I don’t know how, but I made it through the week (which is another post altogether, so I’ll save it for later). I came home from work today, eager to work on my site because I have a new look to put up, and figured I’d play around with it while making dinner… however, I’m missing about four things I need for said dinner. So some parts of the site will have completely different layouts while I make a grocery run. Oops. Happy Friday!

The sun is out, it’s not too hot, and it’s just gorgeous. I’m not a big amusement park fan, but we’re going to Kings Island today with some friends that got free tickets from their work. If we don’t stay all day (and I hope we don’t), I’m also going to try to go flower shopping again. My New Guinea Impaitens didn’t like where I put them, and have died off slowly. Someone told me that they’ll make it if I transfer them to a pot and put them on the porch out of direct sun, so I’ll try that. I’d like to find some daylilies to fill in the flowerbed, and also to put by the mailbox. We’ll see how the day goes.

On a site-related note, I found the coffee girl at iStock and had to make a layout with her. This is the first time I’ve designed my site in a few years (first time with EE, at that), so if anything is wonky or otherwise just ugly, let me know! I was definitely out of practice, as I had to use the net to find basic CSS properties many times over the past few days lol. I don’t have categories right now, because I think I’m going to try the tagging system. Anyway, that’s that. Have a good weekend! 

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.

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.

This week has kicked my ass. We’ve been busier than normal at work, thanks to it being the first of the month as well as people getting their insurance checks for damage caused by The Storm. I open today and then I’m off for the weekend, can I get a AMEN. I was wide awake at 6am today, ready to do it again before I realized I don’t have to be there until 8. Oops.

We have fun things planned this weekend. It finally feels like Fall around here, so we’re hitting up the farm markets for pumpkins, apple butter, cider and other goodies. I really think I’m happiest at times like these, meaning Fall of course. I’m also doing some clothes shopping because, hello, my pants are getting too big (YAY!). Anyway, all things considered, I can say that I made through the week and didn’t maim anyone, so I’ve got that. But then, the day’s just begun…