news, gossip and lies

Change of Address

2006-04-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

Let's face it...

2006-04-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

I'm moving…

I've packed my boxes, moved my posts, I've even been moving my haloscan comments over there so I've still got those…

I think it's time to ask for a change of address:

http://todaysaddiction.wordpress.com

If you haven't been there yet, I'm here

While I won't be posting here anymore, I am keeping my blogger account open so I can still post comments to blogger comments, so no worries!

The Pro's & The Con's

2006-04-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

I spent some quality time on wordpress today working on this. There are advantages and disadvantages.

The things I don't like:
Lack of control over the template and side bar.
On the template I like, my links are not visible (but that is not true on all the templates).
Limited template choices.
You can use Widgets to customize (if template supported), and they are limited. You cannot download other plug-ins.
No access to tweek the template.
The stat counter records only limited info.
No Haloscan

The Things I like:
The templates are super easy to use as is the dash board.
I can change the template in one second, no need to know, use or figure out any html.
My entire blog transfered over easily.
Because the links are hidden, I can keep my "hidden" friends there.
I like being able to catagorize my posts.
I have as much control over the comments as I do on Haloscan (w/o pictures).
It has spell check!
I can turn off or on the comments for specific posts if I choose.

All in all, I think I like it... I'll double post here and there for a few days and get the feel of it... I may switch.

Edit: Nailed the link problem!!! Ha!

Moving... maybe

2006-04-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

So tell me what you know about wordpress...
I just set up an accout over there and it has a few things that I like better than blogger... a few that I don't. I plan to double post at both for a few days and then deciding which I like better.
Go check the new place out and tell me what you think... also I'm open to anyone's comment about wordpress in general, good or bad.

But we really needed new lamp shades...

2006-04-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

So I went shopping while husb was at work tonight because I decided we needed new lamp shades...
When he went to work the bed looked like it did in the previous post, I wonder what he'll think when he gets home???

(same bed, different cat)
*

Supersize me!

2006-04-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

Husb is 6'5" and we have always had a queen size bed... We just bought our first king and I just love it! There is so much room, I feel like I can swim in it :)
It's difficult to tell from the picture, but it's got a huge, deep mattress, when I stand next to it, the bed comes up to my navel...
There is absolutely no way for a naked, middle-aged woman to look even remotely sexy while climbing into that thing...
But I love it anyway!

The new messiah?

2006-04-06T23:32:00.000-07:00

This just seen on the local news, I tried to find a link for you, but so far, no luck.
A baby girl born in Portland Oregon at 2 minutes and 3 seconds after 1am on 04/05/06.
So her birthday is 01:02:03 04/05/06.
I hope they're doing something alphebetical with her name!

Phish Food

2006-04-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

AKA... "Why I love 2 year olds"

#5 is a vegetarian. She and the Grandmonster are currently living with us, and we recently cleaned out my "hobby room" (Yes, Brico... you should see it now!) and turned it into a play room for the kiddo. In that room is his TV, DVD player, his toys, books, a small fish tank with one fish and a futon. The other morning the Grandmonster was watching an Elmo DVD as his Mommy dozed on the futon. Suddenly there is the sound of water spilling and a groggy Mom trying to figure out what had happened...
The Grandmonster is holding the small fish tank, lowering it from his wet lips and now soaked jammies... he was thirsty.
With fish poop beginning to settle back into the rocks of the tank, #5 is frantically asking if it will hurt him or make him sick... No, he may poop extra if he drank a bunch, but I doubt he did.
After stripping the baby from his wet clothes, #5 begins looking for the fish and he is no where to be found, we look in the tank (which is very small, one of those plastic 3 gallon things), on the floor where the water has spilled... no fish. She turns to her son, the apple of her eye, and asks,
"Did you eat the fish?" and by now, my vegetarian daughter is beginning to lose all composure.
The naked kid looks at her, pats his tummy and says,
"Fish! Yummy!" without missing a beat.
He was in the shower, with freshly scrubbed teeth, as she was muttering something about 'discusting' over and over again under her breath, just as the fish finally imerged from the tank, safe and sound.
I was walking into the bathroom to tell her he had not had fish for breakfast as I hear her sternly telling him,
"Baby, we do not eat our pets!!"

PS... I quit taking a prescribed sleeping med a few months ago because I was gaining weight quite rapidly... we switched the pills and as of this morning I've lost 22 lbs, and am about back to my "normal" self!

2006-04-04T23:43:00.000-07:00

The Three's of Me
I was tagged fair and square by Minta!

3 Names U go By:
Mom
Nana
Hey, could you hand me that?

3 Screen Names U Have Had:
Addict
Let’s Go
Emily

3 Things U Like about Yourself:
My sense of humor
My butt
I am strong

3 Things U Don’t Like about Yourself:
My over bite (my smile in general)
My tummy (the stuff one gives up for their children)
My temper (on the rare occasion that I lose it)

3 Parts of Your Heritage:
Scotch
Irish
Dutch

3 Things that Scare U:
Heights
Snow
Snakes

3 of Your Everyday Essentials:
Coffee
Grandson
Blog

3 Things U are Wearing Right Now:
Toe ring (except for an MRI, it hasn't been off in 14 years)
Anniversary ring (it's huge and I earned it!)
Socks

3 of Your Favorite Bands or Musical Artists:
Jimmy Buffett
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Dwight Yokum

3 of Your Favorite Songs:
Barefoot Children (Buffett)
The Hard Way (Chapin-Carpenter)
Step into Christmas
(Elton John… it always gets me into the Christmas mood)

3 Things U Want to Try in the Next 12 Months:
Get some relationships back on track
A girls weekend with the daughters
A tropical vacation (again)

2 Truths and a lie
I fixed the clutch on my volkswagen bug with a garlic press
For a time I battled anexoria
I've never had a moving violation
(answers in my "100" if you're not sure which is the lie)

3 Things You Want in a Relationship:
Trust
Independence
Humor

3 Things about the Same Sex that Appeal to U:
Self confidence
Expressive eyes
Strength of character

3 Things U Just Cannot Do:
Cook edible food
Eat green peppers
Tell a lie (unless I really plan it out, even then I suck)

3 of Your Favorite Hobbies:
Reading
Walking
Blogging

3 Things U Want to do Really Bad Right Now:
Eat a guilt free bowl of chocolate ice cream
Take a bath (we have a huge loft, but only a shower)
Be on a beach

3 Careers U are Considering:
Retiree
Millionaire
World Traveler

3 Places You Want to Go on Vacation:
Europe
The Carribean
New York City

3 Kid’s Names:
Octavia (I heard it yesterday and loved it)
Lee (was almost Isaiah’s name in honor of my father, Gilbert Lee)
Hannah (would have been Audra’s name had I thought of it then)

3 Things U Want to Do Before U Die:
Retire
Own a home (out right)
Relax

3 Ways U are Stereotypically a Boy:
I fix things
I think boobs are sexy
I wear tennis shoes with almost everything

3 Ways U are Stereotypically a Chick:
I cry at sappy movies
I love being pampered
I PMS (and I milk it for all I can)

3 Celeb Crushes:
Michael Douglas
Morgan Freeman
Dwight Yokum

3 People U Would Like to Complete This Quiz:
I usually don’t do this, but… you know, if you want to:

Mom
Tommy Gunn
Anyone else please... this was really was a fun one!

*

The T is tattooed!

2006-04-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

Stolen from:
Bricotrout
Tommy Gunn
And a bunch of other people!

'Scuse me... I'm with the band.

2006-04-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

So late, late, I went down to the shop to say "good-night". Ryan and Phillip (I believe) were kind enough to hold me up... I was dead tired!
Brian went with them to Washington today to do some more tattooing and will be back soon (I hope!)...
They did a walk through video last night of the shop that may perhaps end up on their Web site as a video post one day... I'll watch for it and let you know!
Well that was fun, now back to real life!

Altered plans...

2006-04-01T23:58:00.000-08:00

So the bands didn't make it in this morning as they had to meet with Nike at 11:00 am and we opened at noon. They decided to defer until tonight after closing. Story of the Year made it in, but Deftones didn't make it because of the time. Adam is getting tattooed as I type this, boy what a little cutie pie!
They did like the shop though and want to shoot some of a video down there later in the year!
I'm on my way down to get some photos for ya right now, I should get them up tomorrow night after work.
It's been a busy day, I'm getting too old for this...

While I'm Braging...

2006-03-31T23:13:00.000-08:00

We will be closed for a few hours tomorrow for a "Private Session" at the shop.
Story of The Year and Deftones will be in the shop for tattoo's...
Yeah, Brian is doing them...
He does everything!
Pictures to follow in the next day or two.

Louis Vuitton Cake Art...

2006-03-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

Brian is one of our talented artists, he left us briefly to work at Hart & Hunnington (A&E's Inked) and was touted as one of the best tattoo artists in the world. Brian designed last years remodel in the shop, which has made us one of the nicest, cleanest tattoo studios I've ever seen.
Brian is an amazing artist in just about any medium.

A year or two ago, all of the girls in the shop (and wives) got really into Louis Vuitton purses. Yesterday was the birthday of one of the wives... this is the Louis Vuitton cake that Brian made:

Everything, even the "hardware" is edible. The rivits are even stamped just like the real deal.
I liked it so much that I actually volunteered my 'real' birthday to Brian so I could get a cake too... he says they've already been planning it!

Now there are tests about WHY we take tests!

2006-03-30T01:37:00.000-08:00

Snarky
You scored %82 quirkiness, %72 nerdiness, and %72 coolness!

You just can't help yourself can you?

You try really hard to be yourself, but you find that, on occassions, people look at you as if you've just grown another head.
It's not your fault that your head is jam-packed with all sorts of useless knowledge.
Yeah it is.
Stop taking these stupid tests!

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on quirkiness
You scored higher than 99% on nerdiness
You scored higher than 99% on coolness

***(so I gather this means I am the only person "MY AGE" who took this test)***

Link: The Why do you take these tests Test written by brujahboy on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Urrgggg... part two.

2006-03-28T20:39:00.000-08:00

You guys are wonderful, thank you for just listening and offering support...
I've been in the person's shoes, that is the most difficult part, I know what lies ahead.
But then again, this person knows better as well.
It's a different instrument this time, but the song is the same...
I've also found that having been in those shoes has greatly decreased my patience for such self destruction.
To me, these actions are selfish and attention seeking.
I'm not such a good co-dependent anymore.

Urrrg...

2006-03-28T00:14:00.000-08:00

I have been depressed the last couple of weeks...
I've been going over a situation over and over again in my brain trying to decide what to do or if there is anything that I am even able to do.
I can't really blog any details... it's just the level of my patience until it passes that is in question.
I'm worried about someone.
That someone has a problem and I cannot fix it.
Watching it is difficult because I've seen a hobby become a habit and that habit has become an obcession, one that I think might be difficult for the problem bearer to get past. The problem is becoming more and more appearent to everyone surrounding the person... but the person doesn't see it and the person thinks it's basically a secret. It is something that can wreck the persons career and relationships. It has caused the person financial problems... the problem is that I think the "problem" is more important to the person and that the person wouldn't care so much if relationships and jobs were lost because of it...
I feel sick tonight.
I've tried talking to the person, it becomes a fight where things are twisted to where I am the person with the problem for being worried and that the problem is not a problem at all...
I know this doesn't make much sense to someone reading it... but it helps me to write it...
If you know me IRL, please don't ask me about it, I won't talk.
I just needed to write tonight...

I need a hobby...

2006-03-26T23:44:00.000-08:00

Tonight we taught the bird to dance:
View the video dancing bird hosted by Myzine.org
It takes a while to load... and the bird isn't very good yet, but s/he's working on keeping a beat...

Is it weird that I think that it's weird?

2006-03-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

So...
Everyone get's the attention of a stranger from time to time, married or not. I'm trying to figure out why I find it so weird on those (rare) occasions that someone flirts with me.
I think I have a fairly good self-image and I think the years have been kind to me...
but it *always* shocks the hell out of me when someone flirts with me.
Thank God I'm not single, I'd never survive out there...

Playin' tag!

2006-03-23T18:06:00.000-08:00

Tagged by Mom, here's the rules:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.

Having just bought an ipod (which I love), this will be easy!
Here's a variety of the most listened to ones, alphabetically.
Don't laugh :)

1. Alice's Restaurante Massacree by Arlo Guthrie
2. Blister in the Sun by Violent Femmes
3. Come on Eileen by Kevin Rowland
(and Dexy's Midnight Runners, Yeah, I'll admit it)
4. Follow Me by Uncle Kracker
5. Never been to Spain by Three Dog Night
6. Raise your Hands by Bon Jovi
7. Your Man by Josh Turner

I didn't mention any Jimmy Buffett songs because those are just gimmee's, lately Barefoot Children has been my favorite JB.

Since I run a tag hospice program (here the tags pass on comfortably to tag heaven), you can leave a comment if you want to "adopt" this tag and we will check out your answers!

So... Why is it than when someone yawns, it makes me yawn, but when someone snores, it keeps me awake?

2006-03-22T01:37:00.000-08:00

Yes... these are the things I wonder about.

Good news in the paper about parking posted below...
Yeah, good news. Crazy huh?

This Just In...

2006-03-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

Today's front page news!

SALEM CITY COUNCIL

City delays action on downtown parking
Plan to set 2-hour limits is put on hold until after a study

DENNIS THOMPSON
Statesman Journal

March 21, 2006

Salem will perform a comprehensive study of the demand for downtown parking before considering whether to put a two-hour limit on parking there, the City Council voted Monday.

The council also voted to delay completing the study until after the Marion County Courthouse reopens so its impact on downtown parking can be considered.

"Nobody seems to have an answer, but everyone has a concern," Council President Jim Randall said, agreeing to the delay suggested by Councilor Brad Nanke. "We need to get this right."

The study will provide a comprehensive assessment of downtown parking, including how much turnover takes place on the streets and how long cars park there.

In delaying the decision about two-hour parking, the council heeded the advice of both the Downtown Advisory Board and the CAN-DO neighborhood association. Both groups voted against imposing a two-hour limit without first proving that it was necessary and would work.

"I think it would be good to have someone from outside come look at it and give us some ideas," Mark Shipman, the chairman of the Downtown Advisory Board, told the council Monday.

Sylvia Dorney, the owner of Greenbaum's Quilted Forest and an advisory board member, told councilors that the two groups plan to hold their own parking forum in April.

The city initiated a two-hour parking limit along four south-downtown blocks in November, after business owners complained that people going to the Salem Conference Center were using all of the on-street parking.

The two-hour limit is in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Councilor Frank Walker said he has walked the two-hour limit area and has found support for the policy.

"My own conversations with many of the business owners in that area is this program is working. The parking study is warranted, and we should proceed with it," Walker said.

He later added, "I don't think there's any high-level dissatisfaction with what we've done so far."

However, a staff report assessing the current two-hour limit noted several businesses that had concerns about the policy.

For example, two counselors with offices on High Street said they were worried about being able to complete psychological evaluations within the two-hour period.

Owners of salons, tattoo parlors and other establishments also have voiced concerns.

---

The delay give those of us with serious concerns a chance to continue to organize and put together a working plan...
I've gone to and spoke at all of the city council meetings (the first speech was quite memorable as in nervous chatter I accidently stated {into a microphone and on CCTV} that I was picturing the city council and mayor naked, but that's another post, anything to make an impression I guess!) when parking was on the agenda....
Limits are fine, but a concession needs to be made for long term customers and/or paid parking w/valadation from retail establishments for "all day wanderers" need to be considered as well.

Yay for delays and studys and Horray for Can-Do and the Downtown Advisory Board!

Break's Over! (I think...)

2006-03-21T00:52:00.000-08:00

So I need some input from you, here's my dilema:
My business is located downtown, obviously I am very vested in downtown and feel that I am part of the local "flavor".
Downtown is growing so fast that parking has become a problem.
The city's proposal is to limit all on street parking to 2 hours and to limit parking in parking structures to 4 hours (leaving no parking for all day, which is f*%king stupid cause some folks just enjoy wandering around downtown).
Most of my clients spend anywhere from 1-3 hours on average and luckily we are located directly across the street from a parking structure.
Occasionally we have customers for large pieces who may spend 5-8 hours and of course they also spend several hundred dollars (so we love those customers).
My choices are to:
1. Wait it out and see what happens (with my thumb in my butt) :)
2. Move to a different location (there is a current tattoo shop that is moving, we could easily get into their place, but I would have to remodel, buy a car because I can walk to work now, and potentially lose customers in the transfer, but I would also be picking up some of the customers from the previous studio... overall though, it would be very expensive and time consuming)
3. Offer our long term customers a "ticket free guarentee" so if a customer is with us for more than 2 (or 4) hours and they receive a ticket, we would pay it (I'm guessing perhaps 4 or 5 ticket monthly at $15 each)

I'm leaning towards #3 as it will get some press (and yes, I believe any press is 'good press') a few other business are also on board with similar plans to not lose their long term customers and to avoid moving... also it's a perfect way to let the city know that "we" think of the parking (proposed) changes and they they cannot chase our customers away just because coming up with a workable parking plan seems like too much trouble/expense...

Fight or flight?

Other businesses that will be affected will be day spas, hair salons and bridal shops, just to name a few....

So whadda think???

Quiet Lately...

2006-03-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

I came back from vacation to a couple of personal challenges...
Not of the busy nature, but more occupying brain space and putting my actions into neutral...
Bear with me...
I'm here
Just not all the way
yet...

Living Downtown...

2006-03-17T13:06:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been kind of crazy, I'll be a better poster next week :) I promise!
So today the article I told you about a couple of weeks ago came out, they did a good job!
You can see it right HERE
And then they did bio's on four of the downtown residents, ours is right HERE!
Pretty cool huh?