kerewin's whine cellar

It might be painful but it builds character

Today was simply glorious. The sun was out, but it wasn't too hot. We were out on the town, but there weren't too many people. We ate good food but didn't get stuffed. It was kind of like a date. Which is nice, especially since we went to the park where we had our second date, so many years ago. Made me feel kind of romantic.

So when we got home and I went to water the plants, I thought, what did we do before we all got connected? Did we stare in front of our computer screens? Well, since I didn't have a computer when the Hub and I met, the answer is very clearly, no. Now that I have my own computer, or two, I spend a good portion of it keeping up on the daily lives of several online friends, reading the comics, playing cards games, and generally wasting hours of my spare time.

Maybe it is time for a break? Now, I am certainly not one to end reading email, or looking at websites, maybe even applying for a job or two, but I do have a good book (maybe) that I want to read, some magazines to catch up on, and a pinball game or two to play with the Hub. I might even *gasp* watch some television. Perhaps a little writing? Probably this kind of journal writing, rather than anything fictional, but it is a start.

To that end, I owe SuzyQ some answers, so:

Other than me, who's your favorite online friend?
Placebo. She's one of the first I talk to in the morning, and usually the last one I talk to at night. She's fairly non-judgemental in her judgementness, and pretty level-headed. Aside from that, she taught me to play spades. I am rusty, but I wouldn't mind brushing up on some of my skills.
• What is your greatest fear?
  I have so many minor ones, I am not sure I have any great ones. I don't want to end up alone, turning away the help of all those who once loved me, I suppose. There's something rather stubborn in my genetic material that makes it hard for me to give the appearance of forgiveness (on the other hand, I tend to forgive rather easily, it is just that no one knows about it). It isn't so pretty, and I wonder why anyone stands for it.
• What things are you afraid of?
  Just about everything, spiders, dirty feet bottoms, vegetables cut on the chicken board, food not cooked properly, the house when I am home alone.......fairly endless.
• Tell us about a re-occurring bad dream:
  I have two re-occuring bad dreams. In the first one, I get up and realize I am late, and start to get ready for work, but get sidetracked. I finally get back to it, and leave for wherever I am supposed to go, only to see a friend, or stop to shop, or run out of gas. I keep trying to get to my destination, and never get there. I have this dream when I am sleeping through my alarm.
  The second bad dream involves just your everyday scenario, but when I am supposed to talk, I can't because all this gum is lodged into my mouth. I keep pulling it out, and pulling it out, which no one seems to really notice, but I am fairly grossed out by it, in the dream. I am always having trouble speaking because of the gum getting in the way. I used to have this dream when I wore my retainers after not putting them in for a really long time. This dream seems to have gone away.
• Tell us about a [re-occurring] good dream:
  I seriously don't have any of these. Re-occuring that is, I have plenty of just regular new good dreams. Apparently my brain runs sweeps week every night.

For my non-chat day tomorrow, I hope to get a lot accomplished.

Weeding
• Mowing


• Possibly finding bricks for the yard, por fin


• Applying for a job or two


• Maybe getting past page 10 of Life of Pi


• Watching as much of Season 6 of Sex and the City as I want, provided it actually shows up in the mail tomorrow.


• Bike ride on my new (used) mountain bike

I also like that the MPQs work out that I get the odd ones. Seems fitting.

Take two percoset and call me in the morning, if you are conscious

Note to self: Try not to throw your back out. However, if you do throw your back out, aim for a day that you don't already have off, as the pain will ruin any fun free-day plans you might have had.

So as the drugs kick in and my head gets floaty, here's a bit fun for all, courtesy of MsF and b3ta:

Panda Golf!

Throw the ball (this one really creeped me out)

Art Car! Note: this was made entirely with free toys.

Gay Marvin

And if you are still with me, more Mildly Probing Questions #5:

1. If you had to move to another city, what would be your dream city?
• 2. What's your favorite commercial on television?


• 3. What day of the week do you most look forward to?


• 4. When you go into a book store do you steer towards fiction or non-fiction?


• 5. How old were you when you first tried coffee?

M.P.Qs. #4

This one is hard for me, because as much as I have talked about my bikini wax, the loss of my virginity, and (lack of) sex with my husband, I try not to get too political, online, or off. Still, you can't just pick and choose to play a game. So Ms. SuzyQ, turn about is fair play.

How do you feel about the death penalty?
• I think that killing people is wrong, and that it is illogical to choose a punishment that in any other scenario would be considered illegal. However my pro-dealth penalty parents have totally different feelings. I was raised to believe that the death penalty was the best deterrent for murder. After I moved away, I started thinking on my own, and leaned more and more away from that. This book helped to clarify my feelings on the matter.
• How do you feel about the war in Iraq?
• I have so many layers of feelings about this war. I found it strange that we attacked Iraq because of the World Trade Center, and even stranger that our White House was putting out the spin that Saddam Hussein was more responsible than Osama bin Laden. I was disgusted by our rejection of the findings that the United Nation had in regards to the W.M.D (and come ON, weapons of MASS DESTRUCTION?????? what cartoon writer came up with that phrase? Probably the guy who came up with "click it, or ticket"). Currently I am appalled by the violence going on in Iraq under the name of the United States of America, and say to friends, just about every day, "No wonder everyone in the world hates our guts."
• How do you feel about a woman's right to choose? How do you feel about abortion?
• I am pro-choice. Neither I, nor my husband want children, so, if we ever got pregnant, that would more than likely be the avenue we would travel. I feel very lucky that I haven't had to deal with that issue, and send out all my heart to anyone who has.
• Which political party do you identify with?
• I find it interesting that in the '00 election, I remember seeing, and saying, "the Democratic party doesn't represent my vote, they are far too centrist. I am going to vote Green to send them a message." There was a message, unfortunately, it wasn't, "Wow, we need to change our tactics." Rather it was, "It is all your fault we have an asshole for president." Although, I think it was a lot more Jeb Bush, Katherine Harris, and a bunch of republican spin doctors. I want to start a new party, the feminist party. Maybe, they would represent me a lot more than anything that currently exists.
• What is the first political moment that you remember?
• It was the 1976 election, and we were driving home from somewhere, it was dark and my parents were listening to the election results as we drove home. I remember they were rooting for Carter. I was 5.

This Monkey's Gone to Heaven

Strange links and personal questions? Search no farther, kiddies, because I worked so hard last week that I don't want to do anything meaningful in my free hours. Instead I surf, and pass on links to friends, who then pass them on to others.

Remy and I were chatting just after my *brilliant* question idea, about how men are always capable of sexualizing things that aren't necessarily so (because he thought that "five finger discount" was a leading question). Then he sent me a link that was thoroughly enjoyable, while being completely un-sexual. At least as far as I know.

Man vs. Grizzly

Which then led me to this hole. I highly recommend following the link to the hole before reading the commentary.

All this talk of firing Rumsfeld had me worried that Bush might win back the popular vote if he acted timely. Luckily, this proves that Bush is, indeed, one of the stupidest Presidents in history.

Urge your senators and representatives to Dump Rumsfeld!

Is it funny, sad, or just ironic that we call my brother Uncle Cracker, to his face?

And now what you have been waiting for.........ok, maybe not. (I am including my answers along with the questions, merely because I am procrastinating getting ready for work.)

1) What was the first concert you ever attended?

Pat Benatar, in the 8th grade.

• 2) What was your favorite band back in High School that is completely cringe worthy now?

  Huey Lewis and the News, which also happens to be the second concert I ever attended.

• 3) Do you have a guilty television pleasure?

  Sex and the City DVDs, otherwise, she says snottily, I don't really watch much tv. This is likely more symptomatic of working nights and being addicted to the net, than anything else.

• 4) Ferris Bueller was a sprite, inventive (and maybe annoying), but driven to make those around him enjoy life. Who is your Ferris?

  The friend who made this game always swore I was his Ferris, but I think he was mine. One of the most unique, inventive (and maybe annoying), people I ever met.

• 5) When you are blocked in your job, or personal life, what do you do?

  Take a bath, watch SatC on dvd, or play cards online.

You get what you pay for

A silly Q & A game between SuzyQ and me. These are the answers to her questions. Feel free to play along, it might be funny if you posted your answers in the comments, but, whatever.

1. What's the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night (besides the elimination of bodily fluids and solids)?
There are many different levels to this question. I have been really into wearing my retainer again, so the last thing I do, after brushing my teeth, is to put in my retainer. In the morning, I take it out and then brush my teeth. On the other hand, after that in the morning, I usually go and check my email. The last thing I hopefully do at night is make love to the Hub, but that certainly (oh, no ho ho) isn't a daily activity, so I would have to say the last thing I do, is to check my email. After spending the last part of my night dicking around on GameSmith.

2. Which sports do you actively watch?
I tend to loathe sports in general, although I have been to a few games at the Mariner's stadium. I do find myself caught up in the silly trivia and games they flash on the scoreboard more than the actual game itself.

3. Name three internet sites you check every day. I know you check more than three.
Well, I always read the comics on the Washington Post site. I know they are a bunch of foolish right-wingers there, but they tend to have the most complete list of the comics I read every day. I also try to check the news on BBC on a regular basis. Then, I have a list of bloggers that I read, but no one updates everyday. I try to not look every day in order to keep the frustration levels down. However, in addition to the people linked there on the left (those tend to be people I actually *know*) I read Dooce, Mimi, and Eurotrash on a regular basis. These people get PLENTY of traffic on a regular basis and more than likely don't need my help.

4. Which celebrity makes you swoon?
This is not going to make me look good, I suspect. Val Kilmer in Tombstone (an otherwise horrible movie), Colin Firth in Love, Actually (but not in any of those period pieces he's been in), John Cusack (minus the horrible big budget movies), and Brad Pitt (but not when he looks all cleaned up and preppie). Satisfied? Now get up off the floor.

5. Which part of the body are you sexually first attracted to?
Oh, the eyes, definitely the eyes. Preferably blue, but soulful is a requirement.

I will try to post a new set of questions tomorrow, or the next day, no sense in burning out the first day.

Back when I was creative

SuzieQ,
Way back when, like 5 years ago, a friend and I used to exchange emails. Not your everyday, boring, family email. Rather, it was a lot like Friday Five, but personal. It started like this: He sent me an email with five questions, which I then answered, and also added five questions of my own.

Since you were just getting into the FF, and it went down, I thought you and I could just play my friend's game. Posted. You post your answers and your questions on your blog, and then I will answer.....blah, blah, blah. You get the picture. Perhaps, people who want to answer them as well, can post their answers in the comments section.

So, are you in? If so, here's your first five (I am making it a theme this time, but that won't normally happen):

• 1) When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?


• 2) What are the five least essential, yet most mentally important things to you, in your place?


• 3) If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your five-year-old self?


• 4) What is your favorite number? And why? (This only fits the theme because, five happens to be my favorite number.)


• 5) When you were young, did you ever give yourself a "five finger discount"?

Fender Bender Mender Shmender

Why didn't I just stay on the street I was on and make a left on a light, rather than go down to other street to take a right on a corner?
Why did I make that right turn trying to go around the UPS truck, that was parked on my corner, instead of waiting for him to get in his truck and drive off?
Why didn't I drive my own goddamn shorter car?
Why did I even get up today?

Fuck UPS
Fuck Kevo's Vanagon (which is incidently much more fucked than the UPS truck)
Fuck this fucking fucked up fuck of a day, fuck, fuck, fuck

FUCK

Drinking shall commence, AHORA