Finally Some Progress

Finally things are getting back to a more sensible frame of supply and demand. I paid $3.05 a gallon for gas Monday before class, which has been way more reasonable compared to the $4.39 that some gas stations had been charging during the whole gas freak-out. For the first time in over a year my fuel indicator was over the full mark. Oh what a happy day that was. And it keeps getting better. Wednesday gas had gone done to $2.99 and as I was driving home this evening it went down a little further to $2.88. Hooray!! As my friend Leonhardt would say, 'That's a beautiful thing. ' And a beautiful thing it is...how low will it go???? elizinashe

It Just Keeps Getting Better and Better...

The internet is such a wonderful thing sometimes. I've always loved the fall season. The changing of the weather, slow simmering soups, bright colorful trees, snuggling on the couch and of course, Fashion Week!!

Here on our left we have the lastest from French Designer Pierre Cardin. Clearly he's thinking forward and promoting a George Jetson look for our future. This is a totally rad coat (?) for those chilly winter evenings out on the town. Perhaps if you gentlemen out there would sport this latest and greatest you could be so honored to escort a hot young lady wearing the lastest from the London area.

Yes, we all can look like fools strutting our stuff around town proud as a peacock. We've got the new and groovy look for the future paired up with the traditional English over-the-top hat with a flaming hot sexy dress for a fashion forward night on the town for a nite of drinks, jazz and beat poetry.

But wait, don't forget the retro look! The 80s were always the best decade for clothes and hair to complete your look. It looks like the heavy-slash-punk rock make-up is making it's comeback as well. Oh isn't Fashion Week fun?? So much better than all this campaign and economy crapola. Take a day off from work this week and go shopping for some new duds. Be the first in your neighborhood to become a hot new fashion icon. (Or disaster.) At least it will give you something different to talk about at the water cooler. Now if I could just tag on David Bowie's song Fashion to end this post. (damn.) Maybe next time. elizinashe.

Fashion Week

Ah, Fashion Week has come and gone yet again. Gee, how did I miss that? And as usual I am still behind the times when it comes to dressing myself. I always thought blue jeans was always in style. Clearly I am wrong. Couldn't a lady be arrested for wearing someting like this for 'indescent exposure'? Looks like a bad take on a 20s-esque look with some mosquito netting for protection. Perhaps this is the new look for those African Safari vacations. You certainly could blend in with the zebras. However I did see something new this year. Dude wear! Yes, the men are not excluded and there are some red hot new looks for you gentlemen to strut the streets with flair and confidence! Check it out! Forget those comfortable khakis and the casual, sexy shirt from the Gap. You too can look like a total fool and be on the cutting edge of fashion!! Just think of all the hot chics you can pick up wearing a get-up like this and brag about how you were inspired from the greatest designers from Fashion Week! That would certainly make me want to pass out my phone number around! Hey mom, come meet my new boyfriend. He's the coolest dresser I"ve ever seen in a man! He's got great taste don't ya think? He looks soo suave...
Poor guy. This looks like something Keith Richards would end up waking up in after a really long and heavily drug laden party. I hope he got paid some big bucks to wear a get-up like this. But what do I know. I live for my blue jeans and a good boob shirt. I guess I will always be behind the times fashion wise. Darn. elizinashe

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid

Stupid has been my choice word for the day. People can be so freakin' ignorant and elected leaders are even worse. Right before hurricane Ike hit the gulf area, our gas stations had begun running out of gas due to our main supply is sent from the gulf coast. I had gased up before class the Wed before it hit and again 'topped off' my tank Thursday mid-day so that I could survive into next week being that the expectations many gas stations being out would be a reality. So the hurricane made landfall on the 12th/13th if I remember correctly. Monday night after class I put more gas in my car since many gas stations around my house were 'out'. I paid $4.19 per gallon. Ouch! There had been some serious price gouging on in the area. There had been some reports of even $5 a gallon. Can you believe it?? In the meantime, many of gas stations have been out. Those who do have gas only had x-amount of gas delivered and with all the panic of people waiting up to four hours to fill up their precious vehicles and gas cans, those gas stations run out in a short few hours. There are websites up telling who has gas and who doesn't, who is expecting a delivery, traffic backing up in the driving lanes for those who are in line for gas, people fighting in the parking lots over gas, police officers directing traffic, schools are cancelling classes so buses don't have to run, (hell, my classes were cancelled today!) and city/county government offices will be closed on Friday in order to conserve gas. We finally had a state leader come to town to address the issues and making some statements that gas will be trucked in from elsewhere until the pipeline is running back to its normal capacity. (Need I remind you that Ike ended up being a catagory 3 and didn't do much damage to the refineries as expected. ) I'm getting to the point where I need gas again but it seems like such a fucking pain in the ass to sit in line for an hour or more, wasting what gas I have just to get more. I understand that our source of fuel comes from an area that is prone to hurricanes. However, it didn't take this long when Katrina hit and most certainly our fine, elected leaders can step in and find other refineries along the east coast, midwest and up north that can help with our supply. This is nothing but stupid. There have been reports of people waiting in line before the gas station opens up if they know they have gas. STUPID!!!
There are more and more gas stations that are getting their supplies now. There were two close to my house that had gotten an afternoon delivery however traffic was backed up for blocks and quickly getting longer. I didn't have time to wait for the hour it would have taken me. By the time I even catch wind that so-and-so has gas, they're out by the time I'm off work or out of class. Geeze, is this ever so stupid. I'm working a night shift tonight so I hope that I can score some petrol on my way home and be one of those stupid early birds waiting in line while the station opens up for business. Yes, I know there was a gas crisis in the 70s but this is really stupid given the day and age. It is beyond stupid and it needs to stop. elizinashe

Random Post

Greetings my fellow readers! Yes, I'm still around...just haven't had anything good to say. I have been quite busy now that school has started back up for me. I have my first test this coming Monday night. Hormones and Blood...oooo how exciting you say! I know you are completely jealous but please do try to contain yourself. ha-ha.
I have been keeping abreast of this hurricane season. I am thankful that Gustav lost some of his ommph, however we do have two more that are a-brewing which could effect our area in the long run. As always, it can jack up gas and oil prices and if we have some heavy rains or winds from anything it will certainly finish off some already sickly trees in my yard as well as topple my neighbors tree that's already leaning against another tree in the back boundaries of my yard. I can just see a domino effect happening here when it does fall if they don't cut it up soon. I really don't want to wake up to the sound of trees falling all around me or on top of my roof where I sleep!! That's not a very nice way to wake up.
I have been very curious about the Democratic and up-coming Republican convention speeches. This is such an important election, or at least I think so. I've been tuning in now that the time is getting much closer. I thought Obama spoke very well. I'm curious as to what this Alaskan governor chic has to say. She came out of nowhere...and I'm very curious as to what McCain has to preach about. This is quite an election coming about. I'm not a very political person but I find myself becoming very involved as to what these candidates have to say and what they 'promise' to do for our country. I am proud to have the opportunity to vote in this election. I will definately vote in this election.
Last but not least, my dear friends who live in California will be in town this weekend for a friend's wedding which means some wonderful girly time and some bonding time with their baby boy which I have yet to see!! He's about 4 months old now. I am looking forward to treking about our downtown area with one of my closest girly friends with baby in tow having some long overdue bonding time complete with hugs & kisses and baby poop as the added bonus. woo-hoo! I have finally made the dive into the digital world and bought a new camera so this will give me an opportunity to take a ridiculous amount of pictures to test it all out. Yea!! I can't wait...So that's the latest and greatest. On a trival side note, I've seen Mamma Mia twice now and I hope to catch it one last time on the big screen at the local Brew n View before it totally leaves town. I just loved it! I loved the 'escape' that it gave me, the humor was great and of course I was totally diggin' the music. I'm ready to make my escape to Greece myself...who's got their bags packed? ha-ha. If you haven't seen it yet then I highly suggest that you do if it's still playing in your area. It's just a fun movie. A perfect escape from life itself. We all need that every now and then, right? In the meantime, stay well, laugh out loud and don't forget to vote!! elizinashe

One Week and Counting

I wish I could say that the 'one week and counting' title was the amount of time that I have gone without smoking but I am sad to say that it is not true. Kicking the habit is harder than I thought it would be. Most of the problem is that I just simply love it. I love the satisfaction I get when I light up, I love taking that first drag and blowing out the smoke. I love the way it calms my nerves when I'm rattled or pissed off or have just finished a nice meal. It's like your secret best friend. A cigarette is always by your side when you need it. A cigarette is always there to help you when you need that boost. A cigarette is always there to make you feel better when you feel alone or scared. A cigarette is your security blanket. Maybe I should change my name to Linus.
Now, on the flip side, I have cut way back on my normal smoking habits. It takes me about a week to smoke one pack of Camels compared to smoking a pack a day. I have the most trouble at night when I'm free from work and on my way home. Being that I live by myself I can do whatever I want in the house, therefore I smoke. If I go out to eat then sure enough I'm going to have a drink and a smoke. It's such a natural thing to do...drinks, snacks, smoke. I wish I could just let it go altogether and join the many who have become non-smokers. I want to be one of those people....why is it soo hard to let this all go?
I told myself that I wanted to be truly smoke-free by the time school starts back up which is next week. ( thus, the one week and counting). I didn't want to start off the new school year back in the habit of studying and chain smoking at the same time while pecking away at notes, reading and all that other crap that homework requires. I guess I'm getting a little nervous about starting school again and holding on to my trusty Camels makes me feel like I can do the class thing all over again along with a full-time job. eek!! Sometimes I wonder if I had a live-in or even a roommate if I'd feel differently about smoking. It's not always easy to come home alone, therefore that nasty little cigarette becomes your little friend. I still have a week before school starts. Maybe I will find a new friend to replace Mr. Camel. Wish me luck. elizinashe

Old Photos and Memory Lane

I was going through a drawer today looking for extra stuff for my current project when I came across an unfinished project neatly tucked away full of cards, love notes and pictures from long ago. It brought a quick smile to my face and the faint memory of what I had intended to do with this now dormant project. I now know that it will never be finished,(hell, I never really started it) and that is time do rethink my intentions. So I thought I'd share some of these pics that I had put away and catapult them to another use until I find another home for them.

Clearly the first photo I have no memory of. However, I do know that this is one of three that my mom took of me about a month after my 2nd birthday. The date on the bottom, which you probably cannot see is dated January 1973. (Brrr!). I find it kind of weird to see pictures of yourself when you are that young. It's hard to imagine that this cute and flirty little girl all dressed in red grew up to be me. I suppose I'm still cute and flirty but I am also older and wiser and can be quite bitchy sometimes. How did this curious little girl grow up to be who I am now?

Next we have a most wonderful picture that's almost embarrassing but not quite. I was about 8 years old, wearing a t-shirt from a local play that I was in that previous summer with a turtle that I found in our yard for our grade school turtle race. Yes, we had a turtle race. I guess it gave the teachers something to laugh about and gave the kids something to do. Anyway...I could have cared less about winning the stupid race or having my picture taken with this thing, however we had some guests visiting from England who thought that having a turtle race was highly intriguing, most humorous and very American. They didn't have such things as turtle races in children's schools in England and they were most curious as to how these things went about. I vaguely remember having the race early in our day and my mother brought our visitors to come and watch these tiny American kids putting a number on their turtle and scream at the top of their lungs in order to encourage their entry to cross the finish line. It is a bit ridiculous if you think about it. I am sure that the days of the turtle races are long gone but when I see this picture I think of our friends, Gwen and Stanley, who had this strange but polite way of talking in an 8 year old's world, laughing and thoroughly enjoying their expericence of watching an American Turtle Race. I think it was the highlight of their visit in Arkansas.

And last but not least, a celebration picture with my old college rommie after she finally finished her degree at the school where she had started her college career. I'm humored in the way that when I look at this picture, after all this time, I still look pretty much the same. (I'm the one on the right). Even after years of weight gain and loss, varying shades of hair color, make-up and clothing styles these past few years, I pretty much look like that now. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. I am also reminded of where we were in our personal lives. I was living in my hometown,working in a bar, had a live-in boyfriend and the cats. My 'old roomie', Nan as we had called her (and I still do to this day), was in her first marriage, had a small house complete with their cats and dogs and had aspirations of teaching and writing. I was so proud of her that day. We were both embarking on young adulthood with young adulthood responsibilities knocking on our door. It's been about 10 years since this picture was taken and I think of how different our lives are now. My what changes we have gone through. I'll be curious to see where we are 10 years from now.

Hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane as much as I have. So who's next to post old pics of themselves and their story??? Inquiring minds want to know. :) elizinashe