big bird pelt

walking around a craft store is therapeutic for me. so on monday, when i felt like ripping my hair out, i left the office and went to jo-anns. with no real focus, i ambled up & down every craft & fabric aisle. i hung out in the quilting section for awhile - checked out the books, the patterns, the rulers. dug through the corduroy - i do love corduroy. ran my hand along the flannels - nice & fuzzy, just as they should be. rummaged through their purse handles - i still love the orangy-red wooden set they have. compared sizes of straight pins - i think the yellow-headed ones are fatter than the others, but i couldn't make sense of their measuring system. poured over their black & white cottons - i WILL make a black & white quilt someday. and then i go to the remnant piles. and there it was. my little half yard of big bird fur for a simple 75 cents. jackpot.

11. bake something new once a month

jalapeno, lime, coconut sugar cookies. yumm-o.

i took my trusty sugar cookie recipe and modified it using lime juice instead of milk/vanilla and adding some coconut, lime zest and a jalapeno. they were too soft to roll out & cut, although i could have refrigerated them to do it, but they came out beautifully in little scoops. they kinda look like herbed mashed potatos. but they taste like sugar cookies with jalapeno, lime and coconut. the coconut's very subtle - i think i may toast it first next time.

the jalapeno taste becomes more prominent the older the cookies get. as in, i made them sunday & the taste is more prominent today - not as in i've had them sitting around for three weeks.

i wonder how they'd be with one side dipped in dark chocolate. i do like chocolate & jalapeno together.

that makes two baking adventures for february. my march weekends are pretty busy, so i'll have several get-togethers for which to make something new.

try harder

fred just let me know that i'm on a list of people that my high school graduating class can't contact about our upcoming reunion. if i still live at the same place i lived when i graduated high school - how hard could they have tried to find me? and, seriously, 64% of our graduating class is on this list of people they can't find. 64% of us have vanished off the face of the earth ... some of us by never moving at all. *insert twilight zone music here*

21. total body makeover

a couple of questions were asked about bob greene's total body make over. so i started a long rambly comment about the program ... and decided to just turn it into a post instead. lucky you. :)

bob greene actually has several books out there. his most recent is his BestLife Diet - oprah's official diet. i'm not doing that. i don't really know what it entails, though i'm sure his eating rules are similar to what he suggest in the total body make over.

i borrowed bob greene's total body make over book from the library. so if i can return it on time, it won't cost me anything. which is the best price ever and totally worth the money. :) it's a 12-week accelerated program of exercise and nutrition for maximum results in minimum time (the cover of the book says so).

i really think it's a good program. i mean, at the end of week 4 i was down 8-10 pounds and my weight hasn't been yo-yo-ing like it was before i started. when i wrote the end of 27 post, i was down 48 pounds for the year. by the next week my weight had gone up 8-10 pounds, varying by as much as 4 pounds every day. that's frustrating. so the 48 pounds i lost was the lowest number i'd seen on the scale, and i didn't see it again until the beginning of week 4 on the program. and it's stayed stable for the past week. which is kinda impressive since i didn't do the program with any discipline during that week. so there you go - pro #1 for the program, it got me down 8-10 pounds & stabilized my weight. that's a good thing for me. pro #2 for the program, it changed the way my body metabolizes food enough that a week of willy-nilly exercise didn't completely throw me off track. i'm not advocating willy-nilly exercise (what would bob greene think of that?), but it happens. and it's nice i didn't blow the whole thing by doing it.

it does take a lot of dedication. i mean, you're doing cardio exercise 6 days a week. i do mine in the morning before i shower for work (i should be doing it right now, but i decided to check my e-mail first & now i'm posting. see what i mean about discipline?). and sometimes, i do NOT want to get up to do it. but it's been worth it. even without the weight loss, it really does give me more energy during the day (pro #3). and i just feel good for getting up & doing the workout (pro #4). and the point of the intense workout regimine is too boost your body's metabolism. not just because of today's workout, but because working out on this schedule will boost your regular resting metabolism. so your body burns more calories throughout the day because you exercised today, and yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, etc. plus the strength training builds muscle, which burns more calories than fat, so you've got that working for you, too (pro #5).

and his "eating rules" are really simple (pro #6). cut out emotional eating - eat when you're hungry, not when you're stressed (that's hard for me. i eat when i get stressed. or bored. or excited. yeah, i'm a big emotional eater.) stop eating 2-3 hours before you go to bed (i stop 2 hours right now, but i want to step that back to 2.5 soon). drink your 8 glasses of water a day. limit alcohol consumption (he wants you to completely not drink during the 12 weeks, and limit it after that). and eat a nourishing breakfast.

so there you go. i totally recommend checking this book out from your local library. then you can either keep renewing it until the 12 weeks are up - or photocopy the pages you need to keep for the program. he has three levels of work outs to start with & you're choosing your own cardio exercise. i walk in my house to this dvd called walk away the pounds with leslie sansone. she has a lot of videos out, and they're all a little different. the ones i work out with use small hand weights during part of the walk, which is good for my upper arms. she also has some that use an elastic band. and ... well ... she has several sets out & i don't know all the differences. i saw one set that included a cario kickboxing dvd. that sounded fun. but yeah, i'm walking at home right now. once it gets warmer i want to head outside & walk around the track again. plus i want to try a walking/running routine. maybe train for a half marathon or something. wouldn't that be impressive?

the great 28

since my birthday was a month ago, i figure i should post my list of goals for this year.

1. visit 3 places i've never been before. thanks to a great article in the paper this weekend, i think the kokomo opalescent glass factory may be one of those places. i LOVE watching people work with hot glass.

2. lose 40 pounds. this number makes me nervous, but i did it last year & didn't even start trying until june. so i think i can do it.

3. havbe a booth at a local craft fair. april, becca, kathy and i are actually planning two booths. one at the jazz fest in crown point and one at the popcorn festival in valpo.

4. take 2000 photos. this puts me at about 33% more than last year. it equals out to about 166 photos per month. so far i'm at 137, and i usually take less photos during the winter. so that's not bad at all.

5. eat a gallon of mustard in one week. hey, they can't all be serious! i mean, i'm seriously going to try & do it. but yeah, not every goal can attempt to change the world. :)

6. enter 3 items in the county fair. i entered two last year - a quilt (which didn't place & i'm a little bitter) and one of my record bowls (which got a second).

7. finish 3 quilts. i've got one done already. and i'm about halfway done with the squares for a second one.

8. take an art class. i took 2 last year, and they were a lot of fun. i'm stepping it back a little this year because they can be expensive, and i'm also trying to save some money.

9. be able to play Christmas Rhapsody on the piano by Christmas. this song (which i got from joanie and she could always play FABULOUSLY) has always eluded me. so this year i'm going to focus on it starting in march ... and by december i'd better be able to play it. well.

10. be able to play a song on my accordian. i've got an accordian, i should be able to play it. i'm thinking Amazing Grace or Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.

11. bake something new once a month. february was my triple-chocolate peanut butter cookies. and i'm planning the jalapeno coconut lime cookies for this afternoon, too.

12. update my portfolio. it hasn't been touched in close to 2 years. it needs to be updated with some of the stuff i've been doing. my move to marketing has provided me with some good stuff - showing a whole campaign for the paper. besides, if they dilly dally about much longer in replacing folks, well, yeah ... i should just update my portfolio.

13. make my halloween costume. i have some ideas. but you'll have to wait & see.

14. cook dinner once a month. in january i made green pork burritos with cilantro rice & black beans. they were yummy. :) i need to make something in the next few days for february though.

15. redesign my online portfolio. this, obviously, goes along with number 12. once my physical portfolio is revamped i'll carry that over into the virtual one, too.

16. hang out with old friends. this is being accomplished voraciously. i actually crave hanging out with you guys. and i'm so excited for us to start playing bunco once a month! and erin, to come see your house is a fabulous excuse to come see you. i'm so pumped about that. and i'm sending a note to marisa this week, hoping to hang with her soon, too.

17. learn to use my screen printing supplies. i want to make t-shirts! and a kern zip-up. that thing rocked!

18. catch up my thumbnails. no, no, not the ones on my hands. since i switched to digital i've been printing out thumbnail contact sheets of my photos & keeping them in a three-ring binder for easy reference. i'm way behind right now. and got put further behind because the paper i used to print out about 6 months worth of photos turned out to be crap. it printed beautifully, but after a few months the ink got all muddy so now i have to reprint them. i currently have the pages ready to print through august of 2006 - i just need to go buy ink. and i should add that i'm hoping to keep the thumbnails updated, too.

19. read 3 new books. hopefully the first book with be The Aquariums of Pyongyang, because i started it at Thanksgiving & really need to finish it. i'll have to start over, but still i should finish it. and then i need to do the same thing with Catch 22. a really good book that for some reason i just can't finish.

20. eat breakfast at lynn's paradise cafe. this may be accomplished in a couple of weeks. i'm spending the weekend of march 10 in louisville with mel & dan. i miss them so much.

21. finish bob greene's total body makeover. tomorrow starts week 5 of the 12-week program. if you're not familiar - it's cardio workouts 6 times a week, core exercises [think crunches & shoulder rolls] 6 times a week and strength training 3 times a week. i've done really well with it so far. this past week was a little sketchy, but i've been a little sick so i'm blaming it on that. i did my full workout this morning though, and this afternoon i WILL do my strength training, and i'm back on track. i mean, if he thinks he can makeover my body & boost my metabolism in 12 weeks, who am i to not give him that chance? besides, my doctor just upped my thyroid meds again so if i can boost my metabolism naturally & back down on the meds ... that would make me very happy.

22. take a trip by myself. this was originally going to be the drive from portland to san francisco. now i'm looking to not spend that kind of money, so it will probably be something much smaller. but all i need is a great airfare to fort meyers & i'll totally spend a weekend in sanibel.

23. finish the plastic purse. so you know those polybags we deliver your paper in when it's snowy & rainy out? we use a lot of blue ones, sometimes they're clear. anyway, i'm taking those bags & cutting them into 1" rings (approximately. i'm not measuring it at all.) and then looping those rings together & crocheting them into a puse. i'm only using the blue ones, at least for now. i may put a brown stripe in the middle with some wilco bags if i can find brown ones. so if you get your paper in a blue polybag & want to help me reach my goal, save 'em for me. :)

24. files my taxes early. DONE! i had them in the mail the first week of february, and i've already gotten my return deposited. and spent. :) i bought myself a double-ring wire binder yesterday and supplies for putting wire binding in sketch books & calendars. it's part of my plan for the craft fairs. i'll show you the results once i get it. i'm so excited about this purchase that i can't even explain it.

25. work on a scrapbook. i may finish the san francisco book i started, honestly, at least 7 years ago. or i may work on one for the california road trip last summer. i'm not a big scrapbooker ... but i like the freedom to design with my photos. some of those california photos should be seen larger than 4"x6" in a photo album.

26. send Christmas cards. no pressure for them to be handmade, but i want to send out cards.

27. homemade Christmas presents. this is just a space filler, really. i know i'll make the Christmas presents. i even have a little bit of an idea of what they'll all be. but there's nothing wrong with setting a goal i KNOW i'll achieve, right? :)

28. secret. this one is fabulously exciting, but i can't tell you about it. yet.

the red wall

this looks really orange on my screen, but the wall's a beautiful deep red now. the color towards the center of the wall shows the deepness better - the left side of the wall is bouncing my flash so it looks too bright. so basically, this photo isn't realistic. if you want to see the real thing, you'll just have to come see it in person.

running down the battery

i like to run my camera battery completely dead before i recharge it. normally that means just leaving the camera on, but this time i decided to just keep taking pictures - mostly with the flash on to speed up the process. here are the results.


stan & pete hanging out together. you can see pete's nubs better in this photo. also well illustrated is stan's patience with pete's silly antics.


here's a fuzzy one attempting to show off more of my hair color. the red highlights are completely throughout. i still love them, even if marji called them punk and clint asked if i did it because of valentine's day.


me modeling my newest necklace. i made it to go with this fabulous new chartreuse top i bought. of course, i'm not wearing that shirt because it was in the laundry. but trust me, it's fabulous. it has little cap sleeves (so unlike me, i know) and some pleating in the back with a little sash. scoop neck, lots of little buttons down the front. shimmery all over. looks great with my white tank & postively dashing under my brown corduroy jacket. it will be worn for our first bunco night.


i recently read about this gal who throws her camera to take photos. the results are quite fun, but i'm not about to throw my camera. so i played with the zoom instead. i set the exposure for 6 seconds & used the flash. i started with my lense set at 80mm, and once the flash fired i opened it up 28mm. it was fun. and it took some experimentation to get the exposure time correct so the whole image wasn't just white ... so it helped run out the battery pretty quick.

i also shot some photos of a quilting project i'm working on, but those can't be shared yet. i just like to mention them to make people curious. :)

meet pete

since the last guy was voted stan (with one vote for frank), this is definitely pete. though you can't see them in the photo, pete has li'l black nubs on his head where his horns haven't quite grown in yet.

send me these flowers

one of my answers to one of the surveys i took recently was that i love little surprises. and while getting flowers sounds nice enough, i've never wanted flowers like i want these flowers. seriously, send these to my office, maybe have a bag of chocolate-covered gummy bears delivered with them, and i'm yours. they're fabulous.

i'm working on cleaning out my e-mail. so there may be more random posts today.

100 ?'s about me

i'm starting this without reading all the questions first. so we'll see how this goes. and i made up #8 because there was no question there.

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? closed.

2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? no. although holiday inn expresses have FABULOUS shampoos/conditioners. they're all pepperminty.

3. Have you ever 'done it' in a hotel room? i've tried dying someone's goatee blue in a hotel room.

4. Have you ever stolen a street sign before? no.

5. Do you like to use post-it notes? i like to buy post-it notes. and i'll use them sometimes. but i enjoying the buying more than the using. and i really get annoyed when people write me notes on them & stick them to my monitor at work. i mean, i have an inbox.

6. Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? yes.

7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? swarm of bees, i guess. i think i'd have a better chance of surviving that.

8. What song was stuck in your head today? i will survive by gloria gaynor.

9. Do you always smile for pictures? pretty much, yeah. i mean, if i'm going to be in a picture i might as well do everything i can to make it decent. i'm not a fan of pictures of myself. of course, then there's a photo on jody's blog. i didn't smile for that one, but i did pose.

10. What is your biggest pet peeve? people putting post-it notes on my monitor at work. oh, and people putting things on my chair instead of in my inbox. that drives me bonkers.

11. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? tucked in.

12. Do you ever count your steps when you walk? yes. i do it a lot without realizing it. i also count the number of times i chew my food - trying to keep each bite even with the one before. i count the buzzes of the alarm clock as i walk to turn it off. i count stairs as i go up & down. sometimes i even count the seconds as i pee. i also type in my head, but that's a different story.

13. Have you ever peed in the woods? not that i recall. but we did camp a lot when i was younger - so maybe.

14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing? sometimes you just gotta twist & shout.

15. Do you chew your pens and pencils? no.

16. How many people have you slept with this week? none.

17. Do you like popcorn from those big tins? ugh, no.

18. What is your "Song of the week"? gotta be by des'ree.

19. Is it okay for guys to wear pink? sometimes.

20. Do you still watch cartoons? no.

21. What's your favorite scary movie? halloween h20. fred and i saw it together at the theater. she needed to pee, but was too freaked out by the movie. i told her something along the lines of "amanda! this killer's a little busy right now! go to the bathroom!"

22. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? if it's a hidden treasure why do i need to bury it?

23. What do you drink with dinner? water. although i've had dr. pepper twice in the past week. very strange.

24. What do you dip a chicken nugget in? spicy mustard. or honey mustard. or bbq. or hot sauce & ranch. i'm an equal opportunity dipper.

25. What is your favorite food/ cuisine? pizza. i mean, you can do so much with a crust.

26. What movies could you watch over and over and still love? empire records. benny & joon. animal farm.

27. Last person you kissed/kissed you? alicia, maybe? i don't know.

28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout? i'm still a boy scout. i look at 'em everywhere i go.

29. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? probably note.

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? i sent a card with kim's quilt.

31. Can you change the oil on a car? i've never tried, but that doesn't mean i can't.

32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket? nope.

33. Ran out of gas? once, in high school. although it wasn't completely out - our driveway is just on enough of a hill that all the gas was on the wrong end of the tank.

34. Favorite kind of sandwich? jimmy john's billy club.

35. Best thing to eat for breakfast? maple & brown sugar oatmeal. oh! or biscuits & gravy. yeah, homemade biscuits & gravy. or maybe monkey bread. or those sausage muffins my mom makes. and i do like a good ham & cheese omlette. and american fries. mmm. or the buffet at a country kitchen? good stuff there. okay, i like breakfast. leave me alone.

36. What is your usual bedtime? 10-11, usually. i need to make it more like 9:30-10.

37. Are you lazy? sometimes.

38. When you were a kid what did you dress up as for halloween? i was a ballerina one year. i think that was the same year my brother went as a computer.

40. How many languages can you speak? one, but i can mumble some french, too.

41. Do you have any magazine subscriptions? mental_floss.

42..Which are better legos or lincoln logs? LEGOS!

43. Are you stubborn? yes.

44. Who is better...Leno or Letterman? letterman.

45. Ever watch soap operas? at least 3 days a week at lunch. or at least, we listen to it in the background.

46. Afraid of heights? i get a little timid, but i like the adrenaline rush.

47. Sing in the car? all the time.

48. Dance in the shower? no.

49. Dance in the car? no.

50. Ever used a gun? once out at amanda's.

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? my brother's wedding, i suppose.

52. Are musicals cheesy? yes, but i do like some of them.

53. Is Christmas stressful? sometimes.

54. Ever eat a pierogie? once or twice. they're pretty good.

55. Favorite type of fruit pie? cherry!

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? veterinarian.

57. Do you believe in ghosts? i don't think so. but i like reading about people who do.

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? yes.

59. Take a vitamin daily? no.

60. Wear slippers? usually when i'm downstairs. no carpet = cold feet.

61. Wear a bath robe? nope.

62. What do you wear to bed? 'jamas.

64. Wal-Mart, Target or K-Mart? target.

65. Nike or Adidas? adidas, but i usually wear reebok.

66.Cheetos Or Fritos? fritos.

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? honey-roasted peanuts.

68.Ever hear of, "gorp"? no.

69. Ever take dance lessons? no.

70.Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? not really.

71. Can you curl your tongue? yes.

72. Ever won a spelling bee? i don't remember if i won or not, but i knocked out a couple of kids because i knew there were two words "edition" and "addition" that sounded the same, but had different spellings. they only knew "addition", and the judge wanted us to spell "edition".

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy? yes.

74. Own any record albums? i don't think so.

75. Own a record player? nope.

76. Regularly burn incense? no, but i used to.

77.Ever been in love? yes.

78.Who would you like to see in concert? i'm not a big concert person anymore.

79. What was your last concert you saw? switchfoot, two summers ago.

80.Hot tea or cold tea? neither. yuck.

81.Tea or coffee? neither, yuck.

82.Favorite kind of cookie? soft-baked chocolate chip.

83.Can you swim well? i used to be able to. i haven't tested it recently, but i'm guessing i'd still manage to not drown.

84.Can you hold your breath w/o manually holding your nose? in general, yes. i mean, i'm holidng it right now without manually holding my nose. but if i was in a pool, i'd be coughing up water.

85.Are you patient? not as much as i should be.

86.DJ or band, at a wedding? band.

87.Ever won a contest? yes.

88.Ever have plastic surgery? no.

89.Which are better black or green olives? green.

90.Can you knit or crochet? i can crochet. and i can use a knifty knitter.

91.Best room for a fireplace? family room.

92. Do you want to get married? last night on er the comment was made "she's a woman - we're ALL the marrying type." i'm currently happy being not married. i'm looking to experience life without a husband right now. but yes, i'd like to be married in the future. when i find someone will to "put up with me" all the time. :)

93.If married, how long have you been married? -

94. Who was your HS crush? george. curt. brett. jason. it was highschool, who didn't have more than one crush?

95. Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? no.

96. Do you have kids? no.

97. Do you want kids? no where near as much as i wanted to five years ago. right now i think i don't want any. but i know that could just be because i'm no where near having one. if i have one, i'm sure i'll love being a mom.

98. Whats your favorite color? green.

99. Do you miss anyone right now? yes. :)

100. Who do you wanna see right now? harry connick, jr. i mean, if he just showed up out of no where ... that'd be pretty cool.

meet stan ... or pete?

picture perfect?

the last thing i should be doing in the morning in blogging. i mean, really - go get ready for work, right? but i had to share this photo with you.

this is the current view from my front door. now, those of you who have spent time here may notice it right away, but for those of you who don't see the point of this photo ... do you see the big, ugly water tower? that's not supposed to be there. not only is the monastery golf course becoming a subdivision (which i'm not totally against. but i do wish they'd put affordable homes there for single folk like myself) but they're putting in a water tower. a huge water tower. that sits directly in the center of view from my front door. because, yes ... i'm just that lucky.

erin's add ons

what are your comfort foods? warm brownies. warm chocolate chip cookies.

What are those foods that your mom used to make you that you grew up with that she thought you really liked but you really hated... and maybe didn't have the heart to tell her? my mom's a phenomenal cook and was always really great about not making stuff we didn't like.

Do you like to eat at buffet places? not usually. but there's this italian buffet in denver, cinzetti's, that's the exception. it was FABULOUS.

would you rather eat out every day at a fast food place or go once a year to a really fancy place? once a year to a really fancy place.

could you be a vegetarian? can chicken be a vegetable?

did you ever 'raise your own___' (cow, pig, chickens...) and then enjoyed eating it? nope.

do trans fats concern you? ehh. not so much that i'm going to stop eating hamburgers. enough that i think it's silly to fry potato chips in cow fat.

my survey

before & after.
1. before my next birthday, i ... should really post my list of 28 goals for the year.

2. before i turn 35, i ... want to have driven the entire pacific coast.

3. before i die, i ... hope i know i'm dying. i want the opportunity to really experience the time i have left by knowing i only have so much time left.

4. after highschool, i ... lost touch with some really fantastic people.

5. after getting married, i ... hope to honeymoon along the ocean.

6. after a long day at work, i ... sing loudly in my car.


you just won 5 million dollars.
7. do you tell everyone you know or keep it quiet? keep it quiet. i wouldn't know how to talk about it without flaunting it, and i certainly wouldn't want to make money-friends.

8. who's the first person you call? my mom.

9. what's the first thing you buy? a new digital camera.

10. what's the first bill you pay? my college loans.

11. do you keep your job? for awhile. i'd look at going down to part-time, maybe freelance or contract work.

12. do you make any other major lifestyle changes? i'd buy some artsy loft in san francisco. spend as much time there as i could.


would you rather ...
13. read someone else's blog or post to your own? read someone else's.

14. read the book or watch the movie? watch the movie, usually. i do like reading ... but watching movies requires a lot less discipline.

15. be 9 years old or 16 years old again? i think i'd be 16. we had a lot of fun when we were 16. i don't really remember much about being 9.

16. drink wine or beer? i don't drink either. but i think i'm more of a wine person. it sounds sophisticated ... i like to make people think i'm sophisticated.

17. go out to eat or eat at home? eat at home.

18. surprise someone or be surprised? be surprised! i do really enjoy surprising people, but i love being surprised.


who's the person ...
19. you crushed on the most in highschool? george, i think.

20. who first asked you out? nick. to homecoming our sophomore year.

21. you first turned down for a date? nick. to homecoming our sophomore year.

22. you wish lived next door? malissa beamer.

23. who was your first rebellious friend? adrienne. we hung out a lot in eighth grade. she knew all about sex and drinking and drugs. not that she did any of it necessarily, but she could talk about it like she did. she was a transplant - came to the school from somewhere west of here. it added to her appeal. she hadn't known me since i was 5, so i could pretend to be wile when i was with her.

24. you wish you were more like? marlana. she's inspiringly independent.


what one thing ...
25. would you change about your childhood? i would remember more of it. i've got a steel trap in my head for random information, but i can't remember more than six occasions in my life before i turned 12.

26. would you change about your job? i'd bring april into the department.

27. would you never change about yourself? my craftiness.

28. would you change about your spouse? i don't have a spouse. again, everyone say "awww!"

29. would you snack on any time of the day? chili cheese fritos!

30. would you never wear in public? the little silver dress i tried on with jessica at the club clothes store in san francisco.

amanda's survey

1. Where is your favorite place in the world? san francisco bay

2. Have you ever gotten into a car accident that was your fault? no. one was weather & dumb-guy-in-front-of-me related and the other was just weather related. thankfully in the second one i didn't total the car. my mom & i were on our way out of town heading to colorado.

3. Have you ever flirted your way out of a ticket? nope. i've never been ticketed. pulled over for speeding once, for going the wrong way on a one-way street once, for "veering off the road" once. but never ticketed.

4. Have you ever lead someone on (male or female, doesn't have to be a sexual reason) just for the fun of it? YEAH! this is a fun sport for me.

5. What is your all time favorite movie? benny & joon.

6. What is a movie you absolutely can't stand? titanic. i've never seen it, but i hate it simply for assuming i should like it.

7. Have you had a sex dream recently? no. although i did have a completely non-sexual dream about erin last night. although i don't remember much about it other than that it wasn't sexual. that was interesting to bring up, eh?

8. Do you own Lingerie other than a bra and panties? nope.

9. What is the one thing that will make you all warm and gooey inside? hot brownies! :) any thoughtful/romantic surprise, actually. seriously, if a guy wanted to make my day & have me fall all over him - all he'd have to do is catch me off guard with some simple happiness.

10. Have you ever smoked? no.

11. Do you or you and your spouse make enough money that you are comfortable with what you have? i think i make enough to be comfortable.

12. Is there anyone in your life that you absolutely cannot stand to be around? yes.

13. Who was your first love? joe. i mean, i have this thing about highschool crushes. were they ever really about love? probably not. at the time i thought i was in love with those guys, sure. but i don't think it could really have been love if there was never a relationship to test it.

14. Do you think you have met your soul mate? Who is it? no, i don't think so. i hope not at least. although if i have, and i just don't know he's my soul mate, that will make a nice surprise someday. :)

15. Do you ever look at porn on the Internet? no.

16. When was the last time you made something from scratch? a few weeks ago when i made my triple chocolate peanutbutter cookies.

17. Are you content in your job? yes.

18. What kind of goals and dreams do you have? i want to be independent. i want to have a cute little house, with a cute little yard and a fish tank. beyond that i dream about being a professional crafter, owning my own business and having a little storefront from which to run a local artist co-op.

19. What is your favorite kind of cake and icing? flourless chocolate cake with chocolate ganache glaze. i'm not a big cake fan ... i don't like dry cakes at all. so the moister, the better.

20. What is your favorite restaurant? on a daily basis - chili's. on a boy-i-want-a-vacation basis - the island cow on sanibel island.

bethany's survey

1. Are you Happy? (In life?) on a daily basis i'm a happy person. but if i think about the whole picture, i can find areas of malcontent. there are definitely things i'd like to change.

2. If you HAD to change one thing about you what would it be? the backs of my upper arms. they're all red & bumpy.

3. If any of you were to have Another/or have a Child what would you name them Boy? Girl? my boy would be terryn scott. my girl would be rajna monet. that said, i'm pretty comfortable not having any kids.

4. Do you like longer middle names or shorter middle names? usually shorter.

5. Name one thing you are not proud of in life? my self-centeredness.

6. Name one thing you are very proud of? losing weight this past year.

7. If you could have one person back in your life who would it be? my grandma tussey.

8. Do you have any friends you don't really like you just don't know how to tell them? not anymore. but i definitely did in high school.


Ok let's talk fashion
9. Favorite Designer? sabrina ward harrison. but she doesn't design clothes anymore.

10. If you could own any designer handbag, what would it be? it would be a 'becca. but first i need to become famous so my handbags can be designer items.

11. Where do you shop most for Clothes? lane bryant.

12. Do you think that if you only wear name brand you are stuck up? i would probably be wary of your personality.

13. Are you a bargin shopper? yes.

14. Favorite store? lane bryant.

15. Favorite perfume? i don't wear perfume much.


16. Favorite Candle scent? vanilla. i used to hate it, but now it just smells light & refreshing.

17. Dream Car/SUV/Truck? 2007 ford mustang convertible in legend lime.

18. If you could live anywhere in the USA where would it be? san francisco

19. If you had to choose being VERY rich or happy what would you choose? happy.

20. Love or Money? love.

21. How much is the most you would spend on a pair of jeans? i'd probably spend a chunk of change if it was the only way to get a pair of jeans that fit. right now i spend around $40.

22. Pair of shoes? everyday shoes - $30. athletic shoes - $75.

23. Handbag? $25, maybe.

24. What spa services do you enjoy? none. people touching me creeps me out.

25. Do you dye your hair and if so do you do it or get it done? my current 'do was done professionally. i have dyed my own hair lots of times in the past.

jody's survey

1. Who is your Mulligan? joe. and not just by default.

2. Have you ever asked a guy out? yes. i can remember asking john to the sadie hawkin's dance my senior year. he said no.

3. Have you ever threatened to walk out of a relationship? i don't think so.

4. Who would people say is more popular – you or your significant other? i don't have signigificant other (everyone say "awww!") but i'm attracted both to people who are insanely more popular than i am and to people who are a whole lot quieter than i am. so it's a toss up how that one will end up.

5. What is one thing you kept from a previous relationship that your spouse doesn’t know about; or what’s the one thing you will never get rid of from a past relationship? i don't see myself throwing out the red long-sleeve t-shirt anytime soon. it's from the acapella tour he was on when we first met. and the LEGOS! joe bought me this huge box of blue legos for Christmas one year. those will not be gotten rid of.

6. Do you still think or talk to past loves? yes to both. joe & i have gone through a couple of waves of talking & not talking. but right now we're talking, and i think it's really good. i still find myself trusting him and able to talk to him about things.


7. What’s your decorating style? i would love to have my own place & find that out! i like modern stuff. clean lines. organic shapes. browns. lots of browns. and reds. and greens. earth tones, i suppose. :)

8. How is your bedroom decorated? currently the walls are green, but i don't like it nearly as much as i thought i would. i do plan to love my bed quilt once i make it. it will be patchwork greens & browns.

9. Do you subscribe to any magazines? If so, which one(s): mental_floss. i LOVE it. it's full of these little tidbits of knowledge that i'd never hear about otherwise. i mean, did you know penguins are highly flammable? i didn't either!

10. If you could spend $1,000 at any store, which would it be? jo-ann's.

11. Do you prefer to get 1 big gift or lots of little gifts? lots of little gifts. or a few little gifts and one large gift.


12. Have you ever read through the whole Bible? no. i always wanted to, but i've never been able to do it.

13. Do you do devotions? no. again, it's something i always felt i really should do, but i've always struggled with it.

14. Do you go to church regularly? no. i've bounced from church to church since high school. and i just don't feel comfortable anywhere. i started getting involved at lansing bible - i worked with the youth group for awhile, blah, blah, blah. but i don't like being involved. i don't like seeing the politics and the human garbage that goes on. i mean, i know everyone's human, and i don't expect church folks to be perfect. i really don't. but it scares me to get attached.

15. If so why or why not? sorry, i already answered that on number 14. :)


16. I would rather have a sweet potato than a white potato.


17. This summer I will… start a walking/running routine.

18. I get bummed out when… plans fall through.

19. A guy turned me down when… i asked him to the sadie hawkin's dance. :)

20. The first time i felt old was… when i heard eric anderson was getting married. carrie graduating from high school didn't make me feel too young, either.

21. You can win my heart by… making me laugh and being sincere.

22. My future is... so much of a mystery to me.


23. Have you ever watched a dog show? not the whole thing. i like the dogs, but the people running around all dolled up creep me out.

24. Name one thing you can’t seem to stop doing. mismatching my socks.

25. Where’s your favorite place to go when you want to be alone? my car. i like to drive.


26. Do you tweeze or wax your brows? tweeze.

27. Do you wear baseball caps? no, but i used to really like how i looked wearing a visor. mcdonald's logo notwithstanding.

28. Describe your weekend wardrobe. comfy pants & t-shirts. this saturday will include paint clothes. yay!


29. How long is your commute to work? about 30 minutes.

30. How did you get your job? i'm a bit baffled at how i got my current position. but the basics are i applied, didn't take a portfolio to the interview, didn't do the "test designs" i was asked to do, and got the position anyway. i think it worked my advantage that my hiring boss and i had been working on a huge project together, so she knew my work and a bit of my personality.

31. Do you call in sick a lot? no. i feel really guilty calling in sick - even when i'm actually sick.

32. Do you see yourself there in 5 years? i don't know. i didn't plan to be there for more than a year to begin with. i'm at 5.5 years now. i don't feel an immediate urge to leave. but, as i told marlana, i think this might be a good time to start looking again. since i like what i'm doing now i won't be tempted to say yes to the first offer that presents itself. i would hold out for something that i would really, really want. that said, my portfolio hasn't been updated in probably 2.5 years and i've got no plans to polish up my resume.


33. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? nope.

34. What’s your secret shame? Do you even have one? i think i covered this in another e-mail. :)

35. Would you marry outside of your race? i don't know. i'm kinda glad i've never been in a situation where i've really been faced with that decision. i want to say yes, i would.

36. Do you believe in fate or is it all just a coincidence? fate. i think things are mapped out & what appears to be coincidence is just mapped out to give us little surprises & happinesses along the way.

37. Do you prefer Simpsons or the Family Guy? family guy.

38. When going on vacation would you rather Fly or Drive? depends on the vacation. usually fly because i want to spend a lot of time at my destination. but i do like to drive, and driving can be half the journey.

39. Do you prefer to keep in touch with friends via email, phone, text messages or in person? in person. and then e-mail. i don't like phones.

40. On your next vacation, would you rathe go to Paris, Rome or London? And why? paris. i've always wanted to go to paris.

erin's survey

Finish This sentence:

1. Maybe I should… make more of an effort to keep in touch with people.

2. I Love… feeling comfortable with people.

3. People would say that I’m… sassy with my new 'do.

4. I don’t understand… why i love doing these surveys so much!

5. I Lost… a lot of "best friends" along the way to being where i am now.

6. My Past is… a source of much pondering for me.

7. I get annoyed when… i feel i'm being taken advantage of.

8. I wish… i could speak up for myself more.

9. I have a low tolerance for… crabby people.

10. I’m totally Terrified of… the guy who tried grabbing us off our bikes in 8th grade.



Your Shower Practices

1. Do you shower in the Morning or Evening? morning. otherwise my hair gets way too greasy.

2. Do you use liquid or bar soap? What kind? liquid. i think it's aveeno moisturizing right now.

3. What kind of Shampoo / Conditioner do you use? broccato, i think. it's supposed to protect colored hair.

4. Do you sing in the shower? no, which is strange given how much i sing in the car.

5. Does your shower have a curtain or a door? door.

6. Have you ever showered with a member of the opposite sex? nope.

7. Have you ever worn a shower cap? not in the shower, but possibly just being silly.

8. What is one thing you’d change about your shower? i'd make it a big, tiled walk-in.

9. What is something that would make your shower better for you? a towel warmer.

10. What is the most important part of your shower that you CAN NOT go without? washing my hair. did i mention greasy?



Your First Time

1. That you consumed alcohol… where and when? i've never consumed alcohol as a beverage. i've had some beer chili and laure made a dessert with bailey's in it, but that's all i know of. maybe some marsala in a chicken marsala?

2. Were Kissed? Where and who? non-participatory - george at mark & tammy's. participatory - joe at the hotel in york.

3. Smoked a cigarette? never.

4. Lost someone close to you? my grandpa hittle. i was in fifth grade.

5. Broke a bone? never.

6. Went to a concert? Who and when? i think the john schlitt concert at cbc was my first. was i in 8th grade, maybe?

7. Dyed your hair? What color? high school, i think. probably burgandy. in college i bleached the front & dyed it pink, green and blue.

8. Got a credit card? right out of high school - discover.

9. Realized you were changing from what you were in high school? i don't know. i can't point to one specific moment when it suddenly hit me i'm a different person. i think part of that is because i'm not completely sure what's different about me, yet.

10. Learned what you REALLY wanted to be when you ‘grew up’? i still don't know. right now i think i want to be a professional crafter.



Your Secrets

1. What is something in your wallet that we’d be surprised you have? my wallet's pretty clean. just the necessary identification & some cash.

2. What is under your bed that should find another home? the dust bunnies. :)

3. What would shock us in your underwear drawer? let's see, i've got some AA batteries and a pedometer ... are either of those shocking?

4. What is in the trunk of your car? nothing, i don't think.

5. What is in your desk that probably shouldn’t be? i'm thinking the digital camera maybe wasn't supposed to come with the desk. but i keep it there just in case.

6. What do you wait until no one is around to do? slip feminine hygiene products into my socks so i don't have to carry my purse to the bathroom. i knew wearing knee-high socks would come in handy!

7. What would you be embarrassed of if someone looked on your computer? currently, nothing i don't think. i mean, they may ruin a Christmas surprise or two, but that wouldn't be embarassing. i used to have some things a certain fellow wrote for me on my computer. those would have been embarrasing.

8. Who was your first ‘real’ crush that was unrequited? i'm defining a "real" crush as being one that was more than just having a crush on someone just to say you had a crush on someone. you know how high school crushes could just be choosing someone new to say you liked? well, first guy i had a crush on because i really LIKED him - greg.

9. What did you think would never change in life that changed? my parents' living room walls. they're in the process of becoming very not white anymore. :)

10. ok, blow us away with something secret… you can do it… lets get intimate, baby! alright, we've all said we're just e-mailing this to each other. so i'll go along with that. :)

survey circle: 'becca

alright ... i'm looking at erin's & jody's while i do this, so hopefully i won't repeat any questions.

before & after.
1. before my next birthday, i ...
2. before i turn 35, i ...
3. before i die, i ...
4. after highschool, i ...
5. after getting married, i ...
6. after a long day at work, i ...

you just won 5 million dollars.
7. do you tell everyone you know or keep it quiet?
8. who's the first person you call?
9. what's the first thing you buy?
10. what's the first bill you pay?
11. do you keep your job?
12. do you make any other major lifestyle changes?

would you rather ...
13. read someone else's blog or post to your own?
14. read the book or watch the movie?
15. be 9 years old or 16 years old again?
16. drink wine or beer?
17. go out to eat or eat at home?
18. surprise someone or be surprised?

who's the person ...
19. you crushed on the most in highschool?
20. who first asked you out?
21. you first turned down for a date?
22. you wish lived next door?
23. who was your first rebellious friend?
24. you wish you were more like?

what one thing ...
25. would you change about your childhood?
26. would you change about your job?
27. would you never change about yourself?
28. would you change about your spouse?
29. would you snack on any time of the day?
30. would you never wear in public?

i'm stopping at 30 for now. if i come up with 10 more tomorrow, i'll post 'em.

keep yourself entertained

cleaning out the inbox... things that may humor you:

catch 33: you don't have to click the numbers, just pass your mouse over then in sequential order. my best is 45 seconds.

smart or stoopid?: i'm hesitant to put too much stock in a test that actually names itself "stoopid", but hey. my score was a 21 & apparently that makes me smart.


become an m&m.

orisinal: li'l games with adorable li'l graphics.

sony bravia ball commercial: this is the standard 60 second spot, high res. other versions are listed here.

sony bravia paint commercial: several viewing options available.

the one with all the fours

i'm cleaning out my inbox & gussying myself up for the survey circle. what survey circle? a few of us are all going to create our own surveys, because we're addicted to them & generally survey-nerdy like that. and then we all have to fill out each other's suveys. and we're going to enjoy ourselves doing it. so expect to see lots of surveys here next week. and you should join us. this will be fun.

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. graphic designer
2. graphic design team leader
3. camp counselor
4. large-garbage taker outer

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. benny & joon
2. empire records
3. school of rock
4. nation lampoon's christmas vacation

Four Places you have lived:
1. at home
2. at home
3. at home
4. at home

Four TV shows you like to watch:
1. friends
2. ER
3. without a trace
4. m*a*s*h

List four places you have been on vacation:
1. california
2. colorado
3. sanibel island
4. new york city

Four of my favorite foods:
1 pizza
2. salad
3. bennigan's blue cheese chips
4. pasta

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. highway 1
2. highway 101
3. san francisco bay
4. island cow

meet franklin

i'm not sure why his name is franklin, and i'm not sure of his story yet, but isn't he the cutest li'l three-eyed octopus you ever did see? those of you who see me on a regular basis might think his body material looks familiar. it used to be the pink button-down shirt i wore to work on wednesday. i decided it looked better on franklin than it did on me. :)

i want to make more octopus monsters! i think i want some with stubby legs. stubby legs made of orange fur. with little claws on the end. yeah.

before & after

i'm totally digging the color, but i'm not sold on the cut yet. i like it, but when i see it side-by-side with my old cut ... i think i like the old cut better. i'll play with it tomorrow & see what happens. it may just be that it's new & shorter than i've had my hair in a very long time. like probably 20 years. at least. but i'm totally digging the color.

friend survey

1. Who did you last get angry with? the gal at work who doesn't LISTEN when i talk to her.

2. What is your weapon of choice? sarcasm.

3. Would you hit a member of the opposite sex? yes.

4. How about of the same sex? i'd be less likely.

5. Who was the last person who got angry at you? probably the gal at work who doesn't LISTEN when i talk to her. i made the mistake of trying to explain that i had already found what she was looking for & had showed it to her but she wasn't LISTENING enough to realize that so instead she made the whole process harder on both of us.

6. What is your pet peeve? not LISTENING. having no concept of the work involved to get something accomplished. no respect for my time. (can you tell yesterday was a doozie at work?)

7. Do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily? i'm usually pretty good at letting them go. but sometimes i suddenly realize i'm holding a grudge i didn't even know i had.

SLOTH
1. What is one thing you're supposed to do daily that you haven't? doing laundry. i've been wearing 2-day bras all week.

2. What is the latest you've ever woken up? i don't think i've made it past noon:thirty in quite a long time.

3. Name a person you've been meaning to contact, but haven't? i wish i had an e-mail address for marisa.

4. What is the last lame excuse you made? but i don't have an e-mail address for marisa.

5. Have you ever watched an infomercial all the way through? i don't think so.

6. When was the last time you got in a good workout? yesterday morning. this morning i'm procrastinating by taking this survey. :)

7. How many times did you snooze your alarm clock today? once.

GLUTTONY
1. What is your overpriced beverage of choice? jamba juice's berry lime sublime. although it's only about $4 - it costs more than the water i always order at restaurants.

2. Meat eaters: white meat or dark meat? white.

3. What is the greatest amount of alcohol you've had in one night? who says i drink at night? i think the most alcohol i've had was at a work lunch. man, that beer chili was nasty.

4. Have you ever used a professional diet company? no, although i did try these diet pills once. i creeped me out though when we couldn't find any info on the company after we started taking them. i mean, it was like they fell off the face of the planet. so we stopped taking 'em. probably safer that way.

5. Do you have an issue with your weight? yes, i think it's too stubborn & really just needs to let go.

6. Do you prefer sweets, salty foods, or spicy foods? if i could only have one, salty foods. but i do love the balance of sweet and then salty.

7. Have you ever looked at a small house pet and thought "lunch"? not seriously. i mean, seeing a cat does call for a good taco joke. but that's different.

LUST
1. How many people have you seen naked? probably 35. before you freak out, should i mention high school gym class?

2. Have you ever kissed someone whose name you didn't know? no.

3. Have you ever caught yourself staring at someone? yes.

4. Have you "done it"? i think the person who wrote this survey was quite young. i mean, they used quotes around "done it" and everything. but, no.

5. What is your favorite body part on a person of the opposite gender? hands.

6. Have you ever been propositioned by a prostitute? no.

7. Have you ever had to get tested for an STD or pregnancy? yes.

GREED
1. How many credit cards do you own? one. possibly two. i thought i cancelled the one, but i got a statement recently.

2. What's your money spending store? jo-anns.

3. If you had $10 million, what would you do with it? pay off my student loans. give a lot to my family. buy a bed & breakfast? rent a storefront & attempt to become a professional crafter? perhaps i would be a professional crafter who owned a bed & breakfast. i could sell my wares out of the living room off the lobby. yes. then we'd be a destination for folks looking to sleep and folks looking to shop.

4. Would you rather be rich, or famous? rich.

5. Would you accept a boring job if it meant you would make megabucks? yes.

6. Have you ever stolen anything? i still have jessica's black zip-up hoodie from mel & dan's wedding.

PRIDE
1. What's one thing you have done that you're most proud of? my solo road trip to california last summer.

2. Whats one thing have you done that your parents are most proud of? i don't know ... mom, what one thing are you most proud of me having done?

3. What things would you like to accomplish in your life? i'd like to try having my own storefront & being a professional crafter. i'd like to be financially independent - owning a cute little house with a duckpickle patch. i'd like to loose more weight - get to the point where i'm comfortable with how i look & feel healthy.

4. Do you get annoyed by coming in second place? usually, yes.

5. Have you ever entered a contest knowing you would win? i've definitely entered contests thinking i would win & been quite wrong.

6. What did you do today that you're proud of? i just got up about 45 minutes ago ... so let's go with, i slept in!

ENVY
1. What item does your friend have that you want? the ability to work part-time.

2.

3. If you could be anyone else in the world, who would you be? i don't know. i mean, i kinda like being me - i know me pretty well.

4. Have you ever been cheated on? i don't know, and i'm not willing to ask because i like thinking the answer is no.

5. Have you ever wished you had a different physical feature? yes.

6. What trait in others do you wish you had for yourself? self-confidence.

7. Do you wish you'd come up with this survey? no. but maybe the person who did come up with this survey should have put this question under the "pride" category.

the surveys say ...

Your Birthdate: January 24
You understand people well and are a natural born therapist. A peacemaker, people always seem to get along when you are around. You tend to be a father or mother figure to friends, even to those older than you. You enjoy your role, and you find that you are close to many people.


Your strength: Your devotion
Your weakness: Reliance on others for happiness
Your power color: Lilac
Your power symbol: Heart
Your power month: June

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

------------------------

The True You
You want your boyfriend to be together with you always, no matter when or where. With respect to money, you spend as little as possible. You think good luck doesn't exist - reality is built on practicalities. The hidden side of your personality tends to be satisfied to care for things with a minimal amount of effort. You have a tendency to overdo things, but basically you value your friendships highly. When it comes to finding a romantic partner, you don't have any particular type in mind, but you are inclined to look for someone who will say yes when you ask him out.

Who's The True You?

------------------------

You Belong in Fall
Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times...You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings. Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you.

What Season Are You?

------------------------

Your 80s Theme Song Is:
Beat It by Michael Jackson

What's Your 80s Theme Song?

survey

1. What time did you get up this morning? my alarm started going off around 5:30. i got up around 6.

2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? little miss sunshine.

4. What is your favorite TV show? ER - which is the only current tv show i watch regularly.

5. What did you have for breakfast? oatmeal & a muffin with peanutbutter.

6. What is your middle name? renee.

7. What is your favorite cuisine? italian.

8. What foods do you dislike? beef roasts. brussel sprouts.

9. What are your favorite chips? chili-cheese fritos.

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? out of eden's hymns or nelly furtado's folklore.

11. What kind of car do you drive? impala.

12. Favorite sandwich? jimmy john's billy club unwich.

13. What are characteristics you can't stand? manipulative and conniving.

14. What are your favorite clothes? jeans and my brown corduroy jacket.

15. If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would it be? san francisco.

16. Favorite brand of clothing? i own a lot of fashion bug, does that count?

17. Where would you want to retire? san francisco.

18. Favorite time of day? climbing into bed.

19. Where were you born? st. maggie's.

20. Where have you lived? at home.

21. What is your favorite sport to watch? table tennis. poker. billiards.

22. Who do you think will not send this back? i doubt anyone will copy this.

23. Person you expect to send it back first? again, i doubt anyone will copy this.

24. Coke or Pepsi? pepsi.

25. Beavers or ducks? ducks.

26. Are you a morning person or a night owl? night owl.

27. Pedicure or manicure? manicure. people touching my feet creaps me out.

28. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone? i got my books today for the next road trip!

29. What did you want to be when you were little? veterinarian.

30. What is your best childhood memory? grandma putting all those dandelions into a vase.

31. Piercing? all closed up.

32. When did you lose your virginity? -

33. Ever been toilet papering? i went along once.

34. Been in a car accident? yup, on the way to the movies to see 'twister', i believe.

35. Favorite day of the week? saturday.

36. Favorite restaurant? chili's has been my favorite restaurant for a very long time.

37. Favorite flower(s)? gerber daisies. gardenias.

38. Favorite ice cream? cherry fudge truffle.

39. Favorite fast food restaurant? moe's

40. How many times did you fail your driver's test? none.

41. From whom did you get your last e-mail? someone wanting to save me money & enhance my love life.

42. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? dave's camera mart.

43. Bedtime? 10-ish.

44. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? i doubt anyone will copy this.

45. Last person you went to dinner with? fred.

46. What are you listening to right now? the furnace.

47. Favorite color? green.

48. How many tattoos do you have? none.

49. How many are you sending this Email to? none.

50. What time did you finish this e-mail? check the time at the bottom of the post.

51. Favorite magazine? mental_floss.

52. Worst bf/gf? i don't think this would be fair to answer.

53. Best bf/gf? if i didn't answer the last one, i shouldn't answer this one, either.

triple-chocolate peanutbutter cookies

one of my goals for the year is to bake something new each month. and baking sounded good today. so i adapted a recipe on laure's site (look at the jan. 25 entry for her version) to include peanutbutter - and they were quite yummy. i've always admired laure's willingness to experiment with cookies & make her own recipes. so i decided today would be a good time to jump in & try it out myself. not that i made a lot of changes to her recipe, but enough that to make it my own. and that's good enough for me.

i started today looking for a cookie recipe that called for jalapeno peppers & lime. i made salsa this morning & have half a jalapeno and half a lime left. i really thought it'd be pretty easy to find such a cookie recipe, but i was quite wrong. i found mention of a jalapeno coconut lime sugar cookie - but no recipe. so i think later this week i'm going to pull out my trusted sugar cookie recipe & do some tweaking. i'm thinking they're gonna be pretty tasty. i'll let you know. :)

triple-chocolate peanutbutter cookies:

beat together:
3/4 c. peanutbutter
1/4 - 1/2 c. milk (i started with 1/4 & then added more at the end to moisten the dough)
1 egg
1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 t. vanilla extract

mix in:
1 t. baking soda
3/4 c. cocoa powder
2 c. flour
1/2 c. dark chocolate chips
20 chopped peanutbutter m&ms (i don't measure chocolate add-ins, i just tossed 'em in 'til it looks right)

Bake at 350º for 10 minutes