Seven.Caged.Tigers

Not that reality television is ever actually news…

I still feel compelled to talk about it. First American Idol. I liked Constantine in the beginning, but my affinity for him began to wane. Some people think he’s hot (me included) while others think he’s rather, well, frog-like. In either case, he’s still a great performer and a fine vocalist. Just clearly not up to AI standards. However, despite my problems with the guy he definitely deserved to still be in the game long after the elimination of Anthony and Scott. Anthony in particular has always irked me (like a wanna be Clay Aiken–there’s nothing worse), but Scott has recently just seemed to fade. Both are on their way out. Vonzell, Carrie, and Bo definitely are locks (errr–I hope) for the top 3.

Also in unimportant reality TV “news,” Michelle is out on America’s Next Top Model. I was actually surprised. Her photos have by and large (save for last week’s drag-queen look) been flawless. Keenyah was in the bottom two with her, and after putting on 10lbs in South Africa I honestly expected she would instead get the boot. I personally loved how they made her an elephant (and a bad one at that) for the photo shoot. Best though was Kahlen. She was gorgeous as a springbok (small deer-like creature). So yes, in case you were wondering I still watch ANTM religiously.

Finally, in not-so-reality TV news I’m in love with the Eels all over again. Mark Oliver Everett (aka E, aka the Eels, aka MC Honky) has given the world the faboo Blinking Lights and Other Revelations. It’s an incredible, emotional, beautiful, wonderful, perfect 2-disc album that ranks among his best works to date. That’s saying quite a lot. It’s a major improvement IMO over Shootenanny!

I lost a post I wrote on Monday. I don’t remember what it said precisely, but I think it had something to do with it snowing profusely (near-blizzard conditions). That isn’t the kind of weather I’m used to in late July in Michigan…even we have Spring for a month or two.

Today is nearly as schizophrenic. We have sun, then rain, then high winds, then hail, then rain, then clouds, then sun. It’s unpredictible and strange. It *is* Michigan. I’m back at work today after two days for my husband’s Grandfather’s death. When I arrived there was a lovely plant on my desk from the office. It’s really nice working among people who know the value of family. The plant reminded me that JT and I have lost four Grandparents in the last two years–that’s quite a lot. I thought it was weird tha the had all his grandparents when I met him…that didn’t last long it seems.

I suppose it’s all part of growing older, like it or not.

This weekend is the big concert. JT and I are headed to The Palace to watch Velvet Revolver. I’m incredibly excited. I’ve seen Scott Weiland before in concert (2000, I think) with Stone Temple Pilots but haven’t had the pleasure of seeing the bits of Guns n’ Roses. I can’t wait to hear what they play, cover, and rock out to. I’m such a sucker for crotch rock.

Death is a strange thing. There are ways you are supposed to feel and ways you are not supposed to feel. In the past three years, four grandparents between JT and I have died. His maternal Grandmother, followed by paternal Grandfather, followed by my maternal Grandmother, and just this morning his 93-year-old maternal Grandfather.

Grandpa had been fading for the past two or so years, but as the heart-attacks became more frequent his body began to waste away. Still intelligent and relatively alert even at the end he was relegated to using walkers, potty chairs, and oxygen. It was sad to see happen and striking to witness the drastic changes of the last two months. He lived with my in-laws for those past three years. It was pleasant to get to know him.

Grandpa always wanted to die before he became 100% reliant on anybody. He was 100% reliant. He couldn’t eat, bathe, or pick himself off the floor if he fell. I could see how this proud German man was crushed by his failing body. I guess I’m supposed to feel sad. I don’t. I feel happy for him; relieved that he doesn’t have to hurt any more. It was no real way to live and he knew it with every breath his body took.

So with that Jeremy is left with a Grandmother and I’m left with a single Grandfather.

This is a really great survey. Ever wonder where your linguistic style is rooted? Oddly enough, I have no “Dixie” or “Midwestern” according to the short quiz. It looks as if I’m an old fashioned Yankee or Upper Midwestern or General American speaker. None of that comes as a shock.

There is one question that regards the carbonated beverage we all love. Here it’s called “pop,” but in Michigan we have the tendancy to call it “pap.” My Canadian friends (and one Canadian boyfriend) in college made fun of me, so since then I made a conscious effort to never speak that word again. I don’t want to speak about “pap” in any context thank you very much.

Looks as if Ben tagged me a few days ago with this survey. I hadn’t stopped by his site in a long time, but I did for once and found my own name. Funny that…

1. What book would I like to be?
I’d love to be The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. I’d be incredibly well written, intelligent, and thoughtful. Plus, I’d question everything that I’ve come to know as reality.

2. Have I ever had a crush on a fictional character?
Actually surprisingly not. I’ve had an affinity for Alex Delaware (Jonathan Kellerman) and Repairman Jack (F. Paul Wilson) but no real crushes.

3. What is the last book I bought?
Errr…uh…I’ll go with After London by Richard Jeffries. It’s an early Apocalyptic Fiction novel that details what happens in London after–well–the apocalypse. It’s rather rare and was stupidly expensive for a paperback. However it fits into my collection perfectly.

4. What is the last book I read?
The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. Basically, it’s about what we as the living must do in an undead world to survive. It’s hilarious–Brookes never lets on that it’s a satire when there’s no question of that fact.

5. What book am I currently reading?
The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman (easy, entertaining reading). I’m also still trying to wade through House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. Talk about a hard read.

6. What 5 books would I take with me if I were stranded on a desert island?
The Stand - Stephen King
Weaveworld - Clive Barker
Earth Abides - George Stewart
Good Omens - Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

7. What 3 people am I going to tag with these questions and why?
Well…I’ll try a handful on for size:

- Jess from Michigan State (imacucumber), because she rocks
- Jenn from Epinions (JennJoy), because I want her to
- Jeanna from Emerson (emersongeek), because she has been so very helpful with Wordpress!

The invitation to my 10-year class reunion arrived yesterday. JT and I are going (much to his ire–he would prefer to be at Rockall during that time instead). It is on July 30 (two days after our fourth wedding anniversary) at an apparent hall in Gladwin. I’m not expecting the best.

Despite what follows, I will be there…

Found on the invitation:

“To keep costs down, there will be a catered buffet. Drinks are BYO.”

I’m so not kidding. The cost is $15 per person (my hubby’s was $45 per person last summer)…apparently charging $25 per person to have an open bar was a bit too much. Go figure. Not in my po-dunk hometown. So we’re going to pay $30 for a chicken dinner. In fact I can guarantee it will be chicken–that’s what things like this always are in G-Town. Boy do I love the place I grew up in. I’ve already warned JT that the event will be rather unlike anything he’s ever attended. I personally have grown accustomed to living in the metro Detroit area and having all the resources in the world at my fingertips. It will definitely be a step back in time for me to be around folks I went to kindergarten (and graduated HS) with.

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First off, a happy 27th birthday to Laura. JT and I went out in celebration of her birthday last night to a club in Ferndale. It’s an “up-scale” place with a dress code, $10 cover, and on the corner (basically) of Woodward and 8 Mile (yes, that 8 Mile). However after hearing over and over again that it was the favorite place of a bunch of folks I was fine with checking it out at least once.

So we arrive…the doors don’t open until 10pm so we are waiting outside. There is literally a velvet rope behind which you have to stand. The doormen look you up and down to make sure you are dressed appropriately (no t-shirts or tennis shoes). We wait, wait, wait. There is nobody going in. 10 minutes after they were supposed to open, the place let two people in. A few more minutes pass, 2 more are let in. I came to the conclusion that this is the way that this club makes themselves look more popular than they really are.

We get it, pay our money and find a table. I notice the “reserved” signs on all the couches. I find out later that you have to actually PAY to sit at those janky tables. Hmph. We instead choose a 3-person table around which our group of a dozen or so can mingle. The place is small. There’s a big bar in the middle and three projections on the wall of “Fashion TV.” Talk about stupid. Literally, they were broadcasting recordings of fashion shows. It was the most yawn-inducing thing I’ve seen in a long time.

I decide I have to pee. I head to the bathroom expecting something decent. It’s a regular old fashioned bathroom. No attendants, two sinks, four stalls and a line out the damn door. I’ve been to much “crappier” places that have had attendants but it’s not something I’ve come to expect. Just a special treat (one would think could be provided with $10 cover charges per head). Drinks were also obnoxiously expensive. I had BASIC mixed drinks which were $7–JT’s beer was $4. Consider me unimpressed by it all.

Not that I dance, but the floor is tiny. We FINALLY get to leave just after midnight and head for the door we entered. We were rudely told that we had to leave out the back. Oh my gosh! They wouldn’t want ANYBODY thinking that ANYBODY would leave this club earlier than close. Jeesh. Funny though, Christina looked at these people and said “That’s stupid–we’re leaving.” I was so proud of her. As we were leaving the girl trying to block our way was like “that’s cute.” What were they going to do, kick us out?

Hmph.

Anyhow, the lovely (cough-cough) place we went is Posh (I’m so not joking) Nite Club. It’s like an artificial place for the “beautiful people” of Detroit. Unfortunately, the whole vibe is decidedly uncool. By the way, I learned that fake white fur is NEVER cool, coulottes don’t flatter anybody, knee-high socks and platforms are stupid, and striped shirts on men are the “in” thing. Oh yes…and fake boobs and bleach blonde hair do not a hottie make.

It’s been a while since I yacked about America’s Next Top Model. Of course I’ve watched it EVERY SINGLE WEEK (that goes without saying) but last night was more exciting than most. The previews promised that Queen Tyra would go off on somebody. I honestly didn’t have any clue really who until the last few minutes when all hell broke loose. I guessed it would be Tiffany or Rebecca. Funny enough, BOTH of them went home for different reasons. Tiffany, because she had begun to be really negative and refused to even attempt certain tasks and Rebecca, because she looked a bit too wholesome and never could overcome it.

The classic moments of last night included Kahlen blushing at the thought of posing in undies with a hot male model and Tiffany unable to even LOOK at the actor they had to run lines (in cockney of all things) with. Boy do I love this show…

It’s funny. JT totally hit the nail on the head with Rebecca. “She’s cute, but there’s nothing really special about her.” She’s the only girl he even mentioned. He thinks they are all too skinny, but I always try to get out of him who he thinks is hot. I know he likes tall girls (um…I’m 5′10″) and brunettes, but I think it is Kahlen he would be most immediately attracted to. Who knows with that boy, though. He could think they are all dogs for all I know.

Here are the best two and worst two girls from last night’s Wonderbra shoot:

Best - Brittany:

Best - Michelle:

Worst - Rebecca:

Worst - Kahlen:

Damn. Wordpress is still complaining ever so slightly. Even worse? I’m having issues FTP-ing images and what not into my new and improved web directory. I’m going to have to call on the man to work his server wizardry and get the files where I need them to be.

Hopefully I’ve resolved the whole “log in to comment” issue. I’d noticed nobody seemed to care. Thanks to those of you who actually signed up–it was totally unnecessary and now you shouldn’t have to actually log in to do anything. I say “shouldn’t” because at this juncture I can’t promise anything outside of more challenges on my end in trying to get it to function again. I wish there was a seamless, easy, and flexible CMS/Blogging system out there. From what I can tell Wordpress is my best bet–too bad it’s been a pain in the bump for the past few weeks.

Eh. Oh well. I’ll live I’m certain. I’m going to have to definitely work on design. Right now I’m employing a free design from a Wordpress template contest. I like it fine. It’s nice and springy and makes me vaguely happy. The pink won’t last though. Pink is for wimps.

Nerd talk out of the way, life is going fine. It’s the same–blah, blah, blah. Still no babies (actually, my body isn’t functioning and hubby’s doesn’t function so things aren’t looking too good right now). You’d be surprised at how disappointing it is to be baby-less after three years of trying and procedures to help out said situation. I’m trying to see the forest for the trees and the bright side, but I feel like I’m in a tunnel with no light visible in the distance. I want it to be over and I want an answer. I don’t care if it is yes or no right now either, I just want to get on with life.

If you can’t tell, I’ve been more than a little depressed as of late. It’s definitely in part due to the infertility and the clomid (that isn’t working, BTW) but those facts don’t make it any easier.

It’s been a while. Wordpress got REALLY unhappy upon trying to upgrade. I so needed 1.5 instead of the old version–it’s a huge improvement. Unfortunately, the first time around JT installed WP wonky and when Jeanna tried to update the version it didn’t work properly. I apologize to Jeanna for the mess it created. We’re pretty close to good. The only problem that still remains is with the name/e-mail portion of commenting. It’s close to alright, but not quite right on the back end…

Oh yes, and the plugin portion of the admin end also isn’t working but I can handle that so long as I am close to on the wholly functioning end of things. I still have to copy over my entire site tree with images, etc… before I can really call myself “working.” Hmph. Yeah….

In other news, well, my lovely (broken) Casio camera should be back by the end of the week according to the fix-it place. It’s been 2 months. I’m OBVIOUSLY more than a little anxious to get it back especially considering the gift JT got me for Valentine’s Day–a camera case so as to prevent any further breakages. Remind me to never buy anything digital from Circuit City again. They are a major pain in the ass to deal with.

JT and I are working furiously on getting our patio started. We’ve found a double-opening french door from Lowe’s. It shouldn’t be too expensive. I would have preferred a Pella or Andersen window, but they were like $2000 vs. the basic door which was $500-$800. The price difference was a bit too much. We found the patio stone we like also. This whole project will be done by our own two (four?) hands from digging the area to dumping the gravel, sand, and laying the stone. I’m REALLY excited to get it done. We’re hoping it will be finished by Memorial Day, but that may end up being a bit of a challenge. We’re right now planning a party for “the guys” we think if all goes well and as planned.

So the patio/doorwall are this year’s project. Next year we intend on renovating the main bathroom to take care of crummy fixtures, leakages, and a bad layout. Oh yeah…and to make it cool and blue and stuff.

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