Just an apple tempting you to take a taste.

Last night we attended the "Blue Masquerade" ball put on by Art Amiss. Apparently it was the only gig in town, because there were a million people in attendance. I was quite surprised. We were little sardines all night, but it was fun, fun, fun. Dancing, drinking (when could make it to the bar), and pure celebration.


I have GOT to get my little point and shoot fixed (ZAC!) because I hate not capturing any goings on outside of my house. We took these photos with the D50 before we left, but I am relying on others to send me photos of the actual night.

(These are like our prom photos back when your mom would make you take photos before walking out the door)

Bailey Boo & I


Me & T Dog


Me being saucy


Bailey Boo ready for the pageant


Me once again


Captain Jay Sparrow & Bailey Boo


The number one question asked "Where's Jesster?"

So my birthday was a lot of fun. I shopped with Jesster and Bailey. Picked up some shoes, some new MAC eye colors, a few gold bangles, etc. Bailey Boo and I went and got pedicures which felt great and made our toes look sweet.

Later in the evening Travis & I joined several friends at Shogun for dinner and drinks. I had an excellent blackberry Mojito which made me super happy. Miss Riot & Joseph had to wrangle with the hostess at the start of the evening, but in the end we had a great time.

I got some awesome gifts. Along with Miss Riot's beautiful floral delivery to my office on Friday, I received wine from Zac & Sarah, a VEGAN cookbook and sweet ass card from Melissa & Will, a dinner invitation from Joseph which includes "A vegan extravaganza for Travis, myself and two of our friends of choice" which was really awesome. Knowing how much I adore a nightly soak, Sparky & Carl gave me soap and bath-salts, which they handcrafted themselves. (chamomile, lavendar & calendula oh my!) I also was sent an email this morning via Pug Rescue PayPal stating that Miss Bailey Boo made a donation to Pug Rescue of Northwest Arkansas in honor of my birthday, which was ultra sweet.

After dinner we headed out to JR's with big plans to drink it up, but I was getting tired and not feeling all that great, so after one cocktail, we decided to head home.

It was a great birthday. Thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes and made phone calls (Bevy, Laura, Aaron & Eric!)

Now you would think that with the Photo Editor and a Photographer from the Morning News sitting at my table I would have at least one photo from last night, but that was not the case. Myself and everyone else there forgot a dang camera. Luckily Travis took a couple of shots before we left.

I'm 36, hell yeah!

I am glad to be at work actually. I was becoming quite the bed ridden vegetable over the holiday break. When asked "How was your holiday" I genuinly could have answered with "Being in bed was great." Watched a lot of movies, ate too much and curled up with my laptop or pugs for about 4 days straight.

This was interuppted just a couple of times by traveling to Hector and then to the Fort. Seeing out families was nice. I changed a baby diaper....twice. That was enough for me, I truly have not a parental bone in my body. Nothing ticking in there thank you.

Time to make the big changes. Starting back at the gym today. Got back on FitDay.com to track my calories and exercise, and derby season will be back in a matter of days. Have quite a bit to lose, but I think I can do it.

Holiday loot:

Garmin Nuvi 200 W GPS for my car


Calphalon set, Travis and I are super excited about this one!


iTouch. In love with this. iPhone is sure to follow as soon as the new one is released. (Yes I have my reasons for wanting both)

Other random gifts were received, it was all nice, but it still seems weird to get gifts as an adult from anyone but your significant other. I never know how to say "No seriously, I don't want anything." Maybe I can establish some sort of rule for my family at least that allows them to donate to Pug Rescue or some other organization instead of buying gifts.

In other news, my 36th birthday is on Saturday. I am excited to celebrate.

It's funny how things come back into your life. Sorta like being happy that you kept your jelly shoes or checkerboard lacing skills handy.

Over three years ago I met Miss Bailey through Travis. After visiting several times, she decided to move her booty up here and go to school. It was odd because once she was formally an NWA resident we sorta lost contact.

Due to various events lately, Miss Bailey Boo has come back into my life and I am tres happy about it.



This is us before we hit the town last weekend or so. We have been shakin' it at the Theater lately with Miss Riot. Fun, fun.

We go and learn all the sweet new dances, and luckily are able to detect the right time to leave before the dudes start gettin' up the nerve to bring the hit on.

I have much to say about the Jesster, Jay & Sin dance spectacular choreographed by Bailey Boo herself from the other night, but awaiting a crowd photo to be sent to me.

Stay tuned.

Too much amazing stuff happened last night to write about so I will just post photos. I am sad that I did not get photos of several people I love dearly, but hopefully someone else will have them.

Not the best photos (the before's are super pixely) but to give you an idea:

Kitchen

Before







After:









Living Area 1:



After:



Living Area 2:





After:





Guest Bath:



After:





My Bathroom:



After:







Travis Bathroom:



After:







Details:

Cork Flooring in bathrooms & on stairs:



Fabric used on custom window treatments:




Travis sink:



My sink:



Guest bath sink:



Concrete:




These photos do not include my office, Travis' office or our bedroom. I didn't really get good shots of those, so will post at another time. Other small details included all the bamboo flooring, all the hidden hinges and new hardware on all cabinets throughout, new door handles, etc.

I feel so much better now.

Friends of Animals:

Crucial legislation that will benefit the animals in Fayetteville and the state of Arkansas need your support.

Important revisions to the animal ordinance will be discussed at the Fayetteville City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 20 at 6p.m. In the coming days please share your views with those who will vote on these propositions by emailing or calling the council members. For contact information go to:

http://www.accessfayetteville.org/city_government/city_council/

Important changes Include:
No Dog shall be chained - Dogs may be on a trolley system, but only when the owner is home. Dogs are social beings that need attention and to be a part of the family. USDA states "continuous confinement of dogs by a tether is inhumane." Dogs that are chained are 3 times more likely to bite. For more information about chaining go to www.dogsdeservebetter.org
City Yearly License Fee Increased for Un-neutered dogs and cats - but the license fee remains $5 for pets that are neutered. The fee for un-neutered will increase to $75 up from $15. Six Million stray and unwanted animals are euthanized every year in United States shelters, according to the Humane Society of the U.S. The only way to stop euthanasia and the continuous flow of stray animals is to spay and neuter. If pet owners spend $75 on the sterilizing surgery the license is only $5. There are currently three low cost spay/neuter programs in Washington County for people with low incomes. Other benefits of spay and neutering is improved health and behavior. Sterilized animals are less likely to have certain cancers and less likely to roam or behave aggressively. Of dogs that attack or bite, most are unsterilized and kept on a chain. An exception to the license has been made for registered breeders, competitors, and hunters. The permit is $25 per animal per year, but includes a non-refundable $25 application fee and inspection of premises where the animal is kept.
Dangerous and Vicious Animals Restricted - An animal who has acted aggressively but has not bitten could be cited as Dangerous and animals who have attacked and/or bitten a person or other pet could be cited for Vicious. Such animals will be sterilized and microchipped. The animal must also be kept in a locked enclosure along with signs that are understandable to children. This excludes animals who have bitten or attacked on their owner's property, or when the animal has been teased, tormented, or abused.
Redemption of Animals - Fees to redeem an animal will increase. Redemption fees have not increased since 1991. Owners will be expected to pay for the animal control and sheltering costs instead of placing the burden on the taxpayers. The animal will also be microchipped on the first impound at owner's expense if its not wearing rabies and license tags. On the third impound within 12 months, the animal will be sterilized at the owner's expense.
For a copy of the complete proposed ordinance go to:

http://www.accessfayetteville.org/city_government/city_council/city_council_tentative_agenda.html

Council members Thiel, Allen, and Lucas agreed to forward the proposition to the council with full endorsement. Now it's your turn. Your calls and emails could be the deciding factor. Those who are against these changes have made their calls and will attend the council meeting.
Mark your calendars to attend the city council meeting on Tuesday, March 20 at 6p.m. Located on the 2nd floor of City Hall, 113 West Mountain St.

On the State Level - Senate Bill 777 would make egregious acts of Animal Cruelty a Felony
Arkansas is one of just eight states that has not enacted felony level penalties. SB 777 would make intentional cruelty a Class D Felony offense with a maximum six years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
Go to the link below and contact your state senate representatives.

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/AR_2007_felony_cruelty

Be the Voice for the Voiceless and improve the lives of our Animal Friends.
Thank You

Get your tickets online today for the next NWA Rollergirls bout.
Saturday, January 20th 7:00 pm at the All Star Sports Arena in Springdale, AR

The Hardwood Harlots vs. The Twisted Sisters.

Also, the Green Country Roller Girls will be battling it out with the River Valley Rollergirls in a pre-bout game!

Click here to buy your tickets!

Up & down is how I feel lately.

Been having some fun, but have also had some serious issues arise that have pulled me off my cloud and not so gently placed my feet on the ground.

I am currently trying to free myself of a lot of my obligations to other people and other things. I think I have spent 2005 and 2006 being very stressed out over things that were not of great importance, but being the over achiever I am, made them so. I want to do really well at this new job. I want to leave at 7:00 and come home and spend time with Travis. I want to skate and that's about it. No more billion website projects, no more stress over derby, no more stress over taxes & insurance and blah blah blah with the business.

But hey, let's not get too serious here. I have also documented the fun times that have happened recently.

Let's start with the fact that some of my derby girls and I made an appearance at a Pro Wrestling Expo.

Wrestling fans are weird....almost as weird as these dudes costumes. (Is there a clown in the ring?)





After wrestling we went to the Derby spot, otherwise known as Common Grounds: (Dimah Darling and Myself)



Nixin FINALLY got back into town.



We headed out to Brewski's , but not before we were both given X-Mas Derby gifts from JessTer Riot:

(Brass knuckles with our Derby Names engraved on them!)





Everyone showed off tattoos:







Aaron, the announcer, was there:


We then began a night of "Emotional Charades":

"Sadness"




"Frightened"




"Deep in thought"




"In Love"




"Fighting"




"Drunk"




"Surprised"




Listener was there as well.....We love Dan!


On Saturday, Q and I drove to Tulsa to pick out my hot tub and finish up some trade our business had with someone.

We saw this license plate:


That night was my friends Todd(Crasymaker) & Eric's Birthday party at Roller City.

People wore costumes:

Tithy (Tim & Kathy)


Brantin (Dustin & Brandy)


Cory Branan is not about to get busy....though it looks like it:


Dr. Todd, MD:


Q & His Shareena:


Crasymaker Fan Club President pictured here with Danny Dexter:


After the skating party Travis and I went to our friend Meredith's X-Mas Cocktail party. It was nice. I got to see Toma & Christine, Jennifer & Reid, Faith, Shannon, etc.

I wish I had brought my camera!

On Monday I went in for my drug screen at the Morning News.
Afterwards I met up with the girls for "Bloody Monday" which means that we drink Bloody Mary's at Common Grounds on a Monday.

Though this was widely misconstrued as a day death....we had a good time anyway: (Bloody Mary's not present yet)




New girls get put on teams tonight. I am excited.

Our bout is in a matter of days, but I am NOT STRESSED ABOUT IT :)

Time to start my day.

I received "the" phone call yesterday at around 12:00 pm.
The Morning News made me an excellent offer. I called them back today after meeting with my business partners and accepted.

I am thrilled. This is something I have been striving for, and it is actually happening faster than I thought it would. I originally started working where I work and became part owner because I wanted to gain more experience in Graphic Design, but because of my lack of a completed degree, could not get real agency work. I started attending the Art Institute online so I could fill that gap and possibly seek a better job upon completion. I guess the worlds collided at the proper time, because things seriously fell into place in two days.

A few days ago I stopped for gas at this tiny gas station that is higher in price than others, but is somewhere I stop sometimes because of it's convenient location. I went inside as the gas was pumping automatically and was just waltzing around the store waiting for it to finish. While standing at the counter I was flipping though a Free Weekly and ran across an ad. "Graphic Designer position available". I paid for my gas, took the paper and tossed it in my car. I drove to work, singing some rando songs off the new Evanescence album. When I got to work I sort of forgot about the paper in my car, but remembered when I went to go get lunch. I clipped out the ad, printed off my resume, printed off several examples of my work, packaged them up and shipped to the Morning News. The next day I received a phone call asking me if I could come in for an interview and the rest...well you know.

I just find it odd. I don't know if I would have known about the job had it not been for the Free Weekly ad.

My friend I work with was sort of put in a weird position with the prospect of me leaving so suddenly, but today another freaking alignment of the planets occurred. Out of my weirdo obsessive obligation syndrome, I was looking for jobs for him. I randomly came across yet another graphic design job. It was in fact with a business that my business does work with. So I told Q about it, he printed off HIS resume, took it to them and now is pretty much hired.

I think it was all just meant to be, as dumb as that sounds.

Travis is so happy for me. He has always thought I was not being paid my worth. I think I knew that somewhere in the back of my mind, but have constant inadequacy issues. I sometimes feel the same way about Derby. I feel as though I am always getting better, learning the game, training my body, but I never feel as if I play as well as people seem to tell me I do.

A long time ago my friend Bevy had to TEACH me how to take a complement, because I would always take them so awkwardly. I could never just say "Thank you" and move on. I would always cover them up with some sort of weird excuse for why the complement was made... "Oh it's the makeup", "Oh I got help" etc. I could never OWN it. Well enough. I am finished. I am good at what I do. I will always be a student. I will always continue to learn, but there is nothing wrong with admitting that you are, in fact, good at something, that you are in fact pretty and that you are in fact worthwhile. Hi my name is Michelle, I’m 34 years old and have just found myself.

So with all that said, some exciting things can now begin to happen for Travis and me. We can finish all the work on our house…well we can have all the work on our house finished I should say, considering we are not very inclined in those areas. I think installing flooring was our plateau. All other things needed to be handled by professionals. We can start saving more, we can pay off our house and cars faster AND possibly…drum roll please….take a vacation at some point? That’s a big joke. If you are a friend of mine you know that Travis and I in our 5 years together have never taken a vacation. But hell who knows…maybe it will happen.

So needles to say, I am on cloud nine. Derby is rolling along great. I am really seeing results in my efforts on that front, and now with the weight of my old work and old business responsibilities soon to be behind me, I think I can really concentrate on just being happy and enjoying my life again.

This might have been a sappy post, but it was necessary.

The NWA Rollergirls have been going through a lot of changes lately. People coming and going, new policies, an All Star team being created, etc., some of it exciting, some of it sad.

I recently started getting restless in my job. Though I love the freedom I have as well as the fact that I get to hang out with my friend ALL DAY LONG WITHOUT A BOSS, I really need to be advancing my career. I need to be challenged instead of annoyed. I need to have someone else worry about payroll, taxes and insurance. I need to just go to work and come home and not worry about the fiscal year.

Having said that, I recently sent in a resume for a job opening in my field. I got a call back the day after it was received and went to the interview today. The interviewers seemed genuinely enthusiastic when talking to me and kept using phrases like "once you learn, x, y & z then you will be in here with me...blah blah blah". They really liked my work and I really like the type of work this will be. On some levels it is far more challenging than what I am doing now, and in other ways I just want to relieve myself of business owner worries.

I have no idea what may happen. If I do indeed get offered the job, I will need to sit down with the Q Meister and see how he wants to proceed with our business. That will play a lot into my decision. The extreme increase in salary and full paid benefits is really playing a large role in my decision at the moment, I have to admit.

Last night Travis went out with our friend AA and stayed out WAY too long. I have a hard time sleeping when he is not in the house, so needless to say I did not get the restful night of sleep I was wanting before my interview. I did fine this morning, but now I am dragging ass.

Tonight we have practice. I love my team. I love how much we encourage and push each other. I like waking up sore like I used to in the old days of derby. I really feel like I am getting a work out.

Is Nixin back yet? Dear god it's been like 20 years.

I got a TXRG shirt as well as a MILE HIGH CLUB (Denver Rollerdolls) shirt from Saba Taj while she was in Austin seeing two bouts. The Flat Track league as well as the banked track league. They got to meet some of the girls from the A & E show "Rollergirls" I am jealous. (Thanks for the shirts Saba!)

I had to take Pierre to the vet on Saturday because he was feeling really bad for two days straight and I had no idea what was wrong with him. Turns out he was fine, but he was once again warned about this weight problem. He is on a diet.....again. He has 30 days to lose weight. I hope we can do it. If not they are checking his thyroid. He doesn't eat people food. No bacon or crap like that cuz he lives in vegan house...so I hope we can get it figured out.
I am falling asleep.

OK off to finish out my day. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
<3

The new NWA Rollergirls site is up.

I have been trying to learn new web design stuff:
http://nwarollergirls.com/

:)

So that was the email I sent to Nixin yesterday. I wanted her to go with me to get my piercing, but she was detained. Travis went with me and it was great! Dustin at Brainstorm did it. It did not hurt at all and looks really cute.... I think.

It's not a major thing, I feel like a whimp next to Travis who has large, beautiful piercings, but I like it.

I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I want to get organized. Clean my house and really feel like there is no clutter anywhere.

Derby is good. Skating at our new home, All Star Sports Arena, is a lot of fun. We have also been given memberships to the workout facilites which is super nice. I plan to start going Monday. I hope to get in shape by Spring. Yeah it's something I say every season, so here I am making my winter pledge of transformation.

Eat it.

:)

This weekend, Travis and I bought new toys:

This for me:

http://www.scion.com/showroom/tc/gallery/

And this for him:

http://www.toyota.com/fjcruiser/index.html

Mine is actually an '06 but is virtually brand new and way better than foke-ass (focus)

Life is good, except that I can't do anything but think of derby or have something derby going on in my life.
October 29, might have to be a new holiday as far as I'm concerned.

My band The Paper Hearts will be getting together again this Thursday, October 12th to play at the Dickson Theater in Fayetteville, AR. This is probably going to be it for awhile, so if you wanna catch us, come out tonight.

Oh yeah and Happy B-Day Tato. It's a party for you!

INFO:
The Paper Hearts
Drag The River
Early Morning Bourbon Girls
$6 Admission / Ages 18+
8:00pm Door / 9:00pm show

The Paper Hearts

Photo by Paul Wardein

So we are down to the wire on choosing a team theme and name.
I am pushing for "The Vile Valkyries" as I think most of my teammates are.
We wanted "The Iron Maidens" with the Valkyrie theme, but that name is held by the women's Rugby team here I am told.

So yeah, I expect to be skating in a breast plate, winged helmet and furry legwarmers...oh yeah.....

Travis and I now have our beautiful window treatments hung that Mr. Joseph finished this week. They look amazing. It really makes me feel better about the completion of the house....getting CLOSER!

I have been watching "Rollergirls" non-stop. I have been getting better as a player..I think. I have jammed a couple of times recently and felt pretty positive about my skating. I still have a HUGE amount of work to do before I am really "good" but at least I am on the right path.

Been having great communication with my team. Glad that we are finally on teams and looking forward to our first bout on October 28th!

Hanging with my homie NIXIN a ton lately. Oh how I love her shaved head!

I DO miss my girlies; Bev, Laura and the Sara(h)'s.

Went and got a facial at Luxe on Friday. It was super nice. Juliette and I are working our way towards a whole new face for me. hahahaha

Yeah I am being erratic and jumping from topic to topic..but I just want to give ya the highlights.

Off to bathe..have a good night homies

-Sin #6 (cubed)

I find it odd that an art object can be popular. Shouldn't art be subjective to those who view it? In other words, how can everyone suddenly love birds? Sparrows especially. We all have seen them in our trees since we were children, but now they grace the wallpapers on our computer screens and are forever pressed into our bodies slightly under the skin. When I was making out to the Cocteau Twins in 1998 sparrows were not on my mind, but now even Target and TBS thinks they are cool. What other seemingly insignificant thing will be next? Pine cones? Seashells? Saturn?

Someday soon has turned into 5 years for me. I realize that now. Someday soon I was going to be thin. Someday soon I was going to have lots of money in savings. Someday soon I was going to just have one focus. Do it big and do it right, but 5 years is not someday soon. 5 years in a lot of lifetime. And in my pursuit of a
better me I have aged more in my face, grown less fun, become massively stressed and not slipped on that smaller size.

I am truly tired of saying, "I want to..." I need to say "I have...". Instead.

I now know what old people meant when they said time passes faster as you get old. Time flies. Yeah it sure does gramps, and its flight on the sparrows wings from my childhood to my designer shoes seems to have taken only a few days.

I have not written a journal entry in so long. It's quite ridiculous. Yeah I posted about my band playing, etc. But not a real entry. Well here goes:

So life is good, though I don't know how much of it I am actually seeing. Sometimes I feel like I get so preoccupied with feeling like I have so much going on, that I forget that the "so much going on" is actually my life. So the stuff that is really keeping me busy better be stuff that I would want to refer to as "my life" instead of silly tasks that ended up taking up all the hours of "my life". Does that make sense? Well it does in my head. Last night I watched Brokeback mountain for the first time. Other than all of the gut wrenching awful feelings of not being with the one you want, I was also pretty consumed with feeling like that I spent some of my life living with that same sort of feeling. That I had a life out there that I was not living. Most of this was spent in my latter years of marriage. But watching that movie made me realize we did the right thing in not staying together.To end what was not the best relationship for either of us, and actually try to be happy. I have pairs of friends that have been through and are going through this exact thing right now. What was right for me may not be right for them, but I hope that they can find happiness in each other or in being apart.

So on to why I am so dang busy. Well Derby is all consuming. I love it so much and yet want to murder everyone on league all at the same time. Hahahah just kidding. We finally got split into teams. I am very happy with my team. I think it's going to be fun. We don't have a name yet, but are working on it. We have a fund raiser next weekend at Powerhouse that I am super excited about. It's going to be fun. I expect to see many of your faces there! We have also scheduled our first Bout for October 28th! It may seem like a long time off, but we have so much to do I am pretty freaked out. So much planning and organizing!

Our house is coming along. The awesome Mr. Eric Hobbs has been doing some beautiful work. Can't wait till our house party. The biggest thing to finish is all the interior painting that I keep putting off. i just cannot make myself do the dreaded task! Ugh. Why am I not a millionaire?

Pug Rescue is really busy right now as well. We have about 4 dogs in rescue. I picked up two little guys last weekend and have to go transport one today after work. Again, I seriously question humanity during these times. I lose faith that anyone has a heart anymore. But I guess I just keep doing my part, and somehow feel like justice is served. Man if I could only find my wonder twin and Gleek. WHERE IS GLEEK?

Right now school sucks because it involves algebra, which involves numbers, which involves crap I don't care abotu. UGH. Kill me now. I still have a B, but after this week that may looe ground. but in one more week it will be OVER yay! Then on to art classes again.

My dear shaved head havin, buns of steel sportin', half shirt wearin' friend Kris10 just moved from Siloam Springs to Fayetteville. I am uber excited about this. I can already envision many drunken nights on Joseph's lanai.

Ok I guess I should actually work now. And continue my search for Gleek.

p.s. I am going to be on some local TV program called "Front Row Television". Yeah so check that %@$# out.