Happy Halloween to all of you and also your little ghosts and goblins. Have a good time out there and be safe. Here are some links to help fill your day with even more fun:

Virtual Trick-or-Treating
Carve a Virtual Pumpkin
Why Pets Hate Halloween
Pumpkin Contest Winners
Jason’s Rejected Pumpkins
Spooky iPhone Wallpapers
Pumpkin House of Horrors
The Great Pumpkin House
The REAL Great Pumpkin
Ben & Jerry’s Halloween
Undesirable Costumes
…and Mac-O-Lanterns

8 comments October 31st, 2007

Not to be left out of any trend, Pasadena now has its own cupcakery, called Dots. They may not be the best cupcakes I’ve ever tasted (they’re a little doughy and not as festive as Nanette’s creations) and it doesn’t help that the shop owner is always cranky, but nonetheless I find myself visiting this little hole in the wall to pick up a cheery little morsel of goodness every now and then.

Is there really such a thing as a bad cupcake? I don’t think so. Besides, once it hits the low point of being even marginally unsavory, I’m fairly certain you’re supposed to start calling it a muffin or a scone. So far their Pumpkin, Red Velvet, and Chocolate are my favorites.

9 comments October 29th, 2007

Six months. That’s how long I was told it should take for the divorce to be final. At first that made perfect sense to me. With no kids of our own, no house, and therefore nothing to fight over, it should be easy, right? Yet here I am after not two six month spans later, but a mind-boggling year and a half, and it’s still not over.

To make matters worse, even once the court clerk pounds his or her stamp onto our paperwork and it’s legally over, we’re still not completely done. They have to analyze our retirement assets, slice them down the middle, and then there’s still the matter of the ultimate disposal of my car, leased in my ex’s name.

It’s a frustrating situation, but it’s worth all the struggle to be free…

Free from an emotionally (and at times physically) abusive relationship. Free to be myself without fearing constant harassment. Free to enjoy friendships without abiding his disapproval and criticism. From being ignored by the one who should love me. From unreasonable demands. From being viewed like a utility. Water, trash, electricity, wife.

20 comments October 22nd, 2007

Only took me three decades to try a meal at the #3 burger chain in America, and only one spicy chicken sandwich for Wendy’s to become my favorite place to catch a bite on the run. I’m trying to remember why I’d never dined there before. Was it their scary looking redhead girlie mascot? Rumored use of kangaroo meat? (No, that’s why I waited 20 years to try Jack in the Box.) Or maybe simply the fact that while growing up we weren’t allowed to eat fast food. In any case, I’m over it now. That spicy chickeny goodness, skip the fries in favor of a baked potato, add a mandarin orange cup… That’s what I’m talkin’ about. I’m seriously addicted to this place.

17 comments October 18th, 2007

Last year I participated in my first MS-150 Bay to Bay and all my blogging buddies helped me raise money for Multiple Sclerosis treatment and research. This weekend I’m participating in their 25th annual event, riding my bike from the OC to San Diego to promote the cause. Once again, thanks to your generous support I’ve already raised the minimum donation.

Big thanks everyone who already sponsored: Misty, Dena, Jeff, Jordan, Andrea, Markus, Kath, Dalia, Jan, Rob, Linda, Dave, and Gail – You guys are the BEST! Together we’ve raised $470 to benefit the hundreds of thousands of people waging the battle against MS. But just because I’ve exceeded my fundraising goal doesn’t mean the rest of you are off the hook.

CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR MY RIDE!

5 comments October 10th, 2007

I first participated in the blogger BoobieThon in 2005, and I’m back this year to participate in their sixth annual event this week, but the big difference is this time I’m back as a survivor. A few weeks after my first BoobieThon photo submission I discovered a lump in my right breast and wisely saw my doctor about it immediately.

That sparked a huge series of events that I’m now glad are behind me, but I’m glad to report that I now have new cancer-free bionic boobs. Few survivors have it so easy though. Too many, like my aunt Cathy, discover breast cancer only in later stages. I strongly recommend the Aware BSE pad, which helped me achieve earlier detection.

Support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by making a donation to BoobieThon this week and you’ll receive access to their photo galleries. Last year BoobieThon raised nearly $10,000. Choose to direct your tax-deductible gift to benefit either the Deb Fund or the well-known Susan G. Komen foundation for the cure.

Thank you for helping make this year’s fundraiser a success!

10 comments October 1st, 2007