Naturally Optimistic

Oh yeah, and for some reason I'm feeling sorry for myself for not being recognized (one iota) on this stupid made-up Hallmark/florist fake holiday. Hmph. What a loser I am!

Well, I made it with my contacts in for 9 hours today. I couldn't take any more than that. I hope it's just the GETTING USED TO phase because I can't handle this! I'm so sick and tired of having eye problems. Please, if you have good vision and healthy eyes, please be grateful....life sucks when things go wrong!!

Well, I got the phone (the cheaper of the two) I wasn't going to....yet (I like to procrastinate) but then I noticed a $200+ error in (my favor) in my check book (did I mention I currently work in Finance - doh!). So, I went ahead and got it. It takes pictures! Wheeee! I might just have to start taking some and posting them, we'll see....25 cents a pop (to send) or $2.99 for 20....I'll just see if I like it first. And I FINALLY got my new contacts. My eye appointment was March 14th - and they arrived today. Sheesh. They're gas perms...I haven't worn gas perms in...8 years (?) and WOW are they weird. I forgot how TEENY TINY they are!! and they move! All the time! And I can feel them! and I feel like they're going to pop out of my head. Hopefully I'll get used to them (again) fast. I'm so happy to not to have to wear my glasses -wheeeee! my eyes should be nice and healed by now. What's up with me and "wheeeee" lately? Ah well, off to ed

Today was fine - just another Monday I guess. My back is killing me - super tender lower left back. Ugh. The last time it felt like this I went to the chiropractor - that helped a TON - but now chiropractors are not covered on my health insurance - pooey. I'm trying to decide what kind of new cell phone to get. Mine is 4 years old and in the life of a cell phone that is ancient. I'm thinking of going with this one - I don't really need a camera phone but it might be kind of fun. It would perhaps quell my digital camera desires for a while... I really like this one but it's kind of spendy for me right now - and I don't need one quite so 'fancy.' Man, the deals are a lot better online. But I'm going from my plan (at Sprint) to Steve's plan - we're doing the family share thingy so I guess I don't get such a good deal on the actual phone. Oh well. We had TACO BAR again tonight for dinner! Ole! The flan is currently setting in the fridge - sho

I got up at a decent time today (9am) - which beats yesterday's 11am! Putzed around, ate some cereal, read the paper (well, the store flyers anyway), showered, putzed some more, hugged Steve, went to Best Buy to buy more DVD's (this time DVD-R instead of DVD+R which did work in the Mac) and then went to J's to do some movie work. We sat down and came up with a game plan - We're going to work every Sunday for the next 4 weeks or so from 12-5. We're also going to work Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 7-10. In this time we're going to NIT PICK through the film and fix all the little tiny details. Then we're going to do that AGAIN. Then I'll run the media manager and open up a lot of free space on the hard drive. The final sound design/mix is scheduled for the Memorial Day weekend - week afterwards. So we need to have everything ready by then. J's going down to Willmar to meet up with Ty the sound dude. Yay! There is talk of reshooting the opening sequenc

YAY!! I am the proud owner of 2 Paul McCartney tickets for the show in St. Paul in October. Yipeee! Steve had to actually go online and purchase the tickets for me since I am blocked from the Ticketmaster site at work. I'm just relieved though because now I don't have to go through the stress of trying to get online fast when the rest of the tickets go on sale. I've been celebrating by listening to lots of PM cd's.... Flaming Pie, Driving Rain, Flowers in the Dirt, Working Classical, etc. I can't wait! And Steve's going with me - that'll be a lot of fun!

Annoying crap first - I've been blocked from many of my favorite 'blogs at work - including Cootiehog , AfricanKelli , Haiku of the Day and many others. This annoys me GREATLY. Hmph Good stuff - PAUL MCCARTNEY - in St. Paul on October 26th. *sigh* I love him. LOVE love love him. I've seen him 3 times (Ames, IA '91; Minneapolis, MN '93 - I think; Los Angeles, CA '02) and can't WAIT to add number 4. Since I'm an official dork I mean, fan club member, I get to have pre-sales accessibility! Yes! Sadly - as noted in the 'bad crap' I am blocked from the Ticketmaster site at work...so Steve has agreed to help me out and get them for me. Wheeeee! I am so excited. I'm going to attempt making meatloaf for dinner...we'll see how that works out....I'm craving it but I've never made it before. Can't be that hard, can it? Apprentice tonight....my pick was Kendra getting fired until I realized she has immunity - who will it be? Craig? Alex

What a wonderful weekend I had. Let me re-cap... Friday night - kind of a bust. 'sposed to do movie-work but was flaked on...once again. Instead I baked snickerdoodles for my sweetie and watched 3 hours of mind-numbing TLC shows and being SUPER freaked out that there was a murderer/rapist in the house. Finished the evening with 2 beers and 2 episodes of SATC and 2 cats (attack cats) on the bed for protection. Saturday - got up - nothing to do since the house was already clean, the cookies baked and my bags packed! Showered, went to the ATM for cash & the bakery for pasteries. 11:30 picked up by co-workers. 2:30 arrived in Minneapolis - in the POURING RAIN. Hiking was out. 4:00 Rain stopped. S & I were able to take a 3 mile walk around a lake in her neighborhood. 6:00 Junk food purchased and being consumed while watching MONSTER and SPANGLISH. Sunday morning I couldn't sleep. I was WAY too excited for Steve's impending arrival. S & I went out for breakfast...whe

Yay - it's Friday! Wheeeeeeee! I've been keeping busy at work which is a huge plus. Time flies when you're actually doing something instead of pretending to do something while really surfing the 'net and paying bills, etc. This afternoon I'm picking up the ice cream cake from DQ for our monthly birthday celebration (cheesy, yes, I know but hey - it's cake! or in this case ice cream)... Tonight I'm doing some movie work with J. We've got to get this thing polished off! 2+ years now already - come on! Tomorrow I'm off to Minneapolis...my girlfriend Sarah and I are planning on doing some hiking and then eating lots and lots of yummy foods and watching movies. I can't wait. Sunday will be omlettes at Keys and then off to another hike and to the airport. 2 days! and I have Monday off. Kick Ass!! And - my cold is nearly gone. I'm telling you - this mental thing is really working!

Today is gorgeous, so I'm going to fight the couch-laying-book-reading-temptations and take my a** outside for a bit of a walk instead. I am going to walk up Lincoln Park/Miller Creek and explore the new bridges/roadways that finally were opened last fall. Hopefully the snow will be gone. We shall see. It's chilly but beautiful so it should be good. The cold is still packing up and heading out which is good. I'm looking forward to GONE. Tonight I go up to Steve's Mom's to call Steve. Yay! And only 3 more days. Yipee! Good good good. Now if only I could decide what to have for dinner. Hmph.

ARGH! WTF is up with blogger? So many errors lately. I'm sure this will double-post now. Grrrr. I'll see if I can remember what I wrote. My sniffles & scratchy throat are still around...I have informed both, however, that under NO circumstances will they be allowed to be around this weekend. They are taking threats seriously and packing and preparing for departure as I type. More importantly I solved my weekend dilemma. Okay - Steve, if you're reading this please stop now. Okay? Just stop...it's not that good anyway. I'll talk to you on Friday morning (yay!)... Seriously. Okay - now that he's gone...I have found a ride to Minneapolis so that I can spend some quality girl-time with one of my best friends and also be at the airport on Sunday to surprise Steve and to drive him home. I mean really who wants to drive 2 1/2 hours after being on a plane for 15 hours? No one. So, I will be there, sweep him off his feet (well, not really) but I will drive him home.

Well, I woke up with a sore throat this morning. Blech. I thought it was just dry-mouth from snoozing on my back with my mouth open...but it didn't really go away all day. Not with all the OJ and all the water I had today. And I'm sneezing like a mad fiend. Not my usual sneezing. Not the allergy induced sneezing here and there but ALL DAY. Ack. Running stuffy....is this what I think it is?!? A cold ? No! No colds here! I don't want you. Go away!

Today is fricking windy . The lake is roaring right now. The waves are crashing up over huge ice dams in Canal Park. It's really cool to see but really cold as well. It sucks to go in and out of any where because car doors get blown open or slammed shut, things blow out of your car when you open the door, hair? Don't even do it - it's not worth it. It won't last long. I was planning on going on a bike ride after work today. But, uh-uh. Not in this crap. And its cool (40) and the windchill probably brings it under 20 for sure. I mean it is f'ing WINDY. And yesterday I was in 75 and sunny...*sigh* Why do I live here again? Steve called this morning. I was elated! I didn't think he would since I talked to his Mom last night and she said they were out of minutes on the calling card. I was thrilled when I picked up the phone and heard his voice. He misses me!! I miss him! This being away crap sucks and I don't like it. We should work to not have this happen agai

The fabulous steak dinner the night that Steve left for Japan (well, technically the night before he left for Japan but the night he left Duluth for Minneapolis...get it?) 

Beautiful Lake Superior 

Just back from Austin - land of Spam, family and warm temps! I had a really nice time re-connecting with family. I had never met some of them and it had been so long with others that it was like we'd never met. I will post pics later (when I get them from my Dad) but for now am going to go enjoy a glass of wine and SATC. I miss Steve like CRAZY. Only 7 days til his return. Yay!

Well, Steve called me this morning after landing and taking an hour long bus ride to where he's staying. He sounded so tired and glad to be on the ground. I am so happy he called. Today I am much more at ease because I know he is safe and sound and ready to start having a great time. It doesn't mean I miss him any less, I just feel better. I'm off to Austin now for the Riedesel Family Reunion and my Grandma's 80th birthday party. Should be fun! Have a wonderful weekend!

Holy Crap! I've gone and missed my own Blogiversary. I cannot believe it's been a year. Happy Bloggday to me! Wheeeee! (where's the damn cake?) (post dated because I can.)

Okay - Now he's over Montana! The plane is facing the wrong way - he is actually going west from Detroit.  

I love this website - This shows Steve's plane landing in Detroit! I'll be doing much more tracking on his flight from Detroit to Osaka!! 

Well, I just say "I'll see ya later" to the Steve....it was a little later than originally planned but that was okay with me. We had a lovely evening of a grilled steak dinner, downloading pics off his camera so that he has lots of room for new pics, packing and long goodbyes. I know he's not going to be gone that long - especially compared to people going off to fight a war for a year or even going away for a month, two months, six months...but right now 10 days seems like an eternity. I pray for his safe journey and his safe return and a fabulous time in between. I can't wait to hear all his stories and see his pictures and have him back in my arms. *sigh* I think I'll go have another glass of wine.

My Very First Knitting Project!! The Lucy bag seen here completed. Whopeeee! 

I went to this film on opening night – which is unlike me. These days I’m usually renting the “hottest” thing when it comes out on video – way after the fact. But a friend called me up and invited me out and since I’m trying to shed my anti-social persona I said “sure.” I had seen and read very little about this movie. I knew it was getting some hype. I had seen ½ of a trailer for it. So I went online and started reading some reviews to educate myself a little bit more. I found the movie to be….interesting. I would say I liked it better than Kill Bill Vol. 1 but I found it similar in a lot of respects. Mostly the gratuitous violence bits. I loved the comic-book quality (sorry graphic novel) of the film. I had read that they storyboarded the shots painstakingly as to replicate them as close to the graphic novel as possible. This was evident (especially in the first story) and fun to watch for. I loved the gravelly quality of the actor’s voices. I thought Benecio del Toro was

Well, my Sweetie is going to Japan. On Thursday!! All last minute plans, but he's off to visit his brother. They will spend a week in Osaka. I will be sad & lonely. (But I know he'll have an amazing time & it's worth it to go). *sigh*

Random first 10 songs from my iTunes collection today: 1. Ruby Soho - Rancid 2. Astronomy Domine - Pink Floyd 3. Tomorrow Is Too Late - Martin Zellar & the Hardways 4. The Ketchup Song - Las Ketchup 5. High Hopes - Pink Floyd 6. All Because of You - U2 7. San Francisco - Secondhand Jive 8. Woman - Maroon 5 9. Chip & Dale - The Gear Daddies 10. If I Fall - Aqualung