50 Things you probably didn't know about me:

1. I can't use toilet seat paper liners. I don't know why- I can't get them to work.

2. I'm a coffee freak. Espresso is my new addiction.

3. I dunk chocolate cookies in ice water instead of milk.

4. I lost my virginity by accident.

5. I destroy my cuticles. I pick at them when I'm nervous, when I'm bored, or when I'm talking to someone.

6. I can't balance my checkbook. Bank statements are a mystery to me. I end up bouncing more checks than I should.

7. If I'm ever in a boating accident and a shark devours me and leaves my foot, I can be identified by a freckle on the underside of my second toe on my right foot. Zombiegirl has the same freckle.

8. I have exactly 3 scars. Only 2 are visible.

9. I can't lie to my kids. They always know.

10. I cry at commercials, weddings, certain hymns and sappy movies.

11. I pass out when it gets too hot. I've passed out at my Junior High School Graduation, and a few times in church.

12. I have a fear of driving over bridges. I'll do it, but I'm not happy about it.

13. I collect Fiestaware (Vintage and Post-86), cow creamers, Garden Gnomes and Webkinz (only Lil Kinz).

14. I read voraciously. My commute is 2 hours each way by bus and train, so I could plow through two books a week. Sometimes I read a book commuting, a book at home, and a book at our beach house. All at the same time. I usually don't retain much of what I've read. It's mostly an escapist moment for me. BTW- all recommendations are appreciated!

15. My family owns a beach house in a little community on the North Shore of Long Island, NY. It's my sanity. Just thinking about it calms me. It's a 2 block walk to the private beach of Long Island Sound, and the house is comfortable- sandy and fishy.

16. I've started 2 businesses, and pretty much failed at both of them. I owned an incorporated kid's party place, which I had to close when my evil landlady raised my rent, and a home based business selling Adult Toys. From one end of the rainbow to the other. Advice to anyone opening a business? Take stock of how much capital you need, then double it.

17. I'm supposed to wear glasses.

18. I've perfected my cross stitch method, kind of a "speed method". I can knock out a counted cross stitch pattern in practically half the time as usual, and anywhere- on the bus, at work, or on the train.

19. I don't have a favorite food, specifically. My favorite type of food is Indian. The spicier the better.

20. Speaking of spicy, I put hot sauce on almost everything, and have a pretty high tolerance for Scoville Units.

21. I listen to show tunes when I'm home by myself.

22. I've never had a bikini wax, lip wax or a brazilian. From what I hear, I'm lucky.

23. Well, not really lucky. I can count on one hand the amount of things I've won. I used to be so jealous of the girls down the block. They were the ones always winning bikes and stuff. I truly believe that if I scratch an instant lottery ticket, I won't win. I'm better off giving it to Biggz- she usually wins something. Zombiegirl has also, in all of her 9 years, won more things than I have in my lifetime.

24. At one time in my life, I wanted all boys. I got all girls. Now I'm glad.

25. I regret not breastfeeding my older 2 girls. The decision was purely selfish- I wanted my Ex-Asshole to share in the feeding of the babies. I didn't know about pumping, and using breastmilk in a bottle. All I knew was that baby-feeding was NOT going to fall solely on me, like everything else in our sorry-ass marriage.

26. I watch tons of cooking shows, collect recipes, buy cooking utensils- but my cooking sucks.

27. I love looking in people's windows when I drive by their homes. I am obsessed about how other people decorate. A perfect night for me would be for Mr. to drive while I look in everyone's windows in my neighborhood, maybe while sipping wine.

28. Speaking of wine- I can't drink red wine. A migraine will hit me the next day if I have one glass of red wine. So I drink white. Or anything else. The only red wine I can drink without suffering the consequences of migraines is the spicy wine at our Indian Restaurant.

29. I wanted to become an architect because I was loved the Brady Bunch. If Mike Brady could support 6 kids, a huge house, a housekeeper and go on cool vacations on an architect's salary, that's what I wanted to be. Plus, I always liked carrying around rolls of plans.

30. When I was in grade school, my parents had me convinced spaghetti grew on trees. There was a commercial that showed Italians harvesting spaghetti from trees. At the end of the commercial, someone held up a napkin that said "Spaghetti doesn't really grow on trees." My parents always got me out of the room before that napkin went up, and had me going for a few years.

31. I'm a klutz. I fall upstairs, downstairs, walking, riding. I never seriously hurt myself, though. It runs in the family.

32. I haven't worn a belt in 20 years. My belly won't allow it.

33. My favorite colors are chartreuse and tangerine. They are also the names of 2 colors in the Fiestaware line.

34. I can ride a unicycle. I had one as a kid.

35. I've never danced on a bar or flashed my boobs. But- I have taken pole-dancing lessons and received a lap dance at my bachelorette party by a gorgeous Puerto Rican transvestite.

36. One of my pet peeves is to be late. My family was always late to things. It ticks me off when people are late, and when I'm unavoidably detained.

37. Stupid people piss me off. Lazy people piss me off. Irresponsible people piss me off. Inconsiderate people piss me off. If you're any combination of the above, stay away from me.

38. I have my degree in Architectural Technology- that only means I didn't do my thesis. I've taken the Registered Architectural Exam about 6 times, and passed 2 of the 9 parts. It's harder than the bar exam, and the medical exam. I don't need to be registered for the job I'm doing now. In fact, I pretty much feel all architects are whores anyway.

(Wow- I looked at the last 3 items- I'm pretty angry today!)

39. I have a dollhouse that my dad built me when I was 12. I've started to totally overhaul it and electify it. It's on my "Things-to-do" list.

40. I also have a '66 Mustang convertible that I plan to work on this summer (finances willing) so
that Beena can take it to school in the fall. Or next spring. It's on my "Things-to-do" list, too.

41. I hate NY. I hate NYC even more. I would move down south or out west in a heartbeat. Zombiegirl won't let us. And I would miss my soccer moms.

42. When I worked for NYC HPD, I renovated brownstones for low-income housing. Mostly in the Bronx. About 5 years before, just after Beena was born, I went blonde. Needless to say, I stuck out in the Bronx. One day, I was waiting in the front lobby of a building we were going to renovate when 6 or 7 little girls came up the stair- all about Beena's age. They asked me all kinds of questions, and I told them I had a little girl their age. That brought on even more questions. The oddest one? Could they could touch my hair. I honestly felt I was in a Third World Country that day, with a gaggle of little girls stroking and playing with my hair. It makes me appreciate the fact that my girls today are totally "color"-blind.

43. I pick up the tab in restaurants and bars way more than I should. And I tip too much, too.

44. I love to garden, but unfortunately, my property is 85% in the shade. I've learned to garden with shade perenials- I won't waste my time buying annuals. My favorite flowers are Rudbeckia hirta or the "Black-Eyed Susan" and Leucanthemum x superbum, or the "Shasta Daisy". Don't give me roses- give me daisies!

45. I hit the snooze button at least 6 times every morning before I finally get up. My best dreams are in those 9 minute intervals. Maybe that's why I'm so tired all the time.

46. My blood type is AB- which is pretty rare. 0.6% of the population have this type. I get free offers to give platelets (they don't want my blood- not many people can use it.) I've received shirts, gas cards, jackets, and Home Depot gift cards. I wanted to renovate my bathroom by giving platelets, but they don't do this promotion anymore.

47. I don't speak well in front of crowds. Even small crowds. I thought selling Adult Toys would help with that. Or acting in my church play. I still get tongue-tied, and forget about learning lines!

48. I had alot of fears as a kid, but I got over them. Spiders, needles, heights, stopped escalators, elevators, dentists, and snakes. Well- I still don't like snakes. Or bridges.

49. I love to sing, especially hymns. Don't stand next to me while I'm singing, though. I get the lyrics wrong, and I'm tone-deaf. I dont' "get" song lyrics. I mis-hear alot.

50. It took me over a week to compile this list. I'm probably the most boring person you're ever going to meet. And if you DO know me, and know of something that SHOULD be on this list, thanks. You're too late.
Now you try.

Freaky Friday

I missed posting some games last Friday due to my falling out of a bus. That was pretty Freaky in itself!

I love flash games. You've probably seen all of these already, but it's good that I'm immortalizing them in my blog. I'm giving you two sites today, with lots of games. Gives me time to find the rest of the ones I want to post! Check these out:

Samorost, and Samorost 2, created by Jakub Dvorsky while he was a student of the Academy of Arts, Archituecture and Design in Prague. Beautiful, haunting, lots of fun! By the same author- Questionaut! Hit the link on the BBC website here.

Eyemaze has all the Grow games- try to "grow" the cube by placing the objects on it in the correct order. Each object has an effect on the next!

TGIF, and it's Friday the 13th, to boot! Stay away from buses!

Food, glorious food!

I watch Food Network. I have tons of cookbooks. I have utensils galore. Can I cook? Ask my family and they'll tell you- NO! I make passable dinners, but nothing to write home about. So I continue my quest for more recipes, and more ideas to torture my family with. Here are some of my favorite food websites:

  • Smitten Kitchen- Deb writes this food blog out of a 80 square foot kitchen she shares with her husband in Brooklyn. Great recipes. Check out the entry for May 22nd-30 ways to be a good guest. 30 recipes for great potluck dishes!

  • I love Daisy Cooks! I started watching her on PBS because of all the FiestaWare in her TV kitchen, but I continue watching because her recipes are so easy.

  • My friend SoulSpeak23 (SS23) turned me on to Desert Candy, and the month of ice cream making in August of 2007. I have yet to try any of the recipes, but it's on my Bucket List!

  • Of course, then there's Pioneer Woman. Ree blogs some of the best recipes. I've personally tried the Pineapple Shrimp kabobs, and SS23 can attest to the yumminess of Marlboro Man's favorite sandwich. I plan on trying the apple dumplings at Biggz graduation party.

  • The Black Oven has some great dessert recipes. She's dark, and I suspect she likes skulls.

  • Spicy Ice Cream- absolutely yummy recipes that I'm dying to try.

If you're looking for a way to save all the recipes you find online, or finally sit and organize all your magazine clipped recipes or the recipes your aunt sends you, I suggest setting up a Google email account. One specifically for recipes. Now, when you find a recipe you like, you can email it to yourself. Once in your Inbox, you can archive the recipes based on food group- apps, desserts, etc. I bring my laptop into the kitchen and bring up the recipe I need- no more searching around on the Internet or in a recipe book!

A funny thing happened on the way home from Hoboken...

My co-workers and I went out in Hoboken to celebrate Jackie's straight A's in college. After drinking margarita's and Corona's at East LA on Washington Street , I needed to get home at a decent hour- we had Soccer Awards in the morning.

George dropped me off at the ferry in Lincoln Harbor, and I had a nice evening boat ride back to Manhattan. I hopped on the ferry bus to take me to Penn Station. All was going fine, a really nice night out.

As we approached 6th Avenue and 34th St., I buzzed the buzzer to get off, gathered up my things and stood up to move toward the front of the bus. I was a few seats back from the front when the bus driver slammed on the brakes, going from a decent clip to absolutely stopped.

I wasn't standing for long. As I went flying down the aisle, as I approached the front, I grabbed the pole in the front, and swung around headfirst down the bus steps! My head slams through the front doors, and I end up with my head and shoulders outside of the bus, reading the ad on the side, which by the way, was for "Don't Mess With the Zohan".

(Yes. I know you're laughing. I think everyone in front of Macy's on 34th St. was laughing. I'm laughing now too. You know you can't make this stuff up...)

This very nice man comes up the aisle and tries to help me up, managing to get my head back in the bus. He's trying to help me up, since I can't contort myself in the narrow stairweel to turn around and get back on my feet. He's pulling me up, but I'm not going anywhere. My hair is stuck in the door! I tell him this, and he yells at the bus driver to open the door so I can get up. The bus driver, by this way, is apologizing all over the place, but never got out of his seat. Now the door is open, and EVERYONE can see me upside down in the stairwell! Another very nice man outside now comes over, and between the two of them get me standing.

I'm trying very hard not to cry, and to try to focus on the two gentlemen helping me, but everything is blurry and messed up. They find my shoe, which I literally FLEW out of when the bus stopped. They find my bags- one that fell off the bus, the other still left in the aisle. They asked again if I was okay, and I assured them I was. I wanted to get out of there- I was so embarassed!

I get down to Penn Station, get on my train, call Husband and immediately burst into tears. As I'm sobbing out my story to him, I notice the blood dripping down my arm! A cute couple gets on the train, looks over at me, and turn around and head the other way. I don't blame them! Another couple sit down near me, with their kitten, and ask if I'm okay. I smile at the kitty, and tell them I fell out of a bus. She gives me a napkin to wipe the blood off my arm. New York City- lots of strange people (a kitten?) but very nice...

Taking inventory, I have a bruised left shoulder, radiating pain down to my elbow, bruised tendons on my right arm, maybe from grabbing the pole, a 13" bruise on my butt 2" wide and straight across- right where I hit the step, a sore head and for some reason my knees hurt. God looks out for klutzes, He doesn't let us seriously hurt ourselves.

Somebody Google "Lady falling out of bus at 34th st NYC". Let me know if you find anything. This might be worth framing!

Shopping Lists

Over the years, I have bookmarked websites where I can buy "the Perfect Gift". I just can't figure out who to buy these perfect gifts for! No, really- they're great websites if you need a unique gift or that somethin' somethin' you can't find in the stores. Now they're off My Favorites and listed here for eternity!

  • Aloha Orchid Nursery- I have purchased Orchids here before for Mom. They are beautiful, and have a great selection.
  • The Perpetual Kid- Entertain your inner child. I especially like the WineLines, and the Demeter Fragrances
  • I Want One of Those- stuff you don't need...but you really, really want!
  • Offensive + Delightful greeting cards. If only I had the nerve to send some of these!
  • I want to buy these Full Bloom Teas for SOMEBODY! I want to see how they work. But you'd also have to have the clear teapot to really appreciate them.
  • My charm bracelet was stolen when we were robbed. I would love to start a new one with these cute charms from Charm Factory.
  • Mrs. Prindables Handmade Confections. One apple feeds 8-10? They look as good as they probable taste!
  • Cheap stuff for your pets at Pet Edge. I think there is a minimum on the orders, though.
  • Boca Java Coffee club. They have Maple Bacon coffee. Need I say more?
  • Soaps Gone Buy. Okay, why do I have a vintage Soap website on my blog? Well, I do use 20 Mule Team Borax in my laundry, but mainly I order Fels Naptha soap. Yes, brown soap. It's the only thing that cuts the oil of Poison Ivy.
  • Fetpak has great jewelry displays, boxes and bags. I've ordered a few of their displays for Husband to show off his metal detector findings.
  • Paula, my sister-in-law, gave everyone these beautiful photo holders for Mother's Day. Shomee even wraps them in beautiful boxes, bags and tissue paper!

I have a few more I have to add- I'll edit this post tonight. Who needs Target?

 

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