So many things are exciting right now:






While I am so very bored at work, I get to play Serge Gainsbourg over and over.....
He's such a sexy beast...in that sort of creepy vampire kind of way.

I bought a new mattress set yesterday.....it's a double and feels like a giant island sitting in the middle of my room....I do love that it is so tall that I have to take a running leap to get into it.

Also.....I just stumbled upon a website called plainlydressed.com.....it's an online store that exclusively sells amish & modest clothing.....it's all made to order & customizable......it's pretty awesome......I already have a stark black apron on order......I know, you hear amish clothing and yawn or wretch.....but it's actually really minimalist and wearable.... think Imitation of Christ......see.......
I just hope no one sees me sporting a bonnet anytime soon....

My cat Little Bear has been missing for several days now....

He's a cute little thing, even if he's timid beyond belief....

That's what worries me, he's probably so very scared, and now, so very wet too.

It's like that scene from Oliver & Co. (one of the greatest Disney Movies ever) when nobody wanted Oliver & he had to wander in the rain all alone, I cry every time....

My poor kitty, I hope he finds his way home....

1. How did you find out about/why did you become of estrip?
(e:mike) convinced me to join....as his brother was the mastermind

2. How "out" are you about having a publicly accessible online journal. Do your friends know? Does your family know? Do your co-workers know? Does your boss know? Do you use your real name? Do you use your real photo?
All my friends know....most of them have journals themself, my family doesn't really know, I don't think that they'd really be interested. I generally prefer that my coworkers and boss know as little about me as possible so they do not know.....
I use real photos

3. How many epeeps have you met real life?
Loads

4. How has estrip changed the way that you meet people, on and/or off line?
I have met lots of people that i otherwise might not have.....I also find myself more interested in meeting (e:strip) folk, as I can put a face to the name......

5. How has estrip affected you love life?
Not much, other than some unfortunate pictures....
Oh, and I was introduced to my boyfriend by someone I met while advertising for (e:strip)......

6. How many of your friends have joined estrip because of your influence?
I'd like to say lots, but I think none is more accurate

7. Are you from Buffalo/do you live in Buffalo?
born & bred

Equipment:
1. What type of hardware or software purchases have you made as a result of using estrip?
None, I'm lucky I can turn on a computer

2. Have you used the mobile version of estrip? Why or why not?
Nope, to advanced for me

Lifestyle:
1. In what way has estrip changed your Internet surfings habits? Describe the amount of time you spend on estrip, when you use it and about how long?
(E:strip) gives me something to do while I'm at work.....I mean other than actually working. I usually read everyon's journals and occasionally update

1a. How many journals do you usually read per day?
I usually read everyone's journal at least twice a week

2. In what ways has estrip changed the way you perceive your local community?
In a lot of ways it has made this area seem smaller, because I'm always spotting (e:strip)pers, but in other ways it seems bigger because new people are always popping up


3. How has journaling about your life affected the way you spend your free time?
It hasn't really affected my Free Time, my Work Time is definitely less productive

4. Has estrip changed your living situation in any way?
Sadly, No

5. Do you find that you mediate/document more of your experiences now that you share them with others?
Yeah, I'd say that I def. keep an eye out for funny events.

6. Has publishing on estrip affected the way that write?
Writing in an online journal is completely different from writing say, a letter or something.. so , no.

7. Do you have other online journals? If so, with what service and has estrip affected your usage of that journal?
Nope

8. Have you ever gotten in trouble for using estrip at work?
I am stealth like a fox....

9. If you have stopped using estrip, why?
I continue, even if I don't post as often as I used to.

Western shirts are terrific.....

they really are,

be it humdrum plaid or rhinestone flowers....

I'm starting a little collection....

I've found that certain thrift stores periodically have them in abundance,

however, I will not release their names lest you plunder my source.

I'm so drawn to their colors and featherweight fabric.....

They beg to be cut up and given new lives as dresses or bags.

......and speaking of all things western.... has anyone ridden our nations only Buckin' Buffalo yet?

I think I have it in me to conquer that beast.....
....or at least hurt myself real bad....

Lordy, Lordy I love estate sales.....

Two this weekend, and I noticed that both sales had nice wooden rocking chairs for sale......

The one posted above, and the one posted below.

The sales are today & Saturday (mabye Sunday too):

644 Meadowbrook Dr., N. Tonawanda
&
305 Hartwell Rd, N. Buffalo

I'm not sure which chair is at which sale.....

I started to sketch a picture of Mike and I on our "chalking rampage" but by the time I had finished with Mike's head I realized that it really din't look that much like him...
.....
but it did sort of look like him...

....in fact it looks exactly like the kid who would be picked to play him if our lives were a show on the Disney Channel....

.... so I drew my Disney Channel equivalent as well....

Look at us all big-headed and smiley.....

Those Even-Stevens' don't stand a chance....

My mom first fell in love with my dad because she thought he looked like Paul Newman....

I wonder how many kids my age can say the same thing....probably everyone whose dad had curly, blond hair and blue eyes....

Paul Newman was such a stud......but I digress

When my dad was in middle school his #1 desire was to be called "Jumper" by his friends........ I know, coolest nickname ever......but it never stuck.

Sometimes, amongst the privacy of family my dad will do his "Chiquita Bannana" dance, which involves akwardly lunging from side to side while carefully balancing a pair of underwear on his head....
classy

He loves Gordon Lightfoot... in fact for several years our family cd player mysteriously refused to play cds by any artists other than the much revered Gordo.

I have this very vivid memory of my dad making every member of my family march up to bed according to the month in which we were born, acting out the month as we saw fit.
......my dad denies ever having done this but I remember quite distinctly seeing him beat his chest and scratch his chest....howling "ape..ape..april"

Happy Birthday Dad !!
(even though he won't read this I thought I would just send out the happy birthday vibes in as many ways as possible.)

So I had an appointment today at a "Lady" Doctor...

Everything was fine....good good good...

The whole time I was there I was thinking about the first I went to this particular kind of doctor...

She says, here, put this on, ties in the back....

Okay, so I can handle putting on a hospital gown...

but then, do I take everything off?, or just the bottom...... mabye everything, but then I really don't want to be that creep who strips completely nude at the slightest hint of its acceptance....

Okay so I decide to brave it and go au natural....

But then there's this large paper sheet....

What the heck are you supposed to do with that....

So I got creative and wrapped it around my waste, like a kicky sarong....

A glance in the mirror told me that I probably got it right.....
Confident, I hop onto the chair....

RIP.....
, great, Big huge rip down the back of my paper sarong....

Quickly I folded the sheet in half and wrapped it back around my waist.

Now I just look like I'm trying so very hard to look cute in my micro-mini paper skirt.

Defeated, I sit back down.....carefully

The doctor enters and takes one look at me....

"why don't we just get you a new one"....

thanks.....now I believe you have a job to do....

I was pretty embarassed....

ah the memories..

I'm so sick of working....

The problem is, I went outside for lunch today and caught a brief glimpse of how nice it feel to be outside and not go numb from the usual darkenss & cold.
....then I had to return to work....

Ah but clearly I am not working right now, and really I haven't done much all day....

I keep thinking about my sister's "wedding" plans...

About three days ago she revealed to the family that she had been secretly married to her boyfirend for quite some time...

I know......who keeps a secret like that, and for so long....

I don't know, I was really upset at first, I understood her reasons but she's my only sister and I was so upset that she didn't at least confide in me....

Oh well, that's passed....

And now my mom and I are planning a little ceremony to take place this summer.

I am in charge of decorations and the dress......and mabye the music (especially if (E:Mike) agrees to treat all attending to his recorder stylings)

The dress: I've elected to make.....
I don't quite know if that was the wisest idea but I'll doo my best....
I'll try and keep you all posted on my progress....

Jill: A dance involving little to no clothing

....I like!