something to tide you over...

I know I haven't posted in FOR-EVER but I promise I will shortly. I have some really BIG news coming so be on the lookout!

Until then...enjoy this bit of randomness I found on the web today. I'm all for passionate kisses but this is ri-dang-diculous!!

The kiss of deaf - Chinese man ruptures girlfriend's eardrum
Mon Dec 8, 2008 12:52pm EST

BEIJING (Reuters) - A young woman in southern China has partially lost her hearing after her boyfriend ruptured her eardrum during an excessively passionate kiss, local media reported Monday.

The 20-something girl from Zhuhai, in southern Guangdong province, went to hospital completely deaf in her left ear, the China Daily said, citing a report in a local newspaper.

"The kiss reduced pressure in the mouth, pulled the eardrum out and caused the breakdown of the ear," the paper quoted a doctor surnamed Li from the hospital as saying.

The woman's hearing would likely return to normal after about two months, Li said.

"While kissing is normally very safe, doctors advise people to proceed with caution," the paper said.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Be safe out there everyone!

10 Random Things about Me and Food

Courtney tagged me!

List 10 random things about yourself and FOOD...

1. I am allergic to honeydew melon. One fourth of July when I was around 10 we figured this out the hard way. I ate a bunch of it, then went to bed. I woke up itching something fierce and found huge blotches on my torso and upper thighs -- HIVES!! My mom called the doctor and he said to get me some Benadryl asap. So mom and I went to the store as soon as it opened (this was before 24 hr anything) and got some. It was awful and now I avoid it at all costs. Mixed fruit salads are like Russian roulette!

2. If I am wearing a white shirt, chances are I will spill on it within moments of beginning a meal.

3. I can't eat anything too spicy...and by too spicy I mean anything more than Taco Bell mild sauce. I blame my Scandinavian roots.

4. I've discovered that freshly made guacamole with cilantro in it makes me very sick to the point of food poisoning symptoms. For this reason, I detest El Pollo Loco where cilantro is the main frickin ingredient!

5. I love Indian food. I was afraid of it until I found out they had 'mild' alternatives. Bring me butter chicken and garlic na'an and I'm a happy woman...with a curry high.

6. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love all the food, plus there's football on tv all day. It's a wonderful thing.

7. I used to be really good at baking chocolate cookies from scratch but they don't turn out anymore....so I just buy the pre-made cookie dough and throw it in the oven.

8. My mom's side of the family gets together every Christmas eve for dinner; a tradition my Grandma started way back when. We have Swedish meatballs, scalloped potatoes, corn, rolls....you get the idea. Everything is sooo good!

9. I go through spurts of eating only one or two types of food at a time. I blame my singleness. I'll boil some eggs and make egg salad mix that will last me for a whole week of lunches. Or, I'll buy some cheese and eat grilled cheese for days. Or, I'll eat instant potatoes for dinner every night. Or I'll throw a couple of chicken breasts and tater tots in the toaster oven for a few meals in one week. I don't really get tired of eating the same thing.

10. I can eat ice cream any time, any day, any place. And I can eat lots of it.

There you have it! I tag Jessica, Mandy and Sonia.

Whew...what a week!

I just completed one of the best and worst weeks of my life. It started out badly with some major stuff at work, but as the week went on it got better and better! There are a few pictures below but well, if you know me you can probably check them out once I get them loaded onto myspace.

Thursday night I went with Danae to see Matt Nathanson and Jessie Baylin. Although we couldn't take flash photography during the show, I took some of me and Danae beforehand. Yeah yeah I tried to take some of the concert itself but none of them turned out very clearly. Oh and we won't talk about the annoying little boy who fidgeted the whole time the concert was going.

Me & Danae

Friday was Halloween. I used to hate Halloween, now I kinda like it. My whole department dressed up like cats. It was fun! Then I went to go see grandpa and auntie at both of their nursing homes. Then....it was off to my church's Harvest Party.

Me and Auntie Onie

Meow!!

The cutest grandpa EVER!

My friend Shelly stayed over so we could get an early start on Saturday morning. For the record, 4:00 a.m. really sucks. We were on the road to LA a little after 5:00. We got caught in three or four downpours but we made it there in about five hours.

Downpour #2 (on the Grapevine)

We got into Universal Citywalk just in time to see star after star from Days of Our Lives signing autographs and taking pictures with fans. We got in line too. Again another uncommon California downpour. The security rushed the actors inside and we waited out the storm. Shelly and I went up to a different area where the line was shorter. We got autographs and a picture with a group up there.

Next we ate lunch since we really hadn't eaten yet. After lunch, we decided to get in line to meet our favorite, Allison Sweeney (Biggest Loser host) and two of our favorite actors Bryan Datillo and Shawn Christian. We waited for three hours through a brief sunshiney moment followed by another awful downpour but it was soooo worth it! I got to take a picture with 'Dr. Daniel Jonas'!!! OMG!! Allison (Sami) commented that my hair looked amazing despite the rain. I asked for a photo and she said, 'just cozy in next to Bryan and we can all be in one together'.....ummm OK!!

Holy crap...wewerethisclose!! I think I flicked him in the face with my hair. oopsie!!

Oh, that's just me with Lucas and Sami...er, I mean Bryan Datillo and Ali Sweeney

The cast waved to the crowd at the end of the day.

Next chapter...Dinner and Griffith Park

Deep thoughts I ponder

I realized during conversations and bible studies that we are among a world that doesn't get Christianity. I've never been without it so I don't know how it feels to not be a Christian. I'm in a bible study (Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore) right now that explains it this way:

"Imagine you need to fax something to someone who doesn't have a fax machine. You can dial the number and press the button to send it until your thumb falls off, but it won't go through."

There is a lot of need in this world to get the Truth out - even the simplest of it. There's a lot of confusion about the bible. Hopefully I can help be a fax machine for someone.

Like sands through the hourglass...

If you didn't already know, I'm a pretty big Days of our Lives fan. Have been for over 20 years. It's a dumb soap, I know but I love it. I'll admit it. I think of the people on the show as part of my life -- I mean, I've known them for over 20 years!

I've never really missed too much either. I faithfully watch every episode I can. I've often said I really can't stop, I'm emotionally invested!

Anyway, imagine my excitement when I hear they're having a Fanfest **cue the trumpets and fanfare** So I talked to my good friend who is also a long-time fan and we're planning a drive to southern California on Nov. 1st if we can work out all the details (remember Halloween is the night before).

I wouldn't be so tempted if the thing wasn't totally FREE! I mean, come on!! All we have to do is drive to Universal Studios to meet all of our favorite actors?? Okay!!

TV Junkie

I'm a tv junkie. I'll admit it. I love watching tv. I'm really good at it.

But you know what happened? The tv gods created more networks and channels. Then they started making really good quality tv shows on all those networks. Now someone like me has to choose between watching one show while taping/DVRing another, or God forbid miss it altogether.

So the internet gods came around and started posting network tv shows on network websites. Now I have to check what shows are posted, which ones are not, and which ones I'm willing to catch later on DVD or reruns.

I'm a bit of a tv snob too. If I don't see a show from the beginning, I usually won't watch it. With the exception of Seinfeld and King of the Hill, this has stood the test of time.

My goal is that soon I will get a DVR that can record two shows at once and keep unholy amounts of tv at my fingertips in a little box in my living room. Until then, I have to check the VHS tapes frequently to make sure there's enough room to record stuff.

But wait....what's this? Hulu.com?? You mean, I can have a DVR-type website on my computer?? And it's free?? What????

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy...I'm so loving this!!

Sweet little Cassie Leigh

In July 1992, I had just turned 20 years old. I remember my dad driving us over to grandma and grandpa's house. Then we saw that the neighbors had some Chihuahua/Terrier mix puppies so we headed over there. The little runt came bouncing over to me and sat on my lap. My dad told the guy, "we'll take her!".

I got to name her - Cassie Leigh. I can't remember why I picked the name but I thought it was cute! Cassie slept in my room an in my bed every night. She was the sweetest little puppy! She'd crawl under the covers to snuggle in the warmth then inevitably get overheated and crawl back to the top, sticking her little tongue out panting. So funny! That's her up there next to dad's Gold Panning Association of America hat. You gotta love retired rednecks, eh?


One of Cassie's favorite people (besides me of course!) is my dad. When he would step outside to smoke, he would say 'go for smoke?' to her and she would RUN outside! He always called her his "baby girl". They had a pretty adorable bond.

Eventually, I moved out of my parents' house three years later. I would go visit her every day during my lunch time and let her out for my parents who were both working in Modesto. This continued til my mom and dad retired about four years ago.

Sadly since then I didn't really visit often. Life got busy and I knew mom and dad were taking good care of her. But every time I walked in and said her name she came running right over.

Boy, she was spry! She jumped so high and far even in her older years that people never guessed her to be as old as she was.

For the last year she's been slowly failing. She reached 16 in July of this year. I had previously told my mom if she and dad needed to, they could put her to sleep when she became too hard to take care of.

Well, in late August my mom called me to tell me that they felt it best to do just that. So now my parents are petless. My mom's thinking about a cat but is kind of enjoying her new-found freedom of a truly empty nest.





So this is dedicated to Cassie Leigh - or as I once teased her - Ratgirl! All of these pictures were taken on my birthday in June 2008.