About Oprah's Big Give...

I hate to admit that I kind of rolled my eyes when I first heard about Oprah's Big Give TV show. I know. I suck. It's not that I'm not a giving person, I really try to be, but I thought the show would be incredibly sappy and completely unwatchable - full of crying people and never-ending sad stories. I just didn't think it would be bearable.

I was so very wrong.

This isn't a show I've ever planned to watch, but I am almost always home on Sunday nights, so naturally, I've caught it (not to mention it's after Extreme Home Makeover which I love). And I have to say that this show has totally blown me away. I find myself watching it and mentally calculating how I'd spend that money.

Last week, when the contestants had to spend $100k in 24 hours with a $500 max on any one person, I immediately thought of the lot next to St Vincents (I think) downtown where the homeless group lives. Everyone in Baltimore always complains about how that lot looks, but yet the church has only ever shown kindness towards them. I instantly looked on the Internet and decided that I could buy a large tent and two high quality sleeping bags for $600 or so (which is way less than $500 per person). I could outfit that whole community with new tents, linens, and maybe a privacy wall or something, but I figured I could go through $10k just on that site.

After that, I thought about Epiphany's school here in Baltimore and the leak in his classroom, and then I thought about a certain friend's cold and icy window-sills. Katie does work with Big Brother/Big Sister, and I'm sure there's plenty I could do for them. There are so many ways to help, and part of me wishes I could be tested with such a creative and inspiring challenge. But as soon as I even think that, I am once again reminded of the point of projects like this. It's about thinking globally, and acting locally. About dreaming the big dreams, but doing what you can with what you have. I don't have $100k, but I have my youth, my time, and my heart, and this is just a reminder for me to do some more volunteering. I have no excuses except laziness and selfishness. It's time to give back.

For as much crap as Oprah got for founding her school in Africa for those girls, those critics have nothing to say now. Any gift that she decides to share is a blessing, whether here or on another continent. There is certainly no shortage of need on this planet. This isn't the first time, nor will it be the last time that she funds a project so extraordinary, and she deserves our gratitude.

This Is Stupid...

...but I couldn't help being curious. It's an "At what age will you be married?" meme. You are supposed to put a x in every box that applies to you, and the resulting count will represent your age when you are married. Like I could just ignore this one...

[x] You know how to make a pot of coffee
[x] You keep track of dates using a calendar
[x] You own more than one credit card
[ ] You know how to change the oil in a car
[x] You’ve done your own laundry
[x] You vote in every election
[x] You can cook for yourself
[x] You think politics is exciting
[ ] You show up for school/college/work every day early
[ ] You always carry a pen in your bag/purse
[ ] You’ve never gotten a detention
[ ] You have forgotten your own birthday at least once
[x] You like to take walks by yourself
[x] You’ve watched talk shows
[x] You know what ‘credibility’ means without looking it up
[ ] You drink coffee at least once a week
[x] You know how to do the dishes
[x] You can count to 10 in another language
[x] When you say you’re going to do something you do it
[x] Your parents trust you
[x] You can mow the lawn
[x] You can make adults laugh without being stupid
[x] You remember to water the plants
[x] You study when you have to
[x] You pay attention at school/college/work
[x] You remember to feed your pets
[x] You can spell ‘experience’ without looking it up
[ ] You work out on a regular basis
[x] You clean up your own mess
[ ] The people at Starbucks know you by name
[x] Your favorite kind of food is take out
[ ] The first thing you do when you wake up is get caffeine
[x] You can go to the store without getting something you don’t need
[x] You understand political jokes the first time they are said
[x] You can type quickly
[x] You have realized that the weather forecast changes every hour
[ ] Your only friends are from your place of employment
[x] You have been to a Tupperware party
[x] You have realized that no one will take you seriously unless you are over the age of 25 and have a job
[x] You have more bills than you can pay
[ ] Most of all your friends are older than you are
[x] You can say no to staying out all night
[x] You use the Internet every day
[x] Your wardrobe hasn’t changed in a while
[x] You can read a book and actually finish it

My total: 34

Good to know, good to know...

A Day in the Country

Antonio and I spent the afternoon at CJs. What a great day! I ate more candy, junk food, and pizza than I have in months and months. N came over with Delilah, and the three pups (Antonio, Lucy and Delilah) played and barked all afternoon. It was nice enough that we took the dogs out for a stroll, and Antonio drank from a local stream - it was so cute watching him try to get at the water without getting wet. He completely wore himself out in all this excitement, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to relax with the girls and our dogs and unwind. (Photo is of Antonio after he destroyed two or three toys in CJ's living room.)

Antonio is officially pooped out after our exciting day, which is great because it allows me some free time for computer game playing. With any luck, I'll win a few more awards in SimSocieties this evening... I gotta get my nerd girl on.

Unrested and Uneasy

I wish I would have slept a little better last night - I'm not sure why it wasn't restful. I'm a bit frustrated at that. I met JJT, JWER, B and Katie out in Federal Hill after work (is that area still considered Fed Hill?), and ended up staying out later than I planned. I need to lay off any drinking until Vegas. I just don't like how it's making me feel this week.

So... Vegas. I'm heading there early Tuesday morning, and I don't want to go. I know - you're all surprised because I wanted to go so bad last time... I just hate boarding Antonio and packing, etc, etc. Plus I actually have quite a few important things to accomplish this week, so I'm feeling stressed already, and it's still just Saturday.

I'll be going over CJ's today - she wants me to move to Jarrettsville, so I'll be looking at an apartment near where she lives. I'm sure it's as wonderful as she says, but I really like my apartment, neighborhood, and lifestyle, and moving is a miserable experience. I haven't moved in over three years, and I'm not looking forward to the next time. It's really a lot closer to work, so CJ says I'll save lots of gas money, but if the rest of the expenses don't line up right, then it's all a wash in the end anyway. I don't know... I don't want to be seduced by the allure of a new place when the most intelligent thing for me to do is stay put (I think). I guess we'll see...

A Big Announcement!

Yesterday I was so sickly that I didn't have a chance to tell you the big news - Marie had her baby! Charles Oscar Taylor was born a little after noon on March 26, 2009. He weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz.and is 19 inches long.

Here's Marie's before picture - how cute his she?





















And here she is after. CLICK HERE for Charlie's daddy's updates.

Pain & Suffering

No, no... I'm okay. Uh-huh. Just a headache, general nausea and the inability to sleep. Last night a group of us went out to see Wes McDonough, a good friend of mine, at Claddagh in Canton. Wes is moving to Nashville very soon, and although we are all very happy for him, he will be dearly missed.

Today I am headed into the office at lunchtime, and I'll be sure to pick up some Taco Bell on the way. For those of you who will see me shortly - no jokes about my sunglasses, pony tail or love of water, please. I'm rallying. And we all know I don't do that very well.

Why Dating Sites Suck

I've been on this dating site for awhile at the suggestion of a friend (you know who you are!), and I frequently receive ridiculous emails. For the record, I've never actually met anyone from this site, in fact, I haven't checked my "inbox" in weeks and weeks, so I logged on yesterday to clear out my messages. I was surprised to find THE most ridiculous message I have ever received ever. It's super bad. And not only is it bad, but it's from a 40-something, which is clearly outside of my age range (sorry my 40-something friends).

Take a read... Ick.

"If I could write the beauty of your eyes
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say, 'This poet lies;
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.'
So should my papers, yellow'd with their age,
Be scorn'd, like old men of less truth than tongue,
And your rights be term'd a poet's rage
And stretched metre of an antique song."

~ William Shakespeare ~

Lady [my screen name],

...forgive the intrusion, but I was haunting the various profiles, and happened across your intriguing (and tempting) resume, and was inspired to send you a little something to arouse your curiosity and entice a smile upon your resplendent visage...*smile*...

Your ethereal knight awaits your beckoning, princess. Will you share this dance?

Sincerely,
Gentleman Ghost

Easter Eve

Dinner in Little Italy was so overdue. My favorite place is Sabatino's. I know it's not as classy as a few of the other places, but Sabatino's is my kind of Italian. Last night we didn't have the typical older waitress in nursing shoes, but we had Jim. And Jim was pretty cool.

Reader Poll: What's your favorite restaurant in Little Italy?

We went to James Joyce afterwards and met up with Katie and crew. Here are some photos, and yes, I'm still recovering.

Katie and Me. Aren't we cute?










Alexis and Ken - That girl is cray-zee.

A Cat, a Dog, and a Bag of Poop

And so my day began. Antonio had a vet appointment this morning for his annual wellness exam, including a rabies vaccine and bordetella. It occurred to me sometime yesterday that it might be a good idea to get Elliott's next blood test done at the same time - it saves me a trip and an appointment. So I called the vet and they fit him in, and this morning at 9:30 AM I left my apartment with a cat in a crate, a dog on a leash, and poop in a bag and headed for our vet's office.

All-in-all, it was a fair visit if you think a hissing cat, a panicked dog and poop qualifies as "fun." Elliott was angry from the moment we arrived, and he didn't stop hissing and growling until we returned to the car 90 minutes later. Strangely, Antonio freaked out a lot more than usual, maybe because he was feeding off of Elliott's anger? I don't know. He completely panicked for his shots, so I had to body lock him to keep him still. Luckily out of the three things I brought to the vet, the poop was the most uninteresting. Gladly.

So the result? Antonio is overweight. I knew this, but we don't get to take walks at all in the winter, so some careful attention to feeding and getting out of the house should help to resolve this in a few months. And Elliott... Elliott is nearly 8 lbs (up from 6 lbs 7 oz or so) which is good news. On the flip side, he now has a heart murmur. The vet said "2 to 3 of 6," which must be some level of intensity as far as I can tell. She called it "significant," but she doesn't want to act on it quite yet. She wants to see him in about 2-3 months for a check-up.

So both animals are healthy and up-to-date on their shots. Antonio needs to lose weight, and Elliott needs to gain some more. Elliott has a heart murmur - oh! And I get his blood test results on Monday, so I'll know more about the status of his hyperthyroidism then.

No wonder I need a nap.

Friendship

Ten on Tuesday

1. My BFF today is KATIE. Do you see what she brought me from ENGLAND? Do you see? Do you see?? A COSTA mug! HOW COOL IS THAT!? Apparently, Costa Coffee is a coffee shop in the UK. I love them. I want one... (a franchise, I mean. Because obviously I already have a mug.)
2. I heart David Archuleta. And David Cook. And Carly Smithson. Weren't they great, tonight?
3. I may start watching OZ the TV show tomorrow. Now that I've finished The Sopranos, my friend and I are moving on to OZ. I'm not sure it can match The Sopranos, but the ending has to be better, right? And Edie Falco is in it, so it'll almost be like watching spin-off... well, minus all the man love. There wasn't much of that in The Sopranos.
4. Elliott should be a happy camper with his new cat food. The number one ingredient is SALMON. Not chicken. Not chicken-by-product. But yummy salmon. Unfortunately, I just threw him in a cold shower again. Yep. So much for gratitude.
5. Bertucci's may be growing on me. I went there on Sunday and the leftovers are delicious. Maybe I have to give that place another shot... I don't want to keep bein' a hater.
6. So going back to #1, I love this mug. Did I mention that? Like I LOVE it, love it. Like I might overuse it kind of love it. You know, I wasn't the kid who ever had lots of pens, magnets, and other things with my name on it... so even though this is my last name, HOW COOL IS THIS???? C'mon!
7. Have I mentioned that Katie likes RUGBY, suddenly? Strange...
8. OMG I need to clean. I need to clean, and Marie needs to have a baby.
9. Is it possible that I have minimal plans for the weekend? Anyone want to get a group together and go see The Other Boleyn Girl? I really, really want to see this movie but no one is talking about it. Anyone?
10. OH! And guess what premiers in 26 minutes????? THE RICHES ON FX! GO AND TUNE IN NOW!

Let the Games Begin!

No, I don't mean March Madness. I'm sorry, but basketball in any shape or form bores me. I suck, okay. I get it. Now on to my game...

I like to call my game the "Eat-all-of-the-food-in-the-house-before-I'm-allowed-to-go-shopping" game. Doesn't it sound exciting? Well, guess what? It isn't is! Not counting spices and such, here's a quick list of what I think will get me through at least another week and a half.

Main Dishes:
pork loin - 3 meals
pasta - 2 meals
ramen noodles - 7 meals
lean pockets - 3 meals
boxed mac 'n cheese - 2 meals
frozen chicken - 3 meals
frozen salmon filet - 1 meal
oatmeal - 1 meal
two eggs - 1 meal

Side dishes:
rice - 1 meal
cranberry sauce - 2 meals
pineapple chunks - 3 meals
frozen green beans - 2 meals
frozen "stew" veggies - 4 meals

Snacks:
cucumber - 1 meal
frozen waffles - 3 meals
frozen potato skins - ew
one box of jello - yum

I Need Another Day

I didn't intend to go out Saturday night, but I did. I didn't plan to get drunk, but I did that, too. I certainly didn't intend to do shots (thanks, Jaclyn), but I had two. And then I spent today paying for it.

The upside is that I had crazy amounts of fun with these ladies. OMG. Fun. (PS, Nicole. THANK YOU again.)

The downside is that I drove to Delaware this afternoon in a mild haze, ate only a roll, a meatball and three bites of pizza all day, and will probably have a hard time staying asleep tonight because I've messed up my schedule. What a shame.

But I rallied, y'all. Oh yeah. I think I was decent company given my condition, and an hour drive there and another hour back was a bit of a challenge given how I felt. My friend said that a hangover isn't just dehydration, but actually your body going through withdraw. That makes a lot of sense because sometimes water doesn't help. It sucks that we do this to ourselves, though. At least I do it very infrequently.

I was in Delaware today longer than I've ever been in that state - I usually just drive through. Now back to life.

TIE-RED

So far this weekend I've:
Watched two movies Friday night
Woken up at 6 AM this morning and worked for 6 hours
Gone to a Mary Kay party (and finally saw Delilah!)

I'm Probably Not Going to:
Go to a party tonight
Work tomorrow from 8 AM - 2 PM

And I Still Need To:
Buy cat food, dog food and litter
Do my taxes
Decorate with CJ
Drive to Delaware for dinner
Get up-to-date on BagsInTrees

Movie Reviews on a Random Friday

So I stayed in tonight watching movies. I didn't watch all of these tonight, but I've watched enough lately that it's time for some movie reviews. Tomorrow I am getting up way too early and working at the DC (it's confusing, but it's a different job and it's on the weekends, so it's not the same as the one I'm not allowed to do anymore). Anyway, I'm heading to bed soon, so I thought I'd get these all of this down before hitting the sack. So here we go...

Reign Over Me
Well, the obvious first thing to say about this movie is that it's not as funny as I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, I knew it was a serious movie, but somehow I thought there would be a least a few laugh-until-you-cry moments. Not so much. Beautiful acting... really. I was as impressed with Adam Sandler in this movie as I was with Jim Carey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (one of my top movies ever). You should watch it.

Three stars because I liked it.

The Guardian
This movie did, in fact, make me cry, damn it. I spent most of the movie taking deep breaths and yawning, reminding my sort-of-afraid-of-drowning self that I was indeed on a couch and under a blanket, and not in freezing water and gasping for air. There were a few lines of dialogue that were expected and kind of cliche, but for the most part it was quite good. I still think Ashton Kutcher is a bit of a punk, but Kevin Costner was more believable than I think he is in most of his movies. Again on this one... a good movie.

Four stars because I really liked it.

Meet the Robinsons
Awww... now this was cute. The "booger" kid (NOT the adult version) sort of reminded me of my nephew, which was endearing, but both the story and characters were just plain entertaining. Way more appropriate for kids than most animated movies, and the whole movie ended with a quote from Walt Disney... which was, yes... inspiring. I recommend this if you're looking for the movie for the kids/nieces/nephews, etc. A great story.

Three stars because I liked it.

Premonition
Jesus. Great movie. This probably wasn't the best movie to watch before bed because I'll be a bit fearful of my dreams after this... but fabulous. Premonition is a drama, I suppose, but it's a bit of a psychological thriller as well. It's a movie of overlapping timelines, so you're not sure whether you are seeing the before or the after of specific event. Sandra Bullock does a great job in this movie because she's as likable as she usually is (with exception to the scene where she looks up at her mother), but her acting is quite a few steps above her norm. Maybe not the equivalent to Sandler in Reign Over Me or Carey in Sunshine, but different and good. This is a MUST if you like a little psychology in your films. Really intriguing.

Fours stars here, because I really liked it.

So there you are. Go forth, watch movies, and enjoy. ;)

Yet Another Day...

Well, I don't have the flu. I wasn't sure there for about a half of a day. Wednesday I woke up with a headache and despite the loads of Excedrin, it wouldn't go away. Instead of working at the DC, I headed straight home and went to bed. I was actually in bed from 6:30 PM - 7:00 AM - except for a few bathroom breaks for Antonio and I. This morning I didn't feel much better, but I rallied, went to work, and by this afternoon was feeling better. Maybe it was a weird bug. Or maybe I haven't adjusted well to daylight savings time... I guess we'll never know.

Today I got a little frustrated because I found out that I'll no longer be working at the DC. Apparently there's a new rule that you have to work three nights or more a week to work there, and there's no way I can commit to working 12 hours a day three (or more) times a week. That's ridiculous. My number one commitment has to be to my day job because that's what I was hired to do. It's a shame that they'll only accept our help if we promise to work too much. I don't get it.

The downside is that the extra money (and satisfaction) is gone. There's no extra cash to help me out with the vet and car bills, and no more fun watching my products get shipped out the door. I guess the upside is that I've got my social life back. Ha ha. If only food and drinks came free of charge...

Tuesday's Scores

Cold Shower 1
Elliott 0

I think Elliott is starting to get the point. When I caught him on the counter today, he not only jumped down and flattened himself against the floor, but I could tell he knew what was coming when we headed for the bathroom. When I finally let him out of the bathroom, he came up on the couch and loved on me first thing - in an I'm sorry kind of way - before going off to lick his wounds wet fur.

Obama 54%
Clinton 43%

NBC called this too close to call earlier tonight... hardly. I figured Obama would win Mississippi, so it's not surprise here that he's leading at 10 PM. (This is with 39% of precincts reporting.)

Idol Girls 2
Idol Boys 2

One of my favorites has slipped this week. Syesha was knocked down, and Brooke stepped up. David messed up (poor kid), but he'll probably make it because it's the only time he has made a mistake. I would hate it if he went - he really is good. But in the spirit of competition, I'll stick to my top six until the end of the show, and we'll see what happens.

I think I bruised my adductor transversus pollicis

I think.

It's whatever that muscle is between my thumb and index finger - closer to the index finger than the thumb. And it hurts. I noticed it the first time I painted at CJs', and then I noticed it again after working at the DC. The scanner-thingy we use to scan boxes and products has a handle that rests on that muscle, so it becomes more irritated when I use the scanner. I looked down at it today and noticed a big blue vein bulging on top of my lower thumb knuckle. I'm not a nurse, but I think I bruised something.

Oh well. I can still eat, write, type, etc - it just hurts when something rests on it. Should I ice it down or heat pack it? I'm really hoping that Maggie still reads my blog, because she is my resident medical professional (even though I've never actually met her).

Maggie? Are you out there? Anyone?

WTF

I mean, really... I'm jealous. And this person parks on my street, too. How unfair.

To Dos

1. Light cleaning - done
2. Painting with CJ - done
3. Pay Rent/do Verizon math - done
4. Pay bills - done
5. Transfer CC debt - started
6. Do taxes - this week, I guess
7. Do some laundry/clean DC cothes for tomorrow - in progress
8. Make trade show playlist for iPod - done??
9. Make food for lunches/dinners - done
10. Take out trash - done
11. Launder sheets - Tuesday
12. Go to storage - done

Weekend Schmeekend

I've had a busy weekend thus far. Friday I went out in Locust Point (no, really... I love Boddingtons), Saturday afternoon I went out in Canton, and somewhere in the midst of that crazy social life I watched two movies. I'm a bit concerned overall, though, because I've slept in both days, which means that getting up tomorrow is probably going to be insanely difficult.

Before I head over to CJs for more painting, I'd like to jot down a few notes on the movies I saw. First, I saw Happy Feet. So cute! I was in love with Mumble instantly. This is (yet another) animation with adult humor, so I am skeptical about whether or not it's appropriate for my niece and nephews... but I thought it was quite charming. I mean, who doesn't love a penguin who tap dances?

Second I watched We Are Marshall. So good. The movie production seemed a little unpolished overall, and I'm not sure if that was by design or as a result of the film not being over-Hollywood. Who knows. It was noticeable, but not distracting, and as expected, it was moving and inspirational. It makes you wonder what liberties, if any, they took in the retelling... and if the characters were/are as they were portrayed. Overall, though, it lived up to my expectations. It was worth the see.

Happy Feet - 3 stars because I liked it
We are Marshall - four stars because I really liked it

Now I'm off to do some marathon painting with CJ... with any luck that will wear me out enough to sleep heavily tonight.

Freaky Friday

Just a weird tidbit. I was going to start watching my next Netflix movie while I getting ready to go out tonight, but the movie won't let me choose English subtitles. Isn't that weird??? The movie is in Danish, and there are options for English, Espanol, and Francais on the language menu. To choose the correct language, you use your remote to underline one of the choices, but no matter what I tried, it skipped English every time. I don't get it.

Netflix has this "Report a Problem" tool online, but as you might have guessed, there's no common problem for a movie that suddenly won't let you choose English subtitles, so I had to call their 800 number instead. Luckily, they are sending me another movie, but it's so freaking odd, right?

It figures. The only time taking French in high school would have come in some handy, and all I can remember is how to say grapefruit... le pamplemousse!

Damn.

That Darn Cat

Oh my God. I'm going crazy. Elliott has jumped on the counter five times tonight (FIVE!), and no punishment I come up with is working. For the last few weeks, I've started physically chasing him when I catch him - often with a squirt bottle. Sometimes he calmly walks away meowing as I spray him with water, and other times he books it. Yet despite how much I chase him or how wet he gets, I continue to catch him up there.

Like I said, I've caught him five times tonight. The first time I chased him out of the kitchen. The second and third time, I chased him while squirting him with water. The fourth time? The fourth time, I scooped him up, went to the bathroom, turned on the shower and tossed him inside. Yep. I did. Then I left him all drippy in the bathroom for 15 minutes. And the fifth time - can you believe there was a fifth time? - I did the same thing. He's actually locked in the bathroom as I type this. I'm so irritated.

I know this seems mean, but he's not hurt (just wet). I need to find a punishment that he hates enough to teach him a lesson. He's deaf, so I can't yell at him. I can't withhold treats because he won't make the connection... so this is what I'm trying.

I'm going to let him out again.... we'll see how this goes.

Quick 'Idol' Notes

I feel bad that I didn't go to the DC after work today. I meant to - right up until 5 PM - but then I was delayed by a meeting and a spreadsheet, and before I knew it it was after 6 PM. At that point, there was no reason to go because one hour was already gone, so I packed up and headed home instead. Although as a result of going home, I got to watch my first American Idol girls' night. This may seem cheeky to you, but with all of the extra work I've been doing, I haven't seen the girls' show once. And now I've seen the boys and girls all in one week. Cool.

So my quick notes are regarding who I think might be the frontrunners. There's a significant degree of talent on the show this season, but some of the singers are still kind of cutesy. But take away the cutesy, and there are some contestants who I think can go all of the way.

Let's see how close I am.

Fav guys: David Archuleta (duh), Michael Johns and David Cook
Fav gals: Syesha Mercado, Amanda Overmyer, and Carly Smithson

A Good Morning

It's nice to wake up this morning after Hillary Clinton has won the primaries in Texas and Ohio. Ohio, where I was raised, educated, and where I left because of a lost job and a bad economy. I knew last night would be a big night for her... and after last night, I'm still so proud to be from that state.

This is a big deal for Clinton. Back on Sunday and Monday, the news was covering her differently - using words like momentum and comeback. And now this morning, there's a new energy. MSNBC's Morning Joe anchors are almost giddy. Clinton has been re-energized, and people are once again considering her to be a viable candidate. I love how her ad is being referred to as "the red phone effect," and how John Stewart helped to clarify the hope and experience are not mutually exclusive ideas. She's back, folks - so watch out. The Hillary Clinton who I voted for is back with flying fists.

What a fabulous new turn of events... Go Hillary. :)

Band Alert!

Have you heard of Jukebox the Ghost? I heard their song, Good Day, on the radio while driving home from the distribution center tonight... and I just loved it. It's so catchy!

Although I have to admit that one thing seriously concerns me.

Good Day by Jukebox the Ghost (sort of) equals Annie Waits (or any other song) by Ben Folds

This song/band song kicks arse, but doesn't it sound just like a Ben Folds song?? Votes?

NO!

I just watched the final episode of The Sopranos, and WHAT THE HELL?! How am I going to survive with an ending like that???

I'm A Winner

So, you know what? I'm gonna throw out a big "SO WHAT" if you say I'm a nerd because I played computer games this weekend. I was PRODUCTIVE. The game of choice this weekend was SimSocieties, and I played both a Contemplative Society (my fav) as well as an Industrial Society. I had a far more difficult time with the Industrial Society because it was dirty with lots of crime and overall, just yucky.

But at least I have something to show for it all. (Right?) Below are the medals/awards I won this weekend. There are far more to earn than golds in each category... there are "benchmark" goals to earn blue ribbons towards each city type.

*Sigh* Work should be easy compared to all of this, right?

Bronze Medal - Prosperity
Bronze Medal - Creativity
Bronze Medal - Authority
Bronze Medal - Knowledge

Silver Medal - Productivity
Silver Medal - Population

Gold Medal - Spirituality
Gold Medal - Happiness
Gold Medal - Treasury

Sheriff Trophy
Guru Trophy

Another One Bites The Dust

Walts Inn has changed. I remember going there five years ago for karaoke - about every week - and the bartenders, the KJ and the regulars all knew me. Even a year ago it was better. But I went there with a friend last night, and it was pretty crappy. We got there at 11:30 PM, and I didn't sing until 1:30. That's ridiculous. When we arrived, there were less than 25 people in the bar, but the KJ (karaoke DJ) let the regulars or whoever sing 5 or 6 times each before we even got one song in.

I don't know - I've always considered Walts my go-to place. It's been one of my favorite bars in Baltimore for five years, but I'm not so sure anymore. I love Gunna, the bartender, she's great, but the regulars I used to know aren't there, and the KJ (who is the son of one of the bartenders) is a truly shitty KJ. Karaoke at Walts is no longer the fun it used to be; it's more like showing up on time for a doctor's appointment, only to have to wait two hours to actually see the doctor. I mean, the KJ was outside smoking more than he was doing his job. Walts Inn never used to be the pathetic karaoke place, but it's turning into that, and it stinks.

Fortunately, the rest of the night was wonderful. I have some really fabulous friends, and spending time with them is always fun (you know who you are), but I don't know about Walts anymore. It had been awhile since I'd been there last, and I think it will be awhile before I go back. So I guess I'm now in search of a new karaoke bar... and as you know, recommendations are always appreciated.