[loridk]

Hey girls!

Some of you may remember me. Others will not. It's Lori (xlori_dx). How is everyone? It's been a loooong time! When I left : RoseV was getting married, Tallgirl was pregnant, The Cars' baby was still brand new...

Ok, that's all I remember.

The forums have changed and I'm a bit confused but I think I'll figure it out.

So updates please. I know I missed TONS but maybe just the important stuff? Ok, it's all important but you know...

-Lori

Oh yeah, I guess I should give an intro to those who don't know/remember me.

I'm Lori. 24, married, mom of 2 (that's right another has came to terrorize me!), have a bulldog, Canadian, blah, blah, blah...

I like my family of course, music, punk rock, tattoos, bike rides, being dorky, smoking (even though I shouldn't), going out with the girls and having crushes.

I guess this could of gone in the newbie thread or something but I know this is the hub. I look forward to meeting all of you!

[yuefie]

(((((sidecar))))) ~~~~peace for grandpa sidecar & strength for the family~~~~

[sidecar]

As a teenager, I was more into The Cure, but The Smiths won me over in adulthood. I watched the video for "Girlfriend in a Coma" recently and was awestruck by how beautiful and electric Morrissey once was. Now I understand why girls still throw their underwear at him (this happened at the terrible Morrissey concert I went to in 1999.)

Anyway, the visit; ugh. He was a specter of his former self. I'm glad I went, but it was quite difficult. When he recognized me, his eyes lit up. In the two hours we were there, he faded in and out. He doesn't have the strength to swallow pills or drink water. He looks old and gray and tired. When I left, I said "Goodbye," and through his oxygen mask, he said, "See you in eighty years." He moves to hospice tomorrow, and I can only wish him peace at this point. He's ready, and his body has taken all it can, I think. I'm glad I saw him in June while he was still himself, because that's how I want to remember him, not like he was today.

Thank you all for the hugs and kind thoughts. It really does help.

[roseviolet]

((((Sidecar and family)))) Still thinking about you and your grandfather.

((((((((Mandi)))))))) I hear ya. I accidentally came across some disturbing photos from 9/11 when I was checking the news this wekend. So difficult. I may watch/listen to some coverage, but I'm limiting it.

On a happier note, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time at Mamasan's party next weekend. And with any luck, Danny will be able to show up after his concert.

Hooray for Mr. T's return home! And Tempest, I'd love to know where you like to shop for bags. My main requirement is that I don't want a bag that is covered in labels. That anoys me. I can afford to invest in a quality bag, but it mustn't be too fussy or covered in crap.

I love The Cure. I have Galore in my car's CD player at the moment. Makes me very happy, as backward as that sounds.

Hooray for boys who call!!!!! I am bad because I can think of about 5 people I need to call, but I haven't done it. Who sucks? Why, I do!

So, have any of you been in the Orlando area in late June? Is it as bad as I fear it is? Because I will be in Orlando in late June next year.
And it's aaaaaaaall my fault.
See, my parents will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on July 1st & I suggested that either we send them on a nice vacation or throw them a party. Mom has decided that we should do both! So she has rented 2 condos (which sleep a total of 12) at Disney World for the last week of June. I'm trying to embrace the cheese factor of all of this, but I am a very pasty white girl and all of that heat and humidity does not go well with the thick layer of SPF 5000 that I slather all over my body in the summer. Oh well. At least we can see Cirque du Soleil!

In other anniversary news, today marks 4 years since the first time that Sheff & I met face-to-face. Four whole years! Hard to believe it's been that long since I stepped off that plane at Manchester Airport. Anyway, we aren't doing anything special, since it isn't a real anniversary-anniversary. Just went shopping (I needed sun-dried tomatoes, he needed Branston pickle).

Major anti-kvetch: BestGalPal sent us a huge care package, complete with stickers and cute trinkets and even My Melody underwear! EEE!!!

[mandolyn]

*continued love for (((sidecar & grampa & family)))*

many congrats to the luci's! how exciting!

kvetch: no matter how hard i'm trying to avoid, 9/11 memorial stuff is EVERYWHERE. the local paper is flooded with especially poignant stories of families left behind, how they've been affected, the thougtless and downright cruel attitudes they have to face from insensitive assholes who just.don't.get.it. ("it's been 5 years ... why are you still in therapy?" ... "because my husband is still dead.") i wish everyone who has issues with the blood money some of these people received could read these articles. and, yet - on the selfish-as-hell flip side - and as callous as it sounds, i really wish i could put this all on "ignore". i guess last year was easier because i was driving back from lil cousin's bachelorette weekend, hungover as shit.

kvetch: spazzing out about mamasan's surprise party next weekend.
kvetch: spazzing out about my doctor's appt tomorrow morning.
antikvetch: taking out my anxiety on the dust & dirt in my house.

apologies for being such a self-absorbed pissant.

(((everyone)))

[yuefie]

((((((sidecar & family))))))) thinking of you, hope all is going as well as can be expected. ~~~~peace for ((((((grandpa sidecar)))))))~~~~
((((sapphy & fam))))) (((dinah-kitty)))
(((((bustie furbabies)))))
& (((((non fur babies)))))
bunny, I agree with polly and think it has something to do with congestion. I've suffered from chronic ear infections and sinus issues since birth (even had to have the tubes in my ears as an infant!) and have felt that sensation before. it still squicks me out though. ~~~bunnys ear & sinuses feel better~~~
yay for mr tempest coming home!
squeeeee for mornington! (((pete))) the fluffball of cuteness!
((((((raisin)))))) causes I lurf her
((((rosev))))) *mwah*
((((syb))))
(((((mandi mah'dear))))) *always*
((((treehugger))))
((((tes & mr. hotbuns)))) may they have enjoyed eachother fully
((((anoushh))) how's it going?
(((((amilita & the mr.)))))) hope your vacay is just fab)))))
where in the heck is (((crassy)))?
((((prettyinpink)))) how's the wedding plans coming along?
((((((((flanker, faith, plummie, fina, dusty, polly, cstars, luci, billy, sheff, tyger, msp, tg, mavin, minx, lys, damona, ladylib, whino))))
(((((every-kvetchie))))
(((((and lurkers too)))))

yeah, I love RS more than Morrissey too. but he was one of my first major crushes and held a place of high regard, on the wall above my bed. the poster was black and white, except for his lips being red, and always gave my mother the willies! I've been going a little crazy with The Cure reissues. hey now, I waited years a decent copy of "The Top"!
and thank you all for the sleep vibes. I caught 4 1/2 hours of good, solid sleep, which beats the heck out of the broken 8 hours I usually get. I am off to try and be a productive citizen today. yeah, right.

[mornington]

squee! he just called he just called he just called he just called!!!!

*bounces*

am I over-excited or what? squee! he's calling later too.

[sybarite]

(((Sidecar and family))) Hope you had a good visit today.

Congrats lucizoe!! I was the same; I never wanted to get married particularly but went all 'eeee!' when my boy proposed. The celebration sounds good too.

Thanks all for your kind words when I was stressing about the mister. We've made up now and I feel better than I have for weeks. It's good to remember these things go in cycles.

[mornington]

(((polly))) feh on baby showers. (and please please please actually say that). And yay! for good shopping. I used to live round the corner from the land's end factory shop and I used to get a few shirts from there.

(((tempest))) yay! that's really good news.

(((raisin))) I haven't been yet, but from what I've heard... it's part french part arabic; there's not a lot to do but there are apparently some really good ruins and world heritage sites lying around. I'll come back with stories after christmas! Ooh, bunny walkies... reminds me, I must halter-train pete. Daphne hated it so I gave up.

(((bunny))) that just sounds... odd. But maybe linked to your sinuses. I hope it clears up in time for the boy's return. And... your boy does indeed have the same name as G. How random. Maybe it is a good sign.

(((yuefie))) ***get some sleep*** & ***get that apartment*** I've been getting into the cure again. I missed them the first time round... . I think I love rs more than morrissey.

(((rose))) ***find a handbag*** I too am booooooooooooooooooooooooored.

(((luci))) aw, cute story.

(((treehugger)))
(((mando)))
(((everyone else))))

He has still not called. Feh on him. Although to be fair he is five hours behind me and might not have to the message or been at his pa's (F's pa is the one with cancer). I'm just grumping because I want a phone call for no reason.

I'm trying to put a website together for the earrings... it's confusing me and I'm not sure I like it. Bah. I think I need to know html or something. But I've made some more earrings!

Where has the day gone? It seems like I've done nothing.

happy sunday (((everyone)))

edit: just got a very sweet, very very apologetic email. did I mention sweet? *huge dopey grin*

[pollystyrene]

Oh yeah, bunny, I was going to reply to your eardrum thing- I get that too sometimes, like an eardrum spasm. But I don't usually get pain with it. Sounds like some congestion pushing against it. Ouch.

Ugh, I have to go to a baby shower for Le Boy's cousin today. Feh. I'm going to get "And when are you going to have a baby?" about a million times. "Not that it's any of your business, but when hell freezes over, that's when."

[tempest]

(((sidecar))) Stay strong...I'll keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Luci!!! So exciting! Let me know if I can send you anything--my Anti-Bride Guide, any of my other resources, anything. I'm so happy for you!

(((yuefie))) I'm a big advocate of getting sleep any way you can...take a nap today, if you're able. Here's hoping you can move to the quiet building, too. ::crossed appendages::

Raisin, I want to see hair pics!

Bunny, glad the eardrum stopped vibrating...maybe the stopping is a good sign for your sinuses? I hope you get some relief soon.

Mornington, here's some telekinetic "pick up the phone and dial" vibes to the one you're waiting on. ~~~call, dammit~~~

Rose, what kind of bag are you looking for? I was raised in a shopaholic family, so maybe I can help...I'll look through my online shopping favorites and see what I can send you, if you'd like.

Ooh, super anti-kvetch: THE MR. IS COMING HOME!!!! I'm on my way to pick him up...I'm so happy I could cry! Thank you all so much for the good vibes and thoughts...further bulletins as events warrant. And I'm a kvetchette for good now, so I won't be disappearing. *mwah* to all!

[raisingirl]

H0ly crap, it's early on a Sunday. Fuck, I'm out of coffee, too! Not happy about this.

Bunny, how's the schoolwork going, eh? Heh.

Yuefie, get some sleep. I love Robert Smith more than Morrissey, but not by much.

Oh, I'm so sorry, Sidecar. Poor Grandpa Sidecar, I hope he isn't suffering or in a lot of pain. Hugs to you and your family. I am thinking about you.

Mornington, what's it like in Algiers? I've always wanted to go there.

Lucizoe! Congratulations. That's a sweet story (pun intended).

I was on family overload yesterday. Love 'em, but they drive me bonkers, same old same old. We went out for a nice dinner and then had homemade dessert at my parents' house. OMG, it was alllllllllll really good, like food porn come to life good. Then we watched the very end of Sharapova win the US Open. Actually, just PaRaisin and I did; no one else really seemed to care. It was cute when she was jumping up and down with the cup and didn't realize it was two pieces until the top of it flew off.

Got a haircut yesterday and ohmygod it's short! It just shrunk up when it dried yesterday and now it's all bouncy and dare I say flirty. It's good and has these chunky layers in it, but I don't want it any shorter (longest parts are to my shoulders when dry). I probably look more my age now that my head doesn't resemble a mop. Whatevs. Anything to not look like a diryt hippie, you know?

I'm supposed to be seeing Lunasol today. We are going to hash out the details for NY or Bust, aww yeah!

My back hurts (no big deal) and it's not too comfortable to sit at the computer, so off I go to make some toast and pout about not having any coffee. You know what? I should just go to the damn neighborhood coffeeshop; isn't this why I live in a city, so I can walk to these sorts of places?! Feh. Maybe I'll take the bunny out, too, for a little hopping around in the grass. That sounds like a plan.

But before I finish this, I'm seriously so out of love with living in this city that shall not be mentioned, the politics, the elitist snot attitudes, the high rent, the political correctness, and just the general vibe. I don't know, maybe I've just outgrown it; maybe I'm trying to convince myself that I don't like it anymore so that moving next year when the lease is up will be less painful. I'm still kinda/sorta undecided about what to do, but I have a lot of time to sit and drive myself crazy. Shh, I might actually move to a suburb instead of another part of the city or its immediate area, can you believe it?!

p.s. Glad to hear y'allz appreciate my ninja shopaholic/thriftaholic tendencies.

Sorry for the long-ass post, comme d'habitude. Have a lazy Sunday, suckas.

[bunnyb]

Insomnia does indeed blow goats. ~*~*~*get some sleep~*~*~*~ vibes for yuefie.

~*~*~*~get that downstairs unit~*~*~*~* vibes for yuefie and PJ.

Ear drum has stopped vibrating but still sore. I'm in meltdown and my internet is running at an agrravating snail's pace for some ungodly reason. Looking forward to seeing the boy for snuggles - he's back this evening after moving in to the new pad.

Lazy Sunday to you all.

(((sidecar))) you're in my thoughts.

[yuefie]

Ugh. Insomnia blows. I took something that should have knocked me out, but here I am at 4 am. I've read, cleaned, listened to my MP3 player till my ears felt like they were going to bleed. Geez, Robert Smith could've used some Zoloft. Prolly not as badly as Morrissey though

So roommie informed me tonight (or last night rather) that he is moving out to Ohio instead of back to where he moved from, which changes the plan to him leaving at the end of October or beginning of November. Whatever, I don't care as long as I know he really is leaving. I guess this gives me more time to pack and get everything situated with the manager. Please keep your toes crossed for us that we can get a downstairs unit in the front building, it's so much nicer up there! I hate being in the back "family" building, with all the screaming demon children and their poor excuses for parents. It's a nice way of saying the "ghetto" building. PJ and I are quiet enough to hang out with the old people.

[pollystyrene]

((lucizoe)) yay!

The thrift store shopping went okay. I got a few shirts, a silk, off-white sleeveless top I can wear under the jacket (I'm thinking sleeveless tops won't make me feel as sausage-like in the jacket.) I got my Lands End jacket today and it's wonderful- I highly recommend it before it's sold out. Washable Irish linen for $50?!?! You can't beat that! I'm becoming a big fan of Lands End. Some of it's a little preppy, but I find that it's just kind of neutral, which is how I like to be at work. And it so well-made, well-fitting and generally reasonable prices. And the customer service is really great. I just can't say enough good stuff about them.

I'm waiting for my coupons from Haagen-Dazs before I get that Sticky Toffee Pudding...the second they get here, I'll be on my way to the store to get it!!

[yuefie]

Awww luci, that is such a cute story! Sticky Toffee Pudding seems appropriate, heh. And I'm glad you came back to share the details with us. Stop in more often, k?

((((bunny's ear))))

((((rose)))) just 'cause

(((((EVERY BUSTie))))))

[bunnyb]

Congratulations lucizoe!!! That when-we-got-engaged story is so cute! and definitely an anti-kvetch .

hehe, reminds me to tell a cute story I heard last night of some work peeps - the guy is someone we never thought would settle down - he got her out of bed the morning after the Rolling Stones gig, and she bitched at him cos she wanted to have a bed day, then he took her out for a drive and she bitched cos it was miserable out and she wanted to be in bed, he took her to Loch Lomond and they skimmed stones and she bitched cos it was cold and wet and she wanted to be in the car ... he got down on one knee and she was speechless and very guilty! Awww, all these getting engaged couples. Sniff. Just watched the ep of Sex and the City (the Hubble ep) where Big tells Carrie he is engaged to Natasha. Sniff.

Way past my bedtime and my ear (drum) was vibrating a moment ago - wtf is with that?

[lucizoe]

Awww, thanks y'all It's so anticlimactic; we don't really have any friends here yet and my best friend won't answer her damn cell phone, so it's like I have no one else to tell. Not that telling the busties wasn't like, the third thing I thought of 'cause I'm a big dorkus malorkus.

It was cute...apparently he bought a ring two weeks ago and has been carrying it around in his pocket for three days, panicking about how to ask me. I feel like a mafia bride I never thought I would want a big diamond ring, but it's so sparkly (and lab-created, so it was both cheap AND non-conflict. Yay!)

Anywho - I was joking about how we need dishes and silverware and we should stage a fake wedding in order to get some for free, we were standing in the kitchen and he had just fed the cats (cat food smell is so romantic), and he said "Why stage a fake one when we can have a real one?" and then handed me the little box, after he dropped it and picked it up because his hands were shaking so bad. He was shaking! He never gets nervous about anything...

We bought ice cream (he got sticky toffee pudding, naturally) and champagne and I'm calling my parents tomorrow, although they already know about it...I have myself an old fashioned dude, apparently. I think he needed a confidence boost or something; they adore him.

That feels so much better...like I said, I have no one to tell in "real" life and I'm so excited...I actually started crying. I feel so silly about that. It's not my style at all, but I'm just sitting here with a big goofy grin on my face...whew...like I said, that's better.

[roseviolet]

Congrats, Luci!!!!!!!!
How exciting! How did it happen? Give us some details!

Raisin, I forgot to say so earlier, but I agree with Yuefie. You are a GENIUS! Enjoy your swanky purse!

I need a purse. I haven't bought a new one in a couple of years. But I went shopping and didn't find one I liked. Hmph.

((( Mornington ))) What names are you considering? Maybe we can help.

(((((( snuggles for my Hunny Bunny ))))))

(((((( Mandi & Billy & anyone feeling down ))))))

~~~ happy shopping for Polly ~~~ Hope you found something good for the trip.

Yuefie, I'm glad that PJ is making a lovely dinner for you. You deserve it!

Kvetch: I'm boooooooored. I should call someone and try to fix this. But instead I've spent my afternoon poking about on YouTube & listening to NPR.

[yuefie]

YAY for luci, congrats sweetie! and it's not rude to come in and share your news. and you can come back sometime, ya know

(((treehugger))) how are you doing?

anti-kvetch: I was just realizing that it's almost dinner time and I haven't eaten anything all day except for a protein smoothie for breakfast, and PJ knocked on the door to tell me he had warmed up the left over curry & brown rice and put some garlic naan in the oven. He even set the table, so I am off to go have a late lunch/dinner with him. My bro is a sweet boy and yay, I don't even have to cook!