Travel Plans

Believe it or not I'm still trying to get to Atlantic City this fall. I can't be sure it's going to happen, but I was on every website known to man for good deals on hotel rooms. I found Hotel Reservations today when I decided to give it another go at finding a reasonable rate.

All I can say is wow! I did get a better rate than I was finding on my own. The site was easy to use and like many of other travel sites, offered deals on flights, cars and even vacation packages.

Being the type of person that harbors delusions of fantastic vacations, I decided to do a lookup for rates on Las Vegas, which is my dream vacation. I got rates as low as $410 for airfare and hotel accommodations! Round trip, airfare! That's fantastic! It's better than some of the deals I've got through AAA. I think it was better pricing than what I saw one a few other sites too.

I know for Atlantic City, The Hilton Casino never came up at all in any of my searches, and it was the best rate by far for Sunday and Monday, which are the days I'd need the room for, if we go.

The best part is that the site is easy to navigate. Plus it offers discounts on hotels and flights etc all over the world. Not that I'd have any use for international travel, but one day. One day, when I get brave and decide to go to London or Dublin, or let's be more realistic, Toronto or Quebec.

I know that I'll probably use this site when booking my trip to Atlantic City in September, assuming that all goes well with my father in the next few days.

I checked on their rates for car rentals too, though nothing comes up for my area, other than the rental places near the airports, but from what I'm seeing their rates are very competitive too.

So I must file away for further use. I've already written the phone number down just in case. I don't know why but I always end up with questions and thankfully, you can talk to a person if you need to with this site. Reservations can be booked online or by phone. That's a plus for people that don't like to give their credit card info to a website too.

Now if only I had the money to take an awesome vacation, and if only my dad were home from the hospital so I could stop worrying.

Can I Just Say, ARGH!

Yesterday at about 12 o'clock I get a frantic call from my mother. My dad fell at our local grocery store and they were calling an ambulance.

So my frantic self called the boss, left work early and drove down there to check on him. It seems he blacked out and fell, smacking his chin on the buggy.

We sat in the emergency room at MVH for 4 hours before they told us they were going to admit him at least for overnight observation. He's on a heart monitor, because they feel that at his age, it should be something with his heart, never mind that he's prone to inner ear trouble, that he had a skin cancer removed from that area and that it was in the upper 80's yesterday and he had no business being out and about in the middle of the day, except that he was on a grocery store run for my mother.

The grocery store runs will be changing in a week or so. I'm going to go a little bit further into debt and buy them an appliance that they've been needing for a year or more now. I don't care anymore. I really don't. Everything will work out somehow. I'm not sure how, but it will.

Mom's still a mess. She's used to being the one in the hospital, not him. It's just all a muddle.

And did I mention that they found nothing wrong with him? Except that he cut his lip and bruised his shoulder?

So if I'm a bit scarce online...know that I'm having a mental breakdown. I need a shoulder...in fact my whole family does right now.

Random 10 - Week 116

From Music Memoirs

10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)

I was listening to a lot of 60's stuff this weekend along with my usual weird stuff.

The Monkees - Laugh
Donovan - Jennifer Juniper
The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin (ARGH!!)
Justin Hayward - Troubadour
Herman's Hermits - Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter

Next...5 songs from Hairspray...A MOVIE EVERYONE SHOULD SEE!!

Welcome To The Sixties
Good Morning Baltimore
You Can't Stop The Beat
I Can Hear The Bells
(The Legend Of) Miss Baltimore Crabs (tee hee)

And as for the picture...A Chihuly Glass sculpture at Phipps



It looks like rock candy doesn't it?

Weekend Recap

Saturday:

I had a wonderful meal at The Union Grill in Washington, PA, which is located directly behind WJPA's studios. How did I not know that? I worked a block away from there for several years during college. Oye! I'm foolish.

The only bad thing I can say about the place is it's pricey. A little too pricey for the type of food I can get at Red Dawg's or Meloni's. Still it was good, and since I wasn't paying, I'm not complaining.

The remake of Hairspray was awesome. There wasn't a bad moment in the movie. John Travolta, who is one of my least favorite actors, right above Tom Cruise, was fantastic. Queen Latifah was a true queen. Oh and Christopher Walken rocks my socks.

The music and costumes were perfect. I wanted to nab some of those early 60's dresses. They were so gorgeous.

Walked 5 miles at the walking path. Can I get a woot? Please?

Sunday:

My sister, the youngest nephew and I headed to "The Burgh" today to go to Phipps. Lordy was that a mistake. CMU aka the richy rich uni from hell, had something going on and Phipps was a madhouse of obnoxious soccer moms and no it alls. The flowers and the Chihuly glass exhibit were gorgeous...but the people ruined the experience.

However it was great to see that this was the same glass used to make those fantastic chandeliers at the Borgata in Atlantic City.

We ate dinner at Mad Mex in Oakland. One word, YUM! I had a Thai Curry Burrito with tofu. The burrito was full of rice and peanuts and pineapple and oh was it scrumptious. It was washed down by an ice cold Corona. Double yum.

We all took a ride on the carousel in Oakland and then got a pina colada bubble drink.

If the people hadn't been so obnoxious the day would have been perfect.

Pictures will follow in the next day or so.

Monorail Cat!

Itchy has taken to sitting in the most unusual places in the house. Last night this is where I found her.

In between having fits of worry of her falling off and toppling to her death...Nah...she's jumped from the fridge to the floor, the distance is much shorter from here...I ran for the camera. Yeah, I'm a really good cat mommy. My kitty's in a precarious position and I run for the camera. It's a good thing I knew she wouldn't hurt herself and that she has pretty good balance, considering her shape is so darn round.

She was the perfect monorail cat.

The rest of the pictures that I took are here. Check them out and have a gigglefest, at her expense.

Lunch & A Movie

Today is ladies day. I'm going to The Union Grill in Washington, PA for lunch and then to see a movie. I'm not exactly sure what movie, yet, but I'm going to see a movie! Woot!

I'm looking forward to a day out with someone that isn't family, and that's not to say I don't love my family to pieces. I do. I love them dearly. Most of the time. Lately a few members of my clan have made me want to clobber them with sticks.

It's been a bit too much togetherness in our household lately. Way too much togetherness.

An afternoon away from everyone should make that a little better. At least, I hope it will. There's way too much tension right now. Between the vacations that didn't happen and car issues (not mine for once) and financial issues (everyones) it's really been a lousy summer.

Maybe these next few weeks will signal a change and that the last few weeks of summer will be better than the rest.

I can only hope. I can also hope that Hairspray is a funny movie, because I think that's the one we're going to see today.

I signed up for PPP!

I just signed up for a payperpost account. What's that, you ask? It's a blog network that allows bloggers to make money by posting for advertisers on your blog, and I don't mean having a block of ads posted on my blog. I'll be posting about real websites with services that I can relate to and maybe you will to.


The first time I read about these sites, I was hesitant, but Valbee is doing it so I thought, what could it hurt? I need some extra money. Don't we all? So I figured why not sign up?

I can choose how much extra money I make. This could be vacation money or money for those bills that creep up on me without notice every month and make me frustrated. Who knows? The only way I'll find out is by giving it a shot, and that's what I'm doing.

Ah...extra CD money. That's enough to motivate me. Actually money for rental cars motivates me too. Money to pay off bills is another motivator. Can you tell money motivates me? I imagine you can. Plus it's money made through writing, and I love to write and research. So this could be a great opportunity for me.

If you think you might like to make some extra money too, there's a sign up link in this post and on the sidebar of this blog. Just give it a click and you can sign up too!

Well I Preordered It

What did I preorder you ask?



The Pattie Boyd autobiography. I have to read it.

Who is Pattie Boyd?

For shame.

Pattie is the first wife of George Harrison who then went on to marry Eric Clapton. I believe the second marriage shows signs of poor judgment on her part, but that's neither here nor there.

I can't wait to read it. I'm sure Pattie has quite a few tales to tell, because the 60's were one wild ride for her.

Butterflies

For the last two or three days the area around my office has been surrounded by butterflies. I've seen just about every kind of butterfly that is native to Southwestern PA in the last few days.

I also couldn't resist bringing my camera to work to get one or two or...well 20 or 40 pictures of these beautiful creatures.

The Monarchs seem to be the hardest to photograph. They seemed to sense whenever I was about to snap a picture.

I did manage to get 3 pretty shots though. Most of the pictures that you can see if you go to my flickr page are of a lovely black butterfly and a yellow and black butterfly.

Yes, I'm easily amused. Stop laughing and go look at the pictures!

Top 5 On Friday - Week 134

From Music Memoirs

Top 5 Nighttime songs (songs about evening or things related to the evening)

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Nighttime

Justin Hayward & John Lodge - Nights Winters Years
(This is my favorite song from the album Blue Jays)

Erasure - Man In The Moon
(Gorgeous track from the album I Say I Say I Say)

Gordon Lightfoot - Song For A Winter's Night
(This song makes me sigh, a lot)

Paul McCartney - Goodnight Tonight
(cuteness overload)

~ song samples will be provided later in the day.

Busy Weekend Coming Up

It looks like for the next 3 weekends I'm going to have some stuff to do. A friend of mine called me last night and I'm doing dinner and a movie on Saturday. That's cool, assuming I can sit through the movie. I have a very short attention span for things like that these days. I can't even seem to watch television anymore.

Sunday I'm going to Phipps to see the butterflies and carousel in Oakland. I'm hoping to get some coffee from Crazy Mocha and perhaps dinner at Mad Mex.

The following weekend I have church things to deal with as well as hopefully getting to the Aviary or one of the Zoos.

The week after is my weekend trip to Canton to see my brother. Which I'm looking forward too, because everything else about this summer sucks. Nothing that I wanted to do has been done.

I bought a new bathing suit awhile back, and I've never gone anywhere to wear it. Not that I want anyone to see my fat ass in the bathing suit anyway.

I wanted to go to Idlewild once this summer. I doubt there will be money for that unless I unearth a windfall sometime in the next few weeks.

Then there's the trip to Erie that got put in the can.

Oh and the 2 zoos. I haven't been to Ohiopyle either.

~sigh~

And people wonder why I've been depressed.

At least some of that's about to change a little. Yay! I could use a few busy weekends. When I'm busy I don't have time to think and thinking is what makes me depressed these days.

I Feel Like A Fool

I caught PH online today on google. So out of the blue, I IM'd him.

He actually responded, too.

Amazing.

Yes, I'm ready to give up on the friendship thing there. I know it's a complete waste of my time, but I do hold out hope that maybe he'll grasp the meaning of friendship and know that I'm not harboring any desires to jump him. At least not anymore.

However it does seem quite wrong of me to be typing at him while listening to WJPA instead of WPKL. Ah well, such is life. I haven't listened to The Real Dill Pickle Morning Show in weeks. And I'm not about to go back to that habit any time soon, because it just makes things worse for me. Mind you, attempting to chat with him does too, but what can I say, I continually grasp at straws, plus I keep hoping one day he'll surprise me.

So far he hasn't. Which is why I really feel like a tard for kinda putting him on the spot, but then again, he wasn't answering my emails. I guess that's telling me something, huh.

The sad thing, is now I really don't want to go to The Grass Roots concert in Oct, because I don't want to see him. I don't want to hear him, because I'll just end up feeling hurt at the end of it all. That's just sad because I have 3rd row center seats for the concert.

Would someone please tell me how to get him off my mind, or at least how I'm going to get through that show without heckling him?

Sitting And Thinking

Just some random thoughts that have crossed my mind in the last 24 hours.

~ There's a reason I only fill up 3 times a month. I only work 8 minutes from my house, however my wage isn't that much, and since I'm up to my gizzard in debt, I can't afford the extra cash for gas. If I worked at the mall which was 20 + miles from home, I think I would have just killed myself, because it wouldn't be worth what I was being paid versus what I had to pay to get there.

~ I don't quite understand a person who sends a random email and then won't respond to the one I sent. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, PH!

~ Need to get Bootsie to the vet for her shots. That's another $50 I don't have, but thankfully August is a 5 week month which means...an extra paycheck next month! Woot!

~ Made the arrangements for the rental car for my trip to Canton, OH to see my brother in 2 weeks.

~ Just realized, I haven't read book 5 in the Harry Potter series, but I've read book 6. Uh. Not sure how that happened. Not sure I care about reading 5 or 7 anymore. I'm heartily sick of Harry Potter.

I will say though that if I were 18 again I would so have the hots for the little redhead that plays Ron Weasley in the films. He's such a cute kid.

~ There is much stuff that is needed for the house...new tv stand...area rug for the computer room....new comforter set for my bedroom and I haven't a clue how I'm going to wangle it all in the coming months, as shortly after my vacations wrap up (assuming I go on one), I have 3 birthdays that are family to worry about and at least 1 other birthday and Christmas. ARGH!

~ I think I prefer walking to strength training. Why? Because its so damn hard to get your cardio on whenever all the elliptical machines are being used, and I hate the treadmill.

Take Me Back Tuesday - Week 133

From Music Memoirs:

Pick a person or a few people that you'd like to tell something in song.

Tell us who they are...and what song you've chosen for them, and why.

Fishy Fishy Fishy...have I got a few songs for you.

The Byrds - I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better
~ After what you did, I can't stay on, and I'll probably feel a whole lot better when your gone.

Unfortunately..though that's how I should feel...it's more like this.

John Waite - Missing You
~ In your world I have no meaning, though I'm trying hard to understand and its my heart thats breaking down this long distance line tonight,I ain't missing you at all

To my boss: The Go-Go's: Vacation

Vacation...all I ever wanted. Vacation had to get away.

Can you guess who wants to use some of her remaining vacation time soon?

To Jennifer: Blondie - Call Me
(cos I'm worried about you, silly)

~ Call me (call me) on the line
Call me, call me any, anytime

I was lazy yesterday

I don't know if it was lazy or frugal, but for whatever reason, I stayed home from the walking path and Jack's Total Fitness yesterday.

I think it was a combination of both. Both places are a good 4 - 5 miles from my house, which means going there uses up gas, gas which I can't afford. Seriously, I think a horse would be cheaper at this point. My last almost fill up was $25 and depending on how many times I go to exercise, I end up filling up about 3 times a month. If I go out that's even more.

I can't take that.

I can't take sitting home either.

It's a vicious circle.

And laziness kicks in after 8 hours at work. Once I get home, I have little motivation to go to the gym, but I usually manage to make it there 3 - 4 times a week. Last week I did 4 days and one day at the walking path doing 5 miles of walking.

So all in all, I guess I'm not that lazy, right?

Small consolation. I'm not really lazy but I'm broke. GAH!

Kittehs Everywhere

I think Muthcka was the only kitteh, that didn't have his picture snapped this weekend, and that's because he's a cranky kitty.

Here are my furry feline friends....


Oogie, aka Kitler looking not so pleased.



This is Bootsie's WTF expression. She uses it a lot.



Itchy is glad I didn't snap another picture of her rolly polly belly.

Random 10 - Week 115

From Music Memoirs

10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)

Most of the songs are pulled from the Zen that was on Random Play as I walked. It's funny that some of the songs were hitting how I felt most of the weekend.

Anggun - Still Reminds Me
Anggun - Devil In My Mind

(I love this lady's voice. I discovered her quite by accident several years back when her debut album came out.

Keri Noble - Talk To Me

Natasha Beddingfield - We're All Mad

Paul McCartney - Fine Line
(One of my favorite songs off Chaos & Creation In The Backyard, which is far from my favorite McCartney album)

Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Anymore
(Perhaps he can update it for me. It's so funny, we don't email anymore)

Warren Zevon - Accidentally Like A Martyr
(I love me some Warren)

Cheap Trick - All Wound Up
(I was kinda, but not in a good way)

Fleetwood Mac - Monday Morning
(GET THIS SONG OUT OF MY HEAD)

Marillion - Kayleigh
(I haven't listened to this in yonks)

And the photo? My shameless cat Itchy

Weekend Recap

It's been a good weekend. Got some stuff done. Had some good food. Shopped a little.

~ Saturday

Yummy Mexican food for dinner from The Three Amigos in my little hamlet of Charleroi-On-Mon. Stuffed Pablano Peppers = Mouth on fire, but they are also tasty. So is the sweet corn bread. Oh and did I mention half price margaritas? Helluva good dinner.

I walked 5 miles at the walking path, doing my best to sort some issues out in my head. It didn't work, but hey, I walked 5 miles!

Did the laundry. Can I get a woot for that? I hate laundry.

Watched a fantastic comedian on of all places the Christian network. Paul Aldrich is a dang (cos it's a Christian comedian) funny guy. He's proof that I can laugh til I pee myself, even without the use of profanity or too much sexual innuendo. Seriously, this guy is worth checking out.

~ Sunday

Went to the Mart of Wal to stock up on the week's lunches. I am keeping Kraft and the South Beach Diet people in money, I swear. Bought one naughty thing. Saw pigs in pancakes in the frozen food aisle. I couldn't resist, damn it. I just couldn't.

Set off to Washington Crown Center, growled in a nice way at Fishy's general direction. Spent $34 I don't have on clothes that I don't have any place to wear. Can you say impulse buy?

Ate dinner at Red Robin. Oh how I love Red Robin. My sammich was the bruschetta chicken with parmesan garlic fries. My stomach was having orgasms, I kid you not. Oh and my drinky poo? Freckled lemonade. Bliss. (Oh that's strawberry lemonade, with huge chunks of strawberries) All in all, better than sex. Not that I'd know anything about sex.

Walked another 5 miles at the walking path. Still did not rid my head of the worries and other stuff that has been floating around that vast empty area inside my head.

Composed an "I'm a tard" email to the fishy one...I'm hoping he'll take pity on me and send a note back. Bets are on now that he won't. That's where my money is anyway.

I AM A TARD

I was clearing out all my emails this morning...and I went to my gmail account which I very seldom use and low and behold there was an email from...Fish, you know, He-who-should-be-flushed-down-the-toilet.

Hangs head in shame.

The childish girl in me has been avoiding him for 2 weeks and last Friday he sent me an email about a Nick Lowe article. AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL TODAY!

FUCK!!!

He sent me an email without my even sending him anything. He saw something and thought about me and emailed me, in the old style of 9 words or less but still he saw an article and was kind enough to sent it to me, knowing that it was about someone I like.

I feel kinda small right now. Really really small. Worse still that email came and if I'm right I had that freaky dream about him calling me the next evening. Damn, why haven't I checked my flipping gmail in over a week.

What do I do? He probably thinks I wasn't speaking to him and I wasn't, but I didn't want to not be speaking to him, I was doing what I thought was best. Because I want a friendship out of this, or at least an email buddy, and I haven't a clue what he wants, but one thing for sure it isn't the same.

But lordy...I do miss him.

Perhaps I should be the one flushed down the toilet.

~sigh~

Once Upon A Time:

Walking was a cathartic thing for me. Anything that was wrong in my life could be hashed out in my head during a nice 2 mile walk. Well I walked 5 miles today and I was near tears the whole time.

My mind is stuck on two things, a certain person who should be flushed down the toilet and finances. Thinking about both brings about a fresh bout of tears, and with the right song, I'm a watering pot.

I keep telling myself I'm fine. The finances are working themselves out, slowly but surely without too many sacrifices. I also tell myself that I've gone 2 weeks without turning on 99.3 The Pickle, which means I haven't heard Fish...erm He-who-should-be-flushed-down-the-toilet, in 2 weeks. No I lie, my CD player conked out the other day and I popped it out in time to hear one of his commercials. I growled at the radio like the immature child that I am, and shut the car stereo off.

Anyway what does it matter that I have no extra money and I live from pay check to pay check, just barely, and the one person that I truly hoped would be at least a friend has flung that back in my face?

Money and friendship don't matter, right?

Damn it all, I'm one depressed little girl right now.

I WANT A HUG!

Another Lazy Saturday

I think all my Saturdays are becoming lazy ones, at least through the next few weeks. Again, I'm really trying to get a firm grip on my debt situation. I need to be able to handle it better than I am right now. At this point I really don't have much extra for myself to put away for anything. Nada. Not if I want to live like a normal human being. And I refuse to give up life because of bills. I can also thank my parents for still helping though they really shouldn't have to.

I'm going to do the laundry, read, and go to the walking path in Monessen and do 5 miles. My legs will hate me, but that's tough, cos I'm in no mood to go to Jack's. That's a Sunday thing. Plus I need to sell the first born I don't have so I can get a tank of gas. BLERGH!

Such an exciting life I lead, is it not? It makes me wonder how I can stand all of this sometimes.

If I had some gumption, which at this point I don't, I'd start cleaning again. But I've still got VHS tapes coming out of the wazoo and nowhere to take them or anyone wanting them, and I'm not keen on sending some of them to the garbage.

I do have one goal for this lazy Saturday, and that's not to spent the vast majority of it in front of this stupid computer.

Top 5 On Friday

From Music Memoirs


Top 5 bands that make you wonder "where are they now"

1. Semisonic: The lead singer, Dan Wilson was supposed to do a solo album, but so far I've seen nothing, and I loved his vocals. And though they only had one hit, they had several albums. Looking at the website Dan co-wrote the song Not Ready To Make Nice with the Dixie Chicks. Hmmm I think I love him all the more, even though I'm not a country fan.


(click to buy @ Amazon)

2. Billie Myers: She did the song Kiss the Rain, and Am I Here Yet (Return To Sender). I think she's had one more single not too long ago in the UK. I love her voice and I want more damn it! And I'm sick of waiting.


(click to buy @ Amazon)

3. Cause & Effect: They were a Depeche Mode type sounding band from the 90's. 2 albums wonders...they made some good pop music though.


(click to buy @ amazon)

4. This Picture: And indie band from the 90's that had two albums, right now I can't even locate one of them on Amazon. They had a really mellow sound. I loved them for a brief time when I was in college, but it appears they have now faded into obscurity.

5. Figures On A Beach: A new wave band from Detroit. 2 albums and they were riding the obscurity superhighway, with nothing on the web to show that they existed, except one CD still can be found on Amazon, but no band info anywhere.


(click to buy @ Amazon)

Randomosity Returns

~ I want to know why we have to work when it's pouring down rain. (or snow) I think bad weather days should be an excuse to stay in bed.

~ Matchbox Twenty has a new album coming out and a new song on their website called How Far We've Come. This makes me happy. Rob Thomas = Love. It's a hits package, but hey it's a hits package with new songs. Yay!

~ I'm not in the mood for anything right now. I'm jittery and bored. Not an easy combination to deal with. I need some me time that doesn't involve me sitting by a computer.

~ Two books I've been reading that I recommend. (Yeah I read more than one thing at a time. I'm nuts)

That Camden Summer


(click to buy @ amazon)

A wonderful piece of romantic fiction set in the early days of the 1900's. Not smutty at all, just a story about one divorced woman's attempt to build a life for her 3 daughters in her hometown that isn't taking kindly to an outspoken divorcee returning.

The Cat That Came To Breakfast

(click to buy @ amazon)

I love the cat mystery series. Nuff said. You should try one too.

~ I've been listening to more female artists these days then men. Not sure why that is. I think I've even turned all Lilith Fair. This cannot be a good thing. This has to be a statement to the fact that music is taking a downward spiral or that guys are just screaming with their guitars and not singing. Hmmmm.

The Erie Trip That's Not To Be

Well, as my sister just got the bill for her car's transmission, the plans we had for going to Erie this month were pretty much washed away. Funny, I'm not feeling too awful about it, because I think we'd be sleeping in our car or paying way too much money for a room at this point.

~sigh~

This has just been the summer of disappointments.

But then again, I'm getting closer to having the bulk of my debt paid off, so all in all it's not to bad, plus there are loads of things in the area that can be done. I want to go to The Good Zoo in Wheeling and The Pittsburgh Zoo. But right now I'm not even trying to contemplate things to do. It's not worth it, because it's likely to end in more disappointment. And when things don't turn out I end up just like a child. I sulk, whine and cry around.

Another thing that is keeping me from making too many plans far in advance is that my mom's pacemaker is down to it's last 25% on the battery which means at any given month it could hit the point where she'd have to have a minor surgery.

Perhaps this is a higher powers way of telling me that it's a year for staying home and getting things sorted out.

I just wish the staying home part didn't mean staying home and doing nothing.

Blergh!

Take Me Back Tuesday - Week 132

From Music Memoirs


Were you ever a member of any "music clubs"? Which ones? Are you still a member?
I think at one time I was a member of all of them; Columbia House, Play, and BMG. Now that BMG is the only one left, that's the only one I still belong to. I've got some good deals there too.

Columbia House used to offer 12 CDs for a penny. If you could choose 12 CDs what would they be. (Domestic releases only to make it realistic)

Toby Lightman - Bird On A Wire
Toby Lightman - Little Things
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Lisa Loeb - The Very Best Of Lisa Loeb
Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing
Suzanne Vega - 9 Objects of Desire
Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love
Crowded House - Farewell To The World
Louise Setera - Still Waters
Roxette - A Collection Of Roxette Hits
Tracey Thorn - Out Of The Woods
Warren Zevon: Genius: The Very Best Of Warren Zevon


What would you change about the music clubs?
The shipping costs! Lordy! That's where these blighters make all their money. That's why I tend to order when they have a "Free Shipping" special. They charge per disc, so if you're getting a good deal on a box set, you lose it on shipping. Blergh!

Tuesday Randomness

~ Still no plans made for the Erie trip. I'm frustrated, but since sister's car has had a bad transmission I'm not saying a damn thing. I still don't know how this trip is going to happen. It's a weekend. I can't imagine finding a place to stay right now at the height of vacation season in Erie is going to be easy.

~ The scale and I are fighting again. Scale seems to think I should be a fat ass. I hate the scale and want to throw it out the window. Oh and heat makes me retain loads of water...and I'm PMSy. Yeah, TMI, I know.

~ Another one of my bills happens to be paid off! Yee haw! I can see myself being almost debt free in about a year or so. Not bad. It's been a long time getting there too. I'm pleased.

~ I hate days without music, but that was my day yesterday at work. I just had my old creative muvo player with me. I maintained radio silence the whole day. I'm quite pleased with myself on that score...and have I mentioned that I truly hate radio. OK, not all radio, but I won't tune into WPKL. I won't! Cos I don't want to hear He-who-should-be-flushed-down-the-toilet.

~ Diet Coke Plus isn't all that bad. And yay for vitamins. Why? Because I always forget to take my multivitamin.

~ I hate gas prices, along with the rest of the country. My Exxon credit card is the only one that will never be paid off. ~sigh~ I can't even get a grip on that one and that sucks.

Missing Mondays

This is my meme where I share things that I miss...This week only one thing.

~ Family vacations: When I was a little girl up until about my 2nd year in college mom, dad and I would make our yearly pilgrimage to two of my favorite places in the world, Erie and Lancaster. Every so often we'd go somewhere else, like Seaworld or Niagra Falls, but for the most part we either went to Erie or Lancaster. Now mom and dad are too old or sick to travel that much, and well, the car just isn't good enough to make long trips either.

I found postcards of one of my favorite places in Lancaster this weekend during my cleaning spree. They are of a family amusement park located on Lincoln Highway (RT 30) in Lancaster. It's called Dutch Wonderland. Like all small amusement parks, it was bought up, but by Hersheypark. So it's still much the same park only with a few more rides for the older riders aka the parents.

One of the postcards has the old monorail. That made me smile the most because that particular ride was charred one year when we went. The monorail had been hit by lightning. The new monorail looked more like a box on the track rather than the futuristic car that used to move over the rails.





Another place we used to go was The Choo Choo Barn. A lovely spot heading out to Strasburg. It's a toy train place, only with a twist. The scenery around the trains is Lancaster. You'll see miniature versions of all the sites of the area. I loved it as a small girl.

And Strasburg, where you could take a short ride on the old steam engines. One of the cars on the train came from the film Hello Dolly. That was the car I always wanted to ride on.

Then there was Kitchen Kettle Village and the Farmers Markets, where all kinds of yummy goodies could be bought and eaten.

And speaking of eats....there was Good N' Plenty a Family Style restaurant where you sat at a long table with about 4 other families and enjoyed all kinds of great Amish food. Mmmm. Fresh bread, apple butter, homemade butter. My waistline is growing just thinking about it.

And on almost every trip to Lancaster we'd go almost into Philly to Kennett Square to Longwood Gardens. I've been back 3 times since, but it's not the same without my mom, who loves the place, but can't walk well anymore.

I miss this so badly. Those were good times.

Random 10 - Week 114

From "me" @ Music Memoirs

10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)

There was a mixed bag of tunes this weekend. Most came from my computer or mp3 player and one track was played @ Kings Restaurant when we went there for dinner tonight. BTW, Southwestern Omelets with cheesy hash brown casserole is a wonderful dinner choice!

Paul McCartney - Goodnight Tonight
(That was the restaurant song)

Rachael Sage - Obvious
(If I didn't know I had listened to this song while exercising at Jack's this morning I would swear it helped to prompt that nasty dream I had)

Tim Curry - Baby Love
(A pal from Livejournal sent me this one. OMG! I love Tim. He rocked on Psych on Friday night too)

The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball
(If it weren't for that dream I would think that the worst really was over now)

Toby Lightman - Real Love
(I discovered her this weekend, however the album I snagged didn't have this song on it! I am sad)

Paul Young - Ain't No Sunshine
(A glorious cover of this classic song. Paul does justice to Motown like no other)

The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams
(This is possibly one of my favorite songs of all times)

Grey Eye Glances - Big Red Boat
(If you don't like this song, I feel sorry for you)

Tom Petty - Zombie Zoo
(Gigglefest)

Cliff Richard - Carrie
(The first song on a mix cd in my car)

This week's picture: The dromedary says: FEED ME! FEED ME NOW!

And You're Still On My Mind

Damn it. It's been a week. I've distanced myself from someone. Why? Because I know that they don't care. It's a good thing. Right? I've tuned into another station when the boss has turned the radio on at work, but mostly I've maintained radio silence.

Truth be told, he wasn't on my mind much this week. I was convincing myself that he was forgotten. Just a little bit of stupidity that kept me amused for a few months. An innocent diversion, if you will.

Not the case.

My subconscious rebelled last night, in the form of a dream. I hate dreams, because all in all they seem so real and when I wake up I'm almost always feeling let down. This was no exception.

I dreamed my cell phone was ringing and when I answered it was said person who shall be now known as he-who-should-be-flushed-down-the-toilet. He was arguing with me because "I" was ignoring him. I was arguing with him that he didn't answer mine anymore either so it didn't matter.

I don't know if there was any resolution to this in the dream because I woke up then. All I know is that someone that I was working my way to forgetting is back in my head. Please make him go away.

And Update On The Cleaning

3 bags of VHS tapes...Gone! I haven't made much space, but stuff is gone. And that's a good thing right?

I also did some work downstairs clearing some stuff out. I found some postcards my mother bought when I was a wee girl...I'll be scanning them for Missing Mondays. I also found some kindergarten pictures of myself.

Oye!

I was one ugly kid. OK, I'm still ugly, but that's beside the point.

~shudders~

I've still got to sort out what I'm doing with the VHS tapes. I need to get a whole kaboodle of CDs off my floor before some tragedy befalls them. And I couldn't survive if that happened.

After I finish that mess I need to start on the clothes again...and the books. Though the only way I'll get rid of books is if I've read them. I have enough reading material to see me to my dying day right now, sadly I don't know what to do with the cheesy novels and whatnot after I finish reading them.

~sigh~

Why can't tossing crap be easy?

Weekend Projects

It's dejunking time again my friends. I stare at my entertainment center and know that in a month or two I'll be taking the monstrosity down and burning it for firewood. So I'm going through VHS tapes that I have that I don't watch and I'll be tossing them.

I wish I could unload some of my odd movies that I've accumulated over the years. I could use the extra cash, and well, I never watch them. Heck I don't watch my dvds, mostly because I have the attention span of warm cellophane.

I have plans of buying a nice small stand for my tv/vcr/dvd player. My stereo doesn't need a home, because I think in the long run, the Stereo may be getting junked too. The tape player is broke and I don't use the CD player much and when I do it's hyper sensitive.

I just need to find a good spot for my knick-knacks. The top of my entertainment center is where all my shot glasses reside, as well as my Nightmare Before Christmas snow globes and other odd memorabilia. These things will have to find a new home when I get the new stand.

So in an attempt to live up to the girl scout motto, as I once was a scout, I'm going to be prepared and start clearing crap now. I'm also going to go through the closets again and see if I can make a donation to good will.

That should keep my weekend full.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 132

From "me" @ Music Memoirs

Top 5 Musical Collaborations (songs, albums) it can be a mixture of both.

I could do this in all Elvis Costello collaborations...but I'll try to show some variation.

1. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach: My favorite of his collaborations. It all started with the Austin Powers soundtrack with EC's lovely version of I'll Never Fall In Love Again...no I lie he did Bacharach and David songs almost from the beginning of his career, but who cares...It all leads up to this:

Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach - Painted From Memory


(click to buy @ amazon)

2. The other Elvis Costello collaboration I can't fail to mention is his brief writing partnership with Paul McCartney. Though the 2 never recorded a full album together their songs appeared on 5 CDs.

These are my favorite albums that they appear on:

Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt


(click to buy @ amazon)

Elvis Costello - Mighty Like A Rose


(click to buy @ amazon)

Next are 3 songs.....

3. Dusty Springfield & The Pet Shop Boys - Nothing Has Been Proved
Everyone remembers The Pet Shop Boys hit with Dusty, but many don't remember this song which is really gorgeous. It would have been nice if a full album would have come out of their working together. I think it would have sounded lovely.

4. David Bowie w/Queen - Under Pressure
This is such a fantastic song, if only Vanilla Ice wouldn't have used it. That's seriously so very wrong.

5. Cliff Richard & Olivia Newton-John - Had To Be
This song came from the musical Heathcliff. It's stunning. Cliff and Olivia worked together on other songs like Suddenly from her film Xanadu, but this one is my personal favorite. I've often wondered why they didn't do an album together, their voices blend so well together.

Thursday Thirteen

13 random things about me

1. If dinner time gets any later I'm never going to be able to drag my butt to the gym this week. Must find alternate means of getting food. If I don't leave for the gym before 6 o'clock there's no way my butt is going. ARGH!

2. I'm the only human not affected by the Harry Potter madness. Erm they are just books people and movies, calm down and wait your turn.

3. The heatwave broke yesterday and I could finally sleep without a fan. That was a wonderful thing.

4. Kings has these fancy pancakes right now. I want them. If I can not have IHOP, someone take me to Kings for my chocolate chip pancakes. Then remind me why I'm always battling with the scale.

5. "At your journey's end you'll find a friend in me." Lovely words aren't they? There's at least one person I'd like to share them with, but since they don't care...Fuck em' No wait. They might like that.

6. I hate reading album reviews, especially on Amazon. I've found there's only one opinion that I value and that's mine. Sound clips are more helpful to me then someone else's arrogant opinion. Mind you that doesn't stop me from sharing my arrogant opinion, but I only do that on my blog.

7. Fucktard is my favorite word right now.

8. If you can't say it with love, say it with a cat macro!



9. Getting dressed in the morning is not a favorite thing of mine. I think we should be able to go to work in our PJs and fuzzy slippers.

10. Free concerts annoy me, especially when the one I want to see happens to be on the weekend I planned to be away from home. GRRRRRRR.

11. I never get any time to vegetate properly anymore. I miss vegging.

12. My car hates me. But the gas pumps hate me more.

13. We're supposed to go to Erie at the end of the month, assuming I can find a damn hotel room. So far this isn't looking good either. ARGH!

Mmmm New Music....Tasty

I just discovered yet another new artist and I bought 3 more CDs with my gift certificate that I got for my b-day from my wonderful friend Julie.

But first the new artist: Siobhan Donaghy


(click to buy @ amazon)

Brilliant sounding from what I've heard so far, plus that's one of the most beautiful covers I've seen in ages. However it's an import CD, so I can't afford it yet. ~sigh~

I did buy 3 CDs though with my gift certificate. I went across the board and bought 3 different artists. I like to spread the love around. And I know you're curious as to what I got...so without further delay...MY PURCHASES

Gordon Lightfoot - East Of Midnight


(click to buy @ amazon)

Right now, Gordon is my favorite artist, hands down. He tops Elvis Costello and the Moody Blues.

Amanada Marshall - self titled


(click to buy @ amazon)

I couldn't pass this one up for $1.00 and shipping. It couldn't get any better unless it came from LaLa.com

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - Golden Classics Edition


(click to buy @ amazon)

There will be an upload of Gary's version of The Mighty Quinn when this CD gets here. I'm so excited!

I love my music!!

Waiting For Rain

The heatwave is supposed to break today. I'm waiting patiently for the rain, however it doesn't seem to be anywhere on the map.

It better get here, because I can't take another day in the 90's.

Yesterday I made the mistake of going to exercise. I did 35 minutes on the elliptical machine and then I tried to do some ab exercises, but I was already way too sweaty and crabby.

Note to self...don't bother to exercise if the temperature is over 90, as you will just be miserable and want to leave the whole time you're there, thus rendering the trip useless.

ARGH!

I've been looking at the radar and I see no rain.

~taps foot impatiently~

I have it from a very good source that it rained in Chicago yesterday. That rain should be making it here then. It just needs to get here much faster than it is.

I swear if it doesn't get here soon I'm going to go out and find it and drag it's sorry wet butt to Western PA. I want this heat wave gone and I want it gone now!!!

Take Me Back Tuesday - Week 131

From Music Memoirs

Did you have any bands that you were ashamed of liking in your younger days?
No, at least not at the time I liked them. I ended up in many a verbal battle over my music loves. It was a war against Culture Club and Michael Jackson. I HATE WACKO JACKO and I always will.

Do you look back on some of the things you listened to and groan? If so, what were they?
Yes, and it's Culture Club that makes me groan. The music was great, in that cheesy 80's way, but there were only 2 really good albums and each only had a song or two that looking back have had staying power. Colour By Numbers was the best of the bunch. And if I could get past how vile Boy George turned out I might be able spin it more often, but when I listen I get a bad mental picture and I can't keep the music on.

Up through the 80's there were a lot of music related tv shows did you watch any? (That weren't on Mtv or Vh-1)
OH lordy, I watched so many of them; Friday Night Videos, Solid Gold (the worst of the bunch with those slutty near naked dancers), and whatever the video show was on HBO. (That's where I first saw the video for Olivia Newton-John's Physical)

A good many singers/musicians made films that were pretty awful, but have a cult following, which ones do you like?
Not sure it has a cult following but Paul McCartney's Give My Regards To Broad Street is a silly little movie. I can't forget Ringo's Caveman either. Oh and lastly...Polly had this one on her list and I agree, Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John. I can still watch that one over and over.

Are any of your youthful guilty pleasures still favorites now? Or do you pretend like you never liked them?
I can't call Culture Club or Wham! favorites now, but I still like them. I like Bonnie Tyler too. I will not pretend I never liked them either. I admit fully to my awful taste as a child! But hey, I liked The Monkees and The Beatles then too!

What's the point?

Of text messaging on cell phones? I used to pay $5 to Verizon for this feature, but when I got my new cell phone it disappeared. Not that I mind at all. I hate text messaging. It annoys the hell out of me. Plus it saved me some cash, and I'm all about saving cash.

My phone has a memory card, so I don't need to email pictures to a special spot online, I just save them to the card and transfer them to my computer. So again I don't need a text or pix feature.

The problem I have right now, is that I have one friend in Pittsburgh that rather than emailing me (which I would think is easier) or *gasp* calling me has to send me text messages that aren't worth 10 cents.

Just stop texting me, damn it!

I mean it takes longer to send a text message than to type up an email or leave a voice mail half the time. Grrrr. Stop wasting my money on these stupid things. Hell, I hardly used the cell phone, but I keep it for emergencies. It's hardly worth the $50 I get charged after all the damn taxes, but that's another rant altogether.

Stop texting me! It's making me a cranky bitch!

Missing Mondays

It's been awhile since I've done a post like this....

~ I remember a time when I could go into a mall and there would be at least 2 music stores and I would find stuff from my wish list there without special ordering them. Oh how I loved instant gratification.

~ BMG Music Club wasn't the only music club in existence, but it didn't matter because it had an awesome selection.

~ I used to drink Cocoa Loco's at Gloria Jean's Coffee without guilt! WTF was wrong with me?

~ I wasn't embarrassed to admit I liked a song or album at the top of the charts.

~ Going to the mall was a favorite past time. This didn't change for me until I started working at the mall. However even though I don't work their now, I'm not keen on the mall anymore. It also changed when my mom couldn't go shopping with me anymore.

~ I could stay up as long as I wanted and getting up the next morning wasn't an issue.

~ Po Folks was the best place to eat Sunday dinner.

~ 80's Night at Metropol! I miss Metropol! I didn't get to go clubbing enough in my boring youth.

Random 10 - Week 113

From Music Memoirs

10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)

Elvis Costello - Episode Of Blonde

I always find myself singing these lyrics at the top of my lungs:

It's such a shame you had to break the heart
You could have counted on

Can't imagine why? Can you?

George Harrison - What Is Life?

Wheeling Island was playing that one. Wow!

Wilson Phillips - A Reason To Believe

I was reliving some of my high school days. Bad music, in a good way.

Barbra Streisand - With One Look

It's best not to ask about this one, m'kay.

Elvis Costello - Radio Silence

Words of wisdom...especially from 6-10 on 99.3 The Pickle..

The sad waste of this wonderful invention
Maintaining radio silence from now on

Julia Fordham - Perfect Me

Banderas - May This Be Your Last Sorrow

Tom Petty - Think About Me

Tom Petty - Even The Losers

These songs were a result of me sharing some of my CD collection.

The Moody Blues - Lovely To See You

The first Moody Blues song I heard before heading off to bed.

And now for the photo....Bootsie!

Randomosity Of My Weekend

~ Yesterday I went to Wheeling Island. Gambled away $10. I just can't deal with tossing money away like that when I never ever get anything back. Why can't there just be an awesome buffet somewhere nearby?

~ When it's around 90 degrees even the Ohio River can provide relief.



~ Yes, I need a pedicure. No, there is nowhere around me that does them for a reasonable price, plus there's no one giving my feet attention, so why should I waste the money. I think I'll buy some nice foot cream though.

~ Purple Haze is my favorite beer, and there doesn't seem to be any place close to me that sells it. Thankfully the Giant Eagle in Canton, OH does. I will be buying a case next month when I visit my brother.

~ I know not where we are going to be staying or going at the end of the month and its making me nutty.

~ This is really a lovely view.



~ As Elvis Costello said..."I'll be maintaining radio silence from now on."

Planning My First Vacation This Year

Hopefully at the end of this month I'll be heading east to Hershey and Lancaster/Philly.

I'm thinking 2 nights in Hershey and one night in Lancaster. I'm not sure yet. It may have to be backwards. I don't know. Finding a room is not looking easy here, especially as there's not much time in advance.

ARGH!

I wish the kid could be convinced to go to Erie or just Lancaster.

So far most of the motels are booked. I'd love to go to Longwood Gardens but even that is not looking like its going to be feasible.

Truthfully I wish I didn't have to deal with finding accommodations. It always makes me nutty. I know for places like Atlantic City you need loads of time I really thought Hershey would be easier. Silly me. It's worse and it's almost as expensive.

This is really not much fun.

I'll probably be up all night pricing hotels.

Someone put me out of my misery please!

Have A Laugh....On Me

This is me getting doused by a 20 foot wave, created by the Pittsburgh Plunge at Kennywood Park.

It's quite possibly the funniest and worst picture ever taken of me. My nephew thought it would be funny to get a picture of me looking like a drowned rat, when I, in my infinite stupidity, decided to stand on the walkway, where the boats come down.

Let's just say it wasn't quite warm enough to be standing there or riding the Plunge that day, but idiot that I am, I did both.

So if you are feeling up for a fright, click on the picture to enlarge. I, however, will not be held responsible if you want to poke your eyes out with a rusty melon baller after viewing my less than beautiful self.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 131

From "me" @ Music Memoirs

Top 5 albums that are at least 20 years old. (There's a stipulation however...all 5 albums cannot be by the same artist/band)

1. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Blood And Chocolate


(click to buy @ amazon)

This one just makes the cut. It came out in 1986. It's quite possibly my absolute favorite Elvis Costello CD. No joke, not a bad song on this one. It's worth it just to hear Battered Old Bird, Crimes Of Paris and Blue Chair.

2. The Moody Blues - Seventh Sojourn


(click to buy @ amazon)

At the beginning of my Moodies love, this was the first album I found on vinyl. I played it to death. I don't know that the album is still alive even though it was only purchased a few years back.

3. George Harrison - George Harrison


(click to buy @ amazon)

Unspoiled George Harrison. So many pretty songs on this one, and all untouched by Jeff Lynne's evil hands! Yay!

4. Tom Petty - Damn The Torpedoes


(click to buy @ amazon)

If you own one Heartbreakers album, this one really should be it. Early Petty, again unspoiled by Jeff Lynne. (Are you sensing a pattern here? I hate Jeff Lynne)

5. Duran Duran - Seven & The Ragged Tiger


(click to buy @ amazon)

Take off the instrumental and this is a perfect album. I've been a fan of Duran Duran for years, but I'm hard pressed to be able to tell you that there's a completely good album by the band. There's usually one stink bomb per record. I can ignore an instrumental, so this one wins as my top album, followed by Notorious.

You may be asking yourself, why has The Mistress Of The Dark not used The Beatles in her post. It's quite simple. The Beatles are too much of a given, so I chose to go with other bands.