I haven't exactly been keeping up with my journal lately, this past month has been The Suck. This is the last day of March. Good riddance assy freakin' month. I hope April is better...I won't say that 'April certainly couldn't be worse than March' because then some otherworldly being would come down and blow up my entire house...just to prove to me that, yes indeed, April COULD suck worse than March.

One good thing came out of the dark abyss of  Marchdom (I know, that's a totally made up word), I got a new job. This is the first job I've had in years. For the past 10 years I've been in very poor health and unable to work.  My health is still bad, and I feel that I am getting worse...but I'm so tired of not having my own money, having to rely on my husbands income, being stuck at home with nothing to do, etc. etc. It really sucks not having a job, I know that most people reading this are probably thinking, "I would LOVE to be able to sit at home and do nothing every day." Well believe me, it sucks. I get so bored, so lonely and so fed up with not being able to function like a normal human being.  A person can only do so much housework before going completely insane. So I'm really glad to be working again, after such a long time.  I hope it all works out. I don't want to let anyone down. 

My stomach just grumbled and Smeagol started to bark at me. She's a weird pug.

Anyways I've been training this week, it's been ok. I wanted a low stress job with highly flexible hours,  no office job etc. I also wanted a job where I could be moving around all the time, as I hate to be stationary. So I applied at the brand new Quizno's opening in my area, and was hired on the spot. I'm certain that I'm the oldest person working there, but that's ok.  The store isn't open yet, we're still getting things ready, cleaning, training etc. It should be open next week, so I'm looking forward to that. Keep your fingers crossed for me that it all works out.

The one problem with Quiznos is that they got rid of the 'Sponge Monkeys'. Do you guys remember them? They had them on their marketing team for like a month and then stopped showing the commercials and brought in that stupid 'Baby Bob' guy. Man, I really miss those Sponge Monkeys commercials.  I spoke to my boss about them, and he said that the Sponge Monkeys freaked people out, but Quizno's sales went up like 300% or something insane like that after the commercials came out. So now I'm even more confused as to why they got rid of the Sponge Monkeys.  Ok I should explain, for those of you that don't know what a Sponge Monkey is; here's the actual Quizno's sub commercial, featuring the Sponge Monkeys-

 

 

Ahhhh I miss those little fellas.  For more Sponge Monkey action, see them sing "We like the moon" and other hits over at www.rathergood.com . You won't regret it....actually, you probably will.

I've been spending a lot of time over at my dog Stimpy's journal lately, I really haven't had much time for my own thoughts these past two and a half weeks. I haven't slept much since Stimpy passed away, and my nights are filled with strange dreams. I miss him terribly.

I went to Johnson City yesterday with my good friend Jen. I went with the idea of seeing a tattoo artist friend of hers about getting a tattoo of Stimpy and my cat Oliver on my back. I wanted to have a tattoo of Stimpy and Oliver riding on butterflies around a honeysuckle vine on my back...however in order to have Stimpy and Oliver look real and not cartoonish, They would have to be larger than I originally had hoped for them to be (in order to get all the details to show up). So I have to rethink my design now. I'm thinking of having Oliver on one shoulder and Stimpy on the other, and then maybe some honeysuckle vine and a few buds connecting between them across my back...however there is one problem, I already have a small manatee tattoo on my right shoulder. The tattoo guy said he MIGHT be able to tattoo Stimpy right overtop of that manatee, but the outline on the manatee is pretty heavy so he's not too sure.(some totally high biker dude gave me that tattoo in florida. It was my first tattoo and I do like it, but it's not the best quality). Anyhoo ever since Oliver died I have been wanting to have him tattooed on me.  I have been thinking for about a year now of getting Stimpy AND Oliver tattooed on me. The reason I'm only having those two on me and not Louie, Bullitt or Smeagol or any of my other cats, is because Oliver was my first cat, and Stimpy was my first dog, and they will always be extra special to me because of that. It's because of Oliver that I love cats, and it's because of Stimpy that I love dogs. I want to keep them as close to me as possible,and since I've waited well over a year since I came up with this design, I know that I am ready to have it done.  So I think instead of having them riding butterflies, I will have butterfly wings put on them, and I will have them sitting amidst the honeysuckle. I think that would be lovely. Honesuckle symbolizes 'Devoted affection'. It also is one of my absolute favourite flowers. It grows wild and rampant down here, and it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to my garden. I love it, it smells wonderful. I also always thought that Oliver, Louie and Gritty-Kitty were sending me butterflies...I know it sounds strange but it's what I believe. In the summer, butterflies would surround me at times, and I remember right after Gritty died, a butterfly came and landed right on my hand. I felt deep in my heart that Gritty-Kitty had sent that Butterfly to me. I know I may sound kooky, but I don't care. It's what I believe, and I will continue to believe it.

So anyhoo, Jason and I have seen a couple of good movies in the past two weeks, but I just don't have the gumption to review them. Go see 'V for Vendetta', it's a fabulous film. Very exciting, very different. Natalie Portman was good in it, Hugo Weaving was awesome (even though you never see his face). The only thing was, Natalie Portman needed much help with her british accent, it really wasn't very good. Other than that, the movie was really great.

We also saw 'Everything is Illuminated', starring Elijah Wood. I have been waiting to see this film since last September, but it never came around to any theatres here. So finally it had been released on DVD last week and Jason and I rented it. I really enjoyed this film, as I am a huge Elijah Wood fan and he looked quite dreamy in this film. He had these giant coke bottle glasses that magnified his already bulbous icey blue eyes and it made him look very soppy and sweet indeed. Matched with his jet black hair and pale skin, he looked wonderful. Anyhoo, his acting was great too! Hehe. He got rave reviews for his role in this film, and those reviews were well deserved. The music in this movie made me feel happy...which was a good thing because the movie ended up pretty sad. Check out this film if you get the chance.

Anyhoo, that was a long blog today. I want to leave you with another fun link to go check out. This link has kept me smiling for the past 2 weeks. It's really hillarious, click on the guinea pig below to have a look...you won't regret it!! It's adopt a Guinea Pig Month!!!

In an attempt to bring me out of my funk, I have been searching through my folders and bookmarks for something to make me laugh. Finally I found this little gem, hidden away in my bookmarks. I haven't seen it in around 2 years, and it really made me laugh. I don't know if it's as funny as I think it is, but it just tickles my funny bone. So why don't you take a look and tell me what you  think...

Hello everyone,

I've posted this journal entry on Stimpy's site as well, since Stimpy is no longer around to write his own entries...

These past 2 days have been 2 of the most difficult days of my life. When I woke up this morning I actually thought for a moment that I had just had a terrible nightmare...but then I realized that Stimpy wasn't in his bed beside me and I knew that it was no dream, my Stimpy was indeed gone.

I will be taking some time away from the computer. I have so many things to think about, and I have to put this all into perspective. I have to figure out how I am going to begin to move on without my best friend in the world. 

Stimpy has been with me for 13 years. 13 wonderful years. The pain of losing Stimpy will never overshadow the sheer joy of being a part of his life. I have SO many memories of him. All of them are good of course, even the memories of him being a bad boy. I smile when I think of him eating my underwear and then barfing it up hours later...I smile when I think of him eating my couch. I laugh when I think of him getting amorous with the neighbours cat.  The tears won't stop, even when I am smiling...right now, thinking about Stimpy at all is causing so much sorrow. I know that this will all cease once the shock wears off. Then I will be able to heal, and slowly move on.

His spot on the couch seems so dark and empty now. I sit there and long to hear the slurping sound of him licking his butt. Things that used to drive me nuts....I would now do anything to have back again.

Stimpy was a unique individual. I felt that we had a bond unlike any other. Stimpy wasn't my lap dog, actually he rarely came to see me at all as he got older. After Louie died, Stimpy became a recluse, and only came to me when he needed something. I gave him everything he ever needed, and everything he ever wanted. Now, at long last, he is with his dear Louie. I can picture them in my head now...laying in the grass in some beautiful shangri-la, soaking up the sun and waiting very patiently for the day when we will all be united again.

I will never forget Stimpy. I will never get over his passing, but my family and I have to put this grief in it's place and then we will be able to move on...slowly.  I have to learn how to live with Stimpy as just a memory, and not as my fluffy little man sitting on the couch making bad smells.

I'm not sure what I am going to do with Stimpys journal as of yet, that is something I will think on during my hiatus from the computer.

I don't know how to thank you all...your kind words during this very difficult time have made everything a bit easier. Just knowing that Stimpy touched all of your lives has warmed my heart.  To read about how you were all moved by word of his passing brought a tear to my eye. I'm so pleased that Stimpy's journal touched you all so deeply.

That was the reason Stimpy and I started his journal, we wanted to have other people get to know him in the same way that I knew him...we wanted to make sure that when Stimpy did pass on, that he would leave a legacy behind. I'm not sure what that legacy is, but at least he won't soon be forgotten by anyone. Even if it's simply as one of you are walking in the park one day and come up to a strange looking dog and the owner tells you that it's a poodle/shar pei mix....and you say, "OH that's nothing. I knew this dog...Stimpy...he was a pitbull pug!"  Just that alone makes me happy. To know that Stimpy left an impression on you all.

Thankyou so much to all of my kind and wonderful friends here at Bravejournal for your tributes, memorials, thoughts, prayers and kind words to Stimpy, my family and myself. We will never forget your friendship and kindness.

I am in agony...i can't take this pain another minute.

It is with deepest regret and sadness that I am informing you now that Stimpy passed away last night.


We found him this morning, it appeared that he probably died shortly after he went missing.


I always knew I would have to inform you all of Stimpy's passing one day...but I never thought it would be now, so soon after we had gotten to know all of you. I always dreamed that he would die in my arms, of old age. I knew he was old, and his time with me was growing shorter every day. I tried to make his last days the best that I could. I hoped that I would be there with him when he died, so I could be the last thing he saw before he closed his eyes forever. I never in a million years thought that it would happen this way.

It wasn't supposed to be this way...how could this happen to my beautiful boy...13 years...13 wonderful years only to have him die like this.

It hurts so much I can't bear it



Thankyou all for allowing me to share Stimpy's life with you. I guess knowing that his time on this planet was growing short, I wanted other people to read about my boy, to learn to love him and know him like I do. I wanted others to love and understand him. I wanted to share his wonderful life with everyone else. I wanted to let people know how amazing a dogs life could be.


Thankyou all so much for your friendship and for taking the time out of your lives to read about my beautiful Stimpy.

I don't even know how to carry on without him.

My heart is broken into a million pieces...I don't think it will ever heal.

For those of you who don't know Stimpy, and come across this journal, please go visit his journal to read about what a wonderful boy he was. Click here to read about Stimpy.

Ok the 78th annual Academy Awards has just ended and I am so totally pissed off  that I can barely see straight....some people are sports freaks, I am a movie freak. Just as some people take the Superbowl very seriously, I treat the Academy Awards the same way.

What a total assfest tonights show was. ASSFEST EXTRAORDINAIRE.

Usually I am pretty darn good at picking the winners on Oscar night. Nothing is ever a real shock to me, as I've always got things pretty well pegged. Well, NOT THIS YEAR. I am STUNNED by the outcome of the 2006 Academy Awards.

By far, the best picture of the year was Brokeback Mountain. HANDS DOWN. The movie 'Crash' was good; a really good film to rent on DVD.  I watched it, and I said, "That was a good movie, the best thing about it was Matt Dillons performance, I appreciate their message, now it's time for bed." And I never thought about it again, never in my life thinking that the film would be up for best picture. Not in a million BILLION years. I thought Brokeback Mountain was a shoo-in, because as I said, it was hands down the best film of the year, a masterpiece of cinema. Director Ang Lee is indeed a fabulous director, worthy of much praise and MANY OSCARS FOR THIS FILM. .

Well, first of all, Jason and I were gone for the day, so we TIVO'ed the Oscars. Unfortunately the TIVo stoped recording at 11pm sharp, but the Oscars ran overtime (of course). So Jason and I didn't get to see in real time who won Best Actress, Best Director or Best Picture. We just saw Phillip Seymour Hoffman win for Best Actor for his role as Capote (which was one of the few things I agreed with tonight, and it was a well deserved win at that).

So the TIVO cut off and we were like, "AAAAAAHH!!!!!!" And we had no idea who won 3 of the major awards of the evening, so I had to come online to find out here, and I just about DIED when I saw that Brokeback Mountain DID NOT WIN BEST PICTURE! They won every other major award this year for best picture, but when it came down to the Oscars, they didn't win! THEY WERE ROBBED!!! COMPLETELY ROBBED!!

Can you tell how pissed I am? I am furious. It turns out that Ang Lee won best director thank goodness....but then they didn't win best picture. ROBBED. Completely. I saw an after show interview, and he rightfully seemed very ticked off. He even said how he couldn't understand it...his film won every other major 'best picture award' except the Oscar. How totally dissapointed he was. I was so dissapointed myself, I can't even imagine how he must feel!

Reese Witherspoon won best actress for her portrayal of June Carter-Cash in 'Walk the Line'. Thank goodness the Academy had some brief moments of lucidity when voting this year, because Reese deserved this win, big time. Everyone knew she was going to win, thank goodness this wasn't another upset tonight because I don't think I could handle anymore dissapointment. I think this was the only category that I wasn't dissapointed in this year.

George Clooney winning best actor in a supporting role? No way. I know that everyone is madly in love with George, he's a great actor, a great guy, and an even better movie star. He is also a great director and talented all around dude....however this award should TOTALLY have gone to Paul Giamatti for his role in Cinderella Man. I knew he would never get it, because the Academy loves George Clooney and he really was due for an Oscar. He has been in the business for a long stinkin' time and he totally deserves some respect and recognition, I completely acknowledge that. I wrote a review of Syriana a while back.... I hated that film. YAWN CITY. George was ok in it, but I felt that his performance was forgettable. But that's just me. I like George, but Paul Giamatti...he's the real winner in my book. I'm soon going to put together my list of the10 most overlooked and under-rated actors in hollywood and he will be on that list. Even if Matt Dillon had won, I would have been way happier than when George Clooney did. Matt Dillon was the best thing about the movie 'Crash'. It takes a brave man to take on a role like that...he did a fabulous job. He's come a long way, maybe even a bit longer way than George Clooney. Does anyone remember seeing Matt in 'Little Darlings' from the early 80's? hehe. Boy, he's come a Looooong way! Good for him for even getting nominated.

Best supporting actress...Rachel Wiesz for 'The Constant Gardener'. Are you kidding me? The best thing about that film was Ralph Fiennes who was completely amazing, and he was totally overlooked by the academy. Shame on them for that.  I felt that Rachel Wiesz performance was 'good' at best. Nothing special at all, and certainly not Oscar Worthy.  The best performance  by an actress in a supporting role should have gone to Michelle Williams for Brokeback Mountain. She was fabulous. WAYYY better than Rachel Wiesz. Any of the other actresses could have won and I would have felt better about it than Rachel Wiesz winning. She totally did not deserve this. What was the academy thinking when they cast their ballots this year????

Let's see, what else pissed me off....Did I mention that Crash beat out Brokeback Mountain? No, I wasn't joking....no seriously, it did.  I haven't been this ticked off by the Oscars since 'Lord of the Rings' lost out to 'Chicago' in 2003. I don't even think I was as angry then as I am right now, because I KNEW that Lord of the Rings wasn't going to win because the Academy NEVER votes for sci-fi or fantasy films.  When Return of the King finally won, it was indeed a shocking and wonderful moment in Oscar history.

It just makes me so angry when a movie wins the Oscar for all the wrong reasons. 

In short, I think that everything that won, that shouldn't have won, won for all the wrong reasons. Politics, popularity, promotion, money money money.

I didn't even get to see any pre-show footage, so I didn't get to see many of the dresses etc. I'll be back tomorrow to talk about who looked the best etc., and I will carry on this blog with such exciting topics as;

Classic men's tuxes are back and shnazzy as ever at the Oscars! So far my pics for best dressed dudes at the Oscars are-
Joaquin Phoenix, George Clooney

My best dressed women at the Oscars (I haven't seen all the dresses yet but I'll be back with more tomorrow!)-Michelle Williams and Reese Witherspoon

Keanu and Sandra-You guys looked great!

Worst dress I've seen so far was Charlize Theron...why would she hide herself with all that saggy, baggy extra fabric? Yuck!

I'm going to bed now, I'm tired and angry...I must get some sleep before I continue with my Oscar coverage....