1. Took my ION into the Saturn service center this afternoon so the technicians could find out why my "Check Engine" light has been coming off and on. As I predicted, the diagnosis was not good. As in $600-700 $825 worth of repairs not good. Mom and I were chilling at Barnes and Noble when the service manager called to give me the list of everything that needed to be replaced, and I about keeled over when she started rattling off prices. Debt accumulation, here I stay. Bugger.
2. The 2008-09 Blues hockey season hasn't even started, yet I'm already dreading how awful the team is going to be. I cannot fathom why management continues to deal away hard working fan favorites (Ryan Johnson, Jamal Mayers, and Bryce Salvador) and keeps players that, in my opinion, are pretty much  a waste of good roster space (*cough* Dan Hinote, DJ King, and Cam Janssen). The only smart thing that the organization has done thus far was signing Nashville Predators goalie Chris Mason to be Manny Legace's back up. Unless Kariya, Stempniak, Backes, McClement, and the other overpaid forwards pull their heads out of their asses and start scoring, a new level of "sucktacularness" is going to be achieved. I'm going to be bold and predict another top 5 pick in the 2009 draft. It was so frustrating yesterday during the NHL free agent frenzy, watching teams such as the Lightning, Red Wings, Oilers, Avalanche, and Capitals doing whatever they could to improve their teams while the Blues did nothing but match Vancouver's offer sheet for David Backes.
3. Because I'm (1) fascinated by all things gross and disgusting and (2) a sucker for any product marked "As Seen On TV", I just had to try the Kinoki Detox Foot Pads when I saw them at a local Walgreen's. After strictly following the directions for the 2 week supply (starting the first night with the pads on both feet, and then alternating feet thereafter), I'm beginning to think that it was a waste of $19.95. Boosted energy level? Improved health and wellness? No, and no. If you look at the pictures on the website, the pads are supposed to turn a nasty, gunky looking brown once the toxins are drawn from the body. Mine were always charcoal gray. The pads were also supposed to become lighter as the two week period came to a close, ultimately resulting in a pad with no toxin residue. That didn't happen for me either. The day 14 pad was just as gray as the day 1 pads. Either I got scammed, or I'm the bastard daughter of the Toxic Avenger.

To my friends (Teena, Larry and Wendy, LauraBelle, Joeyj1220, and mezamashii) and family (Kingston, ON represent!) north of the border, I wish you a glorious holiday filled with patriotism, laughter, fireworks, and of course good food! Eat a beaver tail for me, eh?

What sound or noise do you love? Cats purring. Gentle windchimes. A babbling brook. The St.Louis Blues goal horn. The crunch of leaves in the fall. My nephews laughing. Skate blades on ice. Thunderstorms.

What sound or noise do you hate? Fire alarms. People clearing their throats. Loud belching. Jackhammers. Whistling snot. Motorcycles. Spongebob Squarepants' laugh. Sirens. Mariah Carey's high notes.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I would love working as a museum curator or an archivist. My dream job would be working for the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. or the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, IL. I had majored in History in college and planned to find some sort of museum/goverment work once I had my degree, but real life intervened and I had to quit school at age 22 to work full time. Now that I'm nearing 40, I don't think I have the energy (or the brain power) left to continue my studies. I know that I definitely don't have the money to finish.

What profession would you not like to do? Anything that would involve closely working with the public. Most people suck. And I could never work for the ASPCA because I would want to strangle the first animal abuser that crossed my path. Hell, I can't even watch this commercial without sobbing uncontrollably.

1. My Saturn ION's "check engine" light has been blinking on and off sporadically over the past week. Figures! The car has been paid off for only a month and now I'm going to have to start forking over money for repairs. I'm praying that a wire short is responsible for the light coming on, but knowing my luck, I doubt that I'll get off that easy.
2. Pippin Took had to go to the vet yesterday for his distemper and rabies shots. Was totally surprised to learn that he weighs 15.5 lbs and not the 18 lbs. that he registers on my bathroom scale. I'm convinced that the vet's scale has to be off a bit because Pip definitely feels heavier than 15 lbs. Other than that, the visit went well. He's a healthy kitty.
3. I'm still amazed that my boys, the Chicago Cubs, are the best team in MLB (statistically speaking). Of course, when I tuned into their game versus the Orioles yesterday, they were losing 11-3 . I don't want to be the voice of doom and gloom, but I'm just waiting for the bottom to drop out. It always has and always will. If you're not a Cubs fan, you won't understand.
   
4. Do not, under any circumstances, waste your time or money on Mike Myers' new comedy The Love Guru. It was horribly miscast (Verne Troyer as a NHL coach? Jessica Alba as Maple Leafs team owner? Justin Timberlake as a French-Canadian goalie?) and painfully unfunny. I'll admit that I'm easily amused and quick to laughter, but I honestly don't remember laughing out loud one time. There were 6-7 other people in the theater with me and they were quiet as well. Sad. Mike Myers should stick with Shrek and Dr. Evil. And shame on Oscar winner Ben Kingsley for taking a film role that is so demeaning to Indian culture. You portrayed Mahatma Gandhi once, for pete's sake.