See androids fighting Brad and Janet

I've noticed a trend.  If I post pictures on my blog, I get more people looking at my blog.  Oh, and if I wrote more consistantly, that would probably help, too.  But pictures!  So, I probably should just post random pictures all over this post and maybe people would be like, oh, I'm gonna check out that blog! 



Take that, Janet...

Actually, I don't really care if a bunch of people read my blog or not.  Cause I didn't make this for you.  This blog carries the Charles Atlas seal of approval.

Okay, I don't have the seal of approval.  But I will,
in just seven days. 

You know what drives me crazy?  People who complain about everything but never listen to anything anyone else has to say (no, I'm not talking about myself here... :/  ).  For example, I went blueberry picking with my mom, my mother in law, Asher and my mother in law's dead friend's daughter, Donna.  I happened to borrow a cooler thingy from her for Asher's party and she needed it back by Wednesday but I had left it at my mom's house.  My mother was bringing it to blueberry picking but ended up running late.  Do you think I heard the end of it?  Even after my mom gave it back she was still complaining and asking for it back. The whole time.  Even after we already gave it back... Also, she is a bit of a hypochondriac....and has to always be sicker or mroe allergic or more anything negative than anything you are talking about.  You know, I actually think it's really quite a feat to be that negative and pessamistic and verbally insulated.  She's like a level 15 complainer casting spells of irrationality and annoyance in an almost unlimited abundance.  Seriously, I think I took like 50 hit points of psychic damage just from being near her for an hour.  It took me two days to recover enough just to write about it.  Or maybe I've just been either lazy or busy or tired.  I'm blaming it all on that psychic damage either way.  It's hard to tell the difference with psychic damage.  

I'm pretty sure this has something
to do with dealing a lot of crippling
psychic damage.

I should have taken pics of Asher picking blueberries, he was doing such a good job.  He really had a good time, too.  I'm pretty proud of him, I was worried he'd get bored but we made an adventure of it and he seemed to have a great time. 

Well, I thought about the army, dad said son, you're f*cking high

There was a time when I was going to join the army.  Honestly.  Bet you didn't know that.  Or, perhaps you did.  It's kind of ironic (coincidental?  I always get those two wrong, me and Alanis Morriset) because I was going to train in the army to be a water treatment officer or something like that, it's been 13 years don't hold me to remembering the exact terms, and now I am working in local government in the water business some time later.  I guess it's full circle.  It makes me think that perhaps this is always what I was supposed to be doing.  If you believe in that kind of thing.  Which I don't, but sometimes this kind of thing makes me wonder.

I took today off of work even though I can't really afford the time right now.  I just needed a day.  Asher has been super bad lately, I don't know what is wrong with him.  Every. Single. Little. Thing. Is. A. Battle.  I put periods behind each word just to emphasize how much I am stressing each work.  Everything out of my mouth is a challenge for him to fight.  Asher, put your shoes on.  NO! Followed by a tantrum.  Asher, do you what do you want to eat for dinner?  "Pez and cookies."  You can have those for dessert.  NO!  NOT DESSERT!  NOW!  GO AWAY MAMA!.  you get the idea, right?  Rosie cannot get him to nap.  She does things that are counter productive when I'm trying to discipline him, like offer to give him what he wants.  (Who's in charge of whom, eh?)  It got so bad yesterday that he bit me in front of Rosie and Richard and Katya.  It was partially Rosie's fault and Katya's fault, katya's for being bad and Rosie for giving in to Asher when he wanted to be the same kind of bad.  He bit me hard, too.  I have never wanted to shake my son as much as I did yesterday.  Instead, we went to time out in the middle of the driveway with me holding him down until he calmed down and the whole crew just watching in embarrassment.  It was super awesome.

Work is also really stressful right now, trying to get all of my work done, wordsmith some grant applications by June 1st, get the WCP going and ready to roll without me, train new people, learn my new job, research some property stuff, continue to monitor the watershed and get the WMP finalized before I leave.  All in just about 8 weeks, give or take.  So, no stress, right?

Yeah, I think I deserve it, I am taking a "me" day.

Originally I wanted to use a groupon I had bought a while back for a Mani-Pedi but I waited too long to schedule it and they were booked.  So then I wanted to go see Dark Shadows since it came out today but...the first time it plays is during my Dr.s appt and so I can't go see it, either.  I don't want to just stay at home, I will totally just do housework all day and not relax.  I don't know what to do....  This is turning into a wasted day.  I did get a nice long blog typed up.  And I read the news.  And did my social media stuff.  Do I want to go shopping?  Not really....I always get depressed shopping alone.  Or just shopping.  And I don't really need anything.

Anyone want to go see dark shadows with me?  Ever since I heard about it on This American Life I have kinda wanted to see it.  Also, has anyone read 50 Shades of Gray?  I heard it's supposed to be good but I don't know if it's the kind of book I'd like, and there are about 1000 people on the library waiting list and I don't want to buy it unless it's really good.

By the way, Ben Folds Five is back together and putting an album out using Kickstarter.  You should check it out, you can download a free song there, too.  I haven't pledged yet because I don't have an account, perhaps I will later...

Oh, and I got a bunch of emails from Jason's old site I used to write for, www.unsoughtinput.com.  I used to write as Alouette on there, check me out.  Here's some of my old favorites of mine: Career Advice: Do Not Listen to Crazy People, An article about water before I even worked in the water biz (has it always been about water with me?  Geez...) and an article about nerd parents.  You know, as I go back through this stuff, I can't believe how much I wrote.  I'm impressing myself.  Anyway, I should probably let you get on with your day, this might be my longest blog on here ever.

Na na na na na, I've got to go it alone

Good morning.  I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable today, too tight on the insides.  This baby is making it hard to breathe! 

It's been a tough weekend.  I hate holidays.  I really don't think I'm going to get into it other than the bullet points:

• All of the grandparents hate the name we picked.
• I think I'm changing the middle name a bit but we are still sticking with Seiry.  Maybe Seiry Rosali or Seiry Rosalind.  Rose isn't sitting right with me. 
• Ry is totally against my choices for the birth of this child and would prefer a C-section but....he said he'll support my decision even if it terrifies him.
• Asher is turning into a horrible little mean monster.  We are working on it. 
• Easter sucks and sugar makes a boy mean.
• I hate holidays.
• I'm overwhelmed at work (which is obviously why I'm writing a blog today)

So...I'm also sorry that my blog has turned into a diary.  A kind of public diary.  So, to make it a bit less diary-ish, here's some stuff I think is interesting.  Perhaps my fave five like felicia day?  Sure.  We will actually start with that. 

1.  The Flog on Felicia Day's new youtube site, Geek and Sundry.  Check it out. 
2.  I'm currently reading the 9th book in the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison.  This book is soooo good.  Actually, they just keep getting better.  I love it.  Check them out, too.  It's good stuff. 
3. I haven't started yet but I just bought the new Mario game for my 3DS...I'm looking forward to starting it this week.  I just need to finish my book first. 
4.  I'm not in love with this song but I really think the video is pretty awesome: Turn me on by david Guetta featuring Nicki Manaj.  I'm a sucker for steam punk, what can I say.
5.  Another book recommendation, since I mentioned steam punk.  Check out the Cherie Priest series that starts with Boneshaker.  I've only read the first two so far, the next two are on my list.  Very good.  I mean, what's better than zombies and steam punk?  Not too much that I can tell... Also, her other series, Hellbent, is pretty awesome, too. 

There you go.  Five things I'm digging right now.  Sorry to steal from Felicia Day but...it was fun.  I'll do it again sometime. 

It's been a long time since I've rock and rolled

Wow, I've really been slacking.  I've been super busy at work lately.  Why, you may ask?  Well, because I just got promoted!  Woo-hoo, right?  That's what I said.  I applied for the job but I just thought I was making it a slight bit harder for the other guy (I couldn't just give him the job that easily, could I?).  But it ended up that we both got promoted.  I wonder still if there was only on position if I would have been promoted but I won't dwell on it too long.  Either way you are now reading words typed by a Watershed Supervisor.  Awwww yeaaaa.....

 It's been a busy half a month already.  Ry is leaving today to go out of town for a few days so Asher and I will be entertaining ourselves.  I'm really starting to look (and feel) pregnant.  My friend Jen is in the hospital right now as we speak having her first little baby boy, Charlie.  Hugs and kisses to her and Chuck, I'm about to cry I'm so happy for them right now!

We took Asher to fun and stuff over the weekend for Katya's 8th birthday party.  We have created a monster.  He had a great time, though.  And he was a pretty decent air hockey player, I was surprised to find out. 

We also went to a members only night at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.  It was nice, not so crowded.  Asher told us that he "just wants to stay at the aquarium all day long" in the whiniest voice ever.  It was kind of cute. 

We still don't have a name for baby #2 yet...Maybe we are trying too hard?  I don't know. 

And I finally got my taxes done.  I usually don't wait this late but with the trip to California and being pregnant and all sorts of little things going on we just let the time slip by us both.  But, they are done now and I'm paying the state (just doing my part as a good citizen). 

You know what?  Have a freaking phenomenal day. 

Hello, it's me. I've thought about us for a long, long time

So much going on this time.  Had a pretty awesome time at the Akron Public Schools Science Fair this weekend.  Had a pretty popular booth.  Wanna see it?  Here you go:

Ryan and Asher stopped by about halfway through and helped me out, and also browsed the science fair.  I was a little reluctant to go but I'm glad I did.  Everyone seemed really interested in water and what we do here, and that makes me pretty happy. 

We also went and saw this really awesome presentation that some 8th grade students from Akron did on water, they had come here to do their research.  It was so good!  It's a good feeling to know that you know that what you do is important and that people, especially young people, care enough about it to find out. 

Sunday was much more relaxed.  Tried webcamming with the CA folks but that didn't go too great, neither of our children seemed interested in talking so it was short and sweet, but nice to talk to them nonetheless. 

Ry and I are still at an impasse on names for this baby.  It's so hard to name a person!

I've been feeling a little down about my relationship with my family lately.  I feel that my mother's constant negativity and just general 'debbie downerism' is really starting to get to me.  Why do I feel that I need my mother's approval still?  I don't know, it's beyond me why I care.  But I do.  Anyway, it's nothing major, just something that's been on my mind lately. 

Leaving for CA in less than three weeks.  The countdown is on!  I'm really looking forward to it.  It'll be nice to go and chill with the Morrisons for a bit, it's so hard to do that when they are here because they have so much family stuff going on for them. 

As for new years resolutions, taking asher to the park for January...check.  I didn't teach him anything about nature, per se, but we did go sledding so that was pretty awesome.  And naturetastic, right?  I think it counts. 

Anyway, this post has been kinda rambly.  I should probably wrap it up.  

And another one's down...another one bites the dust

Hello new year.  Good bye old year.  2012...I honestly can say I didn't really imagine it would be like this.  Also, and I guess this is because I am a woman of short sight or something, I didn't really imagine living in 2012.  I mean, I knew it would happen eventually, I just didn't really think about it until it was here.  Like, when I was 15 I wasn't thinking, "man, I can't wait to be 30 in the year 2012.  My flying car and nanobots will be super awesome.  Fuck that, by then I should have the neural implants to give me the ability to fly.  I'll be flying, I won't even need a car.  Except in the winter.  I'm not flying in that shit."

But here we are.  After a completely uneventful NYE (google+ hung out with the Morrisons, put Asher to bed by 9:30, stayed up watching American Horror Story until 11:00 and went to bed) and an even more uneventful NYD (we did pretty much nothing at all and loved it) I feel that we are in need of some excitement and adventure.  But not the bad kind.  I'm thinking...well, something.  I don't know.

I'm also thinking about new years resolutions.  I haven't picked one yet but I will.  I think I did okay on last year's, I mean, I'm still writing this blog so that has to say something, right? 

BTW, I really liked American Horror Story...until the last episode, which was stupid and shark-jumpy and way too sappy.  Fuck that shit, fuck happy endings of a sort. We started watching Grimm...not sure if I like it or not yet. 

Would you get the first run of neural implants if they were free, and in the future they would cost you a ridiculous amount of money?

Factory of Terror, Canton Ohio, Cleveland Haunted House reviews, week 4

This week we went to Factory of Terror, Guinness Book of World Records holder for longest Haunted House in the WORLD!!!!  Yeah...

We went here last year, too, and it had been heard that it was rearranged this year so that they could continue to hold the longest title.  It was rearranged in some places, but it was mostly the same as last year.  The areas where it was rearranged were not beneficial to the haunted house, it just made it seem...tedious.  Like the area with the chain link fence.  If you've been here, you know what I'm talking about.  Just tedious. 

Overall, though, this house is pretty good.  It's def one to visit, though I heard that Saturdays hold an impossibly long wait time.  We go on Fridays and we only waited for a little bit. 

So, what's good about it?  Well, it is long, and that can be good.  It has really good atmosphere (as long as you don't have dumb girls behind or in front of you) and the props are really good.  I think they depend on hydraulics a bit too much but, as my brother said, if they had the staff to work the house they could use that as a good distraction for a good scare.  That brings up my main beef with this house.  It was pretty understaffed when we went.  There were some parts where you just walked around and...nothing.  There was no one there.  But, the actors that were there were pretty good.  They have these two huge guys who work there...well, they are freaking huge.  And creepy.  And did I mention huge?  Also, Satan is my favorite actor in the house.  These actors, they have character.  It's pretty cool.

Other good stuff about it?  There was a pre-house before you even made it to the actual line for the haunted house.  Pretty awesome.  And the mirror maze.  It really is pretty kick ass.  The mirror maze was actually better this year than it was last year. 

So, other than some parts of tediousness and the lack of actors, this is a solid house worth visiting.  Make sure you get the $2 off coupon for max discountage and go on a Friday or Sunday night to avoid the lines. 

Factory of Terror gets 7 out of 10 industrial disembowelments. 

Next week is the last week, which is kind of sad.  We are either going to Forsaken, in Mentor, or we might entertain going to Clay's Park, probably forsaken, though...

I wish that Joan of Arc wouldn't hang around the park

Hello.  This is just an update on life kind of post.  A mishmash of stuff.  And yes, I am aware that I still owe you a nerf war post.  I promise, as soon as I get the photos up I will, it's just the computer dying has put me behind on pictures, you know?  You know. 

 First, we made sauerkraut yesterday. Me and Ry and Asher, and Martin came to help for a bit, too. We made two buckets, 45 lbs of cabbage each. We were on a roll. Here's some photos of Asher helping for you to enjoy.


It was fun, even if there were 60 mile per hour gusts all day and it was pretty chilly.  You make it outside, unless you really like having a huge mess all over.  Cause it's messy.  We still have more cabbages left, too.  I guess we bought to many when Asher, Katya and I went to the farmer's market in Edinburg (I know it's far away, but their cabbage is so huge and cheap at 1.50 for a 10lb head).  So, the kraut is fermenting and in a month I'll be canning it with my mother.  
 
I am thinking about making a third bucket and selling it by the jar.  I wonder how much people would pay for it and if people would want to buy it...I don't know, really.  I mean, I love kraut, and fresh kraut is always better than that store garbage...but I don't know if many people share my love for kraut.  
 
In other news, I just discovered recently a character flaw of mine.  I over react.  I was kind of surprised when I realized it, and then knew it to be true.  I asked my friends about it and they told me that, yes, in fact, I do over react.  At first I was a little upset that no one told me.  I mean, isn't that what you should do when your friends are being crazy psychos?  But, as my hubby pointed out, a good friend would just accept you for your faults and tolerate you, or just avoid you when you were crazy (if your friends are guys) and hang out with you when you weren't, but would never tell you when you were being a crazy super psycho bitch.  
 
So, I'm gonna work on my over reacting. No promises, because often I don't realize I'm doing it until after the fact, but I'm going to try.   

Anyway...not much else to say right now.  Have two Halloween events on the same day next weekend, so that will be a challenge...I don't know, I need to talk to JJ...

I should probably get to work.

2011 Haunted House List

Calm down, I know you've been waiting for this all year...

Friday Sept 30th: 
Hinckley CornStalker's Maze.  (I bought a groupon for this so the first two people to tell me they are coming this night can get tickets for $8)
Hauntville, Elyria.  This one has an online coupon that I haven't investigated yet. 

Total cost for sept 30th (without discounts) is $35.00

Friday Oct 7th: *****This is a Pittsburg travel date******
Castle Blood.  This one is cool, if you buy the more expensive package you get a hotdog, beverage and tshirt! 
Demon House (formerly massacre on the hill). 

Total cost for both: $32 for regular, $50 for VIP at both. 

Friday Oct 14th: ******This is a Pittsburg travel date********
The Scarehouse. If we buy our tix ahead of time we go straight to the express line without paying VIP pricing...
100 Acres Manor.  This one has all sorts of pricing options, might be beneficial to see how long the line is and pay the extra 9 bucks to not wait in it...

price for both, general admission: $34, $43 for VIP

Friday Oct 21: 
Factory of Terror, Canton
Stalker Corn Maze, Bolivar.  Mike told me this one was open again this year but I can't find a website or any info on it, so it's tentative.  Looking for a replacement for this one just in case. 

Friday Oct 28th:
Options......Either we go to Columbus and hit up House of Nightmares and Terror Park, neither of which seem to be active websites...so there is that... or we can do these ones;
Forsaken (Mentor)
Barber Haunt

price for both, general admission: $35, $45 for VIP. 

There it is, folks.  I'm super pumped.  The dates are flexible except for the Barberhaunt doesn't open until Oct 7th so we wouldn't be able to move it to the first date.  Let me know when you are coming!  Invite your friends!  The more the merrier!