beenie

Okay, so I'm a big sap

Shortly before my wedding, I found (and purchased) the bride and groom Beanie Babies. Shortly after my wedding, I started what some referred to as my "wedding shrine." The top of my entertainment center was covered with all sorts of wedding paraphernalia, and not just mine. Wedding invitations and favors from 5 or 6 weddings joined my bouquet and one of my bridesmaids' bouquets (silk flowers).

Well, for some reaon my brain didn't stop to think that chocolate wrapped in tulle and tied with ribbon (the theme of more than one of the favors) would attract BUGS after oh, say, a year and a half to two years. They were everywhere. Bryan and I went to move everything off the top of the entertainment center to clean and de-bug, and Bryan noticed several little holes in the bottom of my bears! The little fuckers were nesting in my bears!

The bride and groom Beanie Baby bears were wrapped in a plastic grocery bag, together for all eternity, and placed grudgingly in the garbage.

The crying. Oh, the crying. You'd think somebody DIED, the crying. I'm getting verklempt again just thinking about it. :(

Proof that I am a bad person

So says the Dante's Inferno Test:

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Seventh Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Very High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Moderate
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very High
Level 7 (Violent)	Extreme
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Moderate

Take the Dante Inferno Hell Test

Freaks and Geeks

I saw an article about the 10 geekiest things on Fark the other day and thought I'd read it to see where my friends fit in, seeing as they do some pretty geeky things (at least according to "mainstream society"). Needless to say, I was not surprised.

Here you go... (my comments emboldened):

• 10. Comic Books Yep, got a couple of those friends (and a recovering family member)

  Public Humiliation: 49.5%
  Our studies show that comic book geeks are normally solitary, but engage in very noisy arguments when gathered in numbers. These are usually based on the most recent superhero movie, and how much it sucked. This sucking is always measured in direct relation to the number of continuity problems between it and an issue of The Incredible Hulk, which to be honest, had some problems of its own like the Abrams tank with the completely wrong size smoothbore turret and the Hulk’s hair just all of a sudden being parted the other way! Safety Tip: If your comic book geek isn’t loudly complaining about something, check carefully – you might have blacked out and killed it.

  Damage to Sex Life: 68.7%
  When you’re finished showing someone your chart of all the ways Magneto’s hat in X-Men 2 was incorrect, it’s going to be a long, uphill battle to then have sex with them. And to make matters worse, the faulty shape of the dong port in the movie’s version of Magneto’s hat will make having sex with it even harder.

  Distinguishing Characteristics: Comic book geeks wear a uniform of a faded Green Lantern t-shirt and a confrontationally unkempt appearance. Upon reading this characteristic, two friends immediately lept to mind.

• 9. Role Playing Games (Oh my gosh, I can't count the number of friends - including my husband! - who are into this. To be fair, my husband is currently on hiatus, unsure as to whether he will return, but still...)

  Public Humiliation: 63.4%
  Dungeons and Dragons combines the nerdiness of a fantasy setting with the fruitiness of improvisational theatre, and as if that weren’t enough for them to deal with, the rest of us think these people are going to go crazy and kill us. It’s really hard for society to do more to tell you that if you play this game, you’re on your own.

  Damage to Sex Life: 78.0%
  We weren’t exactly sure on this figure, since a 78% means that there’s still a 22% chance of a woman walking by role players and one of them saying, “A minotaur? Here in the Dungeon of Kajmar!? Very well, I swing my axe of axing at th- why hello there, pretty lady. My name’s Twinkleberry, The Spritish Pegasus. Why, as a matter of fact I AM single.”

  Distinguishing Characteristics: An RPGeek either wears a black heavy metal shirt or, in tragic attempts at stylishness, a button-up shirt with a wrap-around dragon and flames. (Oy, the clothing!!!)

• 8. Scrapbooking (I have friends - and they're starting to drag me in)

  Public Humiliation: 86.2%
  Most people tend to avoid scrapbookers in an effort to prevent their photo from being pasted between a floral border along with a word bubble shouting, “Are we having fun yet!” Scrapbookers have an insatiable hunger to date and catalogue precious moments, and many fear that these keepsakes are being collected to one day be used in an evil plan to flood the world with vomit.

  Damage to Sex Life: N/A
  People who make scrapbooks do not have sex organs like you and me. As required by the Code of the Scrapbookers, after the completion of their first book of cherished memories, surgeons replace their genitalia with paste dispensers.
  (Sorry, I can't handle that mental image)

  Distinguishing Characteristics: You’ll know these people because they’re always leading a small parade of their offspring in karate, ballet, scout or soccer uniforms. And according to shocking facts learned from these people’s sweatshirts, their children THINK THEY’RE AN ATM! (Okay, so my scrapbooking friends don't have kids yet, but they'll be coming. And holy cow I can just see the scrapbooks now. There will be an entire book dedicated to Baby's First Shit)

• 7. Star Wars I don't know anyone who goes to conventions or stuff like that, well, except for Rayna, whom I haven't spoken to in two years, but most of my friends and a few family members are into it)

  Public Humiliation: 82.1%
  Before the lame-ass new Star Wars movies, we might have let it go if we saw a Lando Calrissian or an Ewok waiting in line for a movie. Not anymore. Anyone disguised as a Jedi in this day and age had better have been helped into that costume by a caregiver assigned by the state to assist their special needs. Related Trivia Fact: Admiral Ackbar is the guy with the fish head from Return of the Jedi that screams things like, “Shorshenblorg borshchortle!”

  Damage to Sex Life: 54.6%
  Dressing like Darth Vader creates a number of sexual obstacles. First you have to find someone who doesn’t mind dating the dark lord of geeks, and from this point on the sentence is moot since you won’t, and then they have to safely be able to dig their way through your codpiece of cybernetic space enhancements. Impossible. Plus, the speech that Darth Vader gave to Natalie Portman in Episode II (about how she was so great because she wasn’t like sand) is going to hang over the heads of evil single Jedi for generations. On the other hand, the strict moral code of the good Jedi prevents them from touching naked women with anything other than a light saber. And that, of course, would kill them. On the third hand, I have this theory I’ve been meaning to test that jumping into a room naked and screaming like Chewbacca would be super erotic. Keep in mind, however, that my last theory, “Wouldn’t it be sweet if these were like, FLYING condoms?” went largely ignored by the sex community.

  Distinguishing Characteristics: Overweight, casually strolling into the center of the room, and then when you least expect it, bursting into a blinding Jedi combat storm with a golf ball retriever.

• 6. Vampirism Had a friend like this in high school/college

  Public Humiliation: 90.0%
  When enjoying Tim Burton movies and the Cure aren’t enough to express your artistic depression, you turn to vampirism. This type of geek gathers with its kind to simulate vampiric society through a game of milling around and giving each other spooky threats in untraceable fake accents. Beginner’s Tip: The costumes and makeup required for this hobby are elaborate, so if you don’t have time every morning for a Dracula makeover, you can send the same message by just wearing a sign reading, “I hate my parents and my classmates beat me.” To make this slightly more vampiric you may want to add the word “Blah!” at the beginning and end of the sentence.

  Damage to Sex Life: 14.9%
  One danger of vampiric sex is that many singles within in these communities are actually undercover vampire hunters waiting to jam a stake into you while you’re struggling to untie your corset. Aside from that hazard, though, it’s all good news: The dark creatures breed some pretty sexy people jammed into some skimpy leathery outfits. If you don’t mind making out with someone who, like you, tastes like stage blood and cigarettes, you can lead an exciting sex life of the night.Oh my god was he hot. And he had a thing for me in high school, but I was way too blinded by my lust for his best friend to date him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Although, he turned out to be gay - so maybe not so stupid after all. He was one of my best friends and helped keep me sane throughout college, and for that I'm grateful - I miss him.

  Distinguishing Characteristics: Vampires are difficult to spot. Keep an eye out for the group of restless magician corpses with simulated human remains dripping from their mouths. One way I’ve found to make sure they’re real vampires is to scream, “Skeletor!” and see if they cheer in agreement.

• 5. Collectible Card Games (Got some of those friends, too - are you sensing a pattern?)

  Public Humiliation: 96.8%
  Some experts claim that living a moment of completely pure humiliation is impossible, since that can only be achieved through some kind of lethal masturbation accident. But those experts have never seen the shame on a grown man’s face who’s just been caught by someone he knows playing Pokemon cards with a 10-year-old stranger in a hobby store. Not true. I've known a few grown men (i.e., 18 and over)who were more than happy to play CCGs with 10-year-olds and didn't care who knew it. Of course, most of them were either divorced or never married and were living in shithole apartments or with their parents.

  Damage to Sex Life: 89.3%
  All the carefully constructed card decks and assault strategies become useless once these geeks discover that a woman’s vagina contains no defending dragon harpies. Ha ha, that’s one of those double ironic jokes, because anyone who took high school biology knows that they actually DO.

  Distinguishing Characteristics: This geek is always carrying a backpack, at least one more type of case for emergency miniature statues, and a thick layer of atrophied blubber to drip feed them nutrients. Or Mountain Dew and cigarettes

• 4. Everquest (Several friends have played, a few do, my husband has been in recovery for a while. My former supervisor AND manager both play, as do/did quite a few coworkers. The number of people I know who either play or have played EverQuest is rivaled only by the number of people I know who either roleplay or have roleplayed)

  Public Humiliation: 70.1%
  Since this game is played over the computer, most people would never know you played it unless you told them. However, if you’ve ever known anyone that’s played Everquest, you know that the part of their brain that allows them to keep the details of their quest for level 8 Vorpal chaps to themselves has long since been destroyed. Ain't that the truth?

  Damage to Sex Life: 99.8%
  While other geek hobbies act as intercourse repellent, this game is so addicting to its users that it will actually destroy any sex life they might have, through some kind of groin miracle. And with all the male players pretending to be girls to get magical gifts, no one’s inter-gender social skills are going to be finely tuned when or if they ever pull themselves away from imaginary adventuring. Didn't happen to my sex life while Bryan was playing, but a guy we know lost a girlfriend over it, so yeah, I guess his sex life went to pot.

  Distinguishing Characteristics: If someone looks like they and their gut have spent the last three days together in the same clothes, and they’re secreting Mountain Dew out of their pores, that’s a good sign of Everquest. The other is the wistful look in their eyes that yearn to gaze upon lizard warriors killing hobbits. Sounds about right.

• 3. Star Trek Thankfully, I know no Trekkies.

  Public Humiliation: 86.2%
  These geeks used to be called Trekkies, but now insist on the less derogatory term Trekkers(oh, excUUUUUse ME!!), which is the image control equivalent of adding a koala bear to the Nazi flag. They tend to be unobtrusive, but for every hundred Trekkers polite enough to obsess in their own homes, there’s some bastard singing at the karaoke bar in Klingon and a computer repairman demanding that his coworkers address him by his Starfleet rank. Before you laugh, though, there’s almost assuredly a third one building something that can vaporize your non-Star Trek ass from orbit.

  Damage to Sex Life: 93.4%
  While it’s true that ladies crave fat men with pointy ears and a strong armpit odor, those green aliens that Kirk used to bone created a standard of beauty for Trekkies that no Earth woman can live up to.

  Distinguishing Characteristics: If someone approaching you is more machine than man and threatening to assimilate you, it’s either a Star Trek enthusiast or an android lost in time. Either way, it’s your duty as a human to smash it.

• 2. Furries/Plushies (Once again, I know noone of this persuasion - who has admitted it, anyway)

  Public Humiliation: 99.95%
  Furries are people who dress like animals to have sex with each other, usually without regard for gender of their mate or the species of their costume. If that’s tough to wrap your head around, picture McGruff the Crime Dog coming to your school and humping your mascot’s leg. Plushies have a similar hobby, but instead of having sex with nerds dressed as animals, they consummate their relationships with their stuffed animals. I’m sure you’ve heard of these people; they’re the main reason the Care Bears declared war against us.

  Damage to Sex Life: -9.2%
  For a plushie out on the prowl, the good news is that barnyard puppets just can’t say no. And as for the furries, they don’t seem to be picky about who they mount. Maybe because they’re ecstatic to find other people with the same debilitating social handicap as themselves, but most likely because everyone looks hot as a six-foot chicken. I mean, who’s with me, how do you not [Censor’s note: you really didn’t want to read this part we cut] all the way into its chicken hole!? Eeeeeeeeeeeeew!!

  Distinguishing Characteristics: You’ll know furries and plushies because they’ll either be wearing a crotchless panda suit or just a screaming teddy bear firmly against their crotch, respectively. I am now scarred for life, and will be snuggling - NOT molesting - my stuffed animals just a little tighter tonight.

• 1. Live Action Role Playing (IIRC, I believe I might know one or two people who are into this)

  Public Humiliation: 100%
  Live action role playing, or LARP, is a nerd’s parent’s worst fears come true: Dungeons and Dragons has finally made their child go crazy. These people dress up like fantasy characters and go on adventures where other nerds play the parts of enemy monsters, which would be fine if the participants were in the second grade. When adults do it, it’s like a renaissance faire and backyard wrestling met, had demonic babies, and gave them weapons. This totally cracked me up.

  Damage to Sex Life: 100%
  If you and your team of paladins are thinking about leaving your mom’s basement to move your fantasy quests into society, you might as well leave your genitals behind.

  Distinguishing Characteristics: Aside from the barbarian clothes and giant monster heads, it’s impossible to know who might be LARPing. The only way to be sure is when they throw make-believe fireballs at you from their very fingertips, but by then... it’s already too late.

So there you have it, folks. Proof that I am surrounded by geeks. They're actully a very fun bunch of people, and I wouldn't have it any other way (well, except maybe the wardrobes).

babies babies everywhere!

Coming in a little late, but congrats, Kathy!!! :D I still remember the voice mail when Little One #1 was born like it was yesterday.

It's the little things...

Just a random smattering of little things that have made me happy recently:

• My hair came out great!
  
• My mother-in-law brought over our belated anniversary present - a new vacuum (is it sad that a new vacuum exictes me?)!!
  
• She also gave me a "make your house smell good" tip - put a dryer sheet in by the vacuum bag... mmmmmmm.
  
• I made a rum spice cake yesterday, and it's yummy!
  
• I made said cake in a bundt pan purchased specifically for the occasion - sprayed it with a little cooking spray and when I went to invert the cake on a plate, I swear it just fell right out of the pan - score!
  
• I'll be making chili later for us to eat for lunch during the week.
  
• I'm going grocery shopping in a little while - yes, I'm a dork - I love to go grocery shopping.
  
• My dad graduated college this week - yay Daddy!!! I'm VERY proud of him.
  
• Watched two movies that I'd been wanting to see (Fahrenheit 9/11 and Supersize Me - scary stuff, on both accounts).
  
• House to myself for a few hours two days in a row! Now I just have to figure out what the heck I'm going to do/where the heck I'm going to go when I reciprocate that doesnt involve spending a lot of money.
  
• Mmmmmm, cold skim milk.
  

I've been feeling pretty down lately, so it's nice to think of the good things.

Speaking of the weather...

I really shouldn't complain too much. Growing up in NY and living in WI for 6+ years, I should be used to this. However, I found out this week that my old supervisor is in town. We left our previous company on the same day - me for greener pastures as a manager with a 5-minute commute (as opposed to the HOUR I used to drive), she for the much greener and warmer "pastures" of Hawaii. This weather has got to be killing her. Bundle up, Chey!!

QuoteOTD

I have no idea who said this, but I think I need to make this my new philosophy:

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WHOO HOO - what a ride!"

To that end, I'm going to be a daredevil and color my hair today (wheee!) Now, that doesn't seem very exciting, but to me, it is. I have a color picked out and I'm nervous. I love the way I look with dark hair, but the last time I tried to go dark brown, my hair was so damaged at the time that it wound up black - so this will be an adventure. Wish me luck!!

Here is what will hopefully be my end result (except not that cut - my hir is mid-back length, past my bra strap, and I think I'll keep it that way for a while):

Now, I just have to be brave enough to actually go OUT to get it. According to weather.com, it's 43 degrees, feels like 34 with the wind chill. Brrrr!

It never ceases to amaze me...

...that fall isn't everyone's favorite season - look at these colors! Gorgeous!!

Love it love it love it.

Oh, gross!

You are Fluffy Mackerel Pudding!! You somehow
manage to combine seafood and dessert into your
wonderfully fluffy world. We should all be as
tolerant of New Taste Sensations. And of
big-yolked eggs.


What Weight Watchers recipe card from 1974 are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Maybe I'm just not as "good" a person

I believe I posted about my cousin's baby at some point, but I can't find the post. My oldest cousin on my mom's side has two children, the younger of which has a condition called Diamond Blackfan Anemia. Now, all of this info is third-hand because I get it from my mom, who gets it from her sister-in-law (baby's grandmother), so I don't know what - if anything - is getting lost in translation, but here goes... Caleb needs regular blood transfusions and will most likely eventually need a bone marrow transplant. He's somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 months old right now, and only recently crossed the 20lb. mark - a transfusion can't take place until he weighs 40lbs. So unfortunately, he's not a very healthy little guy and a lot of work (not to mention travel) goes into keeping him as healthy as humanly possible.

My aunt and uncle (Caleb's grandparents) became Born Again Christians when I was very small, if not before I was born. They have done missionary work, etc. They are currently in the process of selling their house and moving to Guam for what they say will be "at least 10 years" to be missionaries.

Now, call me crazy, but if I had a grandchild who was as ill as Caleb sounds, I don't think I could move halfway around the world for any length of time, let alone 10 years. I'd want to spend as much time with that child as I possibly could, and make sure I was there to be helpful and supportive for my child and child-in-law who had to deal with the ups and downs of being a parent to a sick toddler. I can understand that they're feeling "the pull of the Lord," but honestly, I have to believe my pull toward my children would be stronger.

But that's just me.

I'll buy that

You are a neurotransmitter. You believe in the
good-naturedness of man's biology and soul.
You're happy, everyone's happy, and no one will
ever take that away from you. Or else you'll
make them go insane.


Which Biological Molecule Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

SPd from Erica.

Please help if you can...

The following was posted on one of my favorite message boards. Please consider helping if you are able.

-----------------------------------------------------

(Please feel free to copy/paste this post on other boards or in your own letters. Please be sure to include a pre-addressed envelope with any letters to the Kennesaw, GA address below. - Thanks! )

I am writing to solicit your help in providing hope to Ken Williams, along-time friend and colleague, and his wife Lisa. They are working hard right now, along with their three teenage sons, to raise funds for a heart transplant that will save her life.

After twelve years of living with cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes her heart to progressively weaken over time, Lisa’s life has become very difficult. A heart transplant offers important hope to save her life, and she is listed for the procedure at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Ken and Lisa have medical insurance, but because of the tremendous expense involved they must still raise $100,000 for her portion of the transplant-related expenses. This amount includes a lifetime of anti-rejection medications, biopsies, lab tests, physicians’ fees, and hospitalizations.

That is why I am asking for you to join those of us who are helping.

The National Foundation for Transplants (NFT), a non-profit organization with over 20 years assisting the transplant community, is working with us to develop and administrate fund-raising efforts on her behalf. A campaign honoring Lisa has been organized her in Atlanta, and will enable NFT to pay for the care she must have to live a full and productive life.

You can make a difference with your generosity to ensure that Lisa receives this “second chance at life”. Your donation is greatly appreciated and will help provide the support that is now desperately needed.

You may directly donate in one of two ways...

1. Please make your check payable to “National Foundation for Transplants”, and (this is very important) with the notation “In honor of Lisa Williams” on the memo line. Send it to...
National Foundation for Transplants
P.O. Box 440232
Kennesaw, GA 30160

2. Go to www.transplants.org, click on “Campaign Donations”, and choose "Lisa Williams" to make a secure online donation.

It will take you less than five minute to help with the gift of life.

If you have any questions about NFT or the fundraising campaign for Lisa, please contact NFT at 800-489-3863. If you live in Atlanta and can assist directly in our campaigns, please PM me or call me at 770-329-8921 to get put to work!

Thank you for your consideration, and for your help.

Peace,
Kevin Eicher
aka "Grayson"

-----------------------------------------------------

Thank you for anything you are able to do to help.

I want to go back... EVERY DAY

For my birthday dinner, Bryan and some friends and I went to The Melting Pot. As the name might imply, it's a fondue restaurant. Oh. My. God. We spent waaaaaay too much money (i.e., the money we had originally intended for dinner PLUS the amount of the birthday check I got from my parents), but oh my goodness was it worth it. To start, one of my girlfriends ordered a bottle of Asti. Man, do I love me some Asti. I also had a glass of shiraz (Ravenswood, Australia/California, 2000, to die for - and now that I see from wine.com that it's only $11.99 a bottle, I'm torn between being pissed that I paid $8.50 for my glass and being thrilled because I'll actually buy it at that price).

Bryan and I ordered "Fondue for Two," which includes a cheese fondue starter (comes with breads and veggies for dipping), salad (huge) and a meat fondue entree. We had the entree called "Signature Selection," which included chunks of raw tenderloin, black tiger shrimp, chicken, teriyaki sirloin and fresh fish (which was mahi-mahi last night). You cook your meat on your fondue fork in a boiling broth - for our broth, we had Coq au Vin, which had mushrooms and burgundy wine in it. They also bring out several sauces for dipping. The curry sauce was wonderful.

For dessert, we all shared two different types of chocolate fondue - dark chocolate fondue and S'Mores fondue. For dipping, there was cheesecake, pound cake, strawberries, pineapple, brownies, bananas and nutty marshmallows. And "adult" coffee. I had the FAB Coffee, which has Frangelico, Amaretto and Bailey's in it. Yum!!!!

My wallet may have been screaming, but my stomach and my mood were singing.

Happy birthday to me, indeed!! :D

Thanks, Mommy

It is now officially after midnight, the beginning of October 2, 2004.

Exactly 28 years ago this very minute, my mother had no idea she'd go into labor in les than 12 hours and would give birth to what some members of my family would wind up referring to as "the best baby in the world" in less than 24 hours.

Thanks, Mommy. And happy birthday to me. :)

And happy birthday also to Tea, and to Jona's mom, and happy anniversary to Quizmistress and hubby and to Mr. and Mrs. McNeil!!

How did I not know this?????

Today is the Second Annual BlogACatMas!!

Apparently, you're supposed to post a pic of your cat(s) on your blog on the first Friday of October.

{checks calendar} Weeelll, lookee here! It's the first Friday in October!

Snowball is the first kitty that's ever been mine (well, have to share with Bryan, but he's ours!). I brought him home on August 15th, after a 6-year hiatus during which I desperately wanted, but couldn't have, a kitty. He is SUCH a mush - he sleeps in bed with us, and I swear he's part dog sometimes - when I come home for lunch and for the day, he greets me at the door, meows until I pick him up, and lets me hold him and smush him and love him for at least 10 minutes, all the while purring like a little motorboat. Oh, and apparently potty time is snuggle time - he likes to curl up in my arms while I'm... well, you know.

Anyway, here's a picture (okay, more than one) of my furry love.

A LOT about me

Items in bold are things I've done, items in italics are some I'd like to do. I've added a few thoughts in parentheses. Via Malia and Casey.

I've also put it in the extended entry so it doesn't take up darn near the whole screen.

01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula.
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights (Three words: OH. MY. GOD.)
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables (only if herbs count - I don't have any land on which to grow veggies, but we had a LOT of basil last year)
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby's diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity (granted it wasn't much, but it was more than I could afford at the time)
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight (it happened once in a while my junior year of high school, but one day I wielded a tater tot that left a red mark on Matt Minelli's forehead that was still there 3 periods later)
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (multiple times)
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier (no, but I photocopied my foot the other day)
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced (my girlfriend Carrie on her 21st birthday... 'nuff said)
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends (still do)
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government's official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight (That one gets even funnier as I get older.)
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don't regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who's not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight (I have not done this, but there have been roleplaying games in my house that have gone on for more than 6 hours while I was home)
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie (amatuer)
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn't have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch (more times than I can possibly count. Sherri's got an awesome recipe)
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don't remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
118. Buried one/both of your parents (came way too close for my liking about a month before my wedding though)
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check (more than I care to remember/admit)
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy (well, I never had it as a kid, but I have an Easy Bake Oven, and tomorrow I'm going to a paint-your-own ceramic thing place)
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. ...more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived.
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone's heart
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name (last name, anyway)
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them
183. ...and gotten 86'ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions (I'm not sure if there's been one, but if there was, I skipped it)
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196: Dyed your hair
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199: Written your own role playing game (I have friends who have)
200: Been arrested