Thursday Thirteen: Best Remake or Cover Songs

I thought I would jump on the Thursday Thirteen bandwagon, I read some and love what people write especially Ali's at Cheaper Than Therapy, she has a great new list each Thursday and I love to read what she thinks. So I am taking a page from her and trying my own. That way you can get to know me a little better each week.

I thought I would start with something that I've been thinking about for quite a while now, the thirteen best remakes or cover songs. Let me know what you think and let me know what you would add to the list. Also, any ideas for upcoming lists, what do you want to know about me?

Here we go:

1) It's my Life - No Doubt (originally by Talk Talk)



I love this version of It's my Life by No Doubt, I think they cover this song better then the original group Talk Talk.

2) Lady Marmalade - Missy Elliot, Christina, Pink, Mya & Lil Kim
(originally by Labelle)



You cannot deny that this version of Lady Marmalade is powerful, there are some strong voices on this cover and I also think it is better then the original sung by Labelle in the 70s.

3) Barracuda - Gretchen Wilson w/Alice in Chains (originally by Heart)



I cannot believe how much Gretchen Wilson sounds like Ann herself. This cover for the VH1 Rock Honors is a tribute to a great female rock band and Gretchen does it justice. If you watch the clip you see Nancy come on stage and rock out too. WOW!!!

4) Sunday Bloody Sunday - Daughtry (originally by U2)


Nobody sings this song as good as Bono, but I have to say that Chris Daughtry sure comes close. His voice sounds flawless and the band knows how to rock.

Click on the picture, and it will bring you to a Yahoo page, click on Watch now and you should be able to see Daughtry cover U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday (you should not have to sign in).


5) It's a Man's World - Christina Aguilera (originally by James Brown)



At the 2007 Grammy Awards, Christina Aguilera sang a tribute to The Godfather of Soul, James Brown by covering It's a Man's World, and wow the voice on this little woman sure is POWERFUL!! You might not like her, but you can't deny her talent and she brings the essence and soul of James Brown with her for this rendition.

6) Hazy Shade of Winter - The Bangles (originally by Simon & Garfunkel)



This song was covered by The Bangles for the movie Less then Zero a great movie with Robert Downey Jr. (talk about life imitating art). I can't image how Simon & Garfunkel sang this song originally The Bangles sing it perfectly.


7) Personal Jesus - Marilyn Manson (originally by Depeche Mode)



Though Marilyn Manson's version is darker and harder, it definitely is one of my favorite songs that he has covered. I love the tone of this cover and even though some might despise MM he to me is a brilliant man who has figured out a way to market a dark side (though not evil like most think he is), and he is making some serious cash from it all.

8) Walk this Way - Run DMC w/Aerosmith (originally by Aerosmith)



This is not just a cover but a remake as well. I love this version compared to the original one that Aerosmith sang in the 70s. Not only did it revitalize Aerosmith but it brought rap and Run DMC into the mainstream, brings me back old school style.

9) All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix (originally by Bob Dylan)



I only recently found out that the version Jimi Hendrix sang was a cover from a Bob Dylan song. Jimi's voice and his guitar playing just mesmerizes the listener. Every good movie about Vietnam has this song in its soundtrack and I don't think it would've been the same if it was Bob Dylan singing it.

10) Signs - Tesla (originally by Five Man Electrical Band)



Rockers Tesla really hit it big with their acoustic cover of the classic Signs, which was an amazing hit for the '90s, considering it was a dirty hippie song. I've heard that Tesla is one of those bands that actually sound better live. My friend has seen them more then once and always says they rock.

11) Killing me Softly - The Fugees (originally by Roberta Flack)



This cover by The Fugees is just so moving, Lauren Hill's voice is beautiful and this song actually holds a special part in my life. The original by Roberta Flack was my mom and dad's wedding song, though the marriage didn't last, The Fugees have made this song last.

12) Rebel Yell - Toby Rand (originally by Billy Idol)



Most of you don't know who Toby Rand is, but if you watched last years, Rockstar: Supernova the search for the new lead singer for the superband Supernova which includes Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted & Gilby Clarke then you would've seen Toby as one of the contestants, he was my favorite even though he didn't win. I just love his cover of Billy Idol's Rebel Yell, though no one can sing it like Billy, Toby sure knows how to bring out his rebel yell.

13) Smokin' in the Boys Room - Motley Crue (originally by Brownsville Station)



How can you not love Motley Crue's cover of this classic song by Brownsville Station. You can't help but just get happy when watching this video (at least I do) The Crue back when they wore more makeup then women did. Gotta love them. One of the best concerts I've ever seen was Motley Crue.

So that's my list, what do you think?

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Right to Die Issue

This Friday Dr. Jack Kevorkian will be freed from a Michigan prison that he's been at for the last 8 years for second-degree murder in the poisoning of a man with Lou Gehrig's disease, I paraphrase from Yahoo.com article on the matter. Many people have strong opinions about this, about assisted suicides for the terminally ill. Should they be allowed to end their suffering, should doctors and nurses help, should it be legal?

There are many questions and there are many sides to this issue, but I don't think anyone who hasn't been through an illness that could be terminal or is terminal knows what it is like.

I have, I was diagnosed 8 years ago with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and at the time they gave me about a 15% chance of living. I was 24 years old and had my whole life ahead of me. The first hospital (the one where I was diagnosed) didn't even think they could or should do anything, they told my family that there might not be anything that we can do for her now. I was stage 4 with a tumor the size of a basketball in my chest, my heart was engorged from fluids, my left lung was collapsed and filling with fluids as well, they were able to get the fluids out and thank goodness they did because I probably wouldn't have made the weekend if they didn't. Luckily we found a better hospital and a better doctor to treat me and because of my doctor and my will power to live I am here today to talk about it.

But that is another story, this post is about my feelings with assisted suicide for the terminally ill. Now I don't know much about Dr. Kevorkian I know he was a doctor that believed in helping people who wanted to die peacefully rather then painfully because of a terminal disease. I know that he did this and was convicted of murder because of it, even though it was the wishes of his patient. Do I agree with what he did or how he did it, I don't know. All I know is if my cancer had become terminal if there was absolutely no hope I would want to live out the rest of my life peacefully and when it became apparent that I would be riddled with pain and suffering I would want to be given medication to let me slip into the night and go to a better place.

When you come as close to death as I did, you start to really think about your own mortality and what you have accomplished so far. I was a fighter still am, but there was a time when I was in so much pain and so weak that I wanted to give up, now I don't think that calls for ending my life. I was lucky I had great friends and family around me to help me, to support me and a friend that I met while going through treatment that was going through the EXACT same thing as I was so we had each other to say, this too shall pass.

But I tell you, if they had said, we can do no more for you and it was just a waiting game, I would do everything in my power to live, but when the time came that I could no longer live a well life, I would want to be euthanized, we put our pets to sleep when they are in pain, why can't we do that for others who are suffering so much. I do not want to be on life support and have machines keep me alive, I do not want to feel pain and live like a vegetable because I'm doped up so much that I have no real awareness of what is going on around me. I think that a person who is ready to die and who is suffering should be allowed to die the way they want to die.

I do not believe in suicide and I do not believe that just anyone who is going through something hard should be allowed to die. I think that is a completely different situation, if there is hope to get better then no you shouldn't be allowed to die, you should fight and fight hard. But if there is nothing else but pain and suffering and imminent death then I believe you should go peacefully with drugs, I also think doctors and nurses should be involved so it is done properly. I know some might use the religious aspects to debate this, but I know in my heart that God was with me and so were my angels watching over me during my illness and I do not believe that he would want me to suffer to feel that kind of pain.

This is only my opinion from my experience and I welcome any feedback or comments but please be nice.

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The Little Things that Make me Happy

It doesn't take much to make me happy and I've tried to explain that to men I've dated in the past but for some reason I'm considered high maintenance but then I started to think about it and realized it wasn't me it was the men I've dated, they just weren't interested in making someone else happy just what makes them happy.

Now I'm not saying all of them have been that way, I've dated some really great guys but for whatever reason it just didn't work out. Sometimes it was me, sometimes it was them, but when it comes to making me happy it's easy.

Like this past weekend, it was the long weekend and I was able to get my shift covered from the restaurant on Saturday (they were supposed to take me off Saturdays but the manager "forgot" so it was my problem), then I was able to leave at 8pm on Friday from there instead of 11:30, so that meant I really got a long weekend to just relax.

My mom (whom I live with right now) went to Finland on Saturday which means I have the whole apartment to myself and guess what, I did absolutely nothing but enjoyed my alone time. I cleaned a bit but mostly I just enjoyed not having to talk to anyone, and if you know me at all, not talking is a very rare occurrence.

I went to my father's house on Sunday for a BBQ because he was leaving for Greece on Monday (I know both parents going to Europe, my father's girlfriend joked that they were having a secret rendezvous in Europe HA HA UH NO!!!)

The weather was beautiful all weekend, I slept in, took naps, baked brownies, I sat on my porch and I just relaxed, I so needed that.

Today I'm back at work but it is still beautiful out and had the opportunity to go outside for a bit, I had to go to the bank and then pick up our lunch. We go to this sub shop that serves really great subs, their small is what most consider a large and their large is just HUGE!!! Well I like going in there especially at lunch time, because all these men who I guess you would consider blue collar, men who work with their hands eat there. I have to say it Oh that is SOOO my type of guy. I have never been able to be with a guy whose hands are softer then mine. I like a man who has work hands, rough and calloused, I know I'm weird, but its sexy to see a man work hard and get dirty from that work.

Another thing that made me happy today was a CD I had that was a bit warped wouldn't play in my car or stereo anymore and I was upset because it is not a CD I can get from a store, it was from a DJ friend I knew if FL and it has one of my favorite songs/remixes on it. So I tried it on my computer at work (I know bad bad girl, I should be working) and guess what it worked no problem so I uploaded it and am going to burn it onto a new CD so I can have it again.

Little things make me happy, quiet time, good looking men to look at, fixing a CD, and just someone asking, "how was your weekend" and actually interested in what my reply is.

Doesn't take much I tell you, and it's only Tuesday.

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OMG He's Single Again

All I have to say is, Oh MY GAWD!!!! I can't believe he's single again. I've only been waiting since I moved back, and now he is....

The only problem now is how do I get him??? Any suggestions out there?

Background information: We have "dated" before, never serious and never exclusively, so this wouldn't be a first encounter sort of thing. We've known each other for over 10 years now. But since I've been back there was no possibility of any kind of relationship other then friends. But now...

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Chocolate Cream Pie, a Movie & a Friend

Last night I was still in a bit of a funk, I just have so much going on inside my head (the voices keep trying to take over, okay just kidding, or am I oh those damn voices LOL).

But I called my friend Melissa and she could tell just by my "Hi" in that blah sort of way that something was wrong. I told her, "I don't know I'm just stressed and I just feel blah. Do you have any plans later, I don't want to just go home and lie in bed watching TV and feeling sorry for myself, but I really don't have any money."

"Well what do you want to do?" she asked

"I don't' know, maybe get something to eat, or I don't know." Can you tell I really was just not myself?

"Well I have to go over Hoo-hoo's tonight to hook up his computer to the TV, but after I'm free."

"Okay, well call me later and we'll figure something out. Thanks."

"Okay bye."

I finish the rest of the day and still feel blah, I hate it when I get like this, it just makes me feel worse, because I am a very lucky person and I have been through so much worse then what I'm going through inside right now so then of course I feel even worse for feeling bad about such trivial stuff. But I'm a complex person inside and I have a tendency to over dramatize and over think things so you can imagine the inner turmoil I was having with myself.

People laugh at me (or with me, no probably at me) because I talk to myself a lot, not like conversations with the air, or a voice, but I'll just think out loud, when I first met my ex Devon (boy that's a story for another time), and he moved in with me, I would be in the bedroom watching TV and he'd be in the living room watching TV and I had been living by myself for a while and I would just talk to the TV like they could hear me. "What are you stupid, he's right behind you?" or "No no ack I can't believe they are doing this to me." (some storyline I didn't like) and he'd yell, "What are you saying to me?"

"Nothing honey, I'm talking to the TV."

"You're talking to the TV?"

"I know but you should know by now that I can't keep quiet."

It took Devon awhile to get used to me mumbling to myself but after awhile he figured out when I was "thinking" out loud or talking to him.

Back to last night, so I'm on my way home and Melissa calls me and says, "I don't have to go to Hoo hoo's house you want to see a movie?"

"Sure what's playing?"

We go through all the movies that are playing around us and nothing really seemed all that appealing or were too late. So I said, "Why don't you call me when you get home, I have a Netflix movie at home, you can come over and we can watch that if you want?"

"Okay that sounds good, I'll call you in a bit."

I get home and get the mail and see a letter addressed from Dr Wang (the doctor that did my root canal), and I think to myself, "great what did the insurance not pay for this time that I'm going to have to pay." But when I opened the letter there was a check in there for $91.00 I guess the insurance paid more then expected so I got a reimbursement from my co-pay. WOO HOO!!! I was jumping for joy, my biggest funk all week has been that I'm broke and that I keep getting more and more medical bills because my last insurance company FUCKED me in the ass big time (sorry to be so crude but they did oh did they ever).

It just made me feel like maybe things were going to be okay, then Melissa calls and says, "how about I stop at Stop-n-shop and get some salad bar stuff and I'll be over?"

I say, "that sounds like a plan, I have some left-overs from my fathers house that Katerina made and its good, we can heat that up and watch TV or a movie."

Melissa comes over, with not just salad bar food, but a movie and a Chocolate Cream Pie. That girl sure knows how to make me feel better.

We eat, watch 2 Brothers and a Wife (also named A Foreign Affair, a weird movie, she got it from the bin at Stop-n-Shop) and just relax. Sometimes all you need to make you feel better is a good friend, a weird movie and Chocolate Cream Pie. Thanks Melissa you really made me feel a lot better, the check helped but you were really the reason I feel better today. Its good to have friends that know you so well and can tell when you just need a little Pie and company.

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Sometimes we just need a good laugh.

Since I have nothing inspirational to say and I'm still feeling a little blue, I think it is time for a funny video about the difference between men showering and women. This one made me laugh and it is SOOO true. Enjoy

glumbert.com - How to Shower: Women vs. Men

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Monday Blues

I have the Monday blues I'm just not motivated today to do anything really and I hate when I feel like that. I've been sitting here at work trying to think up something to write about, something witty and funny, but alas I can not. I think it has to do with the fact that Memorial Day is coming up and I really don't have any money to do anything.

I work two jobs to pay back some debt I got myself into while living in Florida. It sucks to be 32 years old and living check to check. I have no house of my own. I don't own my car yet, I don't have nice clothes that have "labels" in them (not that I ever did buy labels but you know). I've been wearing the same shoes for about 3 years. I buy what's on sale and buying new underwear at Target is a treat for me. I'm just tired of being always two steps behind. I feel like every time I think I'm above water something else pushes my head back down.

Today, I go to the ATM and realize there is about $100-$150 less in my checking account then there should be, I'm thinking great what did I write a check or pay online for that I forgot about. So I get to work and go online and realize that my check from the restuarant (the 2nd job) has bounced. It went BOING BOING BOING, and I'm not even surprised by this. I had heard from others that at one point their checks have bounced as well. Great that's all I need.

So I call the restaurant and talk to the owner and she said to just bring in the proof of the bounced check (because I don't have the actual check back yet) and they would reimburse me. Oh and they would pay the fees as well. (Which is a good thing). But what bugs me is that she was so non-chalant about it like no big deal. Well you know what it is a big deal losing that money, plus the time it is going to take me to go get the money from them, then go to their bank to cash this weeks checks (so it won't bounce again) and then go back to my bank to deposit the cash. Yeah because I have so much free time to do all this.

It's a good thing that I had enough money in my bank account to cover anything that will clear because let me tell you if I had bounced any checks or had any overdrafts (fees) the restaurant would be paying for those as well. I'm just tired of living like this. I just wish that I had been smarter and less trusting of the "boyfriend" (now ex) and realized sooner that I needed to get away from him. I will say he is trying to repay me and I appreciate it, but it really isn't enough each month. I"m trying to save for Blogher in Chicago this summer and it's really hard. With gas prices, tolls and just daily expenses (not to mention all the damn bills I have), I just barely make it each month.

I have been wanting to go out dancing and have some drinks with friends for so long, but that is just not in the budget. Oh well, I have lived through worse things and I will live through this too. But it sucks damn it!!!

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I feel like a famous person now because I have a therapist.

Okay that title isn't completely true I don't feel famous, but isn't that the trendy thing to do now is see a therapist. Well I'm not seeing a therapist because I want to be trendy nor do I feel depressed, I am seeing one because my father and I have a very up and down relationship, and we have just started talking after about 8 months of no communication.

My father and I don't communicate very well and the last time that we stopped talking I made a decision that if we were to have a normal father/daughter relationship then I wanted us to go into family counseling. And to my surprise my father not only agreed but thought it was a good idea. He too wants us to communicate and relate to each other better and so we went last night to meet with Steve our psychologist. Steve is someone that my father and step mother saw when their marriage was ending and they were trying to work things out, so he already knows my father which is a good thing, because he already knows what to expect from my dad.

Yesterday we talked briefly why we were there and how we want to have a better relationship and that we go through times where we don't talk for months and how we want that to stop and I want him to realize sometimes words hurt and I want to learn how to not take everything he says so personally and not be intimated by him. I've always wanted to please my father but never feel like I can.

So we'll see how things go, Steve just talked with me first so he could get to know me better since he's never met me and I will go back a few more times alone to talk with him. Then we'll go together to see him, to build a better foundation for our relationship, I am very hopeful and very happy that my father and I are doing this. I won't get into the details of our specific issues, partly because I don't want to talk about that on the Internet but I wanted to share that we are moving in the right direction and that I hope and pray that this works.

I respect my father so much, he is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. He came to this country when he was just 18 years old after working as a merchant marine and he jumped ship literally when the boat docked in NC. He came into this country with the clothes on his back and nothing else. He learned English, he taught himself the culture and he opened his own business. He absorbs everything he sees and reads, he has a photographic memory which really sucks when you play cards with him, because he'll memorize the cards that were played and know exactly what card you need so he'll put that card on his forehead face out and say, "Ha you need this one, see if you can go out now." But he's also a stubborn SOB and so am I (both of us are Capricorns). We butt heads, we are a lot alike in some senses, but I'm hoping that we learn a better way to deal with each other then to just cut off ties. I love my father and I want him to be a part of my life and I know he wants to be there. Wish us luck because I'm sure we'll need it.

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Trip to Mystic Day 2

On Saturday we woke up pretty early but stayed in the hotel and just relaxed for a bit, since neither one of us wanted to really get up yet. My mom has this crazy habit of getting up way too early, and of course once I'm up I don't go back to sleep.

We decide to go to the Mystic Seaport Museum of America and the Sea which is a recreated seaport village from the 1800s. It was a really cool place to go see, to explore and learn how things were done back then. There were all kinds of spots in the village that you could see into the past. Like how to make hemp into rope.


First they spin the hemp in a spinning wheel to separate all the threads


Then they put the separated strands onto big spools and run each spool through one hole to start to twist it together



The now thicker strands are twisted and are laid out through a machine that will start to twist all of those together (not a machine really it was all done by hand machines and cranking and twisting yourself).


Now we start to see the rope starting to form.


The finished product, tight, thick rope that can be used to tie a ship at the dock, or to use with the anchor.

Now I'm sure that I missed a step or I said something wrong in my directions, I am trying to remember this from the quick tour we got, so if anyone sees a mistake in my process, I apologize. But you get the idea.

4 of the Tall ships that tour the world are stored here, it was pretty neat to see them up close with no lines and be able to go aboard.



Mom had an absolute blast roaming these ships, she went down into the bunkers and just loved them. She loves ships, lighthouses and anything to do with the sea. The smells, the sights all of it. Isn't she cute?


This is a replica of the ship "The Amistad" there is an organization regarding this ship.

We toured the whole village and took in all the sights, learned a lot about what it was like to live and work in a village like this in the 19th century. If you ever get down to Mystic you should most definitely check this place out. It gives you a little history of what America was like back then. We went the perfect weekend, before the season hit so we didn't have to wait too long for anything.

After we left the village, we decided to drive around and see other parts of Mystic and the surrounding area, we stopped by a Glass Blowing Factory, that was pretty amazing to see. I just love to watch this kind of art. The two guys that own/run the place were so helpful in discussing the steps for glass blowing.


This is a picture of an art piece made at the studio, it was from floor to ceiling and it was amazing.

Though the place and the art were beautiful it was no where affordable for us. The glass they made is all one of a kind or to order. The studio name is Prescient Studios they have a website I linked if you are interested in ordering or checking them out. I love this picture, it is of many balls of colorful glass hanging from fishing line up against a wall, if I had a big house and a fancy room I would have something like this



After that we drove to a lighthouse so my mom could take pictures of it, and climb, she really is like a kid in a candy store when it comes to lighthouses.

We finished the afternoon with my mom going shopping and I going back to the room and for a little nap, lazy days are good. We finished the evening with dinner at another great restaurant outside of Mystic and called it a night. Another great day sightseeing through and around Mystic.

To see more pictures of our trip you can go to my flickr page
I won't lie I was too lazy to link each of these photos back to flickr this time, maybe later.

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Trip to Mystic Day 1

This past weekend, my mother and I went on a mother daughter trip to Mystic, CT for Mother's Day. It was a great trip and it was very much needed for both of us. We had a great time, and I have to say that it was a great little town. We saw just about everything you could see in Mystic, and the surrounding towns as well.

I was so excited for this trip, I haven't been away in a long time and I was starting to feel the effects of not getting away. I've been working 6 days a week 50-60 hours a week since January with really no time off. I was ready for a few days of relaxation and not have to worry about work. We both took Friday off so we could have a long weekend, we got up on Friday and I have to say I did feel a bit guilty at first and was thinking to myself "oh I should call into work and make sure everything is okay". But then I said to myself, "NO!!! if they need me they know they can call."

So mom and I pack up the suitcase, take a cooler with sandwiches and drinks, pack up the car and around 12:30-1:00 we set off to Mystic.

It is not a long drive about 1-1/2 - 2 hour drive depending on traffic, which wasn't too bad. We get into Mystic around 2:30 and check into the hotel, which by the way has a jacuzzi tub. The tub/shower was huge, our bathroom at home is very very tiny, if you are taller then 5'5" you have to bend your neck to take a shower because the shower is right under where the stairs go for the apartment above. Thank goodness I'm only 5'4" and mom is 5' 1-1/2". So you can imagine my delight to see such a huge tub.

It is a bit cloudy out with slight rain, but nothing to worry about too much. So we decided to go across the street to the Mystic Sea Aquarium. It reminded me of a smaller version of Sea World and it was the perfect day to go. There were no crowds and there were no lines for some of the attractions that we saw. There was a Sea Lion show with two sea lions named Surfer and Coco.

Coco weighed over 900lbs and Surfer was about 650lbs. It was a cute show and we learned the difference between sea lions and seals. Also that sea lions are indigenous to the west coast of the United States.

Then we went to what is called the XD Motion Theater (3D motion ride experience). Basically you sit on this chair (there were about 15) and put on 3D glasses and watch a movie, you feel like you are underwater exploring the sea beneath. The chairs move around and shake, and all types of sea creatures come at you and you feel like they are going to get you. It was hysterical I couldn't stop laughing because 1) my mom kept trying to shoo away anything that looked like a snake and 2) because every time something came at me, I flinched because the chair shook or rocked and the creature came right at me, even though I knew it wasn't real it was still a reflex, it was funny and the chairs tickled my ears. After that little adventure we toured the rest of the aquarium. We saw beluga whales, and more sea lions.



One of the other sea lions we saw was named Rider, he is a 4 year old sea lion who doesn't have anyone his own age to play with so he kept trying to bug the other sea lions in his area. It was really funny to see and he was adorable.



We also saw African Penguins, did you know that there are penguins in Africa who like the heat and not the cold. Actually the people at the aquarium told us that if it gets too cold outside they have to bring them in. I guess you do learn something new everyday. After we left the aquarium we decided to go into town to get a bite to eat and to see what was around.

We parked the car and walked around a bit, taking in the beauty of the Mystic River and asked a couple of local ladies if they knew of any good places to eat. One of the ladies had a rather big dog with her who was quite friendly and as we were talking to the ladies this dog jumped up (playfully) and tapped my mom on the nose with his nose to say, "Hey I'm down here, why aren't you paying attention to me." It was adorable and the woman said, "Did he just nudge you on the nose?" To which my mother replied, "That's okay, most attention I've had from a male in a long time" as she pets the dog. The ladies and I started laughing, my mother always one with a quick joke. They tell us of a nice place to eat called S&P Oyster, which was just 100 feet up the way.



We had a couple of drinks and had some of the best seafood I've had in a very long time. Our waiter Matt was awesome, he told us of some great places to go to see and eat around Mystic, I had the special which was Alaskan King Crab legs, grilled scallops and tiger shrimp, it came also with veggies and potatoes. Let me tell you I ate every single piece of crab, scallops and shrimp, it was to die for. Mom had the salmon with lemon sauce and mashed potatoes we order a couple of flavored martinis and enjoyed the view. It was a perfect meal to end a perfect day. After dinner we walked around the town a bit more to work off some of the food we ate and then drove back to the hotel and got settled in for the night. We watched TV, talked and just enjoyed our first day in Mystic and excited to see what was in store for us on Saturday. We figured we try the Mystic Seaport Museum of America and the Sea which is what we did. This was a cool place, they have 4 of the Tall Ships that go around stored there. It was like an old seaport village from back in the 1800s or so.

I will write about Day 2 later today or tomorrow, so please come back and read about the rest of our trip.

If you click on any picture it will bring you to my flickr page and you can see all the pictures from our trip. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions on here or on the pictures about our trip. I promise to answer all of them.

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Thinking Blogger Awards

Oh My GAWD!!! I can't believe I've been tagged for a Thinking Blogger Award. I'm completely shocked and honored, that my little blog was considered for a Thinking Blogger Award. WOW!!! The person that tagged me is my best friend Melissa and even though she is my friend I know that she wouldn't bestow such an honor if she really didn't think I deserved it. Thanks Misa, if it wasn't for your blog and for your help I would never have started my own and now that I have I am addicted to coming up with new and funny things to write about.

I only just started writing a few months ago, but it seems that I have a small but loyal following and I'm completely in awe when I see my stat counter go up each day, and not just because friends and family check out my blog, but people like Othejoys and My Tiny Kingdom have come by and read what is going on in my life. But wait, they actually come back and see again what is going on. That makes me feel special because they are celebrities in the blogger world.

So I guess it is my turn now to bestow this honor on 5 people/blogs that I love to read daily, some you may have heard about, some might be new to you, and the winners are:

Single Life As I Know It: This blog is written by Girlie Monkey, it is an anonymous blog, but she is witty and funny and if you are wondering what a single girl is up to then you should check her out and live through her single days as a girl trying to find her way.

Cheaper Than Therapy: This blog is written by Ali M, a woman, a mother, a wife and if she goes to Blogher this year quite possibly a new friend, that describes herself as part Georgia Peach part Midwest Cheesehead part Canuck (need she say more). She has great photos and videos of her kids and what it is like to raise them, plus she has a Thursday Thirteen which is quite an eclectic list of things she loves. Each week you'll see something different, and most of the time I can completely agree or relate to her list. Oh and she is a huge Grey's Anatomy fan so she can't be all bad right? So go to our neighbors in the North and see what's up with Ali and her family.

My Bandwagon Lanyard: This is written by Cairde who lives in MA, this too is an anonymous blog but she found me from one of my comments (I think) from a blog I read daily and she is now a faithful reader and commenter which I love.(thank you Cairde) So I started to read her blog and I must say that I am glad she found me, because her writing is very smart and you really can feel what she is going through. She is just trying to find herself in this thing called life and trying to learn from the things she has experienced so far. Life can be tough sometimes, but she is going at it one day at a time with the right attitude. Stop by and leave a comment, tell her I sent you to her, I'm sure she will return the favor.

Madness: tales of an emergency room nurse: This is written by GirlVet a veteran ER nurse in the inner city (which city she doesn't say). I have a few medical blogs I read, probably because I have been in the hospital enough times during my illness that I have a high respect for nurses more so then the doctors sometimes especially ones that have to deal with all different kinds of people like in the ER. She tells it like it is and she doesn't sugar coat anything which I like. She is a voice for all RNs and what the ER staff go through daily. If you want to know what it is like to be in the trenches of ER medicine then you should definitely stop by this blog, you will be shocked and you be appalled sometimes what the staff have to go through with all of the bureaucracy and BS that they deal with each day. Plus you will read stories about patients some will break your heart and others will make your blood boil.

Adventures in Juggling: This blog is written by Laura, a wife, a NICU RN, and a mother of 5 one with special needs. She writes beautifully about her day to day, her family, her work and just the things that are going on in her life. She is a true inspiration and is also witty, funny and thoughtful. You should definitely check out Laura's blog and see how she is the "master juggler under the big top" of life. You go Laura thanks for letting us be a part of your life and family.

If you have been tagged as a Thinking Blogger you should:

~Tag five people that You consider Thinking Bloggers and bestow this award upon them.

~Link back to this post so that people can see where your award came from.

~Proudly display the Thinking Blogger in silver or gold on your blog for all to see. Or not. It's up to you.

I just want to say thank you again to Melissa for thinking of me as a "Thinking Blogger" I don't know what you consider thinking blogs or posts but I am happy to make anyone go, hmmmm that was interesting, or make someone smile for the day.

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Mother Daughter Trip

When I was younger my mother and I would go on little mini-vacations, day or weekend trips. I remember one time when I was a teenager probably around 15 or so, my mom surprised me with a trip to Knotts Berry Farm in California. She tricked me into going to the airport really early in the morning one Saturday.

She told me that she had to go pick something up from the airport, that a friend was bringing it back from wherever they were coming from. So she tells me that we have to go to the airport at like 6 am on a Saturday, and I say to her, "Why do I have to go?"

"Please come with me, I don't want to go by myself."

"Fine I'll go, since it looks like I don't really have a choice."

I get dressed, in nothing I would normally be caught dead in, I figured what's the point I'm not impressing anyone. I didn't even brush my hair, I just put on a scarf on my head. My mother sees what I'm wearing and says, "Why don't you put something a little nicer?"

"Why its not like I'm going to see anyone, come on its early."

"Here why don't you put this on, and why not put on some jeans and wear your sneakers."

By now you would think I would've had some clue, but nope I'm 15 and it's early and I'm cranky.

"Fine, whatever." I reply, grabbing the sweater from her and putting on jeans.

I remember getting into the car, and having a serious attitude, huffing and puffing, rolling my eyes, and trying to sleep. We get to the airport, my mom parks the car and we go to the gate to wait for this person. Remember this is when you could still go to the gate even if you didn't have a ticket. So we're sitting there for about 15 minutes and then I realize, wait, we are waiting to board aren't we, we're not waiting for someone to get a package. So I look at my mom, trying to still be all teenage angst, "Are we going somewhere?" I ask trying to not smile.

My mom smiles at me, and says, "I was wondering when you'd figure it out, yes we are going on a day trip to somewhere fun."

Now I'm all excited, "Where are we going?", I see that the plane is going to Los Angeles and say, "Are we going to Disneyland?"

My mother just looks at me and says, "You'll see, now are you in a better mood."

The frown is now turned into, curiosity and wonder. Where is this woman taking me, I try to get her to tell me, but she doesn't budge. Nope she doesn't tell me, and just about this time I realized I'm not exactly dressed to be out in public, where there could be cute guys or people that might see me. (I know I was at the airport but who cares about them, we're going to California who knows who might see me there). I go to the bathroom and try to fix myself up somewhat, not exactly what I would've worn if I knew but that's okay. I was never one to be a fashion queen, still not.

We board the plane and the flight from Phoenix to LA is about an hour or so, it is a quick flight. We get off, get the car and off we go. We drive and I start to see the signs that say Knotts Berry Farm, turn here, turn there... I think to myself, "we're going to a farm, ehhhh boring." What I didn't realize though was this was an amusement park. Yeah there was a "farm" there but there was so much more to do then that. Like this


and this


We arrive and I realize that this is going to be a fun trip and it was. My mom and I used to do these Mother Daughter trips every so often, just the two of us. Well most of the time it was just the two of us, she was a single mother who tried her best to make some great memories and special times. (I am the only on my mother's side and the oldest on my father's.) I love those times we spent together and I love that now that I'm older we are more then just mother and daughter we are friends. We are going to Mystic, CT this weekend for a special Mother's Day trip and we cannot wait. We both need a little mini-vacation. We are going to go to the original Mystic Pizza and trying a "Slice of Heaven"


I can't wait, we are going to check out the Sea Aquarium they are famous for, and we might just ride over to Essex, CT to check out the steam train and riverboat. But we are also just going to relax too, take a book and sit on the pier and read. I promise to take lots of pictures and write about our trip.

Happy Early Mother's Day, Mom! Thanks for always being there for me and thanks for letting me be me. I love you.

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If Arnold Pardons her I moving from this country

I swear all you hear about right now is poor ol' Paris Hilton, oh no she's going to jail, I am so fucking sick of hearing this that I want to puke. Who the hell does she think she is, she broke the law on more then one occasion and now thinks that her punishment is "cruel & unfair". GIVE ME A BREAK, you spoiled, no good, waste of time and space.

This blonde dipshit bimbo (no offense to blondes, or bimbos) thinks that she has the right to drive drunk, then drive on a suspended license TWICE, and numerous other infractions that she just wasn't caught for like this picture on TMZ.com and then not pay any consequences for her actions she is sadly mistaken. Just because she is a celebrity (for what I still have no idea for, what giving head on video) and because she has money she is above the law. And now she actually is asking Gov. of California none other then the Terminator himself Arnold Schwarzenegger to pardon her sorry ass so she doesn't have to go to jail, WTF!!!!

I swear if he does pardon her (but from what I've read his office is quite amused and laughing over this, I hope that is true) I will leave this country forever, we have so much more important issues to worry about then poor ol' scumbag Paris Hilton and her spending 45 days in jail. She has actually gone to the Internet and started a petition (okay one of her little minnions has started it but she asks for us to sihn it yes that is how she spells sign).

But now there is another petition out there by I don't like you that way that is doing their own petition to Gov. Arnold that asks him please do NOT pardon her. I don't know if this is real or not, but from the sounds of it, it is, and if you feel like signing it, you can, I did and I added my own little comment as well.

I'm sorry that I've wasted your time with this post about such a useless individual but it just irked me that she thinks she is somehow special and doesn't deserve to be put in jail, well Paris, "Don't drink and drive, don't drive on a suspended license and don't break anymore laws. There are many people out there who are more famous then you and for better reasons who also have way more money then you and they obey the laws."

To sign the petition to make sure that Paris Hilton does not get pardoned click HERE

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A Friendship Rekindled

Last night I called my friend Jenn who I hadn't spoken to in over 10 years. It wasn't awkward, we didn't feel like we had to look for things to say. It felt like we never stopped talking, it was great, we spoke for about a 1 1/2 hours.

Jenn and I didn't stop talking because of a fight, or some misunderstanding, we just sort of lost touch. I moved back to the Northeast, and though we tried to stay in touch, life happens. But after last night I swore that would never happen again.

So much has happened these last 10 years, Jenn got married to Scott in 1996 or 1997 but unfortunately he passed away last October, and I am so very sad for her and for me not being there for her, when she probably needed me most. I remember Scott well, how they met and how much she cared for him, right from the beginning.

Scott had been sick as a child, fighting off a rare type of cancer that he was 1 of only a few that beat it more then once, Scott was a fighter even from a young age. Because he had this disease as a child it stunt his growth and he always looked much younger then he really was. Jenn, always loved younger guys, and she loved Scott, pretty much right from the beginning, I remember her telling me how much she liked him and how much she wanted to be a part of his life. They had their first kiss on July 4th in 1994, and the rest is history. They started to date and we used to pick on her because he was 5 years younger then her, and if I remember correctly he was barely "legal", there was an Offsprings song called, Keep'Em Separated which we used to say to them because she was older then he was.

I guess about a year and a half ago, Scott started to get sick, he lost a lot of weight and just never felt right, he was in and out of hospitals but no one really could give them a definitive answer as to what it was. Unfortunately in October of 2006 Scott lost his battle with the no name disease that was taking over his body. Jenn was the one to find him and she and her father tried everything to save him, but Scott's body just couldn't take the disease anymore. He is now in a better place looking down at Jennifer, and I know my friend is having a very hard time with his death, they were partners, lovers, friends and soul mates. I cannot imagine the pain she is feeling, but I also know she is a strong woman and though will never get over his loss she will also not let it beat her down. I am here again for her, like she was for me when we were younger.

We talked for so long last night and I tell you it didn't feel like it had been 10 years it felt like it was last week, we laughed, we cried, we shared, but most of all we rekindled our friendship which really never disappeared, we thought about each other often and always wondered where the other was and how could we could find each other. She sounded exactly the same, if she had called me and I didn't know it was her, after about 3 words I would've said, NO way this is Jennifer N..., because that voice brought me back to a different time, she said the same about me, and I saw a picture of her now on the web and she looks exactly the same.

We still have so much to catch up on, but I am just thankful that I have a second chance with a friend I missed so much.

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Friends Come and Go but sometimes they Come Back

It has been an interesting couple of weeks. Last week I received an email from a friend that I haven't spoken to in I'd say about 6 years, before that it was probably another 7-8 years, basically since I graduated highschool.

Once I left AZ I didn't look back, other then visiting my mother and my best friend Melissa I didn't keep in touch with anyone from highschool. It wasn't because I didn't want to, life happens and I got the hell out of Phoenix as quickly as I could. Some bad things happened right before I left (actually why I left) and I pretty much disappeared for a little while. Only a select few knew where I was going. It wasn't too hard to figure out, but I did not leave any forwarding address and told everyone that did know not to give it out.

I thank god every day though that I never lost touch with Melissa, I don't think I'd be the person I am today (good or bad) if she had not been there for some major milestones, or to just kick me in the ass and say Wake UP!!! this isn't you.

But I missed some really great people in the process of cutting ties from Phoenix, and I regretted that, but that seems to be changing.

Last week I received an email from my friend Kim who actually lived with me the last few months of our senior year because her living situation wasn't very stable and my mother being the awesome person she is, opened our home to Kim and invited her to stay with us. Actually my mother took Kim to ASU on her first day and got her settled into the dorms. Way to go Mom. Well, Kim just had her second child and she sent me pictures. I hadn't spoken to Kim for a long time and then one day about 6-7 years ago I get an email from her on classmates.com I was so happy and we got to talk again, but then I moved to FL and she moved from NJ (where she had moved after college) and we lost touch again. But fortunately not too long ago I found her email and I emailed her. Now every so often I get an email and the one I got last week, was to announce and show pictures of her second child a daughter. I realized it has been about 4-5 years since we last talked and I don't want that to happen again. So this time I'm going to stay in touch with Kim. Congratulations to you and your family.

Then there was Jennifer, Jenn was a girl I met during my freshman year but we didn't become friends really until my sophomore year. She had already graduated, the year between Freshman and Sophomore year. We hung out all the time and went to a ton of concerts and met bands together. It was a great time, the first time I ever got drunk was with Jenn, I was 19 and she was 22 and she bought the booze, Wild Berry Punch to be exact. WBP is a 2 liter bottle of what tastes like Fruit Punch and I pretty much drank the whole thing, very quickly. All I remember from that night was telling everyone I loved them, how I liked being naked and everyone should be naked (no I didn't not get naked though) and kept saying that I was SOOO DRUUUUUNK!!!

And then on the way home I made her pullover and threw up all of the Wild Berry Punch I consumed, but as I was heaving out her car door, I kept saying, I'm (puke) not (heave) getting (gag) it on (puke) your (heave) car. I might've been drunk but I still had manners. And Jenn the good friend that she was, just rubbed my back and made sure that my hair didn't get in the vomit. Well I haven't talked to Jenn in about 11 years, since a wedding I went to in AZ. I was always upset with myself for not trying harder to stay in touch with her, and the only excuse I have is that sometimes, it just happens, but guess who I got an email today from, none other then my friend Jennifer!

She also found me on classmates.com and emailed me, I was/am so excited to catch up with her. Come to find out she has been searching for me and Melissa on and off for years what's funny is I had wondered and searched myself for her. Well she found me, and Melissa, I am going to call her tonight and catch up with her. I will let you know how it goes. I am so thrilled I feel like a teenager again. I can't believe that I knew her when I was a teenager and now I'm in my 30s. Gosh life does happen and it happens quick. I think I'm going to try to find some others from high school I didn't go to my high school reunion because I really had no desire to go back to Phoenix, and I'm okay with missing my 10 year, but I think when my 20 year comes up which really isn't that far away since next year is already 15 years UGH, I might just go back.

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Justice has finally occured.

Oh my GAWD!!! I am actually in the best mood EVER even though right now I have a migraine from hell but I just don't care.

You know why because I just saw this...




Paris fucking Hilton is going to jail for 45 days. I am exstatic NOBODY thought she would get her probation revoked for driving TWICE on a suspended license, but the judge agreed with the prosecution and gave her 45 days in jail. The probation stemmed from an arrest last September.
TMZ.com has up to the minute posts regarding this, and I'm sure the next few days they will have more information. I'm just so happy that finally this useless, piece of shit who buys her way out of everything, finally is being showed that she is not above everyone else.

GO Judgde Michael T. Sauer, thank you for not buying into the crap about her not knowing and treating her like everyone else, and throwing the book to her, and I quote from TMZ.com:

Judge Michael T. Sauer handed down the harsh sentence, telling Paris she will not be allowed work release, furloughs, use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail. She must do the time!

<

The judge called out her rep Elliot Mintz in court, describing his testimony as "completely worthless." He also told Paris that he did not believe that she was unaware of her license suspension, adding that she had paperwork in her car stating that her license was suspended.

<

Maybe she will finally learn that there are consequences to your actions and not everyone thinks you are so great. I hope that her BFF Nicole Richie gets the maximum for driving under the influence, and driving the wrong way down a freeway ramp. Maybe this country is finally getting it and not letting people like her get away with everything. I have a bit more faith now, because after the whole suing for $67M for losing his pants was a bit too much for me to handle.

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My inner head banger was trying to come out today

I woke up this morning and what a beautiful day it was, we finally have had more then 10 minutes of sun here. Thank GOD!

I get dressed in brown slacks, and a light lime green sweater, my hair was behaving, nice and curly and I just bought a couple of new head bands so I decided to wear one today.





What do you think? Not bad, I thought I looked cute, almost sweet like.

But...

inside I felt like this.



My inner head banger was trying to come out. I get in the car, turn on my MP3 player and start scanning through the songs. I put on a song, and no not in the mood to hear that one. So then I try another one, different genre still not right. Then I remember I have the whole CD for Appetite for Destruction by Guns-n-Roses (for those of you that didn't know)on my MP3 player, so I switch it to the category Artists, find GNR and hit play. The first song that came on was It's so Easy. Then I think was My Michelle, but then my all time favorite GNR song comes on, Mr. Brownstone. Not a song that was ever put out as a single it might have been on the B side, but I don't know.

I absolutely love this song, right from the beginning with the drum beats and guitar intro, this song is about drugs, herione to be exact, and it is very entrancing, almost tribal like. And to hear Axl Rose sing it, and if you know anything about GNR they were notorious heroine addicts back then. I just love the beat, the rhythm and the lyrics.

Anyway, so I'm driving down the freeway and my head is just going up and down, (mini head banging), my hands are playing the drums on the steering wheel and I'm just singing at the top of my lungs, (the only place I sing, cuz I so cannot sing).

So I'm driving and I'm just rocking out, and then I think to myself, "if anyone next to me is looking at me, they might think I'm having a seizure, or I'm having some weird spasm".

Okay maybe I didn't look that bad, but I'm sure I looked funny, odd and just plain scary to the car next to me.

"Mom, mom look that lady over there is having a seizure, should we call 911?"

"No son, she's just got the head banger syndrome, she'll be okay, but why don't we slow down a bit so she can go ahead of us?"

I have to say, it was a good commute this morning!!!

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We've got a problem Houston

UPDATE: We have lift off, EVERYTHING is back up and running properly!!!

THANKS MELISSA

It seems that I am having some technical difficulties with my blog today, The Peek a boo control isn't working. If you hit the I want more... on my posts it isn't working. I am trying to get that fixed, please be patient and come back, I promise to get it running or take it away.

Thanks!!!

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67 Million Dollar Pants Are you kidding me?

I usually try to stay away from writing posts about this kind of stuff or things that are happening in our country or around the world. I like to keep my blog light and upbeat, but I just couldn't keep my mouth shut about this one. A man, a judge no less (though I've also heard he's only a lawyer from other media outlets) is suing a dry cleaners for $67 million for losing his "favorite" pair of pants. ARE YOU FRIGGING' KIDDING ME?

This is what we are focusing on right now, besides the fact that this is a ridiculous, pathetic suit that has been going on for 2 years, 2 YEARS PEOPLE! That is 2 years of bullshit, time wasting, tax paying peoples time and money. Some might ask? Tax paying peoples money? Yes law suits are a huge drain on us, because it our money that pays for the courts and the judges, court reports and others. The lawyers we might not pay for, but what a waste of time, oh and lets not forget that if this goes to trial the jury members that will be called to see this case. Most jurors are middle to lower class and cannot afford to be out of work for any amount of time, and especially to do their "civic duty" for such a frivolous bullshit lawsuit. I have never been called yet for jury duty, but I'm sure it will happen soon enough. But I have had a few friends and let me tell you, you get something like $8.50 an hour for your troubles. What is $8.50 an hour going to get you. NOTHING.

My friend Melissa was called for Grand Jury Duty for 3 months, 4 days a week 8 hours a day. Thank Goodness she worked for a company that treats her well and they paid the difference of what she was getting from GJD so she still got her regular pay. If they had not, she probably would've lost her apartment, car and other necessities and be seriously in debt.

So let's go back to the original story here. This man, Plaintiff Roy Pearson, a judge in Washington, D.C:

He says in court papers that he has endured "mental suffering, inconvenience and discomfort."

He says he was unable to wear that favorite suit on his first day of work.

He's suing for 10 years of weekend car rentals so he can transport his dry cleaning to another store.

The lawsuit is based in large part on Pearson's seemingly pained admission that he was taken in by the oldest and most insidious marketing tool in the dry cleaning industry arsenal.

"Satisfaction Guaranteed."

Pearson did not return numerous calls from ABC News for comment.

Are you telling me that there isn't another dry cleaner anywhere closer to him or his work, that now he has to rent a car each weekend to drop off dry cleaning, give me a fucking break. Don't most dry cleaners nowadays have pick up and delivery as a service, and you would think that in Washington DC where people are always on the go that would be the case.

Are you kidding me, Satisfaction Guaranteed, if I sued for every time I wasn't 100% satisfied because of some companies lack of customer service or guarantee due to error or laziness, I'd be in court every single day of my life. Hell, we all would be.

Things happen, get over it. What gives you the right, to sue a small business for having an accident. We are not talking about losing a limb or losing your child, its a damn pair of pants.

Pearson claims that this isn't the first time that Custom Cleaners has lost a pair of pants that he dropped of:

The problems date back to 2002.

Pearson says in court papers that he took a pair of pants into Custom Cleaners in Fort Lincoln that year, and the pants were lost.

So Jin and Soo Chung gave Pearson a $150 check for a new pair of pants.

Three years later, Pearson says he returned to Custom Cleaners and -- like some real-life "Groundhog Day" nightmare -- his trousers went missing.

Again.

It was May 2005 and Pearson was about to begin his new job as an administrative judge. Naturally, he wanted to wear a nice outfit to his first day of work. He said in court papers that he tried on five Hickey Freeman suits from his closet, but found them all to be "too tight," according to the Washington Post.

He brought one pair in for alterations and they went missing -- gray trousers with what Pearson described in court papers as blue and red stripes on them.

First, Pearson demanded $1,150 for a new suit. Lawyers were hired, legal wrangling ensued and eventually the Chungs offered Pearson $3,000 in compensation.

No dice.

Then they offered him $4,600.

No dice.

Finally, they offered $12,000 for the missing gray trousers with the red and blue stripes.

Pearson said no.

The Chungs offered this man, $12,000.00 for a pair of pants and he said NO. And if he was so unhappy three years before when they lost the first pair of pants, why did he go back? That was his mistake not the dry cleaners. Sometimes you bite the bullet and say oh well, won't be going there anymore and I'll make sure that I let my friends know, not to either. YOU DO NOT SUE FOR $67M!!!

I am just sickened by this whole thing, it is disgusting and what I want to know is why why why is this still going on, why hasn't this been thrown out, why are we spending so much time and money on this, and now the media is running with this, so now Mr. Pearson will get to be splattered everywhere and poor Mr & Mrs. Chung who were just trying to run a business are made to look like fools. I'm not saying that they did nothing wrong, they screwed up, and it sounds like it has happened more then once, but should their whole lives be turned upside down and the possibility of complete financial loss worth all of this?

Oh and get this:

Ironically, less than a week after Pearson dropped off the missing trousers in 2005, Soo Chung found them, she says. She tried to return them to Pearson but he said they were the wrong pants.

The Chungs say they are certain they have located the missing trousers.

"So these are the missing pants, huh?" Avila asked the Chungs' attorney, Chris Manning.

"These are," Manning said, holding up a flimsy pair of gray trousers.

Manning's argument is based on both the receipt and the telltale "three belt loop situation," as he explains it.

"When the pants were brought in, Mrs. Chung noticed the three belt loop situation and in finding them realized that they were Mr. Pearson's pants based on that."

He also said the receipt tag on the pants "exactly matches the receipt that Mr. Pearson has."

Manning is angry with Pearson, saying the judge has terrorized the Chungs for spite.

"They came to the United States hoping for the American dream," Manning said, "and Roy Pearson has made it a nightmare."

It makes me sad that people who are just trying to make a living and do better for themselves are then terrorized by someone like Roy Pearson, who by the way refuses to make any comments or be interviewed. In my opinion which by no means is anything but my own, this guy Pearson is just trying to get his name in the paper, well Mr. Pearson you got your wish and you know what, we are all laughing at you and are completely disgusted by the whole situation. I hope that not only do you lose this case but that the jury finds for the Chungs and somehow you end up paying the $67 million to them.

Now can we talk about something else?

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This was then and this in now

Wow, how they grow and change. This picture was taken in the summer of 1993. I was 18 and had just graduated high school. The family went to Greece for the summer and the kids were, (from top to bottom) Yianni age 2 1/2, Zoe age 5 1/2, Vasilis age 9-10 months. I love this picture, look at the curls on Yianni, poor kid was always mistaken for a girl when he was younger, but his mother just couldn't bare to let him cut those curls out, and he was so blond. Zoe, that look with the crinkled eyebrows, she was famous for doing that, that was her thing. Oh Vasilis he looks just like our grandmother, no teeth and all.

That was a good trip once we got there, but oh getting there was fun (insert lots of sarcasm). First Jayne my step mother did not fly over with us, so it was us kids and my father, she fortunately did come over about a week or so later. Let's just say I watched those kids more on the flight over and when we landed then he did. I remember having a kids leashes on them so I wouldn't lose them at the Greek airport, because that airport back then was a mad house. Hell I remember when I was young, you would go to through the airport and they didn't have metal detectors or security like they do now. You went into a little curtained off section (kind of like when you are in the ER and they have those curtains to section off from each bed), women on one side, men on the other and the armed security guards would pat you down and look through your stuff it's no wonder back in the 80s all the plane hijackings started in Greece.

Anyway, it was a rough trip but a great vacation. Good memories and great fun. The kids probably don't remember that trip like I do, and that's okay, Yianni and Vasilis would spend all day trying to catch locus bugs and then hold them so they could buzz in their hands, (it tickled). Zoe would just love the water and was always trying to swim and sometimes would forget she didn't know how to all that great, so we were constantly trying to make sure the kid didn't drown. I had so much fun, not just with the family but with all the people there, Greece is a great country where the people are so nice and the guys aren't too bad looking either.

But how they grow.

This picture was taken in the summer of 2006 at Zoe's high school graduation. (from left to right) Yianni age 15, Zoe age 18 & Vasilis age 13. No more curls and no more locus bugs, but they sure bring me lots of smiles and new memories. The memories I have now are of Zoe getting into college, and Yianni getting his permit, and Vasilis being an amazing artist. Next it will be Zoe's 21st birthday (Vegas baby) and Yianni's graduation from high school and Vasilis getting his permit/license. Oh how they grow up so fast, I don't know how you parents do it, these are my siblings and I get all sappy I can't imagine what it is like to watch your kids grow into young adults who don't need you anymore. They don't need you to wipe their noses or kiss their boo boos, but my sister and brothers know that I will always be there for them, that no matter what they do or where they go I am a constant, even if they don't want me to be... I love you guys and am very proud of all of you.

I Want More...

That's Enough!

Me & Steve, Recovery Party 1999

I met Steve in the Spring of 1999 right when I was going through chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I remember the night well. My friend Melissa and I were out at the Bell in Hand trying to keep things as normal as possible for someone in my condition.

The Bell in Hand was a local bar and I knew the bartender well there, so we went for a couple of drinks (I don't think I really drank, chemo and alcohol don't mix very well). It was a good night, a good week, it was the week that I felt the best in my 3 week cycle of chemo. The first week days 1-7 were usually pretty good, days 8-14 not good, and 15-21 were recovery days, to get strong enough for the next batch. So if I wanted to do something and pretend for just a little while that I wasn't fighting for my life, it was usually during that first week, or end of the 3rd week.

I remember sitting at the bar, and just smiling and talking and feeling like there is so much I have and so much I could lose. I was talking to EVERYONE, and I mean everyone, didn't matter who they were, I started a conversation with that person. Well I kept noticing this hot guy with a hot body walking up to the bar and getting drinks, so me being a bit off, since I felt like I had nothing to lose anyway, says to him. "You have a hot body."

He stops, turns and says, "Thank you"

"No problem, just wanted to let you know, but I'm sure you realized that already".

"No, not really, I've been trying to work on my body more."

"Well, it shows" I reply.

I think I have his attention now, he sits down and we start chatting.

"I like that you just said that, it's refreshing when a girl approaches a guy, shows that you have confidence," he says.

"Oh well, I don't know about that, but I'm in a good mood, and I figured what did I have to lose, so why not."

We proceed to talk and get to know each other, and I think he's a pretty cool guy. At this point he has absolutely no idea that I'm sick or that I'm even wearing a wig. Melissa who was with me, totally gives me the thumbs up, and thinks he's pretty cool too.

It's getting late and the bar was closing but we were having a good time and weren't ready for the night to end. Melissa and I decide to go with Steve and get a bite to eat and then we end up back at his house (get your mind out of the gutter nothing happened). I remember sitting in his living room watching a comic on TV, that comic was Eddie Izzard the cross dressing British comic, we were laughing and just having a good time. Then he puts his arm around me and tries to play with my hair, and I freak.

"Don't touch my hair!!!!"

"Um, okay???" Looks at me like I'm insane.

"Ah ah well um, it's a wig." I stutter, (great now I have to explain otherwise he's going to think I'm a psycho).

"Oh I didn't realize"

"Well, it's a bit more complicated then that..."

"What do you mean?"

"Um, well I don't have any hair underneath, I well, um, well I have cancer and I'm going through chemo right now and it's all falling out."

This was before I decided to shave the rest of what was left of my hair, so if I took the wig off, I looked like a balding middle aged man (no offense guys). But once I shaved my head, then I hardly ever wore that wig.

Anyway, Steve the nice guy that he was, didn't freak out and run the other way, he was sincere and asked me what was going on and how I was doing.

I told him everything and he just listened and asked questions, we started dating after that and he was pretty great. But things got really weird when I had to go through my bone marrow (stem cell, my own stem cells people, not embryonic ones) transplant. I think it was too much for him, and he had a weird sense of humor, but then again, how do you deal dating a girl that you weren't sure was going to live. It had to be hard on him and in the end it was best that it didn't go too far. He had his issues and I just didn't have time to deal with them right then, and that was fine. But I am glad I met him and dated him for the short time I did, it made me feel like I was normal, that I wasn't so sick, and it felt good to have him there. My friends and family were amazing through my illness, I was very lucky to have the support I did when I was sick.

Steve and I stayed in touch for a while, but once I moved I lost touch, I know that he met a nice girl and was very happy. Thank you Steve for making a girl who felt so ugly and scared feel beautiful and confident during a time when it was very difficult to feel beautiful.

I Want More...

That's Enough!

Who did she blow to get into the position of supervisor?

Have you ever worked for someone who was either your boss or supervisor that you just wondered who were they blowing or had some incriminating photos of to land in the position of supervisor or manager?

I had this supervisor when I used to work for a company that was a management company for a certain commodity (I don't want to give too much detail if you know what I mean).

I worked in the accounting department and basically my job was to have each company that was assigned to me report their net sales each month for certain locations. Then I would take out the commissions we got and the commissions the location got and send a report to said location. (I know a bit generic but that's besides the point) Well I had this supervisor we'll call her CF (can you guess what CF stands for? Let's just say the the first word starts with a C and ends with a T and the second word is where your nose, mouth and eyes are located). I digress... so CF was my supervisor and she was the nasty most conniving piece of work I have ever met.

She complained throughout the whole day about how much work she had to do, and that it wasn't fair that she had to do everything. But what I didn't get was what work was she talking about, because I never really saw her do anything but IM about her sex life to us in accounting and/or play solitaire on her computer.

And when I say IM about her sex life I wasn't kidding, she would tell us some really nasty things that I really did not want to hear or picture that she was doing with her boyfriend. Like one time she was talking to us about how she was on her period... (before I go any further, if you are easily grossed out or offended please do not read anymore of this part and skip to the next) and how she wasn't able to have sex or something, and someone said, oh that's too bad, and she said but the back door is still open. I'm like EWWWW!! (and if anyone knows me I am not squeamish or shy when it comes to sex talk by any means), but who wants to hear about your supervisors back door activities, NOT I thank you.

Plus she would always try to be the center of attention no matter what the situation. Whether in a meeting, or on IM, or after work having some drinks with coworkers. It got to the point that if anyone had a story about something, she had one better, or if someone tried to tell a story about a similar situation she would interrupt that person and change the subject.

I don't work for that company anymore but I still hear from time to time about her and what she is doing or what lies she is spewing. The final straw for me was an email she sent me regarding two things, how I answer the phone and how I supposedly go above her (chain of command) when she tells me to do something, she also accused me of reporting to the owners what she was doing. This is something I have never done and would never do, I do not go behind any ones back and report about their business or lack of business, and I sure as hell could care less what she does or doesn't do. But why does someone like this have the position she has.

I know that she worked with one of the VPs at a different company before this one, and that she came over when that company was sold. Some of us think that either they were having an affair or she knows of him doing something that she could use against him, because she is so the type to use that information for leverage and job security.

Either way, she is a major douche bag and a headache and really doesn't know what the fuck she is doing. When a new person was hired to take over for someone who wasn't there anymore CF was supposed to train this person on how to do this report and CF basically fucked the whole thing up, we are talking BIG TIME FUCK UP, to where the client could see it and could cause the company some major problems. Do you think CF was at fault, oh no not her. She just made it out that it was someone else's fault that she couldn't be bothered. It is very frustrating when someone like that can pass the blame onto someone else but sure is the first to take the credit when things go right. How is it that these types of people get away with it and that they are never fired? I guess Karma will finally get her, I hope.

I Want More...

That's Enough!