like every inch of me is bruised

I never post

2009-08-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so I just realized I never post anymore. Whoops. I'm leaving it up for now just in case I do decide to use this blog for something, but it doesn't seem all that likely that I will. Who knows, I might find inspiration again.

adventure

2009-04-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

Looks like the cat might be getting jealous of all the neighbors' pets that she sees wandering around outside; she ran out the door when I came home! Luckily, she wasn't expecting another apartment directly across from the front door, so she had to pause and determine if she wanted to go right or left which was when I scooped her up. She won't like this adventure so much when she discovers that it leads to a trip to the vet to get a microchip!

new glasses

2009-03-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out the various tifosi glasses over at Sage Cycles? I just bought new glasses myself. I'd forgotten how expensive they can be, but Sage has pretty good prices along with free shipping on orders over $75. Of course, you don't qualify if all you're getting is a pair of glasses, but you may as well pick up some bike accessories while you're shopping.

book lists

2009-03-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

I was looking at people's lists of "read" books on GoodReads and was thinking how you can kind of tell things about people. Like some people have all the best sellers listed. Then there are others who have lists that make me want to know more about the person. For instance, I found someone who has all sorts of law books for law school, but then also has a bunch of WWF reads.

Emerge Labs OrganicSkinCare.com

2009-03-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

Skincare is important; I’m always trying different products in an effort to find what regime works best. Who knew you’d get a totally different type of pimple as you get older? And then there’s the whole thing of trying to dry out the pimples, but moisturize the skin so as to not end up all wrinkled! One of the girls at work is very into organic products so I thought I’d give that a try too. I found Emerge Labs Organic Skin Care which offers a nice variety; even some for sensitive skin. They even have a special on some misprinted bottles of day cream.

ballet

2009-03-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

A ballet for fitness class starts up here next month. I'm so very excited. This is basically the exact class that I've been searching for! To make it even better, it doesn't cost very much since it's being offered through the city.

cards

2009-03-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

I am, of course, always looking for the best credit card offer out there. That probably explains why I have so many cards, but only use a couple! Some fall out of favor quickly when I discover a better deal. Anyway, I've been comparing gas cards because I think I might be able to get a better deal than what I have now, which is saving ten cents per gallon. Researching things online definitely makes it easier to compare. There's also lots of good information out there to help you evaluate the offers. For example, some articles talk about finding a low interest rate, some have tips on finding the best card for you, and others explain how to make the most of the rewards that the cards offer.

going to try

2009-03-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

I've decided to try my hand at writing book reviews. I figure I read tons and tons, why not review some and maybe attract the attention of the lovely people who send out ARCs and even better, the people who pay for book reviews. I already have one review written; now I just have to write some more.

scales

2009-03-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

I've never been one for owning bathroom scales. I figure that if the pants fit, I'm doing good and I'll find out how much I weigh when I go to the doctor. But I would really like to know how much the cat weighs. She's giant, so it must be quite a lot.

money!

2009-03-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

My tax refund should be showing up any day now. I'm going to try to be good, but the mall is calling my name. I also just got a ticket to see the best band ever (that would be Jack's Mannequin) in August, so I've already spent part of the money. Maybe I can convince myself it doesn't really exist by putting it in a savings account.

once upon a time

2009-03-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

Back in high school my friends and I used to make custom t-shirts using iron transfer paper. I'd totally forgotten all about it until I started going through the sack of old clothes that I brought with me from my move. I found some of the shirts we'd made. They are too awesome. I think I'm going to wear one tomorrow.

more nasty weather

2009-03-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

I do not understand what is going on with the weather. When I lived over here before there was tons of rain, but never any snow. Now we keep getting snow predictions. So far it's just been rain, but they keep saying we're going to see snow. I thought I'd moved away from all the snow!

living

2009-03-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

Right about now with nobody able to sell their homes and super fabulous condos going up for auction at half the price you would have had to pay a year or two ago, I would really love to have the money for a down payment. Because I know I’m good. I wasn’t interested in buying before because of where I was living, but now I’d actually be interested. Unfortunately, I wasn’t really bothering to save up much money. Sure, I have an emergency fund, but most of my money is in my closet! Even so, I keep going to sites like Real Property Management to check out what's going on out there.

money held hostage

2009-03-06T12:34:00.000-08:00

Who knew that you had to have $10 in your account before the Mechanical Turk people would release it to your bank account!! I want my $4.65!!! The Mechanical Turk thing was amusing to do at first, but now I'm bored and don't want to have to keep finding things just to get that money.

ridiculous weather

2009-02-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned that it snowed again here? I didn't think it was supposed to snow over here. I guess this is my punishment for staying in Washington rather than being adventurous and going for a job in Arizona like I was threatening to do. But no, I just had to stay relatively close to home. That was silly. Everytime I see the national weather map showing the 80 degrees that it is in Arizona I want to die. I'm so incredibly jealous, especially when it's been under 40 here for a while. I like my summer clothes better! But I suppose it's never too late to check out Arizona. Maybe I should buy a winter vacation home from Scottsdale Fine Properties!

another way to free books

2009-02-27T16:20:00.000-08:00

I've been a member of GoodReads for a few years now, but only just recently discovered that they do ARC giveaways just like LibraryThing. So I've been selecting books through there as well. So far I haven't been selected, but I'm sure I'll get one soon. I also just finished the ARC I received through LibraryThing. It was pretty good. I'll post a review soon.

interesting

2009-02-27T16:11:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon an interesing website. It gives information on all the different file extensions there are out there, like docx. What happens is you find your file extension on their list, click the link, and it tells you all about it. You can learn about the differences in music file types and everything else. I think this would be a very beneficial website for those who don't know much about computers. The docx explanation is a good one because so many don't realize there's a difference in the new Word programs. I know I didn't realize Microsoft had changed the file name until I purchased the new program and tried to send a document to someone who had an old version. This website could save people a lot of hassle.

fridge toys

2009-02-27T16:07:00.000-08:00

So either my cat has a life I don't know about or someone who lived here before me also had a cat. I found three cat toys that I didn't give my cat under the fridge. I can only assume they were hidden there by a prior cat. Funny thing is Jewels saw me retrieve them so now she seems to think the fridge produces toys.

wow

2009-02-13T14:38:00.000-08:00

One of my Christmas presents finally arrived! I can't believe how long it took. I know the snow and the fact that what I wanted was on back-order contributed, but getting your Christmas present in time for Valentine's day is a little ridiculous don't you think? Now that I finally have it, I can list my sweater drawers on the new social network site that lets you network with others who have the same things as you.

free books!

2009-02-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

I signed up to be an Early Reviewer at LibraryThing. I actually got a free book sent to me! I'm very excited. I hope I get some more books. Elle magazine also sends out free books to review. I got some of those a while back. Free books make me happy.

book love

2009-01-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

So I'm a big time book lover. I usually go to the library, but I've discovered that you can rent books Netflix-style. Pretty cool, huh?

exhausted

2009-01-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

Waking up at 1:30am to go to work is so not fun. I can't even begin to explain how awful it was to hear the alarm go off. Even the cat thought I was crazy, though she did get up with me. At least I get to enjoy a bit of sunshine when I get home from work. Though right now I'm trying to decide if I should take a nap or just try to stay awake so I can get to bed early.

losing weight

2009-01-26T12:32:00.000-08:00

I happen to be one of those fortunate skinny people, but many in America are not. In fact, we actually ran a story about the possibility of creating government subsidized housing for obese people! I could't believe that was even something that would be considered, but apparently it would actually save taxpayers money because it would move people out of nursing homes and into their own places. I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but it's quite obvious that something needs to done. When regular exercise and dietary changes don't work, one option can be surgery such as a conroe lap-band. It may not be for everyone because some people have health risks (often related to their obesity) that make surgery too risky, but it can be something worth looking into.

a bad idea

2009-01-22T02:41:00.000-08:00

I'm very disappointed that someone is trying to cash in even more on Gossip Girl. A spinoff for a young Lily is in the works. The pilot will actually be incorporated into Gossip Girl as a flashback type scene. I'm so not interested in that though. Fine to show a bit of Lily/Rufus to give us some background (especially since that's not the book storyline), but the spinoff isn't going to be that. Instead it's going to show Lily and her family, mostly the sister and father who totally aren't a part of Gossip Girl. Ridiculous.

time for paintball

2009-01-22T02:26:00.000-08:00

So I've talked about maybe going paintballing before, but of course I never end up getting around to it even though I do think it'd be lots of fun. Now that I'm in a new city, I think I might actually do it. I wonder if you can rent? If not, I just might buy a spyder paintball gun.

broken door

2009-01-22T02:22:00.000-08:00

I hate all closet doors that are not like regular doors--you know, the kind that you find for the bedroom or bathroom. The bedroom closet doors of my last apartment broke when one slipped out of the hinge. I never did have that fixed since I had no place to hide the cat. Now in this apartment nearly the same thing has happened with the door in front of the dryer. This I am having fixed though because it's really annoying (and that cat's allowed here).

something new

2009-01-22T02:17:00.000-08:00

This isn't my usual, but it's good to explore other ideas, right? So here's a link to a site that's all about Reinventing America. The authors of the site may not share my views, but I do believe this country needs to experience some change. Maybe 2009 will be the year.

working

2009-01-22T02:14:00.000-08:00

So my schedule went haywire. I actually like this one better, but it makes for another adjustment. And of course, it isn't lasting. In fact, it's just about over. I will switch to yet another new schedule and that one is going to be very early morning and thus, very painful. I am so not a morning person!

weird

2009-01-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

I filed a change of address, but twice now people have told me that the mail is being returned to them. Furthermore, I'm getting tons of mail for someone else. I'm used to receiving catalogs and that sort in someone else's name right after a move, but this is mail that looks to be important. Based on the envelopes I'd say it's about child support. Which does make me wonder. It's a one bedroom apartment. Did this woman really live here with a child? I live here with my cat and it's not really enough room.

tragic

2009-01-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

From the Spokane Public Library newsletter, "...if you read seven books annually, like the average reader." Really? The average reader only finishes seven books each year? A book every 1.7 months. I'm more like 1.7 books each week. And apparently I did even more than that in 2008. I kept track of every book that I read and it appears I reached 97. So 90 more than the average.

well...

2008-12-30T18:53:00.000-08:00

It appears I've finally done it. Today I received my Angels VIP card from Victoria's Secret. I've spent so much money there that I actually accumulated the points for VIP status. This is completely ridiculous, but not unexpected when one considers the dresser drawers full of underwear.

finally

2008-12-28T14:42:00.000-08:00

The snow is finally melting; though the slush isn't any better. Now my shoes get soaked when I try to make my way to the car. Walking to the fitness center at the front of the complex is quite the adventure since it involves sloshing my way over and trying not to fall as snow crumbles beneath my feet. Hopefully this is all gone by next weekend so we can all get on with our lives. I sure would like the trash picked up.

art

2008-12-15T19:29:00.001-08:00

Since I just moved to a new apartment, I've got plenty of empty space on my walls and the built-in shelves. I don't want to go overboard in buying artwork/decoration since this isn't quite the permanent home, but I am hoping that the next one is a condo or townhouse that I've purchased. So I feel ok about buying at least some stuff--I know it won't have to travel too far or too many times!
WhiteWalls has some great stuff.

thought I was away from this stuff

2008-12-14T17:19:00.000-08:00

Well it snowed. It's not supposed to snow over here. Of course, it wasn't nearly as much snow as I had to deal with last winter. In fact, most of it has melted away. Now the worry is that although it melted, the water didn't go away which means it could freeze into ice overnight. Which would be absolutely fantastic for driving tomorrow. Hopefully it will have warmed up enough that it's melted again and the city should be putting deicer down. I guess there's always the bus if it's terrible.

could be interesting

2008-12-12T18:58:00.001-08:00

So we're supposed to be experiencing this big storm overnight and into the morning, which of course means extra coverage. Apparently we aren't doing wall-to-wall as of yet, but who knows what will actually happen since the possible snow hasn't started falling yet. Hopefully all goes well. I've been in the situation before, just never at this station. And since I'm still really new...well, it could get interesting.

more social networking

2008-12-12T18:43:00.000-08:00

I found an interesting new networking site. It’s acobay. Now you may be asking yourself, “How many social networking sites do I really need?” I do, for the most part, agree with that. We do seem to be getting an overabundance of these. Some are definitely better than others. This one is new enough that it really remains to be seen how worthwhile it will be, but for now I’m optimistic. Hey, at least they don’t ask for a bunch of personal information when you sign up. You don’t even provide an email address!

The biggest downside to the site right now is that not very many people have signed up and posted “stuff” as it’s called. That means it’s a little hard to network with people. I added to “my stuff” my cell phone, but for some reason it didn’t recognize that my phone is the same as the one that someone else posted, which apparently is what it’s supposed to do. So that means I still don’t have a network of people. I’m not sure how to get the site to recognize that this other user and myself really do have the same phone. Oh well. You can also add other people’s “stuff” to your wishlist which can help you connect with people. So I’m going to keep checking on this site to see how it turns out as more people discover it.

unpacking

2008-12-12T18:18:00.000-08:00

Finally starting to get everything unpacked; think I'm missing one of my boxes though. The remaining boxes simply aren't big enough to have my blue vase in there, which really sucks. It's a gorgeous vase and I have the perfect place to display it (tons of built-in shelves in this apartment), which is why I was looking for it. I'm hoping it will still turn up somewhere, but I have my doubts.

writing

2008-12-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

I picked up a bunch of writing magazines and literary journals while I was at the library in the hopes that something would spark and I'd be able to maybe get something published again. I haven't made my way through all of it yet, but I did see a magazine that just might be willing to publish something listed in The Writer. Of course, part of my problem is actually writing. I just stare at the blank Word document and then start surfing the internet. It was far easier back when it was dial-up since I had to make an effort to go online and then tie up the phone line. But maybe my new city will provide inspiration.

the library

2008-12-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

So I'm sure this makes me a really big nerd, but I am excited about the library system over here. So much more expansive. To start off with you can get magazines from other countries! I like reading the British versions of magazines like Elle and Marie Claire in addition to the American versions, so this is very cool, especially since the imports cost a fortune. And of course, there's tons and tons of books to read!

and we've moved again

2008-12-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

The cat and I are finally in the apartment we'll being staying in for a while...hopefully. I definitely like this one far more than the other one, so I'm glad I was able to move. I just wish I'd come here right away so I didn't have to move twice in one month. I'm sure Jewels would've appreciated that too as she is once again all freaked out by the fact that we are in a new place yet again. I'm trying to convince her that we really are going to live here for a while. And then maybe the next place we move to will be a townhouse or condo that I've bought--a (mostly) permanent home.

cyber Monday

2008-12-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

So it took me a while, but I finally realized that today is "cyber Monday;" the day we're supposed to get great deals online. I can't do much shopping right now because I had to pay both November and December's rent on my old wages since I haven't had a full paycheck from my new job yet (thankfully that happens on Friday). But that doesn't stop me from browsing the sites. Since a few of the people I buy Christmas presents for ride motorcycles, I've checked out some of those sites. It's hard to decide what exactly to get, but here's a site with some ideas if you know someone who rides a goldwing.

one life

2008-12-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

I wonder how long the writers on One Life to Live will have Jessica keep Starr's baby? Sometimes these stories can go on for years, though it seems that usually the viewers have no idea that the baby switch happened. It's one of those twists they decide to throw in when they get bored. So it'll be interesting to see if the baby theft is revealed quickly. I would guess there'll be something more with the story for February sweeps, though apparently that's going to be in March this year because of the DTV switch.

another gift idea

2008-12-01T18:37:00.000-08:00

Check out this deal on yamaha motorcycle parts. They've got something for just about every type of bike you could possibly have. With just about everyone doing practical gifts for Christmas this year, why not buy someone something to make his or her beloved bike run better? Or if you really want to impress, track down something that will make the bike unique.

almost time

2008-12-01T18:31:00.000-08:00

I get the keys to what will hopefully be my home for a while on Friday. It'll be so nice to finally get all of these boxes unpacked. I hate not knowing where everything is. I also have barely any clothes to wear as most are still packed away and I know I'm going to have to iron them if I do want to wear them. So I keep putting that off. But soon I'll be able to hang all my clothes in the lovely walk-in closet. That's right. After three years of not having a walk-in, I finally will get it back when it's on to Bothell.

interesting article

2008-11-30T16:40:00.001-08:00

Global AIDS crisis overblown? Some dare to say so

By MARIA CHENG

AP Medical Writer

As World AIDS Day is marked on Monday, some experts are growing more outspoken in complaining that AIDS is eating up funding at the expense of more pressing health needs.

They argue that the world has entered a post-AIDS era in which the disease's spread has largely been curbed in much of the world, Africa excepted.

"AIDS is a terrible humanitarian tragedy, but it's just one of many terrible humanitarian tragedies," said Jeremy Shiffman, who studies health spending at Syracuse University.

Roger England of Health Systems Workshop, a think tank based in the Caribbean island of Grenada, goes further. He argues that UNAIDS, the U.N. agency leading the fight against the disease, has outlived its purpose and should be disbanded.

"The global HIV industry is too big and out of control. We have created a monster with too many vested interests and reputations at stake, ... too many relatively well paid HIV staff in affected countries, and too many rock stars with AIDS support as a fashion accessory," he wrote in the British Medical Journal in May.

Paul de Lay, a director at UNAIDS, disagrees. It's valid to question AIDS' place in the world's priorities, he says, but insists the turnaround is very recent and it would be wrong to think the epidemic is under control.

"We have an epidemic that has caused between 55 million and 60 million infections," de Lay said. "To suddenly pull the rug out from underneath that would be disastrous."

U.N. officials roughly estimate that about 33 million people worldwide have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Scientists say infections peaked in the late 1990s and are unlikely to spark big epidemics beyond Africa.

In developed countries, AIDS drugs have turned the once-fatal disease into a manageable illness.

England argues that closing UNAIDS would free up its $200 million annual budget for other health problems such as pneumonia, which kills more children every year than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.

"By putting more money into AIDS, we are implicitly saying it's OK for more kids to die of pneumonia," England said.

His comments touch on the bigger complaint: that AIDS hogs money and may damage other health programs.

By 2006, AIDS funding accounted for 80 percent of all American aid for health and population issues, according to the Global Health Council.

In Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and elsewhere, donations for HIV projects routinely outstrip the entire national health budgets.

In a 2006 report, Rwandan officials noted a "gross misallocation of resources" in health: $47 million went to HIV, $18 million went to malaria, the country's biggest killer, and $1 million went to childhood illnesses.

"There needs to be a rational system for how to apportion scarce funds," said Helen Epstein, an AIDS expert who has consulted for UNICEF, the World Bank, and others.

AIDS advocates say their projects do more than curb the virus; their efforts strengthen other health programs by providing basic health services.

But across Africa, about 1.5 million doctors and nurses are still needed, and hospitals regularly run out of basic medicines.

Experts working on other health problems struggle to attract money and attention when competing with AIDS.

"Diarrhea kills five times as many kids as AIDS," said John Oldfield, executive vice president of Water Advocates, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that promotes clean water and sanitation.

"Everybody talks about AIDS at cocktail parties," Oldfield said. "But nobody wants to hear about diarrhea," he said.

These competing claims on public money are likely to grow louder as the world financial meltdown threatens to deplete health dollars.

"We cannot afford, in this time of crisis, to squander our investments," Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO's director-general, said in a recent statement.

Some experts ask whether it makes sense to have UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, the Global Fund plus countless other AIDS organizations, all serving the same cause.

"I do not want to see the cause of AIDS harmed," said Shiffman of Syracuse University. But "For AIDS to crowd out other issues is ethically unjust."

De Lay argues that the solution is not to reshuffle resources but to boost them.

"To take money away from AIDS and give it to diarrheal diseases or onchocerciasis (river blindness) or leishmaniasis (disfiguring parasites) doesn't make any sense," he said. "We'd just be doing a worse job in everything else."

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

gift time

2008-11-25T19:45:00.000-08:00

It's the time of year where one must start thinking about what gifts to give loved ones. I must admit I haven't even started shopping yet, but I do have some ideas. I think this year I'll be doing most of my shopping online so that I can have my purchases shipped directly to them. With the new job, I might not be making it home for Christmas. One website I've been looking at has motorcycle parts and accessories. There are accessories for most manufacturers, including Harley, Honda, and kuryakyn. Most everything was on sale, so there are definitely some good deals to be had this Christmas.

a cat and a fireplace

2008-11-23T16:00:00.001-08:00

The apartment that I'm soon moving out of has a fireplace. Guess who discovered this fireplace? That would be my cat, my white cat. She's not really white anymore. Though thankfully I caught her before she got too disgusting. There are quite a few black sooty spots though and I'm not sure if she's going to let me give her a bath. She likes the water alright, but she's never been fully submerged. Maybe I'll try a wash cloth first.

the trauma of moving

2008-11-20T19:11:00.000-08:00

I think Jewels is going to be upset when I make her move again. She is really loving the sliding glass door we have in this apartment. We didn't have one in the last apartment nor will we have one in the new one. So I'm taking away the only thing she seems to like about our new home. Hopefully she'll find something else to love. And hopefully we won't move again for a long time so she'll be able to adjust and understand that we really do live there. It's probably hard right now since I left most everything in boxes--including her toys. I just didn't see a reason to unpack it all when it just has to be packed and moved again soon.

staying safe

2008-11-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

You know, it’s interesting to see what sort of advances we’ve made in protective gear for those who risk their lives to protect us on a daily basis. Can you imagine being a police officer back in the 50s? Granted the sophistication of the criminals they were fighting wasn’t as great either; it’s a never-ending cycle of advancing protective gear and the weapons that are used against it. Still it’s nice to know that our officers have what they need—at least in the cities that have the budgets! There’s all sorts of stuff out there, like 5.11 Tactical Knives. And it’s not just officers who can buy these things, the general public can to so that you can stay safe while walking down the street late at night. Right now there’s even some promotions going on if you follow the link I’ve provided; you can get a really great deal this way.

a happy cat

2008-11-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

Well I found PetCo. So Jewels once again has a fountain to drink her water from. The last one stopped working and I didn't feel like replacing it before the move. But the poor thing is so spoiled that she didn't want to drink standing water out of a regular bowl. It's probably not the best idea to give into her, but I suppose I've traumatized her enough with the move.

wondering...

2008-11-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

Would it be completely ridiculous to go back to school again? I know I only just graduated, but there are so many more subjects I'm interested in. Or I could take a writing workshop at UW and maybe actually get somewhere with that novel I'm supposedly writing.

moved in

2008-11-14T22:20:00.001-08:00

Well, Jewels and I are in the new place...but we're moving again! I just don't like this place well enough to stay when I can spend a few more bucks to get a better place. Good thing I moved to a place that's owned by a large company that has lots of other complexes around here that I can transfer to. So that's what I'm going to do. It's unfortunate that I'll spend almost a month with my things still in boxes, but soon it'll be over and I'll have a really great new place. It'll be a better commute too, so it's good all around.

I hate moving

2008-11-05T23:28:00.000-08:00

I wish getting a new job and moving to a far better city didn't mean having to pack everything up and move it. There's far too much work to do in very little time. I would really appreciate it if employers stopped with this whole two weeks notice business and started allowing something more like two months to move.

seattle!

2008-10-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

I got the job! So now it's just a matter of finding a place to live and getting everything packed up and moved over there. Packing is my least favorite part. Initially it feels like you're really making progress as the boxes start to stack up, but then you realize how much there really is to do. I don't know my official start date yet either, but I should have at least two weeks to get this all done.

seattle?

2008-10-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

So it's been a while. It's been a long while actually. And I really don't have any excuses since I don't have any school stuff to do anymore. Oh well. Anyway, now I'm trying to get myself a job in Seattle. So want to move far away from here. Of course Seattle is far more expensive so I'm having a terrible time adjusting my brain to seeing those rental prices. I know I'll be able to afford a decent place; it just won't be in the city. Which I'm fine with. Sometimes it's better to live a little ways away.

another job search

2008-08-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

In case you’re looking for a new job in the field of human resources, there’s a site you should definitely check out. HRCrossing.com has everything that you’re looking for. The site lists jobs at Fortune 500 companies (you know, the big guys) and consolidates the listings from all those other career sites, which makes it a lot easier to search. The other great thing is that you get a free trial period. If you’re smart, you’ll take advantage.

tooth pulling time

2008-08-10T19:05:00.000-07:00

My upper left wisdom tooth has finally driven me crazy enough that I'm going to have it pulled. It's weird because some days it doesn't hurt at all; others it kills me. But in two weeks it will be gone. I'm not totally sure how much it's going to cost me, but I suppose no longer having intense pain will be worth delaying buying new living room furniture.

job hunting

2008-08-05T21:37:00.001-07:00

Since I've been trying to get out of this town, I'm looking all over the place for a different job. I have no idea how people found jobs before the Internet. Oh sure, you could look in the classifieds, but how are you going to get the classified section of every newspaper from every city you're thinking about moving to? So anyway, I've found a couple of sites and wanted to share one. It's www.techiecrossing.com.

new computer

2008-07-05T01:01:00.000-07:00

I bought a new computer in order to keep my XP around for a few more years. I do NOT want to have to deal with Vista. Unfortunately, I'm having to deal with Office 2007. I think I'm finally starting to get my toolbar back to where I want it to be. The other annoying thing is that I don't have my install for Money 2002 anymore, so I downloaded the free trial of the new version of Money. Definitely glad I didn't pay for that since it's really just a glorified Excel sheet now. The 2002 version had much better features. Not sure why Microsoft has to keep screwing up good things!

OLTL

2008-06-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

So I was right about Marty being tucked away in the Penthouse. Now the question is, what is Todd going to do with her? Can't quite trust him given his history with her and that her son is dating his daughter and Todd's not the slightest bit happy about that one. Wonder how long it will take John to figure it all out? Todd did foolishly leave behind the framed picture of John and Marty.

comparing cards

2008-06-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

I use my credit cards for everything. I find that it’s much faster when going though the checkout line than a check or even cash (unless you happen to know exactly what the total cost is beforehand). I used to use my debit card, but then discovered that I could get credit cards with rewards to them. So not only do I get my purchase, I also earn points toward rewards from the credit card company. You can come out ahead so long as you pay off your balance each month.

Various cards offer different types of rewards, so you’ll want to do some checking before signing up for one. I have one card that gave me enough bonus points when I signed up that I was able to immediately redeem them for a $100 gift card. Another gave me bonus points for $50 from Barnes and Noble which I loved since I read a lot of books. Both of those cards are Master Cards. I did some checking and found that there are all sorts of different rewards programs out there, even ones that give you extra points for your home improvement spending. It definitely pays to do some checking around to find that card (or cards) that will give you the best return. And with the Internet, a lot of the work is already done for you. It’s pretty easy to compare cards since all you have to do is click on one website and see a bunch of them at the same time.

predictions

2008-06-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

So since they've announced that the original Marty is coming back, I'm pretty sure that's who Ramsey has tucked away in the penthouse. Not sure how they'll explain him taking her, but he does have motive. I also think Starr is going to end up giving her baby to the McBains. She'll want to make up for her dad taking Sam away from them.

credit cards

2008-05-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

So you know me, always looking for a way to get some cash. One way I’ve discovered to do that is by using a credit card. Now I know, there are some people out there who say you spend more when you put things on credit, that even if you pay if off in full (as I do), you still spend more than you would’ve if you’d used cash. I don’t agree. I’m buying things I need and have things like my phone bill automatically put on the card each month. This way I get the maximum reward possible from the credit card company. You should only be using cards that give you rewards. And of course, the card should offer a reward that you’ll actually use. The two cards I have offer a good variety to choose from, but some people would be better off with a very specific type of rewards card. Most people know about airline rewards cards, but there are also ones for automobiles and gas (might be important nowadays!) as well as hotels. It’s pretty easy to comparison shop to get the best deal if you search online. In fact, if you want to, you can apply online for hotel cards right now!

all graduated

2008-05-23T01:04:00.000-07:00

All my school stuff is over with now, which is just incredible. I can't believe how quickly it all went. Although there were some times that I didn't think I was going to end up finishing--don't take four classes your last semester while still working full-time! Now I'm trying to figure out how to turn my thesis into at least on journal article so that I can get published.

thesis done!

2008-05-04T23:21:00.000-07:00

I turned in my thesis. Now I just have to wait to hear what, if any revisions need to be made. I'm sure there will be revisions...I just hope they aren't really big ones. I'm definitely glad to finally be done with it, though I feel there are things that I could've included to make it better if only I'd managed my time better. But if the professors like it, that's what matters.

finally

2008-04-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

We finally got nice weather this weekend. Unfortunately I'm too busy working on things for school (like my thesis) to really be able to go out and enjoy it. But the good news is I should be all done with school in May and the weather will be absolutely gorgeous then, so I'll be able to fully enjoy my summer.

pharm techs

2008-04-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

You know who actually makes pretty good money? A pharmacy technician. I was actually quite surprised by the pharmacy technician salary. Of course, to become a pharmacy tech, you do actually need to complete some training, which I don't have. But there are lots of schools around that offer the training. It only takes a year or two to complete, so you can get going fairly quickly.

she's back

2008-04-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

Nicole is back on Days of Our Lives! I'm so excited. Nicole was one of my favorites right from the time she appeared; I was sad when she left. She's exactly what the show needs right now...it's pretty boring otherwise. Nicole is definitely going to be able to spice things up. I'd completely forgotten about how she tried to kill Victor. Now she's back claiming they're still married. Things are going to get good.

staying safe

2008-03-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

It's kind of amazing what new equipment is out there to keep the people who serve to protect us safe. Being a police officer (or soldier) used to be a lot more dangerous than it is today. The new developments in things like tactical gear are just amazing. And I bet as technology continues to develop, there'll be even better gear. Of course, just like with computer hacking, it seems the bad guys always stay one step ahead. But the new things developers come up with are still great.

more snow

2008-03-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

You'll probably think I'm lying, but you can check the weather report--it snowed this weekend! And not just a light dusting either. It was full-on snowing. I think there was at least two inches. Now granted, today is absolutely gorgeous, but it still snowed at the end of March. That's something that I find completely ridiculous. This had better have been the last of it.

school

2008-03-27T22:24:00.000-07:00

Back when I was 17, I went to a technical school for a while. It was a good experience. My sister went too, which is how she got her job. In my opinion, tech schools are a great way to learn the skills you need to get a good job. You can learn all sorts of things at a technical school--dental assisting, it training, law enforcement, and a whole lot more. Definitely something to consider when you're looking at schools.

I thought it was spring

2008-03-27T22:20:00.000-07:00

So it's the end of March and yet the snow keeps coming. Oh sure, it's not sticking around or amounting to much, but it's still snow in the springtime. Winter is my least favorite season and I really hate snow, so this is not a happy time for me. I just want it to be summer and warm.

cooking

2008-03-21T00:33:00.000-07:00

So I was thinking that one way to solve my cooking issues would be to go to culinary school. Then I would learn all about cooking, which would mean I wouldn't be quite so freaked out about undercooking meat and poisoning myself. Since I'm freaked out about undercooking meat, I end up burning it and not wanting to eat it. This is quite the problem.

Because I'm paranoid about cooking, I never considered chef school. Now I'm thinking it makes sense. Of course, I wouldn't be going to become a chef, just to learn some skills. So now I've got to look into various culinary schools and see what I find.

cat sitter

2008-03-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

Finding a good cat sitter is quite difficult. Luckily the cat travels well so I can take her with me when I go home, but I need someone to take care of her when I'm away on business. Not everyone is trustworthy enough to take good care of her; plus, she's a scaredy cat who doesn't like men or the scent of dogs. That narrows my possible caregivers quite a bit. I have a couple months before I need someone, so I'm hoping I'll be able to find someone. If not, I have to give her a heart attack by putting her in a kennel.

credit

2008-03-17T00:37:00.000-07:00

I feel quite fortunate that I have good credit. My mom set me up well by adding me as an authorized user to one of her accounts when I was only 13. So I have a much longer credit history than most people my age. But for those with bad credit, it can be hard to get personal loans. That means when an unexpected expense comes up, they often have to take out a cash advance at a high interest rate. And that means it's going to be difficult to ever get on track with good credit. That's why it's very important for people with bad credit to seek out responsible lenders. They also need to be responsible in paying back the loan and only taking out money for necessities. That means no payday loans for the new shoes that you think you can't live without!

yum yum

2008-03-17T00:34:00.000-07:00

I got bored, so I decided to make some brownies using one of those refrigerated dough packages. I think the process would've been better had I let the dough sit out for a while before starting. It was a bit hard to spread. Even so, the brownies turned out to be quite delicious although a bit crumbly. I had to use a fork! If I had ice cream, I would've crumbled the brownie over that which would've been even better.

fashionista

2008-03-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

One thing that I’d really like to do is become a fashion consultant. I do a good job at dressing other people! And I’m quite sure that there’s money to be made in this field. So while it’s a little silly to think about starting school when I haven’t even finished my current program, I’m looking at fashion schools in california. That’s probably the best way to break in. Not to mention that a fashion school in california would probably get me into lots of those sewing classes that I keep talking about! So if I start talking more about heading to fashion schools in los angeles, you’ll know that I’m seriously considering becoming the next Stacy London!

presents

2008-03-16T23:41:00.000-07:00

My birthday isn't for a few months, but since I always have a difficult time coming up with the list of "wants" that my family always requests, I'm trying to figure out what to ask for now. Usually I say that I want some sort of "big" item that they can all chip in on...that doesn't always work though as they claim to like to see me open things. But the reality is that I just want practical things. When you move as often as I do, you realize that having little knick-knacky type things around just isn't convenient. But since I always end up asking for practical things, I have a stockpile of shampoo, soap, etc. So I really don't need any more of that for a while either. I have no idea what to ask for.

home loans

2008-03-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

One day in the not so distant future, I want to buy some real estate (hence the wanting to save some money). Comparing mortage loans is important in any economy, but seems to be even more so now. A lot of people seem to have gotten themselves in trouble with these adjustable rate mortages, but some of them do have the option of refiancing and getting a fixed rate. If you like your house, that's got to be better than selling.

If you are in danger of losing your house, please don't abandon your pets. Make sure they have good homes to go to if you can't take them with you. That's the part of this whole mortage crisis that upsets me most.

budgeting

2008-03-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

So I'm pretty sure that I spend far too much money on food. I go out to eat a lot. Of course, I'm able to make that stretch into more than one meal, but still it adds up. So I've decided to keep all my receipts for the next month and find out what I'm really spending on food. Then I need to find out what the average single girl spends on food to see how I compare. At the very least, I should be able to cut out at least a few dollars. Just have to eat more ramen and less steak!

hunting

2008-03-14T01:11:00.000-07:00

I was looking for a gift for someone, someone who likes to go hunting. I was thinking that if I bought a hunting-related item for him, he might actually take me along sometime. I don't think I'd want to hunt for deer or anything else that's big (too heavy to carry back to the truck!!), but something small like turkeys would be good. Plus, I've never ate deer meat, but I eat turkey all the time and it'd be kind of cool to say, "I killed this turkey myself." So anyway, I found a site called www.killerblades.com. Some great deals are being offered right now. Hunting knives are 40% off through the end of the month. So I'll buy him a knife and see if I get to tag-a-long on a hunting trip sometime.

gym discounts

2008-03-14T00:42:00.000-07:00

So maybe I won't be doing yoga at one of the studios around here. My employer just sent out an updated list of gyms giving us a corporate discount...and actually listed prices! Gyms never tell you their prices! So one of them is not only close to where I live, but is cheaper with our discount than the yoga studios. I checked the list of classes online and they do offer yoga and at a time that I could go. So that might be what I do instead.

The Jewels Thief

2008-03-11T00:42:00.000-07:00

Jewels has earned a new nickname. I'm calling her "The Jewels Thief" now based on the fact that she steals. Usually she only steals things I don't care about--plastic spoons that I'm throwing away, her own toys... But now she's gone and stolen my tweezers. She's hidden them well. They aren't in any of her usual hiding spots. I told her to bring them back, but she tends to not "find" things again for a few months. So I guess I'm buying a new pair of tweezers.

yoga

2008-03-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

I had no idea yoga had become so popular. Last night I was doing some craigslist browsing and saw a yoga class being offered, which I decided to check out. I like to comparison shop, so I searched for some other yoga studios to find out how much they charge. There were a ton of them! That makes it incredibly hard to figure out where to go. I guess I'll ask around, see if anyone has any experience with any of them. I've never done yoga before, but it sounds interesting. I probably can't actually sign up until I'm done with school though. There's simply too much I have to do right now.

making a trip

2008-03-08T17:25:00.000-08:00

So it’s looking like I may be sent to Wisconsin for some more training for work. While it’s cool to get to take a trip and all, I’m not totally looking forward to it. It’s such a hassle nowadays to fly. Plus, I have to find someone to watch the cat. There is one part of going to Wisconsin that I will find quite enjoyable. I already know where my hotel reservation is going to be made. I stayed at the Hampton Inn last time, which is where they’ll book my room again. The Hampton had the best bed in the entire world. Usually I’m not a fan of hotel beds, but this one was simply amazing. I seriously did not want to get out of it in the morning (which I suppose could actually be considered a bad thing since I did have someplace I needed to be!), which is quite unusual since I usually have a terrible time sleeping in unfamiliar beds.

I’m not sure how the company usually books our rooms, but I know that if they want a good hotel discount they should use HotelReservations.com. They’ve got really good deals on the website. They actually guarantee the lowest rates will be found with them or there’s a $100 rebate. That’s definitely worth checking out. With a guarantee like that you know that you’ll get either the best rate out there or the $100, which probably will reduce the hotel room rate enough that it’s going to be the lowest again.

The other great thing about the site is that you can book the transportation you’ll need for your trip through them as well. They’ve got links to flights and car rentals. It’s so great that with the internet we don’t need to make multiple phone calls to take care of our travel plans. Everything can be done with the same company, which I definitely appreciate. So I’m going to suggest my employer use HotelReservations.com for my trip.

happy birthday!

2008-03-06T00:37:00.000-08:00

Guess who just turned two? Miss Jewels of course! I bought her some new toys (which she went insane over) and tuna fish. Supposedly cats lose their playfulness around this age, but I don't think Jewels will. I think her craziness is just a part of her personality. Sure, she's calmed down some, but I don't think she's going to slow down until she's an old lady kitty. As long as she stays a good cuddler, I'll be happy. She really can be the sweetest cat.

buzzfuse

2008-03-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

So there's a great new way to market yourself online--and it doesn't even cost a thing! (Unless you want a premium account with all the features, then it costs $14.99 a month.) You can post whatever you want at Buzzfuse.com--your blog, your photography, your band's new song, etc. What's really great is you aren't limited in how much content you post each month. Using Buzzfuse is an excellent way to get your name out there and connect with others. Right now they've even got a contest going on as an added incentive for signing up. So go do it and get more people interested in what you've got going on!

enough already

2008-03-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

It snowed yesterday! This is simply getting to be too much. Now granted, it didn't last long nor did it stick; but really, snow after it had been warming up is just ridiculous. I have a feeling it's because I finally decided I could turn the heat off in the apartment Sunday night. That was a big mistake as I woke freezing. So the heat's back on and I can look forward to another big electric bill. Thankfully it's semi-warm today and is predicted to be all week.

I disappear

2008-02-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

Hmmm...I went away for a while it turns out. It wasn't intentional at all; I just suddenly had a bunch of stuff to get done. Number one on the list was getting my car back in working order. Number two on the list was working extra hours in order to pay for that. Trust me, I would've much rather been online blogging away the day.

This week I've got one of my classes starting up, but I took time off from work for it so I should be ok. Unfortunately, a bunch of extra readings got added to the class list and I have no idea how I'm going to get them read.

baseball!

2008-02-14T12:48:00.000-08:00

So I'm giving something new a try here. I checked out this new simulated baseball webgame and am posting a recap of the game I played. I'm not a sports journalist, but I work with a few, so let me know what you think! Now as for the actual game play of the site, I found it a little difficult to figure things out at first. I checked out the help section and the forums, which provided a lot of information. Then I watched someone else's game briefly before starting up one of my own. Once you get started, it's easy and fun. The game moves along at a good speed.

The Paris Stars took the field against Pittsburgh Gorillas on June 14, 1898. It was the very first game ever for the Stars. The Gorillas, on the other hand, came into the game with a 21-7 record.

The first inning was quite uneventful—not a single batter made it on base. That set the tone for the game. Finally in the second inning, Chen (.309) of the Gorillas made almost to first before Shaffer threw the ball to Torres on first for the out. The inning was finished when Quintanilla struck out both Froelich and Travis.

The game continued with more of the same. The fans could not have been happy about this one! For the Stars the outs came quickly. Navarro struck out with a swing and a miss. Then Vansickle lined out to second. That was followed by Flores’ ground out up the middle.

Then finally, late in the game, came some action. First, there was a base hit from Shaffer (.667). There’s a chance someone could score! With a tired Gorillas pitcher, Dickerson was walked. The Stars definitely had an opportunity here. But then Torres struck out. Welch had a great hit, but it was caught and the double play was made.

After that inning, Quintanilla who had 61 strikes out of his 90 pitches, was heard to say, "Man, is my arm getting tired." The coach told alternate pitcher Flores to start warming up. It wasn’t enough to save the game for the Stars though. At the bottom of the eighth, the first run was finally scored. The Gorillas started looking for the win. Perhaps motivated by this, Schaffer hit a homer at the top of the ninth. Dickerson (.333) followed up with a double. The following Stars’ batters weren’t so lucky: Torres and Welch both struck out, the Fox popped out to the pitcher.

As the bottom of the ninth began, things were not looking so hot for the Stars. The best the could hope for was extra innings. It wasn’t to be. Felix hit a home run and ended the game.

snow melt!

2008-02-13T13:05:00.000-08:00

It has finally started getting warm enough during the day to slowly melt some of the massive mounds of snow all over the city. It is so nice to see the sun. The downside is that it still drops to freezing at night. So those big puddles end up freezing over each night. I just know I'm going to fall in the parking lot one of these nights.

plastic surgery

2008-02-13T01:02:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite shows (and it’s still airing new episodes!) is Nip/Tuck. This season the show moved from Miami to the west coast, so now the doctors are doing liposuction in Los Angeles. Of course, since this is a TV show Sean and Christian (the doctors) do a lot more than just your regular Beverly Hills breast augmentation. They’ve performed some pretty wild surgeries over the past few seasons, including separating conjoined twins. I wonder if the writers will ever have them do a tummy tuck in Beverly Hills? That’s probably too tame for them now.

You know, I’m not a big fan of them showing the surgeries though. I find medical shows (both fictional like this and real ones) interesting, but I’m simply far too squeamish to be able to watch. It’s a good thing I didn’t try to become a doctor. I’d never be able to make even the first incision!

As much as I love the show, there’s a very important part of the plastic surgery process that gets left out. Nip/Tuck is centered around the doctors, so we never see what brings the patients to the consult. Before you have any type of surgery, it’s important to do some research. You need to find out about the procedure you’re considering as well as the doctor who will perform it. For the procedure, you should consider the risks and how much recovery time you’ll need. As for the doctor, look into his or her credentials. Is the doctor board certified? How often does he or she perform the exact procedure you want? Someone can be great at tummy tucks, but inexperienced with nose jobs. You want to make sure your doctor is experienced in what you’re seeking. And of course, take a look at those before and after pictures, then ask to talk to some of the patients. Cost is another consideration some people have. Although you don’t want to overpay, you also don’t want to end up dead!

Hillary comes to town

2008-02-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

Hillary Clinton came to town on Friday to try to get more people to caucus for her (doesn't sound like it helped much though). During her speech she commented that Spokane needs a lot of work. I'm glad someone recongizes that! When I heard that comment, I said that it was reason alone to vote for her. Even if she doesn't remember her promise to help fix the roads and such, at least she recognized the need for a slight bit. Of course, if things ever do get fixed around here, it'll be long after I'm gone.

the VCR

2008-02-05T08:57:00.000-08:00

My VCR is dying a slow death--or at least the remote is. The fast forward stopped working ages ago, but I didn't really care because there's a second fast forward on the remote. Now the play button doesn't work, which is pretty inconvenient. I don't use the VCR much now that I have a DVD recorder so it seems silly to buy a new one. Guess I just have to press play on the machine and not be lazy!

LifeLock

2008-02-05T00:41:00.000-08:00

I’ve been watching The Real Hustle on truTV (which used to be CourtTV) lately. It’s pretty amazing how easily they’re able to con people. It also makes me worry about what things I’m falling for. How many times have I given out information to someone who was less than scrupulous? Scary thoughts. I know the government now requires that each person be able to get a free credit report each year, but for some reason I just never get around to ordering it. I did it exactly once about three years ago. Nothing out of the ordinary was on it, so I guess I just feel safe. But I know that anyone could steal my information at any time, so I really should be checking up on it. I think that I’d be better off using the Lifelock.com Promotion Code. That way someone else would do the monitoring for me.

Using the LifeLock Promotion Code gets you a great discount on the service they offer, which includes protecting your identity for up to $1,000,000. You may think you’d never need that much protection, but watching The Real Hustle proves how quickly a thief can make off with thousands of dollars. I think the service provided is worth the cost, especially when you can use the LifeLock Promo Code to get a great discount.

saying yes to sewing

2008-02-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

I've decided that I definitely want to take sewing lessons. The problem is I don't have time to do so right now. This summer there'll be time. But of course, I'm also thinking of moving once I graduate. That'll depend on whether or not a job is open. So who knows when I'll actually move. The sewing lessons that I found here are pay by the session, so I guess I could always get started here and move on to a different teacher if I do move.

glasses

2008-02-04T06:15:00.000-08:00

I made a Great Discovery: Zenni Optical. Glasses are incredibly expensive and for some reason a lot of insurance companies (mine included) don’t cover the cost. This is why when I buy my new glasses, which I desperately need, I’m going with the Zenni Optical $8 Rx Glasses. Who can really pass up $8 glasses? So go check out the Best Thing Found: Zenni Optical! They look good and won't break the bank!

phone call worked!

2008-01-30T00:57:00.000-08:00

It did take longer than I expected, but early this afternoon the lot was plowed! The manager commented to me when I left for work about how my section was now in good shape. I know I can't be the only one who complained though. A bunch of people weren't parked in the lot last night, but they are now. I'm sure they were calling him on it too.

a snow update

2008-01-29T06:17:00.000-08:00

The roads were pretty good yesterday, but there's something that wasn't good. That would be the parking lot of my apartment complex. Apparently they got tired after lunch and decided not to bother with finishing plowing. I had a terrible time getting out of the lot. My car got stuck multiple times. I thought (wrongly) that this would be fixed by the time I got off work, but I got stuck again. I left a message on the manager's phone to let him know how displeased I am about this. Hopefully he'll do something, but I have my doubts since it's already snowing again.

photoshop brushes

2008-01-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

I use Photoshop all the time, especially at work. One thing that I find annoying is that I can’t do some of the things I want with Photoshop. Well, maybe I could, I just haven’t figured out how to yet! But I have discovered some cool Photoshop Brushes to use. There are some great patterns available too. Always nice to find some add-ons for a program that sometimes frustrates!