Monkey Butler

Monkey Butler - Free Improv Comedy & Acting Workshop - Thursdays in 2011
Monkey Butler is a free Improv Comedy Acting Workshop open to all ages and skill levels beginning January 6th, 2011. This unique form of fun and creativity is a wonderful way to break free of your everyday roles and let loose in an encouraging environment...

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Hiatus

I appologize for the seeming lack of effort as of late.  Work and school have had me super busy, but I think it's my personal life that has kept me from working on here.  I'll have more time, now that finals are winding down.  :0)

Loophole!

Okay... This is horribly awesome, so I had to share.

If you want a way to download free MP3s from Amazon.com - It's apparently really easy.

I purchased a $0.99 song from their site which downloads right away to your computer.

If you have an account with them and a credit card on file, then they process your card after you download the song.

I must not have updated my profile with my new debit card number, so the payment didn't process and the order was cancelled.  BUT, that's AFTER I already downloaded my now FREE SONG!  Loophole!

Here's the email I got from Amazon.com today:


Greetings from Amazon.com.

We have not received a valid method of payment and thus are cancelling
your order (#D01-0164194-1236814). To verify and/or update payment
information for your account, please visit the following page:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/css/account/cards/view.html

Please note you will need to place a new order for the item(s) you
wished to purchase.

Please note: This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that
cannot accept incoming e-mail.  Please do not reply to this message.

Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com.

Sincerely,
Amazon.com Customer Service
http://www.amazon.com

Pastafarians!

Italian funnel cake @ Vita Bella!

Costco...

...where everything is wholesale.

Shhhhh...

* this entire post is to be envisioned in a whisper *

Day 97
11/16/2010
Shoplift

To avoid incrimination...  I will simply state that this was a mission easily acomplished.

   

Snow!

That's right boys and girls!  It's finally snowing in Denver.  And it's gross and wet and blowing sideways.  I'm so excited.  We got our first snow on Nov. 12th, but it's snowing again today.

Last week I just had a crud of a time.  I was having trouble at work, stressing about school, adjusting to the weather changing, dealing with people's moods, etc...  I seriously wanted a do-over.  Instead, I found ways to cheer myself up.


Day 92
11-11-2010
Do Not Shave

Honestly, this was incredibly easy to accomplish, seeing as how I don't shave everyday... 



Day 93
11-12-2010
Get a Hobby

I took up jewelry crafting.  I made some bottlecap charms, decorated a few lockets, and decorated the back of a necklace.  I had a lot of fun doing it too.  They turned out super cute.  I'll have to take pics.   Two of the lockets were little bibles that I decorated for Tim and Danielle.  :0)

 

Day 94
11-13-2010
Bullshit Day

I emailed out sick from my exam.  I actually felt sick to my stomach and was in the most foul mood on the face of the planet, but still...  I feel guilty.  Which made me feel more ill.  I was in bed until 12noon that day with my cats.


Day 95
11-14-2010
Buy a Newspaper and Only Read the Ads

Well, I get the paper, so it's a little like cheating...  But, whereas some days I actually read through the paper to find out what's interesting, this Sunday I just took out the ads and tossed the rest of the paper.

Day 96
11-15-2010
Ego Control Day: It's not all about you!

Nancy had a bad day at work...  So, I took her out to cheer her up.  She couldn't decide if she wanted a burger or pasta for dinner, so we went to Chile's and split both.  Then we swung by the Robusto Room to say hi to Jason and I bought us a round of Lemon Drop shots.  Then we went and got her Cheesecake and headed home to watch Castle.  Thankfully, I enjoyed everything that I did with her, even if it wasn't "my" day.  :0)

FUBAR

So...  After some hesitation, I decided to talk to my CFO/HR boss about my coworker's flare up earlier this week.  I talked to him about it yesterday.  I tried to get my point accross that I was upset with her approach; she had no right to yell at me.  Apparently, he talked to her about it today.  So, she came to appologize to me, "Aside from me swearing once, I think what I said and how I did it was completely appropriate."  No it was not.  And, so I tried to explain...  Really, it got me nowhere.  What's the point of HR if they can't help?

Talking Fruit

Sniffles

Day 90
11-09-2010
Write Down All Your Friends' Birthdays

I don't know what the point of this really was...  I have a lot of March/April/May peeps in my life.  That much I could have already told you, though.

On a side note, it was my grandpa Rich's birthday, so I called and talked to him and my grandma for a bit.  That was really nice.  We also got our first snow of the season yesterday.  Oh, and Jason, Nancy and I had played trivia at the Robusto Room and we won!  :0)  *happy dance*


Day 91
11-10-2010
Have a Good Cry

I was inappropriately yelled at by a peer/coworker today.  Seriously...  So rude and unprofessional.  I at least have the sense to know what "tact" is.  She ruined my day.  I cried in secret.  I am still aghast.  I suppose that in the long run it's good to know which one of us office bitches is the one that'll snap like a pitbull.  Put a muzzle on it.

Catch Up (not to be confused to ketchup - eww)

Day 80

10-30-10

Today: Come up with you own Book page idea!

Thrift Store Day

Take $10 to your nearest thrift store (Salvation Army, Goodwill, ARC) and buy an ugly new-to-you outfit and wear it around for the rest of the day.  Try to look as purposefully mismatched and eccentric as possible; be sure to accessorize with a hat, scarf, belt, or handbag.  Embrace your new-but-used clothing trend!

Day 82

11-01-10

Stick a Message on a Fruit

I placed a sticker on a little apple in the fridge at work, “Be gentle with me.”

Day 83

11-02-10

Join a Political Party

In honor of Voting Day, I chose to register as an Independent.  This means that I rescinded my membership to the Democratic party and chose to go rogue.  I took a politics test that lined me up with Gandhi and said I was more of a liberal and more of a libertarian…  Meaning that I’m liberal when it comes to social issues and conservative when it comes to big government.  Since I still haven’t found a party that I can fully stand behind, then I choose the “Don’t Give a Damn Party.”

Day 84

11-03-10

Share Someone Else’s Pain

So, my dear roomy, Nancy, was having a crumby day.  I hate seeing others in bad moods, and I have even more trouble being around them… So, I set out to fix her.  Yes, that’s right, she was broken.  But it wasn’t anything that wine, cheese, crackers, sweets and a video couldn’t cure.  So, I went to the store and picked up a bunch of different wines, cheeses, breads, crackers, spinach dip, a rotisserie chicken, fruit tarts for dessert, and rented The Karate Kid remake.  We happily wallowed in munchies and nostalgia while sitting around in our pajamas and drinking wine.  So, whilst I didn’t quite share her pain, I did however help fix her mood.  :0)



Day 86

11-05-10

Day Off

Friday, Nancy and I had Qdoba for dinner, then went to see Heather’s art show during First Friday in the Santa Fe Art District.  Then we met Jason at the Celtic downtown for drinks and dessert.  It was a lovely way to spend a Friday night.

Day 87 & Day 88

11-06-10 & 11-07-10

No TV Weekend

Well, I don’t watch much television to begin with, but this weekend I did watch two movies.  However, I don’t count watching movies as watching TV if they are on DVD.

So, Saturday I kinda missed class…  And instead did a little thrift and dollar store shopping (I curb my shopping urge by only shopping cheap).  Then Jason picked me up and we went to his parents’ house for dinner.  The whole famdamnly was there: brothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, nieces, grandparents, uncles, etc.  His parents cooked a wonderful vegetarian meal, after which we all sat around and just chatted.  They did some family photos that I was included in…  That was sweet but a little odd.  :0)  Then, before Jason and I fell asleep on the couch, we headed over to the Robusto Room for drinks and were planning on seeing a movie.  Instead, we got a call from Jason’s dad asking if we could take his cousin and girlfriend downtown for the night.  This wouldn’t have been an issue, except that they were both vegetarian and didn’t drink alcohol.  Um…  We’re in Denver.  All we do here is drink beer and eat cow.  What else could we take them to go do downtown?!  Jason, bless his soul, thought of the Impulse Theater improve show at the Wynkoop Brewery.  I think they enjoyed themselves.  I know Jason and I were laughing. 

Anywho, Jason stayed the night, and it was lovely waking up next to him, and even lovelier remembering that it was Daylight Savings and we had an extra hour.  He went home and I slept until 11 or so, then I took a shower, grabbed coffee and a bagel, and headed to the office.  Why the office on a Sunday?  Well, I needed to create a rough draft of a technical manual for my Technical Writing class.  I chose to do mine on the bulk mail programs I use at work.  So, I spent 6 hours on Sunday afternoon in the office, all alone, typing a manual.  Woo-hoo!  Then I met up Jason and his roommate, Cindy, for dinner at Rib City.  We went back to their place and watched some Futurama (on DVD) and then I went home and watched Iron-Man 2 (also on DVD).

Day 89

11-08-10

Count Your Farts

I think this is hilarious!  I made sure to eat chili yesterday and today for lunch in preparation for this assignment!  Pretty sexy, huh?  I think I reached about a grand total of 55 farts by the time I went to bed...  Good thing I went to bed by myself.  ;0)

I am a Left of Center Reformed Jew!

Day 85
11-04-2010

Express Your Views Today

Well...  I've been thinking a lot about politics and religion lately.  Heavy topics, huh?  But, with all the political crud going on of late and with Jason's friends and family being very Christian, I've had to try and verbalize my opinions and beliefs.  Do you know how hard it is to tell a room of Republican Christians that you are a Liberal Agnostic?  It just does not come out right.  Neither does Democratic Non-Practicing Roman Catholic.  I feel like it’s a no win situation…  But, it isn’t their fault.  It’s mine for not figuring out exactly what I believe and what labels I prescribe to.

I recently changed my political party affiliation from Democrat to Independent.  I like to have options.  I tend towards social liberalism, but I’m more of a centrist when it comes to finance and big-government.  I decided that by registering Independent, then I get to see the full ballot and make up my mind that way.  Because, unlike many people I know, I do not vote for a “party” – I prefer to vote on the issues.  I vote for candidates based on their beliefs being in line with mine; that does not mean that I always vote for a particular party.  So, here’s a little list of things I believe:

Abortion is a choice – Leave politics out of it.  It is not a decision anyone makes lightly and it should be up to the woman to deal with the morals and ethics for herself based on her own beliefs.

Homosexuality is real – Stop discriminating.  Quit it with the hate and political second-class status.  Gay couples should have the same rights as all other committed couples.  And, since the government recognizes marriage regardless of faith, then they should also allow marriage regardless of gender.  There should be no obstacles for adoption or inheritance, or anything else!  They are legal citizens that should not be penalized for being themselves.

Separation of Church & State is legal – But, our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian ideals.  I believe that they should remain separate, but they should be acknowledged as well.  One of the hottest topics in this is religion in the public classrooms.  I don’t think there should be prayer in school, but I think that clubs should be allowed to form around religious beliefs and that whatever form of worship they choose to practice should be respected.  I don’t believe that creationism should be taught along side evolution.  However, I do think it’d be wise to put into place a nation-wide high school curriculum that discusses world religions and the implications of history, politics and faith – Whilst being open-minded and non-partisan.

Education is lacking – In the bigger picture, most Americans know jack about world politics, religions, geography, etc.  I think, as I mentioned above, that there should be a required class that discusses the World at large and the people in it.  I believe that Fine Arts and Sports are just as essential to our children as arithmetic and spelling.  I support initiatives that funnel money back into school programs.  And, I think that there should be more options for children based upon their learning styles and goals.  Standardization is outdated.  I think that using social psychology and aptitude tests, we would be better servicing our children’s learning styles and needs.

Taxes are okay but I’d prefer to choose where the money is going – I support taxes.  I don’t necessarily want them any higher than they are, but I understand that they are used to fund public programs that better us as a nation.  BUT, I don’t want to pay for lazy people to sit on their asses and pop out a ton of babies.  That’s an extreme though, and what measures can we put into affect that would better define what it means to be “in need” and how long we, as a nation, can help you until you find yourself a job.  I say yes to programs that help, but with stronger restrictions on who and how long.  If a parent is paying property taxes, then I think they should have the right to choose to place their children in private school and allow their tax contribution to be funded back to the institution of their choice.  I would like to see a balanced budget with unnecessary expenditures reduced and instead have a national education fund started.

That’s as far as my brain will take me today on politics.  I know there are a lot of topics that I did not touch base on…  I have opinions on medical marijuana, the draft, death penalty, gun control, job out-sourcing, etc.  But, I’ll need to get to them another time.  Right now, my brain hurts.  I can tell you though that, according to PoliticalCompass.com, I fall in line with Gandhi.

However, here are a few ideas on what I believe as far as religion goes; if you can help point me in the right direction of the correct faith for me, I’d really appreciate it.  In the mean time, according to BeliefNet.com, I am apparently best lined up with Reformed Judaism.

• I feel there is one god that is non-corporeal and indivisible.
• The idea of an afterlife is nice, but most likely, we just die.
• I do not believe in original sin or that I have to be ‘saved’ or repent.
• I think adhering to a generally accepted set of morals and ethics is advisable, but the most important thing is to be a good person.
• You do not need to go church in order to have a relationship with god.
• Church is a social creation and should be a place of peaceful discussion, friendship, and understanding.
• There is no ‘right’ answer.
• Have an open mind and respect others’ beliefs and walks of life.
• No race, gender, sexuality, or religion is evil or inferior.
• We are all equal.
• I believe in science and research and I believe it is guided by god.
• Most people are hypocrites in one way or another – Do not point fingers.
• Treat other as you would like to be treated.
• You should give what you can of yourself to those less fortunate, because you want to.
• I believe in the idea of karma – What goes around comes around, so you’d better be a good person.
• We are all human, and therefore who are we to judge others?
• The bible and other religious texts are just that: Religious texts.  They are somewhat historic, translated and transcribed, and just books.  They are there to teach morals, lessons, histories, doctrines, rules, etc…  And all of them were created by humans.  They are not the word of god.  They are guidelines for living a good life as seen fit by the authors.
• Jesus, Moses, Buddha, etc…  They were all prophetic teachers and visionaries, but I do not believe them to be god or aspects there of.

  

The Political Compass

http://www.politicalcompass.org/printablegraph?ec=-5.00&soc=-2.87

Economic Left/Right: -5.00

Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.87

http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx

 1. Reform Judaism   (100 %) 
 2. Liberal Quakers - Religious Society of Friends    (90 %) 
 3. Unitarian Universalism   (84 %) 
 4. Mainline - Liberal Christian Protestants    (81 %) 
 5. Bahai   (71 %) 
 6. Sikhism   (68 %) 
 7. Neo-Pagan    (67 %) 
 8. Secular Humanism   (65 %) 
 9. Orthodox Judaism   (62 %) 
 10. Islam   (60 %) 
 11. New Age    (58 %) 
 12. Jainism   (54 %) 
 13. Mahayana Buddhism    (54 %) 
 14. Orthodox Quaker - Religious Society of Friends   (53 %) 
 15. New Thought   (51 %) 
 16. Theravada Buddhism   (48 %) 
 17. Scientology   (44 %) 
 18. Taoism   (44 %) 
 19. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)   (38 %) 
 20. Christian Science Church of Christ, Scientist   (34 %) 
 21. Hinduism   (33 %) 
 22. Non-theist   (33 %) 
 23. Mainline - Conservative Christian Protestant   (29 %) 
 24. Eastern Orthodox   (28 %) 
 25. Roman Catholic   (28 %) 
 26. Seventh Day Adventist    (25 %) 
 27. Jehovahs Witness   (20 %) 

White Fence Farms

It's SO yummy!  I had to share:  http://whitefencefarm-co.com/

Also, here's a silly pic I took of myself while there in a funhouse mirror.

Faith-Based Free Writes

Today, I felt the need to write, but I didn't know what about.  So, I knew that Jason's friend Tim was in need of some help getting some thoughts down on paper regarding life and Christianity.  Now, I was raised Catholic, and although it is a Christian faith, it is far less Jesus-centric than what most Christian sects favor.  I think of Jesus more in a prophetic way; God is the important aspect for me.  But, I digress...  It was hard to think of specifically Christian-based ideas and prompts.  Thank goodness for the internet and Google.  So, I picked out a few prompt words and quotes and went with it.  There's no real point to this...  I just felt like doing a free-write, but I hope that it can be of some use to Tim.

Hope

I believe that God is an optimist.  He sees the good in people.  And, because of that, he wills us to do the same.  He encourages us to look to the positive.  He gives us the strength to hold onto our goals and dreams in face of obstacles outside our control.  He allows us to have faith in ourselves, our ideas, and our future.  He gave us hope so that we would have faith in our choices and a light at the end of the tunnel of adversity.  He gave us hope to battle despair.  Hope was placed in our hearts to help guard us through the hard times.  Hope is the armor that God gave us to be strong and keep moving forward.

Inspiration

“You are rewarding a teacher poorly if you remain always a pupil.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

Now, it may seem odd to quote someone labeled as an Atheist or a Nihilist…  But, I think that it doesn’t matter.  God shaped us all with different minds and goals and lives and histories.  A simple label should not be the only identification of a man.  We are all more complex than that.  God gave us free will and the ability to question the world around us.  Nietzsche did just that.  And, of his many insights, he commented that we can not always remain students – We must also teach.  The inspiration that God has instilled within us must also be given back to the masses.  We need to give as much of ourselves and our thoughts and ideas and creations, as our teachers and forefathers and Jesus have given to us.  True inspiration should be shared, appreciated, and nurtured into fruition.

Friendship

"Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shall drink it with pleasure." - Sirach 9:10

“A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses." - Proverbs 27:19

Friends fill needs in our lives.  They come and go as our needs change, or as theirs do.  To look at your friends is to see a reflection of yourself, lifestyle, needs, goals, and so forth.  As we ourselves change and grow, so do our needs.  And, consequently, either our friends grow with us or away from us.  Do not lament the loss of a friend.  Instead, acknowledge that their path is different than yours right now, and that perhaps you may meet up again in the future.  But, for those friends that grow with you; you are entwined in life, and the shared experiences will only draw you closer in respect, understanding and love for each other.  The strongest friendships are those that grow together, instead of apart.  And, I cannot think of a better way to spend an evening than with an old friend over a glass of wine.

Jambalaura

Day 81

10-31-10

Today, decide what skill to pass onto your relatives

Cooking!  I’m not a chef, but I certainly can whip up something yummy.  I intend to pass down a collection of Laura-ized recipes and meals.  As you can see, I’ve already included some recipes in my blog.  :0)  Here is my version of jambalaya that I made on Halloween.

Jambalaura

1 package smoked polish turkey sausage - 1/2” chunks

1/2 white onion - 1/2” chunks

1/2 red bell pepper - 1/2” chunks

1/2 yellow bell pepper - 1/2” chunks

1/2 orange bell pepper - 1/2” chunks

1/2 package sliced mushrooms

1/2 jar tomato sauce - not too sweet

1 cup white wine - not too sweet

4 green onions - chopped

1 cup cilantro - coarsely chopped

6 garlic cloves - crushed

8-ish overripe vine tomatoes - quartered

Worchester sauce - 1 tea spoon

Extra virgin olive oil - 1 table spoon

Salted Butter - 2 table spoons

Yellow mustard - 2 table spoon

Sriracha - 1 table spoon

Montreal steak seasoning - Several shakes

Mrs. Dash - Several shakes

2 cups white rice w/ 2 & 1/2 cups water - Cook separately in rice cooker

Add all the above to a large pot and simmer until flavor is to your liking.  This is a taste as you go dish, so you’ll need to keep tasting the sauce until you like the flavor.  Add a little more of whatever you think is missing until you get the desired taste.  Also, as long as it is hot and tastes good, then it is ready to serve (as the sausage is precooked).  If you’d like, this is a meal that can sit in a slow cooker/crock pot and left on low all day.  When you’re ready to eat, just mix in the rice that you cooked separately, and voila!  Dinner is served.

Sugar and Spice

Day  77

10-27-2010

Stockpile as Much Free Sugar as Possible

Well, conveniently enough, we had a catered breakfast and a catered lunch at work that day.  So, when the meetings were finished, I scavenged for all the leftover condiments, sugars and whatnot.  I also took all the leftovers and donated them to a women’s shelter on my way home from work.  How sweet, right?  (yes, pun intended)

Day  79

10-29-2010

Today, Take the Path You Fear

Today all of us gals are dressed up for Halloween in the office.  I was a little nervous with my costume.  I put a lot of time, effort and money into my costume.  But, it included roller skates and booty shorts…  So, I wasn’t sure how kosher it’d be to wear to the office.  But, I have to say it’s been a big hit.  :0)  And I’m so happy I went all out!  Best Halloween costume ever!!!  (I even made my building's newsletter!)

Halloween a la Colliers

Meatballs and Hard Working Women

Day  75

10-25-2010

Today, Work Hard Instead of Hardly Working

I worked my rear off at the office on Monday.  Normally, I bide my time until the afternoon rolls around and then do the 20 bills that come in.  But not this time.  This time I did three mailers, stocked/inventoried supplies, and did a ton of bills.  Way to earn my paycheck!

Day  76

10-26-2010

Today, Celebrate your Womanhood

After a long day at work, I went grocery shopping.  I, of course, remembered to bring and use my coupons.  This is a very female thing to do.  I bought a bottle of white wine, because my feminine predilections called for something fun a fruity, and headed home to cook dinner for my loving husband (I mean roommate).  I made homemade meatballs from scratch!  SO good!  And, to go with them, I made a tomato cream sauce that I served over tri-color rotini and sautéed up some veggies on the side.  Nancy and I gossiped over dinner and then flipped channels until bedtime...  Where I laid in bed with a good book, my two kitties, and a glass of wine.  You can’t get much more girlie than that.  :0)

Meatballs a la Lowe

1 lb Ground Spicy Italian Sausage

1 lb Ground Lean Chicken/Pork/Turkey/Beef (whatever you feel like using)

1/3 Package of Stove Top Savory Herbs & Spices Stuffing

2 Eggs (or Egg Beaters)

1/3 lb Fresh Diced Mushrooms

1/2 cup Fresh Chopped Celery

1/4 cup Fresh Chopped Cilantro

1/4 cup Fresh Chopped Basil

1/4 cup Fresh Chopped Garlic

1/2 cup Fresh Chopped Green Onions

3 oz Tomato Paste (1/2 of those little cans)

1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 cup White Wine

1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

Montreal Steak Seasoning

Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning

Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a bowl.  If the mixture is not holding together enough because it is too dry, then try adding another egg.  Or, if it is too wet, add some more stuffing mix.  Form into golf ball sized meatballs and place on a foil-lined cooking sheet.  Make sure that your pan/sheet has a lip.  OR, for best results, place the meatballs separately onto a non-stick mini-muffin tin – This makes turning them and clean-up so much easier!  Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees until then begin to brown.  Then turn them over and place them under the broiler.  Crisp them up and rotate them until the outsides are nice and well-done.  Take them out and serve them with your favorite dish or sauce!  Enjoy!!!

The Pumpkin of my Mother's Eye...

Day  78

10-28-2010

Send Your Long-Suffering Mother Some Flowers

Now, I usually send my mom flowers for either Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day…  But I thought it’d be fun to send her some Halloween flowers.  :0)   And, coincidently, there was a ‘day’ for that in the book!  She called me this morning from her office, “Oh my god!  They are beautiful!  Thank you so much, sweetie!”  I did good.

Canary Kisses

Day 73
10-23-2010
Kiss Someone Where They've Never Been Kissed

Last night, while on a sugar high, I kissed Jason's eye.  That part in between the eyebrow and the lid.  Hehe...  He laughed because I pulled his eye open.  Weird, but cute and silly.  Mission accomplished.


Day 74
10-24-2010
Try a New Kind of Fruit

Jason bought me a canary melon in LaJunta, CO.  Nancy made me an omlette this morning for breakfast and served it with some of the melon.  It was REALLY good.  In fact, I think it might be my new favorite melon.  It tastes like a cross between a canteloup and a honeydew.  Yummers!

Longest Week Ever...

So, I made it my goal to get organized with my Book today.  As it turns out, I completely skipped Day 36.  Not just the number, but I moved straight from Day 35 on 09-15-2010 to Day 37 on 09-16-2010.  So... I'm doing Day 36 today.  So, those of you keeping count, I know this is so not in order, but I needed to fix it.  Hope that makes sense...

Day 36 (substitution/make-up)

10-22-2010

Barter Today

I placed an ad on Craigslist.com to barter my iPod and some dvd's for a bike.  Wish me luck!

Day 71

10-20-2010

Read Your Palm

Palm Reading for Laura

Courtesy of OnlinePalmReadings.com

 

Part 1: Your Potential
This palm reading is for your left hand, your minor hand. Your left hand tells the potential you were born with, and your right hand tells what you have done with it. Therefore, this reading will tell you the potential that lies within you.

Part 2: Your Character
You have a Fire hand. This is known as the instinctive hand. You are creative and imaginative. You surround yourself with people, more comfortable in groups than alone. You are generally unafraid to take risks. You launch yourself enthusiastically into all your endeavors, driven by your passionate nature.

You have a fairly adaptable personality. You could thrive in a number of different life paths. You daydream of adventure and novelty, although you may not make the effort to make it happen. It is quite possible and likely that you had or will have difficulty choosing a specific direction in life.

You are an active, healthy person with a positive view on life. You have an upbeat and confident personality that carries you through all your dealings.

You are in relatively good health and generally live your life joyfully and in high spirits.

You possess a methodical mind. You think through situations thoroughly before making decisions. Your daily life is generally well planned out.

You are a fairly straight forward person. You don't typically worry too much, though you may occasionally be prone to bouts of stress and need to be careful not to keep things bottled up, only to explode later.

Part 3: Your Ego
You are strong willed without necessarily being stubborn. You are a well adjusted individual, balanced in your thinking between logic and emotion.

You have a flexible nature. You are pleasantly capable of compromise. However, you need to be careful that you don't allow people to take advantage of your willingness to bend over backward to please others.

You are a practical and realistic person. You possess the well respected and highly sought after qualities of loyalty and dependability.

You are typically cautious and thoughtful, rather than impulsive in your actions. You think through the consequences before making a move. It would benefit you to occasionally go with your gut instinct instead and step a bit out of your comfort zone.

You are a social being. You enjoy being surrounded by others, and you yearn to be the center of attention. You tend to act more on emotion rather than logic.

Part 4: Your Vitality
You have experienced major changes in your lifestyle, health or well being. These could be a change of business, relocation, a new business or career, or a marriage.

You possess a strong vitality. You are a vibrant, energetic person. You will live a full, eventful life. You have a high likelihood of success and wealth.

You are quite independent with a strong need for freedom and flexibility. You may be impulsive. You are full of energy, and you are confident in your abilities. You can stand on your own, self-sustaining.

You actively seek travel, adventure and new experiences. You have a decision to make. You may be pondering a relocation, a new career or a new relationship.

The lines across your Life Line are your lines of influence. They show the people and the experiences that have influenced your life. These include good and bad experiences.

Part 5: Your Intellect
You have strong mental energy. You have a strong intellect. You are an intense and rational thinker. You are a clever person with a well organized thought process.

You are a positive thinker. You need to actively develop your imagination. At times you may not be so perceptive of your surroundings. Be careful not to preemptively judge a book by its cover. You can be very detail oriented, but you manage to keep sight of the end goal at all times.

Your practicality outweighs your imagination. You are a business minded individual with materialistic tendencies.

You are a late bloomer. You are very independent. You care little about what others think of you, forging your own unconstrained path in this world.

The lines on your Head Lines indicate outside influence. They can be caused by mental blocks, stress or worry. You may have difficulty with concentration.

Part 6: Your Emotions
You have strong emotional energy. You wear your heart on your sleeve. You seek romance and grand gestures in your relationships. You are emotionally mature. You prefer relationships to the single life.

You are highly emotional and responsive to others, a humanitarian with idealistic and romantic views of the world. You are capable of being highly erotic and are a very giving lover.

Women with an upward curving Heart Line have a tendency toward high femininity, while men with this quality tend toward high masculinity, even machismo.

You have had a normal, healthy emotional development from a young age. You are a well balanced individual in your relationships, capable of accepting love and expressing and demonstrating your emotions.

You are easily influenced by others on an emotional level. You wear your heart on your sleeve. You fall in love easily and most likely have had your heart broken many times.

Day 72

10-21-2010

Hand Out Friendship Coupons

Who                Good For

Lisa:                 One Bitch/Vent/Gossip Session

Julie:                 One Embarrassing Secret

Debbie:             One Night of Binge Drinking

Jennifer:            One Round of Drinks

Heather:            One Honest Advice

Jaci:                  One Hug

Halloween Costume!!!

The Right Foot

Day 70
10-19-2010
Start Today on the Right Foot

9:27am
Well...  As many of us ladies will tell you, we sometimes go to bed with a clear plan on what to wear in the morning.  I did the same last night.  I was going to wake up, shower, do my hair and make-up, and then put on a colorful dress that I have yet to wear.  Unfortunately, I was too tired.  I reset my alarm, took a super quick shower, and blow dried my hair via the air vents in my car on my way to work.  I tossed my make-up bag in my purse, tried on the dress, thought I looked horrible and then took it off.  I instead tried on my suit pants, but they were a tad snug.  Ugh.  It's one thing to feel fat - As I know us ladies are constantly feeling fat, even if we are not - But, it's a whole other thing to prove it to yourself!  BLERG!  So, finally, I gave up, tossed on a pair of pants and a sweater and stomped out the door.  I'm at work now, and done with my work for the day, other than the phone ringing and the afternoon mail...  So, now I'm feeling fat and sitting here bored and writing about it.  Which, I suppose I will equate with depression.  So far, I think the left foot was better.  More later.

42

Day 67
10-16-2010
Don't Spend Any Money Today
 
With thanks to Jason and Jim, I was able to accomplish this!  I had school, which I've prepaid (or I suppose the government has), then did some fruitless thrift store shopping.  I went home and grabbed the roomy and dragged her to meet up with Jason at The Robusto Room.  Instead, Jason had met Jim at the Robusto Room, who in turn invited us to his place for scotch.  So, all four of us sat and chatted and drank Jim's leftovers from the scotch tasting.  It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon.  Nancy went home, and Jason and I swung by his place then headed out for dinner.  He took me out to Jing for dinner and then to see Titus at Comedy Works in the Landmark Center.  Dinner was yummy, but the show was AMAZING!!!


Day 68
10-17-2010
Discover the Meaning of Life by Looking up the Definition
 
Courtesy of Google.com...
 
Definitions of Life on the Web:

• a characteristic state or mode of living; "social life"; "city life"; "real life"
• the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities; "he could no longer cope with the complexities of life"
• the course of existence of an individual; the actions and events that occur in living; "he hoped for a new life in Australia"; "he wanted to live his own life without interference from others"
• animation: the condition of living or the state of being alive; "while there's life there's hope"; "life depends on many chemical and physical processes"
• the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death); "the battery had a short life"; "he lived a long and happy life"
• the period between birth and the present time; "I have known him all his life"
• the period from the present until death; "he appointed himself emperor for life"
• a living person; "his heroism saved a life"
• liveliness: animation and energy in action or expression; "it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it"
• living things collectively; "the oceans are teeming with life"
• the organic phenomenon that distinguishes living organisms from nonliving ones; "there is no life on the moon"
• biography: an account of the series of events making up a person's life
• a motive for living; "pottery was his life"
• life sentence: a prison term lasting as long as the prisoner lives; "he got life for killing the guard"
  wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• Life (cf. biota) is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have self-sustaining biological processes from those that do not The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition, published by Houghton Mifflin Company, via : *"The property or quality that distinguishes ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life

Definitions of Meaning of Life on the Web:

• The meaning of life constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of life or existence in general. This concept can be expressed through a variety of related questions, such as Why are we here?, What is life all about?, and What is the meaning of it all? ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_life
• The Meaning of Life is an Irish television programme, the first series of which was broadcast on RTÉ One in 2009. It is presented by the veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne. Each episode involves Byrne interviewing a well-known public figure. The series is broadcast each Sunday night at 22:20.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meaning_of_Life_(TV_series)
• Ixnay on the Hombre is the fourth studio album by the American punk band The Offspring. Released on February 4, 1997 it was the follow-up to the highly successful Smash and also the band's first collaboration with record producer Dave Jerden. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meaning_of_Life_(The_Offspring_song)
• The Meaning of Life is a 35mm animated short film, written and directed by Don Hertzfeldt in 2005. The epic twelve minute film is the end result of almost four years of production and tens of thousands of drawings, single-handedly animated and photographed by Hertzfeldt.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meaning_of_Life_(animated_film)
• The Meaning of Life is the fourth studio album from German thrash metal band Tankard.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meaning_of_Life_(Tankard_album)
• The Sickness is the debut album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. The album was recorded in 1999 and released on March 7, 2000. Unlike their later albums, which are mixed in style, The Sickness consists primarily of heavier tracks. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_Life_(song)
• A hypothetical answer to all of life's questions, the ultimate answer which one seeks. 42
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/meaning_of_life

Day 69
10-18-2010
Start Today on your Left Foot
 
Well, I'm feeling better than I did over the weekend, but still sleepy.  My left eye is twitching.  Kinda annoying.  But I wouldn't say that I've had particular luck today, either good or bad.  In further news, yesterday evening involved lots of Jason, pets, Titus, and homemade chilli.  Yum!  I'd say that the Left Day was pretty good.

Days In and Days Out

Day 60
10-09-2010

Indulge Yourself

So, I had a test that morning and was freaking out and paid to park on campus so that I knew I wouldn’t be late.  I ended up finishing the exam pretty quickly, so I had a lot of time to kill, which I wasted by going clothing shopping on the 16^th Street Mall at Ross.  Later, Jason’s birthday worked out well in my favor.  We went over Jim and Val Guthrie’s for a scotch tasting event.  There I indulged in tasting seven different scotches!  Jim had also made his infamous Scottish Hunter’s Stew (which I think had about 5 different meats), and Jason brought along cigars to enjoy.  After that, the two of us went down to Mario’s Two-Fisted Pizza for an after dinner snack.  Then we met up his buddy, Chris, and my gals, Nancy and Heather, over at Delaney’s for a few beers.  All in all, I had a wonderful day of indulgence and Jason had a fantastic birthday.

Day 62
10-11-2010

Today, do something that could save you a lot of future hassle.

I went through some of my moving boxes until I found the spare key to my car.  I then strategically hid it in the living room and made sure Nancy knew where it was...  Just in case.

Day 64
10-14-2010

Learn to tell one joke properly.

I love this one!  Props to Natalie Moran for telling me this joke in high school...  I still use it to this day to help cheer people up.

Day 65
10-15-2010

Make sure your name is on the internet

I love Google.  There are approximately 315 pages about "Laura Latterman".  That's me!  :0)  I'm such a happy little narcisist.