November 2004 Archives
The need to write
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
It's been awhile since I last posted, so I'm feeling the need to write. The problem is, I'm not sure what to say. I have something rather exciting that I'm working on, but it's not quite ready to be announced to the world yet (oh, the mystery!). So stay tuned. I had a really nice week off. Really nice. Poor Freesia and Smudge. I'm sure they are wondering where Mommy is today. I think they really enjoyed me being home all day with them. I certainly enjoyed being with them. I love my cats. They followed me everywhere. I couldn'tThe Fiery Cross
Posted by Chiara | Category books
The Fiery CrossLotta Love the Love Quiz
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I'm sure it's no big surprise to you that yourromance is The Princess Bride. A heartwarmingtale of "Twue Wuve" that has giants,Spainards and swashbuckling. You really dothink that love can overcome anything. You maybe a touch naive but your heart is certainly inthe right place. You've probably got one ofthose relationships where proper nouns havebeen replaced with "Snookums" and"Pookie Pie". Eww. Beware a cutenessoverload. What Romance Movie Best Represents Your Love Life? brought to you by QuizillaBein' Lazy
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I'm really enjoying this home-yet-on-vacation thing. I'm slowly chipping away at the things I need to get done. Very slowly. I'm spending way more time playing Civ than I should. I need to bake the Sally Lunn today. And I should also make the broc bake so I can have something real to eat for dinner tonight. Last night I was up until midnight reading (yay! reading!), but I slept soundly until after 8. Did you hear that? I SLEPT SOUNDLY FOR OVER 8 HOURS! *happy dance* Who knows, maybe the drugs are starting to work. Maybe the fact thatStupid Computer Games
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
*GAH* I just lost 4 hours playing Civ III (I bought it yesterday for the Mac). I never played it for the PC (though I have it). I always played Civ II instead. I don't know why I always thought the interface is so hard to use. *shrug* Anyway... I should like, take a shower and stuff done and shit.Morning Crazies
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I wish I had a digital camera, or at least a scanner, so I could subject you all to the fuzzy cuteness that is my cat Smudge. Smudge is growing up to be quite the handsome little man. He's lost that bed-head, hair sticking up in all directions look. He actually has the softest, silkiest coat that I've ever felt. He's softer than Freesia, but shhhhhh, don't tell her. And he's gotten bigger. Yay. He's still smaller than Freesia, but he's no longer skin and bones like he was for so long. He's actually starting to get that pudge inHoliday Cheer
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I am one of those annoying people who put up their Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. I figure, this is Thanksgiving week, so it's okay to start now. It's not like it's still Halloween or something. I'm on vacation from work all this week, and it's Monday and I'm already looking for things to do. So, yes, stringing the Christmas lights on the porch is a way for me to procrastinate about cleaning the bathroom. Believe me, it's much for fun than scrubbing grout. In a lot of ways, Thanksgiving is feeling like it doesn't count this year. I keep skippingSo Beautiful
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I came across this picture recently on an old CD that I have. Now that I have a Mac again, I was able to read it. Isn't she lovely? I want to say she is the daughter of one of the Medici, but I'm not sure. She doesn't look like this anymore though. She was damaged in WWII and is now missing her nose. This photograph was taken by Clarence Kennedy.Tis the Season
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
At my woman's group tonight we spent a fair amount of time talking about holiday traditions. We each shared memories from our childhood or some ladies talked about when their kids were small. It was really neat. I'm starting to feel more feastive. Being in California always throws off my internal calendar, since I can't tell the time of year by the weather. The leaves are just changing color and falling now, there's finally a nip in the air, and I need to wear a coat at night. To me that means that Halloween must be getting close. I forgetMoonstruck
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I just bought the DVD of Moonstuck and I watched it last night. I love that movie. It reminds me of the Italian side of my family. Or at least, my memories of what that side of the family is like. The scenes in the kitchen with everyone talking at once and the mother cooking for everyone and hands flying around while they talk - that's how I remember The Family. Everyone is in each other's business but they do it out of love and would do anything for the other. Here's a photograph from my grandparent's house in Fairfield,Pain in My Neck
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I've been having a lot of trouble with the top of my right shoulder and right side of my neck this week. I've had trouble with this spot before. It usually happens when I spent too much time in front of the computer and don't take enough breaks. I used to get numbness in my fingers on my right hand. But that hasn't happened in years, since I got the whole ergonomic set up at work. The pain is really bad this time. Wednesday evening I went and got a massage, and that helped A LOT. But by the timeA Cloud of Fresh Pork
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
Tonight I get to sleep on THIS: Oh the feathery goodness. My bed is now so TALL. And SOFT. And WARM. And yes, I do realize the hypocrisy of a vegetarian with a featherbed and down comforter. But you know what? No one is perfect. And my bed is niiiiiiiiiiice. So you'll just have deal.Everybody Hurts
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
Somehow this song from R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People seems to really fit today. When your day is long and the night, the night is yours alone, When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on. Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes. Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along. When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on) If you feel like letting go, (hold on) When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on. 'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends. EverybodyOh thank god
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
Attorney General John Ashcroft resigns.Update
Posted by Chiara | Category weight
Progress is in spirals. I have to keep reminding myself of this. This place that I am currently at - not eating well, not exercising, eating cookies for dinner - looks very familiar. I have been here before. But it is not the same place as before, because I am different. Other circumstances in my life are different. My perspective is different. This is not a failure. I have gained back all the weight I had lost with WW, plus some more. I am now currently at my heaviest ever. EVER. But this is not failure. There is no winIAs in San Jose
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
Lou Rosenfeld is in town with Steve Krug for their Enterprise IA and Usability workshops. Last night they had a cocktail hour followed by dinner after Lou's workshop. I fought the traffic on 680 and joined them. I love going to these things. It was so good to see Lou. I worked at Argus only 10 months. I've now been at PeopleSoft 3.5 years. I can't believe that I've been away from there for so long. It seems like just yesterday. It was such a short time, yet it had such a profound influence upon me. I had lots ofFeline Love
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I love waking up on mornings like this, in ways like this. I dug out my old body pillow and slept with it last night. Combined with my new down-like pillow and the three other pillows on my bed. I also broke out the flannel duvet cover for my down comforter the other day, since it's been getting cooler at night (notice I didn't say colder, East Coast folks). So, I was supported on all sides by pillowy-goodness. And was snuggly-warm with the flannel and down. Then the love was applied. Freesia came on the bed (yay! something she hasn'tHappiness is...
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
going to bed at 9:30, sleeping soundly until 4:30. Then falling back to sleep until 8ish. And then falling back to sleep yet again until 9. Ahhhhhhhhh. I actually don't feel utterly exhausted this morning.Public Service
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
In the effort to move the photo of the monkey farther down the page, here's another photo to look at. This was taken at Point Lobos State Reserve back at the end of August. I wish I were back there again. Actually, I wish I were back there and under the water this time. There's suppose to be great diving at the reserve.But, but, HOW?
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I don't get it. I honestly don't understand. How can so many people think he's doing a good job? How can so many people not care that their civil liberties have been slashed in the false name of security? How can so many not care about women's reproductive rights? How can so many ignore the environmental rollbacks? How can they not see that we have lost what little respect we had in the international community? How did we fail? What should we have done to make more of those red states blue? Everyone I talked to, so much that IDemocracy
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I found my polling place. Yay. I was able to walk right in and vote. There was hardly anyone in there are lunch time. I hope they were/are busier this morning and tonight. Driving back to work after voting my heart was all aflutter. I was all excited. I can't wait to see how everything turns out and at the same time I'm dreading it cause I'm so afraid that idiot is going to win again. I can't see how he can; I really don't understand how folks can believe he is doing a good job. I'm going to beGAH!
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
Anyone know where the Walnut Grove Elementary School in Pleasanton is? I thought it did, but alas, I was wrong. So much for voting first thing in the morning. Now I have to brave the lines at lunch. Though from what I've heard, there were lines this morning too. Yay. On to MapQuest....Life with Cats
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
I don't know why, but the shear volume of cat hair that I find in my dryer lint-trap always amazes me. I could make a new cat out of the amount of hair that these two furballs loose.November 2
Posted by Chiara | Category main_page
Tomorrow is the big day people. Remember, vote early and vote often.Monthly Archives
