Rob's Halfway House - #10

[Tornado]

Hm, you take care of yourself, Sean.

[smitten_by_twilight]

Hello sibs!

Its been a miserable week, bookended by horrible days, but it's over now. Now I'm catching up the Lex blog, chillin. I'm totally behind again though. This is how I do it to myself: wednesday I draw a hard line in the sand with my department manager and tell her I can't take any more until I catch up my paperwork and she basically says ok. Thursday she calls me at my own office and says we might have a case coming in Saturday that would take 20 hrs, and paused. That's it, she didn't ask, she just paused. These are the cases I regularly take. And I said ok, but nothing else, and immediately felt frustrated with myself. I talked with her today and we fixed it, but this is what I do, repeatedly.

Son had a band concert this week and did nicely. Taking guitar this summer, my little musician.

Movie rec of the week: We Are the Night, an interesting German film (wir sind die nacht) about good and evil, humans and vampires, and love. These vamps are "bad" and there is lots of vamp violence. They remind me of how the Denali sisters might have been before they went vegan. Available from Blockbuster online in the States.

Amy - It is wonderful to hear the Sempre love! I'm going to try to load EP on my Nook - I can't think of a better use for my e-reader than Twific. Wow, there are non-Twi books worth reading? JK. Enjoy Ms. Rice! I love her vampire and mummy books and am eyeing her new wolfie book, but all the witchy ones are a leetle too much for my morbid imagination.

Ann Marie - You are a very good friend to make a birthday cake from scratch. Happy Birthday, Simon! I hope your mum will be all right. That waiting period between having the test and getting the results is killer.

Caryn - What does holy UNK mean? This is how I am lulled by Rob's back: I lie down to sleep and close my eyes to better recall the image. A broad grin spreads across my face as my imaginary focus follows the lines of his back down and up, down and up. And I pass out, which is what I do anytime I hold still long enough. Rob's back is an excellent focus point for my distractible mind.

Desiree - It sounds like congratulations are in order for you! Wow, two kids, new baby, and school. You make me feel like I might be lazy! Good job, honey!

Jaclyn - I hope the chili was yummy! How does your hubs (hubs!) Make it? I will PM you about MoBS.

Lulu - So neat that you and hubs can teach swing! We missed going this week (no babysitter), but we'll keep trying!

Lynne - To me, fanfic drafts are like special, unexpected gifties. Got it and plan on starting today. I keep thinking about young actors with dark hair and eyes, and pulling blanks. I'll keep thinking!

Sean - Your Kris dream sounds like a Bella dream! I am familar with prediabetes, and weight loss is the right way for you to go, so kudos to you cuz it's hard work. I agree with Caryn and others that Kris is growing in confidence naturally as a young woman should, and deservedly so, with everything she has mastered. I do want to add that I think Kris and Rob were very wise to downplay their relationship during filming of the Saga. Don't think I'm a troll - I'm Robsten all the way! - but when you're entering a relationship, you never know how long it will last. Avoiding the topic not only kept commercial pressure off the relationship (commercial pressure can wreck a relationship easily), but this way they also didn't have the pressure of knowing that if anything happened, it would be hideously public on a Brad-and-Jen level, and that could have poisoned the relationship too. Now those pressures are off, and they just have the "normal" pressures of any other young, lovely, really wealthy internationally famous celebrity couple. LOL!

Susie - It's great how the Muppets can be wholesome and still hip and wicked funny, isn't it? I'll keep you posted re: the job interview!

Tonise - It sounds like you have a very mixed bag of good and bad for school next year. I hope you enjoy the departmentalization! Have fun at your conference!

Tracey - Yay Muppets! You know, I've been realizing lately that my Twi-obsession did not exactly spring full-grown from my forehead. I've always been into different things; Muppets and Tolkien, Tom Clancy, Anne Rice, Harry Potter, and now Twilight, my deepest obsession. Well, I knew I had OCD tendencies.

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[marielle]

Hello everybody....

I'm exhausted!!! But I had so much fun... and I didn't even get sunburned today...
If you want to see pics I have placed a bunch on my FB page...

I'll post tomorrow properly!!

[Chernaudi]

Hi everyone.

Anyone see the photos of Kristen in Mexico? Liked her causal top and slacks, but those shoes... They look good, but the poor girl! Those have to be about the least comfortable shoes she's ever worn. They're transparent, and you can see how her feet get contorted. Is it little wonder if I was her BF I'd offer her foot rubs and pedicures? I'll bet that she had the sneakers near by.

It's also odd a bit that Kristen wore sneakers with her outfit from the Spanish TV show: Red sneakers, black slacks, sheer black top and her favorite jacket. Heels would've gone better with that outfit, but I think that Kristen knew that she'd be moving around a lot on that show, while with the deal in Mexico, she'd be mostly sitting.

Other than that, I'm gonna try and catch KS on Graham Norton, but maybe not tonight. The NASCAR All-Star race is on, and even though I'm probably not gonna watch it, my brother will and he'll have the TV most of the night. At least my older brother will be taping it for me.

I'll be back later

[Tornado]

Morning all!

It's a quiet Sunday morning here. I've just got back from the markets, and we'll wash the cars later (fun, fun, fun!), but we're just going to take it easy today.

Brenda - I have trouble saying no as well. It's hard, isn't it? You know, since I've been looking at fanfics I've found a couple that I like, although not many. I'm so incredibly fussy! If no one can find any huge problems with my fanfic I'll post it on the fanfiction site soon.

[Chernaudi]

Hi everyone

Lynne: Almost everyone in my family is either diabetic or borderline with it, and they're all living productive, healthy lives. If I'm not diabetic, fine. If I am, it's not the end of the world. It's no surprise to me or anyone else in my family, because we're all the same with that.

Everyone: Today is my father's 56th birthday, and tomorrow is Cher's 66th. Of course, I'll have to wait until August for any other birthdays--my older brother's is the 21st (36) and my mother's is the 28th (54).

And my brother is recording Graham Norton for me--Kristen will be on, remember, and it's on at 11:00 on BBC America--and I liked her get up for her visit to Mexico for SWATH promo. It probably cost a fraction of some of her dresses, but she looked just as good. I don't like her shoes from the stand point that they seem to be the most uncomfortable things that she's ever worn. But I also like them, too--as some have put it on IMDB, because of all the transparent panels on it (only the toe tip is an opaque yellow panel), it seems like a bikini for her feet, and some have even called it shoe porn or foot porn

I'll be playing some GT4 later on and I'll be checking in on the NASCAR race--though I probably won't really be watching it.

I'll be back later

[GrayceM]

My goodness! Have I been off here that long...? Let's see if I can catch up...12 pages later...
Let me say before I get to the posts that we had a great trip. Was a welcomed vacation in a land with no cell signal. Well, except at the top...but my Blackberry "gave up the ghost" and so Monday, since I had the day off, I went to get a Droid Razor... I haven't figured out everything yet, but am working on it. I think I'm going to like the voice features since the only time I seem to be able to "play" with my phone is on the road. I never have any time...
I hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day. Mine was uneventful. The boys were with their mother and we were on the road almost all day on the way back from KY. We are going to cancel our trip for June...no one has the funds to go every month like we used to.
We're going to meet my mother and stepfather next weekend for lunch and the town we're going to has a miniature/dollhouse store! It's about 3 1/2 hours away, which is probably a good thing or I'd be broke all the time. The husband is putting up cabinets in the basement so I can move all the stuff I have upstairs down there.
Here's the arrangement. For Christmas this past year, we decided our present to ourselves would be a bigger TV for the living room...and I've also asked for surround sound. This house is built so oddly, you can hear the TV better in every part of the house except the living room, where the TV is. It's build similar to a cabin. The entertainment center we had at our other house is upstairs in the "loft" outside our bedroom. We have our computers up there but I've taken over the entertainment center with my mini stuff. He want's to move the TV we have now upstairs so I told him I didn't mind putting that stuff in the basement. So, it's the middle of May and the youngest is downstairs sealing the block walls/painting so he can put cabinets up and we can rearrange all this stuff. Then he can move this TV and we can finally get our Christmas present.
I am going to begin reading "The Vampire Diaries". I've heard the show was great but I haven't watched it because I wasn't sure it was going to last...
Hard to believe the gas prices are coming down a little bit. I think because of Memorial Day coming up and if anyone expects to be able to go anywhere, they will have to be able to afford to get there. Last year was a bad year for most tourist towns I think...because gas went way up right before Summer. Let's see 1994, average across the US was $1.00 a gallon...2005 after hurricane Katrina gas went to over $3 a gallon...then back down to $2-$2.50 for a few years. Last week when I filled up my 11 gallon tank, price was $3.55. Today it's down to $3.51. I may finally be able to save some of my paycheck! Instead of spending half to get to work...

Okay now let's see what I can do about posting back what's still relevant.

Brenda - They sure did pass the Amendment. Now, it's just gotten unreal...
My Father, bless his soul, would haunt me if I went near the Democrats. I remain registered Republican but I have not always voted for that candidate. He was chairman of the GOP in our county for 8 years. I was working political functions when I was 9 years old...passing out flyers, making phone calls to get people to vote, stuffing envelopes...went to all sort of dinners and conventions, even went to Regan's inauguration in '84 but it was -20 F so they had to have it indoors and we didn't get to go to that actual event.
That was my 2nd trip to Washington DC with the folks...my 2nd bad experience...(almost got frostbite in three of my fingers, walking from the subway 6 blocks back to the hotel in heels, holding a friend's arm because of ice and snow on the sidewalks. I was 14. No gloves and didn't have a clue until we got to the hotel coffee shop. My hand started to get warm and I started bawling. Very painful. Daddy had to come down and carry me back up to the room and then held me in his lap while he ran cold water over my fingers. I still lost feeling in them for several months after that but at least I didn't lose them. The whole trip was great, up until that point.
The first experience, I was only about 6...not much to remember except pitching a fit over sandles that my mom didn't want me to get and then walking until the blisters on my feet bled.
I may think more seriously about changing careers when my current school loan is gone and the boys are at least more on their own. That's only another year really. Youngest will be 15 and the oldest 18...possibly gone to military...we'll see what's in store.

Lynne - I'm excited to "Like" your author page. I've posted a few times for you...using my alter ego, (Beth by the way...)
I would love to read your fanfiction. I think I sent my email for the chapter of your book...let me know if you don't still have that and I can send it again. The Chocolate Pavilion sounds like someplace straight out of Willy Wonka... I wanna go!!!!

Caryn - I know...things have gotten absolutely unreal with the Amendment now. Now, the insurance companies in NC are trying to figure out what to do. As I mentioned, Cigna, who carries the account for my employer has been recognizing "domestic partners" for a few years now. Since the Amendment passed, it may now be illegal so they are wondering about revising their plans. All because people made it a political decision... That's like jumping from a building and changing your mind halfway down. Did anyone not think ahead...? Was there not one person who thought, "Hey, if we let politicians decide this, it may become a law..."? Honestly, and we're at the top of the foodchain...?
Did Rob have his toes crossed in this picture? I may be a little weird, but I like feet and this is pretty cool!

Songbird - I thought about the customs deal after I posted that. I recall having an ordere I placed for work from Switzerland stuck in customs for 6 months after 9-11. I googled food in the Netherlands after reading that and realized how very different it is. There's a lot of things I can use as substitutes...but there are some things you really can't substitute...I'm glad you have a contact here in the states still. Tell her if she wants to reach out next time she's in the states, I'd love to contribute to the "Songbird Baking Fund"....hmmm with this site, that could sound a little kinky but you know what I mean by that.

Susie - I've had anxiety attacks for over 15 years. It started after the Nurse Practitioner I went to at the time changed my birth control pills to one with the three levels of hormones. I was about 22 when I had the first one. After a year on those pills, my regular doctor changed them saying, "There's a lot of women who can't take those three levels of hormones..." Now you tell me!
They are scary but that is also what's so odd about them. I had a friend I worked with who "accidentally" overdosed on her Xanax. She was having an anxiety attack that wouldn't stop. She took a pill and waited. 15 min later, still going she took another...and 15 min another... She told me she just wanted the feeling to stop. If you've never had one, let me explain mine...and I guess a lot of people have similar ones. All I can think about is dying...not wanting to, but about all the ways a human body can be mangled. How mortal we all are and how very "breakable" to use Edward's terms. Then I start thinking about no longer being...and what all I'll miss and miss out on and that usually sends me digging for my meds. Luckily, I figured out that one of the reason's I was scared of dying was because there are so many things I haven't done that I want to do. Once I figured out that part, it's just a matter of deciding what things are on my "bucket list" and which ones I'm able to do immediately. But it's taken me the better part of those 15 years to even decide to figure out why I have them...
So, you see where this thought process takes me...and in the mean time, I have them on a regular basis now since I'm on the medication, and getting older, and PMS, and teaching a teenager to drive on the Interstate, and going to the dentist, and crowds, and watching the news, and signing up for insurance, and Wal-Mart, and the husband talking to the local funeral home about pre-paying for their services, and wanting to have a will drawn up...

Marielle - I see what ya'll mean...she is very sexy!

Suzan - I sometimes forget how different things are in the states than other places. But I suppose that's a little narrowminded. And goes to show me how very little I've seen of the world...

Sean - Hope you're grandmother is doing better. I've been seeing all the posts on SWaTH and I cannot wait. I especially loved their gowns at the premier. The more footage I see, the more I want to see. I have already got the plans to get tickets on Fandango the week of for the Sunday matinee. It's only $5.25 for adult at 4:00 on Sunday so it's a little less. Plus I have two popcorn buckets we take back to the theater for refills for only $2.50. That's the only reason we're able to even go to the movies. Paying full price...$9.50-$9.75 per adult, $6-$9 popcorn, $4 candy and $3-$6 drinks (although you can refill the large)...can easily rack up to $100 or more.

Actually waiting to see what "Battleship" reviews are like. We thought about going to see that. Anyone know anything about that one? Looked pretty cool.
Guess I should get out of here for the evening. I'll try not to be gone so long...even if I can't post, I can stay caught up. Night ya'll!

[Tornado]

Sean - yes, we have a little bit of diabetes in our family too, although all the family members who have had it have died. (Not from that, but from unrelated causes). It's certainly something that you can live with.

Grayce - you have been busy, haven't you? So you're Beth? I forgot that was your real name. And here I was wondering who the Beth was that was posting all the time ... I've sent you my fanfic, so let me know if you don't get it.

[Songbird]

Hi Honeys, I'm home!!! I've missed you all, and I am soooo glad to be home and relieved that this was the last weekend staying overnight at my in-laws' house. I'm going to start on a mega-post right now, but wanted to say hi first! So, I'll probably have a much longer post in a couple of hours. (yes, it might really take that long!)

[boo]

Hi everyone! So glad to be back. Been through chemo hell in and out of the hospital, but home now and very happy to be there. I would love a short update on how everyone is these days. Some Rob eye candy for my bald, bed ridden self wouldn't hurt either.

Hope you all are doing well. Hopefully my bone marrow is behaving and I'm back to reading and posting.

Em