peek-a-boo 2:33 PM

I see you . . .

One Week To Go 5:51 PM

Still plodding away, working on crating up my life, moving to . . .

Thanks to everyone who has been tolerant of me during this time period. Mom, Dad, Scott, Barb, Mike, Tim, Julia, and the neighbors who unknowingly were gracious enough to allow me to use their dumpster, I couldn't have done it all without you!

Change Of Address 8:20 PM

I've been to Florida countless times, talked on and on about living there, made numerous trips, thought long and hard, focused my efforts, made the decision, spent months preparing. Then one day something changed everything and I am heading in a whole different direction. Still moving Southeast, just not as far as originally planned.

Completely Disorganized 8:36 PM

Not even close to being packed and ready to move. I just seem to be moving piles of chaos from one side of the room to the next at this point. Pulling things from the walls, shelves, closets, and creating piles. At some point I'm sure it'll come together and look like an organized mess, yet I just seem to create more and more piles. I am going to call out for help soon, moving is not something one person should be doing on his own. Help?

Black Or Brown Cow 7:36 PM

While I have always enjoyed having one, this Summer I have been indulging myself with a nightly brown cow. What is a brown cow? root beer and vanilla ice cream. I prefer mine blended, but a float is just as delicious. I have been tempted to use chocolate ice cream, but haven't gotten to just yet. Then again, I am also want to use ginger ale in place of root beer, or even orange soda. There's still plenty of days of Summer left for me to create a yummy treat!

Special Delivery 6:51 PM

I was out and about, went to the book store (again), stopped by Mom and Dad's for a quick visit and returned home. Sitting by the door was a package. I hadn't ordered anything, so I was wondering what it could be. It was a box of dark chocolates and a coffee mug. Something unexpected, touching, and special. Thank you for a wonderful gift. Check Box 28.

Plane, Trains, and Automobiles 6:49 PM

One of my favorite filmmakers passed away today. John Hughes, who created such classic movies as Sixteen Candles,The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, along with Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, among others defined the 80s, provided moments of sheer entertainment, not to mention the music soundtracks that keep me reminiscing and grooving to this day.

Stop 8:31 PM

One day I would love to just stop. Whatever. Drinking coffee, facebook, being nice, walking, memorizing faces, reading the paper in the same order every morning, driving a car, liking fish, carrying a wallet, liking people so much, smoking, fantasizing, feeding corporate greed, second guessing myself, craving chocolate, iced coffee drinks, procrastinating, forgetting birthdays, writing checks, being skeptical, daydreaming, underwear, biting my nails, judging people, reality shows, late night sundaes, checking emails, explaining myself, shaving, ironing, drive-thru windows, cell phones . . .

Midway 2:11 PM

Tim, Julia, and I went down to Northpoint for dinner, over to O'Donnell Park to the circus grounds to look at the wagons, animals, and exhibits for the Great Circus Parade this weekend, and then to Leon's for ice cream last night. I had a good time clowning around the Midway!

Mom and Dad, Happy Anniversary!!!

Innocent 6:11 PM

Life is so dull
filled with white and black
finding a thrill
staring at the wall

Sitting in your new chair
you're going to be there awhile
you deserve a better life
I deserve a better life

tell me

what's going on in here

Innocent, I'm innocent, Innocent

(Copywritten 1986, To Fall Music MG/SR)

Florida Edition 3:59 PM

I've been finding my way around the city, know how to get downtown and to the beach. Found a McDonald's with free Wi-Fi so each morning I go there for coffee and search the web. I really could live here, just need to find that job.

One Of My Favorites 6:36 PM

I always laugh my ass off (LMAO) anytime I catch Family Guy on TV. It's shown twice daily locally and numerous times nightly on cable, so anytime I need a laugh, I can tune into the adventures of Peter Griffin, a bumbling, but well-intentioned, blue-collar worker. Peter is an Irish American Catholic with a prominent Rhode Island/Eastern Massachusetts accent. His wife Lois is a stay-at-home mother and piano teacher, and has a distinct New England accent from being a member of the Pewterschmidt family of wealthy socialites. Peter and Lois have three children: Meg, their teenage daughter, who is frequently the butt of Peter's jokes due to her homeliness and lack of popularity; Chris, their teenage son, who is overweight, unintelligent and, in many respects, a younger version of his father; and Stewie, their diabolical infant son of ambiguous sexual orientation who has adult mannerisms and speaks fluently with what some consider an upper-class affected English accent and stereotypical archvillain phrases.[6] Living with the family is Brian, the family dog, who is highly anthropomorphized, walks on two legs, drinks Martinis, smokes cigarettes and engages in human conversation, though he is still considered a pet in many respects.

Many recurring characters appear alongside the Griffin family. These include the family's colorful neighbors: sex-crazed airline-pilot bachelor Glenn Quagmire; mild-mannered deli owner Cleveland Brown and his wife (ex-wife as of the fourth-season episode "The Cleveland–Loretta Quagmire") Loretta Brown with their hyperactive son, Cleveland Jr.; paraplegic police officer Joe Swanson, his wife Bonnie and their baby daughter Susie; paranoid Jewish pharmacist Mort Goldman, his wife Muriel Goldman and their geeky and annoying son Neil; and elderly homosexual ephebophile Herbert. TV news anchors Tom Tucker and Diane Simmons, reporter Tricia Takanawa and Blaccu-Weather meteorologist Ollie Williams also make frequent appearances. The possibly deranged and ethically challenged Mayor Adam West (voiced by and named after the real Adam West) rounds out the recurring cast.

Thanks Wikipedia for the outline and Seth McFarlane for creating such an out of control, hilarious, highly entertaining TV show. Today I needed to laugh.

I'm Going To Vegas!!! 9:15 AM

Well, not really, just going to be house sitting while Scott and Barb go to Vegas. Four days with Baxter, Dory, Scout, and Gem. Four days of pretending to be a homeowner! Four days to soak in the hot tub! I'll be going mobile. So there will be a post or two from the cell phone! Ahh technology! Ahh hot tub!

Get The Picture 1:54 PM

I had an Olympus Stylus digital camera that has gone on many trips and took some wonderful pictures of my adventures. On one of the last trips, I used it to take some in the water, as it could be used in a water environment as long as it isn't submerged. Well, the water tight seal wasn't so water tight and the insides did get wet and the xD card reader shorted out. The camera was under warranty, so I shipped it off for repair back in February. Today I received what I thought was my camera back from the manufacturer. It wasn't. It is a brand new camera, an upgrade! I am now charging the battery and will be giving the camera a test run to check it out. Yay, I'll be able to take pictures while I'm scouting Florida locations!

There's Something In These Dreams . . . 2:52 PM

With one phone call the plan is in motion...

more to follow

A New Dog 3:55 PM

The day is warm, some sun, perfect to get outside. Did a little job hunting this morning, some reading, then got ready to meet Tim for lunch down at UWM. Got there at my regular scheduled time, had to wait an hour for his assistant to arrive. We chatted, surfed the net ubtil Aaron showed up. Then we walked over to the Dogg Haus, where I had to get the Atlanta Dog. Usually I get a Chicago dog, buttoday I wanted to try something new. The Atlanta Dog is a chili dog, with onions and cole slaw on top. All I can say is YUM. I wolfed it down before Tim was half way through his meal. I still favor my Chicago Dog, but have another new favorite!

Early In The Morning 6:20 PM

3am. The phone rings. I reach out. Answer it. Dial tone. I'm up. Get dressed. Brush teeth. Gel hair. The phone rings. Again. I reach out. Answer it. Jody is on her way. Grab my keys. Head out the door. Foggy. Streets deserted. 20 minutes go by. 80 blocks go by. 4 cars go by. She's waiting. In the lobby. 9 hours go by. 1,000s of people go by. $111.37 more than I had. I leave. Drive home. Nap. Still tired.

Just What I Needed . . . 2:51 PM

I was online today applying for a job in web design. The job site sent me to the companies website to fill out a questionnaire about my experience. About half way through a pop up window appeared thanking me for applying, and based on the answers provided, I did not meet the eligibility requirements. I laughed, even though I was disappointed.

In the mail today I received the first unemployment compensation check along with two letters denying me four weeks of unemployment for not following proper procedure when registering. Again I had to laugh, even though I was disappointed by more government bureaucracy.

Then I read my brother Patrick's blog. Again I laughed. And I smiled. And I cried. Somehow he always finds a way to be there for me.

http://dndpat.blogspot.com/2009/04/when-i-need-lift.html

The Leo Dragon 8:32 PM

Everything won't be so easy during these days: despite some valuable awareness, you'll go through moments of stress, disillusions, and conflicts. If your heart is free to be taken, you'll make an encounter of paramount importance during a meeting at your close relatives' house. Your resistance against microbial and viral infections will be reduced; therefore, redouble your precautions and consider, for example, taking a trace-element treatment so as to reinforce the natural defenses of your body. The stars will protect you, and nothing serious can bring you down. Try to be much more tactful so as to improve things. Your cholesterol level could increase; get a blood test made, replace meat with fish more often and butter with vegetable oils. You can count on some valuable friendly support, which will give you the means of carrying out a project that you have so close to your heart.

This is my horoscope for the next month. I'll see how things pan out.

Seeing Red (from laughing at myself) 9:59 PM

So I just got in about 20 minutes ago from sitting in the lobby of the building because I ran out to catch the UPS man and let the door close behind me and didn't have my keys. I wasn't wearing shoes either. Of course no one was around to answer the buzzer and I had to wait until someone cam home. It was a little after 7:00pm when I heard the truck arrive, my buzzer doesn't work, so I had to go downstairs. I missed Survivor, Hell's Kitchen, and Harper's Island, Funny thing is, the same thing happened to me last year. I do like the messenger bag I ordered to carry my lap top in though!