Catwhores

Rappy: dude, that Caygeon sure puts out a lot. I remember getting some love too
Me: hahahahaha
Me: you should comment that
Rappy: I'll comment tomorrow. I'm just doing some catch up and then going to bed.
Me: oh fine
Me: remember what you said, then
Rappy: that your cat is a slut?
Rappy: yeah, not likely to forget

I'm So Haaaaaaappyyyyyyy!

Well!

Marcel left this morning, and we had a fantastic time. I now know why a style of kissing was named after the French.

I mean - GOD. He is a fantastic kisser. Everything was as wonderful as I hoped it would be.

We had a lovely Friday night together when he finally arrived (complete with a hysterical comment in the elevator at Tampa International Airport that Marcel made to a little old man who asked if we were "going down").

Saturday - We went to Barnes & Noble for coffee, pastries, and a guidebook to Europe (for next summer), as well as a cribbage board. I showed Marcel my office and then we ate lunch at Boston Market. Then we did some grocery shopping, went home, fooled around, learned how to play cribbage (I lost 3-2), and then closed out the evening with pizza, merlot, and The Colbert Report.

Sunday - Marcel made me pancakes for breakfast, then we laid together on the couch and watched Meet the Press, some other show with Bob Schieffer, and Wolf Blitzer's show on CNN. Then headed out to the Pinellas Trail so Marcel could run 10 miles (he's participating in the Big Sur Marathon this Sunday). The park I had picked as the starting point was packed - there were no parking spaces because they were all filled by people using the boat slip - and it was then that we decided that HE should be in charge of planning next month's trip to Taos - I just need to show up.

We went down to Wall Springs Park so Marcel could start running from there, while I took photos (which I will post soon). Went to Jason's Deli to pick up lunch (asian wraps), came home, messed around, and then Marcel cooked dinner for me (mozzarella-stuffed chicken with pasta and garlic bread), we drank the second bottle of merlot, he fed me Phish Food ice cream right out of the carton, and then played drunk cribbage (I went up 2-0 before Marcel got serious and came back to tie things up ... and then he obliterated me in winning the deciding game).

Yes, we spent quality time playing cribbage. And maybe I'm really strange, but ... I loved it.

Monday - I wanted to take Marcel to this place called Lenny's for breakfast because I had heard it was very good - I heard wrong. It was merely average, plus it was goddamn hot in the restaurant. After that we went back home, hung out a bit, did some stuff that I can't specifically relate and/or cannot recall, then went to Macaroni Grill around 4 for a late lunch/early dinner. While there I knocked off an item on my 101 List by trying espresso. Which was icky.

After that we went to a wine store nearby and picked up a bottle of white wine to have that night, then we drove down to Indian Rocks Beach to watch the sunset. It wasn't the greatest of sunsets, but fortunately that wasn't the point. On the way down to the beach I took Alternate 19 along the water so Marcel could see really expensive houses, the world spiritual headquarters for Scientology, and where I received six months of chemo. Oh, and the houses of both Hulk Hogan and my mother.

We got home around 9, watched last week's episode of 24 - Marcel was immediately hooked, so then we watched the episode that the Tivo was busy recording. Drank the white wine, which was fantastic. I was feeling clingy because Marcel was leaving the next morning, so we just laid around talking and kissing and stuff until it was time to go to sleep.

Today - Out of my place by 9:15, stopped at Starbucks for coffee and breakfast, then went to the airport. We were pretty early so we spent about an hour sitting away from the crowds in a deserted section of the terminal, talking and kissing and stuff until it was time for him to go out to the airside.

I didn't cry when I had to say goodbye, though. Normally I do. I think I didn't because I know I'll be seeing him again in just a month, and then we already have plans to see each other in June and July (he's visiting me for a week both times), August (he'll be coming to FL for a friend's retirement ceremony) and September (hopefully going to see his family in RI around his birthday).

Marcel made good on his promise of merlot, but he did NOT follow through on his massage promise. So now he owes me two. Plus, we forgot to make our mutual 101 in 1001 List, so we'll do that next month.

Oh, and my cats loved him. Especially Caygeon.

D-Day

It's been a good morning so far - talked to Marcel on his way to the airport, worked out for an hour, and now I'm back at home busily doing last minute preparations. Thus, the list is moved up:

THURSDAY NIGHT

Gone Off the Tracks

Marcel sent me a link to Carl Bernstein's piece in Vanity Fair, "Senate Hearings on Bush, Now" and this part really stands out for me:

As much as I love Colin Powell (he was my only hope for the Bush administration), I agree. The man doesn't get a pass on this, especially now that he's retired.

Side note: Marcel and I were talking a few days ago about how all these retired generals are now coming forward and speaking out against secretary of state Donald Rumsfeld. Many people are wondering why they didn't speak out at the time that they had their misgivings, because then maybe we wouldn't be stuck in the quagmire (yes I said it!) that is the Iraq war. I'll admit that I was thinking that this was "too little too late" myself, but then Marcel pointed out that according to the code of military conduct, an officer at that level would be expressly prohibited from speaking out against their civilian bosses (as Rumsfeld is). I guess the officer could still chose to do so, but these men had decades of service under their belts and I really can't blame them for not wanting to throw their careers in the toilet based on a bad feeling about what might happen in the future.

So yes, Colin Powell needs to be made to answer for what he saw, and heard (as long as it's not classified, of course), and why he made the choices that he made. And maybe I'm still biased because of my affection for the man, but I suspect that Colin Powell won't have any problem defending his honor. I don't think the political "dodge and weave" is something he's capable of doing.

Quite the understatement there, Bernstein. But truer words were never spoken. It'll be a kick in the pants if the leaks are what finally bring Bush down, rather than his general record of bone-chilling incompetence.

True, dat.

There's also an interesting analysis of the Bush presidency in Rolling Stone, "The Worst President in History?" I'm thinking that's a rhetorical question.

Resistance Is Futile

Me: I didn't win the lottery last night.
Marcel: So you're not a millionaire?
Me: No. Sorry!
Marcel: Well actually, you're priceless.

How can I possibly resist this man? HOW?!?

Two Days to Go

Two days and a wake up, really. Friday is my personal equivalent of VE Day - Marcel will be here to visit!

But there is much left to be done. And this morning I realized that I have a mustard stain - nay, mustard STREAKS - on my favorite pair of jeans, and the stains don't appear to want to come out no matter how hard I scrub. So now I'm quite pissed about that, given that these are my only jeans that fit me just right.

So Jen and I are going out at lunch to shop for Plan B.

I'm going to post my list of things I need to do so I don't forget something:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

The Way We Were

Me: http://www.highwaygirl.com/archive/000502.html
Rappy: aw
Rappy: that was so sweet.
Rappy: I'm glad we became friends.
Rappy: thanks to blasted TWoP
Rappy: no less
Rappy: you really are a huge part of my life.
Me: aww, and you are a huge part of mine too!
Rappy: *group hug*
Me: I would be lost without ye
Me: *hug*
Rappy: ye complete me!
Rappy: *grin*
Me: *jumps on couch*
Rappy: hahahaha
Me: *fist pumps*
Me: *insane, maniacal grin*
Rappy: I broke my collarbone jumping on a couch. You be careful!
Me: how did we become friends, even?
Me: just through chat?
Rappy: yup
Rappy: through TAR chat
Me: OH OH OH
Me: one word
Me: - pause -
Me: DJEBER
Me: *smirk*
Rappy: OH MY GOD
Me: HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHE
Rappy: I wonder what that loser is up to?
Rappy: well, not really, but let's put our good friend google to work
Me: oh man, I haven't thought of him in ages
Me: BUT
Me: I remember that he flaunted you to me
Rappy: and you know what else I thought about recently?
Me: once I had ditched him
Rappy: he WHAT?
Me: OH YES
Rappy: YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THIS!
Me: YES!
Me: he lurved me
Me: but I was like ... no
Rappy: oh, I knew that, but what about the flaunt?
Me: so then you met him at TARCon, I think
Me: and then he came back and told me that you and he were IT
Me: and that you were both really into each other
Me: and you had that whole marriage pact ting
Me: ting! I'm suddenly Jamaican
Rappy: HAHAHAHA
Me: and he tells me this and I'm thinking...
Rappy: dude, it was a drunk fucking JOKE
Me: holy shit, I should warn this girl
Me: because he was TEH FREAK
Me: he starts off nice, and then becomes ... yeah
Me: insane clown posse
Me: so yes, in the beginning I was concerned about you
Me: and that's how I started talking to you
Rappy: anyway, I was thinking the other day, about the whole COSMO episode.
Me: HAHAHAHAHA
Rappy: Good times, man
Me: another one I haven't thought of in forever
Me: what the hell was it I said to her?
Me: OH OH OH
Me: "NICE, Cosmo"
Me: and that shattered her emotionally
Me: I can't remember how you so wronged her
Rappy: hahahaha
Rappy: because she made a gross comment about Jeans in LG chat and I asked her rather nicely to refrain because others had complained
Rappy: and then she wrote that crazy entry in her hidden journal that Ladex showed me
Rappy: and then she ran off besmirching us everywhichway
Rappy: I feel semi bad for her, though. She was truly in need of meds.
Me: now I remember the Jeans thing
Me: and yes, Cosmo went on a total fucking bender
Me: ripping us near and far on the internet
Me: good times!

And You Give Yourself Away

U2 "With Or Without You" Listen | Buy

Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you

With or without you
With or without you

Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away

My hands are tied
My body bruised, she's got me with
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away

With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you

Single Digit Flower

In honor of my attaining Single Digit Midget status (i.e. less than 10 days until the BIG DAY, usually a reference to someone in the military who is going home soon) today, Marcel sent this to my office:

Click the photo for a high-resolution version

Can I pick 'em or what?

Only Nine More Days

Follow the Bouncing Boob

So I was at the gym this morning for the first time since ... Friday? I think it was Friday. I had a busy weekend and yesterday morning I was too tired to go (Marcel's fault), so this morning I got back on track.

Anyway, I noticed something about my posture on the arc trainer while I'm working out. If I'm very focused on what I'm doing and blocking everyone else out, I stand up straight with my shoulders back. But as soon as I start looking around and notice a man looking my direction - not necessarily even looking at ME, but just in my general vicinity - I subconsciously hunch my shoulders forward and try to make my chest concave.

I'm embarrassed by my bouncing boobs! I know I shouldn't be - they're just breasts, dammit! - but I want to hide them just the same.

I wear two sports bras to the gym because as of yet I've been too cheap to shell out the $60 for the Enell Sports Bra that I really need. I willingly spent $90 on a heart rate monitor, but I won't drop $60 for good breast support. Something is wrong with me.

I really need Target to start carrying the Enell bra. I think if I could try one on to make sure I had the right size, I'd be willing to pay for it.

He's So Fein

One brief note - Rep. Cynthia McKinney sounds like she's got some issues ("much ado about a hairdo"? Cram it), but Tom DeLay accusing anyone of "incredible arrogance" is the hypocritical statement of the century.

Moving on – I HAVE A NEW BOYFRIEND!

*pause*

A new political boyfriend, I mean. Since John McCain is now dead to me, I had to find a new maverick politician to swoon over. Someone who, against all the odds, speaks rationally and reasonably about the issues facing the United States. Someone that I could support in an election without checking my ethics at the door.

I have found that man.

Hello, kitten. What's your position on the death penalty?

This is Russ Feingold. Feingold is a Democratic senator from Wisconsin, home of all things jird (so they have to be good). I have to admit that I never took notice of this guy until he made the news by proposing that President Bush be censured over the illegal wiretapping fiasco. I am a Julie-come-lately.

Anyway, I kind of thought pushing for censure was a bad move (whipping the opposition into a frenzy and giving insane hardcore Bush supporters a point to rally against isn't a good thing), but after I read Feingold's statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee about why he felt it was necessary, I was swayed:

Balls. of. steel.

He had me at "hello."

So then I started Googling for information about this guy, since I need a Plan B now that McCain has jumped aboard the Crazy Train - and learned the following:

• Feingold recently spoke in favor of the legalization of gay marriage.
  
  
• He was the only member of the Senate to vote against the Patriot Act.
  
  
• He voted against the war in Iraq because he didn't believe that the war was necessary or wise, but then he voted for the $87 billion to support the troops once the war was underway. That's not flip-flopping, that's voting sensically.
  
  
• He's against the death penalty and has introduced legislation that would issue a moratorium until the system that administers the death penalty can be closely reviewed by an independent commission.
  
  
• Every single time that Congress authorizes another pay raise for itself, Feingold votes against the raise. When these votes pass, Feingold returns his raise to the national treasury.
  
  
• He kicked ass on The Daily Show.

What's not to love? Get this man to run in '08!

101 in 1001 - April '06 Update

I've crossed off numbers 49 (start a savings account) and 52 (go to the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa). Also, numbers 40 and 89 are revisions.

Ribbit

Roo: guess what I'm doing in June?
Roo: you're going to dieeeeeeeeeee
Me: testing for your black belt???
Me: I mean a higher degree
Roo: ha! no
Me: hint me?
Roo: Ribbit
Me: frogs...
Me: you're going to kiss a frog?
Roo: heh. perhaps
Roo: frogs are also called ___
Me: YOU'RE GOING TO FRANCE???
Roo: or well, maybe it's a different classification
Roo: HA...what??? hee
Me: wow, that was insensitive of me
Me: Marcel will be displeased
Roo: indeed!

Then and Now

Just a bit of consumer reporting off the top here. I am addicted to these new(ish) Snickers Marathon Energy bars:

These things are so freaking good. They don't really taste like Snickers, though. But they're chocolately and caramely and gooey and chewy and they've got lots of vitamins and minerals (fortified for women, they are), and they actually curb my hunger for a few hours. Walgreens just had them on sale for $1 so I bought a few. If by "few" I mean "15."

The Double Chocolate Nut flavor is the bestest. Honey Nut is merely OK, but still passable.

Also, this is the best sunless tanner I've ever used:

Hawaiian Tropic Island Glow. It's in that class of sunless tanners that are positioned as moisturizers with almost a hint of sunless tanning in them. Everyone's heard of that Jergens Natural Glow stuff, which I tried last year. It worked OK, but I only used it twice because, quite honestly, it smelled like hairballs. And I am intimately acquainted with hairballs, so I know of what I speak.

But this Hawaiian Tropic stuff smells, no kidding, like green tea. It smells REALLY good - I'd buy it just for the scent. It's clean smelling, but not overwhelming. I think even if you didn't really love green tea scents you'd still be OK with this. The point is that it doesn't smell like hot shiny chemical death, which is rare in sunless tanners.

It also works very well. I just applied it for the first time last night, and I could see a difference this morning (I used the shade for medium skin tones).

But now the main point of this post. I had planned on posting an ode to exercise today anyway, but right now I'm having a massive cramp/spasm in my right shoulder, just below the neck, which reminded me I wanted to do this.

I joined the Palm Harbor YMCA at the end of October last year. So it's been five solid months. When I first started my goal was to just go three times a week, and do 30 minutes of cardio. I really hate treadmills (zzzzzz), so I chose to focus on the elliptical machines because I had read they were the most effective. Fairly soon I decided I liked the Arc Trainer best, so I've stuck with that.

Even though it's only been five months, my whole attitude about it has changed. As have the kinds of workouts I'm doing. To wit:

What really got me thinking about this is the whole sweating thing. I used to hate cardio and avoid it like the plague because I really, REALLY hated sweating. I could never understand how people could ENJOY sweating, or actively, willingly pursue activities that would make them sweat. Well, other than sex.

But now, every time I finish a workout you can tell by looking at me that I've WORKED. I don't see the point, otherwise. When I'm done the back of my hair is all wet, my arms are glistening, and I've got the beginnings of sweat marks on my t-shirt (I don't get drenched or anything - I'm not a guy). I see some women in the gym who barely look winded during their workouts; they finish and every hair is still in place.

That used to be me, which is funny, because at this point - mentally - I'd never be able to do that. If I'm going to get up at the asscrack of dawn and get dressed and strap on my heart monitor and brush my teeth and grab my water bottle and leave my apartment and drive five miles and climb onto a machine and kick my own ass for 45 minutes ... I'd damn well better see some tangible evidence of all the energy I'm putting into it.

And thus, I love to sweat. I have become all the things I used to be suspicious of.

Happy Days Are Here A-gain

From the It's About Damn Time files: Tom DeLay Quits House

Is today a wonderful day or what? Do we dare to dream that Bill Frist might follow in DeLay's footsteps sometime soon?

Turning Water Into Whining - Bill Maher takes on paranoid Christians (the opening bit about Andy Card stepping down is also a hoot).

Some highlights:

A Man of No Talent Whatsoever

ACHTUNG! Breaking news - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (em dee) is still a complete idiot.

I've felt immeasurable disgust for Bill Frist for a long time. I continue to think he is the Antichrist, mainly because of that whole adopting-cats-from-an-animal-shelter-only-to-kill-and-dissect-them thing (that link goes to a webpage featuring Jon Stewart's take on the matter). I guess I hold a grudge.

Seriously, this is a direct quote from the man's autobiography:

I visited the various animal shelters in the Boston suburbs, collecting cats, taking them home, treating them as pets for a few days, then carting them off to the lab to die in the interest of science.

So yes, Bill Frist? Is a sick fuck. You can read more about that, and the fact that Frist refers to himself as "totally schizoid" over the cat thing, if you have the stomach for it and want to create in your heart a deep, burning hatred for a government official.

Anyway, because of this it is with a spring in my step and glee in my heart that I read that Frist is going to have a difficult time should he decide to seek the Republican nomination for president:

Frist Is Treading a Perilous Path Leading to 2008

My favorite portion of the article:

Give Charlie a cookie!

Every Kiss Was Neverending

Beach Boys "Wouldn't It Be Nice" Listen | Buy

You know it's gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through

The happy times together we've been spending
I wish that every kiss was neverending
Oh wouldn't it be nice

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true
Baby then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do
But we could be married
And then we'd be happy

Oh wouldn't it be nice

You know it seems the more we talk about it
It only makes it worse to live without it
But let's talk about it
Oh wouldn't it be nice

I Wouldn't Change a Single Thing

Coldplay "'Til Kingdom Come" Listen | Buy

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummer begins to drum
I don't know which way I'm going
I don't know which way I've come

Hold my head inside your hands
I need someone who understands
I need someone, someone who hears
For you, I've waited all these years

For you I'd wait 'til kingdom come
Until my day, my day is done
And say you'll come and set me free
Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me

In your tears and in your blood
In your fire and in your flood
I hear you laugh, I heard you sing
I wouldn't change a single thing

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummers begin to drum
I don't know which way I'm going
I don't know what I've become

For you I'd wait 'til kingdom come
Until my days, my days are done
Say you'll come and set me free
Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me