friends

Given The Choice Between the Two of You, I’d Take the Seasick Crocodile (Pictures)

Aidan and I had an awesome weekend together. When he leaves Sundays, I have mixed feelings. One says “now, I can rest!” and the other says “Oh, he’s so cute. I’ll miss him!” But I’ll see him tomorrow, so it’s okay.

I’d had every intention of taking a one-hour nap, getting up at 3:30pm, and walking down to the library. I didn’t get up until 5pm! πŸ™ I hate that! So, I decided to wash my towering pile of dishes, make dinner, and wrap presents. I’m all done!

My Tree

My Tree
One of my nutcracker ornaments.

Christmas Corner
My holiday corner.

Fun Effect
On Tuesday, Rob and I were playing with my 6-point filter, and decided to do something cool with my big ass sunglasses. Check out the flash in the lenses! πŸ™‚ (Please ignore how NOT CUTE I look)

Weeks ago, I’d purchased steaks at Kroger Marketplace. Three little ones to a package, buy one package, get one free. Last week, I opened the package and made a little steak on Sunday night, one on Monday night, and I made the last one tonight. I had that, green beans, and rice made in the rice steamer. It was yummy! πŸ™‚

And now starts the last week before the holidays officially begin. Copy editing galore for me. I did download some Christmas music that I used to listen to as I was growing up–a few Nat King Cole and Elvis Presley songs. There are a few cards that need to go out, and some to take to work tomorrow. I’d love to get some candy to stuff into Aidan’s stocking, but we’ll see how the budget looks for that.

Time to bake some muffins for next week’s breakfasts. πŸ™‚

See ya!

P.S. Just like to mention that I hate loud neighbors. That is all.

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My Friends

I have THE most amazing friends in the world.

Just thought I’d mention that.

No matter how tight things get here, I’m rich with friendships. That is a heartwarming thing to know.

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Random Recap (Pictures)

Wednesday night:

Rob came over, and I made him spaghetti. The only sauce I had was onion, garlic and something or other else. I didn’t think I’d like it, but after avoiding the onions, it turned out to be VERY tasty. Rob liked it too. I made “garlic bread” out of wheat hamburger buns with butter and Taylor Street cheese sprinkle on top. Oh YUMMMM. We also had a good conversation outside by his car.

Rob is always enjoyable company. πŸ™‚

Uploaded pix to Deviant Art site. I might be addicted to photo posting sites–but nothing will compare to my Flickr. πŸ™‚

What I did last night:

Finally fixed the time settings on my camera, so it wouldn’t say AM when it should say PM.

Decided I needed to figure out how to use the fully manual functions on my camera.

Went down to The Basement (inside Fat Eddie’s) to see Tony Lucca (of former MMC fame) open for Marty Casey (?) and the Love Hammers. Tony was amazing, but he wasn’t really meeting with any fans after the show, which sucked. I wanted a picture with him, so I could compare it to when I met him in 1993.

Was told by the guys that I wasn’t allowed to take pictures with my nice camera at the request of the band. AFTER I’d taken several of Tony already (not knowing this request). They’re afraid I’ll sell them.

I laughed at that. Seriously, who’d want to buy these?

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Tidbits

As always, after an awesome experience, and as life settles back into normalcy, little memories are steadily floating back to me.

** Unbeknownst to Mandy (mandywriter), Ronni’s car is a Hyundai Accent
Mandy (talking about her rental car upgrade): Yeah, this is a lot better than a shitty Hyundai Accent!
Ronni: HEY!

** Mandy’s car screaming in protest because Adam (adamselzer) wouldn’t put his seatbelt on.

** Singing Dora the Explorer songs with Adam, even though I had to pee so badly it was painful.

** Nadia agentobscura (to me, Mandy, Sara…): I’m serious. Go sit in the back. NOW.

** The Highways: Oh, by the way, you merged!
(Chicago’s highways aren’t known for letting you know that a merge is coming up. It just sort of happens. In one case, the sign was there AFTER the merge).

** Mandy’s random driving noises and being put in the “boat” ever so often.

** Ronni: We should go stand under there, where it’s dry.
   Nadia: Oh yeah. You’re so smart.

** Nadia shielding me from ghosts in the Garden of Evil.

** I’m about as skeptical about ghosts as the next guy (*innocent whistle*), but I remember when we first got to Death Alley, and Ken (the other guide) had us all stand on around a sewer. There was supposed to be the spirit (?) of a little boy there, and supposedly moms and very sensitive people could sense him. Before he’d even told that story, I remember my jacket moving, almost as if it were tugged. THEN the guide told the story about the ghost/poltergeist there who tugged on clothing. Freaky much? I was already upset and spooked because of the whole story in the first place, but that just… I don’t know. Of course, Ken could have been making the whole thing up, so yeah.

** Seeing Harpo Studios (it’s supposedly haunted!)

** The REALLY cute guys who walked by the bus before we pulled away for the tour. The girls were all freaking out.

** Ken: Shh, inside voices, girls.

** Going “ooooooo” to the random guy walking by.

** The cute way Nadia scrunches up her nose at you.

** People randomly waving to the bus. That was totally cool.

** Mandy: I think he wants to race. *guns engine*

I PROMISE I’ll post informative conference-related stuff soon.

‘Til next time! :)

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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The Blurrrrrrr

The Blurrrrrrr is something that’s been on my mind and something I’d wanted to post about for a long time.

Once upon a time, I organized my AOL address book. To make it easier to find people, I developed categories:

  • Family
  • Co-workers
  • Friends
  • Online Friends

Okay. Here is where I want to stop. Because The Blurrrrrrr has happened and there really is no line between “online” friends and friends anymore, at least, not for me. Actually, The Blurrrrrrr started to occur about two years ago, when I realized that people I’d met at church kept Live Journals or Xangas, had AIM, and had email. We use(d) those methods as means of communication, as well as calling each other or just plain meeting up and hanging out. So now, they weren’t just “online friends” because I knew them “in real life” as well.

My mom still freaks out if she hears I’m going to “meet” people I got introduced to through the Internet. When I was flying out to spend the weekend with Amy, my mother asked “how you know she ain’t crazy?” I told her that Amy and I had talked on the phone loads of times and emailed and all that stuff. It would be okay. I also reminded her that I’d met other “online” friends, like Ivy (swankivy) and Kelle Belle (itskels) and look, I’m still alive!! And what about those people who I used to know “in real life” but who moved several states away? Our communications are mainly Internet-driven. Does that make them crazy?

It got to the point where I realized that meeting people online was really no different than meeting people at church or at school or down the street. ‘Cause seriously, I’ve met some doozies, right here in my town, and then I’ve met perfectly cool people online. People are complicated, and there are good ones and bad ones everywhere.

I started thinking about that today when I realized how comfortable I am giving my number out to people I’ve emailed with or talked to for a while online. How exciting it is to meet them face to face. Seriously, meeting mandywriter and the gang this weekend was awesome. I’m addicted to meeting people face to face. There is just something about hearing their voices, interacting with them without a screen in front of me, being able to hug them and actually SEE the LOLing that makes it magical. And since we’d been talking online, it’s not weird or awkward because we know we can carry on conversations.

For me, it’s to the point where I say “friends are friends, who cares how we were introduced.” The lines are Blurrrrrrred now, and honestly, I LOVE it that way. Can’t wait to meet more people!!

What are your thoughts?

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