But I thought this was kind of cool...



create your own visited states map


I've visited 45% of the U.S. and Hawaii will be added in a couple months. Believe, me I am really NOT all that traveled. Just seems that way.

Check it out.  I just bought my FIRST new car ever.  It has 57 miles on it.  I paid half as a down payment.  My recent work trips overseas have been VERY good for my car buying fund.  Check out my baby!!! 



Isn't she pretty???

Alright, F-list.  Here is where I need your help.  What do I name her?  Yes, I like to name my cars.  Help me out!  Suggestions, please?

Tags: new car
Current Mood: jubilant

I just watched the movie "Becoming Jane."  I love all things Jane Austen and knew that she never married and all that, but goodness gracious the movie made me cry it was so sad!  I almost wish she had been a slightly nutty recluse like Emily Bronte was, as opposed to someone who just never got cut a break!  Seriously, this was almost too much for me to handle.  Like the subject line says... sap *points at self*.  BUT, it was a beautiful movie and I highly recommend it.

On a happier note, I JUST got my trip to Hawaii rebooked.  I found out a little over a week ago that since ATA has gone bankrupt they wont be servicing any flights after the end of April, and that is how I was getting from LAX to Hawaii.  Although all these other airlines were SUPPOSED to help out, they all just sucked.  I mean, the trip for airline and hotel was already going to run about $1500 for tickets from Washington DC to Hawaii and hotel, and they were all basically saying "so sorry.  we will take off our normal booking fee of $25 and schedule you for new flights to and from LAX and Honolulu... that will be $1000."  Yeah, I can afford the $1500 to be maid of honor in my best friends wedding.  I CAN'T afford $2500.  I need to buy a new car in a month or so and I am trying to save for a house!  Oh, let me tell you...

The BEAUTIFUL part of all this was the fact that Bank of America is amazing.  I put the tickets and everything on my debit card because I had the money and didn't want to pay interest.  I was afraid when all this came up that there was going to be no way to dispute a charge (the method recommended to get all legs of the tickets canceled and receive a refund) when it was essentially paid for in cash.  Not the case.  I called up and they instantly credited me for the amount and if they can't get back the money from ATA, then they just cover it themselves.  That was such a huge relief.  So now I have new tickets going through Northwest Airlines and it is at the original price I planned on.  Thank goodness.  I would have sucked it up if $2500 was what it would have cost, but I feel so much better about it now. 

Anyway, that is my quick post.  So, for anyone with plane tickets for any time this year, check and make sure they aren't ATA,  If they are, REBOOK NOW!!!

Tags: airline fiasco, movie review
Current Mood: relieved

Wow!  I've never been tagged before!  This is kind of cool.  Thanks invida


People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs and replace any question they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves. Tag 8 people. Those who are tagged cannot refuse. These 8 people must state who they were tagged by. You cannot tag the person who tagged you. Continue this game by sending this to 8 other people.


Again, I have never done this before and I only have a couple people on here that I interact with on a regular basis.  The following people are people I know or want to know more about.  Tagged:  belismakr, bklyangel, brandee_06, em2mb, evie_0, gwenhwyfarrose, mutinousmuse, and shangri_la.

Tags: meme

Alright, so I am going to TRY to get this to work!  Here are some pictures of my recent month in Jordan, as promised!!!

For those of you who know, I was out of the country for the month of February.  Spent the month in Jordan, and it was amazing.  But I missed my kitty girl!!!  I know this is totally a short update, but jet lag is a bitch and I'm tired.  I got in at 615am yesterday and worked a full day today.  And the Emma-cat is licking my hand.  :)

Okay, SO, excited.  Now, I have several fabulous members in my extended family.  I was blessed with that.  But I have ONE aunt (Cheryl) who I have gotten to know more closely than any other.  She is the one who also works for the government (although a different part), she has traveled the world as a Navy spouse for a good portion of her wife, she loves shopping (which I abhore) and is just so cool.  We have lived in the same state if not the same town for about 8 years out of my life, so I know they are good family to have around.  Unlike the other kind we all have.  :)

So... the exciting part... SHE AND MY UNCLE ARE MOVING TO THE DC METRO AREA... 1 MILE FROM WHERE I LIVE.  Now, my uncle spends a good part of his time at his family farm in South Dakota, but on top of that, he is an amazing cook and amusingly crazy.  So, while he is here we will be able to have good eating, crazy family time.  While he is gone, Cheryl and I will have a traveling buddy (discussion is already revolving around the Outer Banks, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, NYC where another aunt and one of her sisters lives, etc etc), a shopping buddy (sigh, I am sure I can suck it up and deal), and a familiar face when life gets a little rough. 

So, thank goodness for having a KICK ASS family!!!!

Thoughts on tonights episode...

Book Meme?!!  
These are the top 106 books most often marked as "unread" by LibraryThing's users (as of today). As usual, bold what you have read, italicise that you started but couldn't finish, and strike through what you couldn't stand. Add an asterisk* to those you've read more than once. Underline those on your to-read list.

( Books )

I read alot.... :)

Tags: books

So I don't know what brought this on, but I have been noticing lately how many of the songs I listen to frequently are from shows I have enjoyed over the years.  These are the songs that seem to really connect and support a scene, so they make me think of the scene.  Simply because of the fact that those songs are most frequently slower songs, that is what most of these songs are.  I decided to make a list for anyone who is interested.  If you know and enjoy a couple of the songs, give some of the others a look, too.  And with how hard this "cut" thing has been for me to figure out, I really hope someone actually cares!!!!


Enjoy!!!

Tags: music