So, what’s on your mind?

[Mouse_Maven]

I was sick today. Upset stomach sort of sick. First thing that crossed my mind was, :eek: “Am I pregnant?” That thought led to many others: Can I be a good mother? Are we ready for a baby? The pregnancy test I took was negative, so all these questions left as quickly as they came.

Other things scurrying about in my head:

There has been trouble with my lab’s mail box (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=404191) Among the lost mail is my tuition wavier paperwork. If it doesn’t turn up by the end of this week, I won’t be taking any classes this semester. :mad:

Still mulling over whether to attend my cousin’s wedding (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=404090&highlight=lost+relative) My grandmother’s email said, “Please come.” :confused:

Pot roast. I got one in the crock pot. It smells really good. Maybe my appetite is coming back?

Minor rants are welcome. :)

[BlueKangaroo]

Why, oh why, are my husband and I incapable of making chicken in the crockpot? Breasts, thighs, bones, no bones, skin, no skin?? It doesn't matter, it is always terrible.

Did I fail comprehensive exams? I sure hope not.

Other things too, but your post prompted the first one. And the second is way up on my list.

[Amblydoper]

Speaking of being pregnant, my angel fish just spawned today. Its a lot of work raising angelfish fry, and it takes several fish tanks. I am nervous and excited about it all though. Angelfish babies are really cute!

[Ludy]

Well my wedding (when (if) it is ever going to happen) is rolling around in my mind. My fiancée said that he wants to be married just not get married. :dubious:

So he is refusing to set a date and I really want to start doing, well, anything to start the planning. I’m starting to get very frustrated, I just don’t understand why he asked if he doesn’t really want to do it. I have told him that a wedding is very important to me. I don’t want anything big or Bridezilla crazy, but I do want a small ceremony and our families to meet. I don’t understand what the problem is. He says that he would get married tomorrow if we eloped, he is just not ready for a wedding. I guess I just don’t see what is wrong with a wedding.

Anyway, that was a bit long winded now wasn’t it?


On the bright side of life this weekend, my co-worker lost her keys for the office. The keys were clearly labelled as to what they opened, even what business they were for. She was sick with worry, we have a lot of expensive equipment laying around. Well a different co-worker was outside on a smoke break and a homeless man walked up to her, asked her if she worked for (insert company name here), she said yes and he handed the keys over to her. Very cool.

[Mouse_Maven]

Speaking of being pregnant, my angel fish just spawned today. Its a lot of work raising angelfish fry, and it takes several fish tanks. I am nervous and excited about it all though. Angelfish babies are really cute!

Very cool! You'll have to post some pictures. :D

[Alice The Goon]

So much stuff on my mind right now. My boyfriend of 3 months and I are at a critical juncture. We have been fighting a lot lately, and I may dump or get dumped in the near future, or maybe not. I'm very emotional about it, and it's hard not to dwell on it. I started crying in the car today when "Goodbye My Lover" came on. :(

Yes, pictures of baby fishes would cheer me up!

I filed my taxes this weekend, so I've been thinking about how great my huge-ass refund's gonna be. Nothing like some shopping therapy to get your mind off a man!

[Kythereia]

Paying off my Visa bill, thinking about a summer job, planning piano lessons for next year, doing my assignments, the contest deadline coming up on Friday, getting a new alarm clock, finishing my laundry, filing my papers...

*packs bags and heads off to Bermuda*

[Mouse_Maven]

Just emailed my grandmother. I told her that I was scared about seeing the family after being out of the picture for a quarter of a decade.

Wishing that abiogenesis was an option.

[Not a Platypus]

I had a vivid dream last night about suspecting I was pregnant, and all of the stress that goes with that fear. Then I woke up in a near-panic, thinking it was real!

I laid in bed for awhile wondering what I was going to do, and how I was going to tell Mike, and... wait a minute, that was just a dream. It's been on my mind a lot lately, so it's no wonder it's popping up in my sleep now.

[Black Train Song]

I'm recovering from a , let's call it relationship that I shouldn't have had. I'm doing well plugging the holes in my mind that this person creeps into sometimes. Today I smelled something that reminded me of her scent. That's setting me back just a little but just for today.

I've been thinking all day about that girl that got ran over by the school bus here in PA. The one who's in critical condition. I really didn't pay too much attention to it (although the school is very close to my house) and I just realized that I know the kids mother. Now I feel horrible. To raise your kids so well the way they have and then for something like that to happen makes me feel a little unsettled.

I worked today with someone that I never really had yet and it was fun to get to know him, listen to his story. I always like that sort of thing.

[Lynn Bodoni]

When I'm awake, I don't worry about getting pregnant any more. I had my uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes out a few years ago. I still have nightmares about being pregnant though...I got pregnant three times in two years, once on the Pill, once using foam and condoms, and once with an IUD. Finally had a tubal ligation.

I really should be at my sewing machine, working on my quilt some more. I need to do a lot more pressing on it, and then some more piecing, which leads to more pressing and/or ripping seams.

My daughter has a cold. I need to buy a chicken and roast it and make soup from the bones. That's the kind of chicken soup that she likes best. She came down with this cold yesterday.

I really want another kitten. Kitten fever hits me every now and then. Realistically, though, three cats are enough for this family.

I hate sleet and ice on the street. I was going to go out to meet a friend for lunch on Sunday, and that's when the cold front hit. We agreed that it was just too dangerous for non-necessary trips, but I wish that we could have gotten together. We've agreed that we'll meet this Sunday. I've known this woman since we were in middle school, she's like a sister to me.

[Nava]

Why is my SiL a repeat of my mother? Why, when we finally got Mom to start behaving like a normalish human being, we had to go and get SiL? Why did a man who claims to hate his mother's controlfreakness marry a control freak?

How does the Swiss insurance system work? Someone told me that it's all private but since Spain's National Insurance program covers me while abroad as well, I don't need local insurance, is that true? Guess I should ask the National Insurance. Do I or do I not have MS? Am I going to stay here long enough that I should try to find out while here, or not really? Two of my four bosses keep talking casually about "after April" (when my contract ends) as if they have plans for me afterward, but they're not telling me. Why do people make plans for other people's lives without asking those people whose lives are being planned? I'd like to be able to make my own plans, sort of.

I need a haircut. Anybody know a good hairdresser in Switzerland? I'll accept Alsatie and Lorraine by proximity, too!

[fishbicycle]

I just finished chatting with my brother, and he doesn't think his 17-year relationship is going to last this year, maybe not even this month. It's very complicated, and I won't get into it, but it's an arrangement my brother made 17 years ago that is coming back to bite him in the ass. It's hard to reassure or comfort someone when you both know that they are 99% responsible for the crappy situation they find themselves in.

That means, among other things, that now that out of four siblings, it's only me who has had a good, stable relationship without the usual pitfalls. After being single for nearly too long, I turned out to be good at marriage. Who knew? I wish it were this easy for others, but that isn't the way it's working out.

[Frosted Glass]

Having some trouble getting to sleep right now. It probably has something to do with that late night nap I took earlier. I always tell people that it is a bad idea to nap at night but for some reason I decided to ignore my own advice.

Anyway, here I am awake and now I am worrying about the meeting with my advisor that I have this afternoon. By the end of this week I will know if I am graduating in two or three semesters. It will be nice to have some sort of time frame to work with, finally, but it is still somewhat unnerving.

I am also trying to plan a bachelor party from my friends wedding in February.

I need a second job. Anyone hiring in Pittsburgh?

Hopefully some spider solitaire will help me sleep.

[JCorre]

I think click fraud might be a significant problem. I do think that "joe's" startup has the right idea but do I sign on if there's a significant chance that its doesn't go anywhere?

That bartendress was really nice, pretty and seemed to be interested. Well she gave me her phone number so I guess that's a good indicator. Should I call her? She's only 22 though so it could never work in the long term.

Its pretty late so I should probably just get to bed and think it over in the morning.

Those are my thoughts right now.

[foxymoron]

I really hope I'm pregnant. I sure feel like I am.
I've been off birth control since Dec. 30th, so it would have been a pretty quick conception. My mom was only 'trying' for two weeks before getting pregnant with me, though, so it's certainly possible.
It'll be another week+ before I can expect an accurate reading from a home test. I don't want to have to wait that long!

Also, that chocolate flavored Coffee Mate isn't very good. I like the toasted almond stuff better.

[Mouse_Maven]

I need a haircut. Anybody know a good hairdresser in Switzerland?

If I knew, I'd let you know. :D Leaving the USA sounds like a good idea. Mouse_Spouse's employer is international. Right now I'd go anywhere except Israel and California. The ground shakes in Cali. The ground ought not fucking move!

Staying home stick today. Damn cold. Wondering what's going to happen at work: Will Dr. Boss announce his decision?

Very strange commercial on the TV: People dancing with "vacuum" brooms? I hope the cold medicine is responsible for this.

[Nava]

I really hope I'm pregnant. I sure feel like I am.
I've been off birth control since Dec. 30th, so it would have been a pretty quick conception. My mom was only 'trying' for two weeks before getting pregnant with me, though, so it's certainly possible.
It'll be another week+ before I can expect an accurate reading from a home test. I don't want to have to wait that long!


My SiL. The doctor. She's a doctor, eh! Sometimes you wouldn't believe it, but she's one. She graduated from medical school in 2000, got married that same year, they started trying for a baby five years later (after proving that both grandmothers-to-be had very strong hearts and stomachs, since neither got a heart attack or an ulcer from the wait).

So, she stops taking the Pill, they stop using condoms. The night they did this was right before she left for a two-week medical meeting in another town. She started getting real dizzy in the mornings, couldn't imagine what was wrong, was gaining weight in spite of eating less than usual... took a pregnancy test on the second day and it was positive, but she refused to believe it. Went over to ObGyn after three weeks of feeling like shit in the mornings. The Gyne tells her to pee on the stick, says "congratulations, you're pregnant". She still refused to believe it. Gyne says "honey, if this ain't a positive for pregnancy I'm a man". They finally got her on the ultrasound table and told her "ok, this here's a placeeeeenta, this here is an amniotic saaaaac... this itsy bitsy here is a feeeeeetus..."

The hole-in-one is now 15 months old. It happens, I do hope it happens well for you and would like to congratulate you on being less dumb that a doctor I know :)

[Noone Special]

Bloody stupid cold! My ears are so stuffed up I can hardly hear. And I'm at work with this. :eek:

Only one more day to the weekend! (We work Sunday through Thursday here.) :)

I like smilies. :smack: :rolleyes:

Oh, and, of course, being of the male persuasion... sex! :D (not with any one in particular, you know. Just in general. Every 8 seconds or so...)

Oh, and this...

Right now I'd go anywhere except Israel and California. left me :confused: :( :confused:

[Nava]

Awwww... {{{Noone Special}}}

I'm from one of the areas the Basque independentists claim and used to live in "bad areas" of Miami (defined so by people who had never set foot in them). So I've received that kind of stuff many times. It sucks, but the thing is, Israel is perceived as a very unsafe and often nasty place. Sorry.

[Paul in Qatar]

Why do I have so much rage while driving? Is the lack of vacation really getting to me?

Are things in the US really as bad as some reports indicate? The president says he can open mail, arrest without charges? I know the facts, but am having trouble gaining perspective. Is it time to panic?

Are super-hot Cheetos good for parrots?

[Mouse_Maven]

left me :confused: :( :confused:

I'm a spineless American, so Israel looks very scary. Also, I'm Pagan. Living where the Abrahamic religions are based seems inappropriate.

California, and the rest of the western North American coast, are prone to earth quakes. That, and tornadoes, scares the bejezzus out of me.

I hope you feel better.

[ScareyFaerie]

I have organised a hen weekend for a friend. We leave on Friday, there are 17 of us going. I've booked cottages to stay in, a half-day session at a health spa on Saturday morning, a surprise facial for the 'hen' after the spa session, dinner in a really nice restaurant for Saturday night, lunch in a local pub (carvery) on Sunday....there are giftbags for all the girls, a surprise box of pampering gifts for the 'hen', a couple of surprise things for her....I must have forgotten something.

Everyone who's coming knows which cottage they're staying in, which room, who they're sharing with, how the heating works, where to get logs for the fire, how much the wine costs that will be in the cottages (you buy it from the owners), they're doing their own catering (apart from the booked meals)...I must have forgotten something.

They all know who they're travelling with, they all have good directions to get there, they all have each other's contact number...I must have forgotten something.

OK, what have I forgotten?

[Mouse_Maven]

I have organised a hen weekend for a friend. We leave on Friday, there are 17 of us going. I've booked cottages to stay in, a half-day session at a health spa on Saturday morning, a surprise facial for the 'hen' after the spa session, dinner in a really nice restaurant for Saturday night, lunch in a local pub (carvery) on Sunday....there are giftbags for all the girls, a surprise box of pampering gifts for the 'hen', a couple of surprise things for her....I must have forgotten something.

Everyone who's coming knows which cottage they're staying in, which room, who they're sharing with, how the heating works, where to get logs for the fire, how much the wine costs that will be in the cottages (you buy it from the owners), they're doing their own catering (apart from the booked meals)...I must have forgotten something.

They all know who they're travelling with, they all have good directions to get there, they all have each other's contact number...I must have forgotten something.

OK, what have I forgotten?

To invite me? :D

[Noone Special]

Awwww... {{{Noone Special}}}Thanks! At least I'm going home soon (it's 5:30 PM here. About bloody time)

I'm from one of the areas the Basque independentists claim and used to live in "bad areas" of Miami (defined so by people who had never set foot in them). So I've received that kind of stuff many times. It sucks, but the thing is, Israel is perceived as a very unsafe and often nasty place. Sorry.Yes, I know...

I'm a spineless American, so Israel looks very scary. Believe me, NYC is more dangerous than Tel-Aviv! But yeah, I know what you mean... Also, I'm Pagan. Living where the Abrahamic religions are based seems inappropriate.Speaking as a Hard Atheist... what exactly seems to be the problem?

California, and the rest of the western North American coast, are prone to earth quakes. That, and tornadoes, scares the bejezzus out of me.See this, I get! :D

I hope you feel better.And thank you, too.

Decided to write a post without a single smiley in it, just to prove I can.

[Noone Special]

... and failed. Stupid cold! Can;t even type straight

[ScareyFaerie]

To invite me? :D
I'm so glad you told me, now I might get a decent night's sleep without waking up wondering what *it* is....you do want to do the spa and all that, right?

[Mouse_Maven]

Speaking as a Hard Atheist... what exactly seems to be the problem?

Being Pagan in Colorado is challenging. IMHO, the climate in the US is becoming very conservative and less open to alternative faiths. A country that is a theocracy with a loooooong history of religious conflict, may not let me pratice my spritual path in peace.

Now that I came out of the "Intolerant, Uninformed Shmuck" closet, I'm going back to bed.

::slink, slink, slink::

[Bobotheoptimist]

"The Tick" is funny. So are beagles, but that's not important right now.

The list of places I don't want to go is considerably longer than the list of places I do want to go. Ireland, Mexico, Glenwood Springs...

Why do I keep dreaming about shooting people in the face?

[Noone Special]

Being Pagan in Colorado is challenging. IMHO, the climate in the US is becoming very conservative and less open to alternative faiths.You're probably right, and I sympathize.
A country that is a theocracy with a loooooong history of religious conflict, may not let me pratice my spritual path in peace.Not to hijack the thread, I'll just leave it at "this is incorrect on several levels."

Now that I came out of the "Intolerant, Uninformed Shmuck" closet, I'm going back to bed.

::slink, slink, slink::I call BS on both the "intolerant" and "shmuck" parts. "Uninformed..." yeah, I guess so; we're all uninformed about some things far from us. Join the club....

[Mouse_Maven]

Not to hijack the thread, I'll just leave it at "this is incorrect on several levels."

I call BS on both the "intolerant" and "shmuck" parts. "Uninformed..." yeah, I guess so; we're all uninformed about some things far from us. Join the club....

:smack: I just read your location.

A joke I made in this thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=404298) has backfired. I'll reclaim "shmuck" and get off the damned computer before I get into trouble.

[Omega Glory]

Now that we finally have some snow, I really need to get my winter clothes out of which ever storage container they're in, and go skiing/snowboarding--as long as this tickly throat thing is just a cold, and not strep or something.

I'm really glad that they may have caught the Bike Path Rapist (http://www.wkbw.com/story.aspx?preview=&type=ln&NStoryID=17464).

[Noone Special]

:smack: I just read your location. Don't worry about it. Really, I'm used to the "OMG! Things blow up there!!" reaction -- your reaction actually makes far more sense than that :)

A joke I made in this thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=404298) has backfired. I'll reclaim "shmuck" and get off the damned computer before I get into trouble.That skin isn't coming off of my nose, so you're still not a shmuck in my book. And watch your step when you climb off that computer... don't step on the...! keyboard...

[Ice Wolf]

It's summer here, and I think I have a head cold. Stupid season to have a stupid head cold ... *mutter* ...

[gigi]

I'm pissed at the fact that it's going to be like minus 8 tonight and I have to go to the laundrymat. First of all, that meant carrying the detergent into work since it would freeze in the car. Then it's pretty much all the clothes and towels I own so it will take awhile. Then because of the dog next door who likes to nip at my leg, the landlord put up a stronger fence around the yard and closed in the fence I used to use that was much closer to my door. So I have to hobble across the icy yard carrying piles of clean laundry.

There's frigging washer/dryer hookup in my kitchen but NOOOO! That would overload the septic :rolleyes: Not if I do one tiny load every few days. ANYTHING to avoid the laundrymat.

[Elza B]

I had a dream the other night that I can't stop thinking about - I dreamt I was 9 weeks pregnant. Considering 1. I have a 5 month old baby and 2. I have an IUD, if that dream's true, I will officially freak the f*ck out.

Some telemarketer just told me to shut up on my cell phone. Yelling "Go to hell, asshole!" before I hung up in the middle of the break room was probably not the smartest thing I've ever done.

We're experimenting with my son's bottles today...he's always taken his formula mixed with rice cereal because he's had a severe case of acid reflux since he was born, and adding the cereal helps thicken the formula and helps keep the acid from coming up, but I hate it. So since he eats better for the babysitter than for his mom or dad, I had her make up his bottles without cereal today and try to feed him regular formula. I left her the cereal in case he completely refused, but I'm really hoping he's at the point where we can leave the cereal out, especially since we've just started solids.

[TroubleAgain]

I've just gathered all the documentation I need to start annual performance reviews. Yuck.

I need to call a doctor to see about my poor knee and shoulder. Oh, yeah, and it's time for the annual genital-spelunking and mammary-mashing sessions as well. Yeesh.

I'm on a diet and right now I'm craving junk food something ferocious. And I don't feel a BIT like going to the gym.

[Noone Special]

... And I don't feel a BIT like going to the gym.Huh, you too? I've had a busy time past two weeks -- too busy to get to gym regularly (who am I kidding? At all) -- and I'm having a hell of a time persuading myself to go back... :( Friday, I swear it!

And I just had what amounts to a second dinner (full meals at noon and just now.) Ugh. I'm going to end up putting back all the weight I managed to take off in the past 3 months. Ugh again.

[Antigen]

I'm starting to feel guilty about having such a lazy week, but I'm not sure exactly what I should be doing. The housework's all done, all the way down to the dusting. It's minus a million degrees out there, so I really don't want to venture outside to visit anyone. I suppose I could bake, but with my brother gone on a field trip all week, I'd be left alone with a bunch of muffins and I know I'd eat them all by myself and feel chubby. I want to start packing for my move, but until the visa paperwork comes in, it's silly to get started - I don't want to be living out of boxes for weeks, if it takes longer than expected. Which it will.

[lizardling]

How to juggle all the balls I have in the air at work. :eek: Whether to stock the bottom of my desk drawer with an emergency fifth of whisky and a stack of paper bags. How to set up my test rig without bricking anything that shouldn't be bricked.

What kind of plants to put in a bottle garden created by slicing and dicing one of those large soda bottles. Whether I should post that question here in MPSIMS.

How to pay the bills without going spare. :(

[Antinor01]

Currently the biggest thing on my mind is the union they're trying to put our department into at work. I'm doing everything I can do find a way out of it. I hate being stressed out. :(

[elfkin477]

What's on my mind today requires a bit of back story, sorry.

So, I worked with this guy over the summer and I really liked him. Unfortunately, of all the people I worked with and was friendly with last year who left for a while (unless they're in management people come and go depending on which project their working for) he's the only one who didn't stay in touch. Eventually I figured I'd never see him again.

So imagine my shock when he suddenly reappeared last Monday - I mean that literally, I know I turned pale when I saw him. Since he made no effort to stay in touch and I was worried most of last week that my mom might have cancer (she doesn't (http://www.geocities.com/mulderscreek/blog/neoxblog.html), thank God) I pretty much ignored him. I figured he didn't want to talk to me anyway. I didn't speak to him at all until he asked how I was Friday, and I only replied I was fine. Over the weekend I found a card that a few months back a mutual friend talked me into buying him for his upcoming birthday; we'd been to another friend's party at the time.

Today I decided that maybe I was being unfair since I've based everything on assumptions, gathered up my nerve and asked him if I was remembering correctly that he turns 30 next week. His face totally lit up and he had the biggest smile... we talked for a bit about it being a little scary to leave our twenties since I'm turning 30 too, in April. Later, I gave him the card and he seemed happy about it.

Since then I've been wondering why he was so obviously was pleased that I finally spoke to him, and why he didn't keep in touch if not wanting to talk to me wasn't why...and why I still kind of want to sleep with him. And of course if he's currently seeing anyone. So that and wondering if I'm going to work on the project that starts Monday (which he'll be working on) have pretty much been the only things on my mind since lunch time.

I thought these things would be less silly and difficult as adults, but apparently not. Although, I'm admittedly immature in some areas, but wouldn't he have to be too?

[Anne Neville]

Mr. Neville's job search, and absolutely dreading looking for a new job wherever we end up living. I'm particularly dreading the idea of interviewing- I hate job interviews with the fire of 6.02*1023 suns. Every time I've changed jobs, my new job has been better, which is reassuring, but I sure do hate the process of finding a new job.

Oh, yeah, and it's time for the annual genital-spelunking and mammary-mashing sessions as well.

It's almost time for that here, too- dreading that, too.

I'm a little freaked out about turning 32 at the end of this month. I'll be 100000 in binary :eek: Also half of 64 (I like the song "When I'm 64") :eek: And, of course, all this is on top of the usual "I'm getting old and doing nothing with my life" thoughts that I always have around this time of year.

I'm glad the sun is setting later.

I'm going to have pizza for dinner tonight, and then I'll have leftover (reheated, not cold) pizza for breakfast tomorrow and maybe Friday. I like having pizza for breakfast.

I had a vivid dream last night about suspecting I was pregnant, and all of the stress that goes with that fear. Then I woke up in a near-panic, thinking it was real!

I have those too, sometimes. Ugh. {{{Thorny Platypus}}}

(Don't platypuses lay eggs, instead of getting pregnant?)

(I probably shouldn't hug platypuses, either, particularly not thorny ones. At least Thorny is a female, so I don't have to worry about venom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus_venom#Effect_on_humans))

Well my wedding (when (if) it is ever going to happen) is rolling around in my mind. My fiancée said that he wants to be married just not get married.

I can understand this, actually. I love being married, but I hated the whole wedding planning process. I didn't enjoy the wedding itself much, either, since I don't enjoy being the center of attention.

I'm Pagan. Living where the Abrahamic religions are based seems inappropriate.

This Jew likes a lot of pagans and atheists better than she likes some followers of the Abrahamic religions... From what I've heard (I hope to go there to visit sometime this year), Israel's too nice a place to leave to the fundies. Seriously, I think that the presence of Pagans like you somewhere makes life a lot more tolerable for a liberal member of an Abrahamic religion like me.

[Mouse_Maven]

I'm a little freaked out about turning 32 at the end of this month. I'll be 100000 in binary :eek: Also half of 64 (I like the song "When I'm 64") :eek: And, of course, all this is on top of the usual "I'm getting old and doing nothing with my life" thoughts that I always have around this time of year.

{{{Anne Neville}}} If its any help, I'm having similar thoughts. I hit the big three-oh next month. Right now, my job is in jeopardy and it feels like continents will change position before I get my BS. (Stepford Students becoming Phrama Babes (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1573327,00.html) before my eyes doesn't help. :(


This Jew likes a lot of pagans and atheists better than she likes some followers of the Abrahamic religions... From what I've heard (I hope to go there to visit sometime this year), Israel's too nice a place to leave to the fundies. Seriously, I think that the presence of Pagans like you somewhere makes life a lot more tolerable for a liberal member of an Abrahamic religion like me.

Years ago, before school shallowed my life, I volunteered to help out an Orthodox Jewish woman. I took her to doctor's appointments, "bought" her baking supplies before Passover, and other little things. She was very comfortable with me being a Pagan. I wasn't intimidated by her dietary restrictions or scared by ritual needs. Candles? Ok. What size and color do you need? The rabbi can't be alone with us? Sorry, I didn't know.

[Not a Platypus]

Thanks for the hug, Anne!


I've been a slob for most of my life and I'm finally fed up with the ick that is my home. I started cleaning today, and while I've only done a few things, it already looks loads better. The kitchen (lots o dishes) and laundry are the projects for tomorrow, and after that I'll have most of the main stuff done!

Right now I've got a sinkful of dishes soaking, so I'll be able to get them clean in the dishwasher. You should see the water in that sink now... Well, ok maybe you shouldn't. It's pretty gross.

I was thinking and realized there are 3 reasons I'm finally getting motivated:
1. Myself. I'm tired of clutter, tired of having to watch where I walk, tired of not having clean dishes or counter space so I can cook, tired of not being able to have guests.
2. My boyfriend. He'll be moving into the area soon, possibly into my apartment, and I really don't want to bring him into a place like this. It makes me look terrible, and he already comes from a family where he was the ONLY one that did chores. Somehow I doubt he wants to move up here and clean up after me, too.
3. My cats. I imagine they're used to the mess by now, especially the kittens, but I feel bad for them. I know cats are fussy about cleanliness and here they are, stuck with a slob. That just isn't fair. The only bright side is they don't dare jump on the counters :D

[badkittypriestess]

All I can think about is my Aunt who passed away from Breast Cancer in Dec. 06' I miss her like crazy and I don't want her to be gone. :( I know she's at peace and isn't hurting any more. I got some of her jewelery that I wear with pride, and when I can I wear my pink ribbon hat. (can't wear it to work) She is a beautiful woman and has a heart of gold. I have her as my background @ work and I have a picture of her at the race she did with her daughter and she looks radiant! I want to get a tattoo to remember her by, already have one in mind.

I dream of dancing with faeries, and how I can't wait to go to Mexico (March 07') would love to visit many places but can't afford it. I dream of sleep which I'm not getting, wanting my kids to do what their told and get up when they should. So much I could go on and on about but I won't. I'm yawning and I would love to go to bed right now, maybe I will who knows. Thanks MouseMaven for doing this thread.

Blessed Be!

[Mouse_Maven]

Thanks MouseMaven for doing this thread.

Blessed Be!

::blush:: You're welcome. I'm sorry your aunt died. She sounds like a wonderful person.

Speaking of aunts, I've decided to go my cousin's wedding and reconnect with the maternal side of my family. Currently, I'm really freaked out. Mouse_Spouse and I will be using up precious vacation time and going on a god damned plane! (Don't like to fly. Can you tell?) If this turns into a fiasco, I'll never forgive myself.

My car is paid off! WooHoo! Just in time for the payment money to go toward my student loans. ::le sigh:: Now I need to find X-Spouse and have him sign the title over to me. Its been several years. Wonder were he got off to?

[badkittypriestess]

::blush:: You're welcome. I'm sorry your aunt died. She sounds like a wonderful person.

Speaking of aunts, I've decided to go my cousin's wedding and reconnect with the maternal side of my family. Currently, I'm really freaked out. Mouse_Spouse and I will be using up precious vacation time and going on a god damned plane! (Don't like to fly. Can you tell?) If this turns into a fiasco, I'll never forgive myself.

My car is paid off! WooHoo! Just in time for the payment money to go toward my student loans. ::le sigh:: Now I need to find X-Spouse and have him sign the title over to me. Its been several years. Wonder were he got off to?



**Hugs** I hate to fly too! Good for you that your going to the wedding and are going to reconnect w/family. I will send positive thoughts when you and mouse_spouse take off. The Goddess will be holding you in her arms so don't be scared. I know it's scary but you will do fine, just know that your Doper friends are here and I am a good listener if you need an ear. :)

[Mouse_Maven]

**Hugs** I hate to fly too! Good for you that your going to the wedding and are going to reconnect w/family. I will send positive thoughts when you and mouse_spouse take off. The Goddess will be holding you in her arms so don't be scared. I know it's scary but you will do fine, just know that your Doper friends are here and I am a good listener if you need an ear. :)

You're very sweet. :D

As for flying: I turn 30 next month. Hopefully, my luck warranty hasn't expired. :p

I swear the gods like to fuck around with me occasionally. A couple of years ago, I participated in a ritual and asked that "all blockages be removed." (I was trying to alleviate my academic apathy.) The next day, I was in the hospital, dehydrated by severe diarrhea. Apparently, I wasn't clear about what sort of blockages. One must be very specific when making a request. :smack:

[Phantom Dennis]

I really should be working right now. I have no good reason to be making this post, other than putting off the inevitable.

I wrote a bunch of other stuff here, but then decided it wasn't worth posting.

But I still managed to waste 10 minutes typing it.

I'm now resisting the urge to forget the entire post, since it's essentially void of relevant information.

But I'm going to post it anyway, just so I can have something to show for all the time I'm wasting.

I really don't want to hit submit, but...

[badkittypriestess]

As for flying: I turn 30 next month. Hopefully, my luck warranty hasn't expired.

It hasn't run out! I'm 4 months older than you and I have survived flying in a plane many times. If taking off/landing bothers you, I find that taking Bonine helps me get through the flight. You'll do fine! Mouse_Spouse's hand is a good thing to grab onto too if needed. :D

[Anne Neville]

Brrrrrr. It's cold outside.

{{{Anne Neville}}}

Thanks...

Years ago, before school shallowed my life, I volunteered to help out an Orthodox Jewish woman. I took her to doctor's appointments, "bought" her baking supplies before Passover, and other little things. She was very comfortable with me being a Pagan. I wasn't intimidated by her dietary restrictions or scared by ritual needs. Candles? Ok. What size and color do you need? The rabbi can't be alone with us? Sorry, I didn't know.

Do you use candles in your Pagan practice? The Pagan guy I dated in high school did, but I know there are lots of different ways to be a Pagan. ISTR the size and color of the candles was important to him in finding candles for his rituals.

Some Jews have managed to learn a lesson from 1900+ years of exile- we can live in the same country with people who don't practice the same religion as we do. Unfortunately, there are some who haven't learned that. But I don't think they're a majority in Israel.

Oh, and if you managed to figure out the "kosher for Passover" rules, I'm impressed. That took me a couple of years while I was converting, much longer than learning the normal kosher rules did.

A couple of years ago, I participated in a ritual and asked that "all blockages be removed." (I was trying to alleviate my academic apathy.) The next day, I was in the hospital, dehydrated by severe diarrhea. Apparently, I wasn't clear about what sort of blockages. One must be very specific when making a request.

snickerrr

I do love a good poo joke.

(I know it wasn't funny then, and that I am going to hell for laughing)

[Mouse_Maven]

It hasn't run out! I'm 4 months older than you and I have survived flying in a plane many times. If taking off/landing bothers you, I find that taking Bonine helps me get through the flight. You'll do fine! Mouse_Spouse's hand is a good thing to grab onto too if needed. :D

When Mouse_Spouse and I went to London, I didn't let go of his arm! Poor guy still has my nail impressions. What is Bonine?

Random thought: I think you're in Colorado. Have you ever attended a public ritual in the Denver area? Several times a year, I help my teacher at a public rit. She introduces me as her "Lovely Assistant."

[Mouse_Maven]

Brrrrrr. It's cold outside.



Thanks...

:D



Do you use candles in your Pagan practice? The Pagan guy I dated in high school did, but I know there are lots of different ways to be a Pagan. ISTR the size and color of the candles was important to him in finding candles for his rituals.

Some Jews have managed to learn a lesson from 1900+ years of exile- we can live in the same country with people who don't practice the same religion as we do. Unfortunately, there are some who haven't learned that. But I don't think they're a majority in Israel.

Oh, and if you managed to figure out the "kosher for Passover" rules, I'm impressed. That took me a couple of years while I was converting, much longer than learning the normal kosher rules did.

I'm a Swiss Army Pagan. :D Candles can be used, but I can improvise. Since I'm a cat owner (and was at a ritual where the family dog caught on fire :eek: ), I use eletric lamps or physical representations. (Feather for air, sea shell for water, etc.)

The kosher rules were a lot of work. To this day, I can't help but look for the symbols. Oh, humus is parve? Who'd thunk? Passover was a challange. It took me a couple of years and a lot a work. When my Orthodox friend passed, I really missed her. :(


snickerrr

I do love a good poo joke.

(I know it wasn't funny then, and that I am going to hell for laughing)

Don't sweat it. Since I encounter young Pagans or wanna-be's I use this story a lot as a lesson. Moral: Even after several years of training, you can still screw up royally.

[Bobotheoptimist]

Hey, all you old fogies, instead of thinking about your age in decimal, or (Og forbid) binary, explore the wonderful world of hex! I'm only 0x26! 30 would be 1E which doesn't roll off the tongue as well, but you have 32 to look forward to when you can once again tell people you're 20!

Lord, I'm a geek...

[freckafree]

I'm coming down off an intense, two-day video shoot and heading tomorrow into an intense two days of editing. I talked the Powers That Be into spending an incredible (for us!) amount of money on an advertising campaign that is, depending on how you look at it, a shot in the dark or our best guess, given that we have no market research. Gawd, the footage is gorgeous, and it tells our story beautifully. But if our numbers don't move next fall, will the Powers That Be blame me?

I've pretty much talked myself into submitting my beaded jewelry to a juried arts and crafts show this summer. I've never done this, and I'm sort of more afraid of being accepted than rejected. If I'm accepted, I have about two and a half months to get ready, including producing adequate inventory, figuring out how to put a booth together, and working through all the legal and technical parts of selling.

All of this is distracting me from what I really need to be thinking about -- getting my husband to sign the separation agreement so we can move forward with the dissolution.

[badkittypriestess]

When Mouse_Spouse and I went to London, I didn't let go of his arm! Poor guy still has my nail impressions. What is Bonine?

Random thought: I think you're in Colorado. Have you ever attended a public ritual in the Denver area? Several times a year, I help my teacher at a public rit. She introduces me as her "Lovely Assistant."

I meant to say I'm 4 yrs older than you. :smack: Yes I am in Colorado, changed my local for fun on here..bobotheoptimist is my hubby! No we haven't attended a public ritual but would love too! We were supposed to come to something you were throwing but we never made it. Bonine is like dramamine. (sp)? I like Bonine better, you take 1 or 2 an hr. before flight and it helps w/motion sickness. It can make you very tired but I get horrible motion sickness and it helps. I have found it at Wallgreen's. :)

[badkittypriestess]

I've pretty much talked myself into submitting my beaded jewelry to a juried arts and crafts show this summer. I've never done this, and I'm sort of more afraid of being accepted than rejected. If I'm accepted, I have about two and a half months to get ready, including producing adequate inventory, figuring out how to put a booth together, and working through all the legal and technical parts of selling.

DO you have link to your jewelery?? I like beaded jewelery! I hope all goes well for you. )**fingers crossed**

[Anne Neville]

I've been panicking for the past couple of days, because I heard that there might be layoffs coming at the company where I work. Turns out, that was just a rumor. I'm coming up with increasingly elaborate revenge fantasies of what I'd like to do to the person who started that rumor. I'd like to make the rumor-monger suffer at least as much as I did- I was so worried I literally felt like I was going to vomit.

I wanted to start trying to lose some weight this month, but of course with that kind of stress, that's out the window at least for this week.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

I am doing a charity walk next year and am very afraid I won't make my minimum donations. I'm also afraid I won't be able to afford to fly to the place I'm doing the walk, though that's actually unlikely, it's just me being paranoid.

I've never tried to raise this much money before. It's daunting.

[Mouse_Maven]

I want Chipotle! Right NOW!


Maybe I'll take another pregnancy test. Just to be certain. . .

[badkittypriestess]

I want Chipotle! Right NOW!


Maybe I'll take another pregnancy test. Just to be certain. . .

so did you go get one?? It couldn't hurt to try the new clear blue easy one! :D
(stoopid commercial) :D

[Mouse_Maven]

so did you go get one?? It couldn't hurt to try the new clear blue easy one! :D
(stoopid commercial) :D

No burrito. :( No pregnancy test. Clear blue easy would hurt the budget - generic is much cheaper.

Started a Pit Thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=404584). I should stop posting before I getting banned for being a sad sack.

yummmmm. . . Chipotle. NO! Comfort food is bad, bad, bad!

[badkittypriestess]

No burrito. :( No pregnancy test. Clear blue easy would hurt the budget - generic is much cheaper.

Started a Pit Thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=404584). I should stop posting before I getting banned for being a sad sack.

yummmmm. . . Chipotle. NO! Comfort food is bad, bad, bad!

then buy generic, Qdoba sounds good to me but tummy says no way-Subway was enough. :)

[gigi]

Bonine is like dramamine. (sp)? I like Bonine better, you take 1 or 2 an hr. before flight and it helps w/motion sickness. It can make you very tired but I get horrible motion sickness and it helps. I have found it at Wallgreen's. :)Bonine=meclazine, which is was prescribed once for a virus that left me dizzy. It's like dramamine but for me it doesn't make me sleepy. It works great--chewable tablet an hour before travel and I feel much less queasy. For flying I take the sleepy stuff though, to try and not sit there awake and scared the whole time.

[essell]

I really hope I get a call about the new job I've applied for soon. I don't want to get stuck in this place any longer.

How am I ever gonna write a "best man" speech for a friend who's famous for being dynamic and funny? I'm gonna seem so pale and weak in comparison.

[Anne Neville]

Mr. Neville has gotten an informal job offer. It's not for a tenure-track faculty position (what he's been applying for), but one of the places contacted him and said that, if he didn't find anything else, they would give him a temporary position as a researcher for a few years (subject to funding). The best thing is, the place that did this is in a fairly decent area to live, AFAIK.

I can breathe a lot easier now. The Ticking Clock of Doom that has been in the back of my mind since his first job search began in 2005 (and I knew his current position would run out of funding in May of this year) has gotten a lot quieter and easier to live with.

We haven't heard whether or not he's getting any of the tenure-track jobs he applied for, btw, so one of those is still a possibility. We probably won't hear anything for a while yet on that.

[Mouse_Maven]

Mr. Neville has gotten an informal job offer. It's not for a tenure-track faculty position (what he's been applying for), but one of the places contacted him and said that, if he didn't find anything else, they would give him a temporary position as a researcher for a few years (subject to funding). The best thing is, the place that did this is in a fairly decent area to live, AFAIK.

I can breathe a lot easier now. The Ticking Clock of Doom that has been in the back of my mind since his first job search began in 2005 (and I knew his current position would run out of funding in May of this year) has gotten a lot quieter and easier to live with.

We haven't heard whether or not he's getting any of the tenure-track jobs he applied for, btw, so one of those is still a possibility. We probably won't hear anything for a while yet on that.

Great! Best of luck to Mr. Neville.