Oatmeal Cookie Day!

Mood:

This was yesterday, but why not continue celebrating it?I love oatmeal cookies! Although, I pretty much love anything with oatmeal! By itself, it's pretty awesome, too!They seem to be a lot more filling compared to other cookies out there. I like both the raisin and chocolate chip kinds. Not sure if I like them together...I think that'll confuse my taste buds, considering they can look similar, might have a similar texture, and are both sweet. The cranberry and nut ones are good, too. It's Poultry Day today. Poultry is good, too! I tend to eat quite a bit of chicken and turkey. You can do so many things with them. 

Some weird things have been happening the last few days. A little of the good, scary, 'huh, interesting', and just 'what the heck' kind.We went to group Tuesday night. Apparently, a couple of people were there before group started, and were incredibly rude to everyone. Not exactly sure what happened, considering it was before we arrived. It made everyone that was already there a bit rattled, though. Had a really good turn out. Some of them were people we hadn't seen in a very long time. It was nice to see them. 

After everyone checked in, we suddenly talked about changing the rules or guidelines of the group. It seemed at least 2 people were prepared for it, while the rest of us were most definitely not.One of the people that seemed to be leading it, started listing out what other people have told her has been the problem. Then, she seemed to say things like: don't do this___, or this___. It left no room for discussion. One person was so fed up with it, they left and said they might not ever come back.I agreed on why she had an issue with it all. Another person did a similar thing, but came back later. I felt that the person who led that part was maybe...using really poor choice of words.I think people were so turned off by it, they couldn't say anything right away. Once it sunk in, everyone explained to her why it seemed like the wrong way to go about it. She said she didn't really mean for it to go that way. 

Another problem most people had was about negativity. It's supposed to be a group that supports people, so obviously there's going to be pretty negative things that come up. Censoring people and telling them to not be negative, creates a lot more problems. No one gets their voice heard.I like the idea that everyone should end their 'story' or 'discussion' topic on a positive note. That's cool, and leaves it fresh for the next person. Also, helps the person who was in a negative place feel just a touch better about things, I'm sure. That benefits everyone.This discussion on negativity was brought up in several other groups that I've gone to. So, it must be an issue they all bring up. I also liked that a while back we came up with the idea that when someone is about to go into something that might be a trigger for others, that they actually give a warning before they say anything. This way they can go to the other room, bathroom, or outside while that is brought up. (When that person's done, someone could tell the one who left to come back.) It would help a lot with people. I've even had an issue a while back that was a bit triggering. I took it in stride after a while, but what about those who can't? What about that person that brought up such a thing didn't know it'd be triggering? They'd be unknowingly hurting someone eventually. I don't think that's good for them either.When this topic on triggers came up back then, we brought up what triggered me too, and they understood. So, this way you can be negative (and probably go someplace pretty dark), help people who might have a trigger beforehand, and eventually end on a good note. 

After talking a lot about these rules and guidelines, we decided that a lot of that should probably be slowly discussed on fb. Also, someone brought up that we're going to have a table at the local pride event coming up. She had some very cool and interesting ideas.Also, she thought we might be able to make our own shirts for it, too. I asked later on if maybe we could have some that said 'allies' or 'ally' underneath the main part. That way people know that there are others like me that support them. Just knowing that probably helps someone. 

Our next meeting is going to be a potluck and movie night. That should be interesting. Have no idea what we'll be watching...After Tuesday's meeting, Dad and I went to Applebee's instead of Shari's. 

Last time I barely could find something I could actually eat.Almost everything had some form of pork. (Even their mac and cheese had a bacon based sauce. Shouldn't it just be cheese?Glad they told me...) So, I was reluctant to go again. They changed their menu, and now there's a ton of new stuff I could try. I decided to get their salmon from their 'healthy' section. Mainly because I felt I was lacking vegetables that day, and salmon usually is good. Plus, it said it had artichoke 'butter' on top of the salmon. That sounded pretty good. The salmon was very dried out, the 'butter' barely had any butter in it (just looked like a clump of artichoke hearts chopped up finely), the spinach was overcooked, the peas were mushy, a few small pieces of asparagus were thrown in, potatoes weren't bad (weren't great either...), and there was a bit too much pepper in the vegetable mix. For the most part, it was pretty much a dud.I was also thinking about trying their chicken wontons. So, maybe I'll do that next time.

That night, while I was in the bathroom getting ready for bed, I saw a huge spider waving its giant legs in the air on the side of my sink.It was mostly all legs, but looked different when compared to a daddy-long-legs. The body part wasn't as small, for one. It seemed to be just as startled. It waved its legs at a more of vigorous pace after. Almost like it was a weird looking dancer.I decided not to do anything with it, and thought it'd find a place later that's nowhere near me. Although, if it was still there in the morning, I'd grab the vacuum cleaner and suck it up.It was too big and scary looking for me to think of putting it in a cup or something. This way I'd give it a chance, too. (Didn't see it again.)

Thinking that was the only thing to worry about before falling asleep, I got in bed and laid on my side like usual. I was about to turn the light out when I noticed something weird next to the pillow in my peripheral vision. I looked at it closer. I didn't have my contacts in, but I was close enough that it was clear to me. (I'm very near-sighted.) It looked like a hollowed out giant spider leg at first. Then, I started thinking: "Oh no! Where's the rest of it?!"I panicked. For a moment I just stared at it.Eventually something slimy that looked like a tendril protruded a little out of it.It went back inside and out, and then it waved in the air a bit. At some point, it came out quite a bit, gripped the bed, and moved the entire thing, including its 'body', across the bed. I guess it would be similar to seeing something come out of a severed human finger and it moved on its own. Really freaky. Watching it move, I was at first extremely fascinated. I had never seen something like it. Then, that fascination turned to uneasiness/fear when it really dawned on me that I've never seen it before, not to mention it looked freaky. So, not really knowing what to do, I blew on it. It apparently was as light as a feather, and that was enough to propel it somewhere across the room to the floor. Needless to say, I had a very tough night after that.

I found out yesterday, the day that our friends are doing their seder. I was hoping it'd be the 1st night on that Friday. (Passover starts at sundown on April 3rd. Again, it lasts for 8 days.) But, apparently it's going to be on the second night. It just seems like we'll be more rushed for ours on the 1st night if it's then. Plus, both our haircuts are on that Saturday. It's scheduled to only be a couple of hours before their seder. So, if it ends up looking bad, I won't be able to come up with a temporary 'fix'.I'm only asking for a trim, so it shouldn't be horrible. But, I haven't had a haircut in about 2 years. (That's when the stylist helped me find a style I loved.) Before that, I hadn't had one for about 7 years. So, I'm a little weary of haircuts now. (But, I definitely think I need a trim...) This'll be with the same stylist as last time's. So, it probably won't be horrible. She made the 'ringlets' odd looking though. I like the way I have them now, but that's something I can tell her. We didn't know at the time, she just steered me in the right direction. 

Anyways, I think most of that week before Passover even starts I'm going to be doing quite a bit of cooking. Good, but tiring.Might be cooking more than last time. It's probably healthier to make some of the stuff from scratch, too. Oh, and not only are we doing the 1st night, it's also the start of Shabbat. So, it's even more of a big one. 2 holidays in 1. Wahoo!I think there's a few more prayers/readings that are said if the seder ends up on Shabbat. (Shabbat starts at every sundown on Fridays and goes until Saturday night.)

We found a good portion of what's on my Passover-specific list. Most of it was at our local supermarket that has a pretty sizable Passover display every year. Some of the stuff was already gone...I wanted the kosher for Passover potato chips we usually get, but they had them in regular, BBQ, sea salt, reduced sodium, and regular with ridges. Normally we don't have such a variety.I got the BBQ one. We'll see what that one's like. I didn't think we'd find potato starch, but lo and behold, it was there too. They have them in pretty large canisters. I don't need very much, but that's all they had. Got some matzo. That's one of the biggest staples for the holiday. Found some kosher for Passover peppermint patties. I can't remember if we've had them before, but they looked/sounded good.Decided to get that in place of the fruit slices this year. They had more of a variety of flavors for the coconut macaroons, too. Decided on the chocolate chip one. There was red velvet, almond, espresso, and a few others. That company seems to make a new flavor every year. It's interesting, and usually good. Also, found some matzo meal. It's used in many things. For example, with the Passover popovers I make, they're almost entirely made out of the stuff. It's ground up matzo. (Matzo is a cracker-like unleavened bread.) Matzo farfel is just crumbled chunks of matzo. We use matzo in so many things, since we can't use flour or anything that could be used for leavening. (We also use a lot of eggs, potatoes, and butter or margarine.) They had ran out of matzo farfel this time, though. It's the main part to my matzo granola. Which is soooo much better than those store-bought Passover cereals. (Those have a weird aftertaste, and disintegrate as soon as milk touches it.)  It holds its own like normal granola. We'll have to get it from the QFC across the water that has the largest amount of Passover products in the region, along with the other things that they didn't have. Like, chocolate covered orange peels (they're surprisingly good), kosher for Passover dressing (for the salad at ours, and maybe with the salad we'll bring to the other seder. Not sure what we're bringing to it yet, they still have to tell us, but usually it's that and my popovers), etc. Also, got some gefilte fish at our local Safeway. But, the rest of the display in their kosher section wasn't kosher for Passover...Sad. 

Today, I decided to leave my bathroom door open while I took a shower to see what Rosie would do. (No one else was home, so why not?) I was surprised by her reaction. She was very curious, and occasionally I saw a head pop up over the side of the tub. She stayed in that room the entire time I was in there. When I went to dry my hair with the towel, she intentionally stood so the drips would fall on her. She seemed really happy that I was out of the shower, and meowed a lot. She also licked my feet. She didn't like when I combed my hair and applied hair products. She gave me a confused look. It was so cute, and for some reason, the whole thing felt like a bonding experience. 

I posted my Hanukkah-themed drawing to dA. Don't think anyone faved it, but got a lot of views. Yesterday, I posted the 1st 'page' of colored in drawings of my original characters' outfits/accessories/extras to dA. I immediately got 2 faves for it. One even put it in their 'Awesome' collection. Not sure if it was awesome...Getting quite a few views, too. I might post the 2nd page either tonight or tomorrow. I think the other pages were a lot more interesting. So, we'll see. It was more just for my reference, so it's interesting it got any likes for that 1st one. 

Found out Kuroshitsuji or Black Butler: Book of Murder is available to watch now. It was one of the best arcs in the manga. Saw Book of Circus not too long ago, and it was treated like a regular anime season. I think for Book of Murder they made it into 2-part movies. So, like 2 super long episodes. I wonder why they handled this one so differently? The arc in the manga was longer, I think, than the Book of Circus one too. Both these parts of the anime franchise are supposed to be closer to what happens in the manga. The 1st season started to veer off from the manga's story line towards the end, and the 2nd season was like a totally different story. It wasn't in the manga. None of those extra characters were either. A lot of fans were pissed off.I actually liked all of the 1st season of it, including the end. I couldn't stand the 2nd season. I think I watched, maybe, 2 episodes of that one. It lost its humor, the new main characters seemed flat, senseless violence (it's normally pretty violent, but there's a reason behind it), etc. Book of Circus followed the manga to a T. I'm not sure if I've seen an anime version follow it so closely. They even kept a pretty risque scene. The series is definitely not for kids...I'd love to see if they did the same with Book of Murder. I might try it tomorrow.

Found some more Jdrama possibilities, and manga for my to-read list. Started Konjiki no Gash or better known as Zatch Bell. (Not sure why people have changed his name to Zatch rather than Gash...) Not sure about it yet.There are 11 other 'new' ones for me to try. New to me, anyways. Plus, one that I've only seen the anime for called Tegami Bachi or Letter Bee. It's supposed to be very different. Like some characters that were allies, are villains in the manga. I'll give it a shot. Another one's extremely popular, especially after the anime version became so popular, called Tokyo Ghoul. I didn't like the first episode of the anime, but I'll try the manga. The idea is interesting, just seemed 'off' in the anime version. I might start another one for Fridays, tomorrow. Especially since I finished Variante.