I Hate Zombie Dreams!

Yes, I really do hate them. I don't have them a lot but often enough that it bothers me. I hate how in vivid color and detail, no matter what I do, the dead fuckers keep coming after me. And sometimes, just to make it that much more of a nightmare, they go after my family.

And I am not watching zombie movies or reading zombie stories when I have these dreams.

On a Sunday, not too long ago, I needed to take a nap. Only it ended up being a less than restful one. It started with repeated lucid dreaming, then I was awoken by crazy cat play. Drifting back to sleep, I was hit with the zombie dream.

- It was a beautiful sunny day. The house had vining flowers growing up and over it and a lush yard. I step outside and, wham, there it is, reaching for me. I'm not sure if it was male or female, but I think female. And it wasn't one of those grotesque rotting flesh zombies - it looked human, but acted zombie. I took a club/bat to it, beating the crap out of it, but it kept coming. For some unknown reason, there was a huge, person-size, pot of boiling water in the yard. And, yep, I managed to get the zombie crammed into that pot and held it under as long as I could. Still it kept coming after me, looking horrid now and falling apart. I managed to start a large fire and after partially severing its head with a large axe, threw in not only the zombie but the pot of icky zombie water. I knew I had to evaporate away all that zombie water or it could cause more zombie problems. -

Shortly thereafter I woke up, feeling dazed and even worse than before the nap. And I think that's understandable after such a horrid dream.

Out of curiosity I went online and searched dream dictionaries. The first was http://www.dreammoods.com

- To dream that you are attacked by zombies, indicates that you are feeling overwhelmed by forces beyond your control. You are under tremendous stress in your waking life.-

Okay, yeah, that could be it. But I do take comfort in the fact that I beat the shit out of and then defeated it. :)

Other definitions I found were similar.

So now you know that if you dream about being attacked by zombies, and you haven't recently seen movies or read books with zombies, you're life is really stressing you out. Most of the time I am painfully aware of how overwhelmed I am; I really don't need the zombie dreams to point this out o_0

*hugs*
Robin

Your result for True Colors Test - A Self Inventory...

NT - Scholar (Green)

Congratulations! You are the SCHOLAR.

First, the bad news. On any given bad day you're most likely to be perceived as cold, arrogant, know-it-all. At times you are closed off and independent, seemingly absentminded, and have probably been told that you've got your head in the clouds. You get lost in thought easily, and sometimes you leave people back on Earth when you go off on a reverie. All of this means that you can come off as aloof and unappreciative of other peoples opinions. You know better, you're probably just smarter than them.

Now that we've got that out of the way, on to the good news. You are a critical thinker and an innovator. A lifetime learner, your passion and thirst for knowledge will entertain you throughout your lifetime. You are the "ideas" person that people come to for solutions. To hell with implementing the ideas, you'll leave that for someone else to figure out. In the meantime, you're probably always eager to share solutions and wisdom with those who seek it. You're good at being alone, and probably need alone time periodically to recharge and just be in your head. You're a visionary, mentally tough, analytical and capable of meting out judgment. You are highly knowledgeable and people seek that out in you. Try not to let that get to your head.

Scholar Traits:

• Visionary


• Conscientious


• Calm and patient


• Sees the big picture


• Serious


• Competent


• Inquisitive


• Meticulous


• Innovative


• Insightful and intellectual


• Adaptable


• Can never know enough

Take True Colors Test - A Self Inventory at HelloQuizzy

Thought I'd share a couple of my favorite FREE websites.

Paperback Swap ~~ http://www.paperbackswap.com

Sign up on this site, post 9 books you want to give away, and start earning credits to receive books you've requested from others on the site. There is no expense to join ~~ the only cost is in mailing the books that others have requested from you. I use media mail and have paid less than $3 for each book. Considering the average paperback is now about $7, I'm saving more than 1/2 the cost of buying a new one.
There are 2 sister sites as well, for swapping CDs and DVDs.

Check it out ~~ they explain it much better than I do.


SparkPeople ~~ http://www.sparkpeople.com

There is no way I can do this site justice, just go check it out. Make sure you check out the video about the founder. He took the money he made in dot.com and used it to create this site to 'spark' people into living healthier lives. It's geared primarily to diet and exercise, but has all sorts of groups, message boards, blogs, challenges, articles, wellness information, etc.

One of the fun things about this site is earning points. Just about everything you do earns you points ~~ for me it is an incentive to watch my point totals go up, and my trophies to change.

(only problem with the emails ~~ my eyes tend to turn the 'r' in spark to an 'n', just for a moment, but it's enough for a double-take when I'm checking my emails *grin*)

Reading Signs

This is just so sweet. It is long (12 minutes), but hang in there 'til the end.

I am Persephone

Your result for The New Greek Goddess Archetype Test...

You are Persephone!

The Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld

Persephone represents change and transformation - a chameleon who can be whatever someone wants her to be. Out of all types, she is the most dependent on her parents or her lover and tends to need these relationships to feel safe. However, she usually undergoes a period of psychological distress at some point, which opens her up to be more independent, assertive, and enables her to inspire transformations in other people as well.

Take The New Greek Goddess Archetype Test at HelloQuizzy

So, back from vacation. Didn't really diet or exercise while gone. The ship was seriously lacking in the foodstuffs I was wanting/needing to stick closely to my planned diet, and with all the walking ~ everywhere ~ ; and the general lack of sleep ~ stuffy, uncomfortable cabin ~; I just could not work up the enthusiasm to head to the stuffy, crowded gym that didn't even have cardio equipment I could easily use...

Now having said all that ~~ all the walking means I didn't damage my weight loss plans too badly. I haven't really weighed myself, wanting to give myself a week home to readjust, so I don't really know how bad the damage is, scale-wise, but my clothes really don't seem tight and my oldest commented that I did look thinner... So, well, we'll see.

Your result for The Lover Style Profile Test...

The Exotic Lover

50% partner focus, 10% aggressiveness, 60% adventurousness

Based on the results of this test, it is highly likely that:



You prefer your romance and love to wild and daring rather than typical or boring, you would rather be pursued than do the pursuing and, when it comes to physical love, you concentrate more on enjoying the experience rather than worrying about your performance.



This places you in the Lover Style of: The Exotic Lover.



The Exotic Lover is a wonderful Lover Style, and conjures images of the exotic, romantic hero out of a romance novel, or perhaps a slightly dangerous and deadly sexy femme fatale from a noir mystery. The Exotic Lover loves pleasure and is a treasure to date, though it can be difficult to do so because they sometimes tend to be mysterious and reluctant to commit.



In terms of physical love, the Exotic Lover can be quite surprising, as they are often more exciting and adventurous than predicted. Given a little freedom, and the right lover, the Exotic Lover can be a delight in bed.



Best Compatibility can probably be found with: The Liberated Lover (most of all) or the Devoted Lover, or the Romantic Lover.



Congratulations!

Take The Lover Style Profile Test at HelloQuizzy

The Chakra Test

Your result for The Chakra Test...

The Visionary

You have scored 100% Imagination - Your dominant Chakra is the "Third Eye or Indigo Chakra"

The "Third Eye or Indigo Chakra" is where our intuitive and visionary energy comes from. It is located on one's forehead. And this is the chakra most developed in you at this time.

Depending on your percentage score, there is always more room for development. When this chakra is under-active, one's may not think clearly, become confused and begin to rely on authoritarian figures. If over-active and out of balance with your other chakras, you may be prone to fantasy. You may even begin to see and believe in things that are not there.

What is most important is to find balance amongst all 7 chakras. Have a look at what percentages you scored on the others and work to increase their power and balance with each other.

Root Chakra: 18% Passion, Sacral(Spleen) Chakra: 94% Desire, Solar Plexus (Navel) Chakra: 59% Purpose, Heart Chakra: 67% Balance, Throat Chakra: 89% Expression, Third Eye Chakra: 100% Imagination and Crown Chakra: 100% Spirituality!

"Third Eye Chakra" Key Words: Intuition, Invention, Psychic Abilities, Self Realization, Perception, Release, Understanding, Memory, Fearlessness

"Third Eye Chakra"Attributes: Color - Indigo Sense - Sixth sense, Higher mind Element - Time Seat -Primordial Power

If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback!

Take The Chakra Test at HelloQuizzy

What Color Green Am I?

You Are Grass Green

Down to earth and a bit of a hippie, you are very into nature and the outdoors. You accept the world and people as they are. You don't try to change things. You are also very comfortable with yourself, flaws and all. Optimistic about the future, you feel like life is always getting better.

What Color Green Are You?

Diet Update

I finished the Jumpstart & Monday morning I had lost 4 pounds & 1 inch around my waist.

Woo hoo!

It's not really a visible change ~ yet. But I can feel the difference.

Ok, *deep calming breathe* I'm being brave here... Jan 1 I weighed a little over 250 lbs. Yesterday morning I was 244. For me that is huge, and super motivating. And today, for the first time in I don't know how long, I stepped on the scale at the gym, fully clothed with my tennies on, and I didn't have to move the bottom weight to the 250 mark. Oh. My. Goodness. Fully dressed, w/ shoes, and having eaten 3 meals & I was still below 250 (I'm always higher at the end of the day).

It is so amazing to see a positive change almost everyday.

Now to just keep it going.

It's that time again. Diet time. Ok, I really prefer to call it something like Health & Fitness Improvement... I have really got to get some of these excess weight off. To be at my 'ideal' weight, I need to lose about 100 pounds. Right now I'd be happy to see a steady loss of 5 to 10 pounds a month.

I'm trying the Flat Belly Diet by Prevention. I chose it because it allows really good things like nuts, and olive oil, and avocados, and dark chocolate. They call them MUFA's ~~ which, for the life of me, I can't remember what that stands for *shaking head in disbelief*. Something about healthy unsaturated fats ~~ and you have to have some with every single meal & snack. I'm hoping I won't feel too deprived.

I start tomorrow with breakfast. There's a 4 day jumpstart, then a 28 day program, which you keep repeating as long as you need to.

I think the main challenges are going to be:

• Making sure I eat every four hours
• Making sure I get everything for breakfast, lunch & snack prepared the night before
• Dinner at home with family
• Weekends, when my schedule is not structured at all

I've been going to the gym regularly the past few weeks ~~ at least 2 times a week for at least an hour each time. I've been doing mainly cardio work ~~ at least 1/2 hour on the elliptical & another 1/2 hour or so on the rowing machine. I really like the rowing machine ~~ a nice full body work out, cardio with strength/toning. Between the two, I do feel it the next day, in a good way. And according to my heart monitor, I'm getting & keeping my heart rate in the proper zone while exercising & burning massive amounts of calories. I really need to add at least one more day, ideally two, to get the best results. Looking at the Yoga, Pilates & Aquaerobics classes at the gym, but right now they are filled to overflowing. I'm hoping they empty out in the next month or so.

And I'm hoping some exercise & weight lost will help with my back pain. My right hip has been very painful lately... I've been to the chiropractor & it's helping, plus I am constantly doing pelvic tilts, hamstring stretches & such to try and make it better.

There is exactly one month 'til our vacation, and I'd really like to be a little bit lighter, thinner, firmer.

Wish me luck :)

Tomorrow my boy turns 14. I can't believe he's that old (or that I'm this old LOL).

Last week, MC wanted to talk to us (DH and me) in private. It was so cute. He likes a girl, but he wanted our permission before he asked her to go steady. Is that just too sweet? He has paid attention all those times we've said x years old is too young, etc.

DH and I discussed it with each other, and with him. And we gave our approval. DH was a little weirded out by it -- in the culture in which he was raised, teens do not 'go steady', there is no dating, hand holding, etc. But I told DH that we were lucky MC wanted our permission. I know I never asked my parents if I could go steady and they only ever got to know boyfriends when I was old enough to actually go out on dates.

We'll see what happens. I know he's liked this girl for some time and has spent time with her when large groups of friends get together. This just makes it official that they are a couple and takes her off the market :)

Of course, MC doesn't want us telling his sisters... doesn't want them to tease him. Yeah, right, that's what siblings do. Oh, the fun to be had... :D

I am Rain

I like this -- especially the part about bringing out the beauty around me. And a dominant state of 'changing'. Yep, that's me, if nothing else I am very mutable.

You Are Rain

You can be warm and sexy. Or cold and unwelcoming. Either way, you slowly bring out the beauty around you. You are best known for: your touch Your dominant state: changing

What Type of Weather Are You?

Missy Higgins -- Where I Stood

This song just gets to me -- not that I'm breaking up with DH or anything, but if I were to imagine it, or when I think about people I know who's relationships are ending, not in anger, but just because they've run their course, this song seems to speak to that.

Lyrics | Missy Higgins lyrics - Where I Stood lyrics


Here's another video -- I like this version better

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

YC and I were watching the Muppets Christmas special, when Macy's holiday commercial came on , the one where they paraphrase the editorial 'Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.' YC asked a question and I pulled up the letter onlline and shared it with her.

It's so beautifully written -- it's no wonder why it still resonates so strongly today as it did over 100 years ago.


Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

***************************************************************************

I was getting teary eyed reading it to YC. I think she liked it.

Wednesday Weirdness #34

1. What is the one sexual act you would never do? Anything having to do with pooh. Ick. Other than that, not so sure -- haven't been asked to do anything that I've said no to... but I also haven't been asked to do a lot :P

2. Is there anyone you know, that if they turned out to be a serial killer you would not be surprised? No, can't think of anyone.

3. What is the most annoying thing about the holiday season for you? The madness of shopping and the incessant playing of the same holiday songs/music over and over and over and...

4. If you saw a video of your celebrity crush picking their nose, would that change your opinion of their hotness? Maybe. Depends on how seriously they were doing it. More likely I'd just add it to my proof that they're human list.

5. What is the one non-sexual thing you would be embarrassed to be caught doing? Unavoidably passing noxious gas in public.

6. A favorite blogger friend wrote a column about the one word that really turns her on. Do you have a word or phrase that does the same for you? What is it? There a few, dependent upon the circumstances: 'get into position', 'I'm the boss', 'I love this ass'

7. As someone who ran a virtual cookie exchange, I have to ask what your favorite cookie is? Oatmeal raisin chocolate chip

I think I'm losing it

Or, to be more exact, 'things'.

I'm thinking we have pixies, or imps, or gremlins. Some sort of invisible being, of the mischievous faerie, that likes to torment me by taking my things.

It's driving me nuts.

Started back in late March/early April when my cell phone charger disappeared. One day it was plugged into the wall in my bedroom and the very next it was gone. And it has never shown up -- and believe me I've been through drawers, cupboards, boxes... And since my phone is different than DH's or the kids, they'd have no reason to 'borrow' it. So it's a mystery.

Then a few months ago I realized a book and card set was missing. Again, I've looked everywhere, even cleaning out my bedroom closet and some storage cupboards, organizing in the process. I can't think of anywhere else to look. There are very few places where I would put a book -- anywhere in my bedroom, including my closet and the attached office, or in one of my tote bags. I've checked them all, multiple times.

Then tonight, I wanted to take a picture of the moon, but I don't have much luck when taking night time pictures. So I wanted to pull out my how to book for my camera and see what it had to say about low light/no light photos. But I can't find the book anywhere. Nor can I find any of the photography magazines I have either. Again, I'm the only one with this specific type of camera, the only one with access to the camera, so there is no reason anyone else would take the book and magazines. I've looked under the bed, through my closet, in the cupboards, in the office and I can't find it.

I'm irritated and frustrated. I can't afford to replace the books right now (damn mandatory unpaid furlough that has reduced my take home pay by 15%).

Friday when I'm home alone, I think I'll do some snooping in the kids rooms -- although, why they would take any of these things is beyond me...

Now, to push this issue out of my mind so I can get to sleep.

I stopped at Costco on the way home and couldn't help but notice all the little boys -- I'd guess 4 to 6 years old. They couldn't stay still or quiet, whether they were riding in carts or walking with their parents.
I remember when my "little" boy was like that -- and in so many ways still is.
But...
My little boy is now taller than I am. His voice has deepened, his shoulders broadened. The dressy clothes we bought at the end of April, for our family vacation, no longer fit -- pant legs and shirt sleeves are at least 4 inches too short now. Even with slightly long hair, I cannot mistake him for a girl in the swimming pool.
He will be 14 in December.
He's no longer a little boy, but a young man.

I miss my little mama's boy. The one who insisted on crawling into bed with me every night; at least until I was too pregnant with his younger sister. The one who wouldn't go to Sunday School unless I stayed with him -- at first right next to him, then the row behind, then the back of the room. He always checked to make sure I was still there.

He's a smart aleck, with a quirky sense of humor (like his mom). We like a lot of the same things (peanut butter m&ms, fantasy and scifi, silly jokes). He can be such a nut :D

He can also be seriously cruel to his little sister. And I don't get it. All his friends parents tell us what a wonderful young man he is, so polite and considerate and helpful. Except where his little sister is concerned. I keep hoping that he'll outgrow this...

No matter how much bigger than me he gets, no matter how deep his voice becomes, he will allows be my little boy.

iGoogle

Don't know if anyone out there also uses iGoogle, but they just made same layout changes that really suck. Tabs used to be on the top -- now they're on the left side, totally screwing up my gadgets. And it's not an option, they're just there.

If you use iGoogle and are also unhappy with the changes, a petition has been started and can be accessed here http://www.petitiononline.com/igoogle/petition.html
Can't be certain Google will pay attention, but I would think that the more people who complain, the more likely they are to pay heed and hopefully make the requested changes.