Amanda! Would have done what? I clicked on the New York Daily News link and got nothing!! AUGH! I want to know. (pout pout)

Who said this?

The cops'll take care of it. That's what they get paid for.
posted by SPowers at 10:10 PM | Remember It!

Misty: It says you're feeling stressed right now, but I assume it means you were feeling stressed then and not now. Now as in this weekend. Of course, you may be, what with all the company you're having. That can be stressful. Being the hostess. But being the guest... that's sheer bliss. I'm sure they're all having a hoot & a half!
posted by SPowers at 10:05 PM | Remember It!

Chris: There are times when I read your blog and just have to say, "Thank GOD I'm already married and do NOT have to do ANYTHING like THAT ever again!" All that talk about bridesmaid's dresses, flowers, receptions, bands vs. DJs... UGH UGH UGH!! Still... I suppose it's one of those things that everyone has to go through, so you may as well make the most of it while you can.

My wedding was no-frills, by comparison. My mom rented a (small) hall. His mom paid for the catering. My mom got the alcohol, the wedding dress ($150, on sale, David's Bridal), the veil ($115 - can you believe it!), the shoes ($20?) for me, and then T-man's first wife took my mom's credit card, bought a green dress (my only requirement for my one attendant (Matron of Honor) was she wear a green dress) and shoes - spent $100 give or take... and that was pretty much the expense. Oh -and flowers. My mom paid for the flowers, but it was done by a girl I'd known since moving to that town when I was six, so we got a discount. I wrote the ceremony, we got a Notary Public/ friend of the family to perform it, we had taped music, Sweet composed the Recessional; after the ceremony ( less than 10 minutes long) we had some of the guests help put the room to rights so we could eat & dance & drink and we all had a great time. The reception's the important part - it's what people remember, so that's where we put the money. I've been to weddings where people spent a LOT more $$ and we've had a decent time, but that's not where the memories come from, you know? People won't remember the vows or the cake, but they will remember me & Sweet standing on the dance floor waiting for our tape to begin and, instead of "When I Fall In Love" (sung by Brent Spiner), hearing some salsa music begin instead. *grin* It was a pretty funny moment. What was my point? Oh - I think I was just being glad that I don't have to do what you're doing with all that planning & stuff. That's it - I'm gloating.
posted by SPowers at 10:02 PM | Remember It!

Tina: The Hobbit never quite took the same hold in my imagination as LOTR. Perhaps I should pick up a copy and read it? (No - I don't own one myself.) You mention also that closing up the house seems to rob you of energy. I feel the same way sometimes. Course, here, in S. FL., we could pretty much keep the windows open all year round if we really wanted to, but it's the same thing on a lesser scale, I think. Having the windows open just makes everything seem... more real, somehow, more natural, more connected to everything that's going on outside with everyone else. I know I pay more attention to the things going on outside when I can hear them (things like birds, rainfall, kids playing on the grass, neighbors coming & going) and that makes me feel less isolated from the 'real world.' Being locked up in a hermetically sealed office building during the day and then coming home to open the windows and enjoy the sunset breeze is like literally getting my second wind. All the days' stress & worry gets blown away and I'm left feeling energized and happy to be alive. Damn, but I love Spring!!
posted by SPowers at 9:52 PM | Remember It!

Sara says I'm one of the "BLOGS WORTH VISITING"! Wow! Thanks, girlfriend! (And I hope you have a fantastic time in Colorado!!)
posted by SPowers at 9:42 PM | Remember It!

Hello! Isn't it roomy in here? Do I hear an echo? echo.. echo.. echo..

Yes. My birthday present - my very own Precious - is home, up and running beautifully!! Wow. 30 gig is a LOT. I don't think I'll ever use it all. But I'm sure going to try!! I'm off to surf around a bit. Be back later!
posted by SPowers at 9:38 PM | Remember It!

Well, I worked out last night despite my cold. It was 'member appreciation day' at the gym, so they had crudites & torn-up bagels w/ cream cheese & fruit punch set out for everyone. I had some carrots. About halfway through my workout, I started feeling much better - like I didn't have to have my crumpled-up tissue in emergency position all the time. My nose was SO sore! Lotion-enhance tissues REALLY make a difference.

Anyway. Last night was my 15th visit to the gym, so I got measured & weighed 'officially.' I've 'officially' gained 4 pounds. My inches have changed in my arms, hips and calves - about 3/4 to 1 inch in each area (I may have gained in my thigh, too, but it wasn't much if I did). I spoke to the measurer and asked her about it. She thought it could be all in muscle, because I have made great progress in the weights that I am lifting (as much as 20 pounds or more in some areas), but I'm still a little unsure about that. I haven't changed my eating habits - as you may recall, that was the point of exercising. So I didn't HAVE to 'diet.' What is also true, is that I don't think I'm doing the right cardio exercises. I don't always leave the treadmill or lifecycle dripping sweat and panting for breath, if you know what I mean. Lately - in the last week, week & a half or so, I've been working on that part of my workout, too. I've gone up to the 3rd level on the bike (24 minute hill routine at level 3), and on the treadmill I actually jogged for 4 minutes (woo-hoo!) and got up to a 3.2 speed at a 10% incline.

Gotta go now. Duty calls!
posted by SPowers at 2:19 PM | Remember It!

I have a cold. I don't feel good. But I can't go home because Bossman doesn't care about getting germs. Bosswoman does, but she's winging her way to Utah to go skiing this weekend (lucky girl!) with a bunch of friends. I don't ski, but she's lucky to get away from here. Me, I get to stay here with Bossman... all by my self. Yippee.

I saw Deb's question (I'm finally getting some time to catch up on blogs & stuff) about surrounding yourself with people like your or different from you. There is no one quite like Sweet & me, so by default, I'm going to say 'different.'

Naturally, it wasn't *always* so. In school, I mostly found myself hanging out with 'smart' kids, but my friends tended to be Catholic, so I did end up going to church with them (I liked singing and they were members of the church folk group). So that exposed me to some 'different' people/ situations. My unversity is extremely diverse. At the time, about 30% of the students (or more) came from the Caribbean. It was interesting to see the differences between the islanders, their accents, their attitudes - it was a fascinating study of historical influences on modern-day people. Also, it was a truly beautiful young woman from Grenada who first told me about the Anne of Green Gables books and convinced me they weren't 'children's' books - not really. (She's right.) Barry University also introduced me to different teachers who had different styles and I discovered how each was valuable to me. (Dr. Schanfield was tough but fair, almost stern in appearance; she required term papers to be heavy on documentation - which taught me the value of research and proof. Mrs. Laszlo was kind and generous, almost girlish in appearance; she required term papers to be heavy on original thought - which taught me the value of forming & defending my own positions. [She also said once: the perfect bibliography would have only the primary source listed. I don't care what other people think - I want to know what YOU think.] Both women were intellectual titans and threw WONDERFUL parties.)

As I entered the workforce, met my Sweet and basically 'grew up,' I discovered all sorts of people with all sorts of strengths & weaknesses. In my first job, I was the only one who was going to a 'serious' college - if any college was attended at all. Most of the people there were working for beer money. Sweet was not at all the man my mom had dreamed up for me - believe it or not. But getting to know & love him, I realized he had hidden depths of sheer genius that I could never fully appreciate - but I was damned sure going to try!

I've been friends with people older than me, younger than me, more promiscuous AND less; homosexuals, lesbians, hets - with or without children. Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hare Krishnas. Bigots, even. I've been friends with people who've done time in psyche hospitals; people who believe in God, people who don't, people who never think about it. I don't think any of them would ever try to convert me - I don't think I give off the impression that I worry about things like that. Then again, I find other people's beliefs utterly fascinating and adore discussing the finer points of religious philosophy - but realize too that, by definition of being an adult, my mind and their's has more than likely already been made up on such things. Basically, I live and let live and expect others to do the same.

I don't think I've ever been in a situation where I was shunned or whatever because of my beliefs. Is that because I've never shunned anyone for theirs? *shrug*
posted by SPowers at 3:47 PM | Remember It!

This PC is soooo sllloooowwwww....

But at least it's better than nothing! I can get my email, surf my regular sites (albeit slowly) and it's almost as if nothing's changed for me PC-wise! Of course, it would all be SO much nicer with my 750mhz, 30+gig PC/birthday present... but I digress.

Confidential to Amanda: SPOOOOOOON!

Confidential to women with 'women troubles': {{{hug}}} Listen to your body; it knows what's wrong and can help you figure out the best way to fix it.

Confidential to penis poetesses: Keep it up, Sister!

Confidential to all paranoiacs: Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Confidential to all sleep-talkers (of which I am one as well): mmumblle mmurmur... um-hmm... huhmum?

Confidential to the prejudiced twit who sat behind me at the Human Chess Combat: You need help. You have no idea how ugly you are becoming and if you are not extremely careful, you will become that which you most fear.

Confidential to Mama Cow: Mooo!

Confidential to Sweet: Sorry I freaked out on you when I called, but how was I to know the problem was in the program and not the user? It so rarely works out that way.
posted by SPowers at 6:04 PM | Remember It!