It's noon on Monday...what are you doing?

I just went to the grocery store and did a little anthropological observation. Most of the people that were shopping were either of the retirement set or soccer moms. Pretty standard, right? Well, I had to wonder about the the random people shopping that should have been at work. Actually, I guess I'm talking about me because I took the day off and I am quite enjoying it. I wish I could take several days off in a row, but one is good too. Anyhoo, back to the story, I live in a pretty suburban area so there is not much of a business crowd around here, but there were lots of business people in the store doing a little midday shopping. Weird. They can just take off and do whatever. Nice. I need that job. I do love being home while everyone else is suffering at their job, though. Yay me!

Oh What a Relief It is!

Part of my Summer Reading program is over tonight and the other will be done by 8:00 Saturday night. This has just about taken it all out of me. Send me positive thoughts for the next few days. Also, keep me in your thoughts after 8 on Saturday because I'm getting drunky-drunk.

This makes me laugh

Who new Dora the Explorer was so edgy?

Wrung Out

I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Wow. I just couldn't quit reading. I had 600 pages to go this morning and I had to finish. I cried, I laughed (not too much) and it was just a great read. J.K. Rowling managed to tie everything together. Now, I'm exhausted and heading to bed.

The Knot. In the Pit. Of my Stomach.

I get this all the time. Something major or minor might go wrong and I will get this icky feeling in my stomach and I will worry over something for hours...and then it usually goes away. I've got that right now. Same ol' bs really, but it still makes enjoying my well earned weekend difficult. It's the Catholic in me, I believe. All that guilt the nuns instilled in me during my formative years. Strangely enough, I suffer from much more guilt now than I ever did when I was a child. I was terrible and without remorse. Now, I tend to agonize over something until it drives me bonkers. ugh. Happy Weekend...

P.S. I finished reading the 6th Harry Potter last night (just in time for the new one). I cried and I'm not sure I'm ready to read the last one. Anyone reading HP? No spoilers, please :)

Oh, now I get it. Thank you soooo much

I spoke with a lovely representative of the company that holds my student loan (or the company that holds the balance on money I spent willy-nilly in graduate school and didn't truly believe they would want it back). I was calling because I was confused about my online statement. It said that I owed all this money (which I knew was not right) and I was quite concerned. I finally navigated my way through their automated system and got an actual person (gasp). He was a bit brusque, but absolutely understandable so I was pleased in this day of outsourcing. I asked him what was up with my account and he told me that the online statement was old and I would received another in August (despite it stating that I had a balance due - you'd think they would update that - but I digress). So I don't owe a bunch of money, then he passed along this little nugget of information that I shall hold closed to my heart forever more.

Upon my question of changing to an email statement and when the next one would come he said:

"You will receive that in August, you received your last one through the mail because WE CANT REACH INTO THE MAILBOX AND PULL IT OUT ONCE YOU REQUEST EMAIL STATEMENTS"

Finally, someone has lifted the curtain on the US Postal Service. Apparently, my attempts to shove my arm in the mail shoot periodically is a wasted effort and definitely not worth the disapproving glare of some of our governments finest, yet, slowest employees. (Cue the sounds of Lee Greenwood's "And I'm Proud to be an American...")

I thought that this was so helpful that I needed to post something IMMEDIATELY. Once again, you're welcome

I bet there is a hotel maid looking pretty sharp right now

Why? I left my bridesmaid dress in a heap in a hotel in VA. My shoes are in a trash can at a lovely plantation house nearby. Don't get me wrong, I thought the dresses Claire picked out were fine and generally flattering. But I ain't gonna be wearing it again. The wedding was beautiful and the couple very happy. It almost changed my mind about marriage. I guess I will admit that the jury is still out.

See? I'm growing.

Seriously, it was really nice to see two people so happy and appreciative of finding one another. When it's right, it's right. Claire and her new husband are now honeymooning on some beach south (or maybe east?) of here. I'm envious in several ways. Above all else, I'm happy for them.

No longer with us

Murphy was a good dog and probably had one of the sweetest dispositions. He was my mom's dog and we're going to leave his ashes at her grave. She would have wanted that. He was really one of the last tangible things I had that was hers and he gave her a lot of happiness even when she was so sick. I miss him. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Do you think they just stare at each other?

Good Lord. David Beckham's body is INSANE. I was catching up on my "news" via Perez Hilton and he had their recent photo shoot profiled.

(suggestion - follow my lead and hold your hand over Posh's part of the pictures and enjoy the uninterupted beauty of Becks)

To be filed in the "You've got to be sh*tting me" category

John Mark Karr - of the false Jon Benet Ramsey confession infamy - was arrested this past weekend. For domestic abuse. Against his girlfriend.

His Girlfriend.

This crazy f*ck has got a girlfriend? I mean, are you kidding me?!?! He's also been married. What is wrong with these women? Especially, this new one.

On another note, he is like 5'2" and 113 lbs dripping wet. A first grader could take this guy with one hand on their pencil case and without breaking a sweat. What kind of damage could this guy inflict?

I have not been in a relationship since the Nixon administration and this guy is wandering around with a girlfriend that he apparently beats. You explain that.

My name is Katie...and I'm an addict

I can't get enough of Big Brother 8, people. It's really not my fault. It comes on three times a week for a total of 3 hours - and that's just primetime. It is also on Showtime 2, which until 4 days ago, I had know idea we were subscribing to this WONDERFUL channel. Anywho, It comes on EVERY NIGHT. For 3 HOURS EVERY NIGHT - uncut (we actually saw boy parts the other night - not much of a thrill really, but still)for a total of 21 Hours every week. There is also a call in program every weekday online for an hour for a total of 5 hours. Now, I don't watch all of this, but it is still out there. I could spend 29 hours of my life every week just on BB8. You know what the funny thing is? All of the uncut programming is pretty boring and it makes you realize how dumb people sound when they are just shooting the breeze. On this note, how does one eradicate the use of "like" in their speech? Actually, I am surprised the American people haven't noticed the vacuum of intellectual thought since the 14 contestants have been quarantined from the general public.

Actual quotes from the show:

"We all cheered 'Go Blue Team!' because we were like the blue team, you know."

also

Upon seeing her picture in the house, one contestant began to cry and said "it looks like there are bags under my eyes that aren't my own" Waa-Waa-Waa....

as well as

"And I immaculately conceived gonorrhea!!"

Man vs. Yummy

So, I have been a little under the weather this week and I took a sick day and left early two other days. This has given me a lot of time to sleep and catch up on channel-surfing. Channel surfing is something I used to do before Tivo, but it seems pointless these days. Anyway, with the extra time I was able to look around and I have discovered a delicious program: Man vs. Wild hosted by Bear Grylls. First off, his name is Bear. I think that is pretty hot. Second, he is hot. Third, he runs around in the woods, deserts, or other rough terrain which is also hot. You know what the best part is? Sometimes he gets wet in a really cold climate and according to Bear (yes, we're on a first name basis) the best thing to do is take off your clothes. The last episode I watched he took off his shirt and then did push-ups. Oh my. I really hadn't been running a fever...up until the point where his t-shirt came off. It almost makes me want to reconsider my first-waver theory so that I can survive the apocalypse and re-populate the earth with him and make little Bears...

Word to the unwise

If one is going to be transporting marijuana, xanax, adderoll, vicodin, and valium in your car (as Al Gore's son, AG III, was doing) then don't drive 100mph. Sometimes the police will pull your ass over.

I just don't get how

Porn stars have spouses. I find myself on the eve of a holiday and no need to get up for work so I am watching a little late nigh HBO. They are featuring the Porn Movie Awards (kind of like the porn Oscars, if you will). And half the people - men and women - have thanked their husbands or wives. WTF? That just doesn't make sense to me. Why do they get married? Is it because they don't want to live in sin anymore?...um, ok. It is just bizarre to me. I guess I'm just a narrow minded prude. I mean why can't porn stars get married and have kids and create a whole porn dynasty? It sounds perfectly logical to me...and so American. Happy 4th of July, folks!