Yeah, I know. I'm about as faithful as a cat. I knew when I got a blog it'd only be when I wanted to rant or rave about stuff, anyhow. Doesn't matter, not like anyone is reading it much anyhow. But I was over visiting Sal's blog and got all guilt ridden for not having written in mine in forever.

Yesterday was my birthday, I'm now 36. Didn't do anything terribly exciting. Signed Patrick up for actual middle school, however. He's nervous, but I think he'll enjoy it. He's only going the last 9 weeks. But a lot of things have changed in his life, so I think he'll have a better experience than he did at grade school. Everyone was very friendly and understanding toward both he and I, so I think he'll be all right. Well, okay, maybe I hope he will so he'll go and I have a modicum of peace during the day again. What joy! Do you know, it would mean 2 hours without kids? I can barely stand it!

Got Lacey, Matthew's kitten, fixed yesterday. She has to stay inside for the next 10 days, which kind of sucks for her. She's a very "outdoors" kind of cat. I'm sure she'll get WAY annoying after the pain medication stops in 4 days, and start scratching at the windows endlessly in an attempt to dig through them to get outside. But, she's now shot through with her first set, fixed so she can't have kittens, and cured of her earmites. Life is good.

I got four presents for my birthday, overall. The first was a new monitor from my Dad, which he delivered about 2 weeks ago. Mine was heavy on "blue", and very dark. You couldn't see anything. But I hadn't noticed, I thought it was just how the monitor was supposed to look. So a lot of the graphics I had been doing that looked so, for example, "rust" colored were like bright red and I didn't know. Why you people don't talk, I'll never know....

Jeff and the kids got me a little pink mini-rose shrub. Right now it's on the desk near the computer. We've decided to put it in a big planter and move it from inside to outside as needed, so it can get good sun and light and all that. My desk and computer room aren't "dark", but I do keep the window blinds down to lower the glare on the computer screen. Not a good situation for roses. They also got me the DVD for "Moulin Rouge", the movie. I just love that thing, although I couldn't tell you why. I thought it was just bizarre the first time I saw it. Now I can't get enough. I love to watch them do the tango to "Roxanne" over and over, to say nothing of that silly "Can Can" song. I dunno. I gave it a 10 and I can dance to it. ;)

I also got a one-month subscription to Sim Freaks. JOY! I've been downloading stuff like mad this morning. Wallpapers and all the room sets for their "CLUE" mystery. I'm sure I'm going to regret it, but hey, you just can't HAVE too much Sim stuff.

Hula Kitty was over, and we watched a kind of a snore-fest English "comedy" that was more drama than comedy called, "An Ideal Husband". It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good. For me, it was like watching "The Musketeer" again, and that movie just should NOT have been made. *snore*

On the downside, I "get" to do the cleanup from yesterday, since nobody did any dishes of any kind FOR me. I'm sure I've never mentioned it, but I can't stand doing the dishes. I'd rather clean the bathroom with my toothbrush than do the dishes. I mean, I'm resigned, I have to do it, right? If I don't, it won't get done. But I don't like it, haven't for forever. I'd rather eat off paper plates with plastic forks. So, lucky me, getting to clean up all that cake that's now bonded with my plates.

In other news: I agreed to co-author some kind of Star Trek:TNG fan fiction novel with Marianne. I'm sure I'll regret that pretty quick, but not as fast as she will. I'm ruthless when it comes to writing anymore, and she's way not ready for me. I agreed because I love her, and I know she can do it if she gets serious about it, and I like to help others reach their goals. Okay, I'm a glutton for punishment, most like.

The Amazon site headers are finally finished, as are all three of the awards. I set Bravenet up to take polls, so look for that on my site in the future, too. Anyhow, it all turned out really GREAT. But I have a sneaky suspision that I'm supposed to make something for TC that I've forgotten in the joy of playing with Amazon pictures. Some button or other. I can't remember. I KNOW I asked someone to remind me. Oh well. I'm sure when they want it, I can knock it out.

I can't get my brain around the April article. Which sucks, cause I'll have to have it done, polished, and ready in about a week. I'm such a slag when it comes to writing those. I just keep thinking, "Why do they want to learn from ME? I don't know nothing!" Which isn't true, exactly, but it's what I think. Guess I'll work on that.

I did start a novel or something, it's up to almost 5k now. Just a long ramble, really, so far. But I think it's working. Erin said she'd comment on the first part that I posted, but she never did, which is fine. Hard to take it out of context anyhow, really. I think I'm writing it more for me than for any real reason. I hope it helps in the long run. Well, more on that later.

I am gonna go do them stupid dishes.

Deo