Happy Halloween!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

A few quick things that have been on my mind the last few days. Sorry I haven't been here to update. I've had some things on my mind.

• This week's results on Dancing With The Stars shocked me. I'm Team Garth all the way, but I thought, along with many others, the one sent packing had a chance to make it to the finals! Color me shocked.



• Tonight is Halloween, and I plan to spend most of my night watching the live Ghost Hunters special. I love that show so much. I know its cheesy, and probably faker than anything, but I love it. Tonight's show is on from 9pm until 3am. Wonder how long I will last?

Have a great Halloween everyone!

Almost November

Saturday, October 27, 2007

It is really amazing how fast time flies. Here we are just about ready for Halloween, and as soon as that passes we have the holiday season upon us. Thanksgiving and then Christmas will be here, and then we can say good-bye to the year 2007 and say hello to 2008. Time really does seem to move quickly at times. I was talking to my friend about Thanksgiving just the other day, and the best part about Thanksgiving isn't the football or the food, it is the day after Thanksgiving sales. Black Friday they call it. Stores open early, and there are all kinds of super deals for it.

I remember when I was a kid, my mom would want to hit those sales. We'd check out the ads and it was the day we ended up getting most of our holiday shopping done. One year, we happened to go to the mall the day the newly elected Bill Clinton was coming through for a visit. I'm not sure why he picked that mall on the day after thanksgiving, but my mom wanted to make the effort to meet him. She hadn't ever met a President before, and she passed away nearly three years later. That day always sticks out for me.

November 23rd, we will have another Black Friday upon us, and surfing around today I found black-friday.net. This site will let you know when the ads for some of your favorite stores are released and show you just what the special deals are. I'm always curious to see what some of the stores are offering. They have everywhere from Best Buy coupons and Wal-Mart to Toys R Us for those shopping for the kids. I'm an avid online shopper, and I was pleasantly surprised they even have Amazon deals listed.

I've picked up quiet a few things on Amazon. Mostly books and DVD's, but I did pick up a great deal on a new video card there last year when it looked like mine might be going out. It's kind of weird to be planning for the holidays when it is currently ninety-six degrees outside, but it is that time of year again!

Thoughts on Moonlight

One of my favorite shows this season is Moonlight. I am in love with all things supernatural, so that makes sense. However, Moonlight isn't like other vampire shows. It has its own mythic lore about vampires, and that is what makes me so interested. I know I've thought Mick was done for when it got staked. Plus, that Alex O'loughin is a hottie. What is it with me and Australian men? Hah!

The Land Down Under

Friday, October 26, 2007

One of my favorite places in the world is Australia. No, I've never been there, but there is just something about it that makes me want to go there someday. Maybe it is about everything being turned upside down. I've heard of some of the beautiful locations there. The beaches being one of the main draws of why I want to visit there. Bondi beach is supposedly one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Near Brisbane, you have the Gold Coast. Every time I see Australia in pictures I want to go there.

Most of my favorite actors and actresses are from Australia - Emilie De Ravin, Eric Bana, Heath Ledger, Alex O'Loughlin - I could go on and on. One of my best friends attends college in Brisbane, and I am always telling her one of these days I'm going to visit her. I really want to. I keep meaning to anyway. There is so much to see and do, just exploring an entirely new place that I've never been. Sometimes I check out places where I can get accommodations in Brisbane just to see what it would cost.

It is one of my dreams to go there someday. Go visit Australia. Go visit my friend. While there are there are so many things I can see and do. On the Gold Coast, they have great theme parks and other Gold Coast accommodations. To check out more about hotels in Brisbane and more of what you can do while there you have this site too. The Real World being shown in Sydney this season is not helping matters either. It just makes me want to go more. This is another one of those someday moments. Someday I'll go. I'm not sure when it will be, but I'll go someday. Where do you want to go someday? Any place in the world. Where would you go right now?

A moment.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

My brother has a half sister living in California. Her and I are not directly related, but she has been texting my brother on and off all morning about the fires in California. Her husband is a fire fighter directly fighting the blaze outside of San Diego, and he just sent her a text that made my blood run cold. They really need to hold this line around San Diego, or there could be severe damage in that city. I think back to San Francisco and the earthquake back in 1989, and the Northridge earthquake I experienced myself in 1994. California always seems to get hit the hardest. Keep those fighting the fires and affected by it in your thoughts.

Just not a good night

Last night wasn't a very good night at all. I ended up having one of the worst panic attacks I've had in months. It just came on out of nowhere, and when they do come on I just try to focus on one thing until it passes. Even when it passes, I'm left a bit on edge for the rest of the night, and that was the case last night. Little things kept happening too. I think my printer is running low on ink, so that bugged me for the strangest reason. For about five minutes I looked for a site to buy ink online for my printer. I found this one site called Cartridge Finder. It helps you find the right cartridge for your printer, and it even finds the best price using price grabber. Not a bad deal. Ink can cost so much these days, and when you have some type of business you run out of your home, it is good to always find the best price. With how bad last night was, a little sleep, and I felt completely refreshed. Sometimes all you need is a little sleep.

Grooving Tunes

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

I am a music nut. I'm always listening to new music, and I love talking about the music and the new groups I end up discovering. In the past on this blog, I've had Tunes Mondays where I talk about the new music I find. Then I'd always end up forgetting to post on Monday. Yes, I know. That's bad of me. This is when Grooving Tunes comes in. Once a week I'll post about a song or an artist that has caught my eye, share some of the music, and maybe even help you find a new group to like in the process. This might be something new to me, or an old favorite I've rediscovered. Great music is timeless it seems, and I'm always finding myself finding old songs or artists I'd forgotten about too.

This week that group is Hinder. I heard their one single, Lips of an Angel, a few months ago, and it was stuck in my head. I didn't look around for anything else, but that song became one of my favorites. A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to one of the music choice stations on my cable provider, and another one of Hinder's songs came on. I found myself loving it, and I wanted to listen to more. I ended up grabbing their CD, and it is really great. Rock more than anything, with a sexy sounding vocalist to boot. I haven't been able to stop listening since. Here is the video for Lips of an Angel, and some links where you can check out more for yourself.

What's a Smorty?

Yesterday, I mentioned about one get paid to blog site I found over the weekend. That wasn't the only one I found. I applied to a couple. One has completely confused me, and I've heard back from another. Right now, my focus is on Smorty. They approved this blog for use with their site yesterday morning, and since then I've received numerous emails announcing opportunities I can pick up to write on here on my blog. I only pick topics to write on that I'm interested in. Sometimes it is funny how I find topics that can relate to things going on in my life here offline. That happens more often than not. Smorty seems to be a good get paid to blog site. They pay you weekly through paypal, and there are no opportunities available that pay less than six dollars. That seems to be a nice small number. They say with time working with them you might even be able to get higher paying job assignments. Some even as high as one hundred dollars. The most I have seen on other sites is fifteen dollars. I'll have to keep my eye on this one.

Sexy cool.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Last month, I went underwear shopping, and you know you never really realize how much has changed in woman's lingerie until you actually look. It can be sexy. A lot sexier now than it has been in the past. At least I think so. There are even places online where if you want you can buy lingerie. Might make things easier in this technology age, but there is just something about going to an actual store and buying something. Plus, its easier to deal with things. Just last month, I bought a stereo online. Great deal on a six CD changer. Under forty dollars from Wal-mart.com. Received it a week later, and it came broke right out of the box. The CD changer wouldn't even open, so I can try any of my Cd's. Yes, I know stereos and lingerie are two totally different things, but buying lingerie online means you take a chance of any number of problems. Still it might be worth trying out. There is just something about picking up a new set of sexy lingerie.

In repair.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

As I've mentioned a few times over the past couple of weeks, they are working on our building. New owners came in, and they are doing almost a complete overhaul. This week they worked on our roof, and they also redid the water system in our complex. Since I moved in nearly twelve years ago, they have had a system in place where if there was some kind of leak that needed repair, the whole building needed to have their water turned off. All 188 apartments. Now, with the work done this week, that is no more. It can be done building by building instead of the entire complex going off. That will make things so much easier. We've had so many problems with our water system in our building. In our apartment, the last few weeks we've had next to no water pressure in our shower. You don't know how hard it is to stand under a shower with almost no water coming out. We have one of those shower heads that have a massage spray. Cost five dollars at Wal-mart, and I'm thinking we might need a new one soon. There are so many shower faucets one can buy. I checked online, and they have some that cost nearly three hundred dollars. Some are less than that. I guess it is all about how much you love a good shower, and how much you're willing to spend.

Now I go back to watching the Arizona Cardinals lose. Will we ever catch a break here? I know Warner is playing injured. He's trying. Leinart being out of the rest of the season broke my Cardinal loving heart.

EDIT: Yes, they lost, but oh wow that ending. The Cardiac kids almost pulled it off. I really wish they had. Great kick. Just not enough.

A lazy Saturday.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Today has been a good re-energizing day. I slept in a little, and I just did absolutely nothing for a few hours. Some days you just need to do that. I was up late last night, and it was just good. Things seem to be falling into place. A friend of my brother's has a cat ready to have kittens, and she knows we just lost JJ last month, so we have first pick of the litter when it comes in. Since they aren't even born yet, we won't have a new little one around the house until just before Christimas time. I miss JJ though. It's really kind of amazing how much you can attach yourself to your pets, but he was always around me. My brother and I think he might have been sick for a little while without us noticing. He looked as healthy as he always did. He was a good cat. Mikey has sort of taken over as king of the castle though. He knows he's it now. At least for another month or two!

Protecting yourself.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Back in July, we had new owners come and take over the building we lived in. When someone new comes in, you always have to wonder what will happen. Our property had its problems over the years, and we were looking forward to seeing what changes and improvements would be made. Changes started happening quite quickly. One of them being that we needed to get insurance for our apartment. We'd never even heard of renter's insurance, and if we didn't need to get it we weren't. It's just another bill to add on top of all the other bills we have. We soon learned that there was no way around it. We ended up going through our car insurance provider to get us set up. It didn't take long at all. Insurance is something everyone needs. There are many different types too. You can have home insurance, car insurance and even life insurance. You can probably even insure your pet if you wanted. I've heard some crazy things people have wanted to insure. Body parts even. Crazy huh? This world certainly can be.

Private Practice renewed?

Yesterday, I was shocked to hear the new series was renewed already for its second season. Yes, I know its a spin-off from Grey's Anatomy. We all know how much I love that show. I can sing its praises until the cows come home, but after watching the first two episodes of Private Practice I had no desire to watch anymore. They have essentially ruined Addison's character. I love Kate Walsh, but they have turned Addison into Meredith Grey in Los Angeles. This is not the same woman that waltzed in at the end of season one of Grey's Anatomy to confront her husband. A far cry from it actually. I know I'm not the only fan that feels this way. I've seen others say the same thing. Yet, now we know we are almost assured a second season of this show, and I just can't believe that. As for Grey's Anatomy, after a slow start last night's episode reminded me why I loved Grey's in the first place. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for what was going to happen next, and the previews for next week look like more of the same. I can't wait. If you missed it, it should be up on iTunes soon!

Fees, banks and credit

Thursday, October 18, 2007

I will always be amazed at how banks work. Truly and honestly. Today I just received in the mail a statement from my bank about them changing my account on me. Of course, I immediately called to find out just what was up. Luckily, I found someone nice and understanding on the other end of the line. Sometimes when you call banks or credit cards you have to wonder who you will end up talking to. Some can be class a jerks. After about five minutes though, everything was settled. I do my best to keep an eye on my finances. I have one credit card that went up too high, and we have a payment plan for it. it is currently closed until we pay it off.

I don't mind not having a credit card. If I can't find a way to pay for it outright then I don't need it. If I really need it, then we will find a way. Sometimes I wonder how I can better manage my credit in the future, and while surfing around I've found one credit help blog that seems to have some helpful information on credit and credit cards. They talk about a variety of topics including managing your money and spending habits and reading your credit report. How many of us know just what your credit score means? Finances can just be confusing. At least today it was fairly easy and cut and dry. It isn't always.

You have a such great voice.

Every time I talk to people they tell me what a great voice I have. People tell me I have a great phone voice. Friends of my brother's that call are always telling him what a great voice I have. I've never really thought about it though. It's just my voice. I hear myself talk, and I don't really see anything special about it. They do though. It's just strange to me. A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine was talking about cartoons and all the work that goes into them. You realize that with animated work voice is big. So many actors today are lending their voices to animated features. Just last week, I heard that one of my favorite actors, Eric Bana, was lending his voice to another animated feature. He voiced one of the smaller characters in Finding Nemo. Sometimes I wonder if I could pull off something like that. There are places where voice over talent is wanted, but I've always seen myself as a behind the scenes type of person. Creating the words the voices are putting fire and passion into. I know no one would see me, but my voice would be heard by millions, and that is just way too much of a scary thought for me. Probably is for a lot of people.

What a difference.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

A few weeks ago I was in a very different state of mind. I was depressed, and I wasn't happy with much of anything. Life had just kept throwing those curve balls at me. One after another. I was looking for something, anything at all, to bring me back out of the funk I was in. Then I found it. I rediscovered the one thing I had always been able to count on. My writing. My writing had been taking hit after hit the past year. I wasn't even happy with anything I had been writing in months. I could always count on it before, but that wasn't even there to help me pull through.

That is until recently. I'm finally happy writing again. I've found someone to write with that is like me, and we just bounce back and forth together so well.  I know some might not understand role play and all it involves, but it can certainly get the creativity going when you have had next to nil in the creativity department. That is where I've been for months. If I can't sit there and enjoy writing with someone else, then there is a problem. My muses are starting to wake up again.

Life is still a bit crazy, but things are starting to look up again. My modem died the other day, and I had to go out and pay eighty bucks for a new one. That sucked. They are still working on my roof. That sucks too. I'm able to handle it a bit better though because at the end of the day I have something that makes me smile again.

Wanting to get away

Friday, October 12, 2007

Ever just want and need to get away? For the past four days, they have been working on the roof of my building right over my head. Hammering and pounding and walking around with heavy shoes. It has been getting on my nerves, and today it is giving me the worst headache. Thankfully, I think they are finishing the work on the roof today. It has made me want to get away though. Just jumping on a plane and going somewhere exotic. I thought back to this one trip I took years ago on one of my Spring Breaks to Hawaii. I went to Maui for the week, and it was just an amazing trip. Amazingly I was able to find a way for two people to have a good time in Maui on a college student budget. You learn how to work around things. You figure out where you want to put your focus and then plan accordingly. Our hotel and flight were paid already, so it was just a matter of the week there. The hotel we rented was a problem at first because the first room we were given was not as promised. I know we could have handled that differently if we had somehow rented a home or condo of some sort like you can through places like Hawaiian Beach Rentals. The hotel was able to get us fixed up, but still it was a bit of hassle. I've always wanted to go back to Maui. It is just one of the best places in the world. I'd love to see some of the other islands as well, but first I need to get there. It'll happen eventually.

New to me

Thursday, October 11, 2007

I love finding new music. Artists or groups that I'd never heard of before. A few weeks ago I was listening to my play list on random and a song from The Spill Canvas came on. Someone must have sent it to me, and I never listened. I fell in love. I picked up their two past CD's, and their new CD that just came out. I am so in love with their new CD it is so hard for me to pick just one song I love off of it. I've been stuck on Hush Hush for days. I finally listened to the rest of the CD this morning, and Reckless Abandonment is working its way into my head. They are alternative rock if that is your thing. I really love listening to them.

Something else new to me. Bionic Woman. I finally watched the first two episodes, and the show grabbed me from the first ten minutes. I need to watch the episode from last night still. Private Practice didn't click with me at all. They are ruining Addison I think. Bring her back to Grey's! More soon.

New York, New York.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

One of the cities I've always wanted to visit is the city of New York. Being from Los Angeles, everyone always talks about New York. It is the other big city in this country, and growing up I was fascinated hearing about it. Central Park. Times Square. You read books, and a good many are set in NYC. One of my favorite television series, Sex & The City, was set in New York City. Who else wouldn't want to be Carrie Bradshaw? What about the Statue of Liberty? The Empire State Building? It is one of those cities that I've heard never really truly sleeps. One of these days I really want to go there. Just a take a tour and see all the sights you would want to see there. Ride on a subway train. I know that probably sounds silly, but it is just something I'd love to do.

I was looking around online, and I found this great site offering New York Tours. They have a bus tour that sounds really good, and a tour of Harlem music. For the television nut in me, they even have a tour of the sites from the television series The Sopranos. One of these days, I really want to make it there. Trusted tours also has Boston
Tours. That is another place I want to visit someday. It might not happen this year, but I want to go there someday. I'm adding it onto my list.

Some quick TV thoughts

Monday, October 08, 2007

Yesterday, I watched the first two episodes of Cane, which is on CBS on Tuesday nights following The Unit. I kept meaning to watch it, but I think watching two episodes at once gives you the better feel of a new series to see if I want to put the effort into more. Cane stood up to my test, and I'll be watching more. It is about a Cuban family that runs a business, in what appears to be Miami. We have brothers and sisters and children all mixing about. It sort of has the upper class feel of Brothers & Sisters, and a similar story line to that series with one of the sons going off to Iraq, but other than those small plot points I found myself enjoyng the series. I hadn't had a good Hispanic series on television for awhile. I'm thinking back to Resurrection Blvd on Showtime for anyone that remembers that. Ugly Betty seems to poke fun at the culture. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Cane. Next up for me to watch, Private Practice. I'm off to do that now.