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3 years ago
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
It All Ends...
Harry Potter…..
I have read all the books….
Now I have seen all the movies….
Thank you to JK Rowling’s imagination for the story of the Boy Who Lived!
One very interesting thing is that even though the theatre was full, no one talked during the movie – we all held our breath, laughed and cried as a collective unit.
The acting was superb and the emotion conveyed without speaking was absolutely intense - especially Professor McGonagall!!
They did justice to the book and it was a very good ending to the franchise!
Go see it folks, it is definitely worth it!
I have read all the books….
Now I have seen all the movies….
Thank you to JK Rowling’s imagination for the story of the Boy Who Lived!
One very interesting thing is that even though the theatre was full, no one talked during the movie – we all held our breath, laughed and cried as a collective unit.
The acting was superb and the emotion conveyed without speaking was absolutely intense - especially Professor McGonagall!!
They did justice to the book and it was a very good ending to the franchise!
Go see it folks, it is definitely worth it!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Whirling….
As I had said, I had a classic weekend planned – it did not disappoint!
I saw a whole series of houses that are a home – not just a house. You walk in and instantly feel comfortable – that is what I want. And one in particular was a complete Cinderella transformation from just a few years ago – completely jaw dropping makeover! (a obviously a whole lotta work and a master shower that is just droolworthy!!)
I had poutine! (French fries, fresh cheese curds and brown gravy) Will have to withdraw all my disco fries jokes for a while….that stuff was super yummy! I can understand how it fuels the loggers up in Canada. Random side note about that breakfast – it was interesting to see that in every couple at the table, there was an introvert and an extrovert – complete balance in personalities.
I got to meet the happiest baby on the planet – seriously, I am a stranger and you are half naked, but I get the full smile?? Way to win me over, kiddo!
The BBQ was definitely a “Band Weenies Unite!” moment – majority of attendees were people from the Pride of the Eastern Seaboard. Looking around, you saw who is part of the inner circle of a very public personality – was nice to be included in the mix!
One of our friends observed that we have gone from the “Hey, hold my beer” phase to the “Hey, hold my baby” phase – no doubt involved, just handing off their offspring to the closest person. Some of the more notorious partiers (myself included) are completely comfortable holding a baby. Who would have thought that we could all become grown ups?
Another one of my pledge brothers rounded the corner and she was followed by minions!! They were her three kids, following her perfectly in a row, each carrying their own stuff - holey moley, have they grown!! They refer to me as “The nice Mommy with M & M’s”. (the logic cracks me up – I bring treats and am a female adult, therefore I must be a Mommy).
I saw a whole series of houses that are a home – not just a house. You walk in and instantly feel comfortable – that is what I want. And one in particular was a complete Cinderella transformation from just a few years ago – completely jaw dropping makeover! (a obviously a whole lotta work and a master shower that is just droolworthy!!)
I had poutine! (French fries, fresh cheese curds and brown gravy) Will have to withdraw all my disco fries jokes for a while….that stuff was super yummy! I can understand how it fuels the loggers up in Canada. Random side note about that breakfast – it was interesting to see that in every couple at the table, there was an introvert and an extrovert – complete balance in personalities.
I got to meet the happiest baby on the planet – seriously, I am a stranger and you are half naked, but I get the full smile?? Way to win me over, kiddo!
The BBQ was definitely a “Band Weenies Unite!” moment – majority of attendees were people from the Pride of the Eastern Seaboard. Looking around, you saw who is part of the inner circle of a very public personality – was nice to be included in the mix!
One of our friends observed that we have gone from the “Hey, hold my beer” phase to the “Hey, hold my baby” phase – no doubt involved, just handing off their offspring to the closest person. Some of the more notorious partiers (myself included) are completely comfortable holding a baby. Who would have thought that we could all become grown ups?
Another one of my pledge brothers rounded the corner and she was followed by minions!! They were her three kids, following her perfectly in a row, each carrying their own stuff - holey moley, have they grown!! They refer to me as “The nice Mommy with M & M’s”. (the logic cracks me up – I bring treats and am a female adult, therefore I must be a Mommy).
I also had dinner with another of the "Under 3 Feet Tall But Not A Midget" people in my life - his response when he found out that I was coming over was "YAY!"....because I like to play. His first game of choice completely suprised me - we played Monopoly!
The main thought that I had driving home was that I needed to be around the new starting parts of life more since I have been mired down in the old and dying part.
That whole balance thing helps…
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Fourth!
The Fourth....Not to be confused with a fifth....
There was camping, there was the Harry Potter Clue game, there was a bonfire with bottle rockets, there was camping in the rain, there was me making breakfast, there was tubing that almost drowned someone!
It was definitely an adventure but instead of rehashing it all, I will leave you with this nifty sketch by TGP!
There was camping, there was the Harry Potter Clue game, there was a bonfire with bottle rockets, there was camping in the rain, there was me making breakfast, there was tubing that almost drowned someone!
It was definitely an adventure but instead of rehashing it all, I will leave you with this nifty sketch by TGP!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Ayy to the Tee...
After barely getting any sleep after Jani, I was awake and hiking on the AT! Ok, there’s a time warp in that statement…..I woke up, had coffee, ate some sandwiches, put a happy face sticker in the middle of TGP’s tattoo and developed what some have described as a Beaker-esque tourrettes-like sonar WHEEEIIIP!! that I unconsciously repeated all day….
Anyway, I had my first (ever!) hike on the Appalachian Trail – the motley crew included 4 mountain bikers, 2 pairs of silly toes shoes, 5 Camelbaks, 2 beers, 4 dogs and me!
It was very cool to see the interaction between TGP and the guys that I have heard a bunch of stories about – in essence they are like very cool big brothers to him. Solid friendships even though rarely get to see each other.
Somehow I ended up leading the pack up the mountain….yup, I set the pace without even realizing it. I just wanted to get the incline part over with!
My motivation was keeping up with the dogs – in my head, there was a soundtrack playing for each dog but it all morphed into the William Tell Overture. Seriously, the image of a doxie and it’s little legs leading the way deserves music! At one point, I heard crashing noises in the woods, and the biggest dog’s owner said “Watch out, here comes the Dum Dum Express!” Sure enough, about ten seconds later, all four dogs come barreling past us in a straight line, headed for the next spot to check out. It was hilarious to see one huge dog go tearing by being chased by three doxies!
It was short, but a very nice intro to the AT.
And just because it needs to be said “HI WENDY LADY!!”
Anyway, I had my first (ever!) hike on the Appalachian Trail – the motley crew included 4 mountain bikers, 2 pairs of silly toes shoes, 5 Camelbaks, 2 beers, 4 dogs and me!
It was very cool to see the interaction between TGP and the guys that I have heard a bunch of stories about – in essence they are like very cool big brothers to him. Solid friendships even though rarely get to see each other.
Somehow I ended up leading the pack up the mountain….yup, I set the pace without even realizing it. I just wanted to get the incline part over with!
My motivation was keeping up with the dogs – in my head, there was a soundtrack playing for each dog but it all morphed into the William Tell Overture. Seriously, the image of a doxie and it’s little legs leading the way deserves music! At one point, I heard crashing noises in the woods, and the biggest dog’s owner said “Watch out, here comes the Dum Dum Express!” Sure enough, about ten seconds later, all four dogs come barreling past us in a straight line, headed for the next spot to check out. It was hilarious to see one huge dog go tearing by being chased by three doxies!
It was short, but a very nice intro to the AT.
And just because it needs to be said “HI WENDY LADY!!”
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The Nose Knows...
A NOSE of breeding and distinction sets Miss Louisa Belle apart from the pack.
The seven-year-old red bloodhound has such a superior sense of smell that she has been trained to detect tainted corks affecting wine.
Her owners, Michelle Edwards and Daniel Fischl, said when faced with a pile of corks, Belle meticulously selected those that had been tainted by putting them to the side with her snout.
"She just has to sniff a barrel of wine to know whether it is off," Mr Fischl said.
"Most wineries rely on the human nose but that is time-consuming, costly and nowhere near as reliable as Belle, whose nose is 2000 times more sensitive than ours."
The owners of Caulfield-based boutique wine label Linnaea buy fruit from the Napa Valley in California and Heathcote in Victoria and they, along with most overseas vineyards, prefer corks for their bottles. Instead of sniffing corks, they decided to train their dog, who was becoming destructive around the house.
Coming from a line of search-and-rescue dogs, Belle is particularly sensitive to smell and can even detect a tainted wine through the bottle.
"It was time to put her to work because that's what she loves and she was very keen to put her nose into everything," Ms Edwards said.
"After two weeks she could isolate the tainted cork within 30 seconds."
Cork taint is a term that applies to wine that has been contaminated either by the wood where it is stored or the cork in the top of the bottle.
It has an odour that resembles damp and makes the wine undrinkable.
Miss Louisa Belle can detect faulty corks before they are inserted in bottles as well as corks that have broken down when wine has been stored.
She can also detect mildew leaf on vines.
The seven-year-old red bloodhound has such a superior sense of smell that she has been trained to detect tainted corks affecting wine.
Her owners, Michelle Edwards and Daniel Fischl, said when faced with a pile of corks, Belle meticulously selected those that had been tainted by putting them to the side with her snout.
"She just has to sniff a barrel of wine to know whether it is off," Mr Fischl said.
"Most wineries rely on the human nose but that is time-consuming, costly and nowhere near as reliable as Belle, whose nose is 2000 times more sensitive than ours."
The owners of Caulfield-based boutique wine label Linnaea buy fruit from the Napa Valley in California and Heathcote in Victoria and they, along with most overseas vineyards, prefer corks for their bottles. Instead of sniffing corks, they decided to train their dog, who was becoming destructive around the house.
Coming from a line of search-and-rescue dogs, Belle is particularly sensitive to smell and can even detect a tainted wine through the bottle.
"It was time to put her to work because that's what she loves and she was very keen to put her nose into everything," Ms Edwards said.
"After two weeks she could isolate the tainted cork within 30 seconds."
Cork taint is a term that applies to wine that has been contaminated either by the wood where it is stored or the cork in the top of the bottle.
It has an odour that resembles damp and makes the wine undrinkable.
Miss Louisa Belle can detect faulty corks before they are inserted in bottles as well as corks that have broken down when wine has been stored.
She can also detect mildew leaf on vines.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Classic...
What looms ahead of me is a classic DizzyVizzy weekend…enthusiasm for all!!
Friday PM - Visit friends in their new house and sleepover
Saturday AM – Visit different friends and their one year old that I have not met yet
Saturday Afternoon & PM – Housewarming/Farewell Bach for my friend being deployed, also get to see a bunch of band weenies that I have not seen in quite some time
Sunday AM – Grandma Duty
Sunday Afternoon – Harry Potter with another friend that lives 2 miles away that I have not seen in about 6 months
Sunday PM - Zzzzzz.....
Friday PM - Visit friends in their new house and sleepover
Saturday AM – Visit different friends and their one year old that I have not met yet
Saturday Afternoon & PM – Housewarming/Farewell Bach for my friend being deployed, also get to see a bunch of band weenies that I have not seen in quite some time
Sunday AM – Grandma Duty
Sunday Afternoon – Harry Potter with another friend that lives 2 miles away that I have not seen in about 6 months
Sunday PM - Zzzzzz.....
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Jani-Day…
The solstice event had a new participant this year – TGP (rocking a fedora) braved the wilds of NJ to see what the heck the whole thing was about. Side note about the fedora – we had to pick it up from a friend that had borrowed it the night before and we appeared on his doorstep with some Jehovah’s Witness pamphlets asking him to pray with us – it got quite the laugh! (the JW’s had insisted on talking to us about the horrors occurring in the world even though it was blatantly obvious that we were getting in the car to leave)
We arrived at the event and even though I had tried to give TGP a primer on what to expect, the fact that you are greeted with beer and cheese had not been highly emphasized. So, right there we had the event started on a good note!
Noms and beverages were unpacked and then we watched my dad’s choir sing, a few dance groups dance and then it was time for the main act – a singer from Latvia who is named George (with two Z’s) Belt (real name ŽORŽS SIKSNA). We wandered around during his performance but were able to hear him wherever we walked. Of course we bumped into someone that I knew and then wandered about ten feet and again bumped into someone that I knew....this happened for the majority of the tour that I was trying to conduct.
Shortly afterwards, we were joined by my friend and her hubby. Even though they have been together five years, this was his first time at this event and unfortunately due to some very rude people in the past (his skin is a bit darker), he had some anxiety about being there. TGP knew more people at the event than I thought he did and he did not hesitate to jump into the fun at all! And in the process, he ended up serving as a guide on how to relax and enjoy the evening. (also helped that these two guys had hung out before.)
I am bummed that we missed the singing around the fire but it seemed like time sped up time ten once the formal performances ended. I got to dance, I got to enjoy spending time with my friends and family and mainly, I was ecstatic that TGP had a good time. Every time we went to leave, the band would start playing another great song!
Really great thing was seeing TGP helping my mom make about 300 tiny open faced sandwiches. Each sandwich is a work of art and you need a ton of patience to carefully place each little sliver of pepper and each sprig of dill. I will own up to the fact that the wacky looking sandwiches were the ones that I made! It gave me such a great feeling to see TGP and my M-O-M bantering together as they worked. I know that they butt heads at times, but this showed me that there is harmony to be had as well.
We arrived at the event and even though I had tried to give TGP a primer on what to expect, the fact that you are greeted with beer and cheese had not been highly emphasized. So, right there we had the event started on a good note!
Noms and beverages were unpacked and then we watched my dad’s choir sing, a few dance groups dance and then it was time for the main act – a singer from Latvia who is named George (with two Z’s) Belt (real name ŽORŽS SIKSNA). We wandered around during his performance but were able to hear him wherever we walked. Of course we bumped into someone that I knew and then wandered about ten feet and again bumped into someone that I knew....this happened for the majority of the tour that I was trying to conduct.
Shortly afterwards, we were joined by my friend and her hubby. Even though they have been together five years, this was his first time at this event and unfortunately due to some very rude people in the past (his skin is a bit darker), he had some anxiety about being there. TGP knew more people at the event than I thought he did and he did not hesitate to jump into the fun at all! And in the process, he ended up serving as a guide on how to relax and enjoy the evening. (also helped that these two guys had hung out before.)
I am bummed that we missed the singing around the fire but it seemed like time sped up time ten once the formal performances ended. I got to dance, I got to enjoy spending time with my friends and family and mainly, I was ecstatic that TGP had a good time. Every time we went to leave, the band would start playing another great song!
Really great thing was seeing TGP helping my mom make about 300 tiny open faced sandwiches. Each sandwich is a work of art and you need a ton of patience to carefully place each little sliver of pepper and each sprig of dill. I will own up to the fact that the wacky looking sandwiches were the ones that I made! It gave me such a great feeling to see TGP and my M-O-M bantering together as they worked. I know that they butt heads at times, but this showed me that there is harmony to be had as well.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
99....Not The Restaurant...
Now on to something light while I try to pull together some entries about the recent big outings!
I have seen this on a few blogs so I decided to give it a whirl – bolded the ones that I have done and added my commentary – enjoy!
1. Started your own blog – Ayup, you’re reading it!
2. Slept under the stars - Of course
3. Played in a band – Marching, jazz and concert
4. Visited Hawaii – I would like to! And then I can sing “Down among the sheltering palms, oh honey wait for me!”
5. Watched a meteor shower – Twice – once in Maine on a family vacation and sitting on a Florida beach at night watching a thunderstorm to the left of me and a meteor shower to the right of me.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity – the band needed new uniforms and I charged it to my alumni credit card so it was kinda like a double dip….come to think of it, I never did get my pillow made of the old uniform…
7. Been to Disney World – Oh hells yeah and I wanna go back!!
8. Climbed a mountain – Hunter Mountain is the big one that I remember as a young’un…..and there are a few others in recent history, like High Point in NJ
9. Held a praying mantis - Nope
10. Sang a solo – A few times, in Latin and Latvian
11. Bungee jumped – Nuh-uh….scared to do it.
12. Visited Paris – nope, not really high on my travel wish list.
13. Watched a lightning storm – Yup!
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch – I vote that scrapbooking counts as an art!
15. Adopted a child - No but I did entertain the idea of ransoming one to help pay my college tuiton
16. Had food poisoning – Ugh, yes.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty – No, but now that it is open again, I want to.
18. Grown your own vegetables – they grow in the yard of the house that I live in, does that count?
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France – Only in print and the Da Vinci Code…
20. Slept on an overnight train – Nope
21. Had a pillow fight – It was a legitimate contest during summer camp!
22. Hitch hiked – No, no and no
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill – mainly for job interviews
24. Built a snow fort – Somewhere along the line as a kid
25. Held a lamb – last summer, I was photographed holding the weird looking dog - lol
26. Gone skinny dipping - nope
27. Run a Marathon – No running unless chased by a man with a chainsaw….
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - Nope
29. Seen a total eclipse – OMG, I love the Twilight saga!! Oh wait…..total eclipse…whoops…I have seen that too.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset – Another great movie! Oh, not the Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy movies….of course I have seen both sunrises and sunsets.
31. Hit a home run - No
32. Been on a cruise – No, but it is also on the wish list! And I probably would come back having gained 30 pounds
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person – Yup, even crossed the bridge where I had to pay a quarter and declare that I was from the U.S. of A in order to get back in the country.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors – Not yet, on the travel list now that it is not full of Commies.
35. Seen an Amish community – summer camp as a teen was in Bethlehem, PA, so yes
36. Taught yourself a new language – I channeled my high school Spanish classes in order to communicate with the housekeeping staff years ago and now I am starting up French. (hmm, I should maybe put Paris higher up on the list if I learn the language…)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied – When I did, I did not realize it and spent it…
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - Nope
39. Gone rock climbing – No rock climbing per se but did a rock scramble during a hike last spring….and my trail name has something to do with rocks!
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - Nope
41. Sung karaoke – Oh yeah – many, many times….and I enjoy it!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - Nope
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant – Nope
44. Visited Africa – Nope
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight – I prefer the beach at night, no potential for sunburn!!
46. Been transported in an ambulance – Thankfully no
47. Had your portrait painted – I have a chalk drawing that was done in London….not really paint though
48. Gone deep sea fishing – No, the hooks involved in fishing scare me – you could lose an eye!!!
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris – Nope
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling – Nope, can’t hold my breath underwater without holding my nose so there is a chance for some major panic doing these two things
52. Kissed in the rain - Yup
53. Played in the mud - it's called Oozeball!!!
(I kept Chele76’s answer because it was my one time to play in the mud too!)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater – Twice in my life, I would like to go more!
55. Been in a movie – Does the UCMB documentary count? Figured as much – nope.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China – Nope.
57. Started a business – Ebay selling counts!
58. Taken a martial arts class – Brown belt in kajukenbo…I do miss it but the time commitment was ridiculous.
59. Visited Russia – Nope, too many Commies
60. Served at a soup kitchen - Nope
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies – Nope but I do love me some samoas!
62. Gone whale watching - Nope.
63. Got flowers for no reason – A few times and I always smile
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma – Blood, I am the universal donor.
65. Gone sky diving – No, I have toyed with the idea but I think that I would be screaming the first 200 feet
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - Nope
67. Bounced a check – Once in my early twenties
68. Flown in a helicopter - Nope
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy – Of course, my M-O-M has a few of mine too. (the clackey dog and wobbly apple, I believe)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial – 8th grade trip to DC!
71. Eaten Caviar - Yup
72. Pieced a quilt – Nope
73. Stood in Times Square – A whole lotta times
74. Toured the Everglades – Dem gators are big!!
75. Been fired from a job – Unfortunately but it all worked out for the best in the long run.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London - Yup.
77. Broken a bone – Thankfully no
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle – Once and I realized how much of a control freak I am.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person – Flew over it when my flight from Vegas was diverted due to storms in the Midwest
80. Published a book - Nope
81. Visited the Vatican – Nope
82. Bought a brand new car – Once - my Black ThunderCloud – a Ford that was made in Mexico
83. Walked in Jerusalem - Nope
84. Had your picture in the newspaper – Oh yeah and that is not counting the Daily Campus
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve – define kiss…..it was a smooch on the cheek from a friend’s friends who I had spent part of the evening trying to scare….does that count as a stranger?
86. Visited the White House – Only outside
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - Nope
88. Had chickenpox – Yup, shared it with my brother too, my dad had never had it so he evacuated and his mom came to help….and she got shingles as a result
89. Saved someone’s life – Physically no, but I have been told that me coming into their lives changed it profoundly.
90. Sat on a jury – 3 days a week for 9 weeks about 6 years ago, I was on a Grand Jury – learned that drug dealers always deal near a school, run from the cops, hit the cop when caught and give a false name….adding four more charges
91. Met someone famous – Back in my mall days we had a constant stream of celebrities coming in to do book signings and performances – the ones that stand out from an interaction standpoint are Dan Akroyd, Jim Belushi, James Earl Jones, BBMak, Rick Springfield, Sean Hannity, Faith Evans and Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons
92. Joined a book club – Nope, I have problems finding time to read and this would just cause me undue anxiety about finishing it on time
93. Got a tattoo – Yup and have ideas for the second one
94. Had a baby - Nope
95. Seen the Alamo in person - Nope
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - Nope
97. Been involved in a law suit – Does a class action suit count?
98. Owned a cell phone – Amazing how we freak out now if we leave the house without it!
99. Been stung by a bee – stepped on one as a kid – not pleasant
I have seen this on a few blogs so I decided to give it a whirl – bolded the ones that I have done and added my commentary – enjoy!
1. Started your own blog – Ayup, you’re reading it!
2. Slept under the stars - Of course
3. Played in a band – Marching, jazz and concert
4. Visited Hawaii – I would like to! And then I can sing “Down among the sheltering palms, oh honey wait for me!”
5. Watched a meteor shower – Twice – once in Maine on a family vacation and sitting on a Florida beach at night watching a thunderstorm to the left of me and a meteor shower to the right of me.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity – the band needed new uniforms and I charged it to my alumni credit card so it was kinda like a double dip….come to think of it, I never did get my pillow made of the old uniform…
7. Been to Disney World – Oh hells yeah and I wanna go back!!
8. Climbed a mountain – Hunter Mountain is the big one that I remember as a young’un…..and there are a few others in recent history, like High Point in NJ
9. Held a praying mantis - Nope
10. Sang a solo – A few times, in Latin and Latvian
11. Bungee jumped – Nuh-uh….scared to do it.
12. Visited Paris – nope, not really high on my travel wish list.
13. Watched a lightning storm – Yup!
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch – I vote that scrapbooking counts as an art!
15. Adopted a child - No but I did entertain the idea of ransoming one to help pay my college tuiton
16. Had food poisoning – Ugh, yes.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty – No, but now that it is open again, I want to.
18. Grown your own vegetables – they grow in the yard of the house that I live in, does that count?
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France – Only in print and the Da Vinci Code…
20. Slept on an overnight train – Nope
21. Had a pillow fight – It was a legitimate contest during summer camp!
22. Hitch hiked – No, no and no
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill – mainly for job interviews
24. Built a snow fort – Somewhere along the line as a kid
25. Held a lamb – last summer, I was photographed holding the weird looking dog - lol
26. Gone skinny dipping - nope
27. Run a Marathon – No running unless chased by a man with a chainsaw….
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - Nope
29. Seen a total eclipse – OMG, I love the Twilight saga!! Oh wait…..total eclipse…whoops…I have seen that too.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset – Another great movie! Oh, not the Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy movies….of course I have seen both sunrises and sunsets.
31. Hit a home run - No
32. Been on a cruise – No, but it is also on the wish list! And I probably would come back having gained 30 pounds
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person – Yup, even crossed the bridge where I had to pay a quarter and declare that I was from the U.S. of A in order to get back in the country.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors – Not yet, on the travel list now that it is not full of Commies.
35. Seen an Amish community – summer camp as a teen was in Bethlehem, PA, so yes
36. Taught yourself a new language – I channeled my high school Spanish classes in order to communicate with the housekeeping staff years ago and now I am starting up French. (hmm, I should maybe put Paris higher up on the list if I learn the language…)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied – When I did, I did not realize it and spent it…
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - Nope
39. Gone rock climbing – No rock climbing per se but did a rock scramble during a hike last spring….and my trail name has something to do with rocks!
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - Nope
41. Sung karaoke – Oh yeah – many, many times….and I enjoy it!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - Nope
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant – Nope
44. Visited Africa – Nope
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight – I prefer the beach at night, no potential for sunburn!!
46. Been transported in an ambulance – Thankfully no
47. Had your portrait painted – I have a chalk drawing that was done in London….not really paint though
48. Gone deep sea fishing – No, the hooks involved in fishing scare me – you could lose an eye!!!
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris – Nope
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling – Nope, can’t hold my breath underwater without holding my nose so there is a chance for some major panic doing these two things
52. Kissed in the rain - Yup
53. Played in the mud - it's called Oozeball!!!
(I kept Chele76’s answer because it was my one time to play in the mud too!)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater – Twice in my life, I would like to go more!
55. Been in a movie – Does the UCMB documentary count? Figured as much – nope.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China – Nope.
57. Started a business – Ebay selling counts!
58. Taken a martial arts class – Brown belt in kajukenbo…I do miss it but the time commitment was ridiculous.
59. Visited Russia – Nope, too many Commies
60. Served at a soup kitchen - Nope
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies – Nope but I do love me some samoas!
62. Gone whale watching - Nope.
63. Got flowers for no reason – A few times and I always smile
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma – Blood, I am the universal donor.
65. Gone sky diving – No, I have toyed with the idea but I think that I would be screaming the first 200 feet
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - Nope
67. Bounced a check – Once in my early twenties
68. Flown in a helicopter - Nope
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy – Of course, my M-O-M has a few of mine too. (the clackey dog and wobbly apple, I believe)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial – 8th grade trip to DC!
71. Eaten Caviar - Yup
72. Pieced a quilt – Nope
73. Stood in Times Square – A whole lotta times
74. Toured the Everglades – Dem gators are big!!
75. Been fired from a job – Unfortunately but it all worked out for the best in the long run.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London - Yup.
77. Broken a bone – Thankfully no
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle – Once and I realized how much of a control freak I am.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person – Flew over it when my flight from Vegas was diverted due to storms in the Midwest
80. Published a book - Nope
81. Visited the Vatican – Nope
82. Bought a brand new car – Once - my Black ThunderCloud – a Ford that was made in Mexico
83. Walked in Jerusalem - Nope
84. Had your picture in the newspaper – Oh yeah and that is not counting the Daily Campus
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve – define kiss…..it was a smooch on the cheek from a friend’s friends who I had spent part of the evening trying to scare….does that count as a stranger?
86. Visited the White House – Only outside
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - Nope
88. Had chickenpox – Yup, shared it with my brother too, my dad had never had it so he evacuated and his mom came to help….and she got shingles as a result
89. Saved someone’s life – Physically no, but I have been told that me coming into their lives changed it profoundly.
90. Sat on a jury – 3 days a week for 9 weeks about 6 years ago, I was on a Grand Jury – learned that drug dealers always deal near a school, run from the cops, hit the cop when caught and give a false name….adding four more charges
91. Met someone famous – Back in my mall days we had a constant stream of celebrities coming in to do book signings and performances – the ones that stand out from an interaction standpoint are Dan Akroyd, Jim Belushi, James Earl Jones, BBMak, Rick Springfield, Sean Hannity, Faith Evans and Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons
92. Joined a book club – Nope, I have problems finding time to read and this would just cause me undue anxiety about finishing it on time
93. Got a tattoo – Yup and have ideas for the second one
94. Had a baby - Nope
95. Seen the Alamo in person - Nope
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - Nope
97. Been involved in a law suit – Does a class action suit count?
98. Owned a cell phone – Amazing how we freak out now if we leave the house without it!
99. Been stung by a bee – stepped on one as a kid – not pleasant
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Footnote...
I think that since I hate conflict, I am doomed to be surrounded by it. And now that I look at it that way, I have a different mindset on how to deal with the ruckus around me!
For those that have not seen it, here is where the honey bagder reference came from…
Honey badger don't care...he don't give a shit...
For those that have not seen it, here is where the honey bagder reference came from…
Honey badger don't care...he don't give a shit...
But Two Choices...
I wish that I could channel the Honeybadger and just not give a s&*t….yeah, nocandosvillebabydoll, not in my nature….
It has been a whirlwind lately – of time slipping away, of emotional roller coaster-ness, of trying to find balance between work, play and obligations….heavy on the obligation side of things…
And in the midst of it, yelling “Why can’t we all just get along?!?!”
I thought about how I want to rant about people that should not be getting a new car, Iphones and pedicures when they have filed bankruptcy and lost their house. Then I realized that they are free to spend their money how they want – it does not affect my life….. I just wish that they would not complain about it….You created this mess – deal with it and shut up! If you are not going to change your behavior, you are going to have an even bigger mess on your hands, but that is your choice…..again, shut up!
Wait, I just did rant…moving on…
I came across a really great quote the other day “The choices are but two…the positive, the negative.”
It really gave me a kick – I can choose to go into the whirl of negative and continue it or I can choose the positive.
Admittedly, it is very hard to avoid the negative pull when things are out of balance – friends are mad at friends - feelings have been hurt - you are stuck in the middle for some of those situations – things that can’t be unsaid have been – text messages have been misinterpreted – passive aggressive comments have been made on FB – there seems to be conflict everywhere and a general air of pissiness abounds.
Coupled with a three hour mission of obligation that leaves you dripping in sweat..…helping install an air conditioner on one of the hottest and most humid days of the year…..with no foresight or plan on how to actually do this.….or the subsequent drip issue on an electric panel…...all the while thinking “I am in hell”…..only to get stuck in traffic three times on the way back due to paving…after you had found some momentary bliss in a Dunkin Donuts 99 cent bucket of iced tea…..all for a creature that will never realize how much crap has been done since they failed to plan for their “golden years”. When you want to scream, “Why didn’t you pay attention to all the suggestions that were given? How can you live your life so carelessly, assuming that someone will always be there to fix the mess you made? Why am I part of the crew that is bailing you out when you have been so nasty to us all your life??” (The biggest question is “How are you still alive when all you are is skin and bones?!?!?”)
Yeah….lots of negatives to focus on…..
But I choose to focus on the positive (after some time to withdraw and regroup) – I want this to all to work out for the best, I want everyone to get along, I want her to go quietly into the night (it’s time)…..I will always have optimism for a positive outcome because it is there, it exists, I know it does. Same with the good in every person in my life.
Question is, will the Universe comply and let it all shine through?
It has been a whirlwind lately – of time slipping away, of emotional roller coaster-ness, of trying to find balance between work, play and obligations….heavy on the obligation side of things…
And in the midst of it, yelling “Why can’t we all just get along?!?!”
I thought about how I want to rant about people that should not be getting a new car, Iphones and pedicures when they have filed bankruptcy and lost their house. Then I realized that they are free to spend their money how they want – it does not affect my life….. I just wish that they would not complain about it….You created this mess – deal with it and shut up! If you are not going to change your behavior, you are going to have an even bigger mess on your hands, but that is your choice…..again, shut up!
Wait, I just did rant…moving on…
I came across a really great quote the other day “The choices are but two…the positive, the negative.”
It really gave me a kick – I can choose to go into the whirl of negative and continue it or I can choose the positive.
Admittedly, it is very hard to avoid the negative pull when things are out of balance – friends are mad at friends - feelings have been hurt - you are stuck in the middle for some of those situations – things that can’t be unsaid have been – text messages have been misinterpreted – passive aggressive comments have been made on FB – there seems to be conflict everywhere and a general air of pissiness abounds.
Coupled with a three hour mission of obligation that leaves you dripping in sweat..…helping install an air conditioner on one of the hottest and most humid days of the year…..with no foresight or plan on how to actually do this.….or the subsequent drip issue on an electric panel…...all the while thinking “I am in hell”…..only to get stuck in traffic three times on the way back due to paving…after you had found some momentary bliss in a Dunkin Donuts 99 cent bucket of iced tea…..all for a creature that will never realize how much crap has been done since they failed to plan for their “golden years”. When you want to scream, “Why didn’t you pay attention to all the suggestions that were given? How can you live your life so carelessly, assuming that someone will always be there to fix the mess you made? Why am I part of the crew that is bailing you out when you have been so nasty to us all your life??” (The biggest question is “How are you still alive when all you are is skin and bones?!?!?”)
Yeah….lots of negatives to focus on…..
But I choose to focus on the positive (after some time to withdraw and regroup) – I want this to all to work out for the best, I want everyone to get along, I want her to go quietly into the night (it’s time)…..I will always have optimism for a positive outcome because it is there, it exists, I know it does. Same with the good in every person in my life.
Question is, will the Universe comply and let it all shine through?
Monday, July 4, 2011
Bumper-Stickers Seen On Military Bases...
"When In Doubt, Empty The Magazine"
"Marine Sniper - You can run, but you'll just die tired!"
"Machine Gunners - Accuracy By Volume"
"Except For Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism, WAR has Never Solved Anything."
" U.S. Marines - Certified Counselors to the 72 Virgins Dating Club."
" U.S. Air Force - Travel Agents To Allah"
"Stop Global Whining"
Naval Corollary: Dead Men Don't Testify.
"The Marine Corps - When It Absolutely, Positively Has To Be Destroyed Overnight"
"Death Smiles At Everyone - Marines Smile Back"
"What Do I Feel When I Kill A Terrorist? A Little Recoil"
"Marines - Providing Enemies of America an Opportunity To Die For their Country Since 1775"
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Anyone Who Threatens It"
"Happiness Is A Belt-Fed Weapon"
"It's God's Job to Forgive Bin Laden - It's Our Job To Arrange The Meeting"
"Artillery Brings Dignity to What Would Otherwise Be Just A Vulgar Brawl"
"One Shot, Twelve Kills - U.S. Naval Gun Fire Support "
"My Kid Fought In Iraq So Your Kid Can Party In College"
"A Dead Enemy Is A Peaceful Enemy - Blessed Be The Peacemakers"
...and finally
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the Marines don't have that problem."
..... Ronald Reagan
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'
"Marine Sniper - You can run, but you'll just die tired!"
"Machine Gunners - Accuracy By Volume"
"Except For Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism, WAR has Never Solved Anything."
" U.S. Marines - Certified Counselors to the 72 Virgins Dating Club."
" U.S. Air Force - Travel Agents To Allah"
"Stop Global Whining"
Naval Corollary: Dead Men Don't Testify.
"The Marine Corps - When It Absolutely, Positively Has To Be Destroyed Overnight"
"Death Smiles At Everyone - Marines Smile Back"
"What Do I Feel When I Kill A Terrorist? A Little Recoil"
"Marines - Providing Enemies of America an Opportunity To Die For their Country Since 1775"
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Anyone Who Threatens It"
"Happiness Is A Belt-Fed Weapon"
"It's God's Job to Forgive Bin Laden - It's Our Job To Arrange The Meeting"
"Artillery Brings Dignity to What Would Otherwise Be Just A Vulgar Brawl"
"One Shot, Twelve Kills - U.S. Naval Gun Fire Support "
"My Kid Fought In Iraq So Your Kid Can Party In College"
"A Dead Enemy Is A Peaceful Enemy - Blessed Be The Peacemakers"
...and finally
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the Marines don't have that problem."
..... Ronald Reagan
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Ebb and Flow…
Be forewarned….this may sound a bit flakey but I think that I was able to get the gist across…
The thought started when I brought home an empty Ortega salsa jar from TGP’s. The full jar already had made me happy - part of a sale and with coupon cost me about 50 cents. I rinsed it out and it is sitting there waiting to be put in the recycle bin. My mom was finishing up making marinated roasted red peppers as part of my dad’s birthday gift…..now she needed a jar. How odd/cosmic/interesting that I happen to arrive home with the jar that she needed about 5 minutes before she needed it.
I believe that the Universe has a lovely ebb and flow of stuff – for actual physical stuff.
I joined Freecycle a few years ago and have benefited from both aspects of it – getting rid of things as well as receiving things that could be of use.
The extra coffee table that I did not have room for went to a woman who was starting out on her own after getting out of an abusive marriage and had nothing to her name.
My street hockey stick went to a kid whose mom was trying to get him to exercise more and this was the only sport where kids did not make fun of him and he wanted to keep on doing it.
I was able to pass on a Bumbo seat to a co-worker that could not afford one to have at her home for her niece that she babysat.
I was able to get about 60 egg cartons for the woman who sells farm fresh eggs - I have been the lucky recipient of free eggs before I got these cartons for her and I saw it as a way to say thank you since she will not take money for the eggs from us (family friend).
I was able to get a bunch of adult diapers for our family’s use.
There are more …..
Put it out there folks, things that you need will come to you and you will be passing your unwanted items to people that can use them…
The thought started when I brought home an empty Ortega salsa jar from TGP’s. The full jar already had made me happy - part of a sale and with coupon cost me about 50 cents. I rinsed it out and it is sitting there waiting to be put in the recycle bin. My mom was finishing up making marinated roasted red peppers as part of my dad’s birthday gift…..now she needed a jar. How odd/cosmic/interesting that I happen to arrive home with the jar that she needed about 5 minutes before she needed it.
I believe that the Universe has a lovely ebb and flow of stuff – for actual physical stuff.
I joined Freecycle a few years ago and have benefited from both aspects of it – getting rid of things as well as receiving things that could be of use.
The extra coffee table that I did not have room for went to a woman who was starting out on her own after getting out of an abusive marriage and had nothing to her name.
My street hockey stick went to a kid whose mom was trying to get him to exercise more and this was the only sport where kids did not make fun of him and he wanted to keep on doing it.
I was able to pass on a Bumbo seat to a co-worker that could not afford one to have at her home for her niece that she babysat.
I was able to get about 60 egg cartons for the woman who sells farm fresh eggs - I have been the lucky recipient of free eggs before I got these cartons for her and I saw it as a way to say thank you since she will not take money for the eggs from us (family friend).
I was able to get a bunch of adult diapers for our family’s use.
There are more …..
Put it out there folks, things that you need will come to you and you will be passing your unwanted items to people that can use them…
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Whoah, Whoah.....What?!?!?
Whoah, Whoah....Stop the presses!!! Where have I been? Dooney & Bourke makes Disney handbags!?!?!?
http://www.disneystore.com/dooney-bourke/mn/1000812/
http://www.disneystore.com/dooney-bourke/mn/1000812/
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Everyone’s Favorite F Word…
I attended an event at Panera a while ago – an invite only sneak preview of new menu items. They really rolled out the red carpet – free beverages, two different salads, two different smoothies, chicken salad sandwiches, chicken orzo soup and cinnamon crunch bagels. And they asked us to “check out” before leaving and we were handed a coffee cup and a cookie (a flower shaped shortbread cookie that retails for $2!) to take home.
There is something to be said for the “Hey, howya doin, let’s get you checked in, here’s some free stuff” aspect of marketing – I love doing it. I have witnessed so many goodybag giveaways – ranging from contact solution to razors to coffee…. Everyone’s favorite F word is FREE! In my experience, regardless of who they are and how much money they make, free makes them giddy.
Makes me miss that world a bit……
But I was happy to take my cookie and coffee and head home….I did not have clean up, do the data entry of those that attended, send out follow up surveys, send out survey reminders, compile the survey data, etc.
There is something to be said for the “Hey, howya doin, let’s get you checked in, here’s some free stuff” aspect of marketing – I love doing it. I have witnessed so many goodybag giveaways – ranging from contact solution to razors to coffee…. Everyone’s favorite F word is FREE! In my experience, regardless of who they are and how much money they make, free makes them giddy.
Makes me miss that world a bit……
But I was happy to take my cookie and coffee and head home….I did not have clean up, do the data entry of those that attended, send out follow up surveys, send out survey reminders, compile the survey data, etc.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
So...
So what have I been up to?
Paddle, paddle, paddle, hike, watch a movie, grandma duty, paddle, commandeering someone's Iphone so I can play Words with Friends, hike, zzzzz, date night, freaking people out with my Five Finger shoes, debating what to blog about…
Paddle, paddle, paddle, hike, watch a movie, grandma duty, paddle, commandeering someone's Iphone so I can play Words with Friends, hike, zzzzz, date night, freaking people out with my Five Finger shoes, debating what to blog about…
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Schnitzelbank!
Did you know that this is banned from Facebook??? What is wrong with singing about Otto's butt or Otto's gut?
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Four Paws in Heaven...
The loss of a pet is always hard – I still have my moments when I tear up about my dog who passed away over ten years ago. We love them love even though they have their moments of being a colossal pain in the butt - how can you stay mad at something that gives unconditional love? I will gripe about my cats and their hairballs or nudging me awake in the morning but I will miss them trying to lick my eyeball when they are gone.
My brother and sister in law just lost one of their furbabies over the weekend – she was a wonderful cat and both of them are devastated because she left this world way too soon and in a way that noone would have wanted for their pet.
I came across this on LOLCats completely by accident and I had to share it for all my friends that have recently lost pets. (just sub in "purr" for "woof" for the pups)
And just because I do believe that we are greeted by our pets when we pass away…..
The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
- Author unknown
My brother and sister in law just lost one of their furbabies over the weekend – she was a wonderful cat and both of them are devastated because she left this world way too soon and in a way that noone would have wanted for their pet.
I came across this on LOLCats completely by accident and I had to share it for all my friends that have recently lost pets. (just sub in "purr" for "woof" for the pups)
And just because I do believe that we are greeted by our pets when we pass away…..
The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
- Author unknown
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Shush…
My coworker is going through the beginning stages with her mother.
Two weeks ago, I interacted with another grandmother who is a couple of years away from where my grandma is.
The families have no idea the hell that they are in for…it only gets worse....
But honestly, I don’t want to hear it - I don't want to talk about it.
I don’t want to live along with them and their old person issues. I have my own and a second one waiting in the wings.
I have enough, thank you.
I need things to look forward to.
I need those things to actually happen.
I cling to the happy (no matter how big or small) so I can avoid circling the whirlpool of old.
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