Ok, so Harry Potter consumed my entire weekend and it was well worth it.  However, now I am left with zero brain cells to write with.  I’m borrowing this quiz from another blogger, who borrowed it from another blogger….you know how these things get started.  I figured it was a good way to get the blood flowing again.

1. How many keys are on your keychain? Lost my keys last week.  Surprised?  No, of course you’re not.  So now I’m rebuilding with my car key and a work key.  Who needs apt keys??
2. What curse word do you use the most? F (also, let me just say that J.K. Rowling uses “effing” in the book! Sorry, spoiler.)
3. Do you own an iPod? After my shuffle was stolen from my car, I bought a Philips Go Gear and love it.

4. What time is your alarm clock set for? One is 6:30am and one is something like 6:40am, it’s not digital, you just twist around to precisely the minute you want. Ancient I know, but it keeps it fun.

5. How many suitcases do you own? Just bought an awesome red carry-on.  It’s the only piece of luggage I know care about.

6. Do you wear flip–flops even when it’s cold outside? Hell’s yeah.  I’m from Florida!

7. Where do you buy your groceries from? Florida - Publix. Boston - Shaw’s.  DC - No idea what it’s even called.

8. Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture? Take.

9. What was the last movie you watched? In the theater?  Harry Potter.

10. Do any of your friends have children? A lot of them do, yes.

11. If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would buy? A divorce for my parents.

12. Has anyone ever called you lazy? Of course.

13. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep faster? No…the only thing I don’t take meds for.  Kidding
14. What CD is currently in your CD player? CD Player?? Didn’t we finish establishing that we use the Go Gear?

15. Do you prefer regular or chocolate milk? CHOCOLATE.

16. Has anyone told you a secret this week? Yes. I’m a secret-keeper.

17. When was the last time someone hit on you? When was the last time I walked past the burrito place?  Right, this morning.

18. What did you have for dinner? Leftover chinese.

19. Do you wear hoodies often? I love hooded sweatshirts!!

20. Can you whistle? Yes, but not loudly and can’t really carry a tune.

21. Have you ever participated in a protest? No.

22. Who was the last person to call you? A parent.

23. What is your favorite ride at an amusement park? Superman at Six Flags is awesome.

24. Do you think people talk about you behind your back? Haha, that’s funny.

25. What area code are you in right now? The 212, yo.

26. Did you watch cartoons as a child? Is this even necessary to ask?  WTF?

27. How big is your local mall? Average size.  Tyson’s Corner is nearby, it’s a mall and also the most popular attraction in the state of Virigina.  I kid you not.

28. How many siblings do you have? 2

29. Are you shy around the opposite sex? No.

30. What is your biggest regret? There are a few. I make hasty decisions.

31. When was the last time you laughed so hard your sides hurt? Watching Bridezilla with Kandace and Jennifer.  I couldn’t breathe.  It was awesome.
32. What movie do you know every line to? Steel Magnolias.

33. Do you own any band t–shirts? Nope.

34. When was your last plane ride? June, Orlando to DC.

35. How many chairs are at your dining room table? N/A.

36. Do you read for fun? Only.

37. Can you speak any languages other than English? I look like it, but no.

38. Do you do your own dishes? Yes.

39. What color is your bedroom painted? Nothing at the moment. 

40. Have you ever cried in public? Yes, the theater.

41. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop? Both/

42. Which do you make, wishes or plans? This is really sad.

43. Are you always trying to learn new things? Absolutely.

44. Do you shower on a daily basis? Yes.

45. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos? No.

46. Do you believe that the guy should pay on the first date? I like to split.  I don’t want to owe anyone anything.
47. Can you skip rocks? Never tried.
48. Have you ever been to Jamaica? No.

49. What to snack on at the movie theaters? Hot Pretzels are always good.

50. Who was your favorite teacher? Mrs. Staudt (6th Grade)  Mr. Dickson (College)

51. Have you ever dated someone out of your race? 1/2 way.

52. What is the weather like? I’m working, it’s fabulous outside.

53. Would you ever date someone covered in tattoos? Probably not. 

54. Do you have an online journal? Hmm.

55. What was your favorite class in high school? Psychology.

56. Do you enjoy traveling via airplanes? Yup!

57. What personality trait is a must–have in your preferred gender? Humility and a sense of humor.

58. Have you ever been attracted to someone physically unattractive? Yes.

59. When was the last time you slept on the floor? On a bus to Florida last month. Awful.

60. What is your favorite alcoholic drink? Captain and Diet.

61. Does your closest Starbucks have a drive–thru? No drive-throughs around here.

62. Do you like your living arrangement? Not really.

63. What is your mother’s hometown? Somewhere in Thailand. No idea. That is awful.

64. How many hours of sleep do you need to function? 7.

65. Do you eat breakfast daily? 50% of the time.

66. What was the last thing to scare you? I dunno.  I RARELY get scared.

67. Are your days full and fast–paced? Yes.

68. Did you ever get in trouble for talking in class? No.

69. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon is great.

70. Do you pay attention to calories on the back of packages? Obvsly not close.

71. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 28.

72. Are you picky about spelling and grammar? God yes.

73. Do you believe in life on other planets? Yes.

74. Have you ever been to Six Flags? Answered that.

75. Who was the last person to piss you off? Not sure.

76. Do you believe that God has a gender? I always envision a white guy.

77. What was the last thing you ate? 1/2 brownie…one of the teachers brought it a batch. Dammit.

78. Do you get along better with the same or opposite sex?  Both are fine.

79. What did you dress up as for your first Halloween? I’m sure I didn’t have a costume until I was like 4 or 5. 

80. How did your parents pick your name? Kristina - my brother Jason picked.  Melody - My dad picked.

81. Do you like mustard? Not at all.

82. What do you tell yourself when times get hard? It’s just going to get worse. 

83. Would you ever sky dive? Yes. I am from the Skydiving Capital of the World!

84. Do you sleep on your side, tummy, or back? Tummy. I love that word. TUMMY.

85. What character from a movie most reminds you of yourself? No one really.

86. Have you ever bid for something on ebay? Many things.

87. Do you enjoy giving hugs? Yes.

88. Would you consider yourself to be fashionable? Hmm, sure.

89. Do you own a digital camera? LOVE IT.

90. If someone you had no interest in dating expressed interest in dating you, how would you feel?  Feel?  I’m not sure. I guess bad for them? Awkward?  I dunno.

91. What celebrities have you been compared to? None.

92. Who is your favorite Star Wars character? Eeeeeewoookkks.

93. Does it annoy you when someone says they’ll call but never do? Sure.

94. What books, if any, have made you cry? Tons of books, hard to choose one.

95. Do you think you’re attractive? Sure.

96. What are you allergic to? Penicillin.

97. Are you a jealous person? When necessary.

98. What’s your opinion on sex without emotional commitment? Time and place for everything.

99. Do you ever feel guilty after eating meat? NO.
100. If you were born the opposite sex, what would your name have been? No idea.

I’m not a religious person.  It’s something that I’ve struggled with.  I’ve just never been able to reach that level - for a number of reasons.  I used to think it was because I wasn’t raised in the Church, but I know a number of people who have “found God” at a much later age, so I don’t think that’s the case. 

I like the idea of religion.  Having a higher power that you can turn to for support and guidance.  It’s all very romantic sounding.  Reassurance.  Security.  Love.  These are all things I look for more of in my life but, again, have never been able to find in organized religion.  Here is the problem.  I have never been able to join my beliefs with the beliefs of a church.  For example, I was at a BBQ last night, at the home of one of my good friends from work.  We were discusing Christianity and I mentioned my struggles with a religion that finds Homosexuality to be a sin.  I just can’t imagine a world (created by God) in which individuals who are attracted to, and find love with, a person of the same sex being seen as sinners.  That this one facet of their lives, this primal attraction (which I believe is inborn) being viewed as wrong.  Disgusting.  Immoral. 

There is a disconnect in my mind.  I don’t think that the sex of the person you are attracted to has anything to do with your standing as a moral person.  I don’t.  If that’s what they are using to judge morality - well, I can’t possibly be a part of that.

The other part of this conversation that bothered me was the idea that my friend defended herself by saying that she is absolutely friends with gays.  She hangs out with them, loves them as people.  However, when she imagines their intimate lives, well, she can’t think about that.  It disgusts her.  She will never approve of their “lifestyle” (a word, by the way, that I hate.  but that’s an entirely separate entry).  She kept reiterating the fact that she is friends with gays, she is!, there are plenty of homosexuals that she absolutely enjoys talking to.  She is their friend!  I’m sorry, that just seems a little shitty to me.  There’s no other word for it (I tried to think of one).  I would NEVER want someone to be my friend based on my personality but then also feel that my sex life was a sin and be disgusted by it.  Sorry, don’t want your friendship.  And honestly, if we’re going to be judging people’s sex lives, then it’s a good thing she doesn’t know her other friends behind closed doors because, honestly, she would be disgusted by 90% of her aquaintances. 

I basically ended the conversation by telling her that I felt sorry for her.  And I do.  If she can’t be accepting of people and who they love, then I’m very afraid for this world.  It makes me understand why there is religious fighting.  Why there has been for thousands of years and why there will continue to be for the next thousand.  Fighting over a segment of land, for example, I will never understand.  It would seem to make sense that one can make any piece of land “Holy,” by how you treat yourselves and others while living there, but apparently God only designated this particular piece of land.  Sounds a bit fishy to me.  And wouldn’t you think that God would rather you just move somewhere else than KILL EVERYONE to defend its honor?  Sorry, tangent.

It’s the idea of an absolute stance - the inability to budge from your standpoint - that has lead to so much ill in the world.  A stance on a subject that, in my eyes, makes no sense.  It’s all very sad.  

And that is why I do not go to church. 

 

I never have time to watch GH anymore - mostly because I am at work at 3pm in the afternoon (is this not normal?).  And I don’t use my VHS Recorder anymore (god, I don’t even think my middle schoolers know what that is!).  And I don’t have TiVo (very sad about this). 

I used to go to ABC Online and read summaries, but they were sorta useless and long and godawful boring; basically ruining the experience for me.  Because come on, admit it, soap operas are only good to watch.  Reading about it…..well, it’s sorta like trying to explain the storyline to a stranger.  You sound insane.  I admit this freely. 

However, I have found the solution.  The genius over at Iridescent Glitter manages to sort through the garbage (and god, there is SO MUCH) that is General Hospital and extract the caviar of the plot.  She packages this in a comedic, easy-on-the-eyes, extraneous information included (essential!) blog that keeps me coming back for more.  She even mentions Dynasty, people!  That gets me every time. 

* one of the mantras of KIPP

My tv lost its sound.  I turned it on, saw Big Love playing, but couldn’t hear a thing.  After going through every button on five remote controls, I think it’s just blown.  Very sad.  However, on the way home from celebrating Kendra’s birthday at The Ugly Mug, I thought of this posting.  I was half-way home when it started raining - medium at first, and then a downpour for a few minutes.  And I thought to myself, I’m really glad I’m from Florida because I know how to drive in the rain.  Real rain, people, I don’t blast the wipers when it’s sprinkling and I NEVER pull off the side of the road to “wait it out.”  Then I started thinking of other reasons I was glad I was born in Florida (which is really hard, considering what gets thrown around in the news) and here is what I came up with:

1) I know how to drive in the rain.

2) I grew up in a very diverse school.

3) I can deal with big crowds.

4) I’ll never drown from a rip tide.

5) I don’t have a noticeable accent (thank baby jesus I didn’t grow up in southie).

There’s my thought.  Anyone else care to comment?

I’m pretty sure I have pink eye.  Why am I not positive?  Because I can’t go to the doctor’s.  Not because I can’t afford it - I have a pretty kickass health care plan - I just can’t leave work to do it.

So I’ve had a cold for about a week now.  Sore throat, hacking cough, the works.  And then my eyes went blodshot a few days ago, I thought it was just from my contacts.  But I diagnosed myself on WebMD and it seems that a viral infection can cause pink eye. 

So I have to wear glasses.  Which I’m fine with, lookwise, I just hate the adjustment over from contacts.  The peripheral vision is lost and therefore I always end up with a migraine.

Like today.  Good thing I just took 3 aspirins and 2 crazy excedrine.  Let the good times roll.

Square bits of chicken (OF COURSE). Check.

Mandarin Oranges thrown directly into his mouth. Check.

Dressing from the Mandarin Salad. Check.

So I just got done working a 14 hour day.  And the only thing I am capable of doing is watching Season 2 of LOST while feeding my dog bits of my salad.  Very exhausted. 

Also, a cat is dying on my bed.  Seriously.  Midnight, my landlord’s cat, is 17 and decided that my bed is the best place to end things.  Should I take this as a compliment?

I’m going to lie down next to him now.

Night Night.