Another thing I love about the fall is the wondrous delights at the grocery store. I didn't pick up apple cider, but it - along with some buttershots - is on my mind. I did pick up a pumpkin roll and two apple dumplings. Oh sweet and evil delight. If there is no chocolate involved and I am still down ... you know it's damn good. As a small celebration for closing out another kick butt party I'm going to slice some pumpkin roll right now. Yum!

The weather has been so incredibly nice this weekend! I know there isn't much pleasant to expect left, so I took advantage. Friday I had to tend to a craving for wings. At the last minute I was spared the pity of being out alone on a Friday night with thanks to Lori and C... Jack. Haven't seen them in a little while so it made the evening extra nice.

Had a purse party Saturday - and after I headed out front to pull some plants and get some bulbs in the ground. Did a pretty good job wearing myself out and ended up crashing early Saturday night. For whatever reason the power zapped out Friday night AND Saturday night at some point. Not sure what the deal is. Luckily both times I woke and noted the flashing clock so I could reset it and the alarm.

I didn't get much done around the house today as I probably should have, instead I enjoyed some time with the girls and readied myself for the Hootenanny at a leisurely pace. You can always pick out the person who doesn't get to go to a lot of shows... that would be the gal without earplugs. Yup, that's me. I'm ringing like crazy right now. Shame on me.

The Murderdolls were tolerable, not going to run out and buy their album by any stretch.

Cooper - it has been what, 22 years since I was first exposed to his music? At last I saw him live. He remains quite the showman. I know I haven't a show from 30 years ago to compare it to, but I think he was motoring around better than I expect to when I'm 62. I admit, I peeked online ahead of time to see what the set list may be, and I was excited to get to hear Cold Ethel live. The only way it could have been more satisfying is if Stephen was added to the list.

Zombie - a good show as expected, he is also a master of showmanship, but I wonder a little if he's jumping an odd shark. What's up with the robotic type elements? It seems odd and wrong to not have the chicks dancing to tell you the truth. I could have gone a lifetime without seeing the carpenter crack he was sporting at the end of the show. I'm just sayin. There was so much fire in the show I was sweating up a storm during his set. I hope there is still ice under those boards.

Here they are... gladly, the sun is back today. I couldn't bear another day of the misty cold rain so soon after a tropical getaway.

My vacation photos are slowly uploading... where to start? I headed out Friday morning to take the girls to camp and to get to the burgh where I met up with Slips and headed to the airport. There isn't much to say about transport other than it sure makes for a long day and is surprisingly tiring, but I guess I'm not telling the world anything they don't already know. We got into FLL late that evening and wiped out at the hotel.

Sept 25
Up bright and shiny on Saturday we readied ourselves and headed to the port. There she was, impossible to miss. Words don't express the size of Oasis of the Seas, she's more than an eyeful. There is the standard exploring of the ship, grubbing in the windjammer, muster, and checking out the room of course. These standards included wandering about a bit like a tourist in awe and finding surprise that I picked nicely on the room.

Our deck 11 Central Park balcony turned out to have an extra large balcony! No room on one side as a result, instead a storage area, which did incur some noise, but nothing unbearable or late. I think we heard more coming from up on deck 15 and from the crazy ass bag pipes down in the park... oh and the crazy asses that were having WAY too much fun at an obscene hour one night.

While we wandered about we took the time to ride the carousel. Our booked show for that evening was at the Aqua Theatre and was quite enjoyable combining acrobatics, gymnastics, and diving.

Sept 26 - Nassau
I've been there a couple times before and it was a short day in port so we didn't do much. We had tossed around the idea of heading to local gardens but nixed the idea and instead wandered the shops around the port. Nothing major to report here.

Before dinner we went to the ice skating show, which was different from the one on Explorer, thank goodness, and quite good. Best of it was the sand artist that was featured between acts. Just amazing.

Sept 27 - at sea
Today we hit Hairspray and the comedy show. While there isn't a huge nightly show onboard Oasis there are lots of smaller venues that make the ship seem more personal and cozy. The comedians were okay, but didn't knock my socks off. I did enjoy Hairspray and the roles were nicely filled.

Sept 28 - St. Thomas
We took a trip around the island with a stop at Sapphire beach, which was lovely and quiet. I walked the beach and then laid down on the included beach chair for some sun and snoozing. Got a little sun, but not as bad as I have in the past. Either way, I still had minimal tan lines from the April trip, so I have maintained a tan for most of a year.

There were pelicans and egrets flying around, but I didn't catch a photo of either, unfortunately. When we headed back to town and did some shopping... I found a beauty. I guess I should take a picture of the cognac/red and white diamond ring I couldn't resist, but I suspect a photo wouldn't do it much justice. Before dinner we took a whirl on the rising tide bar. After dinner Slips had a massage and I hit the headliner show. I hate to say it, the guy was entertaining, but it wasn't my thing.

Sept 29 - St. Maarten / St. Martin
This stop had us on a tour to the French side for a brief stop. Gladly it wasn't longer as the shopping there sucked. Back to the Dutch side and we had a good time wandering the main shopping area and along the port/beach. No major buys here, just a cute shirt from del sol and some freebies thanks to the port and shopping guides/coupons.

Sept 30 - at sea
Actually slept in pretty nicely today. We had a late evening show called Come Fly with Me which featured even more acrobatics and some nifty technologies to make the whole thing flow like a huge movie. Quite enjoyable.

Oct 1 - at sea
Today was the day to conquer. This included heading up to the pool deck for the Flowriders and hitting the zip line. I managed the zip line without the guy needing to push me out, so that's good but I still squealed. Heights still bite me in the butt. Now, the flowriders I really enjoyed. I think if we had explored this earlier I would have spent a lot more time up there. I did the boogie boarding one a couple times and even gave the stand up surfing one a (brief) (very very brief) try.

Oct 2 - headed home... yet another long ass day of travel.

Other comments:

• Richard Spacey is by far the best cruise director I've seen thus far. The link here is to his "evolution of dance in 5 minutes" as performed when he was on Freedom. He was a complete freak... lots of in stateroom videos of his wackiness too. Good stuff.
  
• The donut shop on the boardwalk sucked. Seriously seriously disappointed.
  
• Red velvet cupcake from the cupcake shack... ok, red food coloring with vanilla cake doth not a red velvet make. Shame shame. At least the icing was spot on.
  
• Still loving the mojitos and lemon drops onboard.
  

While I truly enjoyed my time away I have to admit, one of the best moments I have to report was the joy I got from my babies when I picked them up. Even Vixen was happy to see me for a brief shining moment before she started demanding to get home and get some breakfast. Saffy immediately jumped up and gave me a big hug. My girls!

The stress definitely built over the past so many weeks. As things started to clear the pain began... at this point it's too bad to sleep properly. Me, trouble sleeping! So, I'm up at 5am, showered, and freshly marinated in icy hot trying to loosen my neck and shoulder. Gladly I was smart enough yesterday to make an appointment for a massage. I'm going to be hurting tomorrow too, but at least it will be like a well tenderized steak instead of a twitching mass of muscles.

I indulged and went to see Devil on Friday night. I actually enjoyed the movie, which redeemed M. Night a little from my disappointment in The Village.

Saturday I had to get up at my weekday time and get on the road to Hollidaysburg for a lia sophia rally. I got some much needed motivation and came home that evening, after stopping to visit with mom briefly, to make some follow up telephone calls from last weekend at the mall. I'm hopeful to get some shows booked as a result. Something to help cover my rear if bad things happen. Of course, as I type that the thought just occurred to me that some of the potential projects at work would require a good chunk of travel - and I don't know how those things would overlap.

Today I have some actions I need to take as a result of the calls I made and I'm sure return calls will have my phone ringing, which makes me twitch, but it's worth it. Time to get my butt in gear.

How is it only Wednesday? The fireplace is completely in order (as of 10pm last night). We will be warm this winter - even in the living room. Now if I could just find a telecommuting job to enjoy said warmth while maintaining employment. Anyone know any telecommuter-friendly places?

Sunday was a dud too. In addition to the TV being out, Sunday there were issues with DSL in my area, so I came home to no TV and no Internet. Uh. How does one function? I instead chucked in a movie and tried to remain calm. Watched Saw V and then watched Coraline the whole way through (I've seen it, but not in one session).

Gladly, while I was at work today they fixed my DSL. The DirecTV guy comes tomorrow morning, so hopefully that will be resolved again too. Of course, I was worried I wouldn't have the DSL and be stuck here to "work" from home in the morning without a connection.

I busted a little butt this evening vacuuming, doing some dishes and laundry - you know the things that didn't get touched this weekend. As I wrapped some of that up the work started to get the gas insert in on my fireplace (yay). So, at least I can stay warm while I'm sitting here eating milkbones all winter. Yes, things still look pretty bleak. I did discover that furlough allows you to remain on the healthcare for your normal premiums. However, furlough is maxed out at 12 weeks at which point in time you are terminated. Given the gap running til February, that's not good. I've tried hunting for some telecommuting jobs too with little success. Still gotta get the apt rented - at a minimum. Fingers cramping from being crossed for too long.

There has to be some type of mental disorder where people are drawn and compelled to pile too much on themselves and run themselves ragged. Whatever it is, I have it. I'm whooped. Two days down at the mall, one more to go. I got some solid leads today for Miche shows and a couple orders, but Friday with lia was dead - but I'm not surprised. It would be nice to make enough on the sales at the event to cover the cost of the event... and call shows booked icing on the cake, but that's a bit overly optimistic. Of course, I'm such a cluttered mess in my own head I hid the two order forms from myself at some point this evening and either have them tucked away too well in what I brought home or I hid them in the stuff still at the mall. Blah.

Regardless, I think I had more sales than some of the places in that mall. Go figure it's about bare.

Last night I came home to no TV. Go figure, they started working on the front roof area that needed replaced - to hell w/ calling me first like I asked so I could contact DirecTV. Turns out it doesn't matter anyhow. I called DirecTV today and they want to charge me to come out and put it back up. Ok when they were here last time I was told about that area being a bit weak/rotten, and to call them if I replace it or want the dish moved. You'd think too since I signed up for the service calls this would be covered... but ooooh no. So that pissed in my wheaties for a little while today.

On the way to the mall today the bank did a pre-pissing in my wheaties by refusing to notarize something for me because it wasn't bank business. Seriously? I'm a customer of your bank. I just want to get the money owed to me from State Farm... which I'll deposit into your bank - does that count?

I guess I'll just go to bed, since I don't have TV. Hiss.

Feeling quite healthy the rest of my long weekend was pretty darn busy. Sunday was mostly about cleaning. The living room got the same treatment the dining room got a few weekends ago (curtains down and washed, windows washed, full dusting and cleaning). I scooped poop and brushed dogs... I did some maintenance cleaning in the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Then I even folded clothes! A shower and I was ready to catch up with Beff and Rex for some dinner.

For whatever stupid reason the dt Szechuan closed at 6, so I still didn't tend to my chinese cravings. Eventually we ended up at the Bouley where I learned of a new menu, sans butternut squash ravioli. Really? You're killing me people. Went with my second choice there which was also changed... and no longer worth the price tag. Major bummer. Gladly, the house was clean enough that I would allow Rex in and he got to play with the girls for a little while - that made their weekend.

Vixen's weekend was further made today as it was her turn to go visit Grammy. Mom, of course, overfed me and her, we napped, and then she convinced me to go shopping - I swear I wasn't actually planning to! I snagged a couple Christmas gifts, so yay, but I also caved on a couple things for myself that I fell for. Shame on me.

The next couple of weeks should be pretty busy for me. So expect erratic blasts of incoherent updates. Know that I'll be making more pasta sauce sometime this week. Thank you ma and pa Johnson! There is nothing like the smell of a freshly picked home grown tomato... or a whole BAG full!

Ok, back to Ancestry.com. I'm hooked.

Having a small temper tantrum today as everyone is busy and I was feeling needy. Instead I ended up having some grub at Valley Dairy by myself. I can't say that I was super hungry however, which is surprising considering I had only had an apple otherwise in the 24-hours past. Much like Thursday, I came home Friday night and crawled into bed - lulling in and out of sleep. I spent most of the day at work feeling like ass. We're talking headache (possibly induced by some tears), some body aches in my back and hips/upper legs, and a general feeling of being off. The heading straight to bed was my way of telling my body "NO" to getting sick. Can't do it - gotta visit w/ mom this weekend. When I finally got up around 3 today I was feeling significantly better, thank goodness.

Ok, those that care prb had their ears perk a little when I said about tears. You see, things still don't look fantastic at work and the few possibilities seem to be less and less likely in my eyes. I've brought 6 boxes of my junk home at this point and my cube is fairly naked. Those moments when you feel down are of course when others feel the need to be shitty with you: queue the blast from the past of "severe tire damage" on the emotional scale and the woman I don't know who chewed me out via email.

On a bright note, I got in touch with the unemployment office and discovered that rental income would not count against me for my unemployment if it comes to that... so, let's get me a tenant folks! No, that isn't pessimistic to look into it - it's realistic. I want to know what I'd have coming in and figure out what I've got to do to make ends meet in such a case. I'm getting tired of ppl telling me I'm being too negative. I guess I should sit around smiling like an idiot and assuming everything will fix itself. Sure, God will take care of me, this I know and believe, but I've also been taught that he helps those that help themselves!

Major fooey. I didn't mention the pleasant chunk of unexpected cash that came my way Friday as I saw it to be a small drop in the proverbial bucket, should things not go my way in the next month. Turns out yesterday someone opened the drainage valve on that bucket when I got confirmation that an expected task is in fact, not coming in. I still have some leads, but I'm feeling a bit glum today about the whole situation.

So, while I'm trying to keep my chin up - I sure wouldn't mind referrals to fill the empty apartment or to book lia sophia or Miche parties to help cover my rear. Anyone have any other ideas? Remember - pburgh is too far to drive in the winter, especially with the girls here.

Stepped out of my comfort zone this weekend. It was huge for me to accept this invite since I'm a bit of a social retard, but this weekend I packed up to head to the burgh to camp out and a bonfire. Ok, that sounds pretty normal, but you've got to realize, I was invited through facebook by a high school friend that I haven't seen since back then. More bizarre is that the bonfire was hosted by someone I haven't seen since he moved away back in junior high. I mean, we rode the school van to elementary school together! It's so amusing how some mannerisms and voice patterns don't change even after all this time and through the aging process.

All said it was a calm and relaxing weekend. Not only was there smores and ginormous marshmallows to be had but there was a totally clear sky and perfect weather to sit by the campfire. It was a good time and I'm truly glad I went.

As for today, I headed back, cleaned up, and loaded two of the three to head to see mom for a few. Little did I know she'd have a whole herd there. Did get some good grub out of the trip, but I am exhausted from the weekend. At least the tylenol and excedrin I downed earlier today tamed the headache that was brewing from all of the sun. Do I really gotta go back to work already tomorrow?