Harry Potter

So, I spent a hellish day at work yesterday. The weekend marked the beginning of hunting season here apparently, which also apparently marks the beginning of shopping season for women. I'm pretty sure I only saw about 4 men in my store all day yesterday. Also, let me just say that I think it's total crap that I can't tell customers when we close unless they ask. Especially when those customers come in the store as I'm ringing up my last customer 10 min after we close. Even more especially when they stay until 45 min after we close. And if those women had stayed any later, thereby jeopardizing my early arrival to the late showing of the new Harry Potter, I would have personally grabbed them by the uvula and thrown them out of the store myself.

Okay, now for the good stuff. I saw the new Harry Potter movie last night!! I do have to say that it is without a doubt my favorite movie so far. But then, the 4th book is absolutely amazing, so anything less would have been a disappointment. The crowd was awesome too. It was sold out (of course), and the whole theater laughed together. Cried together. Clapped together at the end. I love it when everyone claps at the end of a good movie. DS too was impressed. The whole movie was a surprise for him, not having read the books. I made sure to wear my Gryffindor scarf that my friend Chanda made me. I was much cooler than all the college students running around with little wooden brooms. However, reign at the top of the cool pyramid was quickly dashed when I spotted a guy wearing an actual Gryffindor Quidditch jersey. *le sigh*

And on a funny note: They of course took advantage of the large crowds and showed about 10 movie previews. Among them, a move entitled Happy Feet. This is apparently a CGI version of March of the Penguins, where of course the animals talk and dance. First, I couldn't believe the blatant wave riding this movie was attempting to do. OOohhh, March of the Penguins was a huge hit! I bet we could make tons more if we made them talk! Then, I remembered this article that I'd read in The Onion a while back. I was still sad that the article was so right on, but I could at least laugh at the absurdity of it all...

Taking Suggestions

I decided last year to make ornaments on a yearly basis. One basic design, like collectible yearly things. This is last years:
Notice that I personalized them with the year and the person's name. My plan for selling them is to always have the year, but to charge an extra dollar for putting on the name. Then I can make a bunch of generic ones faster. You'll notice that I painted the design to be seen through the glass, but I painted it again on the back to be seen from behind. I also found this cool paint that looks like snow for the bottom.

So, now I'm taking suggestions for design ideas regarding this year's ornament. If I choose yours, you get two free ones! That's a $12 value! So, leave me a comment, or if you're stingy with your ideas (which is fine by me), you can e-mail me.

My First Wisconsin Snow!!

It's snowing!!! I took pictures, but my computer has decided to not recognize my camera tonight. So maybe tomorrow... I'm so excited! I love snow!! Yea!! for winter!!


Wow, that's a lot of exclamation points.


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PHOTO EDIT:

It's hard taking pictures of snow at night.

This last one was taken with the flash on. I think it's awesome.

A Great Big THANKS

As it was made known by a publicized letter, I have been making magnets for a Mr. Harry Yak. He was quite late in making his payment. However, I now owe him the biggest thanks. He gave me waaay more than I charged. Why? Not because it was late, but because "That's what I think they're worth." How freakin awesome is that??

In thanks, I'm sending him a copy of The Onion in print. Because one of the perks of living in Madison is having The Onion printed here.

Also, I have to tell him, that I'm glad your "edge living" turned out okay. It would suck to lose $25 in the mail. However, your letter rocked. You, BOBI and Dane can come over anytime you want :) The zoo is free!

My first football party

Well, the first one worth mentioning...

Today, because DS is out of town and Mo didn't get to come visit, my friend Katie drug me out of my house for the last home football game of the season. I managed to go my entire four years of college without attending one party, whether it be football related or no. I've never really been much of party person. At least, not drunken retard parties. I was never invited to them in high school, because "you wouldn't have come anyway." Yeah, you're right. And I would have told your Mom too!

However, the older I get, the more comfortable I am getting together with some adults and having a few beers. And since I have to get used to the idea of spending time with people other than DS while he's in France, I took Katie up on her offer to party all day. Initially, she told me we would start around 8:30am. Later, when she realized the game didn't start until 2:30pm, she changed her mind to a more "reasonable" 10:30am. I showed up around 11ish.

I don't own any Badger-wear, except my baseball shirt. Which I get flak for, because the school no longer has a baseball team. However, I carefully choose an outfit with red as the dominant color and went downtown. I was shocked at how far away I had to park just to go to her friend's house. She told me they were out front. So I'm walking down the street, and literally every house has about 20 people in the front yard, all in red badger gear, and all playing beer pong or some other drinking game. I was beginning to think I had gotten in over my head, as I've never played any drinking games. You have to go to a party to do that...

But then I found her, and there weren't that many people in this particular yard, though there was the drinking game table set up. I was given a beer from a keg, and I set about making myself comfortable around all these people I'd never met before. I'm not really a people person.

I watched several rounds of flip cup while I sipped my beer. When I had about an inch or two left in my cup, I decided that it had gotten low enough that I could manage to play. They gave me some slack because I was a first timer. As it turns out, I'm very very good at this game. However, I never actually won. The first time, my team was disqualified because I got overeager and started before the last teammate had finished flipping. The second time, I got placed on a team of giggly girly-girls, the kind who act stupid so you'll have sex with them. I think they lost on purpose. However, I know that I'm good, because everyone who won said to me, "wow! that was a great flip!" So while I'm not eager to spend many days drinking just to play this game, I'm glad that I can hold my own when needed.

By the time the game started, there were more people than I cared to count in the yard. I was shocked that I liked most of those that I was introduced to. We moved the gathering to a bar with a TV for game watching. It was standing room only. Outside. And shortly thereafter we went to yet another bar for game watching. Though to be honest, we didn't see a lot of the game. Too many people. But we did make a point to see the last 30 secs. The rest of the night was spent in a trip to Rocky Roccoco for dinner, and then dancing back at the bar. I love dancing.

I was dutifully walked back to my car, as it was dark, and I was parked a long way off. I spent 9+ hours with a bunch of people I barely knew. Well, I only knew one, the rest had been complete strangers. I very carefully drank just enough, but not too much, and stopped 5 hours before I went home, to be safe. Now, I'm in my pjs, and very sleepy. Yes, even the Sleep Goblin needs sleep sometimes... I'm happy to report that it was a good day.

Random Quotes from an Evening of Playing Blackjack

"I need one more bust protector!"

"I'll double barrel you!"

"Did you just spank your own ass?"

"How many of those do you have in your mouth?"

"They're not potato chips, they're corn chips, and I'm convinced that makes them better."
"Why, because they have a vegetable in the name?"

"Do you have pet names for your genitals?"

"Have you started the internet porn yet?"

"All of my penises are in South Carolina."
"You have more than one?"

"I saw that tongue action."

"I just can't stop looking at myself."

"Alice blew that one!"

"Read the damn entry!"

"My boobs are pilling from rubbing them on the cardboard."

"Man, I've got to unbutton my pants."

"That makes me feel all makey outtie."

"Hit me!"

"I was down under the desk on my knees in the dark."

"Is book light a secret code for vibrator?"

"I got an eruption!"

"Bastard!"
-----------------------------------------
It's amazing how dirty a conversation can sound out of context, no?

I rated my life

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	7
Mind:	7.3
Body:	6.6
Spirit:	7.5
Friends/Family:	5
Love:	7.7
Finance:	8.4
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

I'm happy with my life overall. Friends/Family is definitely on the low end, so that's no exaggeration. Though I really doubt that my finances are the best part of my life. Just because I pay my bills on time and don't live at home doesn't mean that I'm not also in debt up to my ears.

Badger Day

So, it looks like instead of driving to Michigan tomorrow, I've been invited out for drinks Saturday morning in honor of the last home football game of the Badgers. And by morning I mean 8:30 am. And by drinks I mean for real bloody mary's. My friend Katie is serious about football....

Oh, and I'm finally getting around to changing your link Bobi, but I'm not happy about it. I'm opposed to change.

Family Tree

Note: It is not a good idea to put off making one of these to the last minute. This is especially true when you have to take your boyfriend to the airport at 5am the next day. Just be forewarned, it takes a long time to print all those pictures at the right size, and then cut them out and put them in there. We did the back side too. It may not make up for DS forgetting his mom's birthday, but I think it'll be close. All that work, and I'm not even going. I can't even fall asleep on the plane. Nope, just coming back home and then going to work all night....

--------------------------
Updates: A while back I told you about an employee who made work suck. I think we're going to fire this employee soon. Work is looking up because of this.

DS is leaving in the morning to visit his mom in S. Carolina. This is in large part because he forgot her birthday, but also it's because he loves her. I am staying home.

Mo was supposed to visit me this weekend, but all of our careful planning has come to naught. I am consoled only by the fact that she has a computer again, as of today, and can at least spend time on pogo with me in place of our game night. (I hope she reads this and gets prepared...) Also, maybe, just maybe, I'll go see her instead. Won't be quite the same, but it's probably better than nothing. I don't know though.. I can be kinda pessimistic.

Eggnog is now in stores. I love this whole 2 months of straight holiday sooo much. (Only when it's two months though.. my store started selling Christmas stuff in early September. GAG!)

I am so sad. I have known for some time that DS's job would be sending him to Lyon, France for a while this winter. However, he has recently been given the details of said trip. He leaves January 15 for THREE MONTHS! How am I supposed to go three months without him, when I've already posted about how I have NO friends? How will I keep warm during my first Wisconsin winter? How will I keep healthy when I have to go back to a Ramen noodle diet?

I am so sad.

I love Mountain Dew

I have a Mountain Dew addiction. To be more specific, I had a Citrus Drop addiction, which I liked much better than Mountain Dew, but we don't have Krogers in Wisconsin. Stupid Wisconsin. For a long time, I found nothing that lived up to my Citrus Drop, so I stuck with Mountain Dew. Now I've found Mountain Fury. Not as good as Citrus Drop, but I'll drink it over real Mountain Dew. I have a thing about good generics.. I don't know why.

Anyway, my point is something else entirely. When I sit here at my computer for long hours, like tonight, I can go through more than one without really noticing. It's probably bad for my butt. But good for my can collection. Okay, it's not so much a "collection" as it is a bunch of used cans on my window sill. DS hates it. I wonder what he would do if I went for the world record? That's got to be a helluva lot of cans....

Yahtzee

When I lived with my dad and his girlfriend for a brief time during College 1, we had a pretty regular game night. We would play anything from Rummy and Poker to Yahtzee to Dominos.

When I dated my now ex though still record holding longest boyfriend, we played Rook with his family at least once a week, usually on Sundays.

I have no one to play games with anymore. I have a stack of board games almost as tall as me that no one plays with me. Cranium is not a fun game by yourself, unless you're well adapted to split personalities.

I made DS play Yahtzee with me tonight. It's the least he can do, since he's the reason I no longer have any friends closer than a 9 hour drive.

On a different, though related note, I also have no one to see movies with. What about DS you say? Well, when I get excited about things like Rent and Harry Potter, I'm not all feel good about my only movie watching partner groaning and saying "you owe me." In fact, I don't think we've ever gone to to a movie which I didn't owe him for later. And of course, because he's never picked out a movie at the theater, or had any desire to see one, I owe him a lot of movies still.

Where are the rest of the super cool dorky people in this stupid town?

A Complete Blank

I can't think of anything to post about today. So, in lieu of leaving my loyal readers with nothing new, I'm posting this pic I took at the Henry Vilas Zoo in August. It's an orangutan family. Isn't the baby adorable?

Climb On!

I climbed both my first 10a and 10b today! I am awesome!!

A Note to Mr. Harry Yak

Dear Mr. Yak,

I recently sent you an e-mail with a picture of the magnets I've been making for you. I have been disappointed in your lack of response. Are you not excited? Do you think they suck? I know you've been online because you have left evidence of your presence on this very blog.

If I don't get a reply soon, I may be forced to either keep them, or bestow them upon other eager souls who find a magnet of your face wonderful. Consider this a friendly warning :)

Sincerely,
Sleep Goblin

Please Wear Your Seat Belt

Dear Everyone,

I'd like to take a minute to remind you that seat belts save lives. Though you may be tired of hearing it, or maybe you don't care, it's important to others that you do. In high school, my best friend's best friend died in a car wreck because she didn't have her seat belt on. I found out today another good friend of ours died this week, also because of a lack of seat belt wearing.

Aside from the fact that wearing your seat belt is now law in most states, wearing them is better than not, safety speaking. And if that isn't a good enough reason for you, think about people like me and Kel, who will spend the rest of our lives without you.

Sincerely,
Sleep Goblin

Devil's Lake Photo Fest

First off:

Happy Halloween!

(I'm a gypsy fortune teller... It was all I could pull together last minute in my closet.)

Secondly, Devil's Lake. I think this is a befitting park to discuss on Halloween, don't you?

DS and I headed out to what he commonly refers to as "the lake" early Saturday morning. I had been promised 60 degree weather, yet when I emerged from the car I was met with fog, wind, and a tart 33. We met his friend Dylan, and Dylan's friend Katie, who bestowed freshly baked cinnamon doughnuts on us. In return, I bestowed upon them some not so friendly words, as said Dylan had made said weather promise. I can be very unforgiving. It's a fault I'm okay with.

The light coming through the trees was breath taking. We weren't expecting the leaves to be so beautiful this late in the season. Everyone I spoke with was sure the weekend before would be the peak, which is why DS and I had made such an effort to make it out to Governor Dodge. However, this weekend made last weekend seem bland. The drive in made me feel like I was in Lothlorien. Pictures couldn't do it justice. Light was filtering gently down through the branches, and tall trees covered in leaves of golden yellow were releasing a constant, yet slow, stream down to the ground. It was so beautiful. Almost like magic.

Maybe the elves vacation here?

After a quick stop at one of the rustic toilets (ie. a hole in the ground, no running water), we started the climb up the bluffs. The park map has it measured out at 0.3 miles. It seems like it would be easy enough, except it's all straight up hill. The trail is an historic CCC route, built entirely of local quartzite. From the parking lot, you would have no idea the trail was there. In fact, coming back down, I didn't always know where to go. I'd be walking along and realize I was about to go over a 30 ft drop of sharp rocks. But I think a good trail should blend in, so as not to distrupt the setting, the main reason you go to these parks.

The trail goes through those rocks. Can you find it?

Two puffs of my inhaler later, I'm standing a good 400 ft up in the air at the edge of a cliff. The valley floor is stretched out beneath me, the trees an array of color. I took many pictures, and then huddled behind a large boulder so as not to be blown away. The wind was in a fury that morning. I watched DS and Dylan set the tops ropes for the climbs we would doing. For ease in finding them, climbs are grouped in so-called amphitheaters. The group had chosen the one called the "Bedroom Amphitheater", where we climbed routes titled things such as "Orgasm" and "Foreplay." While the day was an enjoyable experience, I'm disappointed that these climbs did not live up to their names.

Dylan on "Orgasm Direct".

Being anti-large-group as we are, the afternoon brought more people to this popular bluff and we moved on. It takes some time to set up the ropes, which is fine by me. I'll wait around for 45 min if it means that I won't die when I fall. Now that it was indeed the promised 60ish, perfect sunny day, I spent this time taking pictures. This is also when I ruined the lense on my good digital camera. Windy days on bluffs is not a good day to try balancing your camera on a tree limb to photograph yourself. Oh well, such is life. The camera still takes pictures, if in a more limited range. Though I later got a crash session in what a capacitor does...

Post-break; Pre-realization.

It was in this new set up that DS accomplished his "shining moment", when he cleaned a climb called "Beginner's Demise." I of course did not even attempt trying something whose name declares the folly of doing so. Though I did pull out some sweet layback moves on another climb further down the trail. I wasn't really feeling the saucy climber Saturday. The hike and scenary made the day worth it despite my lack of motivation.

I've decided this is where Mordor use to be. Can't you see Sam and Frodo climbing those steps? I think they just flooded the valley after the great battle was won. That must be why it's called Devil's Lake. And that rock formation they call Devil's Doorway? Nope, that's just where the all-seeing eye was hanging out before the tower fell.

Having spent all night the night before on the phone with Mo, meaning I had at most 4 hours of sleep, it was a tiring day. I didn't make it 5 minutes in the car before falling asleep on the way home. It was awesome. I feel like I've experience fall in all it's glory now, and shall be content even if I don't get another good day outside before winter.

Banned Books

I know I promised to post my Devil's Lake pictures today, but I an inflamed and must post something else. I stumbled upon a list of the most challenged books in America from 1990-2000 at Malissa's site. I've known of this list before, but I've never really read through it. Today I did, and I am appalled.

THE LIST:

• Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
  
• Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
  
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  
• The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
  
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
  
• Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
  
• Forever by Judy Blume
  
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
  
• Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
  
• Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
  
• My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
  
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
  
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
  
• It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
  
• Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
  
• A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
  
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
  
• Sex by Madonna
  
• Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
  
• The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
  
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
  
• Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
  
• Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
  
• In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
  
• The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
  
• The Witches by Roald Dahl
  
• The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
  
• Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
  
• The Goats by Brock Cole
  
• Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
  
• Blubber by Judy Blume
  
• Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
  
• Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
  
• We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
  
• Final Exit by Derek Humphry
  
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  
• Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
  
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  
• What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
  
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
  
• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
  
• The Pigman by Paul Zindel
  
• Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
  
• Deenie by Judy Blume
  
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
  
• Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
  
• The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
  
• Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
  
• A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
  
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
  
• Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
  
• Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
  
• Cujo by Stephen King
  
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
  
• The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
  
• Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
  
• Ordinary People by Judith Guest
  
• American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
  
• What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
  
• Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
  
• Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
  
• Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
  
• Fade by Robert Cormier
  
• Guess What? by Mem Fox
  
• The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
  
• The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
  
• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
  
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  
• Native Son by Richard Wright
  
• Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
  
• Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
  
• Jack by A.M. Homes
  
• Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
  
• Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
  
• Carrie by Stephen King
  
• Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
  
• On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
  
• Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
  
• Family Secrets by Norma Klein
  
• Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
  
• The Dead Zone by Stephen King
  
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
  
• Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
  
• Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
  
• Private Parts by Howard Stern
  
• Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
  
• Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
  
• Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
  
• Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
  
• Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
  
• Sex Education by Jenny Davis
  
• The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
  
• Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
  
• How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
  
• View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
  
• The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
  
• The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
  
• Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

I followed Malissa's lead and put the books I've read in bold. Not only have I read those, but many of them I consider to be among the greatest books ever written. They're the books that I kept when I donated my childhood books to a poor elementary school library. I mean, these are books that truly and deeply moved me. I cried, I stayed up all night pondering, I laughed. Why would people try to take away something that beautiful?

*sigh* I am sad.

Web Design

Some of you may have already noticed my new color scheme. I've decided to take up web design as a hobby. I mean, I'm already artistic, computer literate, and enjoy spending lots of time online. Why not?

This first one is a practice run, and also a special for the holiday.

A Perfect Fall Day

Today was the best day. DS woke me at 7am with coffee and raisin oatmeal. We spent the better part of the day at Devil's Lake with some friends, hiking and climbing. The trees were perfect, the weather was perfect, and the people were perfect. It's not everyday you meet someone who has lived at Taliesin and wants to take you there. As I've mentioned before, going there will be a dream come true.

But the lake is tomorrow's post. We came home and got ourselves showered and dressed for company. I decided this year to throw my own pumpkin carving party. This was an annual tradition with my circle of friends back home in Kentucky. However, it did not go as planned. Apparently Halloween in Madison is scary, as crazy, drunk college students riot and break shit downtown dressed in poorly imagined costumes. Almost everyone was out of town this weekend to avoid it. One person did come out, though she failed to comply with the "byop" or "bring your own pumpkin" rule. She helped DS carve his instead. Because I'm tired from staying up all night laughing with Mo, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Look at that amazing focus as they double team it.

Shenanigans.
My sweet sweet balcony, all spooked out.
My pumpkin: The Cheat
DS and Katie's pumpkin, and by far the coolest pumpkin ever: Trogdor, The Burninator!!!
Though unfortunately majesty free, since they wussed out.

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Note: Pumpkins were carved from stencils found at H*R.

Also, please beware: In the event that you feel you can take apart your digital camera and fix your lens, which is no longer retracting, do not touch the flash capacitor, as it will shock the shit out of you even sans batteries, and leave you hurting for hours. And also mess up your sense of taste.