...but got back on this morning.
Since I'm (mostly) done moving, there will be no more crazy frustration of sweating so much that my patch falls off! I'm going to allow myself the few days of slipping up, and now I'm back at it. I should've duct-taped that sucker on over the weekend, but I guess everyone makes mistakes.
Dear Nicoderm CQ:
Why is it that every day when I take my patch off, the adhesive feels like superglue ripping my skin off? And why is it that, when I REALLY need you to stick to my body, you just fall right off? You certainly aren't making it any easier to kick the habit.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Busy...but Good.
Mr. P and I took Bailey to the lake house this weekend (Litchfield, IL - Lake Yeager). Her first visit went smoothly, except she ran so hard that from Saturday night through the rest of the weekend, every time she got up from laying down, there was a HUGE puddle of drool under her muzzle ;) She was definitely one pooped pup, but I think she has a new favorite place to visit. That works well for me - it's one of my favorites, too! Once the weather isn't so rainy, we'll see how she does with the actual lake part of the lake house :)
She decided to ham it up a little, too.
"Hey, Mom! Do I have any bats in the cave?"
So the weekend went well, and tomorrow's moving day. I might be out of blogging commission for a while, but what else is new, right? Looking forward to Saturday, when I finally get a break from the next couple of days. Moving sucks. We've lived in our apartment for 3 years, and as much as I hate our place, I was happy to not move every year. I don't miss that part of college life :)
No rewards this week for not smoking, but Mr. P and I are still doing well. I've definitely hit some obstacles here and there, but gotten through them...I'm kind of proud of myself. We have been doing a little furniture shopping here and there, so maybe if that pans out we'll have a reward to show off soon :)
I've had a bunch of doctor appointments lately, and have had to do some follow-up blood work to get things figured out. A sleep study is planned for next week, and hopefully once all is said and done, I'll be (almost?) normal again. (I'm weirded out by the thought of trying to sleep through electrodes on my face and wires everywhere...if someone can sleep through that, they don't have a sleeping problem!)
One more pic of Miss B for your pleasure...it's a little abstract and random, but I absolutely love it (thanks Schmoogie for taking these!). I think Mr. P and I might frame it and put it up in our new bedroom.
Long day ahead at work today, but starting to feel energized and excited about the next few days coming up!
She decided to ham it up a little, too.
"Hey, Mom! Do I have any bats in the cave?"
So the weekend went well, and tomorrow's moving day. I might be out of blogging commission for a while, but what else is new, right? Looking forward to Saturday, when I finally get a break from the next couple of days. Moving sucks. We've lived in our apartment for 3 years, and as much as I hate our place, I was happy to not move every year. I don't miss that part of college life :)
No rewards this week for not smoking, but Mr. P and I are still doing well. I've definitely hit some obstacles here and there, but gotten through them...I'm kind of proud of myself. We have been doing a little furniture shopping here and there, so maybe if that pans out we'll have a reward to show off soon :)
I've had a bunch of doctor appointments lately, and have had to do some follow-up blood work to get things figured out. A sleep study is planned for next week, and hopefully once all is said and done, I'll be (almost?) normal again. (I'm weirded out by the thought of trying to sleep through electrodes on my face and wires everywhere...if someone can sleep through that, they don't have a sleeping problem!)
One more pic of Miss B for your pleasure...it's a little abstract and random, but I absolutely love it (thanks Schmoogie for taking these!). I think Mr. P and I might frame it and put it up in our new bedroom.
Long day ahead at work today, but starting to feel energized and excited about the next few days coming up!
Monday, May 19, 2008
One-Week Reward!
After going one week without smoking...my reward to myself - a new work shirt:
Pardon the crappy picture. Didn't keep as clear as I'd hoped. Not quite as bright turquoise, but close enough, and the best part was that it was on sale!
Happy Monday. Keep your fingers crossed for more sun!
In other news: Mr. P and I set our moving date for next Thursday, May 29. That means that I'll be taking off Thursday and Friday to "supervise" movers and get the whole thing underway. I CAN'T WAIT for GNO on the 31st, because that'll be my break from reality ;) Mr. P can have that Saturday night to decompress with the boys if he wants (and Miss Bailey, of course), but I'm taking full advantage of the pre-planned Sex and the City GNO.
Pardon the crappy picture. Didn't keep as clear as I'd hoped. Not quite as bright turquoise, but close enough, and the best part was that it was on sale!Happy Monday. Keep your fingers crossed for more sun!
In other news: Mr. P and I set our moving date for next Thursday, May 29. That means that I'll be taking off Thursday and Friday to "supervise" movers and get the whole thing underway. I CAN'T WAIT for GNO on the 31st, because that'll be my break from reality ;) Mr. P can have that Saturday night to decompress with the boys if he wants (and Miss Bailey, of course), but I'm taking full advantage of the pre-planned Sex and the City GNO.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Elizabeth
We've had Bailey for nearly 6 months now, and have loved every second of it (even the traumatic accident). I thought I was home free when I agreed to get a dog, but now Mr. P's starting to hint at a second one.
Mr. P: Y'know, poor Bailey has to spend an awful lot of time alone...
Me: Yep. But she so incredibly loved and spoiled when we're here with her.
Mr. P: ...I really think she needs a friend.
Part of me really wants to bring Bailey's mom home with us.
Mr. P: Y'know, poor Bailey has to spend an awful lot of time alone...
Me: Yep. But she so incredibly loved and spoiled when we're here with her.
Mr. P: ...I really think she needs a friend.
Me: She's got LOTS of friends! She's got Dieter (lab mix), and Larry (boxer mix?), and Carrie & Matt's dogs (chihuahua and some kind of mix)! Plus, now that she's allowed to play again, we can take her to the dog park and she'll make even more! Don't forget that she and Lorenzo (dachshund) will get to play this summer at the lake. Seriously, she's fine.
I'm trying very hard not to give in. We just don't need a second dog until Bailey's older and more trained. I certainly don't have the time for another one right now! But, my willpower is starting to fail me...and I noticed that Bailey's mom, Elizabeth, is still available for adoption. Damn Petfinder and all its adorable animals!
Part of me really wants to bring Bailey's mom home with us.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
News that Matters
Preface: Random musings and venting to follow. Slight persuasion included. Read at your own risk. I'm providing lots of links for those who are interested, and zero pictures, which is rather unfortunate. My apologies.
I’ve been pretty dismayed with the P-D lately, and think that many of its “new” and “progressive” changes are a load of crap. (The “Everyday” section should be just that – EVERY DAY – instead of woven into a different daily feature. It remains constant – the comics, advice columns, puzzles, and other bizarre non-newsy necessities. The daily feature should not be given an entire section, as it is a FEATURE, not the entire SECTION. Blah, blah, blah...I could go on, but that's not really the point here.)
I now direct your attention to the St. Louis Beacon (There’s a good Chicago Reader article that gives some of its background - I was too heated as I wrote this to find a better [local] explanation.)
FYI, the story behind name change from Platform to Beacon: the new online newspaper had registered www.stlplatform.org as its website and filed its nonprofit papers. SOMEHOW, the P-D decided to name its blog the “Platform” AND trademark the name (all the Beacon’s original papers had been filed). The P-D is NOT thrilled about this new possible competition, and is doing just about anything in its power to derail the Beacon.
Bill McClellan's April 14, 2008 column is a fine representation of the mounting disdain between the two organizations. While I frequently read McClellan's column, and often agree with him (or at the very least, respect his jaded perspective), I just can't help feeling like he's one more journalist jumping on the high horse headed out of town rather than supporting our city with its well-known, highly-respected journalistic history. When a Pulitzer openly strays away from the P-D empire to fund the organization of a new newspaper, there is reason to step up and pay attention. (Yes, I realize that Pulitzer sold the P-D to Lee Enterprises, but it's still the newspaper associated with the family name.)
In relation to this particular column, I have to say that McClellan probably has little fundraising and grant experience. Challenge grants allow an individual to encourage the rest of the community to join in - there is a higher probability of success when people join together as a community to take action. A single, large donation is wonderful, but if nobody else supports an idea through funding, the individual donation is worthless. Can Pulitzer afford to give more? You bet. Is she hedging her bet in the most strategic way? Absolutely. If you check out the Beacon's donation page and scroll through its list of supporters, you'll notice names encompassing some of St. Louis' most-respected individuals across all walks of life. In addition to prominent individual donations, the corporate and nonprofit partners stepping forward to lend their support also demonstrate a desire for change.
Check out the Beacon. Just take a moment to scroll and click your way through. I think it's unfortunate that the only available option is online, but when the cost of a daily paper steadily increases, maybe online access is one of the best progressive options to explore. It seems fitting in a world where blogging and internet chat rooms have taken the place of personal letter-writing and phone calls. (Though I must admit I have a slight obsession with newsprint, and would one day like to see the paper in hard copy.) If you agree that the Beacon is a welcome alternative to the P-D, let me know. If you don't, let me know that, too. I'm interested in hearing the various opinions on this subject (and I won't call you jaded for thinking differently, I promise).
Fun sidenote: On Mondays, the Beacon publishes “Nick’s List” which is written by one of my high school English teachers, Nick Otten. His column is a book and film critique (I was in his film club toward the end of high school). I have more respect for Nick than 99% of teachers I’ve ever encountered, and have him to thank for my current style of writing (which can vary greatly, I know). I also have him to thank for the fact that I can’t start a sentence with “It is” without hearing him yell at me. (By the way, Nick, that’s greatly inhibited my abilities in professional writing situations…)
I find the idea of a second, competitive St. Louis newspaper to be encouraging. Offering options to the masses is part of what makes our country great, and part of what challenges opponents to continue improving their ability to both provide and satisfy their target audiences. The Beacon offers that option, similar to the defunct St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Complacency has gotten our city nowhere, but an active attempt at change is taking the next step forward. While a new option may only be a small step, I like to think it's a step in the right direction of strengthening St. Louis.
I welcome any form of media providing me with news that matters to me as a reader. This became much more of a tangent than intended, but as the months and years roll by, I'm looking forward to see what happens next.
Edited to add: While I began this post earlier today, it's now 11:27 and I'm finally publishing. New goal - figure out how the hell to set my posting time to make it true to publishing time on Blogger.
I’ve been pretty dismayed with the P-D lately, and think that many of its “new” and “progressive” changes are a load of crap. (The “Everyday” section should be just that – EVERY DAY – instead of woven into a different daily feature. It remains constant – the comics, advice columns, puzzles, and other bizarre non-newsy necessities. The daily feature should not be given an entire section, as it is a FEATURE, not the entire SECTION. Blah, blah, blah...I could go on, but that's not really the point here.)
I now direct your attention to the St. Louis Beacon (There’s a good Chicago Reader article that gives some of its background - I was too heated as I wrote this to find a better [local] explanation.)
FYI, the story behind name change from Platform to Beacon: the new online newspaper had registered www.stlplatform.org as its website and filed its nonprofit papers. SOMEHOW, the P-D decided to name its blog the “Platform” AND trademark the name (all the Beacon’s original papers had been filed). The P-D is NOT thrilled about this new possible competition, and is doing just about anything in its power to derail the Beacon.
Bill McClellan's April 14, 2008 column is a fine representation of the mounting disdain between the two organizations. While I frequently read McClellan's column, and often agree with him (or at the very least, respect his jaded perspective), I just can't help feeling like he's one more journalist jumping on the high horse headed out of town rather than supporting our city with its well-known, highly-respected journalistic history. When a Pulitzer openly strays away from the P-D empire to fund the organization of a new newspaper, there is reason to step up and pay attention. (Yes, I realize that Pulitzer sold the P-D to Lee Enterprises, but it's still the newspaper associated with the family name.)
In relation to this particular column, I have to say that McClellan probably has little fundraising and grant experience. Challenge grants allow an individual to encourage the rest of the community to join in - there is a higher probability of success when people join together as a community to take action. A single, large donation is wonderful, but if nobody else supports an idea through funding, the individual donation is worthless. Can Pulitzer afford to give more? You bet. Is she hedging her bet in the most strategic way? Absolutely. If you check out the Beacon's donation page and scroll through its list of supporters, you'll notice names encompassing some of St. Louis' most-respected individuals across all walks of life. In addition to prominent individual donations, the corporate and nonprofit partners stepping forward to lend their support also demonstrate a desire for change.
Check out the Beacon. Just take a moment to scroll and click your way through. I think it's unfortunate that the only available option is online, but when the cost of a daily paper steadily increases, maybe online access is one of the best progressive options to explore. It seems fitting in a world where blogging and internet chat rooms have taken the place of personal letter-writing and phone calls. (Though I must admit I have a slight obsession with newsprint, and would one day like to see the paper in hard copy.) If you agree that the Beacon is a welcome alternative to the P-D, let me know. If you don't, let me know that, too. I'm interested in hearing the various opinions on this subject (and I won't call you jaded for thinking differently, I promise).
Fun sidenote: On Mondays, the Beacon publishes “Nick’s List” which is written by one of my high school English teachers, Nick Otten. His column is a book and film critique (I was in his film club toward the end of high school). I have more respect for Nick than 99% of teachers I’ve ever encountered, and have him to thank for my current style of writing (which can vary greatly, I know). I also have him to thank for the fact that I can’t start a sentence with “It is” without hearing him yell at me. (By the way, Nick, that’s greatly inhibited my abilities in professional writing situations…)
I find the idea of a second, competitive St. Louis newspaper to be encouraging. Offering options to the masses is part of what makes our country great, and part of what challenges opponents to continue improving their ability to both provide and satisfy their target audiences. The Beacon offers that option, similar to the defunct St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Complacency has gotten our city nowhere, but an active attempt at change is taking the next step forward. While a new option may only be a small step, I like to think it's a step in the right direction of strengthening St. Louis.
I welcome any form of media providing me with news that matters to me as a reader. This became much more of a tangent than intended, but as the months and years roll by, I'm looking forward to see what happens next.
Edited to add: While I began this post earlier today, it's now 11:27 and I'm finally publishing. New goal - figure out how the hell to set my posting time to make it true to publishing time on Blogger.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Bacon & Basil Cups
For the ladies who attended the Girls Night Out - here's the recipe for the appetizer I brought (I've been meaning to post it for a while now...):
Bacon and Basil Cups
Ingredients:
1 package bacon
1/4 lb. baby swiss cheese, shredded
1 1/2 tsp. dried basil
Tomatoes (Roma work well)
Mayo (1/2 cup at most)
2 boxes Fillo (Phyllo) cups - found in freezer section
1 package fresh basil (optional)
Directions:
Cook the bacon crispy.
De-goo (technical term = remove seeds and excess juice) and dice the tomatoes.
Shred fresh basil (if desired).
Put all ingredients into a large bowl.
Add as much mayo as necessary to hold everything together. (You can't really do too much or too little - it's just the glue.)
Spoon the mixture into the Fillo cups.
Bake in the oven at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese is gooey. (Best if baked, but can be microwaved in a pinch.) If desired, some of the shredded basil can be placed on top of each cup for a decorative touch.
The mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated for a couple of days, and if you have some leftover it's great on chips (cold or melted).
Wish I had a picture to share, but these always seem to disappear before the cameras show up :)
Bacon and Basil Cups
Ingredients:
1 package bacon
1/4 lb. baby swiss cheese, shredded
1 1/2 tsp. dried basil
Tomatoes (Roma work well)
Mayo (1/2 cup at most)
2 boxes Fillo (Phyllo) cups - found in freezer section
1 package fresh basil (optional)
Directions:
Cook the bacon crispy.
De-goo (technical term = remove seeds and excess juice) and dice the tomatoes.
Shred fresh basil (if desired).
Put all ingredients into a large bowl.
Add as much mayo as necessary to hold everything together. (You can't really do too much or too little - it's just the glue.)
Spoon the mixture into the Fillo cups.
Bake in the oven at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese is gooey. (Best if baked, but can be microwaved in a pinch.) If desired, some of the shredded basil can be placed on top of each cup for a decorative touch.
The mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated for a couple of days, and if you have some leftover it's great on chips (cold or melted).
Wish I had a picture to share, but these always seem to disappear before the cameras show up :)
Friday, May 2, 2008
Dumbfounded
In relation to Mary's comment on my last post...
While we get plenty of lovely comments about Bailey, I have to share the conversation I had on Wednesday evening with a woman (hereafter referred to as Idiot Breeder, or IB) who was looking at one of the apartments in our building (Mr. P doesn't know, because I forgot to tell him!):
IB: Your puppy is so beautiful!
Me: Thank you! She's a wonderful dog...
IB: How old is she? Is she spayed? What kind of dog is she? You should really breed her...
Me (emphatically): YES, she's already spayed. I wouldn't want to let her accidentally get pregnant - I don't want to deal with puppies. Plus, she's a mutt.
IB: Well that's a shame. You could have made a lot of money off of her.
WTF??? AARRGHHH! SERIOUSLY!!! I don't understand people. Bailey is a mutt. Pretty, sweet, lovey, all sorts of wonderful things, but still a mutt. She is the result of other irresponsible pet owners. There are plenty of dogs JUST LIKE HER already in shelters!
Sorry, I just had to vent :) I'm a huge advocate of adopting and rescuing, as well as speutering. Yeah, I'm kind of a resident Bob Barker. There are too many animals needing love, and not enough loving homes to go around. (Not to mention that I'm not exactly thrilled at the idea of making my loving pet a business enterprise. SOOO not cool.)
However, all that said, I couldn't be happier with our mutt, and am flattered by every comment we get about her! I just wished I'd had enough courage to slap some sense into IB...
While we get plenty of lovely comments about Bailey, I have to share the conversation I had on Wednesday evening with a woman (hereafter referred to as Idiot Breeder, or IB) who was looking at one of the apartments in our building (Mr. P doesn't know, because I forgot to tell him!):
IB: Your puppy is so beautiful!
Me: Thank you! She's a wonderful dog...
IB: How old is she? Is she spayed? What kind of dog is she? You should really breed her...
Me (emphatically): YES, she's already spayed. I wouldn't want to let her accidentally get pregnant - I don't want to deal with puppies. Plus, she's a mutt.
IB: Well that's a shame. You could have made a lot of money off of her.
WTF??? AARRGHHH! SERIOUSLY!!! I don't understand people. Bailey is a mutt. Pretty, sweet, lovey, all sorts of wonderful things, but still a mutt. She is the result of other irresponsible pet owners. There are plenty of dogs JUST LIKE HER already in shelters!
Sorry, I just had to vent :) I'm a huge advocate of adopting and rescuing, as well as speutering. Yeah, I'm kind of a resident Bob Barker. There are too many animals needing love, and not enough loving homes to go around. (Not to mention that I'm not exactly thrilled at the idea of making my loving pet a business enterprise. SOOO not cool.)
However, all that said, I couldn't be happier with our mutt, and am flattered by every comment we get about her! I just wished I'd had enough courage to slap some sense into IB...
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