Read the articles that Mom had about fibromyalgia.... hmmm... nope, don't think so. In my opinion, articles like these aren't very reliable.

Uh oh. Mom is doing some magazine article reading again... she's come across 2 articles that describe an autoimmune disease called Fibromyalgia. This disease had symptoms a lot like I'm experiencing with Rhuematoid Arthitis (which is also autoimmune)... which I was diagnosed with a little over 8 months ago. I was told I've got a specific type that moves from joint to joint, not staying and destroying one particular joint. So, Mom's thinking I was misdiagnosed because of these two articles... hmmm... she could be right. The medical profession isn't 100%. I shall ask my doctor when I go in on the 18th... if I can make it that long. I *really* should have gone in this last week, but its so difficult getting an appt. I could have gotten one, I suppose... I've been told I can be a pain in the ass when I want to be. I really hate living on percocet - although its a fun pain medication, I don't like being dependent on it or like feeling goofy all the time. I'm goofy enough naturally, don't need any more in my life. Today (and yesterday) were better days. My right shoulder is bothering me as well as my right jaw. Yeah, figure that one out. I can't open my mouth very far (good thing?!) or bite down. Soft foods for me. I've discovered the hot tub again... haven't used it all summer or last winter because its too blasted hot. Dad is now keeping it at a nice 98 degrees which is PERFECT. I've made good use of the jets (all right - no, not sitting on the jets!!!!) the swirling water. Ahhhh... it may start to become a part of my daily routine. I come out of there so relaxed and fingers and toes all pruny. Then I take a nice long shower to get all the bromide stuff off of my skin. That's the life. Agenda for today: Rest, lots of rest and laundry.

Speaking of Fart machines, this brings a fond memory back to me... My friend L and I found some fart spray and just had to buy it. We thought "Wow, how cool is this? Farts in a can! Oh, the jokes we can play... and just in time for April Fool's Day." Well, turns out WE were the fools. We were out in the hall way at work, walking past all these closed doors to the manager's offices... spraying the fart spray under their doors as we went... laughing almost hysterically... trying to be quiet. We were trying to do the impossible. As we finished the last of the doors, we discovered we could smell this AWFUL smell coming from our hands. The cans LEAKED on our hands! Which of course made us laugh even harder. We could hardly stand. We finally made it to the restroom and washed our hands, washed them several times... we went back to work, and noticed we could still smell this shit (literally!!). We tried lemon juice, scented anti-bacterial gel, anything we could get our hands on... still stunk. A couple hours later, I had a brilliant idea. Try some Formula 409 cleaner. What do you know... it worked! We were so relieved. Went back to work, started smelling it again... smelled our hands, nope, they were OK... finally figured out the smell was coming from our keyboards! We immediately got new keyboards. I think we laughed harder about the stuff getting on our hands than we did spraying the spray under the doors. Hillarious! Happy April Fools' to us. We haven't tried this trick again, but when we get brave enough, we'll use rubber gloves. :-)

What a crap week this has been... glad its over. I will be a good girl and continue to recooperate. UGH. I did find out how the rest of the fart machine story went - after I handed the controls over to Nicole last week. She had me laughing so hard I had tears rolling down my face. Apparently, all Thursday afternoon, Nicole kept setting the fart machine off (hidden in Benjamin's cubical). Every time someone would come in and talk to either Pam or Benjamin, Nicole would set it off. This continued through Friday. At lunch time, Nicole, Janna and Pam all went out to lunch. As soon as they reached the outside door, Pam said (with MUCH relief) that she was sooooo glad to be out of there. When asked why, she replied, "I haven't been able to concentrate on work all day long! That Benjamin keeps farting! Oh, and the SMELL!!" At this point, Nicole and Janna could hardly contain themselves, but they held on... The fart machine is a remarkable toy, but there is NO SMELL. Talk about the power of suggestion!! Pam still has no clue there was ever a fart machine. Benjamin doesn't work there any more, so we can't ask him how he felt about it all... maybe he thought it was Pam and was too big of a gentleman to say anything?? Or... maybe he was taking advantage of the noises and actually making some of his own, which would mean there *really* was a smell?? We may NEVER know...

I made it to work yesterday... had so much stuff to do! Then last night my right wrist flared up... hopefully this is IT for a while... my brother had me try this cool thing that sends electric shocks through your body aligning the electrons (or something!) which forces healing right away. So, I gave it a shot... it was pretty funky at first but took quite a bit of the pain away. I was able to go to work and stay all day today. Its quite sore tonight so I need to ice it again. Gotta love this disease... I can think of other FUN things to do with ice! Yes, use your imagination... ;-)

OK - enough is enough. I had to stay home from work today due to my hip and my left wrist flaring up. It causes the tendons to swell, therefore messing with the mobility of my fingers (and OH the pain!!!!). Its much better now, but fingers are still stiff and hand is hurting. I spent the day in basically in a haze... slept a lot. I hope I can go to work tomorrow!! I don't think I can STAND one more day not being able to do *something*. My cat is taking advantage of my weakened condition... she thinks she can have a treat every time I get out of bed. Or maybe she's just happy that I'm moving??!! Not sure.

So in the middle of the night, my right shoulder decided to hurt... looks like I'll be living on pain pills for the next day or so... HATE this. Achy all over actually... looks like the Rheumatoid Monster is here and is forcing me to behave and not do anything today but ice my shoulders every 20 mins. I LOVE to relax, but not like this. :-( On the brighter side of things, the Leave it to Beaver Fandamonium Marathon is on all weekend! Woohoo! I love this show and am finding my self laughing out loud at a lot of things... hmmmm... is it *really* that funny or is it the pain pills??

Arthritis attack in my left shoulder... on pain pills... feeling quite funky... so I'm not going to Blog while under the influence. No thanks are necessary. ;-)

This is a cool story about Search Dogs that are helping to find survivors of the WTC. (Thanks E for the link!)

Well I made it... I was done working at 12! Woohoo! I busted my butt to get things done (to a point where I couldn't do any more work on the presentation until my boss does his part). So my weekend has begun. I spent the afternoon cleaning so now I can coast the rest of the weekend... just do what ever my little heart desires... not going to be too exciting, so don't get your hopes up... Had a really funny thing happen today... I took a banana and some peanut butter (yes I have a THING for peanut butter). I was dipping the second half of my banana in the peanut butter... took my hand away from the banana and ya know what it looked like?? (That little nobby at the bottom of the banana stayed in the peel, so there was a hole at the end.) Yeah, OK... use your imagination. I instantly started giggling and called my friend S to come see it. My NOSEY cube mate Greg was there... and he asked what I had to call S down to see. Like I was gonna show him! So I made up some lame excuse. Well, it was all funny...maybe you had to be there... or totally tired to appreciate it. Day two of the fart machine went great... they still haven't figured it out. I handed the remote over to Nicole so she could finish the job for the afternoon. She was awstruck by the power...

One more day... just one more day until my weekend starts...oohhh... one more day. I can do it.

My friend S told me that she caught some guy (that I work with) checking out my ass today. Although I'm flattered... I'm having trouble believing that he had the 'look of lusting' on his face. Now THAT is funny! I was wearing a dark purple velvet dress, maybe he liked the way the velvet hugged my butt?! Hmmm... don't know. But I got a huge laugh out of it. Don't get your hopes up, this guy is in his 40's and married with kids. OFF the market.

Had a pretty good day today, although I'm soooo tired! A new fellow prankster Nicole (just moved into a cubical near me) and I set the remote controlled fart machine up to get a lady Pam that sits in the cubical with her. We set it far back behind her desk drawers and kept setting it off every so often through out the day. She still has no clue its a fart machine, but thinks it was a guy that sits by her. She made the comment that he was awfully quiet today, maybe he's not feeling well. Nicole and I just about busted up then, but we held it in... we'll continue on through tomorrow... this is the longest anyone has ever gone without finding the speaker! So funny!!! No, she's not blonde. ;-)

I'm so brain fried, I can't think of anything to say... not even to babble like I usually do!

Ahhhh... one day down, 3 to go. I've decided to get my ass up at 3:30 am so I can get to work at 5:00 am to avoid the rush at the gates of the AF base. I was only in line for about 5 mins this morning... if I were to go at my normal time, 6:00 I'd have a 45 min wait. Hmmmm... I do believe I'd rather just wait 5 and get up early. It gives me an extra hour to work on stuff too when no one bugs me and gives me MORE to do. I made some killer salsa yesterday and also made a 7-layer dip to take to work today with two huge bags of tortilla chips. It was my turn to take birthday treats in. All I can say is SNARF! All of it was gone in less than 20 minutes!! I was glad they enjoyed it though, and I didn't have to bring any home. Everyone said how good it was... ooohhh... pat myself on the back for being a good cook... when I'm in the mood, that is!! :-) One guy challenged me to a salsa making contest, saying he could make it hotter...This salsa was really good, but milder than I normally make since I work with a bunch of geeky engineers who can be whimps. I took his challenge. Although several people said his salsa is good and hot, they said mine had better flavor. I'll kick his butt!

So I've been running around like a mad woman today getting things done so now I can relax and enjoy my Sunday. :-) Just read E's blog... so glad the P is on his making his way home from Logan Airport. YAY!

I think now that K isn't living here in the same house that we can become friends again. She isn't nasty at all - quite nice in fact. But I don't think we'll be as close of sisters as we used to be because she has violated my trust. Used something I told her in confidence against me. I'm not very forgiving when it comes to someone stabbing me in the back. Guess that's something I need to get over. I can forgive (because NO ONE is perfect), but I'm very cautious and tend to be guarded.

What a day for sleep this was! I am so used to waking up at 4:30 every day to go to work, I rarely sleep past 6:30 on the weekends. Today I slept until 8. I got up, ate breakfast, did some crafty stuff, worked out, laid out in the sun (felt sooo nice - not too hot!) then came inside and slept for 2 hours. Then I helped my Mom get dinner ready for the family dinner. We got together to celbrate my bro's B's birthday, and he's now 42. I'm the youngest of the bunch so I can always say they're older than me!! My sister K brought the new baby over. She handed little E over to me and I held her and fed her. K told Mom to get the camera to take a picture of me - like it was a miracle that I was feeding a baby! LOL! I did it all the time when my nephews were little - no big deal, not hard at all. K is the one that has never been the maternal type, but for never having these instincts, she's doing quite well as a mother. K teased me about E making me want my own baby...ummmmm...noooooo thanks. Babies are sweet and everything, but I like to send them home with their parents. Everyone has always said I'd be a good mother, nice - but again... noooo thanks. I'm quite content with my cat as my child!!

I watched the Memorial services on TV today and was truly moved. To see this country and other countries coming together as one against the terrorists warms my heart. I received an e-mail yesterday, as many people did around the US about putting our flags out and putting flags on our cars as a sign of unity and memorium for those who died. It was so amazing to see all the flags, more than you see on the 4th of July. The candle vigils are everywhere, what a tribute. Tears came to my eyes as I was watching them and lit a candle myself.

Here's a link for Useless Knowledge. Some of this knowledge can be useful in some point... interesting site.

Today was a day when I needed a clone and will be crazy for the next couple of weeks. Helping my boss get ready for another workshop, redoing about 500 slides. UGH. I was making some cards to be laminated to go with the workshop, and my boss wanted them printed on heavier paper, double sided, and color. I had to print 40 of these things. First of all, the color printer we have (only about 6 months old) likes to jam paper. So, I tried to tell him that I double sided wasn't possible and I didn't have time to mess around with it so Kinkos could just laminate two sheets of paper together back to back. Big deal?? I don't think so... I get all of them printed off and then he brings up the 'double sided' again. I was about to blow a gasket then and almost asked him who gives a flying f... if there are two sheets laminated together or one? They want the cards to be thick... well, having two sheets laminated together would be thicker than just one sheet. He kept saying, "Well I think we should at least try and to double sided...". I finally told him that if he thought I had the time to spend messing with the color printer, then I would. Guess what... I won. :-)

Yesterday, we were evacuated from our building (I work on an Air Force Base) because of a box that was left on the bed of a pick up truck. The bomb squad was called in along with their robot to blow up the package. We were out of the building for about an hour and a half and were let back in after the box was blown up. Today, we find out that the package was someone's lunch... a ham sandwich! Unbelievable! We were evacuated again today, but for nuts and bolts. Good thing they didn't blow that box up, it could have done some major damage, a hell of a lot more than ham! I'm really thankful for our military - they do take their job of protecting us seriously and do a great job. It takes a certain kind of person to be willing to die for their country and to protect the citizens.

The terrorist activities today have made me ill. My prayers to those the family and friends of those who died and to those who were injured. May the bastards who did this pay dearly for what they've done.

I must say hello to that tall, gorgeous man named Colin from Boston. I hear he's ALL THAT and a bag of chips. :-) Hi sexy!

I've just come from seeing my new niece! She is so cute!! Such a precious baby... but doesn't make me want one of my own. ;-) Very good baby - so far... we're all hoping (including her parents) that she doesn't inherit their dispositions and tempers. Of course they'd deserve a child just like them. Hmmmm... maybe THAT's the real reason I don't have any kids. Having another one of ME running around could be scary.... very scary.

I think I'm ready to face the dreaded Monday... but I won't know for sure until I'm actually at work, in my chair, looking at all the work that has piled up for me over the weekend.

I am feeling much better today... was out washing my car which is a Sunday morning ritual. Mostly because its a nice quiet time in the neighborhood... and because it pisses the people off who drive by and see me doing something to break the Sabbath. I just smile as they give me dirty looks. Cheap thrill, what can I say. I watched the last of the 6 movies I rented for the weekend. 3000 Miles to Graceland. It was OK... don't think I'll go out of my way to see it again, although Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell are yummy.

I think I have lost total faith in the mechanic shop I've been taking my car to for years. First problem was them telling me my front brakes would need to be replaced soon (which turned out the back brakes were worst than my front!). Second problem I noticed this morning... I went to check my oil and discovered my radiator over flow bottle was bone dry. There should have been about 2 inches of antifreeze in it... you trust these mechanics to make sure there's enough antifreeze in the radiator after they flush the damn thing. I'd say three strikes you're out... but not in this case. I depend on my car too much and need to trust who I take it to. May not seem to be a big deal, but it is to me. So, I'll be looking for a new mechanic.

Add Hannibal to that movie list! Wooo - what a movie! Bloody, graphic, a little on the scary side, but excellent. I watched it during the light of day though! I know I'm a whimp.

Movies watched today: Family Man: Good movie, but not as 'funny' as everyone said it was, but a good movie. Nicolas Cage looks yummy. :-) Wedding Planner: better than I remember it... Matthew McConauhey is just soooo damn sexy. Still being a bum! Life is good, although still not feeling all that well. Stupid sore throat will not leave me alone. Don't know if its my immune system attacking me again or if I've picked up a bug.

I'm being a TOTAL bum! I actually skipped out on A's football game, I know, bad Auntie. I've got a good excuse... starting to get a sore throat again and sitting out in the cold would be bad for me at this point. This afternoon, I stopped by the local Blockbuster and rented 6 videos. I'm set for the weekend. I've already watched two so far. "Chocolate", I loved this movie. It was such a great story about a mother and daughter carrying on a tradition of moving from town to town bringing chocolate to a small French town... Johnny Depp comes into the town with a nice Irish accent - yum. "The Gift" was really good too, it was a suspense type movie about a woman that has a psychic gift who helps solve a murder. Keanu Reeves was in this and he played a bad man, but I still think he's sexy. I've also rented "The Wedding Planner" which I saw in the theatres... and Ooooo... Matthew McConauhy (sp??)... let's just say, drool. I rented "Hannibal" the sequal to "Silence of the Lambs", and "Family Man" (Nicholas Cage... drool again!), and "3000 Miles From Graceland" (Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell... drool, drool!). Reviews to follow as I watch them...

Thanks to E for this link: Apocolypse Pooh. Such a big Pooh fan, am I!

I *should* be cleaning... but I just can't seem to get myself 100% motivated. Maybe 10 more minutes then I'll get started. My nephew A is starting vasity linebacker tonight at his football game. I'm so proud of him and excited to see him play. I hope their team does well this year. They've gone to a higher populated division so they'll be playing different High Schools - mostly the better ones around the valley. This division is newsworthy - they usually announce the scores on the evening news, so hopefully Weber High won't be known as total losers. They've got the spirit and the drive to play well.

I'm an Aunt again. Elyssa was born this morning at 5:32am. Both Mom and baby doing OK.

I started out the work day being bad again... I got an e-mail from a J. Hung (first name not Will - E's thougt tee hee) and I just about cracked up. I responded to his e-mail, Dear Mr. Hung... it went down hill from there for a while... then as the day wore on, I got involved in recreating some flow charts and was cruising right a long... so I soon got out of my super naughty mood. After work, we girls had planned a night out - to an early movie and then to dinner. Everyone pooped out except for R and I. We had fun without the party poopers! C was sick, so she's not a party pooper. We went to see Rat Race! It was pretty funny... then we went to Applebee's where I had the Asian Chicken Salad - soooo yummy. So now I'm home waiting for news about my sister K and her baby. They induced labor this afternoon, and as of 8:00 PM, still nothing. I called the hospital to see how things were progressing and talked to her husband E. He said that she probably won't deliver until 4 or 5 AM tomorrow. Then the shit had the nerve to say he tried to go home - he was NOT kidding. Yeah right like he's going to leave his wife's side while she gives birth to their child... dont' think so. Its a good thing he doesn't have a car - or a license or he would have gone home. Mom and Dad are down there and my sister S and none of them will give him a lift home. Do I feel like a bad sister for not being there too?? Hmmm... NO, not really. I don't want to be anywhere near K when she starts going postal during labor... I've seen enough of that NASTY behavior growing up and that's enough. The last episode was back in May and it was UGLY. She had a hissy fit because I threw away an empty plastic bottle of hers. She said every cuss word I've ever heard - and a few the neighbors never heard before, bless their virgin ears! Besides, I don't really feel like I should be there since its more of a 'husband/wife' and 'parents' thang. I'll wait until they come home.

I'm being really naughty (I'm actually not typing a tenth of the things I could... and those of you who know me are probably thanking your lucky stars I don't!) - and rambling on and on...I am very tired... I've been up since 3:30 am and worked 5am - 4pm. Did it yesterday and I've got to work the same tomorrow, so I think I best get my butt into bed!

One interesting thing I've heard of recently... now that I'm on the subject of sniffing yet again... there is a company - or several - that actually sells women's icky panties to men and they're making a killing! How great is that?! Wish I would have thought of it... but its never too late to start up my own company, aye?!

Am I pathetic or what?!

My friend S and I were really on one today... or really when aren't we when we start talking?! She's a good influence (in a naughty way!) on me and is one of my idols. I took a break and went to her cubical to chat for a few minutes. Next thing I know, my cube mate G comes to find me... don't know HOW he found me... he had some "very important information he needed from me". So, I go back to my cubical to see what "very important information" he needed. All he needed was a contract number which happens to be on every single stinking travel order he's had from the beginning of time. GRRR! So, I went back to Sandi's cube to finish our conversation a few minutes later. I asked Sandi how on earth G found me! We both looked at each other and did a 'sniffing' face... she said, he sniffed you out... and not referring to my perfume! We busted out laughing and decided G's new name would be Sniff-Doggy-Dog. Then we decided we now know the *real* reason men are called dogs... its due to their inner sense of smell for those phermones! What a crack up!!!

My idea not doing anything today was shattered. My parents needed my help painting. We were able to get one room half done, but it needs another coat tomorrow (and too bad I have to go to work!). I don't mind painting, as long as I can do the roller and not have to do all the trim. By the time we were done, I had white paint everywhere... well not 'everywhere' just on my clothes, legs, arms, face, hair, and even the bottoms of my feet. Luckily the paint had dried on me feet before I went trodding it all over the house. Boy, I'm messy! Took quite a while to scrub it all off. All nice and clean now... and ready to finish my relaxation!

Ever did a search for your name on Google?? I did! The results were astounding... 49,100 entries with my name on them. There was actually ONE that was really me! I was referenced in a project that I assisted in. Wow. It was actually on the first page, but the last thing on the page, so top 10 not too shabby. :-) Although I didn't look at all 49,100 entries I feel good knowing that at least one was me.

Just added some links of a couple cool sites I've ran across. One I got from Gaekwad the ultimate web surfer.

The trick of eating the peanut butter with the banana is to spread the peanut butter on the banana... licking it off slowly before you take a bite. Then washing it all down with a swallow of milk! Perfection.

Ooooh, yes. The peanut butter is just what the banana was screaming for. Yummy. Yes, I have an addiction/obsession to peanut butter. I'm being quite lazy and may not even get out of my PJ's the entire day. Unless I go outside to lay out! Then I can always shower and get right back in the PJ's. I have no desire to do anything constructive what so ever. :-) But then again, days like these I tend to get bored half way through the day and start some project that involves sorting through drawers and closets. Hopefully it won't come to that.

I'm sitting here, eating my breakfast that consists of yogurt, milk and a banana... the banana is definitely missing something... OOO! peanut butter! Be right back!

More on the referring search engines... although this search isn't as funny as the 'pantie' one... I got referred for 'fat butt white woman'!! All four words do appear somewhere in my blog, although not all in one place. I am a white woman, with a big butt (that's dwindling down and will be a smaller and hopefully cute butt one day). The web amazes me.

There is one terrific website called Cuddles that is such a good cause. They raise money and ask for donated items for premature babies as well as for the babies who die. Such an admirable, worthwhile cause.

Its been a nice, quiet Sunday! I even managed to get a nap... and I'm loving the thoughts of not having to work tomorrow (Labor Day!). I haven't been a complete bum though, I washed my car and cleaned the inside as well. It was filthy (on the outside) because some workmen did some asphalt cutting to fill some pot holes in the parking lot at work and got the dust all over... and it didn't just 'blow' away. But, its all clean and sparkly now and safely in the garage where it will stay clean for at least one more day.

Mmmm... you never know what you're going to find on the web... just found a tasty recipe for Peanut Butter Balls. Or at least it sounds yummy... love peanut butter and love balls... what a good combo, Peanut Butter Balls! I must try this recipe... but may try my own variation!

Well, it seems I've hit the big time. I was checking my 'referrals' on my counter and it seems that Google referred to my page for information on "pantie sniffing". I was almost rolling on the floor laughing. My cat looked at me like I'd lost my mind. There was an actual reference to pantie sniffing in a story I told about my friend L and I shopping in a pantie store and thinking L was sniffing panties when she was actually wiping her nose with her hanky. So, if you're looking for info on pantie sniffing, you really should keep on looking... no pantie sniffing going on here... LMAO!

So I'm a bit under the weather today... started getting a sore throat yesterday and really shouldn't have gone to my nephew A's football game (and yelled! and cheered) but I did it anyway. Not feeling so bad that I've got to stay in bed, but just icky enough to be miserable. So, I plan to stay close to my bed or recliner and do something crafty (get started on Christmas prezzies). Have to do it when the mood strikes. Although I'm in the middle of a fab romance novel, I think the crafty bug is biting me. The football game was pretty good - some disappointments though. Our team threw the ball right to the other team 3 times! Made me so mad... but then we got the ball away from them 4 times, so I guess it balances out. We did end up losing by 3 points though :-( A played rather well so it was worth going and seeing him play regardless them losing.