"Together we shall teach the world to frolic like a llama."

Please donate!

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:38:25 GMT

Hi, everyone,

As some of you know, Corpus Christi MDA's annual Stride and Ride Walk is coming up February 21st. The Muscular Dystrophy Association helps over a million Americans of all ages suffering from over forty neuromuscular diseases, including ALS and Duchenne, that affect not only the muscles, but the entire body system as the disease manifests. MDA is the world's largest non-governmental sponsor of research; their research for causes and effective treatments has led to the sponsorship of 400 research projects annually as well as clinical trials, research grants, and the ground-breaking identification of some molecules. MDA also provides support and treatment to its clients with clinics, equipment, support groups, and summer camps for its younger clients.

I know finances are a topic of concern for just about everyone right now. But donations to MDA are tax-deductible, and unlike many other organizations, 78.4% of every dollar donated goes directly to research, services, and education while the rest goes to fundraising and administration. So it's money well spent! I would like to raise enough money for one minute of research: $85. It's easy to donate on
my secure Stride & Ride homepage: https://www.joinmda.org/corpus09strideride/torikkins

If you donate even just five or ten dollars, it would be fantastic! Thank you so much!

Prop 8 - the Musical, starring Jack Black, Allison Jenney, & NPH

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:15:49 GMT

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

"that's why they invented dueling."

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:42:33 GMT

Wow. It's been a really long time since I've updated this. The last time I updated this was when I first heard Obama was coming to speak in February before Texas's March Democratic primary. It's been five months since I've pressed the "post to illama" button. I don't really have a good reason for not updating; in fact, I update my IJ all the time, since most people I know have meandered over there with their personal journals. Yet here sits my el-jay, alone and neglected like the latest season of Grey's Anatomy.

I won't bore anyone with the big, long update of just what I've been up to for the past five months, because chances are they you already know it and therefore also know it's not exactly a saga of scandal and excitement.I'll just do a quick, grammatically painful over of the highlights to get it over and done with: became an aunt (His name's Carter, my sister's fostering him with hopes of adoption, he was born 29 February 2008 and placed with us five days later, he was also returned to his bio mom for six very painful weeks but is back with us again, and he likes people to stick their tongue out at him), changed my major to Criminal Justice (Mostly because I don't want to write papers about Shakespeare for another two years, and the reason I became an English major was so I could write fiction crime novels; CJ seems more practical for that, and has the added bonus of providing a fallback pathway if writing doesn't work out that doesn't involve teaching), also switched going to school completely online (so now I don't have to bother with buses, carpooling, or any of that crap, woo), planned to go to PSU online in the fall but postponed it to the Spring Semester, and had my cellphone nearly completely crap out with no hopes of being useful again.

But more importantly, in recent events, amphetamine_47 has gotten me hooked on Sports Night in a bad, bad way. We've gone through the first season in three nights, and there's only one more season to go before Aaron Sorkin's witty sports news sayings are over. Additionally, she also has me watching In Plain Sight, yet I have not seen the sexy Marshall-getting-shot episode because I fail at watching episodes online. In more TV news, Psych is new Friday, which warms my heart in ways you cannot imagine.

One of these days, I am going to write about my strange fetish for seeing men I love getting shot and/or injured in a hot, manly fashion. amphetamine_47, meggiekw, you know what I'm talking about. ;D

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:45:48 GMT

Deal Has Been Reached to End Writers' Strike!!!

This is long, but it's a good cause so I'm not cutting. MDA STRIDE & RIDE WALK 2008!

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:58:45 GMT

Okay, the MDA Stride and Ride… What are you talking about?:
MDA stands for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (http://www.mdausa.org/) and it helps clients suffering from neuromuscular diseases and other diseases that affect the nervous system in several ways. You probably have heard of its best-known method, the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, which, as you might have guessed, annually takes place on Labor Day. However, MDA also raises funds to help support patients and their families emotionally and physically in many other ways, like the MDA Stride and Ride. They refund research to help aid and hopefully even find a cure. The awesome part is that all the money raised stays right here to help clients in this area.

Neuromuscular diseases? What are those?
Well, I’ll skip the big scientific explanation, but I will copy and paste from Wikipedia: Neuromuscular disease refers to a group of genetic, hereditary muscle diseases that cause progressive muscle weakness. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.” One of the crazy parts about these diseases is that it can strike almost anyone at any time. Some are genetic and some are not. Some have symptoms that show up at birth or in infancy while others don’t strike until the individual is in their forties. Most of these are painful, however, and guarantee an eventual loss of physical freedom.’

These are some of the diseases MDA targets: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker's muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, Myotonic dystrophy, Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, Distal muscular dystrophy, Congenital muscular dystrophy, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Infantile spinal muscular atrophy, Juvenile, Intermediate, and Adult spinal muscular atrophy, Spinal bulbar muscular atrophy, Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Inclusion body myositis, Myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, Congenital myasthenic syndrome, Hyperthyroid myopathy, Hypothyroid myopathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Friedreich's ataxia, Dejerine-Sottas disease, Myotonia congenita (both Thomsen's and Becker's Disease), Paramyotonia congenita, Central core disease, Nemaline myopathy, Myotubular myopathy (Centronuclear myopathy), Periodic paralysis (both Hypokalemic and Hyperkalemic), Mitochondrial myopathy, a mitochondrial disease, muscle diseases due to deficiencies in carnitine, and the following enzymes: Phosphorylase, Acid Maltase (Pompe's disease), Phosphofructokinase, Debrancher enzyme (also known as Amylo-1,6-glucosidase); a glycogen storage disease also known as Forbes disease, Carnitine palmityl transferase, Phosphoglycerate kinase, Phosphoglycerate mutase, Lactate dehydrogenase, and Myoadenylate deaminase.

So, what does this Stride and Ride do & when/where is it?
Basically, it’s a short walk (or ride for those in wheelchairs, hence the name) to raise funds for MDA.

The South Texas one will be on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at Padre Staples Mall. And kids are welcome if you fall in that category.

Okay, I get the whole charity thing. Now what’s up with the whole Blue Monkeys thing?
Amanda Stephans named our team. Enough said. Our team is one of the few unique teams because it’s not a team of co-workers, gym members, or anyone who has some form of official relationship. Basically, it’s a bunch of friends and family who believe in generosity (aw), charity (aw), and not getting our asses kicked my karma. Hurrah! Last year our team was able to send about 3 kids to camp and buy a couple of pairs of leg braces with the money raised. If you would like to help MDA, but are unable to walk on the day, talk to Megan, Amber, or me about donating to our team or being a ghost walker. There will be plenty of mascots and entertainment and it's a short walk to encourage mobility for everyone. Plus, sometimes there’s free food.

Why should I be a Monkey?
For this, the top reasons to become a Monkey!
1. Our name is the Blue Monkeys Stride Back for our third year. That’s right, we’ve named our team after a Star Wars sequel. We’re that cool.
2. Because we’re just so random. We’re not a church group, a work group, a gym-group, or anything like that. We’re not affiliated with anyone and we have the coolest name, seriously.
3. We make t-shirts. Wonderful t-shirts that will have people giving you odd looks whenever they read the text.
4. So Karma doesn’t kick your ass.
5. No, seriously, Karma will get your lazy, selfish ass.
6. You can get a free t-shirt and other stuff if you raise enough money.
7. Because what else happens in February? Are you going to do some mad President’s Day partying? I don’t think so! (Valentine’s Day doesn’t count, by the way, since you get laid on V-Day.)
8. Because you probably should walk around the mall once or twice to burn off that Valentine’s Day candy. You might as well do something useful why you’re at it.
9. Because it’s really funny to see the mall walkers trying to compete with you.
10. Because altruism makes you happy. Seriously.

Tori, your arguments are so persuasive and wonderful. But I: don’t have the time/don’t have the money/have a cramp/was banned by the Padre Staples Mall/hate gatherings/need to wash my hair that day
Then at least donate money to my page, bitch: https://www.mdaevent.org/ParticipantInfo.aspx?j=c1bd9aef-b4f8-48db-958b-6b259336cc4c

h&k’s!
xox -TORI!

Happy 2008!

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:42:33 GMT

Some people celebrate the New Year by getting blotto drunk, having teh sex with hot, hot people, or doing something fancy and glamorous.

Meg, Amanda, Amber, Mom (for most of the night), and I, however, celebrated it by watching all the Die Hard movies. And let me tell you, fireworks going off when there are building explosions on TV is a little disturbing.

Yippie-kay-yay, motherfucker!

o, hai, turkeys.

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:11:23 GMT

moar funny pictures

And after that happy rendition of lolz cats, I'm going to go watch Jaws and Criminal Minds, because of the many things I'm thankful for, "not being killed by a giant shark" and "not being tortured by a [insert term of psychological adjective of choice] serial killer" definitely make the top five.

"Gravity stay the hell away me & gravity has taken better men than me."

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:51:55 GMT

I said this three thousand times during October, and I'll probably say it twice this much this November, but: holy crap, it's November, wtf? Thanksgiving's, like, next week!

Again, holy crap & wtf!

But this post has other purpose than just an outlet for Tourette's, really. If you'd like a shiny Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Winter-holiday-of-you-choice card, comment here with your address & I'll send you (probably). Even if you're pretty sure I have your address, send it anyway. Well, everyone except Kat, because I just sent her something a couple of weeks ago, so I know I have her address & exactly where I put the paper. But everyone else, go ahead & do it, because I'm blonde like that.

All comments are screened, of course.

"Karma is a funny thing."

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:21:01 GMT

#1! THIS is my favorite new thing in the world and may be becoming an addiction very rapidly just as windexneenja predicted. But really, how awesome is it? You get to learn obscure words, test your own vocabulary (I got to level 48 but then I had to go & actually do some stuff), and help people: for every word you define correctly, they donate 10 grains of rice. So, basically, you can donate three bowls of food in about ten minutes.

#2: Look at the icon & you can probably guess my second point. If you just tuned in, my favorite explanation so far is Ed Bernero's (Of Criminal Minds).

#3: Fun + not being a douche FTW!

"This is a love song in my own way."

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:04:59 GMT

Mm, yeah, we'll see how far I actually get this year considering I really haven't done character profiles or an outline (per the usual).

PS. Happy Halloween! I will be passing out UNHEALTHY CANDY of OBESITY on this DEMONIC DAY, kthxbye.

"The stars that pierce the sky"

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 05:34:50 GMT

I got a v-gift kitty today from someone anonymous. I felt very special! I don't think I've ever gotten a v-gift before and this one looks a little like my Little Boy Cat. So, thank you, whoever sent this. I rarely come to my el-jay anymore and this was delightful.

If you would like a drabble of some sorts as a lame thank you, post three little prompt-like things, and I will come up with something for you. ♥

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:31:47 GMT

With the latest advances in treatment, doctors have discovered that they can successfully neutralise the HIV virus. The so-called ‘combination therapy’ prevents the HIV virus from mutating and spreading, allowing patients to rebuild their immune system to the same levels as the rest of the population. To date, it represents the most significant treatment for patients suffering from HIV. ScienceDaily (Oct. 21, 2007)

How awesome is that? I haven't updated here in seven weeks, but that's totally worth breaking the silence.

"I’m always late for lunch, learning dirty little lessons from you"

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:50:31 GMT

Good luck to everyone who has their first day of class today, people!

Plus, good luck to those whose classes have already started or start later, too. My love is not elite. ♥

I just wish Del Mar's parking wasn't such a clusterfuck. Or that they would actually stop being douches & get everything straightened up for me, kthxbye.

"love is like a bomb, baby, c'mon get it on"

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 04:55:01 GMT

I haven't been online much at all lately (save for salivating over Lush products, finishing up my last summer online class, and reading massive amounts of Sirius/Remus fan fic), but something very exciting yet complicated is afoot. I won't reveal more, because I literally cannot put everything that's happened into words without a ton of confusing, messed-up background that's probably more complicated than a lot of soap opera plots, including the telenovelas and Passions. Plus, I don't want to jinx, unjinx, or re-jinx anything. It is very oddly exciting, though, and is taking most of my brain power at the moment. Maybe I'll post more later?

No doubt you're riveted.

But, speaking of drama, I figured that I'd follow the cue of many of my flisters and throw out my other journal links, because, you know, not everyone loves drama llamas! (Everyone does love the porn, however. At least, everyone on my el-jay does.) I'm keeping my el-jay for now, but I've already backed it up. On Greatestjournal, I am oscillatoria @GJ; also, on Insanejournal, I am oscillatoria @IJ. I don't know about IJ just yet, but I've always liked GJ. I'll probably also join Scribb Lit when it opens, but I think I'll come up with a different username instead of just being lazy and reusing the same one. So, if you're on any of those journals, hollah with your username or just add me on & I'll hit you back. Or, you know, break my heart and ignore me. I'll learn to live with the pain. ;D

"No. I'm never doing anything blindly with you again. I learned that at the Mexican border. Twice"

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 06:33:52 GMT

Friday night is the Season Premiere of Psych on USA. If you've never watched it before, you should. It is awesome, wonderful, hilarious, and fun -- I cannot stress that enough. Plus, part of the beauty of it is that you can start watching anytime & basically be able to pick up the concept without much of a problem. But, because I am cool, I will do a little summary/concept thing for you.

Shawn Spencer (James Roday - pictured left) has "heightened observation skills" (really, they're downright eerily smart & sharp) that were drilled into him at an early age by his somewhat control-freak father, Henry. But, much to his dad's dismay, Shawn never became a cop like his dad hoped & trained him to be. Instead, he drifts from job to job joyfully, making having fun his priority. But he can't exactly turn his skills off; after calling the police tip line so many times with clues to solve various crimes that he just picks up from watching news coverage, the police become suspicious of Shawn, thinking he may be involved himself. They're about to try to arrest him when Shawn comes up with an explanation beyond being smarter than the police -- that he's psychic. Wary, the authorities warn him that if they discover his "powers" are fake, they'll arrest him and give him a case to consult on to prove that he's real. So, Shawn teams up with his best friend (Dule Hill, pictured right on the pic link) and they start solving crimes by actually solving them on their own & then pretending to do the whole psychic bit later on in front of the cops. They're so successful that they're hired full-time & start their own "psychic detective agency," Pysch. It's hilarious, non-gory, non-complicated, and more so, hilarious. Everyone has great chemistry on the show (not even necessarily meaning the sexual sense), and it's just really amusing. I know I've said that about a dozen times now, but it's entirely true.

Not convinced? The Why You Should Watch "Psych" (dude, sweet!) Picspam". But, seriously, you should watch it.

I know no easter or bunny songs.

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 08:18:19 GMT

Article

And you know, I've read that article before, and didn't realize that the owner's name is Hans Wagner. Maybe he's my long-lost, bunny-raising second cousin. I should totally fly to Germany to see what's up.

On an unrelated note, there's ICE in Austin right now. It sleeted and there was ICE on the roof of our car. IN APRIL. How odd, especially considering it was 90 on Monday. And school hates me & vice versa.

"the classy girl from Flushing: the nanny named Fran"

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 04:03:33 GMT

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don't speak often or ever) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE-UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me.

It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.

When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and see what your friends come up with.

WWJD, rly?

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 05:30:55 GMT

I hardly ever do these, but...

GIP!

Like I told sariandra, this makes me giggle uncontrollably every time I see it.

"Spit peanuts only at those you hate, or those you love."

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 23:39:26 GMT

If you role-play, do me a favor and take this survey from my friend. It takes maybe five or ten minutes, tops.

Role-playing survey.

Just be sure to take it on IE, not Firefox.

"my darling, I can’t get enough of your love, babe"

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:41:46 GMT

Get your own valentinr

"oh the weather outside is frightful"

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 13:32:57 GMT

wtf, it's 34 F outside with a chance of rain & school ISN'T cancelled?

Really, they expect us to go out in that?

This is Corpus! We're tropical people!