charity

when i'm daydreaming about being extremely wealthy, one of the things i always think would be cool to do is to just randomly give people money. i would over tip, i would say "keep the change", and i would pay for other people's checks at restaurants.
i think about when i was in college and how if i found $5.00 in a pair of jeans then i got all excited. i just read stinkypaw's post on what she is doing for the homeless in her city and it got me to thinking...
how much do i need to have before i can do this? really? i am NOT extremely wealthy but we do okay. i own designer bags and drive a nice vehicle (when it gets repaired from the deer hit). i have spent money on stupid things. i have "wasted" money. how much do i have to have before i can feel charitable?
i donate Body Shop and tie dyes to local benefits and i buy girl scout cookies. i purchase raffle tickets to help out the latest cancer victim's medical bills and i give my clothes (the ones that don't sell on my garage sale) to the Salvation Army.
all of those things offer me something in return...so is it really charity?

i'm going to start truly GIVING. last night i gave my pizza delivery guy a $16.00 tip. he is a young guy who is always friendly. it felt good to say "keep the change" and to see the smile on his face. i realize that $16 isn't going to pay off any of his bills but hopefully it made him feel appreciated.
i'm also going to take a page from stinkypaws book and stop by our local food pantry to find out what items they need and i'm going to GIVE it to them.

finally, last night i was at my in-laws house with my six year old. monkey's parents are in St. Lucia visiting his sister and brother in law (the one who just finished the sailing race). they had purchased all new bedding and curtains, painted the walls, and cleaned the drapes and carpets while they were gone. so she asked me and gab's other two sisters to stop by and kind of put things back together for them as a Christmas present. i got there early with Mazzy and she was helping me make the bed and she said to me:
"mom, you know what i love about this time of year?" and I said "presents?" and she said "nope, it's people helping each other."

WTF!!

seriously, i got over 25 spam emails today. did anyone else experience an increase in spam today? m*f*ers.

a boat race

Monkey has a sister who is married to a British doctor, Andrew. They live in Scotland and do things like sail on the open sea.
Andrew and his father and a couple of other guys recently set sail from the Canary Islands headed to St. Lucia with about 250 other boats as part of the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) race.

Each boat has daily logs and some submit photos. It is very interesting to me and I check the log frequently to see what's going on with them. The little blurbs often are of funny things that have happened on board or of particularly rough seas and the aftermath. A couple of boats helped aid in rescues at sea of other boats (not part of the race) who needed help.

Today I read about a crew who were fishing and had a giant tuna on the line. It dived suddenly and they couldn't figure out what was going on until they reeled it in and found that while it was on the line it was being attacked by a shark. Wow, here is a photo of the missing tail fin and the giant bite taken out of it.

If you're interested in reading more, please check it out.

the aftermath

my insurance adjuster called yesterday for the details. she said almost every call she's getting this past week is for deer hits. A guy up in Michigan was driving a van and hit a deer, it flew through the windshield and killed him.

i am thankful that my hit was pretty minor. I also found out that I have zero deductible so it won't cost me anything (maybe higher premiums ultimately i guess) but nothing out of pocket to fix it.

Talking with some of the guys in the pressroom last night (all "country" boys who have their own deer experiences) and one asked me if my air bag deployed. It hit me that it had not and I wondered at what impact it would deploy. I hit this deer going about 40mph straight on. My insurance adjuster also asked which headlight was out and I said "neither" then realized I never checked. Of course I was on back roads with no other light source so I think it's safe to assume they are fine otherwise I would have noticed (I would hope).

The guys also asked me if i called the police to file a report. "uhhhh, no. Was I supposed to?" Honestly it never occurred to me to call the police. I was fine, no other people were involved, the deer was not in the middle of the road. I didn't even consider that my insurance company would not believe me. If they fight it, they can do DNA testing of the embedded fur and deer hide left in my grill, i'm pretty sure it's proof enough.

Oh Deer!

I perpetrated a hit and run last night.

I was driving home from a Body Shop party. I was about two hours away from home on a back two lane road, it was about 10pm. It's not uncommon to hear stories this time of year about people hitting deer but it had never happened to me, until last night.
I had been really keeping my eyes open for deer because it's hunting season and it drives them out of the woods. It sucks to drive anywhere at night this time of year.
The road had been pretty deserted with only a few cars here and there and as I was entering the little town of Havana I took my car off cruise to slow down for the speed limit through town. A car was coming toward me and then I saw the deer right at the side of the road. I estimated (correctly) that I would meet the deer and the car at the same time so I did the odds in my head on what would be the best course of action. It truly is amazing how many thoughts go through your head in a second or two.
I knew I could not swerve. I knew I couldn't brake in time, so I was wondering if it would better to let the deer hit my side or hit it straight on. I braked hard and it jumped right in front of my SUV. I am very thankful I was driving the Durango because if I'd been in the car, it would have came through the windshield for sure.
I slammed head on into the huge deer and it was a very jarring and emotional moment. The poor deer slid on it's side across the road away from the truck. I drove on and called Monkey who was just getting ready for work (3rd shifter). I was shaken and mostly worried that I had really damaged the truck and wouldn't be able to get home. I kept hearing a scraping sound from the tire and I knew something was wrong.
The car in the other lane passed me and I saw in my rear view mirror that it braked and slowed, I presume to make sure I didn't need help (thanks buddy).
I kept driving because I was only about two miles from a gas station in Havana and the road was dark and creepy. I pulled into the station and got out to look at the damage. The entire right side of the grill was forced in and the bumper was cracked and hanging down. I discovered the broken bumper was scraping against the tire so I pried it up so I could keep driving. Deer guts and fur clung to the smashed in grill. Sadness.
Monkey called into work and said he'd be late and set out to meet me half way just in case the car overheated or the tire blew or something crazy. When we met up at a gas station in Bloomington, he was able to take the grill completely out since it was just barely in place. He followed me home and everything was fine.

I have to call the mechanic and insurance agent today if I can. Can wait to hear the damage (to my bank account). Yeesh. I am very glad that my kids weren't in the car. Although I wasn't hurt, seeing that would have broken my daughter's heart. She is very emotional and empathetic (which is awesome). She refused to play with the star fish I brought her from Hawaii when she learned it was once alive. She tried to bring it back to life by putting it in the bathtub. I can't even imagine how traumatized she would be by seeing her mother slam into a beautiful deer and sending it's limp carcass flying across the road. Small favors.


So to all who live in deer infested areas, please drive carefully.

not afraid to admit i poop

i recently spent a few days visiting galoot and preppygirl (and the other jamestonian bloggers).

i had a body shop booth at the local fair (which is awesome, wish we had one around here that big). well, I had to poo while I was manning my booth.

I sought the "out of the way" potty. I flushed but it remained. I won't go into great detail of the item itself but it would not flush. TEN times I flushed and it refused to go down. I was forced to leave it. Seriously, how long could I stand there before someone came in and realized it was mine.
(A funny episode of Extras had Andy's manager attempting to use a whisk.)

I went wandering and some local hair salon was there and they wanted me to sit down and they were going to "rock out" my hair. Whatev, there was mention of a faux hawk which I actually would have liked but the guy was just putting stuff in my hair and standing it straight up. I had to go back to the bathroom to see what he had done and could not resist checking the stall with the unflushable turd.

Of course it was still there. I gave it one more flush and down it went. I was relieved.

Later that night at the Wine Celler while recounting this story to my girlfriends, I had made the comment that I should have taken a photo with my new digital camera. This led to my coffee table book idea "Crapbooking" (mr. social later suggested Volume Number Two). I said the subtitle could be "people really do buy all kinds of shit." Or possibly, "you can never have too much shit"

at any rate...i am a girl. i do poop. occasionally i clog a toilet. i may need a support group.

things i read in the paper today

so, we all now have to fear the "superbug". great. flesh eating infections and drug resistant viruses.

also, i didn't read this in today's paper but a few weeks ago: some kid who was swimming in Lake Havasu got a brain infection and died. Evidently this bacteria lives in warm, lake water. A family was playing in the water and one of the sons (I think he was around 13 years), got water too far up his nose. A week later he had a headache and died at the hospital from this incurable infection. The paper made it seem like this was a fairly common bacteria and several people a year die from this. CRAZINESS. I certainly wouldn't be tubing in that water!

Also in today's paper: some black dude was having a "sexual chocolate" and "sexual caramel" party and only light skinned black women were allowed in. He couldn't understand why that was offensive to people.

Evidently, the large Transformer Bumblebee ($99) is one of the hot MUST HAVE toys for Christmas this year. Also on the list: Hannah Montana doll with stage, laughing Elmo (back for a second year), Aquadots, and Barbie MP3 player. Get em while they're hot.



We have watched Transformers at least 5 times since it came out Tuesday. I finally let my neighbors borrow it so we wouldn't have to put it in again today. I'm sure we'll be looking for that Bumblebee toy for Christmas.

Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello are playing a show locally this weekend. Tickets are available for $39 to $59 a pop. I'd consider going but I have a Body Shop party.

what's new in la la land

it's 60 degrees in my house and monkey said "no" to turning on the heat. my fingers are c c cc cold. i can practically see my breath.

anyway, two days ago it was in the 90's.

this weekend starts my hectic schedule with Body Shop parties (9 total) and press checks and i'm only one month away from my trip to new york to see preppygirl and co.

time flies.

my son is still obsessed with the local pizza place that burned down. he mentions it at least once every single day and the place burned more than a month ago.

jude (to a random adult friend of mine at a store): joe's pizza place burned down

friend: yes, i heard that

jude: i'm going to be a fire fighter when i grow up

friend: you are? that is so great

jude: and i'm going to burn down a pizza place

i think i better change all the batteries in our smoke alarms.

magic erasers

some time ago, i posted about how awesome the magic erasers are. i still think so even though i have gotten tons "warning" emails about how dangerous they are.

so, some woman let her CHILD use a magic eraser and this child rubbed it on his face. Seriously, what mother would let her child play with CLEANING PRODUCTS??? I don't think we need a million emails telling us "not to let our kids play with Magic Erasers." Most of the moms I know are smart enough to know that the "magic" ingredient in a cleaning product is going to be some kind of chemical.

I was taught at a very young age not to play with chemicals and as a mother I know to keep my cleaning products in a locked/secure place. I am teaching my kids to clean up, but they only get harmless soap and water.

Now this mom will probably sue and the prices will go up. Yeahhh, it's the American way. Hey, I think I might go digging around and find a product that does not have every conceivable warning on the side and then I'll misuse it and sue and make my fortune. Who cares if i'm mildly disfigured as long as I've got cash.

friday stuff

i just haven't been inspired lately. i don't know if it's allergies or what but my eyes are puffy and i feel tired and in slow motion.

i decided that it would be a great idea to remodel our upstairs bathroom last week. what should have been an easy pull the toilet out, put the new toilet on repair has turned into an ordeal.
of course if we are going to change the toilet, we might as well change the sink. And if we are pulling out the sink and toilet then we need to pull out the nasty carpet (yes, someone put carpet in a bathroom ~ gross). Well, since we pulled out the carpet, I might as well put a fresh coat of paint....and so it goes.
i live in a house that is over 100 years old so it should not have surprised me that none of my pipes fit standard fixtures. my step dad had to come over and cut and install new pipes and turn off valves (our upstairs sink did not even have turn off valves on them).
now all the fixtures are ready to be installed and the tile is ready to go down (thanks again to my step dad for laying the sub floor) BUT...I am so NOT in the mood to peel wall paper and paint.
the entire project now is at a standstill until I can find the energy and desire to paint.

our new toilet has find a home in mazzy's bedroom which she thinks is hilarious.

oh yes, on monday we put the old toilet to the curb. we have this thing in our town where people drive around and collect things they can use from other people's garbage. it got picked up monday. on wednesday i was cleaning the downstairs bathroom and dusting the shelf above the toilet. i picked up the glass shelf and it slipped down and shattered the tank lid to that toilet. uh...yea...go figure. kicking myself for not keeping the old tank lid. grrrrr.


okay blogging about toilets...aren't you all glad you stopped by to check this out

shell shocked

Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop passed away yesterday from a massive brain hemorrhage. Her obit is here if you want to read more about her.

I met Anita twice at our national conferences (for The Body Shop at Home). When I watched her speak, she inspired me. I had the opportunity to meet and chat with her and I treasure those memories (even more so now).

I also just recently finished reading her book, "Business As Unusual."
It was very interesting and I was just recommending it to a few of my friends over this past weekend. I'm still so surprised and numb and not sure what to think yet.

She made a difference.

Lockdown at our High School

Situation: Pontiac Township High School is currently under Code Red Lockdown due to a report of weapons in the school.

Background: Most recent reports are that the premises are being searched, weapons have been recovered, students involved are being held, no injuries have occurred to either students or staff.

Assessment: As far as we know, the facility search continues, however students are secure and safe at the school, and the search is continuing in an orderly fashion.

Recommendation: As more information is announced, we will share it, as we know many of you have children at PTHS.



UPDATE:

In an effort to keep our employees informed of the latest news reports and most accurate information made available, we share the following from the police and WJEZ from just a few moments ago …

PTHS is dismissing at the present time. Buses are running their routes.

Grade schools, PJHS and St. Mary’s will remain in session until their normal dismissal time, but their buildings will remain on lockdown as a precautionary measure.

A total of six guns were recovered this morning at PTHS and three persons are in custody.

Reminder … police and other authorities will hold a news conference at 2:30 p.m. today at the police headquarters downtown.

All PTHS students will attend a special meeting in the auditorium at 8:20 a.m. tomorrow.



UPDATED UPDATE:

1.) At 8:30 a.m., a student approached the high school’s resource officer and informed him that he knew that guns were brought into the school.

2.) A Code Red was immediately called. Per the prescribed P & P, all teachers locked students into the classrooms and followed the remaining steps outlined in the policy. School officials and law enforcement were commended for their preparedness and the orderly fashion in which the Code Red procedure was followed and calmly conducted.

3.) Six handguns in a book bag were located within minutes.

4.) Three individuals are in custody. No names have been released because they are juveniles.

5.) Interviews with these and other individuals are still occurring at this hour.

6.) The makes and models of the handguns were not released, as well as whether they were loaded or their origin, pending the remainder of the investigation process.

7.) Remaining students were held in the school for approximately 3-1/2 hours before school was dismissed.

8.) Code Red procedures were practiced at the school at least twice last year, according to the superintendant.

9.) School security video will be reviewed in the coming hours and days as part of the investigation.

10.) There will be a police presence at all the city’s schools tomorrow.

11.) Tomorrow morning’s 8:20 a.m. assembly at the high school will include counselors, police officers and school officials, and will include information intended to comfort students, restore their feeling of safety and their confidence in attending school. Counseling services will be offered to all students.

12.) Charges against the three individuals are expected to be announced once all info is rec’d --- probably tomorrow.

13.) The teachers with students on the field trip in Decatur today were notified immediately of the Code Red, and returned home as originally planned.

conversations with a three year old boy

me: jude what do you want to be for halloween this year?

jude: a tow truck driver

me: what does a tow truck driver wear?

jude: a hooker


(he calls Mater's tow cable a "hooker" which cracks me up)

mythbusters

so this bridge collapse has me completely freaked out.

for some reason i have a lot of anxiety about my vehicle going into the water. my fear of this happening is fairly recent (the last couple of years or so) and it's bad enough that i have investigated those little hammer things that break the windows in a vehicle, and suggested to my husband that someone invent some inflatable thing in the roof of a car that makes it float were it ever to become submerged.

i believe that we move toward what we picture in our minds (LONG before Oprah and The big Secret told us to) so when i start to imagine what i would do if it happened, i get mad at myself when my mind suddenly puts my kids in the back seats. "NO, mind" I think to myself "stop visualizing that" and I always finish the thought with me figuring out how to release them and get us all out and safe (just in case my mind really is that powerful).

watching the bridge tragedy unfold and the aftermath was terrible but i could not change the channel. i wanted to hear that no one drowned and people really are able to get out of submerged vehicles (to ease my fears). i saw the cars on the bridge in the water and thought, "well that wouldn't be so bad, they just rode the bridge down and didn't really go in the water." then i heard about the 20 or so cars that they believed were under water and 20 to 30 missing people. stomach sinking feeling.

i was relieved to hear that estimate was high but still sad about those who did drown. i just prayed that they were unconscious or the impact killed them and they didn't struggle to get out and drown with all that fear (especially the mom and her toddler ~ i choose to believe that God took them quickly because the alternative is too much to process).

mythbusters did a show on getting out of a car submerged and it was interesting but of course my mind decided it was a "sign" that it's going to happen to me and i was supposed to watch that show so i would know what to do. i did pay attention. ultimately they said that the little hammers and the punch tools DO work to shatter glass under water but it is IMPOSSIBLE to roll down your window (manual or electric). they said you can hold your breath much longer if you calm yourself down and just sit and wait calmly for the water to completely fill the inside of your car (of course if you have children in the back seat, you should use that time to release them from car seats, etc.). hold your breath and when the car is completely filled with water the door just opens and you can swim up. the mythbuster guy freaked out the first few times and had to be "saved" but then he took a tantric breathing class and put those principles into action and was able to get out of the car with no problem.

don't grab tim mcgraw's balls

has anyone seen the video clip of Faith Hill telling off a fan who had just grabbed her husband's crotch while performing? i'd link it here but am having trouble.
anyway, it made me laugh out loud.
Faith is still swaying back and forth to the band's music and trying to work the scolding in to her routine. She points at a woman in the crowd and tells her she "needs some class because you don't go grabbing other women's husband's balls!"
hilarious.

BEWARE of lake water!!

my daughter spent several hours of several days in the shallow water just off the dock while on vacation in wisconsin.
one day she got out of the water and complained that her back was very itchy. i took off her life vest and scratched her back and she kept complaining. i could not see anything on her back or any kind of rash. she moved from me to her auntie liz and begged her to scratch her back as well.
she went inside and showered and when i came into the house she was crying because she itched so bad.

well, we couldn't see anything at all and chalked it up to "melodrama."

in the meantime, monkey had developed these red welts on legs from the knees down. he said they itched like crazy and we all thought they were chigger bites from him walking through knee high weeds in the neighbor's yard.

the next night, auntie liz came in from an evening outside and complained that she had a ton of mosquito bites on her butt. i found that odd since: a. she had been wearing pants b. she had been sitting in a chair and c. since no one else had been "eaten alive" by mosquitoes.


then came sunday and the red spots.
my six year old developed these red circles from her neck to her ankles. each spot had a small white spot in the center and there were probably about a hundred of them covering her body. monkey said "it's chicken pox". i thought that was ridiculous since they didn't itch or hurt and she didn't have any kind of fever or illness associated with it.
i considered that my son didn't have these spots and i didn't have these spots but monkey and aunt liz did have odd bites that were similar.
hmmmm, monkey was standing in the shallow water while he cleaned fish and his legs from the knees to the ankles were exposed.
hmmmmmm, aunt liz was in the shallow water with mazzy and helping jude catch minnows.


i did a search on "lake itch" and a few other key words and found this.

Swimmer’s itch is a widespread occurrence in Wisconsin and has been reported in many other states and also in Europe and elsewhere in the world. There seem to be no special characteristics of lakes having the problem. Some of the finest recreational waters in the state experience swimmer’s itch annually, whereas other lakes may have an occasional outbreak or none at all. An outbreak may be severe, but last for only a few days, or can be minor and last much of the season.

The irritation is caused during a life stage of a flatworm parasite (Schistosome) which lives as an adult in suitable mammals and birds, such as mice and ducks. The adult worm sheds its eggs via the host’s excretory tract into the water. Here they hatch into a free-swimming stage called a miracidium. The miracidium swim in search of a proper second host animal, a particular type of snail. If a proper snail is found, the miracidium will penetrate into the snail’s tissue and undergo further development. After a three- or four-week development period, another free-swimming stage called a cercaria emerges from the snail in search of the proper primary bird or mammal host



Now, monkey is fairly certain that what is on his legs is this parasite and though I haven't talked to aunt liz (or seen her butt), i'd bet money that is what is on her ass as well.

I gave mazzy some topical steroids and some benedryl and the spots are significantly better (both fewer and lighter in color). It may be just from time or from the meds but I know I will never swim close to shore EVER because the thought of these flatworms all over her little body is completely disturbing. I am still debating on if I should tell her the truth about what caused the spots.

should i tell her so she isn't so inclined to swim only near the shoreline? or not tell her and risk her getting them again?

While in Wisconsin, we went for a pontoon ride one day.
My daughter had made it very clear that she did NOT want to ride on a boat. While she loved being IN the water, she had no desire to be ON the water.
We would ask her to get on the floatie with us which was just off the dock and she refused. She screamed and said "the box says only "four people at a time" and she would have been the fifth. We tried to assure her that it would actually hold 8 people but the photo only showed four. She wanted no part of it. I asked her what she was afraid would happen and she thought it might sink. I told her she was already IN the water and so what difference would it make. She didn't care.

So, we get on the pontoon after coaxing her with how it was a slow boat and Papa would go easy. We rode around the lake and Jude was having a blast, he absolutely LOVED the boat rides (fast and slow) but would NOT go in the lake. He was kneeling next to me at the front of the boat and looking over the edge (i had ahold of his life jacket) but he dropped his sippy cup into the water. Magda completely lost her cool and began crying. "I really loved that sippy cup" she cried. We were circling around to grab it out of the water and missed it. Of course we were all laughing because seeing the guys trying to bend over to reach the water was funny to us. After about three tries, she is still crying and we are telling her "it's only a sippy cup." She screams at us "but imagine if it was a person!!" Then she says "i knew we shouldn't have come on this boat ride."
we finally got the damn cup out of the water but by then she was totally done with boats. We got back to the dock and she immediately jumps into the water (yes, the same water of the same lake we were just on) to swim. ??? go figure.

adventures of Harty and Joey

Last July, I posted about my daughter's imaginary children and thought I'd give a little update about what they've been up to.
To refresh your memory or for those of you who are new, the following is an excerpt from last year's post:

My five year old doesn't have imaginary friends, she has imaginary "children." I know she has at least five but the two who get the most attention are Harty and Joey.

Harty is a sweetheart and very likeable child. She helps Mazzy pick up her room and shares her toys with the other "kids." Harty has pink hair and is five years old. Today is her surprise birthday (it is ALWAYS her birthday and Mazzy ALWAYS wants to buy "Harty" a present). Her favorite language is French and she is fluent. She frequently gives Mazzy lessons in French. In case you didn't know ~ "maroya" is how you say "love" in French (hey, Harty should know). Harty wants to be a ballet teacher when she grows up.

Now, Joey is the little stinker of the group. He is often responsible for messing up Mazzy's room and once even locked Mazzy in her closet. Joey is four years old and likes water guns and wants to be a watergun boy fairy when he grows up. Last week Mazzy told me a secret about Joey. She said to me "he has big boobs like you, Mom." Mazzy says she loves him and is teaching him how to be good. Joey is in school right now, he has summer school (of course). Mazzy is fluent in "Rubbish" and she learned this from Joey. Joey isn't allowed at Nana and Papa's house anymore after acting up over there and making a mess. I've tried to ban him from our house but he keeps sneaking back in.

WELL, I hadn't heard much about the "kids" lately so I asked Mazzy yesterday where the heck they've been. She told me that they have been on vacation and should be home by "bednight" tonight.
Evidentally they have been vacationing with their Grandma in the woods behind Preppygirl and Galoot's house. I asked if they had tents or a trailor and she told me that they sleep hanging from the trees.
At some point between last July and now, they became vampires. More specifically "tree vampires" as they live in trees (duh, and the fairy vampires live in flowers and the mermaid vampires live in seashells).
She did inform me that vampires are "nocturnal" and that is why they will be arriving home at "bednight."
SO, Joey is a big boobed, rubbish speaking, water gun toting, sneaky vampire now. Great, as if he wasn't hard enough to live with before.

the dickhead lane and dickhead semi driver

I was driving back from a visit with Preppygirl yesterday and it was hellacious. Pretty much the entire state of Ohio is under construction and just when you get a good stride going and have the cruise control set, you come upon another single lane work area.
So, I was in such a stretch and cruising along listening to Sharkboy and Lavagirl play on the DVD player, when I suddenly realized that I was in the dreaded "dickhead lane."
I am usually a very curteous driver and have been known to wave other drivers in front of me in because I know that sometimes people end up in that lane by accident. So, when it happened to me, I fully expected some kind, easy going driver to make way so I could merge. No such luck.

I had not seen the road sign that said "left lane ends" and didn't realize that it was ending until I was already past the last car in the right lane. You know, you have no choice at that point but to put on the turn signal and creep your way into the right lane. It's not like you can put it in reverse and go back to the end of the line. I didn't try to drive all the way to front like some "dickheads" do, I was only trying to cut in a few cars ahead of where I would have been anyway. I picked a semi, because usually it takes them a little longer to creep forward and you have some space. Well, the asshole semi I chose was like that freaking crazy semi driver from that 1970's movie "Duel." He literally would get like inches from the car in front of him just so I could not get in. I had my signal on and it was obvious I needed in but he would not relent. I tried several tmes and even gave the "please, sorry, my bad" look, like just let me in, but he would rather cause an accident than let me in (and with kids in my car!!)
I was forced to drive up to the front of the line and cut off an unsuspecting girl. I was certain he was coming after me to force me off the road. I seriously was so creeped out that I drove about 85 mph for an hour to get as far away from him as I could. I know there must have been other red semis because I swear that I kept seeing a red semi in my rear view mirror. CREEEPY!!

You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought.

Hey, this is my first avatar ever and it's awesome. Big thanks to Mr. Social, artiste extroidannaire. Preppygirl debuted her new Izod avatar yesterday and I was so jealous, I begged for one of my own.

My conversation with Mr. Social via MSN:

me: I want an avatar
mr. s: you're next
me: hey what about me as princess leia organa?
mr. s: can you send me four nude photos?
me: sure, but they won't be of me

me: i'm picturing the buns and white dress
mr. s: all women do
me: what picture the white dress?
mr. s: yes, all men picture the bikini
(he sends me link of princess leia in slave bikini)
me: uh...yea...can't really picture my face on that image
mr. s: (sends picture of princess in white dress with blaster)
me: now THAT i would totally wear

hockey movies

there aren't very many movies about hockey:

Happy Gilmore: obviously more about golf
Youngblood: hottie rob lowe and tough guy pat swayze
Mystery, Alaska: outdoor hockey in alaska, russell crowe is very sexy in this flick
Slapshot: funniest, greatest most popular hockey movie of all time ~ paul newman
Miracle: based on true story about when usa won the olympics
The Mighty Ducks: who hasn't seen the mighty ducks?
Cutting Edge: only about a former hockey player turned figure skater. doesn't really count.

any i've missed?