Apparently my co-workers think I’m poor, as they’re always trying to buy me lunch. Though I guess technically I am, I’m not -that- poor. I think they get this impression from me never eating lunch and wearing ratty clothes to work.

It more has to do with the order of importance I have for things to spend money one. Which my friend Paul makes fun of me for because food tends to be on the very bottom of that list.

So what do I consider the most important monetary things in my life?

1. Dad - Always #1 priority. If my sister wasn’t in as stable an environment as she is, she would be up here too. I always make sure my dad has the proper medications and money he needs for whatever he wants.

2. Bills - All the usual bills need to be taken care of to keep my credit up, make sure we have everything we need, insurances are paid, 401k’s, etc.

3. Vehicles - Gotta have a way to get to work so I can pay the bills.

4. Food

5. Personal Items - Clothes, make-up etc.

So yes, apparently food and clothes are on the bottom of my list. I try to scrimp as much as I can and live below my means, but medical issues with my father do pop up now and again and I just can’t save as much as I’d like.

For those of you that use Wordpress, the Blog Joint has compiled a list of the top 20 Wordpress Plugins, some of which I’ve never even heard of (and plan to implement). Definitely worth checking out.

I briefly caught the discussion regarding animal sacrifices on the ADF Discuss list. I don’t really like posting my opinions/thoughts on the ADF lists because opinions are like assholes, and everyone’s got one. I suspect a lot of my views would get flamed, so I say fuggit

Anyway, sacrifices.

ADF as a whole should definitely not regular any sort of sacrificing. Holy hell that would just open up some draahma. Do I think they are bad? No.

Every animal my father and I have ever hunted or killed from our own domestic stock has technically been a “sacrifice.” There’s always a prayer, however brief it may be, said after the sacrifice of an animal, thanking the spirit for providing us with food for the winter. It’s common practice, and I think it gets a bad rap because people think of sacrificing babies and drinking blood and other such nonsense.

I mean just the reaction of some of my neighbors and people on my friends list is enough to show me that even harvesting your own herds can cause problems. Sometimes I even feel -ashamed- for having to hunt deer or kill rabbits/turkey’s/chickens because people look at it in such a negative light. It can be very troubling. But it’s just part of who I am, how I grew up.

Besides, it’s a lot better than what goes on in the mass-produced farm factories, which is what some of these same people (my neighbors especially) eat on a regular basis. Maybe people just like to be hidden from that reality though? Maybe that’s why it’s so frowned upon?

I think I might have this be a topic for next weeks Witches Weekly.

So while eating a bowl of Life cereal this morning, I decided I would see what’s on TV. I don’t watch much TV except for CSI, but I catch westerns every now and then when my dad watches them.

I turn on the tv, and it’s set on Spike (no doubt from watching CSI last night), which apparently has the Jimmy Swagger ministries around 6am or so. I watched enough to hear them call yoga demonic (due to the state of mind it puts you in) and attempt to sell a new bible for $85 (normally $150), and talk down the “easier to read” versions of the bible as being wrong, and decided I had enough of that.

Switching channels I came across Pastor Vernon’s “Getting the Word Out,” which was infinitely more amusing with the hooping and hollaring and dancing around. I never realized churches like these still existed, you figured back in the 40’s or something in Alabama, but in central Ohio? Incidentally, I’d love to go to one of these churches once.

Finally I was rescued by classic Tom and Jerry based in Greece wearing togas with statues of the Gods and greek architecture, and all was well with the world.

I messed with another recording tonight. I haven’t played since that block party earlier this month so my fingers are sore and it may sound crappy. Myspace his heinously slow so I’m just placing it on my journal for now.

Removed the screen names to prevent easy searches:

Emily (3:45:28 PM): is this crystal?
Crys (3:46:22 PM): Who is this?
Emily (3:46:44 PM): this is emily… the girl that is fascinated with your music! haha
Crys (3:46:52 PM): oh hey
Emily (3:47:14 PM): Yeah this is me
Emily (3:47:29 PM): wow
Emily (3:47:30 PM): haha
Emily (3:47:38 PM): i feel like im talking to bob dylan or somebody
Emily (3:47:45 PM): somebody ive like always wanted to meet

Well.

I drove all the way out to Taneytown to Crouse Ford to do this automotive checkup thing. My appointment was 8am so I got there a little early. While waiting, I saw people inside so I decided to call up and get some information, since I forgot to this weekend. Mostly on whether this was covered under warranty like I was lead to believe, how long it would take since I needed to figure out what I was going to do about work, etc.

Come to find out maintenance service is -not- covered by warranty (I’m going to double check), and what they would recommend would run me about $200.

$200 for someone else to work on my car? Iiiii don’t think so. I can do most of it myself, though I’ve no clue where the fuel filter is on these new vehicles, or anything with fuel injection, really. But the neighbor that is doing some work on my bronco for me -does- know, so I’d rather pay him than a dealership.

Overall a rather disappointing waste of time and gas this morning. However, since work was expecting me late anyway this morning, I took a scenic route to work through the country. I thought I got lost but I was right on track, and New Windsor/Union Bridge has some -beautiful- farm scenery. I wish I had my camera.

I ran across this very simple, quick italian dessert, on the food network that I wanted to share. I haven’t tried it yet, but dayum.

1 container of ricotta cheese
sweet cocoa powder
honey
fresh raspberries
biscotti cookies

Put about half the container of ricotta cheese ina bowl, a nice thick layer on the bottom. Sprinkle some of the sweet cocoa powder on top, not to coat the cheese, but to give it some nice sweetness. Toss on several fresh raspberries and drizzle with honey. Use a biscotti cookie as a spoon to eat and dip into the mix.