Because I'm geeky, I had to share with y'all the cute glasses I got from Crate and Barrel the other day. Aren't these great? Perfect for a neurotic fishgirl.

.: 29 words at 08:12 PM in Daily Ramblings, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (9) :.

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I love a nap with a warm, purring kitty who's obviously missed you as much as you missed her. I so loves my Belley girl.

.: 25 words at 09:07 PM in Fish Tales, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (6) :.

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Steven and I are back from Vegas. I lost a few hundred bucks, so no big wins allowing me to retire young.

Steven's off to get dinner and I have approximately 300 e-mails to wade through, so a more detailed description of the trip with photos should pop up here in the next day or two. I just had to say hi.

.: 62 words at 09:41 PM in Fish Tales, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (5) :.

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This is a guest post written by Anabella of Eloquentsky.net.

I’ve been thinking about the things I could share with you, while Kimberly is on vacation (lucky her!) but I really have no clue. I was tempted to ask the women out there: what do you do on a boring day to pamper yourselves? Because I need tips, I do. And I’ve also wanted to ask: how many of you (men or women) are literally attacked by allergies every year? Because I am. And currently, too. Please insert a lot of sneezing and Puffs hugging while I write this.

Did you watch Oprah, today? It was about Extreme Makeovers. I used to be against the idea, but the saying is true, you choose your personality, not your body, and if you don’t like it, you can bury it, but you won’t ever change it. It seems so easy when people say, “Learn to love yourself!” – When I look in the mirror, I wouldn’t want to change my face or body, even if I am sometimes disappointed by it. But there are some people out there who really have good reasons for getting makeovers. And seeing their after-self confidence definitely makes it work the pain, don’t you think?

There’s just one thing I can think of adding, and that is: Today I went shopping at The Bay (it’s like Sears, or K-Mart, or Wal-Mart, or Zellers) for swimwear. I went there because I know you can get something good for cheap. Well, I was wrong. Take a normal one piece with absolutely not one design or string of originality – and it was on “sale” for 90$. Let me tell you, I was out as soon as I came in, and thank goodness the swimwear section was in the entrance. What happened to 20$ swimsuits? If only Old Navy had one pieces ;)

.: 314 words at 05:25 PM in :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (1) :.

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This week's Reasons are being posted by Christine of The Passionate Ailurophile

Every Wednesday those who are involved in a relationship with somebody share a few (simple but significant) reasons for their love. Please keep in mind that this does not have to be a romantic relationship. It can be about a parent, a sibling, a friend, a co-worker, your kid, your dog, whatever.

Stop in here to join the notify list, see who else has left their reasons, and to be added to the blogroll. Also, feel free to save the button below to your server and link it to http://www.neuroticfishbowl.com/reasons.html

I love Mike because...

• He doesn't make fun of me for having bobble-head baseball dolls!
• He doesn't think it's silly that I bought DVD's for kitties.
• He likes to brush the kitties...even Dusty, who only likes to be brushed with Mike's hairbrush!
• He always thanks me when I do something for him...even something simple like picking him up at work!
• He is good at fixing things.
• He always insists that I have the best!

.: 251 words at 10:53 AM in Reasons For Love, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (3) :: All the Voices Say... (6) :.

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This is a guest post by Nicole while Kymberlie is on vacation...

When did you consider yourself an adult? When I was about 14 years old I wanted to be treated like an adult so badly. I thought I could be rational and make sound decisions for myself. It became painfully obvious that I was a moron when I got kicked off my cheerleading team for threatening to kill the coach and her entire family. No, of course I didn't mean a word of it -- I was just talking out of my ass, as all 14 year olds do. But that's really not the point. I consider myself incredibly lucky that it was 1986 instead of 2003. Today they just would have thrown my ass out of school and possibly tossed me in juvenile detention.

I do, however, think I had a pretty good grasp on reality when I was a senior in high school. It's readily apparent that these are different times. People have been taught that the stupid things they do are not their fault, and that personal responsibility and consequences for their actions just don't exist or don't apply to them. I don't know how or when it happened, but it did.

Those chicks from Illinois who videotaped a hazing incident have been suspended, but are maintaining that they didn't do anything wrong and shouldn't be punished for it. Within hours of being suspended, at least one of them obtained a temporary restraining order to keep it from happening.

"You are entitled to an education so when someone takes that right from you without giving you due process, they have violated (your) due process rights," said Naomi Valas, an attorney representing 18-year-old Marnie Holz. Holz declined to comment on the lawsuit.

I guess the right to not be assaulted isn't as important as the right to an education? Anyone who doesn't see this type of violence as a problem has never been in a classroom with a disruptive student, someone who doesn't want to learn, has no concept of respect for others, and no interest in letting others get an education. Whether the violence happens in the classroom, or off campus, it's still an issue.

.: 370 words at 07:34 AM in :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (2) :.

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This is a guest post from Carla of andshesaid.com.

Have you been surfing around eBay lately? You may have noticed that eBay is previewing a new look that will make it's debut this summer. If you haven't seen it, you can see for yourself. I say it's long overdue. It's been a long time since eBay's made some usable improvements. At least now you'll be able to see the image and bid right at the top of the page.

I have to say the guest posters are doing a good job while Kymberlie is gone... At least I think so. I've been waiting for a moment to post when there wasn't much going on but everyone's on the ball.

.: 121 words at 12:05 AM in Notable News, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (1) :: All the Voices Say... (0) :.

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...something about my car that makes it attractive for use as a bird restroom? Every damned day, I have to clean bird crap off the car.

And I don't even park under a tree!

I can't get away from it. This past weekend, when we were in Portland, Maine, we went to the car after the Sea Dogs game, and there was a huge glop of seagull sh*t right smack in the middle of the windshield. Ugh! Of all the bird sh*t out there, there is nothing more disgusting than that of the seagull!

I've long since learned to keep a roll of paper towels and a bottle of Windex in the car at all times.

Also...HOW do the birds manage to sh*t on the SIDE of the car? Today, there was some on the driver's side door.

I wish I had a garage!

This has been a guest post from Christine of The Passionate Ailurophile.

.: 157 words at 07:01 PM in Daily Ramblings, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (1) :.

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***Guest post by Kimberly of KMF.n + erraticfrog.com***

This or That:
1. Packrat or minimalist?
Packrat!
2. Computer: desktop or laptop?
Desktop, x2!
3. Seashore or mountains?
Seashore
4. Carpeting or bare floors?
Carpeting. Have you SEEN the dust that builds up on wood floors?
5. Drinking water: bottled or tap?
Bottled. It's cheaper than tap here.
6. Shopping websites: eBay or Amazon?
eBay, Bay-bee!
7. Cute little kitties or big scary tigers?
Big scary tigers. Fun with the meat, yes?
8. Front door or back door?
Side door.
9. Lots of jewelry, or little/none?
Lots, but not all at once and not all precious stuff, I love my whimsy, don't'cha know!
10. Thought-provoking question of the week: At the last minute, you obtain tickets to an event you're dying to attend. However, you have to work that day! Do you ask the boss for the time off, or just call in sick?
I tell the boss to go pack sand because he doesn't pay me enough to miss THIS!

Have a loverly Tuesday all! :)

.: 176 words at 08:59 AM in This-or-That Tuesday, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (0) :.

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This is a guest post by Nicole while Kymberlie is on vacation...

So it's your wedding day, you're all dressed in your $1,000 gown, all your friends and family are gathered, and you walk down the aisle of...an inflatable church?

The only way this could be a good idea is if the whole thing was like one of those big inflatable Moon Bounce things you see at carnivals...you know, take off your shoes and jump to your heart's content. Now that would be fun! Take your vows while doing backflips!

As is, though, this just screams shotgun wedding where the guests are all in overalls, sporting mullets: Put your keg of moonshine down and help me blow up this here wedding chapel, Cleetus!

Mr Gill told BBC News Online: "I wanted to launch it at the Christian Resource Centre so I could get the stamp of approval of the Christian sector.

"That is key to the product and how it is perceived.

Orders for the church have been received from over 20 countries "It could have been easy to have upset a large part of the human race with this but the reaction so far has been absolutely phenomenal."

I'm not a religious person and I don't believe in the Christian version of things, but I'm assuming this guy is worried that people will see it as a joke, right? I mean, the kicker for me was the inflatable cross on the inflatable pulpit. That's comedy gold. All they need is an inflatable Buddy Christ and inflatable creche set with real mooing cows in the poofy barn! Oooo, and an inflatable cup and plate for the communion, and maybe even an inflatable pool for the holy water.

Yeah, I guess that could be considered a little sacrilegious. But the uniqueness factor is high. I mean, I would imagine that a wedding held in an inflatable church would make you the talk of the town for years.

.: 327 words at 07:30 AM in :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (1) :.

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...when you leave the free sample bag of Purina One kitty food you got in the mail today, just laying around...

Guess I wasn't thinking! With eight cats, we buy the largest bags of cat food, and then dump them out into plastic bins...so there are no bags for hungry kitties to rip open!

Oh, well! What can you do? Pictured here is the Stripecat.

This has been a guest post from Christine of The Passionate Ailurophile

.: 77 words at 10:14 PM in Kitty Tales, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (6) :.

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This is a guest post by Nicole while Kymberlie is on vacation...

I have to say -- I'm a little worried about the recent slew of penis whackings in the news. Have a fight with your wife, hack your jewels off. Feel depressed, slice the schweaty weiner up. I understand that the carving of the trouser snake is a symbolic gesture, but can't we find a better symbolic gesture?

It's giving me the willies.

Today's tragic tale of genital woe comes to us from Kenya. Explain to me the rational thought behind slicing off your weewee because your cheating wife won't give you a divorce. Who wins in that situation?

What I really want to know is this -- are these copycat crimes of stupidity, or is there just this global trend in trying to solve one's problems by cutting off the unit? Did the first guy who said, "Hey, I'm mad at you. Wait! I'll prove it by taking a machete to my johnson!" create a shockwave around the male world, putting the seed of idiocy into their collective heads?

And you might notice that it's only men who disfigure their private parts. You don't see women running around with hatchets trying to mutilate their labia or clitoris. A woman might run at a penis with a knife, but I would like to think we're way too smart to try anything stupid with our own equipment.

And today's random thought for the day brought to you by the letter "P."

.: 251 words at 06:55 AM in :: Link :: Pings (0) :: All the Voices Say... (2) :.

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*Brought to you by guest-poster, Kimberly of KMF.n and erraticfrog.com (don't visit the URLs because one site is closed and the other is currently offline).*

So, today I was sitting here merrily re-working a site I was just wrapping up. Next thing I know, a message pops up on Yahoo! from someone I don't know...

As a quick aside:
I have the following on my "Latest News" for Yahoo! Messenger: I am sick to death of men messaging me with some variation of the following: Hi I am married and looking because I have problems with my wife....blah de blah DO NOT send me s*** like that, OK?This is because of all the lurkers only uncloaking long enough to ask if *u have any pics* well, overdone and boring. Yes?

So this guy pops up on Messenger and says: I am just messaging you because even though we have no marital problems, I just happen to prefer cheating on my wife. :) You going to ignore me now?

So I reply: OK, I'll give you a giggle point and abstain from banishing you to the seventh ring of hell. Will that do?

The he goes on to question me about my "quote" which is: "what matters most is how well you walk through the fire." by Charles Bukowski.

He asked me what I meant by it, and how I could base my life on such a philosophy.

Well, as opposed to simply relaying the entire chat word for word, I figured I would just share with you all, my affinity for this quote and what it really means.

Basically, how I take "what matters most is how well you walk through the fire." is word for word. There's really nothing to do with the beginning or end of everything, but how you go through it.

What ARE you talking about?
Say you have issues. Do you become a raging drunk, druggie, suicidal or do you stand fast, and bravely tread the path, no matter what? Do you stand tall, and though the proverbial coals burn your feet do you go on or do you cave in, like a small child with a sunburn?

It is the journey which I believe makes the person. We will all face our own trials and tribulations in life. We may succeed, or we may fail, drastically. However, isn't the real issue how we walk the walk?

The philosophies of Zen, Buddhism, Rosicrucian and even Christianity tell us that it is the way that counts. The walk which we decide to walk, as opposed to the end that matters.

So he asked me:
How can you live every day that way. "Don't things just drive you crazy sometimes?" My only answer to that was "Strap on the asbestos boots and get going..."

Meaning:
We all have problems. We all have issues. What we need to learn is how to decide which battles are worth fighting and which are best left for the rats. Either we can save our strength to fight the battles which are worth fighting while allowing the less important things to fall to the wayside so that when we must, we can stand up and fight to the death the battles worth fighting to the death. (To this the reply was: "I feel like I am chatting with someone due for a Pulitzer" to that I replied: "Not really, you're talking to someone who knows the difference between what's worth her time and what is not. It's that simple.")

He went on to question how *I* know what's worth it and I answered thusly (again, not a quote, but the gist of the thing, as his was a more specific matter): Basically, you have to learn to decide what is REALLY important. What REALLY matters. What are you fighting for and why? Is the end result worth the ardor? Is it? If it is, then fight for it to the death. If it is not, then stop. Basically, if you are willing to die to see a situation set to rights then it is worth the fight. If what you are fighting for is not worth the life, thus the energy you put forth to continue the battle then it is not.

It is defining these things to oneself which makes one aware and conscious as to what's a worthy reason to fight and what loses it's worth the moment you let it go.

The next thing he said was: "Thank you. Your words meant so much to me, and I feel like I am already able to try and see things more clearly. I am glad I sent you a message even though it was clear that you were bored of my type."

I told him that I was not bored of his type, whatever that might have been, but that I was bored of people always looking to find something better than they had without even posessing the ability to ascertain what was really wrong with what they had to begin with.

Most people just don't know what's "wrong" or "missing" from their lives. Sometimes I truly believe that nothing is wrong or missing, just that maybe they're looking with the wrong eyes.

What do you think? (Seriously, I'd like to know, so do feel free to comment! I am not insulted easily ;) )

.: 897 words at 09:01 AM in Skinning the Fish, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (1) :: All the Voices Say... (4) :.

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Steven and I are almost out the door for fabulous Las Vegas. I'll see everyone Wednesday! Ciao, my babies!

.: 19 words at 05:47 AM in Fish Tales, ";print substr($entry_cats, 0, -2); ?> :: Link :: Pings (1) :: All the Voices Say... (2) :.

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