YumSugar

50 Cheap Date Ideas

PinkNC — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:17:05 -0800

Discount Dating

A lighter wallet is no excuse to turn date night into a luxury. Get out of your sweatpants, put down the cold pizza, and check out these 51 budget-friendly date ideas that will get you off the couch and into each other's pants.

Get on thin ice. Depending on the weather, head to an indoor or outdoor ice-skating rink - it's the perfect excuse to hold hands, "accidentally" fall on top of each other, and grab a cup of hot chocolate and cozy up to each other to keep warm.

Skip the pricey wine bar and grab a few beers at your local dive bar. Make sure you pick a place with a pool table or dartboard set up, and challenge him to a few games. Loser owes the winner a song on the jukebox.

He may hate to shop, but he'll end up thanking you if you drag him to a flea market. There's something for everyone and plenty of things you never knew existed - you might even discover he has a hobby or weird collection you didn't know about!

Settle in for a night of pampering: No pricey spa required. Use your empty wallets as an excuse to stay in - and up - all night. Run a bubble bath and then treat each other to full-body massages. Sleep in the next day.

Get an adrenaline rush at the roller-skating rink. As long as you don't mind being the oldest people there who aren't chaperoning their children, it's a great way to have fun and let loose with each other. Top it off with a bowl of ice cream when you get home.

Play house: Dress up in your most serious grownup outfit and leave your tiny apartment to visit some open houses. Spend the day arguing over where you would put the love seat, discussing the difference between eggshell and ecru paint, and giggling over strangers' hideous decorating choices.

Does he drive you up a wall sometimes? He probably feels the same way about you, so put on your sneakers and head to an indoor rock-climbing gym. Challenge him to a race to the top and relieve sore muscles with a hot shower together afterward. Just try not to gloat too much about beating him.

Celebrate the first snow of winter with a day of sledding. Pick a hilly spot in your town and use garbage can lids as makeshift sleds. Wear a bike helmet to up the dorky fun factor, and celebrate living through the experience with a cup of hot cocoa.

Spend the day picking fruit at a local farm, either one-on-one or with a few couples you know - the more the merrier. Once you've picked all the apples you can carry back to the car, get creative in the kitchen and think up some recipes with the fruit you picked. Judge each other's creations, Top Chef style.

Plan a trip. You might need to save up for awhile, but that doesn't mean you can't daydream. Plan your dream vacation with each other - it might be the incentive you need to start putting your loose change in the piggy bank.

Challenge your guy to a little friendly competition and surprise him by taking him to a rifle range. After each round, compare your targets - loser buys the next round of bullets; winner gets gloating privileges.

Spice up your movie-night routine by finding a drive-in movie theater. Stop at the supermarket on your way to load up on your favorite snacks, and bring blankets and pillows to make the car extra cozy. Let him pick the movie - you'll get points for being easygoing, even though you know you'll probably miss most of the movie.

The easiest way to booze it up on the cheap? Take a tour of a winery or brewery, and pick up some wine facts for your next dinner party while getting tipsy.

Dying to see a musical or play but can't afford the tickets? Call around to see if you can buy tickets to the dress rehearsal instead - you'll pay a fraction of the price for the same experience.

Wherever you live, chances are there are local bands dying for an audience. Check out MySpace for bands in your area and go to a show. Alternate with your guy on who gets to pick the band so that you both get a chance to enjoy your favorite music genres, and save cash on booze by bringing a flask.

Head to the bookstore and walk through the aisles together, showing each other your favorite books, bonding over the books you both hated, and flipping through a Kama Sutra book for ideas for later.

Bowl him over at the bowling alley. Psych him out by reminding him of how many gross people wore his shoes before him, and don't forget to program his sugary-sweet nickname ("Muffin Face") onto the computerized scoreboard instead of his real name.

Show him your rugged side and build something together. Ask him to help you build something like a coffee table or dresser for your place - he'll be psyched that you asked him, just as long as you can bite your tongue when the table he puts together falls apart the moment you set your cup of coffee down.

Appeal to his inner child (it shouldn't be too hard to tap into) and buy tickets for a carnival. Embrace the cheesiness - share cotton candy, let him try to win you a prize, and ride the Ferris wheel until you get nauseous. It's a great way to get to know each other if you've just started dating and will serve as a reminder of how much fun you can have together if you've been dating for awhile.

Keep up on the specials. For a break on your dinner bill, check out sites like Restaurant.com for the restaurant deals in your area. And check out the websites of your favorite bars - they might have drink specials on certain nights, like a free pizza with every drink.

Ask him about his fantasy cars and he'll probably talk your ear off. Head over to a local car dealership and test-drive the most expensive car they'll let you take out of the parking lot. Take turns at the wheel but resist the urge to nitpick each other's driving skills.

Indulge your sweet tooth with your sweetie - visit a chocolate or cookie factory. Do a quick Google search to see if there are any in your area and give one a call to see if it does tours. If it only does group tours, make it a group date and invite a few other couples.

Get spooked at a haunted house. Check out Hauntedhouse.com for listings in your state. Start off the night by watching a scary movie before you go, and then try not to laugh when he launches a foot into the air at every corner.

Get out those matching aprons and fire up the skillet for a night of cooking - for both of you. Learn how to cook each other's favorite meal and then do it together. Whether you end up with a delicious steak and tuna casserole for two or speed-dialing for Chinese takeout, you're guaranteed to enjoy the process.

Forget eating dinner parked in front of a Mad Men marathon until you and your boyfriend are tired of looking at each other. Invite another couple over that you don't know well for a potluck dinner. Ask them to bring the appetizer and dessert, and work on the main course with your guy. At least one of the dishes should come out edible, and you can bond with your new friends over your shared culinary failure.

Tap into your animal instincts by visiting a petting zoo. Bring some bread to feed the animals and spend a few hours debating him on why getting a pet monkey is a bad idea. When you get home, jump in the shower with him to scrub off the zoo smell.

Play 20 Questions. Whether you've been together for three weeks or three years, there are probably things you don't know about each other. Each of you should write down 20 questions about the other - make sure they're open-ended so you don't get boring one-word answers - and fire away. Take turns answering the questions and get to know each other a little better than you already do.

Take a pottery class together and decorate your apartment in misshapen vases and funky-looking coffee mugs. Resist the urge to make your guy recreate the scene from Ghost every time you walk into class.

Have pretentious conversations about art at a local show. You'll find them going on all year at community centers, schools, and libraries - you might even find a great piece of art to add to your home.

Take a hike. Spend the day hiking and taking pictures together. When you're ready to recover, add some extra romance to the evening - lie across the hood of the car and look at the stars.

If you're tired of a quiet dinner at home disintegrating into chips and dip on the couch with no conversation between the two of you except for requests to change the channel, grab a blanket and some food and have an indoor picnic. The best part of staying inside? No ants in your food - plus, you're free to get busy right then and there.

Take a class together. Sign up to learn something neither of you knows how to do. Community schools generally offer a lot of options for classes you can take in eight-week sessions, from cooking to karate.

Put on your walking shoes and head to the museum. Almost all museums have one day a week where you can get in for free or for a small suggested donation. Pick the exhibits you each want to see beforehand, and spend some time at each of them together.

Celebrate something special with a trip to a bed and breakfast. A one-night stay in the colder months won't break the bank, so you can put that extra cash toward a room with a hot tub or breakfast in bed. If you're in for a long car ride, grab a book on tape from the local library.

Look into the future: Go together for a psychic reading. Practice your poker faces and spend the rest of the night talking about how funny - or eerily accurate - the reading was.

Score major points and head to a baseball game with your guy. Tickets can be as cheap as $5 a person, but bring extra cash for some beer, hot dogs, and a giant foam finger.

Check the theater offerings at local colleges and high schools. Schools usually have a spring and a fall show, and it's a great way to see a version of your favorite plays and musicals for a fraction of the cost.

One man's junk is another couple's treasure. Grab your guy and see what you can dig up at local garage sales. Up your chances of scoring something great by going to the ritziest neighborhood in your area.

Rent bikes - a tandem one, if you're adventurous - and go for a long ride through the park. Pack a few sandwiches and plenty of water for a picnic, or just grab hot dogs from a stand when you're ready for a break.

See the stars without braving the cold by getting tickets to the planetarium. Sneak in a thin blanket and cozy up. For extra privacy, go during off-peak times - call ahead to see when those are.

Bummed that you can't afford a weeklong vacation with your man? Put things in perspective and volunteer together for a cause you both care about. TiVo Gossip Girl and sign up to work at a soup kitchen once a week, or cuddle up with lovable cats and dogs at your local animal shelter.

Want some quiet time? Exercise your creative talents by drawing each other. All you need are two pieces of paper, some art supplies, and a bottle of wine for a quiet, romantic night in. Go as artistic or as fun as you wish.

Get physical. Get free day passes to a gym whose membership you could never afford and have him spot you. Challenge him to a fitness competition, bribe him into taking a spin class with you, and take advantage of the gym's sauna or pool, if it has one.

You can knit holiday sweaters like nobody's business. Your man is a Guitar Hero rock star. It's great to have separate hobbies, but it's also fun to share. Pick a weekend to teach each other your hobbies, and serenade him with a guitar solo while he knits you a pair of mittens.

While you're waiting for your Netflix delivery, stop at your local library and rent a few old movies. Toss a coin to see whose pick you'll watch first, and promise not to interrupt with bored sighs, eye-rolling, or snoring sound effects during each other's choices.

Travel back in time and reminisce. If you or your guy still live close to where you grew up, give each other a tour of your childhoods. Grab a camera and take pictures of your all-grown-up selves as you visit each landmark.

Can't get away for a vacation? Sightsee in your own city. If you've lived in your area for a long time, chances are you never got around to seeing a lot of the tourist attractions. So grab your guy and pretend to be tourists for a weekend. Stop at a used bookstore or look online for travel guides for your city, put together an itinerary, and don't forget to take pictures!

Grab a cup of coffee and check out a local coffee shop's open mic night. You might luck out with a great show, or you may find a mixed bag of angsty guitar solos and bad poetry - either way, you'll have something to talk (or laugh) about on the way home.

You probably live within driving distance of a college or university. Log on to the school's website and check out the scheduled events - often, schools will open large events, like lectures and panels, to the public. Check back often - your guy's favorite movie director might be appearing at a screening at the school's drama department, or you might find a panel of your favorite authors speaking to the English majors.

Share a few laughs at a comedy club amateur night. Admission usually costs two drinks per person, and you're in for a hilarious night - whether you're laughing with the comedian or at him.
.
.
.

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

JD Robb: In Death Series

Myst — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:48:42 -0700

In honor of Reading Is Sexy's grand opening, I'm going to start off with the series that's has been holding me in a chockhold for going on 10 years now.
Nora Roberts, writing as JD Robb in her not so far distant future has captured my attention since my very good friend lend me a copy of the 1st of the series, Naked In Death. That copy started me on my 10 year journey of hunting and gathering mission to find and read every one of the books in the series. Luckily, JD Robb is too kind and releases 2 books a year under this series. I can happily say that I'm a proud owner of all 34 books so far and you'll have to pry them from my cold dead hands before I let them go.
Brief Synopsis:
The In Death Series is a futuristic police procedural by author J.D. Robb centering around NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her fight to bring justice to those brutally murdered in her city. Many might call this series more of a futuristic romantic suspense series, because so much of it revolves around the marriage of Eve to Irish billionaire Roarke. But while there's plenty of romance between our favorite couple, there's also plenty of suspenseful murder mystery. Put that together with some very interesting futuristic world-building, and you get a series that shows up on bestseller lists with every new release.

Books

	Naked in Death - #1 in the "In Death" Series - July 1995 Breaking every rule, Eve gets involved with Roarke, a suspect in her latest murder case. But passion and seduction have rules all their own.
	Glory in Death - #2 in the "In Death" Series - December 1995 In Eve's latest case, two murder victims have one connection: Eve's lover, Roarke.
	Immortal in Death - #3 in the "In Death" Series - July 1, 1996 She was one of the most sought-after women in the world. A top model who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted -even another woman's man. And now she's dead, the victim of a brutal murder. Police lieutenant Eve Dallas puts her life on the line to take the case when suspicion falls on her best friend, the other woman in the fatal love triangle. Beneath the façade of glamour, Eve finds that the world of high fashion thrives on an all-consuming obsession with youth and fame-one that leads her from the lights of the runway to the dark underworld of New York City, where drugs can fulfill any desire, for a price.
	Rapture in Death - #4 in the "In Death" Series - October 1, 1996 An investigation of three apparent suicides draws Eve into the world of virtual reality -- where the mind can become the weapon of its own destruction.
	Ceremony in Death - #5 in the "In Death" Series - May 1, 1997 Conducting a top secret investigation into the death of a fellow police officer has Lieutenant Eve Dallas treading on dangerous ground. She must put professional ethics before personal loyalties. But when a dead body is placed outside her home, Eve takes the warning personally. With her husband, Roarke, watching her every move, Eve is drawn into the most dangerous case of her career. Every step she takes makes her question her own sense of right and wrong - and brings her closer to a confrontation with humanity's most seductive form of evil...
	Vengeance in Death - #6 in the "In Death" Series - October 1, 1997 He is an expert with the latest technology . . . a madman with the mind of a genius and the heart of a killer. He quietly stalks his prey. Then he haunts the police with cryptic riddles about the crimes he is about to commit - always solved moments too late to save the victims' lives. Police lieutenant Eve Dallas found the first victim butchered in his own home. The second lost his life in a vacant luxury apartment. The two men had little in common. Both suffered unspeakable torture before their deaths. And both had ties to an ugly secret of ten years past - a secret shared by none other than Eve's new husband, Roarke.
	Holiday in Death - #7 in the "In Death" Series - June 1, 1998 No one likes to be alone during the holidays. For New York's most posh dating service, Personally Yours, it is the season to bring lonely hearts together. But Lieutenant Eve Dallas, on the trail of a ritualistic serial killer, has made a disturbing discovery: all of the victims have been traced to Personally Yours. As the murders continue, Eve enters into an elite world of people searching for their one true love--and a killer searching for his next victim. A world where the power of love leads men and women into the ultimate act of betrayal.
	Midnight in Death/Silent Night Anthology - #8 in the "In Death" Series - November, 1998 When her first Christmas with her new husband Roarke is interrupted by reports of the naked, mutilated body of the judge responsible for convicting serial killer David Palmer, Eve learns that her name appears on the list of others to be killed. This is another "ensemble" book, "Midnight" being one of four in the book "Silent Night." "Midnight" should come directly after "Holiday."
	Conspiracy in Death - #9 in the "In Death" Series - April 1999 In the late 21st century, on the streets of New York City, a street sleeper is found murdered, his diseased heart removed with surgical precision. His death would typically drop to the bottom of a list of senseless and inexplicable killings, but Lieutenant Dallas, who "would stand for the dead and the living," is not about to let that happen. When her research uncovers similar crimes in several cities that were dropped under mysterious circumstances, Dallas knows she's facing a killer cruel enough to prey on the weakest in society and powerful enough to conspire an extensive coverup. To complicate matters further, Dallas faces an equally troubling threat to her career when she's linked to the death of a fellow cop. Now she must fight to restore her good name as well as track down the killer.
	Loyalty in Death - #10 in the "In Death" Series - October 1999 Eve Dallas returns to face her most ingenious foe -- a 'secret admirer' who taunts her with letters...and kills without mercy.
	Witness in Death - #11 in the "In Death" Series - March 2000 Eve Dallas is thrust into the spotlight when she becomes the key witness in the brutal murder of a famous actor.
	Judgment in Death - #12 in the "In Death" Series - September 2000 When a cop killer cuts loose in a club called Purgatory, Lieutenant Eve Dallas descends into an underground criminal hell.
	Betrayal in Death - #13 in the "In Death" Series - March 2001 At the luxurious Roarke Palace Hotel, a maid walks into suite 4602 for the nightly turndown-- and steps into her worst nightmare. A killer leaves her dead, strangled by a thin silver wire. He's Sly Yost, a virtuoso of music and murder. A hit man for the elite. Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows him well. But in this twisted case, knowing the killer doesn't help solve the crime. Because there's someone else involved. Someone with a more personal motive. And Eve must face a terrifying possibility--that the real target may, in fact, be her husband Roarke.
	Interlude in Death/Out of This World Anthology - #14 in the "In Death" Series - August 8, 2001 Lieutenant Eve Dallas uncovers a murder-frame plot at a law enforcement seminar held at an off-planet resort owned by her husband, Roarke. One story out of four by different authors in the book "Out of This World."
	Seduction in Death - #15 in the "In Death" Series - September, 2001 Lieutenant Eve Dallas is searching for a Casanova killer with a deadly appetite for seduction.
	Reunion in Death - #16 in the "In Death" Series - March 5, 2002 A birthday party sets the scene for a frightening reunion with a killer from Eve Dallas's past.
	Purity in Death - #17 in the "In Death" Series - August 27, 2002 A frightening new computer virus is spreading and it knows no boundaries. And Eve Dallas must face the impossible -- that this computer virus can spread from machine to man.
	Portrait in Death - #18 in the "In Death" Series - March 1, 2003 Photos seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary for any pretty young woman starting a modeling career. Except that she wasn't a model. And that these photos were taken after she had been murdered. Now Dallas is on the trail of a killer who's a perfectionist and an artist. He carefully observes and records his victim's every move. And he has a mission: to own every beautiful young woman's innocence, to capture her youth and vitality--in one fateful shot.
	Imitation in Death - #19 in the "In Death" Series - September 2003 Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas encounters one of her most difficult cases in this latest offering from J. D. Robb. With the very first victim, Eve realizes that the killer stalking the streets of New York City isn't a run-of-the-mill serial murderer. The copycat executions are imitating the methods and victim choices of an ominous list of notorious serial killers, beginning with Jack the Ripper. And when the killer leaves a distinctive note at the crime scene, it's clear that he's targeting Eve personally--a fact that worries Roarke, Eve's shrewd husband.
	Remember When - #20 in the "In Death" Series - September 2003 Laine Tavish is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life in the small town of Angel's Gap, Maryland, as the proprietor of Remember When, an antique treasures and gift shop. At least, that's what everyone in Angel's Gap thinks. They have no idea that she used to be Elaine O'Hara, daughter of the notorious con man Big Jack O'Hara. Or that she grew up moving from place to place, one step ahead of the law . . . Laine's past has just caught up with her, though-in a very dramatic way. Her long-lost uncle suddenly turned up in her shop, leaving only a cryptic warning before dying in the street, run down by a car. Soon afterward, her home is ransacked. Now it's up to Laine, and a sexy stranger named Max Gannon, to find out who's chasing her, and why. The answer lies in a hidden fortune-a fortune that will change not only Laine's life but also the lives of future generations. And danger and death will surround that fortune for years to come. Until New York City detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas gets on the case. A thrill-ride of a novel that blends present-day romance and futuristic suspense, Remember When is a tale of deceit and secrets, of strong women and fascinating men-a brilliant combination of the incomparable talents of the two sides of Nora Roberts.
	Divided in Death - #21 in the "In Death" Series - January 22, 2004 Reva Ewing was a former member of the Secret Service, and now a security specialist for Roarke Enterprises--until she was found standing over the dead bodies of her husband, renowned artist Blair Bissel, and her best friend. But Lieutenant Eve Dallas believes there was more to the killing than jealous rage--all of Bissel's computer files were deliberately corrupted. To Roarke, it's the computer attack that poses the real threat. He and Reva have been under a code-red government contract to develop a program that would shield against techno-terrorists. But this deadly new breed of hackers isn't afraid to kill to protect their secret--and it's up to Lieutenant Eve Dallas to shut them down before the nightmare can spread to the whole country. The first strictly "In Death" novel to be released in HARDCOVER January 22, 2004
	Visions in Death - #22 in the "In Death" Series - August 9, 2004 On one of the city's hottest nights, New York Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas is sent to Central Park-and into a hellish new investigation. The victim is found on the rocks, just above the still, dark water of the lake. Around her neck is a single red ribbon. Her hands are posed, as if in prayer. But it is the eyes-removed with such precision, as if done with the careful hands of a surgeon-that have Dallas most alarmed. As more bodies turn up, each with the same defining scars, Eve is frantic for answers. Against her instincts, she accepts help from a psychic who offers one vision after another-each with shockingly accurate details of the murders. And when partner and friend Peabody is badly injured after escaping an attack, the stakes are raised. Are the eyes a symbol? A twisted religious ritual? A souvenir? With help from her husband, Roarke, Dallas must uncover the killer's motivation before another vision becomes another nightmare. . . .
	Survivor in Death - #23 in the "In Death" Series - February, 2005 The members of the Swisher family were murdered in their beds with brutal, military precision. The state-of-the-art security was breached, and the killers used night-vision equipment to find their way through the cozy, middle-class house. Clearly, Dallas is dealing with pros. It seems the only mistake they made was to overlook the nine-year-old girl cowering in the darkened kitchen. Now Nixie Swisher is an orphan-and the sole eyewitness to a seemingly inexplicable crime. Kids are not Dallas's strong suit. But Nixie needs a safe place to stay, and Dallas needs to solve this case. With her partner, Peabody, back on the job-and her husband, Roarke, providing the kind of help that only he can give-Lieutenant Eve Dallas is running after shadows, and dead-set on finding out who's behind them.
	Origin in Death - #24 in the "In Death" Series - July, 2005 New York police lieutenant Eve Dallas and her partner Peabody enter the hallowed halls of the Wilfred B. Icove Center for Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery on an open and shut case of self-defence. But before they can leave they are called to another crime scene. Dr. Wilfred B. Icove himself has been found dead in his office - murdered in a chillingly efficient manner: one swift stab to the heart. Struck by the immaculate condition of the crime scene, Dallas suspects a professional killing. Security discs show a stunningly beautiful woman calmly entering and leaving the building - the good doctor's final appointment. Known as "Dr. Perfect," the saintly Icove devoted his life to his family and his work. His record is clean. - Too clean for Dallas. She knows he was hiding something and suspects that his son - and successor - knows what it is. Then, like father like son, the young Dr. Icove is killed...with the same deadly precision. But who is the mystery woman - and what was her relationship with the good doctors? With her husband, Roarke, working behind the scenes, Dallas follows her darkest instincts into the Icoves' pasts. And what she discovers are men driven to create perfection - playing fast and loose with the laws of nature, the limits of science, and the morals of humanity...
	Memory in Death - #25 in the "In Death" Series - January, 2006 In December 2059, a mysterious woman shows up in Eve's office claiming to be her "mama." It's Trudy Lombard, the cruel foster mom who took nine-year-old Eve in after Eve killed her abusive father. Trudy made Eve take cold baths and locked her in closets, among other torments, and now Trudy wants Eve to pay $2 million to keep her past a secret. Readers of the series will know how Roarke, Eve's rich, deadly husband, handles the situation; he tosses Trudy out on her ear. When Trudy is found murdered the next day, it's up to Eve to catch the killer and prove that neither she nor Roarke was behind the bludgeoning.
	Haunted in Death/Bump in the Night Anthology - #26 in the "In Death" Series - July, 2006 In this short story, Eve finds herself investigating a murder in an old nightclub which some claim is haunted. Are there really "ghosts"?? Are the "ghosts" responsible for murder?? Eve finds herself in a tough battle between what she can rationally prove, and what her irrational mind is telling her. "Bump in the Night" is an anthology of stories from J.D. Robb, Ruth Langan, Mary Kay McComas and Mary Blayney.
	Born in Death - #27 in the "In Death" Series - November, 2006 As a New York homicide detective, Lieutenant Eve Dallas is used to death - the mysterious murders of two young professionals she's investigating with her partner, Peabody, almost seem like the norm. Harder to deal with is her best friend Mavis' nearly-to-term pregnancy, and Mavis' terror over the strange disappearance of another woman who is about to give birth. Now Eve is fighting on two fronts, hunting a ruthless killer, searching the streets for a missing woman--and time is running out, because Eve has a terrible hunch that she'd better recover the mother-to-be quickly, or an innocent life could be ruined forever.... According to Nora: "It's in Born Mavis will, at last, have the baby."
	Innocent in Death - #28 in the "In Death" Series - February, 2007 Eve Dallas has a mysterious homicide to solve when a popular teacher at a posh Upper West Side school turns up dead in his classroom. It doesn't help when an old flame from Roarke's past suddenly comes roaring back into his life. While Eve is fighting off jealousy, she grows more and more frustrated with the case. But from the mouths of babes, she pieces together enough evidence to prove no one is as innocent as they seem.
	Eternity in Death Novella/"Dead of Night" Anthology - #29 in the "In Death" Series - October 30th, 2007 When club-hopping bad girl Tiara Kent is found dead in her plush Manhattan apartment, the killing has all the earmarks of a vampire attack. The ever-practical Lieutenant Eve Dallas has to deal with superstitious cops carrying garlic and stakes, as well as the ever-hysterical press. None of the wealthy young victim’s friends seem to know much about the Dark Prince she has been secretly seeing. The chase to stop him before he kills again will lead Eve and her team into areas of the city that not even the most intrepid cop wants to visit, and into the very heart of darkness.
	Creation in Death - #30 in the "In Death" Series - Nov 6, 2007 Lieutenant Eve Dallas keeps the streets of New York City safe in this extraordinary series. But even she makes mistakes, and is haunted by those she couldn't save - and the killers she couldn't capture. When the body of a young brunette is found in East River Park, artfully positioned and marked by signs of prolonged and painful torture, Eve is catapulted back to nine years ago. A man the media tagged "The Groom" - because he put silver rings on the fingers of his victims - had the city on edge with a killing spree that took the lives of four women in fifteen days. But now, The Groom has returned - and Eve's determined to finish him. Familiar with his methods, Eve knows that he has already grabbed his next victim. Time is running out on another woman's life. When it turns out that the dead woman was employed by Eve's billionaire husband, Roarke, she brings him onto the case - a move that proves fitting when it becomes chillingly clear that the killer has made it personal. The victim was washed in products from a store Roarke owns, and laid out on a sheet his company manufactures. And chances are that he's working up to the biggest challenge of his illustrious career - abducting a woman who will test his skills on every level and who promises to give him days and days of pleasure before she dies: Eve.
	Strangers in Death - #31 in the "In Death" Series - Feb 19, 2008 Technology may be different in 2060 New York, yet the city is still a place of many cultures and great divides. But as ever, some murders receive more attention than others - especially those in which the victim is a prominent businessman, found in his Park Avenue apartment, tied to the bed - and strangled - with cords of black velvet.It doesn't surprise Lieutenant Eve Dallas that Thomas Anders' scandalous death is a source of titillation and speculation to the public - and of humiliation to his family. But while all those in the city are talking about it, people close to Anders aren't so anxious to do the same. With some help from her billionaire husband, Roarke, Eve is soon knocking on doors- or barging through them - to find answers.But the facts don't add up. Physical evidence suggests that the victim didn't struggle. The security breach in the apartment indicates that the killer was someone connected to the family, but everyone's alibi checks out. Was this a kinky sex game that turned into a crime of passion - or a meticulously planned execution? It's up to Dallas to solve a case in which strangers may be connected in unexpected, and deadly, ways.
	Salvation in Death - #32 in the "In Death" Series - November 4, 2008 A priest is conducting the funeral service for a beloved member of his congregation. But when he lifts the chalice to his lips, he dies suddenly and horribly ? poisoned by the blood of Christ. Who would want to murder a parish priest in such a way? And who could get access to the closely guarded communion wine? Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called to the scene to investigate. Although initially there seems to have been nothing out of the ordinary about the priest's life, there is something about the situation that just doesn't add up. And then she starts to uncover the evil lurking behind the ceremonial robes. The dead priest was not who he seemed to be ? he harboured a dark, deadly secret that could bring Eve's own demons rushing back ...
	Ritual in Death Novella/"Suite 606" Anthology - #33 in the "In Death" Series - November 4, 2008 When a high-society party is crashed by a naked, knife-wielding, blood-covered man who "thinks" he might have killed someone, Eve Dallas must track down the crime, and the criminals. Everything points to Satanic ritual, but Eve doesn't believe in devil worship...
	Promises in Death - #34 in the "In Death" Series - January/February, 2009 Amaryllis Coltraine may have recently transferred to the New York City police force from Atlanta, but she's been a cop long enough to know how to defend herself against an assailant. When she's taken down just steps away from her apartment, killed with her own weapon, for Eve the victim isn't just "one of us." The truth will need to be uncovered one layer at a time, starting with the box that arrives at Cop Central addressed to Eve containing Coltraine's guns, badge, and a note from her killer: "You can have them back. Maybe someday soon, I'll be sending yours to somebody else." But Eve Dallas doesn’t take too kindly to personal threats, and she is going to break this case, whatever it takes. And that's a promise.

Upcoming Titles

Kindred in Death - #35 in the "In Death" Series - November, 2009
A phone call from up high interrupts Eve's plans to have a lazy day with her husband: The teenage daughter of Captain Jonah McMasters, head of the NYPD drug squad, has been found raped and strangled in her bedroom. A terrifying video of Deena, bloody and beaten beyond recognition, hints at a link between her death and a criminal in McMaster's own past, someone determined to exact revenge in the cruelest way possible. Searching through McMasters' cases leads Eve nowhere - until another rape-murder, and another video, reveals the killers deadly intent: to target every single person involved in his family's case over a decade ago. With barely anything to go on except a tangle of dead ends, Eve and her team must work fast to identify the next victim of a killer with who will stop at nothing ...

Missing in Death Novella/"Lost" Anthology - #36 in the "In Death" Series - November, 2009
"....a woman goes missing on a NYC ferry and Eve Dallas has to find her: if she isn't on the ferry and isn't in the water, where is she??"

Azazel Walking by Arianna (Story)

ariannasmile — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:15:25 -0700

Azazel Walking
I stared out the window watching trees and road pass by while listening to the music blaring out of my ipod speakers. I didnt even notice the car stopped until my mother called “We’re here Azazel! Get the he.ll out!” I grabbed my stuff and slammed the car door shut.
Not turning back when i heard my mother yell “Fu.ck it Azazel!” I looked up at what would pass as a nice swanky hotel except for the words on the sign board saying “Heaven Acre Institutefor Corrupt Teens” I took a deep breath.
“Great. A crazy factory.” i mumbled under my breath as two burly men walked up to each side of me and escorted me into the centre.“Azazel Leo?” said this curly red head lady with red wired rimmed glasses, as she looked at me disapprovingly.“Your room number is 152..oopsie daisy.”
she said sarcastically as she threw the piece of paper onto the floor soi would have to pick it up.B.itch. Control. Breathe. Breathe. Anger is a venom i can control. Anger is a venom thati CAN CONTROL! i yelled and chanted in my head.Guess what i was in for? Oh yeah. Anger Management.
I walked up to my room and slammed the door shut when i got in. “HEY! THE FU.CK IS YOUR DAMAGE?!” i heard a male voice shout when i slammed the door. I was just about ready to yell back when a guy, i have to say, gourgeous guy came out from the bathroom. “And who are you?” He said eyeing me up and down finally his eyes landing on my face. I have to say i was speechless.
And that doesnt happen often my brain was ALWAYS working on comebacks. This boy was a greek god! And coming from me, thats a HUGE compliment. I wasnt into dating. I already had my mind set on dying at the age of 63 with my hundred cats.
But this guy, this guy made me want to pop off my purity ring and toss it into the garbage disposal. He had black hair, with side bangs to the left of his face, they were long enough to cover his eyes but his striking blue eyes, made them impossible to hide. His physique, MY GOD his physique.
He was thin, but muscular, not too muscular in that oh,he’s on steroids kinda way. God. This boy was temptation in a human suit. “Im Azazel. And i guess im your new roommate.” I said tossing my stuff onto the bed.
“Im Castiel.” He said nodding before turning away heading back to the bathroom, where i heard the tap turn on. I looked at the bright red band around my wrist (she has other color bands will reveal later.)
Red? For anger management. I wonder what the other colors meant. I saw that one of Castiel’s bands was yellow. If im not wrong that meant he was in for suicide…
______________________________________________________________________________________________
I stood there not really knowing what to do. Should i wait for Castiel to show me around?I mean its not like he volunteered or anything. It would be the polite thing todo though. Oh my god. I sound like my mother. I kinda start laughing out loud as ipicture me in a flowery apron with an apple pie in one hand and opening the doorto a suburban house to another and saying
“Welcome Home Dearest!” Me, with my dark brown hair and even darker brown eyes? Oh my god. I think if my mother ever saw me like that she would smile and say “Youre finally one of us dear.” It was like the reign of the Stepford Wives. And my mother would probably be the queen.
I grab my journal and a pen and was just about to walk out of the room when Castiel came out of the bathroom, with his shirt on this time.( Dam.n it! ) “No No.” He says with a smirkon his face. “Me first.”
Then he smiled a infuriating,terrible,mocking,egoistical,stupid,beautiful,ive-never-seen-the-sun-till-now, kinda smile. Then he slammed the door shut behind him leaving me there with my mouth agape. “SON OF A BI.TCH!”
i yelled and started throwing my stuff around. slamming doors, throwing books, when finally a guy walks in. He had a blue band around his left wrist. “Well, im just gonna sit here and make sure you dont hurt youself.” He said looking at me expectantly as he sat down on my bed.
“Go right ahead and do what you were doing before i came in. Im just a spectator.” And surprisingly i did. And when i was done i collapsed next to him on my bed. “Thanks.” I said smiling. “Im Azazel. You?” I said smiling at this beautiful, beautiful boy. He was like an angel. NO JOKE. I wouldnt lie about something like this. He has blonde hair, Like almost PLATNIUM blonde.
But yet not quite. His eyes were a bright hazel, almost like melted honey. He had dimples whenever he smiled, he was well. Perfect, to say the least. He put his arm around my shoulders smiled that toothy smile of his, and said. “Besides being your guardian angel and saviour? Sweetie, Im your dream come true.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________
“I mean your name dear sweet guardian angel,saviour,dream come true of mine!” I said smiling back. I mean. How do you NOT smile back at this kid. He was like happiness and innocence in a bottle. Unlike my room mate, who was well, temptation. “Well, my name my dear” He said while tucking a piece of stray hair behind my ear,“Is Adonis.”
Oh. Well. Thats just GREAT! Adonis which if i am not wrong meant like irresistible or something like that. Well, that name suits him PERFECTLY. ANOTHER THING ABOUT THE BOY THATS PERFECT! It was starting to get on my nerves. (Well, not really ). I laughed. “Oh. Adonis? Riiigghhhtt.” He gave me a fake-annoyed look and said “Weather you belive it or not, it IS my name. See? Here.” And he showed me his driving liscence. And guess what his name was?
Go ahead. Guess. So here it goes. Adonis Marcello Dream. I mean COME ON! MARCELLO? Of course it is. How could i expect anything less of this boy? And Dream? Speechless. totally.
“Dream? Marcello?” I asked him. he smiled and laughed. Just then 2 totally GORGEOUS. (no joke) girls came in. AND! they looked totally cool too.“Hi im..” They both started at the same time..
______________________________________________________________________________________________
The girls who came in? one word. AWESOME! These girls were my type of people!Hoodies? Cons? Beautiful blonde hair? Adina.
Brown pretty curls? Lime green tube top? Blue mini skirt? TOTALLY GORGEOUS? Jenny. As i introuced myself they started fussing over me. Adina looks at my outfit (Im still in sweatpants and a sweatshirt that said “Dont charge me for your crime.” from the drive over here.)“You are soo pretty!”
Adina said smiling at me. OKK...have to say. Not used to this. But..liking it so far. Have to say compliments? Not too bad for the soul Adonis smiled. “OK. Gonna leave you ladies to bond.” As he walked away he kneeled down and kissed each of our hands. “My lady.” He said to each one. Then he left.
Wow. He sure knew how to exit a room. As soon as he left Jenny pretended to faint. “MY GOD HES SOOO DREAMMYYY!!” she said fanning herself with her hands dramatically. “If only he was like that ALL the time.” Adina said seriously. Wait what? ALL the time? What did that mean? “What do you mean?”
I mean im not usually this nosey but. come on that was like giving a picture of a buffet to starving man. “YOU DONT KNOW?!” Adina screeched holding my shoulders shaking me back and forth. “HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW OF THIS CALAMITY? OF THIS WASTE OF A BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL MAN?”
She said collapsing on my bed next to Jenny. “WHAT WHAT WHAT?!” I said yelling now.Jenny and Adina said seriously at the same time..“He’s in here because he has......”
______________________________________________________________________________________________
And then Adina and Jenny paused. For what? Im guessing for dramatic effect. “SPLIT PERSONALITY DISORDER!!” They both whisper screamed the end. Woah. What? “Are you joking?” I asked looking at both of them, who i have to admit Jenny was looking a little happy at my reaction cause she doubled over laughing, falling off the bed.
Adina just sat there looking at me then seriously said “ Dont get too close to that boy.” She said poking me in the chest. “Yeah” Jenny said getting off the floor and coming over to the little triangle we now formed. “He hurt his girlfriend, thats why he’s in here.” Jenny said her eyes, tearing up a bit. “How do you know?”
I said Adina and i both hugging her now. “He is..i mean he was my boyfriend. The other part of him at least.Now he doesnt remember me.” Jenny said, giving in to her tears completely. I looked at the band around Jenny’s wrist and saw it was the same as Castiel’s...Suicide? This awesome girl? No way.
“Jenny your band..?” I said. But Jenny cut me off “No. It isnt what it looks like.” And she got up and as she walked out the door she called back “Im going to make sure Adonis is OK.“
And she dissappeared down the hall completely. I looked at Adina’s wrist and realised i had NO idea what she was in for. I pointed at Adina’s wrist with an orange band around it and said. “Whadya in for?” Adina smiled at me and said. “Alcohol.”.........
______________________________________________________________________________________________
“Oh.” i said looking at Adina. “Thats not too bad. Why couldnt you just go to AA or something?” I asked. Cause honestly, alcohol? Aint such a big deal, in my book, i mean compared to the rest of us in here. “I killed 4 people with my driving.” She said and just then Castiel opened the door.
And surprisingly he realised how Adina felt and he opened the door for her when she got up. “Thanks. I see you later Azazel.” She said and walked out the door. Castiel turned to me and said “Youre already breaking everyones heart and its just your first day.” He said in TOTAL seriousness.
Have to say it was hard for me to concentrate with that face. ohh. Did he mean what i thought he means does he know that i know what he means? Woah. Headache. So, i just said what came first to mind “Did i break your heart?” I said smiling lightly. He looked at me with a serious look on his face
“Baby,You tore my heart right out of my chest and guess what?” he didnt wait for me to respond. “I dont mind in the slightest.” And he ruffled my hair and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. WHAT? did he just say he was IN LOVE WITH ME? wait hair ruffle?
AS IN LIKE A YOUNGER SISTER? NOOO. It cant be! tore his heart right out of his chest? You dont describe a little sister like that...Do you?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Dont hurt me! Take Azazel! Dont hurt me! Hurt her! Anyone but me!" My mother yelled at my drunk father. And every night after that hed come into my bedroom at night and punch,hit,touch me. My mother never cared. And now? I had these nightmares almost everynight. And the worst part?
Thats its NOT a nightmare, its a memory. And on my first night at the Institute, i had this nightmare/flashback. And i screamed out loud just as a flash of lightning struck. And i started crying. Loudly.
Then, i heard Castiel slip into my bed silently and his arms were soon around me, holding me. He kept whispering "The worst is over. Im here now. Youre gonna be OK now. Youre safe here. Youre safe here."
He kept saying over and over again until i believed it. Then just as i was falling asleep he said "Youre so beautiful. The first time i saw you Azazel I thought i died. My heart stopped for so long. And even now, its not beating right. It never is when i think of you or see you or hear your voice."
And then.."I think I love you."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
I woke up with Castiel's arms still around me, i turned around to face him and i noticed he was already awake and he was just watching me sleep. "Hey." I whispered. He smiled lightly. "Good morning beautiful." He said and pecked me on the lips. I felt my heart stop beating. Everything seemed to slow down until he pulled away. I wanted him to kiss me again.
I went took a shower, brushed my teeth, little make up, mascara and blush. Brushed through my hair and just left it down. Changed into Shorts and white tank and black hoodie.
As i walked out of the bathroom i saw Castiel in the kitchen. I forgot everything else, and totally just zoned out on him. His shirt was off. Castiel caught me staring. Laughed and carried me and put me on the counter top.
I looked at him. "Did you mean what you said last night?" I said, blush creeping into my cheeks. I looked up at him. He was blushing too! He looked like a little boy! Adorable! "Yeah." He mumbled. Before his eyes flashed with...What was it? Oh yeah. Mischief. Oh no. Castiel grabbed my wrists and pulled me to him, he then tilted my chin up to look at him. "I love you. Go out with me?" He said before kissing me on the mouth.
He the pulled away. I pouted and stomped on his foot to kiss me again. He laughed. "Ill take that as a yes." before leaning in again.
______________________________________________________________________________________________BANNERS>>>>>>>> I MADE EM

Mi Casa - I'm frustrated as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

Whiplash — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:42:16 -0800

My boyfriend's brother is coming to visit us next weekend, and we kind of let our place go over the holidays, so today we cleaned our asses off. And, maybe it's because I'm totally hormonal, but as I dusted, scrubbed, swept, and straightened every nook and cranny of our apartment, I realized that I hate almost everything we own.

When we moved in, almost a year and a half ago, I had all these lofty decorating plans, but a week later we got the puppy, and he was SO much work (and SO much money because of his surgery) that I put off spending any time or money on the apartment. But now if I have to live much longer in this cluttered, soulless apartment, I'm going to scream.

I think the place has got a lot of potential, but the problems are:

1. I hardly have any money to spend
2. Since it's a rental, we're not allowed to paint
3. The apartment is very large but there is hardly any storage space
4. My boyfriend has a lot of items that have sentimental value to him but which I consider super-fugly.

There's a lot of stuff I plan on doing and a lot of stuff I need advice about. I'll walk you through our apartment and show you what I mean.

We live on the 3rd and 4th stories (the top two floors) in a 150 year-old building in downtown Philadelphia. Here is what it looks like when you walk into our front door.
View from the front door: the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms are all on the 3rd floor and that stairway goes up to the 4th floor, which is our living room.

There is no coat closet, and I haven't found a coat rack that I like, so we always end up tossing our coats somewhere, and in the winter, I have this bag hanging by the front door for our hats, gloves, scarves, etc. Not an ideal solution but better than hanging them over the banister for the dog to chew on.
This is also where we hang the dog's leash, usually, but the BF had him out when I took this photo.

Okay, now. After you walk into the front door, if you make an immediate left, you're in the bathroom, which is the only room in the house that I don't completely hate. I never ended up installing a towel rack so all our towels are hanging on hooks on the back of the door (not pictured) but I plan on buying nice towels that actually MATCH and hanging up a towel rack.

The view from the bathroom door. I dig the pedestal sink and the mirror, which actually opens up to a medicine cabinet. There is also a linen closet to the right which is full of all my crap.
A little wall to the left of the sink separates the sink from the terlet.
The toilet. I want to buy a new seat because the wood one is all chipped and yucky. Notice the magazine rack in the lower right hand corner. It is brown and orange.
(That watering can isn't usually there but we don't have a detachable shower head so we use it to rinse the doggy when we bathe him).
Our shower is across from the toilet. That mirror was there when we moved in, not sure why it's at crotch height.

Okay, now pretend that you've left the bathroom and your back is to the front door again. Just past the bathroom on the left is the L-shaped kitchen.

The kitchen set and makeshift coat rack.
This kitchen set is the bane of my existence. I hate, hate, HATE it. The boyfriend's parents gave it to us and it's got sentimental value because it's the table he ate every meal at as a child. I tried to convince him that the fact that it's been around since the 70's does not make it awesome, but he loves it. I recovered the chairs from the country-plaid it had been to a retro-mod type print but it still looks like crap.

I do like the size of the table and how the sides fold down. But I hate the shape of the legs and the chair legs, and the fact that the table top is laminate.

If I primed the hell out of the set and painted it a nice high-gloss color, would that work? What color would you recommend?

The kitchen ceiling - another bane of my existence.
Those of you in my private group may remember me b*tching about how it took my landlord 8 months to fix the leak under the deck that made our nasty drop-ceiling in the kitchen cave in. Well, he finally fixed it but it's been about 6 months and he still hasn't replaced the light or ceiling tile. I think we're just going to do it ourselves and then send him the receipt and take it out of the rent.

But still, I loathe the drop ceiling. Anyone know any quick, cheap ways to cover one up?

These drawers and shelves are across from the table
We have to keep our snacks in here because we get mice in the pantry. I like having our cookbooks on display but I hate this mess in general. I just got a new sewing machine so I'm thinking about making a curtain to hide this mess. Good idea or bad idea?

This is the other side of the L. Boring and bland, but fairly inoffensive.
There's a pantry to the right of all this, not pictured. We keep our plates and glasses on the top cabinets, silverware in the drawers, and pots and pans below.

You can't really see the window, but there are old, dingy miniblinds hanging on it. Yuck. I want to sew curtains for it, using the same fabric as what I'll use for the curtain to hide the shelves.
Across from the previous pic. Again, boring and bland, but fairly inoffensive.

The pantry is at my back, the applicances are to my right. This is looking out back into the hall.
That's a vintage Guinness poster above the table that I love, but I'm not sure how well it goes with the room. I also want to buy a bigger, bolder shade for the floor lamp in the corner.

Make a right from where that pic is taking, and you're facing one of the doors to our bedroom (the other door goes in from the hallway). This is the view of our bedroom from the kitchen.
Our room is large. Almost TOO large.
Believe it or not, that comforter used to be AWESOME before it got all faded (and before the boy spilled Cheez Whiz on it). I ordered a new one that should be here soon, it looks like this:
(from Urban Outfitters)
That afghan was knitted by the boy's grandmother and it's super cozy and warm. Usually it's hidden under the comforter.

I plan on making a headboard out of plywood, foam, batting, and fabric. I also want to take down the ubiquitous mini-blinds and sew some curtains. That fabric panel above the bed is from Ikea and I love it so after we get the new bedding, I'll probably take it down and find another use for it. I'm not crazy about the side tables but at least they're plain. I like the lamps, they're from Ikea. And there's an old trunk at the bottom of the bed that you can't really see. I can't tell you what's inside it but it's my boyfriend's and it rhymes with "florno."

That is the boyfriend's dresser with my clean laundry on top of it. Yes, it's clean, I just haven't put it away yet from this afternoon.
I hate his dresser.
This is the other door that goes into the hallway.
I don't hate my dresser but I'm not crazy about it. I really want matching dressers but we don't have the money right now. That picture above the TV was made by me. I found a bunch of vintage sewing patterns and cut out the illustrations and decoupaged them onto a canvas. It looks stupid there but I don't know where else to put it. It's actually really cool, if I do say so myself. Maybe I'll post a close-up pic of it later.
The view from the bed back into the kitchen.
My dresser is to the left of this door. The closet to the right is tiny, about 10 inches deep, with no bar to hang clothes. We keep the boyfriend's old comic books and some other crap in there.
We inherited this bookshelf from the BF's parents as well. I like it but it's way too small to hold all our books.

The view from the bedroom to the hall.Those are our closets out there.
Take the hallway to the right to get back to the kitchen and bathroom. To the left is the guest bedroom/storage room.

Okay, even though I'm not too concerned with redoing this room at the time, I'll share our guest room with you as well.
View from the master bedroom door to the guest bedroom.
More hand-me-downs from the BF's parents.
These beds can also be bunk beds. We can push them together when couples stay over. What I want is to buy a bigger bed for our room (a queen or king instead of a full), put our bed in the guest room, and get rid of the bunk beds. But, hell, they were free, and at least our friends don't have to sleep on the floor.
My favorite thing about the guest room is the nifty beamed ceiling.

The rest of the bedroom is filled with the boyfriend's old Star Wars toys. He promises that he'll sell them on eBay but it's been 18 months and he hasn't sold any of it.
Those boxes are all FILLED with toys. And that is the Ewok village on top.
Also, some old junk and some Christmas gifts that I want to eventually re-gift.
The area rug was also a hand-me-down from the BF's parents. I loathe it, but it covers the floor. Pardon the dust, by the way. The belt on our vacuum broke today.
The view from the guest room back to the hallway and front door. Everyone got their bearings?

Okay, now that's out of the way. Our biggest decor problem is the living room, which just happens to be where we spend most of our time. I'm at my wit's end. HELP!
Here is the view if you're standing at the top of the stairs.
This is a very large room so it's divided into three sections: the TV watching section, the music section, and the "office/crafting" section.

That love seat on the right is HEAVY and ugly as sin. Our friend gave us that green slipcover which is ugly but not as ugly as what's beneath it. We want to replace it but it is SO heavy and took SO long to get up all the flights of stairs. We may have to destroy it with a hatchet and bring it down piece by piece. We both loathe it but it is comfy so maybe we'll just try to find a better slipcover. Because even though I'm learning how to sew, I think that slipcovers and upholstery are beyond my skillz.

I don't love the Ikea coffee table but it's okay for now. And the beige microfiber couch is the first piece of new furniture I ever bought, but because the dog insists on sitting on it and licking his feet, thus getting slobber all over it, we put that quilt over the cushions, hiding the nice sofa. Speaking of the quilt, it's another thing that has sentimental value for the BF but it's totally not my style. His mother made it, and I don't want to throw it away, but I think we should keep it in the guest room.

And the chair is the Ikea Poang chair. I think most people have owned this at one time or another.

Another view from the top of the stairs. The cathedral ceilings make the room VERY hard to decorate.
That "entertainment center" is a piece of crap. We hate it but haven't been able to find anything better at this time. I think I'd like a lower, wider console. And we have two teeny bookshelves stuffed with DVD's on the far side.

Please ignore all the dog toys thrown around.

The table next to the loveseat is something I love. It's a rustic plank table that I got for $4 at a garage sale.
A closer view of the sofa, etc.

The coffee table is to my back, I'm now looking at the "office/crafing" section of the room. The staircase is behind the desk on the left.

Okay, the desk on the left is another issue between me and the BF. He kept telling me his parents had this awesome antique wooden desk. Well, it's not awesome, it's not antique, and it's not wooden. It's MDF with wood laminate. I think it is a horrible eyesore but he loves it.

Also, that is where the furbaby sleeps.

Here is my new sewing machine and my craft area. It's still kind of a mess.
I love the mod, clean lines of this desk that I got at a garage sale. I would like to paint it an obnoxiously bright color, like glossy red. Is that really stupid?

Those prints are from an Etsy seller called the Black Apple. I'm too lazy to post a link but she's awesome.

Here is the desk that I hate.
I never actually use this desk, I do all my Sugaring on the sofa, but I keep the lappy here when I'm not using it. Since our bookshelf downstairs is too small, we keep the overflow here. Can you tell that the shelves are sagging? MAN do I hate this desk!

This is the music area, behind the sofa.

There are a lot of problems with this area. First of all, we have a zillion CDs in a bunch of different cabinets and shelving units. All of my CD's have been converted to digital format and are kept hidden in boxes under our bed, but the BF keeps all his CDs out, and they take up a lot of room. We also have the stereo and turntable, AND all of our vinyl to the left. I like displaying our vinyl and would like to keep it out, but I wish we could hide the other junk.

Now, the boomerang coffee table is from the mid-50's and I am obsessed with it, but I think I may need to get rid of it because there's no place to put it. What I'd actually like is to buy a console-type thing to put behind the sofa and put all the CDs and crap in there. But then there'd be no room for my awesome table. That red bench is from Ikea, I have no problem getting rid of it.

A better view. The records are stacked haphazardly right now because we're in the middle of an annoying attempt at alphabetizating.
The door out to the balcony
We usually don't leave the vacuum cleaner out. Also, tomorrow we are going to mount the modem to the wall so that the chair isn't being used as a table anymore. By the way, that chair is covered in the same fabric as is hanging above our bed.
A view of our cathedral ceilings. From an aesthetic standpoint, I don't love the ceiling fans, but from a practical standpoint, I appreciate them. Plus, they're fairly new and not bad looking.

The view from behind the couch. The stairway down is to the right.

I really wish we had something in which to hide all the DVD's. Also, that mirror was my dad's in the 70's and looked AWESOME as a kind-of headboard in my old funky loft with the red walls. But it just doesn't quite go here. But I don't want to give it up.

Anyway, this was an incredibly long post, so here's what I'm asking:

Does anyone have any cheap, easy tips to jazz up this place, considering that we're not allowed to paint the walls, the two of us have different tastes, and we have these crazy cathedral ceilings that we can't hang anything on, and we have no storage?

Help! Help!

Update - Here is a floor plan (not 100% to scale but pretty close) of the living room.

Help! I need advice on my relationship with my boyfriend!

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:16:20 -0800

HELP! I need some advice… I know this is long and a lot to read but I feel like I need to give that background to the problem and give you all the information. Any advice I can get would be great. I feel like there is no one I can talk to about it without getting advice that is favored to one side or the other… or paying a therapist!
I've been with my boyfriend for 2 1/2 years. We are now 24 and 25 years old. We met in college and are both graduated now and living together. In college, we partied and had fun EVERY time we were together. We had the best relationship. We had our own friends and did our own things. We hung out with each others' friends together. We saw each other a lot but not too much. We always commented how we didn't want to be like my roommate and her boyfriend because they were together every second of every day and could never do things alone or with their own friends. When my boyfriend graduated, he moved away to Chicago. We had a long distance (6 hours) relationship for about 4 months. Then when I graduated, we moved into an apartment together in Chicago. I left my family and friends behind to take our relationship to another level.
We've lived together now for about 9 months and I'm not happy anymore. I admit that I've changed. I don't like to party every weekend and he still does. He can NOT go one weekend without partying. He has a lot of friends here and I have very few, if any. So when we go out together, it's always with his friends. We never go out alone.
For example, last night, none of his friends wanted to go out. I didn't really want to either. So he sat in front of the tv drinking by himself, texting and calling friends to try to get someone to go out with him. Finally at 10:30 he said, "I guess I'm not going out tonight." Many Saturdays, he likes to go out during the day to bars with friends to watch sports and he'll usually ask if I'd like to go along. So that was his plan for today. For some reason, I broke down and decided I'm done. We've had many conversations before about how I've changed and we are not in the same place in our lives anymore. I like to go out and have a good time but not every night of the weekend. So I don't mind staying home sometimes. He still feels the need to go out every single night of the weekend. I think that after this much time, we should be taking our relationship to new levels, instead I feel like we’re worse than when we started in college. We’ve talked about our timelines for marriage and kids. He wants to wait until about 30 and I don’t. I don’t want to get married soon but not that late. He wants to be financially stable, and I agree but I think that’s a long time to wait. But honestly, right now, we are nowhere near marriage material.
So our conversation this morning went like this:
Bob: I’m meeting Erik at the bar at 3pm. Wanna go?
Me: Yea, in 20 minutes, this show is over and I’ll get in the shower then.
10 minutes later….
Bob: Hurry up and shower.
Me: What? Never mind, I won’t go. (I was angry that he was in such a hurry to be at the bar at 3pm. I asked him earlier in the day if he wanted to go for a walk and he said no because it was too cold. But he is going to walk to this bar that is farther than I would have wanted to walk with him earlier.)
Then I go into the kitchen where he is …
Me: Ya know what, we need to talk. I am not happy and I will never be happy with you.
Bob: What? I just wanted you to shower so we could be there by 3pm. You’ll never be ready in time. (it was 1:53pm)
Me: That’s not what I’m talking about. I will never be happy because I do not like to go out every night of the weekend and you do.
Bob: You don’t have to go out with me!
Me: That’s not the point.
Bob: Fine! We’ll go to the bar whenever you are ready!!
Me: That’s not the point!
Bob: I just think we are in two different places in our lives.
Me: Exactly. That’s just who you are and that’s who I am and that’s why I can’t be with you because I will never be happy with you.
Bob: I don’t understand what happened to us. In college, we were great. We had the best relationship. You used to say you never want to be like your roommate and her boyfriend and be with each other every second of the day.
Me: WE LIVE TOGETHER! We are going to be together a lot. And when I graduated from college, I grew up and I don’t want to party like I’m in college anymore.
Bob: We are 25 and I like to go out on the weekends.
Me: And that’s who you are and I don’t want to be with that because that doesn’t make me happy. You can’t stay in with me and NOT drink. You can’t do anything on the weekends besides drink at the bars or in front of the tv.
Bob: I stayed in last night with you.
Me: Only because none of your friends wanted to go out! And you drank all night anyway!
Bob: But I stayed in. And what else is there to do?
Me: We live in Chicago!! There are a million things to do! Spend 10 minutes on the internet and you can get a list of 100 things to do…even things that are free! Last night isn’t the point. My point is that I’m not happy and I don’t see myself ever being happy with you unless there are major changes. In April, I think we should go our own way and do our own thing. (April is when our lease is up.)
Bob: Oh good so we can live in hell for the next 3 months?
Me: Well I’m not happy NOW! So it won’t be any different for me.
Bob: I don’t understand how this developed from me wanting you to shower so we can be at the bar by 3pm.
Me: It’s not about being at the bar by 3pm. I think about this every night but I held it in. But it’s funny how you have to stick to your time restraints to be at the bar by 3 pm and you’ll walk all the way there in the cold, but you won’t go for a walk with me because it’s too cold!
Bob: I’m walking to a place where I’ll go inside and get warm right away!
Me: (rolling my eyes) No, I’m done. That’s it.
END OF CONVERSATION… I went to shower and cried a lot. He got ready and went to the bar at 3pm. He said “I guess I’ll see ya later,” when he left. I said nothing.
But the last time we talked about all of this, we agreed that I would be more laid back and try to go out more often and he would stay in with me more often. I really thought that this past month has been really good between us and that things were getting better. But then I broke down today.
I don’t get that tingly feeling anymore. We are more like roommates than anything. There’s no passion. There is only sex and it’s only like once MAYBE twice a month. When he leaves to go workout every night during the week, there is no “see ya later” or kiss goodbye. In college we NEVER left each other without a kiss and an “I love you”. I brought that up to him the other night and just said, “I don’t like how you don’t say goodbye when you leave and there’s no kiss or I love you.” And I reminded him of how it used to be in college. He just replied, “Okay.” Is it possible that we were only good together in college? I want to be happy, I deserve to be happy, and I’m not happy right now. Is it possible for him to change? If so, is it worth waiting for him to grow up and change? Do I throw it all away? There was a tiny feeling of relief after I calmed down from crying today. Then once he left, I just started crying hysterically. And now I’m getting my feelings out by typing.
I know that relationships aren’t perfect… But how far do I take that and apply it to our relationship? Many times, I have tried to think of all the positives in our relationship instead of the negatives and have never been able to come up with more than a few.
I just need someone to give me advice that is on the outside… someone who doesn’t know us personally and doesn’t feel obligated to take sides. I think I’ve been pretending that we are still a great couple… actually I know I have been pretending. I’ve been putting on a show for my parents and family and friends back home (6 hours away). His parents know there are issues because we’ve gotten in fights at their house before. His mom told me that staying married is the hardest thing she’s had to do but it was well worth it and they are completely happy now. Her older son has just announced that him and his wife are getting a divorced after 3 or 4 years of marriage and a 2 year old son. His mom said that she doesn’t know why her boys are jerks and wishes they were more considerate of the loved ones in their lives. His dad was the same way that my boyfriend and his brother are now but apparently it took YEARS for him to change.
Bob is just inconsiderate all around… not just towards me. He doesn’t send birthday cards. He doesn’t do the small things that I wish he would. For example, he doesn’t call just to say he’s thinking about me, hold the door for me, ask how my day was, etc. THE SMALL THINGS! He doesn’t call anyone just to talk, he only calls his parents when he needs something. This might sound dumb, but he doesn’t use a blinker when he drives and if he does, it’s at the very last second before he turns. I think that is inconsiderate as well. I asked him one time (right after he failed to use his blinker correctly), what the purpose of a blinker was. He just kinda shrugged his shoulders. And I said, “Well I’m pretty sure it’s to warn other people around you that you are turning. So why use it at all if you don’t use it the way it’s meant to be used?” And I’m kinda laughing while I’m saying it because I wanted to keep the conversation light and amusing. And he replied, “Well I just use it so that I don’t get pulled over for not using it.” He doesn’t walk beside me on the sidewalk, always ahead of me. I asked him one time why he doesn’t get the mail ever? And he said because there is never anything in there for him. The mail box is right at the front door when you walk into the building. I think these things are all selfish!
I’ve learned to deal with some of these things because I accept that that is how Bob is and I love him and fell in love with him for being that person. What do I do now?!?!

Why do women feel so ANGRY?

Cassandra57 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:28:26 -0800

I ran across this article, and thought it might prompt some interesting discussions.
I've said for a few years now that the women's movement of the 1970's ultimately did us no favors; it just overburdened us with impossible workloads and insane expectations, and made us feel we should be grateful for them.

This is a bit long, but is a quick read. Especially over the whiny bits.
I suspect this may be one of those items where the Mail readers' comments are better than the actual story.
______________________________________________________________

Why do women feel so ANGRY? Welcome to the age of female rage

By Elizabeth Stewart
Last updated at 12:35 AM on 23rd February 2009

Last week, I was woken at 2am by the unmistakable sound of vomiting. For a foolish split second, I waited to see if my husband, Johnny, would get up and see to Grace, our three-year-old daughter.

I'd been on my feet for 18 hours straight the previous day, giving a major presentation to one of my advertising company's most important clients. I hadn't got home until 10pm and was exhausted. I craved sleep the way an addict longs for his next fix.

Johnny, on the other hand, had knocked off at 4pm - flexible hours being one of the benefits of working in IT - and arrived home in time to spend the evening playing with Grace.

After the nanny had bathed her and put her to bed, he'd cheerfully polished off the dinner I'd cooked for him the previous day and had an early night.

I could have woken him, of course, but a few days earlier, Grace had been taken ill at her new nursery school. They'd called to ask me to pick her up, but I'd been in a wretched meeting and had never got the message. Grace had cried for me for half the day before falling into an exhausted, red-cheeked sleep.

Still racked with guilt for not being there, I chastised myself for minding about her waking me and stumbled into the nursery, where I discovered she'd thrown up, in spectacular fashion, all over her cot. I cleaned her up, stripped and changed the sheets and put her back to bed.

An hour later, she was sick again. This time, I brought her into our bed. When she threw up for a third time at 5am, even Johnny woke up.

But while I stripped beds again, wiped up more vomit and carted another armful of sheets to the washing machine, he collapsed on the sofa and promptly went back to sleep.

Seething, I stalked into the kitchen and pulled some beef from the freezer. I might as well start preparing that night's dinner; I was too wide awake to go back to bed. I wouldn't have time to make anything that evening, since I'd promised my mother that I'd go over and help her fill her freezer.

My mobile rang. It wasn't even light outside, but the Asian office was halfway through its business day. I was tempted to fling the phone in the washing machine with the sheets, but I can't afford to lose my job. Johnny and I need two salaries just to keep a roof over our heads.

So I answered it, gritting my teeth and seasoning my stew, wishing I could have another life, any life but mine.

Aside from my husband and baby daughter, I have a 13-year-old son at boarding school who I miss desperately and drive to see as often as the school permits, a 94-year-old grandmother in the West Country who lives for my visits once a fortnight and an undomesticated, widowed mother.

There is an ex-husband who believes his schedule is far more important than mine and must always come first when we're divvying up our son's holidays, and a French nanny who seems to think my job is to facilitate her social life.

I have a job that makes no allowances for the fact I have children who don't always get sick with three weeks' advance notice.

The boarding school and nursery assume I wait around at home with nothing to do but attend conferences and plays and sports events on their schedule. No wonder I'm filled with a permanent nebulous, undirected rage that my life has become a Gordian knot of obligations, responsibilities, guilt, duties and expectations.

I can't even go for a walk in the park without factoring in the needs of half a dozen people. I resent that every second of my day is owned by someone else.

Yes, I'm angry. I'm angry with a world that still doesn't acknowledge how hard women work, in and out of the workplace. I'm angry with men for dumping the childrearing problem in our laps. I'm angry with women for refusing to admit it's too much, that we can't do everything all the time.

Don't get me wrong, I adore my husband. But there are times I could cheerfully strangle him simply for having the luck to be born a man.

At 32, he's five years younger than me and, in many ways, very much a New Man. He talks about his feelings, rubs my feet, doesn't resent my earning capacity and worships the ground our daughter walks on.

But Johnny doesn't do vomit. Or nappies. Or snotty noses, chewing gum in hair, laundry, meal planning, name-tape sewing - in short, none of the dull, thankless micro-tasks that keep the family wheels oiled and running every day.

Nor did my first husband, an unreconstructed City lawyer. It's as if men think the XX chromosome somehow bestows a knack for, and a degree of pleasure in, wiping bottoms and clearing up sick.

In the days when a woman stayed home to raise a family while a man went out to work to put bread on the table, this division of labour was fair enough. But why these days, when women work just as hard as men outside the home, are they still responsible for pretty much everything that goes on in it?

How hard is it to learn to cook? (Boil the kettle, add pasta.) As that arch- chauvinist Jeremy Clarkson would say, it's not rocket science. But ask Johnny to cook peas and he'll forget to add water. I swear he does it on purpose so I don't ask again.

On one memorable occasion last year, he rang me while I was in France to inform me that the dog had been sick as if I could do something about it. Two hours later, he called again to explain that he'd locked himself out of the house, with Grace alone inside. Once again I gently pointed out that I was, in fact, in another country and he would have to solve this one himself.

But it's not Johnny I'm really angry with. He's a loving, supportive, wonderful man. Perhaps I wouldn't mind his domestic helplessness so much if I wasn't being torn in so many different directions all the time.

My job as a managing partner at a major advertising agency demands a huge amount of commitment, particularly in these tough economic times. Because I want to spend some time with my daughter lest she forgets who I am, I cram five days' work into four and take Friday afternoons off.

In theory, that is. In reality, I find myself on a conference call to Chicago as I try to prevent my daughter pushing six eggs, a fistful of blackberries and half a carton of juice into the DVD player.

I feel guilty that I'm not pulling my weight by being at the office - even though I work just as hard and long as anyone else - and I feel guilty because I'm not giving my daughter the 24/7, one- on- one time a fulltime mother would be able to.

My mother grew up in a wealthy family who had servants to do all the boring tasks such as cooking and cleaning. She had enough sense to send me on a cordon bleu cookery course for a year before I went up to Oxford, which means that I often end up cooking for her, too.

Not that I mind, which, as Johnny is quick to point out if I complain I'm overwhelmed, is part of the problem. Unlike a man, I just can't seem to find it in me to say 'No'.

I love my mother. I want to help her. But there are times I wonder if she grasps just how complicated my life is. She never had to juggle work with a family and husband. I know I've had fantastic opportunities that she's been denied, but in some ways, it was much simpler for her.

My generation of women aren't having it all - we're doing it all. It's a constant struggle to meet the demands of my various roles as wife, mother, daughter, colleague, lover, friend. I feel as if I short-change everyone all the time.

I never have a moment that's just mine. Someone always wants a piece of me. Yesterday, in the middle of a bikini wax, I had an urgent call from the office and had to orchestrate a crucial meeting on the other side of the world, biting my fists to stop yelping at the wrong moments.

Frequently, as I reach for a file from my bag in the midst of a presentation, a pair of baby pants or a lollipop falls out. It hardly helps my image as a cool, collected professional. I watch the smug glances of the men around the table and want to slap them.

Recently, the Children's Society published a report lambasting modern women for being too selfish to be good mothers.

Are they kidding? I'd like to see the authors spend a week in my shoes. Most of my days are a near-precipice experience. I'm so close to the edge that I'm in a semi-permanent state of panic. I have a constant list of things I have to do running through my head like a stock market ticker-tape.

What must it be like to live without the tyranny of the list? To sink into a bath and not be mentally composing tomorrow's agenda? What is it like to be a man and have nothing to think about but the task in hand?

No wonder the vast majority of our great scientists, thinkers and artists are men. Think how much room they must have in their heads without all the domestic clutter their wives are taking care of.

Am I angry? You haven't heard anything yet.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1152403/Why-women-feel-ANGRY-W...

Learning to Swear

Beachwalker — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:45:18 -0700

A 5 year old and a 4 year old are upstairs in their bedroom.

"You know what?" says the 5 year old, "I think it's about time we start swearing." The 4 year old nods his head in approval.

"When we go downstairs for breakfast I'm gonna say 'hell', and you say 'ass',ok?" "Ok." The 4 year old agrees with enthusiasm.

The mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 5 year old what he wants for breakfast. "Aw, hell mom, I guess I'll have some Cheerios."

WHACK!! He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor, gets up, and runs upstairs crying his eyes out.

The Mom looks at the 4 year old and asks with a stern voice, "And what do YOU want for breakfast, young man?!"

"I don't know," he blubbers, "but you can bet your ass it won't be Cheerios."

Gordon Ramsay narrowly escapes death

justingirl1989 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:57:18 -0700

Gordon Ramsay is synonymous with food and over-the-top b*tchiness. Best known for Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, the potty mouthed chef is also an outdoorsman. While filming his show The F Word, which can be seen on England’s channel 4 or the BBC for those lucky cable owners, he fell down a 28 foot cliff. After surviving the fall he then landed in a creek and started to drown.

I thought I was a goner. They say cats have nine lives. I’ve had 12 already and I don’t know how many more I’ll have. I remember thinking, ‘Oh f***’. My boots and my waterproofs were dragging me down. I’m an extremely good swimmer, but I couldn’t get to the surface. I was panicking and my lungs were filling with water. When I got to the top after getting my boots off I was dazed and my head was totally numb.

[From The Sun]

Luckily his tv crew witnessed the fall and acted quickly. They threw Ramsay a rope and pulled him out. He suffered a large cut on his leg which was then treated at his hotel. After a stop at Cromwell Hospital in London for a brief examination he was back on his feet.

His wife was more upset over the incident the Gordon was. After he failed to come clean about the accident, Mrs. Ramsay found out and confronted him about what happened:

I chickened out but she knew something was up. She was upset and extremely p****d off. When I was underwater all I could think of was Tana and my kids. It wasn’t until I was on the plane home I realized what a close call I’d had.

[From The Sun]

Gordon nearly drowns and almost doesn’t tell his wife while Ryan Seacrest is b*tching to everyone that will listen about a baby shark nibbling his toe. Where the hell is Jaws when you need him?

http://www.celeb*tchy.com/13259/gordon_ramsay_narrowly_escapes_death/

Chapter 17 – 2008/08/16

Iveenia — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:37:20 -0700

I was not planning to go to Switzerland to stay there for good, I only wanted to go for shopping. We did not have any cosmetics left, which I preferred and of which I thought they would at least last for half a year… Dream on! Salah always used them well better than a woman… He was a man but sometimes I doubted, i.e. vanity… I still wait for someone to come to me and tell me women are vain. NO way, men outdid / outdo us!
Actually I also wanted to learn MORE Arabic, yet the right time was never coming up.
Suddenly Salah decided to go for a course in agricultural flying. (Flying seamen, poison, etc.) Those planes are equipped with joysticks. And you had to completely rethink flying: i.e. you firstly had to get up the back, not the front, when taking off, and when landing the opposite. Yes, you are all right: with machines who transport humans, animals, goods it is exactly the opposite.
I really begged that he would not produce “muck” again, ok, that may have been helpful for that field i.e. agriculture… Yet landing or taking off would have been fatal… He only meant he had to fly, otherwise he would go nuts. It was a course which would take abt 10 days plus 3 days ground-school; all in all 2 weeks. I would be alone during that time.
Then he added that he would have wished to go to Algeria; and I would be alone, again… Really that was enough! I wanted to have fun, too, otherwise I would have been better off to commit suicide!
Now let us change the subject: we get back to the rumors around the house. To be honest rumors is still neatly meant… It was hell of a noise! At 08:30 they started hammering. Till 4 o’clock in the morning the other neighbor was banging things (we were assuming that it might have been a kitchen… Was it really a kitchen? Who cares now, that I am in Switzerland?) Whatever, both neighbors were constructing something.
When hammering that way the earth trembled! I went sky high all the time! My husband then said: you should let go your soul, then you are able to sleep at any time and any place… No wonder! He had been in war with Chad. He was able to sleep after one week even when the bombs fell or when they were shooting. Yet that first week made him weak! And till today he suffers fm Borderline… That later, at that time, I had no clue abt his sickness!
I was so tired abt all these things, I only wanted to go to Switzerland! His family was actually rather nice but I could not sit in their house ALL the time! That is not polite! They were all busy. I am the last person to keep them off work! So I mostly stayed at home and was keeping quiet, and truly did all not to disturb them. Mufida was my only friend, but she had to finish her study with those potato insects. And, sorry, I felt rather creepy to look at those. They were in the garage on a special table in little containers… PUKE! My hair still stands on end!
At least there was the internet café. So I went there every 2 up to 5 days. There I was connected with my friends. Unfortunately the internet was not as it is in “free” countries. So not all my mails have arrived… Actually not even in 5 years! My best friend and I figured it out!
In addition to that, I had to change my internet provider, they suddenly wanted money! HOW on earth should I pay them? How can I? I had no credit card anymore! In Libya it did not work anyway, at that time there were no credit cards available, so how??? Sometimes I like certain ideas very much, when well thought abt it! Anyway, I got a special permission fm a German internet provider and then it worked again!