Monday, November 30, 2009

A Dog Named Christmas


I read this book earlier this year and I loved it. Last night I watched the made for tv movie version, and I have to say they did a wonderful job adapting it to the small screen.

I only wish they could do this so well with other books that they turn into movies or TV specials.

I realize that the books was a short one, much like Neil Gaiman's Coraline, but to the best of my knowledge they really didn't change much of anything from the novel, and what they did, didn't harm the story or anger me in any way. I do realize that Christmas was more of a black lab...but other than that, I can't complain very much.

The movie was just beautiful and I cried most of the time I was watching, because even though we have the kitty community and little J.J., I really miss Purrbee.

So if you are a dog lover and one that likes good family movies, look into this one @ Hallmark. Oh and read the book!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

The Day From Hell

I'm down to 4 presents that need bought and all of them can be bought either locally or online. However in my jaunts today; I spent scads of money and my dad's car broke down.

Yeah.

Oh and did I mention, Dad has his colonoscopy on Tuesday? This was supposed to be a nice day out for him with a good dinner and the car has to go and try to die on him. His car, not mine.

ARGH!

This all happened in the parking lot of the restaurant, so even though we could eat, there was no enjoying the food and what we did eat was the stupid shit, like the peanuts in the buckets @ Texas Roadhouse and the onion blossom.

Double ARGH!

I would just like to know when something is going to go right? I think my family and I are deserving of some good luck.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Disgusted

Our payroll processing company FUCKED UP badly this week. I ran out to work to check on the status of the paychecks and they weren't there.

I'm not sure what Dave is going to decide to do on Monday, but I really need my paycheck badly.

I've already bought presents for the holiday and I want to start working on the mix CD for my friends, but I need to buy stuff. Stuff that I don't want to put on a credit card. Presents, those go on credit, because that's what Christmas is all about, going into debt to buy people stuff.

ARGH!

This is not a good way to start the Christmas season.

If I don't get my pay on Monday, I think I will SCREAM!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Top 5 On Friday: Week 251

You guys know the drill. Play along in the comments or in your journal. This meme is created for my site Music Memoirs. Feel free to go there and check out my other two weekly memes and play along.






Top 5 artists/bands you'd brave Black Friday crowds for. (Use your imaginations, you're not necessarily going out in the crowd to buy CDs) Make up a little story if you'd like to go along with your 5.


1. Elvis Costello: I would brave black Friday crowds for him, as long as those crowds didn't involve being in or around Post Gazette Pavilion in Burgettstown. Have I mentioned lately how much I hate that venue?

2. Mika: Ok, for him I'd brave PGP, simply because I'd never have the chance to see him without trecking to Philly and I hate Philly with a passion that can't be described. However for Mika I'd probably even brave Philly if I had the money. I'd even stay up late if I knew he was going to be on. He's so damn cute its disgusting.

3. Erasure: I've loved these guys too long not to be considered hopelessly devoted. I might even sing that song in a black Friday crowd if it meant getting to see Andy and Vince up close.

4. Danny Elfman: They call me Elfslut in some places for a reason. Danny Elfman is one of my longest standing musical crushes. I'd even babysit his shrunken heads!

5. Oh lordy, who would be number 5? The Moody Blues? Davy Jones? Gordon Lightfoot? Don't make me pick! It could be any of these artists, really. Heck I might brave black Friday for Over The Rhine, cos I love them so much

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!


067
Originally uploaded by moodylady
From all the turkeys here in my little hamlet of Charleroi on Mon to all of you the world over (even though some of you don't have a thanksgiving) I wish you a day of blessings with your family, good health, good food and much to be thankful for.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Then we can do it all over again in about a month!

Woo hoo!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blog friends!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Hell Hath Frozen Over

I ranted that there was no way on earth that Donny Osmond would win Dancing With The Stars, but apparently there was, because he did, and even though I wish the show to perdition (sorry Bilbo) and all other shows like it to the same place, Donny's win made me exceedingly happy.

Now all the women can put their clothes back on and go back to doing whatever it was they did before they started. I will never understand the appeal of dancing that looks more like tossing the half nekkid girl around. To me acrobatics is that, and dancing is, well, dancing.

But I congratulate Donny on his win, because he wasn't obnoxious and because he's cute as a button.

So yipee!

Now if only the show would go away and take all other competitions (American Idol etc) with it and never come back

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

How To Tell Christmas Is Near?

It doesn't take Thanksgiving to remind us that Christmas is just around the corner. What it does take is Eat N Park to air their beautiful star commercial.



This is the best commercial ever. Now where's my Smiley cookie!!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Missing Mondays: Holiday Style

You know what I miss the most during the holidays? My metabolism! I miss being able to scarf down whatever I wanted to without a worry about that scale.

Of course this was back when I always had the day after Thanksgiving off too.

I'm not sure why I'm even excited about this day off. I'm just going to have to be awake early so I can help with dinner and there won't even be anything on TV except for stupid parades and football, none of which interest me.

In fact, the only thing that would really interest me is curling up somewhere and reading until I fall asleep.

Fat chance of anything like that happening.

In fact the only thing that is likely to happen on Thursday involves me likely getting fatter!

Grrr.

Which reminds me again how much I miss the metabolism I had in my teens and twenties. I think its horrible that metabolisms can't stay nicely fast at least through your 40s.

~sigh~

Ah well....I'm going to eat drink and be merry! Who gives a fig newton!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

I Hate Cleaning

This is the thing I hate the most about the holidays. Cleaning the damn house. I don't know why, but it makes me cranky, bitchy and pissy all rolled into one big unpleasant girl.

Cleaning takes up so damn much time. Time that could be spent doing other things. Anything for that matter. I would rather watch paint dry than clean the damn house.

I think that explains the state of our house too.

But I'm so damn sick of every stupid task having to involve me when there are other people living here besides mom, dad and I.

The only thing the nephew does is clean out the litter boxes. And when I say that, I don't mean cleaning the boxes etc, I just mean the task of scooping the poop.

That takes 10 minutes.

I do shopping.

I do cleaning.

I do laundry.

I pay my bills and write the checks for mom and dad now.

Sometimes it just feels a bit overwhelming.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Good Times Had By All

Its been a busy day overall today. So much running around. So much eating and a whole lotta fun had by all.

We went to Later for crepes and then Paradox Books which is the most incredible book store in all of Wheeling and there are quite a few book stores in the Wheeling area.

After that we did a bit of shopping @ Target, TJ Maxx and Books A Million, because you can never have enough books, EVER!

By the time we were done there, we had dinner at Indigo Joes, which was damn tasty for a sports bar. I had a steak sandwich and we had onion straws for an appetizer and funnel cake fries with chocolate dipping sauce for dessert.

A little too much food for the day, but I don't really care. It was all yummy.

Oh and at Joe Muggs' I had the most awesome Caramel Apple Latte!

I'm officially in a food coma!

Oh and on non-food related news. I got an awesome bracelet from Istanbul (not Constantinople) for $15. Its uber cute and jingles, which really amuses the hell out of me!

Good eats, good shopping, good day!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Top 5 On Friday Week 250



Top 5 album covers that really scare you.


You guys know the drill. Play along in the comments or in your journal. This meme is created for my site Music Memoirs. Feel free to go there and check out my other two weekly memes and play along.

1. Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment



If that picture doesn't terrify you, I don't know what would!

2. King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King



This cover gives me nightmares!!

3. John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Two Virgins
I wouldn't post this album cover, its too traumatizing. Nekkid Lenonos! Yuk!

4. The Moody Blues - In Search Of The Lost Chord



For a band that is known for gorgeous cover art, this is the one that I like the least, its just creepy looking to me.

5. Bauhaus - In The Flat Field
More nekkidness on the cover. That scares me more than anything!!!

My Day Went From Bad To Worse

Yesterday was full of epic fail for me.

1. The exhaust on my car finally went. Bernie is in the car hospital and with any luck she'll be out by Saturday or Monday.

2. Once a year I end up with a cell phone bill from hell. Guess what? That month is now. I about shit a brick when I got a $95 bill. I went over my minutes! Which proves October was a lousy month because I obviously using my cell a lot which I don't normally do. Most of the time I'm under the minutes in my plan.

3. Took my sister for her b-day dinner a day early. Here is epi bar food fail, even though everything was super awesome. 2 lambic beers, 1 micro brew, meat and cheese appetizer and the bratwurst sampler totaled $45. Yikes. I never get b-day dinners like that from her..and I make less money. I fail and am too nice.

Today I have a gyne appointment.

Pardon me while I go hide under a rock. This is one of those really bad weeks and I just want it over. NOW!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I would like to tell people and pets that went before....

To Grandma:

1. No, Grandma, I love you more.

2. Grandma, you are the rock that held our family together, without you we are falling apart.

3. Your house still has your smell. I know this sounds weird, but when you went into my grandma's house, it always had a particular smell about it. A clean, yet totally unique smell. Its going to be two years in April and every time I walk into your house Gram, I expect to see you there.

4. I'm sorry your house isn't clean anymore. Please forgive me. I just don't know what to do with some of your things. I feel like I'm throwing you away when I start cleaning and then I have to stop.

To Purrbee:

5. You are and always will be a nice little dog. I knew you were going to be leaving us soon, but I miss you so much.

6. The floors are quiet without your clip clopping.

To Mutchka:

7. I miss you so much my little Mutchy kitty. There is no etting time now. I loved kitty cat etting time. All the other kitties eat dry food.

8. I always tear up at cans of Friskies Mixed Grill.

To Itchy:

9. Thank you for somehow sending Miss Callie to us. Her and her little ones have brought so much love to our house since you left us.

10. I miss your pick me ups by the hot air register in the kitchen and the piggy back rides you used to take on my back.

To Misty:

11. You left me to soon, baby girl. You were my kitteh. My little angel. I love you so much and miss you. I call Bootsie by your name so often. Misty-fa-cat-or you were a cat in a million.

To Buddah.

12. I hope there are lots of belly rubs for you in heaven kitlet. You were a special boy.

To all of you...

13. There was never enough time to show you all how much I loved you. I hope wherever you all are, Grandma...my kitties and doggies, I hope you know how much you were loved.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

So Running For An Hour Works

I've been watching what I eat again. More so than just going...oh yeah that's food going into my piehole.

Last night I watched Doctor Who The Waters Of Mars while running on the elliptical.

I'm in some serious pain today, but the scale is finally moving downward just a bit.

This is progress.

Now if I can keep it up for awhile. I need to lose the same amount of weight I lost a few years ago.

Yeah, a death in the family is murder on the waistline when you use food for comfort.

I wish I could be one of those people who got depressed and didn't eat, but sadly I'm not. I love food.

My goal used to be operation 120, but I don't think that's realistic for me anymore. I'm shooting for 130 by February, if at all possible.

The holidays aren't going to be fun my friends. They aren't going to be fun at all.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Ever Wonder What Happened To A Certain Actor?

With David Tennant's upcoming departure from Doctor Who, I've got to start wondering what will happen to my favorite actor. Will I ever see him again?

Thankfully with him it may be a little easier than the last UK actor I fell in love with.

David has shot a pilot for NBC. Assuming it gets an air date, the US may have cleverly stolen the Doctor!

But he's not the actor I'm wondering about.

I used to love the show Coupling. I've seen a few of the shows some of the other actors and actresses have done since, but what of Richard Coyle who played Jeff Murdoch in the first 3 series? I know he departed the show without much love between him and Steve Moffatt. The last I heard he was in the film Libertine with Johnny Depp and that was about it.

I adored him.

I would love to see something he's been in since he left Coupling.

Richard, where are you?

And if you were a more responsible guy, you would have made a better Doctor Who. Probably better than the young guy I like to call Intern Who, because he doesn't look old enough to be a doctor!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Missing Mondays


Every Saturday morning I miss cartoons. I know that we have whole channels devoted to the entertainment of kids, but there was something really exciting about waking up on Saturday morning and watching Bugs Bunny, The Flintstones, The Jetsons and a bazillion others.

Now on ABC you get reruns of all the Disney shows that you've seen a million times before. Trust me, I've seen every Hannah Montana, Zack and Cody, and Raven episode that they've made.

I like them, but I have the freaking Disney Channel and I do watch it!

(Yeah I know, I don't have kids either, so I'm doubly goofy)

Give me some cartoons!

The fun kind, like I used to watch when I was a kid, sitting dangerously close to the TV so that I'd wreck my eyes!

Awww well, I guess I just need to watch The Cartoon Network!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

I'm Kinda Sad

This isn't the sad from something bad happening, its the sad from seeing a performer that you love really getting old.

I was @ John Lodge's Blog cos I haven't really been paying much attention to the guys lately and I was scrolling down, grumbling at the fact that they are playing Lancaster @ the end of March, which is still in my hibernation time of year, and just catching up with what has been going on when I saw this picture.

JUSTIN!

What the hell is happening to you!!!!

I want to force him to eat all of John's b-day cake! Possibly a few cheeseburgers too.

He seriously looks like he's wasting away!

~Sniffle~

Its heartbreaking.

At least my Lodgey still looks good for his age.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

When You Shovel A Ton Of Coal

You don't have to go to the gym right?

Yes, we still have a coal furnace which really saves a lot of money on heating bills. I know that in a few years this isn't going to be something we can keep up. Dad is getting too old, fuck, I'm getting to old, but for now it means heating the house in the winter is under a hundred dollars a month.

Not to shabby.

If only my arms, shoulders and back felt the same way.

Oh and have I mentioned how sweaty and icky feeling I am now?

I haven't?

ARGH!

I just keep thinking that about 50 years ago or so, most everyone kept their houses warm this way.

Perhaps that's why the older generation is a bit fitter than we are now. They didn't just turn a knob to get warmer.

I think I need a nap.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Top 5 On Friday: Week 248



You guys know the drill. Play along in the comments or in your journal. This meme is created for my site Music Memoirs. Feel free to go there and check out my other two weekly memes and play along.

This week's question ties in with last week's

Top 5 musical purchases you regret (or would like to cast aside to the nearest used CD store)


1. Duran Duran - Red Carpet Massacre: I wish I never had spent the money on this piece of crap CD. I also wish I didn't have the little bit of love that I do for the band, because that's what keeps me from swapping this CD out somewhere.

2. There have been a few concert trips this year that I have enjoyed but wish I hadn't made. Again not because I didn't love the concerts but because financially it was very irresponsible at a time when I really shouldn't be that way.

3. Buying all those vinyl albums when I only have one turntable and no means repairing it should anything happen to it. Some of the stuff I have is fairly rare too, but it was a waste of money and still is. I hardly ever use my turntable.

4. Mr. Bloo my first iPod shuffle. He wasn't needed. I have...erm...2 other mp3 players all are functioning. I bought him because he was cute! I'm amazed I've been able to hold back from buying the 16 GB Purple Nano!

5. Posters and pictures that I've bought. Yeah, I've got tons of posters etc and none of them are leftovers from high school. I have The Beatles, The Moody Blues, Oingo Boingo...do I wish I didn't have them? Well since I have no place to hang them, YES!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Bank Mergers Annoy Me

I'm trying to get used to a new bank. Not by choice but by buyout. Thanks National City for getting caught up in the Sub-prime mortgage crisis. I really appreciated that.

If I had wanted to be a part of PNC, I would have opened an account years ago. Now I'm forced to be part of their family of banks, simply because there aren't many options that are feasible to me or my family.

Now I'm waiting to see how everything transitions as far as payments that are direct debited etc.

I'm not really enjoying this. I hate having to change all the account info on the bills I pay monthly online. I hate that I'm going to need to reorder checks soon.

Stupid National City.

Stupid change that I didn't want or need.

Oh and my new debit card is fucking ORANGE!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

All Is Well

The mammogram came back good, but only after I had an ultrasound to determine that I have even more cysts in my left boob.

See aren't you glad I share things.

However it was enough to scare the waajeebies out of me, especially when the last time I had to worry about a fibroadenoma that was in my right boob.

ARGH! That's about all I can say.

Cos let me tell you, after sitting in a cold room with your top off waiting for a technician to come and let you know if your ok, you start to lose what little sanity you have and get slap happy, especially when the tech comes in and says they need to do an ultrasound of the left breast and when they do it they pretty much go for one area.

Yeah. I'm not stupid. I know they were looking for something there. Thank the dear lord it was only cysts!

I was very slap happy last night. I'm still a little slap happy now.

At least I don't have to turn my boobs into pancakes for another year. I just have to go to the gyne next week and hopefully all will be good there too.

Hopefully this will be my last TMI post for awhile.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Nervous

Today is mammogram day.

I have to say I'm always nervous when I have to have a test like this done. I've had problems in the last year but everything has been benign, but you always go in wondering, is there something wrong, even if it is a yearly thing.

It's no fun to get your boobies squished.

Can I also add that its no fun to go to these tests alone?

I really wish there was someone that could sit in the waiting room for me, but no. The distance to the office @ Mon Vale Healthplex where I have my screenings done is too far for my dad to walk, so I have to go it alone.

Just a little more for me to be nervous about.

I mean they do give you the results the same day. Which means more nervousness waiting for a radiologist to read your x-ray or whatever it is.

So yeah, I'm a bit twitchy right now.

I can't imagine how I'll be in 20 years when there are more than just the 2 girlie screenings to deal with?

Monday, November 09, 2009

Missing Mondays

Right now I miss working at places where there were more paid holidays. I would be so freaking happy if I had the one holiday a month that some people get.

Yes, I'm still freaking cranky about losing out on Independence Day this year because of the way the holiday fell.

Grrr.

I'm also sick of having to reserve vacation days for when family members have medical tests done too.

I really just need some time off for me. Lazy time. Time without company, even when its family that I love dearly.

I am so in need of a day off right now. I envy people with sick days too. I have none.

I tend to miss these things the most when I'm feeling pretty lousy. Stupid sinuses. Stupid weather.

What are you missing today.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Still Sick

I'm getting sick of being sick.

Blergh.

Can't read. Can't watch TV. Can't play on the computer without a huge headache coming on.

I've also run out of Nyquil and my Daytime head cold meds.

This is not my day.

So I'm calling it a day, or a night or whatever, and I'm going to bed, before my head explodes all over my monitor, and I don't think anyone would clean that up.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Stupid Cold

I wish colds, sinus infections, the swine flu or whatever would at least give me 24 hours notice before showing up when I have plans.

Thank god for something resembling Dayquil or I would never have made it through all the stuff I needed to get done today.

We brought up one cabinet from my gram's house for mom today and I took my nieces and my nephew to The Big Barn and Gene And Boots Candy to get some goodies and stuff for the holiday.

At least I got something accomplished. Right now I feel like death warmed over and I still need to do laundry.

There's a certain amount of unfairness to this all

I have a headache the size of Alaska along with Sarah Palin's ego and I just want to curl up in a ball.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Top 5 On Friday: Week 247




Top 5 recent musical purchases


You guys know the drill. Play along in the comments or in your journal. This meme is created for my site Music Memoirs. Feel free to go there and check out my other two weekly memes and play along

1. My 4 GB Ipod Shuffle. I got mine earlier this year, you know before they came in colors. That kind of pisses me off, but I still love my baby shuffle.

2. My trip to Wheeling to see Deni Bonet in August. She was definitely worth the rental car fee! And the cost of her 3 CDs!

3. Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion: Words cannot express my love for this album. I still need to buy his new one.

4. Speaking of car rental fees. The fee for the car to see The ReBeats in Canton was well worth the money spent. I had such a great time at that show and the band is really awesome. I wish they could get some gigs in PA, so I wouldn't have to make the roadtrip!

5. This is kinda odd, but my tickets to Whose Live, because Jeff and Chip do some pretty awesome singing in the show!

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Sometimes I Wonder

If I'm the only person that frets when going for any test or doctor's visit. I've put on pounds again since July. I'm not happy about it. I'm trying to lose but nothing is working shy of sticking duct tape across my mouth and I've got a doctor's appointment in 2 weeks.

~sigh~

I wish this month weren't so full of tests and girlie tests at that, the worst kind. They all make me nervous and I really don't need to do anything to make me more stressed then usual.

I just wish all of these things didn't have to come up in the same month. You know, so I could balance my stress levels. Keep them at a nice even high point instead of having them spike through the roof.

~bigger sigh~

There are other things I'd rather worry about than medical stuff.

Blergh!

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

I'm Up To 10 Books!

I'm doing pretty good on the book challenge considering how busy I've been. Since mid-October I've read 10 books.

Not to shabby.

I'm trying to figure out how many I can actually get read by Dec 31.

I know I'm not going to hit the 100 book mark, because I didn't jump on the challenge until October.

I'd like to get halfway though and I think that's definitely possible, and with any luck I'll be able to hit 60. I know I've already read 60 books this year but I feel like adding my totals from before I joined the site would be cheating, though I've been told I can.

I have so many books I want to read and so little time to read them. Plus I'm so excited, Holly Tarr, one of my favorite Harlequin Blaze writers has a new Blaze Historical out! I can't wait to read that one.

I really need to spend less time on the computer and more time with my nose in a book.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

A Great UK Artist

I was lucky last year when I discovered UK Indie artist Paul Jeffery at the PR company I do reviews for.

I was totally thrilled with his last release and I was even more excited when he asked me to give his new album Dare To Be Different a listen before it even came out.

Check out my review over at Mossip.

But for those of you too lazy to do that, you can listen on this awesome widget.



I think people that like Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson will really like his music. The new album Dare To Be Different has a definite Progressive Rock feel to it, 80s Progressive Rock, like Marillion.

If you do like the music, feel free to leave comments over at Mossip. I know Paul will probably check the site and would appreciate some kudos.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Missing Mondays


I skipped a few week of this one, most because Monday mornings are evil for me. What am I missing this week?

A movie theater in my town.

For a good part of my growing up we had one theater in town, The Coyle Theater. It down by McDonalds in my hamlet of Charleroi On Mon. When I was little there was another theater closer to my end of town. The State. I believe I saw the first Star Wars movie there.

By 1981 both theaters were closed, but a few years later, The Coyle reopened. Not for very long, because the idiot running it the second time around didn't like to spend money on advertising, and you never knew what was playing or the times.

I saw so many movies at The Coyle; Dirty Dancing, The Goonies, ET and so many Disney films.

It was so nice to be able to walk downtown and see a movie. Now the closest theater to me is about 25 miles away in either Washington or West Mifflin. If I'm going to shell out an arm and a leg for movie I like it to be closer to me than that.

They are working to reopen the theater, much like they have in places like Uniontown or Greensburg. Here's an updated story about The Coyle

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Sundays Are Too Hectic

I just got my mother off to CCD. Now I've got a load of laundry in the washer and I've got to go to the mall to pay a bill and then take Dad for his Sunday dinner.

I hate Sundays.

I hate them almost as much as I hate Saturdays and Fridays.

I'm not a weekend girl anymore.

I seldom get time for myself. Sometimes I just want to freaking be left alone, but no one seems to grasp that.

I'm just sick of feeling like I'm getting nowhere fast. Really fast. Its really getting depressing.

Oh and I have to go to Walmart. Something isn't going to get done, and I think its the bill that will have to wait.

Weekends suck!