Is it odd that I recreationally go to the pet store to look at puppies?  And when I say "recreationally," I mean I've been FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.  Meanwhile, I drag helpless victims in with me.  Today's was Dad.  And I swear to you, when I was done with him, the man had nearly stuffed an entire Australian Shepherd Dog puppy into his pocket.  Whole.

Needless to say, I think the time is looming when I should just break down and get a dog.

Speaking of breaking, Shawn has definitely been walking around on a BROKEN ANKLE for the past THREE WEEKS.  Poor baby.  He showed up at my house wielding crutches and sporting a knee-high black walking cast, and I couldn't help but say aloud, "You POOOOOOR thing!" in that high, rather nauseating voice we all know and love.  I don't think he appreciated that so much, but I'm all, "If I can't have something small and furry and lickably delicious to croon at, I damn well right am going to croon at you!"

Do you believe in ghosts?

I've always been raised to not believe in ghosts, but lately they've been a common theme in conversation.  A cartoon ghost even appeared on tv tonight, just hours after I had an extended conversation about them with a friend and received an email about them from someone else!  (Those kinds of coincidences are creepy. *shivers*)

It intrigues me that at least 3 people very close to me, and who I trust, have ghost stories from their own lives.  One friend was telling me hers, and it literally made all the hairs on my body stand on end.

I feel like I'm going through this really spacey, superstitious phase.  Or at least I'm interested in finding out more about things I've previously blown off as silly or a spoof.  

What do you think?  Are ghosts real?  Please feel free to share any ghost stories, the creepier, the better!  (I think I may have already asked for ghost stories around Halloween, but if you have more or want to repost, that's fine, too.)

Boo!  ; )

10 Weird Things About Me (stolen from Martha)

1. I not only played the normal kid instruments (flute and piano) but I also played the harp (and I kind of want to start it up again).  

2. I knit, even so well that people won't believe me when I say I made a particularly ornate cabled beanie cap--they think I bought it from American Eagle!  

3. I can wax poetic about the workings of the inner ear.

4. In most of my spare time, I enjoy reading books about alternative ideas like psychic phenomena, tarot, and Wicca.  

5. I obedience trained my dog, almost to obedience competition quality, at the age of 15.  I'm still very snooty about people who don't train their dogs well.  

6. My hair has been prone to change color at will.  Call me Tonks.  

7. I do visualization exercises before I go to bed and swear that they have cured me from illness.

8. A self-declared poetry nerd, I should really get around to writing again and try to submit some of my work.  I have one particularly haunting poem that perfectly reflects my religious state, and desperately desire to share it with the world through publishing.

9. I am an absolute language geek and wish I could learn every language in the world fluently.  I immensely enjoy tutoring struggling students in Spanish.

10. My life will be complete when I own the tiniest, sweetest Chihuahua that I can dress up in rhinestone-studded clothing and carry around in a purse.

So I am totally lusting after this woman's long, luscious, purpley-deep brown hair.  I saw her in Barnes & Noble wearing a rich purple cardigan with a cream lace cami, and for one swift moment I wanted to be her.

It is nights like this where going blonde again is totally NOT an option.  At least not yet.  I want to be a luscious, purpley-brown minx.

It's odd and unexplainable, but lately I've had a near-ravenous craving for space.  From everybody.  It doesn't mean I love everybody any less, but being alone is bliss for me right now.  I fight the urge to not keep my phone turned off all day.  When people invite me to hang out, more often than not I'd rather stay in my room and read for leisure.  Usually I make myself go anyway, and end up having a pretty good time.

Like last night when Shawn's sisters and I went out to a favorite local bar to celebrate B's birthday.  I ended up having a really fun time with them, and felt so included by his sisters.  It was great.  We met up early at T's house to get ready, and everyone cooed over each other's clothes and makeup and hair, and it was such serious bonding time that I didn't have the heart to tell them that I'm usually not that girly.  A perfect example of not being all that girly is when T came over beforehand to help me pick out an outfit, and I decided on one, and she said, "Well, don't you want to bring a couple more to my house in case you change your mind?"  And I'm all, oh yeah, most girls bring multiple changes of clothes on a regular if not daily basis.  But I pride myself on my ability to make up my mind (a feat near-impossible for a woman), if only about my evening attire.   

I think I'm starting to love them.  : )