I got my shift cut today... so instead of actually doing anything of worth and human importance... I played God of War for about 5 hours. Damn skippy was that fun! And I got pretty far, too, although I had to stop in Poseidon's temple because I was about this close to chucking the controller at the TV screen. I remember from waaaaay back in the day when I was dating Joe, he rented this game and I spent a few hours watching him play it while I did scrapbooking on his couch. If my memory serves me right, he got stuck in this spot, too. It's weird, having sporadic bouts of deja vu while playing a video game, then remember you've actually seen them before 3 years ago on your ex's couch. So bizarre. But those flashes of memory also helped me figure out some of the puzzles in Pandora's Temple, because I'd been there before (kinda)! I think that was a good way to crap away a rainy unexpected day off. I think I scared Kiera, though, because I was screaming and thwacking the controller on my knee, so she hid in her dent on my bed---she has a certain spot she loves to sleep in, and now it has a little indent of her body in the mattress. It's cute.

So tomorrow I'll actually do something. Unlike today, where I spent about 10 minutes inspecting my face in the bathroom mirror; which is where the title of this post comes from. I was being a dork and playing around with my tongue (cuz it's freaky long and stuff) and I noticed these two thick BLUE veins framing the underside of the my tongue. First thought: Have those always been there? and Second Thought: I wonder if I eat something sharp and it pokes my tongue, will I bleed out? Yeah, this is why I should never be left alone to my own devices. It's scary. But tomorrow I have plans! *fan fare* Like return my pants to Old Navy, and head over to the MoA to get state magnets from the new states I visited during my Baltimore train trek. And go to Half Price Books and finally get rid of that pile of books, CDs, and DVDs that have been occupying needed space in my living room. Yay for extra moneys, and maybe getting some Christmas shopping done, too. Maybe if Jenni's not doing anything tomorrow (due to unlandscape designing friendly weather) she'd like to come with me. Hmm.

I've also decided a new design for my next tattoo. I have 3 I want to get now. My family tattoo, my Hebrews 13:2 tat, and now a new one. It'll be a pinup faerie. Like Claire's tattoo commission, but with wings instead of a tail. And since I drew this picture, I can totally steal it and modify it. ^_^ We have two pinup books in the bargain section at work, by Gil Elvgren, and I've been really inspired by his art. So I might go to work and buy the nicer (non pop-up pinup) book and use that to get some more poses and styles for my pinup faerie. I don't want to just straight up copy Claire's tattoo. So yeah. I'll put my pinup faerie on my left calf, my Hebrews 13:2 on my right calf, and my family tat will still be on my left arm. Yay. Now... all I have to do is find the moneys for all of these... *le sigh*

All right... that's about it. I'm hungry and I have some other things to do online before I leave to eat. Check y'all laterz.

And now I'm having issues putting in my skull earrings. Stupid tiny black skulls you have to screw on tiny metal post things. Curse you! Okay... got that all settled. Tomorrow is Halloween... my second favorite holiday, and I'm not really going to dress up for work. But I will wear my fun blinky-glowy-ghost necklace... if I can get up to Target and get a new battery for it. Dammit. *le sigh* It requires one of those itty bitty flat, watch-like batteries. Maybe my dad has some.... *le ponder* But I will dress up in my new Old Navy clothes that came earlier this week. Yay for eggplant sweater! It looks awesome and it's super soft. Woo! And I'll also be doing one more fun thing for tomorrow, but that'll just have to be a surprise. If you're at the EP B&N tomorrow, you'll see it.

Earlier this week, I wanna say Monday, although it could be Tuesday... it was Tuesday, I had Monday off. Anyhoo... I sliced a chunk out of my thumb with a scissors while breaking down a shopping bag box. It only took 8 Band-Aids and about 7 hours for it to freaking stop bleeding. My coworker Nick thinks I probably caught the edge of a vein or something, because that sucker kept bleeding through Band-Aids like a mofo. Hehe. Oh well. I did have fun grossing Nick out when I started sucking my thumb and having Jessi open the first Band-Aid for me when I first sliced myself. Apparently he can handle blood, just not when people are sucking their own wounds. Hehe. Well, it was either that, or have a red cascade flowing down my hand and onto everything. But now it's fine, I have a small little divot in my thumb, right above the knuckle crease, so that hurts when I bend or catch it on something.

Loaded the last half (third?) of my Baltimore/D.C. pics onto Facebook. And two new ones of Kiera, and my uber fish Titus; they're in the Kiera folder, if you can traverse over there. There's really not much else to say right now. I'm going to rearrange my room this weekend, maybe my living room if I feel that spirit move me, so if you're bored, you can help me do that. Free pizza and all that jazz if you help out. Um... yeah. What else...? Oh, for something totally different and not really mentioned here before, but my nonexistent love life will continue to be that since the guy I kinda had a thing for, well, the whole situation with that has become way too complicated. So now I just get to hear my damn neighbors have the sex that is being denied me.

Other than that... things aren't going too bad. Well, I'm going to go hunt for batteries for ghost necklace.

Have a spooky Halloween tomorrow! ^v^   (that's supposed to be a bat... or something)

So I posted the first half of my pictures from Baltimore on Facebook. If you have Facebook, head on over there and check it out. And if you don't have Facebook, you can still access my page there without having to be a "member". So yeah. They are fun to look at. I have more from the Washington, D.C. portion of my trip coming soon, once I get through my last roll of film *seriously thinking about upgrading to a digi camera soon...*

ATTENTION lokein: You must click here.  And here.  And last but not least, here.

Had a follow-up appointment with my womanly doctor, since we switched my birth control meds. Things have been going well with that, so one less thing for me to worry about. However, the topic came up about my mom's breast cancer and when would be a good time to start, well not really worrying about it, but when to start being proactive about it. I guess the current info for breast cancer says that if you have/had someone in your family with it, you should start getting checked out about when you hit the age 5 years before they got diagnosed. Well, my mom was diagnosed when she was 52/53, so according to that theory, I would have to start getting mammograms and all that when I'm 40... which is the normal time a woman starts that anyway. So... I get to do some research into when someone like me should think about getting a mammogram or an MRI for it. I'm thinking early 30's for me, personally; which is only a few years down the road for me. Ack. I've been checking out the Susan G. Komen website to see any info for that. My OB/GYN also mentioned I should talk to them and see if they have any info, or would like me to talk to them for any research they might be doing. Ugh. I guess for the last few years (9 to be exact) I've been kind of ignoring this and not really wanting to do anything about it. If I don't do anything, or ignore it, then I won't have to worry about it, right? Well, I can't ignore it for any longer. I think in the next few weeks or so, I'm going to see what I can do to get the right info for me.

And maybe, for next year, the 10th anniversary of my mom's death, I should do the Susan G. Komen run/walk thing that they do. I've always been wanting to do it, but it never got off the ground. I think a year or so should give me enough time to get stuff together, like moneys and a team, and support, all that stuff. It'll be my goal for 2009.

Didn't really do much today... well, I went to a DBT workshop this morning at the French/Three Rivers Park up in Plymouth, which was interesting. I am now at my dad's lounging on the couch (I need to buy a couch for my apartment!), watching TV, and putzing around on the internet. Yeah. I think after I post this, I'll go up to Target and get some groceries and stuff, then go back to my place and finish reading Animal Farm, and then work on a few more chapters of Rogue Angel: The Soul Stealer. Yeah, good books. I like Animal Farm and I think it's cute that the animals took over the farm, and the one horse Mollie was all obsessed over her hair ribbons and sugar cubes. Hehee. But I also see it as a good political fairy tale, and can actually be compared to what has been happening in our government as of late; the comparisons aren't just limited to Stalin-era Russia.

But I digress. Some of you may have seen this little ad-vert on my Facebook page under "Notes", but I'll post it here again, in case you missed it:

Who wants to go on a road trip?
And by road trip... I mean take a train with me to Baltimore, MD in the last week or so of September? This is going to be my big trip of 2008, and I have a lot of vacation to use up between now and September 30th. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in joining me? I was planning on going by myself, but then I thought: "How cool would it be to go with someone else and have one of those buddy road trip moments you always see in the movies!?" [Well, the last half of that is kinda optional ;)] So yeah, if you're interested, drop me a line. You know where to find me!

I guess that's all... I'm tired and just "eh" today.

.....

Who wants to help me buy a couch and move said couch into my apartment some weekend?

Squeeee! *does little happy dance!* I found two DVDs that I have been looking forever for! And they were at work, and I didn't have to order them in or anything. What DVDs? you may be asking? White Christmas and Holiday Inn, two fantastic movie/musicals starring Bing Crosby; White Christmas also co-stars Danny Kaye, whom I adore! I've been looking for White Christmas by itself for a few years now; normally it's in a duelie pack with another of Bing's movies... something about a boys' home or something stupid. So I checked BookMaster at work... and we had at least two copies of each in the store! I ran back to the Music/DVD department and told the guy back there to find them and hold them for me behind the register (it was DEAD in the store tonight, so he was grateful for a project). I bought them on my last break. I was giddy and giggling like a little girl as I went to the break room to deposit them into my locker before I did head cashier closing stuff. I almost burst out "I'm going to have a Christmas Crosgasm!" as I punched in the door code... thankfully I didn't... there was snotty looking customer right there... prolly wouldn't have me mixing "orgasm" with Bing Crosby... one of the most wholesome singers/actors of the 40s & 50s. Now I can have a Bing Crosby Christmas, like how it's supposed to be! I also have a Bing Crosby Christmas music CD... but I might see if I can find another one, this one has tracks from some odd radio program he did, so there's clapping and stuff and it's weird.

Anyhoo. Tomorrow I'm going to do some calling on some apartment adds I found in the newspaper and also on Craig's List. I've found some nice ones that are reasonably close to work, and are about $595/month. I think I can swing that. I make roughly $1000 a month... so that'll leave me about $500+/- to work with for other things. And I won't have cable (I have enough DVDs for that), and I won't have phone (I have a cell), so that'll cut down some costs. However... the Internet connection... I'll have to work with that. Maybe I can wait on that and save up some money and see how my monthly expenses go before I get Internet hooked up. I can stand to limit my time on the computer anyway. I can also get Internet stuff done at my dad's house (if I keep my desktop here?) and/or at the library and stuff. So there are ways around that. So I'll make some calls, see if I can get some times scheduled to go do a walk-through, and see if I can't move in before the New Year. That would kick some major ass. I might have a Crosgasm if that's the case!

*sends self into giggle fits* I love that word. Oh, lord, I love it so much. I think I'm going to use it more often, and in normal conversation. It sounds just enough like the original word to get people's attention, but not so much that you're obscene. Yeah. I'm awesome.

And I've also decided that I will get a tattoo in Baltimore, but it won't be a tribute to my mom. It'll be a koi fish, on my right calf. Why a koi? Because I love fish, and koi are so beautiful and make great tattoos. Have you ever seen a koi tattoo? Beautiful. Oooorrrrrr.... maybe a betta tattoo. Oh! I think I may have a battle of the fishes on my hands! I love bettas too. I've had a betta as a pet since I was in middle school (except for now because I don't have enough room for a decent tank).  So which one? Oooohh... ooogghhhhh... argh! I dunno! We may have to settle this with a vote.

( More crap I stole from Sarah! )

Now, you must be thinking... what the hell? A half sleeve? Is that a new type of shirt or something? Nopers. It's a tattooing term. I think. At least it's my version of a tattoo term. A sleeve is basically a tattoo design that takes up a good chunk of your arm, passed your elbow. I'm going to get a half sleeve. A nice piece done on the outside section of my bicep. Yep yep. I'm going to get a memorial to my mom with a tattoo of a bird, and her DOB & DOD on it. She loved birds; I was thinking of doing a phoenix, since phoenix don't die, it'll show that my memory of my mother will never die. Pretty sappy, huh? I think Hallmark is calling... they want their card back. Hehehe. So that's my plan. I'm not sure if I'm going to design it myself (since I designed my first tattoo), or if I'm going to search for a kick ass phoenix picture. I don't draw animals very well. People, yes. Animals and inanimate objects... not so much. But I have a while to figure it out. I've also come up with a fun idea of where to get it (like, tattoo shop wise). If I can do a little research, I might see if I can get the tattoo done in Baltimore, when I'm out there in the spring. How cool would that be? A sweet souvenir from Baltimore, as well as a sweet memorial to mom. But we'll see... I may also wait until December of 2009... the 10th anniversary of her death. So... yeah.

And in honor of Halloween... I drew a little sketch of a faerie while I was baking cookies for the break room tomorrow at work. But it's not your average faerie. I combined my two favorite things together into a fun little sketch. Here... lemme scan it in for you...

( Zombie Faerie )

That's about all, childrens. I have to get up early tomorrow to work at 7am... then scream on down to Blue Earth for my uncle's wake. *le sigh* Check y'all laters.

did anyone catch the fun little added thing in the zombie faerie picture? if you found it, i'll give you a cookie!

I fixed my Manga Monkey icon. I like it. The words are easier to read (I hope!). Lemme know if I can tweak it some more.

So since I'm on an unplanned hiatus from Claymore while they translate volume 11... (but I also have the Claymore anime to watch now, thanks to akoumi)... I've discovered yet another manga to keep my busy. Grrr. It's called +Anima. It's a cute little story about this group of kids who have Anima powers: they have some trait of a certain animal that they can call upon to aide them in any situation. Like the lead character, Cooro has the +anima powers of a crow, and wings sprout from his back; or his friend Husky can grow gills and a tail like a merman. It's a cute little series, so far I think it's 6 volumes long... I haven't looked too much into it. I picked up volume 4 tonight at work. I think tomorrow I'm going to go mall it for a while, and maybe hit up the MOA... haven't been there for a while. I might track down Monster Nation by David Wellington. His new book 99 Coffins is coming out soon. It's the sequel to 13 Bullets... which I have to read as well. I am 1/3 in his zombie trilogy... and 0/3 in his vampire trilogy (13 bullets). But #2 of his vamp trilogy isn't even out yet, so I don't feel too bad. I might order them in from work... I remember seeing the MOA not having a copy of Monster Nation, and the only B&N that might have one is Maple Groove... I'm not driving that far for a book. I'll wait two weeks for it to ship.

I've also discovered a great new musical artist: Colbie Caillat. She's really quite good, despite the silliness of her first single. Yes, it was cute and poppy and got into your head... but the rest of her CD is really good, far better than that radio-friendly crap they released first. I've been basically listening to her CD nonstop since I got it a few days ago at Target. It was my retail therapy after my sucky Velcro nightmare *le cry*.

So yeah... that's about it. Not much to report here. Just thinking about hitting the hay a little early for a Friday night (tomorrow's my day off) to go shopping and to get my lazy ass out of the house. Or maybe I might bum around online a little more... see how far in advance I want to book and plan my trip to Baltimore... maybe I'll wait until around Christmas to make definite plans... OR I might write some more on Thessla Moon: One Step Too Far, since my writer's block has appeared to be disappearing. *le squee!*

Catch ya on the flip side!

From the thefridayfive:
1) If you're dressing up (yourself or your kids) for Halloween, who are you/they going to be? I'm probably going to be some form of goth-punk bookseller; like what I was last year. Easiest to work an 8 hour shift in.
2) Handmade costumes or store-bought? Hmm... if you're creative enough, handmade, or thrown together from stuff you already have. But sometimes, you just have to do store-bought. I tend to do pretty well with the "thrown together" variety.
3) What age did you last go trick-or-treating? Uh... probably 14.
4) Have you ever egged someone's house on Halloween, or done any other such "trick"? I've forked a lawn before. That was great!
5) Do you believe in ghosts? Yes.

It has been decided. Yes. And it will be wonderful. I've always wanted to go to the East Coast, and actually visit some of the states there, instead of just passing through on flight layovers. So it has been decided, that my next Annual Big Spring Trip 2008 will be to Baltimore, Maryland. Why there? Because for many reasons. I just learned that the Edgar Allan Poe Museum and Grave Site is there. How sweet is that? (a side note: his 200th birthday will be January 19, 2009). As well as Duff Goldman. Who's Duff Goldman? you may ask. Well, I'll tell you. He's the owner and chef of Charm City Cakes and also has a Food Network show called Ace of Cakes. I have become addicted to that show, and I've decided I am going to marry Duff Goldman. Yeah. So, in order to fulfill my new goal in life, I need to go to Baltimore and collect my husband. Hehehe.

Actually, I'd like to go to get some East Coast/New England states under my belt (and magnets into my USA state collection), as well as see the Charm City Cakes building. After reading on their website, I can't see them make any cakes, or go inside, cuz they are so busy; but I'd be happy just to get my picture taken outside of the shop. Yeah. And also see EAP's grave site and house. I hear it's haunted! Wooo! There are also fun museums and aquariums, shops and fun cultural areas in Baltimore as well. So why not go? It'd be fun! Oooh! And if it works out (have some more research to do...) I might be able to squeeze a trip to the Mutter Museum too!! Hot damn! So I'm planning that trip for sometime in April or May. It's still early enough in the summer tourist season, so hotels won't be booked, and stuff won't be too e'spendy. I also have my hostel book from planning my defunk'd trip to Ottawa, so maybe I can look up a nice hostel to stay at. I'm also thinking of taking a train. That way I don't have to drive (unless someone wants to come with me...) and I can see more of the country than on a plane. And the things I'm hearing about our airports and people getting stuck in the plane on the tarmac and having almost 45% of flights being delayed and/or canceled... I think I'm going to start looking for alternate transportation.

Now the question is... I'd rather not go alone. Who'd like to come with me? A fun near-week-long trip out to the heart of our nation. It'd be fun! I promise! And there'd also be a fun My Time in Baltimore comic about our adventures! If there are no takers, I understand. I don't mind going by myself. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself and tie my own shoes and ev'rythang! Squee!

So yeah. That's my new plan. It's fun! Hopefully, this trip will work out. I'm tired of trips not working out for me. I also have another trip in the works to go see Phil & Shi & Barrett in St. Louis sometime in November, once I get settled into my new position at work, and they've settled more into their new house. Yeah. Hot damn.

Okay. Now that's been settled, and slightly researched... time for Death Note 4. ^_^