Slack me

I haven't been on in awhile! I have been busy with training for my new position at work, and hubby just started a new job two weeks ago. We have had no extra time, really. I even abandoned my neopets for a month. Unheard of!

I hope I didn't lose my two or three faithful readers! Don't go away!

I don't have any important things to say in this post, but I'll catch up later. I do have plenty to write!

Until then...

Hubby pics

Since I haven't posted many pics of US on here, I'll start with hubby. :)

Gettin' our picnic on at Paris Mountain State Park - 2006...


...exhausted during our wedding reception


Chillin' with the pids...


Chillin' with the pids again


Lucy doesn't like to be held like this, so you probably won't ever see a pic like this of her.


Gettin' our Christmas Eve on...


Again...


Pitiful hubby...


Kids get bored at adult birthday parties.


A doggy since passed... what a sweetie he was.


Sad face on the last day of our honeymoon - we don't want to come back to civilization!


Cutie pic - Christmas 2003 @ Grandma Shirley's


2nd trip to Tennessee - Red Lobster - of course, I had chicken.


Sleepy time.

Party party!

My best friend's daughter's first birthday party!

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If I could see off this mountain...

I've got Edwin McCain in the pod speakers, only 1 phone call at work so far (insert sigh of relief), minor 30 minute meeting… no major issues at all today. Me happy.

Oh, I had a tire blowout on Friday… that was fun.

Marshmallow fund is still $100.00 – it would have been more, but now we’ll need to fork out $100.00 or more toward the replacement of my newly dead tire (still using the doughnut – I fussed about the doughnut all weekend - all I kept saying was "freakin' doughnut tire...").

Hubby opened up his presents on his birthday, and not a moment earlier. I was determined not to let him open them early. I mentioned before that I bought him an iPod. The pids got him an oriental rug-looking bookmark, Schindler’s List on DVD, and the complete works of the Brothers Grimm. That’s a book I’m definitely going to read sometime – I didn’t realize all the stories I heard as a child are, in truth, watered down horror stories. In all, he really enjoyed his birthday. Oh, we went out to eat as well (had the blowout on the way back).

We got the remaining Buffy seasons we wanted as well. We’ve had a season 6 and 7 fest this weekend. I don’t think we watched cable once. Hmm… reality show reruns, Saturday night worn-out movie on a local channel, or Buffy marathon? One wonders why we buy so many DVDs.

I have had a major dilemma with my hair lately. For some reason, I have had the WORST tangled hair I have ever had in my whole hair-bearing life. I thought it might have had something to do with purple dye I recently put in on one side. I don’t think so though, because eventually all of my hair was hard to deal with. I finally decided it was my weak conditioner. I’m sticking with that diagnosis. Now I bought some kind of nexus-humectress something-or-other product. I used it for the first time last night. AMAZING difference, can you believe? I can actually run my fingers through my hair and not have them stick in a 5 second old tangle. Me happy again.

Find your own way out...

No, my titles hardly ever make sense. Deal with it... I do. I can't help myself. I must write the first thing that comes to my mind when I come to the title bar.

Check out my baby niece! Born 7-31-2006 - 8lbs, 13oz.! You'd never know by looking at her now that she's that big. She looks like a 6 lb. baby. She's so precious!





















Of course, I had to throw in one of the girls. They're both big sisters now!





























She's way too cute for her own good. When she was 2 days old, she was kicking her way over a Boppy (you mommies and daddies probaby know what I'm talking about... a large version of a horseshoe neck pillow). She's so strong!

Ack - no time to write at work anymore today (as far as I can tell - I'm getting swamped.). Later!

You WILL respect my authoritah.

Yes you will.

News Flash: Kitties chasing their own shadows on the ceiling during power outage - Carri not bored.

I haven't been on in awhile, at least not in any great capacity. I have been working a lot, plus my new niece has been here for 3 weeks now (this also makes us remember how much we want a baby). Of course, I am now occupied! Plus, our apartment is QUITE the definition of a mess lately, with both hubby and I gone on opposite schedules (me 1st, him 3rd shift). One of us is home to make a mess, and neither of us cleans, making this place a little unbearable for awhile. Therefore, I have been pretty busy this week catching up with home chores.

Hubby has been buying more seasons of Buffy for us. We only need 2 more! Yay!

This is what I am buying us for Christmas (no, NOT copying Buffy, as if you need to ask. I AM Irish, after all). It's cute. DON'T steal it. It's a pretty unique design. I'll know by using my little space boots that you've stolen my idea, you thief!








Marshmallow fund - $100.00 out of $800.00 - must... have... marshmallow...

Short thoughts

Yeah- I know I haven't posted in over a month except for the Isaac updates. Sorry!

Random short thought of the day: Has Adrien Brody ever played a vampire? He's definitely look good as an Anne Rice/Buffy type vampire.

David Boreanaz is the best one in my opinion, though. I've been reminiscing with the first 2 seasons of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer (that's the only 2 DVD sets of that show that I own). I had forgotten why I love that show! (Angel, too). I have only seen sporadic episodes in the last few years (saw the last episodes of both). My hubby likes it too, so we plan to get the rest of the seasons when we can afford them. I only got the other two at first b/c Angel was in those two seasons so much.

Hubby and I are saving up for a new mattress, which we lovingly call "The Marshmallow." Aforementioned Marshmallow will be coming home with us as soon as we can afford to fork out $729.00 plus tax. We got a $170.00 savings, too, and free delivery b/c we said we'd definitely come back to that same place. Actually, we liked the marshmallow better than some that were 3x that price. Good for us! I'm not trying to a look a gift mattress in the springs, as Pa-Pa gave us our current one for free, but I just cannot sleep on it anymore... never could, really. It's a VERY firm mattress, and I am very curvy, for lack of worse phrases. It kills my back if I sleep on it for more than 2 hours. I used to have Josh get me up from the couch when he came home at 4 in the morning and let me sleep on the bed for just that small amount of time. Now, I just sleep on the couch permanently. A couch which also needs replacing itself... still more comfy than the bed. Josh feels so bad, which is why we're trying to get the marshmallow ASAP.

Honestly, the best mattress I've ever slept on was the one in our honeymoon cabin. It was a big squishy king-size one that when you laid down, you halfway disappeared! I miss that thing. I didn't have this blog when we got married, so I'll have to post some pics later of the cabin we stayed in. It was so beautiful.

All for now! Must work.

I promise to keep better blogging hours from now on. I promise!

Song of the Day: Fuel - Sunburn

Praying for Isaac - Updated 8-6-2006

To EVERYONE who reads this: This is NOT a chain letter - I indirectly know this little boy. I'm post-dating this post b/c I want it to stay on top.

Isaac Clary is a boy who has had some serious medical issues for most of his short life - he was the recipient of a liver transplant, but unfortunately, the donor liver had a virus in it, and ever since then, he has had numerous troubles. Isaac needs everyone's thoughts, well-wishes and prayers. Please click the link at the bottom if you would like to read his story, see his pictures, make a donation, and/or sign his guestbook.

Best news so far: Bone Marrow Transplant has taken place!!!!

http://www3.caringbridge.org/sc/isaacsjournal/
______________________________________________________
Newest I-Man update:

Sunday, August 6, 2006 0:07 AM CDT

Still sore. Isaac is feeling a little better from Wednesdays operations and stuff but he is still pretty sore. He hasn't bled anymore from his sinuses and hasn't vomited anymore blood. He has a huge bruise about the size of a baseball from just below his ear to his chest from where they entered his jugular vein in his neck to place the other central line in his chest. He sat up in the bed today for a couple of hours. His is still receiving oxygen at night time to help with his breathing while he sleeps. He also continues to get a ton of IV fluids and electrolytes. He is on day three of his new treatment and has a couple of more weeks to go. Hopefully he will get out of the hospital then and begin with outpatient again. We are praying that we will begin to see some positive signs from this treatment. He has been though a lot and he is probably one of the bravest people I have ever seen.

We have moved into a house in Florence,KY which is only about 10 miles from Cincy. The doctors have told us that it will be at least 6 more months before we will be leaving. We are trying to make everything as close to home as possible for him and us. Hopefully this will brighten up all of our spirits and give us some semblance of a "normal" life. Although, after being here so long, we're not real sure what that feels like. I have made Isaac some train tables where he can set up his layouts and play just as if he were back at home in his new train room. We have settled in for the long haul with our only concern being that of seeing him healthy. This has made us stronger as parents and a family while at the same time has torn at our hearts. Things before that we thought impossible to go through before now come with ease. As our Pastor Eddie Cox said this past week in his message on storms, we have found a new normal. Our lives in some ways have been reshaped like what happens to a coastline after a hurricane. Like Melissa said the other day, we have to look for the good that comes from the storms.

A guy I graduated college with has a group called Casting Crowns, they have a song called "I'll praise you in the storms" It really says a lot about what we have experienced this past year. I'll admit,it is tough sometimes to look for the good in the midst of the bad. But this past week, Isaac put it all into perspective for Melissa and myself. This past week Isaac woke up from surgery, he was lying there bruised, hurting and even vomiting blood. He looked up at Melissa and asked if they had accessed his port while he was asleep. This is only a needle stick compared to the 2 1/2 hours of surgery he had been through. But he looked up at Melissa and said "I knew it was gonna work out because last night I said a prayer". In spite of all he had been through that day, he saw the good in the storm. Please continue to pray for Isaac and that we would see positive results from this new treatment.

Sammy

"Shake the sand out of your shoes, honey, and keep going."

I'm sure this is hard to hear for the Cockman family, but I think they deserve to rot in jail, personally. Dying would be an easy out for these two.

Life Sentence Disappointing To Cockman's Family
Judge Imposes Sentence After Jury Can’t Decide
POSTED: 5:57 am EDT June 29, 2006
UPDATED: 6:27 am EDT June 29, 2006
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GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Jennifer Holloway and David Edens will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Judge John Hayes imposed the sentence of life without parole Wednesday afternoon after a Greenville County jury was unable to agree on a sentence for the couple.

Judge Imposes Sentence

Edens and Holloway were convicted Friday of murder and kidnapping. They killed Greenville businessman Jim Cockman by wrapping his head in 40 feet of duct tape.

Cockman had met the couple in a Greenville County parking lot, thinking they were going to buy a used SUV he was selling.

Prosecutors argued that Edens and Holloway should die for their crimes. But the jury, which took less than two hours to convict the couple, deliberated for more than 10 hours before telling Hayes they could not decide between the two penalties available to them, death or life in prison.

“That is life in prison without the possibility of parole," Hayes said twice, first when Edens, 36, stood before him and then a few minutes later to Holloway, 29.

Cockman’s family said that those weren’t the words they wanted to hear. Cockman’s widow, Cathy Cockman and his daughter, Kimberly Rasmussen, said they hoped the jury would impose the death penalty.

"They could have stopped at his chin,” Cathy Cockman said, describing the way the couple killed her husband. “They could have stopped at his mouth and when he couldn't beg with his mouth, I know he begged with his eyes."

Still, Cathy Cockman said that she is glad that the ordeal is over.

"I'm glad this part is over and I'm very glad that they have no hope.” She told WYFF News 4’s Erin Hartness. “It would have broken my heart if they had any hope of getting out. The fact that they have no hope, that's sufficient for me."

Cockman's daughter says that knowing that is not much comfort to her.

"When you wake up in the morning, it's the first thing on your mind. When you lay down at night, you can't get it out of your head," Rasmussen said.

Cathy Cockman and Rasmussen said that they are not soothed by Holloway’s apology after her sentence was announced.

"I would like to apologize to the Cockman family for what I've done and I'd like to apologize to my family," she said. Edens remained silent after his sentence was read.

“Those words asking for forgiveness from the Cockman family, they just don't ring true to me," Cathy Cockman said.

Edens was required to attend the sentencing on Wednesday, but he had not been in the courtroom since the trial’s first day, opting instead to remain in his cell at the Greenville County Law Enforcement Center.

One defense attorney said that even though the couple’s lives were spared, there is nothing to celebrate about this case.

Solicitor Bob Ariail, who prosecuted the case, said he does not regret seeking the death penalty.
Ariail said both defendants indicated they would have pleaded guilty to life in prison 16 months ago, when the prosecution began, but the solicitor's office felt the death penalty was appropriate.
Now that the case is settled, Rasmussen said that she must begin to move on with her life.
"You go. You just keep going,” she said. “You know, my Dad used to say 'Shake the sand out of your shoes, Honey, and keep going.' I was brought up by that and I live by that."

After closing arguments in the penalty phase on Tuesday, the jury had deliberated for more more than 6 hours before adjorning for the night at about 9:30 p.m. Jurors then met for another three hours on Wednesday morning, and more than an hour on Wednesday afternoon before informing Hayes of their inability to make a decision.

The jurors had asked to review testimony about the mental and physical abuse Holloway suffered at the hands of Edens, her common-law husband.

Closing Arguments

In making their closing arguments on Tuesday, prosecutors said that Edens and Holloway deserved to die for their crime. Defense attorneys called for mercy.

Holloway was tearful at times. Her co-defendant, Edens, was not there.

Prosecutors said that because Holloway and Edens kidnapped Cockman before they killed him by wrapping his head with duct tape, they deserved to die for the crime.

"This isn't about what is the least and easiest for us to do," 13th Circuit Solicitor Bob Ariail said in his closing argument. "I told you this is a tough decision, but if we just took the easiest and least punishment then there's no need for the death penalty. Then our law says it's appropriate."

The jury heard excerpts from letters that Edens and Holloway wrote to each other from jail after their arrest in September 2004.

The letters referred to a plot to kill Holloway's father and included apologies to each other for their involvement in Cockman's death.

"Why should they receive mercy? What mercy did they give to Jim Cockman?" Ariail said. "When they were wrapping his head and he was struggling and gasping for air, pleading, they rejected his plea for mercy."

But defense attorneys for Edens and Holloway asked the jury to show mercy and spare their lives.

"Mr. Ariail talks like life without parole is like a stroll at Cleveland Park," Edens' attorney, John Mauldin, said. "Imagine it, imagine being in prison for the rest of your life never to breathe a breath of free air again. Do we teach our children revenge or do we teach them mercy? Do we teach them retribution or do we teach them compassion?"

Holloway's attorneys said a lifetime of troubles affected her actions on the day Cockman died in September 2004. They said that their client, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and battered women syndrome, does not deserve execution.

"I'm going to sit down in just a minute," Holloway's attorney Teresa Morris said. "This is an awesome responsibility for me, as a lawyer, to ask you for another woman's life. But your responsibility is much deeper. You have to make the judgment."

"We have all had bad experiences. We all have to deal with it," Holloway's attorney Hank Ehlies told the jury. "We all get hammered by the consequences of life, but some of us earlier than others. And some more frequently than others."

The judge told the jurors they could consider what's called mitigating circumstances, which are reasons to not impose the death penalty.

Those circumstances could include not having a criminal history of violence and acting under the influence of a mental disturbance.

Previous Stories:
June 27, 2006: Fate Of Edens, Holloway In Jury's Hands
June 26, 2006: Penalty Hearing Continues For Edens, Holloway
June 24, 2006: Edens, Holloway Found Guilty In Cockman's Death
June 23, 2006: Cockman Trial Now In Hands Of Jury
June 22, 2006: Prosecution Expected To Wrap Up Case In Cockman Trial

Jim Cockman - update

I wrote way earlier about a local man who was violently killed by two people who wanted to steal his SUV he was selling. Here's a happier update about his story.

Once-again-the-lovely-disclaimer: I'm not making $$ on this website - so don't sue me! I want people to know that these horrible people got what was coming to them.

Penalty Hearing Continues For Edens, Holloway
Solicitor Seeking Death Penalty For Cockman's Killers
POSTED: 8:33 am EDT June 25, 2006
UPDATED: 7:09 am EDT June 26, 2006

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GREENIVLLE, S.C. -- The Greenville County jury that will decide the fate of David Edens and Jennifer Holloway heard from witnesses called by both the prosecution and defense on Sunday.
The penalty phase of the capital murder trial began Sunday morning after a mandatory 24-hour waiting period following the jury's verdict that the couple was guilty of kidnapping and killing Greenville businessman Jim Cockman.

The hearing ended for the day Sunday at about 5 p.m. and is scheduled to resume Monday a 9 a.m.

Prosecutors called Cockman’s widow, who described learning of her husband’s death – and then having to tell her family.

"No one should ever have to sit their son or their daughter down and have to tell them that their father has been killed," Cathy Cockman told the jury. "It was the most heart-wrenching thing that anyone could ever have to go through."

Prosecutors showed the jurors photos of Cockman’s family and heard testimony about how the former Sara Lee CEO helped friends, acquaintances and people he did not know through his work for charities including American Leprosy Missions.

Jurors also got to see the freezer in which investigators found Cockman’s body at a Tennessee storage unit, his wrists bound and his head wrapped in duct tape.

After the prosecution’s presentation, Edens' attorney called a forensic psychiatrist to the stand. Her testimony included a description of Edens’ version of what happened the day Cockman was kidnapped and killed.

"Jennifer had gotten Mr. Cockman to get into the back seat of the car by asking him to show her how the seats worked," Dr. Margret Melikian said. "David then stated that she punched him in the face and was able to put the duct tape around his head."

Melikian also testified that Edens suffers from social anxiety (who cares? she killed someone).

On cross-examination, prosecutors asked if that condition could cause a person to commit the crimes Edens is convicted of. Melikian said "No."

The Verdict

It took jurors less than two hours Friday afternoon, to find Edens and Holloway guilty.

As the verdict was announced, Holloway could be seen wiping away tears. Edens was not in the courtroom. He declined to appear in court after Monday, opting to remain in his cell at the Greenville County Law Enforcement Center.

In closing arguments, the lawyers hinted at their approaches to the penalty phase of the trial.
Deputy Solicitor Betty Strom focused on the brutality of the crime and the way in which Cockman was killed.

"You've got your hands on a man and you are wrapping his head as he is gasping for breath," Strom said. "How much meanness does it take? How mean do you have to be to grab a man and wrap his head with duct tape?"

Jurors heard two separate closing arguments from the defense, as Edens and Holloway are represented by different teams of lawyers.

Hank Eihles, representing Holloway, referred to a conversation that his client had with Greenville County investigator Paul Silvaggio (I actually know this detective - he's VERY honest) .

In testimony during the prosecution's case, Silvaggio said Holloway told him that she had seven people living inside her head and that one of them was telling her to kill herself.

"You're going to hear a lot about the next part of her statement to officer Silvaggio, who reported very honestly concerns that she expressed about her own mental state," Eihles told jurors. "We're dealing with a complicated woman, a complicated situation that you'll hear a lot more about."

Edens was represented by Rick Veith, who painted a picture of Edens as being dominated by Holloway, his common law wife.

He pointed out that it was Holloway who had rented the storage unit where Cockman's body was found inside a freezer and that she held the keys to that unit.

"I submit here that there was never an attempt, at least on Edens' part, to kill anyone. He was there to get (the SUV) and go on."

He also said that if the couple had planned all along to kill Cockman, they would have disposed of his body in a different way than locking it in a freezer in a Tennessee storage unit.

"You dispose of the body somewhere going up the road from North Carolina to Sevierville, Tenn.," Veith said. "You've got a long drive."



Previous Stories:
June 22, 2006: Prosecution Expected To Wrap Up Case In Cockman Trial
June 21, 2006: 'Dozing' Juror Dismissed In Capital Murder Case
June 20, 2006: Cockman's Widow Testifies About Husband's Disappearance
June 19, 2006: Opening Statements Set In Cockman Murder Trial
September 30, 2005: Date Set In Cockman Murder Trial
May 24, 2005: Pair Indicted In Retired Businessman's Death
October 5, 2004: Solicitor Will Seek Death Penalty In Cockman Homicide
September 28, 2004: FBI: Suspects In Cockman Death Called Others Selling Cars
September 27, 2004: Coroner: Jim Cockman's Death Is Homicide
September 23, 2004: FBI: Person Believed To Be Greenville Businessman Suffocated

Cheering Me Up

In an attempt to cheer me up, my sweet hubby bought me a beta fish. I have yet to name him. He's beautiful, though. He's a crowntail, which means he has a HUGE poofy tail. His tail is bright red like a gamecock and his body is a swirl of red, pink, purple and a little blue. When he bucks up to his reflection (they're pretty aggressive, which is why they're always solitary fish), he opens up his gills, and they are a deep blue. I'll post pictures when I can take one that isn't blurry or the image isn't distorted by the camera flash.

I gave Josh majority ownership of Doc's tank. He did pay for a large percentage of it anyway. He has decided to use it as a fish aquarium. Good idea, in my opinion. I was hoping he wouldn't get anything that requires a dry home. I can keep water clear & clean, but I can't deal with funny pet smells from dry terrariums.

So, I'm a little more cheerful. I got upset when we went into Petsmart and saw some turtle stuff. It was also hard throwing away his food and whatnots, but I'm getting better.

Happier Note

So, on "So you think you can dance?"...

Benji didn't get cut! I knew he wouldn't anyway, especially after the tear-up-the-house performance he gave on Wednesday night. He and Donyelle did a hip-hop piece. I can't believe he can dance like that! I was yelling at the TV, "Go Benji!" I missed the first half of the night, so I didn't know if he even made it through until the Stanislav Ivaneski, I think that's how you spell his last name, got cut (sad, by the way... I thought he'd go farther!).

Anyway, I'm hooked on this show!

Goodbye, Doc

I have some really bad news.

My turtle, Doc Holliday, crossed over to the turtle rainbow bridge yesterday at about 5pm.

I don't know what happened. He loved his new tank. I thought everything was just perfect, and all of a sudden, Josh told me I needed to go check on him, that he wasn't moving. I thought he was asleep, b/c they do sleep underwater at the bottom of the tank sometimes. Not this time, though... he was just laying down on the base rocks with his little legs and arms spread out. :(

I'm taking him back home to my mom and dad's house and burying him in their garden, alongside his older brother Ernie, and younger sibling, Howie.

I'll still post my beautiful pictures of Doc when I can (here's one for now that I had at work). I'm glad I got some recent photos of him before he died.

This will be my last turtle. I've decided that since I had him for 11 years, I have fulfilled my obligation as a turtle mommy.

I'll write about him more later.

So um, yeah... I'm slack

I have been EXTREMELY busy lately. Sorry for the lack of updates!

Since American Idol is off, Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe will be thrilled to know that I have put even more money in their pockets by watching "So You Think You Can Dance?". I heard about it right when A.I. went off, so I thought I'd give it a shot in the hopes of catching some good swing dancers. I am a complete swing dance freak. However, I canNOT dance, mind you. There is not a single dancing bone in my body. I may have rhythm, but it was meant for playing an instrument.

I NEVER expected to see Benji Schwimmer and Heidi Groskreutz on that competition! I have followed, or attempted to follow pro swing dance for some time and I lost track of both of them around 2001 or later. Last night, I looked them up again and found out Benji had gone on a mission trip, hence the dancing hiatus. Well, there you go!

Heidi was a given into the top 10. I think most everyone knew that starting out. I personally knew Benji was a shoo-in, but I neglected to think about all of the possible dance types there are in that competition.

I'm glad the public gets a chance to vote for these folks, because I'm voting Benji and Heidi all the way!

One goal down! + Turtley Day - check!

We're going to see Saliva!!! For those of you who do not already know, Saliva is not only an output of our glands, but also a band.

D (good friend), hubby, and I got tickets before it was even announced on the radio. D was browsing the website of a local band concert bar we frequent and stumbled across the web announcement for Saliva. We couldn't find where to buy them online like we normally can, so we called. The girl on the phone didn't even know when it was or how much the tickets were, but we did - LOL. She said they were still in final negotiations early the day before, and she didn't realize that they'd already accepted.

Can I get a dang woo-hoo??? Or a hoo-ha??
We're going to see Saliva!!!!!!

Turtley day has come to pass. The new set-up is finished, and Doc is swimming freely in a beautiful 30 gallon square tank. I have a few more things I want to add to it b/c he only has one basking spot and nowhere dark to hide. I set the temperature too high, too. Two of the eight goldfish I got for him died in 24 hours. Another met his "prey obligation" very early in tank life. Doc is blind in one eye, but dangit, he can chase a fish!

Harry Potter

JK Rowling still maintains that the last word of the 7th book of Harry Potter is going to be scar.

My prediction is that the last sentence is:

"What scar?"

I listen to MuggleCast and PotterCast on my iPod regularly. Neither has brought this up. So I'm scheming. Well, they've brought the scar up and the question of would it disappear, but not in the sense that it has anything to do with guessing the last sentence.

Many questions are raised, including what REALLY is the veil in the Department of Mysteries (that's why it's a mystery, folks!) who is going to make through all 7 books alive. I think by JKR saying that the last word is scar, it might mean that Harry will live through the end... even if my sentence is wrong. It gives people optimism that Harry won't die. However, as tricksy as JKR is, the word might be a false hope.

Well, that was fun!

More speculation when I'm not bogged down in work.

5-18-06 update: MuggleCast 23 raises the question (in a nutshell) "If Voldemort had not been 'discovered' as a wizard as a young man, would he have been as bad?"

My answer: I think he'd have been a serial killer.

Worn out

This is what I did on Saturday. I have literally lost most of the grip in my hands from weeding and mulching for 3 hours. My whole dang body hurt!

Disclaimer: I didn't write this... not making $$ from it... thanks!

'Hands On Greenville Day' Gives City Makeover
POSTED: 10:52 pm EDT May 13, 2006

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Greenville received its annual spring makeover on the 12th annual "Hands on Greenville Day."
On Saturday, more than 2,000 volunteers spread out across 71 sites to restore buildings, plant gardens and paint other areas.
"A lot of debris comes through there like bottles and Styrofoam cups and plastic bags, and someone has to go down there after every storm and pull those things out of there," said volunteer Norman Blore.
Volunteers also focused on areas like McPherson Park and cleaned the creek.

appropriate...

A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world.
- John le Carre

There art two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness.
- Franz Kafka

Speaking of turtley day...

Disclaimer: No, I didn't write this... my local news channel posted it - I just love turtles!

'Monster' Leatherback Turtle Nests On Hilton Head

POSTED: 4:01 pm EDT May 10, 2006
HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- 'Monster' leatherback turtle nests on Hilton Head

(AP) - A six-foot leatherback sea turtle weighing nearly one-thousand pounds built a nest just north of the Marriott Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island Sunday. The state Department of Natural Resources says only six leatherback nests have been recorded on South Carolina beaches in the last ten years. They're also on the federal endangered species list. The turtle's 77-inch-wide tracks led up the beach and into a midlevel dune, where it dug a nest sometime before dawn Sunday. Leatherbacks build six to nine nests per season and lay about 80 fertilized eggs the size of billiard balls.

turtley day fast approaching

10:46AM
My rock... err, turtle's aquarium is finally coming up upon it's yearly scouring and sanitizing. Yes, I clean the water, filtration, turtle, etc more than that, so don't freak out and turn me in to the ASPCA. Doc even has his very own shell conditioner (which is really good on my hands, incidentally!).

This time, we've already gotten him a new tank - it's so beautiful! I'll post pictures of it when it's all set up.

2:05PM
Geez... like I could be run into the ground anymore today at work. I have a MASSIVE overflow of work that ISN'T MINE to have done by the end of the day... grr...

3:01PM
Finally finished with the non-me work... I can get into my day 2.5 hrs before I go home!

3:27
Just chloroform me... please...
Good thing is that I'm listening to my Rent CDs... the ONLY good thing.

Bethany!!

I commented back under your comment, but I'm putting my answer here too!

___________________________________________
I can't figure out how to contact you other than this, so here goes!

I found that at a place for myspace tweeks: http://www.getmusicvideocodes.com

You have to sign up now, but I got it before all that was necessary... that's why I've only had the two videos so far. I lost the acoustic version of Going Under, so I might eventually switch to the LP version. There's a lot of good tunes on that site, so I'm sure you'll find what you need.

Oh, and happy to have you lurking! Or not lurking now, as the case may be!

Not smart enough for a title

10:13am:
I have a headache today... it makes me feel blah. No perkiness here.

I have a LOT of work to do today. Despite that, I am writing. Maybe this will help keep me organized... finish 5 accounts, write a paragraph!

Oh, I have a new picture blog...http://opiccolo.blogspot.com. Check it out! I'm playing around with pictures, trying to be all professional LOL. It's nowhere NEAR being professional, but it's as close as I'll get without taking classes, which I do want to do sometime in the future. My pictures could be so much better! But, go anyway! I have the pics, I may as well have the ridicule as well!

12:00pm:
Ok, more like 20 accounts.

I have lately been getting into independent music. There's a rock song I heard called "Restless" by the band, Waking (I think that's what the guy on the podcast said). I can't find it on iTunes since it's indy, so I have been looking for it ever since. I might check out www.cdbaby.com and see if they've put their stuff out there. I've never used it, but I've heard it is a good place to find a lot of indy bands. Another one I want to get for sure is a girl named Charlotte Martin. I know for sure she's on cdbaby. Woo-hoo! I might also look at a UK band called Public Symphony (the song I like is called Stronger, I think).

This one isn't indy, but I love them: Fort Minor. One of the guys is from Linkin Park, one of Josh's favorite bands. My favorite song by Fort Minor so far is "Petrified", which I DID find on iTunes. I'd be interested in getting their album.

Speaking of which, when did a record album stop being a record album? Kids refer to an album as a CD. Was an record album always just a record? Is there an unspoken rule that you must refer to a group of songs by the media on which it's recorded? I said record or record album even when cassette tapes were popular. I never remember saying "Hey, I need to go out and buy the new Sesame Street Fever (forgive me, it was one of my first full-size records) 8-track. I always remember saying record! The last time I said it, I got a funny look from the nearest tweenager (my niece, I think). Lord help me... I'm going cross-eyed.

1:50pm:
Post lunch... I had some fabulous chicken fettucine alfredo from Paisano's Pizzeria. This is the 3rd time I have ever eaten there and I've had that every time. Yummy in my tummy. Off to put the finishing touches on those previous accounts.

I'm now listening to a podcast about the Mothman sightings in Point Pleasant (NJ, I think?). What I didn't know is how much of the movie Mothman Prophecies is actually real. It makes me want to research it more.

3:21pm:
No more time to write. Later!

My new addiction... and other things

I have recently discovered podcasts.

Help me.

About two weeks ago, I started listening to one simple podcast, and my subscriptions have bloomed to 11.

Here's what I listen to and why:

• MuggleCast: Harry Potter theories, book chapter reviews, sometimes interviews.
• PotterCast: same reason but MuggleCast is better.
• Bob & Sheri: a talk radio station that I never get to hear anymore and am thoroughly enjoying.
• History 5: European Civilization: Berkeley College's (I think) class - the professor stutters SO much though, that I can hardly stand to listen to it. I guess you have to appreciate him in context.
• Irish & Celtic Music: LOVE IT - self-explanatory... I'll definitely keep this one.
• Meditation Station: some good calm music to end your day or just de-stress you during lunch.
• Paranormal Podcast: that's what I'm listening to now... I'm still deciding on it (I'm catching up), but it's mainly interviews and discussions on different paranormal topics... crop circles, premonitions, poltergeists, hauntings, psychics, etc.
• Rent: my most recent new Broadway find... I have just discovered that I LOVE the musical Rent. This one is not so involved, as it is so far only 4 episodes. If you like actor/singer interviews, you'll like this as well.
• Learn Italian: Yeah, I thought I might listen to this one and figure out how to ask where bathrooms are in Italy... since I am going (not).
• French for beginners: same reason
• Insta Spanish Lessons: brushing up on my old school Spanish lessons.

This is how I treat my ears during work hours.

My poor ears...



Lucy's first birthday was yesterday! We called her the birthday baby all day. I wonder if her head growth will ever catch up to her body growth. It makes me wonder if we did something wrong. Who knows? Maybe cats aren't considered full-grown at 1 year old anymore. Either way, she had a good day. She even groomed and got groomed by big brother Macy.

Josh and I had an actual sit-down breakfast yesterday. What a unique concept! We've promised ourselves that even if we eat frozen dinners, we're going to do that at least once a week, which is saying something considering how little we are together during a week... really only Friday night, all Saturday and Sunday afternoon. That's only 5 possibilities. :)

I have come to the realization that I MUST CLEAN MY BALCONY. It is pathetically dirty. I looked up from the ground at our balcony and realized that other people could see how bad it is. However, cleaning up the balcony requires also cleaning the dang storage room.

Oh well... this is an hour old and I'm bored of writing... later~

Burned again

I am a fan of the "next blog" button. The main time I do this, though, is during lunch at my work desk. The last time I went button crazy, I got burned and was afraid someone saw the OBSCENE picture that loaded. Lesson temporarily learned, changed options to show no images until I became brazen again.

Lesson permanently learned today... I know of one underage person who reads this site, so I'll refrain from posting what I stumbled upon today, but suffice to say it was upper female anatomy decorated into a FACE.

Strange things on the world wide web... at home, I would have cracked up. At work, I was mortified.

As such, here are some picture safe blogs I found today.

http://grangrans-house.blogspot.com/
http://korykinnick.blogspot.com/
http://bitsandpieces1.blogspot.com/

Neato fact of the day

Today, at two minutes and three seconds after
1 o’clock, the time and date will be 01:02:03, 04/05/06.

That combination won't occur again... well, in this millennium, at least!

Run home and tell your Momma that!

Questionnaire

I got this one from a blog I lurk... http://valkyriegrl.blogspot.com

Questions
Here's a couple of meaningless, random questions off the top of my head for you to answer!
Enjoy!-

If you could have 5 or more children, adopted or biological, would you?
Really, really think about it.
-No, we want no more than 2 or 3

-If you had the chance to somehow see accurately into the future, would you want to?
-Absolutely not

-What do you want done with your ashes?
-Want to be buried, not cremated

-If you could go back in time and spend as much time as you want in the past, which era would you visit?
-I wouldn't... I fully enjoy the benefits of living in the time I do.

-Would you want to be famous?
-No

-If you could change one thing about your personality, what would it be?
-Not sure

-Which is worse, virus or bacteria?
-Virus

-What would be the first thing you'd do if you won a million or more in the lottery?
-Get a house, have children (I plan to do it anyway, but I wouldn't wait)

-In your city, where is your favourite spot (park, street, trail)?
-Cleveland Park, Reedy River

-What has been the happiest time in your life up until this point?
-My wedding day

-If you could live forever without aging a day past your current age, would you want to?
-Probably not - I want to experience it all.

-If you could choose an age to be frozen at, which age would you pick?
-The year before I start falling apart.

-What's the best way to spend a Saturday night, in your opinion?
-Just being with my husband

-If you had a(nother)baby right now, what would you name him/her?
-As said in a previous post, I'll tell that when I'm pregnant.

-Do you have any regrets so far?
-Only one, but I wouldn't have met my husband, so in hindsight, it's not a regret.

-Do you believe in ghosts?
-Still thinking about it

Favorite Pictures

My favorite recent pictures (that I actually took myself!) - #1 - blow up of 1/2 of Kiley's face


#2 - Say Cheese!


#3 - She just loves to pose!


#4 - I realize no one's looking at the camera, but this is one of my top favorites - Kiley and Grandma Shirley


#5 - See what I mean?


#6 - This one is occasionally on my desktop at work.


#7 - Playing dollies with Uncle Josh


#8 - This is WAY blurry, but I can't get over the sweet look on her face.


#9 - Lauren is even more beautiful in black/white pictures than color!


#10 - Christmas Eve sunlight


#11 - Christmas Eve sunlight #2 - I swear I'm going to take off the date tag!


#12 - I love that these next few are so in focus! I'm really proud of these.


#13 - Lucy on a lazy day


#14


#15 - What'd I do, Mommy?


#16 - Curious kitty


#17 - My all-time favorite Kiley picture!


#18 - Thanksgiving Shenanigans


#19 - Messin' up the bed!


#20 - OLD picture of Lauren in my Mom' & Dad's pool - this wasn't even my digital camera - this was either my 35mm (which has now gone where cameras go to die) or one of those disposable Kodaks.


#21 - One of our first 100 pictures of Lucy - She was such a little squirt!


#22 - For an amateur, I think the lighting turned out nice on this one - Macy looks so innocent!