Saturday, September 30, 2006

Toys in the New Century

I'm not sure how the rest of you feel, but I'm just a little creeped out by those Bratz Baby dolls that I keep hearing about lately. Supposedly they are popular and kids love them, but the way these are designed, you have to wonder if there are a few sick adults out there who like them too. Where is Dateline NBC to catch the freaks who thought of these toys?? I think these are even worse. Fishnet stockings and CFMBs (Come F. Me Boots) add a nice touch! Thank God I played with footballs when I was young!

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Rewards

I would be lying if I said that things were quiet at work. Things have been busy, very busy. Busy is a good thing, though, because it makes the day pass faster. For the past week I have been writing what we are going to call our Publications Procedures Manual. I've actually been working on it for the past month, but this is the week where we were planning on presenting an almost-final draft to one of the board of directors meetings. Essentially it is an instruction manual on how to publish a book from the initial writing stage to the stage when the book is finally in print. Such a manual has never existed before at this company, and I was "tasked" to create one. Being the control freak that I am, I really enjoyed this because I could then set things up in the ways I think are best. And, let's face it, we all know that my ideas are the best. Makes me think, if I ruled the world... Most of these procedures are already being followed as a matter of course, but it needed to be put down in writing. There is always that thought that if we were all hit by a bus and someone had to pick up the pieces (so to speak) this manual will tell them what they need to do.

So as a reward for all of my hard work, I naturally decided to give myself a little treat. A shopping spree at Victoria's Secret always does the trick. There was a sale, so why not take advantage. Since I shopped online, I'll have to wait for my present to myself, but it will be worth it.

Current mood: full from a yummy dinner, chicken cooked in a Dijon marinade.
Current music: random songs from my iTunes library, currently Loreena McKennitt's "Dante's Prayer"
Current drink:
Catena 2004 Malbec

Monday, September 25, 2006

Landscape

Silently you lie beside me
Sleeping softly
Your bare back exposed
A landscape for my hands and fingertips
Lightly and gently I explore
Tracing every line and every curve
Each touch fuels the ache of hunger
Each caress ignites the pain of thirst
I hunger and I thirst and I long for a feast
My hungry lips and thirsty mouth dine on your skin
Slowly savoring...

...work in progress. More to come, or you can use your imagination and take it from here...

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Seasons

Summer sleeps
Cold autumn winds stir golden leaves
Dark gray clouds coast slowly overhead
Rain falls slowly and steadily
In the distance, high mountain peaks stand dusted with snow
I find warmth inside
Hypnotized by the dance of flames on candles
Feeling a rhythmic rise and fall as I rest my head on your breast
Breathing in the scent of your skin, sweet and intoxicating,
I drift to sleep

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Life Lessons

While making penne pasta with a wonderful vodka cream sauce (homemade!), I decided that some simple garlic bread would be a great side. My garlic bread is very simple. Garlic salt, dried parsley, and some Parmesan cheese on some buttered (real butter!) bread. Here is the life lesson. When you use Kraft Parmesan cheese that has been in the fridge, it tends to stick together. The simple solution is to shake the little jar. However, when doing so, be sure that the little lids and cap are tightly closed. After a few hard shakes, my hair was full of Parmesan cheese. Yes, I'm an idiot! I tend to be somewhat hyper and I guess I just shook the jar too vigorously. You would think that I was shaking a martini shaker. Speaking of...

On another note, the weather has been wonderful lately. It finally feels like fall, and things are starting to cool off at night. The rain is falling right now and everything smells wonderful.

Have I said "wonderful" enough in this blog?

Monday, September 18, 2006

Random Statements

I saw something like this in another blog, and I thought it was interesting. It is a list of random statements about one's feelings toward specific people. But the fun of it is that the people aren't named. The plot thickens! Maybe one of these statements is about you... MUUWWWAAAHAHAHA...

1. I loved you dearly but you found a way to make me absolutely hate and despise everything about myself. I'm happy to report that I am doing much better these days now that you're not around.

2. Just because I hug you, that doesn't mean that I want to sleep with you!

3. You opened my eyes and reminded me what true love feels like.

4. I love you like a sister. You've seen and known the best and the worst in me and still you find a way to love me unconditionally.

5. As miserable as we were where we are at, you are the only one who got me through it all.

6. For me, you will always be the sound voice of reason and the one who I can always count on for good and practical advice.

7. I love you with all my heart and all my soul. When I'm with you my love never feels dangerous. Maybe if this were another time and another place...

8. I miss you more than words can express. If only we had more time together!

Maybe more to come...


Friday, September 15, 2006

The Child In All of Us

Regardless of how old we all get, there is always that eternal child in all of us. Today, a coworker and I drove down to Castle Rock to meet with a freelance typesetter to discuss some of our books. We met at 10:00 a.m. at a Village Inn, talked business while we drank coffee, then at around 12:00 we all decided that it was time to eat. We all happened to have breakfast for lunch. There is a certain, simple joy in this. Who knows why we get so excited when we have breakfast for lunch or dinner or a snack late in the evening. And who knows why some of us become children all over again whenever we stay in a hotel. A few months ago when I went to Indiana for a business trip, the first thing I did when I got to my hotel room was look through the desk and dresser drawers for the little hotel pens and stationary. I did this when I was younger, and I still do it at age 31.

I like this. I like to maintain that childlike wonder and curiosity about things. With work, rent, bills, and daily chores, sometimes this adult life is so overrated that you just want to remember the simple things of your childhood that made you happy. This is why I still sleep with a teddy bear and stuffed doggie. I might wear the Victoria's Secret jammies, which makes me feel all adult, but Santa Bear and Snuffy make me feel like a kid every night.

Current mood: relaxed
Current music: Dead Can Dance. Within the Realm of a Dying Sun
Current drink:
7 Deadly Zins, Zinfandel
Current thought:
Happy Birthday, Laura!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The Virtues of Circus Peanuts...

When you shop at Target you are bound to go home with some impulse buys. Today my impulse buy happened to be circus peanuts. I normally don't have a sweet tooth. I have more of a salty tooth, if there is such a thing. Maybe I'll call it a salty tongue, that's different enough...But that just sounds strange. In any event, I'm indulging in my circus peanuts. Sure, a circus peanut isn't something that you'll find in nature, and with the first two ingredients being sugar and corn syrup and the last ingredient being "yellow 6," you know it isn't the healthiest and most organic snack around. Let's face it, this is one step away from eating a sugar cube, but sometimes you just want something sweet.

In other news, I finally went to the liquor store to buy some wine. I didn't go crazy, I only bought three bottles. I'm waiting for the circus peanut taste to leave my mouth before I open a bottle. Any connoseur will tell you that merlot and circus peanuts isn't exactly like pairing the merlot with a sharp cheddar, havarti, or gouda.

Current mood: okay
Current music: Loreena McKennitt "Dark Night of the Soul" from The Mask and the Mirror

Monday, September 11, 2006

Friday, September 01, 2006

The Perfect Night Continues

The rain has been falling.
The candles smell like vanilla.
The wine tastes wonderful.
There is only one thing missing...

Current drink: Seven Deadly Zins, 2004 Zinfandel
Current music: more tunes from my iTunes library, currently Loreena McKennitt "Ce He Mise le Ulaingt (The Two Trees)" from The Mask and the Mirror

Boulder in the Fall

It has been some time since I've written about the weather. It has been warm these past few days. Not hot, just warm. When I left work this afternoon, I was surprised at how much the weather changed in this day alone. It was cloudy, the wind was cold, and the air was cold. My car thermometer said that it was about 60 degrees. It is in the 50s right now, and it is supposed to drop to the 40s overnight. I only wish it was raining or that we were having a thunderstorm right now. That would make the night perfect. Well, perfect after I put on some good music, light a few candles, and open a bottle of wine. It just feels like the perfect cozy, romantic evening.

Current music: various songs from my iTunes library. Currently Dave Matthews "Crash"