Ever Get the Urge?

A friend of mine sent me a great link. Can you pass by a sheet of bubble-wrap without popping at least one of the bubbles? Personally, neither can I, so have fun and don't do this at work, because I don't want to get blamed for the lack of production...lol.Oh, and don't forget to try Manic Mode.

She got me thinking.

Every week my friends and I make a trip north to practice. As we carpool we talk about everything and nothing. We speak of our families, friends, and people who have hurt us. Occasionally we speak of silly things, the things that helped to make us who we are. Our taste in movies, books, and music. The other night on our way to practice I was asked what my theme song was. What is that one song you hear in your head when you need to feel confidant? Or just the one song you hear when you need to laugh?

Well, it really got me to thinking. I have been thinking and listening to all my favorite songs. I am a big Country music fan, but none of the songs I hear really fit me and my life. I am also a demented person. I enjoy Dr. Demento. I have quite a few songs from his 20th anniversary collection that come close, but alas even though many of the songs make me laugh and can brighten my day, still they do not fit.

At his point, I can say the only song so far that comes the closest is Monty Python's 'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.' from the movie, "Life Of Brian."



So, here is my question to you. I think I have 3 maybe 4 readers...what is your current theme song? Keep in mind, your choice today, will have no lasting effects and you can always change your mind. Now...Off I go to watch more Monty.

Time for change

Do you ever get the itch to totally reinvent yourself? Every once in a while I get the urge to change my look drastically. This usually just ends up being a hair cut. My biggest problem is that I can never find a look I like. I am a heavy set person, I personally do not like short hair styles, and I equally dislike long styles. Through a series of trials and errors, I have found that I look best with bangs, even though exposing your forehead and framing your face is supposed to make it look slimmer, I don't think it works well for me. Another thing I have found out is that having my hair all one length doesn't work either. When riding the motorcycle it is harder to untangle.

So with all that said I have been playing around on a free website that allows you to upload your own picture and give your self a free makeover. I was having a bit of fun and decided I really hate my hair. The hair options on this page are for people who actually take the time to try and style it. I am a 'run a comb through it, let it dry and go' girl. I don't have the patience to style my hair. I have never been, nor will I ever be a girly-girl. Now If I could find a fairy god-mother to do my hair and make up everyday I might put a little more effort into it, not to mention actually by some makeup.

Anyway, I am going to get my hair done tomorrow, I am adding some color and getting some cut off. Here is the before, and I will get an after for you after it is finished and from the stylist, that way you will see how it is supposed to look...lol.












There you go, before and after, although I will admit the first thing I did when I got home was wash the styling stuff out of it. I hate it when they put so much stuff in your hair it feels like straw, besides, I'm just going to sweat it out in a few hours anyway.

Now I know you can see the big red chunk in the front, what you can't really see is a layer of red in the middle along the sides. I love it, although I really wanted the super, Crayola red. I just can never seem to find a place to get it. Maybe the next time I see a kid walking down the street with multi-colored hair, I'll ask.

Smut Books and Awesome Authors

Alright, I'll admit it. I read romance novels. Although I like to think I have a standard when it comes to my smut. I avoid Harlequin novels and usually focus on historical novels. I also read fantasy or paranormal romance.

The list of genres I read is actually pretty broad. I am a sucker for a good story, heck if it is captivating enough, I'll even read a not so good story.

Last year I had the good fortune to meet 2 of my favorite authors. Sherrilyn Kenyon (aka Kinley McGregor) and Diana Gabaldon. Both of these woman were wonderful speakers. I could have sat and listened to them speak for hours. Unfortunately, as is always the case, time was not on my side. I was able to get all of the books I own signed by each of these incredible ladies.

I know in some areas book signings are a dime a dozen. Not in my life, although I am having more opportunities since I have moved closer to a large city. I am very excited to say that I will be able to meet Ms. Kenyon for the second time in as many years, and I have more books for her to sign. For those of you who know me, I am always asked, What does the DD in DD Hunter stand for? Well, Ms. Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series was my inspiration for my Derby persona.

She mixes Greek Mythology with soul sucking vampires, strong hero's who need strong heroines to pull them out of a jam they got themselves into hundreds, some even thousands of years ago. Her writing is very witty and upbeat, I find myself laughing at pop-culture references and wanting to pull out any book I can find of the Greek Gods.

One of the reasons I admire this woman so much is she takes an interest in her readers. She not only hears us when we babble and gush all over her and her work, she actually listens to us. For example. Last year I told her of my friend, Tara, who at the time lived in FL. I informed her that one of the books she was signing was for my friend and how disappointed Tara was that she was unable to make the trip to Rockford to meet Ms. Kenyon herself. Three months later, Sherrilyn had added more stops to her tour, including Orlando. Tara drug her best guy friend to the book signing, she was so excited. I can't tell you how excited I was when Tara was speaking about her friend in Illinois who had the chance to meet Ms. Kenyon a few months back, and Sherrilyn remembered me!

All I can say is when I go to see her in Aug, it will have been over a year since our last meeting, and I am sure she will have met hundreds of thousands of her fans, but I know that once upon a time, she knew who I was, and I can't wait to see her again.

Fun, Sun, and Friends.

Happy Father's Day weekend. We have finally had a nice pair of days. Saturday was beautiful, we went to Jake's annual shift picnic. Now usually we have this party at a public park close to the Rock River. Two or three years ago the usual pavilion was flooded so we were moved. This year, all of the shelters were flooded. Thanks to Sgt Hernandez for opening up her back yard for us. The party was great. Lots of sun and fun. The kids had a wonderful time beating a candy filled pinata in the shape of Dash from The Incredibles. Even some of the large kids got involved, I got some fruit roll ups ^_^

Then it was off to derby practice for me while the hubby stayed and partied. I had a blast as always at practice. Al is such an awesome guy. My only bummer of the day was when I went into the wall. One of my wheels went into my shin. it was swelling and bruising right away so I iced it and sat out the last 20 or so minutes of practice. The good part of me sitting out is my shin is now super sensitive, but the bruising is minimal.

After practice it was back to the party, where I had a few drinks, got bitten by a friend. (Yea, that's where all my blood went to form a bruise. Thanks Mike! ) Tried to light a fire with wet wood, wasted a lot of lighter fluid though. Then it was time to make the trek home. Then to bed and set the alarm for Sunday.

Sunday was nice and restful. we had a thunderstorm that took a tree down by the in-laws. They have been without power since 5:30 am. It is a good thing they had decided to buy a generator this spring. Since they made that purchase they have had to use it twice. Once for 3 hours and today when we left they were going on the 12 hour mark.

Once home we lounged about then took a quick jaunt through the countryside on the bike. Now it is time to check my eye lids for holes.

Good Night everyone.

This gives me a better feeling about the class of 2008

This is the speech from Lisa Pawlowicz, Bolingbrook High School Class of 2008 Valedictorian.
I find that even though I graduated from high school a while ago, it still inspires me. Thank you Lisa for allowing me to post your hard work on my blog.



Today as we celebrate the graduation of the class of 2008, it is integral to keep in mind exactly what it is we are celebrating: we are not recognizing the end of our education, but honoring our value for education itself.
In society today, we often forget that there is more to education than memorizing facts and formulas, reading literature because it’s famous, and writing essays to fulfill word counts. With this paradigm in mind, it’s easy to see why so many of our generation regard school as a waste of time. Mired down in facts and figures, they fail to see the elegance of math, the beauty of language, the poignancy of history. But today is not about those people. Today is about those of us who realize that in order to understand football one must understand the physics behind it; that in order to appreciate music on the radio one must appreciate the music of Mozart and Bach; that in order to fully value one’s participation in government one must value the principles upon which our government was founded. This, then, is the real meaning of education --not merely to memorize something for a test and then promptly discard it as irrelevant, but to truly understand it, internalize it, and then to utilize it.
Having been a student in the Valley View School District since kindergarten, I’ve seen some of the best and worst of what Valley View has to offer: I’ve done chemistry labs with state-of-the-art equipment and I’ve done physics labs with not-so-state-of-the-art equipment; I’ve performed in a multi-million dollar auditorium and I’ve been locked out of it; I’ve had teachers who have changed my life and I’ve seen them fired for the very ingenuity that inspired me; and I’ve come to realize many things that I don’t think I would have had I grown up in a different district. I think the most important thing I’ve learned from the past thirteen years of my life is that education isn’t going to come to you of its own volition. Life presents us with the opportunities to learn, but it’s up to us to make use of these opportunities. High school can expose students to teachers, resources, and ideas, but it can’t force its students to make use of them. The fact that we are here in our caps and gowns indicates that we, the graduating class of 2008, value our education enough to do whatever it takes to improve our minds.
The question, then, is: what will we do now that this stage of our lives is over? Free from a life of 7:30 a.m. classes, mandatory attendance, and the omnipresent bell system telling us when to turn our brains on and off, will we allow ourselves to continue to explore the unknown dimensions of the world in which we live? Fellow graduates, allow me the impertinence of giving this advice: never allow your minds to become complacent, because no matter where your life takes you, no matter how far you travel or how many ladders you climb, you can never escape the home you’ve built for yourself in your mind. Don’t restrict yourself with the shackles of apathy. As John Milton stated, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” Do not scorn the art of learning new things, because learning is what makes your mind an interesting place to live. Thank you.

Here's something to think about

The next time your cell phone rings....where is it?

Popcorn By Cellphone

Has it been a week already?

All I can say is Wow, it has been a short week. This past weekend we went to visit a few friends. As usual when we travel to visit the Markusons we had no plans other than catching a few flicks. Saw the new Indi movie (I heart Indiana Jones), skated with the god kids, (trying to train up the next generation of derby girls and refs)

After skating a while the girls dropped the guys at the movies to watch Iron Man and the chicks hit the book store and the hobby store. We shopped till The little one dropped.


After picking the guys up again we were informed that Iron Man was the 'Awesomest movie ever (even though the little guy covered his ears during a lot of it).

Then as most weekends do ours came to an end and it was time to return to reality.

Monday was only a half day for me as I went to the doctor, still nothing new, more tests. On the bright side, the doctor did give me the written note I needed to start the process for getting my absences excused from work. Tuesday I froze my rear watching a friend play her first game of player pitch softball, then Thursday I sweated that same rear off in 90 degree high humidity heat. Gotta love the mid-west, if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes, it'll change.

Practice was great, Bob Noxious drove down from Madison to give us some tips. And the best part is he has agreed to come down every Thursday to help us get ready for the last bout of our inaugural season. Thanks again Bob for all your support!

Now we have come full circle and it is once again the weekend. Jake is working, I am lazing about, waiting for tonight and then doing absolutely nothing tomorrow. I am finally going to have a relaxing weekend!

Later everyone.