All things are difficult before they are easy.-Thomas Fuller

Okay...

Weird question but how many comments can you all see on yesterdays post?

I ask because what I published, what shows if I go to the comments history, and what actually show if I look at the blog are all different.

Anyhow unless you are spam I tried to publish your comment. And it appears everyone besides me can see all of them so I guess that's not an issue.

Oh FYI after all my complaining I got a call yesterday afternoon. So as of Monday I return to the ranks of the employed.

Quick update:

I was actually out of town last week so didn't have time to write anything. Then since we've been home I've been crazy busy (well ok the first day or two I was just lazy).

Now I've got a bit of a stomach bug and a job interview (such an AWESOME combo) and I think I've got a second one lined up (interview not stomach bug). So wish me luck, I always get the best post ideas when I'm bored at work.

I promise to sit down and write a real post (or 10) when I have a bit of time.

So it turns out having a miscarriage is slightly less painful (physically) than having salmonella poisoning. 'Coarse I didn't get big honking bottles of pain killers when I had food poisoning so maybe this is worse.

There are about 3000 things I want to say but I can't articulate anything.

We're having an exceptionally bad couple months.

You don't see a lot of difference between the Gin Blossoms and the Byrds.-Steve Forbert

When I was a kid my Dad built a pond/waterfall in our back yard.

Our neighbors Juniper tree overhung the pond.

Gin is made from Juniper berries.

All the birds in the neighborhood used to use the pond as a birdbath.

Our yard was frequently littered with drunk birds.

Marriage is about the most expensive way for the average man to get laundry done.-Burt Reynolds

Back in the olden days when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and we all traveled in covered waggons my Mom was pregnant*. It was summer in Sacramento and as this was so very long ago there was no air conditioning. In other words Mom was hormonal, hot, and extra super cranky. So when she told my Dad in no uncertain terms that she was not going to be lugging a new born and all their laundry down to the laundry mat he did the smart thing and bought a washer and dryer.

The washer lasted until I was in my early 20's. The dryer actually came with me when I moved out of the house, though it died shortly after. Here's the thing I loved about that geriatric dryer. When you pulled your clothes out they were hot, not just warm but hot. In winter I would pour my fresh laundry on my bed and roll in their warmth, just like a dog.

Our modern energy efficient dryer doesn't do this. Sure you only have to put the laundry through one cycle (rather than 2 or 3 with the old dryer) and it's probably better not to cook my clothes. But the laundry is barely warm to the touch as I pull it out and it's totally cooled by the time I bring it down the hall to my room and this makes me sad.






* Not sure who I was calling old here Me or my Mom but I just liked this sentence.

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.-Redd Foxx

Sooooooo ummmmmmmm....

Well...

Uh...

Okay I haven't been feeling very well. I didn't mention it because to mention it would be to acknowledge the possibility that I've got heart problems or possibly had a small stroke or ya know a brain tumor. So clearly denial was the best way to handle this right?

But now that I'm insured I bit the bullet and went to the Doctor. Turns out I've got migraines. Much less scary than heart issues, stroke, or brain tumor but still, did you know migraine symptoms can seem that scary?

Dizzy Spells
Tingling in your hands and arms
Flashing lights
Blind spots in your vision
Sensitivity to light
Weakness in the limbs
Unexplained irritation or depression (At the time I thought that was PMS)

Honestly the headaches we're the least of my problems. In hind sight this has been going on for years in fact some of those symptoms are why they put me on anxiety medication. Guess I'm not crazy after all...okay fine that's taking it to far...didn't want to change the name of my blog any way.

I have a present for you, but I need to borrow your arms for wrapping paper. -Unknown

You know how sometimes on really hot days your cat (or dog maybe) will decide that this is the perfect time to cuddle up right next to you, and you don't want to tell them to go away even though it's way to hot for cuddling because normally they would much rather ignore you than show any sort of affection so you sit there and suffer because you know you are lucky to get the attention?

Substitute the word cat with Fiona and you have a perfect description of my morning.

Ideas are like pizza dough, made to be tossed around.-Anna Quindlen

You know that little plastic thing they put in the middle of the pizza to keep the cheese from sticking to the box lid?

1. What the heck is that thing called? There must be a technical term.

2. Whoever invented it is probably crazy rich.

3. When I was a little girl I used to save those thingies every time we had pizza and use them as end tables for my Barbies.

He who opens a school door, closes a prison.-Victor Hugo

Check me out being all grown up.

Went on a date with Dave Saturday. Got a bit tipsy and told him I wanted to cuddle the group of kids who were clearly on their way to the prom. They were just so cute trying to be dignified and classy in their evening wear when really they looked like kids playing dress up. I mean that in a nice way but not that many years ago I would have made catty girl comments.

Also I know I said it before but I actually am going back to school. I'm supposed to sign up for classes tonight. Let's hope I can get in to any of the ones I want. Also lets the only one I can get isn't the one with the book that even used costs close to $200.

O, wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?-Percy Bysshe Shelley

I don't like to be cold.

Being cold is one of my least favorite things ever. It's up there with people who kick puppies and direct to DVD movie sequels.

Hey FYI Just Something I made has some more free apothecary style labels today so go forth and print.

Again not something I was expecting to become a recurring theme because I'm not very crafty at all but I do so love vintage things. If anyone makes anything with any of these labels send me a link, I'd love to see what you do.

Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary.-Chinese Proverb

A couple people asked where I got the labels I used here. Now I don't remember where I got all of them. Mostly I just googled free vintage labels or free apothecary labels buuuuuut here are a few I could find again.

Epbot

The Graphics Fairy

iDiY

Just Something I Made

You can also find lots if you do a Google image search. They aren't all very good print quality but for what I'm doing they've worked fine. Also there are several wonderful color ones but I don't have a color printer so those don't work for me.

If you want to make them look old just steep a tea bag in hot watter for a minute or two (I use plain old Lipton) then rub the tea bag across the paper. I recommend doing this on a towel so it doesn't stain anything. When it's dried the paper will have a yellow brown aged look. You can do the same thing using coffee grounds but I think the tea works better. FYI this is a trick document forgers use according to the mystery novels I read sometimes.

When theres no more room in hell the dead will walk the earth.-Deny Everything

Dave was playing his zombie game

Dave: Argh these guys move fast. How many times do I have to shoot em?

Me: Go for the head shot.

Dave: I keep running out of amo. How 'bout...argh I'm dead again. Okay try this again. Hey head shot you were right.

Me: You always have to shoot Zombies in the head. Doesn't everyone know that?

Aaaaaaaaand I'm just going to publish this because I'm proud of my geek knowledge.

Soap and water and common sense are the best disinfectants.-William Osler

PSA

Learn from my mistake. Don't keep your toothbrush right next to the soap dispenser.

My mouth is more squeaky clean than minty fresh right now. Blech!

Well I guess I got the better end of the deal over the weekend. Fiona came down with a stomach bug in Tahoe. She's mostly better but Dave came down with it last night after they got home. So I'm taking care of them both today. I'm sure I was exposed to it thoroughly before we realised Dave was sick so....since Dave got it about two days after Fiona if I'm going to get it I should get sick Wednesday or Thursday. Yay!

I hope no one else who was in Tahoe caught it. I realise that's probably wishful thinking.

Be smart, but never show it.-Louis B. Mayer

Have you ever had a job with specialized knowledge? Sure you have....every company has their own little systems and procedures that you will never be able to use in any other part of your life.



Well have you ever had an unexpected opportunity to use some knowledge from an old job that you thought was never ever going to be of use again?



That JUST happened to me and it feels AWESOME. I feel like James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, or Einstein because I am so cool/intuitive/smart. I knew not only that something was wrong but what.



Here's what happened. I ordered a used CD from Amazon. I think it cost $1.98. It just arrived. I could tell as I opened the package that the jewel case was thinner than normal but was not yet alarmed. As I slid it out of the package it was obvious it was an after market case. Still no biggie maybe the original case got all banged up. But then the case slid and I could see the back plate (ya know the back part that usually has the list of songs and sits under the cradle for the actual CD) was just floating around free not attached to anything. Okay that's a bit ghetto but wait there's more....near the top of what should have been the spine of the case is a cut. Dun Dun DUUUUUUUUUUUN!



Oh the suspense!



You are so excited right now I know, I know.



Man this is riveting stuff.



Here's where my super useful past job knowledge comes in. Cutting through the jewel case and the spine of the back plate is one of the ways record companies mark something as a promotional item. I have lots and lots of promos because I used to work in a music store and I know it's illegal to sell them. Technically promos remain the property of the record company but they never ask for them back.



I totally don't care that it's a promo. Like I said I have others. I'll probably loose the packaging any way. But I did send an email to Amazon letting them know what happened since they may want to know. I might not even have done that if it was an individual selling it but it was an online used CD store and they should know better.



Sure I felt like a bit of a tool for narking them out but the I am so cool because I know about promo CD's was way stronger.

Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result.-Winston Churchill

I got nothin'

I've been spending my days cleaning the house and that's not an exciting topic.

I had a fairly nasty cold, bruised another rib and everything, but I didn't think you wanted to hear about that. I'm better now.

Still going to the gym. Not loosing any weight but feeling pretty good about myself. But really unless there's a rubber chicken involved it's not a funny subject.

I'm reading a lot but I'm still working on the Thursday Next novels and I already told you about those.

Let's see...we're working on potty training and yeah there are a few funny/disgusting stories there but I'd prefer if Fiona doesn't actually hate me when she grows up so I've decided against posting those.....

I need to get a hobby or something or maybe a job...sigh... Maybe something interesting will happen this weekend.

Eat right, exercise regularly, die anyway.-Author Unknown

Dear Friends,

I'm sick AGAIN! Ahhhh the joys of having a young child. I've actually gone through two entire boxes of Kleenex and am well in to a third. I'm getting better though so I'm sure I'll be up to posing again soon. If I don't get around to it before Friday have a great New Year. My plans involve laying around watching movies and sleeping and that's got nothing to do with being sick, that's just my idea of a good time.

Lots O' Love
Dani

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.-Thomas Jefferson

Uuuuummmmmmmm?

Ya know how you can check your traffic sources for your blog? Well I do every once in a while it's interesting to see if I've been referenced other places. I've found a couple of other interesting blogs that way too.


But I gotta ask you guys something.....

Who's coming here from the CIA web site?

No seriously I'm getting traffic from the CIA.

Am I considered subversive?

Are they scared of my presidential bikini post?

Or is it just someone who likes quotes or stories about my cat/dogs/three year old?

I'm both amused and slightly nervous.



And on a completely unrelated note: Happy Birthday Camilla!

If nature had intended our skeletons to be visible it would have put them on the outside of our bodies.-Elmer Rice

Well hello there hip bones. Been a while hasn't it? Let me introduce you to definition in my calves where I didn't even know I was fat until I developed definition. I'm hoping my abs will be coming to the party as well. It's been even longer since I saw them than since I saw you dear hip bones.