It's always hard to be reminded that people you meet in the virtual world are not always who or what they say they are. I once worked on a radio show with a man who felt that the survivors and thrivers in a virtual age would be those that can compartmentalize and manage multiple personalities. He may be right, he may be crazy. But who wants to admit that they're a 40 year old steel worker from Detroit weighing around 290 pounds when they could be a 28 year old just out of the service Navy S.E.A.L.? Luckily, there are places you can check out claims, like the SEALS wall of Shame. Or when your online sources fail, you can just pick up the phone and do it the way we did in the old days of insurance investigation. Call, ask questions and move onto the next lead until you get enough information to have a definite answer. When stories don't jive or start ringing alarm bells, check them out. The truth may be hard to swallow, but honesty and integrity are important especially in this cyber age where sheeple believe everything they read and take it on face value. Just remember the 22 year old blonde in the Porsche from California is probably a 45 year old laid off auto mechanic from Pittsburgh.
Wouldn't you think something is funny if the day of a car accident, one of the people reports that they have whiplash (which usually doesn't show up for a day or two) and the 82 and 90 year old passengers of the other vehicle (the driver was in her 20's) report that they're fine and the lady claiming to be hurt is a big, fat, liar out to get money?
So before Christmas all the boys wanted was a PS2. the only thing they could talk about was playing new video games, like Spyro and Kingdom Hearts. So I went out on a limb. Spent more than I should, put it on credit (although it is interest free for 18 months :) ) and bought the stupid thing. Do you think that they've touched it, NO! They have played GI Joe's and Legos for 2 days. They haven't even asked Dad or me to hook it up for them. If I hadn't promised myself stitching time on Dragon Ride this weekend, I would hook it up and play Tetris for me. I guess I should be grateful that they aren't video heads? I guess I'm just feeling really guilty about spending the money.
I'm done with shopping for all but one present. I need to wrap and I'm not holding my breath that the priority mail packages scheduled to arrive on the 24th of December will actually make it. (I'll just print the Amazon.com mailing status on pretty paper and stick it in an envelope under the tree.) I've spent more money this year than in years past. I think it's all the last minute shopping. I'm one of those disgusting people that do all their Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving and stash it all over the house. This year, due to technical difficulties, I didn't do any pre-holiday sale shopping. Now I have 2 new credit cards to pay off. But I was a sucker for 18 months interest free on something that I was going to pay cash for now. I was just going to bank the cash but I ended up spending it on other gifts. So now I've spent the cash and have 2 new payments as well. To diverge from my lack of self-control, I would like to congratulate my kids music teachers for their creative run around of the "no Christian or Jewish or religious music of any kind during the holidays" music ban. The elementary school program listed - excerpt from Bach Cantata, excerpt from Handel's Symphony, excerpt from Tchaichovsky Ballet, excerpt from Berlioz operetta - all traditional Christmas songs. The high school on the other hand just ignored the ban and played what they wanted, including ending with the Hallelujah chorus from Handel. The orchestra leader's reasoning - if they were in professional groups, this is what they would be playing in concerts because this is what people buy tickets to hear. So whatever holiday you're celebrating this year.... I do hope you enjoy it.
1. On Wednesday when you have plenty of time, think to yourself, “I can just do rice krispie treats on Thursday. Conveniently forget that Thursday is the day you work late.
2. On Thursday, arrive home just in time for your spouse to announce that you have a family party tonight and you have 20 minutes to drive across the valley to get there.
3. Arrive home from said party at 9:30 and have a child announce that they have a major project due in the morning and they haven’t started it. Work with them on said project.
4. Forget to set the alarm.
5. Wake up when your teenager comes into the room to ask whose taking her to school. She needs to leave in 5 minutes.
6. Go to Albertson’s since it’s right near the school.
7. Get the party tray of brownie bites, colored plastic wrap and bows.
8. Have the lady in front of you tell you how she’s passing out candy bars for her candy exchange at work.
9. Take the brownie bites, plastic wrap and bows back (after all no one really wants food that you’ve handled).
10. Discover that the lady in line had taken all of the holiday candy bars.
11. Notice that they have some Lindor Truffle Holiday packs.
12. Get those.
13. Type the recipe onto pretty paper.
Now you know the secret of my cooking success. Thank goodness I married a man who can cook.
The one store that I have shopped at consistently for years has been Christopher and Banks. I got the sheaths for under business suits there, sweaters, skirts, and pants. I know that my wardrobe seriously needs updating so I went to C&B today and the only thing I could think as I looked around is "I'm not old enough to be wearing my mother's leisure clothes." I don't know if it has to do with fashion being cyclical but all the clothes on display reminded me of things my mother wore when I was in junior high. I can't wear those. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror without thinking about being my mom. We look enough alike as it is. I have elderly relatives who still think that I'm her. Some of the ones drifting into dementia will ask how I'm doing as if they were asking it of my mother. I does give you a chance to see what people really think of you though. :roll: So what am I going to do for clothes now. I need professional clothes, not law office but professional. Buttondown blouses do not look good on a DD bust so I'm stuck with sweaters, pullovers and sheaths. Any suggestions for where to shop?
I had some fun over the weekend but I just don't feel like writing about it. I got a HUGE Christmas bonus, I got a definition of my job (at last): anything the boss asks you to do as long as it's legal and ethical. I went to the Messiah Sing-in with DD. I took the kids to finish their Christmas shopping. I got the house decorated for Christmas
I feel like I had an unproductive weekend which is strange considering that I finished 3 projects (Binding the first Harry Potter quilt, my JNIRR bell pull, and the red and copper ornament for my sister). I even made a mini-Thanksgiving dinner, got all the Christmas shopping for DS#2 finished so I just have DD left (which will have to wait until next paycheck), and pajama’s for DS#1.
I got a good nap, had a long talk with a good friend and went out with DH. Maybe it’s because I didn’t get any of the Christmas decorating done or any cleaning. But I did get some of the decorating done; I helped the boys make gingerbread houses. And decided that we weren’t going to get a real tree because we can’t find a good tree stand (they’re all plastic) and I’ll just get a wreath from Depot for the scent.
Something triggered an old college memory today. It had to do with the way my two best friends and I introduced ourselves to people. This is Jamie Sue, she's a rebel without a cause or clue. This is Lisa, she imagines herself a real wit but she's only half right. Stasha, well let's just say that Stasha is a legend in her own mind.
Because this is what I received from my child.... Oh, you're gonna hate me for this one.
100 Questions. Please fill it out too and send it back!!! Okay, you all know the routine...copy (not forward) this email and paste it onto a new email that you will send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you, then send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little facts about your friends.
1. Full name: Sadina Saphrite 2. (the question we all hate)Nicknames: Katomi, Kamari, Arodin Shadowood, Sadina Saphrite, Sadie, Sabrina, Aragorn, Kethend Drayon, Liona, Thatz, Caramon, Tika, Tasslehoff, Ellywick Rajin Sadina Turen Waywocket Sneaktrick, Kyratz, Demi-Goddess of Random Thoughts and Quotes, Ixy, Hey You, Vathis, Monkey, and about ninety others. 3. Eyes: Green or Hazel. They change. 4. Height: 5'1", though Emma insists that I'm 4'11".
5. Hair: Brown, (or blue, or blond, or red...)
6. Siblings: Boy and Child. Or Sauron and Ringwraith #2. Or Stupid and You. Or Boy and James. Or Boy and Jimbo-Jones-Bum. 7. Do u sing in the shower? Doesn't everybody? 8. Do u like to sing? To the radio, and in church. When nobody can hear me. Unless it's to the radio. Then I just don't care. 9. Birthday: 6-18-1364 10. Sign: Gemini 11.Address: Dungeon Cell #6, Minas Morgul, Mordor 12. Sex: female 13. Righty or Lefty: Righty, though Elly is an Ambidextery 14. What do you want in a relationship most? Cheese, Fish, and Sushi. 15. Have you ever cheated on a test? Define Cheat.
16. Lied about being in love? Believe me, If I'm head over heels for a guy, you can tell, and there's no hiding it. *shiver* Bakura...
17. What's your best quality? kdxkj,icfftgjfgclkdsj9890 eodkfud9ewuj to the fourth power. 18. What's the worst thing you hate the most? SOMEONE *suspicious look* eating my puffskins. *shifty eyes* 19. Movie(s):LotR(all), PotC, X2, C'mon, you people all know what I like!
20.Band(s): ...Whoever they're playing on the radio. And Tori Amos. And Billy Joel. 21. Book: Drizzt books, Paks books, Dragonlance books, Manga, Yeah, you know the drill. 22.TV Show: Red Dwarf, BooYa! Go Lister!
23. Actor: Viggo, Orly, Lex Lang(does that count?) 24. Actress: Whoopi Goldberg. 25. Radio Station: Star 102.7 and Kbul 93.3 26. Number: 7. I've alway's loved the number seven.
27.Cartoons: X-men, and nearly every anime I've seen. 28. favorite foods: Steak and Cookie dough. But not together. 29.color: Purple!!! 30. Do you plan on having kids: Yeah...More people to corrupt... 31. if so how many?: two sets of twins. Don't ask how that'll work out. 32. Favorite names for your kids? Doug. J/K, dunno, but it's gonna be something original. 33. How old do you wanna be when you are married? 22.3 34. Would you have kids before marriage? FishNugget, No!!! 35. Do u have a b/f or g/f: Boney fish or Gluttonous fish? What an odd question.
36. Do you like someone: ...I might...*shivertwitch* Kurt...
37. If So who?: It would take all day to list. 38. Guys/Girls: The number two special with a side of eggs. (what the crapanoli does that question mean?)
39. Music/Tv: Computer. 40. Pink/Purple: Lavender. 41. Summer/Winter: Summer, turn up the HEAT!!! 42. Night/Day: Dawn. 43. Hangin' Out/Chillin': Hyperventalatin' 44. Dopey/Funny: Stoned. ^_^; 45. You know I'm around when you hear: OWW!!!WHAT THE FRIGGIN' *insert bright, colorful, words* HAPPENED THERE?!?!?! OH!!!! MY SPLEEN!!!! *twitchtwitch* 46. What school do you go to? Olympus High. 47. What year/what are you studing? Sophmore. And the sevies are still out to get me. 48. What do you want to do with your life? Live. Not die before I'm 27. Enjoy watching the world being taken over. 50. Most blonde friend: If I say Krista, am I going to get hurt? 51. Nicest: Whoa!!! My friends are nice? When did this happen? (well, when I met Stacy, actually...) 52. Funniest: Every psycopath who's stayed at least one night at my place. 53. Tallest: Pants. That was easy. 54. Best personality: *snort*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA!!!*cough* *snort* *cough* *giggle* Oh, you were serious? 55. Which 5 people do you trust and are open with the most? Megs, Yantz(though not wise), Krista, Tawney(even less wise), and whoever that kid is who emails me strange questions. 57. What do you think of soul mates? What do you think of them? Hm...*shifty eyes* Who wants to know? 57. Do you have a soul mate? Well...My soul is currently under the bed in a box next to a box that has Gromph in it...so if that counts... 58. What was the last thing you cried or got teary about? Sirius Black dying. (man, that was a while ago...) 61. What's something you can't live without? The knowledge that the one day, buffalo WILL fly, goshdangit. 62. Love or lust?: Love 63. Silver or gold: Gems. LotsaLotsa Gems. 64. Diamond or pearl: diamond. And other gems. LotsaLotsa Gems. 65. Sunset or sunrise: Sunrise, I've said this. 66. Have you ever gone skinny-dipping? No comment. 69. What song are u listening to right now? Tasuki Evil Laugh. 70. What are the last 4 digits of your home phone? The same as the combo to get to my school violin. 71. where do you want to go on your honeymoon? Somewhere Tropical. 72. Who do you want to spend the rest of your life with? A guy. 73. What's the first thing you notice about the opposite sex: That they aren't girls. 74. Favorite sports: Baseball. Soccer. Can't play either.
75. What/who makes you happy? Heh,Heh,Heh... Drow Rangers are number one right now, Human Rangers that hang with elves are number two... 76. What CDs are you going to get next?: An Unpirated Pirates, Spirited Away soundtrack, and stuff. 77. What's the best advice given to you? If you can't do anything, sit back and enjoy the crisis. 78. Do you live by it? Heck yeah. 79. Have you ever won any special awards? in who's eyes? I don't keep track. 80. What are your future goals? Buy Fruits Basket. Buy Kenshin. Buy Slayers. Buy Trigun. Yeah. 81. Worst sickness you've ever have? Malformed teeth. Stupid Trampolines... 82. Do you like Funny or Scary movies better? Funny, unless I'm in a pissy mood. 83. On the phone or in person? In person. Then they can smile and nod. 84. Hugs or kisses? Well, a hug has more chocolate than a kiss... 85.What song seems to reflect you the most? "It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine" Yeah, 'cause I'm probably asleep... 86. If you died tomorrow whom would you leave everything you wwn to? I think I'd leave it to "My friends and family" so you can all fight over it. 87. Do you have any enemies? Oo, that one kid who hated D&D because it was "boring"?Yeah, we got along well. I started hitting him with my backpack within five minutes. 88. Would you rather be rich or famous? Rich. DVD's here I come... 90. Have you ever been in love? Why do we keep coming back to this topic? 91. Have you met Santa? I ate him. 92. If E.T. knocked on your door holding up a peace sign and asked to use your phone, what would you do? Eat him. 93. When did you last talk to the person that you like? Dunno, Hunger makes my brain fuzzy... 94. Do you have any pets? A beagle with no brains, and a parakeet with an attitude. And Gromph. We can't forget the mage. 95. do you like animals? Yes. (Oh man, I can smell soup. I'm seriously hungry, dude.) 96. if you could would you have one? Yes. 97. Who sent this to you? Chrisella-I-don't-think-I 'm-loved-Sagers (I'm just toying with you, Chrisella. Just toying.) 98. What do you think of this person? Can I say no comment to this one? I'm almost done, and seriously hungry, and clam chowder is on the stove.
99. What time is it : 8:33 100. Who do you expect to write back first? Probably Jes to Flame me for sending her another quiz.
Everyone, send this to Stacy, too. We must include our dear Faramir in on the madness!
~Sadina Saphrite, Sorceress, Psychic, Lord of Waterdeep, World Saver, Washer of Lord Blackstaff's Laundry, and Observer of Certian Small, Furry, Long-Eared, Cotton-Tailed, Easily-Aggrievated, Magic-Pumped, Heavily-Armed Mammals.
Dh is down with the flu. A flu shot wouldn't have helped this year because the Figian viral strain was not included in the shot. I feel horrible because there is nothing I can really do to make him more comfortable. He spoils me rotten when I'm sick but now that he's down, he's tired of herbal tea, hot baths and everytime I go to rub his back he starts coughing and hacking. He says that brushing his hair helps so I do that. I just wish there was more I could do. He keeps apologizing for being sick which makes me feel even worse.
If Royal Resorts or Vacations calls and offers you a trip to Vegas, HANG UP!!! They do not own a premier resort on the strip. It's a dive down by Stupick's Folly (Stratosphere). They have great plans but at the moment, they have no pool, no restaurant, no concierge, we had to call housekeeping for toilet paper since they didn't stock the room, there was no laundry bag (even Best Western and Motel 6 have laundry bags), and the remote was broken and the towel rack fell off the wall. The kids had new Gameboy games so they enjoyed that and the cable TV (we don't have it at home). It seems that all John and I did was eat and sleep. I did check out Stitchers' Paradise and it's a pretty good shop, it's not Stitchin' Station or Shepherd's Bush but it carries a good selection. They had some stuff on my wish list that I've been missing (all three parts of Barnabee's Quest and some Just Nan cards I'd never seen). We never got to the turkey part of Thanksgiving but the kids don't seem to mind. I think we'll just start decorating for Christmas and start there.
