I’ve been in a funk for a while now.  I wouldn’t say I’ve been depressed, I just haven’t been enjoying things the way I used to and my frustration level has been high.  A funk, a funk I say.  So when I saw Zombie Slayer’s recent post about the things he likes, I thought, “That’s what I need to do, a list of things I’m diggin’ on.” Let’s see how many I can actually come up with.

1. Warehouse 13 — Secret Service agents searching for dangerous, supernatural relics? Check. The chick from Drake and Josh? Check. Elements of Steampunk? Check. Saul Rubinek? Aww yeah, check!

2. Super Cute Kawaii — Make sure you get a super-sized dose of insulin before checking in with Monsieur Le Bun. When you’re done there, check out Cuteable.com.

3. Leverage — I know, it’s another television show, but I dearly love it. Clever cons, great one-liners and a fabulous cast.

4. Nancy Drew games by Her Interactive — I have all but one of the games, and I play them over and over. I like both the Original Adventure series and the new Dossier series. There’s brain stimulating puzzles and fun characters. Well, the newest game, Ransom of the Seven Ships, was a little low on puzzles and characters, but the rest are great.

5. Penpals — The old school kind. Where you actually have to use a pen and paper. Whoa, I know, what a concept!

6. The Northwest Montana Fair — I don’t usually have a good time at the fair, but this year I was really looking forward to it. Dan gets sick on rides, so this year I decided I’d just go on them by myself. I’m glad I did; I’d forgotten how much fun they can be. Fair food isn’t quite as good up here as it is back east, but I was able to enjoy my pulled pork sandwich in spite of it.

7. Cow Pooling — Anyone wanna share a side of beef with me?

8. My dog, Bella — I’ve had dogs in my life, but Bella is THE dog. The best dog I’ve ever had, and I love her to bits!

9. Bento Boxes — I just got my first one and I can’t wait to pack my lunch! I also got six egg molds so I can shape hard-boiled eggs.

And I guess nine is all I’ve got.

What are some things you’re lovin’ right now?

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“Apparently you morons didn’t understand me the first time. I CANNOT take time off from work. I’m not putting my familys wellbeing at stake to participate in this crap. I don’t believe in our “justice” system and I don’t want to have a goddamn thing to do with it. Jury duty is a complete waste of time. I would rather count the wrinkles on my dogs balls than sit on a jury. Get it through your thick skulls. Leave me the fuck alone.”

Well, I started this list when I started my blog in February of 2005 and I’ve finally finished. I was going to let it sit for a few more years so I could conveniently edit things out, but I figured, “Aw, what the hell, I’ll just post it anyway.” If you feel the urge to say something snarky, sit down and wait for it to pass. I didn’t say it was 100 interesting things about me. (And yes, there’s someone in particular who I expect to be a rather vicious commentator — but that’s OK, ’cause I can be pretty vicious, too.)

1. I don’t swim, won’t swim and I’m terrified of deep water. Really, I’m so terrified of water, I might have rabies. (Not really, I bathe and stuff.)

2. I religiously watched Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. I’m so ashamed.

3. I have an insane magazine habit. I love magazines!

4. I pun. I’ve also been known to quip.

5. I wear contacts. My vision is the suck. Oh, and I hate wearing my glasses!

6. My three deserted island foods are beef tenderloin, avocados and raspberries.

7. I rule at the game of Risk. World domination is my thing. However, I lose my ass at chess.

8. I know it’s cliché, but I’m a shoe girl.

9. I put salt on almost everything. I only put pepper on fried eggs and popcorn. Also, ketchup must have ample amounts of Tabasco.

10. My all-time favourite actors are Kevin Spacey and Kathy Bates.

11. If I believed in past-lives, I would have been: an ancient Egyptian, a Ninja, an Old-West outlaw and a southern not-so-belle. But I don’t believe in past lives, so only this one counts.

12. I should be studying for an upcoming Philosophy quiz. (Wow! How long ago did I start this list?)

13. I can watch old episodes of Roseanne, Doctor Who and Buffy the Vampire Slayer over and over (…and over).

14. I have freakishly long fingers.

15. David Copperfield is my favourite book.

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Accent: Standard Midwestern with a hint of Southern twang.

Breakfast or no breakfast: That depends on whether Dan eats all of my Special K with Red Berries.

Chore I don’t care for: Insert chore here: __________.

Dog or Cat: Yes.

Essential Electronics: Yes.

Favorite Cologne: Chanel No. 19.

Gold or Silver: Platinum.

Handbag I carry most often: I don’t carry a handbag. I’ve tried it, I don’t like it.

Insomnia: Guaranteed!

Job Title: Feeder.

Kids: Five cats, one dog, an African grey parrot and a leopard gecko.

Living Arrangements: Let’s not go there.

Most Admirable Trait: Um… I’m nice to people I like. I’m loyal. I once rescued a woman, her three kids and their dog from drowning. Hell, I don’t know, I’m a cranky, snarky misanthrope who hasn’t done much. I have a short attention span and no patience to complete things. Wait a minute, I got it! I’m honest. Some who have met me might interpret that as tactless, but still. It works for me. Besides, that guy really did need to buy a stick of deodorant.

Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: Um… I got in trouble in second grade for drawing naked women. The other stuff? No one has found out so far, and I’d like to keep it that way.

Overnight hospital stays: Twice when I was eighteen. First one kidney took a dive, then the other.

Phobias: Water, car crashes, centi- or millipedes.

Quote: Please refer to the handy quote thingy at the top of the first sidebar.

Reason to smile: When Solomon (the bird) makes burping noises.

Siblings: One brutha, one sistah.

Time I wake up: Around noon. If I go to sleep at all, that is.

Unusual Talent or Skill: It’s hard to describe, but I can turn my tongue over sideways.

Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: Not applicable.

Worst Habit: I pick and chew at my cuticles.

X-rays: I’ve had a few. Never for a broken bone, though.

Yummy Stuff: Avocados, raspberries, a rare tenderloin steak, Claussen pickles, pork rinds, home made mac and cheese with gravy, sashimi… I think it’s time for lunch.

Zoo Animal I Like Most: Elephants.

I saw this on Nick’s Bytes and thought I’d give it a try.

Here’s how it works . . .
• Answer each of the questions below.
• Surf over to Flickr (set up an account if you don’t have one–it’s quick and easy AND I DON’T THINK YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THIS – SET UP AN ACCOUNT) and type your answers (one at a time) into the search bar.
• From the choice of pictures shown only on the front page, click on the one that moves you.
• Once the page with your picture opens, copy the URL.
• Surf over to the Mosaic Maker, set up your mosaic, and paste your URLs.
• Click “Create!”

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. Where would you go on your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. Choose one word to describe you?
12. Your Flickr name? (Substitute a nickname if you don’t have an account.)

Photo credits:
1. Cloud Bed, Courtney Skott, 2. Surf and turf, 3. Storm aftermath, Urbana IL, 4. llibreria – bookstore – Amsterdam, 5. LastEver, 6. Drink Dr. Pepper!, 7. (0430) Pyramid of Menkaure or Mykerinus (Giza) Egypt, 8. szechwan peppercorn creme brulee, 9. Cricket? Grasshopper? I’m no entymologist!, 10. Got milk?, 11. Lonely Fish , 12. Epicuro, la morte

Update: I actually prepared this post on Wednesday night, and for some reason I forgot to hit ‘Publish’.

Instead of uploading a butt-load of photos that always seem to take forever to load anyway, I thought I would just make videos from now on. It’s actually a little less tedious than uploading every individual photo, and it should save you some loading time. Hopefully.

Tomorrow (actually, I guess it’s today, now) we’re heading down to Missoula so Dan can do a little comics shopping and we can do a little geocaching. Oh, and bird toys, Solomon’s stock is running low and there’s just no selection here in Kalispell. Maybe I’ll even bring back a pinkie or two for the Leopard Gecko.

Nothing like a crappy meme to brighten up my day.

1. Ten years ago I was: Lemme see. I was twenty years old and a server at the local Perkins Family Restaurant and Bakery. Yeah, still can’t forget that. I had just alienated my best friend, Worley (if he ever reads this: I’m sorry and I miss you), and I was an all around slacker. Most things have drastically improved. Some things just are and can’t be changed.

2. Five things on my to-do list today: Import music from CDs (I’ve gotten 22 done so far), watch Lost, start a new book, prepare tomorrows shopping list and tidy up a bit.

3. Things I’d do if I were a billionaire: Travel, travel, travel.

4. Three bad habits: I pick at my cuticles, erm… I still smoke (I know, I know, bad Courtney) and… Does a bad temper count?

5. Five places I’ve lived: Actually, there are only five places I’ve lived: Arthur, IL; Tuscola, IL; Urbana, IL; Champaign, IL and Kalispell, MT.

6. Five jobs I’ve had in life: Well, there was the aforementioned restaurant server. I worked in a movie theater, mostly doing projection. I spent a few years working sales at an independent pet store — I’ve forgotten more about fish than most people are ever likely to learn. I delivered auto parts and I was a customer service rep in Customer Care for Nextel phones.

I didn’t get tagged for this, but I’m doing it anyway; five, non-blog sites I visit daily:

1. At first I didn’t get it, but I’ve become obsessed (or is it possessed?) with LOL Cats. Sure, some of them just aren’t funny, and it’s absolute murder to read the comments, but the funny ones? Ohmigosh are they funny!

see more crazy cat pics

2. Postcrossing helps feed my urge to see the world, without having to go any farther than my mailbox. I’m up 109 110 postcards from around the world. It’s also a relatively cheap hobby.

3. I know, I know, who needs to register for yet another social networking site? But Livemocha is a little different. It’s entirely geared towards language instruction. You can take courses that are similar to Rosetta Stone, and converse with native speakers of the language you’re learning. I’m still hoping that they add Irish language instruction to their list of available languages, though.

4. I like to cook, right? Actually, it’s more accurate to say that I like good food. Sometimes I just throw stuff together, and sometimes I try what others have just thrown together. That’s why I spend way too much time on All Recipes. I also found the BEST Colcannon recipe on All Recipes. Wanna try it?

Colcannon
INGREDIENTS
  * 2 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed
  * 4 slices bacon (I like to add a bit more)
  * 1/2 small head cabbage, chopped
  * 1 large onion, chopped
  * 1/2 cup milk
  * salt and pepper to taste
  * 1/4 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS
*Place potatoes in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender.
*Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, reserving drippings, crumble and set aside. In the reserved drippings, sauté the cabbage and onion until soft and translucent. Putting a lid on the pan helps the vegetables cook faster.
*Drain the cooked potatoes, mash with milk and season with salt and pepper. Fold in the bacon, cabbage, and onions, then transfer the mixture to a large serving bowl. Make a well in the center, and pour in the melted butter. Serve immediately.

5. Even though I haven’t updated my reading list in a long while, I do still read, and I’m cheap, so I peruse the listed books on Paperback Swap. I really wish I hadn’t wasted a credit on Flowers for Algernon, but hey, I can re-list it, and send it to someone else!

So there it is. Five places where I enjoy wasting time. No, I’m not going to tag anyone, but I’d love to know what five, non-blog sites you visit frequently.

Five minutes to yourself:
I always have five minutes to myself, so it’s difficult to answer this one. Maybe just to kick back and zone out. That’s something I don’t often do, but it’s always nice.

Five bucks to spend right now: how would you spend it?
A magazine, baby!

Five items in your house you could part with, right now, that you hadn’t thought of already?
Raul, Maddy, Meg, Max and Jazz. NO! You don’t really think I could part with one of my cats, do you?

Five items you absolutely, positively could never part with in your house?
Raul, Maddy, Meg, Max and Jazz. There, that’s better.

Five words you love?
Floccinaucinihilipilification. Aesthetic. Botanical. Caterwaul. Cthulhu.
All for various reasons.

I’ve seen this meme floating around and thought I’d give it a try:

1. I actually hate intentional misspellings like the one in the title. The insertion of a number for a letter, using a K instead of a C, or the like, and what I like to call “IMbonics”. I hate it so much that I will correct posters, advertisements, signs, etc.

2. I have an almost irrational fear of hiccups. Hiccups have also been known to set me into a rage if they won’t go away soon enough.

3. I have this thing about imaginary lines. I’m not quite sure how to explain this, but it has to do with how things line up. Let’s take my desk for example. I have a box to hold scrap paper, and in my mind, the four edges that touch the desk all have [imaginary] extended lines. Other things on my desk need to either line up with those lines, or not cross them. Round things, like my pen holder are exempt from this rule, but round things radiate an infinite amount of their own lines that cannot be avoided. Some things on an angle can cross the lines, because they act as a mirror and redirect the lines elsewhere. Make sense?

4. I don’t really count things, like steps or breaths, but I will occasionally, in my head, start counting by twos. I’ll usually do this while driving, waiting in line or waiting for a doctor’s appointment. I don’t really set out to do it, I’ll just notice that I am.

5. My food cannot touch. The steak cannot touch the potato, and the potato cannot touch the vegetables which cannot touch the steak. Anything served on a bed of rice will get sent back to the kitchen, and if everything is just piled onto a plate, I will ask for several clean plates and separate everything manually. This does not apply to things that are meant to touch, such as Stews, pasta dishes or salads. Oh, and garnishes are not allowed.

6. I can’t really explain the specifics, but my laundry must be folded a very particular way. Every time. No exceptions. Also, hanging clothes must face the same direction.

7. I can do anything with my left hand that I can do with my right hand, except write. Anyone who’s seen my handwriting would suggest that I can’t do that with my right hand, either. My mother even asked me once if I was sure I was right handed. (To be honest, my handwriting has improved somewhat since I was last in school.)

There you have it, I’m weird, and I’ve accepted that. I tag anyone who wants to participate.