september 20

@ 3p | 2 cents...

The Friday Five: reach out and touch someone

1. Would you say that you're good at keeping in touch with people? eeehhh, (shrugs) I would like to be better at it, but I'm usually up to date with my email.
2. Which communication method do you usually prefer/use: e-mail, telephone, snail mail, blog comments, or meeting in person? Why? I prefer to talk with people in person, because I am very animated and I like to see people's reactions in a conversation. But that's not always possible, so email is an ok substitute, and I'll occasionally make a phone call to catch up on stuff that would take way too long to write about.
3. Do you have an instant messenger program? How many? Why/why not? How often do you use it? I am on AIM every weekday and occasionally on the weekend. Eric and I use it often to keep in contact throughout the day. My screen name is tlkativ811 if anyone is interested. :)
4. Do most of your close friends live nearby or far away? Far away. All my close friends from college (in FL) moved to Chicago after I moved to Georgia. None of them were originally from there. Oh, the humanity!
5. Are you an "out of sight, out of mind" person, or do you believe that "distance makes the heart grow fonder"? Since Eric and I dated long distance for 15 months and are now married, I have to believe that "distance makes the heart grow fonder" but ask me if I liked it and I'd say no!

september 19

@ 2p | 2 cents...

I just had the most infuriating experience. I was walking back from having lunch with Eric and as I walked up to a parking lot entrance, a blue SUV with tinted windows pulls up to turn out of the parking lot. So I stop and the SUV keeps creeping forward. After a few seconds, the woman impatiently motions for me to walk in front of her, so I do grumbling 'well, either go or don't.' I get about 5 steps past the lot when she honks her horn at me. I flicked her off and kept walking. She flipped one back at me and then pulls up along side me and starts bitching at me about not just walking in front of her and her having to wait for me to cross. Like I am going to walk in front of a giant SUV that doesn't look like it's going to stop. Plus, if she was motioning for me to go, I couldn't see it because of her tinted windows. Then she tells me I had the right of way as a pedestrian, told me to have a nice day and mumbled something incoherant but apparently not nice since a guy ahead of me turned to look at the car while it was passing. Did I mention she had an infant in the front seat? ARGH. So she bleeping honked at me because I didn't walk in front of her moving vehicle, people amaze me more and more everyday.

@ 10a | 2 cents...

I finished reading Watership Down for the first time on Wednesday and I watched the movie again for the first time in over 10 years last night. The movie left out many of the wonderful things in the book, but I still think it did a pretty good job of capturing the novel. I had forgotten that all the rabbits spoke with British accents (the book takes place in England, after all). As for the novel, I have a distinct feeling it may become a comfort book for me. The story itself is so beloved to me since I loved the movie when I was younger. The book was everything I thought it would be, and it's rare not to be disappointed when you have been looking forward to something for so long. I haven't read a fiction book for fun in a very long while and you could not tear me away from this book. Thankfully, Eric has been reading The Bear and the Dragon, so we spent a few nights this past week sitting around reading after Lou Dobbs' Moneyline. :)

On a different note, I have been visiting Amazon frequently either out of sheer boredom or curiousity about my choice of 15 things in my Gold Box. I started keeping track of some of the recommendations listed for me when I first open the site. (Of course, if you begin to look at anything, your recommendations immediately change to reflect whatever you've recently viewed) Here's a sneak peak at what Amazon thinks I want:

1. Microplane Stainless Steel Zester
2. Shrek
3. SimpleTech 32 MB Smart Media Card
4. American Horticultural Society Pests & Diseases
5. Oxo Good Grips Salad Spinner
6. The Terminator (special edition)

I will mention that we already have numbers 2 and 5. I would like a zester, but not through Amazon. We have two 64MB Smart Media cards, why would I want a 32MB? I have no idea about number 4 and we own the Terminator 2 (ultimate edition) which I think is a better movie. I'm not sure why I am recommended these things, but as long as I'm not being shown children's toys, I'll still be coming around. :P

september 17

@ 9a | 2 cents...

Last month Eric and I rescued some freshwater fish from a tank in his lab (that no one was taking care of) to our 10 gallon one at home. Among those rescued were a bloodfin tetra, a fan tail guppy, a neon tetra, a zebra danio and last, but certainly not least, a snail. I remember this conversation:

"Should we take the snail?"
"Sure, why not"
"I would feel bad leaving it"
"Ok, let's take it"

Here it is a month later and I have killed no less than 30 baby snails. Eric thought that snails could incubate their eggs for long periods of time and lay them whenever they felt safe and happy. Apparently, the multitude of algae in our tank produced the desired effect and we were blessed with several baby snails. We decided to do a little research online to try and control the breeding dilema as we couldn't very well have 50 full sized snails roaming around our tank. Interestingly enough, it turns out that this particular snail - a Ram's Horn - is hermaphroditic. For those non-bio majors, that simply means they don't need another snail friend to reproduce! Dejected, I looked at the growing snail population and resigned myself to picking out all the snails I could see and tossing them over the balcony of our deck as a crunchy snack for the local wildlife. I feel bad about this, but not as bad as I'd feel with 300 baby snails oozing around my fishtank. What a mess!

This or That Tuesday: what's in a name?

1. Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon? Can't say I've been to either.
2. New York or New Jersey? No question, the husband is from Long Island, so New York!
3. Van Gogh or Van Halen? I love art, but Van Halen it is.
4. Bill Clinton or Bill Gates? Eww, neither.
5. Leonardo daVinci or Leonardo DiCaprio? diVinci.
6. "American Pie" or "American Idol"? American Pie, i suppose. Never got into American Idol.
7. George W. Bush or Curious George? (giggling) Curious George is a lot more clever!
8. Billy Joel or Billy Idol? Billy Joel, although the other Billy was great in The Wedding Singer.
9. Donny Osmond or Donald Duck? Donald Duck.
10. Dr. Seuss or Dr. Kevorkian? Dr. Suess.

september 15

@ 12p | 2 cents...

It's been raining here since yesterday afternoon. Although we need the rain badly, it does nothing for me in terms of getting out of bed. But I did make it to the gym yesterday for the first time in over a month to enjoy an 18 mile cycling session. I've decided to do a sprint triathlon in Florida next April. I figure if I have a goal in mind, being fit and getting to the gym will become a necessity instead of an airy concept easily excused and put off.

I am also finishing up that website design project I started back in June. Vacations and slow e-mail contact (on both sides) has delayed this more than I would have liked. I plan on being finished with the help tags today and hopefully, I can turn over the site in the next week or so.

In other news, we watched North by Northwest and Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone this weekend. I enjoyed both movies very much. North by Northwest is a classic example of the subtle nature of Hitchcock and Cary Grant was just wonderful as the hapless, but attractive, pawn. Harry Potter was a magical ride that reminded me fondly of all the supernatural thrillers and tales I enjoyed as a child.

september 13

@ 5p | 2 cents...

The Friday (the 13th!) Five: grade school edition

1. What was/is your favorite subject in school? Why? In grade school it was always English/Reading but in college it was Physiology (bio major). I read anything I could get my hands on and I just loved to learn about new things.
2. Who was your favorite teacher? Why? Mrs. Voller, she was my 7th grade advanced reading teacher. She was smart, pretty and taught because she loved to teach - her husband was a successful doctor.
3. What is your favorite memory of school? Winning honorable mention for a short story I wrote in 4th grade in a Young Authors contest.
4. What was your favorite recess game? Kickball or Four Square.
5. What did you hate most about school? The kids. I was horribly unpopular in grade school. Even my real friends played mean practical jokes on me. I'm well-adjusted now, don't worry! ;)

september 12

@ 8p | 2 cents...

The very thought of people being able to turn my lights on and off over the web gives me the heebie jeebies. Apparently, this guy doesn't mind so much. Link thanks to the great people at Screen Savers.

I have started work on another freelance project today and it's got me thinking. The few things I have done so far have been from chance encounters... what might happen if I actually start networking? I am hoping these few designs will get me some love from other artists in the community. Lord knows I could use the extra cash to pay for the parking rate hike at my real job. :) Regardless, I hope this gives me the motivation I need to start taking freelance work seriously. I suppose the first thing I could do is clean off the foot high mess on my desk.

september 10

@ 12p | 2 cents...

At this time last year, we were on an American Airlines flight to Hawaii for our honeymoon. I plan on looking back over my honeymoon scrapbook and online journal during the next couple of days to remind myself what a fabulous time Eric and I had on the Big Island. Of course, we had no idea what was going to happen the next day. And it's going to be very interesting to see all of the images that we missed while we were in paradise.

september 6

@ 7p | 2 cents...

We have a few new things around these parts. I have (finally) updated the recipes section with a new addition we have tried several times over the last few weeks.

But best of all, we bought a new notebook computer! We have an NEC notebook with Windows 95 on it bought in 1997 and it was time for a replacement. We needed a new notebook because we were always bringing it with us on trips to download photos from our digital camera. The old NEC was too old, too slow and wasn't network compatible with Eric's computer which runs Windows XP. So Eric has been researching laptops and we decided to go with a Toshiba 1405-S151. It's sleek and sporty and we love it! Plus, through Circuit City, we get no interest financing for 12 months. :) Now we just need a wireless network so I can work on photos/layouts in the living room during commercials!

@ 9a | 2 cents...

I have been watching the US Open faithfully since it's start two weeks ago and I am praying for a Sampras/Agassi final. Some people may think that the "old guys" are washed up but I challenge them to review last night's game of Sampras/Roddick. Pete schooled Andy in the ways of tennis and he has that fresh look about him that I hope carries him though his next match. I enjoy watching both of the greats play, but Pete will be my favorite going into the final.

The Friday Five

1. What is your biggest pet peeve? Why? Idiot drivers. I get so tense behind the wheel when people pull out in front of me without looking, drive 15 miles under the speed limit while gabbing on a cell phone, then turn without using a turn signal. ARRRGH!
2. What irritating habits do you have? Honestly, I talk too much. I think it's an attention thing, but I can drive Eric nuts on occasion.
3. Have you tried to change the irritating habits or just let them be? I don't interrupt nearly as much as I used to but I'm afraid I'll be tlkativ for life. :)
4. What grosses you out more than anything else? Why? One of my main gross-outs is spit. I cringe whenever I see a puddle of spit on the sidewalk and I almost had to leave chemistry class when we tested our spit in high school. This is coming from someone who can dissect a cat with no problem, go figure!
5. What one thing can you never see yourself doing that other people do? Anything related to heights - handgliding, parachuting, etc. I have been parasailing twice, but that's my limit. I don't see the need for life-threatening hobbies.

september 3

@ 9p | 2 cents...

The Watson Mill photos are now online, so check out our Labor Day hike. I am going to spend the rest of the evening watching Andy Roddick and Pete Sampras play tennis.

@ 9a | 2 cents...

We did go hiking this weekend, but it wasn't until yesterday, because I was sick on Saturday. I'm still stuffed up, but at least my throat doesn't hurt, I can only take so many lemon flavored cough drops.

Watson Mill Bridge State Park was lovely -- the weather was warm and although the water levels were low, we will definitely be back in the late fall and early spring for the scenery and hiking. The park has one of only 20 covered bridges left in Georgia and exposed rocks allowed us to walk out into the middle of the South Fork River.

About 5 miles from the park, we realized that we had 50 cents between the two of us, and it costs $2 to park at any GA State Park. Luckily, the office was open and we were able to charge an annual park pass for $25. At the very least, having a pass should coax us out of the house and onto a trail a few more times in the next year. Those photos should be up this evening.

In other news, the Montana photos are up for those interested - includes shots from Flathead Lake, Lake Blaine, Bigfork, and Glacier Nat'l Park.

I can't believe it's September already, but I'm enjoying the weather (80 for a high yesterday), the US Open (Sampras beat Rusedski) and looking forward to a nice dinner out for our one year anniversary on Sunday. :)