It's 4 degrees below zero. I'm glad it's warmed up a bit. Yesterday, I had to bring in the bird feeder, scrape ice off it, and run hot water over the lid so that I could open and fill it. But it's very pretty out there, with lots of snow on the ground.

It's also nice to see Christmas decorations going up. My favorite so far is about a half mile from my house. Someone has set up store mannequins in pink prom dresses and attached gold wings as part of his display. It looks like he's filming Attack of the Freaky Paris Hilton Angels.

During the time it took to write this, the temp dropped to minus 3. I'd probably feel warmer if I got rid of the Weather Bug at the bottom of the screen.

Hello! Sort of a weird list, but here goes:

1) Anything from my Amazon.com gift list

2) PetsMart gift cards. I have a cat with bad skin allergies, and the only thing he doesn't react to is the expensive Science Diet food.

3) Queen sized sheets with that can go on mattresses with a pillowtop. It's also a Craftmatic bed, so normal sheets just pop right off at the corners as soon as I raise the head. :-p

4) Sewing stuff. I have recently learned how to use a sewing machine, yay! So now I need to keep practicing and learning how to make things. I'll take cheap cloth, ugly thread, your favorite sewing website, whatever!

( Contact info below )

Hello! New here! My list:


1. Paid Livejournal account. At least a month. I'm Jurhael over there.

2. Star Ocean 2 fanfiction. There's just not enough of it. Gabriel/Lucifer fics are the most desired, but I also enjoy Claude/Ashton, Dias/Noel, Claude/Dias, Gabriel/Zadkiel, Lucifer/Zadkiel, Gabriel/Lucifer/Zadkiel and Claude/Dias/Ashton.

3. Weiss/Nero(Dirge of Cerberus) fanfiction. Not enough of that either.

4. Yu-Gi-Oh fanfic. This month is actually YGO's 10th anniversay, so it's fitting to have some more fanfic of this wonderful series. Favorite pairings are: Seto/Alister, Alister/Valon, and Yami/Yugi.

5. Amazon Gift Cards.

6. Kingdom Hearts fanfiction featuring Axel/Demyx or Axel/Demyx/Roxas.

7. Ebay Gift Certificates

8. I like candy, perfume(especially Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab), teas, coffee, video games, spices, and wax melts. So, any virtual gift card that carries these things would be very nice.

9. Star Ocean: First Departure/Fantastic Voyage fanfiction about Jie Revorse.

10. Anything on This list!

Email is here, if needed:

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Somehow, I was struck by this plaintive little story in the local paper:

Mason City officials say one person was injured in a fire that apparently started when a shoe placed next to a heat lamp in the top of a fish aquarium overheated.

The fire happened Sunday afternoon at a mobile home. Officials say the fire was contained to the aquarium that was a housing a lizard.

Fire Capt. Richard Paulson says one person was injured and taken to a Mason City hospital. The person’s name was not immediately released.

Paulson says the lizard died in the fire.

Poor lizard. And I can just imagine the kind of living space where a shoe is likely to wind up on top of an aquarium.

I can't stop laughing about this, although the fact that this guy is an elected official should give me pause.

In the opinion of Arlington Mayor Russell Wiseman, President Barack Obama's speech on Tuesday night on the war in Afghanistan was deliberately timed to block the Christian message of the "Peanuts" television Christmas special.

Wiseman made the statements on his Facebook page, where he declared Obama to be a Muslim. Only people on Wiseman's "friend's list" had access to the post. ( Unsurprisingly, the mayor also doesn't get the Friends List concept )

I'll be over here, listening to Joe Cool's Blues, one of my favorite albums. Wynton Marsalis' dad Ellis wrote some of the music for the Peanuts specials, and Wynton and his brothers join their dad and other artists to record these favorites. Now, that's family values transformed into art.

Hi, all! This is my second year with Holiday Wishes, and I still think this is the coolest idea floating around the internet. ^__^

My wishes:

1. I really want to get my sweetie a Playstation 3, but money is tight. So I’m wishing for Amazon gift certificates (my account name is GuiltyRed) in the hopes that I can get a lot of small ones and those will add up to let me buy something amazing.

2. A dollar. Back to item #1, I’ve wondered if enough people might send me one humble dollar hidden in a card that I could have a stab at that game system. My sweetie’s been under so much stress with school (going to college for the first time at 36 – and taking on a double major and a minor – ain’t easy!), and that’s the one thing I really want to give as a surprise for staying on the dean’s list and getting into the Gold Key Honor Society.

3. Like many people this year, I’ve been laid off from a job I loved and haven’t had much luck finding anything else (I’m in Michigan, so, yeah…). If anyone knows of a real, honest-to-goodness work from home gig that might take me on as a proof reader or editor, that would be fantastic! (Actually, ANY job-finding leads or tips would be most appreciated.)

4. Aaaand…to help facilitate my ongoing job hunt, I’d love it if a kindly elf could give me some help with my resume.

5. Gift cards: Kohl’s and PetSmart. =^.^=

6. Chocolate! Whether candy bars, hot cocoa mixes, or bonbons, I love all things chocolate (and have no food allergies to worry about), and it’s one of my life goals to try chocolates from all over the world.

7. A Pampered Chef smooth-edge can opener.

8. An anime music video set to VNV Nation’s song “Joy” using Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core footage, sort of an homage to SOLDIER.

9. Donate your old towels to your local humane society, veterinarian, or no-kill shelter. If you can, donate some time too.

10. Something to remind me that magic is real. It’s been a very hard year for my household, and I’ve been fighting depression and despair along with the sense of Just Getting Older; I need as many reminders as I can get. Whether it’s a token (a stone, a shell, a feather, a photograph) or a personal story about something extraordinary (paranormal, spiritual, uncategorizable, just plain amazing) that made you sit up and go “Whoa! It’s real!” – that’s what I’m looking for.

My addy:
GuiltyRed
P.O. Box 264
Davison MI 48423

Sharing my feeling is good....: hopeful

I've been so scarce on LJ for so long, I think I'm making more of this posting thing than it deserves. So I will just babble.

I had the best Thanksgiving in a long time. My father died over a decade ago on Thanksgiving, very suddenly, and that cast a pall over the holiday for years. But I've reached the point in mourning where you welcome the reminders of the person you've lost. And memories of my dad were nicely bookended by the opportunity to see my kids, both of whom came home from college. M:TNG-1 was ill, but at least I was reassured she was getting a bit of rest, and emails indicate she's feeling better now. M:TNG-2 brought a delightful friend, or, rather, jwaneeta brought them both and the cranberry sauce.

Mr. M slaved over the stove Wednesday night and all day Thursday, producing turkey with all the trimmings, including absolutely amazing fig stuffing. We set up and trimmed the Christmas tree, wandered around Iowa City, and jwaneeta dragged me out to the movies. We saw "2012,: which is the funniest film I've seen in ages, with the added bonus of pretty images of the Earth being destroyed.

Happy Holidays!

A few wishes that would just make my whole year if someone would grant them.

So, the simple stuff:

1. Unique, Silly, Bizarre Candy - barring any that contain bugs, you know... trying weirdo candies is awesome. Just...no bugs, okay?

2. Mint Tea - Om Nom Nom! The mintier, the better!

3. Kitty toys and treats (especially Friskies treats) - our cats just lost one of their kitty playmates this year due to heart failure so we have been using toys to help them through the grieving process. It also helps the humans in the house when their playing makes us smile.

4. Dentyne Ice Arctic Chill Gum - BIG gum chewer. Gum in the stocking = HAPPY!

5. McDonald's Gift cards - Sounds silly, but the best fast food meal in the world is just a simple McD's cheeseburger and fries.

6. Good Kanji Dictionary

7. Books in Japanese or books about Japan - The books can be about anything - manga, history, culture, travel brochures....

8. Amazon List - Would happily and gratefully take anything from here. Have no issues with used books, dvds, or cds - so if you have something you don't want that is on the list, please send it along.

9. IJ friends - most of the friends that were here have moved on to Dreamwidth or gone back to LJ. So this journal reading this is a little slow moving. Only one requirement for friendship - must have an open mind. Most of the journal is unlocked, so feel free to take a look at the profile and read a few entries.

The long shot:

10. Used Wii games

Hi everyone! :D I'm Manda, and this is my first year here at holiday wishes on IJ. I recently migrated from LJ to IJ in an effort to have a journal that can be public for people who DON'T have a journal, but I don't have to worry about people I don't like (I've had a few fallings out over my blogging life) checking the journal. I'm looking forward to granting as many wishes as I'm able. Now before I get to my list, how about a little about myself.

I'm a 24 year old lady-type who lives in a part of Pennsylvania known as the Lehigh Valley. I live with my girlfriend in an apartment with our 4 1/2 year old Doxie named Oscar. I'm a HUGE Philadelphia sports fan, and am glad that not only did I get to go to the Phillies 10,000th loss on my birthday, but just over a year later was one of many at their World Champions Parade. Other than that, I fangirl over lots of things (including athletes!), roleplay (table top and here on IJ) and am a kind of animal activist. On to my list!

1. Snail mail / post cards / holiday cards / whatever you'd like to send Make my mailbox happy this holiday season. It's rare that my girlfriend and I get anything that isn't bills or junk, so even if you just want to send a little doodle you've drawn, it would make us smile.

2. Friends! I'd love some friends here on IJ, I don't update A LOT, because I feel like my life is pretty boring. But I would love to know there are some people here to read it when I actually do. You don't even need to comment much.

3. PenPal In these days of electronic... everything, I think it would be nice to sit down and handwrite someone a letter.

4. Stuff for my fur!kid Times are tight for the GF and I because neither of us are working, and our poor pup is lacking in the treat/toys department because of it. He'll eat anything (at least, I haven't found anything he DOESN'T eat) but he particularly likes things with peanut butter. And prefers fuzzy stuffed animals as toys. He could also use a nice warm sweater if you're a sewer/knitter/crocheter because Doxie's are funny shaped, and normal doggie clothes don't fit them.

5. Donate time or money to an animal shelter Preferably one that's no-kill. Go and offer to be a dog walker, or clean the cat pans, if you don't have the money to donate. Or lots of places will take your old blankets and sheets to use as bedding for the animals. Every little bit helps.

6. Office supplies! I'm trying to write my first book (Zombie novel FTW!) and would love it if I could get some pens (the Sharpie ones in black are my favorite) pencils, paper, binders... whatever you have, I'll take!

7. Hair things! I am growing my hair out for Locks of Love after having a short, spiky pixie for almost 8 years. It's now down to my shoulders but is so thin and fine I'm having a hard time with it. I'd love anything I could put in my hair. Previously worn is fine by me. Even things you don't think of as normal hair accessories! Ribbon, yarn, or if you use/make hair extensions, those few inches you cut off the ends would be perfect for me to make a braided hair tie!

8. Visit your elderly family I've lost two grandparents over the last two years, and this time of year I miss them the most. Visit your elderly family if you can, and if you can't, take some time and go volunteer at a local nursing home. The elderly have some of the most amazing stories you'll ever hear if you just take the time to listen.

9. Thoughts and prayers Both my girlfriend and I are out of work, so it'd be awesome if you could think of us, even if it's just once. It would be especially awesome if you could think of my little brother. He has ADHD and Depression and my parents are too ignorant (even after all my documented research and explaining) to realize that theses are medical conditions that need to be treated. I've recently had a falling out with my dad over it, because I am the only one who goes to bat for my little brother when his ADHD gets him in trouble.

10. Cosmetics I love to do my hair and makeup, but am finding that I'm hitting pan (meaning running out) of all my good cosmetics. I'll take whatever you'd like to send me. I'm not a designer whore, so brand name doesn't matter. I especially like lots of different colored eye shadows and eye liners. The biggest thing I'd like would be more of the E.L.F. brushes that they sell for $1 and $3 dollars. I don't expect anyone to buy them for me, but if you got them and decided you did not like them, send 'em my way!


As for contact information, you can email me at simplyamazing[11] {at} gmail {dot} com, and if you DO comment, please leave a link to your list so I can hopefully return the favor!

1. My Amazon Wishlist - books mostly.

2. Bird things - I am especially fond of owls, corvids and penguins. Anything bird themed you have lying around, even used postage stamps, would be awesome.

3. Teas - Loose or bagged, any kind but green.

4. Vegan friendly sweets/snacks

5. Be kind to yourself and to others.

6. More sunshine - less gloomy, wintery darkness.

7. Surprise me! Maybe based on my LJ interests? :3

( Contact )

*toddles off to grant wishes*