Ephedrine...Now Available at Small Town Gas Stations

So while getting gas at the local Murphy's gas station, I noticed a sign for Ephedrine being sold by the box for $12.99. Now I was unaware that Ephedrine was still legal in the U.S. I remember the whole big ta-do about how bad it is for you as a diet supplement. Once I got home I immediately Googled Ephedrine and read all about it on the most trustworthy of Online Encyclopedias...that's right...Wikipedia. As Michael Scott said, "Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject, so you know you are getting the best possible information." Anyway, Wikipedia said that Ephedrine has never been illegal in the US and that it is regulated and that "purchasing is currently limited and monitored, with specifics varying from state to state." Obviously not Missouri because it's being sold at gas stations with the advertisement taped to the gas pump, and I don't mean the pump itself, but the hose. There were no warnings about adverse side effects or anything. Just a hot pink sign saying Ephedrine by the box - $12.99.

Maybe I should go try out some Ephedrine. It's basically just legalized speed, and I could probably lose some weight. On the other hand, I did read that one of the side effects could be pulmonary adema. I'm not really sure what that is, but I'm sure it's not good. I guess I'll just stick with getting back on my Wii Fit!

My Home is Now Wireless!!

I am so excited! My home is now completely wireless. I was a little worried about setting my Mac up to a wireless router. I had read some router reviews and read a lot of talk about having to find special links and downloads to get a router hooked up to a Mac. I went ahead and bought a Lyksys because all the reviews said they worked, but that I would have to go to their website to get it set up. I just followed the instructions on the installation CD and had no problems. Well, it was showing a signal, but not letting me on the interweb, but I restarted the computer and Viola! No problems.

I am currently updating my Wii now that I have it configured with my wireless. That is taking awhile. Now sure what the updates are, but I'm all for keeping technology updated as much as posssible. I am excited about using my Wii to watch YouTube videos and being able to download some Nintendo classics onto the Wii.

Well, I better go. I actually have company coming over and the oven is beeping at me that my pizza is ready!.

Small Town Takes a Hit as High Speed Internet Comes to Town

I am now writing this blog from my new high speed internet connection. I broke down and had Wild Blue satellite installed and the guys just left. I have to go buy a wireless router so that I can actually use the internet comfortably. Right now I am sitting on a stool with my laptop on the bookshelf because the cable is only 6 foot long. I know I have a longer one around here somewhere, but am not going to waste any more time looking for it.

I am so excited about this. In order to pay for the service without my pocket-book taking a hit, I am shutting off the dial up (obviously) and getting rid of my land line phone. Going all cellular will be a little bit of an inconvenience considering my cell signal is not that great, but I am tired of paying almost $40 a month for the 2 phone calls a week that I get on my land line. Well, that doesn't include the 2 a day I get from annoying businesses, but I don't answer those.

There are so many things that I have been missing because of stupid dial up. I can now take full advantage of the Netflix instant watch program (but only because they now have the Mac program up and running). Also, I can join the millions that watch YouTube. I have never really been able to do that before. I can easily download programs, music, movies and more.

Now I know that all of this is old hat to most people out there, but living in the middle of Smalltown, America makes surfing the web a hard thing to do. Not anymore! At least not for me.

Single at Christmas

So it is Christmas Eve Eve. I am sure there are many people out there who think that Christmas is a lonely time for us singles. Luckily for me, I have a large family that I love and get to spend time with during the Holidays. In fact, by Christmas evening, I will be glad to be at my house, By Myself! I love being around people, but only in small doses...and my family is a Large Dose.

I have two wonderful little nephews and a wonderful little niece. These take the place of any children I might have wanted of my own. Who am I kidding? I am not sure I EVER really wanted kids of my own. I am just too selfish with my own time to have kids. However, I love my niece and nephews. I love to spend time with them and buy them lots of stuff. As Elsie says, "You spoil me." That's right...and as an Aunt...that's my job!

So as I sit her blogging and having a night-cap (Smirnoff and Cranberry juice), I am anticipating the next two days of Holiday Cheer.

First it is off to town to get green onions for the dip I'm making (I was sooo... mad when I realized I had forgotten them) and then it's time to get ready for Christmas Eve with my dad's side of the family. This is the crazy side. Loud and Opinionated. We all are...except the "marry-ins" and you can spot them a mile away. They're usually sitting in a corner, quietly trying to get through the evening. Twenty people in the room and thirty conversations going. No one really listens to what the other person is saying because they're too worried about what they, themselves, are saying. Oh, and we're always right. Yep. That makes for very interesting debates...

After meeting up at Grandma's and having some snacks, it is off to the Candle Light Service. I will have to leave early in order to run the soundbooth during the service. I'm sure that'll be an experience in itself. I love Candle Light Service. It is so peaceful and helps start the Christmas Holiday off with the true spirit and reason for Christmas. Then it's back to G-ma's and time to not open presents. That's right. We don't do gifts. Too many of us I guess. Sometimes "Mrs. Santa" gives small gifts... we'll see.

After Christmas Eve with dad's side, it is time to go to Mom and Dad's to spend the night in preperation for Christmas Morning. This year all of us are spending the night there...this means my brother and his family are going to be there. I am so excited about this because this is the first year since he's been married with kids that they've been here for Christmas (now they live here, so...). I think I am actually slated to sleep in the same bed as my four-year-old niece. THAT will be an experience. All this means that we will wake up Christmas morning and spend the morning together. Breakfast and presents. I can't wait to see the look on those little kids' faces!

Then...it's off to my mom's family's Christmas. This is the "more normal" family. And there's not nearly as many of us. We're doing something a little different this year. For the first time we will not be exchanging presents, just doing stockings (all the women bring things to put in the stockings). Times are tough and the economy is bad... I'm not feeling it. I still have my job and gas is half what it was two months ago, so I'm good...but that's another story. Usually we get there before 9am and then have brunch before opening stockings, then gifts before a late lunch. This year we are getting there sometime before 10:30am and then stockings before lunch at noon. We're in a transitional year. Mom and I are hoping to soon have the main Christmas at her house. We have to wait for my Great Granmother (age 91) to be ready to give up cooking Christmas dinner. I think we should start softening her up this year...

I can't wait to see how people like the gifts I chose for them, especially the kids. Elsie wanted nothing more than a white kitten, "not a real kitten Aunt Amy, a stuffed kitten." Thank you Amazon. Levi's big gift from me is a new John Deere hat to replace the one that he has outgrown. John is too little to appreciate presents as much as the others, but I bought him some little toys he might like. Of course, I bought way more than just these. I couldn't help myself.

Well, I guess we'll see how it all goes down. There is always something unexpected that happens at Christmas.