I love not-winter!

I forgot to turn off my alarm this morning. So at a very early time, I woke up and couldn't fall back asleep. So I got out of bed and showered. Then I had breakfast and coffee on the porch. Then I checked my email on the porch. I filed my nails on the porch. I waved at neighbors from the porch. I ate cake on the porch. And now I'm typing this from my porch. I listend to music on my porch. Also, I got sunburned on my porch!

Not-winter rocks!

I know I'm picky....

But I don't think I'm this picky. I have started branching out and discovering foods that I do enjoy. Cherries are on this list, as are green peppers. My plan for this summer is to try mangoes and papaya. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

Ziggy Marley opened for Robert Randolph and the Family Band. I saw more rastafarians, wanna-be-rastafarians and baby-rastafarians that you would ever think to find. 90% of them smelled. And the fat chick that needed more than one seat but decided to try to jam herself into the seat next to me had an amazingly boney elbow.

But then, Robert Randolph took the stage. This man.... This band.... Friggin amazing. There were moments where I was incapable of speech or even sound, he was so amazing.

If he visits you, you must see him.

The last 24 hours or so.

I was my store's representative for the Kohl's Shareholders Meeting. One of my friends works on the team that organized this event, and they did a FABULOUS job. I got to stay in the Hilton. Dinner was tasty. The lady who sat next to me at dinner was obnoxious, so when we were dismissed by table, I managed to extract myself from the group and join a different group. I learned poi cho (?) poker - LAME. Had a drink at the pub and met one very creepy man and one very nice man. The nice man was from Minnesota and only in town for three days. We had a fabulous argument before I left the pub. Don't know his name or number. Geeked out in a very crowded situation that did not need to occur. Learned how wonderful my company actually is. Provided security for the ultra top secret visitor (Vera). Received a gift bag of goodies.

I don't think I realized how much Kohl's does for this annual event, but they did it right.

I saw a mouse!

I love rain. Puddlejumping is phenomenal. Driving in the rain, however, sucks. I see eight stoplights for every one there actually is. And Milwaukee refuses to upgrade to reflective paint, so it's difficult to see your lane. After a wonderful dinner with some friends, I traverse the treacherous roadways home safely. I unlock the door, flipp the light on, and climb the three steps to the landing where our landlord's recycling bin lives. I see a shadow in the bin. I figure it must be all the stoplights I saw while driving home. I go to my upper and share my crazy with the roommate and her friend. Her friend decides it's time to leave. I'm in my room as the ladies are in the stairwell. I hear loud cries and go running to the door. I open the door in time to hear, "Don't let it come upstairs!"

Yes, folks, the rain brought our house a new pet. Attempts to shoo the pet out into the rain failed, and the mouse (who as yet needs a name) lives in the basement.

I just saw a dragonfly!

Packing list

I'm going to Hawaii soon. I own one pair of shorts and just bought a swimsuit. What else?

Headlines from cnn.com, 9:45 on 4/25/07:

"Man rapes, impregnates girl, 9, gets 25"
- He only got 25?
"Egypts 'Dr. Ruth:' Muslims need better sex"
- Only Muslims? Then why is every issue of Glamour or Cosmo about how to have better sex?
"Bush boogies, bangs drum for malaria"
- Like a rain dance, but for malaria?

Another day proving that the media dumbs everything down for the sensationalism factor.

My Car, Daisy.

I've always enjoyed the Blue Angels' shows. This is a little unnerving. And reminds me of this that happened a while back here in Mil-Town.

Background about the plane here in town: I was at work when this happened. I remember hearing about it, but not knowing where this was. I remember driving home and seeing a lot of lights a few blocks from my house and no lights on my block. It was only a few moments after I got home that the power came back to our block. So I flipped on the news and found out that the plane crash was about 5 blocks from my house. They think the pilot was drunk.

Will No One Entertain Me?

Where are all the monkeys?

Why aren't they dancing?

So Excited

A while back, one of my work friends lent me a jammin' album. I'd never heard of this funk-tastic man. Having discovered a new radio station, I heard about a show that I am so excited to go see.

Won't you join me? :)

Midnight update

• Tired
• Hungry
• Upset tummy / indigestion
• Minor insomnia
• Great TV show on DVD
• My legs hurt - deep in the calves

Mostly good, I think.

Wanna Play?

Girl attacked by sea lion wanting to play.

Sound familiar?

How to be positive.

I was told this week that I used to have such a positive attitude. I don't know about that. But I thought maybe I'd try to put a positive spin on some things from the last six months:

1. Dad spent about two months in the hospital around Christmas. He was really bad off, but everyone pretended he wasn't. He's now up to his full weight and able to concentrate on other life threatening but controllable illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

2. I think I had my heart ripped from my chest and ran over by a Mack truck. At least I fell in love.

3. I am now 18 months past when everyone thought there would be a promotion available for me. I still have a paying job.

4. I have lost 40-50 pounds since graduating college. Mom is finally off my back, but everyone else thinks I'm anorexic. Also, my diet is a lot of cake. This could be a health issue. Overweight + fatty foods does not usually equal losing 40-50 pounds.

5. I had the world's wenchiest doctor. But according to that wench, I won't develop cancer because only women without healthcare develop cancer.

6. The truck was broken into. And now I have a new shiny car.

7. I had bimonthly appointments with my doctor to fix numerous problems and indicate future potential problems. It's fantastic to know that my teeth are the healthiest they have been in years. But due to the treatments are now discolored.

8. I learned a second lesson about nice guys not actually being nice. I can't think of a positive.

9. I found out that one of my long-time friends is really mean to me and enjoys being condescending to me about the way I live my life. However, since I don't have the balls to be mean back, I think she'll always "be there for me".

10. I am not currently in a "spiritually right" place to read a book I've been wanting to read that is going to be featured in a study I wanted to join. I had too many books to read anyway.

11. Mom's company sold her division and she's losing her job. I will become a much better person from the position she has created for herself as "Ashlee's Personal Critic".

Ok. So who thinks I'm less positive than I used to be?

Bill of Rights Issue I Think.

I think that this has been blown out of proportion. I think that much more horrible things have been said about me that were in fact racist and disrespectful. It sucks that people are stupid enough to say stupid things. It sucks more that these people are given radio and tv shows. It sucks even more that people get so upset that stupid people express their freedom of speech. Get over it. Someday you'll say something that is stupid and offensive to someone else.

From a phone conversation with Mom

Me: I keep forgetting to use lotion in the morning now that it's winter again here.
Mom: You only use lotion in the winter?
Note - The warning lights did not go off here. I'm losing my ability to see these statements coming.
Me: Yeah, my skin gets so dry, I can't take it without lotion.
Mom: You should lotion in the summer.
Me: I don't have dry skin in the summer.
Mom: You'll get wrinkles. You should lotion.
Me: I already have old hands...

Karma

Who believes in karma?

Why?

It's official

Daisy is sitting in the driveway, fully alarmed, in her alloy splendor. She drives like a gem. And she didn't even gloat when we left Buttercup in Eau Claire.

Wow. Just wow.