The one hundred (episode one)

(1) My website is squaredonut.blogspot.com because my last name means square donut. I mean, you can buy a fasnacht. At least in Pennsylvania.

(2) Pennsylvania matters because I would sorta classify myself as Pennsylvania Dutch. Practically all my family settled there after moving from Germany.

(3) I have been told that fasnacht (or fastnacht) also means Shrove Tuesday...as in Fat Tuesday (part of Mardi Gras). You can celebrate it in Germany and other countries.

(4) As I was confirming #3, I found the following on the web. I have always wondered how square donuts and Mardi Gras were related and this website answers that question: "On Monday [before Fastnacht], dough was put out in straw baskets for raising, then cut in squares and deep-fried in fat, not baked. In the old days, [Fastnacht] was a chance for everyone to gorge on good doughnuts without reprise, for the lean days would now follow. The making of fasnachts helped use up fat and sugar prior to fasting."

(5) I have TMD - more popularly called TMJ - Temporo-Mandibular Joint Disorder. It means my jaw is misaligned, causing wear on the cartilage.

(6) Having TMJ can cause ear infections, and having an ear infection can increase the pain of TMJ. TMD also causes headaches and backaches, because of the nerves/glands/muscles around the neck area.

(7) I have worn 3 different kinds of retainers and gotten braces AND Invisalign in an attempt to "fix" or at least curb the pain caused by TMD. The jury's still out on the effectiveness of any of it. Muscle relaxers work really well to stop the pain for a while, though.

8) I have an ear infection (or at least extreme ear pressure) right now.

(9) I sit at a desk all day long, and I constantly correct my posture. Which helps ease the muscle tension in my shoulders...which started because of the TMD...which is worsened by the tension...you get the picture. It's an enormous cycle of pain.

(10) Another part of the cycle? Anyone will tell you that chronic pain has psychological consequences - heck, my mom (the psychiatrist) deals with LOTS of chronic pain patients. I think my TMJ and the pain related to it lead to my depression.

(11) Though the pain is worsening at the moment, I am depression-free.

(12) Why? Because God is good (all the time).

(13) I'm not sure that this is what the random one-hundred is supposed to be (but then again, it IS random, isn't it?), but I get tired of writing in narrative form.

Movin' on up

It's not quite official yet, but Bethany will soon be a homeowner!

Okay, that might be jumping the gun a little...I haven't even applied for a mortgage! But I will! I'm a little afraid of looking right now because I think it's wisest for me to wait a couple months (AT LEAST) to save up money and pay some bills before I buy. At the very earliest, I want a place by January (...so does that mean I start looking now to buy then, or start looking then???)

But it's so exciting! And scary at the same time. I will officially be a grown-up when I have a house note. It's like a check list:

• Out of college? Check.
• Full-time job? Check.
• Car note? Check.
• Health insurance? Check...in January.
• 401k? Check...also in January.
• HOUSE NOTE??? No check...yet.

I'm definitely getting a condo because I don't want to hassle with yard work. (I would seriously need yard guys, and I don't have enough money for that, too!) AND a lot of the maintenance will be taken care of for me. AND there's a good chance the major appliances will come with the property.

So here I am, praying to the Good Lord above, hoping to be approved and praying that I don't get swindled in the process. :o)

For those of you who are behind a step, I've been apartment-hunting for the past month. I never thought home-owning was an option, but the more I thought about it, the more logical it became. There's a lot of stuff about owning a home that I don't know about (like property taxes, etc.), but I definitely won't be able to afford a home after doling out money for rent for endless months. So why not start out by buying and investing in my future? (do I sound like a commercial yet?)

A friend of mine said a couple weeks ago: Invest in your home, not your car. Those of you who read my blog know that I want a different car badly. So when he said that, it was a total reproach to me. Instead of thinking about something that loses value so rapidly, why not put money into something that will actually increase in value by the time I sell it? Hmmm...

If you have any advice on buying a home, especially for a first-home buyer, please e-mail me! If you are reading this blog and don't have my e-mail address...how did you get here in the first place??? Leave me a comment and answer that question, why dontcha?

do NOT play this game!

One of my friends has this game on his blog, and I made the mistake of downloading it. It is VERY addictive.

Download it here:
1. Windows version
2. Mac version

My list

You know "the list" from Friends? The list of 5 celebrities that are "freebies"? Well, so I don't want to sleep with these guys, but I've been thinking about the 5 celebrities that I would most like to date...or marry :o)

#1 - Keith Urban. I have become obsessed with this guy. He is so handsome and he has an awesome voice. I've been listening to country radio stations, just hoping to hear his songs. And I don't usually like scruffy guys, but this guy is GORGEOUS.


As for others on my list...I've thought long and hard about this - mostly on the way to and from work. I'm trying not to pick anyone just because of their character in a movie or on a show, but it's hard.

If I pick someone because of their work, John Cusack is definitely up there. He is so great, and he makes me laugh. And High Fidelity is one of my favorite movies. Liev Schreiber is on this list as well. I saw him first playing one of my favorite fictional characters (in The Sum of All Fears), and I've loved him in everything I've seen him in. I can't wait to see his directorial debut!

Matthew Perry. Or do I just want to say Chandler? I love that he dated a non-celebrity. And I wanted him to win on Celebrity Poker Showdown, but he couldn't stand up to Lauren Graham's bluffs. His movies are good, too, but I like Friends the best, of course.

People on my list because they're gorgeous and I love their voice: Keith Urban, of course. George Eads - I like him because of his work (CSI:), not just his voice - he has a wonderful Texas drawl. And he's clean-shaven.

What to do whilst in London

- Ride the London Eye! It was being serviced when I was there last time. I HAVE to ride this thing!
- Sit and ogle at Big Ben and the Tower Bridge. They are just spectacular.
- See a show! I would love, love, love to go to the Globe, but I'll see just about anything! Mamma Mia,Phantom, Les Miz, Woman in White, The Producers...:o)

And last (but definitely NOT least)...
- Find a wonderful guy who speaks with a British accent (yum!), is a God-lover (amen!), and has lots of money (so the distance isn't a problem)

Not too hard, don't you agree? :o)