And Now a Word With Our Sponsor

I’m again under the weather but I did promise Riley (my fierce and loyal reader) a new blog today, so here it goes. Another ‘survey’ thingy, this one from a friend. It’s kinda naughty of me but enjoy nonetheless.

This or That?
Righty or Lefty: Both, although I use mostly my right hand. Oh, you mean writing? Lefty.
Short or Tall: Do you do this just to hurt me?
Black or White: Transparent.
Glasses or Contacts: Both. I can’t wait until I can wear my contacts again.
Drink or Smoke: Neither really.
Reading or Writing: I do both. Very well I might add, unless it involves big words.

5 Things?
Last 5 Movies You Saw: Deceived, The Last King of Scotland, The Wedding Singer, Fletch, and The Nugget
Last 5 Songs You’ve Downloaded: The entire CD by Pez which includes 15 songs.
Last 5 Songs You Listened to: (okay don’t laugh) Blue Sky Mine by Midnight Oil, The Scientist by Coldplay, Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus, Stormy Weather by Billie Holiday, and Dude by Beenie Man
5 Songs that describe you: Eye of the Hurricane by David Wilcox, Why Does it Always Rain on Me by Travis, Miss Indepenent by Ne-Yo, Trouble Breathing by Alkaline Trio, and Forever by Vertical Horizon (for Mike).
5 Things You Can’t Live Without: Water, Air, Music, Laughter, and More Water?
5 Things You’d Eliminate if you could: Death, Nasty Uno People, this damn cold weather, my festering cold, and that idiot I work with.

Do You Like?
Drugs: Vicodin rocks?
Drinking: You’ve got a preoccupation with this.
Sex: Why, girls can’t be into it?
Kissing: Shouldn’t you have asked that before asking about sex?
Me: I’m reconsidering our friendship.
Yourself: I’m pretty happy with the person I am, flaws and all.

About yourself:
Hair: Brownish/Auburn.
Eyes: Blue or grey – depends on what I wear.
Nose: Yes, I have one. It’s kinda small.
Feet: Small, what a pain in the butt.
Height: Yeah, now I really hate you.
Voice: I was told the other night that it was sexy so I’m going with that.

The Nicest Compliment or Small Snippets of Life

If you know me from my tv.com blog you might remember my very good friend Joe. My co-worker and friend who very nearly saved my life a few years ago. Today I was telling him about some of the weird people I've met on Xbox Live. The two of us have played a few things together on Live but he doesn't do Uno. As I was talking he suddenly looked up at me and said, 'Darrie, you're glowing.' Of course our other friend Dagmar overheard us and chimed in, 'yes, you look beautiful.' *so now I'm blushing* Joe's reply was, 'No, she always looks beautiful... today she's glowing. I've never seen you this happy.' Joe's seen me at my absolute worst physically, and he still calls me beautiful, but to hear him say something so purely kind is extremely touching.

I went back to my desk and thought about what happened yesterday to cause me to glow. Partly my friend Riley is responsible. Riley is probably the most wonderful young man I know, second to my son. No offense Sweetie. He's been having a bit of a spot lately and we were talking about it yesterday. When I say I wanna take this kid, bring him out to Long Beach and introduce him to any number of wonderful girls, I'm not kidding. He's just fantastic. So we were speaking about people and how they tend to judge a book by its cover, how sometimes you've gotta let something go even if it hurts you if it will make someone else you care about happy, and how sometimes you've just gotta put yourself out there.

I know... this is me giving him advice. It was just a few days ago that I was ready to retreat. Yet just how I said it before, I will say it again - all it takes is someone to remind you of the person you truly are and you can get through most anything. I was hoping to do that with Riley. I can only cross my fingers that I helped him even in some small way.

Talking to Riley made me realize that I'm not a person who holds back when I really want something. It's been a while since I've really wanted anything, but I have physical proof that life is too short not to go after what it is you want. Things I can't even begin to get into with you all, as much as I love you, have influenced me over the years. So I took a step last night. For me, a pretty big one. And heck I feel pretty good about it. Mind you, I was feeling a bit daring in my Vicodin induced haze. Yet I know I wouldn't have done anything differently without the 'help.' Sometimes you've just gotta put yourself out there, take a chance, and face rejection. But like I always say, I'll take friends only any day over losing one because of awkwardness.

Some time after my conversation with Joe I got an email that had this message... I think it's truly fitting to everything that has been happening lately. Here it is...

God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED-
To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be.

I'm not a religious woman, but those words have hit home, especially now.

As always, I love you all. Treat people the way you want to be treated... until they screw with you, then kick them in the teeth and call your lawyer. :P Maybe tomorrow I'll give you another survey, Riley seemed to get a kick out of that last one.

Randomness Extraordinaire

Or maybe not. Who the hell knows. I just liked the title. But it's a lot of pressure, I mean, extraordinaire... what I've got to say better be good. Maybe nothing I say is good and I'm setting myself up to let you all down.

Oh hell, that couldn't happen. Y'all love me too much. Hoeech I'm still waiting for the verdict on how I feel. :) And if my Frakking Frakker doesn't stop by soon I'm gonna cry. No, he's working - I can deal. Besides, DJ is comin' 'round enough to pick up the slack. :P

What is wrong with me, I'm sitting in my cold office with a short sleeve shirt on and it's obvious I'm cold. Hey, get your mind out of the gutter! I'm shivering, not the other thing. You know that doesn't work on me any more.

I'm on my lunch break but I'm sitting at my desk doing this because I don't really wanna go outside to my cold car. I had to put my iPod on because the ladies are listening to Celine Dion. Now I know that Celine has a beautiful voice. I would never question that. I actually do like a few of her songs... very few. But why the hell not pump tryptophan into the air? So I'm listening to a few of my latest downloads: Pez, Kings of Leon, Flo Rider, and Audioslave. Not to mention some of my old favorites: Alkaline Trio, Zebrahead, Travis, and Patra.

Have I mentioned that I'm about to kick the teeth in of the woman in my office? Today she has just pushed me over the edge. I have a short fuse at times and she's lit it with a vengence. I went onto XBox.com to talk to Russell and let him know that he's gonna have to bring his girlfriend (Amy) and our mutual friend Crzy to visit me in jail. Haha. Seriously, I have a few choice names for this woman at the moment but I'm trying not to use that type of language right now because I know I'll never stop once I get on a roll.

This lyric is stuck in my head... and I like it... "Finally someone let me out of my cage." I know what you're saying sweetheart. Let's play...

I can't leave you without a bit of tasty goodness...

Don't Go Naked.... On Uno

I've been playing a great deal of Uno on Xbox Live lately. It's so addictive and very relaxing. In the meantime, there's a 'dark' side to Uno. Use the Force Luke! It's not so much a bad thing as an annoying-as-hell-thing. Some people enjoy going naked on their camera while playing Uno. They also enjoy sending requests for naked photos and various other things. The following will be a collection of stories about 'Naked Uno'....

While playing with my friend Russell today VerdantSmasher entered the room completely naked while laying spread eagle on a Lay-Z Boy. He left shortly after entering because I don't have my camera set to see everyone.

Later, when Russell and I were playing with another friend Nareaus, we were having a conversation about streaking when a guy came into the room and heard us. He took the conversation as a 'threat' and thought he'd show his butt before Nareaus did and so he whipped down his pants in front of the camera. Needless to say, it didn't go over well with Nareaus who called Xbox and reported him.

More to come...

Don't Forget the Soup

Why the title? Well my co-worker, Ilsa from Germany, made me her famous pea soup for dinner. So it's sitting in my office 'fridge waiting for me to take it home and enjoy it. She makes fantastic soups and always saves a bit for me. I know you're jealous now. :LOL:

In honor of my last blog... here's a picture of my fantasy home. Enjoy.

Meanwhile back at the Ranch....

You know, most of my blogs here have been about books. I love to read so it's only natural that I'd talk about something I love so much. I'm a great one for being in a bookstore and suggesting to people what would be a nice read. I'm at Borders so often that it seems like I work there. I'll tell you a secret, I've always wanted to work in a bookstore or a library. Maybe I'll own one, one day. A bookstore that is, not a library. My love of books is why I stole SweetPea's bookshelf thingy and added one to my blog. Thanks SweetPea. :)

But today's blog isn't about books. It's not even about sexy guys.... Eric Bana, Hugh Jackman, Marton Csokas, Gerard Butler.... it's about... me. Or at least it's a quiz that I was sent and answered. It's a bit stupid but I did it anyway, enjoy the answers.

Name: Darrie
Age: 36
Place of Birth: Amityville, New York
Where you live: Long Beach, New York
Sex: Female
Sex?: Maybe later, thanks for asking.
Job: Overlord of the Billing Department - BLVD Magazine & Anton Newspapers
Status: Divorced - Looking?
Favorite Actor: Sean Bean, Gerard Butler, Christian Bale, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana (/etc)
Favorite Movie: Apollo 13
If You Could Live Anywhere?: Ireland, In a Lighthouse - Mars?
Favorite Food: Chicken - I'm so boring but I've got 100 different ways to make it
Drink of Choice: Water... Sex on the Beach (seldomly)
Opposite Sex of Choice?: Huh? There's only men, right? Since I'm female I'll say men.
Are you gay?: Yes, I'm very happy thank you but I still like men.
Last Book You Read: (re-read) Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
Ideal Partner: Foreign with a beautiful voice, funny, kind, ready to deal with a little crazy
How Much Money is In Your Wallet: None, I need to go to the bank.
Is this annoying: I'm mildly annoyed
Tell me One thing About Yourself: I love to giggle.

Back to My Old Self

After a roller coaster of a few days. I'm feeling back to my old self. Well, maybe my old self plus some. :) I needed some time to brood and vent a bit (maybe a bunch), but if there's one thing I've learned is that I've gotta meet things head on. I just needed someone to remind me of that. Which I did. So, whoo hoo! Go me!

And what a better way to celebrate my good mood than with a few pretty pictures.

Ewan:

Kevin:Karl:

Oh, that's lovely. Don't 'cha think? Okay, time for some writing. I'll say one thing for recent event, I've had enough vivid thoughts to make for some interesting writing. :)

*big stupid grin*