viv

PSH! You people... Happy 29+11th Birthday, Steve!! Hope you have a great day! Wish I was there to you for real... I'll owe you. Hugs! Vivian

So, you always read those stories... the ones that end in 'and that's how I knew I was gay'. Forgive me for what I'm about to do... but it's 2 am and Rich is STILL at work, for the second time tonight, and I'm hanging out with Steve and his boys and feeling... giggly. I remember being 12 and seeing this and just losing my mind. I'm pretty sure I would have had no idea what to do with one of these... but I knew I wanted it and so... this is my 'and that's how I knew I was straight' story. How I knew I was straight Strange things happened in 1989... what can I say? We wore huge hoop earrings, stirrup pants, had huge bangs, wore a ton of jelly bracelets, and... loved these guys. Odd phenomena... Hugs, Viv

Umm, I'm not sure whether I want to sympathize with you or not... I mean I DEFINITELY know what it's like when they think they're 'helping' or 'trying to do you a favor' but in my house, I am the dishwasher... so, I think almost any dishwasher would be welcomed, even one with flashy lights. Have I mentioned that Rich built his own computer, clear case with a neon blue light that shines so brightly it lights the next room at night, and a subwoofer the size of a TV and a monitor bigger than that? Yeah, I have one of those husbands too... Good luck, you show that dishwasher who's boss! Hugs, Viv

This seems to be my piece of advice for everyone today, so here goes... The only one you owe anything to, is yourself so figure out what makes you happy and go after it. Love you JOEY!!! Viv

It's not often that the people in Hollywood use their accelerated public status for good and not evil, nor do we frequently hear about their campaigns to help people instead of who they had an affair with this month, but I saw this today, and thank God, I'm not the only one thinking these things. I'm not often super political and I'm very 'live and let live' but when it comes to the country we live in and the future we're creating for ourselves and our kids and their kids... but holy crap! I won't vote for her just cause she's a woman, just as I hope no one else will, nor will I vote for someone purely based on their political party or race. That's not the type of country I want to live in, one founded on discrimination and prejudices. Anyway, that's it... Viv

I lost track of you in the great beyond. I don

Robert, I'm really glad that you're starting to feel better. That hospital you're in sounds way more awesome than every one I've ever spent any time in, and yay for having your own room! I know I'm REALLY far away, but if I can do anything for you or Dan, please let me know... you have my number in case. Get better, okay? I'd like to see your smiley face again soon! Hugs, Vivian

Happy Birthday, Robert~!! (from the happiest place on Earth) Hope you have a great day! Hugs, Vivian

I don't even know where to start... hence the dizziness. It's like when they say... I have good news and bad news, which would you like first? I always say bad... is that weird? Anyway, so there is this amazing lady I used to work with, Sydney. She was always so nice and friendly, and had worked in my store for, God, thirty years maybe? Anyway, a few years back, she found out she had Stage 4 breast cancer, the same thing her mom died from. She immediately started chemo and the mass amounts of medications. She had her breast removed and a piece of plastic put under her skin to stretch her skin to make room for an implant. She wore wigs every day to work, sucked on mints all the time because her mouth was so dry even though she couldn't actually taste them, wondered when her fingernails would be anything but brittle bits clinging to her skin. She made it through chemo, and came back to work, and then her cancer came back again. She went back into chemo, trying to hang on until her youngest son graduates high school, and was basically forced into retiring because she was missing so much work. Over this Labor Day weekend, her oldest son was killed in a motorcycle accident while she battles to survive. I'm not sure how much one family needs, but Jesus! I always feel like I've been through so much, lost so much, that I've worked and pushed and survived to be what and who I am today, and then I hear something like this and it just reminds me that life is short and not to be taken for granted. Be honest, love people for the short amount of time you have to love them, help people to be happy, lift them up instead of pushing them down. So, Gregg Scott... may you find happiness on the other side. Besides that, I've edited three amazing pieces of writing in the last two weeks and not really written anything myself, but hey... a contribution is a contribution. One is up for you to read now, Dreams & Clipped Wings: Chapter 8 by Shadowgod, and the other two are anthology entries which should be up soon. One by a surprise newcomer!! Also, a new chapter of this amazing story I've been hooked on forever is up! The Good Doctor by Terry Audette THINK OF ENGLAND!!! Also, at work the other day, I was in the checkstand, and I had all this money to put in the safe, but I couldn't get out cause it was craziness with the customers and the holiday, so I called Maria over to take it for me. She was standing there to my left waiting while I finished with the customer I was helping and talking to the bag boy to her left, while I was talking to the customer on my right. We both turned to give each other something at the same time and ended up face to face, and I said, "Oh, wow, sorry," and she said, "Oh, oops," and then the bag boy says, "Awwwww man, that would have been AWESOME!" I'm pretty sure Maria didn't understand what he meant, she's pretty naive when it comes to things like that, but I went back to talking to the customer and then the bag boy tells her, "I'm gonna be thinking about that later." OMFG did he really just say that to his boss?! Later when I was telling Rich what happened, he said, "What?! The closest you're ever gonna get to that, and I missed it?!!" Oh, so I made a Viv's Stories group on Facebook... whee! Anyway, I'm off to lose myself in some story. Hugs, Viv

Totally LOVED it! Jonathan Rhys Meyers is amazing in this... and I don't have Showtime either, but I watched it all on www.surfthechannel.com

So I saw this the other day, and several of these are actally quite accutate, anyway it was amusing in some ways and horrifying in others... check it out, dude! I am a "CALIFORNIAN." That means that......... -Texting while driving is becoming a Major issue... YES! -We can Surf, Skate, Dirt Bike Ride, and Snow Board, then hit up mexico, LA, and OC all in the same day, and then go to Disneyland... We can, but since we're so close to everything, there's no rush. No actual Californian would do any more than three of these in a single day. -It takes 45 minutes to go 11 miles, during most of the day... Definitely when I'm trying to get to work by 6pm... -We have perfect weather, all year long baby... MMhmm, and yet, it's the thing we all whine about the most, that is, until the price of gas went up. -We smoke the best weed, and that shit you smoke isnt really marijuana, trust me... NO IDEA. -I hate cops... I don't, actually. I just hate that they're never there when you do need them, and always there when you don't want them to be. Also, they slow traffic down! -We are the plastic surgery capital of the world... SO FAKE! Probably the biggest thing I hate about California, for the record. -I live next door to Mexicans... It's true! I do... this one 3 bedroom house has 2 families, with about 6 kids, living in it. -Our chicks are WAYYYY hotter than yours... DUH! - I say "like" and "for sure" and "right on" and "dude" and "totally" and "peace" and "chill" and "tight" and "bro" and "hell of" and "hella"(Nor Cal only) and "faded" and "stoked" and "fo sho" and I say them often... I like totally say right on and like to chill when I've had a hell of a day, and I'm stoked when I find faded jeans on sale, but the only time I use bro is when I'm too lazy to type 'ther' after it. I certainly don't say fo sho, and peace and chill are so last decade! - I know what real cheese & avocados taste like... OMG YES! and I eat them often! YUMM! -All the porn you watch is made here, cause we f**K better and thats how it is... HAH! - I don't get snowdays off because theres only snow in Mammoth, Tahoe, Shasta, and Big Bear... Uhh no snow days, no rain days, but we do, on occasion, take 'it's waaaaaaaaaaay too pretty to be stuck inside at work all day, so I think I might be feeling a little cough coming on' days. - I can wear sandals all year long... and I do! And I whine about the rain cause then they get wet, and I have a tan line from my sandals! - I go to the Beach - not "down to the shore"... right?! - I know 65 mph really means 80 mph... At least! But not when going 11 miles takes 45 minutes... do the math folks. - When someone cuts me off, they get the horn and the finger and high speed chase cuz we dont f**K around on the road... If Rich is driving, yeah. If I'm driving and someone cuts me off, somehow *I* get the horn and the finger! - The drinking age is 21 but everyone starts at 14 (legally 18 if you live close enough to the border)... Guilty. - My governor can kick your governors ass... HAHA and he'll be back! -You judge people based on what area code they live in... I try not to judge anyone, but I'll admit I have been known to raise an eyebrow or two based on this. - When I'm on vacation in their state, and they find out I'm from California I turn into a Greek GODDESS... OMG YES! HAHA! - We don't stop at stop signs... we do a "california roll" No cop no stop baby!... I actually do stop, amazingly. I already speed daily, no need to add any more risk to getting a ticket from the cop who is always where I don't want him. - I can get fresh and REAL Mexican food 24 hours a day... Mmhmm! And this does not include Del Taco or Taco Bell for the record. - All the TV shows you "other" states watch get filmed here... And Rich makes ice sculptures to be in them. -We're the Golden State. Not the Cheese State. Not the Garden State.....GOLDEN!!! Yeah baby... - I have the most representation in the House of Representatives, which means MY opinion means more than yours, which means I'm better than you... HAHA! If only. That would be awesome, cause at least I have a brain and could use that power for good and not evil. - The best athletes come from here... MAYBE? -Our monthly house payments exceed your annual income... Quite possibly. -We drive next to a Rolls Royce and don't notice... Mostly true. -We don't know anyone's phone number unless you check your cell phone... For most people I encounter, this is true... I, on the other hand, have a knack for remembering numbers so I can probably tell you the address and phone number for anyone in my phone book. -We begin to "lie" to our friends about how close we are when you know damn well that it'll take you at least an hour to get there... I don't, cause I HATE being late... but yeah, I've seen it happen. -We drive to your neighborhood block party... LAME! And who has block parties anymore anyway? -In the "winter", we can go to the beach and ski at Big Bear on the same day... Again, we *could* but who would? -We eat a different ethnic food for every meal... Usually. -If our destination is more than 5 minutes away on foot, you're definitely driving... Not me, usually. I actually LIKE walking, but... typically, this is true of Californians. -Calling our neighbors requires knowing their area code... MMhmm, yay for MORE numbers to remember. -We know what In N Out is and feel bad for all the other states because they don't have any... Okay, I totally have a story for this. I've lived here my ENTIRE life, and the first time I had In N Out was like... two years ago... and it's not that great. It's like homemade burgers. -We really can never be too rich or too thin or too tan... Uhh, I could probably stand to be more of all of those, but I don't have a complex about any of them. -We've partied in Tijuana at least 3 times... You don't remember at least 1 of them... Actually, I've never been! Sort of afraid to go! -We go to a tanning salon before going to the beach... Also, never been and afraid to go! -We eat pineapple on pizza... YES! Unless I'm with Steve and then NOOOOOOOOOO! -Our cell phones have left a permanent impression on the side of your head... Used to, but with the new hands free driving law... we're back to normal now. -We think that Venice is a beach... Well, those of us that spend too much time in tanning booths and have replaced much of our body mass with fake plastic, maybe... but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Venice, Italy someday. -The waitress asks if we'd like "carbs" in your meal... They do not -We call 911 and they put us on hold... It's happened to me before! Or it's been busy when I call! -The gym is packed at 3pm ... on a workday... I suppose if I went to a gym, then I wouldn't have to worry about being thinner. -We know that if you drive two miles in any direction we will find a McDonald's or a Starbucks... I actually know of a few places where you could be at a Starbucks and drive 1,000 feet and be at another, and only a Callifornian would actually drive those 1,000 feet! -We know what "sigalert", "PCH", and "the five" mean... I do! And having the first with either of the other two is a BAD DAY! -It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH"... HAHA! OMG TOTALLY! -And best of all.......... our beaches are polluted, our air is full of smog, crime rates are up, school grades are down, we are over populated, we are living on a major fault line, and the best part is......no one gives a f**K, LETS PARTY... which may be part of the reason I'm considering moving east! Hugs, Viv

So, I'm sitting here this morning and my Sweetie messages me from his snazzy new cell phone. He's away on a business trip and when he travels we resort to any means necessary to communicate, even if it means getting himself invited over to an employees house for a beer and stealing their internet So he messgaes to say hello and to tell me his tinyplane landed safely, but not before plunging 500 feet and giving him a severe headache Anyway, we're talking and then all of a sudden my cell phone rings and it's him So he's like... are you near your computer? OF COURSE! SO he tells me he needs directions, some of his collegues are apparently lost in Glasgow somewhere and can't get to him. So we look it up, thank you Google Maps, but it was more amusing to me that he was like.. gee, I need directions, let me call AMERICA and ask the one girl who is ALWAYS getitng lost. Anyway, it was good to hear his voice, and the 'I love you' at the end always makes it worthwhile A while later I was sitting here and had just told Steve the above story and we were giggling and Dave messages me again to say goodnight, and I said that makes me the luckiest girl in America! So, safe flight back home Sweetie! I love you, too! Hugs, Viv PS. It would be EXTREMELY nice if certain people quit pissing off people I love which in turn pisses me off... that is all

UGH! I had a HELLUVA week at work... I may have mostly recovered now. Although, I'm still trying to figure out if dealing with crappy people is part of what I get paid for, and if those crappy people should include my coworkers. Luckily, most of the people I work with don't suck too bad, and I have some great friends there. Let's see if I can sum up my week... Someone dumped several live catfish in our parking lot and all the stray cats in the area came to feast on their flopping around bodies, a customer who claimed she didn't get all her items last time she shopped gave me her receipt and when I reviewed the video tape of her transaction at the self-sheckout, she took all her items and left, so I had to go out and nicely call her a liar, and then she said that she stood over at our customer service booth next to her basket for forty minutes and apparently someone came by and stole a bag right out from under her nose, got proposed to again by the drunk guy, and as usual, I said I couldn't marry him since I already have a husband who wouldn't likely be too pleased about that idea, and then he suggested that I might just need to consider what it could be like with two of them and all I could think to say was... Goodbye. One of my pals from work got suspended for taking an extended break, some woman called to say she bought a rotisserie chicken and it wasn't cooked all the way through, turns out her daughter works for the health department and is friends with the food safety regional manager of our company, and then there was the lady we had to call mall security and the sherrif's department to have removed from the premises for soliciting money, but only after she accused me of discriminating against her based on color. Sitting in the manager's meeting for the week, I go over the safety items I am responsible for, and my boss is saying that the quarter is ending in two weeks and basically we need every dollar we can get, so everyone please maximize the sales while using minimal labor, and let's all be careful with the needless accidents and things breaking (basically his bonus is rapidly disappearing). He starts to cover the Labor Day ad, and then someone calls me out of the meeting because someone cut her hand with a box cutter... So I saw this move, Shelter, it was awesome. A really good story... the whole thing is on youtube too! That makes it easy to watch. Shelter Also, I decided that Ryan Lochte is the hottest US swimmer these olympics. Then I confirmed that with a few boys I know... Trevor at work tried to go the Michael Phelps route, but not even close... I don't care how many gold medals you have, they don't make you good looking. Picture I saw this on myspace and found it rather... accurate, I guess, but then I suppose it's true also for any couple. We don't care if you talk to other guys. We don't care if you're friends with other guys. But when you're sitting next to us, and some random guy walks into the room and you jump up and tackle him, without even introducing us, yeah, it pisses us off. (I've done this, tis true) *blush* It doesn't help if you sit there and talk to him for ten minutes without even acknowledging the fact that we're still there. We don't care if a guy calls >OR TEXTS< you, but at 2 in the morning we do get a little concerned. Nothing is that important at 2 a.m. that it can't wait till the morning. Also, when we tell you you're pretty/ beautiful/ gorgeous/cute/ stunning, we freaking mean it. Don't tell us we're wrong. We'll stop trying to convince you. The sexiest thing about a girl is confidence. Yeah, you can quote me. Don't be mad when we hold the door open. Take advantage of the mood I'm in. Let us pay for you! Dont "feel bad". We enjoy doing it. It's expected. Smile and say "thank you". Kiss us when no one's watching. If you kiss us when you know somebody's looking, we'll be more impressed. You don't have to get dressed up for us. If we're going out with you in the first place, you don't have to feel the need to wear the shortest skirt you have or put on every kind of makeup you own. We like you for who you are and not what you are. Honestly, I think a girl looks more beautiful when she's just in her pj's, or myt-shirt and boxers, not all dolled up. (Makes me the most beautiful girl in the world! ) Don't take everything we say seriously. Sarcasm is a beautiful thing. See the beauty in it. Don't get angry easily. Stop using magazines/media as your bible. Don't talk about how hott Chris Brown, Brad Pitt, or Jesse McCartney is in front of us. It's boring, and we don't care. You have girlfriends for that. Whatever happened to the word "handsome"/"beautiful"? I'd be utterly stunned by a girl who greeted me with "Hey handsome!" instead of "Hey baby/ stud/ cutie/ sexy" or whatever else you can think of. On the other hand I'm not saying I wouldn't like it ether. Girls, I cannot stress this enough: if you aren't being treated right by a guy, dont wait for him to change. Ditch his sorry butt, disgrace to the male population and find someone who will treat you with utter respect. Someone who will honor your morals. Someone who will make you smile when you're at your lowest. Someone who will care for you even when you make mistakes. Someone who will love you, no matter how bad you make them feel. Someone who will stop what they're doing just to look you in the eyes....and say "I love you" ..and actually mean it. Give the nice guys a chance. *Holding Hands* Girls :If you want to hold his hand, gently bump into it a couple of times. Guys : Grab it if it happens more than once. *Cuddling* Girls : When you want to cuddle with him, tell him you're cold. Guys : Automatically move closer to her. *Movies* Girls : During a movie, if he puts his arm around you, tilt your head on his shoulder. Guys : Lift her chin up and kiss her. *Loving each other* Guys : When she tells you she loves you, look deep into her eyes, give her a peck on the lips, and tell her you love her too... And mean it. *Lying below the stars* Girls : When you're both lying under the stars, put your head on his chest and close your eyes as you listen to his steady heart beat Guys : Whisper in her ear and link your hands with hers. Hugs, Viv

That was, by far, the best race! Our guys were freaking AMAZING, but I have to give credit where it's due... Jason Lezak kicked some ass, he's the hero!

Vivian says: omg did i tell you about the HUGE moth in the house? Friend: are you scared of moths? Vivian says: well, not scared in the sense of real fear, just ewwwwwwwwwwww Vivian says: but i'm not even exagerrating when i tell you it is the size of a bird Friend: jesus tapdancing christ Vivian says: HAHA! wait, it gets sooo much better Vivian says: so years ago one was in the house one night and rich wasn't here Vivian says: and i had to catch it in a cup and put it outside and i'm still not over it Vivian says: and this morning i went out to the kitchen with matty to get him some cereal and i see this thing sitting on the curtain in the dining room and i'm like holy ahhhhhhhhhh! Vivian says: and danielle walks up at the same time and the two of us are like ahhhhhhhhh! TONY!!!!! Vivian says: but he totally doesn't come get rid of it Friend: haha like "omg it's back after all these years" Vivian says: and then hours later i go out there and annemarie has caught it in a GIANT glass and is taking it outside cause zoey found it! Vivian says: and i think she's like trying to hunt it or something! Friend: how rude Vivian says: so she sort of flings it out of the cup hoping it will fly away and it sort of just falls to the ground like it can't fly well anymore cause the kitten hurt its wings Vivian says: so then rich is talking to me from work Vivian says: and i'm like OMFG Vivian says: HUGE BIRD MOTH MAN!!! Vivian says: and he's like LOL i saw that this morning Vivian says: and i'm like Vivian says: Vivian says: Vivian says: and you just LEFT IT THERE!? Vivian says: and he's like LOL i didn't have time to move it Vivian says: so he comes home for lunch and i sit with my back to the door annemarie went out to put it outside Friend: haha lol omg Vivian says: and jokingly i tell rich he has to watch my back cause i can just imagine the thing with a cast and crutches like pawing it's way back inside! Vivian says: and he laughs at me and then a while later, i look over and there it is on the floor! half a wing and sort of wiggling around! Friend: omg Vivian says: so i'm like AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Friend: maybe it just likes you very much Vivian says: and so rich gets a paper towel and goes to pick it up and take it to the trash can (but only after he does some lame trick like the thing is trying to fly away and he has to hold on to it while it spins him around) Vivian says: and i'm like RICHARD!!!! and my blood pressure is out of control now Vivian says: and then i ask him if he killed it and he says no Friend: omg Vivian says: and i'm like Vivian says: i can just imagine it climbing out of the trash can all darth vader style with a celery helmet!!!!!!! Friend: omfg i loled so f**king loud Vivian says: haha i know but ahhhhhhhhh! Vivian says: it's funnier if you imagine the breathing too! Friend: yeah... like you hear that scary breathing before it crawls out the can and you wonder what the hell is that? Vivian says: FUUUUUUUUCK that Like I said... SCARINESS!! Also, I was rereading this as I was posting it and laughing hysterically and Rich was looking at me like I was full of CRAZINESS!! He totally rolled his eyes at me... pfft! Bug leaver-there-er! So yeah, we had quite a big earth shake yesterday here. 5.8 on the Richter scale they say. I was at work when it happened and holy crap, the store was a mad disaster, but at least no one got hurt. Anyway, we're totally fine, house is fine, we just got jumbled around a bit. Thanks for all the messages hoping I was fine... love you guys! Hugs, Viv PS. I totally just found out that PATD will be back in Southern California in October!!!

I think, for me, the hardest part of writing sex scenes is the logistics of it, but I tend to over think things. I can't stand it when I'm reading and then I realize that the guy managed to get out of his pants and magically wasn't wearing any underwear, and all i can think of is... so he still has shoes and socks on? Similarly, it irritates me subconciously when the scene starts in a living room for example, and next thing you know, they're on a bed in another room, but never actually walked there. I suppose that if I'm noticing these things, that the point of the scene is being lost on me, the emotion that should be involved isn't there, and to me that's the key. Emotion. Like Duncan said, it's a love scene, and therefore, by definiton, requires love and emotion. Also, even if the people aren't 'in love' and it really is just a sex scene, there are still emotions present. Eagerness, horniness, relief, fear, nervousness, getting to live out some fantasy you have or something you've imagined and finding out it either does or doesn't live up to your expectations. The big part of how I connect with a story and the characters in it, is emotion and details, so I want to hear that more than I want to hear the technical aspects of the actual sex that takes place. That said, there are definitely some details I refuse to add. Size is the big one, and here's why: Every guy has one, and some are bigger, and some are smaller, and some have different characterisics, but in the end, it's still just the same thing and it still works just the same way. Further, I think that unless the point of you reading the story is to get off, it doesn't matter. Besides, the more involved the reader gets to be in the story, the more satisfying an experience it is to read it, so letting them just imagine it to be as they imagine it is makes that all the more possible. Also, if you are a good storyteller, your scene can be erotic or hot or sexy without you ever having to actually tell what's happening outright. The one other tip I have is this: Show the reader instead of telling them. Use action and dialogue instead of only narration. Good luck! Viv

Rich showed me this earlier and I was totally crying... it was SO... ugh, amazing and touching. The Lion Story Also, the other day he showed me this and I was hysterical... you should totally be allowed to sort things by penis... just saying! IT Guy vs. Dumb Employee In honor of my favorite IT Angel and Darlin! Hugs, Viv

That is all... Viv

Ohhh, I went out there... ONCE. My brother goes to school in Merced so... yeah, freshman orientation. By the time daylight came and the sun was up we were wondering where the hell we had driven to... not in Kansas anymore. Have a drink for me too! Welcome home!

Best wishes to you both... Now you get to have honeymoon sex and as many more years of happiness as possible! Hugs, Viv

HAVE A PENIS! HOLY EFF! So, it's Rich's birthday today! Funny story... I brought home stuff to make him a birthday cake, German Chocolate, cause I have mad skills like that, and he totally didn't know, so after I got home from work, I baked it and while it was cooling, I took a shower and chatted some with my Angel, and then I went to put the icing on it. I'm working away furiously with my spatula and some coconut pecan icing and of course my cell phone rings, so I tell my daughter to answer it, and it's Rich. I hear her very carefully omit where I am or what I'm doing and just say, "Yeah, hang on, I'll get Mom." All fine, UNTIL... she hands the phone to Matty who I hear say, "Oh hey Dad, yeah, Mom's in the kitchen making your SUPER SECRET BIRTHDAY CAAAAAAAAKE!" UGH, REALLY? So, I get on the phone and we are laughing at him but totally avoid the obvious cat-that-has-been-let-out-of-the-bag and he says instead that he is on his way home from work. So when he walks in the door, Matty says, "Oh hi Dad, ready to see your SECRET BIRTHDAY CAKE IN THE KITCHEN?" :wacko: In other news, now that same-sex couples are getting married here in California, Rich has made several ice bars and luges for some weddings, and this weekend is apparently Pride weekend in San Diego and so Rich has 2 four foot penises... peni?? to make for that. He said he's gonna model them after himself... So I promised to help a brother (in-law) out... literally. Any D&D, RPG players out there? Oh come on, I know you're out there... Mad amounts of you guys spend hours playing this stuff just like Rich does. Anyway, they have a site up now where you can find play-by-post games, a functional 3.5 and 4.0 D&D character sheet, podcasts of their game they play every weekend, discussion forums, articles, guys to chat with, Rich is there daily, etc... My DnD Game Anyhoodle, totally go check it out, chat around with the nerdy boys there that I love, listen to Rich and his friends be huge gigantic geeks, and I say that with all the love I posess, seriously. OMG in still other news!!! I wrote a whole page of UTBOS tonight... we'll see how that goes, but I've been utterly distracted with the kids home for the summer and what not... Anyway, thanks for being patient with me I love you guys for sticking by me. Hugs and birthday spankings for Rich Viv

... well, do you think you can come up with one in the next six months? Steve and I like candles and singing waiters and waiters with amazing asses and cake! We like cake

Are you tan? I have more tan lines in different places and shapes... I even have a flip-flop tan line... Do you use proactive? Nope, thankfully I have fairly nice skin and always have. Do you own chanel perfume? NO! I own Romance by Ralph Lauren which I rarely wear, and a bunch of Victoria Secret stuff, but the one I wear most is called Pure Seduction. Do you shower daily? Mmhmm, sometimes twice. Do you go to the tanning bed? NEVER! I think that's like scary and totally pitiful if you live where I do. Do you wear nail polish? Clear, cause my nails suck! They break all the time so I only wear that for strength. My nails are totally un-buff. Do you use MAC make-up? Hell NO! Do you straighten your hair everyday? Nope, once a year for a large sum of money that makes it so I don't have to do it daily. FRIENDS Name all your best friends: Ugh, no? You know if you are... Is the term Best Friends a label or promise? I think it's a relationship and a commitment. I try not to label anything... Do you have more than 1 TRUE best friend? Yeah... Best implies a higher stature than others I guess... but I think it's pluralistic. (I made that up...) Do you hang out with your friends every day? I try to, one way or another. What is the longest you have been in a fight with your bff? Umm, well we don't fight. Sometimes we get bitchy or snarky, but we don't fight. It's not like we can have make-up sex so really, what's the point? Is it easier to talk to your girl friends or guy friends? GUYS! Always has been that way for me. Would you ever date one of your close guy friends? You mean, if I was single and able to date? Sure! I have great friends! FASHION/STYLE Do you have style and originality? Umm... you tell me? I'm all about comfort usually. Do you own a designer handbag? Uh, no. I have one, and I don't switch it depending on what I'm wearing... (unless I'm getting totally dressed up for something and I have to.) Do you own something from Lacoste? Err... no. Do or did you wear leggings? Come on, I grew up in the '80's... requirement, hello? Is the color you'll never wear yellow? Uhh, no. The color I like to wear the least is red... just cause my skin ends up looking a weird color when I do. We like yellow, but mostly I wear black, gray, white, etc... Do you get fashion tips from magazines? If by tips you mean what not to do... sure. Do you shop at Abercrombie and Hollister? Not usually, but it's fun to walk by. Do you wear sweats a lot? Negative... but I do wear jammies and boxers often. TV/MOVIE Are you a movie freak? Umm, I like them, but freak? I think I don't qualify for that title. Have you seen over 10 movies in the past month? Not likely. Do you have a show that you must watch? Umm, not really. I usually only watch TV when we go to bed cause Rich HAS to have it on or something weird. And then it's like... something silly. The Soup or America's Best Dance Crew or some silly dating show on MTV or something. Do you watch The Hills on MTV? HELL NO! Have you ever seen an episode of Grey's Anatomy? No, I totally can't keep the McSteamy Dreamy thing straight. What is your favorite G Rated movie? Hmmmm, well, I love Finding Nemo and Beauty and the Beast the best I guess. Do you like classic movies? Some... Like, The Sound of Music. Grease. I suppose it depends who you ask and what makes a movie a classic. Do you watch 30 or more hours of tv a week? NO! I prefer to spend my time in bed doing other things. Do you own over 100 dvds? Nope, I don't think so anyway. Is Law And Order awesome? Usually, I especially like the one with the dad from Dirty Dancing as a detective. Jerry something-or-other. SPORTS Do you watch baseball on tv? On ocassion. Who's your favorite baseball player? Hmm, JT Snow or Troy Glaus. (No skill involved here... sad, I know) Do you play basketball? If you mean regularly, no. I have, I was on the team in the 8th grade until everyone else grew tall and I stayed the same height. Now I stick to HORSE... lame. Do you watch it on tv? On ocassion. Do you swim? Not as much as I'd like... I LOVE TO SWIM! Last time you were in a pool? Waaaaaaaaaay too long ago Are you good at volleyball? Sometimes... again, it's a height challenged thing. Is soccer cool? Uh, yes? Do you like to run? Umm, danger! Probably not the best choice of sport for someone who's... uhh... built like me. Are you in shape? I definitely have shape... Favorite sports team? So, I just asked Rich..."Do I have a favorite sports team?" and the answer is... "I don't think so." Last sporting event you attended? Tony's high school Varsity Football Games? MUSIC Do you like all types of music? Not really... What about rap? Nope. Have you been to more than 5 concerts? *counts* Paula Abdul and Color Me Badd... Beach Boys with John Stamos and Wilson Phillips showed up for a song... Bon Jovi and Extreme... Lynard Skynard... NOPE only four. Do you like Panic at the Disco? I swear I didn't change this, and HELL YES! SO much! Are you constantly downloading music? In between constantly listening to it and singing it, yep. Favorite Rock band? Panic at the Disco currently. Favorite local band? Hmm, if Vegas counts as local, then see above. What is the current song on your myspace page? I don't have any music on there... as it is I had to beg Joey to help me get it working right. (Thanks P-fat!~) FAMILY Do you have more than 1 sibling? Yep, 3 actually. Are you closer to your mom or dad? They are both equally the same distance from me... Do you like your living arangements? Mostly? Do you wish you could move? Lately, totally. We probably will. Do your grandparents spoil you? That's a nope... all deceased for years now. Do you have any step parents or siblings? No. How many cousins do you have? 2 Which of your relatives lives the farthest away, and where? All of them are on the east coast or rigth next to me... So that's it. Additionally, I have a question to include. When it's your birthday and you blow out the candles... do you actually make a wish? I totally do! Hugs, Viv OH! PS!! There is a certain someone I know and love that has been thrust into some total shit recently thanks to an uproarish type disturbance that took place here not too long ago, and I just want to tell you all that whatever misconceptions or opinions you might have... please don't judge people based on second-hand information that other people throw out there as their last line of self-defense when they're drowning in their own cesspool of crap. This man is one of the best people I know, and between all he gives of himself DAILY and the amount of emotion he drudges up and mucks through just so he can share it with us all, because he's that kind of guy and wants to help people, make them understand that they aren't alone and that they will always have someone to talk to, who will listen to them and understand, not judge them, and hug them... All I'm saying is... let's show him some support, even a fraction of what he shows us each and every day... he totally deserves it! Thanks for everything you do, Love... I happen to know you're amazing, and I love ya, babe! Just be yourself, okay? That's the person I know this world needs.

... bowling alley? Set of pins? Ball return? Collection of variously sized, but singularly styled shoes? Quantities of lanes to roll your balls on? Hey, on the bright side, you only tried to kill me once this time with a wayward golf ball and I do believe the bowling thing was my fault... or at least I said you could blame it on me. AND! Did you happen to get a whiff of the GIGANTIC cloud of cologne that Abercrombie bowler guy was wearing? I think the REAL challenge that night was not freaking out at the Murderee of Love...

but I was spending the week with an angel... Monday: I ran around like crazy, grocery shopping and recycling, doing more laundry than any one person should ever have to do, and then I showered and went to work where I was thankful I had something to occupy my time because I knew Jeff was on a plane flying west and I'd be hugging him in just a few hours. I had to work until 11 that night so the plan was that he would come from the airport to my store and then follow me home. Needless to say, the front end of my store saw MUCH HUGGING somewhere around 11:15 pm. He followed me home, I used my turn signals and everything! We hung out a little, but by then it was already like three a.m. his time and after the mad amount of chores I'd done that morning we all agreed on bed. Tuesday: We had Apple Jacks with Matty who was all nonchalant, walking into the kitchen and finding a strange man hanging out with his mom. "Oh, hey Jeff." I took a shower, he took a shower, persuaded the children to get dressed. Rich came home for lunch and I managed to lure Tony out of bed with the promise of spaghetti for lunch. We ate, Rich went back to work, and then we piled in the convertible and drove to The Block. First stop: Jamba Juice! Ron Jon's Surfshop, Tilly's, Vans skatepark and a quest for some shoes... apparently Jeff has a very popular foot size because every style he wanted, they didn't have in his size. They closed the pet store, and when I suggested the book store, Annemarie was adament when she declared, "NO!" Instead, we procured a dozen glazed Krispy Kreme donuts and dropped in on Rich to surprise him and give Jeff a tour of the Ice Carving business. Drove home, thankful for a break from the heat in the freezers, and hung out till dinner time. Chicken Enchiladas and rice and seven of us fitting amazingly around a table made for six. I got a slight sunburn in our thirty minutes of top-down travel, and I'm the native... what's that about? Shared some ridiculously yummy frozen yogurt Danielle brought home for us from work! Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny! I forgot that I promised myself that if I ever sat through that movie again, that I would count how many times they use the word 'f**K', until it was too late. Wednesday: We headed out about 8:30 a.m. for Encinitas and some family togetherness with his West Coast relatives. We were cruising along, wind in our hair, and then we got closer to the coast and pulled over for food, hot drinks, sweatshirts, and to put the top up. WIMPS! We arrived, there was hugging, a GINORMOUS pumpkin his uncle is growing that weighs more than Jeff currently, along with a vast array of other yummy, edible type things being grown. We met his uncle and cousin in La Jolla for lunch and had sandwiches on the beach before asking some poor, unsuspecting student to forget his homework and take our picture. His aunt drove us around sightseeing and we found out our families have a ridiculous amount in common, small world. We went back to his aunt's house and played with her snazzy Mac, talked his aunt into trading in her mini-van for a ride with the top down and went in search of some crazy-good hot cocoa mix from two different chocolatier's and tasted some amazing gelatto. Cruised home, made some dinner, and pretended we were chilling... except it was hot. Thursday: We drove to Orange to acquire some bushings and a new VW symbol for Rich's bus, and I stayed in the car to lecture the crazy people in the back seat who took over my children's bodies... Drove on to Corona to a snazzy bike shop where Jeff didn't even buy anything, but I did, go figure. Then on to see Steve and have Jamba Juice, except Annemarie who thinks she is being an individual by having Starbucks instead. We headed for the mall there after Steve had to go back to work, and ate lunch, second attempt at shoe shopping, FAIL! Hung out in the music store instead playing gutars and keyboards and drums and things and then drove home. Rich and Jeff rolled around under his car for a while and got greasy together while I made dinner, and then some more after dinner, test drove the now operational again bus. Jeff cleaned up and we headed to my store to meet Garren and a few other people Jeff hears a lot about on our phone calls during my breaks, and to buy stuff to make salsa for the next day. Played around with Garren a bit, shopped, turned down repeated proposals to clock in and stay and work, and got the hell out of there Came home and made salsa, and spicy fingers. YUMM! Friday: Jeff and I got up early and went walking, like five or six miles, showed him around town, the kids schools, where I went to high school, etc. Went to another grocery store, and Jamba Juice for Rich who had, up until this point, missed out on all previous Jamba-ing and was pouting, and took one grumpy teenager to Starbucks as a form of bribery and mood lifting. Came home, cooked like crazy, family showed up for Fourth of July. Ate too much, my nephew totally attacked me with a water gun. I had the hose, and I think I still lost... Took the kids and went to the park, and while they played, we played Taboo! Tried to watch a few fireworks from the surrounding amusement parks and headed home. Saturday: Slept in, cleaned up my kitchen from the disaster that was the day before. Will picked up a hungover Steve at noon and they arrived here about one as expected. We piled into two cars to head for the beach which turned out to be an awful idea as far as beach going, but great for sights. Gave up after two parking lots were closed and went for pizza instead. Came back to my place and changed, went mini golfing, Rich won with Jeff a very close second. I think it was Matty's first time, but he did great! Annemarie was miserable and doing her very best to make everyone else miserable too since we 'murdered some love'. We went bowling, which was fun, sort of cosmic, dark with flashing lights and music, and I actually won! Will was right there behind me... YAY WILL! Then Will drove Steve home and we ate leftovers and talked with Tony while Rich took a turn 'murdering some love' which was interesting since Jeff always hears about all the meltdowns, so he had been waiting to see one, and she delivered. Sunday: Slept in again! Baked a chocolate birthday cake for a certain birthday boy, and then baked some chocolate-chip toffee cookies for him to take home, went out to some crazy mexican place and had HUGE burritos for lunch, and then to Shoe City for round three of shoe shopping, but we were successful this time. On to Downtown Disney for MORE Jamba Juice and some souvenier shopping for a certain boy. Jeff called some cute emo/punk guy a dummy and a mannequin-American We came back here and I slathered some chocolatey goodness on the previously mentioned cake, and then put some chocolate cake crumbs around the edge before Matty put some sprinkles all over the top. Took a nap, made some dinner, digested under the guise of a showering six year old, lit a LOT of candles and then there was wishing and blowing and singing and all kinds of chocolate lips and laughing and far too much sugar and hamster dancing and then lots of passing out. Jeff packed, I laced new shoes, and forced baked goods into his luggage for J2. We hugged, he slept, I tried, but was only slightly successful. Monday: Got up at four a.m. to hug him goodbye again and then went back to bed where I tried to sleep some more. Eh... Steve texted to check on me like every morning Jeff just texted to say he landed safely back at home and Rich showed up for lunch and decided I miss Jeff. Thanks for coming to visit and for EVERYTHING! I love you, Angel! Viv