randomly chaotic and frequently mundane

No, seriously. I feel like I’m melting. Damn it’s hot. Where’s that break in the hot weather we were supposed to get?

Got an email from an old friend today (that I met through my brother, as a matter of fact). He’s going to be in the Denver area next week, so we can get together and hang out, which is groovy.  Haven’t seen him since the very last “Maggie, Elana and Mare’s Annual Memorial Day Party” which took place in 2001.  I’ve only talked to him via email occasionally the past few years. It’ll be nice to have a visitor.  Here’s hoping Gage behaves.

In other news… well there isn’t really any news. I lead an exciting existence, no?

In my life, I’ve lost 3 people to drug overdoses. The first happened when I was 12 years old, a friend of mine who had just turned 15. It wasn’t a good experience, but it did teach an important lesson. More recently, one of my uncles and a cousin have both succumbed to drug overdoses. I didn’t have the chance to be really close to either of them, but I felt the loss tremendously and I miss them very much. It’s always a difficult thing to endure when a friend or loved one faces an addiction problem, especially in the case of teens. Fortunately, it’s possible highly effective teen drug rehab center — the kind of place that gives not only the addicted individual hope, but the whole family. Places like Echo Malibu, where they not only help a person to recover but teach them effective use of support systems. Building on the person’s strengths and helping them to be a better able to not only overcome the problem, but to live their lives free of chemical dependency.

I’m in the running at whogets.com for a prepaid cell phone.  I’d love it if you vote for me.  I don’t have a cell phone, but could certainly use one.  You have to register, but they don’t spam you.  Hell, you might find a contest that you’d like to enter yourself.  I’ll trade ya votes.  Let me know when you’re in the finals of a contest and I’ll vote for you.

in 1916, there were 5 shark attacks in New Jersey.  One of the many shark-related documentaries/specials airing this week is on that attack.  It’s on right now, as a matter of fact.  I lived in New Jersey for about 10 years.  When people ask where I’m from, New Jersey is the answer (unless people want the really complicated answer).  I never knew about this.  So I’m learning something new.

There was also a special on last night about the USS Indianapolis, which was on last night.  The story, which is pretty awful to begin with, was made all the more creepier by Richard Dreyfuss’ narration.  Something about his voice made it… very eerie.

I love shark week.  You learn so much.  I don’t fear sharks, I do however have a healthy respect for what they can do to a person.

I found a groovy new blog by Miss Kitty Fantastico, a fellow PPP-er.  Tis mucho groove-tastic.

Also, one of my oldest online friends (and a helluva gal) LN has a new blog that somehow I missed before, so check her out too.

I have spoken.

Cleaned the bathroom a little while ago, and then Gage’s bedroom.  I’ve got laundry going and I’m going to start working on the kitchen in a little bit.  Gage is hanging out inside a lot today, so I can get more stuff done.

Gage is using the potty pretty regularly now, which is nice.  I just wish he would tell me when he needs to go, so that I can take him when we go out.  Right now I put him in a pull-up if we go anywhere.   Except for walk, I let him just wear big boy underwear when we go for walks.

I imagine everyone dreams of owning a home and perhaps imagines the first time they buy a house every now and then. Yesterday, when Gage and I went for a walk I noticed several houses in the area that are for sale. Some of them are quite quaint since this is an area with a lot of older houses (turn of the century). I didn’t get the information sheets or see what the prices are for the houses. But I did make a mental note to look into Colorado Mortgages and see if it would be a possibility and how much I’d have to save for a down payment and fees. I would love to have a house, even if it’s just a small one. Preferably with a few bedrooms, a nice kitchen and a little space in the yard for a vegetable garden.

this morning, on the bed.  Tiger climbed up on the bed with me, Ziggy and Poe both climbed into bed with me, and when he got up Gage climbed into bed with me.  It really wouldn’t have been so crowded (or felt that way) if Gage hadn’t grabbed poe and moved so close to me that I was pressed against the wall.  By that point, I wasn’t sleeping anymore.

I need to get an ink cartridge for the printer.  There are some things I need to print out and mail this week.  I also need to get stamps.

Why can people not read?  I have a few things listed on craigslist to sell.  Every listing says “buyer must pick up,” every single one of them.  So I get someone who asks if something’s available, I say yes.  Then asks if I take paypal.  I say yes (afterall, sometimes it’s easier to pay with a credit card on paypal and then pick up whatever you’re buying).  Then he asks what the shipping would be to Iowa.  What the hell?  So I quoted him priority shipping.  Since it’s the only way I can get it picked up.  I should have rounded up to the nearest $10.

Everyone I know has a thing for gadgets of some kind or another. I’ve got one friend with an addiction to Digital Camera accessories and gadgets like you wouldn’t believe. It comes in handy when you need a flash card in a hurry. Anytime I’m going somewhere that I anticipate filling the card in my camera, I borrow a spare. Eventually I suppose I’ll buy a backup, when I have the money. But for now, borrowing is good.

Now, my personal gadget addiction centers around the kitchen. I love kitchen gadgets. My big “I can’t wait to have that” gadgets is a stand mixer. I look forward to being able to get a good stand mixer, with a dough hook of course. Maybe the attachment for making pasta. I also wouldn’t mind a food processor, although I’ve never used one before.

I just finished reading this.  It was SO good.  I really enjoyed the story, fast paced and you didn’t know where it was going to end up.  There were things that I thought were going to happen that didn’t happen, and things that were so utterly unexpected.  It was great.

If you like a good suspense/thriller, especially one that involves secret agents, covert operations and that sort of stuff — get it, read it, enjoy it.  Seriously.

Gage decided he wanted to take a walk.  He brought me his shoes and his harness, and he was already dressed… so we went for a walk, we walked around what amounts to 3 blocks.  It was nice.  He walked almost the whole way.  We stopped at Conoco, got a soda for mommy, a Hawaiian Punch for Gage and a fudgepop.  Did you know that the Shrek fudgepops have caramel in them?  He made a mess of himself.  It was cute, though.  He gave Tiger a bite (Tiger took about 1/3 of it, LOL).  He also gave me the last quarter of it.

It was nice, we found a park up the road.  So maybe later I’ll take him up there, or tomorrow or something.

Now he’s taking a bath and washing ice cream off of himself, and I have Return of the Jedi playing in the background.  It’s a nice day.  A good day to spend some time outside.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t need a vacation. Me especially. I like to sit down and imagine me and Gage playing on the beach, enjoying the sand, the sun and of course the water. Wouldn’t it be so nice? Maybe check into one of the Panama City vacation rentals at Weneedavacation.com, one that’s right on the beach. Wake up in the morning, take a walk on the beach before breakfast and then spend the day enjoying the salt. Gather some seashells, and take some photos. Then I’d have something to submit to Weneedavacation.com’s Summer Photo Contest. They’re giving away $1000 towards a vacation rental from their site for the photo that best captures the spirit of summer vacation. The contest is running until the end of September, so there’s still a chance. Maybe I’ll get lucky and be able to take Gage on a little vacation. Then we can enter the contest and maybe win ourselves a really nice vacation in Florida or Cape Cod (I’ve always wanted to go there).

I received a payment from Smorty.com, so I can attest to them actually paying.  Payment received via paypal.  It’s most excellent.  So that’s another paid to blog site to look into.  So far I’ve only gotten 3 opps from them, well, actually there was a fourth but I didn’t think that I was the best person to blog about male enhancement.  Not having the male equipment to enhance.

I mailed a check to the bank for deposit on Tuesday.  It hasn’t gone into my account yet.  Hope it’s not delayed much longer.  I already verified that they do in fact accept mailed deposits (just mail to any branch w/ a deposit slip).  It made the most sense.  I’m not gonna spend $10-15 on a cab to make a $25 deposit.  That would just be stupid.

Gage is playing in the mud today.  I can’t tell him not to, I’m tempted to make a few mud balls myself.  I loved playing in the mud when I was a kid.

I’ve managed to run out of everything I need in the home office area. Both my color and black ink cartridges are empty, I’m out of printer paper and I think there are 2 pens in the entire house — 1 is pink and the other is purple. It’s a tremendous pain in the butt, no? Yes. Especially since I don’t have a car and don’t really have a way to get anywhere to buy more. Add to that the need to save as much money as possible, it’s not easy to replace the stuff I need. Last time I ran out of printer paper I started loading the computer with notebook paper. What can I say, desperate times called for desperate measures. Fortunately, I won’t be needing to resort to anything like that this time. I’ll just place an order at Rapidsupplies.com and have it all delivered to my door. Besides, it’s cheaper ordering from them than it would be if I went to the store and bought what I need.

how many big stars you see if you watch cheesy old 80’s shows?  Remember the show “Monsters?”  I’m watching an episode right now with Steve Buscemi in it.  Tales from the Crypt is the same way.  I know I’ve seen Demi Moore in at least once episode, as well as Amanda Plummer (who was in the first episode I ever saw).  There’s no real point to the observation, it’s just interesting.  I’ve seen a number of well-known actors in episodes of Monsters and Tales from the Crypt.  I’m not sure about Friday the 13th The Series and Freddy’s Nightmares, though.  I don’t think they had many big stars in them.  Me and Mandy used to sit and watch these shows every Friday (or was it Saturday?) night.  We looked forward to them eagerly.