Calling all Handbag Lovers

I know I have not blogged in forever, I am sorry. I just poked my head here to share an AWESONE site with you guys. It is called Bag Borrow or Steal. You can pretty much RENT a designer bag!! Or you can buy one of the gently used bags on the “Outlet”. Check it out. See, see, I do think of you guys.

To Leave or Not To Leave

I need your advice…I am contemplating quitting my job. Life has gotten really hectic now days. I am busy 24/7, it has gotten to the point that I can not keep up with the house or everyday responsibilities. My house looks like a war zone most of the time.

Early this year I started my own business, my very own LLC, yippie for me. Every thing is going well with it and would love to be able to spend real; I mean real time, not a couple of hours here and there, doing things to promote the business.

My company - the paying job - has been going through a lot of changes. A month ago 50 people were laid off. Part of me would like be laid off, because I would have more of a “their loss” attitude. If I have to quit I think I will regret it somewhat. I think I will cry for a week. I have been there for seven years.

JR says he will support my decision, but I feel like me not working or “pulling my own weight” will be an issue. I feel like I will have to justify my very expensive taste or that I would have to ask him for permission to buy something. I know that the issue WILL come up and that will have me running to the nearest McDonald to flip some burgers!

I am so confused right now. I also feel that I will never be to get another job. Someone help! Ok, if any of you out there have gone through this let me know how it turned out – and make it a happy ending. Just kidding. I just really want to know about the transition between bread winner to bread beggar.

Headed for Divorce

Did we have any bets on how long Britney and K-Fed’s marriage would last? I think someone somewhere owes me lunch.

That must suck, ok, not only was she married to a backup dancer for two years, but she has two kids by that man. They are going to have to see each other for the rest of their lives. How much fun is that?! And their youngest kid is only two months old. Crap.

Warning – eBay Scam

On Sunday night my auctions ended and as I was in the process of emailing invoices, the second the auctions ended, I got an email sent through eBay telling me that they wanted to buy my product and if it was still for sale.

Now, I never, ever click on the “response now” link on the eBay messages without checking the auction number on the message first. I did that, and the number was a bogus one.

The same thing happened again when I was uploading auction items!

I guess those scammers know you are so busy, caught up with eBaying, that you will most likely not check the link before clicking on it.

Beware – if they get your eBay log on they can get your PayPal info.

Be careful.

**This has been a public service announcement, we now return you to your regular scheduled program.

Sewing Chica

Baby Girl’s school celebrated the 50s today. The kids were allowed to dress up in poodle skirts, leather jackets, and rolled up pants (they can not dress up for Halloween, but putting on a 50s outfit a week before is ok – go figure). Going to the store and buying a skirt already made would have been too easy a task, so I decided to bust out my sewing machine and make one.

I had not sewn anything in ages. When BG was born I made her crib set and drapes, and I also made her her first Halloween costume. Aside from that I can not remember the last time I used the machine. I have always been jealous of people that can sew anything in a moments notice, I guess that is why I am a fan of Project Runway, but I always tell people, when asked about my sewing hobby, that I only sew on cotton and only straight lines.

Anyway, the skirt turned out really, really cute. I won’t be trying out for Project Runway any time soon, but I looking forward to getting into sewing again. I am making BG an outfit to wear on Halloween day to school since she can not wear her costume, keep your fingers crossed for me.

Someone Give Me Money

I received this email today, do people still fall for this?!

DAN WATKINS
More options 10:23 am (6 hours ago)
FROM AUDITOR Dan Watkins
HEAD OF AUDITING DEPARTMENT
IN A BANK

Hello
Sir/Madam,

My name is Dan Watkins, a senior staff and executive of a
bank here in Scotland, United Kingdom.I have only written to seek your
indulgence and assistance.

I wish to make a transfer involving a huge
amount.I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated bank
account of your choice. Thus,
for your indulgence and support, I
propose an offer of 25% of the total
amount to be yours after the
transfer has been successfully concluded.

Kindly reply me stating your interest, and I shall furnish you with the
details and necessary proceedure with which to make the transfer.

I anxiously await your response. Thanks and Godbless.

Sincerely yours,

Dan Watkins

A dead give away was the "HEAD OF AUDITING DEPARTMENT
IN A BANK"...If they are lying anyway why not use a real bank name. What are these people thinking?

No Halloween - Part 2

I was asked why I thought that Christianity was behind the banning of Halloween -

Well, the reason Christianity is behind banning Halloween is because, I live in an area that is very conservative. Plus, the Principal said “some people’s religions” and there are not many religions I can pick from around here.

Let me start by saying that I love all people. If you are Christian that is your belief and that is ok, more power to you, but why does Halloween need to be taken out of school because some, very few, people think its evil?

There should be separation of church and state, the religious feelings of one group should have nothing to do with Halloween, since it is not a religion and there are no beliefs attach to it. I think the parents of those kids who are against dressing up should keep their kids at home on that day. I plan to do just that if we can not have a little party at Baby Girl’s school on that day. I will keep her home and have her run around with her costume on all day. We can count candy or her spelling as the day goes on…a learning day, I say.

How would we feel if girls had to wear head scarves, or only skirts, because someone felt it was the "right" way to live? Where do we draw the line? Who is the school district listening to?

Ok, I can understand if the school district did not want ANY celebrations at the school, but why are they only cutting Halloween? Doesn't Valentine's Day make a big mess (I don't know why the Christian population hasn't gotten against that one too "the lovers" holiday and all, ok, I better not give them any ideas)? Plus, they have countless other celebrations on the schedule for this year.

We all grew up dressing up for Halloween and enjoying the festivities at school. It just does not seem right that the kids can not do that now. Plus, I don’t know that any of my friends became devil worshipers or witches just because they enjoyed a little Halloween.

Not finished yet…

No Halloween

I am outraged!! I went to Baby Girl’s PTO meeting this morning and was informed that Conroe Independent School District would not be observing Halloween this year. My jaw dropped.

I know I live in a pretty conservative area, but I could not believe that now they want to take Halloween away from my child! As soon as I heard the news I raised my hand. “Is it a school thing or where is this coming from?” I asked. I was told that it was a CISD rule and that it was decided given some people’s religious backgrounds. My question is – since when did Halloween become a religion?! The last time I checked the kids dressed up, had a party at school, and walked around with a bucket for candy. What is going on?!!

Ok, I don’t know what is going on. I feel discriminated against for speaking out. I feel like the word “Halloween” has become as controversial as “Illegal Immigrant”. Halloween is awesome; the kids dress up in their favorite outfit and walk around getting candy, what can be greater than that? It is a kid day, a great AMERICAN tradition. I enjoyed it and I want my kids to enjoy it without feeling like it is taboo - something wrong they can not talk about or enjoy at school.

CISD has been pissing me off for a while. For all of you that don’t know CISD rents its buildings out to churches on the weekends so they can hold their gathering there. They have always help the community out in that way, ok, I must say, the Christian community. I have always wanted to call and say I was Muslim, Jewish, or Baha'i to see if they would be as “nice and accommodating”.

Ok, I know I am off on a tangent, but I am really pissed. I ended up talking to the Principal after the meeting, she was very politically correct and said that she could not stop me from dressing my child however I wanted that day. She also said that it was up to the teacher to decide whether she wanted to have a little party on that day. Immediately I went to BGs classroom where the teacher informed me that she “did not like Halloween”, but if the parents wanted to have a little party she was ok with that. What is not to like?!!!

To be continued…

Updated

Ok, I think I have updated my sidebar. If I missed anyone please email me and let me know. I updated the links, tv,loves, and added Cayman Islands to my 43 Places. I also took out the "Reading" section. I have realized that I am more of a couch potato reader, so I did not see the point of keeping the title up for months at a time.

Oh, yes, I have also added some new and exciting (see, I am advertising for some of you guys) links, so go check them out.

Much Love,
Chica

Buyer Beware

I was at Sam’s yesterday and decided to pick up some cookies. When I was in the cookie aisle I had to choose between my favorites the Keebler cookie pack (chocolate chip, m&m cookies, sandies, and iced animal) or the 100 Calorie Packs (Chips Ahoy and Oreos). I must of not had been thinking straight because I decided to get the box of 24 100 calorie packs.

I must say that it was not a hard decision to make. I thought, I need to loose weight, cut my calorie consumption, and need to get involved with more vegetables and fruits. To tell the truth I am a bad dessert eater. I do ok with food, but I need to have something sweet after I eat, I don’t know what it is but I am addicted to sugar. The fact that the whole box of 24 100 calories packs weighed 0.5 oz should have given me a clue they were not going to satisfy my sweet tooth.

As JR is loading the items into the car he notices the lightness of the package and tells me that he thinks I got taken because I bought some air in a box. I tell him that I think that each pack just has one cookie. Anyway, I get home, have lunch, and then it hits me, I need some sugar. I go over the box and grab a pack of the Chips Ahoy. I sit down to enjoy my cookie and nothing. Nothing happens, no sugary rush going to by brain telling me I am happy. No burst of energy. No nirvana experience. I was just sitting there eating some crispy things that provided no emotions.

Needless to say, money wasted, oh, Baby Girl does have some friends that are always asking for a snack. What a better way to get them off my back forever!

Shakira in Houston

Sporting my new Urban Decay “Spandex” eyeliner and my favorite black espadrille tie-up shoes I made my way to the Toyota Center to see Columbian Goddess Shakira.

The show started a little late with Wyclef Jean taking the stage a little past 8pm. His sister came out for a song, man that girl can sing! I had mixed feeling about this part of the show, but JR seemed to enjoy it.

At 9pm Shakira appeared on stage. She was amazing. Her hips gyrated all over the place. She sang some of her new songs as well as old favorites. Every one danced and sang. Baby Girl was super excited, but fell sleep before the show ended, not bad for her first concert!

Overall, it was a good time. This reminds me, I need to sign up for belly dancing classes. Does any know of a good place?

New Links

I will be updating my sidebar in the next couple of days (it has been neglected for over a year!). If anyone has a link they would like me to add to my blogroll email it to me.

Ok, if you are in my blogroll, but have not updated your blog in over nine months you WILL be removed. If you have moved to a new url please send me the link.

Thank You,
The Management

Picture Blog

Picture Blog.

2.41! Wow,I feel like taking a trip.

Football Season

The 2006-2007 football season started this week. Today millions of married women have become single for a day.

It is not like today, the first football Sunday, was a surprise, on the contrary the guys have been registering for fantasy leagues, researching players, having their drafts, and watching anything related to football for some weeks now. I have gone through this separation for some 13 years now and I always forget about the first Sunday.

At my house the day sounded something like this - “Hey, JR what’s on TiVo?” JR looks at me like I am crazy and says, “I am watching the game!” I tell him that I know that, but that there is still enough time left in the game to where we can watch a TiVo 30 minute show. After the show is over he can get back to his football game to see who won (it makes perfect sense to me). He tells me that I need to understand the main and only purpose for the big TV and that we have two other televisions (one in the kids playroom and the other in the exercise room, neither one comfy enough if you just want to chill) in the house, but if I want I can go buy a bigger TV for the kids playroom so I can watch it. I tell him that I want some together time watching a show and he tells me no! I even offer to jerk him off as he watches the game, “no, because then I can not concentrate”. “You are not participating IN the game, what do you need to concentrate for?!”

I guess I just don’t get it. Until next February my Sundays will consist of catching up on laundry, running errands, and getting ready for the following week. You would think that as a newly single girl I would be having a lot more fun, but how much fun can I have on a Sunday?

R.I.P Steve Irwin

As many of you now know the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, was killed this past weekend by a stingray off the coast of Australia. The question now is, should the video of his death, which was caught on tape because he was filming a special about dangerous predators, be released to the public?

The answer is YES! He made a living torturing, ok maybe not torturing, but harassing, any animal within his reach and all animals were within his reach. I think that he was the ultimate victim to a dangerous predator. He took the stingray on, animal vs. animal, no metal cages, no save button, just nature. Isn’t that what Steve Irwin stood for? We have seen him slap death in the face too many times by wrestling alligators, getting close to piranhas, and handling poisonous snakes. This time though the animal won.

There was no question on anyone’s mind about how Steve Irwin would meet his death, on Monday when the news was released no one seemed that surprised. There was no irony. If the video were to be released I would not watch, but I think that it should. After all if Steve Irwin would of killed the stingray in self defense wouldn’t that footage be shown??

Nip/Tuck - Yeah!

My Tuesday night Rescue Me fixation was replaced by my Nip/Tuck one. Tonight was the season premier of Nip/Tuck, yeahh!! I have been so looking forward to it since last year. This season looks amazing.

During Nip/Tuck there was a preview for the movie Running with Scissors. I have been looking forward to the movie, but I am a little disappointed. The preview does not look as interesting as the book, yes, I know that is always the case, but one can hope.

I read Running with Scissors some months back and really enjoyed it. I read that Annette Bening might get an Oscar nomination for her role as a crazy mom. I really liked her in American Beauty and was hoping that the movie would match the book.

The preview for Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst does look fun. I am not a Sofia Coppola fan, but I do enjoy her cinematography. I really think she does an amazing job setting up the shots and getting the pictures to tell a story.

Oh, yeah, and the movie Stranger than Fiction looks very, very funny.

Flickr Pics

I have finally uploaded the vacation pics onto Flickr. Go have a look.

God's Will

What is the difference between a Christian saying that it was God’s will to have New Orleans completely destroyed by a hurricane and having a Muslin say the same thing about the attacks of September 11th?

There is no difference, both groups think that they are the enlightened ones, but at the core they are completely the same.

I heard the first comment today, on the anniversary of Katrina, as I drove to Baby Girl’s school for a PTO meeting. I could not believe that someone would say, on the radio, that the hurricane that killed thousands of people in New Orleans was planned and carried out by God to punish them.

The second comment I heard as I watched a documentary on the use of the internet by terrorist groups. A Muslim said that they did not understand why the United States was so wrapped up in finding Osama bin Laden. He said that Osama had nothing to do with the attacks on September 11 and that if they did capture him there were others ready to take his place. He continued by saying that - and this is where everything came together for me and I finally understood – if God did not want the destruction that happened on 9.11 then he would of stopped the attack. Just like he stopped the Richard Reid (shoe bomber) and the terrorist ring in the UK, it was not in God’s plan. Great! I thought, we are not fighting against terrorists, we are fighting God! That is a tough battle to win. We are fighting against a God they believe has a will, a plan, and really, really, hates the US. Great!

Both groups are giving God too much credit. I have always hated to hear someone say “God Willing”. The phrase seems like a cop out. I wonder, how come people do not say God willed someone to get raped, murdered, or killed by a drunk driver on their 18 birthday? If God’s will is what rules the world then why are there criminals in jail? Isn’t God is supposed to be taking care of the bad people?

Maybe there is a big difference between God and his prophets – Jesus and Muhammad – because if I remember correctly both men preached about the Golden Rule.

Christianity - All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:1

Islam - No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Sunnah

I just hope that in remembering Katrina people show some compassion for those that lost so much because of no fault of their own.

Houston - Automatic Tickets??

Here are locations of new cameras that will automatically issue a ticket if you are caught running yellow or red lights...good idea to slow down!!!!

The first 10 camera locations are:

• 1 - Richmond at Dunvale


• 2 - Bellaire at Wilcrest


• 3 - Harwin at Hillcroft


• 4 - Milam at Elgin


• 5 - Brazos at Elgin


• 6 - JFK at Greens


• 7 - Bay Area Boulevard at El Camino Real


• 8 - Travis at Webster


• 9 - Pease at LaBranch


• 10 - Hillcroft at Richmond

My Summer TV Watching

I love TV, ok, let me rephrase that, I love good TV. There are only a couple of shows that I have been totally and completely addicted to this summer, what does that mean? Well, it means that I actually make time to watch them the day or the day after they come on. It seems insane that I have been so busy that sitting down and watching tv is actually my relaxing time. Anyway, one of the shows is Rescue Me – I just love that show I have been a Rescue Me addict since last season. It is a really good show. The season finale is Tuesday and I can not wait. The kids need to be in bed and sleep by then. No noise just me and my television. Ahhhh.

The other show I have been watching religiously is Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia. That show is so funny. The actors are so good; it makes you wonder what they are really like outside of the show.

Another FX show I have started to watch is 30 Days, from the same guy that did the Super Size Me movie. In 30 days a person has to live and do things that are so completely unlike them. There has been a show about a Minuteman that lives with an illegal family, another where a pretty normal sales guy gets a life coach, learns yoga, and gets his charkas cleansed. Well, you guys get were I am going with this. I asked JR what my 30 days would be, I think that question is better left for someone else to answer since they know you best. His answer was that my 30 days should be spent with a daredevil. I hate rollercoasters and pretty much anything that takes my feet away from the ground. For JR I though his 30 days would be better spent with a homosexual couple. He would walk away during the romantic scenes in BrokeBack Mountain. I was all like, oh, come on JR, it is a love story, and they are in love, how romantic (even though I thought that the Jake Gyllenhaal’s character was a jerk). He would leave, come back and continue watching when the scene in question was over.

Where or with whom would YOU spend your 30 days? (Ask someone that knows you best and don’t change the answer).