nesting photos. beware. i am a pillow hoarder.

in case you're curious about where i spend my evenings, this is where.

i have this weird habit of owning all the pillows in the house and sleeping in them and lovin them and all that good stuff. i just love to curl into a big bunch of soft pillows and read. so this is my 'nest', as my husband vlad likes to say.

i nest every night. can't help it. love it. can't get enough of it. i love the feel of scuuchy scrunhy yummy pillows and with this thunderstorm? PERFECTION.

i love rain. now that i live out of Southern California, i love it. btw? SoCal see's a lot of rain. A. LOT. A>>>>>>> LOT>>>>>. sorry. that was obnoxious. just sayin'. puddles and jeans? don't mix.

but really.

this? is my one true love. microsuede peeeloooows and crunchy smuuushy soft pillow stuffing and soft blanket on sale at target? ='s Lo a happy girl.

super duper happy. i just uber love my pillows. all four of them. you should see my bed. RI-DIC.

i think this is a meme, but not sure, but either way, tag i'm it.

my homegirl Linda tagged me in... wait... L, what is this? a meme? a meyoume? eh. movin' on.

so. here are the rules. and i'm not so good at rules, mostly cuz.... i'm a lazy blogger who gets sidetracked more often than not and kinda fades out into some weird twist of what i was sayin and o btw what WAS i sayin?


“Your ship has sunk. You have, of course, been stranded on a deserted island. You have salvaged a copy of the King James Version of the Bible and a copy of the complete works of Shakespeare. Nothing else.
“The very next day you find one of those Arabian Lamps in the sand. Of course, you rub it and, of course, a rather grumpy Genie appears.
“‘Let’s get this straight - there is a recession going on. There are restrictions on the three wishes now. I don’t do water or air transport now so no boats, planes or magic carpets. As for electronics, forget it. There isn’t the infrastructure on this island.
“‘I can let you have one book and I mean one VOLUME, one essential item and one luxury item. Now hurry up and make your choices, I have to get to those five other islands you are going to nominate.’”





..... i have no idea.



i've been sittin' here thinking, what on earth would i want to read for all eternity? what book is that amazing? sure, i can think of a ton of series to bring but... that's not allowed.



i honestly think this is the most impossible thing. i cannot whittle down to one book. impossible!! i read so much. as in, 2-3 books a week. if i'm not busy that week? more. i go thru books like air. or more aptly, airchocolategreenteaWINEtoiletpapergarbagebagsairfreshener cuz daisy is smelly sometimes.

sorry daiz. just keepin it real.

but really, i have no idea.

what book? no idea. i could spout my favs, like enders game, sophie kinsella, but it may just circle back to Jen Lancaster (yes caps, she rocks) cuz.... she makes me laugh my socks off. but, maybe readin it over and over on a desert island would make me insane.

who knows. maybe insanity would be WELCOME after bein' stranded all alone.

what was the next thing i could have? jenie? hello? bueller?

okay, so essential item would be one of those nifty things that converts your AHEM pee into water. i know. i know. tmi. bear with me. that's essential. but also? if i had fresh water forever? then i would say.... essential.... would be.... wine. i know. don't shoot me. but really? all alone on a desert island? what else is going to amuse me?

the luxury item i would choose..... bedding. that means, a bed with 1,000 ridic thread count sheets and amazing pillows with mosquito netting and... an air conditioner and heater built in.

cuz a bed is really one item. right? and bed includes bedding.

pfft. it's my blog. my rules. :)

so there ya go. and i'm also supposed to tag five people but again, i'm spazzy and american idol is distracting bc this gal is singin' HEART and oh my lordy be i HEART HEART and ... her dressi s bad but you know, i'll forgive her.

also, i love norman gentle, just sayin'. not sure why. just do.

ahem. what was i talkin about again?

this post is goin' nowhere.... but i'll post it anyway

i've been trying to write about something halfway interesting but it seems like sometimes life really isn't as interesting as you'd thought. or. would hope for. mostly i've been working and parked on the couch. this last weekend we went to the auto show downtown and normally, being a car (slut) lover, i enjoy it SO much. this year? eh.

could've been that i had to work saturday morning. could've been i was dead dog tired. could've been that my husband told me it was just going to be us and two car loving freaks friends of ours, but nah. he decides to tell me, when i get home from work, exhausted and forced to take a nap before attempting to get dressed to go out again, that he invited his entire family.

don't get me wrong. they're my fam, now, too. but they're russian. and when you get a bunch of russians together, especially in a huge public arena, .......... let's just say........ is it loud.

i was tired. not up for russian day at chicago auto show. i wanted to poke and peruse at my leisure, drool and sigh over whatever i felt like making lovey-eyes with.... not spend the entire day being dragged from one end to the other, poked at, tickled, jostled around, end up pushing two strollers and carrying bags and using my entire bout of willpower to not shout at my mother in law that NO I AM NOT PREGNANT and YES I AM OKAY and NO, PLEASE please PLEASE don't call me forty eleven times today bc you just 'lost me' and 'can't find me' and oooo looky there, foolishly i had decided that i could go to the bathroom on my own. obviously i can't.

i love them, but sometimes it gets to be way too much. so i was a little peeved bc vlad had invited his parents, his uncle, his sister and her new husband (just got in from russia two weeks ago, doesn't speak a lick of english) and her five-year-old son (who admittedly is adorable. but a handful at a convention center PACKED with kids). and possibly, oh, our russian couple friends... one is our friends stepbrother, who came from russia two years ago and his girlfriend who doesnt speak much english.... and then the OTHER couple, both russian, who both speak english perfectly but...

when you get more than three russians together? there ain't gonna be no english. just sayin'.

then it turns out we were royally stood up and it ended up being vlad and i. and thankfully, it was fun. not.. you know, terribly interesting bc all of the cars i've already seen- they didn't have a lot of the new concept cars goin' on and the foreign section was terribly lacking- (don't call me a car snob. i just really, really love cars.) the retro americana cars were awesome. sometimes the car show can be lacking...... but then again...... if it were up to me, it'd be all phantoms and suicide doors and lambo's and an sl65 that i could actually sit in and touch... not just drool over from afar.

this is the place where i'd post my pictures but since i've recently discovered that my laptop doesn't have that nifty card memory slot to upload photos directly....... it's kinda hard to telepathically insert pics without a usb cable.

so then we went to the mall, bc i was like 'if i'm outta the house, i'm OUT, let's go do something' and he bought cologne and i got nuthin'. but no worries. i totally made him swing me thru best buy and i bought two new computer games,

and yes, i am totally a nerd and geeky like that, (i even have a notebook that i use to figure out clues and puzzles. heh. vlad calls it my nerd book.)

so i happily played myself through the weekend. then i got horrid heartburn yesterday and spent all night trying to sleep upright, which, in case you've never tried? SO. HARD. seriously.

but all is well today.

and this post is super rambly but that's what happens on four to five hours of sleep and some weird, WEIRD dream where i was like.... i dunno. more on that another time. i think i read too much sci fi.

the reason i am in tears, and why i love all of humankind, no matter what color, preference, or nail polish shade.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/divorce


if you have a heart.

uuuhhhmmm yeah.

so why is it that when i'm drinking wine (second glass, swear, promise, maybe not, but still love me, k? promise? pinky promise? k. k.) i write the best emails?

er, i am SO not feelin this crazy snow coming. just sayin. i gots to work tomorrow, and this snow? yikes. they make it sound so bad.

but i don't believe them.

denial? maybe.

dellusional? perhaps.

what else starts with a D? dairy. and you know what? the dairy department? is so the shiz at jewel. and not too much at dominicks.

even tho dominicks is so bliggin it's ridic.

i'm thinking i shouldn't post this, bc i sound a tad bit looney, but really? what fun is sane?

that make any sense?

basically, this is what happens when you leave me home alone. i blog. like a lunatic. and i read. like a maven. sp? anyone? bueller?

also? i'm turning off the news. very. scary. news. "if you hear gunfire, run the other way. that's what i told my kids."

uhm, ya think?

also?

my heart is breakin so much i can't watch anymore. here i am on my nifty new laptop in my comfy home and here i hear that 17 teenagers have been killed in chicago.

and another man shot his ex girlfriend.

sorry if i'm debby downer. but really? i am scared. of the world. of the people in this world. mostly of me, bc what have i done? what CAN I DO?????

advice, please. any chi town gals out there (and guys, bc i don't hate) that can tell me how i could help... beyond donating online...

and btw? i feel so disconnected from the world, and this IS SO NOT me sayin, yo give me props! for donating! yay me! it's me saying...

what. can. i. do. bc i feel like i should (SHOULD) be doing more and yet... i don't know HOW. and that to me is the saddest part. imagine how many people are out there who don't know HOW but WANT TO.

how can i help?

and seriously, i am a flake, but if you remind me and tell me and comment i swear it will settle in. i try to do so much good but sometimes life gets the better of me.

ever consider that phrase? "gets the better of me". that seems so sad to me.

i want the WORLD to get the better of me.

k? got it? get the better of me. it's the only part worth havin.

handbag heaven!!!!!!!!!!

so there's this tag stuff goin' around where you post pics of yer current purse.


"1) Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you cannot go to your closet and pull out that cute little purse you used back before you had kids. {HA! Does not apply.} We want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house. No cheating!

2) Say how much it costs. This is not to judge. This is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, do tell.

3) Tag some friends."

i am a bag snob. seriously. i can be so flippin cheap it's AMAZING and yet, when it comes to purses... sigh. i am hopeless. i'm also gaudy. i really, really REALLLLLLLY love Juicy Couture. as in, i would sell most of my things to purchase endless amounts of Juicy.

i know. i sicken myself, too. i am SO moneytown in that respect that it makes me gag. yet. i cannot help what i do.

this bag? yeah. it was a christmas gift from my mother, over two years ago. how much did it cost? oh, after tax? about $500.

yes. i said $500. for a purse. BUT I HAVE CARRIED IT FOR TWO YEARS ALREADY!!!!! doesn't that count for something? i mean. when you run the numbers (heh) a 'normal' person who buys a new bag every 3 months at say $40 a pop is spending $160 a year on purses. and times that by how long i've carried this bag for, that's $400, so REALLY? that's not bad. right?

(sob) right?????

sigh. but this bag makes my heart sing. i love all the gold on the black. i love the inside, patterned with crowns and 'hello?' on the cell phone pocket. i love the grommets, the studs, the leather straps, i love it all.

this bag has gotten A LOT of attention over the years. women everywhere tell me how much they love it. this picture doesn't do it justice. they don't make this style anymore.

instead of feeling 'dated' or 'last season' (these are naughty, naughty NASTY words in my world) i simply say, 'oh, it's quite vintage, don't you think? (sigh) one of a kind.'

i lie. yeah. i'm sorry. please forgive me. but i truly adore this bag and i haven't bought any other purses since receiving this as a gift.

wallets? different story.

also? yeah. so i kinda maybe sorta bought ANOTHER Juicy purse from Loehman's last weekend.

in my defense? IT'S BROWN. so duh, under handbag law, it was totally necessary.

do not get me started on shoes.

i have a problem. at least i can admit that i have a problem.

...which is good... right?

because i have a headache and am stuck at work, a me-me. MEMEME

so i totally copy & pasted & stole the excuse of 24 over at twenty four at heart bc i'm cranky today, i have a MOTHER of a headache, and i have to work tomorrow TOO, and... and... i'll stop complaining. there're people who have it worse than me. but still. i'm not happy on this friday.

so. this is the 100 things before...? and before...? what? i have no idea. i just felt like doing this and since i can't see straight or think straight or walk straight, i CAN mark things BOLD. so. here ya goes.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (as in... school band. clarinet, yo.)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Bathed in a river
7. Been to the Taj Mahal
8. Walked on a glacier in Alaska
9. Caught and held a snake
10. Spoke in front of a big crowd
11. Bungee jumped (uh, hell nah. sorry.)
12. Had a whirlwind love affair that broke your heart
13. Found an arrowhead or fossil
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (piano! but i forgot. oops.)
15. Rescued an animal
16. Ate sweet breads, glands or tripe
17. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hiked to base camp on Mt. Everest
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Watched an animal being born
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Learned a foreign language
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Stayed up for more than 24 hours
31. Trained a dog to do cool tricks
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (i went to germany... does that count?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Can drive a stick shift car
37. Won over $1000 in a raffle or lottery
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (unfortunately.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Been serenaded
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Broke a bone
47. Started your own business
48. Quit a job because you were totally unhappy
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the Eiffel Tower
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain passionately
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Joined a prayer group
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Received flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London
77. Broken something extremely expensive
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Got a tattoo
83. Been to a coffee shop in Amsterdam
84. Seen the aurora borealis in person
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (EW)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Toured the UN
95. Hiked to Machu Picchu
96. Swam in the Indian Ocean
97. Conversed with someone when neither of you spoke each others language (sigh. every day wit thhe russian inlaws)
98. Dirty danced
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Acted in a play (and won first place!!) (have terrible stage fright, btw.)