There's a guy who calls himself The Sexy Vegan. He makes videos of himself cooking/preparing vegan dishes and he cracks me up. Now that the stores are starting to get Halloween items in and there are less than a 100 days until my favorite holiday, I figured I'd share his Spicy Pumpkin Soup video. Enjoy!
We all scream for ice cream! I was out running errands today and got a craving for the cold confection. Perfect for a warm summer day. I had to go to the grocery store to pick up a few things anyway so off I went. I never keep cold treats in the house and it's been awhile since I actually went down the ice cream aisle. I charged down the aisle past the giant tubs of ice cream and sherbet to get to the section that has the smaller sizes and I about died. Did you know that they make itty bitty servings now?! They even come with their own little spoon! They were only a dollar each and I just had to pick up a couple. I got one Starbucks and one Ben & Jerry's. What you see is what you get for your serving size (pic below). Nutritionally, it's not the best but c'mon, it's ice cream. Not exactly a health food. :)
Be sure to check out Ben & Jerry's Halloween section of their Web site here. You can see their Flavor Graveyard of their "dearly de-pinted", the spooky mansion, pumpkin patch, laboratory, library and more. They really have a ton to look at. In the library, you can read the history of Halloween and there are links to costume and magic shops, real haunts, etc.
Now That's Nifty has done it again. They have a blog post with strange deaths from the last thirty years. Here are just a few entries.
This guy won my heart over...
1981: David Allen Kirwan a 24-year-old attempted to rescue a friend's dog after it fell into Celestine Pool, a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park on July 20, 1981. Despite numerous shouts from bystanders, Kirwan dove headfirst into the pool but was unable to save the dog. After managing to swin back to shore, he was helped out of pool, where his injuries became apparent - the exposure to the 200oF (93oC) water of the hot spring resulted in third-degree burns to 100% of his body and had also blinded him. After being led to the sidewalk, Kirwan reportedly stated: "That was stupid. How bad am I? That was a stupid thing I did." When one of Kirwan's shoes was removed, all of the skin came off with it. He died the next day at a Salt Lake City hospital. Although there have been at least 19 deaths due to scalding at the Yellowstone, this was the only known case where someone died after deliberately jumping into one of the park's hot springs.
I remember seeing a show about this...
1986: Over 1,700 people were killed almost instantly near Lake Nyos in Cameroon when a mass of approximately 100 million cubic metres of carbon dioxide that had collected at the bottom of the lake due to seepage from geothermal sources was suddenly released on August 21, 1986. The gas cloud immediately settled (carbon dioxide is heavier than air) and covered an area of up to 12 miles (20 km) from the lake, killing all oxygen-breathing life almost instantly - although the nearby vegetation, which consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, flourished afterwards.
We all have our wishes...
2001: Bernd-Jürgen Brandes from Germany was voluntarily stabbed repeatedly and then partly eaten by Armin Meiwes (who was later called the Cannibal of Rothenburg). Brandes had answered an internet advertisement by Meiwes looking for someone for this purpose. Brandes explicitly stated in his will that he wished to be killed and eaten.
I've been wanting to share a pic of a recent project I completed for my blogging friend, Diane. It's a belated birthday gift. Really belated! I wanted to keep it a surprise so I refrained from posting a pic here that she would see. : ) Below is what I made for her. I painted the frame silver hoping that was pretty neutral for her decor. Cute, eh? To check out her very sweet blog post about it, visit Diane here.
Check out these cool miniature coke bottles I won from a giveaway! They came all the way from Singapore! I think that's the farthest away I've ever gotten mail from. Very cool. They came from a lady named May who makes the cutest tiny things. To check out her blog, click here. Thanks, May!
I was out and about today running errands and picking up things I need for my craft show this weekend. As I was wandering down an aisle, I came across something so unique that I had to buy it. The person that came up with this idea is one creative genius and should be in charge of all designs going forward. They also had watermelons! In case you can't tell from the pic, the middle of the top comes off and that's where the Kleenex comes out. You can click on the image to make it bigger. (Had to say it cuz' some people don't know that.)
I give props to anyone that comes up with their own ideas. Things that haven't been done before. Creative people rule!
I'll be posting again tonight with finished frame pics!
I'm not doing the Sunday Stealing this week cuz' it was all about hate. There are few things I truly hate and many things I really really really don't like. Maybe if the meme was about that, I'd do it. :)
I've been MIA for a couple days because I've just been so gosh darned busy with work and crafts! My first craft show is this Saturday and I've been focusing on getting things done for that. There is still much to do. I had said before that I had hoped to have some pics for you this weekend. Well, I do have progress pics but for reasons I'd rather not discuss, I don't want to show those. They're great pics but I'd rather wait and show you the finished product. As of this minute, I hope to have finished pics of the picture frames posted here on Tuesday and finished pics of the bookmarks on Friday.
So since I'm not giving you those pics, here are a couple other ones. Enjoy!
Before:
Don't you just love the smell of ripe peaches?
After:
Peaches with honey and pumpkin pie spice on top of a spongecake. Yum!
For confidentiality sake, we'll call him James. (Funny co-worker.)
2. What were you doing at 8am this morning?
One of my favorite hobbies...sleeping.
3. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
Making the blog rounds.
4. What is your favorite candy bar?
I'm not really a candy person.
5. Have you ever been to a strip club?
No but I'm not against it.
6. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Good ol' H2O.
7. What was the last thing you ate?
Mac n' Cheese from the place I work at.
8. The last sporting event you watched?
In person? Probably hockey. On TV? Probably skateboarding/BMX stuff.
9. Do you go to church every Sunday?
10. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
It really depends on if I'm in the mood for cheese or not.
11. What are you doing tomorrow?
Since I haven't gone to bed yet, I'm going to tell you about my Sunday plans. Hopefully finishing up a craft project and then I have to work.
12. What do you think of when you hear Australia?
That male revue show. I think it's called Thunder Down Under? hee hee
13. Biggest annoyance right now?
My neighbors.
14. Last song listened to?
Some Rob Zombie song. I had a mixed CD in the car on the way home.
15. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
Yes, her name is Dracenea. : )
16. Are you jealous of anyone?
Not anyone in particular.
17. Is anyone jealous of you?
Not that I'm aware of.
18. What do you usually do during the day?
Lately I've been crafting, watching TV, running errands, cruisin' the Net. Oh yeah, laundry and cleaning (see maid service above).
19. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
Hate is a strong word but I really really really don't like some people.
My dad jokes around that he can take care of things for a fee. Today I told him that I could do it for free. He didn't think I should have joked like that. Who says I was joking?
I don't normally do two posts in one day but I had to separate out the topics a bit so here ya' go.
The restaurant business is dirty. Not only physically but mentally as well. For those of you who have been following my blog for a bit, you know that I now work part-time at a pizza place. I worked for the same chain about eight years ago so I knew what I was getting into and was kinda' looking forward to it. Gone are my corporate days of dressing up, minding my P's and Q's and behaving like a proper minion. Now I have a uniform to wear and I only have to watch my behavior around the customers.
I don't smoke myself but almost everyone else that I work with smokes something, if ya' know what I mean. Most people have a foul mouth, including myself. I don't drop the F-Bomb for the most part but a resounding Son-of-a-Bizotch and the occasional Damn-it has rolled off my tongue more than once while cleaning up. We have a sprayer in the back to clean off pans and whatnot and it's so pressurized that you're bound to get pizza sauce or something sprayed up in your face at some point.
Everything sounds dirty too. For example:
-Just one pump of oil and then swirl it around. -Careful not to squirt it at me. -Hot pans coming through. -I got sauce everywhere. -Who spilled the oil? -I need more sausage. -Just poke it and see if it's done. -How many sticks would you like? -That one gets extra sauce. -Make that a meat lovers.
Okay, you get the picture. Some of those may not sound dirty at first but when you're in the gutter already, it's all dirty. Even the subject line of this post sounds a bit dirty to me.
It doesn't help that I'm working with flirty boys either. Apparently it's the uniform because I went to Taco Bell after work one night and the drive through guy commented on my uniform and asked which store I worked at. I told him and then when he brought my order, he said, "I gave you an extra guacamole just to say peace." and then he threw up the peace sign. Hilarious yet bizarre! Peace?
I saw a commercial on TV the other night for Johnsonville. Guess what their new slogan is?
Sausage is all we do.
I so need to get a t-shirt that says that! I actually emailed the company to see if they sell t-shirts like that. : )
Hi. My name is Dracenea and I'm a fast food-aholic.
{Insert sparse clapping and people saying hello.}
I don't like to cook very often and don't go to the grocery store as much as I should so I tend to go to fast food drive-throughs a bit too often. I've talked before about how McDonald's is the devil due to what they put in their food. My brain knows that fast food is generally not the picture of health but my taste buds are doing the thinking when I pull up to one of these places. My brain kicks in later when I'm on the Web sites looking up the nutrition facts and then my stomach joins in with some angry rumblings about what I just ate.
I'm not a big sweets person but awhile back I had a craving for chocolate and McDonald's had a giant picture of their brownie melts posted by the road so before I knew what happened, I was sitting at home with a brownie melt and coffee. Man it was delicious. It was moist, warm, chocolatey and everything that a brownie should be. Damn you, McDonald's! I shake my fist at thee!
Well, today I was out and about and McDonald's had a sign by the road advertising their brand new Frappe's. What?! I love Frappe's and gosh darn it, I was thirsty! Normally I would pay $4 at Starbucks but hey, there's McDonald's and I know they'll be cheaper so all of a sudden a Mocha Frappe lands in my car with whipped cream and chocolate syrup drizzled all over. Gosh darn it, it's delicious and about a dollar cheaper! I shake my fist at thee again!
Heads up that this is going to be an uber long post! But it should be entertaining so stick around. : )
I spent some time today in craft stores checking out materials for the craft show I want to do with my cousin next month that I talked about here. The bad news is that my initial plan has fallen apart. I was thinking about doing mosaic pots and cloth baskets. If I were to do the pots, I would need to put a higher price on them than I was originally thinking due to the cost of materials. I find that craft shows are like garage sales. Meaning that you can't get decent prices on the things you sell at them. The cloth baskets aren't looking very good right now because I can't seem to find the right material and if they don't sell, I don't want a bunch of baskets sitting around that are in fabrics that I normally wouldn't choose. I have to make something that appeals to the "normals" yet is still something I would like, in case it doesn't sell very well.
After wandering around for awhile, I came up with multiple ideas but all seemed to be too costly or time intensive for a craft show. They may be ideas that I could use if I ever start an online business though. So I'm sort of back to square one. I'm good at cross-stitch and can whip out a bunch of small ones in time for the craft show next month but I don't know if they will sell in these economic times. I have thought of an idea but it's something I've never done before and I could completely suck at it. If it works, I think I would make some good money on it. Here's a hint. : )
In one of my posts, I talked about how my new job had me scheduled as the only driver on Tuesday night and I was kinda' nervous. We ended up having a church come in and do a fundraiser that night and our dining room was crazy busy. Thank goodness I didn't have to deal with that! But because of it, there were tons and tons of dishes to be done, which I did have to deal with. Plus we had corporate coming to our store the next day so extra cleaning had to get done that we normally don't do (lights, oven, etc). The night manager ended up letting a cook stay on until close and they called in someone else just to do dishes. He worked on dishes for 3 hours straight if that gives you an idea of how many dishes we had to do. The night manager was really cool and helped me with prep so the night ended up going fairly well and we were out of there around midnight (we closed at 11).
Now you may be wondering what this "Draceneaology" is all about, hmm? Well my buddy Eve borrowed a meme from my buddy Diane where you post your name followed by "ology" and answer the below questions. Here are my answers!
***********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice?
ranch
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
I haven't eaten in a restaurant in years due to my sensitive tummy but I like most restaurant food to-go. Today I had Chinese. Yum!
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
I haven't had it in forever but I'm gonna' go with grilled cheese sandwiches!
What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Ham, mushrooms and extra cheese.
What do you like to put on your toast?
Jelly and real butter. I have this fantastic rhubarb jelly right now.
***********TECHNOLOGY***************
How many televisions are in your house?
Two...one in the living room and one in the bedroom. Although I only use the one in the bedroom a few times a year.
What color cell phone do you have?
Black and it lights up blue when I get a call/message.
Do you have an Ipod?
Nope...don't see the point.
***************BIOLOGY******************
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Left! I think that means I'm a Southpaw or something? I'm ambidextrous with a lot of things though so you wouldn't necessarily know I'm a lefty unless you saw me writing.
Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Hmm...tonsils and a suspicious freckle.
What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Stacks of pans filled with dough...yesterday. I have a beautiful bruise on one of my arms from all the dough stacks I've been carrying. That'll tell you how heavy they are.
Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
Hmm...I'm gonna' go with "no" on this one cuz' I think they mean literally being knocked out.
************BULLCRAPOLOGY**************
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Yes, please!
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Oooh...Dark Mistress Of The Night. Has a nice ring, yes?
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Hells no! What's wrong with you?
************DUMBOLOGY******************
How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
Zero! I'm goth for goth's sake.
Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
Hmm...a couple years ago at some holiday gathering? (My uncle is a cop.)
I'm a good girl, people, I don't break any laws EVER. Didn't believe that? Yeah, me neither. I'm just really good at not getting caught.
Last person you talked to?
My cousin.
Last person you hugged?
Vampire Kitini. Yes, he IS a person. Seriously, you don't want to argue this point.
**************FAVORITE-OLOGY****************
Season?
It's a toss-up between spring and fall.
Holiday?
Halloween...duh. Do you read this blog ever? hee hee
Day of the week?
I used to say any day that I didn't work but now that I have a fun job, I'm gonna' go with any day that I don't have to get up early for work. Sleeping is one of my favorite hobbies.
Month?
October
***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
Missing someone?
Not especially.
Mood?
creative
What are you listening to?
Cradle of Filth
Watching?
Like Eve said in her answers, I'm watching my screen.
Worrying about?
Not making enough $$ at the new job. I hate bills!
I should say "no" to keep up my gothiness so "no".
Sleeping Alone Tonight?
Nope! I'll have Vampire Kitini and a giant teddy bear and really that's all I need cuz' boys smell and have cooties.
***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************
Do you always answer your phone?
nope
Its four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Depends on the night. Most nights I would really wonder. If it's a bar night, it's probably a friend wondering if I made it home okay. The bar nights have been few and far between lately though. Drinking is expensive!
If you could change your eye color what would it be?
Black...all black. I bought special contacts for that but they hurt my eyeballs so much I can't wear them. : ( BIG waste of $$.
What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
I haven't been to a Sonic since I lived in Ohio and don't remember adding any flavors. Lime comes to mind though now that I think about it.
Do you own a digital camera?
Yep and if you ask Diane, myself or anyone that's seen the pictures, I need a new one!
Have you ever had a pet fish?
A few. Gordo was the last one. He hung on for quite awhile. Even tried to commit suicide once. I got out of the shower and he was laying on the blanket next to the tank. He was a shimmery gray color when I got in the shower and he was dried and black when I got out. I thought he was dead so I went to scoop him up and he started moving! I put him back in the tank and he hung on for another few years. Never regained his original color though. True story.
Yes, but you really don't want to see them. Although I haven't tried since I've been lifting all that dough. I bet they look awesome now!
Can you do a chin up?
Not sure? I don't have anything around the house that I could practice on.
Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
excited
Do you have any saved texts?
Yep but not intentionally. My phone saves them all until I delete them and I just don't make that kind of effort when it comes to phone organization. That's my assistant's job. hee hee
Ever been in a car wreck?
Unfortunately.
Do you have an accent?
When I lived in Ohio, they said I did. I'm pretty sure that's from when I lived up north. Say ya' to da' U.P., eh? ha ha (Insider Michigan joke.)
What is the last song to make you cry?
Can't think of the last one. It's been awhile.
Plans tonight?
Catching up on emails/blogs. I've had a couple of crazy busy days.
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
yep
Name 3 things you bought yesterday.
Let's see...a lighter for a co-worker, Taco Bell and that's it!
Have you ever been given roses?
A long long time ago in a galaxy far away. They sure were purty though.
Current worry?
Wondering what I'm going to do about next month's craft show.
Current hate right now?
Bills! I'm stuck because I can't get out of my mortgage or my car lease.
Met someone who changed your life?
yep
How will you bring in the New Year?
That's too far away to think about.
What song represents you?
I'm a mutt of multiple songs, like anyone is, but this one is pretty accurate. Plus I found a video of it set to Underworld. Even better!
Name three people who might complete this?
I have no idea!
Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
It would depend on when and where I'd end up.
Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
yep
Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
yep
Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now?
Time will tell. As of now, I'd say "no" because I have hang-ups about relationships but you never know when the right one will come along, or so they say.
Does anyone love you?
I think so. It's hard to tell if people mean the words.
Would you be a pirate?
Ahoy, matey!
What songs do you sing in the shower?
I typically don't sing in the shower but occasionally I'll belt out whatever happens to be stuck in my head.
Ever had someone sing to you?
yep
When did you last cry?
A couple months ago when I left a job that I had been at for eight years. I cried because of how horribly I was treated.
Do you like to cuddle?
The last time I cuddled, I enjoyed it but I'm not normally a cuddly type of person. As a friend once said, I'm like a cantaloupe. I have a rough exterior but I'm sweet on the inside.
Have you held hands with anyone today?
nope
Who was the last person you took a picture of?
I have no idea. Does Vampire Kitini count? Most of the time I'm taking pics of my surroundings.
What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
oldie's
Do you believe in staying close with your ex's/prospects?
Not usually. They are ex's for a reason.
Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
Brand new and shiny with fully poseable arms!
Do you like pulpy orange juice?
nope
What is something your friends make fun of you for?
My oddness. But then they're really not friends, are they?
I'm going to go with the highest one...my mortgage. Ugh!
2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Florentine's (an Italian place)
3. How many colleges did you attend?
Does a technical school count? If so, one.
4. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
I'm in my PJ's so there really was no thought process.
5. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
I didn't set an alarm. I don't have to work until 6ish tonight. My first thought waking up was trying to remember what I had to do today.
6. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
I was thinking about how that was the first night in a long time that I went to bed before 2 am. :)
7. What do you miss about being a child?
I miss what I'm sure a lot of people miss...not having the worries/responsibilities that I do now.
8. What errand/chore do you despise?
Vacuuming. My cat and I shed a lot of hair and after I'm done vacuuming, I always have to cut the hair out of the bristles. Pain in my arse.
9. Have you found real love yet?
I'm gonna' say no on this one. I've been in love and had others say they love me but I've never had the "head over heels, I would die for you" type of love.
10. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
I only go through the living hell that is Walmart for one thing...contact lenses.
11. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
I have so many thoughts when it comes to the topic of marriage but the short answer is no.
12. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Gotta' go with Tim Burton on this one. Although it would be him eating and me just watching and babbling away.
13. Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No, thank goodness.
14. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
It's a tie between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.
15. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
career
16. Do you have a “go to” person?
Nope...I'm pretty self-reliant.
17. Are you where you want to be in life?
Location wise, not so much. Other than that, I'm okay.
18. Over the years, what about you do you think has changed the most?
I don't trust people nearly as much. Sometimes that's a good thing though.
19. Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life?
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
20. Are there times you still feel like a kid?
Every day!
21. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
As a younger teenager, it was the rollerskating hall. Later on it was different people's houses.
22. Who do you think impacted your life the most?
I like to call him Jackass.
23. Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?
Not really.
24. Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age”?
No way. I ain't that old!
25. What is the scariest thing that has happened to you as an adult?
Probably the time that I was working at a gas station and had a situation where I needed the cops and our panic button was broken.
26. What advice would you give to someone about to get married?
Don't do it! ha ha In all honesty, I probably wouldn't say anything. Just because marriage doesn't appeal to me, doesn't mean that it isn't right for someone else. As I said in question #11, I have many thoughts about this topic.
27. What advice would you give someone starting their first job?
Keep to yourself, while staying friendly, and do your best.
28. If you could go back and change one thing you did, what would it be?
Nothing. There are times that I wonder what would have happened if I had done things differently but the past is the past and whatever you did, gave the outcome you have today and there are always lessons to be learned.
29. If you could go back and change one thing someone else did, what would it be?
Nothing. See answer for above. Even though there are a lot of things that people have done that hurt me, I've learned things from that.
So my birthday yesterday ended up being crazy busy just running errands. I had to get new shoes, pants, and socks for my new job, which I start in about an hour. Yay! Just trying to find the right shoes was a chore because everyone has tons of sandals this time of year. I finally found the right pair at Payless but they didn't have it in my size so I had to travel to the nearest store that had them, which was 30 miles away. It's super hard finding pants for me too because I'm tall and pants that are too short just look silly. I finally had success finding pants too but they were pricey. $55 a pair! Eh, if they fit right, they fit right and I justify the cost that way. Plus I got sweet coupons at that store so it's all good.
While I was out and about, I ended up at a mall that had a Hot Topic so I just had to stop in and see what they had. I ended up buying a Cradle of Filth CD, a Combichrist CD and a Skelanimal necklace (pic below). Had to treat myself, ya' know. When I went to check out, the necklace ended up being only $5 so that was a sweet deal. It was originally $10.
I was at the drive through at Arby's today getting brunch and as I pulled around the corner after ordering, I saw a bunch of smoke in the air. I saw a couple guys across the way that looked like they may have been in construction so I figured it was asphalt dust or something in the air. When I got closer, I saw flames and realized that a car was on fire! Maybe I've seen too many movies or TV but all I could think about was the car exploding and me along with it. No one was behind me in line so I backed up and went to the other side of Arby's and went in for my order. Everyone was watching the car outside. If I had a way to get pictures off of my phone, I would have taken pics for ya'. It looked like it was an engine fire because the whole front end of the car was flaming and melting. Finally the fire department showed up and put it out before the fire spread to the gas tank. The driver of the car was okay.
Alright people, I'm off to check some blogs and then get ready for work. Have a wonderful day, everyone!
My dad came over for my birthday last night and it went surprisingly well. He gave me a card with some moolah. He was going to bring a small cake or cupcakes but instead he brought a box of honey buns (not the Little Debbie brand). I don't like them but it was the thought that counts. He wanted me to keep em' but I sent them back with him. I also gave him the almond milk that I bought for the occasion. (He's lactose intolerant.) If any of you out there are lactose or gluten intolerant, almond milk isn't a bad substitute. You will taste almonds but you also get that milk texture.
I saw my mom today for Mother's Day and she really appreciated the gift I made for her. She even made a spot for it on a shelf in the living room. Awww. We spent a few hours just chatting and hanging out and it was really nice. While I was there, she gave me a birthday card and a Dahlietta Louise Dahlia (below). Purty, huh? The card she gave me is on the right and the card I got from my dad is on the left. Her and I are also going to go horseback riding for the other part of my bday gift. I haven't done that in forever and I'm definitely looking forward to it.
So the birthday time with each of my parents was good. Not the nightmare that family time can be sometimes. : )
Diane over at Good Mourning, Glory! tagged me for a meme. Thanks, Diane! I'm starting to get hooked on these meme things. : )
What is your current obsession?
I had this same question on my Stealing Sunday meme so I'd say the same thing...reading, tea, and the occult. But I'm going to add crafting and Diablo to that.
I went to three different craft stores today looking for my Mother's Day project and settled on a cross-stitch pattern. I always make my mom something for Mother's Day. I better get started on it tomorrow if I want it done by then! I might even post a pic of the finished product. Mind you, it won't be gothy or anything cuz' it's for my mom. We are complete opposites!
I'm sure you've heard of Diablo before but I'm referring to the game. It's the best game EVER. They're going to come out with Diablo 3 and I cannot wait. Yes, I'm a gamer nerd. This is the version I've been playing a lot of since I no longer have the 9-5. : )
I guess the question was "obsession" singular but I just can't limit that to one thing!
What is your weirdest obsession?
Gosh I have a lot that could be considered weird. I guess all the occult/paranormal stuff that I'm interested in would be "weirdest", although it's not to me, obviously.
What are you wearing today?
Well now that it's almost midnight, I'm in my jammies, which consist of purple pj bottoms with stars on them and a blue t-shirt. Doesn't exactly match. : )
When I was out and about today, I wore a black sweatshirt hoodie and dark blue jeans with black shoes. It was a bit chilly around here.
Why is today special?
Thinking of things that happened today that don't normally happen, I would say that today was special because my brother and his girlfriend had their first ultrasound of their first kid together. OMG I'm going to be an aunt. I'm really not a fan of children but I'm happy for them. : ) I was told that if it's a girl, they're naming it after me. What can I say? I took care of my brother A LOT when we were growing up.
What would you like to learn to do?
I would love to learn how to play the piano and how to sew. I can cross-stitch and do embroidery like a mother f***er (AKA I'm really good) but I've never "sewn".
What is the last thing you bought?
I had a craving for nachos so I bought sour cream, shredded cheese, an avocado, and organic chips. I already had the salsa so when I got home, I just had to whip up the homemade guac and lunch was served. Delish!
What are you listening to right now?
What's your favorite weather?
I'd have to go with a storm on a day/night when the weather is in the 70's.
What's your most challenging goal right now?
It's the goal I always have...to constantly better myself.
What do you think about the person who tagged you?
I think she's awesome! I sense that she has a beautiful soul and that's hard to come by.
What's your favorite guilty pleasure?
Again I'm going to have to go with my Sunday Stealing answer. Naughty food...which basically means anything creamy, cheesy or buttery.
Favorite vacation spot?
I don't have a favorite go-to spot but if there is a body of water, I'm so there.
What would you like to have in your hands right now?
A buyer's agreement saying that they want to buy my condo!
What would you like to get rid of?
Family issues! Some days I just want to get in the witness protection program and run away.
If you could go anywhere in the in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
This one was tough cuz' it's only an hour. I'd have to say Dracula's castle.
Which language would you like to learn?
latin
What super power would you like to possess?
I would choose immortality because I think it would be so neat to see how the world changes over time, to see what we create.
What's your favorite thing about the city you live in?
My favorite thing is being so close to Lake Michigan. Tulip Time starts this weekend and it's going to be a mad house! People come from all over. People that don't know how to drive on our Michigan turn arounds. That part I'm not such a fan of. If you're going to be in town, let me know...I'll show ya' around!
What's your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
My soft fuzzy black zip-up sweater.
What's your dream job?
To work on a police force.
If you had $150 now what would you do with it?
Probably nothing because I have to watch my pennies due to the "no job" situation. If I was working, then I'd use the money to buy things off of my wish list.
Do you admire anyone's style?
No one in particular but I admire goth/industrial fashions.
Describe your personal style?
Basically anything black or blue. I'm one giant bruise. I wear a lot of comfy slip-on shirts. Not really a fan of buttons.
Who's fashion show would you want tickets to?
I can't think of anyone in particular. If Gothic Beauty magazine put on a fashion show, I'd be interested in seeing that.
Who's closet would you want to raid?
Geesh there are a lot of clothing questions. I'd raid anyone's closet that had goth/rivethead clothes.
What are you most proud of?
My ability to overcome emotional pain.
If you could choose one person who has passed to have lunch with, who would it be and why?
My great-grandpa because I think he had a secret life.
Check out the right side of my blog. It'll tell you what I'm currently consuming aka reading/watching.
9. 4 words to describe yourself.
Independent, creative, trustworthy, funny.
10. Guilty pleasure?
Naughty food...which basically means anything creamy, cheesy or buttery.
11. Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak?
Nobody/nothing is that funny. Seriously, it takes a lot to really get me laughing. I giggle a lot though.
12. Planning to travel to next?
Down south, hopefully!
13. Best thing you ate or drank lately?
Ooh, I'd have to say my caramel frap, no whip, from Starbucks the other day. I just happened to take a picture of it because they made a little face with the caramel syrup. I felt special.
14. When did you last get tipsy?
Last fall on the best night I've had in a long time. Apparently I like wine. And get your mind out of the gutter.
15. Care to share some wisdom?
Oh I've got lots to share but I particularly like this:
I ask only that you keep your minds open and not fear or condemn that which you don't know or fully understand. Life's too short to be bottled up in our own visions of reality without looking up occasionally to see what we're missing.
16. Nicest thing anyone’s ever said to you?
I can't think of anything that really stands out. The nicest thing anyone has ever done for me though was when I left Ohio, my team at work went and got all gothed up and had their picture taken as a surprise for me. They presented me with the framed picture at my going away dinner. This was a big deal because nobody on my team was into goth and they ranged in ages from twenties to sixties. Pretty incredible gift.
Years ago, on the night before Easter, I lay in my bed trying to fall asleep. I was probably 10 years old at the time. The Easter bunny was coming to deliver candy and I couldn't wait. Easter candy is so different from all the other candy out there. You've got the chocolate rabbits, the malted eggs, Cadbury eggs, etc. Seriously, it's better than any other kind of candy. Halloween is my favorite holiday but I never got excited over Halloween candy. It's always tootsie rolls, mini candy bars, etc. Nothing with character. Well, I guess candy corn has character but it's not the same as biting into a chocolate covered marshmallowy pink raspberry flavored goodness. You probably think I eat bon-bons all day long. : ) I actually have no candy in the house and don't buy it except for maybe a couple times a year. I don't get a sweet tooth that often and when I do, I typically sip hot chocolate. I figure it's safer to drink the sugar in the open than to be found sitting in a dark closet licking the hollow of a Cadbury egg. Okay, enough of the candy porn.
The real reason for this post was to talk about the time I saw the Easter bunny. I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep and there was a full moon shining into my bedroom. I was on my side with my eyes open (cuz' I was excited for the candy) when I noticed a shadow on the wall. It looked like two long bunny ears but they were standing straight up. Hmm...strange. Then one of the ears bent down and then came back up. I jumped out of bed and over to the window to see what was casting this shadow. There was nothing there. It wasn't my parents trying to be funny because they just wouldn't make that effort. I just think it was bizarre that I saw bunny ears on the night before Easter. And no, it wasn't some sleepy kid imagining things. I saw a bunny dammit. : )
Dear Mr. Bunny, if you're out there,
Would you please bring me some chocolate deliciousness tonight? Pretty please? Cuz' if you don't, I'm going to have to go to the store on Monday when all the sales start and I really would prefer to eat some candy tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Cadbury Licker
I saw this video and had to add it to this post. Cracked me up!
I'm always on the lookout for unique things and I happened across this fruit. It's called a Buddha's Hand. I'm thinking this could be used in one of those fruit bouquets. Doesn't the green one look like it could be used for hair? Or you could chop off the "fingers" and make some creepy food display.
Now get your minds out of the gutter. Oh wait, maybe it's only my mind that went that way. If it was, I do apologize. : ) Came across an Etsy store that I had to share. Below are some of the items you can find there. They are all soaps! According to the seller, you can get ketchup or mustard added to your hotdog and if you cut into one of those chocolate cupcakes, you'll see white cream filling. How cute is that? You can pig out and not gain a pound. That's my kind of treat!
In my previous post, I told you that Twinkies are not vegetarian friendly due to the beef fat that's added. Bleh. There are so many products that you would think are safe for vegetarians but they aren't. One item is McDonald's french fries. This may be one you have heard of before. There was a law suit against McDonald's in 2001 brought on by vegetarians and people of the Hindu faith because of the fact that McDonald's fries contain a beef by-product and the public was not told. People who practice the Hindu faith consider cows sacred and someone had said that eating a cow was like eating their mother.
Prior to 1990, McDonald's cooked their fries in 93% beef tallow (fat) and 7% cottonseed oil for flavor. They switched to cooking their fries in 100% vegetable oil due to society concern over cholesterol. They omitted the fact that when the fries are initially prepared, a beef extract is being added to maintain their beefy flavor. In their disclosures, they put "natural flavoring" as one of the ingredients in their fries. By "natural flavoring", they meant beef fat.
Here was one of McDonald's responses to inquiries about their french fries:
The company uses a miniscule amount of beef flavoring as an ingredient in the raw product and it is not required by law to list it as an ingredient. Instead beef flavoring falls under the term "natural flavors".
According to the FDA, that is perfectly within the guidelines. I'm not going to get started on the FDA but let's just say I trust them as far as I can throw them...and they're a big organization.
So what do the french fry ingredients say now?
Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivitaves]*), citric acid (preservative), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (may contain one of the following: canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid to preserve freshness), dimethylpolysiloxane added as an anti-foaming agent. *Contains: Wheat and milk (Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients).
The crap that we eat is horrifying. Most of what we taste are chemicals made in a lab. One more thing I want to mention. TBHQ in the ingredients above stands for tert-Butylhydroquinone. Consume enough of it and you'll get stomach tumors, cancer and it can damage your DNA. Read that last sentence again. You know what else alters our DNA? Radiation. So eat enough fries and maybe you'll grow another arm? It's Chernobyl on a smaller scale.
Final note: McDonald's does not use beef products in their french fries in India due to the amount of people that practice the Hindu faith. They also do not use beef products in predominately Muslim areas such as Africa, the Middle East and southeast Asia.
Don't you just love the smell of ripe peaches?
Peaches with honey and pumpkin pie spice on top of a spongecake. Yum!
I was at the drive through at Arby's today getting brunch and as I pulled around the corner after ordering, I saw a bunch of smoke in the air. I saw a couple guys across the way that looked like they may have been in construction so I figured it was asphalt dust or something in the air. When I got closer, I saw flames and realized that a car was on fire! Maybe I've seen too many movies or TV but all I could think about was the car exploding and me along with it. No one was behind me in line so I backed up and went to the other side of Arby's and went in for my order. Everyone was watching the car outside. If I had a way to get pictures off of my phone, I would have taken pics for ya'. It looked like it was an engine fire because the whole front end of the car was flaming and melting. Finally the fire department showed up and put it out before the fire spread to the gas tank. The driver of the car was okay. 
I'm always on the lookout for unique things and I happened across this fruit. It's called a Buddha's Hand. I'm thinking this could be used in one of those fruit bouquets. Doesn't the green one look like it could be used for hair? Or you could chop off the "fingers" and make some creepy food display.
