Need to get my Rear in Gear

Why, might you ask? My mother is coming to visit!

This is not a crisis situation... or more truthfully it doesn't have to be. If I clean my apartment, there will be no crisis!

I have 18 days to get it clean! Wish me luck!

I am a Band Geek...

"And this one time... at Band Camp...."

Well, my stories weren't ever like the movies. Band Camp for me was a week of 6 hour rehearsals. I think he most exciting thing that ever happens to me at band camp was when I was pulled off the field because they were afraid I was going to pass out.

This weekend, the price of gas and finances in general caused me to miss my High School Marching Band's Alumni Weekend. I was SERIOUSLY bummed that I couldn't be there.

People asked me why I was so upset. It was just Marching Band. It wasn't ever just band. These kids were my friends, some were my family. We saw each other more than we saw our parents at times. We practiced more than most sports teams (3 hour practices 3 days a week, and all day on Saturday). Our season went longer than most sports teams (July 4th to Halloween). Practice started at 6. If you arrived at 6, you were late. At 6 (weekends it was noon), you were lined up in formation, and silently marching off with your section to start warm up. We took extreme pride in what we did, and it showed.

I went to school before the times that you bubble wrapped your children. We worked hard, and our instructors were more drill instructors than marching instructors. You've all seen them in the movies, the drill instructor that yells in your face after you mess up, and you stand at attention and take it. We had that. But we didn't have one. We had 6. I dropped my equipment and did push ups, not because I was told to, but because I was expected to.

Why this level of perfection? Because we were good. During my three years in band we lost maybe 3 competitions. Total. That pride and excellence stays with a person. That's why 400 aging Bandies showed up to march this past weekend.

I saw film footage of the current band. I actually through they were the Middle School band. Sloppy marching, out of step, bad posture. If that was my day we would have been torn a new one.

But not these days. They won't let the instructors be drill instructors. They have to be nice. You can't hurt anyone's feelings. These kids won't know the feeling of hearing their name being shouted through a blowhorn, followed by explicative and questions about your state of attention. (Yeah... last run through of my last practice... ever... Whole band was stopped because I blew the latter half of opener. Thanks Dan... my mom heard that from the parking lot!)

And as I saw, you don't get the same results when you wrap the kids in bubble wrap.

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding

We tuned into this show last night. It was such a culture of contradictions! A culture where men work, women clean and keep house. Where there is NO pre-marital sex (I think kissing and hand holding or even talking to a boy alone is a no-no). The girls dress like prostitutes and are married at 16 or 17. It's also a culture is is on the brink of being destroyed.

The traveling community no longer travels in the UK. All they want is to live communally in trailer parks (also, since they like to have the restroom be in an out-building, it's easier in a trailer). The British government is evicting the travelers off of land ( they might even own the land, but don't have permits to build, that was unclear).

I hate seeing such a misogynistic society (domestic abuse is rampant). But I hate seeing a culture destroyed.

I need to watch more... And research.

I am so tired of thinking about food.

I have a feeling that today's post is brought to you by the letters P. M. and S.

It was a simple question. What do we want to have for lunch?

I don't know. I don't want to think about it.

It seems like that's all I think about: food. What I want, what I can't have, how many points it is, how many points I have left, how badly I want ice cream.... or a margarita.. or some god damned french fries. I'm just tired of thinking about it.

I hope this mood goes away before the meeting. It might not be pretty.

Houses and Homes

I had time to think while taking the dog out last night (and walking the gauntlet of people to get to where the dog will pee), I had time to think. I don't mind where I live now. It's not a bad place.

But I'd still give anything for a small back yard. A small fenced place for the dog to go potty.

Speaking of homes... my mother s coming to visit mid-June. What does that mean? That means I need to start cleaning! I have just about 20 days.. think I can do it?

A Weekend in the Great Outdoors

Ha! You thought I was going camping! Well, nothing could be further from the truth.

It's a long weekend this weekend, and people all over the country are packing up to camp, or hit a beach, or work in the garden.

I will be cleaning my house. Inside. Anyone that knows me knows that I am the least outdoorsy person. Ever. People who also know me also know that I worked for 11 years at a summer camp. Yes, rather be inside me worked at a summer camp.

Why am I not an outdoorsy person?

Well, for 1 thing, I can get a sunburn in a dark room. Seriously! My brother and I have described our skin tone as printer-paper white. We have also described our skin tone as translucent. Blue veins and all.

Reason number 2? I'm allergic to pretty much everything that grows. My own doctors have told me that if I want to continue to breathe, I need to get an air conditioner and keep the windows shut.

Reason number 3: I hate being dirty. There, I said it. It's not an Emma Pillsbury OCD thing. I just would prefer it. I think I'm the only kid I know that sat on a towel in the sand box, so my legs and butt would stay clean.

In the 11 years that I worked at camp, I think I slept outside once. (I don't consider sleeping on the stage outside.. it has a roof). I've got camping-camping (you know... where you use a tent) once. I think I've been to the beach twice in all the years that I've lived a stone's throw away from the ocean.

I know that I just pissed off all the environmentalists and nature lovers that I know. How can someone not like being in nature? It's easy. Nature doesn't like me!

Instead of hiking the Appalachian Trail, or camping in the mountains, I'll stay home and take a day trip to the park. And if I need to camp... doesn't they rent those pop-up tent campers? or go to the Renaissance Faire. That's outside... right?

I have to pick better shows to watch at 6am.

I got up this morning to work out. Well, I got up after the Spousal Equalization turned on the light and threatened to get the dog to lick my face. (I gained a half pound this week, so I NEED to work out.)

After the aerobics and my shower, I sat down with my coffee and oatmeal to watch Oprah's last show. I'd recorded it yesterday afternoon and hadn't had a chance to watch it. I was a sporadic viewer over the years, but the last show of a 25 year run just begged to be watched.

She said something that just about punched me in the gut. "...Validate them. 'I see you. I hear you. And what you say matters to me.'" I guess I'd always known that there were people out there like me. People that were afraid of being forgotten. People that weren't listened to. People that were pushed aside. (I'm also sure that it didn't help that I was watch it at 6am.)

That simple phrase is, what I believe, leads many people to blog. They want to be heard. They pray that what they say matters to others.

I want to counter that statement with song lyrics... dedicated to my friends and family:

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

And because that's the best way to leave it... I'll leave it there for now.

It's only Wednesday?

There's a funny trick time does when you take a Monday (or a Friday) off of work. Time makes the remaining four days in the work week much longer. I thought it was Thursday for a large portion of today.

I've spent the last few hours waiting for the Postal Service to tell me that the box of important papers arrive at the ex-husband's house. I'm ready for that weight to be off of me.

This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend. I'm going to be at home, cleaning out my closet. In SHOULD be in New York marching with the rest of my High School alums. But thanks to the high price of gas, and high household expenses, I'll be home. It breaks my heart. I've been looking forward to this for almost a decade.

I think my goals for the weekend should be the a fore mentioned closet, and maybe walking the trails at the park (with the Misty-butt in tow). It's cheaper.

But not as fun.

And as an aside.... what's up with the ankle socks and high heeled shoes that we saw on Glee last night?

GleeCap: New York

Well folks, the season finale is here. Get ready to suspend your disbelief.

That was the comment I most saw after the episode. It's not believable. Duh! It's a MUSICAL! Musicals in their very nature require you to not just suspend your disbelief, but suspend it, and hang it from the rafters! I know that they can't do music, lyrics and choreography to a song in a few hours. But it's a musical! *rolls eyes*

Now my highlights... in bullets

• Finnchel. Oh yes, it's back. But this time it's Rachael resisting. I know she's been wish-washy about it... but I really think that Jar of Hearts from the Prom episode was her goodbye to him. I don't know... But I think those two grew up in the last few episodes.
• Kurt and Rachel get points for making me cry. For Good always gets me. Even if they edited the snot out of it.
• Sam and Mercedes. I like!!
• Jesse St. James. To quote Rachel from season 1: "I want him to be eaten by a lion."
• When did Brittany get so smart? You know, I always thought the ditz was just an act. Maybe I was right.
• Santana: Lima Heights Adjacent is now my part of my vocabulary!

They didn't win, but I expected that. I've read in a few places that there will only be three seasons (the kids will graduate at the end of next year). Them losing makes sense. You can't have them win yet, that's saved for next year (I'm placing money on it now!).

The season was rather hit and miss for me, but I did enjoy it. I also wasn't the only one that felt that way. I'm left with recordings on my Tivo, and MP3's to sing along to in the car.

Swimsuits

Seriously, swimsuits are designed to make women feel awful. Unless you are a size 2 with an A cup, nothing really fits right. The bottoms either are skirts (and make me look matronly), or disappear up my rear end. And lets not talk about the pain of a halter top and a size D bust line (I thought that it might saw through my neck!).

All I want is a suit that doesn't highlight my fat, but doesn't make me look like a grandmother either. But after thinking about it, where would I wear it? I'm not a fan of the pool at the apartment complex here. And I've not found a beach here that I like.

Well, that's a lie. I spent a blissful day at the beach, in May of 2009 (I think). It was a private strip of beach in Virginia Beach. But the likelihood of that happening is nil. The participants of that day have scattered to the 4 winds. One doesn't speak to me.

So in the end, I'll most likely not even put on a swimsuit this summer. It's just another thing I don't need and can't afford.

Recipe Round-Up

I am an avid blog reader. Seriously! Bless Google reader too, for without it, I'd never keep up! I stumbled across some recipes that I seriously need to try.

1.) Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. What's not to love with that title? Points? probably a million. And as an added bonus, at the bottom of the blog entry, there's even more yummy desserts. Give me the strength not to try these!

2.) Cheesy Chili Mac. I make something similar using boxed Mac N Cheese and taco meat. I might have to try this sometime this week!

3.) Ice Cream Bread. Yes, you heard me right. The genius of this is its simplicity! I'm itching to try this one, but we all know I need that like I need a hole in the head!

If anyone is interested (and bribes me), I'll post a list of the blogs I follow. Heck, the food blogs outweigh the others almost 2 to 1!

And if you try these, let me know!

Monday.....

Well, let's start a little earlier than that....

Friday I learned an important lesson. COMMUNICATE! The Spousal Equivalent posted something on FaceBook that bothered me. Instead of texting him and asking him to call me during lunch, I let it stew. He had to work 3 1/2 extra hours, and had a tire blow out on the way home (this is a reoccurring theme with him). By the time he got home, I had literally worried myself sick. Worry not, everything is fine.

Saturday was low key. We went to a party, and got home about midnight. I went to get a glass of milk when we got home (about 1am-ish... this is important later), and realized that it was bad. It had expired a week before. Yes, this is the same milk I've been making my oatmeal with. No wonder my tummy's been off!

Anyways, I took Benedryl and went to bed (without my milk and cookie). My eyes were starting to swell shut. It was awful.

Sunday morning, I was up with the sun and headed to church. I was seriously doped up on allergy meds in an attempt to keep myself of itching my eyes out. Service was good. We sang. don't remember much.

Now it's Monday. I took the day off to wait for the Verizon guy to install my cable and internet. The guy was here and gone by noon, so I decided to hit the post office and grocery store. On my way out, I got the mail. There it was. A letter from a collection agency asking for the same $100 that's been paid (three times in fact, they kept losing the check). This time they were threatening legal action.

I started at the Post Office. The ex-husband now has all of his important papers heading his way. Then I went to the store, came back with lunch, and chocolate (in hindsight, I should have bought wine). I made lunch, took a breath and called the collection agency. Their bad. I wished I could have slapped them.

Now I'm washing clothes, and waiting to start dinner.

I'm also trying not to itch my eyes. At least it's only my eyes. At the party on Saturday it was my eyes, the insides of my ears, the back on my throat (the inside part), and the inside of my lungs. After living with this pain for months all I can say is... bring on the torture. It's GOT to be easier than this!

My kingdom for a HEPA filter!

Avoidence

I am a terrible avoider. I avoid people that I've had issues with. I avoid situations that make me uncomfortable. I avoid the news. I especially avoid the news after some sort of catastrophic event (they play it over, and over, and over). I avoid parts of television shows that make me uncomfortable (many comedies do that... you know.. that feeling that it's all going to end badly and someone will be humiliated? I hate that.).

I also try to avoid events when I simply have too much to do in a given period of time.

This weekend is the perfect example. It's non-stop back to back things until Sunday afternoon. What am I contemplating on doing? Well, hiding under the bed is looking really good right now (the thought of going places this weekend makes my stomach turn. It's not pretty!).

But what will that leave me with? I'll hear stories of the fun that I missed, and regret it.

And now to eat lunch while I avoid knocking the last two things off of today's to-do list.

A recipe!!!

It may sound weird, but I LOVE this recipe. Serve it with some nice bread for dipping... yum!

Pumpkin Curry Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 cup (1 small) chopped onion
• 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk

Directions

1. MELT butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes or until tender. Stir in curry powder, salt and pepper; cook for 1 minute.

2. ADD broth and pumpkin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in evaporated milk. Transfer mixture to food processor or blender (in batches, if necessary); cover. Blend until smooth. Serve warm.

Nutritional Information

• Serving Size: 1/6 servings (1 cup each) of recipe
• Calories 160
• Calories from Fat 80
• Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 4

• Total Fat 9g
• Saturated Fat 6g
• Cholesterol 15mg
• Sodium 630mg
• Carbohydrates 11g
• Dietary Fiber 3g
• Sugars 5g
• Protein 5g

Diet Embarrassment

How many people are actually embarrassed to admit that their are on a diet? I thought I was, until people showed how supportive they are.

I lost my first five pounds on this Weight Watchers Adventure. 24 "likes and 17 comments later, I feel so loved.

Another case in point: The Spousal Equivalent and I went to dinner with some lovely, THIN ladies. When I whipped out my little book to check my points, and look up what I was having, they didn't bat an eye.

Made me feel like less of a freak.

GleeCap: Funeral

This week's episode was... odd. I didn't love it.. and I didn't hate it.

It starts with Sue becoming detached from reality. This was bad, even for Sue! Why? Come to find out her sister had died. (I TOTALLY called it!)

and as for Sue, let me quote the LA Times.

Which brings me to the episode's main problem: Sue's character is getting increasingly hard to get a hold on. One minute she's remorselessly slamming kids into lockers and severely injuring a rival music director by repeatedly throwing him down the stairs, and the next she's willing to stand up and publicly pronounce the pure power of her love for her sister. (Well, OK, she was too overwhelmed with sadness to deliver her eulogy, so her arch-nemesis/good pal Mr. Schu stepped in to read it for her.)

Honestly, I am totally willing to suspend disbelief on a show like "Glee." I'm not sitting around snorting about how unrealistic it is to see strangers in Ohio malls spontaneously breaking into a synchronized dance or anything. (But I did find myself wondering why the glee kids were planning her sister's funeral. The show's rationale -– that Jean was a lifelong outsider just like them –- did not ring true.) But I think it's fair to expect some consistency from the characters. And consistent inconsistency of Sue's character is wearing thin. Part of the problem is that our sense of her fails to advance, wandering endlessly between pure evil and pure love for her sister. Maybe, now that Jean is dead (not that I'm happy about that), Sue's character will be able to move forward somehow.

Next is Jesse St. James, taking over for Sue in the Irritating Ass department. The kids sing solos, and he Simon Cowells them... even if those solos were fantastic!

I loved that Kurt and Finn went to reach out to Sue. It was here that we started seeing the pain behind the prickly exterior. Their funeral was touching (I adore that song), and had me all misty. It was nice to see Sue have some humanity. I wonder how long it will last?

And kudos for Finn on growing a pair! You can tell that Quinn is basing the worth of her life on high school status (dating the quarterback, being prom queen). I wonder if she even care for Finn. Finn is looking beyond that. He clearly doesn't care about being prom king! He just wants to be happy. Unfortunately Rachael makes him happy. But Jesse (who is so self centered that it makes Rachael look like a saint) is in the way.

Next week will be VERY interesting.

Supreme Technological Annoyance!

Yesterday I noticed that we still weren't getting all of the tv channels that we've been getting for close to three years, so I called Cox Cable. They told me I was mistaken! I shouldn't have EVER gotten any channel above 15! I was only paying for the basicbasicbasic package. But they can upgrade me for a large sum of money....

So I ask... how much total? because the website said it would be $85 a month!

$112... I get no discounts because I'm already a customer.

Well fuck that!! While I was on the phone with the woman, I went to Verizon Fios (my apartment is already hooked up for it.). $70 to start and capping out at $92. After I cancel the current cable and Tivo (the deal comes with a DVR), I'm only paying $30 extra a month.

SOLD!

But that got me thinking. If we had a decent computer and a fancy LCD tv we could probably keep what we have, and stream the other channels through a computer.

Maybe someday.

My Summer Begins Today

...not summer vacation, but it's the college quiet period. I took yesterday off, so I could deliver a HUGE box of books, and relax. This ended up being a good thing. My allergies went crazy, and I was forced to take Benedryl.

I'm curious to see what the scale will read tomorrow. I've been eating well, and getting exercise, but because we've been so busy we've been eating out.

I think that since work is slow, I'm going to spend some time planning out a few week's worth of meals. Buying stuff on a weakly basis is good, but at times I'm just not hungry for the things in the house! I'm also going to take a hard look at what we're buying, and seeing if I can find healthier, more organic-y options.

We also need to find other people to eat the millions of cookies that we brought home!

And now, I'm off to move desks, and run things across campus!

Religious Ponderings.

I spent my youth going to a Presbyterian Church. My father's family is very catholic. I don't know if I've written about my previous issues with religion.. but there they are, chronologically, and in brief.

• When I was 7, I was in my aunt's very catholic wedding. I didn't realize that there were different religions (I thought you went to the church that was closest, like school). When communion was served to the wedding party, I covered my mouth and loudly told the priest "My mommy says I can't have a cookie." The priest laughed.
• One Sunday morning, I didn't want to go to church. Mom said we need to go, so God can hear me pray. When I pointed out that according to that logic, praying before bed is pointless... she didn't have much to say.
• After talking with the Grandmother, I found out that my birthday is the day of immaculate conception. Jesus's? No Mary's. I looked for HOURS in the bible to find out where it was written, and was upset that it wasn't there.
• The last time my brother and I were ever required to go to church, there was a call and response thing the congregation did. Our line was "Halleluiah, Amen." Oh, we said it. Hands in the air, Revival style.
  

My brother and I have always loved religion. No, we weren't religious people. We loved the anthropological and sociological aspect of it. It's fascinating to figure out what people believe, and what they do.

I'm fascinated with Catholicism. Not that I'd convert (I don't agree with much of their views or theology), but I LOVE the accessories!! (and I'm fascinated by nuns. I'm waiting for Oprah to re-run that show)

I know it's wrong. And it's not meant to be disrespectful. But I have a rosary... and I'll meditate and run the beads through my fingers. And don't get me started about saint medals.

It's almost over

The school year, that is. Commencement is on Sunday, and this place is just wigging out about it. We've spent months shopping, compiling lists of graduates, booking spaces, making sure we have punch and cookies, cups and napkins. I've spent hours chasing down honors students for their papers, collecting money for honor cords, answering stupid questions and printing out very cool looking certificates for the graduate students (Their diplomas arrive by mail over the summer).

On top of this, I have a few birthday parties and just had a baby shower.

I'm helping hundreds of people prepare for their special day.

And when I get done with this, I start planning the Spousal Equivalent's birthday (not because I have to, but because I want to).

When is my special day?

Friendships

Maybe it's because the office is quiet.... maybe because it's the time of the month.... maybe because I'm on allergy meds (those will mess with you!)....

I'm thinking over friendships past... and mourning the loss of them.

We all have friends that come and go out of our lives. I've had more than my fair share. Friends move away, priorities change, some use you up and spit you out. (Seriously, it's happened enough that I wonder if I have "sucker" tattooed on my forehead)

I am finding that I am really missing the old times, times of promise when things were fresh and new. Times before things became distant and ugly. Times that you can never get back.

I regret what I let people do to me. I miss what I had.

My Love of Reality Television

I know, it's my guilty pleasure. I started with The Real World, then Survivor.

Lately, my interests have turned to reality shows that require talent. It started with American Idol, then So You Think You Can Dance and America's Got Talent.

My favorite part? The AWFUL audition shows.

I'm ashamed!

But you'll find me Tivo-ing it all summer!

Now, off to buy popcorn!

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good

I managed to lose weight two weeks in a row. It's slow, but steady...

I was actually surprised to hear that I lost weight! After eating out, and the shower, and the medically necessary chocolate and ice cream.....

The Bad

There is pollen! My eyes are swollen, the inside of my head is itchy (did you know the insides of your ears and sinus cavity can itch? It's torture), and my nose is running.

And I'm out of the non-coma-inducing meds.

And.... The Ugly

Last summer So You Think You Can Dance featured a piece choreographed by Stacy Tookey, danced to Christina Perri's Jar of Hearts. Haven't heard the song. Go watch it. I'll wait.

The song punches me in the gut every time I listen to it. I've dated the serial dater, that used people up then moved on to new ones. It broke me.

I wonder how many others lived through that... I wonder how many other victims my serial dater had.

Someday....

It's getting warmer, which turns my thoughts to vacation in the future. Well, in this case, in the very far future.

I know people that like to camp. I'm really not a fan. I've been once. But I'm not a fan of sleeping that close to the ground. And yes, I worked at a summer camp. For 11 years. And I'm not a camping fan. But I like the idea of camping. (Yes, I'm a wus. I know. I've accepted this) I seriously would love one of these someday. All the living in the wilderness, none of the sleeping on the ground.

Maybe I was inspired by the house that I pass every day. My little cabin in the woods.

GleeCap: Prom Queen

The episode left me.... conflicted. Parts were good, and parts were forced.

and as always, my review... in bullets (its the OCD in me)

• Bravo Blaine and Burt for calling Kurt out of his over the top fashion. I mean, be yourself... but when you wear a camo print shirt with a matching bow tie... Though, I was a fan of the kilt. But I love kilts.
• I love how even Finn was tired of the Prom Queen campaign. I mean.. aren't we sick of it too?
• Is Jesse St. James really that dumb?? And honestly, there were many times where I wanted to slap him!
• And Finn.... honey, you can't date Quinn but still make eyes at Rachael. Seriously. And starting a fight? Not looking good for Quinn
• And Quinn? Whatever happened last week, Rachael was behaving herself. She's not to blame for you losing Prom Queen. And it's just High School. It's not the end of the world.
• I never thought I'd say this, but Bravo Karofsky. His tearful apology! It was wonderful!! But then he was a dick at prom.
  
• And Kurt.. the Prom Queen. I get the running out, but I applaud how he owned it after. Good for you, turning a joke into a triumph. And dancing with Blaine... wonderful.
• Jar of Hearts is a favorite of mine. Does this mean that Rachael is FINALLY letting go of Finn? We can only hope. We can also hope that Finn lets go of her.

That's all for now. I may have to watch it again....

My College Expierence...

I didn't go to PCU, but sometimes I think it did.


Sometimes Politically Correct is taken a tad too far. Especially on my campus. We weren't Freshmen... we were First Years. You saw the word "women" spelled "wombyn" from time to time... things like that.

Now... let me tell you why I say we're like PCU

• We all know Take Back the Night. The matches were always small..... because the advertising was nil.
  
• There was this art instillation... people designed t-shirts with an anti-domestic violence message and hung them on the line. Since they didn't advertise, or explain it... people assumed it was wash...
• I was told that the year after I left the students of color had a silent protest... and refused to tell anyone what it was about...
• and my favorite: I see a crowd in front of the building that houses the President's Office. After reading signs I realize that the protest is about 4 or 5 different issues. And spray painted on the Quad. In 20 foot letters

DO NOT GO
QUIETLY
UNTO THE
NIGT

*headdesk* Spellcheck before you spraypaint.

There were pictures. I'd kill to find one!

*blinks* I have to do all of this in 2 weeks???

I just looked at the calendar and almost fell over.
Today: Meeting at church
Tomorrow: Weight Watchers Meeting
Thursday: Choir Practice
Sunday: Commencement (I work at a college, kinda have to be there)
Next Wednesday: Weight Watchers
Next Thursday: Choir
Next Friday: Birthday party
Next Saturday: Another Party
Next Sunday: Singing at church, then a church meeting.

I'll then promptly keel over and die! Well, not quite. But I need extra weekends to recover from my weekends!

I'm completely stealing this....

from here. But I wanted to share

By Kristine Solomon

TODAY.com contributor

Everybody loves a good DIY project. We love this one for its dual benefits: A squeaky-clean house and a break for your wallet (it's virtually free!).

The truth is, you can tidy up your home using all-natural, nontoxic ingredients you already own (or should). Face it: If they were good enough for your great-grandmother, they’re good enough for you!

1. Vinegar
Save the balsamic variety for your salads, but use distilled white vinegar to clean (and deodorize, believe it or not!) a slew of household surfaces, from sinks to floors.

• Clean windows and mirrors: Pour one cup of vinegar into a gallon of water. For a streak-free finish, use a squeegee to wash and a microfiber cloth or piece of newspaper to dry.
• Deodorize drains and garbage disposals: Pour a cup of baking soda (see more uses below) followed by a cup of heated vinegar down the drain, then flush with hot water.
• Dissolve lime scale deposits: Get rid of this hard water and mineral buildup by scrubbing away with vinegar. For coffee pots, run a cycle of water and vinegar only. For empty dishwashers, run a cycle with vinegar instead of detergent.

2. Baking soda

Deodorizing is one of baking soda’s strong suits (which is why you keep an open box in your fridge). But its granular properties also make it great for scrubbing.

• Deodorize trash cans: Stick your smelly trash can in the shower and fill it with water. Then toss in a cup of baking soda and let it soak for a few hours to overnight. Rinse it thoroughly before reusing it.
• Clean and deodorize carpets: Sprinkle baking soda on carpets, let it sit, then vacuum it up.
• Clean cookware: To finally get rid of burnt food and stains in your cookware, sprinkle the vessel with baking soda and add a few cups of water. Bring the solution to a boil, let it cool, then scrub stains away.

3. Lemons
There’s nothing like a lemony-fresh smell, but that’s not all this sassy citrus has to offer. Lemons fight mildew, cut straight through grease and leave a streak-free shine.

• Remove mildew from bathroom surfaces
• Clean the inside of your microwave
• Clean wooden cutting boards and butcher block countertops

4. Borax
This all-natural ingredient acquired the nickname “the miracle mineral” thanks to its myriad uses. Borax is a peerless disinfectant, pesticide and mold fighter, to name a few.

• Clean outdoor furniture: Cut grime and rust from patio furniture by filling a spray bottle with one teaspoon dish detergent, a quart of water and a teaspoon of non-abrasive Borax.
• Get pots and pans spick-and-span: Baked-on grease is no match for borax. Add a teaspoon of the mineral to a quart of warm water and get that cabinet full of cookware spotless.
• Keep critters away: Sprinkle borax on the floor along the wall to ward off spring pests, like ants and mice. (Skip this if you have small children or animals. Borax is natural, but can still be harmful if ingested.)

5. Hydrogen peroxide
The same properties that make this solution great for cleaning cuts and scrapes also make it fantastic at disinfecting your home. Just make sure it’s 3 percent; if it’s higher, dilute it with water.

• Sanitize kitchen surfaces: The kitchen sink is one of the dirtiest places in the home — so your countertops and stovetop can’t be far behind. Scrub them all down with odorless peroxide (but skip delicate marble).
• Disinfect anything: Soak sink brushes, toilet brushes, loofahs and litter boxes in hydrogen peroxide, or scrub away icky bacteria living inside your fridge.
• Remove mildew from hard surfaces: Fill a dark, opaque bottle with peroxide and spray directly on the surface affected by mildew. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse.

Story: 9 tips for a healthier bedroom

6. Olive oil
It’s supertasty and great for your skin — but did you know olive oil is also helpful around the house?

• Polish furniture: Forget Pledge! Mix together a cup of olive oil with a cup of lemon juice, than use a lint-free microfiber cloth to buff wood surfaces.
• Clean stainless steel appliances: Pour a teaspoon of olive oil onto a cloth and rub your stainless steel to shiny perfection.
• Give houseplants a boost: Already spritzing your houseplants with water? Go a step further by dabbing healthy olive oil on their leaves.

7. Salt
Just like in your diet, regular table salt can be a pick-me-up for your spring cleaning routine, when used in moderation.

• Shine metal fixtures: Clean metal faucets and sinks with a mixture of equal parts salt, white flour and vinegar. Scrub away tarnish with a half lemon sprinkled with salt.
• Remove rust: Start with one teaspoon lemon juice and add salt to create a paste that you can use to tackle rust stains on hard surfaces.
• Clean vase buildup: You know that gunk that sticks to the inside of your vases and won’t let go? Make a paste using 1/3 cup of salt with two tablespoons of vinegar, rub it inside the vase, let it stand for a few minutes, then scrub it away.

8. Rubbing alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol (a.k.a. the stuff in your medicine cabinet) is an all-natural antibacterial. Sure, it smells pretty pungent, but it’s great for tackling your germs and stains.

• Clean your telephones: Whether it’s your landline or your cellphone, you press it against your face daily and it builds up grease and germs. Swipe it with alcohol to clean and disinfect.
• Remove ink stains: You may have heard about using hair spray to remove ink stains. That’s because it contains alcohol, so go straight to the source.
• Make chrome and steel fixtures shine: Swab your faucets and fixtures with rubbing alcohol and let it evaporate to a streak-free shine.

• Banish mildew smell: Fill a spray bottle with two teaspoons of tea tree oil and two cups of water. Spritz the affected areas and don’t rinse. Then say goodbye to that musty odor.
• Disinfect laundry: For heavy-duty cleaning, add a teaspoon of tea tree oil per load of laundry.
• Use it as an all-purpose cleaner: For seasonal cleaning, when you want to make sure everything is germ-free, use a solution of two teaspoons tea tree oil and two cups of water in a spray bottle.

10. Castile soap
Here’s something you may not have in your pantry, but you should. Liquid castile soap is a plant-based all-purpose cleanser. You can use it for personal hygiene too, but here are some great household uses.

• Clean marble countertops: Many all-natural cleaners, like vinegar and peroxide, are too corrosive for marble. But one teaspoon of castile soap and one quart of warm water will do the trick.
• Gentle floor cleaner: For everyday mopping, mix a few tablespoons of castile soap into a bucket of about a quart of warm water.
• Clean leather furniture: Use a teaspoon of castile soap, a quart of warm water and a soft sponge to refresh leather upholstery without damaging it. (Tip: Don’t use this solution on untreated leather or suede.)

Reviews!!

I have 2 today. One of a service, and one of last week's Glee.

#1: Weight Watchers

I've been following the program for a few weeks now, and I've realized something: it costs a lot more than I thought. First, you must realize that the website is completely worthless. Now, I'm not talking about the mythical eTools (an extra $12 a month if you don't get on a program where it's included). I'm talking about WeightWatchers.com. If you don't use the website, there's a pile of books and gadgets that you should buy.

I'm paid up for the next 10 weeks. After that we'll see if I can afford to continue.

#2: GleeCap: Rumours

The episode was interesting. Santana is still in the closet. I think most everyone knows, but she thinks she's hiding it. Sam is living in a motel (believable enough situation). Quinn is being demanding. Finn's being dense. And Rachael is... Rachael. It's funny, if you didn't know the background, most of her antics might be passed off as a misunderstanding. But it's Rachael. The character isn't growing. She just keeps defaulting back to the AMAZINGLY self centered place that she came from.

Tuesday should prove very interesting!

Spring feels lie it really started this weekend (brought to you with 300% more hyperlinks)

This weekend, I was a really bad UU. Instead of going to church to partake in the Flower Communion and Child Dedication, we went to the movies to see Thor. Honestly, I was children-ed out. After the mess that was the baby shower, it was best for all involved that I stay home.

Groceries were bought, clothes washed, relaxing was done. It was a pretty good weekend.

This week is just insanely busy, but I need to find time to undo the damage of six loads of laundry. I need to grow up and put my clothes away!

Also check out the Spousal Equivalent's blog! He's got that one, and many others. My man loves to review movies. And trust me... he watches an eclectic mix of movies!

Mother's Day

This weekend has been brought to us by the letters P. M. D. D. (Gotta love getting to the end of the pill pack).

Yesterday was my best friend's baby shower. Yes, a baby shower.

Now, let me explain: Babies and little kids freak me out. I went to my friend's daughter's first birthday last summer. Cue the panic attack! There were kids everywhere. I sucked it up, and had cake before making a less than graceful exit. I had a similar attack before the shower. In the middle of Wal Mart.

So now it's mother's day. All over the country are waking up to breakfast in bed, flowers, and candy. They all feel special. That's something I'll never feel. I'll never feel special.

And it only hurts on days like these.

Craigslist

I browse Craigslist periodically to look for new places to rent. Not that we can move, pet fees are prohibitive.

But I found an ad today. I've seen it before. Actually, I've seen it quite a few times before.

Why does it catch my eye? it's got a YARD!!!

The problem.... it's a trailer in a trailer park. It's got a yard.. a yard that's on top of everyone else's.

An Interesting Turn of Events

Today is my Weight Watchers Meeting. Last week I didn't lose anything. Who knows about this week.

But I have had an interesting side effect. My bras are all too big. Like, they ride up on me because the band around my chest is too big. I'm currently wearing a bra that was always incredibly small on me. So either my chest lost weight... or all of my bras stretched...

The importance of the weight loss also hit home today. If my blood pressure doesn't go down (and losing weight will help with that).... I lose my birth control.

*sigh* Back to the diet....

Pain.. part deux...

I wrote before that I'd been having an earache, but was reluctant to spend money on a doctor.

I sat down and through about it. When was it hurting? Well, not on weekends, or in the morning. Maybe it was the TMJ problems.

Turns out that's what it was.

My TMJ is odd, much like the rest of me. I don't grind my teeth, not even in my sleep. In fact, when I'm clenching my jaw, my teeth don't touch (much to the amazement of many dentists). It's hard to believe, since grinding one's teeth is a key symptom. But I don't. According to all that sleep in the same room, I spend most nights with my mouth open and snoring.

So I went to the chiropractor. She got my head back on straight. I'm to make sure I recline on the couch for a few hours, with my head supported. So my neck can relax.

Best. Prescription. Ever.

And my ear has stopped hurting.

Often quoted misquotes

The following quote made its way around Facebook and twitter yesterday:

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

It turned out not to be attributed to martin Luther King Jr., as it was reported to be. The correct quote from Dr. King is this one:

"For through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can't murder murder. (Yes) Through violence you may murder a liar, but you can't establish truth. (That's right) Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can't murder hate through violence. (All right, That’s right) Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that." -MLK (August 1969)

I just saw a Facebook update from a friend that I believe addresses these quotes. The person stated that according to the Facebook/Twitter/Blog-o-sphere if we asked nicely, Bin Laden would have stopped being a terrorist. It's an interesting reaction to both the events of Sunday night, and the reactions from everyone.

Now we all know that the above quotes (especially the first one) are a very hearts and flowers idealized view of the world. The world we live in today is dark, scary and full of mistrust and conspiracy. The words of Dr. King and the anonymous quotesmith hint at the world that many people would rather live in. A safer, less scary world.

Many people were left conflicted by the death of Osama Bin Laden. The death was necessary. But many believe, myself included, that the celebration wasn't necessary. Be relieved and grateful (and a little happy) that it's over. Mourn those you have lost. And move on. The partying in the streets seems a bit much to me.