Unmitigated

I take back every single nice thing I had to say about MSNBC's Olympics streaming. Their video feed cut out for the last two rocks in the 11TH END of the women's gold medal curling round! I can't freaking believe I missed it.

99 Things

It's entirely possible that I have done this meme (or a very similar one) before now. As I get older, the memory slips. On the plus side, I get to meet new people more often than you'd think. LoJo and Dr. Wende posted their versions on the same day, and it seemed providential, so I picked up the 99 Things You Ought to Have Done meme: bold the ones you've done, add justifications, explanations, near-misses, etc. as needed.

1. Started your own blog- several. This one has lasted about 18 months so far.
   
2. Slept under the stars - well, in a tent anyway.
   
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii - twice so far. Hoping for a trip with just me and Husband
   
5. Watched a meteor shower - several times. The Perseids is near my b-day.
   
6. Given more than you can afford to charity - sort of. We do give generously, but not yet to the point of breaking us.
   
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain - Little Round Top in Pennsylvania. More like a famous hill.
   
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo - all the time. Did you mean, in front of people? Not so far.
11. Bungee jumped - when Hell freezes over.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm- as often as possible
    
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset- sunrises over Lake Huron, sunsets on Lake Michigan.
    
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise - Bleh. No desire at all.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - both my parents were born here. Does that count?
    
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - can read and understand French. Working on the speaking part.
    
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - lucky, aren't I?
    
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - in Hawaii! Jealous?
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - in my jammies!
    
55. Been in a movie - Cedar Rapids, out later this year?
    
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - had a partner in an antiques booth for awhile.
    
58. Taken a martial arts class - just a spectator, now.
    
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies- eaten enough to support a troop for ten years.
62. Gone whale watching - with the Pacific Whale Foundation off Maui! Saw humpbacks.
    
63. Got flowers for no reason - a few times in almost 25 years.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - hopefully, those days are long past.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - does a book count?
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - the second most moving experience in DC. Nothing tops the Vietnam Wall for me.
    
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square - In 1981, when it wasn't a very safe place to be.
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job - few things can make you feel quite as worthless.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone - my nose. Twice.
    
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle - My BIL's Harley. Not impressed.
    
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car - too many. Didn't learn how to take care of one properly until about ten years ago.
    
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - front page! December 26, 2002. Big and in color.
    
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House - we were there at Christmas time, so the tours were closed, but we saw the state Christmas tree displays.
    
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox - so I am told, anyway. I was too young to remember.
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - Randy Newman, Jen Lancaster
    
92. Joined a book club - was in one for years. We didn't always talk about the books.
    
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby - two of them, and they are HUGE now.
    
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit - bastard that kicked my dog sued us when she bit him. Arsehole.
    
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee - STILL hate it when this happens.
    

Welcome to My Thursday. Now Go Away

You have no idea how difficult it was for me to write a guest post for Captain Dumbass and actually say relatively nice things. It's not that there aren't many wonderful things about the Cap'n. It's just that I am a smart ass primarily a humor blogger, and since we are buddies, it kind of screamed out for me to tuck in a few zingers. But I didn't. Mostly.

If you haven't met the Captain before, you are in for a real treat. He and his lovely wife, Supreme Leader are expecting a third little boy come summertime to go with the two little devils hellions adorable kids they already have, Connor and Liam. Check out his truly amazing ink while you are there.

Anyway, go over there, and read my post.Come back tomorrow for more smart-assery

Waiting for Karma's Reply

This morning I had the eight o'clock appointment at the pain clinic, which is wonderful. It means they haven't yet gotten behind-hand and I won't be there for several hours. Not that I mind the several hours, it's always worth the wait. The amazing Dr. R and staff are really there when they are with you. And all of these cases are complex, so, yes, it's going to take time.

Anyway, not only did I have the first appointment, my pain level lately has been a ZERO on the scale of 1-10. The last three weeks have been like heaven. That means today's visit was a quick review, and renewal of meds, and see you in a month! Yay, me.

On the way home, at about 8:45, I turned on to our street to see an 80-year-old neighbor (well, 79. She's says she's scratching at 80, but it's not yet scratching back) shoveling her driveway. We had eight inches of snow on Monday and little dribs and drabs ever since, and she was afraid we were going to have more accumulation, and she wouldn't be able to get her car out.

I knew she wouldn't hand over the shovel, so I drove the rest of the way home, got my shovel, and walked back to help. She scolded herself, "Look at me standing here like a supervisor!" So, I said, "Nonsense! You shouldn't be doing this at all"If it snows heavy again, I'll take 18-year-old-boy down there with me before she has a chance to get out there again.

The best part is I felt like I was able to pay forward my good fortune already this morning! There are days when I feel like the whole world is my brother. And of course, there are days when I want my brother to get the hell out of my room and leave me alone. Today? So far, so good.

Bad Timing

Yesterday was beautiful. The last three days were beautiful, actually. Gorgeous, sunny, not terribly cold. I even sat out in the sun for one day, just to see what sunlight feels like again. Look at that sky. Look at that icicle! We grow 'em big around here.

Yesterday, I was feeling energetic, so I got out the carpet steam-cleaner, and cleaned the living room carpet, laid down paper on the traffic paths, scrubbed the kitchen floor, and washed all the throw rugs. All this managed to suck the energy clean out of me, but at least I felt productive.

Today? Is a snow day. So, I'm not going anywhere. Neither of the kids has to go to work, which is good. I feel like I should have gotten out for a bit yesterday, while I could.

Oh, well. I have Jasper, and MSNBC.com's Olympics, a warm house, and all the tea I can drink. Too bad it's not Christmas, it sure looks like it outside.

Lucky for you, I have things for YOU to do while I am snowed in, as well. First up: I am way overdue in telling you about the new, improved format at Room 704, where I hold the title, Supreme Mugwump Queen of the Blogosphere Oldest Person in the Room Staff Writer. This month, Room 704 switched to a monthly magazine format with a different theme for every month. February's theme is "Celebration" and you can find my piece, Beers, Bewbs, and Talking Frogs by clicking on the blue letters.

Next up: The Zombie News Network. We have a guest writer up right now, with a story in two parts, it's Amy from Subject to Change. Seems she was inspired by a piece the Captain wrote, and put this little (pt.1) (frightening!) beauty together (pt.2).

And finally, a little later this morning, you'll be able to see something I wrote for Mrs. G of the Women's Colony. Men are invited, too. Gary, (the fARTIST) is probably feeling a little lonely as our only regular male commenter, so join in! Tip for guys: You may wish to avoid the Cabana. Unless you are gay, in which case, we may need to chase you away from the Cabana.