I should work on another pictures episode. I have been meaning to update my own part of the site. I should also be working on crafts --- but right now I am caught up in cleaning this house. Ugh. I decided to start with one room and work my way around. The room in question is ....the KITCHEN! Woo. You gotta always start with that because of the dirty dishes. Then the counters. Then the stove. The microwave. Sweep the dirty floor. Mop the filthy floor. Clean of the table (this one took ALL week to do) -- and it is almost done.

Just barely. Then I move onto the living room. Right now we have a big disassembled desk squatting in the living room that needs to be put together and moved into the office. But you see, that is going to require a lot of stuff being moved around. Not to mention the taking down of the current desk and moving it downstairs to the laundry room. I want to put it in a corner so I have a table in that room...wouldn't that be nice? People do that kind of thing -- make their laundry room seem cozy. Speaking of which I gotta go and switch the laundry... there. Set.

I just don't know how I am going to arrange it. I want more carpet for the basement. Carpets make basement's cozy -- and warm. I wonder if that ReStore place sells carpet...hm. Not that I can be thinking about big expenditures. I got bad news that the percapita payment for May is going to 1/3 less. As much as I resisted not relying on this money -- since moving back to Madison it kind of happened. Thank god I have a job. It's going to take two months of my job to save the missing money -- and I guess I have until June to do it (for July). Sigh. This just isn't my month so far. I should save the money first before saving for the dream bed and computer. And then, I am not really sure that the percapita money will go back to it's orginal state -- the article was very vague--THEN what would we do? I would have to get a second job, or a real one. I know that this probably sounds all whiney and ungrateful to my nonindian friends -- but or for my indian friends who don't have casino's --- I know. But it's a real concern for me and a sucky one at that. Maybe I should just save ALL of it and not buy anything until I am absolutely sure what is going to happen.

Damnit. I need new shoes too -- it's been three years since my last new pair. Well, that we will buy next month. Tim needs a new pair of shoes too.

I went out last night with Hildog (as Tim calls her) to the Inferno. I drank five beers and then had to go home. I had a great time talking with Hilary though and did my classic tmi booze talk. Today ... I am suffering the consequences of one beer too many (although it's getting better now). Ugh.

I am making a cake right now. My birthday cake for scrabble tonight. I think I might break polite ettiquitte and cut a piece when it's done (if I have time). Well I will leave a piece for my sweet darling ....

I want to lose 30 pounds right now.
I took a bath today.
Rainy whined for an hour after Tim left this morning.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is getting MUCH better faster.
I am expecting a package of Czech wafer candy in the mail. I wish it would get here now.
I am half way done crocheting my granny motif poncho.
My cake is probably burning.

Once in a while I will do these...and today seems JUST that kind of day. Especially since I am the only one in the office. ;)

High School Meme

[What years was it?]
1990-1994 (1993)

[What were your three favorite bands?]
Pearl Jam, Queensryche, Temple of the Dog

[What was your favorite outfit?]
Black jeans, black T-shirt (later was tye dyed bleached ... in the toliet), and either one of those 'bahas' or my ugly brown sweater (button up front). I wore a bike chain too.

[What was up with your hair?]
Pretty long, brown for the most part and halfway through the year -- right after forensics.... it became half black (down the middle) to symbolize being half indian. (and because I thought it looked cool)

[Who were your best friends?]
Jaime

[What did you do after school?]
Walked, or rode bike home and read. Occasionally went to the coffee house to hang out and when it was warm to The Bottoms. Waited for the weekends when Jaime and I would hang out -- but I think this was the year we were grounded from each other after our great Harvest Fest escapade. So we would write letters...and that year I hung out with Piia (from Finland).

[Where did you work?]
What? Why would I want to do that? I knew I would have to work the rest of my life. BUT, I did have three little jobs during the two summers....one was strawberry picking (lasted one month), janitor at UW Stout (one month), and Goodwill employee (2 months).

[Did you take the bus?]
Yes I lived in the woods for heaven's sake. Then when we moved to Menomonie -- I told Mom I wasn't going to school unless I was driven. I would find my own way home but she had to get me there. When it was nice though, I rode my bike. Later on when I lived only blocks from the School and Mom was back with Frank -- I insisted that Frank drive me to school or I wasn't going. Again, I DID ride my bike when it nice, and walked home when it was crappy (all after school).

[Who did you have a crush on?]
Ray Birch. He was the only other native in that whole damned school...and he was SOOOO cool, and cute and all of that.

[Did you fight with your parents?]
Always.

[Who did you have a CELEBRITY crush on?]
The dude from Pearl Jam (sheesh)

[Did you smoke cigarettes?]
Hell no. I gave my Mom a hard time daily for it.

[Did you lug all of your books around in your backpack all day because you were too nervous to find your locker?]
No way. I didn't have that many books anyway and I only used one notebook. Maybe two...losers use school books.

[Did you have a 'clique'?]
Not really. I mean, I hung out with the drama/nerd/hesher/poor kids...but I had a best friend. When you have a best friend you don't need anyone else.

[Did you have "The Max" like Zach Kelly and Slater?]
No, but I did like that show. :)

[Admit it, were you popular?]
Ha ha ha ha. Only in 4th grade.

[Who did you want to be just like?]
A lady. A pure, perfect, polite, educated, smart, funny, beautiful, kind--lady.

[What did you want to be when you grew up?]
A writer.

[Where did you think you'd be at the age you are now?]
I had no idea. I didn't think beyond the next month. I just knew I didn't want to be like every one else I grew up with and in my family. To date, I can proudly say I am STILL the only one in my family (little brother andrew aside) that hasn't been arrested for anything.

-------

Ha ha. How was that? What a self important thing to do. But I am in a good mood today. I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.

I got a mix CD from Phil yesterday! Two of them in fact...and so far I started on disk two this morning and ....and as many times as people put Beck on mix CD's for us...will never make us like them. But that is to be expected...Tim and I were born without the "beck" gene. And when I say US and mix cd's and what not...I really mean me. Although I think Tim is really going to like disk one. In any case, we are enjoying it immensely. I look forward to the drive to work in the morning. I will get started on your cd as soon as I get home today.

Man, Tim always gets the benefit of being attached to me. In his case, marriage benefited him WELL. Well maybe me too...I do have a personal driver....but him more than me for sure.

What a rotten birthday (hilary and darling aside). I don't want to talk about it. Don't ask me. I will tell you, however after my hair cut from Lowen, and TGIF lunch with Hilary and the Hill-lets, I came home to that unmistakable odor....I walked into the bedroom and saw that indeed... Rainy the foster dog's crate was smeared with poop. There was poop on the wall, runny poop all over the shredded sheet that used to cover the crate, diarreha all over the ripped up blue towel that was pulled mostly though two small holes, crap all over the bedding blankets...and did I mention shit on the wall?

Man. It was disgusting. I was in no mood for it and called Tim. He said he would be on his way home. I went into the room and sent the dogs outside while I put on rubber gloves and proceeded to gather the bedding and carpet tiles. I then bleach cleaned the crate and wall and then sprayed it with that pet enzyme stuff. Tim came home as I was done and closed to the door to let it air dry and thankfully -- I left the rest of it to him. Including the trip to Walgreen's for poop medicine, and to the Vet, and letting her out every 20 minutes, and getting dinner, etc. I am just hoping that I am not greeted with that when I get home THIS time.

Poor Rainy and her medical problems -- she STILL has whip worms which may be contributing to her feeling ill and pooping everywhere. She was pooping so much that she was yelping when she went. Poor dog. I am glad she isn't OUR dog though.

Pluto is such a good boy.

Already today is better. Janet (my boss) made a pot of decaf flavored coffee AND coffee cake for my birthday! How nice. I decided with Hilary yesterday that I was just going to celebrate my birthday on other days. So...work recognition this morning, partying tomorrow, and cake on Thursday.

I just have to remember that everything is okay. Everything will be alright.

My nose has been bloody this morning. Now when I blow it, it "smells" like burnt flour. You know when you aren't really smelling anything...it's just a smell that is inside your head? That kind. It's icky. I am sick of my nose not cooperating with me. I have a good mind to fire it.

It's warmer today. I am tired today. I stayed up too late last night reading about Twixter's. You know those shiftless young adults between the ages of 23-28 (they say, but I think it's closer to 30). The people who are still living at home, or took forever to graduate from college, change jobs often, change apartments often, want to get married but just not right now (as in marriage is something for when you are 30), change mates often -- all because they are overwhelmed with "choice," debt and a desire to find "themselves."

The top five indicators of adulthood are: finishing school, financial independence, getting married, having a kid and buying a home. I guess I am not a twixter...since I moved out when I was 18 and haven't depended on anyone but myself.

I think it's interesting to read these Time articles about ... generations in progress. It's all subjective really. I mean, isn't that what every old generation says about the younger one? These twixters would become adults REAL fast if there was a crisis in their immediate world (war, famine, plague). I doubt many would fail the ultimate survival test (ie getting a job to feed themselves). Then again...maybe they would and it would leave the world with more opportunities for me and those I can boss around ;)

As for work today -- I have a lot of typing to do. It's okay normally, but this morning I just can't get it together.

And Kathleen, YES we should have lunch together sometime. A late lunch...I don't get done until 1.20. But am pretty open to whenever you are available.

Oh and we decided not to go the Queensryche show...it was a tough decision. The concert is Operation Mindcrime..and dude...it's the Barrymore. A small intimate theather to see this concert in. Too bad the ticket prices are 35 dollars! It would cost 70 bucks for us to go. We decided to spend that money (less for sure) on a trip to Outback Sunday night. Everyone is free to join us if they want! Outback is my favorite resturant. They have the guts to make their potatos swim in butter that I cannot seem to do at home.

Hey Pat, how much Ho Chunk do you speak?

My weekend just wasn't that great. On Friday I had a slight tugging in my chest...a cough. I still went and met Oliver and his old roommate with Tim at the Wearly Traveller and had drinks and appetizer food. I saw Andy and chatted with him for awhile too. Then we left and got home in time to watch Battlestar Galatica (good stuff -- I was really impressed with how they started off....where they LEFT off and how everyone was SO tired. You could feel the doggedness of the whole situation). I think I have a small crush on the head mechanic: CPO Tyrol.

Saturday I woke up sick with a terrible chest cold. Damnit. I hate chest colds. It's when you feel perfectly fine but feel the need to cough up a lung -- painfully. Still, I went with Tim to Geneva to walk dogs. It was cold enough the dogs only wanted one lap -- and some of them didn't even want that. I only went out three times because the air hurt to breath. Later that night I got some medicine and stopped at Laima's party but didn't stay long. I saw someone I used to know from college though -- Paul who was once Lowen's roommate. I found that we didn't have too much to say in general and we all just stood by the fire looking at it.

Sunday sick and lots of TV and croqueting.

Today... I don't feel so coughy...but my nose is full of yuck and I feel like when you were a kid and had a sick day. You weren't completely miserable and had some energy to do stuff. Too bad all my "stuff" is lame like finally taking down and putting away Christmas bunnies. I also need to sweep and vacuum. The dust bunnies have been breeding like mad and are everywhere!

Oh and I have a headache that won't seem to go away. When is my headache syringe going to be invented already? I would really like to suck out these headaches juices and get on with my life.

Too bad this post is kind of crabby. I guess that is just what I am right now.

You know there was a time when I used to post almost every day? Don't expect that to happen again any time soon. But sometimes you just get into a .... roll. Today I forwent ER. I shouldn't be watching two hours of TV in the precious morning when there are tons of other things I should be doing. Um..none of which I have done yet. Although I did have a great chat with Erika, read several journals, wrote a few emails, took a shower and soon I will go check out Toad Hill Coffee House with Hilary (I would give you the link but for some reason blogger isn't letting me do that today) with Hilary. It's on the east side and is made from a historic landmarking one room school house.

I also paid a bill, and now I am eating lunch. I dont' want to be too hungry and overspent the five free dollars I got in the mail the other day for giving my opinion. If only EVERYONE would pay me for my opinion.

I was almost struck by lightening! Yeah, on the way home. A thunderstorm...and my coat and shoes got all wet, but I was still dry by the time I got home. Ahh, it's nice to be home and take afternoon naps in the drizzly rain surrounded by sleepy animals.

I forgot to give a report on how Rainy did at the Vet. She had/has a raging UTI and is currently on a 500 dose amocillian two week regime. Now that IS serious! She is starting to seem a big better and the intervals between having to go go go is getting bigger. She also had two kinds of worms...hook and ring or something like that. Both the kind of worms that you get from playing with their poop or eating. Neither of which I do. Ugh...she finished her treatment for that yesterday. It's a good thing she LOVES food so much (no wonder considering all of her thousands of tiny little parasites), so it makes it easy to give her medicine.

I need to take better pictures of her so that she can go on the website. As much of a cutie as she is, Pluto and Innsmouth aren't taking too kindly to her. She also has some signs of seperation anxiety....I am going to have to brush up on how to deal with that and dust off the kongs. She also likes to make herself comfortable on our bed. Ha ha..but Pluto used to do that too. "But! It's the biggest dog bed around!"

Oh man. I slay me! ha

So I need to order one of those wrist rests for the mouse at work. I swear I carpalled myself this morning using the computer without one. My wrist is STILL hurting and I am even contemplating wearing a wrist guard or something.

There is a candy/chocolatier store on State Street! It's by the Orpheum...and it's tasty. I stopped in and bought two pieces of candy for 1.60. There was one in Evanston I used to visit occasionally. Sometimes it is just nice to stop at a candy store for some...handmade candy.

I REALLY need to get to work on catching up with my letters.

Tired today. Last night Tim and I went to Andy's benefit at the High Noon Saloon. I keep saying Salon and Tim keeps getting mad at me. What a nice space! I really liked it there and it wasn't too smokey at all. At least not compared to the Cardinal, which we went to on Friday night for a going away party. Just walking through the door and being assailed by the Cardinal smell brought back a multitude of memories. It has been years since I have last been to the Cardinal. My first club. The place I met my husband. This time around, we felt ... old. I guess it's because it was a Friday night and full of perky little college girls and frat type boys standing around -- it felt like someone's basement with good lights and loud music.

Ahh the Tardinal. I wish I could have one more Tuesday night there.

Anyway, so the Benefit was good and I talked to Callie and Jason for quite a while. I saw Sigrid briefly and Lowen (who is as excited for the hair cut as I am), Kelly, Brian, Tonya, Troy, Allison, Ryan, Bierka, Kathleen, Chuck, Mike, Matt and Andy. How's that for name dropping? Ha ha ha.

OH that reminds me. This morning when Tim was dropping me off at work...we were waiting to turn into the parking lot but a big group of academics were slowing crossing on the sidewalk. Just as the last scholarly few were crossing Tim accidently beeped our horn! It was so funny. He was absolutely mortified...especially since we were both saying "come on..." ha ha. Oh my god. It's making me laugh even now. All I could say to him as I left was "pick up the pace bitches."

I really need to catch up on letters. I think I only wrote one letter for the month of December and that was to my Mom. I seriously have to catch up. It's just that I think a nap might be more beneficiary right now. A short nap? Hm...

test test

I was going to post last night, but I ran out of time. However I did update Week in Pictures for January. So I guess there are few new things to report.

1. We have a new foster dog. Her name is Rainy and we picked up on Wednesday night. She's a cutie and half and very affectionate. She is a return because the owner could not take care of all four of his greyhounds anymore. Dude, talk about collecting. She has been neglected and had fleas, no updated vaccinations and her nails are long and sharp. The sucky thing about that, is that we are wusses when it comes to trimming dog nails. Especially since Pluto is SUCH a sissy. A loud yelpy sissy at that. We have been reluctant to work on them. We also think she has a UTI, she needs to pee frequently and drinks loads of water. The foster place she was at for two days before she came to us reported that she peed in her crate twice. Today was her first day alone in the house -- so we kenneled her for six hours and when I got back and let her out she peed outside and nothing in the crate. Whew...she is a good girl at heart. Anyway, she has a vet appointment on Saturday..tomorrow? Eh, at 9:00 and they want us to bring in a pee sample. How the hell do get a female dog pee sample? It's a problem I am happy to pass onto Tim.

2. I started my new job! It's great. I work mornings and am home in the afternoon to do whatever I please and I always have the next day off. I like the job too! Since it is a small office I don't have to deal with a lot of folks coming in and out, or answering phones or putting out big fires. I just go in and do administrative stuff...it rocks! No big thinking and I am kept occupied. There is no way I can get bored because I am not there that long.

I got my student ID today after waiting for 45 minutes this morning with NO one there in an open office. I was very cold, and questioned her as soon as she arrived what time they opened. She got very defensive and said 8:00....and that she had car trouble. I mentioned that a man had stopped by and said that they were closed yesterday with a sign that said they would open at 9:00. As in...well this is a common problem apparently. She asked who it was, and I said simply that it was a man. Oh, and I had put somewhere in there "Was there a notice on the website or otherwise that would have let me known about last minute changes in the hours?" She replied "Well it snowed yesterday and some schools got let out." TO which I am thinking "so? I was only 15 minutes late...not 45...shit.

Anyway. I eventually got my bus pass too. I celebrated by eating a 7 layer burrito at taco bell (the cost of a bus ride), on the way home. I am glad the wind died down a bit from this morning. There was hoar frost everywhere and looked really beautiful. I wish I had taken a picture then...but when you are in a car it just doesn't have the same effect as standing in some quiet place and taking photographs.

Happy New Year!