Just in case anyone needs to know where I have been these past few days in between watching old episodes of Dead Like Me, here is a link to let you know.

http://mcm5319.aisites.com/interactive.html

That link goes to the interactive piece I had to make for school. If you happen to visit it, don't use the form. It doesn't work and don't call the phone number, it's not mine. Also don't bother with the email address because it is also fake. Otherwise, enjoy the "flash"yness of it.

I'm going to watch two more episodes of Dead Like Me. Laters.

So the past week I have been trying again to get the house in order. I started with the kitchen floor, nothing more, on the weekend. I swept and removed everything and swept it again. I got under the refrigerator and stove the best I could and swept overall again, then I mopped it twice with steaming hot water with a touch of bleach. Why I started with the floor I don't know. I just didn't like the feeling of walking on it and I had to fix it.

Then homework took over and I worked on that. The next day I washed all the dishes. Nothing else mind you, just dishes, so there wasn't any silverware unless it was in the drawer and that was depleted pretty darn quickly. Then Honey and I went out to the stores because I got my federal refund and we needed to stock up on some things. We hit JoAnn Fabrics, two stores, to get the yarn I need to finish his afghan and I got myself an assorted pack of crochet needles for a decent price at Walmart. I even treated us to Starbucks since I left the house without coffee, which I am not normally prone to do. We went to the pet store and bought Jack more bedding. Turns out that stuff that comes in the bricks is a heck of a lot of fun. You are supposed to put it in a bucket and add four cups of water and let it expand, then you stir it and let it finished expanding. Honey thought my big mixing bowl would be big enough. He was wrong. It was a mess, but he cleaned most of it up and the bowl is sitting outside waiting to be hosed off. I don't want that stuff going down the drains. I don't know what will happen.

Today I have been doing laundry and again dishes. I took the huge tote that I normally keep extra blankets and sheet sets in and emptied it onto the bed after I made it up. There was a lot more than blankets and sheets in it though. Clothes got mixed in over the months of my lazy time. So the bed is made but covered in stuff. Nevertheless I got a ton of the clothes off the floor and dragged the tote out to the greenhouse for washing. I can see some of the bedroom floor now.

There are still more clothes.

I have to figure out what to do with the stuff on the bed because I know I am not going to be able to finish all the laundry in the tote today. I used to do the laundry in the big and little tote over at mom's in just a few hours. I never ran the machines at the same time but it seems like there is a ton more laundry in just that one tote than there ever was in the two.

I got the one counter completely scrubbed and wiped down. After I did that (it was hell I swear) I decided to make myself a salad. So I took a break and ate. Now I'm hungry again and I'm debating on what to eat next.

All the silverware, knives, and cooking utensils are washed. Some are even put away. I've gotten to the last of the dirty kitchen stuff but I haven't finished it yet. I have the burners from the stove soaking in hot soapy bleach water so they come clean easily. I still haven't been able to get the crud off the stove. I let it soak in Lysol with bleach but it doesn't seem to have done any good yet.

Have you noticed the use of a ton of bleach? I swear I don't normally use so much. I use only a capful in a sinkful of hot soapy water and the same goes for mopping the floor. I open the window above the kitchen stove to let the fumes out so I don't suffocate myself, too. Smart, I know.

I'll be thrilled when the kitchen is done again, when I can do just a little a day to keep it the way it'll look when it's done. That probably won't be until tomorrow. I am so pooped. Once I finish the burners and sweep the floor I am so done in there for today. I have to figure out what to do with the stuff on the bed and that will take up the rest of my afternoon.

So I am off. Laters.

I know, I know! But I did get a lot done yesterday! And I fell asleep on the couch waiting for the dryer to be done because I was 'kitchened' out. The kitchen wasn't finished yesterday until after I woke up from my nap. I wasn't planning to take one I was just simply exhausted. I did get three loads of laundry done and most of that is put away. I got the bed cleaned off, but none of that got put away because the tote is still out in the greenhouse with clothing waiting to be washed. I would have started a load already but for some reason the water didn't start when I turned the washer on. I'm not sure why but I'll check into it a little later.

I have two assignments due today and will be working on that shortly. The kitchen stove still needs to be scrubbed. I can't seem to get the grease off in the center of it. I really wish things would get wiped up when they are spilled or messed up. I did get the one counter completely cleaned and scrubbed. I have a few dishes to attend to and the stove. Then I'll redo the floor and be done.

Tomorrow I'll start on the living room depending on how much I get done today with homework and the kitchen. If I can't do laundry, for whatever water related issue, then I'll work on the living room. I'm thinking of making a sign that says if you dirty it, you wash it and if you spill it, wipe it up. I won't be able to do the amount of cleaning I do once I'm working. And I can't afford to bring in a maid. I'd love to have a cleaning party but the friends who'd do it with me live in Ohio. I know they can't afford to come out and I can't afford to bring them out and even if I did why on earth would I have them help me clean?

I miss my best friend. She'd be over here in a heartbeat to help me clean. We always cleaned with each other. We'd have major amounts of fun and great conversations when we did it, too. She also knows I'd return the favor. I feel horrible that I can't keep the house clean, you know? It's not that big and there isn't any real storage space (no closets) and I can't figure out why it's so hard to keep clean! Other than cleaning nonstop I don't know what else to do.

Ohwell for right now. I still haven't had coffee yet. I need coffee so laters.

PS: Thanks for your comment, Kate. I do appreciate it. I replied to it but in case you don't get a chance, I find the same about you. You inspire me to become a better writer. I don't know how you manage to do everything you do. 5 blogs, homeschooling your son, taking care of your household chores, exercising and making healthy dinners. Where do you find the time sweetheart?

I can't stand reading the replies from my one teacher. It annoys me that the person who is supposed to be teaching me how to create something can't type english. When I write my replies, it is as if I am talking to you, pretty much the same way I write my blog posts. What I am getting pissed about (yes it's REALLY pissing me off) is that I can't seem to figure out how the hell this teacher came to be in his position of teaching online.

Teaching online requires typing skills, good grammar and proofreading skills. This teacher has none of these skills. I'd give an example of something he typed but I really think that should wait until I graduate or perhaps never. I am so close to being finished with these courses that I can feel the paper of the diploma in my hands. Literally, classes end on March 22nd, and I don't want to do anything that might upset either of my instructors.

It's not just the replies to my classwork, it's all of his replies. I don't know if he's in a rush and not taking the time to check his typing or what. I am posting here because I have this huge urge to put in all caps "COULD YOU PLEASE RE-TYPE THIS IN ENGLISH FOR ME, thank you very much!" and leave it at that.

We have surverys that we are supposed to fill out but I hate filling them out. It's the same 20 questions every time and you have to rate through 6 different levels of 'answers' and then there is a comments box. I think when I get asked to do the survey on this particular instructor I'm going to mention the bad grammar. Perhaps I'll even copy some examples of it into the box. Do you think that would get my point across?

I'm not the smartest one in the bunch (there are several students who have associates and bachelor degrees in web-related fields) but at least I make an effort when it comes to typing out my responses to the instructor and classmates. I proof before posting and I am not perfect, I have made mistakes before and I will in the future. I just find it horrid to have an instructor that can't take a few moments out of his busy day to check his responses.

Or perhaps I am just overreacting?

So for school I created a new flash project. If you're so inclined, here's a link: Photo Show Project. Let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas by commenting here or sending me an email.

I am feeling a little better using Flash. I wish I could remember how the one teacher showed me how to make a cleaner project. Everything works and looks fine in this as did the last one but file-wise, it's a bit of a mess. I can't remember how to use labels and that is a huge problem.

If anyone knows of any great tutorial sites for Flash CS3, it would be much appreciated if you'd let me know.

So tomorrow I'll be . . . 25 again. Ok, fine, so I'll be 31. 31 and everyone tells me I look 16. Even with hair and makeup done well, I'm told I look 16. On occasion I get carded, but only when I go somewhere they don't know me or someone new is working.

I don't know. I haven't turned yet so I don't feel older yet, usually I don't though, just tired as usual. We are having a family party today. I think I'd like to hang out at home tomorrow. Perhaps go out for dinner if we have the money to do so.

The living room is clean thanks to Honey. He would have done the kitchen yesterday but the hot water tank went out and we didn't know until he went to do it. So the kitchen is a mess. I'll work on that Tuesday. Everyone can fend for themselves until then.

Perhaps next year I'll have a clean house for my birthday. Well, I am off for now. The party starts in about 15 minutes. Should be good, the others all had great parties. Laters.

If anyone wishes to see what I turned in for my final portfolio, feel free to do so by clicking here: My Final Flash Portfolio - This will open in a new window and it's best to be seen if you press F11 for a full screen 'effect'.

Any comments or suggestions, don't be quick to judge I got some good comments on this final project, are welcome.

Does the cat really win if the mouse is still alive?

This is a question we wish to explore with Dusty, the mighty mouser kitty cat! This morning when I went to go take my shower, only to find Dusty the wonder kitty laying in the shower. Little did I know that he had a friend with him! Being as I didn't have my contacts in I couldn't figure out why Dusty was throwing fits as to me picking him up out of the shower to bring him into the living room. And then, I found out.

I thought he had decided to be mean and take a poop in the shower. It hadn't occurred to my caffiene-deprived self that he wouldn't have been laying in there if he had. So I grabbed some toilet paper and proceeded to pick it up to toss out. It didn't feel like poop and it had a tail!

I was looking at a mouse trying to figure out what it was. Then it twitched in my hand! I freaked and dropped it. Not realizing what it was and thinking it was going to run off I looked for it. Dusty had mangled it pretty good but hadn't killed it during his playtime.

So I bravely saved us from the mangled mouse and picked him up then threw him outside. The cats are currently in the greenhouse looking for mice, which we know is where that one came from.

Let's hope that Dusty has a better wake up call for me tomorrow, shall we? Laters.