WELCOME TO ILLINOIS!!! 
posted by Wanting at 8:32 PM

 
...this weather STILL sucks...but it could be worse...
posted by Wanting at 8:29 PM

 

...tickets are in my wallet and ready to be handed over to the ticket...um...taker...(no old age jokes...I know you're just jealous) 
posted by Wanting at 7:02 PM

 

I almost bought a breeding pair of these today...she was orange when she got excited...and he also had some green...damn me for going!!! But I said NO... 
posted by Wanting at 6:19 PM

 

ooooh...pretty... 
posted by Wanting at 8:36 AM

 

posted by Wanting at 8:25 AM

 
...the baseball game is on in the other room. I like baseball, but only live baseball. My dad is a fanatic about it. He once tried out for the Reds years ago, but obviously never made it.

...when he lived up here (now he's a Braves fan...) whenever the game was on (Cards, of course) he had to watch, only to be asleep about a half hour into it. No matter how quiet I was, when I tried to switch the channel, he'd wake up, swearing he was just "resting my eyes." Suffice it to say, when the game was on, I was either walking or reading.

...I kind of miss that sound around the house...and I guess I kind of miss my dad. He's a pretty cool guy when he's taking his medicine. You see, he suffers from bipolar manic depression. He has to take a shit load of pills, and when he takes them steadily, dad is pretty normal. But eventually (and I dread when the phone rings sometimes because it's overdue) he stops taking the meds. He gets to feeling he doesn't need them because he feels ok.

...if you know someone like this you know what happens. A downward spiral and then there is no reasoning and no hope until he gets back on those pills. Usually my father goes on this "quest"...he thinks he's going to get a job at NASA...he can't stop talking about planes and rockets. If he's down in Georgia he takes off for days most times, and I get the added bonus of his wife who is in constant denial and won't let me know until he's too far gone (both physically and mentally). Once he made his way up here to warn us of a war that was coming...

...fortunately, he doesn't get violent, just angry and mouthy and uncontrollable. Not bathing for days, spending money like he has it to spend, and talks to himself...not as in a conversation, but like he's trying to make a decision and talking out loud. Imagine what it's like to go into a Hardees to fetch your father while everyone around him thinks he's crazy. Sometimes I think that keeps the really bad people from hurting him.

...I'm a big supporter of mental health care...unfortunately the local mental hospital was sold to the local community college. Whenever he has a setback and I have to have him "checked out" we end up going to the local hospital, where we wait all day for a bed in some other local hospital's mental health ward. Apparently it's not as important as, say...pretty much everything else.

...so far so good...no word from down south (he forgets things, too...like my birthday..but I don't blame him), and I didn't inherit it. Thank God.

***check out Edge's blog today...he makes some sense of things, I believe.
posted by Wanting at 6:54 PM

 

...in theaters this Halloween...wooohoo!!! 
posted by Wanting at 8:20 PM

 

..so where's the damn sequel??? 
posted by Wanting at 8:06 PM

 
EVERYBODY....please click on Ron over there on the left...he's wanting to close down his blog...I have no idea why...and I think he should stay. He's got some interesting stuff and I don't want to see him go, so at least visit him and check him out, maybe he can get some more readers and have a reason to stay...
posted by Wanting at 9:34 PM

 
...I used to be crazy about horses. They were all I could think of. Every week I was allowed an hour ride at a local stable that also boarded horses for people that were lucky enough to have one (two hours for my birthday). I learned to be a half-way decent rider, and my "dream" one day was to actually barrel race in the rodeo (go ahead and laugh).

...finally, one day, one of my dreams came true. I was going to get my very own horse. My dad drove us to Peoria, where someone had a mare for sale. She was at least seventeen hands tall...a palomino, half quarter horse and half thoroughbred. She was gorgeous. I remember when the owner lead her out, saddled and bridled for me to ride, I was grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't wait to ride her. As I pulled myself up and into the saddle, the man who held her told me he raced her a lot in the past.

...so she could run! It didn't matter if she'd won or not (I don't even remember if he said that she had), she liked to run and she was going to be mine. Images of all these days out in the countryside with my horse, running like the wind...the song "Wildfire" came to mind...that's what I'd call her...Wildfire...(um...sorry, I couldn't resist).

...she was obviously wanting to go right then. I could feel her tense as I sat down, taking the reins in my hands and making sure my feet were in the stirrups.
The bridle that controlled this animal was not what I was used to. It was a hackmore (sp), which is a normal leather headpiece, but instead of a bit in the horse's mouth, a thick strap of leather lies over the nose, just above the nostrils. You pull back and it restricts the air that the horse needs. It's gentler for the animal...no metal bit in the mouth.

...the man told me to hold her...asked if I was ready...I said yes...and told me she hadn't been ridden in over a month.

...and released his hold on the reins.

...it wasn't quite a bolt, but she did start out at a pretty fast clip...it took everything I had to hold her back. She broke into a gallop, but I was able to hold her enough to keep her from a full run.

...God this was great! This horse was going to be mine...she was beautiful...and I could only imagine...how cool...I was at that moment...

SNAP!! I didn't hear it, I felt it...something gave...and she took off at a dead run.

...the driveway that lead to the place we went to was a few hundred feet from the road. That road lead up and around a bend to the main road into Peoria...a busy two lane highway.

...the horse formerly known as Wildfire shot up the drive and to the right, crossing the road in front of an oncoming car. I remember very well the look on the driver's face when we flew in front of him. He barely missed us, and now I could hear the clop clop clop of the horse's hooves on the pavement as he swerved and she ran. I always loved that sound, but at this moment it terrified me. We were headed straight for the highway.

...my mind was racing (no pun intended), trying to figure out what I was going to do. The turn in the road was coming up, and I had no idea if another car was coming. Plus the fact that if I did avoid an oncoming vehicle here, chances were that the busier highway ahead would definately be the end of both of us.

...no cars yet, but the turn was coming. I was pretty sure I was going to die soon. I held onto the saddle horn, and even tho the reins were useless, those too. I felt more than saw the mare slow down, just slightly, as she approached the turn. I leaned to the left with her as she followed the curve of the road, running so fast it soon seemed we were almost parallel to the ground.

...it all happened...automatically. I don't remember thinking I should do it...I just did.

...she fell...on her left side...and I pulled my leg out of the stirrup and rolled off her back. If it hurt, I don't remember. The horse scrambled up on her feet and, wouldn't you know it, decided that was the time to slow down. The owner and my dad were running up the road towards us, as I stood up and shook the gravel and dirt off, and she took off back towards home. Said owner was able to grab the reins and hold her, asking me if I was alright. I assured him I was, and told my dad I'd pass on the horse.

...I realize now that was a mistake. It turned out one of the reins broke...I had no control whatsoever over that mare. I should have taken her. I think I realized I wasn't as good a rider as I thought. She was spirited...but she scared the hell out of me.
posted by Wanting at 8:08 PM

 
I just read the biuncer's blog this morning, and he linked this guy....


posted by Wanting at 8:10 AM

 
OH BOY....

...it's that time again...only it's not...

...see, it's only June 19th...July 4th doesn't come around for another couple of weeks, at least. Seems the whole damn neighborhood has gone out and bought firecrackers and whirly watch-ya-ma-call its...my favorite is the giant cherry bombs that go off all of a sudden...niiiice.

...I love fireworks...but I seem to have this problem that makes me a bit of a bitch...I have to work for a living...happens at least five days a week...and unless momma and daddy are gonna sit outside while their kids set all this stuff off, I'd appreciate a little consideration.

...it's more enjoyable when you drag all this stuff out to an open field...I know 'cause I've done it...you see stuff more clearly...you don't bother anyone, and the cops didn't mind because we cleaned up all the refuse after.

...some people may think I complain for nothin'...but if you haven't slept well for a while you'd be bitching, too. Besides, kids like me...I'm nice (yeah, hard to believe)...hey...you have to be nice to run a friggin' Pokemon league...ask Nik, she knows. Too bad parents don't pay more attention to their kids.

...ok...I'm done.



I need a beer...
posted by Wanting at 9:33 PM

 

moose and squirrel... 
posted by Wanting at 4:25 PM

 

...I'm showing my age now...but these were cool cartoons... 
posted by Wanting at 4:24 PM

 

posted by Wanting at 2:22 PM

 


For you, Michael...nothing secial, but you said you missed them...(and I like playing with my picture thingy...)
posted by Wanting at 8:40 AM

 

I see these all the time.. 
posted by Wanting at 8:38 AM

 

posted by Wanting at 9:50 PM

 
..so I find a blog called the Homeland Conservative...someone from Canada who seems obsessed with the moral decline of the world because of all the gays in society.

...if someone is so obsessed with something, I tend to think they might be hiding a secret....

...it's bad enough with all the hate in the world...at least it's someone who is loving someone else...

...don't tell me who I can be with, and I won't tell you who you can be with...

..idiot.
posted by Wanting at 9:44 PM

 
....got an email from ticketmaster..so Tim, if you read this....

My tickets are coming...yeah...uh huh...Def Leppard...I know you're jealous...but I'll send you a t-shirt....oooh...I know...a license with their logo on it so you can put it on your truck...

...um...sorry...I can't help it.
posted by Wanting at 3:55 PM

 
...got an email from the soldier I've "adopted"...he seems really nice and has a good sense of humor. He needs it where he's at.

...bought more wind chimes AND Janet (a woman I used to work with...she gave me $ for school...just because...she's fantastic) sent me another string of prayer flags for my birthday. Gonna hang them this weekend along with a chime in the front tree...I'm SO gonna drive the neighbors crazy...

...Taking care of a friend's dog...Hunter...a yellow lab...I think I'm going to bring her over here at night. Fed would love a buddy and the cats...well...I could use a good laugh...

...sorry, Blade...Baldzilla is still in the building...still naked, but alive.

...got this craving for cornbread....

...and Hershey's kisses...

I'm leaning towards the boring and mundane...so have a great weekend, everyone, and I'll try to fight my terrible hunger pangs...
posted by Wanting at 3:40 PM

 
...my niece turned fifteen yesterday. Fifteen. I used to babysit her, and being an aunt is so much better because you can spoil and not be responsible. I mean, who will babysit at a moment's notice? Me. Why? Because aunt Kim has no social life.
But that's a different story. Boring, but different.

...when she first moved to Mississippi a few years back, I tried to talk to her about some things she'd find out about. Namely, the old south redneck hillbilly attitude towards people who are different (also known as "anyone who ain't white").

...I thought I'd done the right thing the right way...she agreed that the "n" word was bad, and that all people were equal. Unfortunately, my mom and my sister (thanks to my mom) both thought people of color were inferior...I thought I'd "saved" my niece. I was wrong.

...the last time she was up here we had a discussion on how certain individuals down there were "dirty"..."poor, therefore trash"..."all because of their own laziness"...you get the picture.

...I could not reason with her. She'll believe this for the rest of her life. I wonder of she knows where we come from...poor white trash...of which I am not ashamed of.

...my grandpa was a ridgerunner at one time...was asked to join the klan but said no (I don't know why, tho...I only know it wasn't because he felt bad about all the shit that went on down there)...supposedly an uncle of mine who killed himself was really murdered, but no one can prove it....a cousin allegedly dealt drugs...her sister allegedly tried to have her husband killed...and the local officer of the law (not sure if it was a sherriff or deputy or what...just that he carried a badge and a gun) was seeing another aunt of mine, but then started seeing her daughter. I have no idea if it was at the same time or not...either way...ewwww.

...sounds like an episode of Jerry Springer...
posted by Wanting at 9:02 PM

 

...and now, another public service announcement....DUCKS UNLIMITED is a worthwhile cause...you don't have to be a hunter to support this conservation group (I'm a member, and I can barely catch a fish...)


I know, I know, this pic is a bit...creepy, but hey, it's cute...think Disney...(eewww)

posted by Wanting at 7:13 AM

 
...so...Urs gave me a bird yesterday...a love bird...who lost his mate...and has pulled out all of his feathers on his chest, and some on his wings. He's a bit...pissy...the woman who had him didn't want him after the mate died..I'm also inclined to believe she wasn't very nice to him since he was supposedly hand fed.

...yeah, so...another reject...I'm a sucker...the cats think he's going to be a treat or the next game of catch...he's safe in his big cage...just trying to get him to be comfortable around here...I think I'll call him...Baldzilla....
posted by Wanting at 6:46 PM

 
By the way...could someone please tell me what a trackback is on some of these blogs WITHOUT making me feel stupid?

Thank you.
posted by Wanting at 8:09 PM

 
...here's a sobering thought to make your Sunday....

I signed up on the Soldiers' Angels...I "adopted" an infantryman...I send a care package once a month if I can and a card or letter every week. One of the people who also did this got an email from her soldier..someone in his squadron (did I say this right?) went home on an emergency leave to see his newborn...he was murdered by his wife's ex boyfriend.

Someone else said they knew of a soldier that had been murdered right after he got back from eleven months in Iraq...

Fucking unbelievable.

It's bad enough we have dumbasses who put everyone around them in danger when they cook their drugs (Pekin's gotten a name for all the meth labs that it allegedly has in town), shoot and knife each other over drugs, bullshit tough-guy postering in gangs, kidnap and hurt and/or kill children (these are the ones that shouldn't have any rights at all), or one of the most idiotic things I've ever heard of...killing each other over stupid stuff like a tree stand. Didn't hear about that one? Apparently several hunters were out in the woods...some argument ensued over a tree stand...and in the end, they shot each other. No one was left alive. These are the ones that give the responsible hunters out there a bad name.

People are stupid. Not all people, but enough to keep me away from them...I like staying at home...and although I love to camp and hike, sometimes it gets a little scary out there.

Then we have these guys across the way who dodge bullets and fanatics and do their best to fight for what they believe in...looking forward to the day when they can be home...and in the end it's some asshole from his own country that kills him.

Guess that makes some of us as bad as they are...
posted by Wanting at 7:43 PM

 
FINALLY!!! I put my hair up in a pony tail today!!!WOO HOOO!!!


...sometime soon....buns....
posted by Wanting at 6:12 PM

 
A while back I used to walk all the time. In spite of the disbelief and occasional comments about my state of mind, my favorite time to walk was late at night. It's quiet and there aren't too many people around. The best time was in the spring, when flowers were coming out, or after a rain shower. Everything smelled so good. I had a retriever-cocker spaniel mix, Tucky, that loved to walk with me.

Friends would tell me I was crazy...too many dangerous people out there. I was going to get attacked one night, or maybe worse. I'd just ignore their remarks...I know they were concerned that I may get hurt, and I appreciated the thought, but I always managed to be very careful. Always alert and watchful ...with only the random street light to light my way, it was actually easier to keep track of a car that would seem to drive by more than once, or when someone else was walking home from wherever it was they'd been.

One night Tucky and I were on our way back home, walking through the grassy lot that ran along side one of this town's energy plants. I'd noticed a station wagon (yeah, it was that long ago) that had passed earlier, then had driven by again. The evening was perfect. Just the right temperature for walking and no one was in sight. It was after hours, so all the bars were closed. I pretty much had the whole neighborhood to myself. It was a beautiful night.

I was walking on the left side of the street, so it was easy to see this car coming back towards me. I watched as it got closer, slowed down, and eventually stopped almost directly across from me. This road doesn't have a curb...the car just stopped in the middle of the street. I stood where I was, watching as the driver's side door opened and a man got out. I remember him saying something like "hello...how are you?" as he walked around the back of his car and started towards me.

I have no idea why I didn't move. Maybe it was shock...I actually answered him..."I'm ok.." as he kept walking towards me. I'd let Tucky loose earlier, and I was holding onto his chain...a firm grip...and he started barking when this man grabbed me, pulled me around in front of him and told me to come with him.

I felt something cold and hard against my neck. I knew what it was, and there was no way I was letting him cut my throat. I held onto the blade of that knife with both hands...I don't remember feeling anything but fear. He pushed/dragged me back towards his car, while my fearless dog only barked. Soon he had the passenger door open, and I was wedged between the opening and the door. He kept trying to push me in, cursing and threatening me as I braced myself against the car. He had to release his hold of the knife against my throat, but he was strong and almost pushed me down onto the car seat. I knew if he did, I was gone.

Somehow I managed to push him back and pull myself away from the car. Now he was in the same spot I'd been. He lost his balance and fell back against the car door, and swinging as hard as I could, I hit him across the forehead with the dog's chain.

I screamed and ran, Tucky running behind me. Looking behind me, I saw the car speed away, tires screeching. The bar across the street was closed, but I noticed someone was still inside. I hit the door with a yell and starting pounding on it, asking the older gentleman to call the police. The son of a bitch told me to go home. Apparently he thought I was drunk.

As I turned to run, I saw the station wagon. He was coming back.

Suddenly, a police car came flying out of the alley behind the bar parking lot. (later he told me he'd heard me scream). He stopped in front of me and I told him what had happened, describing the car and the direction it had gone. I assume the driver saw the cop, because he turned down a side street, tires screeching again.. The police car backed up to chase after him...and stalled.

As I stood there in the street, hearing the car's motor turn over, I let out a laugh.
I felt like I was in a movie. And the bad guy was winning.

I looked down at my hands and saw tiny lines of red on my skin. They were shaking. I could hear the siren in the distance, and suddenly I felt like I was being watched. I heard a siren coming from the opposite direction, and soon another police car sped by. All I could do now was wait.

It wasn't much longer after that that the cop that heard me scream came back and took me by my house so I could drop off Tucky. I wasn't very happy with him at that moment.

I was at the police staion for a few hours. I managed to draw a picture of the man. They recognized him. He was famous for this.

The assisiant district attorney was a dick. He didn't see any reason to inform me of anything. However, the detective that had been at the station that night was a little more helpful. Unfortunately, he told me that since I couldn't id the guy in his own doorway (they took me by his house; he answered the door; I swear it didn't look like him, at least from the back seat of the police car), I wouldn't be able to get a line up. And even though he was known to do this before, even though he had a mark on his head from something he said he ran into, even though they couldn't put him in jail for anything, the courts still managed to charge him a fine. Personally, I would've preferred he sat in jail instead of paying money to some clerk.

His name is David Wisdom. He used to live in South Pekin, but he moved his family to God knows where. His wife must be someone real special. She knows what he does. I feel sorry for his kids.

The knife was just a pocket knife. Small and hardly dangerous, I guess, but I didn't know that...it felt huge against my throat. It was sharp enough to cut up my hands..and if he was determined enough...or pissed off enough...

I don't walk like I used to. It's not because I'm afraid, just not quite as much motivation...or time. But I should be able to do that whenever I feel like it. I never "asked" for it...I never dressed provocatively...old jeans, a couple of shirts (it was a bit chilly). This asshole came after me, and has a reputation, but that isn't enough to keep him from doing it again.

I wish I'd kept hitting him.








posted by Wanting at 6:54 PM

 
...EVERYONE...go read Lewis' post from today...and he'll show you something...just...be prepared....
posted by Wanting at 6:54 PM

 
I don't know if it still works, but go to March 30, 2005 and check out my blog schizzolated...thanks to Britt...
posted by Wanting at 9:15 PM

 
...it's that time of year again...90+ degress outside and any asshole that can have a dog but doesn't give a damn will leave it out in the sun...with no water...or if they do, it will also sit in the sun. Would you like to drink some hot water, dickweed?

...one summer when I worked at my vet's office, an older couple came in with their german shepherd. She had been in a closed up garage all day, and she was panting like crazy. If I remember right, her body temperature was over 110...a normal temperature is from 101-102.5. Her brain was literally cooking in her skull.

...we put her in the tub with cold water and ice...after a few minutes she went into convulsions, but eventually snapped out of that with the help of some meds the vet gave her. After getting her temp down, we made a bed for her in one of the kennels, then left her alone, expecting her to be dead soon after.

...the next morning, everyone was shocked to see her up and alert in her run, tail wagging and seemingly happy to see everyone. Unfortunately she died by that afternoon. The vet said that her brain was too badly damaged to have lived...just a wonder she responded the way she did before she died.

...so DO NOT leave your dog out in the sun, and definately DO NOT lock it in a car...even if for a minute. I'm sure everyone knows what it's like to be in a hot place...just remember...we sweat..dogs and cats don't...

...oh, and if you do come across such a problem, and you know it's more than just a case of no common sense that some little reminder will fix, take the dog...no really...turn it over to animal control...tell 'em you found it...do the animal a favor..









...that is my public announcement for today...
posted by Wanting at 5:43 PM

 

here's my baby...not as good a pic as Norm takes (um..because I got it off the site) and mine is silver metallic birch...
posted by Wanting at 7:33 PM

 

Look who's coming to Chicago May 26, 2006 thru January 1, 2007....



posted by Wanting at 1:23 PM

 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIZZ DULEY.....
posted by Wanting at 8:44 PM

 

...and HE was my favorite... 
posted by Wanting at 8:37 PM

 

I love this show...so silly yet very addicting...




posted by Wanting at 8:36 PM

 
DEF LEPPARD IS COMING TO PEORIA AND I'M GOING TO GO!!!!



...just wanted you to know.
posted by Wanting at 8:03 PM

 
[singing] I'm gonna be rich, rich, rich I'm gonna be rich, rich, rich I'm gonna be the richest flea in the land, ka-ching! The streets will be paved with golden retrievers...

Bring back life form. Priority One. All other priorities rescinded.

Well, I don't know what they are, I never saw them before. They looked like great big seed pods.

This is exactly what the nerds want...

I like sub commanders. They have no time for bullshit, and neither do I.

How would we have, like, just... made a campsite in the middle of three piles of rocks, just by coincidence?

The last thing I need is another picture of me looking like a porcelain doll.

Just take a minute, take those little sticks out of your head, clean out your ears, and you'll see that I'm a person with feelings, and all I wanna do is do what *I* wanna do and not listen to you! And the only way I'd ever let you have my bag is if you pried it from my dead, lifeless fingers, okay? If you can get it from my kung-fu grip then you can have it, okay? Otherwise, step off, bitch.

Get off... the nuclear... warhead.



posted by Wanting at 9:25 AM