I've been MIA lately and I can't quite figure out if it's because I have nothing to say or if it's because I have a little too much going on in my head and I can't seem to grab onto a thread of thought for long enough to untangle it from the big knotted ball of thoughts.

Which leads me straight into the arms of my current thought which is about a wonderful book I read when I was younger called Maniac Magee which is a really great book if you ever get the chance to read it.
There are two things that stand out in my memory about the book. One is a scene where Maniac is racing another kid and Maniac is so fast and is such a badass that he actually turns around during the tail end of the race and finishes the race running backwards. The other is that the little corner store in the book sells these...like, butterscotch tarts? I think they're tarts. They're definitely butterscotch. Anyway, Maniac? Huge fan of these pastries. Maniac gets a lifetime supply of these tarts after unraveling a huge ball of knots that no one else has been able to undo.

I like stories about plucky orphans. Maniac Magee, Anne of Green Gables, James and the Giant Peach. James was an orphan wasn't he? Weren't his parents killed by a rhinoceros or something? Am I completely making this up?!

I could sit here and talk about the books I read as a kid all night but I won't. That's another post.


I've been watching Friday Night Lights lately and it's really made me want to buy a pair of cowboy boots to wear with my dresses in the summer. I'm thinking I may have to road test some boots to see if it's a look I can pull off. There are several "looks" that I desperately want to be able to pull off but just can't. Skinny jeans tucked into tall boots? Love that look, will be caught dead before actually wearing it out. Lala frequently rocks the dress over jeans look and it's so cute on her! I feel like I'd look like a nerd if I tried to rock it.

However, I can do some truly badass stuff with my hair, so I guess it kinda evens out.

I'd like to wish everyone a safe and happy weekend.

I stole this from Q too... shh!

Stayed single almost the whole year?
This question is weird.

Kissed someone new?
Some new, some old. I will say that it was the Year of the Young Man.

Done something you've regretted?
No! Ha ha! I can honestly say that I don't regret a single thing I've done this year. Yea, me!

Lost someone?
No.

Were involved in something you'll never forget?
A few things I'll never forget. It was a year!

Visited a different country?
Mexico... did I go somewhere else? I can't remember!!!

Cooked a gross meal?
I recall this one pork tenderloin that was marinated and therefore turned uber salty on me. I couldn't handle the leftovers, so I threw the tenderloin on the lawn in front of my apartment building. I make odd decisions.

A/N I had to leave Q's response to this question up because it is so splendidly her that there's no way I can top it.

Lost something important to you?
Yeah, but I gained some things in the losing too so it all works out.

Tripped over a coffee table?
Not over a coffee table but I fell down a lot... as always.

Dyed your hair?
I don't do that.

Came close to losing your life?
I didn't necessarily come close but there was a moment where I got personal with my own mortality.

Went to a party?
A few, yes.

Read a great book?
I read a bunch of good books this year. Too many to remember, actually!

Saw one of your favorite bands/artists live?
This question is irrelevant.

Did you meet any new friends this year?
I made some truly rad friends this year, yes.

Did you dislike anyone?
I still dislike someone. Maybe it's you!

Did you grow apart from anyone?
A little, yes.

Did you have a birthday party?
Nope, but this Feb. is the year of the Dirty 30!! Come to the Burque if you wanna get down.

Did you get any presents?
Uh... yeah.

Did you change at all this year?
Oh heck yes.

Did you change your style?
Style?

Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but someone I know is preggers! Maybe it's you!!

Did you move at all?
Much like Susan, no! I didn't move and you'll have to drag me out of this house by my hair before I move again.

Did you go on any vacations?
Let's see: NYC, Abingdon, Mexico... seriously did I go anywhere else? I can't remember!

Would you change anything about yourself now?
Well sure, but I'm glad to say that the things I'd change are vastly different today from what they were a year ago.

Was 2008 a good year?
It was a growing year, so those are never easy, but yeah, it was a good year.

Do you think 2009 will be better then 2008?
It's gonna be a crazy year. Between Kiki and Frank moving to town, these folks better watch out.

As we settle down in true American fashion to celebrate a holiday by stuffing our fat bellies to the bursting point, I wanted to take some time to actually express gratitude at the, for lack of a better term, blessings in my life.

After seeing two people I know lose their mothers, I am extraordinarily grateful for the fact that tomorrow night my mother and father will both sit down at my table with me and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner for yet another year.

I'm grateful to have the type of relationship with my brothers that allows me to miss their presence at tomorrow's dinner and wish that they were both home with all of us instead of scattered to the winds.

I am yet again, and shall always be, grateful for Huck especially when we're on the phone and I say something to her and she goes "Welllllllllllll..." It makes me happy.

I'm grateful to be in a position where, as the weather gets colder, I can give at least one formerly needy animal a warm bed, a yummy homemade meal, and lots and lots of belly rubs. I wish I could do more.

I'm grateful that that lump turned out to be nothing.

I'm grateful for Shot, who has provided countless laughs, good advice, self-esteem boosts and the occasional well placed kick in the ass when I need it. Happy Thanksgiving, buddy.

I'm grateful for the fact that I get to be around as Q becomes the woman she's supposed to be. It's honor to watch her grow up.

I'm thankful for green chile, Satellite coffee, real tortillas, Dion's pizza, Mom's homecooking, AmerAsia dim sum and many more things that make living and eating in the Burque worthwhile.

I'm grateful for poems from Sassy and thankful that she and all the other dressing room gals are my friends.

I am so thankful for Kiki and Frank. They give me the courage to keep trying even when I get scared or when the PRC is being a pain in my ass.

I am grateful for Karaoke.

I am grateful for Disney World in February!

I'm thankful to be happy, healthy, and loved this Thanksgiving. To you, dear readers, a wish to be warm, well fed and content as tomorrow's festivities come to a close and the hope that you'll really pause to ponder the things in your life for which you are thankful.

Awww yeah!

The following is my horoscope for the week. Nice!
The ball is in your court--hit it back, or shove it down your tennis shorts so it rubs your special place just right. Your call.

Here's Huck's:
Easy come, easy go. Who knows what the hell is going on with your love life--the revolving door to your bedroom is spinning so fast, everything's a blur. You might want to consider changing your sheets.

I stole this from Q! I stole this from Q!!

What bill do you hate payin​g the most?
Cable! Grr. Does it have to be so fracking expensive?!

Where​ was the last place​ you had a roman​tic dinne​r?​
*stares blankly at the computer screen*

Do you regre​t losin​g your virgi​nity to who you lost it to?
Yikes. Nope, not at all. Couldn't have asked for a better guy.

Name of your first​ grade​ teach​er?​
Mrs. Downing? She was a huge Seattle Seahawks fan and her husband once put shampoo on her toothbrush as an April Fools joke...Huh.

What do you reall​y want to be doing​ right​ now?
Oh jeez. There is something that at this very moment I feel like I should be doing but it's complicated so instead I'm sitting in my house filling out a survey because, you know, that helps.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I have no idea. I honestly can't remember. I know that I told my Dad that I wanted to do what he did which created some drama when I ended up doing exactly the opposite.

How many colle​ges did you atten​d?​
2. Q, you went to 4?! How did I miss this?

Why did you choos​e the shirt​ that you have on right​ now?
I need something warm to go walk O in.

What are your thoug​hts on gas price​s?​
Me and gas prices are cool right now. Over the summer, we almost came to blows.

First​ thoug​ht when the alarm​ went off this morni​ng?​
"Am I really making the right decision?"

Last thoug​ht befor​e going​ to sleep​ last night​?​
"Am I really making the right decision?"

Do you miss being​ a child​?​
Yes in that I miss that brief moment when almost everyone was innocent. No in that I enjoy things like driving myself around, being able to reach the cabinets, etc.

What erran​d/​chore​ do you despi​se?​
Taking out the trash. Gah!

If you didn'​t have to work,​ would​ you volun​teer?​
Yep.

Get up early​ or sleep​ in?
I don't really have a choice anymore. I have a 60 pound dog that gets pretty antsy if I stay in bed for too long.

What is your favor​ite carto​on chara​cter?​
Stitch from Lilo and Stitch

Favor​ite thing​ to do at night​ with a girl/​guy?​
Huh?

When did you first​ start​ feeli​ng old?
29. 29 is when it started to become clear to me that I'm older than almost everyone I know here.

Favor​ite lunch​ meat?​
Black Forest Ham

What do you get every​ time you go into Wal-​Mart?​
God, I hate Wal-Mart.

Do you think​ marri​age is an outda​ted ritua​l?
Outdated? No. I just don't think it's for everyone.

Do you own prope​rty?​
No?

Favor​ite movie​ you would​n'​t want anyon​e to find out about​?​
It's not my favorite by any means, but right now I can't stop watching 27 Dresses. *Hides face in hands*

What'​s your drink​?​
Why are you buying? Hi-yo!

Who from high schoo​l would​ you like to run in to?
No one. LIterally no one.

Sopra​nos or Despe​rate House​wives​?
I'm gonna be honest and say neither.

Grey'​s or 'The Offic​e?​
Office all the way.

Worst​ relat​ionsh​ip mista​ke that you wish you could​ take back?​
I'm not opening that can of worms.

Do you like the perso​n that sits direc​tly acros​s from you at work?​
OK, so maybe I'm unemployed right now, but I am trying to get a job so there!

What famou​s perso​n would​ you like to have dinne​r with?​
Ricky Gervais, Simon Pegg, Alan Moore, Joss Whedon, George Clooney, Helen Mirren, George Washington, and Tina Fey. All at the same time.

Have you ever crash​ed your vehic​le?​
Uhhh... no comment.

Have you ever had to use a fire extin​guish​er for its inten​ded purpo​ses?​
No, but there was a very close call once with Donald that involved a violently boiling pot of oil. Oh wow, that was almost a tragedy!

Last book you read?​
Slam! by Nick Hornby. I'm currently in the middle of reading How To Be Good and Don't Know Much About History

Stran​gest place​ you have ever brush​ed your teeth​?​
In my car.

Somew​here in Calif​ornia​ you'​ve never​ been and would​ like to go?
Umm... Carmel?

Do you go to churc​h?​
No.

At this point​ in your life would​ you rathe​r start​ a new caree​r or a new relat​ionsh​ip?​
Neither.

How old are you?
29.

My new found obsession.

Ok, iTunes, of which I am a huge fan, has recently added this feature called Genius. Genius is a friendly little tool that will make recommendations based on what you purchase. So if say you've purchased Annie Lennox's Walking on Broken Glass the Genius sidebar will recommend things like Talking Heads or Fine Young Cannibals. It will also let you preview you songs right from the sidebar so you don't have to wander over to the iTunes store.

But my very favorite part of Genius is that it will create playlists from the music you already have in your library. I know there are folks out there that probably want to create their own playlists and that's cool but for me? This feature is so very awesome! You pull one song up from your library of music and hit the Genius button and little old iTunes builds an awesome playlist for you! And the playlists are indeed awesome. Genius creates playlists that are cohesive in not just genre or style but mood as well, which is my favorite way to create playlists. The Mexican would only build playlists that consisted of music from the same genre. But to me, it makes complete sense to have Mariah Carey's Always Be My Baby right next to Fleetwood Mac's Little Lies. Polar opposite styles but similar messages and feels. I like it! Not only that, but it utilizes songs I've forgotten I owned! Several times during my current Genius playlist have I thought "I'd forgotten about this song! Man, it's awesome!"

Now Shot, I know you're an advocate of file sharing and that iTunes goes against this principle but I do love me some iTunes. It's so neat and tidy and clean and easy. And I'm perfectly happy paying 99 cents for a song that I love.

I know that certain recording artists out there have a beef with being able to buy singles and not having to but the whole album and to them I say this: I have purchased exactly 3 full albums from iTunes. And I bought them because all 3 albums were, in my opinion, solid from start to finish. Every track was good, every song spoke to me on some level. So yes, for that, I will pay 10, 12, 14 dollars. But I refuse, I refuse to purchase $15 worth of your mindless warbling because you believe that your album is a "story" and I can't comprehend it by only listening to one "chapter". Come on now. That's just silly.

Ok, that's all I got for right now.