Giddy Girlie

So many of us use nicknames and other monikers when traveling around the internet... completely understandable... but my question is - how did you get the name that you use?

My story :

I became "TinkerBell737" many years ago. It began, actually, circa 1994 when my family first got AOL service. My stepfather was at the computer thinking of screen names for each of us. The suggestion from AOL was to pick a hobby then add numbers to it, like your birthdate. I have always been an avid Tinker Bell collector and so "Tink" was the word that he chose... he then added on 410, which is my height (bday is 9/10 if you want to send a card). So I was Tink410. I was Tink410 until I moved out and got my own internet service... I couldn't take the screen name with me, so I had to choose another. I knew I wanted TinkerBell... but I needed a different number. I tried several things and all were taken...then I chose 737 which is the title of a really good Mighty Mighty Bosstones song. The song is in reference to their post office box, 737, and how much the love getting mail and interacting with their fans. Anyway, I thought it was cool enough, so I chose TinkerBell737. Lucky for me, no other nerd in InternetLand ever wanted that name, so I was able to use the same name for all my accounts... thus, TinkerBell737.blogspot.com

However, I have recently moved (duh) to GiddyGirlie.com. In high school, my band of nerd girls were called the Giddy Girlies and I was always the lead Fizgig. Since I couldn't think of a good URL with "fizgig" in it, I went for GiddyGirlie instead.

Now.... tell me.... who are you?

Posted by giddygirlie at 1:29 PM | Permalink

The end result?

A kick ass wrist cuff for Ryan. Woo!! I am working on #2, so he has a matching set... and after that, I am tackling patterns. Watch out Pac Man wrist cuffs... I am coming for you!!

[editor's note : the cuff that I made was all black - very simple....and wrist "cuff" probaby isn't a good description... it's more of a "band". I have added the link to the Pac Man set, so you can see for yourself.]

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:57 AM | Permalink

I am probably the last one in Blogsylvania to post about the arrival of Baby Charlotte. Isn't she too precious? Man, I have Baby Fever... it's pretty ridiculous.

I am so incredibly happy for Jen and Mark who are going to make the best Canadian parents ever. I hope that Sweet Baby Charlotte realizes from Day 1 how loved she is... and so blessed to have parents who have been head over heels in love with her since she was just a twinkle in her mother's eye.

All my love to you, Jen and Mark.

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:46 AM | Permalink

He's been coming over a lot more lately, which I really enjoy. Last night, he came over for dinner and Chapelle Show and we got into this deep discussion about family. We all agree that family is what you make it. You may be closer with friends than your own sister, and that's ok. You don't have to love someone and be burdened with their problems just because they're related by blood. You don't have to be the one eternally cleaning up the mess... because "she's your sister". We also talked about how glad we are that the three of us are so close. That we each have 2 more people to lean on. People to stand by us and hold our hand... to encourage us and loan us $20. We were all even happier that this was the family that we chose and not just the one that was dealt to us.

That being said, Ryan and I promptly started riding him about getting enrolled in college. He agreed and asked for my help. We got the application filled out and deposited in the mailbox. He was very pleased with himself... and I couldn't be more proud. He's such a fabulously dynamic guy... he can do anything. I told him to go to community college. Try everything. For $18 a unit, you can't go wrong. I don't know what's more rewarding : having someone take your advice and feel good about it - or - the satisfaction of watching a young guy making his way in the world... and knowing that good things are coming for him.

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:01 AM | Permalink

C'mon over and visit anytime! No need to call ahead - just drop on in!!

Posted by giddygirlie at 8:55 AM | Permalink

My interview went really good yesterday. The decision is due back in about 2 weeks. Oy, the agony! Question to all of you : is it the kiss of death if the interviewer mentions that you might be overqualified and asks you point blank if you think you'll get bored? I dished out a good line about being able to focus my talents on his work, which would make our partnership more productive, which could never be boring... I hope it worked!

Posted by giddygirlie at 4:57 PM | Permalink

I just ate 3 pieces of bacon, and I seriously could go back for more. Is that wrong? To be addicted to bacon?

note about the picture : that's actually a candle. How weird is that?! Order it here.
note about the Atkins diet : I am not actually on the diet, I just love bacon.

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:57 AM | Permalink

I don't have any idea about what my odds might be of *really* getting this job, but I can say with confidence that I am ridiculously overqualified, I am cute, I am wearing nylons, and I really would be a good fit for this job.

Think happy thoughts for me... and direct the good energy in my direction around 3:30pm Pacific Time today. I'll let you know how it pans out...

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You really have to read the whole thing.

Posted by giddygirlie at 1:23 PM | Permalink

Instead, I took the opportunity to work on my embroidery instead [keep the booing to a minimum, please]. I am currently juggling a super secret surprise for Styro [who is a sultry singularly spectacular chick, as you know] as well as working on a replacement for Choppa Scarf 1.0 which went off to travel the world and left poor Choppa scarf-less. I am in an extremely fickle mood lately and have had a hard time committing to a design... it's my M.O. to start a project and dump it halfway through for a revised version, so these things take time. Plus, I have 4 websites that I am currently rebuilding, all of which need to be published a.s.a.p. including a little something for myself [more to come on that]. Add to that a very major job interview on Monday, plus an extra little stress from... well, I'm not quite ready to talk about that yet... and I am a bundle of nerves. And a flake. I owe each and every one of you home made toffee and peanut butter bon bons for sticking it out with me here. I love you all a whole bunch.

Muchas Smoochas to everyone!

Posted by giddygirlie at 8:57 AM | Permalink

I did some side work for my mom (back breaking presentation binding, to be exact) and so she owes me... so I have decided to invoice her for a copy of the Stitch 'n Bitch book as well as knitting needles and a couple of thingies* of yarn. By this time tomorrow, I should have carpal tunnel and bags under my eyes from knitting all night long. If I look frazzled, don't be surprised. Just remind me how no one else can pull off cranky and disheveled quite like me...

*I expect this book to teach me what those thingies are called. (I have already learned about bolts of fabric, spools of thread, etc. I just need the knitting terminology)

Posted by giddygirlie at 12:21 PM | Permalink

So Ian has infused his artwork with letter-copying as well. Most of his drawings and paintings have words printed on them, copied from whatever is available. Of course, the house and sunshine painting with 'Juxtapose' was pretty funny... until...

Ian finished his picture. He refused to unroll the completed art until both parents were in the room. Mom comes in from the kitchen, where she's making dinner. Dad comes in from the bedroom. Excited, Ian unrolls the picture - a mixed medium of pencil, marker, and crayon on a 2' x 3' piece of butcher paper. It is a large semi-truck. The truck is driving down a road with a sign that has numbers on it, the gravel beneath is black. On the side of the truck is carefully printed "The Complete Illustrated Kama Sutra".

Needless to say, that particular book has been relocated to a secure hiding place.

Posted by giddygirlie at 1:14 PM | Permalink

Patient : Miss Mia

Hx : NKA, b.p. 120/70

S : CC-sore throat, swollen, tender x1d

O : Swelling of (L) & (R) tonsils, inflammation of tissues in throat

A : tonsilitis

P : Zithromax 250mg qd po

Posted by giddygirlie at 11:24 AM | Permalink

I'll be at home with some hot apple cider, if you need me.

Oh, and if you and I have kissed in the past few days, I'll give you a call to let you know if the doc says I am contagious...

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How is it Monday already?! Where was Saturday? Sunday? What happened to my naptime? Oh man. Now I have to wait 5 more days... sigh...

But I did finish reading In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, which was SUCH a good book. Now I am totally interested in knowing the history of the Mirabal sisters and am considering the Dominican Republic for my summer vacation... thanks to Jules for the book!

Footnote : the Atkins people are on to something!!

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:52 AM | Permalink

I have a private blog where I post stories and thoughts and things about me and stuff that I wouldn't necessarily want everyone that I know (namely friends and family ~ hi, Ma!) to read... it's just awkward. So I have taken a cue from the smartest lady I have ever met of all time and have started a 2nd site.

If you would like the URL to my 'other' site, please email me and I will send you the link. Whenever that site is updated, I will post this image, so that you know. It's like secret code.

Posted by giddygirlie at 1:46 PM | Permalink

These are the only 2 pictures that I have of them on-hand. These were taken at our wedding in 2001, and despite the sexy seashell bra that Danny is making, my wedding had nothing at all to do with Caden's conception

Posted by giddygirlie at 12:14 PM | Permalink

Lay your hand on my forehead. Can you feel it? It's Baby Fever.

Oh my gosh, I am soooooo in love with my little niece, Jillian. She's this petite little cutie, just barely 1 year old that is just a doll. She doesn't fuss... she doesn't cry... she doesn't whine... she's great in the stroller...she's great being held. I couldn't resist, so I carried her around most of the day. [editor's note : I ditched work yesterday to go to Disneyland with the out-of-town family] We pointed at things, smiled at strangers, waved at birds, ate a frozen banana. It was great.

My hormones are raging so much, that I dare not share the elevator with a man, lest I get pregnant. Let this be a fair warning to you all.

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:57 AM | Permalink

an email from Miss Bliss, giving me permission to kidnap her and sweep her away to the Bay Area for Hugfest 2004

a fun note from The Mighty Jimbo - can't wait to hear all about his new fat ride!

a great chat with Senorita Choppa about the fun of being a preschool teacher

a note in the mailbox from the hottest Scooter Chick who ever rode a Vespa in a skirt - and in sub-zero temperatures

a stack of kick ass postcards from New York from my high society pal, IA

a pair of great new books from the greatest. lady. ever., Jules, that have inspired me to read 3 books at once

... I don't know if it's the pain in my skull, the migraine pills, the sheer exhaustion or the pure admiration, but I just want to hug and squeeze all of you. I love you too much... although the room is spinning, so I need to go lay down. xoxo

Posted by giddygirlie at 6:46 PM | Permalink

I don't squish spiders (bad karma), so I went to get a paper to carry him outside... and then I thought... what I he wants to be here? I mean, what if he has lived outside for a while and hated the cold and has decided to retire here? What if my bathroom is his Florida? It's humid, it's warm... there's pathetic music (yeah, we sing a lot around here) and hurricanes (courtesy of the blow dryer). Maybe he's happy here. It's been so temperate outside, maybe he doesn't know? Should I take him to see it? Set him up in the bromeliad, show him the blooms? What if he thinks he likes, thanks me and goes along his merry way... but then later changes his mind? Is he strong enough to find his way back? What if he's worked his whole life to get here... and then I set him back to square one?

On the other hand, I know that our harsh Florida-like conditions will ultimately be his demise. We don't get a lot of bugs around here... not anything substantial anyway. So far, the only fresh 'food' has been the 2 ants, mapping out the sink. Of course, I wasn't going to pick them up with tweezers and bring them to him. Should this Florida have a welfare system? He has been in the same place, between the sink and the mirror for at least 2 days now, and he hasn't started a web... maybe he's just on vacation? Is there an arachnid timeshare system going on here? How long do I let him stay? Who's making the profit on this?

So then I wonder if he's come here to die... maybe this warm bathroom is his final stop? He's making a wish... and this was it? And what do I do when his time comes? And how will I know? Do I return his body to his family, somewhere out in the garden? Can I give him a burial at sea (via the toilet)? Do I need to build a casket, line it with velvet and find him a nice plot somewhere? How much responsibility do I have to take for a spider I don't even know?

I never know just what to do... so he's there. Feel free to address his mail here for now. I'll send my regards the next time I am washing my hands.

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Is curling ribbon good for a cat to eat? Not at all. It's totally indigestible. What's worse, it can get caught up in their intestines and cause a blockage, which requires surgery or could cause death. This is why it's banned from my house. Our holiday gifts were wrapped in paper and maybe material ribbon... no curling ribbon to be seen. No one brings gifts to our house with curling ribbon on them, knowing Monkey's fascination.

So imagine my surprise when I came home last night to a chatty kitty who was talking up a storm (a sure sign of a guilty conscience in my household)... and the numerous puddles of cat barf scattered around. Oh, it was lovely. Each pile was... well, gross... but was topped with a small piece of white curling ribbon, twisted into a fancy bow. Disgusting.

Basically, I spent my entire night last night with a can of carpet cleaner and approximately 6,000 paper towels, mopping up the mess. Ew. It's not all glamour over here, like you may have thought...

The Culprit

Posted by giddygirlie at 8:50 AM | Permalink

• Your coworker has 8 body piercings and none are visible.
• You make over $300,000 and still can't afford a house.
• You take a bus and are shocked at two people carrying on a conversation in English.
• Your child's 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named Breeze.
• You can't remember...is pot illegal?
• You've been to a baby shower that has two mothers and a sperm donor.
• You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian.
• You know which restaurant serves the freshest arugula.
• A really great parking space can move you to tears.
• A low speed police pursuit will interrupt ANY TV broadcast.
• Gas costs $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the US.
• A man gets on the bus in full leather regalia and crotchless chaps. You don't even notice.
• The guy at Starbucks wearing the baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like George Clooney really IS George Clooney.
• Your car insurance costs as much as your house payment.
• Your hairdresser is straight, your plumber is gay, the woman who delivers your mail is into S & M, and your Mary Kay rep is a guy in drag.
• It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH 2004."
• You have to leave the big company meeting early because Billy Banks himself is teaching the 4:00 p.m. Tae Bo class.
• You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cells or pagers.
• It's barely sprinkling rain outside, so you leave for work an hour early to avoid all the weather-related accidents.
• Both you AND your dog have therapists.
• The Terminator is your new governor.

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:50 AM | Permalink

We've had such fabulous experiences at Club Med the past couple of summers, that we're leaning toward vacationing with them again. [sales pitch] It really is a nice place to go, they have so many activities and such, plus it's all-inclusive, so you can stay there without spending a penny. Since last year, even the alcohol is included, so you really don't pay one cent more... plus, the service is great, food is excellent, excursions are great...[/sales pitch] But we still don't know which one to go visit.

Requirements : my tickets are valid only for US48, Mexico, Canada, & Caribbean (no Hawaii, no South America, no Europe)

Considerations : We really like beachy destinations and are leaning toward another Caribbean destination... although Gulf of Mexico is nice, too.

Candidates :

• Martinique Fort De France


• Columbus Isle, Bahamas


• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic


• Cancun, Mexico

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My new best friend - go! read! fall in love!!

Posted by giddygirlie at 12:25 PM | Permalink

This Sunday
9:00am Services/ Youth Group/ Bible Study
10:00am Petting Zoo

I really should carry a camera in the car... but doesn't that just sound...odd? In the wake of the sex abuse scandal, you'd think they'd try and steer clear of Jay Leno's signs and newspaper ad skit...

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:42 PM | Permalink

I have created a table to work from (obviously) but for some reason it starts half an inch off the left side of the page... so it's smooshing on the right side. Does that make sense? Basically, I want to reduce the amount of white that is seen on the left side of the screen... maybe to a small sliver... or not at all. I am looking at the HTML and can't see where I can adjust anything for that.

Help!

Posted by giddygirlie at 3:13 PM | Permalink

I took a few minutes from the computer eyestrain that is my daily existence to separate the card fronts from the backs earlier and I found this one...

Please note the following :

• preprinted, cheerful, holiday message
• lack of signature
• RETURN ADDRESS LABEL in lieu of a signature
• insignia on the labels, toasting the new year 2001

I mean, I know the whole holiday thing has become a farse and most of us are just going through the motions, sending cards because we think we should, buying gifts because Macys tells us to... but this is ... wow.

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Number of bottles of champagne consumed : 8
Dinner : Chex Mix
Snack : homemade toffee
Designated "Song of 2003" : "Hurt" by Johnny Cash
Designated "Song of 12:01am 2004" : "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash
Sparklers Lit : 45
Burns received from said sparklers : 1 (Ryan)
Number of neighbors engaged in sex in the living room before 10pm with the windows and doors open, where we could see from the patio : 2
Number of cannonball dives into the jacuzzi at 2am : 1 (John)
Number of drunk girls who asked us to buy them a soda because they couldn't figure out how to open the gate : 2
Number of Jedi Mind tricks attempted : several
Number of Jedi Mind tricks intended to make my boob pop out of my shirt : 3
Number of successful mind tricks : 0
Number of Godzilla movies viewed without sound : 2
Number of Godzilla jokes made : countless
Best CD 'rediscovered' on NYE : Dropkick Murphys - Do or Die

Posted by giddygirlie at 2:55 PM | Permalink