This afternoon I completed my application for graduation. I just have to pass calculus....

I just spent two hours waiting for AAA in vain. I locked my keys in my car (again) when I got home from running some errands. I saw that the apt. manager was in the office, so I wrote out our rent check and went to bring it to her. I didn't want to bring my bags in with me, so I left everything in the car. Out of habit, I locked the doors. So, I went in the office and used the phone to call AAA. Then we made small talk about this and that for two loooong hours. After AAA was well past due I called them back to see what the deal was. They told me they had been there but couldn't find my car. Bullshit. Anyway, while I'm on the phone with them, the manager says "I can let you into your apartment if you want". DOH! I totally have spare keys for my car in my apartment. I can't believe neither of us thought of that in the two freakin hours we sat there staring at each other. le sigh..........

Here are some pictures of some things that have made me happy over the past few days:

I finally found a good supply of salsa! Seriously, we go through salsa like a socialite goes through STDs. We have one of these in the icebox, one waiting in backup, and several smaller jars of "specialty" salsas. Perhaps there is a 12 Step program for salsa, but we ain't interested!

Why yes, that is a Sephora box on my bathroom shelf. I wonder what could be in there???

Be still my heart! I lurrrrve this perfume, Clean. I lurrrve Sephora! I lurrrve that I allow myself one indulgence every semester. Oh SNAP! This is my last semester of school.....I should have gotten a bigger bottle!

I don't know what the deal is, but we've bought King Cakes from about four different places and they all have a small bag of beads with the baby that YOU have to put into the cake. WTF?!? That's bullshit! If I put the baby in, then there's no fun in trying to find/avoid it. Yes, in years past, when bakeries weren't such punks I used to poke and prod the cake to find the baby and make sure I didn't get it, but now there's no mystery at all. Anyway, I digress....the one positive thing to come from this trend is that I have easy decorations to make my giant wreath a Mardi Gras wreath.

I found a fabulous toenail polish...you can't really tell on the computer, but it is SO K&B purple.

I miss you!!

*Sorry this took so long, Amy. You did not follow the rules and tag me on MY page!

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with 6 weird things about themself. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things, then choose 6 other people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you've been tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog. Have FUN with it, ok?

1. When I'm driving, I reverse out of my spot, then put on my seat belt. I know that's not safe or whatever, and I'm trying to break the habit, but it just seems to be ingrained.
2. Sometimes my eyebrows start to hurt and I have to pull on them until the "bad" hairs come out
3. I am currently juggling six soap operas, watching about one episode each a week. Luckily they don't move too quickly.
4. Intelligence, Scottish accent, light eyes, dry wit, and willingness to watch "Flight of Dragons" are my top five turn-ons
5. I'm starting to wonder if I'll be able to move away from Mario because no one seems to be able to crack my toes as well as he does
6. I have the messiest house, car, etc, but my closet is in rainbow order with everything on thick white plastic hangers facing left.

I'm taking a page from TIME and tagging YOU!

1.) Where were you when the ball dropped for 2007?
Shooting off fireworks around a bonfire in Abbeville. Perfect.

2.) How did you get the idea for your myspace name?
From possibly my favorite Modest Mouse song, Talking Shit about a Pretty Sunset.

3.) Do you love anyone?
Yes

4.) Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry?
Yes, but I don't think it was because of that particular person, just knowing that it's going to happen to me and everyone I know.

5) ever been to a zoo?
Several, but my favorite is the Audubon...however they have fucked up Monkey Hill and caged the peacocks and I am not happy about this!

6) Do you live in a zoo?
You know, more times than not I feel like I do.

7.) What did you do this morning?
Made a beeline for the coffee pot.

8.) Who are more complicated...guys or girls?
I think we confound each other. I think that is what makes it interesting.

9.) Have you ever done something malicious to someone as a revenge tactic?
Aside from my sister, no.

10.) Have you ever cheated on a partner or been the "other woman"?
Yes. No.

11.) What are the last two digits of your phone number?
98

12.) What was the last concert you attended?
LPO

13.) Who was the last person you were with?
Mario

14.) What is the last movie you watched?
Watching Notting Hill right now.

15.) What/who do you dislike at the moment?
Having to be an adult and make a life for myself.

16.) What food do you crave right now?
Buffalo style pizza

17.) Did you dream last night?
Ha, see post below. There was more to the dream, but that is what was happening right when I awoke.

18.) What was the last TV show you watched?
SportsCenter

19.) What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
My grandmother's ring....it's gold, so I don't wear it often, but I love seeing it in my jewelry box.

20.) Name someone on your Top 8 who is just like you?
I think that all of my friends reflect different aspects of me.

21.) What's the last thing you ate/drank?
Eggs and salsa/coffee

22.) Best Decision of your life?
To leave Natchitoches.

24.) Are you on any medication?
Just some motrin for my ankle and Topamax for migraines.

25.) What side of the bed do you sleep on?
Umm, if you are facing the bed, the right side.

26.) What color shirt are you wearing?
Red

27) What color is your phone?
Rainbow

28.) What is your favorite frozen treat?
I lurve frozen corn kernels. Right out of the bag. Try it.

29.) How many tattoos/piercings do you have?
1/2

30.) Whats your favorite store?
Whole Foods, Mignon Faget, any quality wine store

31.) Are you thirsty right now?
hmmm....perhaps some more coffee

32.) Can you imagine yourself ever getting married?
I don't quite believe in the manufactured establishment of marriage, but I can definitely see myself spending a quantity of my life with someone.

33.) Who's someone you miss?
My sister. Even though we bicker and bitch when we are actually together, I miss her all the time.

34.) What did you do yesterday?
Worked, Book Club

35.) Do you care what people think about you?
I want people to think of me as a quality person.

36.) Have you ever done something to instigate trouble?
I prefer a zero-conflict atmosphere at all times.

37.) Do you like your nose?
Yes. It is very sensitive and accurate.

38.) What color are your bedroom walls?
Bland apartment beige.

39.) Do you like giving or getting massages?
oooohh....Kristin gives the best hand massages!

40.) Have you ever snooped around your parents room before?
Of course.

41.) Do you like pedicures?
hmmm...I'm a pedi virgin, but my feet are very ticklish, so I don't think I would like it much.

42.) Where do you live?
Hammond....until this summer!!!!

43.) What is your favorite city in the US/world?
Amsterdam. Yes, for that reason, but it is also absolutely beautiful and wonderful and historical and......I wanna go back!

44.) Who do you have a crush on?
James Fraser

45.) Do you like the person who posted this last?
Of course.

46.) Do you know their Birthday?
Eh, no. I think it is in November.

47.) What is your favorite thing to do on a Friday night?
I'm such a low-key person....I like to be with friends, watching a movie or playing dominoes.

48.) Do you tend to attract the stalker-type?
Seriously, besides celebrities, who does?

49.) What do you smell like right now?
Soap.

50.) What is your favorite color?
Pink.

51.) Do you like mustard?
Absolutely not.

52.) What do you tell yourself when times get hard?
Well, I realize that (hopefully) my life will continue for some time, and I will pass whatever obstacle I am encountering. Therefore I must overcome it because I will want to have lots of good stories to tell when I'm old, rocking on my porch, drinking some iced tea.

53.) Would you ever sky dive?
I think yes, unless I have children.

54.) What size bed do you sleep on?
Double

55.) Do old people scare you or creep you out?
They make me feel vulnerable....like looking into my future.

56.) Have you ever bid for something on ebay?
That's where I get most of my vinyl.

57.) What do you think of Angelina Jolie being pregnant?
You know, maybe it's because I'm watching Notting Hill, but I think that it really isn't my business.

58.) Do you enjoy giving hugs?
Of course. A perfect bear hug is one of the best things in the world. (hey Kristin, remember that hug workshop we went to?)

59.) Would you consider yourself to be fashionable?
No. I have to wear really conservative stuff for work; outside of that I'm all about some jeans and a plain shirt.

60.) Do you have any idea how to say 2006 in Swahili?
no.

61.) Do you own any shows on DVD?
Mario has some SeaLab and Ali G. He also has some Arrested Development which is currently on loan to someone, not that it is doing any good because said someone is just too busy to watch it.

63.) Does it annoy you when someone says they'll call but never do?
Yes, but the Topamax I take for migraines pretty much destroyed my short-term memory, so I can't even imagine how many balls I've dropped because of that.

64.) What books, if any, have made you cry?
The last one I read was extremely rough and I cried several times while reading it. Before that, it was "We the Living". I was reading it at work, very early on in my employment, and I'm not sure what my coworkers knew what to make of me.

I had a dream last night that I was ladling soup into a wire basket.

Oh Kristin*........

How about a friendly wager on this weekend's game? I'll put up a king cake of your choice from the bakery of your choice--what you got?

*yes, kris, that is a link

I just had the most frustrating experience in recent memory. I was attempting to do my calculus homework when my calculator started being a douchebag. (side note: I only took math up to trig--basic trig at that--in high school and in college my math consisted of "The sheik is happy when he has wine, women and song; the sheik has wine, women and song, therefore the sheik is happy"....I heart pure math)

I have to take calculus to graduate. I will issue the first of many "WHYTHEFUCKDOINEEDTHISSHIT?"s now:
WHYTHEFUCKDOINEEDTHISSHIT?!?

I only had 13 problems to do, but I literally cried my way through them. I say literally because I actually did cry whilst doing this homework and it wasn't just a figure of speech, not because I've been caught up in the "throw 'literally' in every fifth word or so to sound smart" craze that seems to be sweeping the nation. Seriously. Stop saying literally unless there is a chance your audience may be confused. Example 1: He's literally my best friend. NO! He is your best friend; there's no confusion. Example 2: He literally ripped off my clothes. YES! Some people say that but they really mean that they just removed their clothes very quickly, but in this case fabric was torn and whatnot.

Oh crap, where was I? Oh yeah, stupid homework. No, stupid calculator. *le sigh* I guess the real problem here is that I'm usually a very quick learner and I'm not used to not understanding, whether it's a subject or an electronic device. Am I getting old? Has my brain idled too long in the shitty classes that make up the majority of my Business curriculum? And what happened after Johnny shot his sister with the pneumatic laser gun? Tune in next time to find out!

SAINTS! - From the Chicago Sun Times
THIS IS COPIED FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES:

The big uneasy: Saints a threat With Brees, McAllister, Bush in high gear and most of America behind them, Sean Payton's team presents a mighty challenge for the Bears on Sunday

January 15, 2007
BY NEIL HAYES Staff Reporter

NEW ORLEANS -- The Saints will be the sentimental choice and popular pick to beat the Bears in Sunday's NFC Championship Game and reach the Super Bowl for the first time in the franchise's 40-year history. Here are 10 reasons why the Saints could shatter the Bears' Super Bowl dreams:

10: DREW BREES
In one season, Brees has become the most popular quarterback in the Crescent City since Archie Manning. He accomplished that with equal parts compassion for Hurricane Katrina victims and by leading the league in passing yardage (4,418). He is a savvy quarterback who is the personification of coach Sean Payton on the field. He is patient enough to take the short throws while also leading the league with 41 completions of 25 yards or more. He had eight 300-yard passing games during the regular season for an offense so diverse that 10 receivers had at least 14 receptions.

9: COACHING
Payton did a great job of identifying Brees as his quarterback and designing an offense that takes full advantage of his personnel. But if there's one reason why he was voted coach of the year, it's because of his game-planning and play-calling. If you don't believe it, ask his former boss Bill Parcells, whom he masterfully outcoached during a stunning 42-17 victory in Dallas late in the season. Payton will have some wrinkles for Bears coach Lovie Smith and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Before players can make plays in big games, coaches must put them in position to succeed. Whoever wins the strategic chess match will have a big edge.

8: DEUCE McALLISTER
The Saints' all-time leading rusher had 143 yards on 21 carries against the Eagles, proving he's the type of bruising runner that can create problems for the Bears and give New Orleans the ability to grind out a win at cold and windy Soldier Field. McAllister rushed for 100 yards or more in four of his last five games and carried the ball nine out of 15 times late in the fourth quarter Saturday -- when everybody knew what was coming -- and still was able to keep the chains moving and preserve the Saints' victory.

7: ROAD WARRIORS
Teams that play in domes often are exposed on the road. That's not true of the Saints, who outscored opponents by an average of 30-19 while winning six of eight games on the road this season, which would seem to dilute the Bears' home-field advantage.

6: REGGIE BUSH
The Bears are one of the league's best tackling teams when they are playing well, but they need to be extra careful with Bush, who has the rare ability to turn a nominal gain into a game-changing play. Handing the ball to Bush is like pulling the lever on a slot machine. Every once in a while, it pays off big, which is why Bears defenders must be diligent. He stretches defenses vertically when he lines up at wide receiver and horizontally on swing and screen passes in the flats.
If the Bears thought they had trouble stopping Shaun Alexander, Bush and McAllister could be double trouble.

5: DEFENSE IN DECLINE
The Bears' defense isn't the threat it was before Mike Brown and Tommie Harris suffered season-ending injuries. They Bears have allowed an average of 356 yards in their last seven games after allowing 251 per game in their first 10. That would seem to be a big advantage for a Saints offense that gained 435 yards (6.0 yards per play) and was hitting on all cylinders against the Eagles.

4: SAINTS' FRONT SEVEN
The numbers are somewhat deceiving. Yes, Eagles running back Brain Westbrook ran for 116 yards, but the majority of those came on a 62-yard touchdown in the third quarter. In the first half, the Eagles had 11 carries for 14 yards, and therein lies a potential problem for the Bears. The Saints, despite ranking 23rd in run defense and 30th in rush yards per carry, excel at stuffing the run and forcing the quarterback to throw early in games, which is the ideal game plan against Rex Grossman. If Grossman plays well early, he's usually on his way to a solid game. When he struggles early, he can come undone.

3: BOOKENDS
Will Smith and Charles Grant give the Saints one of the best young defensive-end combinations in the league, which is troubling for two reasons -- the first being the pressure the Seahawks put on Grossman on Sunday. Secondly, the pass rush of Smith and Grant, who combined for 16½ sacks, when coupled with the front seven's run-stopping ability could make it even tougher for Grossman.

2: SPECIAL TEAMS
The Saints have blocked a punt this season. They have blocked a field goal. They have recovered an onside kick, and Bush returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. Suffice to say, Bush is a dangerous returner. So is Michael Lewis, who has yet to return a kickoff for a touchdown but has returns of 43, 46, 47 and 53 yards this season. Kicker John Carney has connected on 23 of 25 field goals with a long of 51. New Orleans, ranked sixth in opponents' punt-return average, is equipped to stop Devin Hester. The Bears usually have a special-teams advantage over opponents, even if their kickoff coverage team had its worst game of the season against the Seahawks. They still will have an advantage because of Hester, but it may not be a big one.

1: VOODOO
The most dangerous teams stand for something besides winning. It can be tradition, a style of play or a standard of excellence. The Saints have come to represent a city trying to rebuild after a devastating natural disaster. There's a little bit of magic around this team that makes you feel as if the Saints are being swept along by outside forces.