Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 albums you would buy right now if you had the money

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 weekly memes and play along.

Cyndi Lauper - Memphis Blues (I can't believe I haven't bought this one yet)


Over The Rhine - Ohio (One of the band's albums that I don't own)



The Beatles - Stereo Box Set. (Anyone have $206.00 so I can finally get this one? My old CDs are dying!!)



4. Gordon Lightfoot - Songbook (boxset) (Yeah another biggie...hence the reason I haven't bought it yet)



5. Nick Lowe - Labour Of Lust (OK, Why is this not reissued?)

I'm Terribly Sad

Have you ever known someone who was accused of something terrible and it was found to be credible after more than a year of deliberation?

I do.

I'm trying to work out how I can be only angry at this person for doing this thing. I'm also angry at an institution that I've been a part of since birth.


Yes, I'm talking about the Catholic Church, and if you go back to June 2009s posts, I'm sure you'll know who I'm talking about.

I don't even know if I should talk about it, because regardless of what he did, he was good to me and he was good to my family when things were bad. He knew just what to say when mom or dad was sick or when grandma passed away. I don't want to open a can of worms here.

I just don't know. I just know that I'm sad and more than a little bit disappointed.

New Glasses

Last night I picked up my new specs from Walmart. They are quite pretty and within the next few days if I can manage to take a picture of myself, I may show em to you, but I'm not sure you really want to see them! Or me!

Let me tell you my, I'm sick of all sorts of doctors story.

This time I got the crabby woman optomotrist, who has picked up on her husband's (who is also an optomotrist) scare the crap out of the patient technique.

Last time I got the whole retinal detachment speech, as I am highly myopic and have thinning spots on my retina.

Well now apparently I have a retinal hole. Apparently it is the kind that they do nothing about other than watch so that it doesn't become a tear or whatnot.

It is so nice to know that my body is falling apart and I'm only 36!

On a plus, my blood pressure was 136 over 80 at Giant Eagle and then a half hour later 117 over 75.

To Nook Or Kindle

I've given up hope of getting to go away this year anywhere, so I'm going to treat myself to a new toy. I don't really need an iPod even though I'd love to have the big hard drive player. I really don't need a new camera yet either.


What I'd really like is an ereader.

Why?

Because I'm starting to do book reviews and I can get more books for free if I can read them digitally. Sure I can read on my computer but that's not fun at all or comfortable either. Plus Harlequin offers some great freebies or cheap short stories digitally. Not to mention the chance to get some great backlist books that you can't find in stores anymore.

So do any of you own an eReader? Which one? Tell me why you like it!

Missing Mondays: Where Are My Goggies

rThe neighbor's Sharpeis are gone! I've heard rumors that he had fines from the code enforcement officer and he had to get rid of them. I haven't seen Bella, Bear or Layla in days.

I'm heartbroken.

I loved those dogs. I gave them treats and lovins' almost every day.

This is Bella, my treat lovin' goggie!



I miss them so much! Why take the dogs, the guy has 30 freaking chickens and turtles in the yard! Grrr!

For The Love Of The Smoothie

Triple B Farms had their Peach tasting festival.

There was a whole lot of good noms to be had there, dips, salsa, fruits and salad dressings/sauces. They had refreshments too.  This lovely peach smoothie was one of the tasty treats they offered and OMG it was so good.

They also had homemade donuts, peach shortcake and funnel cake fries topped with peaches.

I think the only words that can describe the food at Triple B would be "To Die For."

I'm looking forward to the next festival day; APPLES!

After that is the harvest festival with all the wonderful pumpkin stuff.  It is a very very tasty time of year.

Camera Critters

Want to play along? Go here

This is my silly cat, Lady Sugarplum Von Buttonhead or Sugar, or Butthead.

She's cute as a button but when we adopted her, she was a psycho kitty for about 48 hours. I had to wear work gloves to handle her or she'd try to rip my hand off.

It's funny that now she's one of the laziest cats that I own, and I have 8. Most of the time you don't even know she's in the house. Which is really good considering the other cats are super active!

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs you love to sing a long with

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 weekly memes and play along.

1. Mika - We Are Golden (OK< I also like watching this cutie run around in his boxers)

2. Erasure - Sunday Girl

3. The Moody Blues - Gemini Dream

4. Duran Duran - Electric Barbarella

5.Elvis Costello - Next Time Round

Manners, Nobody Has Them Anymore

Have you ever been out with someone, friend, relative or otherwise and they spent more time looking for a text from someone than anything else?

I find that highly annoying. It makes me wonder why the person is spending time with me, when they obviously would rather be somewhere else.

It is one of the things that really makes me aggravated and it shows a huge lack of manners. Is it so hard to be polite to the person you are with?

It is like the old high school thing where a friend ditches their other friends in favor of a boyfriend or girlfriend. I've had two friends do that to me, one I'm still good friends with and the other not so much, even though I considered them one of my best friends in high school. She did want me to be in her wedding but I declined as she hadn't spoken to me in over a year, when she decided to get married.

Why do people behave this way?

I've seen this friend a few times in recent years and she's made overtures to renew our friendship, but I just can't do it. There's no way we'd have anything in common now. She's been married for 12 years and has 3 children, and I have an allergy to kids.

I think that's one of the reason's I'll never go to a class reunion.  I know I'm one of the few unmarried classmembers and I don't think I'd have anything in common with anyone from the Class of 92. That and I have a huge revulsion for anything to do with my high school. The school makes me itch more than kids!

But back to manners. The other thing that bugs me is how we've totally stripped away communication. No one talks anymore. If I take my nephews somewhere, even somewhere only minutes from home, they carry iPods, gaming devices and phones. They can't carry on a conversation with the people in the car with them! I hate driving alone, but going somewhere with my nephews is just as bad.

Anyone else have anything to add?

I Need A To Do List Again

This week has been crazy busy, with me having to run here and there with my dad to the bank. Why is this a problem? Our banks only have late hours on Monday, Friday and Saturday morning. Guess when their SS checks came in?

Tuesday.

The only bank open after 4 was in West Mifflin, so I had to drive a half hour to take him to the bank on Tuesday. Then I took him to dinner, went to Target to get Frontline for the dog and to Giant Eagle. That was my whole day.

Yesterday we had the storms from hell.

Today I have an eye exam at 6:20.

I'm not getting anything done this way.

I need to clean in the kitchen. I need to go through books to see if there's anything other than my harlequin pile that I can take to Goodwill this weekend.

And there's always laundry.

There are also about 3 CDs I need to review. 1 for pay, 2 because I requested them. I also have 3 more coming in over the next month or so. Truth be told I like doing the reviews that I don't get paid for, because I don't have to keep it within a certain amount of words. I hate having to go into detail about every song because I need to make a word count.

Ah well, I need to pay the bills and it has been feast or famine with the reviews lately, but I really need to organize my after work time so I can get everything done.

Om Nom Nom: Fruit Pizza

Ok, I admit it, I love Eggo Waffles, so when I was at Giant Eagle yesterday I had to try the new Breakfast Fruit Pizzas. There are two flavors Strawberry Granola and Mixed Berry Granola. I bought the mixed berry.

It only takes a minute and a half in the microwave and then its ready to nom.

It gets my seal of approval. It is very tasty and the fruit topping is really good. It clocks in at 390 calories...13 grams of fat. Not the greatest numbers but then again it does have granola. The sodium count is 390 as well, so not low and not too high for a frozen food.

The tasty is what gives it my thumbs up, along with the 4 grams of fiber that keep me from wanting more food as soon as I finish the darn pizza.

I'll definitely be buying these again. I love quick noms in the morning, because I'm so not a morning person.

I Have A Dream

I'm sick of hearing about Stay-cations and Day-cations. I want a real vacation. Or at least an overnight stay in a hotel/motel.

I want to sleep in a room with air conditioning.

I want a shower.

I want a continental breakfast.

I want to be away from my damn house, because that's the point of a vacation; leaving the house. Getting away from the house is all I ask. Its not much. I don't even care where the motel is...I'd take the Best Western in Bentleyville or the Comfort Inn in Rostraver, both places are less than 10 miles from my house.

Yeah, that's how bad I want to get away!

Sad isn't it?

I'm so annoyed

Elvis Costello is supposed to have a new Best Of album out at the end of this month, or at least he was going to. There's no date on the amazon page anymore.



Kind of cute artwork and the tracks were chosen by Mr. Costello.

1. Bedlam
2. Stella Hurt
3. No Hiding Place
4. This House Is Empty Now
5. Impatience
6. Tart
7. The Sweetest Punch
8. My Mood Swings
9. When I Was Cruel No. 2
10. Ascension Day
11. Dust
12. Country Darkness
13. 45
14. In The Darkest Place
15. The River In Reverse
16. Monkey To Man
17. In Another Room
18. Still

I don't have any issues with the tracks chosen. In fact I'm over the moon that he put This House Is Empty Now on the album, as that is one of my favorite songs from his album with Burt Bacharach.

Still, I'm a bit miffed that its just a Best Of album. I want new material. I want an album I can be excited about, like I was when When I Was Cruel came out. Sadly, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.

I Love When My Days Start Out Like This

I sat my glasses down on my bed, while I waited for someone to get out of the bathroom, silly me, fell asleep, hit the glasses and knocked them on the floor.

The lenses popped out.

Off to Walmart I had to go, but I got there too early, so I did my shopping before I could get my glasses fixed. I had to shop for 45 minutes. Oye and Vey. The stuff on my list could have been collected and paid for in less than 20 minutes.

Blood Pressure 132 over 80. I'm getting there.

Made appointment for an eye exam while I got my lenses fixed and adjusted. Might as well spend some more money I don't have.

Which reminds me. Why does health insurance only cover doctor/specialists visits but not eye doctors or dentists? It is all part of your damn health!!

So this week I'll be down $40 fpr the eye exam and lord knows how much for the glasses, which I need because I don't really have any spare pairs anymore.

I'm destined always to be broke.

Camera Critters

Want to play along? Go here



I love when the thistle is in bloom, all the butterflies come out to play.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs by one of your favorite artists

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 weekly memes and play along.

We all know I have a lot of favorite artists. Most of you know my favorite songs by Elvis Costello, Duran Duran, Erasure, Oingo Boingo and The Moody Blues. You probably even know my favorite songs by The Beatles (hint: Nowhere Man) and The Monkees, so I want to pull out a favorite artist I haven't used in an meme like this before.

MIKA!

My top 5 Mika songs

1. Big Girls (You Are Beautiful)
2. We Are Golden
3. Lollipop
4. Lover Boy
5. Good Gone Girl

BTW Mika does a fab cover of Sweet Dreams by The Eurythmics.

Oh and I basically picked Mika because I wanted to post this picture!

I Just Don't Understand

Why are people making such a fuss about Obama being on The View today?

Must all politicians be on shows that are totally dignified? Not that The View is undiginified, at least if Elizabeth isn't there. However I'd actually pay good money to see Obama put that stupid Republican wingnut in her place.

The average American doesn't watch political shows. I know I don't. They make me angry enough to throw my TV out the window. People watch The View, and maybe just maybe people will actually pay attention to what the man has to say.

See I'm one of the few people that actually think President Obama is doing a decent job considering the mess W left him with.

Perhaps I should ignore all of this. I don't want my blood pressure to go up any higher than it already is.

Doctor Who Ramblings

I've been reading a few of the BBC Doctor Who books, so I still have The Doctor on my mind.

There's one thing from this series that bugs me and it is about my favorite character, Rory. Oh yes, Rory, I would kidnap you and keep you as my very own given the chance, but that's not the point.

In The Eleventh Hour, we find out that Rory is a nurse. This is kind of odd as most of the companions in the new series are LOSERS! Take a look at the occupations of most of the companions, Martha Jones aside. Even Amy is a big Loser. It is just a shame that no one could create another strong female companion like Sarah Jane.

But I wasn't talking about them, I was talking about Rory. He seems so second class in some of the episodes, like he's brainless and I don't know about how nursing is in the UK, but you can't be a dumb bunny and be a nurse in the US.

I'm just glad that the series ended with them married, because I think that might make sure the companions aren't always humping the Doctor's leg.

Also, we are left pondering Riversong. I wonder if the writers ever paid attention to the first series. The doctor was a GRANDDAD in that series. So yeah, he had to be married.

Doctor Who canon can be so confusing sometimes.

Tuesday Tunes

A few either or questions from Music Memoirs today

Musician's/Band's biography or Musician/Band's biopic: I'll take the biography any day. I'm not a big fan of movies and I'm even less of a fan of movies about musicians, because they seldom get it right.

Discovering a new band or rediscovering an old band: Rediscovering an old band. It is usually easier on the wallet, plus, I really haven't been finding a whole lot of good new music to listen to these days. It really makes me want to pull out old CDs or listen to The Pickle.

Listening to the radio or watching Mtv Listening to the radio wins over Mindless TV anyday. They don't even play music on that channel anymore. Now in the 80s when the station started, my answer would have been just the opposite. So much for being cutting edge, Mtv. You suck!

Concert photos or a magazine spread: Magazine spread. How many times can you see the same people wearing the same smelly clothes? I love having memories of a show I attended but I really like magazine pictures better.

Monday Stuff And Nonsense

Well I've been working on the whole weight issue again. I hate talking about exercise and diet. It annoys me, most because the people that really get into stuff like that are batshit insane. I am down a few lbs since the I was back at the doctor over a week or so ago.

As for my blood pressure, it has been up and down. I've been mostly betwen 131 over 80 to 143 over 86. I'm still working on getting that down before my visit with the primary care doctor from HELL in August. Thank god for those blood pressure tests in grocery stores etc. I'm keeping myself monitored. I'm also really trying to avoid salty food.

~sigh~


On a happier note, I could finally sleep last night. Yay for those storms that cooled the temps down to a more tolerable level. I actually slept under the covers instead of on top of them with my face to the fan.

Woo hoo!

Drools

This season's Doctor Who really had such a pretty cast. There was really someone for everyone to drool on while they flitted across the universe in the Tardis.


Matt Smith, though a bit geeky, has that strange cuteness that will capture the same kind of fangirls that squee over Jim Parsons' Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. (Yeah, I'm one of those fangirls)  Karen Gillan, well just look at her. Her long legs and boyish figure will ruin every little girls' body image for the next few years. (Why can't I be that thin and leggy?)

My favorite from the cast, however is Arthur Darvill, who played Rory Williams, the boyfriend of Amy Pond. All I can say is, damn, he looks good in a suit.

Drools.

So, like I said before, there's something for everyone in this last season of Who. Oh and the episodes were pretty damn good too. The 2-part Finale was the best one EVER!

Ever Wonder Why You're Reading Something?

My friend, Mary, gave me a huge bag of books that she had already read. I happily accept all books, as most of you know.

It was mostly Nora Roberts, whose books I love, a James Patterson, and one V.C. Andrews.

I read all of the original books when I was in junior high, because that was the thing to do, but once the lady died, I didn't read the ghost written books, which make up the bulk of her writing.

What was the first book I picked up from this pile of books?

The damn V.C. Andrews book, Heavenstone Secrets.

If I were V.C. Andrews I would haunt my family and that ghostwriter until they stopped. Yes, her books were creepy. Yes, they were filled with incest, but they were all well written and you really wanted to keep on reading.

This is garbage.

Yet I'm halfway through and I must finish it. And like The Twilight Saga, I will have to read the next book, because I'm crazy like that. I can only hope I find Secret Whispers in a Goodwill Store or some discounted book place!

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs that you think of when you hear the word "old"

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 weekly memes and play along.

1. The Monkees - Your Auntie Grizelda: This song really makes me think of a very prim and proper old lady.

2. Three Dog Night: Old Fashioned Love Song: This is also an earworm.

3. Gordon Lightfoot - Old Dan's Records: I love this song, and I also love that Gordon still plays this one regularly in concert.

4. Glass Tiger - Ancient Evenings: One of my favorite 80s bands and this is a stunning song.

5. The Beatles - When I'm Sixty-Four: I don't know, something about the two remaining Beatles being over 64 makes me think old :(.

Missing Mondays on...erm..Thursday

My mom and I were talking about restaurants the other day. Hmmm, and I wonder why my waistline is always EXPANDING! We got to talking about things that have changed in a lot of restaurants and that's how we got to talking about salad bars.

I think every fast food chain had a salad bar in the 80s.

Wendy's had a crazy awesome salad bar. Burger King had one too, and you could either make a salad on a plate or in a pita!

Please say that someone remembers this?

Then there was Rax. Oh how I miss Rax Roast Beef and their salad bar with the best cream of broccoli soup.

~sigh~

I think those salad bars prompted places like Ponderosa to expand their salad bars to the gi-normous food bars they have now.

Do you know what?

I liked the small salad bar that we had in our local Ponderosa when I was little. I also liked when you walked cafeteria style to get your meal there and at the similar York Steak House and they handed you a little black bowl of salad greens with your choice of salad dressing.

Everything is so much bigger now, but I'm not sure that its so much better. Something has to suffer for our gluttony. I guess its our waistlines and quality. What do you think?

And Life Gets So Random

~ Hungry Girl from previous post said she didn't delete my comment. OK, HG is forgiven. Apparently I'm crazy. I still know that my post vanished from the site. Maybe facebook ate it. It doesn't explain it totally but ah well. The internet is a crazy place.

~ Read an article about aspartame that non-sugar sweetener and frankly I think I'll take sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Aspartame causes bloating and there was even mention BRAIN TUMORS. Yeah...I think I'll take the extra calories. Don't believe me? Read this.

~ For any of you locals, go to Eat N' Park and try the Baked Bruschetta Chicken, it is really good and filling!

~ This heat is really getting disgusting. Even on a day when it was only about 85, it was impossible to sleep last night. I needs sleep people!

~ White Collar on USA is quite possibly one of my favorite summer shows. Psych is my favorite but this one is definitely number 2. I wonder how much of my love is based on the hotness of Matt Bomer? Hmmm.

~ Elvis Costello is releasing a new Best Of. Hmm.. I think I'll pass. Unless he tosses in something rare that I don't have.

~ Did I mention I took my blood pressure at Shop N' Save on Sunday and it was down. 137 over 87. Still a bit high but not as bad as it was at the doctor's the past Friday.

Hungry Girl Can Kiss My Butt

You know that chick that is all over the morning talk shows with her helpful hits at eat this instead of that.

Well she posted something on facebook yesterday about a promo McDonald's was going to run but obviously changed at the last minute and I left a comment, and she deleted it.

See McDonald's was going to give out samples of the new smoothies, which are really good btw, but they changed their mind.

I realize that McDonald's was wrong not to notify people who obviously were going to share that with a mass emailing, but the company did give a coupon for a free small smoothie in one of the inserts in the Sunday paper. I can't remember if it was the USA Today mag or the American Profile mag. Either way, they are giving you a whole free smoothie, which is better.

I essentially mentioned the coupon and said I'd rather have a whole smoothie then one of those little sippy cups.

And she deleted my post!

Oye vey.

And it doesn't take much to send a correction email, companies do it all the time so can Hungry Girl.

Hungry Girl and your peeps, I am no longer a fan.

~ Edit: received a notification from Lisa aka Hungry Girl that she didn't delete my comment. Hmmm funny, logged into the HG facebook page, saw the post and went through 263 comments and mine wasn't there. Oh and proof that I'm not the CRAZY one, I had a notification that facebook that there was a comment from that post, so I clicked the link and my comment was gone. Yeah. I know I'm nuts, but I'm not that crazy.

Political Rant

I'm so sick of republican ads that say we're sick of the government bailing people out and then showing a GM logo.

Uh, yeah, I know the government gave lots of money to GM, but if they didn't, chances are by now, there would be NO GM! The company would have likely had to go through the other type of bankruptcy, you know, the one were everyone loses their jobs?

And why is Obama getting the full blame for bailing out Wall Street? That was done when erm, he was just elected.

Then there are these a-holes known as The Tea Party. Maybe they should have one, in the middle of the harbor, only let's throw them in instead of some perfectly good tea.

What I don't grasp is that, we all said that Healthcare Reform was important in the election, when we got it, we bitch and moan. It makes absolutely no sense to me.

We don't want the global markets to collapse throwing the whole world into a recession, but when we bail out the banks, we bitch and moan.

WTF do we want!!!

Things To Do

It is Sunday and unlike the lyrics from that old Bangles tune, it isn't my fun day. I'm always playing catch up on Sunday, because Saturday is usually my play day.

What am I doing today?

1. Laundry: If I don't get one load done, it will be unmanageable in a matter of days, especially with this heat.

2. Grocery Shopping: Good lunch meat sale at Shop N' Save. Fat lot of good that's going to do me as I probably shouldn't eat any of that. Boo!

3. Take Dad To Dinner: If this man doesn't get his once a week restaurant fix, he pouts. No joke! It doesn't matter where I take him, I just have to take him to dinner. Today I'm thinking Eat N' Park.

4. Sort through old clothes for Goodwill. Make a trip there. Stay clear of the book aisle!

5. Start using that damn stepper I bought years ago. It may be too hot to exercise outside but at least there are fans in the living room.

6. Upload the many pictures I've taken in the last few weeks to flickr. I do have pics from my trip to Scenery Hill on my page now as well as pretty peacock pictures from Critter Country.

Yesterday Was A Bad Bad Day

Let's see:

My blood pressure was 158 over 118 going into the doctor and then 160 over 100 at the end of my appoint.

I have mild cervical dysplasia.

The blood pressure thing has me freaked out. (Health issues always freak me out, ask Bilbo)

In May when I went to the gyne my pressure was 125 over 66, which is normal. All of a sudden its taking some huge jumps.

I know on the third of July I was 150 over 80.

I know all this has surrounded the colposcopy that I don't know how I'm going to pay for, what with my deductible and all.

Now I have to go to my primary care doctor, who I hate with a passion next month. Hopefully the scale will be trending downwards, as I need to lose weight and hopefully that will help my pressure.

But until then I'm a nervous wreck and that's not good for the BP

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs that come to mind when you think of the word "sexy"

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 weekly memes and play along.


1. The Moody Blues - Deep: OK there's nothing sexier than Justin Hayward singing that he wants to go deep. This song can definitely leave a girl breathless. There's a great guitar solo at the end as well.

2. Paul McCartney - Hi Hi Hi: If Paulie makes the sounds he does on this song in bed, its no wonder ladies are still lining up to go to bed with him. OK, I'm sure its mostly the bazillion dollars he has, but still.

3. Def Leppard - All Night: For much the same reason I chose the McCartney track, but this one is better because of Joe's gravely voice. This song is pure sex.

4. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - I Want You: This song is so creepy and sexy at the same time. Its also one of my favorite Costello songs, that rocks when it is played live.

5. Madonna - Vogue: I don't really know why this song is sexy, maybe its more the black and white video and maybe because the song is not as obvious as her others.

Proof That Cats Are Out For World Domination

I have a psycho kitty. No not all kitties are psycho but my Skimbleshanks is. He must have attention at all times and by 3 a.m. he must be lonely and he always tries to wake me up. I usually give him a good petting and send him on his little kitty way, but not last night.

Last night he was really feeling playful.

And he gave me a swat!

In the damn eye!

I think I called that little kitty every name but his own.

My eye still hurts.

I swear my cat is crazy.

Oh and sunlight really hurts

Todays Moment Of Squee

I got a copy of Hope Tarr's Twelfth Night in the mail today from the author. I was so excited to win that book. Hope is one of my favorite Harlequin authors. She writes for the Blaze line which is what most guys would call "girl porn" or "smut."

Whatever you call it, her stories will heat things up.

I also got a signed cover for one of her other non-Harlequin historical romances.

All of that makes for a big ole squee, right?

Yes, but that's not all. If you go to Hope's webpage you will see that my review of The Tutor is posted on her site. Click here to see it.

My book blog is A Chick Who Reads.

So how is that for a moment of squee?

Tuesday Tunes: Week 141

Gosh I haven't done my own meme in months. I'm just not in much of an meme-y mood these days, but I think I have a good topic this week.

Tell us about a music related item that is now obsolete that you miss.

I really miss cassette tapes. Sure they were very disposable, but they were really fun when you wanted to put something together for a friend. Oh how I loved the mixtape. It was much nicer than the mix CD and it could hold more songs. (Unless you are making an mp3 CD)

I used to make mixtapes all the time. Any time I went in the car, I had my walkman and about 30 cassettes. I guess it makes a case for iPods etc, but making playlists just isn't the same. There's nothing fun about it.

I also loved my boombox. Not many of those around these days.

Why?

CDs are almost obsolete now.

What I find funny is that vinyl is making a comeback in some areas.

Woot!

However the vinyl albums you will find today cost about $8.00 more than the CD.

GRRRR.

I've come to the conclusion that when it comes to the music industry the consumer is supposed to bend over and take it.


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 weekly memes and play along.

Missing Mondays

I was looking through my flickr albums yesterday and I realized I haven't been to Pittsburgh in a year! At least not for a fun trip. I'm not even sure if I was in the city for work much last year.

I miss the city. I miss Phipps Conservatory. I miss The National Aviary. I miss The South Side and all the shops and restaurants.

I have a car now, but my weekends are always so crazy that going to the city always gets pushed back. Heck I've not been to the casinos in over a year. I can't remember when I was last at Wheeling Island, and I've never been to The Meadows which is only a half hour from me, and the Rivers, though its supposedly gorgeous, is in such an awkward spot that I have no desire to go there.

I've missed two Christmas displays now, as I haven't made it to the city for the holidays since 2007.

This is where I heave a big sigh.

I may have given up clubbing years ago, but I still love Pittsburgh, and I really really really miss the city and all the bridges and fun things to do. (and places to eat)

I Feel Accomplished

I managed to get a load of laundry done.

I did the grocery shopping.

I took dad to dinner.

I took a 2 mile walk.

And I didn't kill anyone at Walmart.

I think props are in order there, especially for the last one. Walmart is a scary scary place. I only wish there was a way to avoid going there. Sadly there isn't because some stuff is just way to cheap there.

Now if only I could get some cleaning done. But I don't think I'm going to be that accomplished. I'm tired and tonight two of my favorite summer shows are on, "Scoundrels" and "The Gates."

I look forward to curling up on the couch and vegging for 2 hours before the work week starts.

Oh and I'm about halfway through with a review of a really odd techno album that I'm not sure if I love or hate.

Doctor Who Series Five

I know the series wrapped up weeks ago in the UK, but we still have three more epis to air here in the US, and being the lazy girl that I am, I haven't watched them, even though they've resided on my computer now since each aired.

I really am impressed with Moffatt's Who. I think he has proved himself more than capable of keeping the show on top. I'm anxious to see if his finale of the series is any better than the miserable ones RTD handed out to us.

This series has really been great. In Tennant's time, there were always several episodes that really were downright boring. (Well except in the last full season, cos Donna Noble rocks my world).

But this season...Ahh...Vincent and the Doctor! That was brilliant and beautiful and I cried! I cried over a Doctor Who episode!!! The only other episode that came close to that was The Butterfly and the Wasp! I guess it is because I love the shows that involve history. The Last Days of Pompeii, Victory of the Daleks and The Shakespeare Code, all count as favorites of mine.

Oh and why the hell can't I have legs like Karen Gilan

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs that help you beat the heat

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 weekly memes and play along.

1. Grey Eye Glances - Snow

2. Phil Collins - I Wish It Would Rain Down

3. Annie Lennox - Cold

4. Brad Paisley - Water

5. Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold (Get this song out of my damn head!!!)

Now someone stop the temps in the 90s and 100s! Like NOW!!!!

Thursday Thirteen

I haven't done one of these in awhile. So here's my 13:

13 of my favorite independently owned restaurants

1. Salatino's Riverhouse Cafe, Charleroi, PA: Great comfort food and Italian food and the get some great local bands on the weekends.

2. La Fiesta, Charleroi, PA: Authentic Mexican. This doesn't taste like Chi-Chi's my friends.

3. The Red Caboose: A tiny little stand for your order, hot dog and burger stand. The prices are dirt cheap and the food is really great!

4. Red Dawg's, Rostraver Twp, PA: A great local sports bar with a better menu than some of the bigger chains. They make one of the best Reuban sandwiches I've ever tasted.

5. Meloni's, Uniontown, PA: Probably the best small Italian place I've ever been to.

6. Pasta II: Bethel Park, PA: A wonderful Italian restaurant that always has an hour wait for tables, but the food is so worth it.

7. Little Bamboo, Rostraver Twp, PA: Really awesome Chinese/Japanese food.

8. Later's, Wheeling, WV: Crepes anyone. OMG THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!!! Plus it's mascot is a Alligator who's motto is "Eat or we both starve!"

9. Good N' Plenty, Lancaster County (I think its near Bird in Hand but I can't remember): Amish cooking. Family style seating if you like. Fun times and full bellies.

10. Hartville Kitchen, Hartville, OH: This one is run by the Mennonites. I love these people with freaky religions, they cook chicken really good.

11. Seaside Cafe, Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City: I have 2 words for you, Deli Omlette.

12. My Girl's Korner Kitchen, Charleroi, PA: A very cute little diner type place, only open til 6.

13. Rialto Cafe, Greensburg, PA: More fab Italian food.


You guys would think I was Italian by my restaurant choices, but I'm not.

Let's Talk About Music

I finished my review on Purple Tree yesterday. I love the reviews that I don't get paid for doing? Why? If I want to write a short review, I can.

But back to Purple Tree.

If you like bands like Pink Floyd, Oasis, The Beatles, and The Kinks, you definitely want to try them. The guitar work is very like Floyd and on occasion boarding on Black Sabbath. (Yeah that kinda threw me too). The vocalist, David Perry, has a very youthful sounding voice, almost girlie at times, but not quite a bit like Peter Noone or in more recent years, Ian Brody from The Lightning Seeds.

The album is called The Final Prophecy, which made me inititally think the album was going to be all deep and thoughtful, but it really wasn't, so that gets a yay in my book. I don't like to think too much when I listen to music, I like to listen and enjoy.

You can listen to the album @ Purple Tree Music. I recommend listening to Happiness (The Ending Day) which a really gorgeous tune. If you want to read my review click here

Randomosity For A Tuesday Morning

~ I've never been so happy to be at work, but woot! AC!!! I can breathe!

~ I'm working on a review by a band that sounds like Pink Floyd meets Oasis and then has a party with The Beatles and Herman's Hermits. Its weird in a good way.

~ I'm reading New Moon and I don't know why. Probably insanity.

~ Got some blueberry coffee yesterday at Target

~ Blogger ate Bilbo's and Mike's comments from my last post. Blogger apparently didn't get any hot dogs over the weekend.

~ Popchips are awesome but insanely inexpensive for potato chip like noms.

~ Is it wrong of me to want to stay at a hotel for a night or two just so I can read in comfort?

~ The heat is making me feel blergy again. Or BLERGHY...or just plain ICKY!

~ It sucks that it was too hot this weekend to go to Ohiopyle. I want to see water, other than the Monongahela River please. I'll take the Yough or any small lake in the Laurel Highlands or even that big one in Erie please.

Target + Bath & Body Works + Me = Bye Bye Money

Ok, I hit the last day of the big Bath And Body Works sale. I picked up some Wallflowers plug-ins and other pretty smelling stuffs. I really think I own one of almost every body spray the company makes. The exceptions are Sweet Pea and Wild Honeysuckle.

After that I went to Panera Bread and had Tortilla Soup and a Half a Cuban Panini. Yum!

Target sucked the rest of my cash. I found 3 pretty t-shirts that are good for work and casual outings. I also got some of the legs for the itso cubes I so love. Oh and I did pick up a book, because I can't go to Target and not purchase a book. It is a sickness I tell you, a sickness.

Now I really need some quality time to rearrange the furniture and read.

I had 4 days off, but I got no reading done at all, as there was so much other stuff to do.

Oye and vey!

However, I have been listening to my b-day mix non-stop for the last 4 days so that is a plus!

Feeling Blerghy

There's nothing worse than having a birthday and your youngest nephew's graduation party within a day of each other. Not to mention having a colposcopy on your birthday and finding out your blood pressure is high.

Oye and vey.

All I really want to do is be left alone for awhile and I can't seem get through anyone's heads.

Just leave me with my books please. I need to chill and decompress.

I do want to thank all of you for the b-day wishes and cards. You guys really made my day, which was less than stellar.

Today I'm going to celebrate the fourth by going to Critter Country Animal Park and having a hot dog or two.

Hope you all have a great holiday or Sunday, depending on where you live.

Pondering A Sale

My gran has an old set of Pyrex dishes. They are turquoise with gold trim and in excellent shape. My sister-in-law would like them.

I've done some research on ebay and the dinner plates alone sell for about $6.00 a piece and dessert plates for $5.00. Cup and saucer sets around $10.00.

I'm not sure if there's a service for 8 or 12, but I'm going to have to look into it. If I could sell them that would certainly be a help especially as the set looks to be worth a couple hundred dollars and it is nothing that I'd personally use.

So the question is, do I sell them or don't I.

Mind you my brother and his wife are finally getting the dining room furniture out of the house which is probably worth a pretty penny.

~sigh~

I wish I knew some antique dealers.

My 36th Birthday Mixtape

~ Comment if you are taking or want to say happy birthday
~ Don't share my b-day mix link, m'kay. It's not nice to piss off the b-day girl.
~ Enjoy the music

I was going to post this in the morning but tomorrow morning is going to be a less then pleasant part of the day. So enjoy the music!

Artist: Various Artists Genre: Mixtape Tracklisting: Elvis Costello - Man Out Of Time Hugh Grant - Pop Goes My Heart The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams Dolly Parton - Better Get To Livin' Erasure - Sunday Girl Marillion - Kayleigh They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse In Your Soul Duran Duran - New Moon On Monday Keri Noble - Talk To Me Mika - Blame It On The Girls Grey Eye Glances - Halfway Back Nick Lowe - I Trained Her To Love Me Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life Matchbox Twenty - Last Beautiful Girl Herman's Hermits - If You're Thinkin' What I'm Thinkin' Oingo Boingo - We Close Our Eyes Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - Lady Willpower Judd Starr - Please Penny Spandau Ballet - I'll Fly For You Olivia Newton-John - A Little More Love Roxette - Church Of Your Heart Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Waiting David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes The Monkees - That Was Then, This Is Now Over The Rhine - How Does It Feel (To Be On My Mind) The Monkees - Daydream Believer Tommy James & The Shondells - Sweet Cherry Wine Cliff Richard - Miss You Nights Cheap Trick - Had To Make You Mine Diana Krall - Narrow Daylight Eric Clapton - I've Got A Rock N' Roll Heart Lady Antebellum - Slow Down Sister Paul McCartney - Mull Of Kintyre The Beatles - Think For Yourself Elfslut's 36th B-day Mix (180 MB) Comments: I was putting this mix together and I came back as I was uploading to last years mix. I giggled at how some songs overlapped from year to year, which goes to show I do have some favorite songs. There are a few artists I added and took off, not because I don't love them, but because it was too hard to say only one song touched my life. Seriously, go download Gordon Lightfoot's entire catalog, he's brilliant. Oh and Elvis Costello's Man Out Of Time, is my favorite Costello song and Imperial Bedroom is freaking brilliant. Krall's Narrow Daylight is also one of the most beautiful songs I've ever listened to. Feel free to ask me about my choices.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs that make you feel independent!

Oh and if you are so disposed

Top 5 musical things you would give your meme mistress for her birthday, which is July 2

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 weekly memes and play along.

OK, so what 5 musical things would you give me!! I want to know.

Here are my 5 songs that make me feel independent.

1. The Beatles - Free As A Bird

2. Keri Noble - Watch Me Walk

3. Tom Petty - Free Fallin'

4. Roxette - Joyride (I'm not sure why this song makes me feel independent but it does)

5. The Monkees - I Wanna Be Free

I'll be back later today with my 36th b-day mix for you.

If It's Not One Thing

My grandma's house (aka my house) has been the bane of my existence since it fell in my lap 2 years ago.

I tried to get it insured a few months ago, and now I've got the report from the insurance company.

The house has a bad set of steps and I don't know that I can afford to get them repaired so that I can keep the policy.

Grrr.

It is also one more expense that I don't need. This isn't a house I ever plan on living in, but right now, with the housing market as it is, I don't want to sell it.

It is a nice little house, but I don't want to get less than the price of my car for it.

Grrr.

And I have that procedure tomorrow.


ARGH..

I'm a nervouse wreck.

A Little TMI

I have to go for another colposcopy on my birthday. What a way to celebrate. I had another abnormal pap in May, so I get an unpleasant present from the Gyne on Friday.

Just what I always wanted.

Of course I don't want cancer either, so I'll put up with it.

Its just a lovely way to spend my birthday, doncha think?

Ever since I knew it was scheduled I've been a bundle of nerves. I openly admit to crying my eyes out when the doctor called to tell me I had to have this done again.

The cost of the damn thing is going to hit me in the gut, and if I have to have anything else done afterward, it will really hit me.

Like I said yesterday, it isn't that there isn't affordable health care in the US it is that affordable health care won't help you. AT ALL!

I've Got A Bad Case Of The Angries

I'm so sick of things lately. The heat, which is just as bad as the cold and snow, the grocery shopping, the bill paying, EVERYTHING.

I have a ginormous chip on my shoulder right now.

I haven't enjoyed music in a long time, other than the Gordon Lightfoot concert and that is pretty much a given.

I keep thinking about all the plans I had for this summer and I'm not going to get to do any of them. I wanted to go swimming at the lake in Bedford or one of the other state parks. I wanted to go to Ohiopyle. Somewhere! Anywhere!

I have a doctor's appointment on Friday that will cost me about $800 - $900 and my insurance won't pay it as I haven't met my deductible yet. And we wonder about health care in this country. Its not that affordable health care isn't there, its just that the affordable shit doesn't do you any good if you end up with problems.

ARGH!

I'm wound so tight right now if I let myself go I'll be a whirling dirvish. (sp)

Missing Mondays

I miss my metal window fan. It was ancient as you might have guessed, because all fans seem to be made of nothing but plastic these days.

Two words for you: PLASTIC SUCKS!

This old fan could cool down my room better than an air conditioner.

It died last year, damn it and the fan that replaced it doesn't do half the job this one did. It is not fair at all.

Why does everything have to made out of plastic?

I really think it has to be the joy factor. You know, "Joy, I'm not allowed to have any."

Grrr.

I really miss that fan.

How To Make Me Less Cranky

Its nearly 90 degrees out. We don't have air conditioning and I'm about ready to go postal and I don't even work for the USPS.

How can I keep from going batshit insane and hurting people?

Booze!



This was the Very Berry Mojito that I had at TGIFridays. Have I mentioned that Fridays has the best bar of just about any chain restaurant? If I haven't, they do!

That strawberry was pretty tasty too!

Books A Million Is My Crack

There was a one day sale at my favorite bookstore today. There were sale books for as low as $1! And there were books buy 2 get one free or buy 4 get one free.

I spent $33.00 on books today.

I think I should open my own library now.

I have a whole Chicklit library at my disposal. Now if only I had the time to read them all!

There are just so many books I want to read. It doesn't help matters that when I go to the book store I just find more to add to my ever growing wishlist!

I think I'm a book addict.

There are probably worse things I could be addicted to though, so I won't complain much. However there's always a Bath and Body Works near my favorite bookstores, and that shop can also send me to the poor house. Wait, I already live in the poor house. Fuck it!

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs that get you ready for the weekend.

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 weekly memes and play along.

1. Mika - We Are Golden: This song just makes me want to sing, dance and be happy. I could listen to it forever. OK, I could listen to any Mika song forever, but I love this one the most.

2. Roxette - Here Comes The Weekend: It is a kind of obvious choice, but Roxette were always one of my favorite bands in high school. I've always loved playing them in the car and this one always prepares me for road trips, that always come on the weekend.

3. The Moody Blues - Ride My See Saw: OK, I know I'm the only one that gets a pervy picture from this song, but nevermind that. This song is so upbeat and rocking it really is a Moody weekend song, besides the one they did in the 80s with the same title as the Roxette track.

4. Duran Duran - Electric Barbarella: This is one of my favorite DD singles from the last 20 years. It is super playful which is how I want to feel on the weekends.

5. Erasure - I Love Saturday: Title says it all, doncha think?

You Know It's Going To Be A Bad Day

I woke up this morning with no water. None. Three people are in my house and 2 can walk stairs and none of them thinks to tell me this until I go to the bathroom and FLUSH.

I run downstairs looking for my father, because the toilet sounded like it was going to swallow me and take me down into the sewar with all the dead fishies and crocodiles and that's when my nephew calmly informs me that there was no water.

Thank you very much.

No water and I have 2 hours before I have to go to work.

The water comes on about 45 minutes later and it was all brown and icky. It was still that way 20 minutes before work.

As I told my friend, Jennifer, this morning, "Thank God for astringent and mouth wash" because I sure as hell wasn't washing my face or brushing my teeth with the stuff coming out of my faucet.

Fun times, my friend, fun times!

Where Are The Great Summer Films?

It is almost July and I have to say that there haven't been any films that have excited me enough to splurge on movie tickets.

WTF is wrong with Hollywood?

I think the only film I'm reasonably amused by that will be out soon is Dispicable Me which isn't out until July 9th.

I'm not a huge movie goer, but I do like to catch a film every once in awhile, and I haven't been since Alice In Wonderland opened. All I ask is a few hours in a nice cool theater with some popcorn and a diet coke! Is that too much to ask?


Dang, wasn't that in March or early April? And again, my summer movie is a kids film.

Geeze!

Oh and raise you hand if you think that new Tom Cruise film is going to suck?

I Don't Understand This

Not to far from me is a Swim Club. Its one of those pools that you pay huge amounts of money to swim at. I really don't understand the people who go there.

Its not that there is anything wrong with the pool. The pool is huge and beautiful.

I drove by on Sunday when it was in the mid to upper 80s (translation: it was freaking hot) and the pool was near empty. Yet there were cars everywhere in the parking lot.

Where were all of the people?

On beach blankets in the grass!!

WTF people!

This isn't at $5.50 swim all day pool. You've paid several hundred dollars to go lay on the grass (No...not even sand...grass) that you have in your own back yard. WTF is wrong with you!!!

I'm not a swimmer but when there's water I at least like to wade it in. How can you spend all of that money just to lay in the grass! It really boggles my mind, almost as much as our neighbors that keep their doors wide open all the damn time, but that's story for another day.

Missing Mondays

Sometimes I really wish I were a kid again. Usually when my nephew laments not being an adult. I've never quite understood why we force our kids into adulthood these days, filling their schedules until they are little mini-robots. Hell, most kids I know don't really know how to play at all, unless it involves an electronic game of some sort.

~sigh~

Right now I long for summer vacation. 2.5 blissful months without a care in the world. To just lay around on a deck chair and read. Its not fair that you only get lazy time two times in your life when you are young and when you retire.

It doesn't seem fair. I only have 5 days of vacation a year and 1 was used for my dad's surgery and another day is going to be used for an unpleasant procedure I have to have done on my birthday, one that I'll be paying for, but that will get me started on my health care rant...and its too early in the morning for that.

Damn I wish I was a kid again. Just so long as its not the summer I had to read 3 classic novels that weren't fun reads at all.

Father's Day

Its much easier to deal with Father's Day then Mother's Day. Dad is happy most anywhere you take him for dinner and now that he has a stash of cash, he can get a new lawnmower.

It really is amazing how little it takes to make Dad happy.

Oh and after supper at Cracker Barrel, we stopped at Krispy Kreme for a dozen donuts.

His day was truly complete.

Give the man a donut and he'll be content for hours. OK, he'll be content for hours tomorrow, after his dinner at Cracker Barrel, there is absolutely no way he could stuff any more food into his belly. He got the sampler that has meatloaf a slice of ham and chicken and dumplings. Me I got an awesome pineapple salad that I will be blogging about over at Wenches later today.

My day was pretty good too, since I got to go to Target and spend money I don't really have.

What A Day

I went to see my critters at Critter Country Animal Park and then had dinner at Denny's and did some shopping.

Wow that was an experience.

There are lots more peacocks there now then there were last year. In fact, the total peacocks this year is somewhere around 14, with lots of little babies around. The peacocks were strutting their stuff too. So I have loads of gorgeous pictures of the birds.



Now I'm really tired from the heat and ready for a nice long nap. Wait! Its almost 9 o'clock, I'm ready for bed.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs that father's wrote for their children.

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 weekly memes and play along.

1. Jimmy Buffett - Delaney Talks To Statues

2. John Lennon - Beautiful Boy (Though Hey Jude was a much better song)

3. Gordon Lightfoot - Pony Man (This is such a sweet song that Gord wrote for his kids)

4. Jim Croce - Time In A Bottle (Tis a shame he died about the time the song was released as a single)

5. David Bowie - Kooks (For son Zowie)

Bonus:

By a lady, cos mom's rock too: Annie Lennox - Precious

Gord Is Gold

I'm trying to save up my Lightfoot story for the review I plan on writing a little later. Suffice to say the concert was fantastic. Gordon's voice is a little bit worse for wear after all his illnesses, but he still sounds good. His playing is also wonderful and after having a mini stroke a few years back, that's a very good thing. You can watch his hands on the guitar for hours!

I did get to say hello to him and get my Harmony CD signed. Facebook people should be able to see the horrid picture of me that was taken after the show. More on that in the review because I really could go on for hours about the impromptu meet and greet that happened last night in Greensburg.

There is one Gord related thing I want to say: He has a roadie/security/something that looks like a 40 something Justin Hayward. No joke! The guy has Justin's haircut, hair color and similar facial structure. That said, he's flipping gorgeous and I wanted to bring him home.

Oh and he didn't play Race Among The Ruins, but he did do Canadian Railroad Trilogy which is quite a treat, as he doesn't play that epic song as often anymore.

Tonight's Gordon Lightfoot

Well at long last, the Gordon Lightfoot concert is tonight. I'm very excited. I love this man's music. He's probably one of the few artists I've discovered by accident that I've kept loving even though he doesn't do much besides touring these days.

I'm hoping tonight he does Race Among The Ruins as he didn't do that one @ The Mountaineer when I saw him a few years back.

My seats are totally wonderful, so I hope I can get some good pictures of Gord. If I do they'll get posted over the weekend, as the next few days will likely be crazy busy for me.

Boo hiss!

So let's get a woo hoo for getting seats in the first 5 rows of a concert for once!

Oh and everyone sing a chorus of Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald.

Tuesday Tunes

From Music Memoirs

Ghosts of Rock Bands Past:

If you could experience one band/artist in their hey day, who would it be and why would you choose them?

I know a lot of people will say The Beatles, but I think that would be too crazy for me and I would end up being disappointed not being able to hear them if I would be as lucky as my godmother was, to see them during one of their stops in the US.

No, I think I would choose one of my other favorite bands, The Moody Blues. Oh how lovely to see Justin, John, Graham, Ray and Mike in their younger days. I'm not sure if I'd like to experience them so much in the late 60s or the 70s. Probably the 60s, as that whole time period has always fascinated me.

The other band I would have loved to experience in their hey day is Duran Duran. I would like to go back in time, with some Time Lord or another and catch them when they were young and fabulous, as opposed to now, when they just put out crap. The funny thing with Duran Duran is that I didn't really care for them when I was younger and they were huge. I didn't start getting into their music until The Wedding Album came out.

Zzzzz

Something about the heat totally puts me to sleep. I zoned out around 8 o'clock and slept for two hours. I woke up and wandered about for awhile but by 11:40 I was back in bed and out like a light again.

I like warm better than the frigid cold and snowy weather we had this winter, but geeze, the humidity has been awful. It just seems to sap the life right out of me.

The only thing I got done was some minor work on my book blog and a small post over at The Certifiable Wenches where it seems many of my fellow Wenches have gone missing.

I'm glad I did get the sleeping done yesterday though, because I obviously needed it. Today I feel a bit more awake, which is good, because I've got loads of stuff to do after work today. (None of which are things I enjoy) I want to get all my stuff done tonight too because tomorrow is the Gordon Lightfoot concert in Greensburg. I hope someone reminds me to put my batteries on the charger, so I can use my good camera.

I can't wait to see Gordon again!

Missing Mondays

Today I'm missing the strawberry soy frappachino I had yesterday at Barnes & Noble but flew out of my hand and landed on the ground at the mall yesterday.

Damn it, I only had a few sips out of it and I lost all my whipped creme.

I still have no idea what happened, because that cup was literally airborne! The lid cracked and frapp was everywhere...OK whipped creme was everywhere.

I was a very sad girl when that happened, because that was 4 bucks that flew out of my hands.

I was so shocked at what happened I let out quite a squeak. Two odd little geeky guys, bless them, asked if I was all right.

Yup, I was fine. Sadly the $4 drink was not.

I probably won't have one of those tasty treats for a long time now.

All that strawberry whipped creme goodness gone! Without the benefit of consuming it!!

How sad is that?

Late Blogging

I was out and about today with a good friend doing some well needed retail therapy. For those that don't know what kind of retail therapy I usually that means that Bath & Body Works, Barnes and Noble, Half Price Books and Hot Topic can stay in business for another month! Actually I did little damage at Hot Topic, but I did find a cute t-shirt there and some earrings.

I did my worst damage at Half Priced Books.

Let's face it, I love books. I also love things that smell pretty. (That's why I spent $28.00 in Bath and Body, plus I got a cute little tote bag with a ducky on it that will be great for grocery shopping etc later.

So now I'm hot and tired and broke after all the shopping (and eating) that I did today, but it was fun. I love writing down to buy lists when I'm in Barnes and Noble. I just need to work through that "To Be Read" list which is really large.

So I think my tired butt is going to call it a day today and maybe finish a book and head off to bed, since its off to the grind tomorrow.

A Morning At The Farm

I took my oldest nephew to breakfast at The Berry Festival @ Triple B Farms this morning. We picked up a "Very Berry" pie for dessert tonight and Stawberry Rhubarb Butter and Strawberry Salsa.

Nom Nom Nom.

I played with the "kids" again cos I like baby goats. Those are the only "kids" that I like. I took some pictures of the farm again and some of the other animals.

After we left we ran to Walmart for a few things. Walmart is evil and claims it saves you money, but I swear I always spend more there because I always find stupid shit that I didn't think I needed but did? Does that make sense? Ah the wonders of impulse buying.

Oh and have I mentioned I truly hate their book department. They are reasonable but the selection is really becoming crappier by the day.

So now its just around 12:30 and I'm home, and I should find something productive to do, but....It is already too hot to do much of anything.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 songs that make you think of your best friend.

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 weekly memes and play along.

Hmmm this one is for you Jen!

Rick Springfield - Love Somebody
Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf
Power Station - Some Like It Hot
Jace Everett - Bad Things
Lady Gaga- Bad Romance

Let's see...Jen likes 80s music, True Blood and Glee and thanks to the Lady Gaga episode she always has that song stuck in her head.

Now my friends, I ask you, what songs make you think about me?

Ponderings and Worries

In three weeks I'll be 36 years old. Its kind of scary to be facing the upper end of the thirties.

I keep thinking, what can I do to make my life better.

I'm thankful I have a job, but I could have done more with my life, if I hadn't chosen to stay close to my family. My reviewing job hasn't panned out much lately. I've only had one review in almost 2 months. So I don't have the extra income.

I keep wondering....what can I do now to make things easier. To save something...while still being able to enjoy living.

Its much like I thought it would be. I have a car, but I really can't afford to go anywhere with it.

Plus there's the matter of my mom's doctor's appointment. She had a lot of episodes on one day in March and I'm afraid there's going to be a heart cath in her future. Those things scare me as much as they do her. I hope that we can get through the appointment without any scary nasty tests to take.

I'll be glad when this week is totally over. Its been way too stressful.

Oye To The Vey

I took a few hours off work to take my mother to the caridiologist and to get her pacemaker checked. Her appointment was at 11 a.m.

We had no sooner taken our seats in the waiting room, when the nurse came and told us that all the appointments were canceled for today except the pacemaker check etc, because the doctor got called to the hospital for an emergency procedure.

Mom's appointment is resceduled for Friday.

When its supposed to rain AGAIN!

Now for the average person rain isn't a rough thing to deal with, but my mom uses a walker and isn't very steady on her feet. That's why this was actually the first time she's been in a car in 7 months. We don't want her to fall. She did that when I was trying to get her to the hospital last year before my dad's surgery.

So I have to take more time off on Friday to take her back for her regular appointment.

Poor thing. She went to so much trouble to get there and to have the main appointment canceled is horrible, However if it were her at the hospital, I'd want the doctor to come running like that too. So I'm not really complaining, I'm just feeling sorry for her.

Here's hoping that Friday goes much better.

Sharing Some Music

I'm trying to help out a local artist by getting her music to the masses. Her name is Tiffany Apan and she's from Gibsonia, PA.

She's a classically trained singer and her album Pure is out on CD Baby. She's definitely worth a listen. Her style is a bit across the boards, sometimes goth, sometimes folk, sometimes electronic, but it is her voice that matters and that stands out no matter what type of music she's performing.

Check her out!

I Hate My Parents Not Having A Car

My mom has an appointment to see her cardiologist on Wednesday and another appointment to have her pacemaker checked that same day.

When the car issues started right after I bought Francesca, my nephew, Michael, said he would take her.

Guess what?

Michael's car is leaking oil or anti freeze or something nasty.

Guess who is now off on Wednesday so that mom can make it to the doctor?

If you guessed me, you are absolutely correct.

Now if I had a normal job, which we all know, I don't, I'd have a personal day to use for this. But no I don't. I have 5 vacation days...actually 4 since I used one for dad's last surgery. So most likely I'll be using this day without pay, because there were some things that may require those paid days coming up later this summer.

Isn't life grand?

I'm Depressed

I went to the gym today to find out that I won't have a gym as of June 30th.

That's just gym-be-dandy.

Can you smell the sarcasm.

Even though I hate going, hate talking about it, I liked my gym. I felt comfortable and I could afford it. Four years ago, I paid extra for my 2 year membership so that my monthly fee would be $19.00

There's no gym that cheap.

Curves is over $30. The YMCA is out of my range as is the Mon Valley Health Plex in Rostraver.

So at the end of the month I will have nowhere to go to exercise.

Not a good thing at all.

Worse still, I've heard the owner got himself in a total financial mess to try to keep the gym open. That makes me doubly sad, because I liked him. I hate to think of someone losing everything over a business.

This sucks.

Too Many New Releases

I think all my favorite authors and musicians got together and decided to torture me this month.

In music the list is huge:

Cyndi Lauper's Memphis Blues is out on June 22. I adore Cyndi and I try to get most of her albums. So needless to say, this one is already wishlisted on Amazon.

I'm really interested in hearing it too, considering she's working with the likes of B.B. King and Allen Toussaint. Who knows, maybe on her next album she'll work with Elvis Costello. Now that would be a very unique collaboration don't you think?

Sarah McLachlan is a goddess. I'm so glad she's finally doing a new album. (Of songs that aren't holiday-ish) The cover of this CD alone is stunning. From the soundclips I've heard on Amazon, I'm pretty impressed with the recording, which comes out on June 15th. I haven't decided if I want to preorder this one or wishlist it.

Then there's Andy Bell's latest solo effort, Non-Stop. I'm not thrilled with the cover, but the music is pretty good. I'm probably going to order it this week, as none of the stores I frequent will carry it. Andy is one of those artists that I must own all of his recordings. Its a crazy thing, I know, but I'm loyal to Andy Bell.

And then there's books. Janet Evanovich has a Stephanie Plum novel. And last month Dale Basye has released the third book in his Circles Of Heck series. I wish I had some time to devote to enjoying both a bit more than I do.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 albums you take with you for a day at the beach

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 weekly memes and play along.

1. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

There is something about this album that screams summer to me. This album is one of two Beatles albums that I seem to play quite a bit during the summer months. Maybe the album still has some of that Summer of Love magic.

What do you think?

2. Erasure - I Say I Say I Say

This album came out in the summer of 94. I remember finding the first single earlier that year at Sam Goody in Westmoreland Mall. That was my summer album that year and it remains one. I think having a song on it called Run To The Sun helps too. Its also a really fun fast paced album, and that really makes it perfect beach listening.

3. The Monkees - Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones

This was an autumn of love album, but since I wasn't really there for it, its one of my summer beach albums. It is probably my favorite album by The Monkees. It also has some of Michael Nesmith's best songs; Salesman, The Door Into Summer and Love Is Only Sleeping. Oh and Pleasant Valley Sunday has to be the best summer beach song.


4. The Beatles - Rubber Soul

I won't deny it. This is my favorite Beatles album. Its best played with the windows down blaring down a highway, or on my headphones reading. (preferably in the sand) For me this is the perfect summer beach album and probably a perfect album period.

5. Matchbox Twenty - Yourself Or Someone Like You

Rob Thomas is a boy of summer. Any song that he sings well, except New York Christmas, seems to heat things up. So its only fitting I have a Matchbox Twenty album on my list.

Running On A Treadmill

No, I'm not blogging about exercise (though I need to start doing that more), I'm blogging about how I feel. Since I bought the new car, I feel like I've been running at a furious pace and going absolutely nowhere.

I really can't stand that my parents no longer have a car and that there's no way for my dad to do the things he usually does for the family right now.

GAH!

If only I hadn't traded in the Beretta.

Oh and speaking of the Beretta.

The last time I drove through Belle Vernon, she was on a used car lot, selling for almost $1200.00.

WTF!!

When I bought her 6 years ago, I paid $1500.00 for her.

Her interior is dry rotting. She has a hole in the exhaust (again!) but that is thanks to the Snowmageddon. Her clear coat is peeling. The car looks like hell and is falling apart, yet this guy is selling it for $1200!

Oye vey!

I got next to nothing for her on the trade because she was so shoddy. God I feel bad saying that. For a car her age, she was ok, for the kind of running my parents do, but for me, not good.

So now I'm stuck in the same boat as I was before. I don't want to go too far from home, because they don't have a car and that makes me a bit nervous.

Yes, I'm a worry wart.

Do you think I may get a moment of peace sometime soon?

Oh and tonight is my nephew's graduation.

Hump Day!

I love short weeks, it means the middle of the week gets here faster and that also means the weekend gets here faster.

Woo hoo!

I'm just not in the mood for most of the week! That's why I need my hump day hunks to come around and look pretty. They help me get through the work week.

This week I chose some musical hunks. Who knows what next week may bring.

The first hunk of the week is Justin Hayward. OK, so he's not quite as hunky has he was 5 or 10 years ago, but he still has a voice like an angel. I wish this hunk would get in the studio and record an album. I really miss his music.

The next hunk in our lineup is Rob Thomas. I love this guy. He's pretty to look at and he writes good music. That is a pretty darn good combination if you ask me. Come to think of it, I think he needs to record something soon, either solo or with Matchbox Twenty.


Lastly is the lovely Mika. Actually I think he's a hump day cutie pie. He's not really qualified to be a hunk.

Cuteness is allowed on Wednesdays though. Anything to make the day go by more pleasantly, right?


So what hunks or hunkettes help you get through the mid-week blues?

Feeling Old

My nephew, Michael is graduating high school on Thursday. He was born the year I graduated high school.

18 years ago.

Wow!

I remember holding this gorgeous little baby boy in my arms. He was the cutest baby in the whole world. (But then again don't we all say that about babies, especially ones near and dear to us?)

I can't believe he's all grown up and ready to go off to college.

Where have those 18 years gone? How did they fly by so darn fast?

I hope in the coming years he finds himself ready to take on the world, in whatever careerpath he ends up on. I hope he doesn't end up too far away from his roots.