I'm From Joisey! Are You From Joisey?

Hey dere, youse guys! Today's Choose and Defend Wednesday came to me yesterday evening when I was watching a popular reality tv show. Since I know how y'all feel about THAT, I won't get too detailed. Let me just say that a certain era came up... and a certain singer came to mind... and then I thought of another singer who comes from the same place... and then I thought about Choose and Defend Wednesday... and that, my friends, was that. It is quite the art and / or science coming up with these!

Alright, you know the drill. Two Jersey boys made good. Which one do you prefer? Choose. Tell me why you have that preference. Defend. So who do you love?

Frank Sinatra
Or

Bruce Springsteen
So...please play along. It is Choose and Defend Wednesday and I must insist. Joisey!

Mish Mash Monday, M'kay?

Hey all. Just thought I'd throw my thoughts together for you. Hope the mash goes down smooth.

- It was gorgeous this weekend! It was almost cool, but very sunny and pretty. If you stayed out of the shade you were good. I spent most of Saturday at the park with various factions of the family. Sunday I ran fun errands with Girlie Girl and Handsome Lad. Here is Handsome Lad enjoying his pizza...Girlie Girl took this picture because she thought it was funny that they were willing to put the name he gave them on his receipt. Anyway, in the spirit of full confession there was also frozen yogurt involved in this particular day. Don't judge us too harshly, please.

- I watched two movies over the weekend.
1) Ice Storm. I've seen it before, but when I came upon it Friday night I watched it again. It is a really good movie set in 1973 and has some of my favorite actors in it. It is worth it just for the scene with Christina Ricci in a Nixon mask letting Elijah Wood rub against her in the beanbag chair. No one creates a mood like Ang Lee.
2. Yes Man. Me and Handsome Lad were sitting around Saturday night and he was checking out the Pay-Per-Views. I don't usually like to do that, but it was late and I didn't feel like going out to a Redbox and taking my chances, so we went for it. It was, you know, Jim Carrey, but in relatively restrained mode and it seemed kind of appropriate to me as the idea was that his character decided to start afresh in life by saying 'yes' to every opportunity that came along. Hijinks ensued, but you see my point, yes?

- Next weekend, Girlie Girl promised she'd stay in and watch a movie with Handsome Lad. Last time they had a big sis / little bro date we watched the remake of Prom Night. Awful. Boring! The time before that it was Friday the 13th 3D. Guh. Seeing a pattern? I'm not holding out much hope that next weekend's selection will have anything to offer me.

- I recently discovered that Subway is serving Seafood Delight again. I was a little too happy about that. And I felt low about that, but the idea of Seafood Delight with provolone cheese on Italian herbs and cheese bread raised my spirits. I couldn't stay mad at me for being happy about that. Again, I'm going to have to ask you to reserve your judgement and recall who you're dealing with here :-)

- Just wanted to share how happy Sunday nights make me. Two episodes of In Treatment (with three more on Monday!) PLUS, Breaking Bad. Oh my goodness. It is like my little reward before I have to start a new week. And PS --- True Blood returns June 16! Yay! Summer just got a little hotter, am I right? Huh? Huh? Okay, that was cheesy...but again...who's talking to you here?

- Today was my new supervisor's first day of work and the first day all of us have gotten a chance to meet her. She seems very nice and normal so far, but I haven't had much chance to really talk to her, as my former supervisor who was promoted, has been running her around. That was a run-on sentence. Oh well. My friend Milly and I will be watching her and the second she does something even remotely quirky we will be able to give her a nickname. Watch for it.

I guess that is all I can think of for my Mish Mash Monday. Let us all hope for a fine week ahead. No reason to think it won't be utterly fabulous. Um-hm.

This Musical Message is For Heat

Hot Damn, I Got an All Girl Band

What is that EXPRESSION I see on your face? It is excitment at participating in another Saturday Scavenger Hunt? I thought so! A big thanks to Jessica @ The Almost Adult for choosing this week's word - EXPRESSION.

I am not very...what is the word? Oh yes, 'decorate-y'. The focal point of my livingroom / bedroom is this:My bookcase is the best EXPRESSION in my house of who I am. Well there are a couple of kids running about too sometimes. Maybe strictly speaking they are the best EXPRESSION. But, man, I love me some books.

Love Bug and I wear the same EXPRESSION when we enjoy an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba together...mouths slightly ajar...eyes a bit glazed. I think we might be experiencing different feelings though. Just a hunch.

Here is my friend, The Activist, with his personal EXPRESSION concerning our current Overseas Contingency Operation. He sent it to me on Valentine's Day as an EXPRESSION of...again...what would the word be? Lawd, who knows? Nice EXPRESSION though.

Friday 5 - Annoyance

I decided to do a Friday 5 post today. My head would probably explode and/or collapse if I tried anything more complicated. I am feeling very...tense today for some reason. Maybe I need to not worry so much about getting "out there". Or maybe my stress is an excuse I'm using. Too complicated to untangle! :-) Truce, two sides of brain, truce! Let's do this instead....

1. What’s the most annoying sound in the world? Fingers on blackboards is a classic, but most schools don't even have blackboards anymore...they have whiteboards. I'm going to go with most people's ringtones. Some of them are groovy, more make me want to hurt someone.

2. Which of other people’s mannerisms do you find very annoying? Hm. What do people do that annoys me? Wow, maybe this wasn't a good day for Homey to play this. haha! Okay...I am annoyed when people ask me something but don't wait for an answer. Is that a mannerism? Lets say it is, alright? Good.

3. What do you do that really annoys others? Live and breath? Wah! No, uh, probably when I do my sarcasm shtick. I imagine that can be quite annoying. Just thinking about it, even I hate me :-)

4. In what way has your own behavior recently caused you annoyance? I am annoyed by my annoying tendency to overthink EVERYTHING. Gawd. Stop already.

5. Who’s the most annoying person you know? Wow, I really get to answer this? There many, many televised political pundits who annoy me. However...on a day to day level...and lets go there, shall we? On a day to day level there is a woman who works here at the library, part-time, kind of a floater, doing various tasks for people. My very special nickname for her is Foot-in-Mouth. She reminds me of a yappy chihuahua She always says the most wildly out of left field stuff to people! It is like a disease or something...then she realizes her mistake, or is made to realize it in some fashion, and slinks around like a whipped dog acting ingratiating. It is so. Annoying.

It is kind of cathartic talking about annoyances and being annoying and annoyed. This may have actually helped me. Thank goodness for blogging. And also? The word annoying makes me think of Annyong Bluth on one of my favorite shows ever, Arrested Development. And that cheers me up too. Really a win-win thing. So tell me...what annoys you? If you say my blog posts, I will cry. So pick something else. Thanks!

The Transitional Phase is the Hardest

Some of you will know what I am talking about, eh? But this isn't that exactly. I was just thinking that I am at a very transitional phase in my life. For most of my adult life, I have been a mother first and foremost. And for a good many of those years I had very little support from a partner or anyone else. I was IT for my kids. Because of their need for me to be available to them, I had to let other things go. I wasn't able to maintain many friendships outside of the pleasant, but shallow camaraderie found with the moms and dads of my children's friends.

Now, my kids are grown or getting there. I live a very different life than I did even a year ago. I could actually have an evening out! With friends! Actual friends of my choice! But you know, I was kind of out of the loop for so long that it isn't a simple matter to find a way back in. I don't have a huge number of friends, but they do exist :-) It seems like they kind of have their things though. Reasonably, I know it is easy as asking people what their plans are and if appropriate asking if I could join them. I find it hard though. I want to do it, but something holds me back.

The fact is though, that I can be a social person. I have the ability and the desire. At the moment, I can't get the pieces to fit, but I am going to keep working on it. The transitional phase is so hard. But when you think about what you get when you get through it... well, I know it is worth it. So I will keep trying to get to the person I want to be.

Give Until It Feels Good

Welcome to Earth Day! And, welcome to Choose and Defend Wednesday. I was almost going to make you give up something really big in honor of our friend, Earth. However, I decided you gave up enough last week. This week, let's just have a good time, yeah? Show the Earth we care! This week, you get to Choose something to give Earth on her special day. The second part is, of course, Defending your choice. All in? Okay.

Would you like to buy the world a Coke?
Or...

Would you like the make the world something nice with recyclables you have lying around?

Choose and Defend, fellow Earth fans! Have fun :-)

How Hot Is It?

We here in Southern California are experiencing a heat wave. How can you tell it is really, really hot? Glad you asked...

You know it is hot when...

...you start bonding with your air conditioner.
...your electric bill is higher than your rent.
...you cancel your Hotmail account because the name is unbearable.
...chickens lay fried eggs.
...the squirrels are handling their nuts with potholders.
...trees are whistling for dogs.
...you experience condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet.

This post has been brought to you by a band of hyperactive children who need cool down time in their public library. Thank you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Cameras!

We have a relative newcomer who has accepted this week's tag. She's been playing along at her blog The Almost Adult under the radar. JeSSiCa... THaTS Me!! (that's her) has chosen the word EXPRESSION. Now this is going to be interesting :-)

This Musical Message is For Passion

The Sky Is Fallin', Ain't No Need to Panic

Ain't nobody dope as me, I'm dressed so FRESH and clean. I got to pick today's word and I chose FRESH. I'm pimping my new blog title a little, but also FRESH seemed to go with the new start that Spring suggests each year. I hope you guys have enjoyed it. Here are my FRESH photos:

Yummy and gorgeous. FRESH produce. Is there anything prettier? :-)

FRESH linens. I love the feeilng of sliding in between FRESH sheets. And ah, the pleasures of a FRESH, fluffy, sweet smelling towel after a shower....

Just me and my minty FRESH breath hanging out around the sink. Where's the kiss I was promised? Oh, I heard you wrong? Oh, you were saying you wanted to come in and take a piss? Real nice. Well, come on in then, I'll get out. Geez.

That's all I have. More than enough...maybe too much? :-) Anyway, it is all FRESH content, so there is no reason you should become ill. If you do, it was an allergy, not lack of FRESHness.

I am also supposed to tag someone else and I will. Just give me a bit to poke around and see who is up for it. I will get that out to you ASAP! That is a promise. Alright. Go out and do yo funky FRESH thang!

Because I Feel Certain You Want To Know

I'm a solitary sort basically. That can lead to an active inner life, if you do it right at least! For someone like me that means that I get way too involved, mentally, with say, basic cable talk show hosts, old actors, pretend reality celebs, and soulful singers. Yes, I am talking about my current celebrity crushes. Because you must want this information, right? Now, I will admit that most of these crushes are pretty comical. And give me some credit...they are emotional, not sexual crushes...um, does that deserve credit? Let's say yes.

Without further ado, I present my most current celebrity crushes!

John StewartWe all love him...am I right, Ladies? And even guys could legitimately have a man crush. He's adorable, smart, and hilarious. *sigh*

Joel McHaleHe is so goofy and cute. And apparently completely without physical shame, which is kinda hot.

Jack KlugmanI believe I have mentioned my love for Quincy, M.E. Jack Klugman nowadays is really old. No way around it. But in his Odd Couple and Quincy days, he was a nice looking guy! He has intense eyes and a charming smile. So sue me. I like Jack.

Ty MurrayThis one is unusual even for me. I don't like cowboys, generally speaking. The man cannot dance. But he's sweet and gallant. He came on the show with his wife, Jewel, who ended up not competing...so there he is awkwardly trying to handle his professional partner like she is one of his bulls...um, yeah. I guess I kind of like that.

Ray LamontagneYes, he's got that crunchy granola look going on. But wow...have you heard him sing? Guh. He's gorgeous.

And there you have it. The most recent edition of laura b.'s lame celebrity crushes. Because everyone has them, but they just don't talk about them. Right? Right? Oh man....

Explain to Me How You Live Like This

Hey, what a week! I've been lax the last couple of days...you know that isn't like me. But of course I am here on Choose and Defend Wednesday. This is another sort of technology based question. And stems from a real curiosity that I have. I don't think of myself as terribly dependent on technologies. But that is just stupid, because I really, really am. For example, the choice I am about to pose is really tough as far as I'm concerned. Yet I bet there are a number of you who have grown to love only one...or neither of these things. And I want to hear about that! So, please, Choose and Defend. Lay it out for me.

If you could have only one of the following, which would you Choose? And then, tell me about your choice and what it means to you. Defend.

Cell Phone
Or

Cable / Satellite Television

I will admit it. I love them both. Or let us say, I have become dependent on them both. The choice is tough. For some of you it is easy, I'm sure. So tell us about it. Choose and Defend!

This Musical Message is For Buzz.

It's A Beautiful Rain, Beautiful Rain...

Greetings from the land of the long weekend. Yes, mine began Thursday this week. And it has been very, very nice just being at home with the kids during their time off from school. Yesterday, we colored our Easter eggs :-)

Now, onto the real reason I am here....Saturday Scavenger Shots! This week's word, ALIEN, comes to us from none other than AlienCG over at Swamp Gas & Moonlit Reflections. This is a word that will surely mean different things to different people...or even different things to singular people. Here is what I came up with.

Okay, sorry, yes, it is the babies again...but come on...surely you have noticed how much babies look like our traditional image of an ALIEN! The over-sized eyes and heads? That sort of blank, staring look? Yeah, it works.

Then I thought...don't we all feel like ALIENs sometimes? Sort of solo travelers, outsiders, out of our element. It makes me think of these lyrics from one of my favorite bands...a couple of rather ALIENated fellows themselves...
You know I'm cool, yes I feel alright, 'cept when I'm in my room and it's late at night...

Thank you for boarding Spaceship Fresh Hell with me, my fellow ALIENs. And don't forget to check with our real resident ALIEN, AlienCG, to see who he will be tagging for next week.

Also, Happy Easter...Happy Spring. xo

EDIT: I see that AlienCG tagged me! I'm excited and so of course I have my word all ready to go. The word for next week, in honor of Spring and, coincidentally, part of my new blog title...FRESH. Make me proud, Bloggers!

We All Techie Up In Here

Lots to cover here today people, so let's get right down to it! First order of business is, of course, Choose and Defend Wednesday. Inspired by all that is out there in the wild frontier of social networking I am here today to ask for your preference. You must have one and I know you can defend it. So, given these two choices, what is your favorite social networking site?

MySpace
or
Facebook

Please Choose one or the other and Defend said choice. I know you have your reasons, so lets hear them! Yo!

Also...I'm taking a couple days off here and you know how that goes. My internet time may be sporadic. If, you know, you care or anything. (wah!) Okay, I am clearly feel a bit goofy. It has been one of those weeks.

What else...don't forget to post this Saturday! Play. It's fun. The word this week is Alien, chosen by AlienCG.

Oh, and do me a huuuuge favor. When you get a chance...will you turn me into What Fresh Hell Is This? I am not My Boring Life anymore...even though yeah, it is still me and um, my life, which is boring.

Alright! Thanks!

Brief Announcement

Is this thing on? Ahem, Ladies and Gentlemen. Unfortunately, I will not be able to recommend contracting one of this season's flu viruses going around. I repeat, I am NOT recommending this particular illness. On the plus side, if you can remain immobile for 24 hours or so, it will go away. On the downside, you will spend many of those 24 hours praying for the sweet, merciful release of death. I now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

This Musical Message is For You.

Know It Sounds Funny, But I Just Can't Stand the Pain

Welcome to Saturday and my Scavenger Hunt post! Today is EASY thanks to our super cool friend over at Woman with No Regrets. I started thinking about things the are EASY for me. I thought, "Am I EASY?" Then I gasped indignantly and slapped my own face and said, "How dare you!" And my voice sounded super snooty. So the anwer is - No, of course I am not EASY. But some things are EASY for me. Among these things I would definitely include:

Sleeping. I am a gosh darn champion sleeper! It is so EASY for me to fall asleep and stay that way.

Getting lost in my books. It is so EASY for me to leave this cold, cruel world behind and read about someone else's world.

Mad skillz, right? Well, I hope you enjoyed these EASY shots. Check with NoRegrets to find out who she is going to tag for next week!

Tell Me About It. Here. Now.

Have you guys ever heard of Six Word Memoirs? Anything worth saying can be said in six words. That is even less than your average tweet, right? It totally works. Here is mine:That didn't come out so clearly...but what it says is - I used to act on impulse.

Please, would you share your Six Word Memoir in my comments? I'd surely appreciate it, my friends :-)

Not a Total Loss

Well my weird blogspot yesterday went uncommented upon. Maybe that was people being kind? haha! I don't know...um, April Fool? You guys would actually let me go by the name Mistress of Doom? Anyway, when I was trying to make my blog unrecognizable, I put up a new name. It was actually the first thing that popped into my head. But once it was up....I realized I LOVED it. So, I'm keeping it. Alright? Okay. Please change your blogroll links accordingly s'il vous plait. Merci. And mercy.

If You Must Go

Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire
But if I had to perish twice
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice
- Robert Frost

Choose and Defend. How would you prefer to shake off the mortal coil, given these two choices?

FIRE

or

ICE

Choose and Defend...quickly! The end is near!