Has anyone noticed.....

how much crime has increased since Hurricane Katrina. I heard Mayor Bill White state he doesn't think it's related but I think that's a "company line" and that the evacuees from New Orleans have everything to do it.

90 Questions about MeMe

I swiped this from Krystyn. Feel free to swipe it if you like.

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT. I have a small scar on the my leg just where the top of my foot meets the ankle. When I was about 6 or 7 my little brother and I found a complete pane of glass and I was claiming it as mine. So I ran with it and cut my foot. Mom wouldn’t let me keep my treasure.

2. NAME 7 THINGS IN YOUR ROOM Bed, bookcase, litter box, paintings, quilt I made, dresser drawer, laundry basket

3. WHAT DOES YOUR CELL PHONE LOOK LIKE? Blue/silver, flat, simple, samsung

4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO? Depends on my mood; Classical, Country Western,

5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN? no

6. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS? Getting my broker’s license

7. WHAT DO YOU MISS? My Porsche

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? My sewing machine, it’s a Bernina

9. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SMELL? Goldleaf & Hydrangea

10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC? Yes sometimes

11. IF YOU DIED TOMORROW: I would hope that someone would take good care of my pets

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY? Dawn

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE / PERFUME? Chanel No. 5

14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX? clean

15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING PROPOSED TO AT? In a quiet private place

16. DO YOU LIKE PORN? Not really

17. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD? Drew

18. DO YOU SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE? Yes, French

19. WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT SOMEONE EVER GAVE YOU? I don’t know I can’t remember that far back

20. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? No.

21. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU? Face to face.

22. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED: 95

23. WHAT IS THE LAST TEXT MSG YOU RECEIVED? "no problem"

24. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL OFTEN? The number to my voice messages on my cell phone.

25. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST? I have to steal Krystyn’s answer here: Incompetence

26. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE US? Yes, France, Sweden, Germany, Bahamas

27. YOUR WEAKNESSES? Potato Salad, chips & dip

28. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Roswell, NM

29. FIRST JOB? Eckerd Drugs, I worked in Cosmetics

30. WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Nurse

31. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS SURVEY? Working on my quilt

32. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?Maybe my eyes or Something

33. WHY DID YOU FILL THIS SURVEY OUT? I think I enjoy being asked questions about myself. My nephew refers to these types of posts as "meme" posts. Like the song, I wanna talk about me me me me.

34. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST? How hard I work.

35. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL? I don’t really know.

36. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? Digital camera

37. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT? I would like 2 or 3

38. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, my middle name is Caroline after Caroline Kennedy.

39. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? no

40. IF YOU COULD PUT 5 BANDS TOGETHER TO PLAY A CONCERT, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Pink Floyd, Santana, Carbon Leaf, Dave Matthews, Fleetwood Mac

41. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Thanksgiving Day

42. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No, ever since I was child I’ve fought it.

43. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO RETIRE? Don’t know, New Mexico maybe.

44. ANY BAD HABITS? Yes, the snooze button.

45. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF? Don’t have one.

46. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU Yes.

47. HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A SECRET YOU SWORE NOT TO TELL? I don’t know. I’m pretty loyal.

48. DO LOOKS MATTER? Yes.

49. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER? I write it out in a journal

50. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME? The office

51. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY? Sometimes, yes.

52. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? My "Drowsy Doll".

53. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE? 30 maybe

54. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Very rarely

55. EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT? Yes, it’s a horrible memory. It was on a very primitive ranch in West Texas back in 89. I was really very upset that I was thrown in. He was trying to get me into the water tower, but I was fighting so hard, he settled on the pit instead.

56. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL? Honesty.

57. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES? I don’t really have any.

58. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No.

59. DO YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE STRONG POINTS? Yes, I persist, I say what I think.

60. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Vanilla

61. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE? 5 1/2

62. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS? Red, Black, pink, yellow, purple

63. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE? I don’t think I have any, they were all removed.

64. WHO DO YOU MISS MOST RIGHT NOW? My father

65. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? I would like for my blog friends to answer them, yes. I enjoy getting to know people.

66. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Watching Desparate Housewives: Brie is talking to George….letting him overdose on pills.

67. LAST THING YOU ATE? Brunch at Hugos

68. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Eric

69. IF YOU WERE GIVEN $100, WHAT WOULD YOU GO BUY? I know this is sad, but I have no idea.

70. Not sure what happened to this question

71. WHO DO YOU THINK IS OVERRATED? G.W. Bush both negatively and positively

72. FAVORITE DRINK? Dr. Pepper

73. FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? Mojito

74. WHAT ARE YOUR NEW YEARS EVE PLANS?: I don’t have any

75. WHERE WAS YOUR LAST VACATION? D.C.

76. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? A great movie or book.

77. SIBLINGS? Yes, 4

78. FAVORITE MONTH? October, I love the Fall and October lets me know it’s arrived.

79. YOU LIKE SUSHI? Oh Yeah! Especially Philadelphia Rolls.

80. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Pride & Prejudice

81. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Thanksgiving

82. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT? No.

83. SUMMER OR WINTER? Probably Winter.

84. KISSES OR HUGS? Both

85. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS? Relationships.

86. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? I’m trying to finish "Leap of Faith" by Queen Noor

87. WHERE DO YOU WORK? In Montrose

88. WHATS YOUR MAJOR? Graduated already; it was French

89. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Hmm, it was on while I was putting up my tree, Curtain Call I think. It was UPN20 or FOX26

90. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK WHEN YOU WAKE UP? How many times can I hit my snooze button?

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

I put my tree up this evening. I love my christmas tree.

I don't put it up every year. Last year I wasn't in the mood, but this year, obviously I am. I won't be spending Christmas here, actually. But I want the festivity that the tree brings.

Anyway, every year I pull out my decorations I relive the memories of the ornaments. Some of them I made myself or I bought at different times. I bought my initial ornaments and original lights the year my father died. I chose a blue and silver theme and I've built on it since.

I have collected quite a few oranments over time but I want to get some more. And bows, I love bows and I have those scattered about as well. But I want more bows. I don't think I can have too many of those.

Ok, I'm tired and ready to sleep. Maybe I'll sleep under my tree..... :)

Thanksgiving friends

I have a friend who recently bought one of those cute 3 story patio home/town homes that are popping up all over Rice Military. So, now that she has this cute place, she loves to entertain, so this is her second Thanksgiving. I love spending Thanksgiving with her and friends. I've known most of these people for at least 4 or 5 years.

Last year, things got heated at Thanksgiving because one of her guests HATES Bush. And at that time, I was still supporting him pretty strongly. As I have been sharing over time here, I'm not really feeling much support for the man. So this Thanksgiving, though I didn't bash him, I did share with my "opponent" why my support of the man was waning. My friend was quite impressed and confessed that though he hates Bush, he does support many Republicans and isn't really as liberal as he may have appeared. He just hates Bush. When he left the dinner party, he came up to me and said that knowing that I've come to this point leaves him with hope for the future. Interesting.

I had such a good time this year. I like these friends and I need to work very hard at spending time with them moving forward.

Ok, that's all I have to write. I'm sleepy and I have a headache.

President or Religious Leader - Soap box alert

I've noticed Bush is trying to rally support and he's pointing the finger at the Democrats accusing them of being irresponsible for suggesting we pull out of Iraq. I wonder if while our President is expressing his indignation he notices there is a very empty complacent response to his plea. I would like to share my feelings and perhaps shed some light on what I think the problem is.

When he was elected President in 2000, I was elated. When 911 hit, I couldn't get enough of him. President Bush was my hero. But now, I don't care. I feel betrayed. I don't feel betrayed about our being in Iraq. I get it. I understand why we are there and I see the problem with an immediate pull out.

My feeling is that Bush has abused his position at President and has used his role to promote his religious convictions. Wait, let me restate that, not promote his religious convictions, impose his religious convictions.

A few examples: He is standing in the way of science's attempt at pursuing stem cell research, even when that research no longer entails the use of aborted embryos. He has enfluenced the FDA away from approving the availability of Plan B, the day after birth control pill, as an over-the-counter drug. He has openly expressed that he believes that it is unconstitutional for a woman to choose to terminate a pregnancy. And lately, he was speaking in China where he believed one of the freedoms the people of China should be afforded is the right to read the Bible (and other sacred text).

I think, relating to the last statement, it is rather audacious for him to go to China and state that their country should be open to allowing their people to pracice a western religion. What is he trying to do here, pave the way for the Christian Coalition to go in and set up missionaries. Western religion could actually tear apart their very ancient culture.

President Bush is a walking example of blatant disrespect for the separation of Church and State. He is sending signals left and right that, as President, he is going to do everything in his power to pave the way for the Religious Right to impose their agendas on the rest of us.

This week, on NPR, I heard Pat Robertson state that "should the little town of Dover(PA) be a victim of natural disaster they should not turn to God for help because they turned their backs on God". Why did he make this hateful statement? Because the school system there decided that creationism should be taught in philosophy and not in a science class. That, in Mr. Robertson's opinion, is "turning their backs on God". He doesn't care about the integrety of Science, he wants people to be forced to learn about God and wants the subject to be given equal respect as science. As if God were an exact science. (You can hear the report here)

I have never heard a religious leader stand up and speak out against the murdering of doctors who perform abortions or against those who practice blowing up clinics. Both are blatent examples of terrorism. The Religious Right is mowing over as many people as they possibly can because they believe that the Leader of the Free World is actually one of them.

The irony of it is that while Bush is paving the way for them, they are not in return rallying support for him. No. They are focusing their energy on promoting their own power agenda.

So my feeling is this. I can't openly support Bush anymore because in doing so, I would be supporting the agenda of the Religious Right. I can't bring myself to send the rights of women back 30 years. Religion is constantly being forced down our throats.

I don't know if the rest of America feels as I do. But I do believe that people are frustrated by his policies and feel as I do that by supporting him in his efforts in Iraq, they are abandonning the things that are important to themselves. Bush has not earned our support. And whats worse is that he has good people such as Condi Rice and Dick Cheney working very hard to get things right in the Mid-East; but Bush's focus on this other crap is making him ineffective as a leader.

If Bush wants to know where the irresponsibility lies, he need only look in the mirror.

Now for something fun and amusing

Take the cupid test and see who you are. I took the test and it turns out I'm a Sonnet.

What do the Cards Say?

In reference to a previous post (Photographs & Memories) regarding my coming across a letter that was written to me by a man in my past, Freebird suggested that I consult the cards prior to contacting him. I liked her idea, a lot.

Initially, I was going to do several readings over the next few weeks and see if there was a consistent message. Mostly because I feel like I'm such a novice I won't get the message right. So now that I really feel like the reading I just did is so clear, I might not feel the need to do several readings.

I'll share my reading with you.

I only selected 3 cards: 1- past, 2- present, 3- future. I basically decided that I would move forward and contact him in a Christmas card and that I simply wanted the cards to tell me what they had to say.

Here are the results.

First card: 2 of cups. This card is of 2 women facing one another; one blonde one brunettish. I immediately know what this card is telling me. It's my relationship her. She was the conflict and she's in my past. It's over, I've ended it, she's not coming back. I swear, these cards blow me away sometimes.

Second card: The World. Wow. This card is basically telling me I know so much more than I did then. I've come "full circle" and in effect I genuinely feel like the card is saying, yes go forward. If I heed to the warning side, it is also telling me not to be over confident. I see it as a green light for sure.

Third card: King of Wands. This card is very interesting!

First I see him in this card for sure. He's a man in my future, but I'm not sold that he is "the man" in my future. I would be very very satisfied if the result of reconnecting is that we are just friends. SO, I'm not going to jump to the conclusion that he is my soul mate, though at the time I met him I was convinced he was "the one" for me.

Secondly, the message I'm getting from this card is don't put all your eggs in one basket. Don't get so focused and determined about this that I close myself off from other possibilities.

and Finally, in almost all of my readings, beginning with my very first one 11 years ago, I draw the Queen of Wands. I am so much the Queen of Wands which really intrigues me that as I ask the cards for direction in this endeavor, my future card is indeed the King of Wands.

So there you have it. I interpret this reading as a very positive one.

Katie Holmes is no dummy

So, Katie Holmes makes her play. Queen to D4 and Tom's bishop is in check.

Apparently, Katie is requesting that T.C. sign a prenup ensuring her of several million dollars in the event their marriage does not last 5 years. What a smart, smart girl.

She knows this is a whirlwind affair. She has given up several movie deals for him thus taking herself out of the "work force". She also knows that at some point along the way she may not want to be a scientologist and then Tom would be forced to make a choice. If history means anything, Scientology would most likely win the battle. I think that T.C. genuinely believes that he cannot be who he is without Scientology.

I am so impressed by her decision because it tells me that she is very strong and in control. I'm not so worried about Katie Holmes anymore. She is taking good care of herself and her baby.

Kudos Katie!

Kudos to me

I don't know if you have ever noticed the characteristics of a violin but they don't have frets like guitars. However, like guitars, there are specific points along the strings that when the finger presses down and the bow is slid across the string a pure note is heard. So, how does one learn to play these notes? Well, my violin teacher put thin strips of tape in place of where "frets" would be on my violin. I have a smiley face indicating where the next position is but that's another complicated story.

So, I started my violin lessons in 2002 and stopped in 2003. Then I resumed this year. So, I have had these tapes on my violin since I've started my lessons.

My lessons are on Thursday and as is customary, I race home after work, gather my instrument and music and head out the door. Well today, when I went to grab my violin, one of the strings was broken. Either my cockatoo went over to the violin, which I keep propped against the music stand when not in use, and unscrewed the base where the string is connected (yes, anyone who has ever had a cockatoo would know that is extremely feasible), OR my cats caused the thing to unscrew by rubbing their faces against it. Now, based on what I found in the litter box this morning, I do believe that once the string was broken, they did toy with the strings.

But I digress. So, I went forward with my violin lesson even though I knew I had no violin to play with. Usually I get there early so that I can practice in an empty room prior to my lesson. Well, Roby handed me his violin to practice with and guess what? His violin doesn't have tape on it. That's right. I had to practice without the tape and guess what I discovered?

You guessed it.... I don't need no stinking tape anymore.

A Bizarre Moment

This afternoon my colleagues, Drew and Eric, and myself went to Baba Yaga's for lunch. We chose Baba Yaga's because today's weather was Splendific and they provide outdoor seating and we very much wanted to sit outside. Luckily, we arrived in time to sit outside.

We were sitting directly underneath the awning which I thought was quite convenient because it soon became aparent that there were squirrels in the trees above as we heard the shell pieces of pecans drop onto the awning and then slide down to the ground behind us. It was perfect.

We were enjoying our meal together and I was half-way through my wonderful "roast beef" sandwich smothered with melted provolone cheese when suddenly out of no where a fly dive bombed onto my sandwich. I tried to swoosh it away with my hands but it just crawled on my sandwich. I swooshed again and then it proceeded to burrow itself into the depths of my sandwhich where it just curled up and died.

WTF? That is just friggin disgusting, which is what I proclaimed! Thankfully, Baba Yaga's deducted the sandwich from my bill. In return, I ordered dessert as did my colleagues, which is so uncustomary of them. So indeed, we made up for their kindness.

But really, isn't that just totally bizarre?

I wanna talk about me

I got this from Freebird. I copied the questions, deleted the answers, then waited a day. I don't know how similar my answers are as I haven't compared them, yet.

Three ways that I am stereotypically female:

1) I blowdry and curl my hair everyday
2) I love sundresses
3) I am very jealous and suspicious of men.

Three ways that I am stereotypically male:

1) I love cars,
2) it is apparent I need a maid; I have cultures growing in my refrigerator as we speak
3) I'm extremely independent and in my own world.

Three names I go by:

1) Fardoh (Not since I was 5)
2) Kiddo
3) Goober


Three parts of my heritage:

1) French
2) German
3) splash of Scotts Irish

Three physical things I like about myself

1) My breasts
2) My eyes/mouth
3) I'm not overweight

Three physical things I don’t like about myself

1) I'd like to be taller
2) I'd like a flat stomach
3) I'd like to have a more exotic look/aura

Three things that scare me:

1) becoming seriously ill or injured (I don't have health insurance)
2) choking on hard candy 3
) Jeff, the vice-president of our company (he's always jumping out at me or sneaking up behind me)

Three of my everyday essentials

1) Coffee
2) toothbrush
3) computer

Three LIES

1) I look like Angelina Jolie
2) I fly a broom to work everyday
3) I won the lottery last week.

Three TRUTHS

1) I speak French
2) I've received an e-mail from the space shuttle
3) I have a picture of myself with Donald Sutherland on my fridge.

Three things I want in a relationship

1) Trust
2) Laughter - Lots of it
3) Respect

Three physical things about men that appeal to me

1) a strong jaw line
2) natural musk smell
3) Height (he needs to be taller than me)

Three of my favorite hobbies

1) violin
2) sewing
3) movies

Three things I want to do really badly now

1) sleep (I had a rough day)
2) eat pizza
3) call this new guy I met

Three careers I’ve considered

1) Medicine (Can't do blood & guts)
2) Psychology
3) Pilot

Three places I want to go on vacation

1) Costa Rica
2) Hawaii
3) Australia

Three things I want to do before I die
1) Have a meaningful connection with a man
2) Make a six figure income
3) own a house

Three celebrity crushes:

I only had one crush. Believe it or not it was Tom Cruise. While in college I started to compose him a letter. I never knew what became of it. Ok, a close second would be Owen Wilson.