I'm tempted to 'clean' out my community and friends lists. So many of the accounts, and communities are dead. It might be easier to just start over fresh by researching the communities and people all over to figure out activity and if the accounts are even in use.

My husband and I had an awesome vacation in Chicago - mind blowingly so.  I look forward to taking more vacations in the future. In fact, I have decided that he and I need at least a once a year vacation to just unwind and have some fun. It is amazing what a good vacation will do for you :)

All I can say is, we love Chicago :)

Pic is me at dinner at Japonis in Chicago.

All my life, Halloween has been my favorite holiday. Which means as an adult, I start decorating extra early...and love going all out. What makes this years Halloween even more special is that we are hosting our first ever Halloween Party for the kids. Naturally, the kids and thier friends requested that I wear a kimono.

Today, I started the conversion of my home into a Halloween Den. So, allow me to present you with a before and after of our diningroom! There are no special effects added to these photos.  I humbly present the start of my decorating work...

 

( After behind the cut! )

My childhood dog was put to sleep today. We rescued Presely from the pound, and he has been our Families loyal companion for some 15 years. He was 17 years old, and in great physical condition...

The terms and condition of his death was a unique one that I'd never experienced in any other pet, or person. He was senile, very very unbalanced mentally to the point where he could no longer function. It is really hard, and very strange to watch an dog in great physical health wilt, and suffer due to mental illness to the point where the dog is lost within his own world.

You can set a broken bone, treat cancer, and fix the body time and time again...but the mind is such a precious thing, that once lost there seems to be no recovery no matter how hard you try otherwise.

I can only image how hard it must be, for people who loose Family members to mental health related conditions.

Behold, my cat...after a visit to the groomers. He will kill me for this...

Waiting for Fall...waiting to go back to college...waiting for the week vacation in Chicago.

Wait, wait, wait...

So the college I am going to is a respected Private College in the area. It has higher standards for its applicants than those local colleges that are state funded. Unlike the first college I tried to transfer to, the Private college honors my previous classes.

Vacation in Chicago is going to be a God-Send! Time to relax, and spend alone with the husband will be fun. My husband is from Chicago, and I have only passed through on occasion. So this will be my first time really spending time in Chicago. While there, we intend on visiting every major museum. Also, while in Chicago we are meeting up with friends from online, and Carl's past.

Also, for a laugh check out this video on the BBC. It features strange uses for old household items.

Including...converting an old Atari system and its controllers...into boot fetish pong - that whips someone every time they loose http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8175612.stm

 I have started a seperate blog for the local presentations, and educational work I do. For those that don't know, I collect authentic traditional Japanese attire..I really have a 'thing' for textile artwork. As a result, Kimono are a major point of interest for me.

 Ive taken my hobby to a new level, and for sometime have toured around various venues (schools, tea houses, etc) doing lectures, and demonstrations about tea culture, kimono, an geisha.

 Updates, info, photos, and more in relation to this matter is at: http://ohiokimono.wordpress.com

 If you ahve a similar style of blog, and would like to trade links - I'd love to :D

 Today, the Toledo Art Museum hired me to do presentation work with them.

This winter in 2009 I am going back to college fulltime and finishing whats left of my business degree.

 I have always wanted to run my own business or small charity organization.

 http://www.fairygodmothersinc.com/  - This in particular really inspires me. It is a charity, that offers High School girls in poverty a chance at a quality Prom Dress. Those Prom Dresses, normally are re-used bridesmaid dresses, and used prom dresses.

 So I've decided to do something, that I have long read about and studied but never been brave enough to do. I have stopped shampooing my hair.

 I'm a week into this experaiment, and already I've noticed how much healthier and fuller my hair is. Much to my shock, I have also noticed my hair is far more curly and wavy than I have ever known it to be. My hair smells great, it feels fine, and have a lovely shine. When I wash, I only wet my hair, and use a light conditioner.

 So far, I love the effects.

 There are many online articles about not washing your hair. Check them out for more info.

 So went in to College today, to transfer my old college credits and try to finish up my old degree. I have 90+ college credit hours from my old college...almost a degree.

 So, I head to the new college and break out my transcripts and review my old degree.

 Out of over 90 credit hours, only 3 classes transfer, and only 1 of those classes applies toward my degree. Total shit. 3.0 gpa, for nothing.

 So, I'm left looking at starting over at square 0 with college. So, I can change my degree...

 Long story short, Monday I'm going into a funeral home to to talk to them about Funeral directing, and assisting. In Ohio, it requires a 4 year degree, with an period of training. I can do a 4 year psychology degree and become a Funeral Director. Or, I can get a 2 year degree and go to Michigan where a 2 year degree is required to become a Funeral Director.

 Choices...I'll figure out more on Monday when I talk to the Funeral Home more. They offered me a job to get a feel for the industry, and a behind the scenes tour.

 I did the coolest volunteer work ever...I went to an animal shelter and pet and played with animals.

It's winter, and so many animals are being sent to shelters. There are very few people visiting those shelters, meaning the animals are starved for affection. So....shelters all over as asking for people to come visit the animals and give them some love. How very fun :)

 I was reading the news, and noticed these 2 headlines. They were stacked atop alone another...

• Economy shrank in 3rd quarter
• Downturn squeezes state budgets
• Exxon Mobil sets new profit record

Must be hard to be an oil company. Even with the reduced rates we are seeing, the costs per gallon are actually suppose to be cheaper, around the $1.30s some mark. Barrels hit a new record low ar $66 each...thats mid to late 90s rates.

 The World of Warcraft has hit its stale mark. If not for the upcoming expansion, I'd leave the game.

 "Been there, done that" - gets stale and fast. The strain the rp community presents is draining, and unrewarding. It's funny how I wanted to make an rp community to foster rp so I could enjoy it...but really don't. Anymore, I find the most fun on other servers as a small unknown just drifting about without any obligations, stigmas, or feelings of responsibility.

 It's been good, but I'm ready to move on.

 Seperately, vacation was AMAZING! Disney World knows how to throw one heck of an awesome Halloween party! I cant say enough good things about the trip we had to Disney - it was a week of pure magic and fun! We were there also for the Food and Wine fest, which allowed for me to sample an amazing collection of wines from other cultures! Between the Halloween party, and the Wine fest....I was left wishing I were younger without the need to sleep anymore because all I wanted to do was go and go.

 Our resort was amazing - the Wilderness Lodge. Talk about a total class act that was beautiful to stay at!

 While there, we also won one of Disney's Dream Fast passes! The pic below is my two aunts, and myself. Yea, my hair is short.

 Random call from my aunt...seems my Sisters husband collapsed at work, his first day on the job. They suspect he might have stomach cancer. Strange how life throws curve balls at you.

 Fall has finally taken root in my area. The colors that are blooming all through the wild life, and nature reserves are stunning. The area surrounding our home is in the near country - meaning all around us we may enjoy a beautful bloom of colors.

 It's reminds me of our wedding day - I recall us choosing to get married in the fall, because of how beautiful the fall colors are. We both would watch the trees prior to our wedding day, hoping they would burst into color just in time for our wedding.

 Tomorrow is our wedding annivesry, its our 3rd year married. We've been together nearly 7 years now. Wow, time flies.

 In our time together we have really come a long ways. We went from living in a small hole in the wall apartment in a bad part of town, to living in a wealthy respected area. Our home is the symbol of our hard work, and dedication. In a way our home reflects the struggles we have faced - as the home was a foreclosure in need of many repairs, that has since become quiet the work of art. Eventually, I'll have before and after photos of our home.

 Later tonight I need to sit down and make the Halloween party invitations with the kids. I'm thinking little paper pumpkins fashioned into cards will do the trick.

 Sooo I'm sitting here..and my cat walks past. Somethings wrong..I see something on the middle of his back...

 Its a turd. HOW THE FUCK DOES A TURD GET ON THE MIDDLE OF A CATS BACK? No, he doesnt roll in his littler box, and only uses the bathroom in it.

 The cat is now pissed at me, as he got a bath as a result.

 

I HAS TEA WITH ARTIFICAL SUGAR FLAVORING

  I went to the pound to get a small dog...instead I ended up with this. The person in the photo is my mother.  His name is Alister.