http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/index/ en morrisonm76@yahoo.com Copyright 2008 2008-08-12T15:08:00-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/nervous_energy/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/nervous_energy/#When:15:08:00Z I am a bundle of overworked nerves lately. The biggest issue I’m having is the lack of help I’m getting from John with the dog. I’m the one who walks him, and the only one who tries to practice discipline with him. I’m trying like hell to be consistent, but it’s not working because My Other Half is not pulling his weight in this arena. I’ve gotten to the point that I really can’t stand the dog sometimes, and I HATE feeling that way. It’s not his fault at all, and I know that. His lack of exercise is making him impossible to deal with. Labs and Huskies are both known for excitability… and he’s a mix of the two! It’s like a double whammy here, and I can’t get John to see that. The obedience class is being saved up for again. I’m just afraid that the money will be wasted because John won’t enforce the training at home once the course ends. On top of all this, the cat has decided that she’s going to stop using her litter box consistently. My pretty carpet, that was brand new when we moved in six months ago is now a mess. We use Kids & Pets and it works really well, but it’s like every day we’re finding a new spot. The carpet has lost it’s newness. This Saturday, we’ll be taking the carpet cleaner to the floor and heading to the dog park for a while to let it dry… again. So this is the main cause for my nervous energy. I feel that my household is slipping into chaos. I have no energy to keep up with it, and I’m tired of feeling this way, like I have no control. Also, I’m not trying to make John out to be a horrible person or whatever, because he’s not. I love him dearly, and I couldn’t ask for a better mate (most of the time haha). The problem is, he’s one of those people that wants the cool thing but not the work that comes with it, know what I mean? Ugh, I need to do some yoga or something, get centered and regain some control around here. So uh… anyone wanna tell me how? 2008-08-12T15:08:00-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/pinching_pennies_making_pennies/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/pinching_pennies_making_pennies/#When:16:28:03Z It’s a known fact that one of the most common fights among couples is money. Right now, we’re feeling that. I’m not doing so well with the “giving up luxuries” thing that I knew I would have to do when we bought the house. The several-times-weekly trips to Starbucks, going to Barnes & Noble often, buying scrapbooking and/or beading supplies… all things that are not really a necessity. My interest in simplifying has been peaked. This stems partly from my desire to make things green in our life, as well. We have a local family farm right down the road that sells produce, and while it may not be organic (yet, I’ve read that they’re working on that), it’s local so it helps support our community and obviously eases my gas expense. I have a coffee/espresso machine, so I need to start making my own at home. Turning lights off, not running the air all the time, etc… little things that are both green and cost-effective, that we don’t always think about. I really need to reevaluate and simplify. Something I mentioned in a previous post was my newfound hobby of making jewelry. I’m still kicking around the idea of trying to sell some pieces on Etsy. I’ve made a few, and I think they’re cute, but would others think they’re worth buying? I’d like to hear from people who’ve done it. Were you sucessful in making some extra money? What was your experience with the whole process? I guess I could browse the site and try to talk to a few people on there, see what they say. Above and beyond that, however, I’m just curious… how do you pinch pennies in your household? Any specifics that you live by for cutting costs and making things easier in the process? We’re just looking for ideas that we may not have thought of, but even if they’re obvious, please do tell!  2008-08-06T16:28:03-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/not_in_kansas_anymore/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/not_in_kansas_anymore/#When:13:57:00Z I have my share of weird dreams on a regular basis, but last night was a first for me. I had a blogger dream. Anyone else ever have those - a dream where other bloggers you read or know show up? I’ve never met any of them, and that’s what made it even more strange. I’ve spoken to a few through comments or email but that’s it. I’ve gotta stop eating so close to bedtime, because every time I do, I have weird dreams. Anyway… Staz, Joelle, Y and myself were in an old church that had all these secret tunnels to other rooms. We were rummaging through cabinets and drawers, but I have no idea what we were looking for. Then a few others joined us. Mac walked in with Erika, and I think I saw Kathy, too. There were a few more, but I can’t remember who at the moment. I still don’t know what we were looking for. Then we all sat down in this room that had chairs lined up, like for a meeting or something. We were all sitting there talking, waiting for whomever was going to speak, and Y walked by and told me I should smile more. The next few details are fuzzy, then suddenly we’re all outside lining the street with a ton of other people, waiting for a funeral procession to go by. I’m not sure who died. I vaguely remember talking to two guys about where we parked, but I woke up before I found my car. So yeah, weird. I think there are too many elements here to look this up in a dream dictionary lol. Maybe I was looking for the meaning of life, I don’t know. Also, Y telling me I need to smile more is actually something that people often tell me. So who knows, maybe there’s a hidden meaning here and I’ll figure it out as I remember more details. Anyone else ever had a blogger dream?  2008-08-04T13:57:00-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/end_on_a_positive_note/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/end_on_a_positive_note/#When:15:34:00Z Some things that suck: a) My best friend - whom I haven’t really been close to since he started dating The Princess two years ago - hasn’t bothered to contact me all week while I’ve been on vacation. We’re often online at the same time, he says nothing. He has my number, no calls. He dropped John off last night from work, no hello. We’re supposedly so close. I’m sick of being friends when it’s convenient for him. We’re not friends anymore, we’re really just coworkers now. And I’m done. b) We won’t have as much money to spend in Dublin as I had hoped, but we still have enough to eat yummy festival food and drink beer all weekend. So yeah, I guess that’s a positive, not really a negative. c) Migraines. Really hoping I don’t have to stay medicated the whole weekend, but if that’s what it takes… Some things that don’t suck: a) Went out to buy some capris and other stuff for the trip, and discovered that I’ve lost two pant sizes. I was utterly confused for a minute. And than I did a little happy dance in the dressing room. b) I’ve discovered a new hobby that could potentially make some money in the future: making jewelry. I have a ton of beads and things, and have already made some pieces to go with my outfits for this weekend (pics later). I think when we get back I’m going to research the whole Etsy thing and see if I could make a go of it. c) My foot is getting better every day, and I’m no longer limping! No more Gimpy McBrokefoot! The stretches, silly as they seem, are working. And I bought some new sneakers that I’m loving. I may no longer be an Adidas girl. I think New Balance is winning me over. These things are wonderful to my feet. And they’re cute! d) I managed to get stuff done around the house, even though I was lazy. My office, although not fully furnished yet, is now organized. And the kitchen is sparkling, and the laundry is completely done. I was oddly domestic this week.  e) Three Words: Dublin. Irish. Festival. GAH. It’s almost here, and I’m beyond excited. We leave for the kennel tomorrow around noon, and then will head straight up to Dublin to check in to the hotel. Hopefully I’ll have many pictures to upload when I get back. More positives than negatives. I think that’s a good start.  2008-07-31T15:34:00-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/on_a_roll/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/on_a_roll/#When:13:49:00Z Anyone who knows me will tell you I am not a morning person. In fact, until I have coffee, I’m pretty much a half-incoherent, mostly hateful witch. For the past few weeks, I’ve been all about getting up early and getting stuff done. Today, for instance… I’ve been to the grocery, mailed out the Ebay packages and cleaned and organized my office (which was no small feat). All this done, and it’s only 9:50am. I think getting old does weird things to you.  2008-07-28T13:49:00-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/slow_sunday/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/slow_sunday/#When:16:47:01Z I’ve decided that I need a course on how to be on vacation. I’ve been off since Friday, and I’ve been up before 7am every day. Today, I got up and read email, saw my last three Ebay auctions end and took care of that stuff via email, made a coffee run and went to Home Depot for more paint chips. Then I went to Michael’s and bought some bead supplies and sets to make some jewelry out of. Oh, and Kohl’s for a new pair of sneakers. May not sound like a “slow Sunday” so far, but this was all done by 10:30am so yeah, now it’s slow. John has left for work and I’m sitting here wondering where to start my to-do list, which is a mile long for the week. I think I’m going to take the creative route and see what kind of jewelry I can come up with while watching all the home and cooking shows I’ve DVR’d over the past few weeks. Good times. Easy day. Vacation rocks.  2008-07-27T16:47:01-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/aching_phalanges_and_overworked_metatarsals/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/aching_phalanges_and_overworked_metatarsals/#When:13:18:00Z Looking over some of my past entries, I realized that I am definitely not skilled with the “short and sweet.” Anyway. My appointment with the podiatrist went well yesterday. If you couldn’t tell by my title, I learned some new words yesterday. I was nervous because people told me I’d either love him or hate him. Thankfully, he’s really cool. My primary physician sent my X-rays over last week in preparation of this appointment, so the podiatrist didn’t need to do any. Final diagnosis: very small stress fracture, severe plantar fasciitis, and heel spur syndrome. I don’t need to have the bone scan unless the treatment plan he gave me doesn’t work. I thought for sure he’d give me one of those walking cast things, but apparently I don’t need it because the bone is healing itself and the site is too small for a cast to do anything. So the plan is, do the stretches they gave me three times a day, get a better pair of shoes for work, keep taking the ketoprofen and don’t do any heavy walking for about a month. Which means that John is going to have to walk Leo on his own for a while. Which in turn means I will have a very hyper and unhappy dog on my hands because John is lazy. Several trips a week to the dog park will help, as long as the heat isn’t too bad and there are actually people there. Leo will get his exercise and I don’t have to walk too much. He’ll get his exercise one or another, even if I have to hire a dog walker for a while. So my vacation starts this Friday, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more ready for some time off. We head up to Dublin for the Irish Festival next Friday for a weekend of beer, food, music, beer, more food and did I mention beer? Heh. I was concerned because Coffman Park is huge and we do alot of walking on that trip every year, but there are tons of places to sit so I’ll just have to take it easy. I’m also going to try to get as many pictures as possible, because I’m seriously lacking in photographic memories and I’d like to start using my scrapbooking supplies. Can’t do that without pictures, though! Well it’s almost 10am and I should be cleaning and doing some other stuff before work. Happy Wednesday!  2008-07-23T13:18:00-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/the_good_with_the_bad_i_suppose/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/the_good_with_the_bad_i_suppose/#When:04:06:00Z You’ll have to pardon my inability to focus on one topic tonight… my foot is really bothering me today and I’m kind of spaced out on painkillers and anti-inflammatories that are not supposed to make you loopy. Uh huh. Right. *edited* I decided that since I went on and on about these two things, I’d cut it off there and save the other stuff for another entry. Like tomorrow, when I’m not about to pass out from the pain. ------- OK, so despite my usual “we can’t afford it” speech, John talked me into seeing the midnight showing of The Dark Knight on Friday. Oh, how I loved this movie. I’m not a huge Batman fan, although I did like the first two. Clooney was okay, but don’t even get me started on Val Kilmer. Anyway. We went, I loved it, and I would actually pay to see it again. I thought it was fabulous and I can’t stop talking about it. I really haven’t been this hyped up over a movie in a long, long time. And Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker? Amazing. Anyway, while checking my email and news online today, and I saw a headline about how parents will be upset because Dark Knight is too dark. I read the story, followed a link to another, then another, etc. By the time I was done, I learned that some people are actually trying to get groups together because it’s too dark and inappropriate for kids and Oh My God, The Movies are going to hell in a handbasket and *gasp* everybody boycott The Movies! What the hell? Seriously, you couldn’t tell by the previews alone that this movie was probably not for young children? It’s not a straight take of the comic book, with the pow! and bam! and all that. It’s dark, complex, layered. Dude, it’s Christian Bale in a tight black suit. Wait, that’s not where I was going with that.  So this got me thinking about how people are up in arms over everything these days. It’s like, if there’s not something to bitch about, we just can’t be happy. You know those people, right? The ones you stay away from, because Hello, Debbie Downer. I feel that we, as a society, are becoming that way. Back to this specific instance, though… just use some common sense. You saw the previews on tv (and if not, have you been living under a rock in the bat cave?). There are plenty of other movies out that you can take your kid to see. I don’t think it’s necessary to boycott (seriously?!) a freaking movie because you don’t feel that you can take your 10 year old to see it. Am I out of line on this? I mean, I know I don’t have a kid, but good God. Do we really have to make a deal out of everything? -------- Touching on the notion that we need something to bitch about to be happy, but first the good part… Extreme Makeover - Home Edition. If you didn’t know, last week the show came to Ohio after choosing a family from West Chester, which is about ten minutes south of here. A good friend that I work with is friends of that family and had the inside scoop all week, so it was really neat to get updates on what was going on behind the scenes. If you watch EMHE, you know how it goes… the family is nominated by family members and friends to have their story chosen. They surprise them, send them on a vacation and build them a new home in 7 days (actually, I learned that they really only have FOUR days to build. It adds up to 7 with the filming and multiple takes, travelling, etc.) The story is really touching - as they all are and I admit I cry just about every week - and I wish I could’ve volunteered but I had to work the days that my company was scheduled to be there. I also had to work the day of the reveal so I couldn’t go to that. I can’t wait to see it this Fall! (special section on our local news site & Akers Angels, the family that was chosen) OK, so what’s the bad part? With just about the nastiest tone ever, I’ve heard several people saying things like “well good for them, but I could use a new house too”. Or “those lucky bastards”. Or my personal favorite… “what makes them any more deserving than anyone else?”. Woah. Why can’t anyone just be happy for someone else anymore??? When did it become okay to be that ugly and insensitive? When did we all become so jaded and bitter? I don’t know why this surprised me so much, but it did. I mean, I can kind of see the concern of the house being in perfectly good condition and how it was a shame to tear it down, but I know for a fact now that every salvagable part of the home to be torn down is donated to that particular community so that others can benefit from it. That’s something at least, isn’t it? Here’s the thing. You have to be nominated and chosen. There are tons and tons of people in need of a new home, but they can’t do them all. They’re a tv show, they’re not God (or whatever you subsribe to, if anything). This bitter, jaded, jealous and cynical attitude blows me away. Sure, I felt a little pang of wow they’re so lucky when I heard about it. But I didn’t make snarky comments about how I think I’m more deserving. Gah, I’m giving myself a headache talking about this. Bottom line (mine tonight, anyway): stupid people need to shut up and get over themselves. Well I’m going to take another ketoprofen and get over it, because I need some sleep. Podiatrist tomorrow @ 3:45PM. Hopefully, he’ll be able to figure out more about what’s wrong and what to do about it. ‘Night… 2008-07-22T04:06:00-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/just_stuff/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/just_stuff/#When:00:28:00Z Some random things that have either caught my attention today, or that I’ve been thinking about… - Target is branching out, with two stores opening in October in Alaska. The stores will have heated sidewalks that melt snow. How cool is that? The design concept is really cool, too. I’ve always wondered why were weren’t opening stores outside the continental U.S. yet. Perhaps a store in Hawaii will be next? I can hope. - Extreme Makeover - Home Edition. I thought this show rocked before, but now I’m even more convinced. They just wrapped filming this week in West Chester, Ohio which is ten minutes down the road from me. A woman I work with knows the family that was chosen and gave us updates every day on what was going on, and I can’t wait to see the full episode in the Fall. The father thought they were just remodeling his home, he had no idea they would be getting a completely new home, so his reaction alone will be worth watching. It’s really cool to see what goes into the show. Channel 9 News has a special section up on their site about it, you should check it out if you’re into the show.  - Has anyone heard of this site? Dial A Human supposedly gives you direct phone numbers to many different companies and instructions for how to connect to a live person without going through entire menus of the annoying recorded lady. Haven’t tried it, not sure if I believe it. Are there humans working at any company these days? - At the beginning of the year, John and I set a date for October 24th of next year for the wedding. Two different dates have come and gone for various reasons. If we can’t get our asses in gear to save money, this date will be the third. Part of me wants to get married at a court house and just have a huge reception later. Another part of me knows that I will forever feel robbed of “my day” if we don’t do the whole wedding and reception thing, etc. Going back and forth, not quite sure what to do. Unfortunately, we won’t be getting any help from family. Also feeling a little bitter about that, although I know I shouldn’t. So yeah, money is the big factor here. Will take a lot of creative money planning, I think. God I hate money stress. I had something else to talk about, but I can’t remember what. Must not have been important. Didn’t do much today. I took Leo to the dog park, which was a joke because it’s so hot that no one else was there. There were only two dogs, but then again I went around two which isn’t a popular time anyway. He misses his friends, the poor guy. Maybe we’ll get a break in the heat so I can take him back. Just looked at the extended forecast. No breaks in the heat any time soon. Oh well. Plans for tonight? Doing laundry as I type this, going to clean the kitchen, and when John gets home from work, we’re going to see Dark Knight. Hopefully it doesn’t disappoint. But with Christian Bale, how could it? Yum. 2008-07-19T00:28:00-05:00 http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/tgif/ http://www.miniaturedisasters.net/index.php/site/tgif/#When:12:54:00Z Original entry title, no? Coffee hasn’t kicked in yet, sorry. Foot is feeling better today. Haven’t had the bone scan yet, appointment with podiatrist is Tuesday. Plan to accessorize my boot/cast thingie if he puts me in one. Oh yeah, my foot will have bling. Three-day weekend for me, woo! Here’s a little Friday 5 to get my fingers typing this morning. Have a good weekend! Friday 5 for July 18 : Bad Food 1. What was the last meal that caused you to be ill? >That would be Buffalo Wings & Rings. Every Tuesday is 25 cent wing night at several wing places around here, and we always get together with a couple that we’re friends with to eat every week. I don’t know if the food was bad, or if I’m just burnt out on wings but man, I was sick the entire next day. 2. Are there any places you never dine anymore because of a bad experience hours after the meal? >Yes, Chili’s and Boston Market - and after two tries each. Both involved much throwing up and general ickiness. Not a nice thing to think about at 9am, but I can’t and won’t go to either place, ever again. 3. What’s your prescription for dealing with a food-caused illness? >Depends on how bad it is. Usually, crackers and ginger ale when I can stand to put something in my stomach again. Then it’s mashed potatoes when I’m ready for something more. Actually, that’s how I deal with any illness where I feel sick to my stomach. Works well for me. 4. When friends tell you about coming down with food-caused illnesses, do you avoid the places they name, or do you figure it’s a dice-roll wherever you go? >Unless their situation was really horrifying and I’ve heard similar stories from other people, I’ll most likely continue to go those places. I figure you never really know what you’re going to get anywhere. 5. After numerous citations, a very, very popular restaurant that you’re quite fond of is shut down by the health department until it can get everything up to code. When the health department gives the restaurant the o.k. to reopen, do you go? >This has happened, and yes I went back (it was a coffee shop). I’m inclined to say yes I would, because if I like the place and they’re given the OK, I’ll probably go back. 2008-07-18T12:54:00-05:00