Coffee I missed you

Only by doctors orders I quit drinking coffee and eating dairy for 1 week. The first day last Friday was HELL. I woke up with the most splitting mind slicing migraine that did not go away for one second until I went to bed that night. I had to leave work early because I could not look at a computer screen for 1 more minute.
I didn't think it was going to be so hard once I got over the initial shock of caffeine withdrawal but not eating dairy was more upsetting. Every food that I love has some form of dairy in it and others I just wasn't sure of. I even had to call my mom and ask random questions like "is egg salad considered dairy? Is the lactaid milk dairy? What about decaf tea, does that have caffeine?" I found out that decaf and caffeine free are very different things.
I did cheat a bit and had chocolate that first day in hopes that the caffeine would take some of my headache away - it really didn't. But last night I had a cheeseburger and good god it was splendid. This morning marked my 1 week and I did give a seconds' pause to consider if I should start drinking coffee again since I had successfully kicked my habit - but once I smelled that Dunkin Donuts brewing it was all over.
And today for lunch I had pizza....mmmmmmmm.....cheese.

Few of my favorite things...

I love the mugs from miam.miam and they are having a HUGE sale - as that I am saving for a house I am very tempted to buy a few but must be good...maybe. But I highly suggest getting a few they make wonderful holiday gifts and come in these really cool boxes you don't even have to wrap and it's like drinking out of art...

their website is http://www.unitedbrands.us/ if you can't read their ad - GO NOW!

Landlord = Dragon Lady

The closing on our first home is later this month. As we are in the middle of a 1-year lease we had to get out of it so we could move and not pay a mortgage and rent - no thanks.
So somehow our services were offered to list the townhouse and find new tenants...always a fun chore. The people that frequent Craigslist are the WORST people that I have ever interacted with. Mind you the ones that have come to see our place haven't been bad but the other ones - good god.
I have been asked a plethora of stupid ass questions and after millions of emails back and forth people all of a sudden decide they just don't want to come or as a lovely person did on Monday and just not show. Mind you it's not that big of a deal for most people but when you have 2 of the worlds highest shedding dogs its an ordeal to get the house clean on a nightly basis.
Also, since we went to New Orleans one or both of the dogs has the WORST gas and about 30 minutes before anyone comes over we have to put them outside to fumigate the house or it smells like eggs and egg farts...sooooo gross
So the job of listing and interviewing agent has been a pill and hopefully something I will never have to deal with again.
Or it could be like last night when I was a good 25 minutes into making dinner and just about to mash the potatoes and a group of 3 kids come walking up to the door. I was thinking it was some more campaigners since they have been coming around frequently and I answered the door with the always pleasant Jersey-style "yeah?"
I'm surprised they didn't go running for the hills...at least Deuce didn't try to attack them that probably would have set them off.
After getting over the initial shock of forgetting something (which I never do, I spend almost $50 every December on a very nice planner just for things like this) I let them into the house which was not up to my standard showing appearance.
So all in all I don't think that one went too well - damn me and my distrust of random people!
So I will keep waiting...

Oh here's a good one I just got - Unfortunately, I am looking for something that's a little more updated. I wish you luck in finding the right tenant, though!

To which I responded:
Just an FYI - I would suggest looking outside the Village area since all the townhouses were built in the 1940's and some are renovated like ours is but nothing is up-to-date as you are looking for.

I just love stupid ass people who don't research the area that they're looking in and expect new houses...durrrrr

A Cupcake on your iPhone? Mmmmm cupcake

You know when you're on google or gmail and they put links that correspond to whatever your last email was about or what you are searching for? The links usually go to some out of the way news article that you are just amazed about. So today I was thoroughly intrigued by "A Cupcake on your iPhone"

Here's the article stolen from forbes.com

With hundreds of applications ranging from games to password-keepers to calorie counters, what's next for the iPhone?
One firm is betting on virtual cupcakes and Tamagotchi-like digital pets. Viximo, an 11-month-old Cambridge, Mass.-based start-up, has created four iPhone applications that revolve around digital goods--digitally produced images that people buy, exchange and display online.
When the applications debut in September or October, users will be able to exchange digital goods, such as a cupcake to celebrate a birthday or a teddy bear as a get-well gift. Senders will pay anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars for the goods.
Recipients will download the digital presents to their phones, possibly using links in text messages. "It's about connecting people and celebrating relationships…everything from flirting to gift-giving to playing," says Viximo Chief Executive Rob Frasca.
Such services are common on social networking sites like Facebook, where users send and store digital gifts on their online profiles. Lightspeed Venture Partners, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, estimates that the business generates up to $15 million a year for Facebook. In fact, two Facebook applications, Birthday Calendar and Family Tree, currently use Viximo's designs.
But technical and billing complications have kept companies from promoting the practice to cellphone users. Apple's Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) App Store ecosystem, which uses iTunes to access customers' phones and bill them, takes care of those challenges.
As a result, Viximo is confident that consumers who have iPhones will pay up, citing the multi-million dollar market for ringtones, another kind of digital good. "Digital goods allow people to reach out in a new way on their phones," Frasca says. "Right now, they're limited to text messages and e-mail."
What's more, the iPhone, with its sophisticated touchscreen, crisp graphics and motion-sensing accelerometer, is the perfect showcase for digital goods, Frasca notes. Most digital goods resemble static computer icons. The iPhone, however, can allow users to shake a virtual 8-ball, "drink" a can of beer or launch a 15-second movie clip with a flick of their handsets.
The phone's geo-tracking function could also come into play. Retailers could identify iPhone owners that walk into certain stores and offer those consumers digital gifts. "The iPhone has a lot of horsepower…this is unparalleled stuff for digital goods," Frasca says.


It goes on and on with some shite about virtual pets or something so I cut it off after they stopped talking Cupcakes. But I am super excited for this new adventure in iPhoning.

Rock Band...kicks ass

Or kicks your ass - depending on how old you are
We recently added Rock Band to our ever expanding investment Nintendo Wii
I was totally jazzed to see kick ass songs from everyone from Hole, to the Rolling Stones, the Killers, The Ramones, Beastie Boys, Radiohead on and on.
So we set up shop and I started to play guitar since I was convinced I must be half good since I almost beat Guitar Hero (yes it was on the Easy setting but whatever). As I am trying to play I notice that this guitar is a bit different...the keys are a bit harder to push and I wasn't doing very well at all. Poo.
So I went on to the drums which I wasn't too bad at actually considering Jason isn't very musically inclined which somehow translates to a video game? So while he was singing I was jamming out...we had fun. But the thing that sucks is the further you get in the game the crappier the songs get.
But a few weeks ago I had my nieces stay with me for a weekend and Maddy, Kenzie and their friend, Maggie rocked the casbah!
I let them just go at it jumping in every once in awhile to sing a song that I knew and HAD to sing but for the most part we all just sat in wonderment while they beat song after song scoring 90% and up. I will say though I did get 100% on a song, I think it was Hole Celebrity Skin...too much fun.
We are in the process of packing to move and I made Jason keep the Wii and the Rock Band stuff out because the girls are coming later this month and I want to be amused for an entire night again watching them make it look too easy.
I think its old age that prevents me from being a Wii Rock Star...sigh.

Ebay

Ebay is by far the easiest way of making money
Case in point - you can buy an iPod shuffle on the apple website for $40 plus free shipping. I just sold 1 we had just laying around the house on ebay today for $36 + $4.60 in shipping.
So my new slogan for Ebay is:

"Ebay, making money off the stupidity of others"

Piglet the Puppy is still missing

So for anyone out there that doesn't know my sad but true story...you may be able to help!

I got my first dog, Piglet for my birthday 2 years ago from Jason and I just fell in love.

Being that I couldn't go anywhere without my little guy I took him with us to New Jersey for Thanksgiving where we were spending the long weekend with my family.

Everything was great and I will never forget that entire evening of Piggie running around my Aunt Joan's house and playing with my little cousin, Adian and taking him out for a short walk in the rain. As we were leaving I got into a huge accident with a minivan. My car spun out of control, ran off the road and smashed into a tree head-on. After the airbags deployed and I came to I heard Jason yelling for Piglet. He had been sitting in Jason's lap with his harness and leash on and when Jason's head hit the window from the impact of the other car the window broke and Piglet either jumped out of fright or was thrown from the car.

We spent the next 3 days dredging through the swamps of the Jersey shore (Howell, NJ) knocking on doors, hanging flyers, putting them in every mailbox within a 3-mile radius of the accident intersection. I left food by where the accident had happened along with a sweatshirt of mine hoping he would come back if he smelled me.

Nothing.

Our friend, Brian who is a cop in PA brought his K-9 Dax and they scoured the area looking for my little guy, still nothing. Brian did say that it could be a good thing that they didn't find him because it could mean he was still alive.

I had local radio stations make announcements, I got an article written in the local paper offering a reward and came close a few times to finding him but it turned out to be a hoax from some people just wanting the reward money.

A girl did find a Pug wandering on the highway and through me and my Aunt Pat and an incredibly generous new friend, Judy who called me offering to help in any way after seeing the posters, we got the little guy a nice new home. But he wasn't Piglet.

It has now been almost 2 years since this happened. I have since then taken another Pug, Pugsley in and I love him dearly, probably a bit more than I should from the circumstances.

Piglet is still out there I am convinced. I heard a story from a shelter about a woman who found a dog in her backyard and gave it to a friend but the woman at the shelter didn't have names or numbers of either people. This might have been him.

I am going to keep looking - I received an email from a friend with a story of a girl who found her dog 5 years and hundreds of miles after losing him so my faith is renewed!

Here are some pictures of my little guy so keep an eye out - you never know how far he may have gotten!

Further proof why I am Master of the Universe

When we were in Chicago we decided to experience the Chicago Pizza phenomenon - if you haven't tried it before it's a twist on the original pie. They make their pizza over 2 inches thick and instead of the cheese on top it goes - baked crust, cheese, any meats you choose, uncooked sauce, and an additional layer of crust is baked on top.

It is enormous. I have pictures don't worry.

So we get to Giordano's which has the reputation of the best Chicago Pizza. Obviously everyone else in Chicago knew or wanted to know about this. Saturday night at oh 8:30 we pull up front of Giordano's to only be met by a swarming crowd of people inevitably watching their lives flitter away before their eyes for a piece of stuffed pizza.

I am appointed to go inside and scope out the wait. The hostess tells us that it's about 2 hours for a table to which my reply is "we were stupid for not making reservations" to which she tells me that they don't accept reservations.

As I am turning away ready to accept my fate as a non-stuffed Chicago pizza eater something takes over me..where it came from I cannot say even to this day as I am fondly remembering.

I turn to the hostess and say "How about if I give you $20 will that get us a table? It's really not beneath me to bribe you."

She takes 1 beat and says "Ok" and I reply "really? for $20?"

I whipped out my cash folded it up gangsta style and pass it to her. I shit you not we had a table 15 minutes later. We had barely gotten beers from the front bar and taken a few sips when they were calling our names. On our way to our table they even told me if we didn't like the booth we could get another one. $20 gets you WAYYY too far in Chicago.

The pizza was pretty damn good considering we ordered 2 for 6 people and only finished 1 pizza - barely. 1 piece is sufficient - and I am a good eater!

But one more thing - as we sat down our waiter informed us that the wait for pizza is an additional 45 minutes to 1 hour. Can you imagine the fury of waiting 2 hours for a table then an additional hour for your food? I am amazed more people don't do what I did.

So word to the wise - don't ever let bribing people be beneath you. It will get you further in life than being nice or making reservations...at pizza places though I'm not too sure it will work in really nice places but maybe a $50 would!

Here are the pizzas:

Great minds think alike

I am going to New Orleans next week and am preparing my palatte for some exceptional food.
Whilst perusing local restaurants I was told to go to Cafe Du Monde for their beignets and iced coffee. I will definitely be taking that advice from the rave reviews I found online.

This review beat them all hands-down:
The three reasons I despise Dunkin' Doughnuts: 1. Rachael Ray - Die bitch, die. If I ever hear 'yumm-o" again? You're toast lady. 2. What's with the Baskin Robbins connection? Trying to get us fatter? Assholes! 3. I've been to Cafe Du Monde.

So simply said - Cafe Du Monde here I come!

Sally Struthers Strikes at the Local Mall

My dear friend, Christine was in the mall the other day and happened upon none other than the nearly forgotten Sally Struthers. In case you don't remember she used to be a skinny actress and later was spokesperson for the Christian Childrens Fund. Funny thing is she was gaining weight whilst in Africa while the kids behind her in the commericals had increasing swarms of flies around them...I personally think she was eating all the rice that was supposed to go to the kids.

But moving on, Christine was in Nordstrom the other day and ran into Ms. Struthers.

Here is part of the conversation:

Christine - She had a chicken purse named Pat

Me - WHAT??? A chicken purse?

Christine - Yeah mark said something about it and then she had it lay an egg!! Then she proceeded to tell us that her dog drives. She whipped out of the chicken her dogs drivers license.

Me - HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHA. I am dying here.

Christine - there it was little bob struthers with a Cali license. She still lives in LA. A little black Scottie pictured on the license.

Further proof of this whole ridiculous interaction is below:

Friday Funny

Poor Granny...but this is too funny not to post...only in the South

Poor DMV officials. They have a hard time of it, between re-taking digital I.D. photos until little newly-licensed Kayla or Callie gets her bangs just right and, well, they have to spend all day in the DMV.

We can't blame them for being a little behind on the Web-SMS shorthand lingo, but this? Really? A cute 60-year-old Grandma from Fayetteville, NC happily drove to and from her teaching job with the kickin' set of WTF license plates that had been issued to her by the DMV. Last July, she figured out what the somehow not -- thanks to some help from her teenage grandchildren. When the kids informed her of the true implications of the letters on her license plate, the woman was so vexed that she complained to DMV officials.

Gran's plates were replaced gratis, and the North Carolina DMV has offered to exchange any WTF or other questionable plates free of charge. Embarrassingly, it took DMV officials almost a year to realize that the sample plate on their site is also, ironically, of the WTF variety. Apparently some NC Webmaster has an, er, awesome sense of humor. They are currently trying to take the picture down. [Source: WXII12]

Maroon 5

Yum...reminder that I took these with my iPhone and didn't bring my camera...stupid girl. But I will be getting pictures from my co-workers!

Chi Town

I spent the last few days in Chicago and I loved it. I was in Evanston, IL a few years ago visiting my dear friend, Josh while he was at Northwestern. We didn't spend any time in Chicago since we were too busy packing him up to drive halfway cross the country. But this time we saw where the Cubbies play, the great skyline, the fountain that is in the beginning credits of Married...with Children (dammit now I have that song in my head...Love and marriage, love and marriage, its an institute you can't disparage...). We had traditional Chicago pizza, if you haven't had it Chicago pizza is about 2-inches thick and sooo filling! It starts with dough, sauce, cheese, more dough and more sauce on top!

We went to a crazy German bar right down the street from Wrigley and somehow I never knew that the Cubs have their own song! Everyone in the bar knew all the words and they sing it as loudly as they can whenever the Cubs win a game. And they won all weekend - against the White Sox too just to add injury to insult.

Monday night we all went to a concert in Lincoln Park Zoo and saw Maroon 5. We pushed our way up to the front row and FREAKED out every time Adam Levine got near us. I am positive he was looking at me the whole time (not really but I can dream, can't I?)

Biking...it hurts!

I haven't been on a bike in years and when I say years I mean over 10 years. Yes, I have a cruiser at the beach house that I've been on once and that was a bit wobbly but it was for about 1/2 mile. Sunday we (meaning Jason) decided to go on the trail by the Parkway for what turned into a 10-mile bike ride. This was some intense riding too - it wasn't just flat and straight it was hilly and twisty and for a second a little dangerous.
I was riding along - a bit slow too might I add considering this was like I said my first bike ride in many years, getting used to being on a bike and even remembering what the gears meant and how they worked was a challenge.
Off we went and things were going ok acutally. We entered a part of the trail that was a bit woodsy and very steep. I was slowly going down a hill on my side of the trail (yes there are lines to separate left and right sides) and I saw out of the top of my vision 1 bike coming towards me in the opposite direction. So I stayed on my course then all of a sudden another bike came along also in my lane. Noticing that the biker wasn't stopping coming RIGHT at me I let out a soft scream and tried to get out of the way. Stupid girl went right into me then was stopped by a tree, she fell off her bike and tumbled not once but 2 times head over heels and promptly got up, brushed herself off and asked me if I was ok.
I couldn't believe it - was I ok? I was fine - she was the one doing somersaults down a hill off a bike. She quickly got back on her bike and they rode away, slightly embarassed I'm sure.
After that the only mentionable events were that I couldn't force myself to finish the trail to end up at George Washington's house - what did he ever do for me anyways? :)
So I convinced Jason to turn around and away we went finishing our 10-mile ride. The next day my legs didn't hurt just my ass from sitting on a boy's seat on a girls bike. Boys seats are too narrow and my ass is too wide for any level of comfort. So hopefully next time I will get a better seat and the trip won't be so painful.
I'm thinking after my 5-day trip to Chicago and all the food I'm going to be eating I'm going to need another 10 miles. Whew.

Love and Labels

Last week I went to see Sex and the City - the movie and was thoroughly entertained. It did lean a bit on the long side but it elicited an emotional reaction from me and that is the sign of a good movie.
I was a bit grossed out - not by Charlotte's "poo in the pants" experience but by Miranda's bikini line. I don't know if this is common for all women but good god I hope not - I have NEVER experienced something like that and it was disgusting!
But the clothes were good (I think only 1 or 2 of Carrie's outfits I grimaced at) the shoes were great and I admired both enviously. I was a bit confused by Carrie's cellphone and the fact that it was covered in duct tape. I tried googling it and only came up with people such as myself commenting on it. I guess it's to point out that Carrie isn't very tech savvy and had the same cell that she had from the show.
It was sad at the end to know that this was probably the last time I will see a new plot line from the SAC dynasty and will have to settle for syndication.

In the spirit of the Olympics and wine

SLOW AND STEADY WITH A BREAK FOR WINE

While planning the first modern games in Athens in 1896, French historian Michel Breal wanted an event that linked the competition back to its ancient roots. He suggested a footrace that was the distance from Athens to Marathon. Not surprisingly, the Greek people were captivated by the notion of a race with such strong ties to their country's history, and they become obsessed with dominating the event.While other nations barely prepared for the competition, the marathon-crazed nation held two qualifying trials to choose its entrants. Except for the Greek runners, only one other contestant had run a full marathon before the Olympic Games. On the day of the race, the lack of proper training quickly took its toll, and by the halfway point, runners started dropping like flies. After nearly three hours, fans at the finish line learned that a Greek, Spiridon Louis, had taken the lead after a slow start and a break for a glass of wine. Greece's Prince George and Crown Prince Constantine got so excited that they joined Louis for his last surge to the finish line. Louis, a peasant farmer, quickly became a national hero, and his name even entered the Greek vernacular. The term egine Louis, which translates as "become Louis," is still used to mean "run quickly."

Polar Bears

Progress on Polar Bears from http://www.wecansolveit.org/

The US Department of the Interior today (few days ago) granted Endangered Species Act protection to the polar bear in light of shrinking Arctic ice due to climate change. The Alliance for Climate Protection's We Campaign recently submitted a petition signed by 136,000 Americans to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne urging him to list the polar bear.
In response to the decision, Cathy Zoi, CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection, issued the following statement:
"Today's decision by Secretary Kempthorne is a step in the right direction. The scientific community believes the polar bear needs protection, and so do the American people, who have been calling for this action in large numbers. While this step is encouraging, solving the climate crisis will require bold leadership that truly acknowledges the urgency of the problem."

I was one of the people who signed this petition and amazingly there STILL are people who say global warming is a "myth". To all those people I say - go hug a Polar Bear or steal their baby.

You're a tool if you get these tools

My brother-in-law is a floor layer (2 words, 1 word??) and he was working at Hermes the other day. All of us were very upset for him not bringing us anything - I would love a fetching scarf or something similar to accent my new shoes but sigh...

So as Sissy and I were checking the website for the validity of said $550 beach towels and lo and behold dumb-ass people actually do spend their money on shit like that. So I was searching and found a section labeled "Surprise!" And what a surprise it was! This lovely gardening set is $330 - so you can dig in the dirt with $330 HOE. Nice right?

Celebrate the Unity of Your Eyebrows

http://monobrow.com/

Finally uni-browers of the World a site JUST FOR YOU to celebrate your unity!

Thanks, Sissy for yet another blog worthy site!

Stupidest Email of the Day

I am always surprised how much time people put into stupid emails and fake forwards - things along those lines but sometimes an email strikes you with such hatred its almost impossible to process. Are you really kidding me with this crap? You learn this shit in Kindergarten - bathe regularly, go to the bathroom a lot, dress right for the weather??!! Is this for people living in complete oblivion but yet still have an email account? If so this is for you...

WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH!


1.) Brush twice a day!
2.) Dress right for the weather.
3.) Visit the dentist regularly.
4.) Get plenty of rest.
5.) Make sure your hair is dry before going outside.
6.) Eat right.
7.) Get outside in the sun every once in a while.
8.) Always wear a seatbelt.
9.) Control your drinking of alcoholic beverages.
10.) Smile! It will make you feel better.
11.) Don't over indulge yourself.
12.) Bathe regularly.
13.) Read to exercise the brain.
14.) Surround yourself with friends.
15.) Stay away from too much caffeine.
16.) Use the bathroom regularly.
17.) Get plenty of exercise.
18.) Have your eyes checked regularly.
19.) Eat plenty of vegetables.
20.) Believe that people will like you for who you are.
21.) Forgive and forget.
22.) Take plenty of vacations.
23.) Celebrate all special occasions.
24.) Pick up a hobby.
25.) Love your neighbor as yourself.

Do all these things and you will be a happier, healthier person!