Draceneaology and other updates.

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!


***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************

First place you went this morning?

Michael's (craft store)

What's the last movie you saw?

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (One of my first posts on this blog.)

Do you smile often?

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.

Favorite Christmas song(s)

N/A...here's another old post.

What's on your wish list for your birthday?

Didn't have one. A wish list, that is.

Can you do push ups?

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?

Sunday Stealing: The 2 For 1 Meme

This meme brought to you by:


NOTE: There appeared to be some words missing from some of the questions so I filled in the blanks (in green) with what I thought should have been there.

1. What is on the walls of your room?

I have to assume that they mean bedroom. Well I took everything down when the realtor came through but I did have Night Watcher by Joseph Vargo over my bed (below). Love his work! Then I had a 3D Halloween scene in a black picture frame on the opposite wall.


2. What type of music do you listen to?

Anything but country and jazz.

3. What do you want more than anything right now?

Someone to buy my home!

4. Do you get scared in the dark?

Heck no. I am the goddess Nyx, you know.

5. What's your worst fear?

Ooh I know. Being shot with a drug that makes you paralyzed everywhere except for your eyes. You are completely aware of everything that's going on and can't do shit about it.

6. If you could do anything right now, what would it be?

I'd go someplace warm and swim under the full moon.

7. What’s the most meaningful gift that you’ve received?

I was living up north years ago when I was just a young pup (18). I was in an abusive relationship and working at a bakery. It was a small town so everyone knew everyone's business. One of my regular customers gave me a book for my birthday and wrote a note in the front of it. It said this:

"You are a very special young woman. Out of all bad comes good and growth. Know you are cared about and in my thoughts."

I received that book exactly 10 years ago today.

8. Do you have a crush?

Nope.

9. Who is your favorite celebrity?

Tim Burton - for his creativity and his mind.

10. Could you fall in love with someone that you know must leave?

I have before.

11. Share a favorite quote of yours.

I have so many! Here's one:

"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment."

- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

12. What’s your weakness?

Every day I say I'm going to do certain things and every night I say that I'll do them tomorrow. When other people rely on me to do something, I'll have it done before you can blink an eye but when I'm the only one affected, I put it off.

13. Do you believe that we all have a soul mate?

I'd like to think so but if that's true, then some people never find theirs.

14. What were you doing before Sunday Stealing?

Watching Stargate Atlantis. There's a link to the show's page on the right side of my blog.

15. What do you get complicated about the most?

I'm guessing this meant conflicted? My answer would be family. Sometimes I'll have a good time with them and good conversations and I'll think that everything is okay and then the next time I see them, they're completely different people and I don't want to have anything to do with them.

16. What turns you off the most from a potential partner?

I have a few things that are pretty high up there. Can't say one turns me off more than another. I don't like men who brag about themselves though. There's a fine line between having good self-esteem and having a giant ego.

17. What is your worst habit?

See answer to #12.

18. When was the last time that you were jealous?

I haven't been truly jealous in many years. I get little faux fits of jealousy when someone talks about something they have that I would like but can't get.

19. Have you ever had a “friend with benefits”?

These questions are kinda' personal! The answer is yes.

20. Do you use sarcasm?

No way! See, I just did right there. : )

21. At the moment, what’s your favorite song?

I don't really do favorites but lately I've been listening to a remix of More Human Than Human by White Zombie. Kick ass song! I went to YouTube to see if I could find it and lo and behold I found part of the song set to The Covenant screenclips. Even better! Great movie, by the way.



22. What is your favorite day of the year?

Halloween!

23. Describe your love life.

Complicated. Yep, that about sums it up.

24. When was your last one night stand?

Seriously? Geesh my personal space is being invaded. Awhile ago.

25. How many past lovers are too many?

If you don't know the number, then that's too many.

Sunday Stealing: The Twenty Firsts Meme

This meme brought to you by:


First Job: The first paid gig I had was babysitting. The first job where I got taxes taken out was when I worked for a greenhouse.

First Real Job: I guess the first real job would be the one where you got health benefits and what-not so that'd have to be when I started working at a bank.

First Favorite Politician: I really don't like politics because of all the negativity but I did start paying attention to them when Bush was on his way out the door and Obama was coming in so I guess my first favorite politician is Obama.

First Car: A burgundy Bonneville that required frequent stops so that I could put water and antifreeze in to stop it from overheating and you had to literally kick the gas pedal if the car hadn't been run in a couple hours cuz' it would stick. Lovely! I've had new cars ever since then.

First Record/CD: For some reason, I really didn't want to move on from tapes to CD's so the first CD I ever got was Nimrod by Green Day.

First Sport Played: basketball

First Concert: MXPX I was pretty much in love with their stuff and they played locally a lot. Go punk rawk!



First Foreign Country Visited: I've never visited a foreign country. Someday though.

First Favorite TV Show: MacGyver I was so in love with Richard Dean Anderson. Still kinda' am. : ) I swear that man knows the secret to the fountain of youth.

First Favorite Actor: See above.

First Favorite Actress: I don't remember really being impressed with a female actress until recently. I'd have to go with a tie between Amanda Tapping and Rachel Luttrell from the Stargate series.

First Girlfriend/Boyfriend: The first "real" one was Fred.

First Encounter with a Famous Person: I've never met a celebrity but I met one of our news people one time. Does that count?

First Brush With Death: Probably the accident that happened when a guy ran a red light and hit the side of my car. My car got spun around a couple times and I ended up facing the wrong way on the street.

First House/Condo Owned: The one I live in now. Bought it a year ago.

First Film Seen: An American Tail is the first one I remember.

First Favorite Recording Artist: TLC

First Favorite Radio Station: WSNX formerly known as Sunny FM. They were mostly pop and R&B. I've gone through many different musical tastes. Now, I like anything but country and jazz.

First Book I Remember Reading: Probably those silly Dick and Jane books.

First Meme You Answered on Your Blog: Sunday Stealing!

Bicarbonate Ostylezene Benzoate

What is bicarbonate ostylezene benzoate? It's actually a "who" not a "what". It's B.O.B. for short and he's a character in a movie that comes out soon call Monsters vs. Aliens. I hadn't heard anything about this movie until I was at Blockbuster the other day and saw this adorable cyclops stuffed creature that I had to have. I haven't bought a stuffed animal/creature in years but he was just too unique to pass up.

After I adopted B.O.B., I went home that night and had to read up on his character and the movie. Apparently he was created when a genetically altered tomato crossed with a chemically altered ranch-flavored dessert topping. Hmm. He's indestructible, has an insatiable appetite, and no brain. He says what he thinks because he has absolutely no filter, which can be a good thing. It sounds like he saves the day in the movie. Go B.O.B.! Stephen Colbert is the voice of the president and he's got at least one funny line, "Boys, set the terror level at code brown. Cause I need to change my pants." hee hee I'm so mature. See the trailer here:



I happen to think B.O.B. is cuter as the stuffed version so here's my recently adopted fellow.


And here he is with Vampire Kitini enjoying some sunshine. Yes, Vampire Kitini can withstand sunlight. He's just that powerful.

Mirrors

This is a continuation of my last post. The second movie I "rented" today was Mirrors with Kiefer Sutherland. I thought this was a good movie and the ending was not what I expected. There are a lot of horror movies out there that make inanimate objects frightening but mirrors are pretty freaky, if you think about it.

The first thing that comes to mind is "Bloody Mary", which I'm sure most of you have heard of. If you haven't, the story goes that if you chant the words "bloody mary" three times (or thirteen) while staring into a mirror in a dark room (or lit by a candle), that you will see the ghost of Bloody Mary. Mary was a supposed witch named Mary Worth who was executed long ago. There are many different versions with how to do it and what you'll see but that is the gist of it. I remember seeing a bunch of girls do it in the bathroom in junior high but I left before they stopped chanting because it freaked me out a bit but it stayed in my mind. I decided to try it one day that I was home alone...it worked. Although I didn't see Bloody Mary, I did see my deceased great grandpa. I will never forget that image. That was my first encounter with the paranormal. While living in that house, I would hear my name being called by a man but when I asked my dad if he had called me, he hadn't. Hmm.

It is said that you can see the future or find lost objects by using a mirror or pretty much any reflective surface, including calm water. I've heard of people painting a mirror black to use for magic or to see your inner self.

Mirrors have been seen as a way to trap spirits and demons. Before funeral parlors, the deceased would be in their own homes and when someone died, all of the mirrors in the house would be covered until the body was taken away for burial because if the deceased saw themselves in a mirror, they would be trapped. In the movie Constantine, a demon is tricked into looking into its reflection in a mirror and is forced to leave the possessed person's body and is trapped in the mirror.

You've heard that if you break a mirror, you'll have seven years back luck, right? Since mirrors can supposedly see and/or hold your soul, it was said that if you broke a mirror, part of your soul was trapped inside and since the mirror was broken, your soul was broken and that brought on bad luck. Apparently the Romans believed that your body renewed itself every seven years so it would take seven years for you to become whole again.

A mirror played a role in Snow White. Remember the witch would use the mirror to get answers to her questions?

Bram Stoker knew of mirror superstitions and incorporated that into Dracula. I can only assume he did this because it would make the vampire appear to be soulless because he cast no reflection in mirrors.

So the next time you look in a mirror, take a close look. What do you see?


Picture courtesy of Photobucket.

Religulous was not ridiculous but was hilarious.

Look! It's Bill Maher and Jesus in the holy land!

I was home sick today and decided to take advantage of my On Demand movie selection via cable. It costs the same as renting a movie at Blockbuster and I don't have to leave my house. Love it! The first movie I "rented" was Religulous, which was hilarious! Granted, if you have belief in a god, you may not find this very funny. Bill Maher isn't confrontational at all and freely admits that he doesn't know if there is a god or not. He doesn't try to sway anyone's beliefs either. All he does is ask questions. He's trying to get people to really think about what they believe, which I fully support. Don't believe in a religion just because your parents did!

So what made this movie so funny? The responses that he got to his questions. It's the people trying to support their faith yet contradicting themselves along the way, which I guess makes sense because the Bible contradicts itself too. I can't quote the movie word for word but the funniest part to me was when Bill was talking with a guy who believes in god and Jesus but doesn't believe in Santa Claus. Right, because there's no way that one guy can delivery gifts via chimneys one night a year but there is a god that keeps track of every single second and person in the world and is making everything happen. It does sound funny, doesn't it? So talking snakes, virgin births, and someone living in a big fish for three days is true? Sorry, I'm not buying it but I might buy the DVD. : )

Stay tuned for a post about the next movie I "rented".

Atonement

I just saw the movie Atonement. I normally only watch movies that are scary and/or movies that have a vampire but occasionally I'll watch something more mainstream and I'm glad I chose to today. This was a phenomenal movie. The library scene was exquisite (pictures shown above). The ending was a total shock. If anyone can watch the movie and see that coming, then they must be one hell of a psychic. To see the trailer and get more information on this movie, click here. Even though it was a love story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Speaking of love, a MySpace friend posted a bulletin today asking, "What is love?". My answer was influenced by the movie I had just finished watching, of course:

Love is a feral tiger. Never giving in until it is satisfied and even then, it only settles down for a moment until the hunger takes over again, wanting more each time. Ripping apart it's prey until the victim can take no more and then the tiger licks the wounds with it's healing tongue making the victim lose themself in the bliss of the kiss.

Happy Valentine's Day to all you victims! : )

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Coming January 2009: