Feeling quite sickly for the last couple days. So I broke down and bought the liquid version of NyQuil on my home tonight. Shoot it like Jagermeister (pretty sure they are the same.)
Reading the directions for the dosage info and the 1st warning was “Do not to give to child to make them sleepy.”
Really?
You had to spell that out and put it on the bottle?
This is why I am fairly sure the human race is f’ed and need to get on building my bunker.
I just made a year-end donation to The California Wolf Center. I make monthly donations to Defenders of Wildlife but I think the smaller places need a lot of help since they don’t typically get big, corporate sponsorship money like Defenders, World Wildlife Fund, etc do. Plus after visiting the Wolf Center this past summer for the first time, I LOVE it. And what to do more to help them whenever I can. Plus, they are the feral cousins to the huskies :)
I only donate to animal charities. At Thanksgiving and Christmas I will donate food to the food banks, etc (I’m not entirely heartless) but I’ve always felt human charities get a LOT of corporate dough and general donations versus animal charities. And frankly, I just prefer animals. I know…sounds mean. Meh. My general opinion is that people (other than kids) are generally responsible for their own conditions. Animals have been put in bad conditions BECAUSE of humans. Plus, they are fluffy (well, most of them anyway.)
I was just reading articles yesterday about the first wolf who has crossed into California last week since like 1934. You know…when humans wiped them out. #wonderful And reading the “plight of the rancher” makes me want to beat their heads in with sticks. It’s not like California is being taken over by a rabid wolf packs roaming the countryside. Reading the comments from ranchers make me SO angry. There ARE ways to protect your livestock. And 1 or 2 wolves DO not hunt down cattle. And guess what? They do NOT attack humans. That is a vicious lie aka fairy tale created by stupid humans. Gah! It’s a PROVEN fact that when the top level predators (not humans who destroy everything in their path, but nature’s predators), the eco-system is balanced and is healthy. I kinda wish they wouldn’t have even put that story out there because I can totally see some assclown wanting to hunt the wolf as “sport”. A better sport would be hunting hunters. I’m all for that. They need to make THAT video game and sell it at Cabela’s. And then stuff THAT and put it on display.
I was going to use that money to buy a new Jimmy Choo purse. It’s a great purse! But really…I don’t need it. And if I do well in the market this quarter, maybe I’ll take some cash out and buy it anyway. But I think the wolfies need it more.They need all the help they can get….
http://www.californiawolfcenter.org/ (if you can spare a few bucks!)
So, I was at Sephora a few weeks ago and bought a trial size of the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate. You know how Sephora has those minis all set up as you wait in line – they always get me. They are just so cutely packaged and right there as you wait! I’ve heard good things about the Kate Somerville line so figured I’d try it.
I used it every other night for a week and LOVED it!!! So I thought “OK, maybe I will try some of her other products.” So I trolled around Sephora, read the reviews there and elsewhere – all positive things. The only negative seemed to be the cost which was on par or less than I already paid so what the heck. #idiot
I tried ordering the full-sized ExfoliKate and Gentle Facial Wash from Sephora. Both sold out. Damn it. So I ordered the gift set at Sephora which had small sizes of both plus some of her face and eye creams. It arrived a day before I left for Tahoe for Christmas. But I was so busy between work, Christmas and packing for Tahoe that I waited to open and try it. Hysterically a friend of mine sent me a Christmas gift that I picked up from the Post Office on way to Tahoe. Same kit!! I had told her how I loved the ExfoliKate so she read my mind! I thought great – one to use at home and 1 for Tahoe.
I tried it the first night in Tahoe. Seemed very cleansing even though a bit of a medicinal smell. But maybe that’s just me. The next day my face felt fine. Then the next morning, I felt little dry. But husband said there was something wrong with the humidifying unit in our heater plus it was butt-freezing cold and extra dry up here. So I didn’t worry. Then the next AM my face hurt. The area under my eyes (not my “under eye area” but the area on top of your cheeks was all puffy like someone hit me! And my skin hurt! OK. This was not weather related.
Since the only thing different was the Gentle Wash, I immediately stopped and went back to my La Mer wash. And started globbing on the La Mer Concentrate (not cheap to be globbing) all over my face. When I would drive in the car and the sun would hit my face – it would hurt. And even using the La Mer eye cream hurt. O.M.G. I basically gave myself a chemical burn at home. Wonderful. And right before New Year’s Eve – FANTASTIC! By the 3rd day of globbing La Mer Concentrate on my face, it was better. And it is much better now – basically all fine. I went to Neiman Marcus and bought more so I didn’t run out mid-repair. I told the ladies there what happened and 1 of the girls said a woman had left not 5 minutes before I got there who said the exact same thing! She had a tester of a Kate Somerville wash and it burned her face. What the hell??? The manager of the department (I think, not sure) gave me some free samples of the Creme La Mer to put on top of the concentrate – she said it will help tons (which it did). Normally, I don’t use the Creme La Mer normally as it’s a bit too rich for daily use for me. But Tahoe in the winter is dry. And then I did just basically burn all of the moisture out of skin all layers deep!
I get that skin is different. Reacts differently to different things. Clearly mine does not want the newfangled, thousand different activators type of product. It wants nice and calming and moisturizing and glorious. Kate Somerville’s wash is clearly not that. And there is no chance in hell I am trying her creams. I do still like the ExfoliKate and will use it again once I know my skin is totally back to normal. And I bought her Goat’s Milk body cream as that just sounds luxurious. But that’s it for new products…
I’ve tried La Prairie before and not liked it (not as good as La Mer.) I’ve recently tried NaturaBisse (even more pricey than La Mer) and didn’t love it. When I took it back to Neiman Marcus, I think the lady was offended that I liked La Mer better. #really?
I wrote a review on the Kate Somerville website for the Gentle Wash saying that it burned my skin so it didn’t seem to be for sensitive skin at all. Oddly (not really), the review is no longer there. Which only strengthens my opinion that reviews on websites are basically crap (except Amazon who lets some funny ones stay up there!!)
So, in short(ish), my skin has told me “stop trying other stuff stupid. La Mer is great. La Mer works. Stick with what works.” Got it.
I got it! I received some Nordstrom gift cards for Christmas from elves who knew I wanted this sweater :)
I tried it on a few weeks ago at the Juicy store and it’s SO cute!!! Plus PERFECT colors for me! Will look even more marvelous on me with my new dark brown hair ;) hehehe
Cuh-ute!
I was a bit concerned about the fur. It’s fake of course (so it says in big bold lettering inside) but I would hate for anyone to see it and think it’s real. Anyone that knows me AT ALL would never think that but people walking around might. I know I internally judge people that I see wearing things that look like real fur. I don’t go all PETA on them or anything but I fantasize about it as I walk by and give them the evil eye. Well, if anyone says anything, I can show them the tag!! Of course, I also wonder if it’s a case of the “fake fur” made in China that’s actually real fur because the Chinese are schmucks. But I will assume that Juicy Couture is smart enough to not want that kind of PR. (I stress a lot huh?)
I do have to add that I think it’s LAME that Nordstrom only allows you to use 1 gift card for an online order. So I had to call to place the order. The girl was pleasant and fast but still – annoying. They finally started offering free shipping and returns so hopefully they fix that too!
It’s scheduled to arrive on or around January 9th! YAY!!!!
But I miss my brother. And sometimes Christmas memories just make you sad.
Just watched the season finale of Boardwalk Empire. I can say I don’t think I will like the show much anymore. And to say this episode borrowed HEAVILY from The Godfather would be a massive understatement. I was just waiting for the priest to ask Nucky if he renounced Satan.
Jimmy was my favorite character on the show. Sadly, he reminded me of my brother. A good, smart kid with bad parental guidance who made some bad decisions sometimes which ended up haunting him in ways I just don’t relate to but tried. Plus I think the floppy hair :) Jimmy had a LOT more weird issues. But I always liked him. I saw a tweet on Sunday after it ran on the East Coast that said RIP Jimmy. And I knew I didn’t want to watch it. I kinda knew how it was going to go after last week’s disturbing episode. I saw that train wreck coming last season! YUCK! Husband asks how do I spot these things so far in advance? Not sure. Overactive imagination? Should worked in da pictures kid.
But this? Jimmy was such a main character. 2nd main character of the show. How could they kill him? Now I know. And I now officially hate Nucky. I always liked him. No more. Hopefully his lying piece of crap brother betrays him once again and he realizes what an idiot he was. Of course, these are fake people that I’m getting all worked over. Well, actually they are not but I am assuming we don’t know their day to day troubles from the 20s. I commented to my husband mid-way through the season that all of Jimmy’s gang were famous gangsters – Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky. But no Jimmy. So it didn’t look good for him long-term. But I hoped. Husband reminded me of that as we started this episode.
But Jimmy was basically Nucky’s son. Would Michael Corleone have taken out his son? NO. He took out his idiot brother for betrayal. But we all know he would not have taken out his son. I am having a hard time seeing how I could care about this show anymore. But after Margaret got her Kay moment and realized what Nucky was, I loved her bit of payback even if they also wrote her off the reservation too. Basically…not a fan of the twists they added towards the end of the season. Yes, we are dealing with gangsters. But did we all transport to bizarro world?
I probably shouldn’t have watched it. Don’t think I was quite ready for that kind of storyline. And not sure it will stay on my DVR next year/season. And I do hope Michael Pitt gets a lot more work. Great actor.
I got a good workout this afternoon/evening. Around 4pm, I was on my way downstairs to grab something off the printer. I stop at the entry way because both huskies are standing there staring out at something. I look and see a big German Shepherd (not really any other kind is there?) following around this little teeny chihuahua. I look around and see no people with them. Great.
So I throw on my UGGs and grab the buddy leashes and collars in case I need them. With both huskies watching me saying with their eyes “wait?? you aren’t taking us??” As I was walking up to them, the German would paw the chihuahua, and push him around with his nose. It was clear they were friends. I was able to get the German very easily and quickly. He had a collar but no tags. Sigh. I see the chihuahua does have tags. But he has NO intention of letting me catch him. And the German has no intention of letting his little buddy out of his sight.
So, German Shepherds are strong. Let’s be clear. And he was on a mission to not lose sight of his friend. We were basically jogging trying to keep with the little Chihuahua who would stop if he ever got too far ahead and wait for us. I finally figured out if I just stop and stand there, he would come closer but never close enough. And if I moved at all towards him, he would take off. Great.
He almost got down to Highway 1 and I was getting stressed because too many cars was not going to end well. I just stood in the middle of the street so any cars coming would have to slow down. The little bastard…I mean chihuahua…was zig-zagging across every street, up and down streets, stopping and sniffing. The poor german (and me) were getting hot from all the running. And he was dragging me along. It’s funny that the huskies pull way less and they were bred for pulling. Then again, if they were on a mission like this, they probably would pull more.
After going up and down every. single. street in my general neighborhood, without any exaggeration, we started north. I asked two kids, a boy and a girl, if they had ever seen these dogs before. The little girl said she saw them running up and down the streets about 2 hours ago but never before that. Wonderful. The boy asked if I needed help and he grabbed his bike and we were off trying to keep track of the chihuahua.
Finally, after about 4 more blocks, the chihuahua darts into a yard and disappears. We were all looking all around the yard and no sight of him. We knock on the door. No one home. Of course. By now, it’s getting dark, and the mom of the kids drove by and took them home. I go in the the driveway of this same house with the yard and the cat in the driveway comes right up to the german. OK, unless it’s a **really** trusting cat, they have to know each other, right? But no one was home. And neither of the next door neighbors were home either.
I see that the side gate is swinging open. It’s been fairly windy today. I push it open and see the chihuahua. At least, I think it’s him. All look same. But he comes over barking and the German is trying to nose his way in. OK, it’s starting to look like a good bet. But I can’t just leave the German in the yard if it’s not theirs. Can you imagine coming home to that? You have 2 small dogs (there was another little dog back there barking too) and a cat and now a HUGE dog just appears!? I try latching the gate and it’s clear it’s about as gerry-rigged as it can be. By now it’s dark so I am thinking I just take the german home with me and drive back later and hopefully someone will be home?
I see a lady come home across the street, so I go and ask the lady if she has seen the dog or knows what kind of dogs her neighbors have. She said she has never seen the big dog. But she knows several of the people on the street have little dogs. She remembers that a house down the street has a small and big dog. She doesn’t know what kind as they are always inside barking. So she points out the house and I go and knock. The lady there says her dogs are home and she has never seen the German Shepherd. Sorry. Sigh.
I walk back to the corner house where the chihuahua went. The across the street lady is talking to a woman at the “target” house. Yay! Please be the mom. As I walk up she comes out to the sidewalk and says “Oh, was he being mean to you?” Umm…hardly. He was a sweetheart who didn’t want to leave his little buddy to the streets and cars I tell her. She thanks me and unhooks my leash and takes him by the collar. I tell her that her little dog is in the backyard. As she is walking away she says she will go look. Ok…she was definitely hiding her worry and concern very well….. I say, oh I looked and it seemed that the latch probably wasn’t working so she should look at that. Ok she says. *Shake my head*
The neighbor lady says how sweet it was of me to take so much time and effort to help the dogs. I said “Well, I would just want someone to take care of my dogs if they needed it.” She said she was so glad to know someone like me was in the neighborhood and that people like me existed. Well…I’d like to think there are more of us.
The sad thing was that out of all the neighbors I spoke with, none of them had ever seen that German Shepherd before. So he must not get out much. That makes me very sad. I can tell you, every person within a few block area knows where the huskies live. They may not know my name, but they know me as the husky lady and always see them on their walks and in our yard. And I recognize that not everyone gets as much time to spend with their dogs as I do but I think it’s weird that your neighbors have never even seen him?? But I guess not for me to judge. The dog seemed happy and he was very sweet.
The funny thing about it all was that about 5-6 years ago I was walking the huskies down in that neighborhood and a little chihuahua was running all around. Now, trying to corral a little dog with 2 huskies – not going to happen. But I was able to chase him into THE SAME YARD. And no one was home then either. But a neighbor was outside and I asked him and he said yes, that was their dog and that he got out a lot. He said he would go and look at the gate. Clearly, these people have learned no lessons.
I walked home and the huskies were in the yard both looking out and waiting for me. And then gave me kisses when I came in. Awww… Who am I kidding – it was dark, that meant dinnertime and I was late! :) I was gone about 1.5 hours!
I think I can skip my stepper tonight. That was a lot of jogging. I think a glass of wine after I make the buds dinner (cooking right now!) and take a shower (got so sweaty!) and hope that the lady fixes her gate.
Tim Tebow won again today. In overtime after tying it up in the 4th quarter. Late in the 4th quarter. You just can not not like watching the Broncos play. I was jumping up and down and yelling in my living room! And I wasn’t even a Broncos fan. Just a Tebow fan.
It’s funny how a lot of announcers are now on the Tebow bandwagon. I mean I guess there are only so many weeks you can diss him even when he leads his team to wins. But these are the same announcers who have been so, so mean to him. Before the draft. After he went in the first round and everyone said that Josh McDaniels was a fool for doing it. After seeing him in the combine and declaring he would never make it as an NFL QB. And even after wins.
Now I’m not saying he does it all himself. He is part of a team. And he is the one always reminding people of that when the put a microphone in his face. He NEVER makes it about himself. He has a great defense. He has good running backs (including him!) BUT…you have to say, not much had changed (in terms of personnel) on the team that was 1 and 4 with Kyle Orton as QB. Tebow makes a difference. Maybe not always with his arm. But with his running, his leadership qualities. His outlook. His belief that they can do it. And his belief in his team. And their belief in him.
And yes, his belief in God probably helps a lot too. It’s not tangible. And you don’t have to necessarily believe. But it makes him a better QB, a better leader and that effects him and his team. You saw it when he led the Gators and you see it again now. Real leaders have an intangible quality that make people want to believe, want to follow. It’s a special quality that a lot of people don’t actually have.
And really, isn’t that what religion is supposed to be about anyway? Believing in yourself and others? Belief that you can do anything that you set your mind to and work hard for? You don’t have to be a devout Christian to believe those things.
That’s why I simply do not understand why people bag on him so much for his beliefs. I mean, we could put Tim Tebow on the covers of sports magazines and TV shows and talk about his belief in his team and outlook on life and how football isn’t his entire life and the charities he supports. But nah, let’s talk about how great Michael Vick – a convicted felon – is. Or Ben Roethlisberger – an alleged rapist who is either guilty of it or, at least, of VERY bad judgement. Or any of the other thugs that play in professional sports (guns, drugs, violence, etc.) They are much better to talk about and hold up as role models and heroes to kids. Of course there is always the morally bankrupt putz Tiger Woods to look up to as well. yeah…
I’m not very religious. But I think it’s better to believe in something than nothing. And is it so bad to have a guy doing well at something that he enjoys doing and thanking his team, fans and yes, God, for it? And frankly, it’s rather funny to watch the entire Fox Sports desk just stumble over their words not being able to explain it after the DEN/CHI game today. They just shrugged and said “Who knows. But he keeps winning. He just keeps winning.”
Who knows how it plays out over the long term. I just want to keep rooting for him. It’s fun. And that’s why I watch football. To the nay-sayers I say you should try #tebowing a little….or at least lighten up.
p.s See…I was blogging about him back in 2009 too :) https://a99kitten.com/?p=1681 and https://a99kitten.com/?p=1094 #stalker
Today on our afternoon husky walk, I let the buds off-leash on the low tide beach to play with a couple of dogs. They were running around and chasing – including Storm! As the woman whose dogs I thought they were walked closer, I recognized her as the Mom of 2 border collies who I used to see pretty much every morning at the beach. Both of her dogs died awhile ago but I would still her on her walks. So when I saw her with these dogs, I thought she got some new pals. Turns out these 2 weren’t her dogs, but a guy on the beach on his phone and she was just petting the dogs.
The woman approached me a bit cautiously and I thought “you don’t recognize us??” We had talked quite a lot after her dogs died and also after Storm got sick. She got closer and had this huge smile on her face. Turns out she recognized me and Angelus but for a little bit thought I got another grey and white husky because she didn’t recognize Storm, but was nervous and sad to ask. She could not believe how good he looked and how fluffy he was again, and running around playing!
I updated her on Storm and then Storm took off after the other 2 dogs so I had to chase him down. When I got back, she was talking to a woman with a border collie puppy (squeeee – puppy!) and had already told her Storm’s story. She and her husband were fawning over the huskies and saying how remarkable Storm’s story was. Not exactly sure what was told to them but that was nice. Although the huskies could care less about the attention. They are funny guys.
They continued on their walk and this woman (CarolAnn like in Poltergeist – I remember that one even though I’m typically horrible with the human’s names) started saying her good byes. Turns out she came down to the beach because today was the anniversary of her dogs deaths. One was 3 years ago today and the other 2 years ago today. Eerie. She said she wanted to come down to one of their favorite walks to connect with them again. And she was going to go home and watch a few short videos she had of them. Yikes. That made me sad. Sad for her. Sad for the eventuality of loss.
But then she smiled super big again and said that seeing Storm so healthy and happy again made her heart full and very happy for us. She walked away with tears in her eyes but a smile on her face.
Good boy Stormy :)
