Forever 21 = LOVE.

I've mentioned before that I'm not a very fashionable lady. normally, I wear a tee shirt, jeans, and flip flops. occasionally, I throw on a cute pair of earrings for good measure, but until recently, I never really gave a shit about what I wore. I've started to pick up more trendy and fashionable items, but also some things that will last me a long time. 

normally, I wear a lot of black and grey, but I've been trying to find some colorful pieces to add to my wardrobe, and I always have my jewelry selection in the back of my mind when finding tops and shoes to coordinate. 

to add to my recent purchases I made back in May, I did a little online shopping at Forever 21 last week, so I thought I'd share my purchases. also, I got free shipping for spending over $75, but I'm not sure if they're still running that promotion. anyway, on to the loot!

 Satin Sequin Top - $22.80

I love the colors and print, and it'll look great paired with straight jeans or leggings. 

Jersey Lotus Top - $17.80

again, I love the colors and the pattern, but I especially love the back of this top. 

Striped Ribbed Tank - $4.50

nothing special, just something to wear around the house or under a cardigan.

Mock Two Piece Tunic - $22.80

now I know I didn't stray from the black on this one, but I love the thick stripe and the changing from vertical to horizontal. and the belt is pretty cute too. 

Ruffled Suedette Thong Sandals - $18.80

I cannot tell you how much I love these sandals. I love the ruffle and the slight heel, and the color is the perfect neutral to wear with just about anything. 

Sydney Sandals - $16.80

I've never owned a pair of yellow sandals before, so these should be interesting. luckily, I have quite a few tops with bits of yellow, so I'll have plenty to pair them with.

Cutout Woven Belt - $6.80

I can't remember the last time I wore a belt, but I love this one and think it would look great over a loose tank or tunic.

Chain Maille Ring - $3.80

I don't wear rings too often, but I couldn't pass this one up. I love the shimmer and the links!

so there you have it - my new clothes and accessories that are sitting inside my entryway as we speak (err... type). I saw them there this morning and cussed Sean for not telling me they arrived yesterday! I love the tops I picked up, and can't wait to wear them! they'll look even better when I lose this weight and can fit into my old size 7 jeans that I loved so much. and yes, I'm still holding on to them in hopes that my ass will grace them once again in the future.

Happy Wednesday!

Face-Off Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao - Fight Promo

Face-Off Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao - Fight Promo
From Youtube User: Fated2Triumph
Date: 28 June 2010

and I don't mean with a P-H.

I am SO over feeling being fat.
I'm tired of not being able to find clothes that fit (and flatter) me.
I'm really fucking sick of seeing my arms in tank tops.

I hate looking at old pictures of myself and seeing how skinny & healthy I used to be.
I am no longer going to justify by weight by saying "oh, it's okay... I'm tall, so it evens out."
I refuse to move up to plus size clothing, when I know I can lose it.
I don't weigh myself in order to avoid disappointment.

these feelings are so different for me. my entire life, I was the tall girl... the tall girl who was super skinny. the girl who never had to watch what she ate, or god forbid, work out in a gym. the girl who had trouble finding clothes that were small enough, but still long enough to fit her long legs. the girl who was never, ever self conscious of her body, because she didn't have a reason to be. the girl who proudly flaunted a bikini and had never experienced the dreaded love handles she would wear only a few years later.

three years ago, when I met my husband, I was happy at a slim 130lbs. I wasn't as skinny as I was when I was 18 years old, but I had some curves and an ass that wouldn't quit. I was still the confident girl I used to be... just a few pounds heavier. a couple years of my metabolism slowing down lead me to finally be in the "normal" weight range for my height, instead of being underweight like I was my whole life. throughout our relationship, I gained a few pounds here and there, but it was always easy for me to keep it off. I'd change my eating habits for a couple months and slim back down to my comfortable 130.

I found that as time went on, it was harder and harder to keep the weight off. I got up to about 160lbs before my wedding, and I knew there was no way in hell I was going to fit in my wedding dress if I kept that weight on. I decided to join a gym... which is one thing I've never had to do. I lost a good amount of weight before the wedding, and I dropped the pounds fast - I worked out with a trainer, lessened my portions of food, and ate extremely healthy. I met my goal and fit into my wedding dress without a hitch - I looked good on the day of the wedding, and more importantly, I FELT good. I felt so unbelievably healthy and I had so much energy.

the wedding came and went, and before I knew it, I went back to my old eating habits. it's not like I was eating like a pig and scarfing down everything I could get my hands on either - I was simply eating what I wanted to, and not giving a damn. and wouldn't you know it... those pounds crept up quicker than they ever had before. I surpassed my previous "at-my-biggest" mark of 160lbs in no time, and it wasn't a feat I was proud of.

I joined the gym a couple months back. I went a couple times a week for about 3 weeks and gave up. I wasn't seeing immediate results, which leaded to a sense of discouragement. I've always been able to slim down so quickly, and it just wasn't happening this time around. I never imagined I would struggle with my weight like I have... never in a million years.

today, I weigh a hefty 188lbs, and I AM DONE.
there is no possible way I will allow myself to live like this any longer. I want to be healthy again. I want to get pregnant one day and give birth to a healthy child. I want to go on hikes and be adventurous with my husband. I want to make good choices that will allow me to live longer and enjoy my family.

so I took that gym membership and I made the most of it. our gym employs degree holding personal trainers who will work with you to get closer to your goals. Sean called them last week and booked a personal trainer for me - for 12 sessions. that's 12 hours of hard, sweat producing workouts, and I couldn't be more ecstatic. I met with my trainer for the first time last night, and I love her. she asked me what my goal was, to which I replied, "to not be fat anymore." I told her my story and how I've never had to work hard to lose weight, and how fast I've gained it - I mean think about it. I have gained a solid SIXTY POUNDS since I met my husband. sixty motherfucking pounds. who does that? who lets that happen in a period of three years?

anyway. so we met, and she showed me the best things to do to drop the pounds, and she demonstrated how to work all the different machines. she worked me hard. at times, I felt like I was either going to pass out or throw up... or both... but it was worth it. she pushed me past my own limits and made me sweat. if you weren't aware, I have a real aversion to sweating... I don't know why, I just don't LIKE it. and she made it happen. she had me doing sprints on the elliptical and walking an 8.0 incline on the treadmill. I worked my chest muscles, my back muscles, my leg muscles, my arm muscles. and apparently she has me working all kinds of muscles I didn't even know I had, given the many sore spots I have today. when the session was over and I was done stretching, we scheduled my next three appointments, and I am actually looking forward to walking in that gym on Thursday, knowing I'll be sweating my ass off. 

I don't really know what the point of this post was. I guess I just wanted to have some kind of proof that I am indeed motivated, and that I'm ready to say goodbye to those 60lbs I've gained. they've overstayed their welcome, and it's time for them to get the fuck out. I know there are so many women out there that struggle with weight, and some have it much worse than I've had it. and sometimes, you just need a little shove in the right direction. in no means did I want this post to be a "woe is me" type deal... I just wanted to share my experience. my journey isn't over yet, and I know it will continue to be a constant battle that I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life. I know that some days I won't be as motivated as I feel tonight, and that's okay. I know that I have to work hard to get my body to look that way I want, and I cannot wait.

I'm ready to be motivated.
I look forward to feeling healthy and having more energy.
I'm excited to find clothes that aren't size large or double digits.
I want to look at pictures of me that were taken at this time, and shake my head in disbelief of how big I was.
I can't wait to wear a two piece, and rock it.
I want to be happy with sharing my weight with others.

I WILL be that confident girl I was not too long ago, and I'll make sure that girl never leaves again.

_________________________________________________

I also wanted to note that we don't really eat too unhealthy in our household - we grill a lot of chicken, eat multi-grain pasta, and cook a lot of vegetables. I'm staying away from fried and greasy foods, and I've cut myself back to one soda a day... the rest of the day, I drink nothing but water or juice. I didn't mention this in the main part of the post because this is already something I've been working on the last couple weeks, and I wanted to highlight that working out and burning calories is my main hardship when it comes to weight loss. so, I'm not just sitting around eating bonbons and expecting to lose weight by working out a few times a week. :)

cha-ching!

I decided to take the plunge and buy myself an early Christmas present. well, I guess I shouldn't call it that, because I'm asking for an accessory for it as a Christmas gift. I guess I should label it as a "I'm-an-awesome-wife-because-I-let-my-husband-buy-a-new-truck" present.

I've been using a point and shoot camera for years now, and while I love my camera and am mostly satisfied with the picture quality, I wanted something a little more professional that I can call my own. I wanted something that would be compatible to my beginner status, and something that I could learn quickly.

So, like the smart shopper that I am, I did some research, figured out what exactly I wanted (that was within the budget I set for myself), what features were important to me, and prepared a few options to present to my lovely husband... in hopes that he would agree with the one I secretly wanted that would work best for us.

I knew I wanted a digital SLR camera. I knew I wanted either a Nikon or a Canon, since those are the top two brands when it comes to professional cameras (especially for beginners). I used CNET to compare two different models, the Canon Rebel XS and the Nikon D3000 (both beginner cameras), and also browsed through extensive reviews at Digital SLR Guide, Sears, and Best Buy's websites. They are pretty much neck and neck when it comes to the specs, so the big aspect that won me over was the fact that Canon cameras are compatible to more lenses than just Canon, and Canon brand lenses tend to run cheaper than Nikon ones. Nikon cameras can only use Nikon brand lenses, which are quite expensive. this wasn't just a matter of price though. I had quite a few people tell me they recommended the Canon (thank youuuu, Lindsey!) over the Nikon just based on the fact that it's easier to use. and because my point & shoot is a Canon, it shouldn't be too difficult to learn the new camera and functions. 

So I sent Sean the links, and he agreed that the Canon would be the best option for what I was looking for. I don't want to become a professional photographer, I just want to take excellent pictures. I want to capture our lives in a clearer way that I've been able to do so with my old Canon for the past couple years. I wanted to make sure I invested in a great camera before our trip to the beach this August, before the cruise to the Western Caribbean in January, and before the baby fever develops into the non-birth control taking MandeeFoFandee, and before I get knocked up.

I looked at Sears, Best Buy, Amazon, and a few others places to purchase my new toy, and found that Amazon had the best price, as well as the best warranty for the lowest price, which covers the camera in case of spills or drops... which is something my clumsy ass will definitely make good use of. 

So. now I'm waiting. not so patiently. I want to PLAY WITH MY CAMERA. but not to worry. I went ahead and found myself a super cute camera bag to house the beaut when I'm not using it or if I need to take it somewhere. and of course, I found it on Etsy. it has lots of compartments to carry extra lenses or whatever else I may need to carry. 

oh, and for Christmas, I'm asking for the 55-250mm telephoto zoom lens from the hubs. or my dad. or whoever will buy it for me. it may be you.

UPDATE: she arrived yesterday (and she's GAWGEOUS!), and because I was so tired from the gym and my first personal training session (stay tuned for THAT story), I didn't take any pictures of her... with her. coming soon!

AND! I got an early anniversary present from the hubs, and it is divine. :)

by the way, this is my 69th post. 

::insert immature 12 year old boy giggles::

Anna Chapman

Financial District Woman Accused of Being a Russian Spy

Anna Chapman, a 28-year-old Financial District resident, was allegedly working in the Manhattan as a Russian spy.

A redheaded Financial District beauty was among 11 people accused of being a Russian spy Monday after she allegedly passed information to her handlers at locations around Manhattan.

Anna Chapman, 28, lived in a luxury Financial District apartment and ostensibly ran a $2 million online real-estate business. However, authorities charged that the divorced woman's real goal was to infiltrate political circles and funnel information back to Moscow, according to a complaint obtained by the Daily News and the New York Post.



Chapman allegedly engaged in clandestine communication tactics fit for a Cold War era spy flick. She was one of 10 people arrested as part of a Russian spy ring on Monday. Another alleged spy is still on the loose.

On one occasion, Chapman is accused of sharing computer files from the Barnes & Noble on Greenwich and Warren Streets in TriBeCa. She allegedly transmitted the data over a secret wireless network to another spy who was parked in a van outside, according to the complaint.

A similar incident allegedly took place at a Starbucks on 47th Street and Eighth Avenue, the Post reported. The contents of the communications were not revealed in the complaint.

Chapman's life as a spy began to unravel last week when an undercover FBI agent enlisted her to deliver a fake passport to another agent, according to the complaint.

Chapman initially agreed to the plan, but apparently became suspicious. The redheaded beauty sprinted to a Brooklyn Verizon store, where she bought a cell phone under the name Irine Kustov of 99 Fake Street, the News reported.

The FBI figured out she was on to them and immediately began rounding up the ring of suspected Russian spies, who they'd been tracking for more than a decade, according to the News.

Chapman could face up to five years in prison if convicted of acting as unregistered foreign agent.

Although Chapman appeared demure in court on Monday, prosecutors were adamant about her espionage role, the News reported.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Farbiarz singled out the curvaceous divorcé, saying "This is a Russian agent!"

MANNY PACQUIAO Took OATH as SARANGANI CONGRESSMAN - June 28, 2010

MANNY PACQUIAO Took OATH as SARANGANI CONGRESSMAN - June 28, 2010
From Youtube User: DCRJReloaded02
Date: 28 June 2010

chris brown bet awards 2010

2010 BET Awards Belong To Chris Brown.

Chris Brown, Alicia Keys and Eminem shined the brightest among the star-filled Shrine Auditorium on Sunday night (June 27th), wowing the audience at the 2010 BET Awards in Los Angeles.

Chris Brown put out a sizzling tribute to Michael Jackson, just days after the one-year anniversary of the pop icon’s death, with a medley that included “Remember the Time” and “Billie Jean.” The embattled R&B star’s take on “Man in the Mirror” was measured and emotional, tugging at the hearts of many as Brown broke down during the song’s refrain.

Manny Pacquiao will use new meaning of "PACMAN" as a congressman

CONGRESSMAN - ELECT MANNY PACQUIAO PUTS NEW MEANING TO "PACMAN"
From Youtube User: pinaswatcher5
Date: 26 June 2010

Juan Manuel Lopez vs Bernabe Concepcion Fight Showtime Championship Boxing HD Promo

Lopez vs. Concepcion Showtime Championship Boxing HD Promo- Super Channel Fights
From Youtube User: SuperChannelViral
Date: 25 June 2010

Fabricio Werdum

Shamrock announces retirement from MMA

Lost in the shuffle of Fedor Emelianenko's loss to Fabricio Werdum on Saturday was Frank Shamrock's announcement that he is retiring from mixed martial arts.

Shamrock came to the cage inside HP Pavilion, long considered Strikeforce's home arena, with his family and announced he is done fighting.

Shamrock, backed up one of his many nicknames (The Man Who Brought MMA To San Jose) by consistently drawing in his home city at HP Pavilion. Shamrock's fight with Cesar Gracie in 2006 set a then-North American record of 18,265. His fight with Phil Baroni is considered by many to have one of the most electric atmospheres for a fight in the sport's history. His fight with Cung Le drew 16,326 and a gate in excess of $1 million. His final fight, both at HP Pavilion and in his career, drew 15,211 fans when he fought Nick Diaz in April 2009.

The 37-year old Shamrock will wrap up his career with a 23-10-2 record, a record that includes retiring (the first time) as the unbeaten UFC middleweight champion.

Juan Manuel Lopez vs Bernabe Concepcion Fight Promo

Juan Manuel Lopez vs Bernabe Concepcion (WolfmanProductions Promo)
From Youtube User: WolfmanProductionsHD
Date: 19 June 2010

Asian Carp

Invasive Asian Carp caught near Lake Michigan

The nightmare scenario of Asian carp entering the Great Lakes through Chicago waterways is closer to reality as the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced today they have captured an invasive bighead carp in Lake Calumet, 6 miles away from Lake Michigan.

The fish’s capture Tuesday bolsters repeated environmental DNA tests which have shown that the carp have evaded an electrical barrier intended to prevent their movement out of canals artificially connecting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River system.

Scientists and government regulators agree that the invasive fish pose a dire threat to the Lakes because of their size and voracious appetites.

Environmental groups throughout the Great Lakes have been advocating for quick action to impede the carp’s headlong swim towards Lake Michigan, even as federal officials and business interests have questioned the validity of cutting edge science that pointed to the invasive species’ presence.

In February, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will not immediately shut down shipping locks near Chicago that link the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes, denying a request by Michigan that was aimed at keeping away invasive Asian carp.

Today’s news brings a renewed call for more agile efforts to prevent the carp’s movement. Many organizations have called for hydrologic separation of the two systems to ensure the movement of the carp and other invasive species is stopped. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently said that a study of this solution will take five to seven years.

"A year of DNA testing has shown the Asian carp are in the Chicago waterways, and now we know they're a hop, skip and jump from Lake Michigan," said Joel Brammeier, president of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. "Invaders will stop at nothing short of bricks and mortar, and time is running short to get that protection in place."

memphis beat

TV Tonight: Memphis Beat

The Judging TNT's new cop drama Memphis Beat is less a critical question than a philosophical one. In brief, the series, starring Jason Lee, is mostly a standard-issue summertime basic cable cop procedural, somewhat distinguished by less frantic pacing, a touch more attention to character beats, and a smidgen of local color. So the question is: do you give the show credit for slightly changing up the formula it works with, or do you mark it down for doing far less with the setting and cast than it could have?

You can probably guess from how I phrased that where I come down. I don't believe in grading TV on a curve, because I don't watch TV on a curve. So while I like how Lee's laid-back style translates to a police drama, there's not enough here to separate the show from the umpteen other slightly-quirky-guy-solves-crimes cable dramas.

The first sign of trouble: Elvis. I'm not saying this to slight the King, but when you set a show in Memphis and rely for most of your early cultural and musical references on the one artist that 99% of your audience will think of when thinking of your city—here, Elvis songs, Elvis covers, Elvis impersonators—it's not a good sign of your show's imagination. Unlike regional dramas Treme, or Justified, or Friday Night Lights, this is not a show that's trying to get inside its city and make us see it with new eyes; it's just committed to delivering What We Think About When We Think About Memphis.

Here, we're introduced to Memphis detective Dwight (Lee) onstage in a bar, performing, of course, an Elvis cover. As we follow him to work, we find that he's got the same encumbrances as most TV cops, especially a tough new boss (Alfre Woodard) who, of course, is making the old boys in the department uncomfortable by implementing a new set of rules. The first case he picks up ties into Memphis' music heritage by involving an elderly woman who was an early figure in the local music scene, allowing for a further connection to the city's culture. Of course, that means more Elvis references. (The title of the episode? "That's Alright, Mama.")

One possible problem is that the show was largely shot not in Memphis but outside New Orleans, giving the locations a more generic Southernness rather than the documentary-like feel of a show like Treme. And it's a shame, because one thing Memphis Beat does have is a good cast, including, in a supporting cop role, DJ Qualls—whose appearance, however, only recalls the much more vital and distinctive Memphis of the movie "Hustle and Flow."

It's too bad. Memphis Beat had at its disposal the rich culture of a city that hasn't been portrayed to death on TV. But this show needs to find its soul.

edith shain

Edith Shain, WWII nurse in iconic Times Square kissing photo, dies at age 91

A nurse famously photographed being kissed by an American sailor in the New York's Times Square in 1945 to celebrate the end of World War Two has died at the age of 91, her family said on Tuesday.

The V-J Day picture of the white-clad Edith Shain by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured an epic moment in U.S. history and became an iconic image marking the end of the war after being published in Life magazine.

The identity of the nurse in the photograph was not known until the late 1970s when Shain wrote to the photographer saying that she was the woman in the picture taken on August 14 at a time when she had been working at Doctor's Hospital in New York City.

The identity of the sailor remains disputed and unresolved.

From then on the photograph also made its mark on Shain's life as the fame she garnered led to invites to war related events such a wreath layings, parades and other memorial events.

"My mom was always willing take on new challenges and caring for the World War II veterans energized her to take another chance to make a difference," her son Justin Decker said in a statement.

Shain, who died at her home in Los Angeles on Sunday, leaves behind three sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Funny Bob Arum Video: A towel came in ...

Cotto: Road To The Bronx Episode 8 - The Fight
From Youtube User: heavy
Date: 07 June 2010

general mcchrystal

Obama Summons His Top General in Afghanistan, Back to White House, After Disparaging Remarks

The President Obama is waiting to meet his top general in Afghanistan face-to-face after the general ripped the president and other members of his national security team in a controversial article appearing in Rolling Stone magazine.

The commander-in-chief has summoned General Stanley McChrystal to the White House for a previously scheduled meeting in the Situation Room on Wednesday. Typically Gen. McChrystal would participate in the monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan via secure video-conference, but Obama has demanded to see McChrystal in person.

In the article, McChrystal sheds light on many of his contentious relationships within the Obama administration. He makes disparaging remarks about President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, and National Security Adviser Jim Jones. McChrystal acknowledges he voted for the president but recalls how Mr. Obama looked "uncomfortable and intimidated" by a roomful of military brass.

In his comments about U.S. Ambassador Eikenberry, the general says he felt "betrayed" and was "blind-sided " by the ambassador's harsh criticism of McChrystal and his counter-insurgency war strategy, in a classified cable that was leaked to the New York Times earlier this year.

General McChrystal also talks about Vice President Biden, who opposes the counter-insurgency plan. The general is quoted joking about Biden, "'Are you asking about Vice President Biden?' McChrystal says with a laugh. 'Who's that?'

'Biden?', suggests a top adviser.

'Did you say: bite me?'", answers McChrystal.

McChrystal has now fired Duncan Boothby, the press aide who booked the Rolling Stone interview.

An aide to McChrystal also calls National Security Adviser Jim Jones "a clown" who remains "stuck in 1985".

General McChrystal spoke to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen on Monday. Mullen said he was extremely disappointed in what he read in the Rolling Stone story. He also spoke with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., and Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz.

Early Tuesday McChrystal issued a statement of apology for his remarks:

"I extend my sincerest apology for this profile. It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and should never have happened. Throughout my career, I have lived by the principles of personal honor and professional integrity. What is reflected in this article falls far short of that standard. I have enormous respect and admiration for President Obama and his national security team, and for the civilian leaders and troops fighting this war and I remain committed to ensuring its successful outcome."

Comedian Rex Navarrete on Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao
From Youtube User: rexnavarrete
Date: 21 June 2010

the door is open

Wen you see this...the time as come!

R

the student vs the master

The master let the student destroy his reputation!!

R

first session of Claudio Benvenuti's backpiece

Today was a great day at Peek-a-Boo tattoo parlour

the master of all the tribal lowerbacks,mentor of myself,creator of the ''Claudiano'' style

and men of the year for the magazine ''PornoVero''

Claudio Benvenuti come visit us for the first session of his backpiece

the moment was immortalized in this pictures,this one is the result

of 2 hours lining...

Im a proud person,my master ask me to be the one do his backpiece...what a great day!

Rino

MTV's first TJ (if all goes as planned)!

in case you've been living under a rock and haven't discovered the hilarious life that is LiLu of Live It, Love It... I suggest you stop reading this right fucking now and head over to her blog. if you're a fan of poop jokes and cats, like myself, you will not be disappointed. I promise.

to be more specific, you should check out her latest post, in which she reveals that she has been selected by MTV as a contestant for their MTV TJ job. apparently, a TJ is a Twitter Jockey. I have no idea what the job would entail, but LiLu is the funniest blogger I've ever read, and I know damn well she would rock the hell out of that job. 

while you're there, you can go ahead and read every single one of her archives (or the short, sweet, and condensed version) and prepare yourself for the best fit of laughter in your life. 

the voting for the contest will start in a few weeks, and since our goal here is for her to win, I'd love if some of yous guys could take a couple minutes and cast as many votes for her as they allow. if you'd like to see the rest of the contestants (don't even bother), you can head over to the official MTV TJ Search page. but if you'd like to continue laughing at with LiLu, head over to her bio page - and do yourself a favor - watch the video. a million times.

if you'd like to support LiLu even further, feel free to take a badge from her last post as I did, and display her awkwardness proudly. <3

Bear the Distractor & some retro swim gear

I do all the estimating and bidding on projects for my dad's concrete construction business, meaning that I calculate all the concrete needed to complete a commercial job, along with any other materials and labor that are needed. that's my job, that's what I get paid to do. I don't think I've ever mentioned that on here. hmm. weird. 

anyvag, that's how I spend my 40 hour weeks, and occasionally, I have to bring work home with me if I have a tight deadline to work with. my profession often includes set of drawings, or blueprints, or whatever you want to call them. actually, now that I think about it, it ALWAYS does. see, we're old fashioned here at this business, and we don't learn us no fancy computer programs and stuff.

like I was saying, sometimes I have to bring home drawings to work from, and it's not always the easiest task given that I do not have a plan table at home to house the gigantic pieces of paper while I estimate. 

so this is what happens when I try to work from my coffee table. 

I get a frantically excited Bear cub ready to tear up my plans and eat the corners. or just lay there and be annoying and attack my hand every time I try to move his little lanky ass. 

silly little Nugget.

____________________________________________

OH! and also. I ordered myself a new bathing suit for our anniversary trip to the beach in August. we booked an oceanfront condo for the week, and while I'd rather be in Hawaii again, any beach is a good vacation in my eyes. 

given that I've gained a significant amount of weight since I last wore a bathing suit, and am entirely too lazy to get rid of it, I decided to go with a one piece retro style swimsuit. my girlfriend Charity, from the Nest, ordered the same style and had nothing but fab things to say about it. I first found the suit from Kelle Hampton's blog, and it's been on my wish list ever since.

 "The Grace"

so I took the plunge and ordered it. I'm hoping it fits well and is flattering, because it's too cute to have to return. luckily for me, the company pays for return shipping... but if I have to return it, my ass will be buying a throwaway (but possibly still cute) one at Target or Kohl's. they seem to have a good selection as well. 

I'll make sure to post a review when it arrives, since I know these retro 50's style suits are pretty popular this year... especially for us big girls! :) 

Happy Monday!

Kevin Hart Impersonating Floyd "Money" Mayweather & Uncle Roger! "Speed Test" [Comedy]

Kevin Hart Impersonating Floyd "Money" Mayweather & Uncle Roger! "Speed Test" [Comedy]
From WSHH

Mongadelin contest strikes back!!!

Monga rapresent Summer Camp Disease while stab someone chest!

BRUTALE!

R

Ecards

Free Father’s Day eCards: Gadget Loving Dad

Today is Father’s Day and for those who have not had time to get to a card or prefers to send something via the Internet, then how about an eCard. There are a number of websites offering a huge choice of eCards – one of the funniest has to be Gadget Loving Dad from someecards.

What makes this particular one so special is that it is a Video eCard. This video has managed to capture most of our fathers – just watch it and you will see what I mean. Send the video eCard today, then you should ring your dad up after and share a laugh with how he was when bringing you up.

When you visit someecards, you will see a choice of 42 eCards, so the hardest job is choosing what one is right for your Dad. All of them have a nice message, so you should be able to find one that best matches your dad and the relationship you have with each other.

The best thing of all – they are all free. You do not get that much these days, so why wait send a Father’s Day eCard now.

fathers day poems

Best Fathers Day Quotes and more Happy Fathers Day Poems and Printable Cards

Happy Father’s Day Messages: Father’s Day Quotes and Poems – The Father’s Day is celebrated in almost 60 countries around the world. This is the day and right time to reward them with same honors as what we have given to our Mothers last month and throughout the entire year. It is also said that every minutes is no comparison to our parents in our life as what they have contributed to our lives.

We all know that they are really mean to all of us and we should celebrate this day with full of interest and in such way that they will remember that this day is a special day for them. So on this day, we shall give our time and spend even extra time to greet our fathers a Happy Father’sDay and show them their importance in our lives.

Please find below some of our collected Happy Father’s Day Quotes and Message which you can use in sending some greetings and sms messages to your dad. Show him now how you care for him and how you thanked him for giving you a wonderful life.

“My father said, ‘Politics asks the question: Is it expedient? Vanity asks: Is it popular? But conscience asks: Is it right?’” – Dexter Scott King

“A man knows when he is growing old because he begins to look like his father.” – Gabriel García Márquez

“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.” – Sigmund Freud

“By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.” – Charles Wadsworth

“A man’s children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season”. – Unknown

“Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers – and fathering is a very important stage in their development.” — David M. Gottesman

Again Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads in the World!!!

Andre Ward vs. Allan Green Fight Weigh-In

Andre Ward vs. Allan Green - Weigh-In - Super Six Boxing
From Youtube User: shosports
Date: 18 June 2010

Bob Arum: Jose Benavidez Can Be Bigger Than Pacquiao

Bob Arum: Jose Benavidez Can Be Bigger Than Pacquiao
From Youtube User: f
Date: 18 June 2010

secret's out!

it's not my secret to share, but I feel compelled to do so anyway.

I'm not letting my own cat out of the bag... this one belongs to my lovely husband. the greatest man I've ever known (besides my papa, of course), my best friend, my semi-handyman, the father of my cats, and the best back-scratcher in the world. 

he is deathly afraid of spiders. I'm talking... won't-even-kill-it-because-he's-too-busy-screaming AFRAID. 

and I must be a horrible wife, because I find it absolutely hysterical that a grown man of 27 years old is SO afraid of little 8-legged creatures.

the other evening, I was taking out the trash, and with the removal of a trash bag, we discovered a pretty big spider. his body was about an inch and a half long, and his leg span easily cleared 3 inches from leg to leg. Sean saw it before I did and flippedthefuckout. I'm not afraid of spiders, as long as they're not touching me. so to give my dear husband a little scare, I touched the spider and made him crawl along the wall. I've never heard a grown man scream so loud in my life. 

I couldn't help but double over in laughter, before crushing the poor thing with my flip flop to relieve Sean of fear and dispose of it's body in the trash bag I was taking to the curb.

am I the only one who takes complete advantage of their loved one's phobias and fears? I would bet not, but I'd love to hear what you think. tell me a story of a time when you scared a man in your life - it could be your husband, brother, dad, boyfriend, etc.

peek-a-Boo modelin contest part 4

Wen you wear the shirt of the apocalypse you turn into weird creature...

This time we introduce you into La Mortesecca,a die hard fan of us,he need a good

doctor or a new body to dissect....

This guy is sick....really!

R

new works part 4/5

same shit same arm same description...plus more water!

same artist (GG)

new works part 4

Turtles, peonies,water,rocks...blablabla something....

piece by GG

new works part 3

Skull goes with razorblades like butter goes with anchovies...

period!

piece by Rino

new works part 2

Chest piece one session,first piece,one shot one kill...

work by GG

finally some new works UP!

This snobby deer is the new piece on Ill-enia the lovely receptionist of the apocalipse...

She love tea and mustaches...

piece by Rino

usa slovenia world cup

World Cup: U.S. vs. Slovenia: Tied in the 86th minute

Michael Bradley's goal with 8 minutes left in regular time has lifted the U.S. into a 2-2 tie with Slovenia, keeping alive it hopes of advancing to the second round of the World Cup.

Bradley was trailing a play into the box when Jozy Altidore leaped to head a long pass from midfield. The ball didn't go where Altidore had aimed it, but Bradley, unmarked behind the play, raced in to scoop it up and bat it home for the goal.
Altidore had a chance to tie the score for the U.S. in the 70th minute when he picked up a rebound off a Landon Donovan free kick, spun and fired on the net from about 16 yards. But Slovenian keeper Samir Handanvoic was right there for his second huge save of the day. Ten minutes later, midfielder Bradley had a shot of his own from about 25 yards, but the keeper came up big.

The game started getting physical at about that point as the U.S. became more desperate and the Slovenians, playing defensively for the first time, turned to a little roughhousing to slow the Americans down.

Both of Slovenia's goals came in the first half, in the 13th minute off the boot of Valter Birsa and in the 42nd from Zlatan Ljubijankic. The U.S. score came from Donovan three minutes into the second half.

pet stores

Pet Store Animals, Excluding the Fish, Being Removed From Mall

Employees with the McKamey Animal Shelter and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture are removing all the animals, excluding the fish, from a Chattanooga pet store Tuesday morning.

Since January, The Pet Company in Hamilton Place Mall has received several warnings from McKamey officials about the conditions in which the animals were kept, according to a Chattanooga Police Department advisory. Numerous complaints originated from store employees and customers.

Representatives from the Pet Company are due in court on July 1 where a judge will determine what will be done with the animals.

Manny Pacquiao and Kobe Bryant new Nike Commercial

Pacquiao and Kobe new Nike Commercial
From Youtube User: SuperLakersfan
Date: 16 June 2010

Mayweather vs Pacquiao - Inch By Inch (Gorilla Productions Promo)

Mayweather vs Pacquiao - Inch By Inch (GP Promo)
From Youtube User: GP732676
Date: 16 June 2010

ah-dick-ted.

____________________________________________

I swear I'm alive, but barely. I haven't been sleeping much these days, thanks to a little addiction I've picked up otherwise known as vampire entertainment. yep, I'm one of those, and I'm not ashamed. I can't say that I wish I were a vamp, cause I love the sunlight, but I would sure as hell sleep with one if I weren't married! haha! I read the Twilight series in a matter of 3 weeks last year, and it looks as if I'll be increasing my reading speed and time with the Sookie Stackhouse series.

The husband watches True Blood religiously, and has been since the first season aired. I'd catch bits and pieces of the show while walking through the living room or doing laundry in the bedroom, and every.single.time. I would see it on the TV, it was some raunchy sex scene. I was automatically turned off from the nakedness. now, don't get me wrong, I love nakedness, but if all I'm seeing is tits, I'm not usually interested. it didn't seem to have much of a plot from what I witnessed, and therefore, I vowed to not become a True Blood fan, and have boycotted it ever since.

until now.

I had heard about the Sookie Stackhouse books (the ones from which the show is based) a while back... I guess it was around the time the show aired. but because I hadn't been interested in watching the show, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be a lover of the books either. holy moley, was I wrong. I ordered Dead Until Dark on Amazon on a whim (along with about 6 other books not vampire related), and figured I'd give it a read and if I liked it, I'd order the rest.

let's just say I was finished the book in about 4 days and patiently awaiting the arrival of my next Amazon order, which obviously, could not come soon enough. I was hooked from the first chapter, and a little over a week later, I'm on the third book.

I watched Season 1 of the television series (and am on the third episode of Season 2), and while it's much different than the book, it's wonderful. I was relieved that it was a series revolving around adults, and not teenagers, a la Twilight. the story line is pretty accurate as far as the book is concerned, but there are some pretty big character differences. that's alright with me, cause let's face it, Bill is pretty nice to look at. and now that I know Bill's personality, I don't mind the sex scenes... in fact, I look forward to it cause it makes me all tingly in the nethers.

and you know what makes it even better? that Sookie & Bill are engaged in real life. well, um, Anna & Stephen are getting married in real life. yes, I know I'm late on this news, but it makes me even giddier when I watch the show knowing that they really do love each other, so back off.

it's SO nice to have a book series that I'm actually really interested in reading, and not just turning the pages for the sake of finishing the book. it's been a while since I've picked up a real page turner, and it's a great thing. poor Sean has been ignored for the past week, but I think he understands, since he loves the TV show as much as I love the books. ;)

so anyway, that's where I've been... with my nose in a book!
and for good measure, here are some pictures from the show.

___________________________________________

bloomsday

Bloomsday all over

James Joyce's landmark novel "Ulysses" follows the peregrinations of Leopold Bloom around Dublin, Ireland, during a single day. That day, as fans of Joyce know, is June 16, and it's become known as Bloomsday in celebrations around the world. Here is a partial list.

Bloomsday in Baltimore is -- where else? -- at the James Joyce Pub, starting at 5 p.m.

In Syracuse, N.Y., the mayor will be one of many participants in a marathon reading, set to begin at noon.

In New York, Symphony Space presents its 29th annual Bloomsday on Broadway, with a cast that includes Stephen Colbert, Ira Glass and National Book Award-winning author Colum McCann. Irish-born McCann is also the man behind the 13-hour Folk House celebration, where he'll appear midday.

With the help of the public library, Charleston, W.Va. is celebrating its first official Bloomsday.

The Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, which holds the handwritten manuscript of "Ulysses," has moved its celebration indoors because of rain. There will be theatrical presentations for Bloomsday in Berkeley and Ocean City, N.J.; the latter comes with tea.

Here in Los Angeles you can celebrate Bloomsday at the Hammer Museum, with staged readings, Irish songs and a Guinness happy hour in the cafe.

In Dublin, where celebrations started last week, postman Gerry Scanlon told the Irish Times, “From the very first day I was delivering post, I knew Joyce was born in this house.” Sanlon is the man who brings mail to 41 Brighton Square, where Joyce was born in 1882. “That’s because I ran into tourists looking for it. There used to be a lot more of them around. You don’t see so many these days.” The report continues:

Scanlon has “no interest” in reading anything by Joyce. “I know what Ulysses is about though. It’s about this guy who went around Dublin on June 16th and ended up somewhere else from where he started out.”

Many of the Bloomsday celebrations involve walking from place to place, and ending in a different place than where they started. Pittsburgh's Bloomsday starts in a coffeeshop and ends in a bookstore, with stops in bars, a library, a cemetery and more along the way.

In Toronto, Bloomsday will be traveling down Queen Street, and Lake Ontario will stand in for the Irish Sea.

Dublin, N.H., is the first American Dublin to celebrate Bloomsday. Events will be held around town (attendees are warned that for events in the center of Dublin, park behind the town hall, as there is no public parking in the Yankee Magazine lot).
And finally, the comic version of "Ulysess" by Robert Berry, titled "Seen," which was the subject of controversy over two pages with a nude Buck Mulligan, is now available on the iPad, after all.

digg

The Daily Digg – new iPad app that lets you read digg like your morning paper

To be launched later this week, we weren’t sent a YouTube demo clip of The Daily Digg. If you’re a fan of Digg, you might have heard of The Daily Scoop which is very similar in some sense in that it also displays top Digg stories like you would see in a real life newspaper, however, The Daily Digg looks alot more paper-like and it will be free to download. Check it out in the video below…

justin bieber breaks neck

Justin Bieber Breaks Neck? Is It True?

Did Justin Bieber break his sweet little neck in a terrible accident? Well, just like all those celebrity death rumors you see cluttering up the Net lately, this bit of nonsense is just as fake.

You may have seen the provocative phrase “Justin Bieber breaks neck” on Google Trends, or spotted a headline on a blog or gossip site or seen a shout out on the topic on Twitter. You might have even read an alleged ‘news’ report about it. Regardless, the whole thing is just a load of crap. Justin Bieber is perfectly fine as far as anyone knows and the rumor he has broken his neck is just as false as that one the other day that he had syphilis.

Note to Internet surfers out there, whenever you see some kind of crazy rumor about a famous celebrity dying, getting some terrible disease or being in a horrible accident – it is very possible it is BS.

Please, before you help spread this kind of nasty rumor by posting it around all over the place, check with a reliable news source first.

Oh, that thing about Justin Bieber holding hands with and having his hair fondled by Kim Kardashian? Well, that unfortunately is actually true. And kind of gross…