I look like Drew Barrymore, dammit!

Inspired by AnonymousCoworker. I am confused that Drew Barrymore is not represented, because I'm quite certain I look a lot more like her than I look like Posh Spice.

Google it

KATIE'S REVENGE: An interesting “eye for an eye” case.

“Don't fuck with me, fellas!”

Hay and I watched The Omen 666 last night. Before the movie started Hay decided to go put together a load of laundry, so I sat in the living room watching Damien swing back and forth, back and forth, back and forth on the DVD's menu screen. After about 30 seconds of that I shut off the TV, ran upstairs, and told Hay I just felt like keeping him company. :) The movie was great, the right amount of copying the original but updating to today's world.

Also this weekend we watched our second Lewis Black special. Hay saw Black on a YouTube clip of The Daily Show, and ever since we've been recording Daily and have added all of Black's specials to our Netflix queue. He's a really funny (political) comedian, and I love his finger twitch and burstful anger to emphasize points. I like how he can explain politics to those of us who have a small portion of our brain reserved for understanding this subject, then he can turn its darkness into something we can laugh at. This world is a really scary place, always has been and always will be (until it is decimated), so a little laughter is great coping medicine.

We did some other stuff this weekend, but it doesn't fit into the fuck theme, so I'll omit it. What'd you do this weekend?

“Don't bug me.”

psa

Turn your clocks back tonight (if you participate). Who's excited that DST will be longer from now on? And here I thought we were getting rid of this silly clock changing ritual. murr......

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Country

I was visiting Rhea over at The Boomer Chronicles and learned that these two guys are hitching to every state capital in the USA. As of this moment in time they have visited 23 states in 19 days. If you're willing and able to help them reach their goal you can contact them directly at: 310-494-8058 or If you want to take the virtual journey with them visit their flickr space.

“Just let me lie here and depreciate.”

:)

No clever title for this post.

I got a Tetanus booster shot yesterday and I wasn't sure I was going to make it through my day. I was super exhausted, and at 9:00pm I realized how much my arm ached from the shot. At least it didn't hurt going in, but there are some scary stories online about reactions to the shot. My advice: Either read the stories ahead of time and make the decision not to be vaccinated, or skip the stories on the other end lest you be freaked out that you're about to be paralyzed, in extreme pain, and forget who you are.

Lily Allen ~ Littlest Things

You know how much I adore her, so I have to share her newest video:



It evokes my melancholy. :)

hot topic

I've completely stolen, ripped off, and robbed this from Avi. Thanks, Avi!

1. Explain what ended your last relationship.
I flew home from a very exhausting business trip and saw my boyfriend on the other side of the luggage claim terminal. He had it written ALL over him that he had cheated on me while I was away. He admitted to the cheating when we were back at my apartment. Since the girl he cheated with had moved out of state while I was on the trip my newly ex-boyfriend attempted to use me as a fuck buddy while he carried on an emotional relationship with the chick who moved away. I broke it off, moved on, and 10 years later am still with, and happily married to, my rebound man.

2. When was the last time you shaved?
Do I lie or do I avoid the question? Hmm. ... This morning, of course! (The real answer is probably a week ago. I shave more often if my skin is exposed.)

3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.?
Watching Intervention while waiting for Hay to come downstairs so we could leave for work.

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Reading Avi's answers to these questions.

5. Are you any good at math?
On paper I'm not half bad. If I try to do it in my head I'm AWFUL at it. I used to be much better....

6. Your prom night? what about?
I was asked to the prom by two different boys, both younger than I was. I refused both of them and didn't bother going. I'm not a prom kinda gal.

7. Do you have any famous ancestors?
Famous by whose standards?

8. Have you had to take a loan out for school?
I haven't. I went to a university that offers tuition remission to its employees and their children. My father was kind enough to continue working at the university until after I graduated. Thanks, Dad. :) I worked the same job my entire time at college to pay for books. For room and board: I lived at home the first two years (I paid for my own food, I was weird that way), then rented with roommates using cash from my job as well as supplemental cash from Mom, then lived on campus as an RA (“free” room and board). Hay still owes a bit on his loans, but we'll pay them off by the end of the year.

9. Do you know the words to the song on your myspace profile?
I know the words while I'm listening to the song, then afterwards they core dump right outta my head. I like the video a lot, as I've mentioned before.

10. Last thing received in the mail?
Devil's Playground (2002) from Netflix.

11. How many different beverages have you had today?
Two: Coffee and water.

12. Do you ever leave messages on people’s answering machine?
For work I will. For home I'll talk into answering machines for the people I know screen all their calls.

13. Who did you lose your CONCERT virginity to?
Wang Chung and Tina Turner. Definitely a gang bangery.

14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
No, I stare at the ocean waves.

15. What’s the most painful dental procedure you’ve had?
Nothing? I had a ton of cavities at age 11. I was so terrified of needles that I didn't have Novocaine for any of the fillings. I had one refilled last year, again sans Novocaine. I did have my wisdom teeth out at 19, but they ached rather than hurting after, and the aching only lasted a few hours.

16. What is out your back door?
My back yard, which has a bunch of gardens, trees, feeders, wildlife, and general nature goodness.

17. Any plans for Friday night?
Currently there are no plans for Friday night. I'm happy about that.

18. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
What's wrong with my hair?! I love the ocean. As long as it doesn't try to kill me it can do whatever it wants to my hair.

19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?
Nope.

20. Have you ever been to a planetarium?
Yes. It's been several years, so I'd like to go again sometime. (Avi's answer preserved.)

21. Do you re-use towels after you shower?
Until they're stinky, yes.

22. Some things you are excited about?
Halloween, ... yup.

23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO?
Horse hoof!

24. Describe your keychain(s)?
They're encrypted for my pleasure.

25. Where do you keep your change?
In a big Radio Shack tin in the shape of a battery, as well as lying around wherever I lazily leave it.

26. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?
2003

27. What kind of winter coat do you own?
What kind of winter coat don't I own?!

28. What was the weather like on your graduation day?
Sunny.

29. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed?
Funny story, that. We have been sleeping in the spare bedroom for a year because our master suite is too freakin' huge for me to deal with. About 3 months ago the bedroom door started shutting on its own. It doesn't latch, but it no longer stays in the completely open position. We stick a kitty cat door wedge between the door and the frame so that the cats can come and go as they please. Our preference is: open when it's not too cold or hot; closed with the heat on if too cold; closed with the A/C on if too hot.

Crazy Lucy and Nutty Emma

Crazy Lucy


Nutty Emma


You may recall that Lucy is the dog of Hay's parents, and Emma is the dog of Hay's sister. Both Lucy and Emma have the same dog father, but different dog mothers.


Lucy links: puppy fuzzball, foxy lady

*mutter* I really thought I had a photo and accompanying post about the Lucy and Emma photos that are on my fridge, but I guess I never posted them. So, pretend you knew what Emma looked like before today.

Moose season

Please don't traumatize yourself if you just can't bear to see dead animals. I took this photo through the front windshield as we were driving to visit far away relatives. Click here to see the smaller photo; click here to see the slightly larger (cropped from an original that is not uploaded).

Crow has been consumed. And egg. And whatever else you're supposed to eat when you screw up real bad-like.

I did something really super embarrassing at work today. I sent an email meant for one person to an entire group of people. It wasn't just a matter of replying to the group instead of to the sender, I actually initiated the message chain and manually typed the wrong address in the To: field. When I realized my mistake my face and neck instantly burned from turning red with embarrassment. I didn't get reprimanded, although I've beaten myself up enough about it that no external punishment short of torture would compare.

So, what's your most embarrassing work story?

“You knock my socks off.”

Last night I cuddled up with Hay and we watched Monday's episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. This show just keeps getting better. I never, ever expected to love a show with Matthew Perry (“Matt”) and Amanda Peet (“Jordan”) quite this much, since I've never much cared for them in other TV or movie projects they've shown up for.

I cannot tell you how resistant I was to feeling emotion for Harriet and Matt, but when she leaned in and softly stated, “you knock my socks off” as Sting was onstage playing Fields of Gold on the lute, I just burst into tears. It made me ache inside.



(Aww, crap, I just watched the clip to make sure the line was in there and I'm all teary-eyed again.) The song plus the combo of the romantic moment are too much for me to take. If you missed the show, or aren't even watching it yet, see the full episode online at NBC.

One S60 mention unrelated to socks: Kudos to Jordan for passing on the weekly Temptation Island-meets-the-media show. It's a creative idea, but it's definitely more harmful than good(ful) to TV viewers and to the show's participants.

Returning to the socks topic, this Thursday Pam and Jim finally speak:



Sorry about the freaky My Name is Earl promo that precedes it, I don't make these promos. :) I'm just happy they're talking again.

Mum-y

Online TV review

You don't even understand how incredibly psyched I am that the major networks are streaming episodes of their current shows. This means that whenever, wherever I need a TV fix I can get one legally without breaking my bank. I've been able to preview a bunch of shows I wasn't sure if I would like or not, and I have to say that this has helped me to realize the following:

1. Miami is such a beautiful city, but I cannot stand David Caruso's voice in CSI: Miami.
   
2. America Ferrera is am amazing and beautiful actor, but she plays the Ugly Betty part so well that it's easy to forget just how smokin' she really is.
   
3. The New Adventures of Old Christine is really Elaine with a kid and a brother and an ex-husband with a younger girlfriend named New Christine. I love it!
   
4. Kidnapped is a great show, but I'm honestly not sure how it can have sustainability. Either Leopold dies or he comes home, or we as the audience get bored with the fact that he still isn't home, and the show ends.
   
5. I'm disappointed that A&E has only semi-joined the online episodes boat, which leaves me unable to find any legal episodes of Intervention at the A&E site or at iTunes. Quel dommage.*
   
6. Fox sucks, and uses Windows Media Player for their videos, which means my Mac currently cannot show their videos unless I reinstall Bootcamp and Windows then access their site from my Windows partition, or unless Microsoft wants to allow Macs to play in the digital rights management game. Ftarded...

I really should just be a movie and/or TV critic and stop this silly dabbling in technology.



*I do realize that A&E is a cable/non-major network channel, but I've been mulling over how to make a post about Intervention all day, and this is the best I could do. So. There ya have it.

•: holiday, celebrate :•

It's time to fess up your favorite holiday shopping sites. My new pick for this year is:



Old standbys: ThinkGeek, Wishingfish, What on Earth, and T-Shirt Hell.

So, *nudge nudge* tell me yours!

Paxilback

Java Jabber sent me this parody of JT's Sexyback which is very. well. done. For your viewing pleasure, The Gray Kid and Daniel Stessen:

The bright side? At least my face doesn't have a yeast infection...

On notice:

     

...at least the NEW! sensitive skin version. It smells like:



I assure you that I don't want to smell yeast infection cream on my face all day, every day so I will likely abandon this product before I even find out its benefits to my skin.

The very worst part for me is that I spent all day yesterday trying to remember where that smell came from, because I've not needed a remedy for a yeast infection in over a decade. When I finally recalled where I had smelled that...odor...before all I could picture was plunger after plunger of ooey gooey cream, and it disgusted me. As it should.

Early New Year's resolution

With the political campaigning season upon us I have been bursting out with rage at the local politicians I have either seen on TV or in person using slimy methods to meet The Voters. The other day I caught myself in the middle of my rage at a local politician my dad and brother accidentally spoke with at our local pizza place and decided that I don't like myself when I'm hating people. So, I've decided to stop hating in general, particularly the ironic circumstance of hating hate.

Please support me in this decision by not mentioning the following topics: politics (period), fungus consumption, child molestation/pornography, the highly privileged looking down upon the rest of us, animal cruelty, Jay Leno, catty bitches, domestic violence, K-Fed, hunting, the untimely demise of Dead Like Me, tail docking, inconsiderate projectile vomiting, war (“what is it good for?”), misogyny, and Mel Gibson. Edit: And driving/road rage! How could I forget that one?!

Thank you for helping me to not be compared to my Crazy Aunt who also spits rage-infested monologues to empty rooms, and have a great day.

Somethin' stinks in Mandy's house

Soooo, I was just watching this week's episode of Criminal Minds when I noticed that one of the women from Flavor of Love was playing a bank robbery victim on the show. I turned to Hay and told him this information. I then mulled said information over in my brain for a bit, because I couldn't quiiiite place which season she was from. And then it dawned on me. She is Somethin', aka Ms. Poops on Flav's Floor from this season! Everybody except, apparently, the casting folks for Criminal Minds, knows who she is! Even Wikipedia does! This photo's credit: VH1

My proof is in the Dish DVR pudding: Ms. Poops hanging out in her drawers on a bank floor while a serial robber (among other serial-ness) brandishes a MAC-10. Ms. Poops in her sad yet slimming mug-looking shot for Mandy Patinkin's group to analyze. (I edited out the local channel info, but I assure you that I did not edit any of the other data.) Although I cannot find another source on The Internets regarding this fact, I am 100% certain that Tykeisha “Somethin” Thomas is pictured above.

Admission: The Office

I liked the flirting between Jim and Karen last night. Mel, I know you're disappointed with me. HOWEVER, I thought it was a bit slimy that Jim was using the same flirt techniques on Karen as he had with Pam. Ya know? He's a playa. I definitely agree that Pam will be back with Roy while Jim and Karen date through the merging of the Stamford and (Slough, hehe) Scranton branch.

Tiny fact: Rashida Jones, who plays Karen, is the daughter of Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton. She's here for a bit of the long haul.

Tiny Poppy fact: My mom told me that she doesn't watch The Office because my stepdad has never worked in corporate America so doesn't “get” the show. So, my secret plan is to get the DVDs as they come out then when my mom visits watch the marathon with her while Hay and my stepdad do manly stuff like go to Home Depot and do wood projects. (They really like to do that together, so I'm not being ... um, err, what's that word ... patronizing.)

Photo credit: HELLO! magazine

Pssssst.

Happy Friday the 13th. :) Bravo has the original Jason movie tonight at 8:00pm. See ya there.

New Justin: My Love

Hay, time to avert your eyes again, Sweetie. Thanks. Love ya bunches.



I love Justin, you know that. BUT!, I have criticisms, both of the song and of the video that has been produced in its honor. Here we go...

Song: Justin. Justin. When you are singing a love song to me, I reallly reallllly don't wanna hear other guys bustin' into the song to make it sound like y'all are singing to each other instead of me. If that's how you fly that's cool, but if you're singing to me...well, not so cool to make me think you're gettin' a little bit o' Timba on the side. Ya feel me? Because, you know boy, I'd like to be feelin' you. (That was my best impression of Buckwild, cuz ya hasta get Buck Wild once in a while. Fake-ass.)

Video: Continuing with the Timbaland theory, if you weren't shaking your fist in a jerking off motion for 1 minute 41 seconds while standing next to Timba, then I might believe you better about not wanting to get with him. Let's pretend, however, that you're talking to the scantily clad woman in the video, and not to me or Timbaland (or T.I.). Why does she have to wear hardly anything? Why do you need to have her bend over so you can smack her ass? Why are you objectifying the woman you claim to love so much? Sexy sells, so let us put down right slutty back into your closet of fantasy, okay? Let's have a redo of this video with her wearing more clothes and you showing her your love. Kay? Kay. :)

Kisses,
♥ Poppy ♥

balloon

My photo:



(Click to see the geese that were flying by when I took the photo.)

Hay's photo:



He takes great photos. :)

certifiable

I just finished taking my second and final exam, and am now certified in some computer thing that isn't terribly exciting but may shape my career's future. Yay, me. :)

In case you were wondering...

If you were ever looking for a gift to get Poppy for any occasion you will always win if you give her this:



Yesterday I bought 4 full bars and 4 candy bars on my way to a dinner. All eight are taunting me from the bottom shelf of my refrigerator. One may need to be sacrificed today.

Freak Show Sunday

Not for the faint of heart. If you think you can handle Poppy's Side Show then click here. Otherwise, please move on, nothing to see here.

Fall treasures

Found amongst the gardens while doing our Fall clean-up:







Go see a few more photos over at flickr.


In case it occurs to anyone to wonder, that's my wedding band on my middle finger. A combination of earlier weight loss and the change in weather to cool and dry has caused my ring finger to shrink too much for the ring to safely remain there. It particularly enjoys falling to the floor when I'm wiping my hands dry after washing them. I began wearing the ring on my middle finger last weekend when I was away visiting friends and the ring kept threatening to jump off while we were at the fair and on our way to see Blue Man Group. After a discussion with Hay on (Monday? Tuesday?), I decided that I would wear the ring on my middle finger for the foreseeable future rather than having it sized. I'm really enjoying its placement. It's like I'm married all over again, and that Hay is now closer to my heart. Odd, but in a very good way.

7 mod 3 = 1

Last night after work I took my first practice test for the second exam. I smoked it. I am so gonna get this certification. Je suis psyched.

Lemme just tell you that I don't need to know what [any number] mod [any number] is in my practical life, but I do appreciate that Google has a calculator that figures out modulo. Woot! Thanks, Google!

100k

I haven't been paying too close attention to my counter because I was getting very low traffic per day, but my blog has now received over 100,000 visitors! As Hay points out, it's not 100,000 unique visitors, but to me that just means that the people who return enjoy reading about my eclectic mish-mash of personal posts and celebrity ramblings. Thanks, everyone! :) :) You all get good karma and a cookie in the mail from the late, great Joan Crawford. Num!

Frosty



Morning Dew

Ahhhhhhhhhhh

The Office is BACK, BABY! WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO! Hay observes that this was the first episode of the season where the timing feels right again. I laughed my ass off throughout the entire episode. I loved whatever-her-name-is throwing the paper clips up in the air, too. I won't say any more than that if you haven't watched it yet. Hay and I were feverishly plotting the show's next moves, and my idea is definitely the most audacious. Oh, I cannot waitwaitwait for next Thursday!

The office and The Office

Well, that was a nutty day. I had meetings and other obligations away from my desk from 9am-4pm today. My head was spinning pretty much the entire time, and I was often confused about what meeting I was at or what I was working on. I guess I'm not used to being quite so interactively busy. I'm really good at doing multiple projects simultaneously when I am sitting alone at my desk (même si my office mates are with me), but add other humans to the mix and it's an overload to my senses.

I'm waiting to say something of more substance until after 9pm, when I will have seen The Office. I'll say now that I have quiet anticipation, but that I don't expect positive movement on the Jim and Pam front this week. I think Stef and Avi are correct - other story lines need to be developed or else the show will fail as soon as Jim and Pam get together. There's a magical anticipation of hoping people come together, but once they're together they're just another couple. I think Roy is going to force a love triangle and then we will be confronted with the possibility that we might want Pam and Roy to get back together so that the tension between Pam and Jim still exists. Who knows. I'm talking from a delirious coffee high and I might even yell at myself in the comments later tonight. :)

My brain is somewhat unresponsive right now, so I'll end my blather for now. Enjoy your day (comma dammit)!

Thank You for Smoking

Last night while Hay and I watched RV Georgia decided that I should get off my laptop and give her love instead of doing whatever very important work I was doing at the time (commenting on other blogs, I believe). When she sat down on the laptop the screen suddenly switched over to Microsoft Word and the screen began producing lines and lines and lines of G's. I showed Hay, because it's humorous that Georgie with a G was able to locate the G key with her (rib cage? paw? belly?). I flippantly commented that I should create a blog for Georgie since she has so much to say. I then considered this further and created a blog for her. We'll see how sustainable cat chatter is.

Today I met with an adult woman with no physical or mental impairments and did for her a technology-related task that would be equivalent to me tying her shoes for her. If you don't know how to tie your shoes I'll teach you how, but I'm not running over to tie your shoes every time you need it done. You know? It's days like this that make me crave cigarettes.

Speaking of cigarettes, when I was about 8 years old my much older brother got into the smoking habit out of peer pressure. He liked to do mean things to me (back then, now he's a great brother!) so he made me smoke a few cigarettes. He tried to teach me about the whole inhaling thing, but I couldn't grasp the concept. Shortly after, my mother found out about this incident and ... I'm not sure why she thought this was a good idea ... made us each smoke a cigarette in front of her. I liked it. I'm sure my brother did, too. I'm not sure that Mom caught on that this wasn't a punishment, but she never supplied us cigarettes again.

I didn't smoke again until college when I would randomly have cigarettes in the company of others who were smoking at bars or parties. One of my f*ck buddies introduced me to clove cigarettes, and I unfortunately liked those very much. Because none of my immediate friends smoked, my mom had just quit a few years earlier, and the idea of buying cigarettes embarrassed me to no end I wasn't able to buy whole packs of any kind, so I would go to the local tobacco shop and buy unwrapped clove cigarettes from a big pile, maybe 5 at a time. (Somehow 5 cigs are okay, but not 20. I dunno, my brain does what it wants.) I would sneak the clove cigarettes into my apartment and enjoy one every few weeks with my bedroom door locked and the bottom stuffed with a towel, window open in winter, spring, summer, or fall / sunshine, rain, snow, or hail so that my roommates wouldn't know what I was doing. I lived on a very steep hill in a city then, so I would sit on this platform in my bedroom and look out over the houses and streets and power lines and bridges and people and bumper-to-bumper traffic while I slowly dragged on my Cancer stick and allowed my stress level to slowly decline into nothingness. I didn't know how to inhale very much more than I did at age 8, but it worked for me.

I've not smoked since college, but every so often when situations are stressful or downright ass-inine I get the craving for a cigarette. I've even gone so far as to almost place an order online for Djarums, and I'm not sure I'll stop the craving until I actually go through with the transaction.

This post feels a little disjointed, but I do want to make one more point: I have a tendency to not do things that would call attention to myself because I don't like the positive or negative attention associated with my actions. The friends and family that surround me do not smoke (my brother finally quit a few years back), so if I did then I would be singled out. I'm pretty sure I'd be a casual smoker if my other relatives and friends did it and it was more acceptable in our crowd. Which makes me resent my situation sometimes. Like today. When I'd really like a vanilla Djarum. But I can't. Because someone would notice. And I can't handle that. Murr.

Last thing, I promise: Netflix sent us Thank You for Smoking which we will watch within the next few days. I'm pretty excited to see it. Yip yip!

The magnets are here!

Yesterday I was finally able to take photos of the magnets and upload them to flickr. Today I am able to chronicle them. Here we go:


Cats.

My mom gave me these magnets as a gift when I was a teenager. Somehow they made it through many, many moves despite not always being on whatever refrigerator I rented/owned at the time.


La vache.

My first true love encouraged me to buy this magnet while we were in Belgium. La vache's left ear fell off before I returned to the States, which should have been a sign for our failing relationship. I still have love him, it just wasn't meant to be. I love Hay infinitely more because he actually accepts me for who I am -- quirky and ditzy and uncaring about high-browedness, which is the opposite of what la vache symbolizes for me.


Upside-down kitty and bee balm.

These were created by a local artist who came to my house once and attempted to take professional photos of the kitties. We got one semi-decent photo of Ripley after a very long time of trying and decided to call it a day. She no longer does pet portraits. I like to think I'm responsible for that decision. :)


Moo.

I love Andy Warhol (and his copycatters). I love Ben & Jerry's. Any questions?


Whitney Houston in bunny form.

My friend Kristen has this exact same magnet. I told her how much I liked it. She bought me one. Every time I see it I think of her. (Oh, and the Whitney thing refers to her “kiss my ASS!” quote on Being Bobby Brown. Guess she won't be saying that anymore...)


I heart choking.

My real estate buyer agent likes to send her homeowners little gifts. This was the gift one year for Valentine's Day. I think it's hilarious. I bet it saves my life one day.


Free meal.

These are yearly magnets I receive from Cooking Club of America, to which I am a lifetime member despite never paying any dues whatsoever. I'm really not sure how that is sustainable for them.


Sunflower.

I am a paying member of this club. :)


Klepto.

It's quite possible that I stole this magnet off someone else's fridge, since I have no recollection of obtaining this and have never used their services for any reason.



upS.

I think I got this magnet at a vendor show. But, again, maybe I stole it off someone's fridge.



Truth spoken written.

Mom gave me this magnet, too. Or, was it Gram? One of the maternals. I love it.


Window to the soul.

Also from Mom. Both my brother and I love Winnie-the-Pooh memorabilia. Our favorite is Eeyore, but Mom doesn't like to encourage our darker side so she gives us Christopher Robin and Pooh. I had always intended to put a photo of my niece and nephew in this frame, and never got around to it.


Où sommes-nous?

Clockwise from left: 1. Hay and I went on a trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia a few years back and picked up this magnet at the Citadel. I love it there. I wish it were closer, or that I was like Hiro on Heroes and could teleport. 2. Texas (Lone Star State) is from B. It wasn't broken until I stuck the magnets in my bag to take photos of after work while waiting for Hay to pick me up. Sorry, B. :( 3. My friend and former co-worker went on a business trip to New Jersey to visit a problem client and asked me if she could get me anything while she was there. I asked her for a magnet. Ask and ye shall receive. Apparently. 4. I'm guessing I stole the Houston (ahem, not Austin) magnet or that it was given to us by Hay's best friend who used to live in Houston while working for Microsoft. I think. Or was that Kinko's? Whatever.



Closer-up photos of the state/province magnets as well as all other photos above are available at flickr.

Lily Allen ~ LDN

This wins my award for best video of the year:



Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why, would I wanna be anywhere else?

(Thanks, MK. :)

PNN Breaking News

From: The News Room
To: Blogland

After 3.5 grueling months Poppy has finished reading her certification materials. She is relieved. The practice tests and real exam will occur throughout the next two weeks. She is still relieved and is reported to be doing a sit-down happy dance with a smile on her face.

R and R

I've been a little stressed lately, so I was pretty psyched to have a weekend of fun. I was not discouraged by the fact that I had to drive really really far from home to commit fun acts. Fun acts I committed this weekend include:

1. driving to my friends' house for the first time on my own and getting the directions exactly correct except the very last one which I eventually figured out after reversing in the road a few times ;)


2. not taking my laptop or my certification reading with me so that I wouldn't feel guilty about not working


3. going with said friends to another fair for the purpose of consuming a corn dog, onion rings, and a huge milkshake


4. eating pancakes and smoked cheese scrambled eggs for breakfast


5. watching Blue Man Group live for the first time ever


6. staring at a vast selection of baby booze bottles (what normal people call “travel size”) while my friend purchased fuki plum wine


7. eating a roast beef sandwich the size of my head and more onion rings


8. making fun of a super lousy season premiere of SNL, and being grateful for Studio 60's recognition of said lousiness


9. consuming lattes and more pancakes for breakfast


10. making a pirate coaster for Hay


11. leaving one pound lighter than I arrived

What did you do this weekend?

No, I still have not taken photos of the magnets. See, follow-through sucks.