If you peeked at the links in the "In-House Links" section to the right, you probably found a couple broken links. Well, I have fixed that, so there should now be no broken links there.

I've redone my links, travelling webcomcs, and webpolls pages to reflect the current site design. That was part of the problem with the broken links. (I knew what I wanted to call the new pages, and changed my links to go to them, but I didn't have the new pages ready or up yet. Silly me!)

Next up: I want to set up my Funny Forwards section again, using MovableType to do it (like I did with my Pet Peeves section). This will take a little time (I have to figure out how I want it to look within the current design, set up the new Blog in MT, add entries, etc) but I hope to have it up soon, along with some new forwards I hadn't previously had.

I lost 4 pounds! I went to work out yesterday at our apartment complex's gym. I don't usually weigh myself there, not because it's not accurate (it's usually the same as the doctor's office scale) but because my weight never seems to change, ever since I dropped to an even 150. However, when I left the bathroom after changing, I decided to weigh myself on a whim. To my surprise, the scale read 146. Yea! Also, since my quarterly appointments to the doctor (to get my Depo injections) are around the same time I was there to work out, it isn't due to time of day changes in weight. (The "experts" always suggest weighing yourself at around the same time of day, because your weight fluctuates throughout the day. To get consistent results, you need to weigh yourself around the same time, so the fluctuation doesn't throw your results off.)

Yea!! This means I'm finally losing weight (I had already lost some fat, but not fast enough to overcome the gain in muscle weight). Only 26 pounds to go till I reach my target weight and svelt figure. (And yes, 120 is a reasonable weight for me, since I'm under 5'3" -- 160cm for those not in the US.)

Okay, so it's a day late. But hey, I didn't do much of anything productive yesterday, let alone anything else.

1. You're a medical researcher competing for funding. You have many leads for an AIDS cure but can't pursue them all. Do you give some to other researchers?
   Well, it seems pointless to let leads for curing AIDS go unexplored. I suppose I'm an idealist, but if I were researching cures for deadly diseases, I wouldn't keep it all to myself. So, yes I'd give away leads to other researchers. (I suppose if it were absolutely necessary to successful funding competition, I'd keep the most promising ones to myself to do.)
2. You oppose a new law requiring registration of all guns. Do you register your gun?
   Well, I guess if I opposed a gun registration law, I probably wouldn't register mine, if I had one. However, I don't think I'd oppose such a law, assuming provisions were in place to keep the law from aiding future seizure of all guns.
3. Technology will enable you to extend your life by 50 years. You must clone a second body for organ replacements. Do you do it?
   That's a tough one. For one thing, I probably wouldn't want to live that much longer, given that I'd probably outlive most friends and family by doing so (presuming everyone else wasn't doing it too). Also, does that mean a whole new body, including full sentience, etc.? I don't think I would. However, I would be willing to clone individual organs for medical use (whether to replace in me or someone else).

Oops, forgot #4 the first time 'round. It's there now.

1. What is your favorite scary movie?
   Ooh, that's a tough one. There are quite a few. I loved It, based very well on Stephen King's novel. The movie was just about as scary as the book, and they didn't cut a whole lot. I'd probably include The Shining as it was a great book, and what little I've seen of the movie it was well done, but... I haven't actually seen the whole thing, so... I also liked the Aliens series, all of 'em. I'm sure I could come up with more, but this list will do for now.
2. What is your favorite Halloween treat?
   Anything made of chocolate, just about. Nestly Crunch minis, Hershey's Minis, Reese's peanut butter cups & Pieces, Kit Kats, Butterfingers... The list goes on...
3. Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, describe your best Halloween costume.
   Well, I used to, but I haven't in years. I can't really remember all my costumes as a kid, either, so I can't say which one was best.
4. Do you enjoy going to haunted houses, or other spooky events?
   Sometimes. I've only been to one haunted house that I can remember, and it was fun enough. I've tried talking J into going with me to one, but he's not really interested. Besides, by the time I think to suggest it there's not really a chance to go.
5. Will you dress up for Halloween this year?
   Probably not. I'd consider it if it were a weekend, but it's on a Thursday. I have to work, and J doesn't get home until 7 or so, and we don't have any kids, so... what would be the point to dress up for a couple hours?

Not that I entirely believe this, but...

[link and image removed because they no longer exist]

There weren't any new Scruples posted on the site, so there are none here.

Talk about your disgusting-looking recipes... um... enjoy?

1. How many TVs do you have in your home?
   Two, though mine is rarely ever on. I did use it with the digital camera last night however.
2. On average, how much TV do you watch in a week?
   Heh, well since we'd do better to average it per month, and that average is usually in one sitting... Le'ssee, 2 hrs a month (tops), translates to a half hour a week or so.
3. Do you feel that television is bad for young children?
   Not in and of itself. As with anything, "use with moderation". In other words, if all the child does is watch TV (no game playing, no playing outside, no playing with toys, etc.) that's bad. Also, it's the parents' job to make sure their little one isn't watching adult-oriented shows.
4. What TV shows do you absolutely HAVE to watch, and if you miss them, you're heartbroken?
   Well, seeing as I rarely ever watch TV, there aren't any shows I sit down to watch specifically every time they're on.
5. If you had the power to create your own television network, what would your line-up look like?
   Honestly? I haven't the foggiest idea. I'd do my best not to have lots of commercials though, and less time devoted to commercials (i.e. having less of them wouldn't just mean running longer ones).

...to unwanted AOL CDs: This site is trying to collect 1 million AOL CDs from people who got them without asking for them. When they reach this goal, they plan on sending them all (either via several pick-ups or a semi) back to AOL, hopefully with lots of press coverage. This is to get the point across to AOL that they're just wasting everyone's time, money (and not to mention landfill space) by making and sending this stuff. Really neat site. I might just take them up on it, and send in any we have lying around.

This is an auction at ebay selling a complete Ghostbusters ensemble (jumpsuits, packs, and car). Heh, garage of operation not included, right?

This article is the most awesome thing. This guy took a plastic bread box and turned it into a computer. Very cool.

These weren't posted until yesterday evening, and I wasn't checking by that point, so they're a little late.

1. You don't care for an elderly aunt, But she's very wealthy and constantly revising her will. Are you more attentive?
   Um, well... regardless of her will, I would certainly at least make an effort to be civil when around her, regardless of whether I liked her. If I'm mentioned in the will, fine; if not, fine.
2. Church inspires you. Your 12-year-old son prefers to watch basketball on the tube. Do you insist your child attend church with you?
   Personally, no. But then again, I'm not exactly a "model churchgoer" to begin with (I don't belong to one). I figure, though, a child of twelve can decide for himself whether church should be a part of his life.
3. Your brother is engaged to marry someone who you think is bad news. He's in love. Do you try to reason with him?
   Well, by this point, I probably already would've tried reasoning with him. If it hasn't worked by now, it's not going to. If she turns out to definitely be bad news for him, he'll figure it out sooner or later, and I'll stand by him when he picks up the pieces.

This is a very interesting place I found mentioned on a forum I frequent. It's called The Crime Library. It has tons of stories about all kinds of different crimes, and makes for a very interesting read.

No matter how much sleep I need to make up for, as soon as I make up for it, I can't sleep that night. I spent a good deal of yesterday sleeping, and lemme tell ya I desperately needed it. But, when it came time to hit the sack for the night, even though I was tired, I couldn't sleep. Since I was having a little trouble itching anyway (cat dander probably) I took some "WalSom" (sleep aid w/ same stuff as Benadryl) and it eventually kicked in. This was at around 2:30am though, so when 7am rolled around getting up was not on my top ten list of things I wanted to do. Oh well, if I can not take a nap this afternoon (get J to go work out w/ me instead) then hopefully sleep will be more forthcoming tonight.

This is a day late, because I wasn't here at all Saturday, so I had no access to even read these until now. So, here we go...

1. Friends have arranged a blind date for you. You spot your date from afar and are turned off by his/her appearance. Do you go through with it?
   Well, it'd be rude to stand the guy up, so I guess I would. But I'd probably try to cut it as short as possible, unless he ended up being incredibly great to be around. However, for me to be put off by his appearance enough to consider standing him up, he'd have to look unclean (as in, hasn't bathed in a few days) or something, so the odds of there being a second date would be pretty slim.
2. An elderly friend is repeating a story he recently told you. Do you pretend you're hearing it for the first time?
   Well, why not? People retell their stories all the time (and they don't have to be elderly for this). It happens, and it'd be rude to interrupt, so I'd just go with it. (I usually do when someone's telling me a story again, unless they specifically ask me if I've already heard it.) After all, who's got perfect memory?
3. A friend has become a "know-it-all". It's annoying. Do you confront him/her?
   Well... I'd want to. But it'd really depend on who this person was, how close I was to them, etc. I'd probably just wave it off and ignore them. "Smile and nod" you know. Of course, if I wasn't in a good mood, and I knew something that pointed out something was wrong with what they said, I'd probably mention it.

(On time this time, I might add... )

1. What size shoe do you wear?
   7½
2. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
   That's a tough one, since I can't go right now and look at our shoe rack. Um... *thinks a few minutes* well, after a mental count and keeping a pencil tally, I came up with 17. This is counting the water shoes I only wear once a year to go floating, and both my wedding shoes (almost as uncomfy as the "shoes from hell" which I'd like to burn) and my wedding slippers I wore for the reception (wayyyy comfy!) which I figure I've worn and will be preserved with other wedding stuff.
3. What type of shoe do you prefer?
   Anything comfortable. In the summer, if there's no rain predicted, and I'm not going to be doing any outdoorsy stuff, I wear my two-strap sandals. With rain, hiking, playing in the yard, etc., I wear my sneakers. In the winter, I like my two pairs of clogs. One's brown leather, the other pair is navy felt. They're both really comfy, and surprisingly warm. (My heels stick out that way, but they don't get cold anyway, and they keep my toes nice and snug!)
4. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your favorite?
   Hmm... that's a tossup. I love those clogs I mentioned... I wear the felt ones when it's wet out (snow melt on the ground, sprinkling, etc.) and the leather ones when it's dry. I also wear the leather ones specifically if I'm wearing navy or other dark socks because of my clothing, because the navy felt ones would look funny. I love my sandals too though. Just slip 'em on (barefoot, no socks!) and go.
5. What's the most you've spent on one pair of shoes?
   I really am not sure. Probably not more than $50-60 bucks though. I usually buy shoes that are comfy and on sale. I even have a couple pairs of heels that are comfy (they don't look like stereotypical "comfy shoes" though, they look good), and I know I didn't spend a buttload on them either.

I'm now a purple belt. I received my belt last night at the beginning of class. It's going to be a heck of a lot of work to get to the next belt (red); hopefully this work will toughen me up a lot and make the skills I know come more naturally to me.

This is also my first belt issued to me with my married name (everyone in our class who receives a new belt also receives a certificate to go with it). That was pretty neat.

I have over a dozen comics I read every day (or, every day they come out, since they're not all dailies). Well, I just added one more to my list: Polymer City Chronicles. I saw it mentioned on the PvP forums yesterday, and between yesterday and today did a complete tear through the archives, which span over two years, closing on three. A lot of the early ones, especially from the first year, use one-day gags, or a few day long storylines, but nothing really involved. At some point (I'm not sure where exactly, probably at or a little before the character Sheeri came in) it changed to start doing more a more in-depth, continuous storyline. Throughout the entire comic, though, there have always been a few core characters, though more get added over time. So even through the "early days" there is always a sense of continuity: you can tell it's the same comic.

I've enjoyed them all, and I will continue reading them every day they come out. They're on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule, like a couple others I read, so they're going on the list. They're definitely getting added in my little "mini" list of links and my big links page in the "Webcomics" section. Go check it out!