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 |  Well let's just try this AGAIN! |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I thought this was tough to start the first time....Don't worry I'll get it right SOME day.  Always there are nay-sayers. Just stick to your ideals. Hold fast to those dreams. Don't let go. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** If you have ever been in The Valley of the Sun, or Phoenix Arizona, you will understand when I explain to the rest, that there is no weather there. It's sunny and blue skies or it's blue skies and sunny or the Monsoon passes over and lasts about 2 hours. That being stated, I am again experiencing "Weather". This morning, even though my intentions were to be up very early to start my day, I slept in. Why you ask? The sun was gone. It freaked me out. I finally woke to two puppies who needed to use their private bathroom - outside of course - dancing around the bed and Whoo-Whoo'ing. It was almost 9:00 AM. What the? There was no sunshine. Instead of sun, there were these things in the sky. Big fat grey ugly things up there, in the sky, hanging around, doing nothing but blocking the sunshine. Huh? Clouds? Really? Those are CLOUDS? Okay - we be having weather I guess. This isn't the first weather I've been subjected to in Texas. As you may recall the initial drive here was through Noah's Second Flood. I figured it was a fluke. You know, a once in a year kind of thing. I had just been lucky enough to be there when it happened. *sigh* I do not function well with no sun. I do not like grey. I don't even look good in grey. It was the forecast for the day it seemed. Greyness abounding. The check I got in the mail yesterday - another fluke. Stoopid landlord company put my roomies name and mine on it. See the problem here? Right. I have a check that does me no good without my roommates signature and even then I can't walk into a bank and just cash it without her presence. I asked. Once again Life got me good. Once again I have to find a "Work Around". There is a comedy routine in all this I just know it. *sigh* Re-group, re-think plans and formulate a new set of plans I guess. Called roomie who laughed, beotch, then pouted. I can pout like a professional let me tell ya. Years of practice pouting I have. I don't know what Lesson Life has in this for me THIS time - but it must be a doozy huh? Here's hoping your tribals and trialations are small and not overwhelmationing. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I read in others blogs all the time about how bad things go in people's lives. I feel so badly for them but know that alot of times we bring negative into our lives all on our own. Disagree with that statement? That's fine. I like a good debate. Here's a for instance to help make my point. Today I had a job interview. The interview was over an hour's drive from where I currently live. The job itself would be located here in Killeen. The pay would have been better than what I made at IKEA. At first I was so hyped about the opportunity. I asked the people what I believed were appropriate questions. Was this a telemarketing job? No. Was this a direct sales position? No. The information I received LED me to believe it was some sort of a call center where I would stay on top of incoming sales. I drove to Waco for the appointment yet inside me was a kernel of doubt, anxiety and suddenly I just didn't want to go to the interview. I got to the building housing this company forty minutes early but discovered I had not brought my purse which housed not only my wallet but my cell phone. Alarms went off in my head. I almost jumped back in the truck and left. I stayed. On the phone, setting this interview up, I had been asked to arrive earlier than the 2:00 PM appointment time. I did that. No one was in the office. The door was locked. I stood in a hallway waiting for someone to show up for forty-five minutes. More alarms sounded and again I was tempted to just leave. I didn't. When the girl finally showed up, wearing what I consider to be the gutter style for any office wear, my tension grew. I had been asked to come appropriately dressed - business casual. What she wore was ghetto casual. Something was way off. I filled out a one sheet, poorly written application and took it to the girl. Holding it firmly in one hand I asked her what does this job entail exactly. I then found out that this job was a door to door selling job. I just shook my head, stood up and thanked her for her time. Now at that exact moment in time I had a golden opportunity to learn something. I didn't. I hadn't eaten all day, had just driven without a license or money or phone and stood around for almost an hour. I was royally pissed off. By the time I got back to Killeen my head was pounding, I was sick to my stomach from hunger and I promptly got lost. I stayed lost for an hour and a half. At one point I said, "God could you just be on my side for once?" Again, a Golden moment out of Time reached to teach me something. I seethed, clenched my teeth and proceeded to drive in circles. Thank goodness for the guy in the bookstore, a shopper, who took the time to draw me a map. He marked landmarks for me to look for and off I went. I got home, hungry, exhausted and angry but I made it safely home. By now Life stepped back from trying to teach me anything and waited. Before I had left for the bogus interview, I had gone to get the mail. I noticed some for myself, one envelope indicating it was from my ex-landlord. I hadn't opened it before I left as I was focusing my energy on that drive and ensuing interview. When I got back to the house I glanced at the mail but was too tired to open it up. Life giggled. My roomie from Phoenix just called me. She too had received a letter from ex-landlord and I waited to hear her go off about how much money we owed for damages. We hadn't done a check out with the landlord before leaving. She said, "Open your envelope now." I did. Life laughed out loud. Inside was a check for almost seven hundred dollars. Yes they had taken a chunk of that security deposit for damages, but over half was sent to me. I was the one who had paid all moving expenses and initial fees. I had forgotten this. Sometimes when we are given a helping hint from Life, perhaps we should pay more attention. I guess Life and God had a good laugh at my expense. I deserved it. |
| "Ready for attack my Queen!" "You BETTER be ready. I gave your troops at least six minutes to prepare." a humble servant shudders under the glare of his Queen's look ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** A*T*T*A*C*K - A*T*T*A*C*K! "Commander there is an aerial bomb heading our way! Sir - I believe it is the dreaded Vin-e-Grr." "TAKE COVER!" How many soldiers did you lose THIS time?" "My Queen I fear all foot soldiers are lost in this round." "PREPARE another group then - immediately! No Hoomun will overcome MY troops!" "Yes my Queen. Another round-up will begin!" DO NOT USE THAT EXPRESSION WITHIN MY HEARING YOU FOOL! The Hoomuns use that in their wars against us! the General Fire Ant blushes even redder "I -- I am sorry my Queen."   I tell you these ants are out to drive me NUTS! I went and got a spray to use on the outside of the house around the base. It builds a blockade so no bugs will come visiting me inside. OH - let me start at the beginning shall I? Two nights ago I went into the kitchen to get a glass of water and put away my plate from my supper. At first glance I saw a couple of ants on the counter. "Oh damn." But what the heck - I killed them. Then I looked closer at the kitchen. There were hundreds of them. Crawling up one cabinet, over the counters, in the sink and on the window sill. HUNDREDS of fire ants. I totally freaked out. Now a normal ant parade would have upset me, but fire ants are no way normal. If you have ever been bitten by one you will understand. I have suffered about 10 bites now and some are still healing. Look up what a fire ant bite looks like and I do think you will feel my pain. Anyway the ole adrenaline kicked in that night and by 4:45 in the morning I thought I had conquered the damn things. I collapsed in bed but the thought of them woke me up at 8:45 - less than four hours of sleep. Went back into the kitchen - same thing. There were no dirty dishes, no crumbs, no food available to an ant, yet there they all were - AGAIN. Again the adrenaline kicked in and this time my anger as well. No stoopid insect was going to get the better of me. Off I went to the store to buy whatever I would need. Came home, performed necessary riddance-bye-bye with spray and started to feel somewhat better. For the next two mornings I kept finding ants. Oh not the hundreds of the previous nights but about a dozen or so each time. I used a mixture of vinegar and water and began spraying everything down. It's supposedly a remedy for ants. Nope - that didn't work either. Still they came uninvited into our house. My nerves are shot. Short of calling an exterminator in, I am still at war with the damn things. Who invented these dudes anyway? WARNING TO SHEBA - QUEEN OF THEM ALL - YOU CANNOT WIN THIS WAR GIRL! Anyone got suggestions, I would love to hear them. Thank you. |
Do you know about human emotions? We, as a species, have several of them. Listed in no particular order: Happiness Anxiety Sadness Anger Disgust Surprise Fear Guilt Pride HopefulnessAnd those aren't even all that science has discovered in humans. Most are just variations on a theme. The basic categories seem to be: Love, encompassing affection, lust and longing; Joy and within it -- cheerfulness, zest, contentment; Surprise stands alone for some reason; Anger subcategories irritation, exasperation, rage, disgust, envy and torment; Sadness within this one is suffering, disappointment, shame, neglect and sympathy. Fear is the last major category with two subcategories listed; horror and nervousness. Within each of the subcategories, science has further broken down human emotions to fit every one we have. We all get a rainbow of emotions it seems and we all use them every day. I want to write about Happiness. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** The Happiness family encompasses elation, joy, gladness, contentment, satisfaction, pride, love, affection, compassion, amusement, humor and laughter. I always thought laughter was more of an action, not an emotion though. Everyone has their own definition of Happiness and here is a sampling of some that I found. I define happiness as ... having more than enough in each area of life--more than enough faith, more than enough relationships, more than enough physical, emotional and mental resources. I define happiness as ... being at peace with oneself and the world. It happens when your mind (intent), body (action)and spirit(conscience) vibrate in unison. A rare occurrence when you leave it to chance but can happen all the time if you consciously seek it. I define happiness as ... having the courage and responsibility to be a role model for my daughter to create her own destiny and not rely upon anyone for her happiness. Everyone is worthy of such a gift. I define happiness as being able to do something for someone and not expect something in return. I define happiness as the feeling of what the continual effort in bettering myself gives. I define happiness as ... having the freedom, health and opportunity to do great things for myself and others. What then are the barriers to our happiness? What do we erect to stop ourselves from experiencing this emotion? Pick something from another family and you'll see how our emotions are used to jack up another emotion or destroy one. My happiness is dependent on outside factors like a sunny sky, playful puppies and friendly greetings and smiles from strangers. Our environment has a factor in our emotions as well. Damn - those Vulcans had the system didn't they? [reference to Star Trek - yes again!] They taught themselves to suppress their emotions. Logic was their aim, their life style in fact. Cool logic over hot emotions, ask yourself if humanity couldn't benefit from a dose of that? |
| I have no idea what to write about today. Yesterday was my straw that made that camel run for a chiropractor let me tell ya. Today, well today I wanted nothing more to do than curl up and lose myself in Season 2 of Enterprise. Yes I'm a Star Trek freak. Get over it already. I forced myself to get dressed, make a list, push puppies in their crates and away I went. I was on a mission. Buy the following:  Fire Ant Killing Stuff HP Print Cartridges New Chewies for puppies Air Filters for house Bunch of groceries New Book Two new tops for a job Snacks consisting of ______________________ fill in the blank!Didn't do too badly either. Just didn't get the poison, cuz when I read the labels they all looked harmful to dogs, people and alien beings. Didn't get the book because I was being followed by some guy who wanted to "help me out". I can play insane at the drop of a hat let me tell you. I am just a magnet for some types and I wish they were 180 degree different types. When I got back to the house I again forced myself to not go join the teenagers skateboarding down the street and having fun but put the food away, install the air filter and put in the ink cartridges. To reward myself I had one cold beer and a long whirlpool soak. Here's hoping you all have a glorious-o weekend. Let me leave you with the following words of wisdom. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Wise words indeed - words to live by even. Have a great weekend folks. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** He that commends me to mine owne content, Commends me to the thing I cannot get: I to the world am like a drop of water, That in the Ocean seekes another drop, Who falling there to finde his fellow forth, confounds himselfe. So I, to finde a Mother and a Brother, In quest of them loose my selfe. The above is a tiny part of Shakespear's The Comedie of Errors. I find it relevant today as that is what transpired. "Hi I was wondering if I could go to one of the branch banks here and cash a check drawn against a different bank." "You don't have an account with us?" "No. Would that present a problem?" "Absolutely not. Come in and write your check from ZXY Bank and we will gladly cash it!" Oh happy days, sweet music to my ears, and why did I not think of this before now? Off I went to seek the branch bank of AFE Bank. The sky lowered itself onto the truck and buckets of moisture proceeded to wash the truck clean. What happy circumstance is this then! Exercise is excellent and hauling wet blue jeans about, while skidding on soaked flip flops gave my legs the proper alignment as well. "May I help you?" "Yes I called and spoke with Mr. I-Am-An-Idiot. He informed me I could write an out-of-state check from my bank, ZXY and you would cash it." "No." "Excuse me?" "No we can only cash checks if it is drawn against an account at our own bank, AFE. Would you like to open an account with us today?" "Gee, let me think. Um no. Was I going to open an account at your bank eventually? Yes. Will I now? No. If I want to be lied to, isn't it far better I stay with my current bank and listen to the lies they tell me, to which I've grown accustomed, than new lies told by your bank's associates? Do I look happy to you? Do I look like someone who wants to open an account or someone in need of warm, dry clothes and cooperation? Exactly. Good day to you." I figured out that the dude I spoke with on the phone was not actually listening to what I was asking him. He heard, "...cash check from my multi-billion dollar account at your bank in Arizona!" *sigh* Gird yer loins for tomorrow is yet another day. |
| Here we go again! OP Having to do with opportunity TI Belonging to the 'agave' family used in the production of tequila MISS To fail to comprehend MMM Sound uttered when eating chocolate What then is the NEWEST, LATEST, GREATEST definition of the word? OPTIMISM - An opportunity that is drinking tequila making joyful noises while failing to comprehend the hangover it will suffer. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** So there ya have it. The mystery is solved. |
I truly believe we humans are too hard on ourselves. I listen to folks talking and hear all sorts of abuse they heap upon themselves. I read blogs, more abuse. You all need to start to take care of yourselves. So I give you  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Introducing The S'Nail Salon, the latest innovation in self-promotion around. Let me introduce you to the store and its employees. Comeon now, don't be shy. Step up closer so you can hear me better. ahem The S'nail Salon had it's roots from the 1960's when living was easy and the cotton skirts were high. The era of kicked back relaxation. When weed wasn't just something yanked out or poisoned. There were daily dances held in the streets and the food just tasted better, I hear anyway. Siamese twins began the first Salon in California. The founding idea was rolled up, passed around and found to be go-o-o-d. Be nice to yourself. Take the time to spoil yourself. You deserve a break today. There are too many camels and too few Marlboro Men. Standing at the back of this enormous crowd gathered here today is the CEO of S'nail Salons - Amber. Come on up Am and tell the people about this grand idea. everyone respectfully parts so Amber can make her way S-L-O-W-L-Y to the front 'Y-e-e-s-s. The...S'nail...Salons...were...created...to...give...everyone...a...chance...to...' "Yes Amber? To do what exactly? Tell ya what let me just explain and you stand there and ooze quietly okay? When you enter a S'nail Salon you will immediately notice that time seems to be moving slower. Well it actually is moving slower inside the Salon. You won't be imaging anything. Ramshorn, one of the original Siamese Twins, invented a clock that ticks once every two minutes. Some how, and I won't bore you with the details, the clock is tied to real time and slows reality down."   Okay I'm having way too much fun with the idea of a S'nail Salon. I was just messing about creating stuff and did the above emblem. Well, I can't let a good/semi-okay/quasi-earth shattering idea go to waste, so I came up the above short short short tale. Wouldn't it be sweet to walk into a luxurious salon, where time slows down, and just be pampered for the day? You couldn't say you were just wasting your time, because time itself was slowed down to a S'Nail's pace. Snails don't go very fast. They are basically a body on a foot. Not too fancy for those invertebrates, but that's fine. Life speeds by way too fast. |
| It's another old expression that has been changed up to reflect some person's philosophy. At least I believe that is what it is. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Not 'in the Know', uh uh, it's in the NOW. If I lived by that expression, which means to not live in your past or project yourself into the future, I wouldn't be in the horrible stressful state I am right now. Two days ago, I went to buy stuff. I needed puppy food, lawn attack tools and pour gunk on rose bushes to help them out liquid (which really is stinky!). I stopped on my way back to get some lunch at a place that is all over Texas, called Church's Chicken. I figured this place was the competition for the Colonel's chicken. During my transactions during my shopping expedition, I used my bank card. Tra - la - la - dee - da...anyone see what's coming? Hm. Yesterday I spent the day doing yard work, getting attack by both Creeping Jenny and her army of Fire Ants. I watered bushes, the one lil tree that Jenny tried to kill, and dug up weeds. The lawn is 90% cut weed, so by the time I'm done there should only be dirt for a lawn. Why I insist on doing yard work at 10:30 to noon, I have no idea. Texas, at least this part, is so much cooler than Phoenix that I forget it is still summer. I also had the water on and used it to douse myself. After I almost passed out from sunstroke (I am an idiot), I took a shower and went on with my day. Part of my day was setting up an appointment for a job interview later on today (yikes on Saturday?). So I got up early, got the puppies taken care of, went to put gas in the truck. WHERE IS MY BANK CARD? Not in my wallet, my purse, the truck - I couldn't find it. FREAK OUT TIME. PANIC TIME. Think Anyea, think! Where were you the last time you used....CHURCH'S CHICKEN! Saturday, 8:30 AM, the place was closed. I called, no answer. I waited called and the guy who answered said he would look around and call me back. Now it's 10:00 AM and no call. Look, if I had been 'Living in the Now', I would have paid attention to where my bank card was. I didn't. I was probably wondering how gross the meal would be and feeling sorry for the people behind the counter. If I had been 'Living in the Now', I would have known before TWO WHOLE DAYS HAD PASSED, that I was without a bank card. *sigh* Now, if I'm extremely lucky, I will get my card back today. Otherwise, no interview for a job, no shopping for ink cartridges for this weird printer here, no nothing. I'll have to call my bank, cancel this card, ask for a new one, wait about 10 days and suffer without. People - we all have to learn to: LIVE IN THE NOW ..........or at least I do..........sigh |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Now I know that during my first big public interview with ole Baba WaWa I'm going to get asked some questions so I thought I would prepare. 1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? I keep them closed so my clothes don't run away! Doesn't everyone? 2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? Sure they aren't going to let the next person use leftovers are they? 3. Have you ever 'done it' in a hotel room? I've done many 'its' in a hotel room. Which 'it' are you referring to? 4. Have you ever stolen a street sign before? What would the point of that be? No. 5. Do you like to use post-it notes? I LOVE post-it notes and look for different ones all the time. I have them in colors, weird shapes, funny sayings on them and I even have one pad that is 8 1/2 X 11 - yup I do! 6. Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? I don't even cut them out if someone else wants them! 7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees? Gee let me think - neither? 9. Do you always smile for pictures? Nah, I sometimes stick my tongue out, or cross my eyes and pull my face into weirdnesses. 10. What is your biggest pet peeve? Not being in control of any given situation. 11. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? Let me go look - in for now. 12. Do you ever count your steps when you walk? When I used to walk to IKEA after putting in six hours at the other store, I did whatever it took to get one foot in front of the other. Sometimes I counted steps. Sometimes I counted muscle cramps. It depended on the exhaustion factor. 13. Have you ever peed in the woods? Yup and how many times was TP available? Zero, zilch, nada! 14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing? Doesn't everyone? 15. Do you chew your pens and pencils? I used to until one time I bit through to the ink cartridge. Sure fire way to break a bad habit huh? 16. Do you like popcorn from those big tins? Nope but I love the tins. 17. Do you still watch cartoons? Um, yes of course I do. 18. Whats your favorite scary movie? None. I loathe being scared. 19. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? If I told you, then I'd have to kill you. 20. What do you drink with dinner? Ice water. 21. What do you dip a chicken nugget in? What's a chicken nugget? 22. What is your favorite food? Chocolate - Chocolate with chocolate covered with chocolate syrup with a side of chocolate ice cream. 23. What movies could you watch over and over and still love? Lion King - Bleeping Seauty - Chorus Line - Coyote Ugly 24. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? Um, I'm pleading the Fifth on this question BaBa. 25. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? I owe a friend from IKEA a handwritten letter in response to the one she just sent me! Before this one - um....um....dang I hope I remember how! 26. Can you change the oil on a car? I can change the oil, fix a flat, flush the radiator, take apart a door to fix a window and put it back together without that special tool mechanics use! HA! 27. Ever gotten a speeding ticket? Don't remind me. I still have the pictures to prove it! 28. Ran out of gas? Too funny - yeah and I thought I had engine problems so I called a guy to come check the car. I heard about it for months. 29. Favorite kind of sandwich? All veggie with lots of Jalapeno's and oil and vinegar dressing. 30. Best thing to eat for breakfast? Chocolate chip pancakes with hot fudge sauce and whipped cream. 31. What is your usual bedtime? After midnight but before the garbage men do rounds. 32. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for halloween? "When I was a kid"? I STILL dress up for halloween! 33. How many languages can you speak? Three including my own. 34.Which are better legos or lincoln logs? Legos rock - lincoln logs are B*O*R*I*N*G. 35. Ever watch soap operas? I tried a couple of times but was so easily distracted that I figured it was fated to not be. 36. Afraid of heights? Nope. I have gone rock climbing, repelling, and all kinds of high up stuff. I love heights. 37. Favorite type of fruit pie? Homemade cherry pie - as long as the crust doesn't suck. 38. Occupations you wanted to be as a child? Just one - an executive who had a huge office and then I could put my feet up on the desk and order people around. 39. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes and I've met some that weren't so bad. 40. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? Didn't you just ask me this? HA! Yeah but I think we all have those. Aren't you glad to be in the know now? BaBa won't surprise me with any wacked out questions! What would you get asked? What would you answer? Would you lie? Just remember that truth is always stranger than fiction - unless I'm writing it. |
| I was unpacking another of my few boxes today and found this one contained books! I was so excited. Opened the box up - oh. Inside were books alright, books on writing, grammar, herbal medicines, blank notebooks and this other book. It's a book I bought about a year ago and haven't read it yet. I started to read it. I just never finished it. The title has something to do with eliminating procrastination. How absolutely annoying. Then as I fumed about the injustice of this, I started to ponder upon the word. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I have decided that this word, plus others I also thought about, need to have themselves redefined. So this is my effort to eliminate the original meaning of that word. PRO Definition: to be in favor of something, i.e. eating chocolate at every meal CRAS Definition: to act in a vile manner in public causing embarassment to others TIN Definition: metallic element that causes skin to turn green; often cheap jewelry is made from this A Definition: used to refer to a single person or thing TION Definition: deliberately avoid somebody Put them all together and you know what the word means NOW? Ahem... Procrastination: To be in favor of acting in an embarrassing way which causes one person in the vicinity to turn green and avoid you. HA! You'll have to wait for another time to see another new definition. I am exhausted working on this one. |
| I do honestly believe that women have special D.N.A. strands meant for shopping only. Men do not have these special strands. Oh there are those males who enjoy shopping (MetroMales - okay that is weird) but they don't play the shopping game correctly! That's right. There are specific RULES to shopping. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** A woman sees a shopping cart and immediately grabs it. The Internet has just messed with our heads is all. Lil tiny shopping carts scattered throughout sites and how do these folks want us to pay? Oh, use PAY PAL. Right, now that is enticing, thinking that our PAL is going to help us pay for the goodies we see, covet, and have to have. Here's another sure way to drive that D.N.A. strand in us CRAZY. FOR THE NEXT HOUR ONLY! Come on that is so unfair. Intellectually, we KNOW that is a lie, but these people know about a female's D.N.A. Shopping Strand. Let NO Sale go unbought! Yup our D.N.A. sends out signals to our neural pathways which sends a signal to our hands which go immediately to our wallets and that piece of plastic. Many females scorn coupons, yet present them with a 50% off sign on anything, and I mean ANYTHING, they go into "HappyShoppingZone". Now the 50% off could be on elephant toe nail clippings, we wouldn't care - much. I don't want males to think women are not discerning shoppers because we are and I have proof. Today I'm attempting to pack up a closet full of military wear, accouterments and what do I start thinking? GARAGE SALE! I just know someone would buy the black handcuffs (why black?) not to mention two batons - yes ladies TWO of them. I'd sell them as 'FISH WACKERS' but females could find much better uses for them. I don't know why I didn't think of using one to fix the garbage disposal, but since I have them now, I am well prepared! Just wish I had one on me when that salesman was here yesterday. I was more concerned with keeping my two dogs from popping out of the front door and giving this guy a very BIG welcome. ow I have one huge plastic container packed up with stuff and how convenient would it be to just drag it out to the front yard, put up a big sign and sell, sell, sell. Okay okay I do know it's not my stuff but that D.N.A. Strand may well have its way with me yet. Our shopping D.N.A. covers selling as well as buying you know? *sigh* Such a nice day for a Garag...wha? Okay fine - I won't but it goes against NATURE!  Hope you ladies are tending your D.N.A. as well as I am! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** It just seemed like everyone had used rabbits in their blogs today. So, me too! 'Cept it's like at a friendly picnic's volleyball game where one person serves and the receiver spikes the ball back. Consider me the Spikee.  So the blog entries I read today (see "Days with Debi"  first then go to "Invalid Item" ) got me thinking about cartoons. I don't know why, it just did okay? Then I remembered that I used to love Bugs Bunny cartoons. He just cracked me up. The not so subtle sarcasm just was so funny. The titles of the toons weren't bad either. Consider these:Hare Ribbin Hare Force The Big Snooze Gorilla My Dreams Mutiny On The Bunny To Hare Is Human Subtle, not so subtle sarcasm right? Right. It's funny. I love it. I wish I could get copies of all of them and watch them. What is it about cartoons that we love so much? They represent a non-reality that was violent to non-real critters or people - Yosemite Sam for instance - yet we laughed at the antics of one bunny who won the day no matter the odds. He always got out of any tight corner his protagonist put him in and they always ended up losing big. Don't you wish Life were like that sometimes? "Hello Acme? Yes I'd like to order your exploding flying saucer with a radarscope please! Yes I'm eighteen or older. No I am not related to Wile E. Coyote."  Gotta love cartoons. Just can't figure out why! Maybe you can. |
| When we got here to Texas, with this big backyard I worried most about CC. She is a people lover as much as she is a dog hater. The adjacent backyards, yes there are three, all hold dogs. I really worried that CC would become a crazed maniac dog, barking and attacking the fence section of which ever backyard had dogs. I worry about the wrong stuff you know? *center* ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** This morning, I let the dogs out and went back to bed. It was only 6:30 AM and I figured both dogs would enjoy the cool of the morning and I could sneak in another 30 minutes of snooze time. I was awoken by the excited barking of Dewley and the hysterical barking of CC. "Oh now what?" So I stumbled/fell out of bed and went out the back door to see what was going on. Directly behind our house is a yard holding two Boxers. I have never seen anyone come out and play with these dogs and can only hope they have food and water. Dewley, being the social butterfly he is, would run up to the fence and sniff through the boards at the two dogs. They would run down the fence line - Dewley ran down the fence line, leaping bushes that were in his way. CC, at first, would bark, but I was right there with them and told her "NO". She did calm down and eventually ignored her brother's gymnastics. Last night, after putting both dogs in the house, I decided to water the 'bushes' growing by the back fence. Both boxers came to their side and watched me through the cracks in between the wood boards. I talked to them, they seemed calm and happy to have me drowning the fence. This morning, I walked out, and saw my baby Dew, the GOOD dog, digging hysterically while on the other side of the fence TWO Boxers dug just as furiously. "KNOCK THAT OFF!" I screamed. Nope, that didn't work. CC was waiting for that first dog to come through, probably so she could just eat it, I don't know, but she was rooting for Dew and his huge paws to dig that hole BIGGER! I had to go 'fetch' my two scamps, drag them in the house where they proceeded to have a nervous breakdown. "MOM! They will be here SOON! MOM - we have to go out THERE!" I could imagine what these two were going on about. I left them inside, went back out picked up a paving stone and went to the starter hole on our side of the fence. One Boxer was still there, digging away. "KNOCK THAT OFF!" I pushed the paving stone into the ground and proceeded to secure it using the dirt Dew had so kindly piled up. Now, digging dogs are something I am familiar with. Other people's dogs dig. Dogs like to dig. Some breeds need to dig. No problem, give them somewhere that it is okay to dig. Make them a Dig Pit. My dogs are mutts. If they have Digging Genes I don't know about them. Seems Dew has an errant Dig Gene or two running about in him. Now I will have to train him NOT to dig. What a wake up call. Damn dogs anyway. >sigh< I love em. Have a wonderful day okay? Anyone got more paving stones for me to use? |
| Let me explain about me to you, my innocent reading audience. I have decided that, aside from designing buttons in Photoshop and playing with designs, that I have categorized my brain compartments. Everyone has brain compartments you know? A human brain has five main train cars. Each car in this train has separate compartments. My train and all it's cars, compartments, and the engine itself are outside what science has even conceived. I have given you, my innocent readers, a general outline of my brain . ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Please note that at the front of my brain/train, is my logic area. It's represented by the dot in the center of the figure. That's correct, the dot you can't even make out. That's the one alright. My readers will also see the more outstanding, overpowering portions of my brain/train. The area I want to discuss with you today is SPEECH & HEARING. This area needs a safety button installed in it. This one train car, huge as it is, important as it may be, gets my entire train and the station it resides in, in so much trouble. I have designed a button for this purpose. See it ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Yup that is my STOOPID Button. It would have two purposes. In the 'ON' position, I would open my mouth and out would pop a whole lot of -- you guessed it -- S*T*O*O*P*I*D. In the 'OFF' position, I would listen to what was going on, and shove what I heard over to the Logic Car to be dissected before opening mouth. What I figure is I have this little Train Employee working in each compartment/train car and the guy in the car for SPEECH & HEARING is wearing bib overalls, bare foot and talks something like this: "Whut does yer hankerin' me t'do about thet?" This dude's favorite expression is, "Whut is it we should be a'doin?" Confusion reigns in this train car. There is also a whole lot of giggling going on in there. The weirdest things amuse the train's wacky employee. For instance, the other day I stepped out to fetch the mail. [ did I just say fetch? *sigh* ] On my way back to the house a major Texas air stream kicked up and blew over the next door neighbor's garbage can. You know the big green plastic jobs that homes are equipped with? Yup blew it over and for whatever reason, the people living in that house do not use garbage bags. Nope. So all this garbage starts blowing down the street. Maybe a more normal person would have gone to the neighbor's junk and rescued it. Me? I ran inside laughing my butt off and tried to find out if there is some sort of etiquette for this situation. "Whut is it we should be a'doin?" Oh, I could give you massive doses of examples of my STOOPID car, but I should probably not overwhelm my readers in their first exposure to: A N Y E A' S B R A I N Hope your train and accompanying cars stay on tracks that take you places of interest! Me? I'm stuck with this train and I will just have to work with it. fine-goo'bye fo' now |
| I have often thought about, fought with other people over, and questioned the following subject. It is a subject I thought never to write about again. Circumstances force my hand to once again dip into the ink well of controversy, so let me just write about this one more time. LONELY LOVE ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** What do I mean by "Lonely Love"? Why the image of that button? Let me articulate as well as give you a brief personal history of my experiences. When I first began using the Internet, discovered chat rooms and got 'involved' with one that was in my area, I was as naive as a nun in a brothel. Sexual innuendos flew right over my head. Private messages sent to me - had no idea where they were leading. I was clueless. The good news is I catch on fast. The bad news is people ended up furious and hating me. Why? I am one of those "goodie two-shoes" who believes, and firmly, that sexual relationships on-line are worthless. Married people who 'played' around on-line, in chat rooms etc., just do not agree with me on this. Nope. My favorite story is about Jim, the hot guy all the girls wanted to hook up with in a chat room I had frequented. [don't worry now, Jim wasn't his real name and as you will find out not the only thing phony about him] Always I watched the conversations between 'Jim' and the females. Oh how these females primped and preened, using words of course (as writers we know the power of words) and how 'Jim' adored them all. What I didn't realize at that time was that 'Jim' was getting it on with all of them in these "Private" rooms. When I first found out about on-line sex, cyber-sex, I had to laugh. It totally cracked me up. I had to ask what was probably the most embarrassing questions. "How do you have sex while you are using both your hands to type? Do you like have an egg-timer so the other person can time how long you need to be AFK? [away from keyboard]" I didn't take this seriously. I just couldn't. I started asking other questions of the females. Like, did they date "real" people? Did they have friends to go out with? Was this their idea of a "real" relationship? Nope, it just didn't strike me as anything other than stupid and foolish. Lonely Love. People who think so little of themselves, they make up who they are on-line, pretend to be what will attract others, get involved with someone or many someones - this is wrong. I don't apologize for my attitude. Quit reading if this offends you. Jim was in real-time a sixteen year old and her three friends. Nice huh? The females that were so hot for him were real-time adult women. They were not charged with statutory rape. The "Jim" Unit is probably still out there leading others on, I don't know and I don't care. After this debacle, I started doing research into on-line relationships. There are huge studies about people getting entangled in them. Now, here on WdC, I have first hand seen them work in REAL-TIME. People have met here, fallen in love, gotten married. This is so often not the case. Lonely Love. When self-respect, love of self is missing, people go looking for it in others. Trust me, no one has it for you if that is what you want. If you don't have it inside of you - it ain't coming any time soon. A million and one stories about these illicit love affairs. Wives hiding their 'lover' from their husband by turning off their monitor. Husbands finding time to fit that other woman in while at the office. I've heard it all. Now, today, people run around screaming about the lack of morals in this country. Trust me folks, this cyber thing - it's all over the world. Lonely Love. Not a love at all. Why do I write about this now? Why am I writing again about this, I should say. If you watch the news, read the papers you know why. The Internet is made up of real flesh and blood people. They bleed and can die. The Internet is also one huge hiding place for all types and pedophiles are in just one category. The Human Connection is nothing to take lightly. Bonds can be formed, friendships made, information traded and hearts can be broken, souls crushed and lives destroyed by an electronic media. Lonely Love. No there is no button to push, no keystroke to bring it, no >ENTER< to press to bring it to you. If it isn't within you - you can't find it out there. Live the Life you have. Live it fully. Live it and get away from the monitor, shut off the computer. You want a relationship? Make it in real-time. Meet people. Connect with them in real-time. You got one shot at this Life - make the most of it. Please. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Everyone has heard the expression, "Show me...", which has many endings. "Show me the money!" "Show me what you can do." "Show me the way." "Show me what love is." "Show me that pretty smile." "Show me how to get the answer." Throughout our lives we hit walls of confusion and have no way to get around the walls, over them or even under those walls. Many will turn to others in their lives and say, "Show me." Sometimes we turn to literature and think, "This will show me how." How is it that we, as adults, cannot just go inside ourselves and demand this information? Do we not learn enough by living, reading, talking to others, to know how to find the answer ourselves? Perhaps we ask the incorrect question. "Remind me how." Perhaps that is a better, more accurate statement. We should have the ability to use our own knowledge to figure out problems. A gentle reminder may be all we need to kick-start our own process of discovery. I have been reading and listening to motivational stuff. The entire time I kept thinking to myself, "I already knew this." So what? So I knew it, deep inside myself but the information got lost through time and living Life. I already knew humans are the most powerful magnets on Earth. Our thoughts are antennas, sending out and receiving. What we think, what we visualize - we draw into our Lives. If we have negative thoughts, feelings, that is what we reap. I tend to shy away from those who are pessimistic as they are continually drawing negatives to them. I am drawn to those who make me laugh, feel good and are giving humans. So, where did I go wrong? If I know the above to be true, when did I start to broadcast negativity? Did it come from my childhood? What an easy way out that would be. When I was young, some dude wearing a black cassock and white collar told me, "You can always use your upbringing as a crutch to fail." Whoa. The words hit me then and have stayed with me. No one has a perfect Life. The ability to make our Lives into what we need (not want - as want is coming from a negative source) is with us always. Some may say my Life took a spiral when I was "down-sized", or rather my important position with accompanying salary was down-sized. Surely that hit me emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. Hanging on to the badness of that though, I don't think I can maintain a long term relationship with such muddiness of spirit. I do have commitment issues! Right now, I am investigating 'me'. I am researching who I am, who I will be and how I intend to get there. It has moments of pure enjoyment, but mostly it is a very boring past time. I find myself leaning towards doing artwork, playing games and even WEEDING THE YARD!  While going through this process, I find myself pulling away from others. I tend to 'vant to be alone darlink.' I apologize to all I have been pulling away from here. I have tried to read, comment and answer your comments to my blog. My "heart just isn't in it". WHAT - my heart? WHERE IS MY..oh..just one of those expressions, right? Oh K then. What do you do when you need to be reminded? When you have forgotten? When you can't figure out an answer? Where do you go? |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** In order to form a more perfect Union between the masses and those in power, laws have been written. Many laws have become outdated, outre`, and need to be taken off the books. Then there are those "Laws" that only exist in the mores of Society. These are Laws that are just understood by many, ignored at times but vital to the well-being of -- you judge whose well-being is at stake. 27 Laws of Shopping for Women Members of the male gender are hereby instructed to follow these rules or risk lack of sexual intercourse for five to 10 years. 1. Newspaper is not wrapping paper. Neither is a plastic bag from HMV. Neither is hiding the gift behind your back. 2. Best wrapping paper: katespaperie.com. 3. When you must give gifts: anniversary, birthday, Valentine's Day, Christmas/Hanukkah. 4. When she would also like you to give gifts: Arbor Day, Flag Day, Kazakhstan Independence Day (December 16), Chester A. Arthur's birthday (October 5). 5. Flowers are not gifts. They're a garnish. 6. If you are going to buy said garnishes: roses minus the baby's breath, monochromatic tulips, orchids on the stems, eremuri, calla lilies in colors. 7. Carnations and chrysanthemums are the floral equivalent of T.G.I. Friday's. 8. A blue box from Tiffany's is the ultimate packaging, because it will make the Gift Givee squeal, " Oohh! A blue box!" 9. Addendum: Gift Giver understands that contents of said blue box must also be from Tiffany's or risk serious injury to lower part of body. 10. Practical gifts are a federal offense. You are better off giving a single leg warmer than any of the following: coffeemaker, paper shred-der, vacuum cleaner, computer, fancy pen, smoke alarm, or forklift. 11. Acronym gifts are likewise violations: CD, DVD, BSE. 12. If you don't trust your taste, buy her a service: a massage, facial, or mani-pedi. Prepay the tip. 13. You shall not willfully ignore this obvious but crucially important shortcut: Ask Gift Givee's friends and family for suggestions. 14. If you must buy your girlfriend a dress or skirt, you shall not supersize. Size down, not up. Banana Republic's size 2 is really more like a size 6 these days. 15. Pay attention to the fine print. She says: "I loved that bracelet Rachel was wearing." Your translation: "Let's have a threesome with her." Actual translation: "Buy me that bracelet." 16. Most coveted shoe brands, in descending order: Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Via Spiga, Charles David, Nine West. 17. Giver can never go wrong with cashmere. 18. Surf and ye shall find. A few good shopping sites: uncommongoods.com, sephora.com, girlshop.com, blissworld.com, bluefly.com. 19. Try giving six wrapped wine bottles, each labeled with a watershed relationship moment: first anniversary, first baby, first house, et cetera. Open and drink when you arrive at said moments. 20. Addendum: Do not include first affair, first arrest, first divorce. 21. Avoid self-improvement gifts, even if the Givee asks for them. A book on the South Beach Diet will not get you laid. 22. When buying clothes, it's safest to stick to things that will not lead to further self-esteem issues involving the size of her body parts. Examples: hats, gloves, scarves, sarongs. 23. Don't buy lessons. Yoga sessions and pottery classes put the onus on the Givee, and no one likes an onus. 24. Snooping is not a violation; snooping is encouraged. When Givee is not home, look in her closet to see if she likes Club Monaco, J.Crew, or Chanel. If it's Chanel, quietly close the closet door and back away. You were never there. 25. Find item Gift Givee is most proud of and buy a newer, better, more expensive version of identical item. Consider: You're a basketball fan. She buys you tickets to a lacrosse game, citing the logic that it's also a game with a ball and a net. Or else she comes home with NBA playoff tickets, courtside. Which makes you happier? 26. Regarding cards: Avoid ones with jokes about her age, weight, or sexual shortcomings. Try making a card, using a color Xerox of your favorite photo of the two of you … oh, forget it. Fredflare.com or papyrusonline.com. 27. Perform due diligence. Next time your girlfriend is paging through a magazine, listen to her instead of nodding vacantly. Ask to see the item she's drooling over. Make a mental note. Fetch. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** So, what are the differences between Arizona and Texas? Unless one sights a sign stating "You have just entered New Mexico" you cannot tell the difference between Southeastern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico. We blew through New Mexico and then up ahead: Y'ALL ARE ENTERING THE ONE AND ONLY BESTEST STATE IN THE OLE U.S. OF A - YUP! Y'ALL ARE ENTERING TEXAS I swear that sign was over twenty feet tall - no semi was going to block anyone's view of it - and had marquee lights running all around it. Gotta say, those Texans are pretentious if nothing else! "Guess we are now in Texas." "Yup." "Looks different doesn't it?" "Dunno, 'm sleepin'." Puppies need to go potty on road trips. Puppies let you know just how much they have to go potty directly in your ears as they whimper from a backseat. The rest stops are conveniently marked and we pulled over in the first one I could find. "Oh k - look at the sign over there." WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES "Sheesh! We don't have signs in Arizona telling stoopid tourists to watch out for scorpions. This is some State here. Nice of them to warn us." That was funny until we did a rest stop and in FRONT of the women's rest room was the SAME SIGN! It's a wonder I made it into the stall without loss of bodily fluids. Now, once in a small stall, door shut and locked all sorts of questions pop up in my mind. "Hm, can I levitate to the top of the stall door should a rattler come strolling by?" "How strong is my heart anyway?" "Black on red - I am dead. Red on Black - something something ... what was that again? DAMN." Snakes are a big item in Texas. But here is the biggest shock I got. THEY HAVE NO IMPRESSIVE NIGHT SKY! Maybe I have the wrong state for night skies. Perhaps it was Oklahoma? Nevada? Texas has less stars, less impressive night display than Phoenix, Arizona. Now, Phoenix is home to about four billion people. This comes with use of enough electricity to drain the Colorado River's resources sixty times over. At night the glow from all the buildings makes street lights unnecessary. Even up in the mountains the Phoenix glow blocks the night sky. Here's my question. What does Killeen have here that glows just as brightly as Phoenix? Is the land radioactive or something? Most of the population of Arizona is from other states. I would guess 85% of Phoenix is made up of peop's from Illinois, Florida, California and Texas. There is little eye contact or casual talks with strangers in Phoenix. I got used to that - okay no I didn't. I would force eye contact (is that wise) engage conversations with strangers if they were willing or not (what if they are carrying?). In Texas I discovered eye contact - again - which is cool, easy conversation with strangers, until, that is I got to Killeen. I am guessing Killeen is 95% folks from other places in the United States and other countries. I live in Military Land now. This doesn't bother me, except in Arizona anyone can carry unconcealed weapons into anywhere unless a sign says "NOPE no UZI'S IN HERE" (like if you had a missile launcher some store manager is going to stop you? HA) Military personnel off duty get to carry just like police do. I have yet to see a sign informing the General Public there are no weapons allowed. I suppose I feel safer to be in a store with Military everywhere packing heat. It isn't quite the Wild West of John Wayne but close. Home bound until I discover my Texas Land Legs - I search for jobs, wondering where that charming southern accent went to here, no one I've spoken to has a Southern accent. I want to hear that DRAWL DAMMIT. Ha! Do I miss my Valley of the Sun? I guess I'm just too busy trying to figure this city out and my place in it to miss Phoenix much. Texas - some state they got though. Lone Star State. Well that fits. I could only SEE one star in the sky last night. |
| ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Ya I know - I was going to write more on the Texas trip but got distracted by stuff. See, I'm easily distractable and when it happens I just let it. W-H-O-O-S-H....and she's off..... Went to this site: http://www.theinternetgod.com/ asked the Dude this question: "Yo DUDE! When will Texas get mountains?" Dude's answer: "I'm sorry, that question was just inappropriate." Whoa - God does like Texas doesn't He? Then off I went to this site: http://www.humanforsale.com/ Wanted to check out how much I could sell myself for! Hey it's different to do right? You wanna know how much? Hm....okay I'll tell ya.... You are worth exactly $1,925,218 DANG! Anyone got the money to buy me? HA! http://www.tshirthell.com/hell.shtml Now don't go to that site  if you get offended easily! I started laughing and if I had been in mixed company (any kind of mix) SOMEONE would have taken offense! Some of the less offensive that I laughed at were:You are a creation of GOD when He was on Meth READ THIS SHIRT! Buy the Next Round I don't make the rules - I just wear the shirt! How funny this site is to browse, but I'm warning you, it is NOT for the uptight, oversighted, under-humored individual. http://www.365tomorrows.com/ This site puts up a different SciFi story EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR! How absolutely COOL is that? The story today kinda sucked, but hey someone out there is writing! HA!Go find something to make you laugh today! Trust me, you deserve a good laugh. |
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