My So Called Life

"There are so many different ways to be connected to people. There are the people you feel this unspoken connection to, even though there's not even a word for it. There's the people who you've known forever who know you in this way that other people can't because they've seen you change. They've let you change."

"Sometimes it seems like we're all living in some kind of prison, and the crime is how much we all hate ourselves. It's good to get really dressed up once in a while and admit the truth -- that when you really look closely, people are so strange and so complicated that they're actually beautiful. Possibly even me."

HBO is running re-runs of this series and I've been watching them as I work from home. What an amazingly insightful drama, not just about high school but about everything. About how people want us to be and how it is so easy to fit into that mold without a second thought, until it's too late and you cease to remember who you really are and what you're really supposed to be doing. It's about how you can be in a crowd of thousands and still feel alone.

Clearly I need to get out more as I'm seeking realization from a cancelled tween drama. I guess I get that high school feeling from all the other mom's I know - who I regularly rate myself against in an unbelievable degree of detail and much like high school, I come up short.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	Chynakatt
Birthday:	Sept 17
Birthplace:	Bridgeport CT
Current Location:	Worcester MA
Eye Color:	Grey
Hair Color:	Blonde currently
Height:	5'5''
Right Handed or Left Handed:	right
Your Heritage:	Mutt
The Shoes You Wore Today:	Teva Sandals
Your Weakness:	Just one?
Your Fears:	That my daughter will grow up to be just like me
Your Perfect Pizza:	BBQ Chicken or Greek
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	WTF
Thoughts First Waking Up:	Coffee.....
Your Best Physical Feature:	Gotta be the boobs
Your Bedtime:	After Midnight usually
Your Most Missed Memory:	how can you miss a memory? I mean, you really either have it or you don't.
Pepsi or Coke:	Diet Coke
MacDonalds or Burger King:	BK if I have to choose between the two, but Wendy's is #1
Single or Group Dates:	Group - usually involving toddlers
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Neither. Arizone Green Tea with honey or I brew my own
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Either....just hurry
Do you Smoke:	yep
Do you Swear:	yep
Do you Sing:	loudly in the car, softly to put my daughter to sleep
Do you Shower Daily:	most of the time
Have you Been in Love:	yes
Do you want to go to College:	Been there done that
Do you want to get Married:	Already there
Do you belive in yourself:	Yes
Do you get Motion Sickness:	nope
Do you think you are Attractive:	some days are better than others
Are you a Health Freak:	no
Do you get along with your Parents:	sometimes
Do you like Thunderstorms:	YES
Do you play an Instrument:	just the skin flute
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	duh
In the past month have you Smoked:	duh
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	duh
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	nope
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	Does it count if you are there without girlfriends to talk you into buying the cute whatever that you really don't need but have to have?
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	nope
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	ya
In the past month have you been on Stage:	nope
In the past month have you been Dumped:	nope
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	nope
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	yes, well more borrowed long term
Ever been Drunk:	ya
Ever been called a Tease:	who me?
Ever been Beaten up:	ya
Ever Shoplifted:	ya
How do you want to Die:	in a blaze of glory
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:
What country would you most like to Visit:	ireland
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	deep brown
Favourite Hair Color:	deep brown
Short or Long Hair:	gotta go with long hair here
Height:	6'3'' or better
Weight:	don't ask me, I won't ask you
Best Clothing Style:	comfortable casual chic
Number of Drugs I have taken:	at once? can you repeat the question please
Number of CDs I own:	more like mp3's...over 5000
Number of Piercings:	ears multiple times but suprisingly that's it
Number of Tattoos:	2 and counting
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	5
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Stupid Quiz

You Are A: Bear Cub!

Bears are strong and independent creatures who roam in the forest in search of food. Bears are usually gentle, but anger one and be prepared for their full fury! You're tough, you won't back down from a fight, you have a bit of a temper -- classic attributes of a bear. Intelligent and resourceful, though lazy at times, you are a fascinating creature of the wild.

You were almost a: Duck or a Monkey
You are least like a: Groundhog or a ChipmunkWhat Cute Animal Are You?

Pee Pee & other news

CASSIDY WENT PEE PEE ON THE POTTY!!! Yep, my litte girl has made it to the potty. It's not an every day thing, hell not an all the time thing either. But every night before bed or bath she gets naked time and sure enough she went in her potty. Funny thing is that it hasn't happened when I'm in the room with her. I need to leave her alone a minute or two and she does just fine. I had no idea the being pee shy was genetic, but I guess she gets it from her father.

My birthday was lovely. I didn't change a single diaper, Cass decorated my birthday card and I ate like no tomorrow. After a yummy omlet breakfast my Mom & her Dick came up and took us out to lunch. I was bummed that Outback didn't open until 3pm, but we went to a local joint that made a darn good chicken piccata. Then we headed to Grip's to meet his family, as well as Rox and her clan to celebrate V's 6th birthday. Man, there were a lot of little ones rolling around screeching. I was exhausted just watching them in the dress up parade! There was a big thunderstorm/torential rain storm that I appreciated. Cass was so tired taking her out of the car that she didn't even wake up in the downpour! Grips came over later on and I drank a tad too much wine then passed out. Blixx had wanted to take me to a hotel or something to celebrate the big 35, but Mother Nature cursed me so it wa a no go. I have taken a rain check to be sure. Sunday we didn't leave the house, other than to take a walk around the neighborhood before the game. It was a nice lazy day. I even managed to finish reading Angels & Demons, which I liked more than the DaVinci Code.

As for gifts, Blixx got me a windproof lighter for kayaking, as well as a new drybag and a super soaker towel. He also did a photobooth picture with Cass that was sweet and was an all around nice guy all day. Woo Hoo! Tempest sent me the most beautiful dragonfly earings that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. My mom bought me the new kayak, as well as some yummy new satin pajamas. I'm heading to Bath & Bodyworks this weekend to pick myself up some Sandlewood Rose bath as my gift to myself.

Speaking of this weekend, Blixx (as well as Grips, Toad & Birdgirl)is once again participating in the Greenway Challenge. He's kayaking 4 miles. To put that in perspective, when we ladies went kayaking in the Berkshires, that was about 2 miles and we certainly weren't in a race! I'm a driver, making sure that the guys and the kayak are where they are supposed to be. So tomorrow night there's a pasta dinner for everyone that Toad & Blixx can't attend (working late) so I'm going with Grips and Preacher, who is our teams other driver. Of course I'm only going if Cass is allowed to go with me, unless I get Teacher to watch the kid. We'll see on that one.

Then Saturday morning we're dropping off the kayak, meeting at the starting line and the race begins. At the end of the race there's a big BBQ with a band that should be fun too. It'll be fun but it's a long day for Cass in the car so it should be interesting to see how she does. Sunday we're going to Kidsfest at Wachusett Mountain with Grips & family. Then I imagine we'll be back at the house right around 4:15 to see the Patriots play the Steelers. Let's hope special teams has it's head out of it's ass and the defence made the plane or it's gunna be another disappointing game.

I've been working from home for the radio station, doing research and lead generation. It's not hard, but I find it difficult to manage being Mom, wife, cleaninglady and also work. Hehehe. Something always suffers. You want clean laundry, well then we order out for dinner. Want a hot meal, then there's no clean dishes to eat it off of. Hehe.

Catching up with Kayak Girl

Ladies Camping at October Mountain

I have returned from the woods unscathed!

This weekend I went camping at October Mountain State Forest with Blixx's sister Rox, Birdgirl, Callista & Bunniguru and had an awesome time! Setting up and breaking down camp was easier than I expected & there was no tension or bitchiness at all.

We ate like pigs! Rox made unbelievable lamb kabobs with fresh marinated veggies for Friday night dinner, served with italian rice balls that were out of this world. Callista & Bunniguru arrived Saturday morning and brought with them yummy pumpkin bread for breakfast. We then spend the day on Goose Pond kayaking. We got out and briefly hiked the Appalachian Trail to spend some time basking in the sun on the rocky shoreline. When we returned to camp, Birdgirl made her patented venison chili and we made nachos on the fire that were unbelievable. I can't believe we haven't done that before cuz it was so easy and delicious, but we'll definately do it again. There were chocolate cupcakes with heathbar topping, coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate, chocolate covered rasberry jellies...sensing a theme here?! Sunday breakfast was turkey sausages, bacon & blueberry/banana pancakes. I don't think I'm going to have to eat again for a long time.



So what else have I been up to? Hmmm we've spent a lot of weekend time painting Grip's house, but we've also gone kayaking a couple of times. I even got myself a kayak that I LOVE. We went on the Concord River & did lunch at the Minuteman Natonal Park, then continued up to the Great Meadow Wildlife Refuge.

Turtles

There were turtles everywhere, it started to rain on us in the sunshine...it was a great trip too. The girls were both really well behaved & everyone was pretty relaxed. I also did a day paddle with Cass, Blixx & Toad at Whitehall that was lovely.

My New Boat on the Concord River

Freak Rainstorm cooled us off Cassidy didn't mind the rain a bit.

Blixx made me go see a doctor since I haven't in 2 years and he wants to breed with me. I was told that I had high blood pressure so went back for a couple additional tests. I was pretty upset & stressed about this, but it turns out that I'm still borderline but if I eat less salt and get up off my ass some more I'll be fine. I got a membership to the Y so I think I'm going to set the appt for this week to check it out. I hear they have great childcare too so that's a bonus.

Speaking of doctors, Blixx has been tired all the time lately. Granted, he has to get up at the ass end of early for work a couple days a week and we do tend to stay up pretty late every night. But he's been wandering off to take naps lately or he just can't bring himself to DO anything. I really think there's something going on there because he's just so out of it most of the time it's cramping my style. Not only are there plenty of things to do around the house, but thrice now I've forbidden Grips to come over, made mention that I'm interested in spending QT....and he falls asleep. For a man to be too tired to do it...something is wrong & I'm worried about him. Really worried.

I'm working freelance for the radio station doing some market research. It's tedious spreadsheet creation work but it's work so I'll take it. Trying to work from home on it has proven to be quite the challenge...and my house is a disaster to prove it. I worked my ass off yesterday and yet I didn't cook a big dinner and I didn't put my camping gear back. I definately need to find a balance. They want 1500 leads by the end of the week. After one day I have only 175. I could be screwed here but we'll see what I can get to.

My 35th birthday is coming up on Saturday & I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm pretty sure that it's just another day but....I'm a girl so there's more to it than that. Blixx wanted to have Grips & Red watch Cass for the night while we go away, but I fear that Mother Nature has other plans for that weekend. I don't want to waste a hotel room on...well....I wanna definately get laid. There, I said it. He hasn't asked me what I want or anything so it'll be a crap shoot what I get for a gift. I'm interested to see what he pulls out of his ass. V's birthday is Wednesday so her party is Saturday. I think I'll invite my mom over to their place too, or she'll come up earlier in the day. Whatever. I just don't know what I want to do. Last year we took Cass to the Children's Museaum....maybe we'll go again this Friday (when it's cheap)or just out for icecream. That's it - Mom can take me out to icecream. I had wanted to have a party & invite all my friends. Maybe next year.

Serenity

I really haven't been this excited to see a movie in a while. Woohoo Joss Whedon!!!

Serenity Screening - Early Reviews

FireFlyFans.net

Serenity: The Official Movie Website

Serenity Review

Firefly Theme Song Lyrics

Main Title Theme Written by: Joss Whedon
Performed by: Sonny Rhodes

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell them I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me...

Sci-Fi is re running the series Firefly on Friday nights before Stargate & Battlestar. I am having so much fun watching it over again. As with Joss's other works, it pays to watch it again to get all the little details, whitty comments and sarcastic humor. I highly suggest to you all that you check your local listings. C'mon...it's a space western!