Just for fun: The Condiment Packet Museum

fun diversion for a rainy day: sodaconstructor

i saw a lot of this stuff whilst in japan last summer. definitely worth a run-through: japanese engrish

What a great site. too bad am a fan of diet pepsi. Diet Coke

Have just been reading old blog posts and feel am cheating readers unless I make mention of what I've been up to lately. First, cleaned out all the old junk I was complaining about below from my dining room. Next, I sorted through all the books and put them in underbed storage boxes, stored properly under bed. Next, took rest of non-book junk and sorted through it and decided what to keep and what to throw away. Have stored junk in extra bedroom as currently have no roommate and will eventually put in closet once closet is cleaned.

Have severe mental block over closet. Do not want to clean but must as Laura is coming from L.A. in two weeks and do not want friends to see me living like that.

Next step was to buy two unfinished chairs at Lowe's and put them together: $44.95 per chair. Assembled chairs (used tools!) in afternoon and painted with primer, which was oil-based and nearly asphyxiated cat. Aired out cat. Painted (chairs) with three coats of latex paint (barn red) and sanded at appropriate moments. Am currently working on finishes. Furniture wax looked great but too high-maintenance. Bought polycrylic finish and have been painting it on, letting it dry and sanding since Saturday. Looks v. nice.

Underbed boxes: $8
Chairs: $90
Primer: $8
Paint: $15
Sandpaper: $4
Polycrylic: $4
Brush: $4
Storage boxes: $8

Total cost of project: $150

I'm pretty proud of myself. And you should see how beautiful the chairs look. Next step: hanging my 60" high Art Nouveau poster and getting some placemats, or a table runner, or something else that looks nice.

Martha would be proud. :)

Have been away far too long from blog page and must make effort to write more often.

CHANDRA, WHERE ARE YOU? Have become obsessed with Chandra Levy missing persons case. Most people don't disappear. Most people aren't the victims of random, anonymous crimes. Most people are killed by people who are supposed to love them. No wonder Condit is hiding. I don't think he did it, but do understand his need for privacy. Interesting that he was one of Clinton's most vocal critics. Hi Pot, my name's Kettle.

IT'S EITHER GRACE, OR IT'S NOT: Isn't that the case? Any efforts made by a man to secure his own salvation prove false. If they are necessary efforts, than salvation is not by grace, but by the man's own works. I have such a hard time understanding why this doesn't make sense to people. Grace cannot have as an addition the efforts and works of the man. God doesn't need us to add anything to what Christ has done to validate it or otherwise make it 'work.' He either saves us or we aren't saved. Am tired of hearing people complain that we must do our part to show God we really, really want salvation before He will save us. That makes Him dependent upon our will and therefore we are center of universe and in control of own destiny. Or am I the only person who sees this?

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D DO THIS, BUT...: Have been proud owner of Franklin Planner for six months now! Honestly, never thought I'd still be aware of where the silly thing is, let alone still using it everyday, at this point. But cannot seem to get work done without it and have become completely dependent. This is scary because they have discontinued my groovy Metropolitan pages and everything else is cheesy and ugly. Am hoping they will come out with another hip set of inserts by the holidays. Starting work on November issue, which is why this is suddenly a concern in July.