lately. Some very strange, some quite pleasant, some surprisingly erotic. Makes me think of one of my favorite lyrics (when I wake the things I dreampt about you last night make me blush). In the past, I haven’t been too good about recalling my dreams, but I’ve found that jotting down a few notes when I first wake up brings the memories back quite easily.

The last dream I recall was very weird. I was thrown in some kind of prison (I have no idea why) that was made out of an old run down bar or restaurant. There were booths and such, but all of the windows were barred and we were all locked in there. There were no cells to separate anyone, so we were all in one big room together.

There were all kinds of nasty looking characters in there. There were men and women, some with clothes, some partially clothed and some naked. When they shoved me in the door, they took my shirt and bra so all I had on was pants. It was quite disturbing with all of the seedy characters ogling my “assets.”

Pup says that it was all about the fact that I need to go topless more. Yeaaaahhhh…

Another dream a few nights ago involved the sweet and lovely Varla. I get the impression that we were in San Francisco, and we were dancing in this cool club. We danced and danced, getting all hot and sweaty, so we went outside for some fresh air. When we stepped outside, we were greeted by a nice, soft, warm rain. Varla and I could hear the music quite well outside so we continued dancing in the rain. It felt wonderful, powerful and liberating. Analyze that! *snicker*

Where is my Yang?
I think I’m still searching for the Yang to my Yin. You know, that person who just fits you like a glove? I had a relationship, a long time ago, that was like that. We would curl up on the couch (or whatever) together, our bodies completely entwined like celtic knotwork (maybe that’s why I like that so much…), my face buried in the crook of his neck and I would just breathe him in. It felt like we melted into one and it was one of the most wonderful feelings I have ever experienced. Pure bliss. I haven’t had that feeling for a long time and I miss it desperately. I feel like I’m still searching. Will I ever be able to stop searching?

Tsunami Unburies 7th Century City in India
Out of the tragedy comes an archeological miracle – the force of the waves changed the coastline so significantly that they uncovered what is believed to be an ancient city and parts of a temple. There is talk that the structures could be part of the legendary seven pagodas. Complete story here.

Vroom Vroom
Don’t you just love seeing little old ladies driving fancy sports cars? Saw one today. It always makes me smile. Go, granny, go!

Quizzy Goodness & Ranting About Ignorance

Quiz First
This one is pretty cool - what a person listens to, I believe, says a lot about them.

10 Random songs in my library:
1. Jack Johnson - Bubbletoes
2. Beatles - Getting Better
3. Breeders - I just wanna get along
4. Evanescence - My Immortal
5. Green Day - Basket Case
6. Incubus - Pardon Me
7. Tool - Aenima
8. Robert Johnson - Hot Tamales
9. Offspring - Come out and Play
10. William Shatner - Common People

What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
about 12GB

The last CD you bought is:
Depeche Mode - Violator. Used & long ago lost.

What is the song you last listened to before this message?
System of a Down - Aerials

Five songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you
1. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Air of December
2. Dido - White Flag
3. Indigo Girls - Ghost
4 Sarah MacLachlan - Building a Mystery
5. Cowboy Junkies - Misguided Angel

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?
Eh, I'm one of the last to do it. hee haw! So, I'll pass on this question. So there!



NOW
I'm pissed. I read this morning that PBS chief Pat Mitchell, under fire for spending public money on a cartoon show that featured two lesbian couples from Vermont, will step down when her contract expires in June 2006.

She drew recent criticism from both liberals and conservatives for "Postcards From Buster," in which the title character, an animated bunny named Buster, traveled to Vermont, which recognizes same-sex civil unions. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has contended that the episode did not fulfill the intent Congress had in mind for programming. Spellings has also questioned its suitability for children.

This is just ridiculous! Postcards from Buster is a wonderful show - D and I watch it almost every morning. In the show, Buster travels all over in an effort to learn about all types of people and their cultures. It is a very well produced show and teaches children about diversity - helps them understand the differences in people and to accept those differences. I saw this particular episode, and I found nothing wrong with it. It wasn't like they had lesbians making out with eachother or trying to say that their way is how everyone should be! For Pete's sake, people - gay couples are a part of our society and they aren't going to go away if we ignore them.

This kind of thinking (of those protesting this show) only fosters prejudice, ignorance and hate.

Well, there's my rant for this morning. The mind is like a parachute - it only functions properly when OPEN.

I want to feel like this:

Any ideas on how I can get there?

I Hate Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day sucks ass. Yep, I said it. I hate it.

It’s a corporate created fiasco. Let’s see…we need to create a holiday that will sell tons of cards, flowers, teddy bears and other foo foo stuff which will stress guys out beyond belief and send the hopelessly single into pits of depression. Let’s name it after a Saint – a Catholic priest or bishop who was beheaded on February 14. Let’s make the anniversary of his beheading the date for this holiday! YAY!

Another annoying thing is the candy/sugar aspect. They always have parties at preschool for these things, and my son comes home all hopped up on sugar with a bag of sugar to help him continue his buzz. I was lucky to get his ass in bed an hour late.

The thing I hate the most about Valentines Day is that it creates expectations – delusions of romantic notions, dreams of the perfect gift, the perfect evening, blah blah blah.

Why would a rational person like me think that someone otherwise incapable of “romancing” me should suddenly become capable one day a year? I mean, sometimes I think the man wouldn’t know romance if it hit him square in the face. I have no idea why rationality went astray, but I find myself disappointed once again.

I got Chris the popcorn popper that he's been wanting forever, a really nice box of Mrs. Fields decadent chocolates, a nice card and cooked him a kick ass dinner - marinated steaks, shrimp scampi, marinated garlic mushrooms...his favorite dinner.

Firstly – guys, DON’T ask your lady what she wants for Valentine’s Day! Duh! He comes to me Sunday afternoon and asks me just that. Well…something romantic would be nice. I tell him that jewelry is always good. His response is that I have a lot of jewelry already. All right…a plant for my office would be nice. He grumbles that he can’t give me chocolate and I pointed out that I saw some real yummy looking low carb valentine chocolate options while I was shopping…grumble grumble.

So, what did I get for Valentine’s Day this year from my man, friends and neighbors? A pen. Yes…an ink pen.

It’s green. Yeah, I do like green. Oh, and it’s refillable. He thought it would be cool for me to have a nice pen and that I would think of him every time I use it. Yeah, maybe…

Oh, and I got a card, too. The card was perfect. It pointed out that although he is not a suave or romantic guy (you think?), his heart is in the right place. You betcha. He nailed it with the card.

I just want to feel special. I want to feel cherished and adored. Appreciated. It doesn't need to be Valentine's day - hell, any time. I don't remember the last time I got anything sweet, sentimental or romatic. Hell, I don't remember the last time I even got flowers. Yes, I do...it was from Pod, the neighbor, on my birthday.

Does anyone know where a man can get lessons on how to romance a woman?

Don't Remind Me

Yeah, so it’s that day. Derrick is awfully excited about it, so that makes it cool. I’m not going to go any.further.into.it.

So, I have a new template. Got everything all adjusted properly except for comments. I want to have my old comments (CommentThis) on here. I am not particularly fond of blogger comments, plus I would lose all of my old comments if I didn’t bring it back. I can’t figure out how to get them to work, though! I have the code in there, just as it was before….grrrrrr.

So, since I don’t have much to say, here is this spiffy questionnaire thing I found over at El Sid’s. These things are kind of fun…


1. Your name spelled backwards:
Itap (but I don’t)
2. Where were your parents born?
Rural Northern Missouri (shut up!)
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?
A Firewall
4. What's your favorite restaurant?
My Kitchen
5. Last time you swam in a pool?
Last Summer with D
6. Have you ever been in a school play?
Oh, yes…many. Let’s see…the King and I, the Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Crucible, Harvey... several more. I became a Thespian (that’s right!) during my Freshman year in HS.
7. How many kids do you want?
the one I have – he’s all I can handle. LOL
8. Type of music do you dislike most?
Country – some of it is ok, but the genre in general is kind of annoying
9. Are you registered to vote?
Darn tootin!
10. Do you have cable?
nope. I refuse to pad the pockets of those bastards...
11. Have you ever ridden on a moped?
you bet. Ran all over kingdom come on one from age 14 to 16.
12. Ever prank call anybody?
many, many times
13. Ever get a parking ticket?
too many times
14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
Sky Diving. Screw that snappin’ rubber band shit.
15. Farthest place you ever traveled?
Greece
16. Do you have a garden?
Sure do! Lots of herbs and flowers.
17. What's your favorite comic strip?
hmmmm. . . all time fave, I would have to say Bloom County
18. Do you really know all the words to the national anthem?
Most of them if not all
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night?
Shower at Night
20. Best movie you've seen in the past month?
Shaun of the Dead
21. Favorite pizza toppings?
Mushrooms
22. Chips or popcorn?
I usually don’t eat either, but I would choose popcorn.
23. What color lipstick do you usually wear?
Berry Blistex
24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells?
uh…no. Why would anyone?
25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?
Hell no. Ick.
26. Orange Juice or apple?
White Grape
27. Favorite type of chocolate bar?
White Chocoloate or Dove milk choc.
28 When was the last time you voted at the polls?
Nov. ‘04
29. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato?
last summer, from Mom’s garden
30. Have you ever won a trophy?
yes
31. Are you a good cook?
I’ve been told I am.
32. Do you know how to pump your own gas?
yes. Who goes to full service these days?
33. Ever order an item from an infomercial?
once. Never again.
34. Sprite or 7-up?
7-Up
35. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work?
yes. Ug.
36. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy?
Lidocaine syrup
37. Ever throw up in public?
Does the bathroom in the lobby of the Dr’s office count?
Oh, there was that one time, out the car window…
38. Would you prefer being a millionaire or to find true love?
True love. Absolutely. It is priceless.
39. Do you believe in love at first sight?
I believe in lust at first sight.
40. Ever call a 1-900 number?
nope
41. Can exes be friends?
not usually. I’ve only had this work once, and we were friends first.
42. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital?
our Office Manger for a cat bite!
43. Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby?
no – totally bald
44. What message is on your answering machine?
generic, boring & impersonal
45. What is in your backpack?
my water bottle, my camera, cough drops, pens, CDs, Purell, my purse
46. Favorite thing to do before bedtime?
rocking & reading with Derrick
47. What is one thing you are grateful for today?
my son
48. What is the first concert you ever went to?
Donnie and Marie Osmond. I kid you not. It was dreamy.

Groovy

Ahhh...a fresh, new skin. Not quite so gloom & doom (sorry, Sid), a bit more upbeat. I dig it.

It still needs some work. I was going for more of a cobalt for the background. This is a bit bright. I also have a problem with the sidebar, right in the middle, wanting to start centering which is forcing the rest of the stuff to the bottom. Can't figure out why it's doing that. I also need to fix my box corners.

But...so far so good.

Any suggestions any of you might have on how to remedy these issues would be very much appreciated!

Things I Love

(thanks to Cooter for the idea)

Five inanimate things I love...
1. my computer
2. my garden
3. celtic knotwork
4. my car ‘cause it takes me away
5. white chocolate

Five living things I love...
1. My wonderful son, Derrick
2. Christopher
3. My Family
4. My Pets, Leonardo and Pugsley
5. My blogger friends

Five sounds I love....
1. Thunder & the accompanying storm
2. my son’s laughter
3. crickets, frogs... all those wonderful nighttime sounds when out in the country
4. the music of Sarah MacLachlan
5. the funny boink sounds my phone makes when I press buttons in speaker mode

Five smells I love...
1. fresh cut grass
2. the scent of a thunderstorm
3. my son fresh out of his bath
4. Garlic
5. Fahrenheit by Christian Dior

Five words I love...
1. poink
2. conundrum
3. persnickety
4. fartknocker
5. femur

Five places I love...
1. Paris, France
2. The French Alps
3. My bed
4. deep, deep in the forest
5. the world of my dreams


A little bonus – Derrick and I went on a tour of the downtown fire department last Saturday. He was very excited that he got to “drive” the big truck. LOL

Just Shoot Me

Honestly, this has been a week from the burning pits of hell. I'm not even going to go into it. it just hasn't been nice. I am still at home, still sick, having spent what seems like hundreds on prescriptions and over the counter remedies and I am still miserable.

My throat feels like a thousand little gnomes are in there mining for who knows what with their razor sharp little pick axes. My doctor, today, finally prescribed some lidocaine syrup to gargle with to relieve the pain. Pfffft! That shit is some of the worst tasting nastiness I've ever put into my mouth! The result? Worth it? Hell, no. My throat still hurts, but now my tongue and lips are numb. YAY.

Chris fell off the wagon the night before last. I got up from my nap and came into the computer room. Soon, I noticed an open bottle of coke under the desk - not a good idea - it could get kicked over. I picked it up and instinctively sniffed it - it wreaked of whisky. Yeah. We discussed it and he said he got it because of his back pain - he threw his back out last week and it still isn't good. I think there's more to it than that. He confessed that he hated AA and didn't want to go back, that he was completely turned off by it. I just told him that he needs to keep his priorities in mind and that I WILL not put up with him getting drunk and mistreating D and I. I will not. We'll see how it goes, I suppose.

I've been working on my new template and it just isn't looking right. I'm about to just let Seven take the reigns and run with it as I'm getting tired of fussing with it. I don't know. Maybe it's just because I've been trying to work on it while I'm sick. My attitude sucks. Maybe I'll put up what I've got and take a poll on what you all think. You'll have to be honest with me.

Derrick has been wonderful through all of this, though, so I bought him a nice surprise today - one of those books with the sound buttons that you push for effects during the story. He loves those. He's been such a good boy. I love my little man more than anything else in this world. Now there is a postive note I can always look to.

Another positive is Aimee - my evil twin. She came through her surgery just fine, and I talked with her last night. She sounded good and very positive. It is a good thing they took care of this now as I'd hate to think of what may have happened had that blood filled tube burst. Eeek! I can't tell you how wonderful Aimee has been for my life these last several months. I don't know what I would have done with out her. We're seriously going to have to do something about closing this mileage gap between us - it just isn't right. I'm perfectly open to the idea of getting the hell out of Iowa. Nor Cal? Why not? What an interesting thing to contemplate. It would also make it so much easier to stalk Michael. D'Oh! tee hee

Well, I think I'll be going back to work tomorrow. I can just imagine the lovely pile that has accumulated on my desk. Yay. My back up doesn't make things purty like I do, so they save things up for me while I'm gone. Gotta love 'em. At least it will be Friday.

On second thought...no, please don't shoot me. Life is looking up.

No Fair...

...you nasty bugs ganging up on a girl like that! I am sick. Ug.

Yesterday, my throat started out feeling like the Sahara and began to hurt more and more throughout the day. By last night, it felt like a thousand needles piercing me every time I swallowed.

After a fitful night of trying not to swallow too often, head ache, stomach ache, chills, sweating, I awoke to a horrible stomach ache on top of all these things. I called in sick to work and called the Dr. office to make an appointment. I was thinking strep, but couldn't explain all the other unusual symptoms that usually don't accompany strep.

Then it started - the vomiting. I woke up from a nap 1/2 hour before my appointment, and into the bathroom I went, unloading all the contents of my poor knotted stomach. Then again. I drove myself to the doctor only to spend my waiting moments in the lobby bathroom unloading once more.

To make a long story short, I have a raging case of Strep Throat accompanied by a flu-like virus. After unloading again in the lobby bathroom on my way out, I went to fetch my antibiotics and codeine for the throat pain.

Just took my pills about 1/2 hour ago with some 7up and crackers. Hopefully I can hold them down. So far so good.

So, I'll be home tomorrow. Hopefully I'll feel up to being on-line since I spent the majority of today sleeping. I'm working on a new template, so maybe I can get that done.

Hope you all are feeling well!

Short Attention Span Friday!

In the news today:

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Two young Colorado girls decided it would be nice idea last summer to deliver some cookies to their neighbors. It was pretty late – around 10 to 10:30 pm. One 49 year old woman was so freaked out by the knock on her door that she called the sheriff and ended up in the hospital emergency room the next day after suffering a severe anxiety attack. So, what does she do? Deal with her own issues? No…she sued the girls and they had to pay her $900! Bitch! I’d bet she doesn’t have any more neighbors trying to be nice to her!

Easy on the Water there, Dude!
A 21 year old California State University student died of "water intoxication" during hazing in the basement of a fraternity. He died while drinking water from a five-gallon jug and doing exercises at the Chi Tau house. An autopsy showed death was triggered by hyponatremia, a condition in which excess water in the body causes sodium levels in the blood to drop. Water is then absorbed into the blood and fluid builds up in the brain. Who knew that WATER could kill you? Scary.

Make the Bastard Pay (a.k.a. Rant du Jour)
Scott Peterson's six-month murder trial and three months of jury selection racked up costs of more than $700,000 for the San Mateo County Superior Court. The Court say that, if it doesn’t’ get reimbursed for the costs, they will be looking at a loss of positions or layoffs. In addition to court costs, San Mateo County spent roughly $500,000 on Peterson-related items such as extra deputies, security, transportation and housing for Peterson in the jail.

The question that comes to mind for me is, why don’t they make HIM pay? He was convicted of murdering his wife and their unborn child – he should pay for it all. Take his fancy truck and boat, sell them. Sell his house – I’d imagine that a house in that area would be at least a couple hundred thousand. They should sell off all his assets to pay the bills. Nothing is more unjust than innocent people losing their jobs and taxpayers having to foot the bill for his crime. Sheeesh!

The GOOD news
Well folks, I am extremely happy to report that the shrinkage continues – as of this morning I have lost 68 pounds. WOO HOO! TOOT TOOT! I can’t be more pleased and I can’t tell you how nice to feel good about myself again. I really have trouble believing it when I look in the mirror, but the numbers and my pants falling off don’t lie. Now, I just have to go get me some new duds.

Hmmmmm...

I had the wierdest dream last night! I was in this nasty old trashed out house, and it was full of people. I assume we were stranded there, as there was snow piled up to the windows outside and everyone seemed to be milling around aimlessly. I went down to the basement to look for a place to get away from everyone, and it was a mess - junk, dead bodies and body parts everywhere and about a foot of flood water on the floor. So I went back upstairs and didn't seem upset about that at all. I was so tired - got the impression that I hadn't slept for days, so I was desperate to find a place to sleep. The only place for me to sleep was on this large coffee table with this other guy. We curled up under some blankets, and I snuggled up to him for warmth. It was actually really nice, considering the circumstances. Then I realized that the man I was snuggling up to was Ron, a childhood friend and neighbor of mine who was killed by his father in a hunting accident when we were twelve (in real life)! WTF?

Someone joked earlier with me about giving up my first born son for something. I said that, actually, I would rather give up my left arm. It got me thinking - if I were presented with no other choice than to give up my son or an arm, I would give the arm without hesitation. Wouldn't you?

Lunchtime Quickie

I'm at home on my lunch hour.

I think I've figured out how to resolve this work thing...

Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to share the details since certain work-related eyes could be reading this blog (shame on you for spying on me if that be the case!). Let's just say that I think it's going to work out fine and within a week or so I should be able to blog my free workday moments away.

In the mean time, I'm slackin'...I know. I dedicate my evenings to playing with my son, so between that and trying to spend time reading all the wonderful blogs I like to read, I haven't posted squat. I will...I have a few brewing, being written in Word (you know how frustrating it is not to be able to preview?) and being e-mailed home.

SO, it's groundhog day. Whoopty do! Did the ugly little critter see his shadow? I doubt it. Regardless, Spring usually comes around March or so around here, so I don't think it really matters. It all goes back to pagan customs and simply gives me memories of Bill Murray punching out nerds in the street. LOL Ned Ryerson! How the hell does one make their bellybutton whistle, anyway?

So, Mikey made a little guest appearance on his dusty blog. I'm trying not to get too excited about that. That might be all we get. I miss him so, but I've seen a certain IP address bumping around here pretty often, so I suspect... nah, I'll just zip it. Oh, hell - if that's you, Michael, Hi sweetie! I miss you!

I miss my IM buddies, too. I'm so used to having you pop onto my desktop and say hi that I feel like you've gone somewhere. Oh, yeah...it's me. :(

My most exciting news of the day is that I mowed the lawn for the first time. HEE HEE. I just had to try it. I think I like it.

OK...well, I'd better go. Things are actually going pretty good in Celti's world right now despite the fact that I'm being oppressed!! I have a plan. dum dum dum duuuuuuummmmm!