And whether or not it is clear to you...

Why Geeks and Nerds Are Worth It...

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:56:27 GMT

I received this in an email today from a friend, and read it out loud to someone who laughed right along with me because it's so true!! All of the ladies with geeky men in their hearts can attest to the truth of this list, and I am proud to say that my man is a nerd :)

Why Geeks and Nerds Are Worth It...

Love

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:49:19 GMT

I just saw this video on Yahoo, and while the music is horribly cheesy, I just about started crying because it's so unbelievable and cute. I had to share, and I hope it brings a smile to your face.

Wozniak interview

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:39:52 GMT

Technically I wrote this article - but I didn't conduct the interview, I just transcribed it. It's in 2 parts because it was 9 pages typed when I was done with it. Took forever to transcribe, that man talks really fast!!

You may wish to read and enjoy. It's rather interesting.

youbentmywookie.com/features/youbentmywookies-geek-of-the-month-steve-wozniak-1683

BTVS causes mass exodus of women from church

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:12:53 GMT

Just read this on IMBd and rolled my eyes:

"Hollywood actress Sarah Michelle Gellar's hit show Buffy The Vampire Slayer has been blamed for 50,000 women abandoning traditional Western religion to study paganism.

According to the recent British study published in Women and Religion in the West, young women have taken an increased interest in practising witchcraft after Gellar's hit U.S. TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer hit the mainstream.

The study's author Dr. Kristin Aune says: "Because of its focus on female empowerment, young women are attracted by Wicca, popularised by the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In short, women are abandoning the church."

The Church of England has declined to comment on the study."

Buffy, you naughty vixen!

Animation vs. Animator

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:53:33 GMT

When good art rebels against it's creator - someone emailed this to me, I thought it was very funny!!

CNN article

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:58:58 GMT

Because I think Snackpants would like to read this, being that he's gay for Shatner and all =)

Don't Lick the Fat Guy

Tue, 27 May 2008 14:01:13 GMT

Only ladyfairydust understands me.

That is all. :p

EDIT: I felt like this one needed a visual aid.

Why even bother getting married to begin with?

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:20:33 GMT

They were both at our disaster show last year. An odd couple to say the least. This does not surprise me. Thanks to Jill for emailing this to me!

Edit: This is completely unrelated but had to be posted anyway. It's the cutest thing I've seen today!!!

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:12:07 GMT

I will spare you the details of my weekend this time around, but know it was a good one. I got to hang out with wasabigirl yesterday and today, keeping her "entertained" while the boys got their work done. We bonded, as commanded, and had a fantastic time together! We hit Epcot on Saturday with the roommie and spent today just hanging out and chatting and eating waaaaaay too much food. I get to meet Karma next weekend when we head south for Vero. Yay beach!!

I also wanted to say that snackpants is absolutely amazing and I am so incredibly happy right now!! =)

Sprinkles

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:12:06 GMT

I got into a discussion with my friend Jess about sprinkles today. Very random, I know. I decided I prefer these kind of sprinkles because they crunch and taste like childhood:

Now I want cake...

Pretty :)

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:20:49 GMT

As promised, a photo of the flowers in full bloom:

SOMEONE got offended that he got "no cred" for sending them, so I tell you now that snackpants has wonderful taste in flowers and definitely knows how to make my day. As he put it, "any dumb ass can send roses". =P

Beach!

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:05:06 GMT

Fate has smiled upon me at last! I am skipping out on work and hitting the beach with my roommate. Oh yeah, the boss is coming too and bringing his kids (who coincidently are family to me, so it's going to be awesome!). I am excited to wear my new bathing suit that I bought last year and have only worn once, and I'm super excited to wear my Hawaiian dress that my dad and Mary brought me back from their honeymoon. Super cute and comfy!

Also, take a look at what got delivered to me at work yesterday most unexpectedly:

They have started blooming already (blue - though I maintain they are purple - and white irises) so I will post another picture tonight. They are gorgeous and totally made my day. Possibly even my week!

Beach?

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:14:12 GMT

Yeah... so, my roommate, the school teacher, is on spring break this week and told me last night that I should call in sick today and go to the beach with her and her sister. Being the responsible person I am, I told her that I couldn't go because there is a banner I am working on and it has to be done by tomorrow so it can get printed in time for Friday.

Of course I couldn't get approval from the boss on the banner the first time around, so I have to redo it. Which means I don't get to leave her early to go to the beach with them.

I have much sadness.

Edit: the only thing that could have made it worse was for the boss to get here and decide he hates the whole thing and all the work I've done needs to be redone by someone else. I totally should have called in. I hate my life today.

I can has music?

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:13:16 GMT

My friend Alison at ACS sent me this video. I was cracking up and had to share it! So cute!

I'm a Princess??

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:07:00 GMT

Find Out Which Disney Girl You Are!
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Belle

Dancing furniture, singing spoons, and a man who needs a serious haircut - sound familiar? Well it should! Belle was a very independent spirit with alot on her mind, much like you are! But in life, there is a needed balance - learn when to speak your mind, and when to hold it back. Sometimes offending someone isn't the best way to go!

Belle

79%

Snow White

79%

Violet

71%

Pocahontas

71%

Jane

67%

Megara

63%

Tinkerbell

58%

Cinderella

58%

Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

54%

Alice

54%

Ariel

42%

Mulan

42%

Jasmine

38%

Esmerelda

33%

Lunch

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:13:39 GMT

Note: Chicken Teriyaki from Cheesecake Factory is gooooooooooood.

That is all.

Good news

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:26:01 GMT

Monday morning I went for my annual check-up with my oncologist. He examined my scar, which he said has smoothed out nicely (even though it's still thick and big and kind of not smoothe), poked around my belly, asked if I had seen or felt anything else that felt like a tumor (which I have not) and sent me on my merry way! I have an appointment scheduled for March 23, 2009 and if everything is fine then and there is still no sign of the cancer returning, I am officially released from the care of MD Anderson and only have to see them if anything shows itself. Yay for that bit of goodness! I just need to get this scar looking better in time for summer now so people don't stare at me in my bathing suit like they did last year.

The other good news is that I finally got to see the house I am moving into. It was one of those situations, like moving into an apartment, where you know roughly what parts of it will look like but you never get put in that same unit and invariably something is different. But I tell you what... this house is sooooo awesome! We don't have enough stuff to fill all the space because there is so much of it!

Marc is taking the master bedroom, since he is the guy and shouldn't have to share a bathroom with either of us, and Jen and I each have our own room and we are sharing a bathroom, which has 2 sinks! It thrills us. Then Jen and I each have a hall closet in addition to our regular in-room closets. The pantry in the kitchen is huge, which is in addition to the cabinet space that is plentiful. There is a massive closet in the hallway near the front door and I don't know what we're going to put in there. Then we have a living room, a dining room AND a family room, all with new tile floors. The back porch is also really big and the jacuzzi is out there, the back yard is big (and if you partially climb a fence, which I intend to do, there are fresh oranges for the picking) AND the garage has a million shelves and storage cabinets and an extra fridge. We have storage space and not enough to store in it.

I am so excited and can't wait to have people over!! Jen and I are starting to move our stuff in this weekend, even though our apartment lease is not up until end of May. But I have to get out of there before end of May because of my schedule - first weekend in May I am in England, second weekend I am in Kentucky for Cara's wedding, third weekend is JACON (where Tom said I will be a JAFO and then explained what that means), and last weekend is Florida Supercon. So I have to move out as quickly as possible.

I can be okay with that!

Mary Poppins Trash Can

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:03:08 GMT

Note to self: get in the habit of emptying the office trash can every week. DO NOT wait until the can gets full. It then becomes the Mary Poppins trash can and no good will come of it, like today. That is all.

I lived... sort of.

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:47:56 GMT

I should have seen the signs from the very beginning. Please don't get me wrong, I had a fantastic time with my friends. Everything else made it the worst best weekend ever.

Friday afternoon my flight into Boston was scheduled to depart Orlando at 3:01pm and arrive at 6:00pm, where I was to be retrieved by Casey before his date. Following a 3 hour delay because of a tornado watch in Orlando and horrible storms up north, I arrived in Boston at 9:20pm. TJ, Ethan, Katie and Ali had to pick me up because said date was already in full swing. No problem. I had no place else to be that night. And we had a good night, going to bed around 2am.

Saturday morning we woke up, loaded the rental van (which was incredibly awesome - Toyota Sienna that would have seated 8 comfortably but as we only had 6, it was even awesomer) and headed for Vermont, making a brief stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way to get some breakfast. We arrived at the Hilltop Inn at about 11:30am, got in our room, changed into our ski clothes and made the 40 minute drive to Bolton Valley. We purchased our rentals, had some lunch, got fitted for skis and headed out the door!

Now here is where things start to get bad. I have been skiing once in my life. It was about 5 years ago... in North Carolina. Not exactly well known for it's awesome skiing opportunities. First thing we did was head for the chair lift as soon as all of our skis were on. I've never been on a lift before. Did I mention it's about 32 degrees and raining? The chair comes around, scoops me up and I almost slid right off the thing because of the ice on the seat. So we begin making the 7 minute journey to the top of the mountain. Not just of that one run, but the entire mountain.

For reference, I have included a map of the run we made. The ski lift is the red line. The part I skied is marked in green.

I talked to Casey about the mechanics of dismounting from the lift. We hit the top, I am in position, on my skis, and before I can even make it away from the lift drop off my skis are tangled beneath my feet and I am on the ground (fall #1). The guy had to come out of the lift booth and help me to my feet before I got trampled by some snowboarders.

Once on my feet, I pondered whether or not I was actually going to be able to handle the adventure. Perched atop a short, not too steep incline of hill, I finally braced myself and made it all the way down to my friends. Going a little too fast, but I managed to stay on my feet. I was doing well to this point. The next part of the trail was significantly steeper, so I thought I was ready and went for it. Got going a little too fast, and before I knew it, I ran smack into some tree branches (which did not feel too good) and I was on my stomach, facing down the hill (fall #2). Once I quit sliding, the first thing I noticed was the pain coming my hip. Keep in mind it's the same hip I dislocated in a car accident 2 1/2 years ago. Had you asked me then, I would have told you I dislocated it again. Fortunately this was not actually the case, it was just very painful. After a good long struggle to my feet, and having to retrieve my left ski from some distance behind me, I was up and nervous but started going down again with caution. It didn't take me long to land on my butt again.

Along the course of the green line on the map, I believe I fell 8 or 9 times. Those are represented by orange dots, which are not all accurate as I cannot remember all the places I fell. Fall #2 and the one right after that were the most painful, causing some lasting discomfort in my previously damaged hip and knee. My chiropractor is going to be very upset with me when I visit her again this week. By the end of the green line, I was getting very good at falling and causing myself less and less damage when I did fall. I even had some small victories where I managed to stay on my feet for more than 10 yards.

But then we got to the end of the green line. And it was here, perched atop another steeper slope which grew quite narrow and had nothing but tall, barren trees off to the right that I decided it was time to stop. The potential for causing further damage to my already aching body was too great, so I took off my skis (since I was already sitting down from that last fall anyway) and decided "Screw this, I'm walking". The blue line represents the distance I walked down the mountain in ski boots (which have left bruises on my shins) carrying my skis and poles.

Walking down the mountain was hard. Skiing would have been far more painful. I did manage to have a great time of it, though. Holding my skis firmly in my lap, I went down the steepest parts of the remainder of the slope... on my ass. That's right! I slid down. And it was awesome.

Remember when I mentioned earlier that it was raining? By the time we all finally made it down the mountain (here I have to give incredible amounts of love to my friends who never left me, though I told them to, even as I walked) every one of us was soaked through. There were icicles in my hair and every bit of me was freezing. We drank some beer (alright, THEY drank some beer), dried our clothes as best we could by the fire and then headed back to the hotel to change, have dinner and go to sleep.

The good news? I did not break either of my legs, or anything else. Small victories!!

Sunday morning I told everyone how I made the decision not to ski again that day. They felt bad leaving me in the lodge by myself, but I honestly didn't mind. I watched the skiers, drank some incredibly good hot chocolate, ate french fries, read Nocturnals and part of The Bell Jar (which I finished on the plane this morning) and listened to my iPod. Still an excellent day! I got to see them all coming in, telling me how much nicer it was for skiing conditions now that it was snowing instead of pouring (even though it was only 11 degrees outside) and we all had lunch together. At the end of the day, we packed into the van and drove back to Boston. Sounds great, right?

Omission is so deceptive. What I forgot to mention was that somewhere in the shuffle of packing Sunday morning, I lost my camera. I still have hope the hotel will find it and call Casey, but I am going to begin pricing new cameras tonight so I know how much money I need (that I don't have) to get a new one. And let's not forget that when we stopped at a rest stop on the way back that conveniently had a liquor store attached to it, it was discovered, in the process of carding all 6 of us, that Casey lost his wallet. It's last known sighting was in the bar where we all had lunch, and as it was not discovered there, we hypothesize that it's somewhere up on the slopes, probably close to the place he slammed into and demolished that tree.

It doesn't sound it, but I really did have a great weekend. Made some new friends, had a new experience, and got the hell out of Dodge for a while. If only my whole body didn't hurt, and my knee and hip didn't throb every time I get up, or move. Getting out for a while is a good time re-evaluate your life and realize you don't just think you're unhappy in your present job, you really ARE unhappy. Time to do something about that. But that's a story for another day!

Alright, so the whole thing is much longer than I meant it to be. But it's a good bad story. I promise to keep things shorter next time. And now you know why I haven't posted any pictures from the trip. I am going to have to ask Ethan to send me his. Just be glad I learned how to use lj-cut today or you'd all be sorry!

I imagine this is what a popsicle feels like.

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:42:53 GMT

So, I am leaving this afternoon and flying into Boston (where I have never been) to stay with a couple of friends tonight. Tomorrow morning, 6 of us are packing into a van and driving to Bolton Valley Resort in Vermont (also where I have never been) to go skiing for the weekend. We will drive back to Boston on Sunday night and I will fly back to Orlando on Monday morning. It's a whirlwind trip to say the least.

I looked up the weather report for Boston yesterday so I know what to pack. Here is what it said for the days I will be there:

Friday - high of 48, low of 38. Cloudy with a light wind (10-15mph). 100% chance of rain tonight.
Sunday - high of 36, low of 20 with a 25mph wind. Partly cloudy. (significantly colder than tonight will be)

That wasn't so bad, so I looked up the weather at the ski resort in Vermont:

Saturday - high of 25, low of 17 with a 90% chance of precipitation comprising a "Wintery Mix", which means yuck
Sunday - high of 18, low of 3 with snow showers expected, which means more yuck

So, aside from having an irrational fear that I am going to break my leg skiing, I now fear I am going to freeze my @$$ off! I do imagine it's what a popsicle feels like.

And with the weather report, I am off. There is lunch in my near future, and a 3 hour plane ride. I have Invicible super Volume 3 in my bag (thanks Matt!), as well as the hardback of Nocturnals (thanks Marc!) and my iPod, a novel, my knitting and some snacks. The hardbacks are not light. I'm wearing long sleeves, have a sweater to put on for the plane and am carrying my heavy peacoat. I am ready!

Awww yeah, Titans!

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:25:45 GMT

Went to Macaroni Grill with dad, Bryan, Grandma and Grandpa last night. They give you crayons and let you write on the paper tablecloths. I made my homage to Art and Tiny Titans:

Colorful, no? Get more information here on Art and his "Tiny Titans"!

Just for Fun...

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:01:46 GMT

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

I admit, I was not impressed with this selection until I read WHY he was a lunatic. Now I find myself highly amused:

You are Pope Stephen VII ... or possibly VI!
Made Bishop of Agagni by Pope Formosus, you became Pope yourself in 896 by putting your immediate predecessor, Boniface VI, to death. Your reign lasted all of fourteen months. However, you firmly assured your place in history by putting the rotting corpse of the aforementioned Formosus on trial in the splendidly named Synod Horrenda. Naturally, Formosus was clad in full papal vestments. Having dug up the stinking remains once already, you proceeded to have them found guilty, reburied, re-exhumed, relieved of the three fingers of the right hand used in consecrations and finally thrown into the Tiber. All ordinations performed by the luckless Formosus were annulled. After this delightful display of gratitude, you were promptly strangled, paving the way for an increasingly short-lived series of successors and the reinstatement, dereinstatement and rereinstatement of Formosus' Papal deeds.

Baby Blanket

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:18:38 GMT

So, as I reported earlier, I am in the process of knitting a baby blanket for my friend's nephew, who is due at the end of March. It's going to take me a bit because I've never made a whole blanket before (granted it's only going to end up being about 3' x 3', but that is so not the point). I am going to take it with me on my ski vacation this weekend to work on during the plane and car rides (yes, it is legal to take knitting needles on a plane, which I find to be very random).

But yesterday I got some news that puts a spin on things... the baby is already born! Courtland Joel Ferrell decided to make his entrance into the world 5 weeks early and was born February 23, so I am already 10 days behind on his blanket! Gaaahhh!! Nothing like needing to hurry up and finish something you just started!

Congratulations to mama and baby who are doing very well, and my friend Johanna who is now a first-time aunt.

Some photos of the very sad state of this blanket to follow. I've just moved beyond the edge and onto the body of it, which is starting to shape up nicely, but still needs a LOT of work!

Happy Tuesday!

New Bed

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:57:25 GMT

I got this photo in an email from a couple of my favorite people. They decided this is going to be my new bed. What do you think? I kind of like it.

A new beginning

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:24:11 GMT

A friend suggested I give this whole online identity a try once again. Following the last post of my last journal, in which I announced that my mom passed away, I didn't find anything in my life worth writing about. Nothing was important enough to post following that news.

So here I am again, making an attempt to create an online identity where I can remain anonymous to all but those who know me in life. As part of my informal, self-imposed therapy, I will make an attempt to post -something- at least every couple of days. With any luck, my true self will shine through again as I break down the walls that I have built. Hopefully, I can even be funny once in a while. It's just so much easier to force my sarcasm through when it's spoken and not displayed.

In geek news, my comic education is going extremely well so far. I have liked everything I have read to date. I am particularly fond of "Invincible", working my way through "Fables", adored "Nocturnals" and can't wait for the next installment of "Samurai". I am also making good but slow progress on the baby blanket I am knitting. It's my first one, cut me some slack! Nevermind that Johanna's sister's baby is due within a month. I'm working on it!

I guess that's all for now. A good, solid first entry, methinks. I leave you with this final thought: Balls.

Just kidding! I leave you with THIS final thought as it's a particular favorite of mine:

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly,
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others
you may become vain and bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann. "Desiderata". 1952.