Sun 'n' fun
Leave it to my husband's company to schedule mandatory training from 9-4 on our anniversary weekend. At least he gets paid for it...

When Todd gets home, it's hasta la bye-bye. Thanks to the wonders of Priceline.com we've snagged ourselves an overnight at the beach Hilton, at a rate so low we can't display it here. So behave yourselves. And don't do anything I wouldn't do*.

*We all know this gives you a great amount of leeway. Don't disappoint me.
posted at 03:48 PM | link-

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We'll love until...the end of time
The quality on these is absolutely horrendous, because they weren't made with professional video equipment. Rather, I was just testing out my new tripod -- so I aimed it at the TV and shot captures of our wedding video. Yeah, I'm a sap like that. So forgive the scroll and bad colors...you should get the idea anyway...

I won't leave these up for long -- but for now, enjoy!

"the kiss" (retired)
the toast (retired)
the get-away (retired)
the carriage ride (retired)
"best couple in the world" (retired)

It seems like only yesterday...
posted at 08:59 AM | link-

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I ain't sayin' a word. Not one single word.
*cough* Sidebar. Blogroll. *cough*
posted at 11:46 PM | link-

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Oh what a tangled (world wide) web we weave
I promise we'll only sue you if don't link, participate and/or donate to this year's boobie-thon... I knew something didn't sit right with me concerning that whole deal. Now I know why. Thanks to Todd for the heads-up follow-up!
posted at 03:53 PM | link-

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The seven year itch
I won't be around much this weekend because Sunday is our seventh wedding anniversary -- so I'm putting this up now.

Seven years ago today I was on my way to New Orleans to marry my best friend. We met when I was still in my teens, and now we're both thirty. But that doesn't stop us from having water-bottle fights on the couch, belching contests, and quoting Cartman and Beavis as if they spoke the Gospel.

Our marriage hasn't always been easy. But it has always been more than I could have possibly asked for out of life -- the good always overshadowing the bad. If I knew my heart would have been capable of this much love on our wedding day, seven years later, it would have completely overwhelmed me. It still does, really. I can take just about anything life throws at me because he is by my side.

He's still the one.

Seven down. Here's to seventy more... I love you, baby!
Happy anniversary!
-Robyn

UPDATE: Here's last year's blog-card just because...
posted at 03:10 PM | link-

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You're about as easy as a nuclear war
An update to the post below...

First U.S. show in Costa Mesa, CA
Official site with more tour, and presale ticket, information
John Taylor's official site (thanks Elfchick!)

All I have to say is they'd better be adding a Florida date or two to the list soon!
posted at 01:26 PM | link-

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I said it again, but could I please rephrase it
Ok, I need a moment here... Duran Duran is back together and will be touring the U.S. soon. ALL of Duran Duran. Not those bastardized versions from the early 90s. I'm talkin' Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor together on the very same stage.

To this day I'm traumatized that when I was 11, my best friend's mom got a huge block of tickets to a show for her birthday -- and my mom wouldn't let me go because she said I was too young to attend a concert, even with parental supervision. To make matters worse, one of the girls in the group caught Roger Taylor's towel. Granted, my crush was on Nick and Simon -- but still!

I'll be back later. I have some vinyl to dust off...
posted at 12:54 PM | link-

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But I'll wait my dear 'til it's my turn
And now I issue a dare. A challenge, if you will. Get a song stuck in everyone's head this Friday. Go on. Just try it. Here's my contribution -- put yours in the comments:

It's not the things you do that tease and hurt me bad
But it's the way you do the things you do to me
I'm not the kind of girl who gives up just like that
Oh, no...

The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
Number one, number one...

Get to it...
posted at 12:01 AM | link-

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You've gotta fight...for your right...to...photograph?
Spied over at Jason's..."The Photographer's Right - A Downloadable Flier".

Considering Starbucks doesn't even want you to take photos inside now, might not be such a bad thing to keep handy.
posted at 09:26 PM | link-

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I think a change'll do you good
Jen had a great entry about a song that prompted a major life change. I had one of those myself. It's called "This is the Day" by The The. Todd and I ended up engaged just weeks after I heard it for the first time, and it really did bring about some major life-changes and make things fall into place for me. Suddenly, things just "clicked".

This is the Day

Well you didn't wake up this morning
'Cause you didn't go to bed
You were watching the whites of your eyes turn red
The calendar on your wall is ticking the days off

You've been reading some old letters
You smile and think how much you've changed

All the money in the world couldn't buy back those days

You pull back the curtains
And the sun burns into your eyes
You watch a plane flying across a clear blue sky

This is the day your life will surely change
This is the day when things fall into place

You could've done anything
If you'd wanted

And all your friends and family
Think that you're lucky

But the side of you they'll never see
Is when you're left alone with the memories
That hold your life together like.....glue

You pull back the curtains
And the sun burns into your eyes
You watch a plane flying across a clear blue sky

This is the day your life will surely change
This is the day when things fall into place

This is the day your life will surely change.....

Song credit: The The

Do you have a similar song?
posted at 04:05 PM | link-

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Gonna dress you up in my love
I didn't realize you could apply your CafePress store credits ("CafeCash") toward their merchandise until today -- so I finally got around to ordering one of my blog tees. This order came with a $5 off coupon on new $20 or more purchases from any of their stores, so the first person to ~~e-mail me~~ gets it. And please...only ~~write~~ if you plan on using it! It expires today -- May 29, 2003.

UPDATE: I met another...and poof!...it was gone!
posted at 03:42 PM | link-

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Hate me - do it and do it again
Listening to this on Rome right now...why doesn't someone just rub the guy out once and for all? Seriously. It's no big loss. All he ever really gave us was an annoying Nintendo game.
posted at 12:30 PM | link-

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It's picture page, it's picture page!
Well since my clients couldn't e-mail me today, I couldn't e-mail them, and I wasn't blogging...I actually used part of the afternoon to organize photos. Finally! So here are our last three day-trips in Shutterblog:

And...I'm spent!
posted at 09:57 PM | link-

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Enjoy the silence?
Good thing I decided to take a break today, huh... The 'net done went and exploded on us. (More info about Wednesday's meltdown can be found here and here.)
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This is a request, Mr. Radio Man
My blog is going to remain silent today as I take time to reflect on friendships and how precious life really is... While I'm taking the day off, I'll leave you with this:

Todd and I have started listening to our local "oldies" station's new format in the car. But I'm not talking shoo-do-wop, groups that start with the word "Four" for $200 Alex, kinda oldies. The following are just a sampling of what they are now calling "the greatest oldies of the 70s, 80s and early 90s" on this station:

Girls on Film - Duran Duran
Losing My Religion - R.E.M.
Need You Tonight - INXS
Enjoy the Silence - Depeche Mode
We Got the Beat - The Go-Go's
Der Komissar - After the Fire
Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
Pop Musik - M

Please note: it's no longer being called "retro". It's oldies. Although I think it's great we finally have a station we can stomach (that is, in between the Springsteen and Bon Jovi they also play here and there) -- I'm also quite distressed that while we seem to have one hand on the radio dial, the other is now on a bottle of Geritol. Did our parents go through this when the Beatles became oldies, too?
posted at 12:04 AM | link-

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I talked for hours to your wallet photograph
The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place, an empty space
Has filled the void behind my face...

Well this has been a somewhat difficult day that I don't hope to repeat soon. I ordered the group floral arrangement for tomorrow's funeral. I think it's going to be nice -- eleven of our names are going on the card. I e-mailed the OU Scholars Program director with the news this afternoon. He was our academic adviser back when we all lived in the Honors Dorm. I wasn't sure if they wanted to offer official condolences to the family or not, but I thought it would be nice to give them the option. With only three small floors of residents above the offices, the Honors Dorm residents are a very tight-knit community. Our message board has had tributes and favorite memories passed back and forth today. I've talked with a few other friends today for the first time since this happened. And I put on a Nirvana CD -- something I haven't listened to in years -- and typed out a letter to Kevin. Adam is going to be a pallbearer, and said he would try to slip it in the casket for me since I can't be there tomorrow. The only other such letter I've ever written was to my Grandfather, but he had cancer and I was able to give it to him before he passed away. Knowing I've been trying to contact Kevin for three weeks and couldn't reach him has been particularly hard...this is the only goodbye I'll get, and it's after the fact. I noticed that Jana said her goodbyes at her blog as well.

Kevin's obituary came out in yesterday's paper. I'm going to edit it a bit out of respect for the family and their privacy. But since you've seen his photos, I thought you might want to see what an incredible, brilliant person he was as well.

KEVIN D. SMITH
The funeral for Kevin Daryl Smith, 28, will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2003.

He was born Sept. 29, 1974, to Fred D. and Lois L. Smith and died Thursday, May 22, 2003.

He graduated with honors from High School in 1992. In May 1997, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Oklahoma and was admitted to the law school at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned his juris doctorate with honors in May 2000. He obtained a position with a law firm in Pittsburgh, Pa., recently transferring to its Dallas office.

He was preceded in death by his father, maternal grandfather and paternal grandparents.
posted at 06:06 PM | link-

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She's got the cutest little baby face
Kevin just passed along this photo of my youngest fan -- his new niece who just happens to live right here in Tampa Bay. All together now...awwwww!
posted at 04:51 PM | link-

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Give up the funk
There is absolutely nothing worse than having an installation guy out to your house in the summer -- and when they leave, the whole place reeking of "sweaty man ass". Excuse me. I have to go empty the contents of one of these now.
posted at 02:44 PM | link-

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Temporary fix
Todd is out on a comfort food run to Chili's... Screw fat and calories. Waistline be damned. I want chicken fried steak and mashed taters with gravy. Now.

What's your favorite "break glass in case of emergency" comfort food?
posted at 07:25 PM | link-

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America's Most Wanted
I was asked to pass this along, and I'm more than happy to do so. Especially given that one of his victims was from the Tampa Bay area... Please be on the lookout.
posted at 07:10 PM | link-

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Get your motor runnin'
In an attempt to lighten things up around here just a bit, the dual-vanity plates we spied yesterday on our way to the beach... I wonder if they always have to stop at lights with him on the left and her on the right?

[hog and hogette]

posted at 01:54 PM | link-

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The day after the night before
I don't think I got a full-hour's sleep straight last night. The tears finally came, and today my eyes have that puffy, tired "ache" to them. I just feel lost. And gripped by the fear that bad news always comes in threes, and this is just our second major loss of the year. The year's not even half-over yet.

We've debated and debated on whether or not to go back for the funeral, and I don't think we're going to. Money is extremely tight post-vacation to say the least. But that's not really the reason when it boils down to it. Knowing he was dating his ex-fiancée again really is honestly the reason for me. When I met him, I didn't know he was engaged to someone I knew. I just thought he was engaged to "someone" in Chicago. That someone turned out to be a good friend of mine from junior high and a fellow cheerleader. He broke off their engagement to start dating me, so there's obviously not a lot of good blood there -- even though it was a decision he made all on his own. Anyway, I just feel like "she" should be the one at the funeral since they had recently been back together again. Not me. I don't want to hurt her any more than she already is. And I'm just afraid seeing me would hurt her and open old wounds, in addition to the current ones she must have.

I'm not sure if that will make sense, but I don't suppose any of this makes sense to begin with, now does it? He's going to be buried in the same small town my grandfather is buried in, so hopefully one day soon I can pay them both a visit again...

Thanks so much to everyone who's e-mailed and left comments of support and encouragement. Please save your thoughts and prayers for his family, however. This is their second, difficult death in a couple of year's time. I just can't imagine what they must be going through.
posted at 12:59 PM | link-

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Only words that I could find...

A few photos from our late afternoon at the beach. You'll forgive me if my heart isn't exactly in them right now... I'll try to add more later this week.

We're getting older, the world's getting colder
For the life of me I don't know the reason why
Maybe it's livin' making us give in
Hearts rolling in taken back on the tide
We're balanced together ocean upon the sky...

UPDATE: All photos taken today can now be found in Shutterblog.
posted at 01:16 AM | link-

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In the sun, in the sun I feel as one

[kevin smith]

It's a message you never expect on your voicemail after a day at the beach. "Hi, this is Kevin Smith's sister. Can you please give me a call as soon as you get this message?" Especially considering you haven't seen her since she was in grade school, and she's now a grown woman who barely even remembers you. The pit of your stomach sinks as you know it's not good. It can't be good. So you call a good friend close to home to see if they've heard anything. They haven't. And then you open your e-mail and immediately see the name of another good friend with the words, "Call me please." You know it's officially bad. Your fingers can't even tremble out the right numbers. It takes you three tries to dial. And it is bad. Then the phonecalls begin so you can pass along the news "in person", too...

A boyfriend of mine in college, and still someone I consider a very good friend, committed suicide this weekend. I believe he would have been 29 this fall. We talked as grown-apart couples and friends who are married (he, since divorced) do. Here and there. On occasion. E-mailing for several hours straight. Then not again for weeks. I honestly can't remember if I talked to Kevin this year. I can't remember a lot from this year to be honest. I know we talked at the end of last year. I know things were going well for him. He'd had a really tough time with his divorce and the death of his father, but he'd done very well for himself. He graduated near the top of his class at UT's law school and was working for a very prestigious firm in Pennsylvania. At the time, he had a new girlfriend and they had just moved in together. We talked a lot about football, and about how happy we were the Sooners were doing well. He had a new replica of Memorial Stadium he had with him at all times on game day. I had my lucky t-shirts.

Apparently he had just moved back to Texas within the last few weeks, and that's where it grows hazy for those of us close to him. He had started a new job with his firm, and was apparently seeing the girl he'd been engaged to before he dated me. We understand he'd been in touch with several people he'd been estranged with recently. I wasn't one of them.

But then again, we weren't estranged. I had seen him fairly recently. He was down here a few summers ago and we spent the afternoon together goofing off and catching up on old times. We had lunch with Todd. And then he was gone. I had no idea that would be the last time I'd see him. My name and number were on a note he left to his sister so I'd be notified. How do I come to terms with being on a list like that?

To be honest, I have no idea how this is effecting me yet. I've tried to cry, but the tears just stay there welled up like they can't fall. I'm in shock. Not in shock that this is actually something he did, because I dated him for a long time. I was friends with him even longer. I loved him. I knew him. We had fought about suicide when Kurt Cobain took his life. It was a wicked fight. (We had a lot of those, anyone who knew us well can attest to -- they were the basis of our relationship it seemed at times. But the bigger the fight, the deeper the friendship.) I knew how he felt about suicide. And I remember telling him at the time if he ever did that to me I would bring him back and kill him again for even trying it. But I just never dreamed...

Now I will spend the rest of my life wondering "what if". What if I'd fought a little harder with him in college to stay here with us. What if I had put my own pain aside this year and tried to find out that he had his own. What if my e-mails hadn't went unreturned the last three weeks. (Our dorm in college, where Todd also lived, has a new message board online and we're planning a reunion next year. I couldn't understand why he wasn't over there with us joining in on the fun. I was trying to get his attention and find out what he'd been up to.) What if. And why?

I miss him. And now I have to live with the fact I always will. All alone is all we are...

I know a lot of my friends from college read here from time to time. We're going to send a group arrangement from the Honors Dorm to the funeral home. The services are this coming Wednesday if you'd like more details. Please feel free to leave messages to his family in the comments and I'll make sure they're passed along, and if you'd like your name on the arrangement, just let me know. -Robyn
posted at 10:47 PM | link-

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Good gravy!
I'm about to make this for a late breakfast before we start our glorious Florida bright sunshiney day. I needs me some chocolate. You have exactly 15 minutes to be here or be

!
posted at 12:47 PM | link-

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What's a girl gotta do?
Trash, princess, whore, and now twit (no link for your "15 minutes" this time, sorry).....but I won't feel I've really arrived 'til I get diva, dammit!
posted at 12:31 PM | link-

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Sans taste
Remember this entry of mine earlier in the week? Who knew? (Thanks to Kristine for the link!)
posted at 12:32 AM | link-

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The bitch is back
I loves me some bitch blogs...welcome Catty Bitches to the alley! (I'm not a participant there, by the way. Just a bitchified reader.)
posted at 09:24 PM | link-

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Trial and error
We just added six new Holga photos to lomo-motion.com.

It was our first trial-run with the camera (using color film). We were basically testing out how sharp the images would be, the colors it shot with, and where our light-leaks were. So nothing too spectacular. It's going to be fun getting the hang of it, and figuring out just which parts of the camera to tape up, nonetheless. I just wish we knew of a local lab to process the medium format film. It took almost 2 weeks to get the photos back from Ritz. For more Holga links, start here...
posted at 04:00 PM | link-

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But do freedom fighters swallow?
We were driving into Tampa tonight and couldn't resist capturing this moment for everyone -- ahhhh life on the Redneck Riviera:

Now I'm not sure which is more amusing... The fact the guy took a permanent marker to his car's paint. The fact he didn't first look up the spelling of the very thing he was trying to exclaim sucked (almost forgot the "o" there, buddy). Or the fact that even though driving an American-flag waving vehicle on Memorial Day weekend, he took the time to slam on his brakes and flip off a POW-Purple Heart Veteran plated car (that had accidentally cut him off earlier) when the driver of that car turned off the main road. It was most amusing all around.

And last but not least...this photo was taken just for Yvonne. Mmmmm...
posted at 10:59 PM | link-

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99 bottles of beer until fall...99 bottles of beer
Can I kindly direct everyone's attention over to the sidebar for just a moment? There are now less than 100 days until OU's football season 2003 kicks off. And there was much rejoicing...
posted at 06:52 PM | link-

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We ain't got no car foo'
Dr. Beach's new top ten is out. Two of the ten are in Tampa Bay -- Fort DeSoto Park (#2) and Caladesi Island (#5). Who wants to come visit?
posted at 04:54 PM | link-

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You didn't get none...'cuz you are on the welfare
We are so heading here tonight after dinner. You may hate me now.

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=w=hoa.
How can I exploit this? Let me count the ways... (Proudly obsessing over Rivers Cuomo and Weezer since fall semester '94...)
posted at 12:19 PM | link-

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The other monuments so white and clean
Editorial: Y'know, I was just sitting here thinking...this weekend is why I'm really not ready for someone to make a federal holiday out of 9-11. All I can think of right now is "three day weekend" and "beach". But it's Memorial Day weekend. Not very many of us stop and celebrate it as intended any longer, do we? It's just too soon for me to have another excuse to hit the beach and throw a white sale... I honestly prefer remembering that day in my own way for now.
posted at 11:38 AM | link-

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To all my neighbours you got much flavah
It's been awhile since I've recommended blog reads...so here I go...

On the Fritz -- Observations of Modern Life
off the blog -- tasty muffins
Dirty Whore Diary -- your daily dose of smut
shawnallison.com -- Shawn not included
Oh Yeah Girl. -- shake what 'cho mama gave ya!

If you need more diversions, start here...and happy almost-holiday weekend!

This is how we do it, it's Friday night
And I feel all right
The party's here on the ~~West~~ East side

So I reach for my 40 and I turn it up
Designated driver take the keys to my truck
Hit the shore 'cause I'm faded
Honeys in the street say, "Monty, yo we made it!"

It feels so good in my hood tonight
The summertime skirts and the guys in Kani
All the gang bangers forgot about the drive-by

You gotta get your groove on, before you go get paid
So tip up your cup and throw your hands up
And let me hear the party say.....
posted at 12:02 AM | link-

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Orange you glad you came here today
First Yvonne gave Michele her daily dose of Vitamin DD. Now she's making sure that I don't get scurvy (don't click at work). You couldn't ask for a better, more concerned friend! Perhaps Yvonne should apply here and do us all proud? Baby needs a new pair of shoes...
posted at 10:29 PM | link-

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Hi, my name is Robyn. And I have a drinking problem.
I swear to all that's holy...if I miss my mouth while going to take a swig of water, Coke, whathaveyou, one more time this week...
posted at 08:16 PM | link-

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Go white boy, go white boy, go!
Is it just me, or is there something really wrong with the way the world works when bloggers are able to raise only $1251.00 for breast cancer -- but bloggers can raise over $4000 for a high school doofus embarrassed that his light sabre choreography video circled the 'net without his knowledge or permission? I mean, don't get me wrong. I feel for the kid and all. Really I do. But $4K+ for a little teen angst? C'mon. I lived in a dorm full of geeks in college, and the most we ever got was a free t-shirt with a Visa application.
posted at 05:59 PM | link-

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Can't you come out to play
I haven't done song lists in awhile. You can find the past ones under "songs for any occasion" over in the sidebar. It's no secret this year has been tough for both of us, so I'm wondering what songs you listen to when life is falling apart around you? Either because you're down and mellow and want to stay there for awhile -- or because the music is uplifting and just the thing you need to kick what's going on to the curb.

My contribution is "Empty Garden" by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. I was in my early 20s before I realized the song was penned as a tribute to John Lennon. Suddenly it just clicked and made sense why I identified with it so much. You can almost hear Elton working through his pain as the song progresses. It starts off slow and somber, but by the end the beat picks up to where I almost feel invincible listening to it. And right now, I'm starting to feel myself again. It's the first time I can say that in months...

So there you go. That's mine. Now it's your turn.
posted at 01:21 PM | link-

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And so it is written...
My horoscope for today reads:

"This is going to be a day for protecting your sense of space and privacy, dear Robyn. People are going to make you feel that your territory is being invaded as never before. But what they don't know is that Sagittarius is preparing a storm. This is not the moment for people to be bothering you!"

Ummmm...yeah. So let that be a lesson to you!
posted at 10:31 AM | link-

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One more time...
Attention! There's no need to e-mail me and tell me the site is broken. (I've fielded several such e-mails today so this message is not directed at anyone in particular.) I deleted several of my skins yesterday in a fit of late-spring cleaning.

If you're getting "warning" messages at the top of the page, follow the link to skin the site at the top of the page. Select a new skin. Proceed to the main page. And voilà. All should be fixed!

What's happening is that your browser cookie is trying to pull a file that no longer exists, so you have to pick a new one first.

Thanks!
-Robyn
posted at 10:32 PM | link-

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Sweet mother of pastry products
We've lived in Florida over six years now. One thing that has constantly eluded me has finally been found. It was a quick store-run in the unlikeliest of places. But there it was, nonetheless. The very last one on the shelves, just waiting for me. Now, I present to you my victory...the quest is finally over...

[victorious!]

And it was good.
posted at 09:25 PM | link-

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Who takes it? Who reigns supreme?
Ok, here's the unofficial ATPTB "American Idol" poll -- who wins tonight? I'll hide the results once the real winner is announced so it won't spoil anything for the West Coasters. But this is your warning -- if you aren't watching the show live -- read the comments with caution!

(results closed)
posted at 07:29 PM | link-

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Keep rollin', rollin', rollin'...
Just a quick note that I've added a reciprocal-Blogroll over to the sidebar. But if you're one of the people still linking to blogblogbaby.com (tisk, tisk, tisk) you're not going to show up over there. So please update your links to tampatantrum.com!

K, thx.
-Robyn
posted at 06:53 PM | link-

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What's your definition of dirty, baby
Via Yvonne and Statia -- blogasm.org, a new group-blog about sex. And if you still want more, more, MORE ... also visit dirtyquestions.com.
posted at 03:57 PM | link-

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We wear short shorts
Your own
Personal
Jesus (

)

Someone to wash your car
And mow your lawn.....
posted at 02:45 PM | link-

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But I want is to be left alone in my average home
Greeeeaaat. There's a discussion going on over at FARK about Ad-Aware (which I happen to use and love). It appears spyware manufacturers are bringing suit against Ad-Aware for false advertising because Ad-Aware removes their spyware product. Oh the humanity.
posted at 12:50 PM | link-

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Ladies with an attitude
I ruined it for Todd...now I'll ruin it for you, too. Every time I see the new design I think "Wonder Bread". But who cares -- I like Wonder Bread -- and I like the way it looks. A design that reminds you of sammiches can't be all bad...

And here are a few good sites if you want yesteryear vixen pics:

Lastly, since this design is all about Rita, here are three great images of her just because (image 1, image 2, image 3). If you have additional, similar photo links to pass on, please leave them in the comments!
posted at 01:56 AM | link-

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No deposit, no return

I found this link in a great entry over at Kristine's -- Give Credit Where Credit Is Due!. It's an "interactive tutorial illustrating the importance of giving credit on the same page as graphics are used, utilizing the newest offerings of some of the best linkware and shareware graphic designers on the net".
posted at 10:55 PM | link-

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Idoltary
So I hate to say it, but I think Clay blew Reub away in Round One. Thoughts? Opinions? Ouija Board predictions?

UPDATE: Notice LENNON went first!
posted at 08:19 PM | link-

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Summer...it's like a merry-go-round
The maroon background around here was starting to get me down. I needed something light, airy, and well...summery... So I changed the default skin. I also deleted several of my old skins, so if you're showing up to random wonkiness, that's why... Don't yell at me. My site. My prerogative. Change is good. Get used to it.

To reset your skin, just go here. The 800x600 crowd should be much happier with Rita as the default now though. Enjoy! I promise to get the other skins up to par by late tonight.

UPDATE: Everything should be fixed now. Let me know if you have any problems!
posted at 07:52 PM | link-

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The safety dance
I am so sick of this shit.

Current breaking news headline on CNN: "Senior U.S. officials say intelligence 'chatter' suggests terrorists may be planning a major attack inside the United States. Details to come."

To be followed by "go on about your daily lives as usual", I'm sure. How many times has this been breaking news since 9-11? That does it. I'm sending Tom Ridge a copy of this, COD.

Now I'm sure it will happen again one day. And one day in the not so distant future. But until you've got more than "chatter" to scare us all back into submission, keep it to yourselves!
posted at 01:25 PM | link-

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What's the name of the game?
Not playing that other blog-game, but still want in on a little faux-money making action? Check out The Popdex Game (in beta).

You have 10 "chips" per day to wager on links that you believe will go up in the Popdex rankings (based on PopScore) within the next 48 hours.....You may select between 1 and 10 URLs per day, using some or all of your daily chips. Daily chips do not roll over.

Visit the rules page for more info.
posted at 11:25 AM | link-

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~~Psychotic~~ Psychic episode, take 2
Just call me the Miss Cleo of the blogging world... Remember this last week? Well...

Troubled Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland has been released on $10,000 bail after being arrested for drug possession. The new singer in Guns 'N Roses offshoot band the Project was stopped by police just after midnight on Sunday for a routine traffic stop.

Burbank, Calif., Police Sergeant Tracy Sanchez explains, "It was for driving without his lights on."

Following this, the officers allegedly noticed that the singer had narcotics in the vehicle and arrested him -- although what sort of drug was found has not been named.

He was released around 5:30 a.m. later that morning. [link]

Call me now, chil'...
posted at 10:18 AM | link-

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No. More. Wire. Hangers!
My kingdom for the head of Vincent Connare (author and creator of the font Comic Sans) on a platter. Fava beans and a nice chianti optional.
posted at 10:15 PM | link-

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Take it from me, parents just don't understand
We were just snackin' on some yummy watermelon, and I reminded Todd not to eat the seeds because they'd grow inside. So we started comparing parental stories you were told as children just to mess with your head, because your parents could do so and get away with it... Todd will comment his here in a bit -- it's a great one. One of mine was that rabbits laid eggs because of the Cadbury egg commercial. Bwok bwok bwok bwok. I actually asked my teacher if they did outloud in science class (and still won the science award that year). It took me a long time to live that one down.

Got any good ones of your own -- either from your parents, or that you've passed down to your kids? Typical Santa, Easter Bunny, and Toof'fairy stories need not apply (unless they're really good)...
posted at 08:54 PM | link-

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Ride 'em cowgirl

[on my horsey]

Just thought y'all should be subjected to my random-cuteness. Take a close look, because that's probably one of the very few photos in existence to prove I actually wore cowboy boots once upon a time. I haven't been riding in years... Well, horses anyway. *wink*
posted at 06:03 PM | link-

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Do you have any holio?
My husband just called me Cornholio and is afraid to come home tonight.

So far today's events have caused the inhaling of three diet Cherry Cokes in a row, a half-bag of spicy nacho cheese Doritos, and a few fist-fulls of Apple Jacks. What? The random shaking and twitching is normal, isn't it?
posted at 03:52 PM | link-

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Psychic or psychotic...your call...
You probably know by now that every index page on my server was pretty much hacked last night -- Blogomania and Hosting Matters clients alike. Thank god they just overwrote index.html pages and didn't delete files. But if you were putting off taking this advice -- do it. It might be you the next time...
posted at 12:33 PM | link-

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More than words
I collect a lot of things...one of them being quotes. So what's your favorite quote? It can be funny, serious, political -- whatever. I'm not picky. Just show me what you got. I'll start you off with two of mine:

"To grow mature is to separate more distinctly, to connect more closely." —Hugo von Hofmannsthal

"Well behaved women rarely make history." —Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
posted at 12:55 AM | link-

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Steal this blog
Reading this at "anything but ordinary" literally made my blood boil... Granted, it's no big secret I rarely watch Tech TV anymore. All Leo, all the time is just not for me. But check out an excerpt from the most recent "Sarah's Blog Report":

Steal, steal, steal!

Or, if you want to be really unimaginative, view the source of a blog you like and copy its stylesheet for your own blog. Here's how:

1. Go to the page of your choice.
2. From the View drop-down menu, choose Source.
3. Pick a document reader such as Notepad to view the code.
4. Near the top, look for this line: <link rel="stylesheet" href="URL here" type="text/css" />
5. The URL between the quotes is your key. Copy and paste that link into a browser window for your stylesheet code.
6. Copy and paste that code into your current stylesheet, replacing what you already have.
7. Save the changes and rebuild your page. Done.

Isn't that fun? Isn't that easy? Once you've got the look you want, you can fudge the HTML code and customize your brand-new blog. Just don't copy my blog. [link]

Viewing source code to learn? Who hasn't. Copying source code with intent to steal it because you're too damn lazy to think of anything on your own -- when there are several sites out there already with free templates for the taking? Bend over, grab a big tube of KY, and prepare to endure my wrath.

Why waste time writing term papers in college? Just type the subject name in Google, highlight, copy and paste. Voilà! Small-town reporters can forget doing investigative work to earn their pay. Just view the source of the New York Times front page and upload as your local news site. You'll be out of work just in time for Dr. Phil.

I mean, in this day and age, we can't possibly be expected to take the time to actually make something that's our own look like it's our own, now can we? Oh no. That would be way too much trouble. Why have YOUR JOURNAL exude your personality, when you'd much rather come across as someone else?

Sarah specifically says not to copy "her blog" in her little tips and tricks piece -- but I wonder how she'd feel if I suddenly got lazy this week, and decided to paste all of her entries in my blog instead. I mean, after all -- isn't that fun? Isn't that easy? It's so hard coming up with my own content each day.

I certainly hope Tech TV realizes how irresponsible this is. Because if I replicated the Tech TV design and put my blog's contents in it, I can count the seconds 'til their lawyers hit me up in 4...3...2...1 to cease and desist.

Un-fucking-believable. What a waste of a perfectly good cable channel. You can find more information about contacting Tech TV here.

P.S. Just go ahead and try to steal my designs, Sarah. I double-dog dare you. It never goes well, and that's the part that is oh so much fun.

UPDATE: Read Zuly's comment (regarding Kristine's latest entry). Double grrrrr. And Zuly adds her thoughts on the matter here.
posted at 10:58 PM | link-

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I'm...sailing...away