First off, welcome to the new folks: silentwish_fic, soleta_nf, jackiesjunkie,  twistdmentality, and velvetjademuse.  It's nice to have you here!  Some of you are fellow NaNoWriMo-ers, some are Moonlight fans, and some are both.  How exciting!

Last week, a former coworker contacted Cindy,one of my supervisors, to see if she knew anyone who would be interested in helping out with a little project.  I don't know if any of you know about Flat Stanley, from the books by Jeff Brown.  Basically, it's this kid who gets squished flat, and they put him in an envelope and send him all over the world.  Yeah, sounds weird, but a lot of classrooms have been doing the Flat Stanley thing with their own flat versions of themselves.  So, I said yes, and got a Flat Ceon (my student's name) in the mail yesterday, all the way from Ohio!  I'm supposed to take him around the area and get pictures of him "experiencing new things".

Last night, Flat Ceon went to Biketoberfest in Sanford.  Bikers everywhere!

As always, Moonlight was fantastic, and apparently, remained steady in the ratings, even with Women's Murder Club taking over the #1 spot for the timeslot.  That's okay...next week will be better.  Way better.  Have you seen the previews for "Fever" yet?  Yow.  If you're a Mick/Beth kinda person, be sure to join up over at the Mick/Beth forum.  We have way too much fun over there. 

NaNo planning is coming along.  I have some basic sketches of the neighborhood it takes place in, as well as plenty of character outlines and plot notes.  I think it will be fine, as long as I commit to 2K a day.  That way, Thanksgiving and birthday plans won't be too traumatic.  How is everyone else coming along?  Are you planning your novel out or just waiting to see what happens on November 1st?

You're right, I don't update anymore. And I leave comments, but not like I used to. I thought of going on a hiatus, but I can't do that.

What I can do is tell you that I'm trying to keep this LJ alive, but bear with me. I've got about a million tasks at work that are demanding a lot of my time, even when I'm at home. I don't even have the energy to turn on the computer. So that's the gist of it.

I really miss you all, and I hope you're doing well.

I wake up and find four episodes of The X-Files taped and ready to watch. DVR is a beautiful thing. We have it set to tape every episode of:

MythBusters
The X-Files
Grey's Anatomy
Lost
Masterpiece Theatre
Family Guy
American Dad
The War at Home
South Park
Drawn Together
Rocko's Modern Life
Aaah! Real Monsters
CatDog

Of course, it means that we can't actually save everything, since we only have 50 hours of space, but still. It's way too cool.

I realized that I haven't updated in over a week. There are a couple of reasons for this. I was sick LIEKWHOA last weekend. From Friday afternoon until Monday night, I was pretty much dead on my feet and didn't even think to turn on the computer. Then this weekend, we had a huge family cookout and I had no opportunity. I apologize. I'm really surprised that I didn't get unfriended by some of you:)

Bought a new printer/copier/scanner. Bought Grey's Anatomy: Season One. Watched the first two discs of Firefly. The second two are on hold at the library. You all were right. It's fantastic. Have slight crush on Wash. Aren't you proud of me?

It's President's Day, and the kids are out of school, so it's going to be a pleasant day.

I can now say that I'm addicted to coffee. I have to have at least two cups a day or I get a headache from hell. However, since I love coffee in all its forms (my current favorite being the I.C. Mocha from Panera Bread), this is not a problem and I can't honestly say why I'm bothering you with this information:)

I've started Sloppy Firsts, by Megan McCafferty. If you haven't heard, I've joined spiffychocolate's book discussions over at TwasBeauty. It's our first book, and I'm super excited. You should join. Seriously.

How awesome was Grey's Anatomy last night? I'm geared up to buy the first season DVDs on the 14th, but I think this season has been so much better.

I have a headache, and I smell like weird Chinese gelatin candy and glue sticks. This crap only happens to me, I swear:)

This epiphany brought to you by the letters F and U.

Seriously, I love my entire flist. You guys are the greatest.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My resolutions:

1. Keep trying to lose that fifteen pounds. I'm really, really, having a hard time with it. People at work love to bring horribly tasty and fattening things to put on the break room table. I can't resist them! I'm afraid to step on the scale:)

2. Find God. In whatever form. I need some assurance that there's life/existence after this one.

3. Stop smoking. Duh.

4. Write. Anything. Seriously.

5. Be a kick-ass YA librarian.

Welcome, 2006.

We spent New Year's Eve playing poker and drinking the lovely pink champagne. Which I knocked over and was so embarrassed that I cried. That was even more embarrassing. We watched fireworks from the big hullabaloo party down the road, and I was able to find a constellation or two.

Hope you're all doing well. I wish I had more time to write!

I forgot to thank morgana44 and tigereyed24 for the loverly cards. Thank you guys so much!

completely22 came over yesterday, and we made several dozen sugar cookies and decorated them. She makes a kick-ass snowman, holly on the top hat and all.

I am sick. Yucky head congestion, and I feel weak. Can't-keep-your-head-up-joints-are-jelly weak. I need a warm bed and more Ab Fab.

Maybe Narnia tomorrow. Eeeeeeeee!

Holiday cards have been sent out. Packages for family will be mailed today. Packages for RL buddies will also be mailed. Fantastic! I'm glad to get it done, since I'm such a horrible procrastinator.

I've been renting old Ab FabVHS tapes from the library...I'm on Season (Series?) 3, which I'll finish up today, followed by "The Last Shout". I really miss BBC America. Besides a select few shows, I don't really care for anything else on TV over here. Blah.

Gotta go.

All the Christmas shopping is done, save for Jason's parents. But we know what we're getting them. I spent over an hour wrapping gifts, and Jason put blue lights ALL OVER the room. I mean ALL OVER. So fun.

I have to make a quick hello before I go to demonicpixy and anomilygrace. Welcome!

Universal Studios rocks. Spent the day there in the freezing ass rain wearing jeans and flip-flops. Not the most comfortable attire when you're wet and walking long distances. But it was so fun.

We rode:

The Mummy's Revenge
The Spiderman 3-D thingy
Back to the Future (so corny)
Earthquake (even cornier, and with Charlton Heston)
Jurassic Park River Adventure
Men in Black: Alien Attack
Fear Factor Live (not a ride, but as an audience member)

Feet hurt. Tired. A very good birthday:)

Welcome, carrie3078! *waves*

A-ha-ha-ha-ha...I have over half of the money needed to get a 30GB iPod video. You all convinced me to be trendy and get the ultimate. Thanks to my dad's birthday gift that I received today, I'll be getting it sometime early next year. Eeeeeee!

We went shopping for a train to put under the Christmas tree, and instead (since we couldn't find said train) we came home with six boxes of mini-lights, a little box of gourmet doggie treats, eight tiny stockings, and a bag of goodies from the Body Shop. Gah, I love that place. It wasn't as bad getting to and from each shopping center as I expected, and we were able to find parking spaces easily enough.

The whole house is decorated, and it smells like Christmas. I love this time of year. I even made a little winter-inspired background for my journal, and a matching default icon. I can't do much when it comes to layouts, but I like it. Sometimes simple can be okay, too.

Happy Birthday, foxxcub! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Speaking of birthdays, Jason gave me my gift last night. I know I should have waited till Monday like any good girl, but I could tell he wanted to go ahead and give it to me. I got the most beautiful pair of diamond earrings ever. And they're white gold, too, which is my favorite. Is it corny to say that I feel like a real grown-up now? It's nice getting bling from my husband. I usually ask for DVDs or books:)

I'm working on Christmas cards today. That way I should be done by tomorrow, and then I'll send them out late next week or something. They're nothing special, but I like making cards myself, even if it's on the computer.

I think I'm going to start saving up for a nice mp3 player. Not an iPod, since they don't seem to make just a regular music-playing-only iPod anymore. Not a mini or a nano or a shuffle. Seriously, I only want to play music. I don't need pictures or podcasts or movies. I don't need it to be tiny. I just need to consolidate this massive CD case of mine. Becca said that the Creative Zen mp3 player is great, and it's cheaper, too. They have a 6-gig for $150, which is great. Maybe I'll get that.

*opens Photoshop*

I'll be back later. As you probably already know, it seems that nobody is getting comment notification email right now, so if I don't reply right away, that's why.

Thank you for all the encouragement, my wonderful flist. It really helps to have a support system:)

We got sweet tickets to the Orlando Magic's game tonight. Center court, and about eighteen rows up. Maybe you'll see me on TV. I'll be wearing a lavender long-sleeved shirt. There will be a very tall and cute man sitting next to me. That's the hubster. So much fun!

Back on Slim-Fast. Wearing Biore pore strip and Crest Whitestrips Premium. Bought special vitamins for women. Am determined to lose 25 pounds by March. Have had exactly one serving of red meat in the past two weeks. I don't plan on having anymore for a while.

Am going to sit here with mouth closed while whitening solution burns my tongue.

It's a new me! :/

Received my new TV Guide. I had no idea that there was a LotR fan documentary coming out on DVD. I also did not know that it is narrated by Dom. Where the fuck have I been?

I got back in touch with my ninth-grade World Geography teacher. I cannot believe it's been eight years since I was in her class.

*feels old*

tigereyed24, thank you for the ep...I'm watching it tomorrow. In broad daylight. So I won't scare the crap out of myself.

Working Sundays really isn't bad. My shift was 8:30-5:00, but we don't actually open until 1:00. I shelved, I straightened, I organized, I did book reviews for my YA blog, I did more research on the anime club thing. Very productive day.

Grey's Anatomy! It seems like each new TV Guide has something great to say about them, which is a huge change from last year. I still wish they'd change the opening credits. They still make me cringe. However, yay!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I changed my mind about the pictures...I'll post them tonight or tomorrow. I'll be sure to get one of my costume. Which reminds me, I have to go to the store before work and grab a pair of black pantyhose. I don't want blisters.

Then tonight, I'll be passing out candy. It's weird...I've always been on the other side of the door. I'll miss it.

Happy haunting, guys!

ETA: Oh, shit. Shit, shit. NaNoWriMo. I haven't planned at all.

To get into the Halloween spirit, which sounds kinda kinky when you've just woken up like I have, I have taken a meme from thehush. Onward, my minions! It's a party!

( Halloween Party meme... )

Wasn't that fun?

I'll put up pictures of my front porch later. Nothing fancy, just spiderweb and pumpkins.

The Historian? So worth the wait. I'm halfway done with it, and my only complaint is that maybe she could have gone a bit deeper with the characterizations. But it's so full of amazing descriptions of libraries and museums and exotic locales that I'm willing to forgive the author. I highly recommend it.

Wilma, eh? I hear the bitch is coming for Central Florida, and yes, we're ready. So if we happen to lose power and phones, don't worry. We're on high ground, and we have plenty of food. Who knows...maybe it'll fizzle away without doing much damage. Anyway...subject change.

I had to force myself not to watch the ferret scene, youse guys. My finger was on the play button, and I stopped. I make me proud:) I really would like to be surprised in the theater. And I'm proud to announce that im_tinuviel has become a Harry Potter fanatic. It's taken five years of listening to my insane babbling on the subject, but she finally crossed over to the Dark Side. Velcome, my lurve! We've decided to join the Triwizard Tournament over at Dissendium. I hadn't heard anything about his, but it seems like fun, and I'll pimp it.

( Just a thought on this past week's Lost...no real spoilers that I can see, but just in case, proceed with caution. )

Just got back from crabbing. Jason caught about fifteen, and he's throwing them into a pot of boiling death water as I type. I can't stand being in the room while they're dying. *shivers*

Anyway, I saw a dolphin in the water. Amazing. That's another thing I can cross off my list.

All you ASoUE fans, you'll be proud. I'm on Book the Eighth, and the others on on their way from some of the other library branches. I love, love, love them! I really enjoy the way he sneaks vocabulary lessons into the story. I've learned a few new words, to be totally honest:) I hoping to finish reading the first eleven books before the library gets a copy of the twelfth.