*Big DumpTruck*

Lilo and Stitch

WHY DIDN'T YOU PEOPLE WARN ME!

I went to see this today and bawled my eyes out! Maybe it's my current situation, or the fact that I'm a mom with a kid approximately the same age as Lilo, or maybe because I'm just a huge HUGE softy, but man, I was emotionally drained by this movie. Sheesh. And there were kids sniffling all around me, and Junior didn't even want to stay till the end (but we did...I thought it might be important for him to see the happy ending, you know? Not assume it ends badly.

But really, I was wiping tears like a madwoman.

Wasted the Morning!

Ack! I just wasted the WHOLE MORNING doing minor fixes to the main Dump page. Mostly the archives section, but also to the whole template. Shoot me now, I didn't intend to spend so much time on it. Now I'm wondering if it's too late to do the stuff I was going to do today. Maybe not.

I still need to shave my legs. It's too hot to go out in long pants. *sigh* Oh, wait, it's only 79...maybe it isn't?

New Dump

I updated the main Dump using Blogger. Now I can't get in to Topica to send the announcement email. Hmmm.

Well I'll be Danged...

Here's an Article about cosmetic companies and danged if Jane Cosmetics isn't owned by Estee Lauder! See, I knew this was good stuff. They own Almay too, and I like there stuff as well. I'm such a good consumer.

Allergies

I'm a bit distressed that I'm going to have to spent the weekend feeling sorry for myself because of allergies. That would be bad. Junior is in full-blown allergy hell, although this morning he looked better than he has in days. I'm on the downswing, feeling tired, post-nasal drip, lungs just ready for a vacation.

Luckily, my only plans for the weekend aren't anything I can't fit a nap around.

I'm almost out of my Special K Red Berries, so time to hit the grocery store. I got paid yesterday, so all is good. I'm bummed that next week I won't get paid for the 4th of July. "You only get paid for the hours you work" says the company I'm working for. "You could always come in if you want to get paid." Um, no. No thanks. Besides, my security badge isn't good for weekends or holidays.

An Open Letter To...

A reporter wants to interview me regarding my Open Letter To the Ice Cream Man. I have no idea what kinds of questions he's going to ask me, but hey, I'm easy, I'll give it a shot.

Today's Dessert

Here's another reason why it's good to work in a building with a cafeteria...today they had chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. Giant strawberries, thick chocolate. 75 cents eachy. Mmmmmm.

Keeping Busy

I spent a good portion of last night trying to figure out how to automate updates of the main Dump page. I know I did an informal poll of the users about whether they wanted to combine the blog with the Dump so there would only be one page to visit, but that got a thumbs down. Still, the blog is updated daily and the Dump lingers for a month or so, because I have to update it at home while sitting in front of the computer. Everything is updated by hand.

So I think I may have solved the problem. I'll be working on it some more, and will point you to a test area as soon as I have a working model.

VillainSupply.com Home Lair

Just in time for your summer picnic needs, it's VillainSupply.com Home Lair ! I stopped by because I needed to pick up a few items from the henchperson gear catalog. I like to offer my henchmen and henchwomen some new uniforms.

OOOh, I actually have a story in the Daily Probe this week! I haven't been submitting as many stories, but last week I did. Oh, and I was the inspiration for the story "Woman Very Angry at Misbehaving Celeb She Doesn't Know" when I commented on the contributor mailing list for TopFive.com that I was glad they found out Steven Bing is the father of Elizabeth Hurley's baby. Of course, I didn't say what's in the article, it takes good writing to do that.

Dinner

Tonight I'm having leftovers. I actually cooked dinner last night. I can cook dinner if I want to, I just don't always want to. Even less so now that I'm the only adult in the house. I had purchased some sausage over the weekend, and grabbed a few cans from the "pantry" - one small can of sliced mushrooms, one can of diced tomato in juice, and one small can of Italian-style zucchini (they sell it in the peas 'n carrots aisle). So all that tossed in to the pan after the sausage was cooked, topped off with a splash of cooking wine (I didn't have a bottle of the real stuff...I should buy some) and a splash of light cream. Mmmmmm.

Junior just had his sketties with Ragu. Mine was better.

You Like This, Right?

Uh oh, I think I might be the last type of blogger shown in this cartoon. I apologize if that's true.

FiveSevenFive

Got involved in a discussion at work about whether or not the word diapers is two syllables or three. You know, ordinary workday talk. I then asked why it was even being discussed, and Tim pointed me to FiveSevenFive, his site. Very cool. He writes haiku about actual news events. What a great niche!

Jody vs. The Masked Beast

Okay, the gloves are off. This is war. Last night I was cruelly awakened by a noise outside my house. I wanted to call the cops, but decided to look out the window first. There he was, all approximately 40 pounds of him. Rocky Raccoon had knocked over the barrel and was dragging it across the driveway towards the wooded area. Holy cow, he's big and strong. I started making noises and yelling out the window, and he just stopped and looked up at me. I think I saw a "come out HERE and do that" smirk on his face. I swear, it was like watching a nature show. That old Wonderful World of Disney episode with the raccoons in the house.

I ran downstairs to get the camera but it was just too dark where he was. A flashlight in his eyes didn't slow him down for more than 1 second. I watched him remove the lid, and pull out the items that interested him. Yup, garbage everywhere. Two days in a row. I thought he got everything the night before so I wasn't even worried about a repeat performance. Although it was kind of cool to watch him dragging the barrel.

This morning I put on gloves to go clean up his leftovers. Luckily this is trash day.

SUN-day

Jiminy Cricket it's hot as hades out there! Yes, this is the second year in row that this particular birthday party has been a dripping, humid sauna. Yea!

I actually ran under the sprinkler with Junior when we got home after the party. I hope the neighbors will be able to get THAT image removed from their retinas. I did get to sit in a chair out on the deck with my umbrella and my Diet Pepsi. I read 42 pages of a Nora Roberts novel. Is there anything better? Well, okay, it would have been much better if it was 10 degrees cooler with about 40 percent less humidity, but I guess we're stuck with it for the next couple of months.

I may not be that great at math, but according to today's weather over at Yahoo, the high for today is 87, and the low 66. However, it says that the current temperature is 64. Um, doesn't that mean the 66 is wrong?

Test

The Big DumpTruck 6.6.2002

Would You Like Mayo With That?

I guess I made a boo-boo when I put some stuff in the rubbish barrel. The stuff being food-related. When I looked out the window this morning the barrel was on its side and there was garbage on the lawn. Fantastic. So I went to see what was so tempting. Looks like a loaf of moldy bread got eaten, and, voila, chicken. So I guess something wanted a chicken sandwich. Me? I don't think I want either today, not after having to clean everything up. Yuck.

Update on Lipstick

Hey, I just figured out that the 24-hour CVS in town has a whole new selection of Jane cosmetics. I think that means they just discontinued the stuff they were carrying to carry all different stuff. I cannot recommend their "flavored" lipsticks enough. I'm trying to buy one of each of the good colors while I still can. I got a Kiwi one tonight that just seemed to give a slight pinkish-natural shine. GREAT color. And it's kind of transluscent so it looks really natural. Oh well, it's the little things in life, right?

Speaking of little things, I went across the street from CVS to McD's to get Junior a Happy Meal and I hit the drive-thru lottery! They gave us a 9-piece McNugget instead of the 6-piece I ordered. I should go buy a lottery ticket!

First Day of Summer

My sister's family went to the beach this morning. How cool is that, going to the beach on the first day of summer? My parents went along to help out, and let's be frank, to go to the beach. We went to the beach a lot as kids; mom and dad would pack up the car with a ton of really heavy stuff, and we'd leave at about six in the morning. We had an umbrella and a metal cooler. Inside the cooler was about 14 different fruits (peaches, plums, grapes) veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers peeled and sliced into spears), and either sandwiches or cold Kentucky Fried Chicken. For beverages there were store-brand (DeMoulas) flavored sodas - your basic grape, orange, and rootbeer.

Mom would also pack a knife, a salt shaker (with a piece of wax paper under the top so the salt wouldn't come out in transit) and other kitchen accessories. Dad had, in addition to a big furniture pad/quilt thing for a blanket, our towels, the umbrella from our picnic table, buckets and shovels, and beach chairs. Looking back, he must have had 20 arms.

Dad loved to body surf, even if it wasn't called that at the time. Mom didn't always go in the water. We'd also look for starfish, shells, etc, and build castles. When it was time to leave we not only had to carry all that crap back to the car, we had to carry buckets of sea water, which were used to rinse off our feet in the parking lot before we put on shoes and/or got in the car. This same routine happened EVERY time we went to the beach. I'm pretty sure I don't know how to go to the beach with only a towel and a bottle of sunscreen. (Not that this is why I go to the beach).

I Am Still Listening

I have had the new Nik Kershaw CD "To Be Frank" for a couple of weeks now, and I'm still addicted. Addicted, I tell you. The songs get stuck in my head every day (different songs, too.)

It can't just be me. This HAS to be a great album. You've all bought a copy, right?

Junk Mail

Junk Mailers have reached a new low. I got one this morning advertising shower heads. "Just like they use at the big resorts!" Dear God, when will it end.

Ocean's 11

I'm only 6-12 months behind on all the movies I've been meaning to see. Since dropping HBO in an effort to reduce my television-related expenses, I've had limited access to "new" movies. I finally went to Blockbuster, which was a place I've avoided for about 6 months. I picked up two movies (Zoolander and Ocean's 11) and loved them both. Money well spent. Just one question: What the HELL were they thinking casting Julia Roberts in that movie? I was just constantly aware that it was Julia Roberts shoe-horned into a role that would have been better played by some blond bombshell, the type of woman a casino owner would more likely be with.

Plus, Julia's charm is her smile. Her smile is what gets her the big bucks. In this movie her hair and makeup were so severe she looked like she was attending a funeral...and the normal Julia glow just wasn't there. I'm just trying to figure out if they hoped her name on the credit list would bring in more people. I just don't think it was a good choicse.

I really wish I hadn't missed out bidding on the SLUG ON THE SOFA MALE INACTION FIGURINE they had on eBay. Bummer. This would look GREAT on my desk at work.

Beware imitations.

You know what's good? Pie.

Top Five

Wow, I have two entries on today's Top Five List! I really do need to submit more, if in fact my entries will make the list. I was kind of in an "unfunny" mood for a while. I'm better now. I had an entry on yesterday's list as well, but you have to be a paid subscriber to see that one. Non-members (only $12 a year! It's worth it) only see the Wednesday list.

I was just reading a few pages in this week's People Magazine and I have to tell you that I'm pleased to announced that the reason so many of you couldn't tell the difference between me and Britney Spears is that we use the same shampoo, Clairol Herbal Essenses. It explains so much!

Cereal Suggestion

My friend Barb told us Special K Red was good...so I bought some. Damn, she's right! It's got real (dried) strawberries in it so the milk turns red! Yummy

Another Birthday

We have another birthday party to attend this weekend. Can I just tel you how happy I am that so far I've known all the parents at the parties he's attended, so I actually have fun too?

testing the new template

Okay, I'm just testing. I think I like this better, at least for now. Tweak tweak tweak, don't mind me.

The Rain Stopped

Wow, that was a fun weekend. As a grand finale, there as a DOWNPOUR and then the skies cleared. I don't think they held the starburst festival at all over the weekend; I'll have to keep an eye on the paper to see if they reschedule it. It's so close to the 4th that they might not - unless Leominster doesn't have anything planned for the 4th.

I really should look into joining one of the committees that plans this sort of thing. Well, I will if I don't end up working a billion miles from home.

p.s. I don't like the new blog design. I'm going to change it tonight or tomorrow night.

Will The Rain Stop?

Okay, I'm NEVER getting a red tomato on my patio tomato plant if the SUN doesn't come out. We need some warmth, people. The thermostat in my bedroom said 58 this morning...inside the house. (Say that with a voice like you're doing the tv ads for a horror movie..."It's only 58 degrees....INSIDE THE HOUSE!"

New Template

It seemed like as good an evening as any to play around with the blog template. I think the more familiar I get with it, the more creative I can be. Of course, I'm not graphic designer (gee, really?) so it's not as gorgeous as some of the blogs out there.

I hope to be able to get mine as good as some of the ones I've seen: I think I'm going to just have to bite the bullet and figure out how to use Fireworks to slice up graphics so I can have the look I want. Either that or work with some of the BirchBark graphic partners to see if they'll do it for me for free.

Got Help! Thanks!

Wow, someone already came through for me! You guys are GOOD! Now I'm off to look for a free font manager, because I found the BEST free font site. No pop ups, unders or other scary crap. Just lots of really GREAT fonts. So I didn't have to pay $28 for the ones I wanted (although I booked that site because they really are NICE fonts.)

I'm also doing some Blog Jogging tonight. I am trying to find a blog I visited yesterday or the day before. I want to say this is a pretty well-known site, but I am totally blanking on the details. I just remember going to a page where the site owner was corresponding with a person who had sent her one of those Nigerian Scam letters. I need to re-find it because she had sent him a picture of herself edited with Goo software (I assume...anyway, it was something like Goo) that made me nearly pee my pants, and I want to send someone a link. I just don't think that's enough info to find the site again. I probably went to it from Weblogs.com when I was there the other day making sure my site was listed. (That site is basically a list of all the most recently updated blogs, taken from those who have the right code running. Because I use BloggerPro it was just a switch flick for me.) Anyway, those are my two tasks before bed tonight. Wish me luck.

Need a little help here

Does anyone out there have the Playstation game Sheep Raiders? I bought a used copy and it didn't come with a book. That would be okay for most games, but I'll be danged if I can figure out a)strategies, b) what the hell to do with the sheep after I've caught it. I guess I can try looking on the web too, but I thought I'd put the question out there.

Junior is playing it and he doesn't like it because he doesn't want to steal the sheep. He's also changed the default language to Spanish, so all the text on the screen is changed. I just realized that for him, he can read the Spanish just as easily as he can read the English, which is, he can't. I think that's pretty interesting. Cause I'm looking up and he's on some menu, choosing from words that I don't really recognize, and I'm about to say "How can you tell what you're doing" but I realize he can't even if it's in English. Huh.
This question has been asked at least 5 times now: "Why do I have to get the sheep, mom?"

"Well, the game is called Sheep Raiders."

THAT was a fast week...

I can't believe it's Friday again. I JUST wrote last Friday's entry, didn't I? I guess not. Maybe I time travelled.

I guess they fixed whatever part of BloggerPro that was preventing posting by mail from working correctly. Tomorrow I'll try to update this page using my cell phone.

Unless this doesn't publish. Still, it's doing more than it did last week.

Hey! My friend Steve has a Blog now. Gotta put Keeping Score in the list on the left.

You've Got Mail

Never mind. I thought the mail function was working, but I guess it was a mirage. Bummer. That is going to be nifty.

Isn't nifty a good word?

It came to mind this evening because I was contemplating spending $28 for a pack of 10 retro 1950's fonts. I'm doing a reminder letter for the reunion committee for my mom's high school, and I wanted to really perk up the letter. Is it worth $28? What if they don't like it? Well, actually, I'd probably start using the fonts all over my site too. Plus it would be a tax write-off.

Mike the Fish

You know, since I've been going to work every day, I've been really really bad about remembering to feed him. I'm hoping that if he does die I notice in a timely manner. See, this is why I shouldn't own a pet.

Caught Up on Ozzie

Last night was Mommy TV night so I caught up on my Osbournes episodes. I watched two last night before getting sucked up in American Idol. I know they want me to want that one guy (Jack? Jim?) to win, but I don't think it will be him. On the other hand, at this point even if he doesn't win, he's going to get some work in hollywood, I guarantee you that.

Oh wait, I guess I never explained the mommy night thing. See, Mr. Dump moved out a couple of months ago, so last night Junior was at his place. Sorry I didn't clear that up earlier, but I didn't feel comfortable. But it would be silly for me to pretend he still lives here in my blog. I mean, why else would I be mowing my own lawn, right? And before anyone asks, I have no idea what the future holds. What I want and what happens are probably two very different things. But hey, we're muddling through.

Wake UP People!

Okay, maybe it's me. It's possible. But if you enter a ladies room with 10 stalls, why pick one right next to the only one in use? Can I have a LITTLE privacy here? Pick a different stall! One of us might be stinky, and that would be bad!

Also, when someone is coming down the stairs and you start to go up them, for goodness' sake, stay to your side. If you insist on walking up the middle you will look like an ass. Trust me. And there is no reason to brush up against someone just because you are too stupid to move to your right. Wide staircases are wide for a reason.

(Can you tell it's one of those days? It started last night when the dim bulb around the corner and down the street came by for his annual "mowing of lawn that doesn't belong to him." That's right. He's decided that it's his job to mow the strip of grass along the road across from my house, and trim the stuff growing there. Thing is, that properly BELONGS to someone. You can't just go mowing someone else's lawn! I was dying, DYING I tell you, for my new neighbors to go out and confront him. Every year for 8 years now this has blown my blood pressure through the roof, as if it wasn't obvious.)

Okay, just writing about it helps. I'm better now.

Like a Stone

Remember all those posts about my fantasy baseball league being in first place? Well, April was a good month. May was okay. June is horrible. My team can't get runs to save their lives. I think I'm either in 6th or 7th place right now. That is a steep drop, my friends, with no end in sight. I'm not having as much fun now as I was 6 weeks ago.

But I'm a good sport. Maybe they'll all wake up before September.

I'm not a fashion model

I just realized I'm basically wearing the same thing I worse last Friday. It's been cleaned, but still. That's only 2 business days later. I hope nobody noticed.

I'm Somebody!

Okay, I'm on my way to fame and fortune! (I hope)

The [Main BigDumptruck] website was picked up by Seven Wonders as the site of the day, and then that link was picked up by http://www.artigen.com. Let's see if we can snowball this puppy.

Took a walk at lunch with that chick I work with. OH LORD IT'S A PERFECT DAY! Luckily, I spent most of the weekend outside, else I would have burst into bitter tears and refused to re-enter the building. Actually, I fought them anyway.

I am just not getting enough sleep. I can't fall to sleep at night. I keep thinking there is someone in the room, standing over by the closet and I LEAP awake after only being asleep for 30 minutes. That's IF I actually fell asleep. Last night I was awake until midnight, thinking of things like "Does Junior have a bathing suit that fits? What was that noise? Did I leave the new jar of sauce out on the counter or put it in the fridge? What was that noise?"

Glad I Mowed

It was raining this morning! Well that was a surprise. So I'm glad i mowed yesterday. I'm sure my neighbor Beth is glad too. I think we're going to hit the Butterfly Place today. Junior is trying to wrangle my parents into going. The sky is clearing on one site, still cloudy on the other. I vote for the clearing sky, if anyone wants to know how I feel.

Movies to see

Just saw a commercial for Men In Black II. I'm going to go stand in line now and wait for it to come out.

What Really Happened

Nothing horribly exciting, but I did get a chance to check the BirchBark PO box for the first time in a month, plus go to the bank and get a car charger for my cell phone. You know, the important stuff. Then we went to my mother's church for their Italian Festival and ate some pasta. They had a few games for the kids, and Junior actually played and won a couple of skill games! The one that shocked me was the game where you throw a dart (a real one!) at a balloon. It wasn't the biggest or the best, but they had GREAT meatballs, so it was worth the trip. Let's see...also got Junior some canvas sneakers, and mowed the lawn. I was just going to do the back, but then I thought, might as well finish the damned thing so that I wouldn't get gross all over again tomorrow. Oh, and took a bath after mowing the lawn because I was just so yucky. So very very yucky. I had been invited to a party by one of my new (temporary) co-workers, but I don't know everyone well enough to show up with Junior in tow. The host doesn't have kids, so I just thought maybe we'd wait for the next invitation. If he's reading this, and he might be, you can bring my Tiki drink to work for Monday morning. Thanks!

Bed now. At least the lawn is done so I don't have to worry about that tomorrow. I got a used book in the mail today, James Lileks' Notes of a Nervous Man. It's out of print but I found a used copy for $6. I may save it for a day when I really need something funny to read. In the meantime, you can use that link to go to his funny funny funny funny site. Every day. He's another of those people who I wish I could be. I just want to be him. I want to be able to say that the Institute of Official Good Cheer came from my fingertips. And from all accounts, he's a really swell guy. We've exchanged email, and I know someone who's actually had drinks with him. I haven't heard a bad word yet. Maybe I should talk to his wife.

Planning for the Weekend

I love Friday. I get to sit and think of the endless possibilities for the weekend. I could go to the ocean, or the mountains. I could go to Vermont to buy chedder cheese. I could go to Boston on the train, or visit the Worcester Ecotarium and pay $2 to ride the little steam engine around the grounds.

By Saturday morning, the endless possiblities aren't endless anymore, because for some activities you have to have left home already. And maybe you notice that the grass is getting long and it isn't going to cut itself. Oh, and you're out of milk and bread. You know. Real life stuff. But on Friday, anything is possible.

Dump Update Night

I finally found time to update the Big DumpTruck. Whew. I have had this fear for ages that writing this Blog every day would mess up my updating. Well, not that I updated all that often anyway but you know what I mean. There's no burning need, because of the immediacy of this blog. And with Blogger Pro, I'm supposed to be able to send an email to the system and it will automatically update the page. How awesome is that? I have a cellphone that handles SMS messaging, so I could even send an update from, say, Jiffy Lube.

Speaking of which, I was waiting at the lights across the street from the one in town, and I saw one of the Lubers (is that what they want to be called?) use an umbrella to escort a guy over to the garage in the rain. I wonder how that guy felt, having another guy hold an umbrella for him. Of course, it was held a manly 30 feet over his head, and the luber didn't get very close to him. But still...

I guess the storms took a different route. Trust me, I'm happy about it.

Weather

Looks like we're in for an ugly afternoon-evening. I wish I wasn't so terrified of bad storms. But see, I don't want to see everything I have and everyone I love flattened by a twister. Not that they are saying there will BE one, but the weather advisory says "Amateur radio operators and other spotters, please keep an eye on this storm" so what ELSE could they be talking about?

Crap, this stinks because I was going to go take some photos this afternoon for a thing I'm working on. I don't really want an ominous sky in the background or rain splatters on the lense.

Banking

The bank I currently use doesn't consider Saturday a business day (hey! They are open! It's a business day!) so the check I deposited Friday evening STILL isn't in my account. Is this typical? I'm ticked because I need to go to the grocery store and the bank says I have negative available dollars until the check clears. I thought for SURE it would clear by today! Oh well, I think this Friday direct deposit will be in place and all will be right with the world.

Lovin the weather

This past weekend was SPECTACULAR. Low 80's, no humidity, nice breeze. I was outside for 75% of my waking hours the ENTIRE weekend. Today is a beaut as well, but I had no excuse to stay home. In fact, for all I know, there's been a nuclear holocaust and I'm safe here in the building where I'm working. Not that it's particularly bunker-like, but still.

Go ahead, scare me

I was just thinking. The most frightening moment of my whole day was when I picked up the can of soda (caffeine free diet Pepsi) I had been drinking and as it was entering my mouth, I thought "This IS the soda I was drinking today, isn't it?" Nothing worse than finishing off an OLD can of soda.

"Every night I lie awake in agony until my heart attacks put me to sleep." - Chocolate bar salesguy on Spongebob Squarepants

One birthday party down, one to go. I have to tell you, renting a moonwalk is a cool idea. Makes me with Junior's birthday wasn't in January. Cause I think they work much better when it isn't ten degrees with snow on the ground.

The party today has a moonwalk too. I went in the one yesterday, but will probably take a pass today. I don't want to hog all the fun. Well, not right now, at least. Ask me again at about 3 o'clock.