bbPress

Any of you who are WordPress users may find this of interest … I’ve been playing around with a copy of bbPress lately, and though it’s still in its infantile stages so far I’m pretty pleased with the way it’s turning out.

I installed a copy onto Now We’re Cookin’ this past week, and called it Now We’re Lookin’.

Screenshot:

I had been wanting to add a set of user forums; and because bbPress can be integrated with WordPress, this adds advantages, including shared login information — basically any user who has a username and password for the NWC website will also have one for NWL.

I’ve tried to match it up as close as possible to the main site without looking too “off” and feel that I’ve done a pretty good job. The theme it’s using is my modified version of the default bbPress template, so nothing fancy, just a new set of images and moved a few things around.

Plugins used:

• Allow Images 0.7.1
• Avatar .73a
• bbEmoticons version 0.72
• Memberlist .73c
• Google Sitemap Generator .6
• BBPress Private Messaging 0.73
• Use Display Name 0.7.2
• Online List 1.3-fix
• WordPress Integration .7
• Post Notification 1.2
• My Resolve Title 0.1
• Limit Latest Discussion 0.73

(all plugs found via the bbPress forums )

Skinning this thing has been a bear, but everything else has been relatively easy as pie thanks to those who’ve posted these plugins, the FAQ and other solutions in the bbPress forums. The forum users and mods have been really helpful.

Feel free to drop by and let me know what you think! Feedback would be greatly appreciated. I’ve checked it on Firefox 2.0 and IE 6.0 but would love to hear from users of other browsers!

I’m still ironing out a last handful of bugs (mainly spacing issues) and will most likely release the theme when finished.

Merle Norman

Lately I’ve become a big fan of Merle Norman products. A few weeks ago I was shopping around for a gift for the “Dirty Santa” exchange at my Ladies Night Out meetup. On my way to pick up Jessie from school, I passed the local Merle Norman store. I figured “What the hey…” and went in and picked up a gift certificate. The saleslady was very helpful and since I had a few minutes to spare I wanted to ask her about their facial care products and makeup line. I’ve had a horrible time finding skin cleansers, moisturizers, and the like that won’t make me break out. I had been using Neutrogena, but it dries out my skin. I love Dove’s products, but the face lotions make me break out something fierce. Oil of Olay is ok, but their products burn my eyes. ( I could go on … really! )

Anyways, as I was saying, the lady was super helpful and very nice and gave me a LOAD of samples to try out. A week later, I’m sold! Merle Norman’s products are higher priced than things you’ll find at Walgreens or K-mart, but if your skin is anywhere near as finicky as mine, you might want to give them a try! I went back a couple of weeks ago and loaded up with a small array of makeup products (I don’t wear a whole lot anyways so just foundation, an eyeshadow/blush combo, and lipstick fit me fine!), and a complete line of skin care products.

It was both a celebratory and Christmas gift to myself, and to be honest my face has never looked better. My complexion has completely cleared up, my skin is no longer dry and flaky. My rosacea only perks up when I’m upset (damn my Irish heritage ) or stressed, and doing my makeup now takes only 15 minutes and I’m in and out and ready in a hurry.

SO … I’m tickled pink because I found something that makes my skin look and feel great and I feel pretty. :mrgreen:

Hey, if any of you ladies are interested, I’ll be more than happy to post which products I tried and/or bought!

I was talking to one of the ladies behind the counter when I was paying for my purchase and she asked about the wedding and had I given any thought to how I wanted my makeup done. Honestly, I had planned on doing it myself, but they’ve offered to do my makeup FOR ME. So I may just take them up on that!

I think Johnny Mathis lied to me

Christmas hasn’t exactly been “the most wonderful time of the year” … and at this rate, never will be again.

Jessie had the full-blown flu. Unfortunately her mother waited too long to take her to see a doctor, so she couldn’t get the shot AND she had a 102 temperature for 3 straight days. Poor thing didn’t eat much at all and had no voice. She and I had run out to the store on the way home from her mother’s one night and we were listening to Christmas songs on the radio. She started crying because her favorite song in the whole world came on and she couldn’t sing it: Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.

Even though we had worked out to where Jim and I would have her for the holiday weekend, she was too sick to travel around with us, so her mother had her for Christmas Eve — again.

Jim and I went to my parents’ house Christmas Eve night for the yearly get-together. The night started OK, Dad was bubbly and friendly when we arrived and things went well through dinner and the gift exchange. Jim and I got a lot of nice things. The extended family leaves and it’s just me and Jim, my folks, my brother and his fiance (now his wife) sitting around. Dad wanted us to come back the next morning to do the family Christmas exchange — well, I had spoken with Mom a couple weeks beforehand and we agreed to do it Christmas Eve night because Jim and I would be gone all the next day, and we had made plans according to that. Dad got pissed because we had made other plans and he didn’t want to do the gift exchange that night. We exchanged gifts anyway and he pouted and starting showing his ass. Jim and I said our goodbye’s, then left and went home.

Christmas morning we got Jessie from her mother and her fever was back (but was low grade thankfully) and she hadn’t been taking her medicine AND she hadn’t eaten anything. I gave her some medicine and once her fever was down, we dropped by Jim’s mom’s place for a short while. We exchanged gifts and chatted for a while. His mom had made a huge meal, but unfortunately within a couple of hours Jessie’s fever had come back. We gathered a bit of food to go and headed home. Poor Jessie pouted and cried all the way home. She didn’t want to take any medicine — and has apparently been talking her mother OUT of giving her any!!!! I spoke with her mother that afternoon and she told me that Jessie told her “Mommy, this kind doesn’t work so I don’t need any” and so she didn’t make her take anything!!!! I was floored. I swear, this woman wants full custody of this child but doesn’t want to be a mother. Jim and I spoke with Jessie and she got a talking to about the whole “medicine thing” and I’ve spoken with her mother and (have hopefully) convinced her to continue to medicate Jessie as instructed by her doctor.

*sigh* … moving right along …

Now, I hadn’t posted about this because it was a secret, but my brother had planned his wedding for December 29th, as a surprise. I didn’t want to ‘blab on the blog’ in case Christy ran across one of my entries.

Christmas Eve night we’re at my parents’ house finalizing the meetup time and details. Everyone agreed to be at my parents’ house early that morning for the wedding. Jim and I drop in and pretty much everyone was there already. Dad greeted us at the door — or rather, he opened the door and glared at me. He was “less than friendly” for pretty much the whole day. Jessie was with us and of course all of the family made a fuss over her and made sure to tell her how much they all missed her at Christmas and hoped she was feeling better and being really sweet — or rather, everyone except my dad. He maybe spoke to her once. Mother spoke to her a little. But neither one of them spoke to Jim at all. Dad pretty much ignored me the rest of the day. Hell, half of the guests didn’t even know who I was. (many of them I recognized from photos Jeremy had shown me or I’d seen via his MySpace) One of Jeremy’s friends was sitting by us during the reception and asked who I was related to (the groom or the bride) and I told him I was Jeremy’s older sister. He had a very surprised look on his face and said “Man, nobody knew who you were! So I figured I’d ask!” He was sweet, but that made me feel worse.

Dad made sure to introduce the limo driver to everyone, but not his daughter.

Anyways, the ceremony was short and very cute. They pretty much hurried through everything and left in a limo for the airport. They are honeymooning in Alaska. When it came time for us to leave I waited around because I had wanted to talk to Mom and Dad before I left. Dad walks by and I said “Well, I think we’re about to head out” (thinking he’ll do his usual stop and try to convince us to stay and/or take some of the food) … to the contrary, he says “OK” and turns around and walks off.

I know my face had to have been completely transparent. My grandmother saw it and I knew she was upset. Jim was pissed and was holding it together long enough to get me out of there before I lost it. We walked out the door and after getting into the car Jim says “Your dad didn’t even so much as hug you did he?”

“No.”

I cried all the way home. I know he’s upset with me, and I know that it was Jeremy’s day, which is why I didn’t make a scene or say anything to anyone, but I don’t think I deserved to be ignored.

I was talking to a friend yesterday afternoon after getting home and he asked me what was wrong … I replied “I was an outsider at my own brother’s wedding.”

I cried a bit more and Jessie, bless her heart, did her best to try to cheer me up. She didn’t know what was going on, but she knew that it involved my dad and that I was hurting. I slept most of the afternoon and woke up with the worst headache last night. Jim made dinner (hooray for Wendy’s!)

All I can say about this holiday is: it sucked on an emotional level — like a huge proverbial black hole. And I will be SO GLAD when December is over so that I can put everything behind me and move on. I am extremely thankful though for those close to me who I know love me and have been supportive of me when I’ve needed it lately. Hell, I’ve unloaded on poor Teresa several times the last few days. I talked to her for 2 1/2 hours last night and honestly felt better than I had in a while.

I love my friends. If I didn’t have y’all, I wouldn’t have any “real” family.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.

I’m looking forward to the new year, and in keeping with last year’s resolution I will make the same again this year — not to make any more resolutions. :grin:

Love and Blessings to you all!

Nollaig Shona Daoibh (or, Merry Christmas!)

Jim and I will be out of pocket for the next couple of days, so this is your (early) Merry Christmas post. :grin:

May you and your loved ones, wherever you are, have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Duit!

An Irish Christmas Blessing

The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God’s peace to you.

Into the Superunknown

I finished my last day with NSR yesterday with little fanfare or excitement. Most everyone wished me well and asked that I keep in touch, several didn’t speak to me at all. No surprise, really — I knew of at least 2 individuals who could not wait for me to leave. LOL It was pretty cool though overall, one of the Sales guys gave me some flowers. Another gave me a large artsy mug and some tea (she knew how much I love tea).

Jim and I interviewed a candidate for my position earlier this week. The job was offered, and I figure he will most likely accept. He seemed nice enough, works for a bank downtown, seems bright … I had my reservations, but honestly it wasn’t my call. If he works out, he works out. If he doesn’t, I guess they’ll keep looking. Unfortunately I was not able to leave my desk as empty as I would have liked (much to Jim’s chagrin!), so the new guy will have plenty to do when he starts mid-next month. My boss wants me to come in after he starts and help train him, but I honestly don’t know when that’s going to be possible … I start my new job before the new guy starts NSR.

I was talking to a friend of mine last week and she commented on how she was surprised to hear that when I turned in my notice management didn’t offer me more money, benefits, or any type of enticement to stay. I’m not in the least bit surprised, but it would have been nice to be offered. I left still feeling a bit unappreciated. I can honestly say that this is the first employer I’ve worked for where my position held very little respect in the eyes of upper management, but I knew that when I started … I needed the money, and it was good experience. (the office drama I could have done without, but one could not avoid it in a small workplace such as that) Don’t get me wrong — it’s been a good thing overall, but if I had my wish, there would have been MANY things changed about that job!

I’m nervous about the new job … but then again, I’m always nervous before starting a new job. It’s like going to school on the first day, you’re not sure what to expect, but feeling pretty sure that you can handle anything thrown your way. It’s a great opportunity for me, the pay and benefits are great, and I’ll be able to be home a lot more. Plus, it was time I moved on. I was getting burned out at NSR — and besides, Jim and I needed this. Don’t get me wrong, working with him has been great, but I won’t do that again. :lol: We drive each other crazy after a bit!

Jessie is looking forward to me being home more, but I don’t think she realizes that I’ll be WORKING, and not able to play with her. hehehe Poor thing, she has had the flu over the past 3 days and will most likely miss most of Christmas.

Her doctor has ordered bed rest for the next 3-4 days and with Jim and me being gone for the next 2-3 days, it wouldn’t be fair to Jessie to drag her along as we originally wanted (we haven’t had her for Christmas Eve in 2 years now *sigh*). We agreed that she’ll stay with her mother this weekend. If she’s feeling up to it Christmas Day, we’ll pick her up so she can go with us to visit Jim’s mom and stay a while at our house to see the Santa gifts.

Incidentally, this is probably “Santa’s” last year … we think she suspects he isn’t real, and Jim says he’ll tell her next week. What a shame, that was always the highlight of the season for me — getting to plan out the “Santa stuff” and seeing her reaction on Christmas Day.

They grow up so fast.

Well, I think I’ll cut things short for now. I’m about to have to go rescue Hobie from the stairs — she’s lost nearly all of her eyesight and has now gotten used to sitting somewhere just within earshot and yowling whenever she wants something. LOL!

Spoiled cat. I swear, she’s going to wake the whole house!

She’s doing pretty well otherwise. Though now she feeds by sticking her whole face into her food bowl, it’s the funniest thing to watch! I think part of it is for show because she’ll hear me or Jessie making a fuss over her, and she’ll purr and smile … I think I’m going to have to hose her down this weekend to get the food out of her fur though! hehehehe

McDonald’s Outsources Drive-Thru Workers in Hawaii

I wonder … how long until this reaches the continental states?

Today I had a BigMac attack the first time in a long time and I also wanted to verify a rumour that was going around the office. They guys were telling me that the order taker at the drive-thru was in California, remember I live in Hawaii!

I rolled up to the Golden Arches and got in the drive-thru line. When I got done placing my order I asked the person taking the order if it was true that she was taking orders from California. When she replied yes I said that’s weird, she did not reply. I also asked if she was really in California and not India or someplace else. Again no reply.

The usual window that is open to take money and has the person taking the drive-thru orders was closed, but I could see in the window the ordering monitor was alive with activity. The screen that they usually press to enter orders was updating on its own with no one touching it.

When I got to the checkout window I asked if it the person taking the order was really in California. The guy looked at me and said, “that’s what we’re supposed to say,” and gave me a wink? This surprised me and it really pushed one of my get pissed off buttons.

I told him to cancel my order and to inform the manager I would not support a food chain that outsource service level jobs. I was pretty sarcastic when I told him that, I added that at least they could not out source him. That earned me a smile. He actually said ‘thanks’ when I drove off.

I don’t go to McDonald’s very often, but it makes me really mad that they are outsourcing service level jobs to either a foreign country or another state. Normally those entry level employees would spend their paychecks in this state and add to the tax base.

I am unsure how widespread this is, but I will never step foot in McDonald’s again. They will never ever get a single penny of my families money. I hope this makes you mad enough to vote with your wallet.

Note: I will continue to support the Ronald McDonald houses as that is a wonderful organization and a charity worth supporting!

Source

Holy dancing wombats, Batman!

One of my lovely Guild members sent me this cute little guy:

I am the Sun!

See? This meme tells me so. :mrgreen:

You are The Sun

Happiness, Content, Joy.

The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.

Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.

The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon’s Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

How very cool is that? I do like the Sun.

(and fire … :twisted:)

What does Love mean?

One of my lovely guild members sent me this:

What does Love mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, “What does love mean?”

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.”

Rebecca – age 8

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

Billy – age 4

“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”

Karl – age 5

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs.”

Chrissy – age 6

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”

Terri – age 4

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”

Danny – age 7

“Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss”

Emily – age 8

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”

Bobby – age 7

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.”

Nikka – age 6

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.”

Noelle – age 7

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”

Tommy – age 6

“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.”

Elaine – age 5

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.”

Chris – age 7

“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”

Mary Ann – age 4

“I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.”

Lauren – age 4

“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.”

Karen – age 7

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross.”

Mark – age 6

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”

Jessica – age 8

And the final one —

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

Is that not the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard?

Don’t hate me, but this actually sounds like fun!

New York women release anger — by Jell-O wrestling

NEW YORK (Reuters) – By day Sandra Martinez works at a New York law firm, but by night she throws off her conservative image and becomes “Sandra Claws” — an amateur female Jell-O wrestler.

At a grungy live music bar on New York’s Lower East Side, she joined 11 other women to do battle — several for the first time — in a blue, blow-up kiddie pool decorated with orange fish and filled with warm, clear clumps of an unflavored version of the gelatin dessert.

“It (lets us do) things we probably want to do to women sometimes that we dislike, but we have a forum where we can express it in a fun and safe way,” said Martinez, a 27-year-old business development specialist.

Her competitors, with day jobs including nanny and marketing manager, introduce each other by stage names — Tinsel the Bohemian Christmas Fairy, Parcel of Power, Chocolate Thunder and Backhand Betty.

“The show is done for the girls, put together by girls, as something that’s a fun, friendly competition,” said Dana Sterling, 31, who has organized the “Amateur Female Jello Wrestling” competition once a month for the last three years.

“It’s really hard to explain to my mother,” said Sterling, who by day works as a lighting designer. “It really is a sport, it’s a satire sport.”

Wearing a glittering gold swimsuit, black satin ruffle skirt and white curly wig, Herricane — who by day is 33-year-old marketing manager Mickie King — takes to the stage punching the air, shouting: “I’m ready, I have got wind, I’m ready.”

The crowd gathers around the pool, which sits on top of four old mattresses roped together. Jell-O flecks the audience as the fighters roll around, attempting to pin each other to the ground for three seconds.

Several competing women said the concept of female Jell-O wrestling conjured an image of sleazy men watching naked women roll around, but that Sterling’s event was far from that.

“We work hard to promote it as a feminist thing and the night is really like a community night in that it is really what the women make of it,” said Annie Rock, 26, one of the organizers.

“It’s definitely aggression release. It’s sexy as well, throwing women around in Jell-O,” King said.

To get male fans into what she called the “silly” mood of the evening, Sterling gets a few men up on stage for a hoola hoop competition. She also skews the door price so that women pay $3 entry, men accompanied by women pay $7 and men on their own pay $15.

All I need is a cool name, a suit, and some Jell-O!

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