Hi

I am still alive and life is wonderful. You can catch glimpses of it here: http://www.twitter.com/almsthvn

3 Best TV shows EVER -
"The Big Bang Theory"
"The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson"
"Mythbusters"

ok - "House" is pretty high up there, too... OH and "Castle"!!

Favorite web-find so far: a short film called "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog". Think about it. Joss, Zack and Jed Whedon, Neil Patrick Harris AND Nathan Fillion? It's simply BRILLIANT. I know a large portion of the world has known about it for ages, but I just saw it last week and fell madly for it. http://www.drhorrible.com Go! You can watch it online, download it on iTunes, or buy a copy of your own. NPH is the sweetest super-villain you've ever seen. Watch it twice - it makes even more sense the second time around. And don't miss the Commentary! The Musical!! It's nearly as good as the film itself! (but not for the kids!)

Well, that's about it - be good!

Supremely quick update

My Beloved moved up from Dallas 2 weeks ago!
My daughter turned 7!
18 days until our wedding!!!

Happy New Year

Wishing all my friends and family a blessed New Year. May 2008 be full of peace and light.

purrrrr

I'm having a very lazy weekend. The Kiddo is off with her dad and I'm still basking in the glow of being engaged to the best-possibly-suited-for-me guy in the world. I'm also fighting a cold or something and spent yesterday either in bed or in the recliner. I feel slightly more human today.

After the goofy cat mangled last year's Christmas tree, I went out today and picked up a pre-lit tree for the living room. I also got the Kiddo a small tree for her room, she can decorate it anyway she wishes. I can't wait to see what she comes up with! We'll probably put it in her room and keep the door shut to keep the "tiger" from attacking it. Goofy cat.

I got a bunch of lights and extension cords to start working outside, since it's above 50 today, but it's pouring rain now. I'm inside with a lovely cuppa hot tea and my feet kicked up in the recliner. I think I'll just sit and reflect on all the groovy things happening for my family right now :)

ahhhh... such perfect snuggling weather. I can't wait til he's here!

Book Chat

I read a book yesterday that has given me a "lot to chew on", as my Grandmother used to day. It's "The Four Agreements", by don Miguel Ruiz. subtitle "A Personal Guide to Freedom". It's also "A Toltec Wisdom Book." The Toltec were (and are!) men and women of Mexico - artists, scientists, philosophers - who formed a community to preserve the spiritual knowledge and ways of their ancestors. The Toltec ways have been passed down for generations, outlasting the conquests of Europe and modern times, and they continue to be keepers of knowledge.

I read the whole book in one sitting. That isn't too difficult from a "length" perspective, as it's only 129 pages, but I had to keep putting it down and absorb what I'd just read. I plan to read it again and again.

The book is very simple. There are four agreements that you make within yourself that can transform your world. They're listed on most book reviews and on the inside cover - those words alone were strong enough to get me to pull out the wallet and buy the book. Powerful stuff - but since it's online, I won't go through those - instead, here is one bit that has my brain working:

In your whole life, nobody has ever abused you more than you have abused yourself. That limit of self-abuse then in turn determines how much abuse you're willing to take from someone else. If someone exceeds it, you find it easier to walk away. If less, you will probably stay in the relationship and tolerate it endlessly. The more self-love we have, the less self-abuse we perform, and the less abuse we accept from others.

Whew.

I put this out there because it spoke loudly to me and I love sharing things that I find exciting or revealing :) Have you read this book or others that had an impact on your life? If so, write a little posty for us :) I'll make the tea ... :)

Katie's School Project

Katie's class is having a world culture day on March 3rd and her teacher asked us to collect packaging of common items from around the world - things like candy wrappers, potato chip bags, bread wrappers, etc. oh! and postcards!

If you have any empty containers suitable for 5 yr olds to pass around (yea, I know you lot!) or would like to send Katie a postcard, please jot me a note at almsthvn on gmail for the snail address. We have a big map and will mark it all up so she can see just where it's all from :)

Thank you very much! Diolch yn fawr iawn! Dank u! Passibo! Paljon kiitoksia! Merci beaucoup! Danke schön! Tusen takk! y Muchas gracias ! :)

Whaddya Know :)

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I dunno! When I'm in the south, I sound northern. When I'm in the north, I sound southern.

I guess it's been awhile.

and although it's been over a month, there isn't too much to be said.
Mimi - the older cat we got in April that had so many intestinal problems, has gone to kitty heaven.
Mickey "the Terror Kitten" is about 7 or 8 months old - kind of like living with a male teenager. He's adorable, absolutely adorable, and a lunatic at the same time :)
Things with Sean are strange. Nothing new. I guess we're friends - though I typically communicate far better with my friends than with him. That never has worked well. I haven't quite worked out why.
An old flame resurfaced for a day or two but then vanished again before we even went out again.
I don't think I'm cut out for dating.
Katie is loving Kindergarten. I'm so proud of my darling - facing so many changes so bravely.
Work is keeping me 120% busy but it's also awesome. Tiring, but awesome.

and that's about it.

Hi, How are ya?

This blog is really out of date - I hope you'll visit the other one!

I have 2 new kitties now - Mimi is about 1, she's a short-hair, tortoise-shell. She's nearly all black, with brown splotches and few patches of orange. She's very mellow and lovey. We adopted her from the SPCA after Toby died.

Mickey is about 8 weeks old, he was picked up by friends of a friend, and they discovered their son is allergic. So Mickey came to join us - he's tiny, long-hair, orange and white tiger stripes. He's VERY energetic and his favorite game is to pounce on poor Mimi and rider her like some insane feline rodeo thingy.

There are pictures and all kinds of stuff over at LiveJournal, so do stop by :)

Welcome Mimi!

Our new girl http://almsthvn.livejournal.com/116206.html