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July 31, 2006

Cure From the Gods

If only chocolate were a cure for headaches...

After striking out at Lens Crafters and Perle Vision tonight, I indulged myself with a Mayan Chocolate milkshake from Haagen-Dazs. It was divine. A couple scoops of their mooth deep chocolate flavored ice cream with more than a hint of cinnamon blended was blended with milk to make an absolutely wonderful drink. I'm not sure any other kind of chocolate ice cream will do now that I've had this. Even better, it comes in pints, so maybe the next time I'm struck down with a monster headache I can call in a little help from the Mayans.

Posted by criminal at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)

Three in a Row

I've been pretty much incapacitated by nasty headaches for the last three weekends. I end up spending the better part of a day in bed when I would rather be out enjoying my weekend. And even then, sleep and Tylenol doesn't always help. A few weeks ago it was bad enough to make me vomit. I figure I'm screwed if they start popping up during work hours. There just aren't enough sick days in the world.

I think I need to make an appointment with an optometrist to see if my glasses are behind this problem. When I had my eyes checked last August the prescription hadn't changed much. But I find myself constantly trying to push my glasses further up my nose, so maybe it has changed more.

Posted by criminal at 05:01 PM | Comments (0)

July 27, 2006

Rumble, Rumble

Sooooooooooooo hungry...

Really. I had a nice bowl of grapenuts at 7:30, but I was pining for empty calories by 11. Even after a cup of coffee. I think I could inhale a box of twinkies right now. Or maybe a box of mac'n'cheese. Peanut butter also sounds heavenly right now, especially if it were somehow wrapped in chocolate.

*drool*

Posted by criminal at 11:27 AM | Comments (0)

July 26, 2006

Invites

The invites for my little stamping workshop have gone out. If you haven't received one yet, let me know. That is, of course, assuming you even want to come get crafty with me. If you're reading this, you're probably welcome. And your friends would be too. I'm an equal opportunity crafter. I can't stand to think that there are people out there with crafty inklings that I'm not enabling.

Also, Deb has offered to do another more hands-on workshop once the stamps come in so that those of you who haven't used Stampin' Up products can break in their first sets with veterans around. It would be more of a techniques class than a catalog workshop. I'm also going to ask her about the possibility of organizing local crops/stamp days, if any of you are interested.

Posted by criminal at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)

July 21, 2006

Friday Fuss

I took my first Citalopram last night. I'm hoping that there won't be any new side effects, but I know that's unlikely given how many people report a reduction in side effects when they make the opposite switch. So far, I've only noticed a little brain fog.
Homophones are going to kill me today. I keep switching up things like meet and meat or here and hear when I type. I'm also typing words that are similar, but not quite the same. Like that when in the second sentence, that started out life as "whine."
Deb, the Stampin' Up demonstrator is coming by tonight to drop of my catalog and invitation cards. She's also going to check out my space to see what she'll have room to display and how best to do her demonstrations. Anybody have a folding table I can borrow?
I completely forgot it was Friday. I've spoiled myself by writing my Friday Fives way in advance. Then when they run out I always shocked because I was sure I had more than that done. This week's questions are up and next week's are written. I think something school related would be nice for late August. And maybe music related in honor of the Newport Folk Fest, which I'm going to miss.

Posted by criminal at 12:41 PM | Comments (2)

Five on Friday for July 21, 2006

The Big Date

1. Are you single, in a relationship, married, divorced, seperated, etc?: I've been married for 335 days now.
2. When was the last time you went on a date?: You know, I don't remember. Probably sometime last year before Jon and I got married. We tend not to do "date" things much anymore.
3. Describe your ideal date.: Dinner and a movie. Maybe an afternoon spent antiquing or hiking and a little lunch. As long as it gets me out of the house.
4. Do you think dating has become archaic?: In some ways, yes. Formal dating doesn't seem to happen for long anymore. Either you hit it off and form a relationship or you split quickly and move on to more dates with someone else.
5. What are your feelings on online dating services?: I love them. In fact, I met my husband on one. The guys I met through them were mostly nice, normal people just looking for a new way to get introduced to someone. I mean, if you don't spend time in bars, parties, or other social functions where you meet a lot of new people you don't really have the opportunity to be introduced to someone. Internet dating services augment those social settings, bringing more people into your realm. The major downside is that there isn't any chemistry in a photo and blurb, and someone you might dismiss based on their profile could be a perfect match while another who appears perfect could be a bust. You just have to open up a bit and get out there to meet them face to face.

Posted by criminal at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2006

Come Stamp With Me

My Stampin' Up workshop/party is a go for Sunday, August 6. I've connected with Deb, a friendly demonstrator who has agreed to come to my place in the afternoon to show all of my friends how to stamp. We're going to try to demonstrate how stamps can be used in scrapbooks and how your leftover scrapbooking materials can be used to make simple gretting cards. Everyone will get to try their hand at stamping and make a little something to bring home.

If you're interested in joining us, send me an e-mail or leave a comment here with your e-mail address included. Although I'll have postcards available to send out, I think an Evite will be easiest for all involved. Even if you can't make it, take a look at all the cute stuff in the new catalog and let me know if you want anything.

Posted by criminal at 11:47 AM | Comments (1)

July 18, 2006

Drug Lords

I was happy to see a package from Express Scripts in the mail when I got home last night. I ignored my tiny suspicion that it would be the wrong medication again and opened it. Only to find that my suspicions were right all along.

Another 30-day supply of Citalopram.

I've called my doctor's office to voice my displeasure at having my prescription changed without any discussion of the effects and ramifications. They chalk it up to the insurance company's ever-changing policies on brand name medications. And the failure of the pharmacy to discuss the change with me. I've also called Express Scripts to lodge a complaint that I was never notified of the change before being charged for it. I haven't called HMO Blue New England yet because I'm not sure even Lexapro is strong enough to dull the pain of beating my head against their brick wall.

And I'm going to end up taking the Citalopram because I've just spent $40 of the money that I could've used to purchase Lexapro without the help of insurance. Any changes in my mood or side effects should be enough to satisfy the insurance company's prior authorization. If not, I'll be looking into the infamous Canadian pharmacies.

Posted by criminal at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2006

Unhappy Feet

My Crocs are spoiling me. I've been wearing them all weekend, getting used to hundreds of tiny rubber nubs massaging my feet with every step. Now that I've switched back to normal shoes for work, they just don't seem as comfortable as they did before. Someday, I know Crocs will make a normal looking shoe with their special insoles and I'll be set for life.

Posted by criminal at 04:49 PM | Comments (2)

July 14, 2006

Freakshow Friday

12:15 p.m, Lowell, Massachusetts:

A man is jogging on the sidewalk along route 110. This scene would be normal except the man appears to be wearing nothing but long, printed boxer shorts. And black shoes. With black socks.

Topped off with a black tricorne hat.

Posted by criminal at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)

July 13, 2006

Croc-tastic

I have Crocs!

Gillian and I placed an order with crocs.com a couple weeks ago to finally indulge in what has to be the most comfortable footwear ever made. I've been considering them since my mother and sister introduced me to them over a year ago. Have I mentioned that my mother even wore hers to my wedding? That's a sign of how comfortable they are. And maybe of how much Mom dislikes conventional footwear. After my last trip to Michigan, in which I borrowed her Crocs and tried on the flip flop version, I decided I had to have a pair.

Or two.

They arrived just this morning and I didn't hesitate to pop the box open and throw them on my feet. One pair of the Athens flip flops in black and the original Beach in a brilliant turquoise for me and another pair of black flip flops and a light blue pair of Caymans for Gillian. Of course they distracted everyone in our are of the office for a few minutes, but they're so worth it. My turquoise foam ensconced feet are just bouncing under my desk, happy because they're the next best thing to bare foot.

Posted by criminal at 09:48 AM | Comments (3)

July 12, 2006

Stung

My favorite radio station plays far too much Sting. For some reason, his voice just grates on me. Once or twice a week would be ok, but I feel like I hear him during every commute. They're an independent radio station, not an all-Sting-all-the-time station.

Or maybe I'm just clueless and the rest of the world can't get enough Sting...

Posted by criminal at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)

Does That Make Me Crazy?

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place
Even your emotions had an echo and so much space
- Crazy, Gnarls Barkley

I want my Lexapro.

After splitting tablets all weekend while waiting for my mail-order supply to arrive, I'm out. Express Scripts needs prior authorization for Lexapro because the HMO Blue New England doesn't want to cover it. Unfortunately for me it took them more than a week to open and process my original prescription and an additional week to notify me and my doctor that they couldn't fill it without the almighty PA. And once they have the PA (which my doctor's office faxed out this morning) it will take another 72 hours to process and 3-5 days to ship. Fighting with Express Scripts got me nowhere, so I asked my doctor's office to call in a 7-day prescription for Lexapro to tide me over until the real stuff gets here. I was willing to pay it out of pocket just to get rid of the withdrawal symptoms that have been creeping up during my half doses. That was all fine and good until I opened the package tonight to discover they gave me a 30-day supply of Citalopram.

That's right. A different medication.

Generic Celexa, to be exact. And while Lexapro is a trimmed down version of Celexa, it's not the same thing. And from what I've read, the dosage I was given is not the equivalent of the existing Lexapro dosage. I still can't believe my doctor prescribed me a different medication without saying anything. And now I'm not sure if they gave the authorization for the Lexapro or switched it to Citalopram.

I don't even know what to say at this point, other than I'm tired. The drugs have helped a lot, but I'm beginning to think that I'd be better off crazy than jumping through all of these hoops.

Posted by criminal at 12:14 AM | Comments (0)

July 11, 2006

TV Show Meme

Bold all of the following TV shows which you've ever seen 3 or more episodes of in your lifetime. If you want, add up to 3 additional shows (keep the list in alphabetical order).

24
7th Heaven
Adam-12
Aeon Flux
ALF
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alias
Allo Allo
American Idol/Pop Idol/Canadian Idol/Australian Idol
America's Next Top Model/Germany's Next Top Model
Angel
Arrested Development
Babylon 5
Babylon 5: Crusade
Battlestar Galactica (the old one)
Battlestar Galactica (the new one)
Baywatch
Beavis & Butthead
Beverly Hills 90210
Bewitched
Bonanza
Bones
Bosom Buddies
Boston Legal
Boy Meets World
Brimstone
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Bug Juice
Chappelle's Show
Charlie's Angels
Charmed
Cheers
Coach
Columbo
Commander in Chief
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Coupling
Cowboy Bebop
Crossing Jordan
CSI
CSI: Miami
CSI: NY
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Dancing with the Stars
Danny Phantom
Daria
Dark Angel
Dark Skies
Davinci's Inquest
Dawson's Creek
Dead Like Me
Deadliest Catch
Deadwood
Degrassi High
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Designing Women
Desperate Housewives
Dharma & Greg
Different Strokes
Doctor Who (old Who)
Doctor Who (new Who)
Dragnet
Due South
Earth 2
Eerie, Indiana
Emergency!
Entourage
ER
Everwood
Everybody Loves Raymond
Facts of Life
Family Guy
Family Ties
Farscape
Fat Actress
Fawlty Towers
Felicity
Firefly
Frasier
Friends
Futurama
Get Smart
Gilligan's Island
Gilmore Girls
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Green Wing
Grey's Anatomy
Growing Pains
Gunsmoke
Happy Days
Hey Dude
Hogan's Heroes
Home Improvement
Homicide: Life on the Street
House
I Dream of Jeannie
I Love Lucy
Invader Zim
Invasion
Hell's Kitchen
JAG
Jackass
Joey
John Doe
Kath and Kim
Keeping Up Appearances
LA Law
Laguna Beach
Laverne and Shirley
Law & Order
L&O: Special Victims Unit
L&O: Criminal Intent
Life With Derek
Little House on the Prairie
Lizzie McGuire
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lost
Lost in Space
Love, American Style
M*A*S*H
MacGyver
Malcolm in the Middle
Married... With Children
Medium
Melrose Place
Miami Vice
Millenium
Mission: Impossible
Monk
Moonlighting
Mork & Mindy
Murphy Brown
My Family
My Life as a Dog
My So-Called Life
My Three Sons
My Two Dads
NCIS
Nip/Tuck
Northern Exposure
Numb3rs
One Tree Hill
Oz
Perry Mason
Picket Fences
Pokemon
Power Rangers
Prison Break
Profiler
Project Runway
Quantum Leap
Queer As Folk (US)
Queer as Folk (British)
Radio Free Roscoe
ReGenesis
Remington Steele
Rescue Me
Road to Avonlea (Tales of Avonlea)
Road Rules
ROME
Roseanne
Roswell
Saved by the Bell
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
Scrubs
Seinfeld
Sex and the City
Six Feet Under
Slings and Arrows
Smallville
So Weird
South Park
Spaced
Spongebob Squarepants
Sports Night
Star Trek
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Enterprise
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate SG-1
Superman
Supernatural
Surface
Survivor
Taxi
Teen Titans
That 70's Show
That's So Raven
The 4400
The Addams Family
The Andy Griffith Show
The A-Team
The Avengers
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Brady Bunch
The Colbert Report
The Cosby Show
The Daily Show
The Dead Zone
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Flintstones
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Golden Girls
The Honeymooners
The Jeffersons
The Jetsons
The L Word
The Love Boat
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mighty Boosh
The Monkees
The Munsters
The Mythbusters
The O.C.
The Office (UK)
The Office (US)
The Pretender
The Real World
The Shield
The Simpsons
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Sopranos
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
The Twilight Zone
The Waltons
The West Wing
The Wonder Years
The X-Files
Third Watch
Three's Company
Top Gear
Twin Peaks
Twitch City
So You Think You Can Dance
Veronica Mars
Wings
Whose Line is it Anyway? (US)
Whose Line is it Anyway? (UK)
Will and Grace
You Can't Do That on Television

Posted by criminal at 08:12 PM | Comments (0)

Handicapable

There is a handicap stall in our ladies room. And since there are no handicapped women in our office, I don't feel bad using it. You see, the seat is about two inches higher than the identical toilet in the other three stalls. Despite all of the extra room and added seclusion, I think the real reason I keep returning to it is that extra two inches. I had never realized (except perhaps in elementary school when my classrooms were in the old kindergarten wing with midget-sized toilets) how important seat height is to overall bathroom comfort. Now I'm wondering how easy it would be to raise the toilets at home two inches. Do they make non-standard-height toilets? Perhaps toilet risers? And what kind of effect would an extra two inches have on my husband's aim?

Posted by criminal at 10:28 AM | Comments (3)

July 10, 2006

Time to Get Stampin' Up

After years of putting it off, I've finally decided it's time to host a Stampin' Up party. Although my primary interest with them is card-making, I know they have some fabulous scrapbooking supplies and ideas. Anyone reading this up for a little stamping workshop (and yummy baked goods) on July 29/30 or August 5/6?

Posted by criminal at 06:01 PM | Comments (3)

July 07, 2006

Sick and Tired, Again

Although I'm not sure which of the three places I've eaten in the last day caused it, I'm pretty sure I had food poisoning last night. I couldn't fall asleep because I was so uncomfortable. My abdomen had swollen considerably and I couldn't fight off the nausea. Once everything was out of my system I fell into bed and slept like a rock. I let myself sleep in a little, but I'm still struggling to keep my head upright at work. I can't wait to go home and crawl into bed again.

Posted by criminal at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)

July 05, 2006

Have a Seat

Thanks to some help from Gillian, I am now the proud owner of two lovely armchairs. I spotted them at the Building 19 in Nashua last weekend and haven't been able to get them out of my head. Since I had made up my mind a few weeks ago to buy the Tullsta armchairs from Ikea at my next opportunity, it wasn't hard to take the next step and buy these. Which happen to be almost identical to the Tullsta. They're covered in a dark brown leather and were about the same price as the slipcovered Tullstas, and far less than the leather version. Now when people come over they'll have a place to sit other than the cat hair covered camp chairs.

Criminal Grace