Missing Link Found!

I just linked to the Missing Link

Thought up by @na at 10:01 AM EDT

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like the unmatched tiles in your bathroom... they will all be gone.

Thought up by @na at 9:42 AM EDT

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So, a few people have asked me about how this is actually done, and since I washed my shower curtain tonight, I thought it would be a good opportunity to sit down and share...

Some people might say "Hey, Ana, why don't you just BUY a new shower curtain?"

Yeah, you can do that, if you're a sucker. 

First, in these economic times, blah, blah, blah. Why buy a shower curtain when you can spend that money on more important things, like burritos?

Second, it's difficult to find a shower curtain that fits your decor. Finally, you find the shower curtain that doesn't have a map of USA on it, or rubber duckies, or flowers or Kathy comic strips. Then you have to replace it and guess what, it's discontinued. 

Third, those new shower curtain fumes can KILL YOU. Can literally kill you - it was on the news website! 

It's just a better decision to wash your shower curtain. Plus, it's super easy AND it's the name of my website.

You're going to need a washer (any kind), some vinegar (NOT balsamic, stupid) and your dirty towels (two or three, depending on the size of your washer). 

Here's how easy it is:

• Put the shower curtain (sans curtain rings) and towels in the washer.
• Instead of detergent, add 1 cup vinegar (if you have a front loading washer, put it in the same slot you use for detergent).
  
• Put it through a 30 minute normal wash cycle and a medium to low spin).
  
• When it's over, take the curtain out. Hang it back in the shower to let air-dry.
  
• Finish your towels by putting them through an additional spin cycle. They will not smell like vinegar.

Thought up by @na at 9:28 PM EDT

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A pen with a fateful Jesus topper is full of ink but it does not write!!

 A MIRACLE on this Good Friday Eve!

Jesus looks awful scorny today!

CALL MEXICO! WE HAVE A REAL MIRACLE ON OUR HANDS! AMAZING!

It's God-tastic!!!

Thought up by @na at 3:07 PM EDT

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Yesterday, I went on a major grocery shopping trip and I happened to buy different OJ than I usually do. I usually buy Tropicana no pulp juice (now with the no frills packaging), which tastes better than store brand, but is not as expensive as the stuff in the nice bottles. Well, the nice bottle stuff was on sale yesterday! For the same price of Tropicana, I got a giant bottle of Simply Orange, the "untouched" orange juice. I was pretty psyched to try it out, even if it was just because Donald Sutherland told me to.

Anyway, I get home, pour myself a tall glass and gulp down half of it. And this is how I found out that orange juice really just tastes like ass. Apparently, the orange juice flavor I like so much is really just "flavor". Natural flavor. The kind of natural flavor made in a lab, in a factory, on the New Jersey turnpike. That ass smell as you drive through Jersey? That's flavor. 

It's the same kind of natural flavor that makes your Burger King burger taste like it's actually been grilled. Grilled flavor, beef flavor and smoky flavor are all made in New Jersey. And for less money, I get more "flavor" in my orange juice and less orange juice. And until I get cancer from all the flavor, I guess that's how it will stay.

Thought up by @na at 7:00 PM EST

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So Dooce is starting to put together her favorite design-y items on her site, which is great, because we benefit from her ability to find these delicious items for us, and the artisans who make these items get a nice little "Dooce Bump". Actually, I was just at Magpie in Somerville recently and noticed some lovely earrings and necklaces which I recognized from Dooce's style section! I mentioned it to the owner and it excited him very much. I hope he can get his artisans together with Dooce so they'll can have access to her huge audience.

But the point of my post is that her new design picks look a whole lot like my favorite website Design*Sponge. And I don't know what to think of that. Of course, a lot of people pull together their favorite design/style items, and a lot actually say they are emulating D*S, but to have Dooce and DesignSponge, both of which are on my Bloglines, doing the same thing...

it makes me feel like Mommy and Daddy and fighting and I can't pick sides!

Thought up by @na at 12:24 PM EST

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I'd also like to point out that looking back on my exes, I can't believe how disgusting they all were. With the exception of Joe, who was just a sweet person I couldn't see myself with, they were all horrible people, and gross-looking. Really, some were actually grotesque, with fucked up teeth n' shit.

Rick is dreeeeamy. When he's not making ridiculous faces. There are some times when I'm looking at him and he has a serious look on his face when I think, damn, he's fine. Thank you god, for saving me from the dragons and putting me in the arms of the Prince. Even if he folds clothes funny.

Thought up by @na at 12:14 AM EST

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As much as I bitch about the quality of the dish-washing, or the folding of the shirts (in their wrongness, how wrong they are!!), or all other such things, I do appreciate my very deep connection with a certain Mr. Thomas. And just this morning, we shared a hellishly funny experience involving a desk, a Volvo and an Asian/British man. And we didn't even look at eachother. I could feel Rick standing there, thinking just what I was thinking. 

Rick and I are dating, but he's also my best friend. And that's what I like most about him. I like that we kid with eachother a lot. I like that we sing in the car together, like we've sold out the Garden on our farewell tour and givin' it every thing we've got, praise Jesus. We also appreciate a damn funny commercial. And we love good characters, both on tv and in our lives. 

I like that he likes that I don't like everything he likes. 

I like that he would destroy someone in my defense. Like, put him down for good. I like that when I stand up, and he stands up, we're looking in each other's eyes. It makes every day life much more enjoyable, like we're sharing more stuff. Is that stupid?

I like that I fill in the missing pieces of his personality and he fills in mine.

So, when he washes the dishes and leaves a round slick of crud at the bottom of the saucepot, I'll try to remember all of this.  

These are all very random ideas, but they are seamless in my mind.

Also, Waiting to Exhale is on TV and it always makes me uncomfortable and thankful for what I have.

Thought up by @na at 11:59 PM EST

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The witch is dead.

Congratulations, Free World!

Thought up by @na at 1:01 PM EST

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I've been a shampoo nomad all my life. I go from one to the other, with no real loyalty to any brand, feature, scent or marketing scheme. I literally have tried everything and have never found any shampoo that I would buy over and over and over again until Pantene Pro-V Midnight Expressions shampoo and conditioner. Which leads me to my question:

Why, oh why has Pantene limited quantities of their Midnight Expressions shampoo?

It hasn't been easy living with the blatantly preferential treatment that blondes get over other-haired ladies. The worst part is the whole fake blonde (or the fake blonde stripe) trend even out-shining real dark hair.

But to finally get a shampoo JUST for black-haired women (as opposed to brunette, WHICH IS NOT THE SAME) and then get it pulled from the shelves soon after is no fair! NO FAIR!!

And to add insult to injury, I go to the local giant chain store today and see:

Blonde Expressions
Red Expressions
Brunette Expressions

SILVER EXPRESSIONS!!

Silver-haired people even! Over black-haired people???

Serious??

Ugh.

I want my goddamn shampoo back!! 

Thought up by @na at 11:17 PM EST

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Karle and I drove into work together yesterday morning, after spending Monday night watching LOST Season 4 special features and drinking coffee. The highlight of the day was finding out Magno's Auto Repair in my hometown of Hudson is going to fix my car for a grand less than the other guys. I might have my car back by Saturday! Then I have six months of warranty, which gives me enough time to save up a nice down payment for a new car.

Work has been slow, but not so slow I can't keep busy throughout the day. I've been able to check out a few new cars, but I still haven't found anything (in my price range) that steals my heart away.

Last night, I got on to Momentile.com, which I think will be a more interesting way for me to keep a diary this year, albeit less detailed. It should be fun, anyway. I can always keep my deep, dark secrets right here on HowToWashAShowerCurtain.com.

Rick and I are also working on a joint comic/hiking venture. Interested? Stay tuned!

Today has been slowish. I've been thinking a lot about not doing much later this evening. I wish I had more time tonight to do nothing. Unfortunately, I have to escort my car as it gets towed to Hudson. boo.

Rick drove me to work this morning. It's been nice having company in the drive to/from work, but I miss listening to NPR as much as I used to. I donated to NPR this year, so I can keep listening to This American Life online for free, and if you take advantage of their podcasts, you should throw them a fiver for good measure, too.

Thought up by @na at 4:15 PM EST

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Started out the year kinda rough...

I found out the timing belt in my car snapped and blew through my engine causing it to become a giant paper weight. Anyone have an engine for a 2004 Chevy Aveo? My baby is in need of some power.

However, NYE was excellent and the latest I'd stayed up for NYE in a looong time. Rick and I went to Joe and Christa's to watch The Critic, eat a Cookie Puss and play Wii Fit until 3am. We had a great time, even though Joe turned into King Kong when he ran out of Beloved Rum. But who doesn't love rum that much?

Even though Jan 2nd started with a lot of crying about my car Tom Sawyer, I did enjoy not going anywhere and wallowing in shitty daytime cable TV. I caught up on infomercials and a marathon of No Reservations. And as a backup, there was always a good WWII-themed History Channel show to watch. I also watched Jumanji, twice.

I did clean the hell out of our apt. I did all the laundry, took down the Christmas decorations and threw out a ton of papers and crap that were piling up in the office.

I started up the comics again this week. I feel like I'm ready to come back into it full force. And Rick and I are planning a joint project...

So, other than that $2750 engine I'm looking for, and a light-related tiff with the landlord, this first week has been pretty good.

Thought up by @na at 3:21 PM EST

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It's New Year's Eve. Time again to let myself look back through 365 days to see what's going on, what happened and what is to come.

The biggest event of 2008 for me was moving in with Rick, which, despite how much I tell him otherwise, was an excellent idea. You know, I'm starting to like the guy! Seriously, we've had our ups and downs like most couples and, let's face it, I'm bringing a lot of baggage to the table and he's bringing... a couple pairs of boxers and a mismatched sock. The man has no problems, other than he has a man crush on George Harrison.

The beginning of domestic life with Richard signified the end of other things: the intrigue in our relationship for starters (hard to keep the mystery between two people that see eachother in their laundry day outfit), and a friendship I held dear for about 14 years. That was a hard one, and frankly, I never thought I'd see that end of that one. Even now, I'm hoping this is merely a hiatus - a break every intense relationship needs every now and then. I'm also very aware that people change and that's not necessarily a bad thing. We must accept the linear nature of life - change is a part of that and it must be embraced. 

On the contrary, many new things have become entrenched in my daily life as well - the budding friendships in the knitting group (now nomadic because of Spark Crafts Studio closing) and my friendship with Karle and Diane. New friends make losses easier to deal with.

I'm also glad to say that past friends have resurfaced! I used to avoid people and situations from my past - even people who tried to help me the most. It was easier to ignore them than to face the things I had done and were done to me. But it's drastically different now - I am so glad I didn't alienate everyone who cared so much about me. I did alienate quite a few people, including myself at some points and my education. Those decisions I will regret but I accept that they happened for a reason not completely in my control. Bad things happen to good people sometimes. The big lesson of 2008 in this regard is that I am now in control of the important things. All other shit don't matter.

I visited Bard College this winter. It had been 5 years since I left and I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't have a jarring effect on my emotions. I have a lot of dreams about Bard. About once a week or more, I dream I'm there again, as an older student, and although I am having trouble finding classrooms and the like, I am doing well; making good grades and trudging along. Such a difference to what actually happened - I rose up quickly into all the advanced classes I wanted, was accepted into workshops many others were turned away from, and then I crashed and burned. Up 'til that point, I thought nervous breakdowns were a bunch of bullshit, a cop-out for lazy people. I seriously had a nervous breakdown, compiled with a stinking corpse of depression and associated PTSD. Sweet! So now I can look back on the experience with a more clinical, less critical, eye.

This time last year John was undergoing surgery on his shoulder. And other than a MAJOR stress-related scare my mother went through this year, both my parents are doing well health-wise. I can't speak for their mental state. My biological father died in 2007 and thankfully, that didn't change in 2008. Otherwise, this would be a very different end-of-year recap.

2008 also saw the Greatest Election Ever. It was a definitive election which (I don't know about you) really brought my morale up. Just a week before the election I was having a screaming fight with a friend about the ridiculous arguments against Barack Obama. phuh. He's our President-Elect!! YAY!

There have been plenty of downs too. Back and forth establishment of boundaries with the boyfriend, death of friends, death of plants and so on. Tom Sawyer is in the car hospital. I had a slight relapse into depression in October, which I have come out of 100%.

Well, there's no use looking back too much, I suppose. I'm going to try to keep a diary again this year like I did in 2007 and take up my comics again. I'm just going to try to have a bit of fun this year. Not worry so much. 

Happy New Year!

Thought up by @na at 11:11 AM EST

Updated: Thursday, 1 January 2009 2:13 PM EST

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Nearly two years ago, I went to the Punk Rock Flea Market and got a few mustache patches. They were pretty awesome and I got three, but they were put away and never used, except the few times I took them out to admired them.

Anyway, I started reading Design*Sponge on a daily basis and I got caught up in all this wood grain fad that's been going around. Also, I am starting to like the color yellow.

So I got a (cheap) fancy frame from Michaels, some yellow acrylic paint and a sheet of balsa wood. I sanded the frame a bit to get the inch-thick crust of a veneer off it, painted about six coats of yellow on it (still not enough), cut the balsa to size and glued the 'stache with a couple of dabs of rubber cement.

Thought up by @na at 12:03 AM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 December 2008 12:05 AM EST

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