Monday, November 30, 2009

 Happy End of BloMo!



I am exausted from a whirlwind trip down to Hotlanta again. Was there less than 24 hours. Lots of driving in a short time, and the drive back sucked due to rain and dark.

Happy to be home with the kittehs.

Freaked out a wee bit when I got in and couldn't find Seamus. Fortunately he materialized after I put more food out :)

I need to get off this computer and get to cuddling now!

Already miss my BFF's

I leave you pics of us and you can see how happy I am- this is a big reason why I really want to be there!

I hope everything works out to make this happen. It actually looks like it could! Fingers and toes crossed!!


Posted by Acinom @ 8:03 PM :: (1) comments

Sunday, November 29, 2009

 Careful, your head may asplode!!

Someone posted this on fb and it was almost too much to handle this early!

Posted by Acinom @ 5:50 AM :: (1) comments

Saturday, November 28, 2009

 "You don't look 69!"


So the other day I stopped at Food Lion to pick up some wine to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. And I got carded, which always amuses me. When it's waitrons I always assume they are kissing up to get a bigger tip, when it's clerks, I figure they are not paying any attention.

This dude looks at my id and says "You don't look 69!" he goes on to say he would have guessed I was 25.

Ok so here's where I'm not sure if that's an insult or complement.

Does he think that since I was born in 1969 that I am 69 or did he just say it that way? And if so, does that mean that he thinks I'm 25 or that I was born in 25 which would make me be 84 years old?

Kids today :)

But the wine I got was fun. Since I was having dinner at my friend Cat's I got Cat themed stuff. I brought a red and and a white. The white was that Riesling that is in a bottle shaped like a cat (pictured), and the red was a brand "Herding Cats". They made me giggle. :) It's more fun to bring theme wine to a dinner anyway, right?

Posted by Acinom @ 4:28 PM :: (2) comments

Friday, November 27, 2009

 Change of Plans

So I did not end up eating Lean Cuisine with just the kittehs yesterday. I got a quasi last minute invite from a former coworker and decided to take it.

Which is really weird for me. Because I really love alone time. And I love just hanging with the boys. And I've been alone many times on many holidays and it really doesnt bother me.

But I also really love turkey dinners :)

And I really like this coworker.

And so I went. And I'm glad I did. It was low key and tasty. AND she sent me home with leftovers!

But one of the coolest parts is that they sent home a drumstick for my boys. They said NOM NOM NOM :)

Posted by Acinom @ 7:49 PM :: (0) comments

Thursday, November 26, 2009

 I love this song

And it is the perfect sentiment for the day. Watch, listen, and enjoy!!


Posted by Acinom @ 11:51 AM :: (0) comments

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

 Where's my damn teleporter?!?!

When we were kids we were pretty much promised flying cars, jetpacks, and teleporters by 2009.

If I had one of those, I could easily spend Thanksgiving with people I love.

Instead, I am staying home, although with kittehs I love.

It would really suck if I cared more.

Well I guess that didn't come out right- I do care that I am not with people I love, but I do not care that I am alone. Does that make any sense?

I belong to a message board where someone posted something about how they don't do well staying alone. I laughed out loud as I read it because I can't imagine being that dependent, and I actually prefer being alone more often than not. No matter how much I love someone and how much I love being with them, I still value my time and space. Maybe that's my issue, but if I'm happy about it, then that's all that matters, right? :)

I'd still like a teleporter.

Posted by Acinom @ 4:59 PM :: (1) comments

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

 Who Can it Be Now?

I love my cell phone ringers :) I have many personalized ones, and they make me so happy.

The one I currently have for unknown numbers is "Who Can It Be Now?" by Men at Work

For people who are in my contact list, but don't have their own, are "If You Were Here" by the Thompson Twins (From Sixteen Candles) (I thought this seemed appropriate because if they were here, they wouldn't be calling)

I have past coworkers as "She Works Hard for the Money"

I have my work recruiters as "Closer to Fine" (Cuz that's what I'd be if they got me a gig)

My sister who suffers from Vertigo is- you guessed it "Vertigo" by U2

My mom is an Irish Jig

My current alarm is "Good Day Sunshine" by the Beatles, but my previous one that I still use sometimes is "Brand New Day" by Sting :)

My two friends who I went to see The Police with are "Regatta de Blanc"

anyone related to the sorority I volunteer as an adviser for is "It's the End of the World as We Know It"

a guy I used to have a crush on got "Desire" by U2

Any of my doctor's offices or vet get "Doctor Doctor" by Thompson Twins

Other various friends have songs that remind me of them :)

It makes me happy. I miss that Sprint stopped giving free ringtones every month. It was so much fun.

I do think it's time though to switch my ringer to some holiday music. Last year I had "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses... I wonder if I should stick with that or do something else? Any suggestions?

So what do you do for ringtones?


Posted by Acinom @ 5:13 PM :: (2) comments

Monday, November 23, 2009

 eskimo




Currently watching Heathers. I think this is one of the most quotable movies ever :)

There are even a few quotes in it that my friends and I still say to this day that I forgot were from this. :)

Keeping this short because I have to get back to it... enjoy the clip :)

Posted by Acinom @ 5:38 PM :: (1) comments

Sunday, November 22, 2009

 a love hate relationship

So I am still pretending that there's a chance I'm moving.

And I have a total love hate relationship with this.

First of all, I LOVE my current apartment. LOVE it. I have the best location, the greatest screened in porch, a fabulous fireplace... everything about this place is great. And if I could scoop it up and bring it with me, I totally would.

And that goes into part of the hate- I HATE PACKING! I loathe it. I should be doing something productive now actually, purging some of the crap that I've accumulated over the past 5 years at least, because even if I don't move yet, I will be when the lease is up and that would still be useful. But I'm not...

What I am doing is obsessively searching the internet for potential new apartments. I LOVE doing this. There's such a sense of "anything can happen-ness" :) I love looking at all the floorplans and mentally placing my furniture there. I love checking out which amenities they have and eliminating or adding them to the list due to that... NO W/D HOOKUPS? DELETE! FIREPLACE? ADD!

And then going to apartmentratings.com and seeing if they were worthy on there. And it's not just about a number there either, you have to really look. I know disgruntled people will more quickly leave comments than happy ones, so that's something to keep in mind. Plus, if they have bad ratings in 07 but then got new management and their new reviews are great, then that number is kinda irrelevant. And the converse is true too- are the last few suck and it's since new management- RED FLAG!

So I have created my "short list" although I don't know how short 8 complexes are. But 5 of them are open on Sunday and I hope to check them all out. Ive even spent time on googlemaps creating a plan of attack. (yes, I am a dork, I know this!) then I have 3 for Monday, but 2 of them are right next to each other so it shouldn't be too bad.

Hopefully a friend is joining me on Sunday. It always helps to have a second opinion.

So yeah, moving sucks in general, but the hope that comes with it for a perfect new home really does add some fun to it :)

And if anyone has some good suggestions for decent places on the east side of Atlanta, please feel free to leave me a comment :)

Posted by Acinom @ 4:23 PM :: (1) comments

Saturday, November 21, 2009

 when will I learn?

I need to keep things quiet till they happen.

Stuff has come up that might make Atlanta impossible.

Ugh.

But hopefully, through the grace of all that is good, and a wee bit o' luck maybe I can still make it happen.

But I hate when I put something out there, but then it doesn't happen and I have to tell people that my dreams were, in fact, smashed.

:(

Cross your fingers for me that it won't happen this time.

Posted by Acinom @ 5:52 PM :: (1) comments

Friday, November 20, 2009

 Making my list, checking it twice


I thought there was just one thing I wanted for Christmas and that's this Lost University sweatshirt. GO POLAR BEARS!! Best Mascot Ever! I am stressed about signing up for Lost U because it looks like to get the full experience you have to have blueray, which I do not have, but I'm still excited.



But then today I saw this




Magic Cheezburger


And now I NEED this too. I really hope Santa brings it!!

Posted by Acinom @ 3:59 PM :: (0) comments

Thursday, November 19, 2009

 decisions...

So things are back to being the big changes probably. If I can make it work. Money sucks. If it weren't for money, the decisions would be easy.

I mentioned this earlier in the year, but I am wanting to move to Atlanta. And I might be able to make that happen sooner rather than later. But, alas, I am in a lease.

I had a wee epiphany last night that maybe the leasing company had properties in Atlanta I could transfer to. I was so excited after I looked online and found several, and they were pretty nice. SO I barely slept as my mind was going over and over how to make this all work... I even called PODS for an estimate just in information gathering...

I woke up early, went to the apartment office, and no go. This is a management company, the properties all have different owners. However, I did learn it would cost half as much to break the lease as I thought, AND I can use the deposit towards part of it AND if they rerent it quickly that knocks some off it too, so hmm... maybe I can make this work anyway?

But the PODS are about $1500. Which is about half what I paid for movers to move me in here. But then I'd still have to hire big strong guys to schlep my stuff down to the pod and back up from it. So we'd be talking at least 2k. So bleh.

THEN I thought if I was already going to hire big strong guys, why not get a UHaul? and guess what? UHaul not only rents trucks, they rent big strong guys now! And it costs about 100 bux for 2 BSG's for 2Hrs! And the truck is like 300! That even includes a trailer thingie to tow my car! So for $500 I could actually move!

SO back to making this happen! Maybe. I have to get the job first, of course.

I had a phone interview and have a face to face coming up for something that I think I want. I am just afraid that I may want it more because I want to get to Atlanta than because it's the perfect job. But we'll see. If I get it I'll share more details then :)

So that's what's been going on with me. Trying to figure out if this is the right move, and if it is, how to make it happen. And making decisions has NEVER been my strong point!!

I'm feeling pretty positive though that things will work out :) I've been online for the last few hours checking out apartments, first on forrent.com and then on apartmentratings.com and sadly some that sounded perfect scored like a 12%! One talked about a murder in the parking lot and home invasion rapes. Um...no! So I have a list of 7, but the short list is 2. I hope they are as great as they look online when I check them out :)

Change is scary, but it's also wicked exciting... if I could just make up my mind!!!

Posted by Acinom @ 3:29 PM :: (2) comments

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

 I may already be a winner :)

So I mentioned last week that I actually bought a powerball ticket. I noticed driving earlier this week the billboard showing that it had reset down, meaning someone has won.

I still haven't checked my ticket.

Until I look at it, there is a chance that I am a winner. And I really like that hope.

I've come close to looking at it a few times, but for now, I'm holding onto the hope.

I do have to get new brakes on my car soon, they're starting to make that noise. So I will look before I take the car in for that. (Why get new brakes when you can get a whole new car?)

I could actually be a millionaire right now. How cool would that be?

Posted by Acinom @ 1:30 PM :: (0) comments

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

 Newton's first law

a body in motion stays in motion; a body at rest stays at rest.

This is not just true in physics, it's true in my life. It seems when I start going after stuff and try to make things happen, things actually start to happen.

I recent mentioned making changes and all these sudden opportunities seem to be rolling in.

And what I think may happen is that the smallest of the changes is the one that I hope works out at this point.

Later, bigger chances will happen for sure, but for now, I think I'm going to take baby steps.

Then again, if it doesn't work how I plan, we'll see.

But either way, steps. Forward motion, staying in motion :)

Posted by Acinom @ 3:44 PM :: (1) comments

Monday, November 16, 2009

 ratty tat tats and rummy tum tums


So usually I have 4 and 2/2 radio stations I listen to. I say two halves because the best one is out of Greensboro so I don't get it in certain neighborhoods and the worst one often plays crap so I rarely end up staying on it.


But starting today I am down to 3 2/2 for a month or so. Why? Because the one station has gone to all Christmas music. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas music. I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur of it even. But today it was 75 degrees out. Isn't it a bit wrong that I was listening to these tunes in the car?

Now I do confess, I did listen to U2's Baby Please Come Home because, well, that song rocks. And then I caught Bare Naked Ladies with Sarah McLaughlin's God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and I was forced to listen to that because, well, that song is awesome. And sadly I couldn't find the live version I have on youtube but here's the simple version for you all to enjoy :)

So what're your favorite Christmas songs? I say songs because I have my favorite traditional (Carol of the Bells) and contemporary (Gabrielle's Message by Sting), so I wanna hear both of yours. And then also tell me, when is too soon to start listening?

Posted by Acinom @ 4:09 PM :: (0) comments

Sunday, November 15, 2009

 Halfway!

So today is the halfway point for yet another BloMo.

Of the people I know doing it, so far a few have missed days. Posting every day doesnt seem like it would be that hard, but for people with lives, it can be. But I think it's even harder for people with no life! (Like me)

I think the biggest challenge is having something to write about. Since I don't really don't do much, I don't really have much to say.

Today I watched a Lifetime movie starring Fred Savage and Candice Cameron. Kevin Allen was an abusive boyfriend to DJ Tanner and ended up killing her.

This is how I spent my Sunday.

You know that saying- if you can't be a good example, at least be a bad warning? (or something like that?)

I am a warning for everyone out there if you get too comfortable with your simple life.

Posted by Acinom @ 6:13 PM :: (1) comments

Saturday, November 14, 2009

 I have no life


So it's a Saturday evening and what am I doing? Watching the top songs of the 90's on VH1.

The 90's was such a transitory time for me that this is bringing back some very eclectic memories.

I started the decade still in college in PA. Then I moved to MA, then GA, then back to MA, then AZ. The three most significant relationships of my life all happened during this decade. Almost each of these songs brings me back to a place or a person. It's been a fun ride.

Like right now- number 39 is Good Riddance by Green Day. This song was popular right after the end of my engagement and when I was planning to move cross country. How perfect was that? Although, like most people, I think I associate it more with the finale of Seinfeld. :) Oh and look, they just showed that! :)

Since I haven't done a shuffle in a while, I think I'll do a few memories for the next handful of songs, how's that sound? Although watch, something irrelevant will come up next. Of course it's now a commercial so we'll just have to wait a bit... (well I will, you won't have to watch a commercial before reading on, but feel free to if you want!)

OK moving on! Everybody Dance Now by C&C Music Factory! One summer I was a "camp counselor" for a fine arts camp for high school kids. I put it in quotes because it was a "camp"that took place at IUP and the kids stayed in the dorm, and I pretty much was an RA. I did get suck in the elevator with 11 of my "campers" and that was fun. But the reason that this song reminds me of that time was because each kid had a major and a minor and I went to watch the dance majors one day and this was the song they were doing. There were 2 guys in the class, one's name was Michael Hunt and he never let anyone call him Mike. Think about it...

Next- Wonderwall, Oasis :) Of course the first thing that popped into my head is Charlie Pace busking it in "Flashes Before Your Eyes" :) But originally the song just reminded me of a time when I lived with a woman from my alumnae chapter and her teenage daughter. The girl, Audrey, is one of the people in my life who I love more than any other human in the world. <3

Next- Third Eye Blind- Semi Charmed Kind of Life- Dan, the guy I dated through the late 90's HATED this song. I just think of him and his seething hate for it. I kinda like it, it's sorta catchy. I just learned now though through VH1 that it's a dirty dirty song about crystal meth. Never listened to anything but the chorus so that's news to me. Go figure.

SPICE GIRLS WANNABE! Sorry, I think I just got a little too excited for this :) I was a national officer for my sorority for a while in the 90's and this was popular at the time. When I went to do a chapter visit this was apparently the chapter's song du jour. You know, the one that all the girls would sing and dance in a circle :) I know that if it was popular during my college era we would have also done the same.

No Diggity- Blackstreet- I have no significant memory of this song. It's got a nice groove though :)

Creep by Radiohead- Again, no real memories with this. Perhaps this means I should be done with this little exercise. We'll see what's next...

Tearing Up My Heart by NSYNC, yeah I'm pretty sure I'm done. I only ever paid attention to one boy band and that was O-Town and that's cuz I got sucked into a marathon one Saturday.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!! Ice Ice Baby!! This was IUP era. Trying to learn all the words to this my friend and I played it over and over from Bethlehem to NJ which we thought was not that far, but we were wrong, it was ENDLESS. But we learned all the words :) Definitely a song I can never hear without smiling :)

so now I'm going to get out of here.. Word to you mother...

Posted by Acinom @ 5:46 PM :: (0) comments

Friday, November 13, 2009

 Best Cat Ever

So today I was having a difficult morning and a few tears escaped.

Ringo walked up to me, meowed, and licked the tear off my cheek.

And this is why I am really ok with being a crazy cat lady :)

Posted by Acinom @ 5:59 PM :: (1) comments

Thursday, November 12, 2009

 I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!


My cousin who I posted about the other day uploaded some old family pics today. This might be one of the best pics ever :)

Mary first commented on our hot windbreakers. But I couldn't take my eyes off my snazzy pants. But the other great part has got to be that we both have boxes of animal crackers :)

I also love the azaleas in the background. Even though this was taken where I lived, azaleas always will remind me of my grandmothers place.

There were 2 azalea bushes on either side of my gram's walk in her front yard, smack in the middle of the grassy areas. We would use them as bases, as well as the front porch steps and a tree that was at the across the sidewalk. Or as something to run around when we were playing this other game we made up, Witchypoo (don't ask) that involved chasing someone till they got back home. We played much hopscotch on that front walk, and although the azaleas were not involved in this game, they were sitting right there watching us.

So this pic brought back some seriously happy memories. Plus we look damn cute. :) This is definitely one of my all time favorite pictures now!

Posted by Acinom @ 5:31 PM :: (1) comments

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

 This absolutely disgusts me!!

Today, on Veteran's Day, I got this spam email.



Hello,

Good day and compliments, I know this letter will definitely come to you
as a huge surprise, but I implore you to take the time to go through it
carefully as the decision you make will go off a long way to determine my
future and continued existence.

Please allow me to introduce myself.I am Sgt John Moore, a US Marine
Sgt.serving in the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment which Patrols the
Anbar province, Iraq.I am desperately in need of assistance and I have
summoned up courage to contact you.

I am presently in Iraq and I found your contact particulars in an address
journal. I am seeking your assistance to evacuate the sum of 25million USD
(Twenty Five Million USD) to the States or any safe country,as far as I
can be assured that it will be safe in your care until I complete my
service here.This is no stolen money and there are no dangers involved.

SOURCE OF MONEY:

Some money in various currencies was discovered and concealed in barrels
with piles of weapons and ammunition at a location near one of Saddam
Hussein
's old Presidential Palaces during a rescue operation and it was
agreed by all party present that the money be shared amongst us.This might
appear as an illegal thing to do but I tell you what? No compensation can
make up for the risks we have taken with our lives in this hell hole. The
above figure was given to me as my share and to conceal this kind of money
became a problem for me, so with the help of a British contact working
with the UN here(his office enjoys some immunity)I was able to get the
package out to a safe location entirely out of trouble spot.He does not
know the real contents of the package as he believes that it belongs to an
American who died in an air raid,before giving up trusted me to hand over
the package to his close relative.

I have now found a secured way of getting the package out of Iraq for you
to pick up. I do not know for how long I will remain here as I have been
lucky to have survived 2 suicide bomb attacks by Pure Divine
intervention.I will give you 25% of the total sum.

This and other reasons put into consideration have prompted me to reach
out for help. If it might be of interest to you then Endeavor to contact
me and we would work out the necessary formalities but i pray that you are
discreet about this mutually benefiting relationship.My first demand to
you is to ask you for your strict confidentiality on this transaction and
total trust too, these two things are the most important things needed to
conclude this transaction.

Required Details
Full Name:
Full Address:
Phone Number
Get back to me with the above details so that they can make delivery of
the consignment to your Doorstep.
Respectfully,
Sgt. John Moore,
United States Marine Corps. IRAQ.



At least the grammar and spelling isn't horrendous like they normally are in these types of scams, but the fact that they used a soldier's name and whatnot on today in particular, but really any day, is an abhorrence.

Today should be about honoring and thanking, not using to scam. Some people truly truly have a special place in hell for them.

Posted by Acinom @ 7:04 PM :: (1) comments

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

 I <3 Sheetz...usually


For those of you who don't live in a part of the country where Sheetz is, let me tell you about it. From the outside one would think it was simply a gas station/mini mart but OH NO, it is SO MUCH MORE!

Yes, Sheetz has gas, and other minimartesque accouterments but it also the gourmet of convenience stores. This is the type of place you actually want to go for lunch/dinner.

They also tend to have the cleanest bathrooms ever.

The town I went to college in had Sheetz stores on about every other corner, and they really were a college student's wet dream. The "Death Dogs" were 2/$1 and nothing came close to satisfying us on that walk home from the bars at 2am. (well except for their bonus nachos (aka Nachos Buenos))
Every Sheetz memory from 1989-1993 were fantastic ones. And that's before the stores got all fancy like they are now.

After I graduated I would LONG for an MTO (Made to Order Sub- we always pronounced it sounding like we were saying empty oh and nobody had a clue what we meant outside of western PA) At one point when I was living in Atlanta my friend went back to PA for a visit and brought me one back. It didn't travel as well as it could but it was still heaven! Any time I had a chance to go back to that area the first place I hit was Sheetz.
When I moved back to PA in 2003 I was in HEAVEN because by then the stores had come more east. I had a part time job on Monday nights that had me driving past one on the way home and I ALWAYS stopped and got my dinner there.

Imagine my joy when Sheetz finally expanded even more, and is actually as far south as North Carolina now! Unfortunately, none of them are particularly convenient to me, but I guarantee you that whenever I am anywhere near one, I stop!


And Sheetz is also my roadtrip pitstop of choice. Like I mentioned earlier, they usually have spotless bathrooms. And cheap gas.
So today I had to go to Charlotte for an appointment. Before I left Raleigh I stopped at my corner gas station to fill up, forgetting that I was passing multiple Sheetz stores on my drive. When I drove past one that had gas a FULL 20 CENTS CHEAPER than what I paid I was really kicking myself! (partially cuz Sheetz is cheaper, but moreso because Greensboro is cheaper than Raleigh) and promised myself that was where I would stop on my drive back to re-fill. By the time I drove back home, gas at that same location had gone up 3 cents! I WAS EVEN MORE MAD! But even though the Shell station across the street was 5 cents cheaper than teh Sheetz, I still chose Sheetz due to my love and loyalty.

And I had to pee.

But then, I went inside to use the facilities and the bathroom was FILTHY!! The seats were covered in urine, there was toilet paper shreds all over the floor and the trash can was overflowing.


My heart broke just a little bit today.


I think I will not hold this one horrible location against the rest of the stores I love so much though. And on a whim on my way out I bought a power ball ticket, so if that wins, I will actually LOVE the Mebane Sheetz :)


And now after writing this I am TOTALLY craving a death dog, and if it wasn't leftover hurricane-ing out there I'd be off to get one. Maybe tomorrow :)

Posted by Acinom @ 6:04 PM :: (1) comments

Monday, November 09, 2009

 Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets and
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet

I am considering making some big changing coming up. I thought I had what I wanted, but it doesn't seem to be what is meant to be...

Scared, excited, not sure which I'm feeling right now. Part of me thinks I'm on the verge of making a huge mistake, but another part of me knows that every step, whether good or bad, is a step towards something. And sitting still just isn't working right now.

And the best part about if I don't like these changes-- I can always make more.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strange)
Ch-ch-Changes
Oh, look out you rock 'n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strange)
Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon now you're gonna get older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time

Posted by Acinom @ 6:31 PM :: (0) comments

Sunday, November 08, 2009

 My feet hurt :(

Long day, crappy shoes. Bad idea.

But it was all in all a good day, and now I'm kicking back in my bed with the kitties about to watch Amazing Race, so I guess I can't complain that much :)

But still...my feet REALLY hurt.

Posted by Acinom @ 7:46 PM :: (0) comments

Saturday, November 07, 2009

 Happy Reunion NPHS class of 89!

Tonight is the class of 89's 20th year reunion. I know this because of facebook. And because they opened up their last 2 hours of their reunion to all classes. I won't be crashing this one though, like I did for 88. Last year I happened to be in NJ at the time, this year I'm not, so it's definitely not something I would take a trip for.

When I went to my own reunion 2 years ago it was really amazing meeting all those people again. I had NO IDEA what anyone was up to. No clue what they looked like, what they were doing for work, or where they were living. And I think that's part of what made it so cool to go. Every conversation was interesting. Even the boring people ;)

But now since most of my class is on facebook, I wonder what our 25 year will be like. I also wonder what tonight's will be like for the 89ers since I think a huge chunk of them are on too.

If you've seen each others' pictures, read the stati, know their day to day stuff... I almost wonder what's the point of a reunion? There's one going on every day online.

I wonder how fb has changed reunions anymore. Don't get me wrong, as long as I can, I plan on attending my 25th in a few years, but I really think the magic might be missing. We'll just have to wait and see!

Posted by Acinom @ 7:24 PM :: (2) comments

Friday, November 06, 2009

 Good news / Bad news

So the good news is, my cousin is pregnant. This is the cousin who was my best friend growing up, that we pretty much lived in each others' pockets for the first 18 years of our lives. She's six months along, and everything is going well, all the tests have come back normal and healthy :)

The bad news is SHE'S SIX MONTHS PREGNANT AND I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY!

How does this happen? This is the girl who I used to take baths with, and now the most important thing that can happen to a woman is happening to her and I DIDN'T KNOW till now!

When I was young my mom was a SAHM and her mom worked, so she and her brother were often hanging with us. Also, we all were very close to my grandmother so we all spent OODLES of time there. We lived close to each other, and seriously spent ALL THE TIME together.

The extended family fell apart a bit after my grandmother died, but I never imagined that Mary and I would be so distant that something like this could happen and I wouldn't know.

Granted, I live in another state now, we really haven't been wicked tight since the 80's, but still. Wow.

She had no idea I didn't know. She assumed I would have heard through her mom. I don't know yet if her mom thought Mary should be the one to tell, or if she told my mom to tell me and she dropped the ball, but wow.

It makes me so sad how fractured our family has become over the years.

I really hope that my life lines up right that I can make it up to Jersey for the shower, which probably won't be till January she said.

I hope the kid is born on my birthday :)

Posted by Acinom @ 3:31 PM :: (2) comments

Thursday, November 05, 2009

 I have some good friends :)

So today I went to check the mail... There were some lame things, some icky things, and a card.

I've had a bad October, and for the most part I've been keeping it quiet. Very few peoples know the details of what was going on, and today there was a card from one of them.

It also included a bottle of wine. Ok not, really, it included $10 with instructions to go pick up a bottle of wine with that cash.

It made me really happy :) She did this once before when I was having a bad week, and the instructions were to get wine and cake with the cash. We're both doing weight watchers now though, so I guess that's why no cake this time :) And hey, it means I can get a slightly better bottle ;)

The best part about this card though wasn't the wine that went with it, it was the reminder that even when things seem crappy, I am reminded that I am, in fact, blessed and lucky. With good friends, how can I be anything but?

Posted by Acinom @ 7:40 PM :: (1) comments

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

 Happy Birthday Sesame Street



I really was struggling for inspiration today. (what else is new?)

And then I had to google something. And there was a googledoodle today :)

It's the 40th birthday of Sesame Street!

Which made me take pause and realize, that I am 10 months older than Big Bird. Who would have thought it?

One of my happiest childhood memories involves going to a mall or something (that part of the memory is fuzzy) and meeting Bob and getting a hug from him. One word- SWOON! :)

So happy birthday to all of the people in the Sesame Street neighborhood!!

Posted by Acinom @ 6:10 PM :: (2) comments

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

 I may need to use this method more often

I need to make commitments and have accountability to get off my ass and do things sometimes. It nagged at me all day that I had promised to show the pic of my counter, and so I finally forced myself to do it. And now I'm really happy :) Look at how nice and clean it looks!!

Tomorrow, expect a picture of an empty laundry basket!!

So in other news, there really is no news. I spent the afternoon IMing with a friend from my past who's into interesting geek-like activities* and she was telling me about Steam Punks. I had never heard of them before, here's an explaination...

Steampunk is a sci-fi genre based on an alternate universe in which technology advanced along mechanical lines, not digital as we have today. It generally refers to a culture with technology powered by steam, often with dark, grim and dystopian themes.

Steampunk is derived from the fashion and technology of the Victorian era, but frequently includes aspects from other eras and cultures such as the wild west cowboys and swashbuckling pirates. Steampunk fashion uses accessories and attention to detail that conveys the use of technology through mechanical means.

For pictures, here is a Steampunk Fashion Show.

I love that I have friend's with such varied interests. I wonder if I'd have the balls to dress up in one of these outfits and sell it like these people can. I'd like to think I could, but I don't know. I think I've become somewhat lame in my old age. Plus I'm more likely to rock a tiara and boa then peacock feathers ;)

So who else out there has heard of this or something similar? I wanna see more!



*do not take offense to my calling her and her activities a geek. She is actually a member of a local chapter of a Geek Society and recently went to a Geek Gala. :)



Posted by Acinom @ 4:53 PM :: (1) comments

 My cleaned off counter!

Posted by Acinom @ 4:43 PM :: (0) comments

Monday, November 02, 2009

 Breakfast for lunch

So I have been on a huge breakfast kick lately. Blame the sale on pre-cooked, just nuke it for a few seconds Oscar Meyer bacon at Target. I love all things breakfast! Pancakes, Waffles, French Toast, eggs... bring it on!!

Today's lunch consisted of French Toast and Bacon. Back in the day I used to pride myself on making the Best! French! Toast! Ever! (quick aside- recent line in some tv show {Flash Forward I think?} French Toast- toast of love!) But lately I have become lazy. My FT is yummy, don't get me wrong, but no longer the best. How does one make the best? Well I shall give you some of my secrets...(but not all, cuz then I'd have to kill you!)

  • Challah. This stuff is already yummy, so it's a good base to start with. (My first Challah experience was when I was working at the Brick Oven Bake Shop {click link for photo of the sign and the blog of the dude I met working there back in the 80's} and we had this bread slicer and I found this to be the most challenging bread to slice. Occasionally I would try to convince people it was better for them to slice it themselves at home, thicker than our slicer would do. Most people would go for it! hee)
  • Korinje Cinnamon. WAY better than the normal stuff. I buy mine from Pampered Chef. It rawks. (this is the same type of cinnamon they use in Cinnabon's)
  • A wee bit of vanilla extract
Unfortunately I cannot give away the rest of my tricks, but those three will most likely give you really really good french toast.

So when I was making mine today I was using "I Can't Believe it's Not Butter". I usually use real butter, but I prefer the whipped kind. The last time I was out of butter I was at Kmart, and not a grocery store, so I picked this up because it was all they had. And it's not horrible. But I do believe it's not butter. Although it's not like the margarine of my youth. Do y'all remember that stuff? It had it's distinct chemical taste that was NOTHING like butter and yet I LOVED IT! My mom though was a very loyal butter buyer and so I never got to have it. If I went to a sleep over at someone's house who had it I always wanted toast slathered with the stuff for breakfast. I know, I'm a freak. I sometimes wonder if these early gobs of margarine are somewhat responsible for my high cholesterol of today? It's possible. (or it could be the bacon...but I shared that with RSK, so I'm sure it's not that! :) ) ANYWAY, I recommend whipped butter for your best french toast.

So there have it. Now go forth and have breakfast for dinner. :)

Oh and in other news, I was noticing how much crap I have on my kitchen counter. In an effort to force me to clean it up, I am telling you all now that tomorrow I will post a picture of my kitchen counter. Since I wouldn't want to be embarrassed by what it looks like now, that will force me to clear it off :) YAY! (I'm sure you don't really want to see a pic of my counter, but if this is what I need to do to get things done, I'm doing it!) Till then...

Posted by Acinom @ 12:24 PM :: (1) comments

Sunday, November 01, 2009

 Happy BloMo (take 4)!


This is the fourth year I'm joining in on NationalBlogPostingMonth and this is the first year I'm a wee bit worried. Yeah, I've done a few other random months, but they don't count, THIS is the real month.

But as anyone can see, I've been really out of blogging the past few months. I have been having some ideas to blog about though the last few weeks, so that's something promising :)

Today though, I don't have too much to say unfortunately.

Why is this? Because on Thursday evening I got food poisoning. And have spent the last 4 days sick. Not a lot to report due to that.

I know it's food poisoning because I shared a wee bit of my chicken with RSK and he too has been spending a bit of quality time in the litter box. Thank GOD he only had a wee bit of the chicken and 2 visits to the box, so I don't feel like the worstest of worst mom's. Still feel pretty bad though.

So I decided to call the place I got the food from to give them a heads up. I didn't want to say that I knew it was their food because my cat and I got sick, so I said 2 of the three of us ate it and we are the two who got sick. I thought that sounded better. The place thanked me for letting them know, and said they'd look into it. I seriously doubt they will though, unless other people call them too.

Anyway, don't worry about me, I'm staying way hydrated and doing ok. I apologize for my first post of the month being about something so unappealing, but hey, try living it for 4 days :P

So good luck to everyone else this month! I'm getting excited to start reading some new blogs and trying to be more creative with mine! And for FINALLY winning a prize this year! (It can happen, right?)

Posted by Acinom @ 11:10 AM :: (3) comments