The Soda Stand

Archive for January, 2007

I had this huge post thought up in my head this morning as I was driving to the station to help the new chick. Today was my last day doing that by the way. I’ll help her on the phone and via email, but I won’t be going over there anymore other than to have coffee with my guys.

I was there from 7am until 1130 and I could feel my anxiety levels rising. I had to get out of there. For the first time since my surgery, I felt like I was starting to have an anxiety attack. I’m done. I’m so not going to sacrifice my health and well being just so this woman can succeed at her job.

The only person who has pissed me off this week is the person mentioned above and I’m not going to send her a FOAD cause I’m just not that mean. I know she’s new to this, I know she needs to take notes. But in the position we hold in this place, she is NOT going to get extensive one on one training and she needs to stop expecting that.

We talked today and I suggested she find some positive affirmations to post all over the place so she can gain the self confidence she is lacking. She sorely lacks it and if she continues the way she’s going, she’s going to fail. And I would hate to see that. As upset as I am over all of this, I’d love to see her succeed because I know she CAN do the job. She just doesn’t believe in herself enough to know that.

I can’t help her with that. That’s something she will have to find within herself and she’s on her own for it.

I haven’t posted in over 24 hours. Yikes, there is something wrong with me! Not really, I’ve just been extremely exhausted and feeling a lot of anxiety, so I’ve been relaxing after work. And of course, playing with the new puppy.

Chloe and Josie get along great. Josie will put her paw on top of Chloe’s head and press down while they are playing. It’s so darn cute. I’ve been trying to get some pictures, but have been unable to do so yet.

I can’t keep them away from each other’s food. I’m trying to figure out how to get their feeding schedules down pat cause I don’t Josie to starve too death. It seems she hasn’t eaten much unless she’s gotten a hold of Chloe’s puppy food. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I feel near tears today and I know that’s my anxiety level still being raised up from this morning. I’m working on it.

The situation with “the crush” has not changed. It has not progressed. It hasn’t gone backwards either. Same shit, different day. I think he’s just teasing me and I’m OK with that for right now. I like the teasing/playfulness. I tell the Cleaning Lady I think he’s just teasing me and she keeps telling me that he’s not. We’ll see.

I’ve been going to the gym every other day like I promised myself I would. I sometimes go everyday, depending on how I’m feeling. I went last night after work cause I was so stressed I had to do something. I did cardio and then legs and abs.

I’m glad tomorrow is Friday. That means it’s casual day at work and I can wear jeans and sneakers or boots if I want. I have to wear business suits or slacks and nice blouses for the most part and I so hate it. I’m more of a jeans and sweatshirt kinda gal. Or sweater if I’m working.

I’m rambling now and so I’m done. Until next time….

I haven’t done a post on recovery lately, so this is it. Just some thoughts I’ve been having in the last few weeks.

The official definition of recovery is: 1. the act or process of regaining or repossession of something lost; 2. A return to normal health; 3. A return to former status.

Looking at it as a recovery compulsive gambler, I’d have to go with #1 and #2 as what recovery means to me.

The act or process of regaining my sanity. The act or process of healing from years of self destruction and unhealthy behavior.

The GA program gave me choices. Choices I did not know I had. I never realized that while I gambled, I chose to do it. I just thought I couldn’t help myself and so it just was. It was what it was.

Later, I learned everytime I went and gambled and destroyed myself a little bit more, it was a choice I made. Some kind of emotional trauma would occur and I would go gamble. Why? I didn’t want to deal with it.

I used gambling as an escape. I used gambling as my social life. If I was bored, I’d go gamble. If I was pissed off, sad, happy, etc., I’d go gamble. Gambling was my life.

Now that I’ve been in recovery for 5 1/2 years, I find that it was my choice to do those things. Everytime I put money into a machine, I was choosing to destroy myself a little bit more.

The official definition of insanity is: Trying to solve problems, expecting different results, using the exact same methods.

I like to say “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” Same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

My world was chaotic and insane when I was gambling. Since I’ve been in recovery, I’ve gained control of the chaos. There may be chaos surrounding me, but my life as a whole is less chaotic than it ever was. The insanity is still there, just at a level where I can recognize it now and do something about it.

Through the GA program, I’ve gained my self respect and confidence back. I’ve become more self aware of my defects of character. I’ve become aware enough that I recognize when I’m having those unhealthy, self-destructive thoughts. And I know how to change it. I now have the tools from the program to help me become a better person from the inside out.

Until next time…

As everyone has guessed by now, I read Glamour and Cosmo on a regular basis. Both magazines have provided me with lots of blogging fodder. The articles I post about can be funny, heartwarming and important to people (OK, maybe just me).

This one is the bill of rights. this is Your Love and Sex Bill of Rights. It’s for women. Men can read and learn too. I copied and pasted the article and my comments (if any) will be in italics.

Your Love and Sex Bill of Rights
by Shaun Dreisbach

I once dated a woodpecker. OK, it just felt that way: He was actually an adorable, funny, smart guy—whose idea of kissing was quick, spastic tongue pokes interspersed with lip mushing. After a few dates, I wiped off my mouth, picked up the phone and took a poll of all my friends on how I should handle it. Should I say something? Did I even have the right to speak up, since everything else about us was great? The resounding consensus: Hell, yes! In the end, I told him that I found it really sexy to be kissed slooowly and smoothly, then I demonstrated. Things were a lot less rat-a-tat-tat after that. As my wise friends taught me, it’s every woman’s inalienable right to be satisfied in all parts of a relationship. Here are 10 other things you absolutely deserve—in bed and out. Know them, claim them and be happier in love!

You have the right to pry.

“Of course you want to know if the guy across the candlelit table from you is sleeping with anyone else. That’s not interrogating, it’s being safe. But injecting those extremely personal questions into your typical date is a lot easier said than done.”

I think we need to skip the clever segues and just ask. You can say you feel weird about asking, but ask. I have always asked if they were seeing/sleeping with someone else. It’s my right to know that information – six degrees of separation is not fun sometimes.

You have the right to great sex.

After treating thousands of women, psychiatrist Anita Clayton, M.D., has noted a surprising trend: “Many women settle for mediocre sex—even those who demand the best in every other part of their lives,” says Dr. Clayton, who compiled her observations in the book Satisfaction: Women, Sex and the Quest for Intimacy. “You don’t need multiple orgasms, but sex should be fun and intimate more often than not. You deserve it!”

Amen, sister. Amen.

You have the right to romance.

My husband is not a hand-holder. (He claims it was drilled into him as a Boy Scout that he should never walk hand-in-hand in the woods, lest he fall and drag the other person down with him. Really!) I, however, love having my hand held. He’ll occasionally humor me with a 30-second clench but not more. And that’s fine, because there are plenty of other things I do get: surprise peonies, love notes left around the house, foot massages after a hellish day. (I know, he’s a good one.) Getting at least some of these things is your right—but you may have to ask. “For men, the most intimate gesture is intercourse,” Dr. Saltz explains, “but for women, it’s the romantic things. So unless you say it’s important, it probably won’t cross his mind.” Oh, you also deserve some good old-fashioned chivalry. Letting him carry your suitcase doesn’t set women back. It just means you like being cared for. (But do be considerate and buy a wheelie.)

You have the right to be you during sex—not Elsa the Naughty Maid.

“You should never feel like you’re bowing to a man’s fantasies,” says sex therapist Laura Berman, Ph.D., director of Chicago’s Berman Center. That goes for anything: role-playing, anal sex, using battery-operated toys if you’re a more low-tech kinda gal. But, says Brian, 26, “It’s better to tell him your limits when you first start hooking up. Waiting till he tries it and then saying no is frustrating.” Bottom line: Be direct. “Say ‘I do not want to do that,’” says Drew Pinsky, M.D., host of the syndicated radio show Loveline. “You hold all the power sexually. Own it, assert it and guys will almost always be OK with it.”

thank God for that. I think I’ve always been myself during sex. Role playing is not a turn on for me.

You have the right to get what you give in bed.

Do men ever have trouble requesting oral sex? Exactly. And you shouldn’t either. Any guy worth sleeping with will want to know what turns you on—and welcome any new tricks to add to his repertoire. So ask already! But do it kindly, suggests Dr. Pinsky. “Sounding frustrated or mad will make the guy shrink—literally and figuratively. So will saying, ‘But my last five boyfriends did it!’”

Hear that fellas? turn about fair play man.

You have the right to cry.

The world would probably be a better place if more men did too. What men should not do is gawk, criticize or insist that you just calm down. But do understand: “Crying is scary to men!” says Dr. Pinsky. “To us, it’s a sign that something completely earth-shattering is happening. We feel powerless and have no idea what to do.” So tell him what you want (a shoulder, a tissue, some space)—he won’t know otherwise

I will never give up my right to cry. I don’t know about the rest of you!

You have the right to walk away.

Even if he’s “perfect.” Even if your mother adores him, your friends can’t believe your luck and your psychic predicts great things. If your inner voice isn’t sold, don’t ignore it—just because he’s “perfect” doesn’t mean he’s perfect for you. That’s what Sharon Campbell, 40, of Boston, discovered. She called off her wedding two weeks before her bridal shower. “Deep down I knew that I really didn’t love him—but I felt like I would never find someone to take care of me the way he did,” she says. “I realized that I want to be with a man who I’m passionate about—and now I am.”

That’s a good one. A lot of people think they don’t have a choice for whatever reason. And sometimes it’s difficult to remember this one.

You have the right to do it on the first date—or the tenth, or the fiftieth.

Who says you’re ready by the third date (or that you haven’t done it already)? Yes, he may wonder why he’s not getting any after several dates. So explain. Maybe you’ve rushed things before and been hurt. Maybe you’re a born-again virgin. Maybe you’re just not that into him. All good things for him to know. And for you to acknowledge

Now they’ve done it. They’ve given me justification for those times (few and far between) where I want to do it on the first date. At least I’ll be justified when the Crush and I finally get together. hahaha

You have the right to feel good about yourself in a relationship.

“When my ex-boyfriend and I would start to argue, he would give me the silent treatment,” says Rebecca Kohn, 29, of Chicago. “I would cry and beg him to talk to me but he wouldn’t. I began to question whether his response was right; that maybe I was naggy and overemotional. Then one day I read some old journals and realized that the things that upset me two weeks into our relationship were still huge issues a year later. It was a wake-up call. I realized that I deserved better and broke it off.” Ask yourself: Am I being my true self in this relationship? Do I feel valued and supported? Twenty-four-year-old Melanie Wissel’s answer was no: “I bought my ex football tickets and made him presents, but he wouldn’t even get me flowers on our anniversary,” she says. “We didn’t last long. If a guy doesn’t adore me, then he doesn’t deserve to be with me.” And ultimately, this is perhaps the most fundamental and important of all entitlements: someone who not only loves you but likes you—and who shows it over and over again.

To Thine Own Self Be True. That was the first thing I thought of when I read this part of the bills of rights. It takes a lot of courage to do it, but it can be done.

I think today sucked. I went to bed fairly early and Chloe (the new puppy) kept me awake off and on until midnight. At midnight, I took her into my mom and begged to have her sleep in there. I then slept 5 hours straight until my alarm went off.

I set up some appointments today and I realized I fucked them up, so I re-did them. Oh, and then I was deleting one from MY calendar and it ended up deleting ALL of them from everyone’s calendar. *sigh* I had to re-send it out and apologize. It was a ditzy day for me.

I went to the gym after work and did my legs and then cardio. I didn’t last long on the cardio cause I’ve switched from the treadmill to the elliptical and I haven’t been on one of those for way way too long. GAH! I could barely walk after only 7 minutes on the damn thing. I figure if I start out with that and build my way back up to the 20 minutes I used to do, I’ll be good.

Chloe is now sleeping on my lap wrapped in a towel. heehee She is so fricking cute, I’m loving this puppy. She and Josie have been chasing each other and playing. I think they are going to get along great!

I got an email from someone who has invited me to do a Blogtalkradio thing (I don’t know the specifics yet – working on getting those) and I realized I don’t have a microphone. My brother directed me to Walmart.com and I found one for a pretty good price. It’s a microphone and headphones combined. I also found a cute little webcame for a very good price.

What do you know? I’ll be living in the 21st century once I get those things. And I’ve promised my brother I’ll go on Information Salad with him and Vinny. It’s a weekly podcast they do. It’s quite entertaining really. You should click on the link and check it out!

I have to go on ISPN before I do the other. I promised. I’m seriously considering doing the blog radio thing. I think it would be fun. I have no idea what I would talk about, but I’d get to talk for 30 minutes and not shut up. Pretty cool if you ask this chatty chick.

This is Chloe. She is a 7 week old Chihuahua/Min Pin mix. We picked her up today. Isn’t she adorable??

By Kimberly Bonnell and Pamela Redmond Satran

Just what the post title indicates. Here’s a list of the 12 things we (as women) need to stop waiting for in life. My commentary will follow.

1. His first move.
This is so true to a certain extent. I have found that if you don’t let them know you are interested, he won’t make that first move. Be aggressive, make it known you’re interested.

2. The ginger martini and chocolate chip cookie diet—ain’t gonna happen.
That is just fucking gross. Who would be waiting for THAT diet? GAH!!! I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

3. A decent raise. Earn it, ask for it, get it.
If you are NOT working in the world of civil service, this works wonders. Do it.

4. That gorgeous gay guy to change his mind.
Take it from a “fag hag” this will never happen, stop hoping, wishing and praying. If he’s gay, he’s gay. No turning back from that.

5. A sign to tell you what to do next.
HAHAHA I found this extremely funny. We all do it. We all ask for a “sign” on what to do next, what move to make, what to do, what to do.

6. A cellulite cure. Let’s worry about AIDS and cancer first.
Are there really people waiting for this to happen? Cellulite is a part of being human. Get used to it, get over it

7. Your ex to say he’s really sorry. Don’t worry— karma will get him in the end.
What comes around goes around baby. Just wait. It’ll happen.

8. The bathroom to clean itself.
DAMNIT!!! It won’t clean itself? Fuck, I didn’t know that.

9. Monogamy to be easy (same goes for flossing).
I have found monogamy to be MUCH easier than flossing, I don’t know about you. LOL

10. New Year’s. Make the resolution today.
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I just make a decision and do it, doesn’t matter what time of year it is.

11. Your mother’s approval. If you’re happy, she will be too (eventually).
I guess it depends on the relationship between you and your mom.

12. A man to change everything in your life. Change it yourself now—he’ll catch up with you later.
Amen to that. I don’t know what else to say about this one, just amen.

I have discovered a new thing. I love Askmen.com. I know, it’s supposed to be for men, however I’m finding all kinds of cool shit there. They have some great information for blogging and I love reading stuff from the guy’s point of view.

So this list, is from there and it’s the Top 10 List of Men that all women love. I may have a few things to say about this one!

Top Ten Men that All Women Love.
by Ryan Murphy

It was Thomas Jefferson who said, “All men are created equal.” And I believe it was Brad Pitt who said, “Think again.” It’s a fact that some guys are far more attractive to the opposite sex than others — and it might surprise you that it often has little to do with their personal appearance.

Take Mick Jagger, for instance: If The Rolling Stones’ frontman had completed his degree in accounting, women of all walks of life would be turning down his advances at cocktail parties. Instead, Sir Mick got into rock ‘n’ roll and, five decades later, he’s still routinely bedding Brazilian beauty queens.

Luckily, rock stars aren’t the only kind of guys the fairer sex responds to, so put that guitar down and save your neighbor’s ears, for heaven’s sake. Read on as we discuss 10 stock male archetypes that no woman can resist.

10. The Marlboro Man
There are few men in America who live up to their romantic ideal more than the tobacco-singed Marlboro Man. Dressed in a Stetson and a pair of leather chaps, this rugged wrangler is strong, independent and hardy — three admirable virtues that this great country was built on. Women can’t resist his ability to survive in the wilderness — all alone. A girl can tell that a guy like this won’t be leaving that third message on her answering machine asking why she didn’t return his first two calls. Plus, all girls know that any guy who spends that much time riding with a sweaty beast between his legs must be a dynamo in the sack. I would have to disagree with this one. I like the whole cowboy look thing, but not specifically the Marlboro Man. I guess I can’t get that stupid movie out of my head when reading this #10 on the list.

9. The Cook
Whoever said that power is the greatest aphrodisiac obviously didn’t know how to make a decent quiche. That’s because few things bring a woman to her knees faster than a man who actually knows what he’s doing in the kitchen. In addition to his ability to prepare food that doesn’t induce crippling stomach cramps, The Cook also earns high marks for his whimsical creativity and his personal panache. Mind you, The Cook’s appeal isn’t all about garnishes and gnashes. When a woman sees this Wolfgang Puckhead, she doesn’t only see a man in a grease-spattered, frilly apron, she sees a provider who can take care of himself — as well as her — and who can appreciate the finer things in life. Absolutely. I agree with this 100%. Nothing sexier than a man who can cook!

8. The Surgeon
Apart from mocha fudge ice cream and Dirty Dancing, there are few things that turn on women more than The Surgeon. That’s because this highly trained medical professional has made it his life’s mission to make others feel better. He’s compassionate, he’s attentive and, if necessary, he can get his perfectly manicured hands on a lifetime of Cialis. All things being equal, his ability to bring the dead back to life is also slightly more impressive than your ability to burp the alphabet. Hmmm yeah, I’d have to say there are quite a few men who make this look good. There are some, however, that just do nothing for me. MY surgeon? My friend who sat with my mom during my surgery said that he was sexy, so I guess this one is correct too. (OK, if he wasn’t taking out my uterus, I probably would have thought he was sexy too)

7. The Fireman
Few other professionals have it made quite like The Fireman does. After all, this brave soul has three things that all women love: a dangerous job, a cool uniform and a long hose. Apart from those obvious accoutrements, what women truly adore about The Fireman is that he routinely puts his life on the line in the interest of helping others. Also, his bestselling line of Beefcake Calendars is also a lot easier on the eyes than those of his fellow professionals, The Plumber and The Computer Guy. OH YEAH. Firemen are definitely hot. I think that’s all I can say without gushing

6. The Dog Owner
Whether he’s as furry as a St. Bernard or as hairless as a Chihuahua, no woman can resist The Dog Owner. That’s because any man who is responsible enough to care for a wayward mutt is also theoretically capable of caring for a wife and child — an attribute that no woman above the age of 30 can resist. Please note: The Dog Lover is not to be confused with an entirely different species known as The Sheep Lover. Only Scottish women can dig a guy like that. I love a stud who can confidently walk down the street with a small dog. Someone I used to work with is a Marine, cop and generally sexier than shit and he owns a Yorkshire Terrier. He brought it to our going away party at the station and WOW! He was a little sexier in my eyes after that day

5. The Sensitive Artist
Every woman needs a shoulder to cry on and that’s precisely where The Sensitive Artist comes in. This sweater-vest-wearing pushover combines the listening skills of an eagle with the sexual vitality of a eunuch, making him a perfectly nonthreatening friend for any female. She’ll call him over for a cry fest, he’ll empathize, start crying with her, and before you know it, they’ll be doing the nasty all over their crumpled balls of tissue paper. His hobbies include quoting Sartre, discussing the meaninglessness of life and cultivating a tiny patch of hair beneath his lower lip. Make no mistake about it: He is the enemy. Sweater vest wearing? Fuck that.

4. The Foreigner
Slightly swarthy and deeply mysterious, The Foreigner speaks with a discernable accent and has visited dozens of places you can’t even pronounce. Women love him because of his over-the-top chivalric gestures and his never-ending promises to whisk them off to romantic far-away lands. You, on the other hand, despise him because unlike you, his palate can actually differentiate between a 1984 merlot and strawberry Kool-Aid, and he smells like a sun-roasted garlic patch. Hmm I don’t know about this one. However, I do love a good Scottish accent on a guy.

3. The Musician
It doesn’t matter that he shares an apartment with seven other guys or that his band is named Atomic Festus Sludge, the fact remains that all women love a man who can carry a tune. They especially love it when he can write a song just about them, even if it sounds suspiciously like Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Keep in mind, however, that not all musicians are created equal. Although most women would gladly fling their panties at a crooner like Tom Jones, only the most drunken of revelers would throw their Hanes at a wedding singer in a ruffled tuxedo shirt. I’ll pass on the musician. Thanks. Too unstable for me.

2. The Surfer
Perfectly tanned and ridiculously toned, The Surfer looks as though he just emerged from a Men’s Fitness cover shoot. And that’s a good thing too, because conversation isn’t his strong suit. In fact, The Surfer spends most of his life discussing “sick waves” and “tubular barrels,” proving once and for all that he’s likely swallowed as much sea water as he’s surfed. Nonetheless, chicks love him because his life is a stress-free, endless summer of sun, fun and mid-morning bong hits. For eye candy? I love the surfer guy. I like to go to San Clemente just to see all the surfers. Eye Candy only for me

1. The Bad Boy
He’s grizzled, he’s dangerous and he knows 27 ways to snap your neck using only his forefinger and thumb. He’s The Bad Boy, and when given the opportunity to choose, women will almost always select this unshaven stud on the Harley over the handsomely groomed accountant in the Acura. After all, The Bad Boy lives life on the edge, playing by his own rules and answering to no one. Ironically, what women love most about this Neolithic man is the challenge of savagely breaking his spirits until they’ve transformed him into the kind of mild-mannered guy they never would have dated in the first place. Unfortunately, yeah. Bad boys are definitely alluring. I try to stay away from them though haha

be her dream guy
Now that you understand the male archetypes women crave, you’re one step closer to capturing their hearts. So what are you waiting for? Make yourself positively irresistible by taking a cooking class, learning how to surf or by joining your volunteer fire department. After all, the key to landing your very own dream girl is becoming the man of her dreams.

I have to say I’m upset that a Police Officer did not make this list. A lot of women go ga-ga over cops and love the uniform thing and the badge. Hmmm I’m offended they didn’t make the list. I’ll get over it though!

I’m currently watching Inside the NFL on HBO. None of the teams I really follow or like are in the playoffs now, so I don’t really care who wins any of the games here on out (including the Super Bowl). However, since I’m such a football fan, I’ll watch both games tomorrow and I’ll watch the big game.

Yesterday, after I went to the gym and got home, I found myself to be extremely exhausted. At 1 p.m., I decided to take a short nap. The short nap turned into a 3 hour nap and I woke up at 4 p.m. I took a shower and then went to Quiznos for some food.

When I got home, I let Josie out and then I ate. After I was done eating, I realized Josie was not inside, so I went looking for her and I heard her barking on the side of the house.

We have a side yard that we block off from Josie, just cause I am lazy and don’t like walking around the side of the house to get her to stop barking. That’s all she does when she’s in the side yard.

I go outside to get her and I walked down the side yard to our gate and I see lots of mud. I then hear lots of water bubbling/spurting from the other side of the gate. Oh SHIT, our outside pipes!

I hurry up and get Josie in the house, put my sneakers on and grab a jacket and flashlight (it was dark). I go out the front door and to the side of the house. Our pressure valve (I didn’t know that it was a pressure valve at the time of discovery) had sprung a leak.

My first thought? OH SHIT what do I do? My second thought? OH my God, what am I going to do? Then I go grab a screw driver to get the lid off the main water thing right next to the street. My intent? Shut off the water to the house and then figure it out.

I could not turn off the water – I don’t have enough strength. The stupid dial that you turn would not turn. I panicked.

Why did I panic you ask? Because I have never dealt with anything like this and I’m a girl. I started crying. Why am I crying? Cause I feel stupid. Why do I feel stupid? Cause I have no idea what to do.

I call my best friend KP. He’ll know what to do. He walks me through how to shut off the water (yeah, same steps I tried.) I tell him I can’t turn the stupid dial. He says, “give me 30 minutes, I’ll put jackets on the girls and be right there.”

He uprooted his daughters out of their house and brought them over just to help me out. You don’t find friends like that everywhere. He comes over, turns off the water to the house and I show him where it’s leaking. He fiddles with stuff (I’m a girl – I have no idea what he did) and then finds a shut off valve at the actual leak area.

He turns the water to the house back on and tests to make sure that the leak is not happening. It’s not. So we have water and the leak has been stopped.

This morning, I call our home warranty and they don’t cover OUTSIDE of the house. They only cover within the four walls of the buildling. FUCK. I call our homeowners insurance place and they closed on the weekends. WTF?!?! I called a plumber that had been here before to fix something and made an appointment for Monday.

It will be fixed Monday. It’s not an emergency at this point. The girl from the plumbing company asked me (her first question after I explained what was happening) “and you turned off the valve there at the pipes?” And my answer? “why yes, yes we have.”

Did I mention my coffee pot kind of exploded on me yesterday too? Something was off in the filter (it folded down) and so coffee grounds and hot water went fucking everywhere. That was fun to clean up.

Today, I’m going to get my hair done and then going to lunch with The Cleaning Lady from the station. After that, I’ll come home and go to the gym later. The Nazi wasn’t too hard on me yesterday, even though I’m a little sore, I’ll be doing cardio and legs today.

Until next time….

I was listening to the radio this morning while taking Josie to the groomer and it was talking about a list found over at Ask Men.com.

This list was of the Top Ten Instant turn ons for men. So all you guys out there, let me know if this is true…

10. She has an accent
There’s nothing like the sound of an exotic accent to get a guy’s engines revving. Whether she’s British, French, Irish, Italian, or from anywhere else, it’s a sure bet that a man will be taken in by that foreign lilt or intonation. Accents are especially exciting when the woman throws in some words from her native language. What could be sexier than trying to guess what exactly she said she wanted you to do to her?

9. She admits to loving sex.
Many men lament the fact that their lady doesn’t want or get off on sex as much as he does. So when a woman tells a dude that she loves sex, it’s a huge turn-on. When a man knows that any time he feels like gettin’ it on, his woman will be more than willing and able, well, it may be time to refurnish the bedroom, because you’re going to be spending a whole bunch of time in there.

8. She drives a motorcycle
Think about how cool and confident you feel when you hit the road on your chopper. Now, imagine how a woman feels riding one of those bad boys. Next, think about how she looks when she feels that way. Getting the picture? It’s just sexy to see a chick on a bike — particularly when she’s clad in form-fitting leather chaps. Female bikers give off a carefree vibe, as well as the sense of mystery that comes with face-masking helmets. There’s a reason why all bike manufacturers like to market their merchandise alongside scantily-clad models — because it never fails to make men look.

7. She has a sexy voice
Men love to hear the tones of a woman’s sexy voice. Whether it’s husky or has that soft, caressing touch, a woman’s voice can send shivers down a man’s spine via his auditory system. Think of the Marilyn Monroe’s famous “Happy Birthday” song or Liv Tyler’s otherworldly tone in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. If a woman’s inflections sound like that, a man will fall for her from the ears on down.

6. She has nice breasts
Men love breasts. This is a cold, hard fact. Just look at the astounding number of similes we’ve invented to describe them: knockers, rack, melons, headlights, and assets, to name but a few. Without getting into the psychology underlying this common obsession, it’s sufficient to say that a woman with a great bust line is always attractive to a man. It’s probably a good thing the female gender was the one to get the breasts. Had it turned out otherwise, we’d get nothing done — we’d be home all day fondling them.

The view from behind isn’t that bad, either

5. She has a great ass
Okay, men also love asses. A shapely butt on a woman is a sure-fire turn-on to any guy. The way it moves when she walks — that slight jiggle of the hips and sway of the cheeks — is pretty much a mating signal. After all, there’s a reason they call it a “booty call.” Men are easily hypnotized by a fine female gluteus maximus , and will pretty much drop everything (literally and figuratively) to get a closer look.

4. She looks like a porn star
Yes, men are easily smitten by a babe who looks like she came straight off the box cover of an adult video. Here, once again, it’s all in the visuals. Whether it’s the way she unabashedly embraces her sexuality or the “come hither” look on her face, the girl who looks and acts wanton will always have a horde of men buzzing around her. Want proof? Count the number of strip clubs in your town.

3. She has full lips
Men like to kiss women. And men really like to kiss women with great lips. A full, sensuous mouth has always been a giant turn-on. The sight of a woman with beautiful, lush lips makes men think of how said lips would feel as they kissed the many different body parts he has to offer. Just think of Angelina Jolie’s perfect lips. What man wouldn’t want to get a taste of those?

2. She talks dirty
It’s the lucky man who gets the girl who loves to talk dirty. As men are often the sexual initiators in bed, a woman who talks dirty is a prized catch. Guys love to hear a babe talk about the things she wants to do and have done to her. This is especially valued when he’s on the road on business. A guy’s hotel room seems a lot less lonely when he can get some rocking-good phone-sex from his lady back home.

1. You catch a peek of her undies
Sometimes, it’s all about the tantalizing prospect of what a girl has underneath her clothes. In fact, many men often prefer the sight of a skimpy outfit that’s slightly revealing to actually seeing the naked female body. For women this is hard to believe, but true nonetheless.

So when a man gets a glimpse of a thong gently peeking above a beltline or the shadow of a lacy bra through a shirt, all he can do is dazedly wonder what else is under there. Quite often, the rest of his day is shot because those images will have been burned into his brain, keeping him aroused until he can get home and do something about it. Happy daze indeed.

For Honorable Mention, Askmen.com has the following:

Her tongue is pierced
Once a guy sees a pierced tongue, he can’t help but imagine how it might feel in an, um, “intimate” situation. A tongue piercing indicates that the gal sporting it throws herself into bedroom sports above and beyond the call of duty. That never fails to get men to rise to attention.

I have been horribly lax in reading everyone’s blogs. I’m trying to get through them today before dropping Josie at the groomer and going to the gym. If I don’t get through all of the blogroll before leaving, I’ll finish it this afternoon. And then I’ll start on the bloglines and the bookmarks.

I think I really need to organize that shit again. I just added/deleted blogs from all three of those places about 3 weeks ago. And they are out of hand again. Seems I keep finding blogs I like to read on a semi-regular basis.

Now ya know I’m a NASCAR fan, right? Well if you didn’t know, now you do. February 10 is the Budweiser Shootout and qualifying for the Daytona 500 is February 11. It’s just around the corner folks! I’m a Tony Stewart and Dale, Jr. fan. WOOT!

OK, off I go to get dressed and take Josie to the groomer. Wish me luck with the trainer! He’s going to show me upper body stuff today. I’m scared.

Until next time…