genius...i tell you.

genius. goodbye paperclip/papertowel cleaning contraption. hello kitchen sink.

you and these geniuses are off my hate list...everyone else...still there.

people suck...

and i hate them.

rain=sleepy tuesday

it's tuesday and i'm sleepy.

i didn't do my art homework so i'm going to e-mail in sick tonight. i'm such a loser. i just couldn't get motivated to do it - plus i didn't have a clue as to what i wanted to do - something about texture. i think i'm feeling down about this class again...or maybe i'm just feeling unmotivated and lazy and am projecting onto my art class.

blah, blah, blah. not a lot to say. e was in malibu yesterday, hanging out by the beach. and i was in rainy, allergy filled, work sucks oklahoma. i need to exercise today but note my comment on feeling unmotivated and lazy so really what are the odds. i did just read that gwen steffani is going to be on american idol tonight - this could be interesting. i'm not a huge gwen fan but she fascinates me. the hair, the abs, the quirky style...

tomorrow is the specialist appointment and i'm looking forward to it. i haven't given blood in almost three weeks - and sadly my arms are still discolored - the last attempt was a horrible brusing disaster.

my evenings are pretty busy this week and that's good. and i'm heading out of town on friday. work is a little hectic so the week should fly by.

up until the last year or so i loved asparagus and then some asparagus met a stomach bug - and the love was over. but it saddens me - i really like asparagus. so i'm going to try and rebuild the relationship - try to get some fresh stuff, try a new technique - isn't it about that time. anyway, the point to all of my rambling is i found a lovely blog post about picking, preparing, storing and cooking asparagus. i thought i would pass it on to the few of you who might care.

this thing is all over the place today. sorry charlie.

sunday 8:15pm

whine, whine, whine...it's sunday night.

this morning as i was cleaning my kitchen sink with baking soda - i've found it is great for scrubbing and doesn't have horrible fumes - anyway, as i was pouring baking soda from that stupid box, i was wondering why do they only have it in a box. and look what i discovered today.

e left yesterday and as usual i'm in this odd mood. i don't take care of myself - i eat too much, don't sleep enough, avoid doing anything productive (despite large amounts of free time) and feel like pooh. it's ridiculous, i'm a grown confident woman that has been doing this for years...but yet i still get all moody. errr.

yesterday was the family garage sale - it wasn't bad. the family drama was low and my junk brought in a whopping $105.

friday we had dinner with the dosters. it was doubly good - really good to hang out with them and really good to eat some galileo's. i need to go there more - such yummy stuff.

this week looks pretty busy. i anticipate work being a bit hectic. i'm going to see a specialist. after a week or so of avoiding points and exercise, i'm going to start again tomorrow. and friday i'm going to austin with my sister.

here's to a good monday. i'm off to waste more time.

note: i have attempted to fix the formating in this post but blogger sucks...

hot diggity...it's friday again.

tonight will be a dinner outing. e is leaving tomorrow. i will be working the garage sale at my parent's house tomorrow (yea for extra cash and less junk). sunday looks free. ahhhhh...free.

isn't this bowl cool. i think i need a couple (to replace the junk i've gotten rid of, of course).

how little i know...

i saw this article today about cancer and i realized that i know very little about cancer. i thought i would pass it on...

Cancer: What is it, risks, detection, treatment
dailygotham.com

Cancer...it is something that is happening all the time in our bodies, yet most of the time our bodies fight it off with ease. Cancer is nothing more than a cell, part of ourselves, that starts growing uncontrollably. That’s all. And yet it can kill.

With Elizabeth Edwards relapsing after recovering from cancer, I thought it a good idea to give a brief lesson on cancer. This is a topic I am very familiar with. A big chunk of my professional career has involved studying subjects that are related to cancer. I have also seen someone die of cancer. I know what happens in cancer on the level of molecules, cells…and to a whole person and that person’s family.

Cancer is what happens when a cell escapes from the normal controls that limit its ability to divide. Cell division is how we develop from a single cell—a fertilized egg—into a human being. Cell division is how our hair grows, and how our intestinal lining and blood cells constantly replenish themselves. It is also how injuries heal. Cell division is a very tightly regulated process. It isn’t easy for a cell to divide. Our cells are constantly exchanging messages about what’s going on in our bodies, and most of those messages prevent cell division. (more)

cranky pants c.

for some unknown reason i have a serious case cranky this week. i don't want to get out of bed, i hate my job, i want to eat bad, i don't want to exercise, i want to whine and complain and last night had a cranky cry.

this is not good. so today, i'm annoyingly trying to snap out it. it's wednesday so my cranky week is half over, i think ted's might be on the agenda tonight and well despite my insistence to be this way - cranky is no fun. no fun at all.

my family is having a garage sale this weekend and i'm supposed to help on saturday. but they (the infamous weather they) are talking rain through the weekend. so who knows. have i ever mentioned that i enjoy having garage sales - i think it might have something to do with my facsination with junk and getting rid of it. and then there's the pricing, organizing part - i just can't help it - i find them fun. such a dork, i am. but then there's the family - always sending me into a tizzy.

i'm not much into spreading anti-war hoopla but i thought this poster was interesting. by the way, whenever i hear george w. speak i just think to myself, george, george, what is wrong with you(in a somewhat tired, i wish you would stop talking tone) i'm starting to just feel sorry for the guy.

emo kids ARE evil...

hungry, hungry hippo...

i have been so hungry today - not just a bad case of the muchies but literally hungry. i eat and two hours later i'm hungry. very odd. but my stomach does feel a little out of sorts. is it possible that a stomach bug could make you extra hungry?

i was cranky today - i think it was a combo of not enough sleep and funky, hungry tummy. hopefully tomorrow will be better.

but today i did schedule an appointment to see an internist at the ou physicians hematology department. i see the doctor next wednesday. i'm feeling good about things but i'm still a little apprehensive about things - but then again i'm just apprehensive about everything.

welcome back weekend.

it has been a long week. and it seems to be that way for everyone. and why is that. is there a common element that makes the week seem long for everyone. daylight savings, the weather, how far away pay day is, what's on tv...just wondering.

no big plans for the weekend. e is leaving on monday so i'm sure we will be wrapping up some last minute business and trying to have some relaxing downtime. i'm guessing there will be no green beer.

we had a food day at work today. i made some vegan chocolate cupcakes last night - i'm not a vegan but for some reason am very intrigued by baking vegan. yes, i realize i am a dork. but they were some seriously tasty cupcakes. it's funny because i think i've convinced everyone (mostly my mother) that i can't cook, which works well for me on holidays. when honestly, i enjoy cooking (when i have ample time) and do it fairly well. i'm finding myself more and more annoyed by packaged food and really the only way to avoid them is making things myself the old-fashioned way.

this weekend the dosters are also heading back east - it will be so nice to have them in town again. pray for safe travels.

speaking of praying, yesterday i attempted to give blood. attempted being the operative word - the sticker couldn't hit either of my veins. and it sucked but as i was sitting there with the second needle in my arm - one of the phlebotomist said maybe we should pray, it helps sometimes. and it shocked me that she said it. and then it shocked me that it shocked me. mostly because the thought of praying anymore is just so foreign - it's not my first response to pain, or joy, or worry. and i wonder - how did this happen?

am i a christian? do i believe in god? do i have the ability to be a spritutal person?

i think i need to force myself to be a praying person. don't worry how awkward and weird it feels - try to reprogram myself to rely on god - to believe that there is someone or something that has more insight into my life than i do.

wow. that turned heavy fast.

happy weekending.

good times...

reason #543 why i heart the world wide web

i found this today - a doctor who has a theory about hemochromatosis and the bubonic plague - very interesting.

you can watch him here.



or check out his blog post.

it's good news tuesday...

so i was a little cranky this afternoon and again when i got home and my internet wasn't working. but now i'm good.

i heard the happiest news this week - next week is spring break and i don't have class. granted it's only one night of no class but i'm excited. ahhh...nothing like a nice unplanned day out of school.

also on friday i started the process to go see a specialist about my hemochromatosis. a process indeed - i need a referal so i had to ask my diagnosing physician which meant i had to leave a message for the nurse, wait for the nurse to call, explain to the nurse, wait for the nurse to call, be confused by the nurse, call the specialist, wait for the specialist's office to call and on and on. on monday i faxed a letter to my doctor's office with my specific requests hoping that would simplify the process. and today i got a call from a super nice lady at the hemotology office saying she had spoken the nurse and my primary doctor's office would get my info to them soon. so now i just need to wait for the records to be sent and then i can set up an appointment. gimminy. but something is happening and many of you know that this has been a very stressful thing for me. to see specialist. to not. do i trust my family doctor. sigh. but i'm feeling pretty good about things.

in the meantime, i'm curious how long it will take to get an appointment with the specialist and what should i do about my treatment until then. honestly, i want to keep my blood for awhile.

and i just wanted to pass this on - i love archer farms. since e has started working at target, i have become addicted to a few of their items. those being - cinnamon vanilla nut coffee, organic fruit strips and organic blueberry almond oatmeal. mmm. mmm. good.

also, target has the best popcorn at their little food counter. a buck will get you fresh popcorn and a drink. apparently they have pb&j sandwiches too but i'm not sure about those. e is a fan but then again he is a fan of a lot of things.

oh and finally - i survived my class tonight. i think my professor liked my painting - she said it was my best work so far. i think i'm just going to have to settle into the idea of having some basic rules but really doing what i want to do. and not worrying about the rest because i think that's the only way i'm going to survive this.

tuesday, 2:47pm

it's march 13th - i'm still wondering where february went. i'm sort of cranky. the house guest is completely throwing off me and my dog's rountine. i'm not looking forward to my class tonight. i need to drink more water. i have no interest in working today. my feet are cold. my sister wants to go to a wine festival - i don't like wine. austin, 3 days, my sister, 6 hours in a car - the regret has already set in.

a random tidbit - According to the Food Marketing Institute, meat was the most shoplifted item in America's grocery stores in 2005. Store detectives speculate that these meatlifters feel entitled to have steak instead of hamburger on occasion, as a reward for their hard work. Slate.com 1.19.07

spring is here...

they're blooming, they're blooming.















i heart spring and bradford pear trees.

go to sleep...

it's sunday night at 11:20pm (i think, too much clock confusion) and i'm not ready to say goodbye to the weekend. not that it's been a phenomenal weekend but it is the weekend nonetheless.

tonight i worked on my art homework. a painting using different types of shapes - seriously how hard could this be but it somehow scared the pooh out of me. i think i'm gun shy. afraid i'm doing it wrong, trying to guess what my professor wants or will say. this is not good for tapping into my artistic self - quite the opposite. anyway, i struggled through it and tried to be true to what i wanted to do while also trying to guess her parameters. we will see.

it's another busy week for the both the jones' - i have class again mon-wed. and e has an overnight trip this week and is leaving for a two-three week tour starting this weekend. so it will be hectic. and we have a house guest - it's a long story but aren't they generally at my house.

i've been thinking about something lately and i'm going to try to get it out of my noggin. glimpes. i often say that i catch glimpes of things. just this week i mentioned to an extra life appreciating co-worker ( he says things like, every day above ground is a great day) that every so often i catch glimpes of how good it is to be alive. but normally i'm just caught in the mundane stuff. sometimes when i'm outside and there's sunshine and a light breeze and i can just take it in - i catch a glimpse of joy and peace. sometimes when i stop and just think - not worry about money, or work or dishes but just think about the future or how good it really is - i catch a glimpse of contentment with my life. sometimes when i pray, i catch a glimpse of god. not always but sometimes.

and i wonder. is everyone that way. does everyone just get glimpses of the really good stuff. or are some able to hold onto it. i want to hold onto it. i want to get rid of my logical, worrisome, prone to grumble personality that hinders me from living in the now, appreciating it all. all of it. the house guest, the RA years, the dysfunctional family, my crazy brain...

i think i'm going through a crisis. not a true crisis but a re-evaluation crisis. i'm listening to somewhat depressing music and am thinking about contentment, how i compartmentalize my life, how i need to be a better friend, wondering why i am so hard on my family, wondering what is next...and how can i become the person i want to be.

well, i better go. it's getting late and tomorrow is monday. and it will be a great day because every day above ground is a great day.

i'm becoming slightly obsessed...

it is early in the presidential game but i've already been sucked in. i feel like i need to cut myself off. but before i do...i heard a story on npr this week about hil and barack in selma, al over the weekend. they were there to commemorate bloody sunday. well apparently both of them whipped out their southern accents for the occassion. oh my goodness. i know this is a game but i find it all so bothersome. plus, bill never, ever makes appearances but did so in his beloved south.

well at least his accent is real.

and i wonder...where were the republicans? or are there any republicans left?

Why I hate my art class...

I am not an artist. I don’t think like an artist. I really like structure and balance. I’m a planner. I don’t act without organizing and planning. I’m overly logical. I play it safe. As E would say, I am the straight man.

When you give me instructions, I follow them. I do exactly what you tell me. My class is not this way. For example last week our assignment was a symmetrical and asymmetrical composition using up to four colors of construction paper. We had specific size requirements. We are required to hang our works up for everyone to see – the professor then critiques them. Well unfortunately she did not like my use of colors – it was “neat” but I focused more on the small details instead of the whole picture. Great. She doesn’t like my color and design…I can live with that. But then there are some works that didn’t even manage to make their design symmetrical or follow the size guidelines – does she point this out? No. Apparently to her the design and color usage is more important than the basic assignment. Cool you’re the professor but I don’t understand this…it is foreign to me.

Last night it was the same thing. I’m almost 32 flippin years old but I still do not like being criticized in a class room setting with ten 19 year olds. I find very uncomfortable. And very bothersome that I care so much…

But seriously, this class has become terribly difficult for me both skill wise and emotionally. It’s difficult to step out and do new things anyway, but I feel like what’s acceptable is ever changing. There is no black and white and I like black and white when my personal success depends on it.

I remember my first night in Drawing I being so intimidated and telling myself that I had nothing to prove. It’s fun, I’m challenging myself. It’s not working this time. I don’t buy it. I want to be able to do this and do it well but honestly I don’t know if I can.

I’m pondering dropping the class. The mere thought of presenting another project (a painting using the various types of shapes) makes me feel pure dread. Dread. And this is supposed to fun and enlightening. It is neither right now.

No rash decisions. I will ponder some more and maybe it will get better as the week progresses.

But otherwise I am good this week. Work is tolerable. I’m eating good. Exercising consistently. I had a small weight loss this week – I feel like I’m getting my habits under control – which is ultimately my goal. I have another Dreamweaver class tonight. So yeah, I’m good.

I have made plans to take a road trip with my sister in late March. We are going to see an aunt and uncle in Austin. My sister, oh my sister. We are so much alike, yet sooooooooooo very different. I’m sure before this trip is all said and done – there will venting about my sister.

just another monday...

this week is another busy week. class on monday, tuesday and wednesday night. i know it's good for me but i have this habit of becoming very overwhelmed by things - i just need to learn to let things go.

starting next week e will be traveling quite a bit with the band. he is officiating a wedding in early april so we need to take care of all the pre-wedding business before he leaves next week. eeeek...nothing like the jones' waiting until the last minute to do things. now that i think about it...we still need to file his "official" certificate (and by official i mean it cost $10) with the county.

and just a warning - i'm going to be in a e is gone funk for the next few weeks. for those of you i work with (ie. see 8 hours a day, five days a week) please be patient. those of you lucky dogs who live in other states - well you should be glad you don't have to work with funkified, moody christie.

i continue to give blood weekly. i think my doctor is trying to suck every ounce of blood from me and it's starting to show. i definitely am feeling more tired both after donation and the next few days and i'm also colder than usual. i say that because i'm always cold but here recently i can never get warm and my feet and hands are like little ice cubes.

i spent 3 hours on my homework last night. reason #1 why my art class is bugging me. more reasons to come.

i'm feeling pretty good about weight stuff. i'm still trying to make all my goals - i anticipate that will be the case for quite some time.

here are some random tidbits for you -

A new wikipedia for conservatives - because everyone knows that people who are pro-christianity and pro-america don't have voice and are being drowned out by the super liberals of the world.

Girls, start your engines - In a new Mattel game, girls race candy-colored cars to the mall. Girls can be into cars but only to get to the mall...

dognapping update...

Terriers seized in L.A. are returned
Sun Mar 4, 10:26 AM ET

Four purebred Yorkshire terriers stolen at gunpoint during a home invasion robbery more than a week ago were returned to their owners after a man turned himself in to police.

Three puppies, valued at $2,500 each, and a full-grown family pet named Tan-ja were reunited with their owners at the Wilshire Division police station Saturday night.

One puppy remained missing, police said.

Family members hugged and kissed the panting pups and left the police station with the dogs in their arms.

The animals were recovered after Ryan Betton, 19, of Los Angeles, surrendered to police Friday night, Detective Luis Corona said.

He was booked for investigation of residential robbery, police said.

A videotape of the robbery that aired on local television brought in many tips, including telephone calls that sent police to the home of Betton's father, Corona said.

"When the son came home, he confronted the son and that led to the son being brought in to the station to turn himself in," Corona said.

A second man was being sought.

The puppies had been advertised for sale in a newspaper and two men posing as buyers made an appointment to see them on Feb. 23. When a family member opened the door, one of the men pulled a gun. The men ordered the family of four to lie on the living room floor.

A home surveillance camera caught the scene as one man held a gun and the other chased after the puppies with a plastic garbage bag as they scampered around the room and underneath a coffee table.

He snatched one of the dogs from a woman's hands.

No one was injured.

Corona said before they were returned, the dogs were found in several places, including Long Beach.

Authorities believe the robbers didn't intend to sell the dogs but probably wanted to give them away as gifts, Corona said.

An LAPD official did not know if Betton had legal representation.

what has the world come to?

Criminals are stealing puppies now. This week I also heard about a store in Dallas that was broken into and stolen was jewelry, artwork, handbags, clothing, and accessories made by local designers. The crooks also stole supplies, sewing machines, and equipment that were used for classes at the store.

What happened to stealing electronic equipment or big ticket items? What can you do with a load of handmade bags? So odd to me really.


LA puppies dognapped in LA
AP

A pair of gunmen men posing as prospective buyers of four Yorkshire puppies forced their way into a home and stole the terriers worth $2,500 each, police said.
They also fled with the family's grown terrier.

After seeing a newspaper ad, the men made an appointment to see the 8-week-old puppies on the night of Feb. 23 at Kelly Lee's home in Koreatown. When they showed up, she said, she asked them to remove their shoes before entering.

One suspect told her they would get slippers from his vehicle, Lee said. When he returned, one pointed a gun at her and three family members.

"They yelled at us to get down" on the floor of the living room, Lee said.

As one man held a gun, the other chased after the puppies scampering around the room and underneath a coffee table, home surveillance video released by police showed. He snatched one of the dogs from Lee's hands.

After stuffing the dogs one by one in a plastic garbage bag, the men fled in a silver car, police said.

No one was injured.

"It appears the suspects answered the ad, knowing the value of the puppies," police Lt. Paul Vernon said.

Although the puppies were valued at $2,500 each, the victims were most concerned about the loss of Tan-ja, the family pet for more than three years.
"I just want to find my dog, that's it," Lee said.

holy sunshine...

did you know that daylight savings time begins on the 11th? 10 days from now.

i had no idea it was so soon. apparently i haven't realized it's march.

this is the best news i've received in weeks...months...oh i love spring.

bartering in the 21st century...

trade cds for $1. i've seen books sites like this - i think it's pretty cool. when i get some extra time - i should look into them more.

it's thursday and i'm excited. this has been a long week. between 3 straight evenings of class, work and feeling slightly off - the weekend is a wonderful thing.

and i've decided this week that i hate my art class. yes, i realize on tuesday i said i was enjoying it - well, i've changed my mind. more on this to come.

my point counting is coming along nicely. vitamins good. exercise not so good. overall i'm feeling pretty good with myself. now if i can only survive pizza with e's family tonight. eeek. pizza. i heart pizza.