6.29.2005
While I'm gone ..
Here's some things you can do while I'm away:
1) If you've surfed in from Blog Explosion, please take the time to rate/review my blog! I'm not begging, but I would like it a lot if I had some feedback. I'd like to know how I could improve for when I return.
2) Feel free to pin my GuestMap while you are here.
3) Visit the bloggers on my Linkskies list. They are awesome, hence the reason I have them listed there.
4) Earn some extra summer cash by Googling through PayPup or Ibux.
5) Have a great summer! See you this fall!
6.28.2005
"This is your captain speaking .. "
If you've been paying attention here, you'll know that I'm just hours away from seeing my boyfriend Paul again. We have not seen each other, except for on a webcam, since February. The counter thingy over to your right is incorrect, but who cares, it's close enough.
When I left Paul in Europe this past February I was really afraid that time would drag, or things between us would fail. I was worried that with us both being in school and with him working that we would lose contact and eventually grow apart. I was SO very wrong with my assumptions. Time has gone by so quickly, and we've remained in constant contact the entire time .. still as happy and in love as the day we parted. I would even go as far to say that absence really DOES make the heart grow fonder, as the old adage states.
I cannot wait to see him again! I am excited but I don't think the full level of excitement has hit me yet. I know it will as I am driving to the airport, and waiting for him at the baggage claim. I have played that moment through my head since the day we parted.
This will be Paul's first airplane ride and first visit to the States. I want to make it awesome for him. We have lots of fun stuff planned: baseball games, an Eminem concert, a family reunion, roadtrips .. it will be great!
Emotions have been running high the past 2 days. Issues have come up that I didn't think would come up, and it hasn't been the easiest or the best of times to deal with such things, for either one of us. Not issues between us though, it's all been outside issues. I can only hope that once he's here, the tension and uneasiness will fade away.
So, for all of you reading, wish my boyfriend a happy and safe flight! He'll be leaving on a jet plane Thursday, and will arrive here Thursday evening.
After tomorrow, I won't be blogging again til September. Life is too short to sit behind a computer when we have so much to do and see here on our vacation.
I love you Paul! I'll see you SO soon!! ;)
6.27.2005
Paper Moon
I picked up another book to read this evening from the local library, called Paper Moon. I guess I was in the mood for something sappy. You can read about it here.
It is good so far, but I'm only on page 17. Two single parents are chaperoning their daughters school trip to Mexico.
The back cover promises that the book is funny, romantic and adventurous. We shall see.
The two books I just finished up were Malcolm Gladwell's Blink and And then you Die by Michael Dibdin. Neither one were anything to write home about.
I'm in line at the library for The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Kidd. I can't wait until it comes in. That's the one I've been wanting to read for a while now.
6.26.2005
A MooLatte?
MooLattes are from Dairy Queen. Have you had one? Neither had I until this evening.
It's frozen-ice-creamy-coffee type stuff. I had the Mocha one. Your other choice is either French vanilla or cappuccino.
Not bad.
I recommend the small ones though. The large is just way too much, I couldn't finish it.
I do think they could have come up with a better name for it than MooLatte however. Making cow sounds at the drive-thru or saying a word that sounds a lot like 'mulatto' just isn't my thang.
6.25.2005
PhotoShop Phun ..
Here's a small preview of something ... I was a little adventurous tonight and I made a very rough draft template tonight for promoting our design site, which isn't quite up and running yet but will be as of September, after our vacation.
Don't look too hard at the design site though .. it will be getting a makeover in the next few months.
6.24.2005
Blog Rocket is on crack tonight ..
I have screenshots of the Rocket page up until that point too, showing the number going up and up .. I didn't notice it at first, then I refreshed. It was first at 189, then at 318, then at 341, finally topping off with my blog in the top box at 353 visits. This isn't possible! I was refreshing my screen at like 30-45 second intervals, watching the number go higher and higher.
Yep, it must be smokin' crack tonight. I don't think there is any way possible to get that many hits on the Blog Rocket.
Celebrity American Idol!
Dress-Down Friday
Hmm, I always thought doggy style was the most powerful!
Sorry I missed these box office smashes:
6.23.2005
6.22.2005
But .. who cares?
Does anyone else find it strange how we heard next to NOTHING about this man once he was captured ..
.. and now we know all about his favorites?
His favorite breakfast cereal is Raisin Bran Crunch. You can read more about the man's likes and dislikes here and here.
Gotta love the media!
6.21.2005
"Phunk" is not a bad word ..
Or you may have heard the censored version, "Don't MESS with my Heart" ..
Click here if you want to read over the original lyrics.
So, SOMEONE has thought, "Hmm, the word 'phunk' could be heard as 'fuck' .. we'd better censor it!" and thus they created a censored version of the song, when there isn't even a curseword to censor.
Can someone please explain to my brain why this is ok and necessary?
No?
I didn't think so.
6.19.2005
Three Views ...
Aerial Chicago:
Aerial AnonymousCity:
It's hard to believe Paul will be seeing those sights in just 10 days now! It's getting so close!
* * *
6.18.2005
11 days ..
I remember when the counter said 149 days. I remember thinking that the day would get here, but it would get here so slowly.
It's been quite the opposite .. spring quarter flew by, and now here we are, 11 days away from being together again.
I was thinking earlier today about how cool it's going to be to hear him say how he sees things here, and to look at things through his eyes in a way. This is his first visit to America. I'm sure there will be things here that I don't think twice about, and that I take for granted .. but Paul will see it differently.
We're going to have a blast =D I can't wait!
I love you Paulie!
In other news, I'm thinking of doing a list of 100 things about me. I had one on my old blog. Plus tonight I'm just very bored online, so .. maybe I'll do that and add it to my profile.
6.17.2005
Aren't we Cute?
Summer Reads
I picked up two books today at the library.
This is by Malcolm Gladwell, and it says on the cover "The Power of Thinking without Thinking." Click on the image of the book to read about it.
The second book I got is And Then You Die by Michael Dibdin. Again you can click if you want to read about it. I know it's an Italian mystery but that's about all I know of it. I'm not usualy into mysteries, but we'll see.
I just chose two short books that I could finish before Paulie gets here. So I have 12 days, then I'll let you know if either book sucks.
6.16.2005
Answer to some FAQs
A. Fluent Sap is an anagram. If you figure it out, you have my eternal gratitude for being so goshdarned smart.
Q. Ghostwriter, why don't you allow people to leave comments on your blog?
A. I used to be part of a blog site that is much smaller than Blogger. Actually, I spent nearly 2.5 years there. I opened up there. I told a lot about myself, including my name, where I lived, and what was going on in my life. I'm not talking about saying what I had for dinner and what I did last weekend, I'm talking about how I said some major stuff on there about my private thoughts, feelings and happenings in my life. I said things I most likely would never say to a random person on the street, so why did I put it out there for everyone else to read? Regardless of why, it all backfired in my face.
One day I decided to search for my full name on Google, just to see what would happen. I have a fairly common last name, and first name too for that matter. When I typed in my full name, to my surprise it pulled up my blog as the FIRST RESULT. It was then I realized I had said too much, but it was also then that the oddness started to occur.
The weird people on that site started getting weirder. The cling-ons got even more clingy. The strange got plain freaky and harrassment started happening. It wasn't just online harrassment either .. it came in forms of letters to my mother, phone calls to my boyfriend. Enough was enough. The site where I was blogging had the option where fellows users could send private messages, and I was receiving many per day .. too many to answer, and just plain out strange things being said to me.
Two people who I had been "friends" with for quite a while did a complete turn on me. It took months to clean up the wreckage, including changing my email address twice and trying to cover all of my tracks to disassociate myself with them. I closed up shop .. and here I am, writing again because I like to, and hoping they don't discover me. That's why I keep everything under wraps, and I don't put much out there that has to do with my personal thoughts and feelings.
I do feel censored sometimes, but being behind an anonymous curtain feels much better than being known and watched by people I only know behind a computer screen.
As GhostWriter, the one who doesn't allow comments, I feel safe.
I do appreciate those who stop by, however.
6.15.2005
Tired of the Bleeps?
I am. I mean, I REALLY am.
It's impossible to sit down and watch television anymore .. especially reality television .. without hearing a million bleeps per half hour show. I'm not even a huge fan of reality tv, but I do watch it every once in a while. Last night for instance, I was watching Hell's Kitchen. After about two minutes into the kitchen scene, I became so frustrated because it becomes difficult to follow what's being said due to all of the bleeping over the curse words.
They have Parental Locks on tvs .. why can't they have an UNLOCK button for those of us who wish to get rid of the goddamn bleeps?
Are we not Americans? Can we not decide for ourselves what is offensive to our ears and what isn't? I mean, COME ON!!
What's worse .. hearing Gordon scream "MOVE YOUR ASS!" on Hell's Kitchen, or flipping over to CNN and seeing bodies mutilated by war? Which is really worse?
This is MY soapbox and I'm gonna scream it. If you as an adult American care at all as to why our government feels it's ok to decide which words we are allowed to hear and which we are not .. PLEASE ..
Check out these sites .. and help fight censorship!
1) Read this, especially the part about ways to fight censorship
2) TelevisionWatch.org Petition
3) Stop the FCC
4) Stop the FCC at MoveOn.org
5) FreePress.net
Spring Quarter grades are in
Photography - A
Mathmatics - A
English - B+
It's funny because English was always my strong point. But I'm not complaining! I made the Dean's List!
GPA for Quarter: 3.83
Cumulative GPA: 3.73 (between an A and A-)
Hours Gained: 16
Total Hours Completed: 35
Total Hours Needed to become a Sophomore: 45
This fall I'll be taking another 16 hours, so that will give me 51 hours.
Just keeping track for myself.
6.14.2005
Hurrah!
It starts in September when Fall Quarter begins, just after Labor Day. This is a job that will most likely last the whole time I'm in school. It sounds very fun! I'll be covering special events, interviewing people, and taking pictures with some very nice digital cameras owned by the school.
Yay for me =D Thank you to all who crossed your fingers for me and wished me luck .. it did pay off!
Simple Home Remedies
1) If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic! Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat and presto - the blockage will be almost instantly removed.
2) Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away.
3) Avoid arguments with the Missus about lifting the toilet seat by simply using the sink.
4) For high blood pressure sufferers, simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.
5) A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
6) If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. Then you will be afraid to cough.
7) Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a hammer and you will forget about the toothache.
8) Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are:
You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape.
If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40.
If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
9) Remember:
Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.
If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You get another chance.
10) And finally, be really nice to your family and friends. You never know when you might need them to empty your bedpan.
6.13.2005
Hell's Kitchen! v3.0
Last week Dewberry was kicked off (and I think he wasn't fit for the competition anyway) .. tonight Jeff walked off the show (pussy!) and Wendy was kicked off. I thought that was fair. She was mouthy and just needed to shut up and listen and DO .. instead of running her mouth.
So who will it be next week? I'm thinking it will be the blue team losing again, and I'll take a guess and say they will let go of Andrew. I'm kind of surprised he didn't get kicked off tonight. We'll see though .. it's always a surprise on that show.
The craziest part was when one customer just leaned over, stuck her head beneath the table and barfed up her dinner. Hahaha, now that's bad food!
It's still early in the game but right now I'm thinking Michael will come out victorious at the end.
See what happens next week on Hell's Kitchen (Mondays on Fox, 9pm EST)
Doesn't Gordon look devilish in his pic here? =D
Sometimes life isn't fair.
What I got instead:
Sometimes living in a town without a Starbucks just isn't living at all.
Ok I'm being dramatic, but still.
While I was at the tanning bed today, I heard Hanson's MMMBop on Sirius Radio 9.
Like I said, sometimes life isn't fair.
6.11.2005
A few of my favorite things ....
Today, I'm posting some of my favorites which I already own .. maybe you might like them too.
I realize this is a very girly post. Don't worry, it won't be an all the time thang.
1. This fragrance is Gucci Rush 2 .. Paul gave it to me for Christmas and I absolutely love it. It smells really great ... kinda vanilla mixed with patchouli but not overpowering at all.
2. This is Jergen's Natural Glow lotion. It starts to darken your skin tone just after a few uses. It also has just a tiny bit of sheen in it, not quite glittery, but something that makes your skin sparkle just a little. The only downside to it is it contains caramel, which isn't the most pleasant smell in the world, at least to me anyway. But if you wear it overnight you can wash it off in the morning and it's A-ok.
3. Anything of the Burt's Bees brand is awesome, but this foot creme is really awesome. It's smells like coconut and it goes on like a salve. If you slather it on and then wear cotton socks over it, it makes your feet feel really soft.
4. I love this foundation. It's like a whipped mousse, and it is more mattefying that any other foundation I've found out there, and it lasts all day.
5. Last but not least, this is Dove Supreme Silkening Shower Gel. Paul gave it to me for Christmas and I've yet to see it here in the States, but maybe soon ... or I didn't think of this before, but maybe it's called something else here. I'll look around for it next time I go shopping.
Did you know that if you blast your hair with a little cool water (or cold, if you can stand it) after shampooing and conditioning it, it makes it shinier? It's true .. I've tried it now for about a week and it works. Neat =D
Changes and Playgrounds ..
BlogExplosion is a fun place to increase your blog traffic. It also houses some of the best blogs out there! You can surf blogs, compete in blog battles or add your own banners. Check them out ..
Ibux.net and Pay-Pup2 are two search engines that pay you for your searches. You can do no more than 40 searches a day and the cash starts to add up. I figure I do close to 40 searches a day anyway on Google .. so might as well get paid for it.
6.10.2005
Absinthe in Wonderland
I made this one for my boyfriend Paul =D There's a story behind it, which maybe I'll tell some other time.
6.09.2005
Take a gander at this rare little gem!!
What's wrong with people? I mean .. what's really wrong with people?
Don't forget to view the Peter Pan Fashion page.
And don't forget to order some of his memorabilia to remember this man in all of his magical glory!
Come on, you know you want to .. =P
6.08.2005
Extra, Extra ..
The interview was very informal and went quickly. She said she had a few others to interview and will be making a decision by early next week.
It would be a great job. It would be about 20 hours a week and consist of covering special events and taking pictures at those events (with some very awesome digital cameras!) I could really use the experience and the extra cash.
Keep your fingers crossed for me!
6.07.2005
Russell Crowe in the Big House
Now he could face up to 7 years in prison. HeeHaw, Russell.
NEW YORK (Reuters) --
Actor Russell Crowe has been charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon after allegedly throwing a telephone at a hotel employee, police and prosecutors said.
The Oscar-winner, who plays a boxer in his new movie "Cinderella Man," was arrested early on Monday and later released on his own recognizance after being taken in handcuffs to his arraignment at Manhattan Criminal Court.
The assault charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, prosecutors said. The weapon charge was linked to Crowe's use of the phone, they added.
Police said the New Zealand-born Crowe, 41, got into an argument with the concierge at the Mercer Street Hotel shortly after 4 a.m. on Monday (8 a.m. GMT).
Crowe was upset because he could not get a call through to his wife in Australia.
Police said Crowe threw a telephone at the concierge, identified by police as a 28-year-old man, who was hit in the face and suffered minor lacerations.
The concierge was taken to hospital and released after treatment.
A spokeswoman for Crowe said the actor had thrown the phone at a wall and did not assault anyone.
Assistant District Attorney Chad Sjoquist told Judge Martin Murphy during Monday's hearing that there were witnesses to the incident.
Crowe's lawyer, Gerald Lefcourt, said the actor became frustrated when he was unable to get the call through, went to the lobby and got into an argument with the hotel worker.
"He (Crowe) has never been arrested in this country," Lefcourt said. "He is very, very charitable, a decent human being with an excellent background."
Sjoquist told the judge that Crowe had admitted to police that he had thrown the phone but the actor's publicist offered a different version of the incident.
"After asking the front desk several times to replace a faulty phone in his room ... Crowe brought the phone down to the front desk in an effort to address the situation in person," publicist Robin Baum told the TV show "Extra."
"Words were exchanged and Crowe wound up throwing the phone against the wall. He regrets that he lost his temper but at no time did he assault anyone."
Crowe, wearing blue jeans, a dark blue studded jacket and aviator-style sunglasses, was released without bail.
He made no comment as he moved past hordes of media waiting outside the courthouse before getting into a waiting car.
He was ordered to return to court on September 14.
Crowe is in New York promoting his latest film, "Cinderella Man," about the life of heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock.
He won an Oscar for best actor in 2001 for his role in "Gladiator" and also was nominated for "The Insider" and "A Beautiful Mind".- taken from cnn.com
Grades for Spring Quarter
Math 099 - A
Photography & Painting is still unknown. I am hoping they are A's too.
Report cards are due to be printed June 15th, 8am.
Three down, one to go ..
Here's a little snippet of a conversation I'm having on msn with my boyfriend Paul .... Enjoy!
Stef says:
jesus, the guy next to me is on the phone and I can hear everything this girl is saying to him
Paulie says:
oh oh
Stef says:
It's going like this:
Stef says:
she: where are you?
Stef says:
him: the library.
Stef says:
she: what you doing?
Stef says:
him: checking stuff
Stef says:
she: you're being quiet.
Stef says:
he: yeah cuz I'm in the library.
Stef says:
she: something must be wrong.
Stef says:
JESUS!!
Paulie says:
hahahahaha
Paulie says:
oh my god!
Stef says:
she sounds annoying and suspicious
Paulie says:
I'm glad we're not like that!
Stef says:
me too!!!
Stef says:
oh nooooo ...
Paulie says:
some people baby!
Stef says:
she: I love you
Stef says:
he: I love you too
Stef says:
she: are you SURE there's nothing wrong???
Stef says:
he: I swear!! I'm in the library!!
Stef says:
she: oooooooook. If you are sure.
Paulie says:
hahaha
Stef says:
I want to say to this dude, girls are fucking annoying aren't they?
Paulie says:
what does he look like?
Stef says:
a dick with clothes on
Paulie says:
hahaha jesus!!
Stef says:
a penis in a baseball cap
Stef says:
with sandals
Paulie says:
haha oooh sandals
Paulie says:
that's not right
Stef says:
HE's not right
Stef says:
and neither is his girlfriend evidentally
Stef says:
haha, it's fun to make fun of people with you
Stef says:
I can't wait til we can do it together
Paulie says:
it is...I wish I could be there
6.06.2005
To Wish Impossible Things
It makes my lips tingle. It's heaven in a tube. Mine is Merlot colored.
(feel free to hit up my donation button on the left to contribute to my makeup/lotion/shiny things obsession)
1. Hope In a Jar
2. Brown Sugar Body Polish
3. Body Frosting, any kind
4. Bath & Body Works Tutti Dolci Body Buff
5. Bobbi Brown Beach shimmer powder
6. Bliss Plum Plum Body Oil
7. Deep Steep Honey bubble bath
8. Girlactik Star Gloss
9. Philosophy's Birthday Party
10. Philosophy's Pool Party
* * *
Honorable Mentions:
* The Gingerbread Man
* The Sweet Shop Collection
* Urban Decay Lip Stain
6.05.2005
6.03.2005
Final Project - Final Draft
Please view full to get the full effect.
This is my self-portrait. I used the canvas (see entry below titled Final Project v2.0) as the background and Photoshopped the rest. It is currently printed 20x22 on glossy paper and mounted on foam core. It's the largest work I've done so far.
There's all kinds of things to say about it that I didn't see when I was creating it.
I was having kind of a bad weekend when I made this and from what I tried to make show love and beauty turned a different direction. The flower in the middle is a ghost orchid. I researched them a little and they do not bloom well in captivity, so the title is ironic.
Hell, should I even be explaining any of this right now?
Best to draw your own conclusions when it comes to art, methinks.
The critique is Tuesday, I'll let you know how it goes.
6.02.2005
Hm. I thought it was funny.
A. When you wear a hoodie that says "I Broke up Brad & Jen" on the front and NOBODY laughs or comments.
Yes, that happened to me today. I figured someone would say *something* .. ANYTHING. I just wanted the chance to say "Yeah .. it's funny huh? My boyfriend gave it to me!"
Nope. No reactions whatsoever.
* * *
Ok I'm gonna test a little theory here. If you don't already know (which I'm sure EVERYONE does by now) .. there's this guy making rounds online named Brian Peppers. He's a registered sex offender in Lucas County, Ohio .. and supposedly his scary photo is real. Snopes is still saying it's undetermined, however.
Google for him if you don't believe me, but beware .. he is beyond freaky and for that reason I refuse to link to his photo to protect the faint of heart. Freaky isn't even the right word for him. He even has a spot here on urbandictionary.com ..
I'm a pepper, your a pepper, wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?
So anyway, now that I've sung you the Dr. Pepper jingle .. I'll explain my testing of my theory. I read on someone's blog a few days ago that they mentioned Brian Peppers one time and their blog got over 200 hits that day just from mentioning him. So .. I'll let you know if that happens.
* * *
NOTE TO SELF:
Self, don't wear lipstick anymore in the tanning bed .. it bakes itself onto your lips. You leave the tanning bed feeling like you have a fucking Shrinky Dink melted onto your mouth.
* * *
Oh .. and this .. I caught a glimpse of my reflection while inside the tanning bed, with those god awful goggles on (because y'know, it's perfectly FINE to wrinkle everywhere except my eyes .. DUH.. ) I scared myself. I had to shut my eyes and couldn't bear to look again. I was looking kinda Brian Peppers-ish.
* * *
On a serious note, I saw a bad wreck yesterday. I don't want to talk about it at the moment though.
* * *
I'm sending a postcard to PostSecret. I don't know when .. and you'll never know which one is mine =D muahahaha ..
6.01.2005
I want some of what the Beatles were smoking ..
Here come old flattop
he come grooving up slowly
He got joo-joo eyeball
he one holy roller
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker he just do what he please
He wear no shoeshine
he got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger
he shoot coca-cola
He say I know you, you know me
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
Come together right now over me
He bag production
he got walrus gumboot
He got ono sideboard
he one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knee
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
Come together right now over me
He roller-coaster
he got early warning
He got muddy water
he one mojo filter
He say one and one and one is three
Got to be good-looking ’cause he’s so hard to see
Come together right now over me
- "Come Together" by the Beatles
* * *
I'm printing out my final project right now. The funny thing is .. I told my teacher I'd need to be excused from class Thursday so I could come up here and work on this.
Well, it's only Wednesday .. and who did I run into right here walking into the building at the EXACT same time I was? MY TEACHER!
Just my luck ;)