Modern Technology/Appliance Neglect

If you're waiting for the rest of my 100 things (or the last 40) - keep waiting. This isn't about that. It's about something else.

I've been neglecting my blog for a while, my own fault. I haven't had computer problems, and my hands are not broken. I haven't made any scientific breakthroughs on the design of my blog(obviously), although there is still work to be done. It's not my computer's fault at all (but just in case PC is mad, sorry PC - you rock!)

I would really prefer to blog while I'm at work, since I'm already on the computer. However, my employer frowns upon that and I need the benefits and paycheck for now. So by the time I get home and settled in, I really don't want to turn on the home computer. I think of topics at work (my collection of post-it notes is growing). Then I sort of format them in my head, but once I get here - poof, a bright shiny object distracts me. (oh yeah, that would be the disco ball, which I still haven't taken down - refer to my very first blog.)

This technological piece of equipment is not the only one suffering in my life. Poor iPod - she's been charging all weekend and I didn't give her any quality time either. There are tunes to dump, new ones to download and some to do over. (ooo - do overs - another future topic.)

My cell phone should be charged, but it's in the car and I didn't leave the house today. I don't get many calls on it, but it's nice for me to have when I want to order take-out and not use my stove or microwave.

Three appliances not showing signs of neglect this weekend are my washer, dryer and television. It was time to show them the love. Who am I kidding? My tv gets love all the time. I watch movies on DVD, movies on tv, movies I have on DVD on tv. Sometimes I just have the tv on for background noise. I watch sports...currently the US Open, but usually baseball. I watch hour long dramas and sitcom comedies, even during the summer when I know they are reruns. However, let me be clear, in my downtime I am not always a couch potato.

As for my washer and dryer...it seems like I always have some form of laundry to do. Have I mentioned I live alone?! It's not like I'm doing laundry for the neighborhood, I wear the same clothes over and over. I'd like to be a clothes horse, but then I just think about how much more laundry I'd have to do. Today's wash included clothes for work, sheets, pillowcases and blankets. Don't even get me started on the fact that I need a blanket on my bed in August. That just depresses me.

I'll try to be more regular about using all of the modern technology I have available to me, but they are all going to have to wait their turn. I am only one person.
I'm going to shut off the tv now. :)

100 Things - Part B

Ok so I've come up with a few more things to add to the list.

51. I balance my checkbook to the penny, every time.
52. I get road rage.
53. I do not act upon it, as I'm really too chicken...and it will come back to bite me.
54. I am a loyal and good friend.
55. 1 friend 2 years ago stopped speaking to me and to this day, I do not know why.
56. I will not ask.
57. I love to play board games, but it was sometimes difficult as an only child. :)
58. I love to do puzzles.
59. I learned how to knit this year...actually I re-learned this year. Someone taught me 15 years ago but I forgot how.
60. These last 3 items may be contributing factors as to why I'm still single. :)

That's it for tonight.

100 Things - Part A

I'm fascinated by the 100 Things. Who started it? I'll give it a try. I don't have 100 at this time, so this may turn into a mini-series. If there are any "rules" to the 100 things, please help me out.

1. I own 2 hats - both baseball type. One is a Boston Red Sox hat, the other is a Moxie hat from whitewater rafting.
2. I had what I believe may have been a near death experience on that whitewater rafting trip.
3. I would go rafting again.
4. I am a Dog & Cat person. Most people are either one or the other, but I love both.
5. My cat, Turtle, died on February 29th (leap year)
6. I have not replaced my cat with another animal.
7. My favorite non-alcoholic beverages are (in no special order): Diet Coke (regular or with lime), very cold water, and lemonade.
8. My favorite alcoholic beverages are (and frozen): margaritas (no salt), daiquiris, mudslides
9. Both sides of my family have alcoholism, so I seldom drink.
10. I LOVE to read - mostly fiction, mystery/suspense. My favorite author is Janet Evanovich, she lives in NH.
11. I never have enough time to read (except when JE's newest books come out).
12. I work 3 jobs to fend off bouts of loneliness.
13. I choose not to have children.
14. I love my friends and their children.
15. I'm a good secret-keeper, but do enjoy gossip that is told to me.
16. Like Minor Revisions, I was a NKOTB fan (on my iPod too) and went to more concerts than I will admit to.
17. Jonathan spoke to me after a concert once. He was my favorite before that moment anyway. Jordan was my second favorite.
18. I don't like most kinds of beans...including jelly.
19. My favorite kind of chocolate is milk or Swiss milk chocolate - very smooth and creamy.
20. I would love to travel more, but I don't like to fly. There's a 50-50 chance I'll get sick.
21. I worry a lot. It could be about specific or general things.
22. My parents divorced when I was 13.
23. My Mom died 6 months before I turned 30.
24. My Dad died 1 month before I turned 30.
25. My 30th birthday was not enjoyable, but some of my friends threw me a surprise birthday party (I knew about and hated it.)
26. I have never fully recovered from my parents' deaths.
27. I am an only child.
28. I still see my ex-boyfriend, but I am no longer in love with him.
29. I watch more tv than I should.
30. I love the occasional lazy Sunday, where I get to stay in pj's all day.
31. I wear glasses. I've had them since I was in high school. My first eye dr told me I should have gotten them in 2nd grade.
32. I can't wear contacts, my eyes start to spasm if I try to put eye drops in.
33. I'm still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.
34. My favorite tv shows have ended...Friends, Will & Grace, Sex and the City, The West Wing.
35. I belong to a Community Choir.
36. I am an Alto and the Treasurer of the chorus.
37. I LOVE to sing.
38. I like to dance.
39. I've never had a lesson in either, although I think I would enjoy both.
40. Music makes me happy.
41. When I laugh really hard, I cry and then I have to take my glasses off.
42. I have friends who enjoy watching me laugh really hard.
43. My Zodiac sign is Taurus.
44. I would like to be married.
45. I thought I would be by now.
46. I don't want to work full time for the rest of my life.
47. I would like to think money could buy me happiness.
48. I don't like cherries or coconut.
49. I have been to Las Vegas twice...and I'm not there to gamble.
50. I saw Celine Dion's show on her 2nd night at Caesar's Palace. It was incredible.

So it may only turn out to be a 2 part series...I had more than I thought for this round.

Misc.

I have started a running list of topics for future blogs, but this one is just what the title is...

In my short existence of being a blogger, I have enjoyed reading other people's blogs - it's a nice escape for a few minutes. I haven't done much exploring, as I rely on the ones I am already familiar with to lead me to the others. Maple Mama is the one I read regularly, followed closely by Berniera. However, I do have to say I, like Maple Mama, have become hooked on Minor Revisions (I have yet to post a comment). I have read about 10 of her postings (although will go back for more history), but I thoroughly enjoy them. I swear, some of things I've read have either been right out of my life or in my head at one time. The little things, not the revelations.

A future topic will be my version of 100 things...although I may do 2 installments of 50...or some random number for no particular reason.

I had dinner tonight with 2 friends of mine. We try to get together once a month or so - usually works out to every 6 weeks. I used to work with both of them, but I moved on to another job (actually it's 3 jobs later), one is still there (J) and one was able to "retire" (D). D leads a good life and at the age of 55ish, she barely looks 45. J usually dominates our dinner conversation, but not in a tedious way. She just always has a million things going on, currently J and her husband are building an addition. It's going to be great - I think in previous lifetime she must have been a remodeler and D was an interior designer. I'll have to suggest to them they open a business together. They can practice on my place. :)

We didn't have dessert at the restaurant, so a while after I got home I had a candy bar...specifically the Reese's PB cups with Caramel...it satisfied my chocolate craving, but did little else for me. Why turn Reese's into all sorts of different varieties? I admit my curiousity gets the best of me, so I've probably tried all of them. I found the only one I like better than the original is the BIG CUP Reese's. I think the original size has changed in taste over the years (of course, it could be my taste buds...nahhhh) and the BIG CUP has captured the original magic.

Another topic for another day - candy. Until then....sweet dreams. :)

Roses v. Thorns

I am starting to believe people's destiny is planned before you're born. There are people who land in a bed of roses almost every time. And then there are people who get stuck with a thorn most of the time. I tend to fall into the thorn category. This is only a couple of examples of roses v. thorns, but I may come back to this topic in the future.

Case in point today...A friend of mine won an autographed baseball and baseball bat from Jason Varitek. I have been a Red Sox fan my entire life, it was passed down in my family (my Mom's family). Jason Varitek is one of 2 favorites I have on the team. Now, this friend that won the items is also a huge Red Sox fan, but he was slightly disappointed when he didn't win 1st prize - tickets to a game. It was a raffle at work that he participated in and he was slightly disappointed in the 2nd or 3rd place prize. We don't work in the same place, so I couldn't buy tickets to participate in the raffle. He has had more rose piles (in the time I've known him) than thorn piles.

Another friend of mine (also today) received an autographed picture of Jon Bon Jovi. She was recently at 2 shows in the front row both times - there's another couple of thorns. Basically the woman she was standing next to - is an aquaintance of the band, and hooked her up with the personalized picture. However, in her defense this friend of mine has had MANY thorns in her life. I just find it funny that today proved to be an especially thorny day for me.

I don't begrudge them the moments in the sun (maybe a little). I do admit I had a "green-eyed monster" moment at the office today upon hearing this news. Of course my office is a thorn for me...another topic for another day. I'm not saying I have always had bad luck, but my good luck is very few and far between. I don't really know how to change my thorns into roses. I realize this isn't going to change the world, but if there's plenty of happiness to go around - I'd like my share. I know it sounds selfish or self-indulgent, but if you know me - I'm really not like that. I'm not asking for much, just don't kick me when I'm down.

Thanks for reading or "listening" to my...Random Thought...