I did in fact watch American Idol this past week and my thoughts are, "Ehhh." I could take it or leave it. But you know me, for now, I will take it.
The judges put some people through who I think shouldn't have been put through - namely a sixteen year-old cheerleader overachiever - her voice really wasn't all that. But I am not a music industry expert nor am I paid to judge this show, so my opinion is irrelevant.
Maybe this week will be better.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Books Read - January 2008
For those who might be interested in what I read, I am going to post my bookreads on a per month basis. Or you can also always find me on good reads. Last year I read one hundred thirty-seven books.
Not that I am bragging, but I just think that it is absolutely wild. The fact that I read that many books. And it kind of is. It kind of is absolutely wild. Really.
It is. Absolutely wild. One hundred thirty-seven books. Wowsers, Gadgetry.
January has been a month of decent reads. Fluffy fiction, serious fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, and history.
Alpha, by author:
David Allen, Getting Things Done
Felix Luna, A Short History Of The Argentinians
Joyce Carol Oates, The Tattooed Girl
Joyce Carol Oates, Missing Mom
James Patterson, 1st To Die
James Patterson, 2nd Chance
JK Rowling, Order Of The Phoenix
JK Rowling, Half-Blood Prince
Not that I am bragging, but I just think that it is absolutely wild. The fact that I read that many books. And it kind of is. It kind of is absolutely wild. Really.
It is. Absolutely wild. One hundred thirty-seven books. Wowsers, Gadgetry.
January has been a month of decent reads. Fluffy fiction, serious fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, and history.
Alpha, by author:
David Allen, Getting Things Done
Felix Luna, A Short History Of The Argentinians
Joyce Carol Oates, The Tattooed Girl
Joyce Carol Oates, Missing Mom
James Patterson, 1st To Die
James Patterson, 2nd Chance
JK Rowling, Order Of The Phoenix
JK Rowling, Half-Blood Prince
Monday, January 21, 2008
Another Go
I am en route to growing a shagtastic pseudo-mullet.
Why do I do this to myself? You see, I am trying really hard to grow my hair out again. My patience with my hair ranges from little to none, but being the stubborn gal that I am, I am compelled to give it one more try. What I want to know is HOW ON EARTH DID I GROW IT BACK OUT AFTER HAVING SHAVED IT ALL OFF YEARS AGO? What kind of patience did I invest in at that point? I need some of it now.
Sidenote - I should do a post showcasing my varied looks over the years. Yes. I will do that as soon as I get a sweet new scanner.
Why do I do this to myself? You see, I am trying really hard to grow my hair out again. My patience with my hair ranges from little to none, but being the stubborn gal that I am, I am compelled to give it one more try. What I want to know is HOW ON EARTH DID I GROW IT BACK OUT AFTER HAVING SHAVED IT ALL OFF YEARS AGO? What kind of patience did I invest in at that point? I need some of it now.
Sidenote - I should do a post showcasing my varied looks over the years. Yes. I will do that as soon as I get a sweet new scanner.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Hot Water
Say hello to my hot water.
What? It looks like a mere drizzle? Well, it is.
A drizzle that with the help of one hour hard labor - boiling pots of water, electric teakettles full of water - and a jolly laugh by me, I was able to bathe today.
Added to my list of things to do:
Monday - call a plumber?
*And yes, I know, I know, I need to clean the tub.*
What? It looks like a mere drizzle? Well, it is.
A drizzle that with the help of one hour hard labor - boiling pots of water, electric teakettles full of water - and a jolly laugh by me, I was able to bathe today.
Added to my list of things to do:
Monday - call a plumber?
*And yes, I know, I know, I need to clean the tub.*
S-Naked
Last night I had a dream that I was prancing around St. Louis, MO wearing nothing but a pair of the new Ivory Python Christian Louboutin heels.
This is quite atypical of me.
1. St. Louis?!
2. Louboutin heels?!
3. Naked?!
What does it mean?
This is quite atypical of me.
1. St. Louis?!
2. Louboutin heels?!
3. Naked?!
What does it mean?
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Russian Blues
I have a nine year old cat named Lucifer. Inherited from my mom last year, Lucifer has been living the good life with me. She has an electric litterbox, eats the best dry food for older kitties, also chows down on a small can of Fancy Feast a few times a week, and is showered with love and affection. Over the past year she has morphed from superiorly skittish kitty to regal, nonchalant, spoiled kitty.
Here is proof:
Look how regal!!!
I think she needs a friend. I've had this notion for awhile now, but I've been on a mysterious three-month-no-purchase-a-new-pet-unless-the-thought-is-stillthereafterthreemonths-time-limit. This is due to the great Matilda debacle. Ahhhh, Matilda. I do not miss her.
So the next new pet will be a Russian Blue cat. This is what a full-grown Russian Blue looks like:
Equally regal to Luciferface!
But I would hope to grow my Russian Blue into looking more like this:
The three month waiting period is coming to an end, and I think all things will be a go, although if it is decided to move forward with the purchase, it will be officially postponed until late spring due to the impending Argentina trip, but let's not allow me to get ahead of myself here.
After the cat...maybe another dog. Woof! It wouldn't quite be Wild Kingdom, but it would be darn close!
Here is proof:
Look how regal!!!
I think she needs a friend. I've had this notion for awhile now, but I've been on a mysterious three-month-no-purchase-a-new-pet-unless-the-thought-is-stillthereafterthreemonths-time-limit. This is due to the great Matilda debacle. Ahhhh, Matilda. I do not miss her.
So the next new pet will be a Russian Blue cat. This is what a full-grown Russian Blue looks like:
Equally regal to Luciferface!
But I would hope to grow my Russian Blue into looking more like this:
The three month waiting period is coming to an end, and I think all things will be a go, although if it is decided to move forward with the purchase, it will be officially postponed until late spring due to the impending Argentina trip, but let's not allow me to get ahead of myself here.
After the cat...maybe another dog. Woof! It wouldn't quite be Wild Kingdom, but it would be darn close!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Bad TV Gene
Last night one of my buddies told me that I have what he calls the Bad TV Gene. The BTVG is part of your genetic makeup. This gene compels you to shamelessly watch reeeally bad television.
What can I say? Guilty as charged.
Here are the top five current shows shamelessly viewed by yours truly. These shows might make others cringe, but by golly, they roxor my soxors if you know what I mean. Anywho:
1. Degrassi: The Next Generation
2. Desperate Housewives
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Intervention
5. American Idol
I am willing to bet I am not alone in my viewings. I'm just more willing to admit it than a lot of people.
What can I say? Guilty as charged.
Here are the top five current shows shamelessly viewed by yours truly. These shows might make others cringe, but by golly, they roxor my soxors if you know what I mean. Anywho:
1. Degrassi: The Next Generation
2. Desperate Housewives
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Intervention
5. American Idol
I am willing to bet I am not alone in my viewings. I'm just more willing to admit it than a lot of people.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
I Am Your Brother, Forever...
The premiere episodes of American Idol are now finished and I have to seriously question why I was so excited to watch them. Both episodes kind of left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
While a few individuals sang with fantastical talent, most of the auditions were forgettable. This is not to mention that the judges were lacking that certain je ne sais quoi that we, as an audience, grew to adore in the days of yore.
Don't get me wrong. I'll continue to watch this eyesore as I am compulsed to do so, but I have to agree the show has been on the decline for a few years now. Maybe it will get better as the season progresses. Probably not.
While a few individuals sang with fantastical talent, most of the auditions were forgettable. This is not to mention that the judges were lacking that certain je ne sais quoi that we, as an audience, grew to adore in the days of yore.
Don't get me wrong. I'll continue to watch this eyesore as I am compulsed to do so, but I have to agree the show has been on the decline for a few years now. Maybe it will get better as the season progresses. Probably not.
About Those Trips...
Well. Harumph.
Yesterday I thought I had finally solidified my spring 2008 travel plans, only to discover today that the plans, well, they-are-a-changing. Reader, you may have noticed that I took down my previous post due to the somewhat drastic change in plans.
I'll likely have a much clearer picture of what my spring and summer will look like within the next few weeks, so I shall post planned adventures when certain travel plans coagulate. You know, for those of you who might be interested in hearing about the Ws and the H of my travels.
I'm just sayin'.
Yesterday I thought I had finally solidified my spring 2008 travel plans, only to discover today that the plans, well, they-are-a-changing. Reader, you may have noticed that I took down my previous post due to the somewhat drastic change in plans.
I'll likely have a much clearer picture of what my spring and summer will look like within the next few weeks, so I shall post planned adventures when certain travel plans coagulate. You know, for those of you who might be interested in hearing about the Ws and the H of my travels.
I'm just sayin'.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Ooo Whoa Ooo Whoa Ooo
Tonight I will be watching the second episode of this season's American Idol. I have a not-so-secret secret love affair with this show. I should probably be ashamed to watch, because the after effects of the show leave you with that "not so clean feeling." But I am so NOT ashamed. I am unabashedly unashamed. Oh man, I can't wait!
Adventures In Teeth: One
I've had approximately $2700-$3000 worth of work done on my teeth between June 2007 and January 2008. Three. Thousand. Dollars. And I still have two more appointments to keep in February.
My new partials are apparently made from the horn of unicorns.
My new partials are apparently made from the horn of unicorns.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Harry Potter Number Five & Six
If you know me well, you know I read compulsively. If you do not know me well, you will learn that I read compulsively. My latest journies taken were of the Harry Potter sort.
The last Potter book I read was back in 2004. I started to read, and then proceeded to opt out halfway through Flight Of The Phoenix (#5) because I was bored. Yes, bored. So I put the book down and didn't look back until 2008. Four years later.
I felt I should reread the first half and finish the book since I do want to see the film now that it is out on DVD; Yes, even though all the HP films have disappointed me in varying degrees. (And oh man, I sound so pretentious!) So I used one of the lucky gift cards I received for Christmas and purchased another copy of HP 5 seeing as how I lost my last one in one of the many geographic moves I've made over the past four years. And I plowed through it.
HP 5 was a practice of patience for me. I wasn't entirely enthused about the book, but I figured it had to be good or maybe something reeeeeally interesting would come along seeing as how the book is over 800 pages long, but sadly, no. At least not to me. It was all stick and no carrot for me. Read: contrived.
At any rate, I had to forge ahead with HP 6 seeing as how I already had that book in my personal stockpile - thanks to my wonderful mom! So I picked it up and read it in a few hours, and was left feeling similarly as I had upon finishing HP 5. I felt a little empty, papery, and let down.
Maybe it is just me, but I feel like JK Rowling lost something somewhere between HP 4 and HP 5. Like she lost her inspiration, her vigor for the extraordinary. The pages just didn't glitter to me. I am not altogether sure yet, as I am still fleshing out how I feel about the books.
As a Harry Potter fan, I am glad I finally read and finished books 5 and 6 even if I am a bit letdown. I will read HP 7 soon, and maybe that will restore my Harry Potter adoration, maybe not.
Am I heretical for blaspheming Rowling's books?
The last Potter book I read was back in 2004. I started to read, and then proceeded to opt out halfway through Flight Of The Phoenix (#5) because I was bored. Yes, bored. So I put the book down and didn't look back until 2008. Four years later.
I felt I should reread the first half and finish the book since I do want to see the film now that it is out on DVD; Yes, even though all the HP films have disappointed me in varying degrees. (And oh man, I sound so pretentious!) So I used one of the lucky gift cards I received for Christmas and purchased another copy of HP 5 seeing as how I lost my last one in one of the many geographic moves I've made over the past four years. And I plowed through it.
HP 5 was a practice of patience for me. I wasn't entirely enthused about the book, but I figured it had to be good or maybe something reeeeeally interesting would come along seeing as how the book is over 800 pages long, but sadly, no. At least not to me. It was all stick and no carrot for me. Read: contrived.
At any rate, I had to forge ahead with HP 6 seeing as how I already had that book in my personal stockpile - thanks to my wonderful mom! So I picked it up and read it in a few hours, and was left feeling similarly as I had upon finishing HP 5. I felt a little empty, papery, and let down.
Maybe it is just me, but I feel like JK Rowling lost something somewhere between HP 4 and HP 5. Like she lost her inspiration, her vigor for the extraordinary. The pages just didn't glitter to me. I am not altogether sure yet, as I am still fleshing out how I feel about the books.
As a Harry Potter fan, I am glad I finally read and finished books 5 and 6 even if I am a bit letdown. I will read HP 7 soon, and maybe that will restore my Harry Potter adoration, maybe not.
Am I heretical for blaspheming Rowling's books?
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Goals 2008
1. Train, run, and complete the Cleveland Half-Marathon.
2. Begin development on my first book; Write at least thirty minutes a day, five times a week.
3. Broaden freelance network base; Forge ahead with career change; Do rewarding work.
4. Learn all the ins and outs of CSS; Finish website; Develop and launch two new websites; Become more well-versed in the tech world.
5. Continue to circularly practice proactivity in my recovery.
6. Learn how to better manage finances and stick to budget.
7. Travel to at least three new places this year; Continue to save money for trip to Sweden.
8. Train, workout five-six times a week as long as it does not adversely affect my recovery; Begin regular pilates classes.
9. Locate, research, and visit various geographic areas where relocation would be possible in the next three years, so there is a geo-pool from which to choose.
10. Maintain current healthy relationships, purge the unhealthy relationships, improve relationships I want to keep but are currently suffering, and develop and grow healthy new relationships.
2. Begin development on my first book; Write at least thirty minutes a day, five times a week.
3. Broaden freelance network base; Forge ahead with career change; Do rewarding work.
4. Learn all the ins and outs of CSS; Finish website; Develop and launch two new websites; Become more well-versed in the tech world.
5. Continue to circularly practice proactivity in my recovery.
6. Learn how to better manage finances and stick to budget.
7. Travel to at least three new places this year; Continue to save money for trip to Sweden.
8. Train, workout five-six times a week as long as it does not adversely affect my recovery; Begin regular pilates classes.
9. Locate, research, and visit various geographic areas where relocation would be possible in the next three years, so there is a geo-pool from which to choose.
10. Maintain current healthy relationships, purge the unhealthy relationships, improve relationships I want to keep but are currently suffering, and develop and grow healthy new relationships.
Slight Reflection
Every year since I left Arizona, I've written a wellness goal list. This is not to be confused with stereotypical resolutions for the New Year such as: "I resolve to lose weight, quit smoking, etc.," but rather, a list of ways to improve my life and continue to strive to achieve a better balance of wellness in my mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional states. I call(ed) it my "well-list."
I would post previous years in here; However, largely due to the Great Karoline Meltdown of 2007, I deleted all of them off my hard drive. Awesome, right? No.
That seemingly small yet significant action I performed in June of last year, gives you an insight into my state of mind for a large part of last year - not to mention a few years previous to that.
I felt I wasn't worth having goals and dreams to achieve. I simply didn't want to be around anymore. And it surely wasn't worth having a list of five years of small successes and what I perceived to be huge failures for others to view and make commentary on regarding my life when I was busy checking out on everyone - including myself. So I purged those goals and dreams. Just like I intended to purge myself.
I again believe it is important for me to have goals and dreams to achieve, so I am starting over with my list this year. This is yet another small significant action on my part. By doing this, I am showing to myself and others that I am worth existing and having successes as well as failures, no matter how small or large.
Right now, I'm in the race of life for the long haul, and I am hoping to prove to myself and others that I am proactively changing for the better and trying to do the "next best thing" in all aspects of my life.
It was a long way down, and I'm trying to find my way back upUpup. I think the challenge is worth it.
I would post previous years in here; However, largely due to the Great Karoline Meltdown of 2007, I deleted all of them off my hard drive. Awesome, right? No.
That seemingly small yet significant action I performed in June of last year, gives you an insight into my state of mind for a large part of last year - not to mention a few years previous to that.
I felt I wasn't worth having goals and dreams to achieve. I simply didn't want to be around anymore. And it surely wasn't worth having a list of five years of small successes and what I perceived to be huge failures for others to view and make commentary on regarding my life when I was busy checking out on everyone - including myself. So I purged those goals and dreams. Just like I intended to purge myself.
I again believe it is important for me to have goals and dreams to achieve, so I am starting over with my list this year. This is yet another small significant action on my part. By doing this, I am showing to myself and others that I am worth existing and having successes as well as failures, no matter how small or large.
Right now, I'm in the race of life for the long haul, and I am hoping to prove to myself and others that I am proactively changing for the better and trying to do the "next best thing" in all aspects of my life.
It was a long way down, and I'm trying to find my way back upUpup. I think the challenge is worth it.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Disjointedness
One week into the new year. I typically make a list of goals to achieve on an annual basis, so I'll post that soon.
I have been experiencing a somewhat unmanageable malaise regarding work and writing and exercise and lifeingeneral, so I am hoping that will pass as soon as I get more endorphins pumping through my body with the help of Operation GymRat.
I have been experiencing a somewhat unmanageable malaise regarding work and writing and exercise and lifeingeneral, so I am hoping that will pass as soon as I get more endorphins pumping through my body with the help of Operation GymRat.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Back To The Gym
After taking a weeklong break, it's high time I got back to the gym. I'm certainly not going to run the half in two hours or less by not training and being lumpy. I know, I know. The marathon isn't until May, but better to get safe, adequate training in so that I will achieve my goal. Not very interesting, is it?
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