Mmm... today is great.

Soon and very soon, I will be crushing Hans in Age of Mythology.

Just found out that Jenna and Paul will be visiting soon. Yay.

Got my Hot Air Affair photos back last night. Not too bad... but my scanner is crap.

Beth and I celebrated the season premiere of 24 by making a nice dinner and getting completely absorbed in it. I was a bit frustrated with how long it took to establish how much time had passed. I suppose I could have figured that out by reading any of the articles that they had about it... but I did not want to spoil anything. And since Tash isn't going to be able to see it for another three months, I guess that's all I can say. Except my big question is if everything is somehow going to come back to Nina in the end. That would be kind of cool -- and you read it here first, ladies and gentlemen.

Five things that make today not so bad:

1. The carpet of orange and gold leaves on the sidewalk in front of the office.
2. It was rainy but still 68° outside.
3. Two hours until the season premiere of 24.
4. Encouraging emails from Mom.
5. Temperature drops this weekend -- break out the winter coats!

Will someone I know pleeeeeaaase do NaNoWriMo with me? I need moral support.

Chivalry is not dead. I had a stranger in Staples offer to help me get a box of paper into my cart this afternoon. I could have managed on my own, as I have had to do it many times before... but it's always nice to be on the receiving end of random acts of kindness.

Song for the Day:
Endless Summer Nights - Richard Marx
~Summer came and left without a warning
All at once I looked and you were gone~

I am learning to speak Australian. You may be thinking to yourself, "But we all speak English, right?" Oh no, my friend. It's not that simple. I have found in the last couple weeks, my friends haven't bothered trying to translate to American, so I have picked up on heaps of new terms to add to my Aussie-American dictionary.

American	vs.	Australian
cellphone		mobile
lots, a bunch		heaps
fries		chips
chips		crisps
cream soda		creaming soda
aluminum ah-LOO-mi-num		aluminium al-yoo-MIN-ee-um
jumping jacks		star jumps
deck		jetty
no problem		no worries
next Monday		Monday next
the store		the shops
snacky, nibbley		peckish
hamburger, ground beef		mince meat
cookie		biscuit
Name Brand Differences
M&M's		Smarties
Folgers		Moccona
chocolate covered sandwich cookie		Tim Tam
Swiss Miss		Milo
Mars bar		Cloud 9

I learned an important lesson on paying compliments this weekend, thanks to Seth who stopped by Saturday night on his way back to Jax. Sometimes you just need to say what you are thinking, because it could be the one thing that really brightens a person's day.

Reasons to Move Back to Indiana:
#32. Up there they give the finger to good ol' Daylight Savings, so no need to figure out how the puke I am supposed to change the clock on my car stereo.

Song for the Day:
Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me) - The Doobie Brothers
I had Doobie Brothers Saturday this weekend, and that song just makes you want to get up and swing your arms around, doesn't it? It's such a happy tune for such a depressing song.
~I know you're leavin' me behind
I'm seein' you darlin' for the very last time
Show a little tenderness before you go
Please let me feel your embrace once more~

(I wrote this yesterday, but blogger was messed up.)
Cool Name Generator - for NaNoWriMers out there who are stuck coming up with new character names.

This weekend I transcribed "Passing Angel" for fun.

Song for the Day:
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
What ad features that song? And why do I keep hearing it everywhere these days?

And tonight will conclude the longest week of my life.

Friday Five
1. What is your favorite scary movie? I haven't seen it yet, but I want it to be Brotherhood of the Wolf... otherwise I love Edward Scissorhands, even though it isn't scary. I always play the soundtrack for it out the window to spook the trick-or-treaters.
2. What is your favorite Halloween treat? Reeces Peanut Butter Cups
3. Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, describe your best Halloween costume. My favourite was the witches costume, with the black velvet dress, white powder to make me even more pale, black hat, black nails... maybe I can find a photo to scan in.
4. Do you enjoy going to haunted houses or other spooky events? I like them but hate them at the same time. I have an overactive imagination as it is.
5. Will you dress up for Halloween this year? I had wanted to, but I don't think I have the energy anymore. There is always my Ren Faire costume if I change my mind at the last minute.



I am strangely attracted to that little MSN butterfly all of a sudden. Here is a whole swarm of them.

DealTime.com is a nice little resource to help you find the cheapest deals for stuff you were thinking about buying online.

This is one of the most brilliant things I have come across in a long time. It is a telemarketing counterscript to use when telemarketers call you. I am so tempted to do this -- I might actually start answering my phone for a change.

Soon, kids. Very soon!

Excerpts from the new Kurt Cobain book. In Nate's words, "If kurt had been a garbage collector nobdody would care about what he thought." Maybe my brother would actually read if I got him that for Christmas. He has a Cobain shrine in his (my old...) room.

Steven is gone. Godspeed.

I was disappointed to see that www.rainbowrandolph.com is nothing. We watched Death to Smoochy last night, in case you didn't guess.

Son of Sam's take on the sniper killings. Takes one to know one.

According to this test, I'm not psychic. Bummer. Maybe I just need practice.

I have spent a great amount of time in toy departments over the last few days. (I actually went to the mall two days in a row -- scary.) I was somewhat shocked to see that they are still selling He-Man & the Masters of the Universe... except he looks really mean now. See for yourself: The He-Man I came to know and love (circa 1982) versus The muscle-bound He-Man of death and destruction (circa 2002). Prince Adam has done some serious bulking up. I do have to say that Teela has received quite a magnificent face-lift herself. Old versus New. You go, girl!

I'm going home to sleep during lunch. The deprivation caught up to me after Andrew and I talked, so I took it easy last night. Though tonight will most likely be another late one, because Steven leaves tomorrow. Sadness.

When someone gets dubbed as "the Kraftwerk of the new millenium", you know I had to check them out. The New Deal. Canadian, but I forgive them.

Deviant Art - for future reference

Song for the Day:
Promise - Krezip
~Now try, just try to say
What's on your mind
Promise that you will say
Promises made so I'll just wait
Promise that you will tell me~

It's a humbling thing to know you were the first person called in a tragedy.

Saturday
1:47 AM
Phone rings. I had been asleep for thirty minutes at most, but I was having that is-my-phone-ringing?-why-is-my-phone-ringing? confusion going on.

1:48 AM
Manage to get downstairs. See the number on the mobile and home phones is the same. Uh-oh. Either there is something extremely exciting going on over there or something has gone horribly wrong. Call back.

1:49 AM
Fi: Hello?
Me: Fiona?
F: Yes?
M: This is Danielle.
F: I'm sorry; did I wake you?
M: Yes, but that's okay... what's going on?
F: Oh Danielle, I didn't know who else to call. The guys have been in an accident...

Everything gets a little blurry from there. I was at their place by 2:30. We were to the accident site by 3:25. (One of the most horrible feelings in the world: seeing the lights and vehicles from an accident of your loved ones, and then having to drive another six miles past in order to get turned around to the right side of the interstate.) To the hospital by 4:40. Back at apartment by 10:00. Asleep by 11:00. Awake again at 2:00.

My heart just aches when I think of how much worse it could have been... though it was horrible as it was. I hate that it takes things like this happening before we can show that -- or before we even realize how much -- we care about people. They kept thanking me and apologizing for getting me involved in everything -- but I would have been hurt if they hadn't.

Ours wasn't the only tragedy this weekend. Recah's sister went through a horrible experience in South Africa, and a good friend of theirs was killed. So sad.

Anyway... I think that this too shall pass.

Moviepooper - because sometimes you don't want to see what you're missing.

An Interview with God... The richest person is not the one who has the most but the one who needs the least.

Song of the Day:
Embrasse Moi - Les Nubians

Andrew just called to say that Hans is on his way home.

I got him a stuffed Gir while I was at lunch today. hehe. I predict excitement.

Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Thanks for the phone calls and emails. I'm exhausted but encouraged.

Tash, my email is ganked right now, but I had to tell you... beanbag were in an accident last night/this morning. Hans is in the hospital. I've been up all night. the suit has more details. I can't even figure heads or tails of anything right now, but I'll email when I get another chance.

I registered for NaNoWriMo 2002. I found out about it halfway through November last year. I thought I could still make it, but the thought became too overwhelming, and I quit. This year will be much better. It will be a memoir of sorts... "stick with what you know" is my motto. I think I already even have a title: Life in a Stinky Van: How I Toured with a Ministry and Lived to Tell about It.

Yesterday I was searching online for photos from a show that I stage-managed when I was in school. Never found what I was looking for, but I did find one of the guys who was in it. I got a real kick out of Jesua. I had heard that he kind of snapped and dropped out of school for a while, and that article explains that. I'm just glad to see that he's doing well now. I also found his funny yet poignant columns about the hitchhiking experience:
Ugly Peaches in South Dakota
'Do You Have Any Pot on You?'
Peanut Farming in Venezuela
Crossing the Border with James
When in Doubt, Tell the Truth

Friday Five
1. How many TVs do you have in your home? 4? One in the living room. Beth has one in her bedroom. I think Tina might have one in hers. Mine is either in the garage or in the basement.
2. On average, how much TV do you watch in a week? This varies greatly. Hard to say.
3. Do you feel that television is bad for young children? I think that too much television is bad for anyone. If/when I have children, I think I will limit the amount that they are allowed to watch. I want them to have imaginations and play outside and make up their own games and stories and characters.
4. What TV shows do you absolutely HAVE to watch, and if you miss them, you're heartbroken? "Heartbroken" is a little extreme, but I enjoy 24, The Practice, and... The Bachelor? I got sucked in... it's not my fault... Jesse made me tape it!
5. If you had the power to create your own television network, what would your line-up look like? I'd be happy with a nice mix of everything... but no commercials. :)

Seth's coming tomorrow. Seth's coming tomorrow. Hi-ho-the-dairy-oh. Seth's coming tomorrow. Woohoo!

From CNN.com, Study shows redheads need more anesthesia. (found via on my mind.) That's kinda disturbing. All I know is that anesthesia makes me vomit -- and this can be a truly horrific experience after having your wisdom teeth removed.

I have ants on my desk. Ants.

Why am I tired? Oh just because someone called me at 1:30 am to see if I knew where someone else was... because that person was missing and not answering the mobile phone. I hadn't seen said person for four hours. So I didn't really sleep for the rest of the night. Person came home this morning... but the problem is far from over. Sadness.

Yesterday I did a good deed. I was stopped at a stoplight and saw that a calf had gotten through a barbed-wire fence and was just grazing in the ditch. Not knowing exactly who to call and not seeing clearly a farmer to whom the cow might belong, I called the police department so that someone could at least try to contact the owner and attempt to prevent it from going on the road.

I'm from Iowa. I've seen what happens when cattle get onto the road. I've also seen what happens when a semi-truck doesn't see said cattle on road and proceeds to decimate half a herd. Gross. Trust me.

Song for the Day:
Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli
Crap from the Past's No-Frills Milli Vanilli Page

In the "Art Imitating Life" Department... a movie about a sniper has been tastefully postponed instead of being released next month. (See trailer here.)

Saw a bit of The A-Team at lunch. What was the premise for that show anyway? Was one of the guys named Murdock? I need to research.

Speaking of pink and babies... was it just me, or did Pink look a little pregnant on the Vogue fashion awards last night? Just a little round in the tummy area.

Naomi Renee was born at 10:41. Yippee!!

We're having a baby!!

Well, I'm obviously not.... but the bossman's wife is! Yay! She should be arriving soon. I think I just saw the stork go over.

I was trying to figure out what Wednesday's child was full of... (full of woe, by the way) ...when I came across this Wednesday's Child adoption program. Ugh... it is so heart-wrenching reading the descriptions of the kids. A 17-year-old girl in the 8th grade with a 2nd grade reading level. I just want to hug her and help her somehow.

I am so fortunate.

With all the talk of people I know going back to school, part of me thinks I could deal with college a little better now. I'd much rather study abroad however. I wonder if I could re-enroll at Luther for 2003-04, because my theatre prof and former advisor is the Nottingham Director for next year.

The Uruguyan rugby players, whose plane-crash tale was made famous by the movie (and book) Alive, won a reunion match last weekend. I think I own the movie... but of course, the book was better.

Good Things - because I know I'm not the only one who could use some good things in her life right now.

Song for Last Night:
Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in... the city of angels
Lonely as I am... together we cry

I'm not so sure about this whole "Columbus Day" business. After all, the guy landed in the Bahamas and thought he was in India, for Pete's sake. I'm boycotting it by... erm... by working today.

After failed attempts on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, Hans and I finally saw Jonah: A Veggietales Movie yesterday. It was pretty cute. (I wish I had my nephew here though!) I was a little disappointed that they didn't do the themesong... and there were a few other gags we thought they could have played with a little more, but other than that, it was good. It really got us thinking about the story itself and how Jonah really didn't get it.

Last night was also the night of cards and educational television. We watched pbs most of the late afternoon and saw Rick Steves guide us through Paris (now I'd really kinda like to see Paris), a show on Beijing which was really interesting -- plus the host girl was really candid and fun which made it more interesting (now I want to go to The Great Wall even more), and a show about giraffes called "Tall Blondes" (now I am definitely going to Kenya so I can go to Giraffe Manor).

Song for the Day:
Monday Monday - The Mamas and the Papas

I'm pretty sure there is some copyright infringement going on here. Now the question is whether or not to report it.

Watch for me and the girls on TBN tonight. There is no way that we didn't get on there at some point -- especially since we were trying to be the most enthusiastic audience members, singing and clapping along like superfans. Yeah, we made idiots of ourselves all for the sake of some air time. Beth, me, Chanel, & Tina were in the third row. Jeff and Jody's wives were a couple rows ahead of us. In the encore, Peter comes down and sings to a little girl with ponytails... that's Chanel's sister.

It is as impossible for man to demonstrate the existence of God as it would be for even Sherlock Holmes to demonstrate the existence of Arthur Conan Doyle. - Frederick Buechner

I'm surprised at how many Cryonics organizations there are. Granted, I haven't found 5000 of them or anything... but just the fact that there is really more than two surprises me. I don't know that I completely understand the rationale. Freeze my body; thaw me; fix me; live forever... yeah. One company will preserve brains encased in the cephalon (your head) for use in future-generated cloned bodies. Weird stuff. If you think about it, it could all be a huge scam. Yes, sign over your $120,000 life insurance policy to us, and then we will resurrect you in 50-100 years... after everyone who remembers you is dead too. *wink, wink*

Friday Five
1. If you could only choose 1 cd to ever listen to again, what would it be?

1. Lyric Pieces - Edvard Grieg

2. If you could only choose 2 movies to watch ever again, what would they be?

1. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
2. The Saint

3. If you could only choose 3 books to read ever again, what would they be?

1. Bible
2. Kingdom of Dreams
3. Lord of the Rings Trilogy - they are in one volume

4. If you could only choose 4 things to eat or drink ever again, what would they be?

1. Coffee
2. Diet Dr. Pepper
3. Mom's meat and vegetable casserole
4. Pasta

5. If you could only choose 5 people to ever be / talk / associate / whatever with ever again, who would they be?
This question isn't fair, because I haven't determined who my future husband may be yet...

1. Mom
2. Dad
3. Manda
4. Angela
5. ??husband??

Today in the There-Really-IS-a-Website-For-Everything Department, we have The Pink Flamingo Boycott.

Possible Follow-Up Songs to One-Hit Wonders:
• How Are We Going to Get These Dogs Back In?
• Bust an Additional Move
• Seriously, Eileen, Come On

Today's Fortune Cookie Prophesy:
Your efforts will be worthwhile.

Reality television. You love it or hate it. I try to not watch it, but it's like a car accident... I can't help but look. I usually feel dumber for having watched programs like Sorority Life. Thirty minutes I will never be able to get back. But I'll probably watch The Bachelor tonight, unless we find something better to do.

This seems to be the most comprehensive guide to reality television.

I bought a Trapp Private Garden candle during lunch today. I needed a little something to make my office smell good, and those candles are magnificent. Baby Rose... mmm.

Here are a couple of pretty blogs I have come across this week:
Still Pixels - a girlio from Brisbane, of all places.
Life Uncommon - pretty pictures; to the point.

Look for me on TBN this weekend. I'm going to the taping tonight. Beth is on choir-robe detail, so we're leaving in a little bit. Too bad we have to suffer through ZoeGirl and Superchic[k].

Manda needs to enter the most beautiful wedding gown contest.

Cool retro stuff can be found at SwitchedOnGallery.com. :)

Last week I was pleasantly surprised to see an episode of Worst-Case Scenario. I have three of the books, and someday I'm sure that knowledge will come in handy. After all, people have to jump off bridges all the time.

Feeling ugly? Apply for the Extreme Makeover.

This is the reality show that I'd want to do -- Faking It.

But, of course, The Orwell Project is the ultimate resource for all your reality television needs.

I do have to say that this is one of the stranger reality shows: Danger Island. Weird. I think they should have Ice T be one of the manhunters as a sort of homage to Surviving the Game.

**Public Service Day**

I get a lot of random search requests pulling up my page. Some are completely out there (i.e. "monkey mullet playing guitar")... but some of them have been showing up over and over again. So in an effort to aid my fellow websurfers out there, I hereby extend my helping hand.

• Spongebob Squarepants Theme Song - guitar tab / guitar tabs / tablature / tablatures - they've got it here
• Spongebob Theme Song - piano tab / piano music / sheet music / keyboard music - I did this one myself, thank you very much.
• Spongebob Theme Song - wav / real audio / listen - hear it here
• Spongebob Animated Gif - icon / picture / animation - here
• Spongebob Buddy Icon - aol icon / animated - here
• Vanessa Carlton - free sheet music / piano music - here
• Free Ringtone - nokia / Macguyver / Macgyver - here
• Pumpkin Carving - celebrity / movie star / famous / carvings / patterns / free - all here at carvingpumpkins.com

The results of the Bellybutton Lint Survey are in. You will want to be sure to check out the electron-microscope photos.

Mick rang last night to apologize and make sure I was doing okay here with everything. Got to speak to Lisa for a bit too. Spent most of the 90 minutes crying or attempting to not cry. It was so good to talk to them, and I'm just praying that the situation around them clears up soon.

I
AM
LOSING
MY
MIND!

DEAR
WEEKEND,
COME
QUICKLY!

Did you know that Google has a blog?

You know you need it. Part of you is seriously going to consider entering. Win toilet paper.

Music Man Reference:
We've got trouble...
Right here in Music City.
Oh yes, we've got trouble
With a captial "T"
And that rhymes with "B"
And that stand for... some dear friends of mine who are going through a hard time right now. :(

Ahh... the pacifist in me is being tortured. I just want to make everything better. Fix everyone's hurts.

But shoes make everyone feel better: Friday Five
1. What size shoe do you wear? 6½ (odd for someone who is nearly 5'10")
2. How many pairs of shoes do you own? Oh my. Am I supposed to know? I can think of four pairs that are downstairs... at least seven pairs in my closet... a couple in my car... and then I have a suitcase full and a few pairs in a duffle bag that are more "winter shoes".
3. What type of shoe do you prefer (boots, sneakers, pumps, etc.)? Flip-flops or clunky black shoes, at the moment. I don't do sneakers.
4. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your favorite? Right now my favorite pair is these blue flip-flops that have almost like a triangle of frayed fabric held with this thin rope. Hard to describe, but I love them because they are at one with my feet.
5. What's the most you've spent on one pair of shoes? I think my knee-high black boots were near $70.

Song of the Day:
If You're Not the One - Daniel Bedingfield
Hmm... can anyone else here relate to those lyrics?

I don't claim to be the hippest, coolest cat on the block. I'm no slave to fashion. In fact, I actually inwardly laugh at those who are.

Now, I can understand bottled water. My parents have an industrial-sized distiller in their house, so I grew up drinking purified water. Anything else tastes funny.

I cannot, however, understand this. For those who don't care to look, it is a 5 ounce bottle of Evian Mineral Water Spray... for $8.50. (That would be $1.70 per ounce, for the mathmatically challenged.)

Wow! That must be some sort of miracle spray they are manufacturing there!

That website conveniently provides a link to the ingredients of this eau de wonder. Let's see here. Hmm... the premium ingredients are: pure Evian mineral water propelled by nitrogen.

Wait... okay, so we know that Evian is upper-class water. Here you can see the mineral richness contained within their H20. (It has a near-perfect 7.18 pH.) Despite the hydro-amazement contained therein, one can purchase a 1.5 liter bottle of this mineral water for an average of $1.50 at any upscale convenience store. (This ends up being rougly 4¢ per ounce.)

Now, I'm not sure how much nitrogen propellant is going for these days, but the whole concept of this "beauty water" seems a little ridiculous to me. But that's me in all my unfashionable glory. Here are 26 Reasons why this Evian spray is the best thing since Botox. (I'm particularly fond of number 20.... but number 25?! It's fricking water not Bengay!)

I think I'm going to go to Taco Bell now.

 
Mmm... coming to Nashville -- Fall 2003: Dralion. No problem. I can wait.

Is it 2003 yet?

Phil Joel's new album is good.

Hurricane Lili is screaming like a banshee as it approaches the coast. New Orleans isn't the coolest place to be at the moment. Get out the wellingtons; it's going to get wet.

Today's Fortune Cookie:
You create your own stage. The audience is waiting.

Beth says it means I'm supposed to start a business with her. Okay.

Brilliant! Matt saw my comment about the beautiful Camry commercial music last October. After a brief exchange of the information we knew about the composer/advertising agency/etc., he achieved success and located the tune and sent it to me. You rock, dude!

Ugh -- T&N Days concluded yesterday. Now I can get back to my regularly scheduled blogging.

New Project!
I saw this cute little idea at a pretty site called BlueSchnauzer.org... which led me to another pretty site called Not Martha... I love crafty people!... but anyway...

I am making little glass marble magnets! I experimented with 3/4" magnets early in the evening. They worked, but there was some overhang. When I got home again later, I tried the 1/2" ones and was happier with the results. A friend with the vision sent me a series of little rose photos he had taken -- so now I need a sharp color printer to make them into magnets. I made a cute Coca-cola one for my brother and a Harley one for my dad. I have a feeling this is going to get ridiculous. Yay! (And maybe I can sell them in sets of 6 for $4.50. Or a baker's dozen for $15.)

One of those sites also linked to this pretty site -- Ugly Green Chair... who linked to More Crayons, which could be a handy resource in the future.

Song for the Day:
Whiter Shade of Pale - Annie Lennox
In honor of the Medusa conversation of last night... referring to the new mousse I bought and how it has silica in it to ward off humidity which is the bane of anyone with a bit of natural curl to her hair. I mentioned that a little humidity makes my hair really bouffant and said, "You can just call me Medusa." And he said, "Well, sometimes I do, actually. You know Medusa? I mean, Danielle?"

It needs to be said... I am completely enamored by Music in High Places on MTV. I don't even particularly like Goo Goo Dolls, but I have watched their episode three separate times now. They put these bands in the most breathtakingly scenic places and have them play their hit songs acoustic. There's just something about seeing the Goo Goo guys standing on this little ice island broken off a glacier singing "Slide" that just moves me for some reason.