Open for Business

Yes, the rumors are true. I have joined a third blog, and it is now open for business. (Mis)Adventures is my home life, PenelOccupation is my work life, and so obviously, I need a blog for going out on the town. Please stop by our new blog bar, Smartini, where six smart, sassy ladies are serving up all the drinks needed to quench your thirst! For knowledge, that is.

See ya there, I'll save you a seat.

I Still Sorta, by M

suck, at posting right now. But this is my last one until maybe next Monday or Tuesday. I'm going to SD for the weekend. At work they've awesomely given me more research to do and in between searching for the impact of 7000 volts and how you can't really separate that from amperage bcs volts is like the pressure exerted but not the dosage or why moose swim, and bears climb trees,
or even that skunks maybe only live 3 years. Perhaps I will do an animal fact a week. Or try- so in between that, I am obsessively reading Clarissa online at www.gutenberg.org which has many classics online FOR FREE... plus it's 1500 pages. I've got a lot of reading to do. And studying french and debating ditching class for the OFFICE and getting broken up with by my trainer since he in fact called to cancel on me before i could cancel on him- there's a host of birthdays to celebrate and friends to meet and nails to be painted and stories to write...

Here's to fair breezes, and warm sunshine, good drinks, and all things going according to plan.
~M

Kitchen Paint Revealed

Lemon Ice: Makes you think of popsicles, doesn't it? Summer, Italian Ices, Snowcones, things like that. The Ice Cream Truck driving down your street. Warm weather and backyard sprinklers and swimming pools. Frozen margaritas. It's cozy, and brings the whole thing together, and I kind of love it.

Plus, it matches my lemon tree.

M: At least

you two care.

TheTRAINER'S name is John. I was suppose to train with Courtney, and she called me once to confirm our training sessions, which was promptly put on my to-do lists. Meanwhile, Courtney decided to move or something so John called me and left a message then called me AGAIN. And I picked up. I swear I was not avoiding them. Anyway, John is all irksome and like, yah well Courtney left and blah blah so... we need to get you on the calendar so blah blah. And then he says, You can actually workout before we begin, or the training sessions begin- but i thought he meant like actually come to the gym and start working out and I was all- jerk. Talk about condescending and then I called Amber and was all, I think my trainer is all grr nazi condescending and she's all, um, he probably just meant warm up so that you can go in at 630 and the session can begin at 700, and I'm all OOh. But anyway both of my training sessions are on peoples birthdays because apparently I can't escape Aries in my life- bcs kerry is on the 14th and Amber is on the 15th even though they like totally hate each other. I'ts like mixing white and dark chocolate in the worst ways even though they are totally both chocolate. Then my dad's birthday is the 16th. My niece is March 26th and I can think of at least 3 other people who I know- wait 4- who have that whole hey I'm a fiery stubborn bleeting Aries, or whatever. So now I have to be all, um John I need to reschedule even though like I fully knew I would have to when he was making me write them down. I did say I was penciling them in but um yah...

So the MOVIES: Amber and Kerry are movie-holics. I just, I mean I'm more a Tv, media-holic. And I just don't care about going to the "movies" and seeing it on the big screen. . . but anyway so Amber and I coordinate Netflix rentals sometimes, besides endlessly fighting. Just because I "liked" something doesn't mean it was good. Her tastes are oddly way less discriminating but conversely specific but she fast-forwards thru movies which i cannot almost ever abide. Because I think movies aren't just plot but emotionally driven and you can't possibly get that when 1/2 of it was a blur. So this weekend included:

• No Country For Old Men: (her choice) The 2nd viewing clarified some things about the whacked out ending but not by much. Anyway I still like it, but seriously what the hell is with that ending. The words are still all literary and amazing and the violence is still definitely UGH. Gross. But strangely this was not the only killing movie we'd see. Amber did not like it. I told her she wouldn't. And I did, for her sake, fastforward thru some of the violent scenes while stopping for the dialogue. I rated this movie 4/5 stars. Mainly some of the themes I felt could've come across stronger and I loved TommyLeeJones- but the main assertion that this is no country for old men is sort of moot when you're up against a psycho with supernatural propensities. I was like really? Is that what you're saying? Or just life in general? And aren't there healthier ways to grapple with mortality. I don't know. But maybe that's my struggle with Lee's character.
• The MIST: (My choice) Our favorite line: "Oh don't worry. It's not my blood." Hi=larious. There were some good moments and some weak ones. It was basically an uneven movie. But lovely, how it all quickly spiraled out of control and went to shit. And Amber and I do really, really enjoy talking about what we would be doing together in that kind of situation. We'd rally the forces. She'd try to kill the religious zealot. I'd try to talk her out of it...etc. Anyway we always have those conversations, as we chat thru movies like there's no tomorrow, that: Oh hey, wouldn't it be rad if... ah, but they'd never. So THEN**SPOILER** the rational group loses their nuts too and decide to flee the store after killing the religious lady (no way!) Who by the way has no actual understanding of Jesus and sacrifice. This was a major hole in that if you're gonna make them crazy I wonder if you could make their faith more real, but maybe that's the point. Bcs it's weird that a bible-toting whack job wouldnt use the word Jesus or understand that "sacrifice" is no longer necessary, but I digress. There are some GREAT character actors in this piece who got not nearly enough screen time, but anyway, so then like DUMBASSES they take 1.no supplies- food, weapons, water except for a weakly established gun that has as we find out only 4 bullets. 2. No gas 3. No logic 4. No actual escape plan. DUMBASSES. So of course the guy takes his son to see if his wife made it. She totally did not. The old couple in the back who were at the beginning of the movie full of fucking smarts somehow lose theirs and the blonde chick who has "faith in humanity" all tag along bcs they didn't get eaten by giant insects... cuz yah it was the "govt."... not the supernatural. I think a weak point. But anyway so then the dumbasses run out of gas. And they see this giant creature and they're like oh well fuck it. GAME FUCKING OVER. And when he pulls out the gun, you're thinking no fucking way! but then, holy fuck! WHAT!!?!? He shoots them all. Our hero shoots his son, his would be love interest and the 2 smarty pants old people. Then gets out of the car waiting to be eaten. Only to see the "Mist" receding and the military doing damage control and rescuing survivors. Fucking what!? So of course he just starts shrieking. Amber and I went from 2/5 stars to 3.5/5 stars just for that fucking twisted mfo of an ending. Hence, wow! That was MIST-tastic!!
• IRA& ABBY: (My choice) So yah, some funny moments, but ultimately and unwanted cynical view of marriage but flimsy, godless and narrow. I said "I liked it." Amber did not but I was at least trying to branch out with the movie choices.
• THE BRAVE ONE: (her choice) So, okay. It had a slow beginning. There could've been more concrete details to the life she had vs. the life she took on, besides showing that she used to wear flowy white skirts but now wears nothing but grey tight fitting shirts and dark eyeshadow. **SPOILER** And it got a little better as it went on, and as we saw the detective begin to figure out that she was the killer of all these people- like 8/9 by the end of the movie. And that there was this mutual attraction which was almost too subtly unspoken. Like there needed to be just a bit more. But anyway so hello, you think, sure he's going to catch her and turn her in and blah blah whatever. But then at the end he helps her shoot the last guy then asks her to turn the gun on him so she can be for once free and clear of all the murders. And by the end of the movie he's being put in an ambulance and she's walking off with her dog no longer afraid of the night. WTF!>? MIST-TASTIC! That's what we're saying! So my rating went from a 3 to a 4 on that, ballsy if slightly unwarrented ending. But I like it. A twist so easy that well, um, she gets away with it. NO reprucussions. Fucking yah! MIST-TASTIC!!
• Under the Tuscan Sun... oh geez. I can't talk about it. IT's always on cable. What's a girl to do. Even if it is mostly lame and cringe worthy.

Wow, so, I should've been doing like many other things on my todo list but you guys totally baited me. If you stayed till the end, bravo, seriously. I mean I am interesting and rad and so are my thoughts but everyone has their limits. ALright i have to go revise my todo list and get some water now that we're all out of dietcoke and what not.

Peace. M.

M: I have

a cold. I don't know where the self hate besieged me, but there it is in all its head swelling, watery -eyed, sniffing ways. I boldly though, I must blame my cold, write from work. With nothing to report to you besides my tardy blogwriting and that I've watched too many movies and drank too much diet coke this weekend. That is the crux of it. I made a new todo list which includes sewing, not avoiding my trainer at 24f (complimentary 4 sessions), thinking about things to print for my portfolio, but who has the time to complete these things... I'm going to SanDiego this weekend in search of a tall ship. And all my other time is taken up reading Clarissa. Which for one of the first novels! So much to think about. And scandalous. Oh also I'm thinking of terming any movie where you know- how you wish it should, would, could end but then you think the people would never have the balls to shoot it that way and they do- Mist-tastic or Misticle, or Mistifying. Cuz have any of you seen the MIST or? the Brave One...because um, seriously! Anyway, THAT IS ALL.

Blog better soon,
M~

Yup, it rained anyway.

"Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it." -Professor McGonagall, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Substitute "weather forecasting" for "Divination," and "science" for "magic?" And that is how I feel about it all. I am never consulting weather.com again. It just makes me crazy with all its predictions and percentages and accu-weather bollocks, and you know what? It's all just going to unfold the way it's going to unfold and you can't do a thing about it.

I know you guys like weather.com, and that's fine. I promise not to judge you. But I find it very, um, "wooly," and I am done.

News in Brief

*For the yard sale tomorrow, I'm trying some reverse-psychology tactics on the weather. I'm preparing for rain. I'm borrowing a canopy (thanks, erinhjones!), J.Lo's rigging up a tarp. In my mind's eye, I picture us all standing there, soaked and miserable. But really, I'm determined that we will pull this thing off, sell lots of stuff, and our efforts will totally be worth it.

*Library Book Sale this weekend!

*Claire deserved to go home this week on ANTM, but can we get rid of Dominique already? Chickie's got such an ego on her, and she's just... she's a hot tranny mess. I see Anya, Whitney, Stacy Ann, and Katarzyna as the final four.

*NKOTB was on the Today Show this morning, and even though they didn't sing (yet! coming up in May!), and even though I am old and they are old, and I can plainly see how totally ridiculous it was to worship them as a sixth and seventh grader, I still got a little chill. Like all time and age and reason filters just dropped away. I heart them.

*I didn't realize until Wednesday that The Office isn't new until NEXT week. Man. Also, I'm bummed because once again, the DVR and its limited recording abilities strike, and right now we are unable to keep up with Miss Guided. I hope they move the time slot. I heart Judy Greer.

*I cannot wait until next week's Survivor, seeing Eliza wave her little stick arms about the fake Immunity Idol. She's so smart. Annoying, but at this point in an almost endearing way.

*Lesson learned this week: One of my bad habits or character flaws is that I can't just let lost causes remain lost? I have to try to find a solution, work it out, because in my head the solution is just so obvious. Note to self: Don't do that. In the meantime, I feel pretty stupid for even trying to facilitate these hopeless situations. I'll be in the corner, licking my wounds.

Oh Man, M

I almost had to put myself on the blog more list. But this is what happens with me and "transitions" and I have a lot of them. So it's totally expected. I get so locked into trying to find a new routine and be comfortable in it I start eating more fries and none of my thoughts make it to the surface. I haven't even been making lists, except on the weekends. It's only the 4th week of my strange job and just this week they're starting to give me more research specific tasks so that's nice. I love reading Clarissa (200/1500) by the fountain goddess Emmy. I eat too many Mc'd breakfasts, I workout 4x a week and read while I elliptical. I hurt my shoulder and the dull ache is just the funnest it can be. I try to wander the garden before I leave for work... well anyway blah blah you get the point. It's nice to be tightly controlling the days and all the rest, but there's things I haven't been able to paint- another hike with my dogs, the dodgers game, my thoughts on joy, my new one and only niece and my idiot brother who's only sent us one picture, and well just scads of things... that being a big one and possibly more reflections on friends and cats and the wonder of dark chocoloate.

bon minuit.

ugh.

This is like, the worst week ever to have a yard sale, but I'm doing it anyway. I need to have this yard sale, and unload the ten tons of crap that I have accumulated in the shed and guest bedroom onto the buying public. The Rescue Mission will get the leftovers, which reminds me that I need to call them and arrange for a pick-up. It's all just so complicated, and I can already tell the day is going to be a nightmare on our end, between getting up at some ungodly hour, juggling the children and the setup, dealing with earlybirds and other neighborhood freaks. What if that lady came around to this yard sale too, omg. You can bet I'll blog about it. In the meantime, I am up to my eyeballs in assorted coffee mugs, can openers, coffee pots, clothes, curtains, VHS movies, books... price tags, signs, boxes... and a not-so-stellar weather forecast. Anyone know an anti-rain dance? Please advise. Because it has to be this weekend, our yard sale. The ad says so, the yard sale gods say so, I say so.

Dear Yard Sale Gods,

Please let the weather be dry, the set-up effort somewhat coordinated. Please let me step out of the house wearing something more presentable than pajamas and baby spit-up. Please let us rake the money in. Thanks forever.

Love,
Penelope

More thoughts about the earth

Feeling encouraged by comments on the last post (m and I always feel encouraged by comments, period, right m?), I thought I'd add a few more things we do that I forgot about, and some more that I'm aspiring to.


*J.Lo rinses his razor in rubbing alcohol, a tip from clarkhoward, which extends the life of the razor... amazingly. Since Mach 3 razor replacements are tres expensivo, even if we buy them at Costco, this is a super-cool trick. It's the water and air that degrades a razor's sharpness, not the actual use, so rinsing in alcohol dries the razor quickly and completely. We have the alcohol in a little tupperware container, so we don't waste that, either.


*I did, after writing the last post, find a recipe for homemade granite cleaner, which I'm kind of excited about.

*Sometimes, I reuse foil, and every time I do, I think about my Grandma reusing foil, because that's just "what they did" in the Depression. I also will reuse ziploc bags if they're not dirty from the first use.

*When I say I buy certain things "as needed," I mean it. It takes a concerted effort to wait until we've really and truly have almost run out of something, as stockpiling is apparently in my blood.

*I'm seriously considering making my own Brita pitcher refills, as suggested by g. Or figuring out some way to refill our refigerator filter, because those bad boys are super-expensive, and I hate buying them just on principle.

*Someday, I might start using cloth napkins on a regular basis, and nix the paper ones.


*I'm getting better at (with, ahem, certain exceptions) getting the laundry clean, so fewer clothes are wasted. It's all about soaking. And frankly, regardless of the money factor, this recent revolution is kind of a relief. I hate it when I can't get a stain out, and I'm a pretty messy girl.


*I buy powdered Gatorade instead of the pre-made.

*We drink from 2-liter sodas instead of cans, even though it's much less exciting, and yes, the fizz does disappear after awhile.

I feel like there's more, but well, you get the picture for now.