Saw this fun Meme at Fond of Snape's (she's in my Cool Links)

Fond of Snape has ...Johnny Depp and the Pirates on her desktop...HUGE SURPRISE...LOL JANET!

Here’s how to play this meme:

Capture a picture of your computer’s desktop.*
Post it on your blog along with a link to who tagged you.
Tag some people.

*Here’s how you can do a screen capture:

1- View desktop and press the Print Scrn key (located in the upper right corner of your keyboard on the same row as the F12 key).
2- Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V).
3 - If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it, but it is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun.

Ooops, I forgot to tag. You, you and you, consider yourselves tagged. Yes, I mean YOU!

Come along and play, it'll be FUN!

Here's mine:

Lots more to say this weekend...its still culminating in my mind!! But, I have to get to the library before they close...I have some books on hold, finished the three I had...can't wait to dig into some new reads! Happy Weekend, wish mine was three days like most of you! I don't get Monday off, DARN IT!

So Much to Say...

Too tired to write it...Night... I will catch up, just not tonight!

I Want to Know About You!

I saw this over at Alison Wonderland's...I decided to play along. It is a good way to get to know your fellow blogger friends!

What you are supposed to do is copy this entire post and paste it in a post that you'll write. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then let me know that you've played along. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends that you might not have known!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 9 a.m. Usually would've been 6:15 but I called in to take a vacation day. Yeah!
   
2. (what happened to #2?)
3. What was the last film you saw at the theater? Spiderman 2...its been a long, long time!
   
4. What is your favorite TV show? Lost, Brothers and Sisters, Ghost Whisperer, Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
5. What do you eat for breakfast? Slim Fast, don't have time for real food during the week.
6. What is your middle name? Ann
7. What food do you dislike? Fish (except for lobster and shrimp)
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Joshua Radin
   
9. What kind of car do you drive? 2002 Ford Escape (silver)
10. Favorite sandwich? Roast beef or chicken salad. I'd like a Monte Cristo but haven't had one since I was a kid.
    
11. What characteristic do you despise? disrespect, arrogance, mean people.
    
12. Favorite item of clothing? Sweats, t-shirt and my Ugg-like boots. If I could work from home that's what I'd be wearing!
    
13. Favorite piece of jewelry? A slim silver ring my sister gave me-its engraved on the outside with..HOPE, WISH, DREAM, BELIEVE.
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? In the U.S. - Astoria, Oregon; Overseas -Australia.
15. What color is your bathroom? beige and mauve
16. Favorite brand of clothing? none
17. Where would you retire to? Astoria, OR (maybe?)
18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Probably one that John had for me with all our neighbor friends.
19. Favorite sport to watch? I'm not a sports fan. Funny, my parents are but I'm not. If I'd watch anything it would probably be The X Games, especially the motorcycle freestyle.
    
20. Favorite saying? "Its all Good"
    
21. When is your birthday? June 8th
    
22. Are you a morning person or a night person? Definitely a night person. If I could I would go to work at about 10 then, I would be happy!
    
23. What is your shoe size? 8 1/2-9.
24. Pets? Siberian Husky, cat. An Australian shepherd when my friend comes over.
    
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? Nope.
26. What did you want to be when you were little? A cop
    
27. What are you today? Contract Administrator
    
28. What is your favorite candy? Almond Joy.
29. What is your favorite flower? Roses
30. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Any day I have off work!
    
31. What are you listening to right now? TV in the background for noise.
32. What was the last thing you ate? Steak, mashed potatoes and broccoli for dinner last night (comfort food)!
33. Do you wish on stars? Sometimes.
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? pink or maroon.
35. How is the weather right now? Warmer than its been, its probably in the low 70's
36. Favorite soft drink? Diet Pepsi
37. Favorite restaurant Tough one...I eat at home a lot. Speedy Joe's mexican restaurant, Lemon Leaf Cafe, Panera, Black Angus.
    
38. Hair color? blonde.
39. Siblings? One older sis
    
40. Favorite day of the year? Christmas because my work shuts down for a week then...are you getting the idea that I'd rather be home than working? Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful and happy that I have a job to pay for home but I never got a maternity leave and never got a chance to stay home with kids...so I'd like to try out not working at some point!
41. What was your favorite toy as a child? Winnie the Pooh when I was little and a skateboard or a bicycle after that.
42. Summer or winter? Ha! Fall and Spring. Summer and Winter are too extreme where I live, really cold and really hot.
    
43. Hugs or kisses? Both
44. Coffee or tea? Coffee but I only have one cup a day during the work week.
    
45. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate
46. Do you want your friends to email you back ? Sure, sounds great to me.
47. When was the last time you cried? When I was reading a book.
48. What is under your bed? Probably some dust bunnies and shoes.
49. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Debbie
50. What did you do last night? Watched The Brave One and Brothers and Sisters.
51. Favorite smell? Eternity perfume, good food, Bed and Bath cotton scent.
52. What are you afraid of? Big changes, Death or losing those I love. I know Heaven is great but I fear the unknown and going through death to get there. Anyone know what I mean or is it just me?
    
53. Salty or sweet? Sweet
54. How many keys on your key ring? No idea. More than five.
    
55. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
56. How many towns have you lived in? Four.
57. Do you make friends easily? Yes, I think so. Maybe not people I hang out with all the time but we are friends, (i.e. work friends, neighbor friends, other friends, etc.)
    

Love to see what others have to say...leave a comment so I can check out your answers on your blog! =)

Been Out of the Loop Lately...

Can't believe it been over a week since I've posted. I've been keeping an eye on my fave bloggers just haven't had the time to write much ...I've been busy at work and worrying about maybe taking a new lead position. I don't know what the HECK I want to come out of it!

Went to Target yesterday to pick up some things, mostly things I didn't need but looked good at the time! Today T and I went to a small Japanese restaurant in the Antelope Valley--it was very tasty. I've been craving tempura so I had miso soup/salad (came with the meal)..teriyaki beef with rice and assorted tempura (shrimp and veggies...YUUUUUUUUUM! T had salad, assorted sushi and tempura! I'm not one to eat raw fish myself...but whatever floats your boat!

Finished 18 Seconds today...good book...crime/suspense drama written by an ex-detective. Worth a read! Next up: Stormy Weather or Marley and Me...decisions, decisions!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fill-ins

1. Once I was so full of love for J and thought it was forever (then he broke my heart) ...now I know life holds new beginnings.
2. I’m sick of work!
3. Today at work I am hoping not to work late.
4. What are all the Indian propositions all about?
5. If I make a mistake I usually own up to it and try to fix it. (me too, Janet)!
6. When I woke up this morning, I thought I'm soooo tired, TGIF.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finishing my book, tomorrow my plans include going to the library, banana pancakes and watching Living with Wolves and Sunday, sleeping in and enjoying the day!

Sorry for all the work references, although I have a strong work ethic, long ago I adopted a saying from Australia, "Work to Live, don't Live to work!"

Oh my Gosh...Amazing...Uh....I MEAN PRICELESS!

Planet Earth HD DVD (Set of four disks) $64.00

New Toshiba HD DVD player after I found out my other newest player didn't work? $149.00

Planet Earth HD DVD on new Toshiba player on already owned HDTV? ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS!

Oh my gosh, I've only viewed the first disk but this is something everyone should see! Despite my setback in having to buy a new player (the old new one will be placed in my room) this is a MUST SEE you won't regret it. Nature, animals, the Earth at its absolute finest!

The player practically paid for itself! I got two HD DVDs in the box with the player, 300 and Bourne Identity. Plus a rebate to order five more HD DVDs for free. Good choices too!

Believe me I was ticked when I found out my old new player wouldn't play the DVD but, once I decided to go ahead and buy the new player and saw how truly beautiful the resolution was and found out about getting DVDs that were almost equal to the purchase price, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY NOW! Life....it IS ALL GOOD!

I'm sure I'll be writing more about the other disks soon. I'm savoring the DVD at this point...mmm..mmm...good!

The Silence is Deafening!!

I turned on the radio in my car to static...come home-- turn on the tunes to static again. This has been going on since Thursday!! I have everything tuned into one station, 100.1 The Edge, based in Palmdale, California. This is the only good station in the area--did they shut down, what's the deal? By today, I'm thinking my world will have to be shroud in silence or the horror...I'll have to find another station. So instead of facing the alternatives I go directly to the source, I go to my myspace and one of the DJ's is on my friend list so I ask him what's up??? He answers back quite promptly. Turns out the recent storm took out the transmitter that is situated high atop a Tehachapi mountain; they're waiting for Edison to go up there and fix it. I'm thinking..waiting on Edison? Are you kidding, we'll be waiting til spring! So, for now the silence is deafening.

I check the station website and it too says what the problem is. Right next to it, it says ON THE RADIO NOW: Justin Zane. So, even though nobody can hear the station broadcast, seriously does this guy have to go into work and continue the broadcast???!!! LOL Shouldn't he get a TRANSMITTER DOWN day, kinda like a snow day? Poor guy...no requests, no phone calls, just him wasting his time.

Funny isn't it...that whenever something is not available you want it more? I mean I know I can find ways around the silence. I have, according to Itunes records, 3.5 days of music downloaded on my Itunes menu! 3.5 days worth...that just blows my mind! For some reason even though those Itunes are all my favorites and I obviously have so many to choose from, I'm still ticked I can't simply turn on my radio station.

I'll break down and turn on my Itunes and enjoy them but all the while I'll be hoping for quick, safe travel to the poor Edison guy that has to make his way up the mountain to shovel snow, freezing his bum off while fixing the transmitter. The Edison guy they send probably doesn't even listen to the station!

On a different note: I got Planet Earth in HD DVD this week. I'm going to watch it tonight with the surround sound going...I've heard its awesome!
I hope I'm feeling better by tonight though I doubt it...I feel like someone hit me in the neck with a baseball bat. I can barely hold my head up, kinda worried about what it could be. I did do alot of computer input at work this week, I'm hoping that's all it is.

Thursday Thirteen - Places I'd Like to Visit

I'm not much into traveling but if I do these are the places I'd like to go:

1. Australia
2. Greece
3. Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
4. Astoria, OR
5. The Smithsonian
6. Canada
7. Alaska
8. Ireland
9. Italy
10. England
11. Paris, France
12. Maine
13. Cape Cod

And yes, they are in a particular order. In the late 80's I thought real hard about moving to Australia..years later my next thought was moving to Astoria. Both sight unseen except through Discovery or the Travel Channel. I'm still in California as I've lived here all of my life. Those places live in my heart still though and maybe someday I will travel to all the places I've thought of and dreamed of...

I have a lot of blog reading to do...I see. I've been out of sight lately due to too much time at work. I'm looking forward to catching up with my blogger friends and writing! Hopefully this weekend!

Side note: They've been talking about snow where I live overnight tonight! Here's to hoping for a SNOW DAY!!

Friday Fill-ins -- Happy happy Friday to Everyone!

1. The last compliment I got was from my boss, Ed; he said “Thanks for all your effort and sacrifice, Jim (his boss) and I really appreciate it!" (about recent overtime and stress)!

2. I'm reading Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver (I’m close to the end!).
3. I woke up today and thought “Is it morning already? That darn alarm clock!”
4. Why do I have to have those crazy, scary dreams?
5. The last thing I ate was chili and a bit of cheese on top from the crappy cafeteria at work”.
6. January... is too cold and windy.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing and watching the Ghost Whisperer, tomorrow my plans include maybe going to see The Bucket List? and Sunday, I want to de-clutter my home office!

Thursday Thirteen and Other Stuff...

THIRTEEN THINGS I LOVE:

1. My family
2. My life
3. My friends
4. My dogs and cat
5. Music
6. Books and reading
7. Every day living on this earth
8. Wolves
9. Animals
10. Mint n' chip ice cream
11. Pink
12. My wonderful blogger friends
13. Weekends

I haven't been around much lately, (I've been working a lot of OT lately not that I wanted to there has just been a lot to do at work!). Although my blogger friends have been leaving some wonderful comments --thank you! I'll have more to write on the weekend and a lot more time then ( I hope) Please forgive my absence!

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. ---Douglas Adams

Borrowed the quote from "Overread"...I had to...I'm always a day late and a dollar short.

Wrote my Thursday 13, forgot to post it and then Thursday went whooshing by...hope T13 will still accept me in their fold!

THINGS I DIDN’T MISS WHEN I WAS OFF WORK:

1. The alarm clock.
2. Getting ready for work
3. Walking in from the parking lot in the cold (seriously it’s at least a mile in from the parking lot).
4. My co-worker (when he acts grumpy)
5. Meetings
6. The cafeteria (ugh, its not very good and way overpriced)
7. Work
8. The people who always think what they want is the most important thing to be tended to that day.
9. Deadlines (refer to headline)
10. The fact that no matter what you do the work isn’t ever finished. If you do finish, its not like you can leave for the day. (For example, the opposite would be if I delivered packages for UPS…you deliver until your truck is empty then you get to go home).
11. Being in an office without windows
12. Being stuck in a cubicle (the horror)
13. The alarm clock (did I say that already?) Having to go to bed early on the weeknights

A Special Thank you to My Blogger Friends

Heartfelt thank yous to:

1, Holly - You are so generous and thoughtful to send your cherished red poppet! She arrived safely and is enjoying her new home! When I get a digital camera I promise to share photos! Thanks for starting out my 2008 in such a wonderful light!

2. A thank you to Dog's Eye View - L^2 for the fabulous Willow Christmas card! I got it this week, I'm very bad about checking the mail when I'm off work so this thank you is a bit late! I really appreciate you sending it to me. Hugs from Karina and I to You, Willow and Stella!

3. Thanks to all who leave comments -- YOU know who you are -- Alisonwonderland, Fond of Snape, L^2 and Dorky Dad! The comments on my weight loss plan really made me LAUGH!

Best to you in 2008 and always,
Life...its all good!

Everyone seems to be going on a diet...

I need to go on a diet,too. I'm sure there is an e-mail waiting at work for a Weight Watchers at work program and I need to sign up but first...I have to see if there is any lose weight fast scheme I might come up with. No, not Slim Fast, Alli or any other shed the pounds substance.

I look first for a role model. Well body to height ratio I look for the slimmest creature in my immediate household. T is over 6'3" but its not him (not that he is fat but, he's gained some too), Sneakers the cat is a bit pudgy, Karina is a husky and she is husky, as she should be. Which leaves me with Jack, the Australian Shepherd, awwwwwww lean as could be. He eats well and gratefully accepts any dog snackie or tidbit offered. How does he do it?

If you've ever had an Australian Shepherd you know they herd like crazy. Jack herds me all around the house, he herds Sneakers until her head spins. He checks fence lines whenever he's out. He's like the Energizer bunny! This dog never stops, if you get up he's right on your heels, then suddenly he's in front of you and then behind the other way. If you say you're leaving he starts this outright run throughout the house, barking and running and jumping 2' off the floor. This dog has never seen a sheep in his life but he knows what he was bred to do. He burns calories all day and night until its time for bed and then he drifts off quickly into a deep sleep for the rest of the night. Of course, unless he hears a strange noise then he has to check the house, all of the house with a few woofs, for good measure. The amazing thing about Jack is he partially blind. I really believe he could continue his antics at full sprint in his sleep.

So, my only way out of Weight Watchers is trying the herding method. I'm sure it would drive Jack nuts if I tried to herd him about and check his fence lines at a full run every hour. I guess I can't do that the "men in funny white coats" might take me away, besides it would take away Jack's joy or at the very least give him a complex. So, I'll open up the e-mail that is invariably in my inbox and write the wretched check to have someone tell me how to lose weight. Who knows it may be grand fun to line up with my co-workers to check my weight every week! NOT! =(

Sigh, I still think Jack's method must be a lot more fun!

Poppet Update

A poppet, a poppet, a poppet is on the way!!! Wonderful Holly has offered to send one of her red poppets to me! What a nice gesture to share her poppet with me! I'm excited! I'm not sure if Holly just stumbled on my post or how it all came about but I'm really thrilled and I know good karma will be coming to her for her thoughtful kind deed!

Thanks so much Holly! I'll be camping near my mailbox awaiting my new friend's arrival! I'll let you know when she arrives safely!

In Search of a..........Poppet

Yes, I'm searching for a poppet. Poppet...its even a fun word to utter....Poppet...Poppet....Poppet! Okay, I haven't gone mad..I saw one on Fond of Snapes, Fond of Photography page and also on her Friday Fill-ins. I wasn't so intrigued until I saw her lil poppet popping up in other pictures. A poppet here, there and everywhere! Then I thought, that's what I need, what I need is a little poppet friend. And perhaps a Poppet pony! They could keep me company next to my computer at work or home! When you see one they just kind of make you SMILE! The poppets even have a You Tube video involving their journey perusing books! Unfortunately poppets don't appear to be available right now, sad, sad! But, I will lie in wait and continue my quest for my very own poppet and poppet pony! I hope they become available real soon! I like the red and black ones and the night and day ones. Maybe the creator of the poppets will visit my page and discover my need for poppet pals?!
On a different note...I'm back from visiting family over the holiday! I had a great time! I have five glorious days left until my return to that nasty thing we call WORK!

Last Christmas!

Last year I was able to spend with my family as I will again this year. I'm looking forward to it. Here's a pic of me and my sweet beautiful niece from last year. Not the greatest picture I've ever taken but, hey I was laughing!!! I'm sure we'll have a great time this year too!




Merry Christmas to all! Cherish all the times you have with your family and friends, they are precious!

Update for Anyone that May Actually Read My Blog

Well, here's the update:

Update one: I did get the little two year old girl I adopted for Christmas all the things I wanted to. I picked her from a group of children that needed help this Christmas:

• One little, little kid Red Ryder scooter, yep it's red and wide enough for two feet side by side!
  
• A Barbie helmet with pink and turquoise knew pads and helmet.
• A cute embroidered long sleeve white shirt and purple pants.
• A fuzzy on the inside, pink on the outside hooded warm winter jacket
• Two Magic Kingdom small Barbies.

I hope she has a wonderful Christmas!

Update two: I finally was granted my wish for Christmas, some time off from work! I don't have to go back for over two weeks! That is just so awesome! Although I've already got calls at home asking for help! Geez, maybe they do need me! Luckily I was able to handle the issues from HOME SWEET HOME!

Something to Remember...

Something to remember in hard times or anytime! This touched me so much I had to post it. This young boy knows where to turn in troubled times and wanted to share a special message. In good and bad times God is with each of us!

Can't wait to see it!

Hope its as good as the first!

Sicko, a Michael Moore Movie

I saw the movie Sicko this weekend. I'm not what you would call a Michael Moore fan cause I've never seen any of his other films, yet. I know there is a lot of drama around about him but, I don't get involved with that cause I don't know much about him to speculate one way or the other.

I saw Michael Moore on a late night talk show, he seems like a down to earth guy trying to spark attention to the things that we should be concerned about!

When I saw this show, I thought, "Oh sh*t, that's my insurance agency!" I really started worrying about insurance when I saw my ex bf go through extraordinary bill trouble after a totally unexpected medical catastrophe. Bill collectors are still hounding him and he had a good insurance plan with a Fortune 500 company.

The movie discussed health care in America or rather the lack thereof. The uninsured and the insured in America are in deep water where health coverage is concerned. He then went to other countries, Britain, Canada and even Cuba, which all had free medical coverage. Well not free, but paid for by taxes. A good point that was made that when you're very ill you shouldn't have to be worrying about the money, health comes first but seriously a lot of these Americans were faced with making serious decisions based on the money factor. One guy chose to save one of two severed fingers cause he could only afford to have one (the $12,000 one vs. $60,000 for the other one) reattached. How sick and sad is that. Others lost their life cause insurance companies wouldn't pay for medical care.

The people in the other countries were astonished when they heard these stories as they walked out with no bills, no payment at the cashier's office. Literally, no bills! In fact, one window marked Cashier's office was so the hospital could pay the patients money to get safe rides home from the hospital!!! Pharmaceuticals? Free or next to nothing in these other countries that vow to take care of their own.

Don't get me wrong I love America but when hospitals are pushing people out of hospitals or dumping them on Skid Row based on lack of ability to pay, that's just sick!

Each one of us could find ourselves in that situation here in America. Not many of us could pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and still pay a mortgage, rent, car loan, food, etc.

Its time we all take a look at where our tax dollars are going, stop paying for the jet setting politicians and start taking care of our own!

One should definitely take time to see the movie, it will open your eyes and make you think for yourself, something politicians in America are deathly afraid of.