Posts
I thought I had posted this clip last year, but I guess I didn't.
So in the tradition of me posting the wackiest clips on the Internets for your enjoyment (well, there are a few readers who post wackier clips), here is one from the good people at Blendtec, the folks behind the popular Will it Blend website.
Kittens, if you get the chance, I highly encourage you to visit the website. Seriously. It is one of the best time wasting websites EVER.
Happy Thanksgiving, my darling kittens.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
An old Thanksgiving classic
I knew that I had to do a Thanksgiving salute here on the ol' blog, and what better way to do this than feature an old Adam Sandler classic?
On another note, I totally forgot Kevin Nealon ever did Weekend Update.
Happy Thanksgiving, my darling kittens!
Adam Sandler Thanksgiving Song from Jeff Mullooly on Vimeo.
On another note, I totally forgot Kevin Nealon ever did Weekend Update.
Happy Thanksgiving, my darling kittens!
Monday, November 23, 2009
If there is one thing worse than teenage acne...
...it's adult acne.
Aside from the occasional zit or two, I've never had severe acne in my adult life.
Until now.
And I don't know why.
I checked all of my cosmetics, and they're all supposedly non-comedogenic. My diet's been OK; not great, but OK. I'm not taking any meds that would supposedly lead to breakouts. I've been using Proactiv, but not as much as I should.
And then--and I know I shouldn't do this--I squeeze. Yes, I know it's a rawther nasty habit that can only make breakouts worse. It's also a rawther difficult habit to break.
So here I am, my 33-year-old face looking like a pizza pie, and my regular mineral foundation isn't doing the job of covering up my zits. So I've had to go to a liquid foundation--one with "skin-clearing properties."
I'd just like to go to the grocery store without having to put a full face on.
Is that too much to ask?
Aside from the occasional zit or two, I've never had severe acne in my adult life.
Until now.
And I don't know why.
I checked all of my cosmetics, and they're all supposedly non-comedogenic. My diet's been OK; not great, but OK. I'm not taking any meds that would supposedly lead to breakouts. I've been using Proactiv, but not as much as I should.
And then--and I know I shouldn't do this--I squeeze. Yes, I know it's a rawther nasty habit that can only make breakouts worse. It's also a rawther difficult habit to break.
So here I am, my 33-year-old face looking like a pizza pie, and my regular mineral foundation isn't doing the job of covering up my zits. So I've had to go to a liquid foundation--one with "skin-clearing properties."
I'd just like to go to the grocery store without having to put a full face on.
Is that too much to ask?
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Writers Workshop: Destructive kitties
Click here to play along with Mama Kat.
Here is the writing prompt I chose this week:
Describe the most destructive thing your pet has done.
I am fortunate that my kitties are not terribly destructive. They are very good cats overall. They have never scratched furniture or chewed anything of value up. I hate to brag, but they are naturally well-behaved.
However, there is one incident which made me so mad at Maggie.
It happened about three months after I moved into my condo. At the time, I just had Maggie. When I first moved in she used to love to climb on top of the cabinets. From the cabinets, she would climb to the top of the refrigerator, and would dangle her paws in such a way that they brushed against the door to the freezer...and then the freezer door would open.
Can you see where this is going, kittens?
So one morning--the morning of my first dinner party, as a matter of fact--Maggie woke me up, acting more anxious than usual. She was pacing the bed, pawing my face, doing everything within her power to get me out of bed. So finally, I got out of bed, walked to the kitchen to get breakfast...and saw my freezer door, wide open.
How long had it been open, you ask?
Long enough to defrost nearly $100 of frozen goods.
On the bright side, I had the menu for my dinner party ready to go.
And Maggie is a smart enough cat to know that what she did was a big mistake. She hasn't climbed to the top of the refrigerator since.
That, and the fact that I now store my toaster, coffee maker, and several other things up there has been a good deterrent, too.
Here is the writing prompt I chose this week:
Describe the most destructive thing your pet has done.
I am fortunate that my kitties are not terribly destructive. They are very good cats overall. They have never scratched furniture or chewed anything of value up. I hate to brag, but they are naturally well-behaved.
However, there is one incident which made me so mad at Maggie.
It happened about three months after I moved into my condo. At the time, I just had Maggie. When I first moved in she used to love to climb on top of the cabinets. From the cabinets, she would climb to the top of the refrigerator, and would dangle her paws in such a way that they brushed against the door to the freezer...and then the freezer door would open.
Can you see where this is going, kittens?
So one morning--the morning of my first dinner party, as a matter of fact--Maggie woke me up, acting more anxious than usual. She was pacing the bed, pawing my face, doing everything within her power to get me out of bed. So finally, I got out of bed, walked to the kitchen to get breakfast...and saw my freezer door, wide open.
How long had it been open, you ask?
Long enough to defrost nearly $100 of frozen goods.
On the bright side, I had the menu for my dinner party ready to go.
And Maggie is a smart enough cat to know that what she did was a big mistake. She hasn't climbed to the top of the refrigerator since.
That, and the fact that I now store my toaster, coffee maker, and several other things up there has been a good deterrent, too.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Prayer request
Please send your prayers, good thoughts, and any other good karma over to my friend Yaya. Last week was a very trying week for her. At the beginning of the week she and her husband experienced a tragic loss in their family. At the end of the week, she received a call from their adoption agency, telling her that a birth mother had selected her and Josh as her adoptive parents. Yesterday, she got another call from the agency: The birth mother decided to keep the baby.
Yaya and Josh have been trying to have a baby for the past seven years. They have been through fertility treatments and have had several miscarriages. I, like many of her followers, felt tremendous joy when she first made the adoption announcement last week. Now my heart is heavy with grief.
Please go over, if you are so inclined, and leave a positive comment for her. This is a tremendous loss for her and she needs a lot of love and support right now.
Yaya and Josh have been trying to have a baby for the past seven years. They have been through fertility treatments and have had several miscarriages. I, like many of her followers, felt tremendous joy when she first made the adoption announcement last week. Now my heart is heavy with grief.
Please go over, if you are so inclined, and leave a positive comment for her. This is a tremendous loss for her and she needs a lot of love and support right now.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Maybe an angel IS watching over me
In one of my last posts I had mentioned that BFF and I were going on our fourth month of not speaking to each other.
Well, that all changed tonight.
It happened on my way home from dinner with a few girlfriends. I had pulled onto the highway, looked at my dashboard, and realized that all of the lights were out. I started panicking, thinking that if my dash lights were out, so were my headlights. I pulled over and put on the hazards. I adjusted the brightness dial on the dash, and things seemed fine. I went to pull back on the highway...
...and realized my hazards were stuck. I couldn't shut them off.
Now, yesterday, kittens, my car went in for service, and part of the service involved the replacement of one of the dashboard lights. (Insert gratuitous Meatloaf lyrics here). This made me wonder if some other things went wrong when the dash was put back together, causing the hazards to get stuck.
Well, long story short, I pull off the highway, into a gas station, and call AAA. If you have ever called AAA, you know that you can wait forever for help to come. It was 9:30 PM, and I was alone, at a gas station, and just a tad nervous.
I needed company...and I did have a friend who lived ten minutes away.
That friend happened to be BFF.
I put my pride--and whatever bitterness I felt--aside and called his cell. No answer.
I called his landline--no answer. He was out for the night.
I then took my owner's manual out and searched for an 800 number for Kia. I was on the automated line when BFF called back. When I realized I was getting nowhere with the robot voice, I hung up on Kia and called BFF.
I told him about my problem. He was indeed out of town, but stayed on the phone with me as I explained what had happened.
He offered some suggestions to help get my hazards unstuck, one of which was banging on the dashboard with my fist. It worked. I was stunned.
He then advised me to call AAA to cancel the service call, which I did. He then told me to call the dealer on Monday and explain what had happened, especially since the dash had come apart yesterday.
And finally, before I hung up, he asked me to call him when I got home. He added that if he were in town, he'd drive to the gas station to keep me company.
Half an hour later, I got home and called him. He was glad that I got home safely.
The timing of this incident couldn't be stranger--at least to me. Over the last couple of days, I had been really missing BFF. Today was particularly difficult, since I was spending the day with a mutual friend of ours who sees him on a regular basis. I started to feel really sad, wondering when, if, and how BFF and I would reconcile.
Well, tonight my prayer was answered--albeit in a strange way, but it was still an answer.
BFF came through for me. He was there when I needed him.
And that's when I realized what a totally selfish ass I had been. I had read too much into a situation that should not have been read too much into. Which was what led to our not speaking to each other. And I felt awful how much I had let it get to me. I'm sorry if I sound so vague about this, but I don't want to go into details about our fight right now.
Besides, I don't think those details matter anymore. He could have ignored my call. He could have chosen not to call me back.
Dear God, now that I am writing my expression of gratitude, I feel even more like a selfish bitch for letting myself be so upset at him.
The important thing is, he helped me out when I needed it. And even though he wasn't physically present, I felt safer and more secure just hearing him on the other end of the line.
I definitely think we're going to be okay.
Thank you God, and car, for helping me realize this.
Well, that all changed tonight.
It happened on my way home from dinner with a few girlfriends. I had pulled onto the highway, looked at my dashboard, and realized that all of the lights were out. I started panicking, thinking that if my dash lights were out, so were my headlights. I pulled over and put on the hazards. I adjusted the brightness dial on the dash, and things seemed fine. I went to pull back on the highway...
...and realized my hazards were stuck. I couldn't shut them off.
Now, yesterday, kittens, my car went in for service, and part of the service involved the replacement of one of the dashboard lights. (Insert gratuitous Meatloaf lyrics here). This made me wonder if some other things went wrong when the dash was put back together, causing the hazards to get stuck.
Well, long story short, I pull off the highway, into a gas station, and call AAA. If you have ever called AAA, you know that you can wait forever for help to come. It was 9:30 PM, and I was alone, at a gas station, and just a tad nervous.
I needed company...and I did have a friend who lived ten minutes away.
That friend happened to be BFF.
I put my pride--and whatever bitterness I felt--aside and called his cell. No answer.
I called his landline--no answer. He was out for the night.
I then took my owner's manual out and searched for an 800 number for Kia. I was on the automated line when BFF called back. When I realized I was getting nowhere with the robot voice, I hung up on Kia and called BFF.
I told him about my problem. He was indeed out of town, but stayed on the phone with me as I explained what had happened.
He offered some suggestions to help get my hazards unstuck, one of which was banging on the dashboard with my fist. It worked. I was stunned.
He then advised me to call AAA to cancel the service call, which I did. He then told me to call the dealer on Monday and explain what had happened, especially since the dash had come apart yesterday.
And finally, before I hung up, he asked me to call him when I got home. He added that if he were in town, he'd drive to the gas station to keep me company.
Half an hour later, I got home and called him. He was glad that I got home safely.
The timing of this incident couldn't be stranger--at least to me. Over the last couple of days, I had been really missing BFF. Today was particularly difficult, since I was spending the day with a mutual friend of ours who sees him on a regular basis. I started to feel really sad, wondering when, if, and how BFF and I would reconcile.
Well, tonight my prayer was answered--albeit in a strange way, but it was still an answer.
BFF came through for me. He was there when I needed him.
And that's when I realized what a totally selfish ass I had been. I had read too much into a situation that should not have been read too much into. Which was what led to our not speaking to each other. And I felt awful how much I had let it get to me. I'm sorry if I sound so vague about this, but I don't want to go into details about our fight right now.
Besides, I don't think those details matter anymore. He could have ignored my call. He could have chosen not to call me back.
Dear God, now that I am writing my expression of gratitude, I feel even more like a selfish bitch for letting myself be so upset at him.
The important thing is, he helped me out when I needed it. And even though he wasn't physically present, I felt safer and more secure just hearing him on the other end of the line.
I definitely think we're going to be okay.
Thank you God, and car, for helping me realize this.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Favorite commercials
Even though I have DVR, and am able to fast-forward through most of the ads, there are still some that I'm able to catch through random glimpses of live tv. Here are my two current faves.
First up is one of the latest Fiber One commercials. I don't know why people find it so funny when little kids use big words, but it's cute when they do.
Next up, an AT&T commercial featuring Bill Kurtis. I love how these serious, starched-shorts anchormen types don't always take themselves too seriously. (Note: Ignore the ads for the Brooklyn Fair and the Lake George tourism board).
Hope you've enjoyed this little bit of randomness!
First up is one of the latest Fiber One commercials. I don't know why people find it so funny when little kids use big words, but it's cute when they do.
Next up, an AT&T commercial featuring Bill Kurtis. I love how these serious, starched-shorts anchormen types don't always take themselves too seriously. (Note: Ignore the ads for the Brooklyn Fair and the Lake George tourism board).
Hope you've enjoyed this little bit of randomness!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Meh.
Today was a day when I felt emotionally void--dull, empty, blah. That's what I said on my Facebook status.
I didn't feel great, but I didn't feel horrible, either. There are many reasons why I felt this way:
Thank you, Eric Idle, for helping me put things into perspective and making me laugh at the same time. For this is what I've realized:
I didn't feel great, but I didn't feel horrible, either. There are many reasons why I felt this way:
- I've been to four wakes/funerals since the end of September, and I have another one to attend this coming Sunday. Two of those wakes have involved former colleagues and friends of mine.
- One wake involved a colleague/friend who was also a member of my book club. I am hosting book club Wednesday night. It is our first meeting since our friend died. I'm not looking forward to the emotion that is going to come out of it, as necessary as it is. I hate crying in front of people.
- I haven't had time/felt like reading or doing any of my hobbies lately. I just want a day to do nothing at all, and not feel guilty about it.
- My car went in for emergency service this afternoon. The engine light came on, and they're doing a coolant flush and something with the temperature gauge. Nothing serious, thank goodness, but still, it's another car repair.
- My coworkers are starting to drop like flies due to H1N1/norovirus/strep throat/whatever other bug is going around. I am grateful, however, to still be healthy.
- My BFF and I are going on our fourth month without speaking to one another. I've been somewhat okay with our quasi-estrangement, but this morning, I woke up really missing him. As much as I want to reach out and pick up the phone, I really think he needs to contact me first--and not just via a forwarded E-mail.
- I had to cancel dinner plans with Mama and Papa Cat Sunday night because of the aforementioned wake.
Thank you, Eric Idle, for helping me put things into perspective and making me laugh at the same time. For this is what I've realized:
- Meeting with my book club will help me--and everyone else--grieve our loss, but remember our friend in a special way.
- I have a job where I can afford to repair my vehicle. I am also lucky to have such a reliable form of transportation.
- I have not succumbed to illness, and I was one of the lucky few at work to receive an H1N1 shot.
- I am going to see the whole Cat Family in two weeks, on Thanksgiving day. My absolute favorite holiday.
- And as for me and BFF...I think we'll eventually be OK. We have a lot of mutual friends, and we both don't want to put anyone in the middle of our squabble, which is ours and ours alone. It's just going to take some time to heal...but I'm not going to lie, kittens, it's been very painful for me. I don't know how he's felt about it, but it's hurt like mad on my end. I'll blog more about it at some point.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Always, sometimes, never
Special thanks to my good pal Jenners for allowing me to steal this meme. Well, she didn't give me permission, but I'm going to do this anyway (and give credit where credit is due).
I ALWAYS...
I ALWAYS...
- start my day with a large mug of coffee from the Keurig
- wear a strand of pearls...they go with any outfit, even jeans
- have my iPod and a book in my purse...portable entertainment wherever I go
- wear my aquamarine birthstone ring on my right hand
- listen to NPR on the way to work
- visit the websites of the New York Times and CNN to get caught up on the news
- have a square or two of dark chocolate every day
- take my vitamins every morning
- roll down the windows of my car and crank up the radio as loud as it will go whenever it's a nice day
- am reluctant to get up in the morning--especially before sunrise
- make an ass out of myself
- look for the humor in everyday life
- make the time to catch up on my DVR shows
- let my nails grow past my fingertips
- go to bed when I'm supposed to
- eat my daily required fruit and vegetable servings
- make exercise a part of my daily routine
- prefer to stay home rather than go out with friends
- feel that a totally lazy day (i.e., staying in my PJs and sitting on my ass) is totally necessary to my well-being
- go a day without snuggling with my kitties
- eat peas, Brussels sprouts, or beets
- have consumed a Whopper or a Big Mac
- met a potato product I didn't like
- knew the way to San Jose
- drink pulpy orange juice...OJ is not meant to be chewed
- watch horror movies. Too scary.
- have had such a difficult time thinking of things I never do!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sunday Stealing: The Strange Question Meme, Part Two
26. What color is your watch?
It's a fake brushed white gold color, with a pink face. Picked it up at Ocean State Job Lot for $5. Not the prettiest, most stylish watch in the world, but it works.
27. What do you think of when you hear “Australia”?
The Sydney Opera House, kangaroos, and Hugh Jackman. Especially Hugh Jackman. ;)
28. Would you strip for money?
Ahhh...no. Next question, please.
29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
I go inside. I find it takes me longer at the drive thru than it does when I actually go in. Besides, I don't like the amount of fuel I waste waiting my turn in line at the drive thru.
30. What is your favorite number?
867-5309. Seriously, though, it's 3. I was born on the 3rd day of the 3rd month, and everything good or bad happens to me in threes.
31. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone?
My friend Jenny.
32. Any plans today?
Church, cleaning, laundry, cooking, going to a concert with a friend.
33. In how many states have you lived?
Two: New York and Connecticut.
34. Biggest annoyance right now?
The realization that I don't have a totally free weekend from now till after the new year.
35. Last song listened to?
The Powdermilk Biscuit Break theme song on A Prairie Home Companion.
36. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Sure! ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA. Did I get them all?
37. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! No.
38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
My Sketchers.
39. Are you jealous of anyone?
Yeah...I'm guilty of that.
40. Is anyone jealous of you?
I don't know.
41. Do you love anyone?
Yeah.
42. Do any of your friends have children?
A few of them do, yeah.
43. What do you usually do during the day?
Work, eat, sleep. Metro, boulot, dodo.
44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
No.
45. Do you use the word hello daily?
Um, hel-LO! Yeah!
46. What color is your car?
Some people call it kelly green.
47. What size wedding ring do you wear?
Um, hel-LO! I'm not married!
48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
Yeah...
49. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
I've been to Riverside in Agawam, Mass and Storytown in Lake George, New York before they became parts of the Six Flags conglomerate. Does that count?
50. How did you get your worst scar?
Don't ask...
It's a fake brushed white gold color, with a pink face. Picked it up at Ocean State Job Lot for $5. Not the prettiest, most stylish watch in the world, but it works.
27. What do you think of when you hear “Australia”?
The Sydney Opera House, kangaroos, and Hugh Jackman. Especially Hugh Jackman. ;)
28. Would you strip for money?
Ahhh...no. Next question, please.
29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
I go inside. I find it takes me longer at the drive thru than it does when I actually go in. Besides, I don't like the amount of fuel I waste waiting my turn in line at the drive thru.
30. What is your favorite number?
867-5309. Seriously, though, it's 3. I was born on the 3rd day of the 3rd month, and everything good or bad happens to me in threes.
31. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone?
My friend Jenny.
32. Any plans today?
Church, cleaning, laundry, cooking, going to a concert with a friend.
33. In how many states have you lived?
Two: New York and Connecticut.
34. Biggest annoyance right now?
The realization that I don't have a totally free weekend from now till after the new year.
35. Last song listened to?
The Powdermilk Biscuit Break theme song on A Prairie Home Companion.
36. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Sure! ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA. Did I get them all?
37. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! No.
38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
My Sketchers.
39. Are you jealous of anyone?
Yeah...I'm guilty of that.
40. Is anyone jealous of you?
I don't know.
41. Do you love anyone?
Yeah.
42. Do any of your friends have children?
A few of them do, yeah.
43. What do you usually do during the day?
Work, eat, sleep. Metro, boulot, dodo.
44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
No.
45. Do you use the word hello daily?
Um, hel-LO! Yeah!
46. What color is your car?
Some people call it kelly green.
47. What size wedding ring do you wear?
Um, hel-LO! I'm not married!
48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
Yeah...
49. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
I've been to Riverside in Agawam, Mass and Storytown in Lake George, New York before they became parts of the Six Flags conglomerate. Does that count?
50. How did you get your worst scar?
Don't ask...
Friday, November 6, 2009
Migraines
I got my first migraine two years ago--two days before Thanksgiving. Don't ask me how I remember that day; I have a freakish memory about these things.
I had never had a migraine before that. At the time I was going through the most incredibly stressful period of my life, and I'm amazed that my physical health didn't start falling apart before that. But it had come out of the blue, and quite frankly, it terrified me. I remember the front of my head being in pain, as if someone was squeezing my brain tightly, then releasing it slowly, only to quickly squeeze it again. And I remember the nausea. I kept leaning over the toilet, wanting to vomit, but it never came.
I was so scared by the intensity of the pain and nausea that I nearly drove myself to the hospital. Or rather, called 911. But I decided to lay on the couch and see how things were.
It was 6:30 PM. One minute, I was listening to Brian Williams deliver the news, the next moment it was 5:30 AM, and time for me to go to work. I had slept eleven hours straight.
I remember waking up, getting up off the couch, and feeling bewildered. My headache was gone, but I kept waiting for it to come back.
That morning, my car got a flat on the way to work. Later that day I took it to the dealer to have the tire patched (and ended up needing four new tires...but that's another story), and while I was waiting for my car to get fixed, I started chatting with another woman in the waiting room. It turns out that this woman was a medical assistant. I told her my story of what happened the night before, and her eyes widened. She knew exactly what I had--a frontal lobe migraine, and my symptoms were "classic."
Since then I've had several migraines, but not a lot--one or two a year, at most. Thank God! I have friends who have had to go on Imitrex and other migraine meds on a daily basis. I have been fortunate not to have had to walk that path.
I've found that my migraines are usually tension-related, sinus-related, or both. 98% of the time they're sinus related. 2% of the time it's stress. Today, it was both. I had a rough week at work, and even though I had to run some errands on the way home, I drove straight home today. No sooner did I walk in the door than I removed my coat, took the blanket off the couch, and laid down. It was 3:15 PM, and I slept till 5.
I woke up, and about a half hour later, started blowing my nose like mad.
I'm feeling better now. The pressure behind my eye sockets still remains, but will be gone by tomorrow morning. All I need is a good night's sleep. The only way I can personally get rid of a migraine is to sleep. Tylenol just doesn't do it for me.
And sleeping is not such a bad thing. At all.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
I had never had a migraine before that. At the time I was going through the most incredibly stressful period of my life, and I'm amazed that my physical health didn't start falling apart before that. But it had come out of the blue, and quite frankly, it terrified me. I remember the front of my head being in pain, as if someone was squeezing my brain tightly, then releasing it slowly, only to quickly squeeze it again. And I remember the nausea. I kept leaning over the toilet, wanting to vomit, but it never came.
I was so scared by the intensity of the pain and nausea that I nearly drove myself to the hospital. Or rather, called 911. But I decided to lay on the couch and see how things were.
It was 6:30 PM. One minute, I was listening to Brian Williams deliver the news, the next moment it was 5:30 AM, and time for me to go to work. I had slept eleven hours straight.
I remember waking up, getting up off the couch, and feeling bewildered. My headache was gone, but I kept waiting for it to come back.
That morning, my car got a flat on the way to work. Later that day I took it to the dealer to have the tire patched (and ended up needing four new tires...but that's another story), and while I was waiting for my car to get fixed, I started chatting with another woman in the waiting room. It turns out that this woman was a medical assistant. I told her my story of what happened the night before, and her eyes widened. She knew exactly what I had--a frontal lobe migraine, and my symptoms were "classic."
Since then I've had several migraines, but not a lot--one or two a year, at most. Thank God! I have friends who have had to go on Imitrex and other migraine meds on a daily basis. I have been fortunate not to have had to walk that path.
I've found that my migraines are usually tension-related, sinus-related, or both. 98% of the time they're sinus related. 2% of the time it's stress. Today, it was both. I had a rough week at work, and even though I had to run some errands on the way home, I drove straight home today. No sooner did I walk in the door than I removed my coat, took the blanket off the couch, and laid down. It was 3:15 PM, and I slept till 5.
I woke up, and about a half hour later, started blowing my nose like mad.
I'm feeling better now. The pressure behind my eye sockets still remains, but will be gone by tomorrow morning. All I need is a good night's sleep. The only way I can personally get rid of a migraine is to sleep. Tylenol just doesn't do it for me.
And sleeping is not such a bad thing. At all.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Monday, November 2, 2009
Quote of the day
"World Series tonight--assuming the world only includes New York to Pennsylvania."
Stephen Colbert, opening segment, The Colbert Report, October 28, 2009
Stephen Colbert, opening segment, The Colbert Report, October 28, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The (not-so)-secret eating habits of the Bookkitten
Last Friday, I wrote about foods that I thought were rawther strange. I cannot tell you how many E-mails and comments I got that basically said, "How dare you mock our favorite foods!"
So, in fairness to you, my darling kittens, I am going to tell you about some eating habits of mine that others think are rawther strange:
1. I eat tuna straight from the can.
I don't bother with the sandwich, celery, or (ugh) mayonnaise any more. I get my can opener, break the seal, and drain the water. Then I get my fork and dig right in. I find plain tuna to be rawther tasty and flavorful. Yummy, yummy, yummy.
It is not easy, however, to eat tuna in the presence of kitties. I like to give them the empty can once I'm done, so they can lick whatever morsels are left in the crevices.
2. Raw tortellini is very tasty.
I am talking about the fresh tortellini here, the one that comes in the plastic packages, in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. It's gotten to the point where I don't even boil the water for it any more; I just dump some into a bowl, eat it one piece at a time, and call it dinner. Sometimes I like to stretch out my snacking by biting the piece in half, chewing it slowly, and savoring each morsel. Then I finish the rest by popping it into my mouth.
3. I like to melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stir in a little natural peanut butter, and call it dessert.
I call it the "Poor Man's Peanut Butter Cup." It may not be good for you, but oh, does it taste good!
4. I like to drink plain hot water.
I don't even put a tea bag or hot cocoa in it; I just like it regular. I first started doing this in college on really cold days. One night there was no hot cocoa or tea in my dorm room, and I was desperate to warm up, so I dumped some water in the hot pot, heated it up, and voila!
5. I have been known to eat raw oatmeal.
Sometimes I'll pour it into the bowl, much like cereal, and sprinkle some brown sugar and cinnamon on top. I don't even pour milk into the bowl. It's really good crunchy! Try it!
And that's just for starters! I won't go further 'cause I don't wanna gross y'all out (that is, if I haven't done so already). Do you, kittens, have any food quirks that you'd like to share with me?
So, in fairness to you, my darling kittens, I am going to tell you about some eating habits of mine that others think are rawther strange:
1. I eat tuna straight from the can.
I don't bother with the sandwich, celery, or (ugh) mayonnaise any more. I get my can opener, break the seal, and drain the water. Then I get my fork and dig right in. I find plain tuna to be rawther tasty and flavorful. Yummy, yummy, yummy.
It is not easy, however, to eat tuna in the presence of kitties. I like to give them the empty can once I'm done, so they can lick whatever morsels are left in the crevices.
2. Raw tortellini is very tasty.
I am talking about the fresh tortellini here, the one that comes in the plastic packages, in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. It's gotten to the point where I don't even boil the water for it any more; I just dump some into a bowl, eat it one piece at a time, and call it dinner. Sometimes I like to stretch out my snacking by biting the piece in half, chewing it slowly, and savoring each morsel. Then I finish the rest by popping it into my mouth.
3. I like to melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stir in a little natural peanut butter, and call it dessert.
I call it the "Poor Man's Peanut Butter Cup." It may not be good for you, but oh, does it taste good!
4. I like to drink plain hot water.
I don't even put a tea bag or hot cocoa in it; I just like it regular. I first started doing this in college on really cold days. One night there was no hot cocoa or tea in my dorm room, and I was desperate to warm up, so I dumped some water in the hot pot, heated it up, and voila!
5. I have been known to eat raw oatmeal.
Sometimes I'll pour it into the bowl, much like cereal, and sprinkle some brown sugar and cinnamon on top. I don't even pour milk into the bowl. It's really good crunchy! Try it!
And that's just for starters! I won't go further 'cause I don't wanna gross y'all out (that is, if I haven't done so already). Do you, kittens, have any food quirks that you'd like to share with me?
In praise of coffee
Let's talk about coffee and how I am in love with it.
I have not always been a java fan, though. I am, and always will be, a tea person first and foremost. I love tea. So much so that, one Christmas, between my family and friends, I received eleven boxes of tea as gifts. There is nothing more relaxing to me than heating up my kettle, listening for the whistle, and pouring myself a cup of bliss. I sit at my chair, hands curled around the mug of happiness, inhaling the vapor of my Celestial Seasonings and just feeling content--and that's all before the first sip.
I used to drink tea first thing in the morning before I went to work, and would have a mug full of it to drink during my commute. However, as the years have gone by, I have found that this just doesn't cut it for me any more. I needed something stronger. That's when I started buying coffee, and drinking it on a regular basis.
For many years I used Old Bessie, the coffee maker that I had since college. However, Old Bessie wore out, and I had to replace her. That's when Keurig entered my life. For those of you who are fans of the machine (I'm talking to you, Jodi and Missy!), Keurig = LOVE. Now that I've joined Green Mountain Coffee's Cafe Express Program, which automatically ships K-Cups to my door on a monthly basis, I've been able to sample many varieties of java. Here are my favorites:
(First, though, I must say that I'm not being paid to talk about these flavors or Green Mountain Coffee in general.)
Heifer Hope Blend: This is a medium roast coffee. It claims to have a bit of chocolate in it, but I have been unable to taste it. I find it somewhat mild, but it is rawther tasty. As you will soon learn, I really like STRONG coffee. The coffee I like is so strong, I think it's what keeps my hair dark brown.
PBS Blend: This is another good coffee. It's a little stronger than the Heifer Hope Blend. Proceeds from the sale of this coffee support PBS, which is one of the reasons why I purchase it. PBS is one of my favorite channels. Yes, I know by saying that I've aged myself about 20 years, but I don't care.
10% Kona Blend: Full-strength Kona coffee is rawther expensive, so I get this stuff. This is probably my favorite coffee ever. It is soooooo smoooooooth going down. And tasty. This is what I mean when I say that coffee helps maintain my hair color.
So right now I'm savoring my Kona coffee and contemplating my next move for the day. I've already used the hour I gained for sleeping purposes, so maybe I'll contemplate my dinner options.
Or maybe I'll make another cup of coffee.
PBS Blend, anyone?
I have not always been a java fan, though. I am, and always will be, a tea person first and foremost. I love tea. So much so that, one Christmas, between my family and friends, I received eleven boxes of tea as gifts. There is nothing more relaxing to me than heating up my kettle, listening for the whistle, and pouring myself a cup of bliss. I sit at my chair, hands curled around the mug of happiness, inhaling the vapor of my Celestial Seasonings and just feeling content--and that's all before the first sip.
I used to drink tea first thing in the morning before I went to work, and would have a mug full of it to drink during my commute. However, as the years have gone by, I have found that this just doesn't cut it for me any more. I needed something stronger. That's when I started buying coffee, and drinking it on a regular basis.
For many years I used Old Bessie, the coffee maker that I had since college. However, Old Bessie wore out, and I had to replace her. That's when Keurig entered my life. For those of you who are fans of the machine (I'm talking to you, Jodi and Missy!), Keurig = LOVE. Now that I've joined Green Mountain Coffee's Cafe Express Program, which automatically ships K-Cups to my door on a monthly basis, I've been able to sample many varieties of java. Here are my favorites:
(First, though, I must say that I'm not being paid to talk about these flavors or Green Mountain Coffee in general.)
Heifer Hope Blend: This is a medium roast coffee. It claims to have a bit of chocolate in it, but I have been unable to taste it. I find it somewhat mild, but it is rawther tasty. As you will soon learn, I really like STRONG coffee. The coffee I like is so strong, I think it's what keeps my hair dark brown.
PBS Blend: This is another good coffee. It's a little stronger than the Heifer Hope Blend. Proceeds from the sale of this coffee support PBS, which is one of the reasons why I purchase it. PBS is one of my favorite channels. Yes, I know by saying that I've aged myself about 20 years, but I don't care.
10% Kona Blend: Full-strength Kona coffee is rawther expensive, so I get this stuff. This is probably my favorite coffee ever. It is soooooo smoooooooth going down. And tasty. This is what I mean when I say that coffee helps maintain my hair color.
So right now I'm savoring my Kona coffee and contemplating my next move for the day. I've already used the hour I gained for sleeping purposes, so maybe I'll contemplate my dinner options.
Or maybe I'll make another cup of coffee.
PBS Blend, anyone?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
