so I'm not going to end up saving *much* by installing the stereo myself, but I will now know *how* to do it myself, should I ever need to do it again. But I won't, cause the next car I buy is having one already. The Neon is basically behaving, but sometimes idles frighteningly low and sounds like it's going to stall, but then doesn't. I don't usually let it have the opportunity to stall though, I'll give it a bit of gas. I don't like stalling in public, it's embarassing. People won't know it's the Neon's fault. Although, when I called Canadian Tire today to tell them it STILL wasn't 100%, and told him it was the Neon that had been in for most of the week, he said well, that's your problem right there. Thanks a lot shit head, I guess I'll just go buy a new freaking car. I like the Neon very much, when it's working. It's a good car. But then it breaks, repeatedly, I find that a touch upsetting.

Subject: Beer and Deer

Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it in stupid ways. Some survive their goofy ways. Here's one..

June 2002, Georgia.

EMT's in southern Georgia responded to a call from Coffee County late one night. They arrived on the scene and found a severely injured man lying at the edge of a field. His abdomen had been completely torn open, and he was covered with lacerations and bruises. He also had a prominent tire tread across his chest. The injured man's companion showed up in a racing model ATV vehicle, clearly intoxicated, and gave the following account: He and his injured friend had been drinkin' and ridin' around the field on the three-wheeled ATV, when they sighted a stand of deer in their headlight. The friend, riding in the back as a passenger, was struck with a great idea. "Hey, man," he said, "if you quarter off one of them deer, betcha I can bulldog 'im." The driver thought this was a grand idea too, so he proceeded to isolate a buck and race him down. His also drunk passenger leapt from the ATV, grabbed the buck by the antlers, and pinned the animal's head to the ground - but that's when things went wrong. The buck, less docile than a steer, rose up and attacked his assailant ripping his abdomen open. The buck then stomped, kicked and butted him for good measure. When the EMT's asked the driver about the tire tracks across his injured friend's chest, he responded, 'Well, how else was I s'posed to git the deer off 'im?"

Scientists look at creating a human-mouse embryo

By CAROLYN ABRAHAM
From Thursday's Globe and Mail

North American scientists are considering whether to implant stem cells from a human embryo into a mouse embryo — a controversial experiment that could result in a mouse-human mix reminiscent of mythological monsters.

The chimera proposal, a chimera being a creature born of at least two different species, might, in theory, allow scientists to test if human embryonic stem cells do indeed have the power to grow into every tissue type in the body.

But if it works, the experiment also raises the eerie, and ethically charged prospect of creating a mouse with troubling human features — anything from a human brain to human sperm and eggs.

"If it really did work, then you'd have this very uncomfortable creature to work with," said Janet Rossant, one of Canada's leading stem cell researchers and an opponent of the chimera experiment. "Do you generate a human brain in a mouse . . . where do you draw the line?"

Dr. Rossant, a senior scientist at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, was among a select group of researchers and observers who attended a closed meeting in New York on Nov. 13, where the chimera experiment, among other things, was debated.

Sponsored by Rockefeller University and the New York Academy of Science, the day-long meeting was held to discuss ways to evaluate the power and versatility of the lines of human embryonic stem cells now being grown in labs around the world.

Read the rest...

STONEY CREEK, Ont. (CP) -
Hamilton police want to release 40 gnomes they've taken into protective custody, but they don't know where to send them.

The garden critters are locked up in the police station.

They were discovered on the loose Monday morning around the fountain at the former city hall in this southern Ontario community.

Where they came from is anybody's guess.

"We believe they were stolen from homes around Stoney Creek over the weekend and we'd like to send them home," Sgt. Maggie McKittrick said Wednesday.

Ok, so yes, in the past 2 days the car has cost me roughly $300, and that's not including the new battery I got last week for $118. Sweet-ass. It's just old and dying I think, but hopefully its life can be prolonged long enough for me to get an effing job to buy a new one. Anyway, the silver lining to all of this is that I won $64 on the new Atlantic 6-49, so that's good. That's the most I've ever won for sure, and even though it doesn't come close to paying off the goddam car, it's much, MUCH better than a kick in the junk.

well, I think maybe they would try to stand ON the saran wrap. I have things that will fit in the toilet and hold litter, but probably not the weight of a cat. Keep in mind it has to be removeable too since we only have the one toilet. I told Grant it's his job to think of something cause he's an engineer and all, but he has no faith in our cats being smart enough to be potty trained, and thus is putting minimal effort into this project.

Well Deck the Halls and all that jazz, I'm about done Christmas shopping. It's a nice feeling. I have to pick up one or two more things, and order a couple of things, but I think I'm pretty much done the whole mall deal, which, if you know me, is quite something. It's not uncommon for me to do the bulk of my shopping once I've arrived at my parents' house, which is pretty darn close to Christmas.
I also got a tin roaster pan for stage 2 of kitty potty training, which will fit in the toilet but not fall through, God willing.

Well. Despite the fact that NOBODY who said they would come actually came to my party, and I was pretty upset and disappointed at the beginning of it, not so much for myself, but for Charline, our presenter who had lugged all her gear out to now present to FOUR people, instead of roughly a dozen, and we had enough DELICIOUS food to feed at least that many...it was really fun. So :-P I know it wasn't any one person's fault, things come up and there's nothing that can be done, but I have learned from this that I should work around my schedule, since things are going to get messed up anyway, and also to OVERinvite, since there will be people who just can't make it. Regardless, it was fun, and we all bought some stuff, so overall it was a great time, and I'm not too bitter.

potty training is at a stand still, I need like, a potty seat or something to fit IN the toilet that I can put litter in. The cats are loving using the box ON the toilet, but that's not really much of an accomplishment I think...they are using a step stool to get up to it though, lol. The shape of the box I think would be too hard to get into from the floor.
anyway, yeah, it's late and I have to get up early and clean etc, so I'm off to bed.

Seriously though, it was a good movie, I enjoyed it. Eminem and Britney Murphy had SEX! :-O Shocking. It was good though, and mostly funny, so unless you absolutely can't stand the sight of Eminem and couldn't bear to watch a movie with him in it, you should go. On cheap night. I have to work on my tough-guy lingo though, I know.
I just got back from the grocery store buying goodies for my Fantasia party on Saturday. I got pop and jello (there's talk of jello shooters, but I'm not sure...) and disposable dinnerware. And stuff to make my top-secret dessert, that's not really top secret, but only 2 people know what I'm making, so it sort of is. I'm excited, parties are fun, especially these ones!

S'up, y'all, you know, I ain't a big fan of that little b**** Eminem or any of his bullsh**, but yo, I gots ta give props where props is due. I wents to see 8 Mile last night and yo, y'all, it was f****ng aces all the way, yo.

ok, cable internet starts tonight, I'm pretty excited. I can get up to 70Mb of space! :D very exciting....

My parents sent me this joke, it's pretty cute

Only in Canada....

A Newfie calls 9-1-1...
"Hello, is this the RCMP?"
"Yes. What do you want?"
"I'm calling to report my neighbour, Mike Fitzpatrick! He's hiding marijuana inside his firewood."
"Thank you very much for the call, sir."
The next day, the RCMP officers decended on Mike's house.
They searched the shed where the firewood was kept.
Using axes, they busted open every piece of wood, but found no marijuana!
They swore at Mike and left.
The next day, the phone rang at Mike's house...
"Hey, Mike! Did the RCMP come to your house?"
"Yeah!"
"Did they chop your firewood?"
"Yep."
"Happy Birthday, Buddy!"

For those of you keeping track, the cat toilet training stage one is going well. I had to backtrack a bit, they just weren't ready for the bowl of litter yet, so I've got the litterbox sitting on the toilet seat. I'm not crazy, I'm going to be so set when I don't have to change litter EVER AGAIN. mwah haha......

alright, this frustrated me more than entertained me, but once I accepted it, it's pretty darn cool. They really really are the same colour, test it any way you can think of.

ok, the cat toilet training begins. I have a bowl with litter in it wedged into the toilet, and have introduced the boys to it. I think the trickiest part (for them) will be balancing on the seat while peeing, I'll have to keep an eye out. George has already fallen in the toilet while attacking the toilet paper roll, but continues to climb up and attack it, so I'm not worried about that.

In other news, it's Clinique bonus time, you get a little bag of goodies when you spend $24 or more. I also went and made a whack of copies of stuff to submit for the long term supply applications. It seems silly in a way to give a separate application for each position, but I'm not going to question the district (at least to their face) until I land a job. I have 5 apps I'm putting in, basically just 5 identical packages with my transcripts, resume, teaching certificate etc. I suppose I'll do a different coverletter for each one, but they will also be basically the same. Oh well!

No nightmares, though I did think about it a lot, hoping NOT to have nightmares. When we went to the ring, we got there at 9 and the TWO late shows of 8 MIle were sold out. I, jokingly, said "oh shit guys, 8 Mile is sold out, now what?". Roughly 3 seconds later, this couple about my parent's age comes in behind us and the guy says "oh shit, 8 Mile is sold out!". I laughed anyway. The place was *packed* with high schoolers, a good bunch of whom ended up coming to see The Ring cause Eminem was sold out. Now, having said that, even though I hate Eminem's image, the movie looks interesting, and it's getting really good reviews from other people who hate him as well. It's just funny how retarded it is the amount of people who NEED to see it opening weekend.

Ok. 2 things. Thing one: I'm going to be switching over to Rogers cable internet, so this site will have to be moved, unfortunately. I don't know where to yet either, I have no user name or anything. So, I guess that's just a heads up for things to come.

Thing two: I just got back from seeing The Ring. Holy SHIT. It was EFFING SCARY. Very suspenseful, jumpy...just scary. I just had to share that with you folks. It was good, but I don't know that given the chance I would see it again. Well done, interesting and fairly original premise, but I just don't really enjoy scary movies, honestly. They're very stressful. So if you like being genuinely scared, go see it. If not, go see Sweet Home Alabama. Or Punch Drunk Love. I recommend both.

I have to go to bed and try not to have nightmares now. boo.

So, Future Shop won't do shit for me. I'm going to call and see now if I get their stupid insurance if it'll cover my new stereo, since the original one was gotten on the card. I think I'll tell them that if it doesn't, I'm not going to get a new stereo or the insurance. Cause really. I think the chances of it being stolen again are slim to none, assuming I remember to tell everyone about the removeable faceplate feature, BUT, it could happen, and I'm certainly not paying for it THREE times. I'm debating two times. What do you think? The deductable is only $100, which isn't bad. There could be more, I have to call the insurance folks back today, but I think that's it. I'm assuming I'll have to bring in my receipts or something. But it *is* still $100 for a stereo that I already owned. rrg.

But at least I have family pictures! Grant and I, a decent picture, Me, my cousin Kelly, and Erin; and lastly the whole fam damily. Enjoy.

My car stereo was stolen today. I'm very angry. It was new, less than 3 months. Nice one, Pioneer. Erin reported it, cause she was the one driving it at the time. I have no idea what to do. My insurance deductable will probably be the same price as a new stereo, so I think I'll stick with the radio for now. Future Shop will put it back in for free. Not because they feel bad for me, it's just something they do for you in case you get a new car and want to put their stereo into it. So, sympathy and donations to the "Sarah still has no money cause she's paying off her line of credit that she lived off all summer and still doesn't have a real job." fund. I'm going to go watch TV or something, or drink myself into a stupor.
Things are going to turn around soon, yes? I mean, yes, surely they could be worse, I could be homeless or dying, but SURELY, they could be better.

Also, Sears repair people are delivering our TV this aft, supposedly any minute, but I'm not holding my breath. They are delivering it because yes, apparently we could have picked it up yesterday, but they failed to mention WHERE, as in, not at Sears. Of course. Eff. And I can't get it by myself, it's too big for me to carry down the stairs. It took Grant and I both calling, visiting Sears, threatening to just get our money back, and yelling at the imbecilic repairmem to get this stupid thing back. I did finally get to talk to the manager at Sears, and she was very nice, but offered no explanation. Grant talked to somebody at the repair place, who was a dink, and then somebody better called him back. The dinky guy was upset at Grant cause he couldn't leave a message for him at work. Hi, it's my tv anyway, or it's in my name at least, leave ME a message on my convenient VOICE MAIL. Asses. Anyway, I'll let you know how this saga ends, if we actually get our tv back or what.

effing NBNet was messing around with their FTP stuff, so I have been posting, but it hasn't been going to the site. Effers. Anyhoo, I'm off to Halifax for the weekend to visit with my mom and grannie. I'm tired, even though I hardly worked this week. Maybe more regular work is better?