And I thank you for your support.

So I am a little embarrassed that I haven't been posting as much as I would like to lately. I know some people enjoy reading my blog and check it on a regular basis (hello Jen!) and I always mean to post, I just get distracted.

I decided to steal one of Jen's ideas, tweak it a little, and talk a bit about some of the sites I visit on a regular basis and the people who run them. I have been wanting to post about my new online friendships that I have developed and how they have profoundly affected me. I really appreciate you all and want to thank you for your support and companionship.

The Redneck Romance Writer - Jen, thank you for being such a generous and kind person. You have shown me that not all romance books are trite -- I have 'certain' pages dogeared in my Heart of the Storm book! Your thoughtfulness and compassion has gone beyond anything that I would expect or deserve. I truly hope we can keep in touch for a long, long time.

A Sense of Place - Steve, thank you for showing me that Alaska really is as beautiful as it is in my dreams. Thank you for inspiring me to take more photographs and to see the natural beauty in this world. I thought of you the other day as I was driving down a four lane highway in rush hour. For a quick moment, I happened to glance over to my left and I saw 3 of the most beautiful deer grazing along the side of the road -- I had a wonderful rest of my day knowing that I don't have to escape to Alaska to see beauty (though it would be nice!).

Deadliest Reports - Opilia, thank you for all of your hard work in keeping me up to date on all that is Deadliest Catch. You include some of the most interesting facts and information about Alaska, and you have unintentionally brought many of us together.

Sue's Random Ramblings - Hey girl, we haven't been speaking very long, but I find your site very interesting and fun. You have left some very nice and kind messages on my blog and I really appreciate that. You seem like a lovely person, and I can't wait to get to know you better!

Gigababy's Buffet - Giga (I love calling you that!) thank you for keeping me laughing and crying at the same time. On a serious note, thank you for opening my eyes and making me truly think about the people who are killed everyday in car accidents, and about those who are left behind. I always had a speed problem, but the things that I read on your site were a cold slap in the face to slow down. As a gift to you and all of those who have or have not lost someone to the road, I recently vowed to slow down and become a better, more considerate driver. I may not get to work on time, but at least I get there -- and everyone else does too.

Blah Blah Blog! - I am only including this site because I visit it everyday, however Ron is a "real life" friend as well as an online friend. I have known Ron and Tim for a few years now and they are the best friends I have ever had. I have never felt more loved and taken care of than I do when I am with them. Thank you for your kindness and open hearted nature. Thank you for your support and always being just a phone call away. If I can be half as good of a person and a friend as you guys are, I will be lucky indeed.

There are other sites that I visit everyday but I don't chat with the folks running them. I have come to know the above people and have come to really care for them. If you would have told me a few years ago that I would develop friendships with people from all over the world who I may never meet, I would have thought you were crazy. However, NOW I truly see how wonderful the internet can be.

**...and I promise to post more regularly!**

RIP

Roseanne Barr on Graham Norton

I stole this clip from gigababy, but I don't care. I can't wait to visit this new town. NSFW.

Hey Fucktard,

Dearest fucktard,
Hello. I have a few questions for you. Did you not see the car that was sitting diagonally in the lane up ahead. You know the one, it had the front end all crushed in. Did you miss those pretty red and blue flashing lights blocking that entire lane? Did you happen to miss all the debris across the road?

Yeah, probably not. I could see how you could have missed all that. However, the problem is that I was trying to merge onto I71 from I270. As you know, there really isn't much space to do so. This mashed up car, debris, police car, and person walking around were totally blocking the lane I was in and I was forced to merge into the lane next to me.

Now last time I checked, it was legal to turn on my turn signal, check my mirrors and merge into a lane. I know you would have preferred that I slam my car into the police cruiser and the crushed up car. I know it would have been more convenient for you if I would have not used my legal right to merge into YOUR lane (you know, your personal driving lane) and just slammed into the people walking around killing them instantly. I know that it would have been easier for you to have me drive over some glass or broken metal and bust my tires.

You are far more important than I am, I understand this. I mean, clearly you had somewhere you desperately needed to be at 7:30pm on a Tuesday night. I should have never dreamed of asking you to ensure the safety of all involved, and move over to the furthest lane possible. How dare I assume YOU would allow me to legally and safely merge into your lane without getting some reprimand for my actions.

Did you see me wave when you laid on your horn? I did it with one finger.

sincerely,
the apparent pain in the ass whose New Year's resolution is to drive more safely

yep.

First, the good news.

So, my little Jenny-Pooh tagged me, so I guess I got to think up some weird facts about myself. This should be interesting and difficult!

The rules:
Link to the person who tagged you;
Leave a comment on their blog so that their readers can visit yours;
Post the rules on your blog;
Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog;
Tag 7 random people at the end of your post;
Include links to their blogs;
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Here we go:

1) I have always wanted to be singer and actress. However, I am too shy to be an actress and I can't carry a tune in a bucket!! That doesn't stop me from belting out along with Tori Amos. Canines everywhere probably hate me.

2) I went through a period in my senior year of High School (and some of college) where I thought I was bi-sexual. Those thoughts came from childhood trauma mixed with fear of the unknown when it comes to my sexuality and men. I have since changed my mind, but I reserve the right to change it back at any time! ;)

3) Although an animal activist and vegetarian for almost 10 years, I LOVE to go fishing. Fishing was a great bonding time that I spent with my daddy as a child and I simply can't get away from it. For a while, I refused to do it because of my beliefs and I haven't been fishing in years (unless you count fishing on the Cornelia Marie in my dreams) But damn it, it is fun. I feel so ashamed sometimes, and sometimes I just want to throw the catch back and re bait my hook.

4) In related news, I love the water. I can't be without it. Sometimes I think I am a mermaid or siren of some kind. However, I am more of a pool side or lake girl as I have only had one experience with the ocean. It was in Florida and let's just say, she kicked my cocky ass across the beach and shoved sand so far up my ... well, let's just say I was pooping pearls for a week.

5) Keeping with the nautical theme I will confess something else. Something Steve will appreciate I am sure. Yes, I am a vegetarian. However I have tasted crab recently and found that I love it. I only had tiny bites, mind you. And goodness knows I haven't had the pleasure of Alaskan King Crab, but damn that stuff is good. I will do my best to not fall off the wagon, though.

6) I was voted most unique in High School. I think it should have been weirdest kid, but none the less my peers knew I was odd. I took my senior pictures at Walmart and the one I had them publish involved me holding a white candle, wearing all black, with an all black background. Part of me is really embarrassed by the picture now, and part of me is proud that I took the risk and decided to do something different and unconventional.

7) (This was easier than I thought) One year I got so lazy that by the time I took my Christmas decorations down, I had a month before I needed to put them up again!

Well, I don't have 7 people to tag, but here are two. I tag Ron and Donna.

When it rains, it pours.

I just found out last night that my mother needs surgery. Not just any kind of surgery either, but major surgery. Basically it turns out that she has about a 75% blockage in her carotid artery. The doctor wants her to have an MRI or CAT scan to determine things further. This doesn't come as much of a shock since her father had a stroke and her mother died from hardening of the arteries.

The problem is that my parents don't have any insurance. None. Mom works part time at Joanne Etc, but she doesn't think that insurance would pay for something pre-existing if she applies for it now. My father's factory shut down a few years ago and left all those men without jobs and insurance. Both are too young for social security so they are struggling financially. Of course, they tell me this AFTER they give me $1300 dollars to help fix my car.

It is at the point where my mother doesn't want to have the surgery because of the money and the risk. Apparently there is a huge risk of the blockage breaking off and rushing to the brain and killing the patient. What do I say to that? Of course I want her to get better and I don't want her to risk having a stroke. God knows what kind of condition a stroke would leave her in.

My question to you all is this. I know a lot of my readers have had insurance issues in the past and have either gone without or have gotten some sort of supplemental coverage. Does anyone out there have any ideas what they can do to help pay for all of this? Of course your thoughts and prayers are also very much needed and appreciated at this time too.

Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy

Wow. This made me cry. He was just what I needed right now. I am not commenting on religion here as I don't speak about what my faith is or is not. However, the love and strength of this little boy was overwhelming to me and I thought I would share pass it along. I don't think about the God/religion part. Think about the purity and gentleness of his words.

POT USA

Everyone I know is taking this quiz, so I thought I would too just to see how it comes out. I was sort of surprised at the results and even at my answers. I would have thought Hilary Clinton would have been higher on the list as Barack Obama is apparently not as gay friendly as we would like him to be. As you can tell, I am a bleeding heart liberal who still has no clue who to vote for. Don't worry, I won't let an online quiz decide for me who to vote for. It should be interesting.

85% Barack Obama
84% John Edwards
83% Hillary Clinton
82% Chris Dodd
81% Bill Richardson
78% Dennis Kucinich
77% Joe Biden
76% Mike Gravel
52% Rudy Giuliani
37% John McCain
34% Mitt Romney
31% Tom Tancredo
27% Mike Huckabee
21% Fred Thompson
14% Ron Paul

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Jingle cats

I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Year's Eve! I know I did. I got my much needed drink on, and had a comfy couch to crash on. THEN pancakes in the morning. Can't start the new year off better than that!