Monday, November 30, 2009

30 Posts in 30 Days? Easy... or Not

Once again, I have now posted 30 times in 30 days. And once again, I found it to be an interesting exercise. I had things to say most days, but there were a couple of days that I found myself struggling. All I could think was, I have nothing to post because nothing has happened.

I think I have a slight tendency to be dramatic, but other than moving states this has been a rather boring month.

I mean, who wants to hear about our exciting turkey and cheese sandwiches for Thanksgiving? Who wants to know what we discovered about what happens to all the dye in our cheap Kool-Aid knock off when it passes through your body? Not me, although I was here for both those things (I did, however, keep them to myself).

Instead, it was much more exciting to post silly spam mails (I've yet to hear from the FBI, even though it's been 9 days since the e-mail claiming I had 48 hours to contact someone and I might supposedly be a terrorist, or a money launderer, which ever one is scarier). It's been more exciting to talk about books (I finished Snoop. I wish I had more to read of it.).

To some degree, I'm thankful for the calm. After such a chaotic year, it's been rather restful. On the other hand, it made it hard to find things to post about (which is why you got a post where I was talking about doing dishes...).

So, it's been 30 posts in 30 days. I think I may take a day off now. Maybe. Unless something exciting happens today.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Snoop

I've been reading a book called Snoop by Sam Gosling. It's been interesting to read (I have one chapter left to go).

The idea of snooping is that you can find traces of the personality of a person based on the things they leave behind. He's studied bedrooms, offices, and websites (plus read research of people studying other things, like personal interviews or social behavior).

Interestingly, the best place to learn about people is their website. You can find out how open to new ideas they are, how organized they are, to some degree how much of an extrovert they are, and how uptight or nervous they are (I am way watering down what the book has to say, I'd suggest just picking it up and reading it). Websites, however, will not tell you how nice to be around someone is.

Let's see if you can tell me anything about my personality (based on what you've read from my writing). Anyone who's right will get a virtual hug. Anyone who's wrong will also get a virtual hug. And if Dr. Gosling happens to stumble across this, I'd love to know what I'm telling the world with my blog (not that the world is generally reading it), so please let me know.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Selling Cell Phones

Ace and I are selling our old cell phones. Since we can't use them here, and they weren't under contract, we have no problems doing that. We looked online to find someone to buy the phones from us.

We (or rather I) found someone who offered not just to buy the phones from us, but who would also send us a box to send the phones to them in (postage paid, even).

Today, we picked up our mail and we now have a box waiting to go out in the mail Monday with the cell phones in it. Soon, the phones will be on the way to this company (they resell them, or if they can't they recycle them, but they should be able to resell these phones because they are less than a year old).

At least these phones will be useful again, to someone.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Hymns

Lately, I've been going back over old hymns I remember from years and years of singing. I've been looking at what the lyrics say and comparing it to what I know the Bible says.

Some of my favorites, the ones written in the late 1800s, are the ones that follow closest to what the Bible says. That makes me happy, because if I'm singing to or about God, it should be something that agrees with what God said about himself.

Some songs seem to offer comfort to me, as they are familiar at a time when things seem to be so different than what I'm used to. Some songs offer me encouragement, they remind me what God has promised. Some songs surprise me, I find more faith in them than I originally expected to find.

That's not to say that I haven't found some disappointment in looking a hymns too. There are a few too many that seem to have been written based on how people expect life to be, because of what they are seeing, instead of what the Bible tells them life should be. The writers seem to not have much faith in God doing what he said (or much faith in God, period). It doesn't seem right that those songs have found their way into the mix with songs full of faith and God's word.

I know that I've been talking about God a lot lately. Part of it is posting every day this month. I'm finding that I'm posting about what I've been focusing on, which has been the Bible. Part of it is the fact that I've been focusing on the Bible. I've been stirring myself up in my most holy faith and it's come shining out.

And I think I like that. It's what seems right for right now. Maybe we all need a little more light in a world that seems determined to drown us in darkness. Maybe it's God, trying to reach out and touch someone (probably me).

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is a day to be thankful, so I'm going to write (or type) out a list of things I'm thankful for having in my life.

1. God. I really shouldn't have to explain this any more than that, should I?

2. Ace. My love. My sweetheart. The man who does very little for me to ever complain about (seriously, the only real strong complaint has to do with socks, and it's just because I have issues with dirty socks). The man who can make me laugh when all I want to do is cry. The only person I'd want to live in a somewhat small hotel room for more than a night or two with.

3. Hot water. Oh, how I'm loving having hot water again. I've had more baths to soak since we got here than I ever have in a month before. It's still a wonderful and exciting thing to have. I kind of hope that it always will be, so I remember to be thankful for it.

4. Time. Right now, it feels like we've got nothing but time. Time to play games, time for sex, time for sleep, time to listen to good preaching and teaching.

5. New experiences. Ever since we've moved to Springfield, everything seems like it's new and different. Even the things I'm used to us doing or having. And that's nice right now.

And that is just a short list of things that I'm grateful for today (there are other things, but these are the ones I'm willing to share currently).

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Why I Don't Judge Most People

I don't like the idea of being judged. I, in my own mind, feel like I am being judged by everyone around me, even though I'm fairly sure most people don't pay any attention to me.

I got reminded last night why it's a good thing not to judge others. I don't know their hearts or their intentions behind their actions. Since I don't know why they do something, I am unable to judge them effectively. I don't know what all they thought their options were, which would make judging someone even harder.

I'm not perfect about this, I know. If I were, I would probably still be talking to my mother, at least a little bit. But I know how her decisions have effected me, so I find it harder to look for good intentions behind some of her actions (mostly the intentions behind her harsh words).

So, I'm trying to be better about this. I'm trying to realize that some people have messed up thinking and intentions that I'll never understand. I'm trying to remember that just because I don't understand why someone is doing something doesn't mean that they have bad intentions or bad logic.

I'm trying not to judge others. And usually, I succeed. Maybe the world would be better if we could all do this. Maybe.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Friendships Come and Go but the Love Still Lingers

My cousin has a post up that has be bothering my head since I first saw it towards the beginning of the month. She mentions that if she's ever loved you for a second she'll love you forever.

It's not that I don't believe that, it's just that I don't think she and I would see eye-to-eye on how to show friends that love. All the various friends I've had over the years, the ones that were there at the time I needed them, but that I've not kept in touch with, seem to come to my mind when I read that. It's not that I don't still care for these friends. If I saw them, I would definitely greet them warmly and ask them about how they are and truly care to know the answer.

It's just that I understand how you don't always need to keep the same people as friends for the rest of your life. You aren't always going to be as close to those people as you once were. Sometimes, you need the friend for a time and it's time to let each other go. It's not that you stop caring, it's just that you are in different stages in life. Sometimes those stages just don't allow your former closeness to remain.

The hardest lesson I learned after Ace and I married was that I was no longer the same person with the same concerns as I had been 6 months earlier when I was just engaged. The people I had spent 3 or 4 years being close friends with weren't at the point that they could see things the same way I was now seeing them, because they didn't have a spouse whose input was just as important as their own when making decisions. It hurt to find that these people who I thought I'd be friends with for at least a while longer were people I could no longer fully relate to. And while we could use a shorthand for inside jokes, it wasn't really going to be the same. It was time to start making new friends with people in the same stage of life I was now in.

I'd love to know that all those friends are happy, but the past friendships, no matter how near and dear to my heart, weren't enough to make me stay in contact. I realized that they were important to me, but they were in my past. Still loved, memories still cherished, but the relationships times had passed.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Dishes

If there is one chore I will gladly put off as long as possible, it is folding laundry. The only other chore I knowingly put off is washing dishes.

It's not that I just hate either chore. I'd just as soon not do them as my back tends to hurt by the time I'm done. And not surprisingly, I dislike causing myself pain.

Today, besides being a day I need to do laundry, I did dishes. Of course, just because I did dishes doesn't mean that I'm going to fold my laundry (I like my clothes clean, I like them being put away, it's just the step in the middle that I dislike so much).

While my back is now somewhat sore, it didn't actually take too long to do the dishes (which is nice, since I have to wash them all by hand). What made the task more pleasant was having warm water to wash the dishes in (cold water and hand-washing dishes do not go pleasantly hand-in-hand). The orange-scented dish soap didn't hurt either.

As I was stacking the dishes in the dish strainer thing (what is that called? I can't be bothered with looking it up just now), I was finding myself pleased that I'd actually done the dishes today like I had planned before I fell asleep last night (I originally intended to do them yesterday, but that plan didn't come to fruition).

And now I've bored you, dear readers, because I felt the need to talk about doing dishes. I've really got to get a more exciting life. But not too exciting, after all I'm liking the calm I've been feeling lately.

And now, I find I've run out of things to say about dishes (and my life, or lack of one). So, I think I'll find something else to occupy my time until I determine that it's time to do laundry.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Light and Easy

Today has been a good day. Today, Ace and I got up way earlier than I wanted to and went to church. We got to sit nice and close to the front, so there wouldn't be anyone distracting us.

And then, when we could have let the sermon seem like it was stepping on our toes, we instead looked at it as a gentle reminder of what we need to be doing so that our toes don't need stepping on.

Church lead to a nice discussion on the way home and a chance to work on forgiving Christians who have hurt us in the past, as we need to not carry hurt and anger around. It lead to us talking about our faith and how we've continually trusted God even when we were shaky on trusting Christians we didn't know very well. And how we feel like we can trust other Christians at our new church.

And then we spent a good portion of the afternoon playing World of Warcraft (Ace is still playing, which doesn't surprise me at all). And now I'm sitting here thinking that this has been a great day. We could use more days like this. And the only reason I don't feel like we have them is because of me focusing on the wrong things.

Today has been light and easy. Just as it should be.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Hilarity of Spam Part 2

Okay, this time I'm going to do something different. I'm going to comment within the e-mail itself. We'll see how it goes. If a line starts with > then it is from the e-mail. If there isn't anything at the start, it's a comment from me.

>Attention:
>ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION
>FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
>FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
>J.. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
>935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001
>TELEPHONE: 206 984 0470

Right address, wrong phone number. It's not that hard to find out the FBI's phone number on their site ((202)324-3000, not sure if the FBI has an anti-terrorist and monitory crimes division).

>Attention:

>BENEFICIARY,

They're calling me something this time, guess I should be impressed. Except it isn't a name, so it's like addressing the e-mail to Occupant.

>Funds, you are to contact the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION >(EFCC)London, England to obtain the above required document, find below their contact >information's:

No mention of documents, no clue what they could be referring to. The documents the FBI wanted me to send last time (the ones the FBI could find on their own)? A copy of my marriage license? A copy of my driver's license?

>Contact Person: Mr.James Parker

>PRINCIPAL STAFF OFFICER ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)
>Email: jamesparker@efcc-staffmails.org

Please don't try e-mailing this address. I have no idea if it's legitimate, but I doubt it. If it is, you would just be annoying some guy who doesn't know what you're talking about.

>Lagos Office Address 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, London,England

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Lagos in Nigeria, not London, England? I know there are thing called embassies, but I'm fairly sure they have addresses that match the type of the city they are in.

>Furthermore, be advice that according to the United State Law together with the FBI rules and >regulations, you are to obtain the document from the EFCC OF London,England where the fund >was transfer from. Also Note that you are to take care of the cost of the Document, which will >be issued in your name. due to the content of the document and how important and secured the >document is, you as the beneficiary will send to the EFCC OF ENGLAND the sum of >Usd250Dollars only for the issuing of the document right away and your Usd1.5 million will be >release to you, That is the lay down rules for EFCC OF NIGERIA to release such sensitive >document, EFCC will issue you the authentic and original copy of the documents with seal on it >for verification and approval.

The lack of spaces after commas on place names is starting to bother me. And at least this time there is some money being sent somewhere mentioned. It's still not a believable scam, but it's better than last time. Apparently the document they want is $250. Um, wouldn't they be willing to pull it from the $1.5 million they are holding? It's not like I wouldn't expect them to do that.

>You are here by advice to Contact them through the email address above to make an enquiry >concerning how you will send the official fee to them. Note that you are to observe this >immediately, if you really want your funds to be credited to your personal bank account and to >avoid any legal battle with the security operatives over this matter... We have already >informed the EFCC OF ENGLAND about the present situation, go ahead and contact them >immediately. Your fund is under our custody and will not be release to you unless the required >document is confirmed, after that the fund will be release to you immediately without any >delay.

They misspelled inquiry, which means they didn't spell check this thing. We also have the odd capitalization and slightly off wording to point out that the writer doesn't speak English as their first language (at least, not American English). And I'll be happy to take that legal battle. My lawyers will be wondering what they were smoking when coming up with this plan to steal $250 from me while threatening me with jail. Or rather, threatening Beneficiary with jail.

>NOTE: We have asked for the above document to make available the most complete and up-to >date records possible for no criminal justice purposes. The documents will clarify the intensity >of this fund; exonerate it from money laundry, scam and terrorism

Again, you never mentioned any document. Just the $250 that any government would be happy to dip into the $1.5 million they are holding to take, if it were a legitimate thing. And how intense is this fund? It's crazy intense.

>WARNING: failure to provide the above requirement in the next 48 hours, legal action will be >taken immediately by arresting and detaining you as soon as international court of justice >issues a warrant of arrest, if you are found guilty, you will be jailed....... As terrorism, drug >trafficking and money laundering is a serious problem in our community today and the world at >large. The F.B.I will not stop at any length in tracking down and prosecuting any criminal who >indulges in this criminal act. FORWARD THE DOCUMENT TO US VIA EMAIL a respecter of anybody. We presumed you are law abiding citizen whom would not want have >scuffles with the authority, in and outside America.

So, I could go to jail for not following up with this? Let me get right on that. And if this document (this mystery document) is so important and hard to get, why would you want me to send it as an e-mail attachment? They have made presumptions about Beneficiary too. How dare they! Apparently they don't believe this presumptions any more though.

>We are charged with the responsibility of implementing legal norms and our authority is >irrevocable so dont dare dispute our instruction, just act as instructed.The person you know >will not help you in this matter rather abide by this instruction. the funds inquestion was >depsited by those people that contacted you.

Um, dude. The FBI, while policing America for the federal government is not the end all be all of law enforcement (I respect the FBI, I'm just saying that this statement of irrevocable authority is BS). Also, my lawyers would definitely be able to help me if I were arrested, it's one of my rights as a citizen of this country. And how do you depsite something?

>Faithfully Your's

It's yours, not your's.

>Robert S.Mueller 111

What's up with the ones? It should be III, for the third. The real Robert S. Mueller III would know that!

>FBI Director

Because the man has nothing better to do than harass beneficiaries all day?

>CC. TO:

>Supreme Court of the United States
>U. S. Courts of Appeals
>U. S. District Courts
>U. S. Circuit Courts
>Courts of Special Jurisdiction:
>Bankruptcy Courts
>Court of Claims, 1855 - 1982
>U. S. Court of Federal Claims, 1982 -
>Customs Court, 1890 - 1980
>U. S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, 1910 - 1982
>U. S. Court of International Trade, 1980 -
>Commerce Court, 1910 - 1913
>Territorial Courts
>Courts of the District of Columbia
>Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals
>Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation
>Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
>Federal Courts Outside the Judiciary

I love how they included the names of courts that just wouldn't care about this kind of thing (Commerce Court, 1910-1913? U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, 1910-1982? Customs Court, 1890-1980?). Also, they sent it to all the district courts and then to the courts of the District of Columbia again, just in case.

How do people fall for this stuff? I'd like to know.

Friday, November 20, 2009

My World... Rocked

Today I got some news that has rocked my world. My brother is moving in with my dad. Tomorrow.

I'm happy. He needs the discipline and structure that he'll get at our dad's house. He'll have our step-mom to be there to listen and give him the love he needs. He'll be required to shower and clip his nails regularly, so he might, potentially, find a girl who likes him.

I'm in shock, because my mom swore she would never let this very thing happen. It was one of the things that sticks out most from the last time I talked to her, so long ago. I'm guessing my brother just decided he wanted to move, so he is. If so, good on him.

But for now, I'm waiting for my world to stop rocking so much.

P.S.: Yesterday I had a bad day, mourning for things from the past. Today I'm feeling and doing much better. Even if I am shocked by how things are changing.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Running on Empty

Or I'm Whining About What I Miss Because I Need Sleep

So far this month, I've had plenty to talk about. Moving to a new city in a new state will do that. Today, I've got nothing to talk about except the fact that I have nothing to talk about.

Add to that the fact that no matter how much sleep I get I still seem to be somewhat tired and I am currently running on empty when it comes to things to say. Hopefully this afternoon or evening, something will happen and give me something to talk about tomorrow.

And while I'm adjusting well to change, I miss some things about how we were living before. I miss the schedule that we had (without a schedule, things feel odd). I miss the options of what to watch on TV (we are currently listening to all these CD/mp3s on Biblical teaching, so the TV is staying off, which isn't a bad thing). I miss my bed, the soft squishiness of the 5 inches of foam and the lack of major movement when Ace would move (my stomach objects to him rolling over or sitting up while I'm laying on the bed, as it doesn't like the sensations).

I miss my chiropractor, as I still had back issues even with my nice bed (it was supportive of my back while still being soft) and this bed. Is. Not. Helping. *annoyed sigh*

I miss not feeling whiny, as today I'm feeling a little whiny. I'm thinking too much about the wrong things and not enough about the right things. And I feel a little better having gotten all this off my chest.

I guess I had something to say after all. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have something to say that's worth reading.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Sex Cometh

So, the best part about Ace and I moving to Springfield has been the sex.

Before we moved in with my dad (for 2 and 1/2 weeks), we had kind of gone through a... well, dry spout isn't quite right, but it's close, when it came to sex. Ace was probably interested, but I was focused a bit more on anything and everything else. We had sex, but not often (mostly roughly in potential baby making times).

Since we got moved, we've had sex much more often. I'm a lot less stressed and have been interested a whole lot more. So, we've been having lots more sex (lots being relative to the lack of sex before the move).

It's been nice.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

God Is Good

Last night, Ace and I were listening to a series (we're still in the middle of it, so we're still listening to it I guess) about God being good. And while this isn't a surprise, it's more meaningful right now than it would have been in the past.

Ace and I are spending more time immersing ourselves in the Bible and Biblical teachings lately. We've been reaching out to find God in a way we hadn't in a long time.

All of this is reminding us how good God is. How important we are to Him (He knows how many hairs are on my head right now, according to the Bible. That's kind of impressive, and definitely love.). How He wants good things for us.

And it's changing how I'm looking at life. I may not be where I want to be (I'd rather Ace and I have more room and preferable no one living quite as close as they are now), but I'm content that it's good, which is what God wants for me.

And because God is good, I'm willing to trust and obey what the Bible says. I'm willing to rely on the promises God made. After all, isn't that what He's really asking me to do? To trust, obey, and believe that He is willing to perform all that He has said? And if I believe the Bible is the truth, shouldn't I act on those beliefs?

Right now, I don't know what will happen later today or tomorrow (although, I have some ideas). I just know that God is good. Maybe that knowledge is enough for right now, right this minute. After all, I can't control everything, nor would I really want to.

God is good. All the time.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Weight Loss

Okay, it's official, again. I need to loose weight.

My dress pants are a little too snug, which makes it where I want to take them off, but I can't yet. It's frustrating me enough that I'm having problems typing.

On the other hand it could be worse. Ace and I were driving around the other day and saw a Sara Lee Outlet right next door to a Weight Watchers. It was kind of amusing and seemed rather odd.

Now if I can just get some exercise happening, it'll be all good.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Another Poem?

If I keep posting poems, you'll think I write poetry all the time (I don't). But I've got another poem to post today.

His Mercy Endures

With every trial
I think my faith will fail
With darkness around
I want to turn tail

But just when I think
I’ve reached my end
His strength comes through
And I find I won’t bend

His mercy endures
Forever more it seems
His mercy endures
Fresh with the sun’s new beams

And as I look back
I’m surprised to see
Strength and mercy
Surrounding me

Through all the good
And all the bad
God’s grace and mercy
Are all I've had

His mercy endures
Forever more it seems
His mercy endures
Fresh with the sun’s new beams

My next trial
Won’t be the same
Because I'll only lean
On His holy name

His Word will save
It will protect
Now I won’t feel
Any risk to my neck

His mercy endures
Forever more it seems
His mercy endures
Fresh with the sun’s new beams

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Ode to the Past

I'm posting a poem I wrote. I'm not loving all of it, there are some parts that need work and at least one rhyme that doesn't really rhyme. But I'm posting it anyway.

Ode to the Past

Your words cut me
To the quick
I still can’t fathom
What makes you tick

You pushed me out,
But never stopped.
You didn’t seem to care
Where I hopped.

Now I’ve left your nest
I’m trying to start my own.
If only your words
Would leave me alone!

What do you want from me?
What didn’t you get?
Don’t you remember
The ones you’ve got left?

Don’t talk to me.
Leave my head.
Because you don’t deserve
The love I’d give.

It hurts to think
Of you in my life.
Let me be
My husband’s wife.

From what I hear
You’ve pushed her too.
When no one’s left
What will you do?

If you change
It’d be real nice.
I’d expect it more
From some mice.

I doubt you’ll change.
It’ll haunt you.
I’ll stop looking back.
I’m already through.

The things you’ll miss,
All of me and more.
You won’t see me
Come back through your door.

Friday, November 13, 2009

A Different Kind of Office Job

Or Weird Dream Ahead

Or Beware the Parenthesis Ahead

This morning, I dreamt that I was working in the office of MamaPop, a pop culture blog. The odd thing about it is that MamaPop has no office, as it is made of bloggers from several different areas and an office wouldn't be easily accessible by most of their writers.

Now, I wasn't a writer for MamaPop in my dream. I'm not sure why I was given a desk in their office since I wasn't working for them (although, dream me was hoping for an assignment when they were being passed out, even though I don't do much research on pop culture and therefore wouldn't be the best person for a job with them).

Also, I was the only one at a desk in jeans and a t-shirt, everyone else was wearing business clothing (which is odd, since most professional bloggers don't seem to get dressed up for writing).

So, I can only guess as to why I was working at the MamaPop office in my dream (there was a reason in the dream, but I don't remember it). Also in my dream, I convinced someone to at least go find out what they could make by blogging about technical products (something they would have been happier doing than working a below minimum wage job (no clue how that would happen) doing something they hated) for MamaPop (I don't know that they are looking for something like that). Unfortunately for me, I woke up before I found out if they were going to do it (also, they are a fictional character on a TV show, so it didn't really matter).

Yeah, my dreams are weird and awesome all at the same time.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Feeling Humble

Yesterday, Ace and I went to do a little shopping (something that it seems like we've been doing daily since we moved, because it's been almost daily). When we got to the store, there was a Veteran standing right by the doors giving out paper flowers.

I took one, stuck it in my purse, and felt humbled by the whole thing. Here was a day to honor this man, and he's giving away something to people.

As we were going to our car, I noticed one of the paper flowers on the ground. It had been run over. It made me sad.

After we got home, I stuck the flower I got on the fridge with a magnet. And that made me happy again.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day. Today we honor those who serve/have served the USA by serving in the military.

It really doesn't seem like enough, giving them a day. They've given us more than just a day. Some of them have given their lives. Most, if not all, have given up time with their families to serve.

Yesterday, Ace and I were at the mall, looking for potential seasonal jobs. I kept noticing offers for discounts for people with military IDs. Springfield isn't too far from a military base, so those signs are probably there year round (I don't know, we haven't been here long enough for me to say with any certainty). While I like the idea, it doesn't quite seem like enough either.

How do you adequately thank people for giving up so much so that you don't have to? How do you thank their families for being willing to give them up, possibly forever, to protect all the rest of us?

However we're doing it, it doesn't seem like enough.

Thank you, veterans and active duty military people. I appreciate your service, all your giving. I pray that God watches over you and keeps you safe from harm. Thank you.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Happy Anniversary Sesame Street

Or I'm Not Sure What to Talk About Today

So, sometime this month is the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street. This makes me happy, because I remember watching Sesame Street when I was little. I remember the videos with counting and the video of how crayons are made. I remember how much all the characters meant to me.

I remember my parents (I think it was my parents) taking me to see a Sesame Street stage show. I remember Bert and Ernie singing about letting your smile be your umbrella.

I remember that Sesame Street helped me learn to count to 10 in Spanish (okay, it helped my mom learn and she taught me, but I think that counts). I'm fairly sure they helped me learn my letters and my numbers, or at least reinforced what I had learned.

So, Happy Anniversary Sesame Street. I hope you have at least another 40 years of educating children

Monday, November 9, 2009

Tidbits of Randomness

I don't have any particular thoughts to try to elaborate on, so instead I'm going to randomly talk about a couple of things that have popped in my head.

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

Ever since we moved out of our house, I've been sleepy. I'm not sure what's up with that, but I've just wanted to sleep for the most part. I think I may go try to take a nap in a few minutes.

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

Thinking about your biological clock while next to a ticking clock can be confusing. It doesn't help if you start seeing white hairs in places they shouldn't be (like on your 29 year old body).

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

When we were shopping the other day, we bought 10 pounds of sugar. Ace figured that was a lot of sugar. I figured that if we were going through 2 quarts of Kool-Aid in a 24 hour period than we would need a lot of sugar to keep Kool-Aid in our fridge.

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

We bought some measuring cups (to measure the sugar). Ace managed to break the handle off the 1 cup measuring cup already. Then he pointed out that that was why there were more expensive measuring cups. I'm just wondering what he did that caused it to break.

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

And that's your tidbits of randomness for today.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

New Bras

It's getting to be time for me to buy some new bras.

I can tell because my current bras are giving me some not so subtle hints that they are worn out. The bra I'm currently wearing lost one of the hooks (it's got 5 more, so it'll stay in place). Also, I had to use some pliers to rearrange one of the hooks on this same bra this morning.

It's time for new bras.

But first, I have to talk to Ace about it. We need to decide how many to buy and where to get them from. I know that for now I'll be sticking with plainer bras instead of going for the really pretty ones (at my bra size, there is a noticeable price difference). I don't really need my bras to look pretty right now, I just need them to do their job.

But, it's time to get me some new bras.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

The Differences Between Oklahoma and Missouri

Or Learn to Drive Already!

So, Ace and I have been in our new state a little over 48 hours at this point. And we've noticed some big differences already.

1. People seem to be more concerned with getting where they are going than with letting people in. This is more annoying than it seems.

2. The same phenomenon occurs with shopping carts here. Forget letting other people in, out, or around the aisle, take up space and get in the way.

3. You can buy wine here at the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. I don't remember ever seeing wine in either store in OK or Arkansas. It's different.

4. Oddly, the hardest parts about starting over is going and buying things you left behind. It's weird to spend money on new stuff when you know you had this exact same thing in the past, but didn't keep it because you could buy it again (okay, not really a difference between OK and MO, but it stays because this is my post).

5. The highways tend to be more winding than straight, but not as winding as Arkansas. Missouri seemed to decide to cut through some of the mountains/hills, but not all of them.

6. There were more cars than we expected at the Barnes & Noble this morning. That doesn't mean we don't think people read, we just weren't expecting a mostly full parking lot.

7. We've seen layouts for stores that are unlike any we've ever seen before. It'll take some getting used to before we don't make 2 or 3 trips across the store each time we go to buy stuff because we forgot something located on the other side of the store.

So, yeah. Things are different right now. We're still adjusting. But for now, it all seems different and strange.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Organized Chaos

Instead of everything looking like organized chaos yesterday, when we were packing things up, it looks like organized chaos today, when we need to unpack things and settle where things will live.

We have laundry we need to do. We have lots of stuff to unpack. We need to rearrange stuff all over the room.

But we are finally starting all over again. We're trying something new. We're living in a new city.

And at some point, it'll stop feeling like a vacation or a trip and start feeling like a new life.

Well, I need to eat so we can get a mailing address and do our laundry.

Later.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Moving Day Part 2

So, today is moving day again. This time there is less chaos, but there also isn't much packed already. In fact, we need to pack up all our clothes, our laptops, and all the stuff we normally need (combs, alarm clock, deodorant). Nicely, it shouldn't take that long to pack us up. Not that we're in a big hurry right now (we've got until at least 1 pm before we should head out).

We've got a few things to go through from our stuff to store too. We've got paperwork we'll probably need and I'd like to find a few books for me to read (if I can get myself off the computer).

Now I've got to go. I need to get dressed so that I can start laundry so that we can get out of here.

Later.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Great News

Today, Ace and I made a trip to Tulsa. When we got there, we picked up our mail, and we found out that the check we were waiting on were there (we knew it should be there, so it wasn't too surprising).

Tomorrow, we move again, but we're moving less stuff with us this time. Mostly, we're moving clothes, laptops, and the things we actually need (like an alarm clock and our CDs), but not all the books we've got (most are staying here at my dad's until we get to a bigger place).

We also found some stuff that I can do from home and hopefully make enough for me to support us, while Ace works outside the home for extra money for things like Christmas gifts & educational goals.

It should be an interesting month, since we've already changed our original plans greatly to these plans. We're just waiting to see if these plans are the ones to pan out.

But we're looking forward to seeing how it all goes.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

It's a Small Town After All

Ace and I are currently, temporarily (a few more days at this point) living with my dad and step-mom. Today, they left the house to go do something (we didn't ask what, we're trying to let them live as normal a life as we can).

A while after that, we decided we needed a change of scenery, so we got out of the house. Ace and I decided to go to Barnes & Noble to walk around and look at books.

While we were there, guess who we ran into.

Come on, guess.

Yep. We found my dad and step-mom at the Barnes & Noble. This area is kind of small, so there were decent odds that we'd see them while we were out, but it was kind of surprising that we picked the place they were at.

Later.

Monday, November 2, 2009

The Hilarity of Spam

MA's Note: This is the exact e-mail I got (I copied and pasted) yesterday. I left off the header stuff (e-mail addresses), but this was obviously not from the FBI. There was never any name listed in the e-mail and I just noticed that I was BCCed for some reason.

Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division
Fbi Headquarters In Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001 Website: www.fbi.gov


ATTENTION

This is an official advice from the fbi foreign Remittance / telegraphic
dept.,it has come to our notice that the C.B.N Bank Nigeria district has
released 10,500,000.00 US dollars into bank of America in your name as the
beneficiary, by inheritance means. The C.B.N Bank Nigeria knowing fully well that they do not have Enough facilities to effect this payment from the united kingdom to your account, used what we know as a secret diplomatic transit payment (s.t.d.p) to pay this fund through wire transfer, they used this means to complete the payment.

They are still, waiting for confirmation from you on the already Transferred funds which were made in direct transfer so that they can do final crediting to your account.

Secret diplomatic payments are not made unless the funds are related to
terrorist activities why must your payment be made in secret transfer, if your transaction is legitimate, if you are not a terrorist, then why did you not receive the money directly into your account; this is a pure coded, means of payment? Records which we have had with this method of payment in the past Has always been related to terrorist acts, we do not want you to get into trouble as soon as these funds reflect in your account in the U.S.A, so it is our duty as a world wide commission to correct this little problem before this fund will be credited into your personal account. Due to the increased difficulty and unnecessary security by the American authorities when funds come from outside of Europe, and the Middle East, the f.b.i bank commission for Europe has stopped the transfer on its way to deliver payment of $10,500,000.00 to debit your reserve account and pay you through a secured diplomatic transit account (s.d.t.a). We govern
funds immediately we receive this legal documents.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have decided to contact you directly to acquire the proper Verifications and proof from you to show that you are the rightful person to receive this
fund,because of the amount involve, we want to make sure is a clean and legal money you are about to receive. Be informed that the fund are now in United State in your name, but right now we have ask the bank not to release the fund to anybody that comes to them, unless we ask them to do so, because we have to carry out our investigations first before releasing the fund to you. Note that the fund is in the BANK OF AMERICA right now, but we have ask them not to credit the fund to you yet, because we need a solid proof and Verifications from you before releasing the funds. So to this regards you are to re-assure and proof to us that what you are about to receive is a clean money by sending to us FBI Identification Record and also Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer(DIST) to satisfy to us that the money your about to receive is legitimate and real money.


You are to forward the documents to us immediately if you have it in your
possession, if you don’t have it let us know so that we will direct and inform you where to obtain the document and send to us so that we will ask the bank holding the funds, the Bank Of America to go ahead Crediting your account immediately. These Documents are to be issued to you from the World Local Bank that Authorized the transfer, so get back to us immediately if you don’t have the document so that we will inform you the particular place to obtain the document in United Kingdom (U.K), because we have come to realize that the fund was Authorized by (H.S.B.C) Bank in London.

An FBI Identification Record and Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer (DIST) often referred to as a Criminal History Record or Rap Sheet, is a listing of certain information taken from fingerprint submissions retained by the FBI in connection with arrests and, in some instances, federal employment, naturalization, or military service. These Condition Is Valid until 10th day of Novenmber.2009 after we shall take actions on Canceling the payment and then charge you for illegally moving funds out of Nigeria. Guarantee: funds will be released on confirmation of the document.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Final
Instruction;
1. Credit payment instruction: irrevocable credit guarantee.
2. Beneficiary has full power when validation is cleared.
3. Beneficiaries bank in U.S.A., can only release funds.
4. Upon confirmation from the world bank / united nations.
5. Bearers must clear bank protocol and validation request.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE: We have asked for the above documents to make available the most complete and up-to date records possible for the enhancement of public safety, welfare and security of Society while recognizing the importance of individual privacy rights. If you fail to provide the Documents to us, we will charge you with the FBI and take our proper action against you for not proofing to us the legitimate of the fund you are about to receive. The United States Department of Justice Order 556-73 establishes rules and regulations for the subject of an FBI Identification Record to obtain a copy of his or her own Record for review.


The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division processes these requests to check illegal activities in U.S.A. An individual may request a copy of his or her own FBI Identification Record for personal review or to challenge information on the Record. Other reasons an individual may request a copy of his or her own Identification Record may
include international adoption or to satisfy a requirement to live or work in a foreign country or receive funds from another country, i.e. Diplomatic Immunity Seal of Transfer, letter of good conduct, criminal history Background, etc.)

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.

ROBERT MUELLER

WASHINGTON DC
Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division
Fbi Headquarters In Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001 Website: www.fbi.gov

Now to start off, does it sound like our writer speaks English as a first language? Since the e-mail's address ended with .de, I doubt he or she does. Also, they misspelled November and didn't catch it.

Second, the random capitalization is hilarious, isn't it? All rules of grammar seem to have left the building when they wrote this e-mail.

Third, FBI should always be capitalized. And the FBI only has authority in the USA. I don't know who would be coming after me if I was supposedly getting money from Nigeria, but I doubt the FBI would be the only ones involved. (Also, why would they be asking me to send them info they have access to? And why warn me they are looking at me if I am doing something wrong?)

The last thing I want to nit pick right this moment is that the name signed near the bottom of the e-mail is the name of the director of the FBI. Why would he take time out of his busy life to send me an e-mail (from a foreign country)? And why send it on a Sunday?

In short, none of this e-mail makes any sense. Why would someone fall for this? And what info were the spammers hoping for? They don't really tell me where to send anything (unless they really wanted me to send stuff to the FBI, which doesn't make any sense).

Sunday, November 1, 2009

NaBloPoMo

The first two years I remember seeing anything about NaBloPoMo, I was impressed with the people who were doing it. Then, last year, I decided to try posting every day for a month myself. To my surprise, and delight, I found myself posting and being relatively content with my posts.

This year, I struggled slightly in my decision to do NaBloPoMo again. It's a nice thing to do to challenge yourself and see if you can find things to write about, but I wasn't sure I was in the right frame of mind for NaBloPoMo this year. Then, I asked Ace what I should do.

He told me to do it, so I am.

And not just because he told me to, I did truly want to do NaBloPoMo this year, I just needed someone to push me a little so that I would go do it. Which is why I'm glad I've got Ace. He pushes me when I need him to and pulls me away when my willpower seems to be fading. And I do the same for him, which makes our marriage great. We help each other be strong.

Yeah... I think that last paragraph got a little away from me there.

So, here I am, trying again to do a post a day for 30 days. Let the good times roll.