Penny's Two Cents

Just in time for Father's Day

2008-06-12T09:31:00.004-05:00

Here's a list of the best (and worst) T.V. dads. I'm not familiar with all of them, but it's interesting just the same. Who would you add to the list?

Try this

2008-06-10T14:27:00.003-05:00

If you're weird like me, you sometimes talk to yourself, read aloud to yourself, and make smart-alec comments out loud, although you're the only one in the room. This happens to me often when I'm online.

Well here's Instant Rimshot, a nifty little tool that you can use to give your witty remarks a little more zing. It'll make you feel like you're a wacky morning-show DJ, or on a late-night talk show.

I wish I could figure out how to install it as an application on my desktop. For now I'll just leave it in its own little window, like my own little backup comedy posse.

I found this on the Presurfer, a random-interesting-thing website I've recently run across.

Runnin' with the Beatles

2008-06-08T21:17:00.003-05:00

You like the Beatles. You like old-school Van Halen.
Now watch this.

Got quarters?

2008-06-02T09:34:00.006-05:00

Found in Tokyo: walking Coke bots that are actual vending machines. They are modeled after a desktop-size (11'') coin bank popular in Japan. I would simply have to buy a Coke from one, whether I was thirsty or not.

Now here's something you wouldn't expect to find in a vending machine: live bait! Some visionary converted a refrigerated sandwich-vending machine into a 24/7 bait shop. So many others are converting machines for this purpose, vending companies are designing one specifically for it. Nifty!

Neatorama has many more weird examples of machines like these, including ones for iPods, porn, and toilet paper.

Garfield minus Garfield

2008-05-29T09:38:00.005-05:00

What do you get when you take Garfield cartoons and remove Garfield himself? Something completely different. A man has done just that, and he posts a "new" comic everyday. Some of them are funny, some are just plain weird. If you think about it, Jon really is just standing around talking to his cat. What he says and does are pret-ty strange.

From the site:
"Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb."

I used to be a Math teacher, you know

2008-05-28T09:47:00.002-05:00

Three old men are at the doctor for a memory test. The doctor says to the first old man, "What is three times three?"
"274" was his reply.

The doctor worriedly says to the second man, "It's your turn. What is three times three?"
"Tuesday" replies the second man.

The doctor sadly says to the third man, "Okay, your turn. What's three times three"?
"Nine" says the third man.

"That's great!" exclaims the doctor. "How did you get that"?
"Jeez, Doc, it's pretty simple," says the third man. "I just subtracted 274 from Tuesday."

Courtesy of Miss Cellania, whose daily theme today is Math.

Myself, I'd eat it.

2008-05-27T09:41:00.001-05:00

Food for thought

2008-03-06T13:53:00.003-06:00

Howdy Ho!

2007-12-31T10:26:00.000-06:00

I can't believe you still check my blog page. I have been so busy not posting updates for the last few months...you must really be bored!

I hope to get into more of a regular groove after the holidays are over and life returns to "normal." In the meantime, THANKS FOR DROPPING BY!

Santa Sighted!

2007-12-11T15:05:00.000-06:00

Now you can see the real-time goings-on at Santa's Headquarters in the Arctic Circle, by way of Santa Cam!

Thanks

2007-11-27T11:19:00.000-06:00

for checking my blog, although I haven't posted anything new since August. I've been a tad busy...I'll post some new stuff when I can get some photos downloaded.

Is anybody still out there?

2007-08-23T10:34:00.000-05:00

As you know I've been a tad busy lately. You know, the whole uproot-and-replant thing. I'll post some pictures for you when I have some spare time.

HA!

The boys this summer

2007-08-11T17:56:00.000-05:00

Guess what time it is?

2007-07-07T15:20:00.000-05:00

I picked these today. There's LOTS more where they came from...

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

2007-06-17T18:46:00.000-05:00

If you're a Harry Potter nerd like I am, I'm sure you've heard about the plans to open a Harry Potter theme park. Sounds like so much fun! Maybe by "late 2009," which is when it's supposed to open, I will have been able to save up enough to afford the trip. Just think--Colt will be 6, Cody will be 10, and Chet will be 12. Whoah. Is that really just 2 years away?

Looks cool, dunnit? How are they gonna have snow all over "Hogsmeade" in Orlando? How weird will that be, walking around in 100-degree weather among all the "snowy" streets?

By the way, book 7 is coming out in just about a month. If you start now, you'll have time to reread some of the previous books to get back in the groove. I cannot wait.

Here's a "who said it?" Harry Potter quotes game. Some are easy, some are challenging. How much do you remember?

A miracle product!

2007-06-08T13:59:00.000-05:00

I don't know the story about the above "Diet Water," but there's a new product called "Skinny Water" that contains an "all-natural ingredient" called "Super CitriMax." Supposedly, drinking "Skinny Water" 30-60 minutes before each meal helps suppress the body's appetite, increase metabolism, and block carbohydrate absorption. Or could it just fill up your stomach and make you feel less hungry, make your body work better, and help flush out unneeded carbs, like all water?

It's being called a "diet drink" and is to be sold at participating 7-Eleven stores across the USA. The specially-formulated water is actually manufactured and bottled by a company located in Croatia. They pump the water from an artesian well located below their plant.

I found this at StrangeNewProducts.com, which is a pretty interesting site. Check it out!

And have you ever noticed that "Evian" is "naive" spelled backward?

Coolness in the Animal Kingdom

2007-06-06T10:52:00.000-05:00

Scientists in Suriname have discovered 24 new species in the rainforest, including this black-and-bright-purple frog. Go to the website for a slideshow. Warning: snake and bug alert.

How cute is this baby stingray? I know it's not fair, but the first thing I thought when I saw it was, "You bastards killed Steve Irwin!"

This cool website has beautiful pictures of color palettes found in butterflies. God is the ultimate artist.

Did you know that mice can sing? Researchers found that male mice respond to female scent by making inaudible (to humans) sounds believed to attract mates. So what does it sound like? Hear it here, and here, and here. Can't you just picture the she-mice throwing their little mouse panties at that Tom(mouse) Jones up there?

Will it work?

2007-06-01T13:52:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about this? Some guys have started an online petition to try and persuade Nike to manufacture the futuristic shoes Marty McFly wore in "Back to the Future 2." Would you wear them? You'll look ultra cool while on your hoverboard.

In lieu of a real post

2007-05-21T09:41:00.000-05:00

...something pretty to look at.

Isn't It Ironic?

2007-05-17T16:55:00.000-05:00

I found this article at Neatorama, a website I visit almost every day. It was reprinted there but originally came from the writers of "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader".

IRONIC DEATHS

FELIX POWELL, music composer

Story: Powell, then a British staff sargeant, wrote the music for "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile" in 1915 and entered it in a World War I competition for best morale-building song. The ditty won first prize and has been called "perhaps the most optimistic song ever written."

Final Irony: Powell committed suicide in 1942.

NIC MARCURA, a Yugoslavian farmer

Story: Sensing that his own end was near, Marcura set to work digging his own grave.

Final Irony: According to news reports, "in a sudden cloudburst, water began to fill up the hole. Marcura tried to bail it out with a bucket, slipped in and drowned."

ALBEN BARKLEY, former U.S. vice president

Story: On April 30, 1956, Barkley delivered a speech at a mock political convention at Washington and Lee University.

Final Irony: Moments after declaring to his audience, "I would rather sit at the feet of the Lord than dwell in the house of the mighty," Barkley keeled over and died.

FRIEDRICH RIESFELDT, a zookeeper in Paderborn, Germany

Story: When his elephant Stefan became constipated, Riesfeldt fed it 22 doses of animal laxative … and when that didn’t work, fed it more than a bushel of high-fiber berries, figs, and prunes. Still no luck.

Final Irony: The frustrated zookeeper then gave Stefan an olive-oil enema. That did it. According to one account, the elephant suddently released approximately 200 pounds of manure, killing Riesfeldt. "The sheer force of the elephant’s unexpected defecation knocked Mr. Riesfeldt to the ground, where he struck his head on a rock and lay unconscious as the elephant continued to evacuate his bowels on top of him," police detective Erik Dern explained. "With no one there to help him, he lay under all that dung for at least an hour and suffocated." (Although this story was widely reported in the press, it may just be an urban legend. What makes it so questionable? Sounds like a lot of dung.)

GEORGE STORY, Life magazine’s "Life Baby"

Story: In 1936, the premiere issue of Life magazine featured a picture of newborn baby George Story. The headline: "Life Begins." Over the years, the magazine periodically updated readers on the progress of Story’s life as he married twice, had children, and retired.

Final Irony: Less than a week after Life announced it was folding, Story died from heart failure. The final issue of Life featured one last article on Story. The headline: "A Life Ends."

MYRA DAVIS, Janet Leigh’s body double in the film Psycho

Story: Davis was Leigh’s stand-in, she was one of several people who provided the voice of Norman Bates’s mother, and it was her hand that was seen in the famous shower scene in which Leigh’s character is stabbed to death.

Final Irony: On July 3, 1988, Davis was found strangled in her Los Angeles home, murdered by a 31-year-old "caretaker and handyman" … just like the character portrayed by Anthony Perkins in Psycho.

BOBBY LEACH, a professional daredevil

Story: In 1911, Leach, who made his living risking his life, went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. He survived the attempt.

Final Irony: Fifteen years later, in 1926, Leach slipped on an orange peel … and died from injuries sustained in the fall.

JOHANN UNDERWALD, a Swiss mathematician

Story: Underwald, one of the brightest stars in his field, was described by his peers as "the next Albert Einstein."

Final Irony: Underwald died in October 1999. Cause of death: mathematical error - Underwald "made a 250-foot bungee jump with a 300-foot bungee cord, and died immediately on impact."

Go here if you want to examine each of the "ironic" situations in Alanis Morrsette's song "Ironic." Or not.

puppy cuteness

2007-05-17T12:08:00.000-05:00

The pups are getting cuter every day!

We brought them inside a couple of nights ago during a really bad storm.

They didn't cause any trouble (except the one who had gone exploring and got lost during the night).

Dixie, however, was a different story. Have I ever mentioned that she was never house trained?

Yeah. Not fun.

But the best part about them being inside was the fact that Dexter was able to spend some Daddy time with the pups.

For whatever reason, Dixie allowed him to be around them as much as he wanted while they were inside.

He tried to play with them, but they're not quite able to hang yet.

They are extremely snuggly.

I also like smart-alec slogans paired with old-school illustrations

2007-05-16T16:31:00.000-05:00

The proud parents

2007-05-15T14:02:00.000-05:00

I like coffee.

2007-05-14T12:36:00.000-05:00

Especially when there's lots of Splenda, cream, and chocolate in it. Next time you're over here, ask my husband to make you a Kirkaccino. Mmmm.

I dunno...

2007-05-11T10:39:00.000-05:00

According to an article in the New York Times, one of the hottest snack foods among Southern black kids is Kool-Aid pickles. They're made by soaking dill pickles in double-strong Kool-Aid for a week in the refrigerator. I am not making this up. Read it for yourself.

I can't say I'm too surprised, really. I know how popular pickles are, and when I was in school some (black) kids used to bring dry Kool-Aid mix and sugar and eat it as a snack. I have noticed, too, that "African-American" people tend to drink fruit-flavored drinks instead of Cokes. Notice for yourself the next time you're at Burger King or a convenience store.

Who knows, they might be good. I know I like sweet pickles, and I've had pickles flavored with cinnamon red-hots, and they're awesome. But fruit punch pickles? I'm just not sure. What do you think? Imagine a lemonade dill pickle. Hmm...

My summer home

2007-05-10T20:43:00.000-05:00

Growing puppies

2007-05-09T11:04:00.000-05:00

Their eyes still aren't open, but they are already trying to walk (the bigger ones, at least). Dixie has moved them twice, and now they're in a box on our patio. That won't last long, though, because they're getting so big. They have that "new puppy smell," too. I just love that! Come and see them (and us) when you can.

Feeling Better

2007-05-05T11:08:00.000-05:00

I had a decent amount of sleep last night, made extra comfy because my baby was home. I feel almost completely human today!

He had spent FOUR NIGHTS at Memaw and Pepaw's house and he was pretty hyped up to be back home with his brothers and dogs to play with, and the "shrampoween," and the pool, and everything else...It was hard to get him settled down to sleep.

CS had a sleepover with his friend from down the street, and CA has been hanging out with the youngest. All is quiet, thank goodness. I'm still not over this crud, but I'm feeling better.

Happy?

2007-05-04T12:47:00.000-05:00

The cartoon is titled, "The history of technology." but I think it covers more than just technological advancements. I've noticed in my own experience how, after changing things around again and again, I frequently end up putting them back in just about the same place they were to begin with.

An obvious example is my furniture. If you know me, you know that I love to rearrange furniture. Sometimes the boys and Kirk will come home to find that the living room is now the dining room, and I will have changed the arrangement of the appliances on the kitchen counters. I've done this kind of thing many times, in every room of the house, and guess how things are set up now? Pretty much the way they were when we first moved in seven years ago.

Change is good. Change is necessary for growth. But the old expression, "The more things change, the more they say the same" is true, I think. When you look at the big picture, you can see patterns and history that has repeated itself.

So what about the caveman in the cartoon? What should he do? Move out of the city, away from the noise and pollution and clutter, but still keep his internet connection and satellite TV...sounds good to me.

My mother is a saint (and my daddy's not too bad either)

2007-05-03T14:03:00.001-05:00

I've been sick since last Friday. Ugh.
Mama and Daddy came over Monday and took Colt home with them, thereby allowing me to actually SLEEP some. I don't know who is having more fun: Colt, or his Memaw and Pepaw. If I didn't feel so lousy I'd probably be having fun too.

But isn't the rain beautiful? Our garden is looking more "real" now. It will probably have a really nice growth spurt with all this water. The canteloupes (at least that's what I think they are), pumpkins, English peas, carrots, squash, zucchini, cabbage, onions, peppers, and garlic all look promising. We also have lots of flowers and vines coming up. I hope they make it! The fig tree is growing more and more fragrant, and the cherries and plums (the ones Colt hasn't already "found") are beginning to blush with the hotter days.

The puppies are growing so quickly! There are 12 little sweeties who sleep for longer stretches now. Their movements are getting stronger and it seems they are getting ready to open their eyes. It is so amazing how you can almost see them develop before your eyes! It's kind of like having babies of your own, in fast motion (with a few significant differences, of course). But that's another story in and of itself. Anyway, Dixie is spending a little more time out of the nursery, and hanging out with Dexter more each day. Her nursing seems to be adequate, at least for now.

Ok, time to go pick up the boys from school. It's rainy day dismissal, so here goes another 30 minutes or so in carline.

But back to the point: Colt comes home tomorrow. I miss that little cutie. Thank you, Mama and Daddy!!!

Lest you think I've forgotten my own offspring...

2007-05-01T07:56:00.000-05:00

Ain't they cute?

A new nursery

2007-05-01T06:01:00.000-05:00

Current puppy count: 12.

Kirk built a cool new puppy pen out at our shed the day after they were born. This picture just shows the back corner of the area; it's actually in two sections that will be opened up as the puppies grow. Dixie and her litter now have lots of room to move around. Of course, the pups don't yet venture more than a couple of feet from Mommy, and even then that's usually because I've moved the ones who were "sleeping at the table" so to speak. They might whimper a little (if they wake up at all) but almost always go right back to sleep all cuddled up with the others who've been relocated so their littler sisters and brothers can have Dix all to themselves for a bit.

Dixie has been just great so far. I must admit, I wondered what kind of mother she'd be, given her "iffy" upbringing before she came to us. She was pretty stand-offish and still has a rebellious streak, but she'd mellowed out considerably and become a generally sweet doggie. She was a real trooper during the whelping and allowed me to be there whenever I felt she needed help (and as the litter got bigger and bigger, help was needed in several ways). She is still keeping Dexter, the stud-muffin Baby Daddy, at bay to some degree. She now lets him come into the nursery and has allowed him to sniff and even lick some of the puppies. Dexter is being really sweet and gentle with them, but he's ready to have Dixie back as his playmate. He makes her chase him around and bark her totally girly bark at him. It's so much fun to watch.

Ok, I'll stop now. It's just that the whole puppy drama is so fascinating to me! There are other things going on in my world, but this is the most newsworthy at the moment.

Alright, just one more picture. I just had to snap a picture of them in the basket I used to transport them to their new digs. Too adorable!

Oh, the cuteness!

2007-04-28T18:27:00.001-05:00

Current puppy count: THIRTEEN. That's right, I said thirteen. Five girls, eight boys. I hope Dixie can provide for them all.

You can rest assured that there will be many, many more photos of these little dumplins, whether you want to see them or not.

Puppy Time!

2007-04-27T17:49:00.000-05:00

I feel like I'm in 101 Dalmations. "Six! Eight! Thirteen! No, wait, fourteen!" ...

Dixie had her pups today. It was so amazing to be able to see the whole process. Such drama! Birth, life, death...all out back in the Li'l Tykes Playhouse. The current puppy count is...a BUNCH.

Come to Butthead

2007-04-20T17:42:00.000-05:00

(sigh)

2007-04-18T14:22:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't get my goals for yesterday accomplished. In fact, I didn't get anything done outside. I decided instead to go grocery shopping, because when you're out of milk, bread, eggs, flour, cereal, fruit, soup, vegetables, cheese, meat, ice cream, potatoes, and crackers, it's not too easy to whip up a meal for 5.

And then today, it's been so chilly and rainy (although the weather man said specifically that we would not need our umbrellas today) that I haven't gotten out except to drive to the library for Colt's final storytime. Plus, it's not like I don't have anything that needs doing inside.

Yay, something new!

2007-04-17T10:10:00.000-05:00

I obviously haven't been spending any time at the computer for a while. So what's new with the Penmeister?

I rearranged my bedroom (again). Chet and I did a furniture switch-a-roo and it made a big difference in both our rooms.

I cut off (almost all of) my hair. Actually, I went and had it cut this time, and I'm not completely bald, so it wasn't completely a Britney moment (but close). I'd decided a few days ago that I wanted a short haircut, and woke up yesterday and decided that it was time. Were my (all male) family members happy? No. Did I care? No. It's funky and spunky and I'm tempted to dye it purple. Actually, burgundy. There is a box of haircolor that always catches my eye, and the color name is Burgundy. My husband and children would disown me. Oh but it's tempting...

My doggie Dixie is pregnant. We'll have puppies in about 2 weeks. Anybody want a white lab? All I can say is, thank God it's not my body. Even though I will be stuck with lots of work for the summer, I'm excited. So, do you want one? Or two?

The weather being GORGEOUS for the past couple of weeks, I've spent a lot of time working in the yard. I've planted lots of flowers, shrubs, trees, and vegetables. Today's goal: get the rest of the garden planted before tonight's rain, and finish weeding and bordering the new rose bed. There's nothing like getting your fingernails all dirty.

There's still no real news on the possible uprooting we're contemplating. I go back and forth on what I really want to do. Please pray for me and my family.

Even though I don't update very frequently, and I don't call or e-mail or otherwise keep in touch with you, I think about all my friends every day and wish I could spend more time with you. Drop me a line when you can. LOVE YA!!!

Deathly Hallows cover revealed

2007-03-29T08:41:00.000-05:00

I can't wait! 113 days till the book, 105 till the new movie...

Here are some links to some HP sites.

jkrowling.com

mugglenet

the leaky cauldron

.88 to save your marriage

2007-03-28T09:10:00.000-05:00

I discovered a simple way to prevent twice-a-day arguments and simmering resentment. I bought my own tube of toothpaste! You see, I'm a "middle squeezer" and my husband is a "squeeze from the bottom and roll the tube up" kind of guy. I don't know why it took me years of marriage to figure this out.

And here's a bonus (free!) way to neutralize the quintessential bathroom argument: we BOTH put BOTH parts of the toilet seat down when we're done. That way he's not the only one with lid duty and I never have to sit down into the cold wet bowl in the middle of the night. Works for me!

P.S. I'm teaching my boys to do the same thing. You're welcome, future daughters-in-law. Now I just have to figure out how to neutralize the other bathroom problem in a house with three little boys...

For more ingenious ideas on everyday things, visit Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer.

It's almost here

2007-03-28T08:19:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about the Easter conspiracy?

Attention, Ladies

2007-03-24T03:36:00.001-05:00

Go and read this article here by Teddy Allen.

Your thoughts?

Show-and-tell crack

2007-03-20T11:36:00.000-05:00

I found this article on Fox News. I clicked on the link and was surprised to see that it was from Shreveport. I looked on the local TV stations' websites, but saw nothing. So how did it make it to Fox News and not our local news?

Lego my Ringo

2007-03-19T13:22:00.000-05:00

Check out these Beatles album covers recreated in Lego. Does he get paid for this, or does he just have lots and lots of free time?

I found this at Neatorama.com, one of my favorite websites.

Stained glass

2007-03-13T09:06:00.000-05:00

I recently attended a function at a church that looked quite bland on the outside. However, on the inside there was a huge, gorgeous stained glass mural in the sanctuary. Here are some details from the glass.

I could just imagine gazing at it throughout a church service.

Fortunately, I had my camera with me.

It reminded me of the church we attended when we lived in Natchez. There were stained glass windows all along both sides of the sanctuary, although not nearly as "fancy" as these, and I loved them. Our church was historic, the oldest one in the state, and had lots of interesting old books and things. The pastor and his family were very cool, too. I don't miss a lot of things about Natchez, but that church is one I do.

Me, minus the baby in the high chair

2007-03-12T10:32:00.000-05:00

modern day birds and bees

2007-03-09T08:25:00.000-06:00

A little boy goes to his father and asks, "Daddy, how was I born?"

The father answers, "Well son, I guess one day you will need to find out anyway. Your Mom and I first got together in a chat room on Yahoo. Then I set up a date via e-mail with your Mom and we met at a cyber-cafe. We sneaked into a secluded room, where your mother agreed to a download from my hard drive.

As soon as I was ready to upload, we discovered that neither one of us had used a firewall, and since it was too late to hit the delete button, nine months later a little Pop-Up appeared that said: You've got Male."

Another deep thought by J.H.

2007-03-08T08:27:00.000-06:00

"We like to praise birds for flying. But how much of it is actually flying, and how much of it is just sort of coasting from the previous flap?"

By the way, go to gregscott.com for more amazing photos of birds in flight (or flap-coasting).

Vintage Cuteness

2007-03-06T15:42:00.000-06:00

Darn you, Girl Scouts of America!

2007-03-06T10:16:00.000-06:00

Samoas are the debbil!

News flash

2007-03-03T22:48:00.000-06:00

i heard something crazy on the radio the other day...Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang VanHalen might be joined by a new lead singer. You will never guess who, but try anyway.

Birthday wisdom

2007-02-27T08:08:00.000-06:00

Like many people, I'm taking the occasion of my birthday to reflect on life. There are many places to turn when seeking wisdom, like family (especially your parents), friends, books, and of course the Bible. But the bank of knowledge from which I most frequently withdraw is none other than the inspirational musings of Jack Handey.

Here are some of his Deep Thoughts that relate to life, the universe, and everything:

"There are many stages in a man's life. In the first stage, he is young and eager, like a beaver. In the second stage, he wants to build things, like dams, and maybe chew down some trees. In the third stage, he feels trapped, and then "skinned." I'm not sure what the fourth stage is."

"Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself. Mankind. Basically, it's made up of two separate words--"mank" and "ind." What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind."

"I don't think God put me on this planet to judge others. I think he put me on this planet to gather specimens and take them back to my home planet."

"Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead. No, wait. Not me, you."

"If you ever reach total enlightenment while you're drinking a beer, I bet it makes beer shoot out your nose."

"When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it's not, ummmm, boy."

"As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing more than a bunch of honking and yelling? Sometimes it seemed that way."

"If life deals you lemons, why not go kill someone with the lemons (maybe by shoving them down his throat)?"

"The wise man can pick up a grain of sand and envision a whole universe. But the stupid man will just lay down on some seaweed and roll around until he's completely draped in it. Then he'll stand up and go, 'Hey, I'm Vine Man.' "

"I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it."

It's my birthday

2007-02-26T11:01:00.000-06:00

MacGyver was the man

2007-02-20T17:23:00.000-06:00

I know both of you remember MacGyver. Well, I ran across this website that lists all the amazing tricks (called "MacGyverisms") the resourceful hero does on each of the 141 episodes. For example, IN THE PILOT ALONE, our boy:

Disarmed missle with a paperclip
Matches & rope got rifle to shoot itself
Smashed pistol barrel to use as rocket thruster
Kicked grate to test for hidden laser
Lit cigarette with hidden laser
Smoked cigarette to find hidden laser
Used binocular eyepiece to catch laser beam
Aimed laser beam at source to "kill" it
Knotted fire hose to build up water pressure
Used said hose to lift steel beam
Tested heat on door with a stick (it caught fire)
Milk Chocolate candy stops sulphuric acid leak
Used shirt to filter gases
Sodium metal & cold capsule explosive
Flipped lights in morse code

There's also way more information out there than I knew existed about the show, including a very detailed listing on Wikipedia.

Did you know...
The show ran from 1985 to 1992. Whoah. My most formative years. No wonder I can still remember most of the theme music.
MacGyver's first name was "Angus," though it was never revealed until the final episode
Teri Hatcher was on MacGyver as a supporting character
For all you SHS grads: this was Mr. Tony's favorite show, right up there with NOVA. Why do I remember that? I do not know.

God Loves You

2007-02-14T11:38:00.000-06:00

...and so do I.
If you're "in the mood," you can find lots of weird/funny/cool V-day stuff at Miss Cellania.

Happy SAD!

2007-02-14T08:51:00.000-06:00

Did you know it's Singles Awareness Day? Me neither.

Men and Women

2007-02-14T08:46:00.000-06:00

Rachel's Challenge, and Heartsongs

2007-02-11T22:40:00.000-06:00

I came across the story of a girl named Rachel Scott, who was the first person killed in the Columbine shootings. You may remember hearing about one of the students refusing to deny her Christian beliefs when threatened to do so by the killers--that was Rachel. Apparently she was a remarkably mature and insightful teenager, with a great attitude. If only more teenagers (and adults) could be that way...Go here to read an essay she wrote.
And because deep inside me is a strict English teacher, I must hope that this wasn't a paper for an English class.

This brings to mind Mattie Stepanik, a boy who died of muscular distrophy, who wrote some beautiful poetry and had more of an understanding of life and death than most of us do. I first saw him on Oprah years ago, and he was a guest of hers several times before his death. He wrote several books up until his death at age 13. Here's a poem he wrote at age 6:

Heartsong

I have a song, deep in my heart,
And only I can hear it.
If I close my eyes and sit very still
It is so easy to listen to my song.
When my eyes are open and
I am so busy and moving and busy,
If I take time and listen very hard,
I can still hear my Heartsong.
It makes me feel happy.
Happier than ever.
Happier than everywhere
And everything and everyone
In the whole wide world
Happy like thinking about Going to Heaven when I die.
My Heartsong sounds like this:

I love you! I love you!
How happy you can be!
How happy you can make
The whole world be!

And sometimes it's other
Tunes and words, too,
But it always sings the
Same special feeling to me.
It makes me think of
Jamie, and Katie and Stevie,
And other wonderful things.
This is my special song.
But do you know what?
All people have a special song
Inside their hearts!
Everyone in the show wide world
Has a special Heartsong.
If you believe in magical, musical hearts,
And if you believe you can be happy,
Then you, too, will hear your song.

Do you think that people who are "destined" to die at a young age have some sort of instinct about it? Are people facing imminent death granted understanding and peace? Discuss...

Deep Thoughts

2007-02-05T21:52:00.000-06:00

You remember the recurring segment on old SNL (Phil Hartman/Jan Hooks era) called "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey" ? Good.
I have a book of these and it's still funny each time I open it up to a random page. Some of them are too good to keep to myself, so I will occasionally post one here for you. Here's one of my favorites:

"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is, "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is, "Probably because of something you did.""

Ouch.

Another car you might not want to drive to the grocery store

2007-02-05T09:03:00.000-06:00

The Batmobile is for sale, too.
If you've never watched the original Batman movie, you should. I don't remember watching the TV show as a kid, but the movie is so dang funny. You notice something new every time you watch it, and with all these little-boy types running around my house, I've seen it quite a few times.

Have an extra $150,000 ?

2007-01-30T11:00:00.000-06:00

Now you can own Ecto 1, the car made famous in the Ghostbuster movies. How cool would it be to drive around in that? I wonder if the siren works.

Ewwww

2007-01-28T18:52:00.000-06:00

Is this real? I know it's not natural. Steroids, anyone? No, they're juth thupplementh.
If anyone can tell me the source of that last sentence was, you win a fabulous prize. Hint: it's a movie.

Smooch bait

2007-01-28T07:44:00.000-06:00

Remember this?

2007-01-25T07:55:00.000-06:00

"It is not easy indeed but life is waiting ahead for her."

2007-01-19T18:40:00.000-06:00

Half-human, half-animal: return of the girl who was lost in the wild for 18 years

If you haven't heard this story yet, read it by following the above link.

More stories of people living in the wild:

Many Cambodians were forced to spend years hiding in the jungle during the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime and the years of civil war after its fall. In 2004 a party of former refugees who had fled into the jungle reappeared after more than two decades. They were clad in bark and leaves and had no idea that the war was over. Twenty-two babies had been born during their wanderings, several of whom had grown into adulthood without meeting any other people.

A boy aged about 12, known as Victor of Aveyron, was found in woods in southern France at the end of the 18th century. He became a case study in the Enlightenment debate about the difference between humans and animals. Attempts failed to civilise him or to teach him speech.

A missing Indian child, Ramu, aged 6, became known as the Lucknow Wolf Boy when he was found in 1954. His parents said that a wolf had snatched him as a baby. When reunited with his parents, he lapped milk, chewed on bones and showed more interest in wolves at the zoo. He died in 1968 at Lucknow hospital.

In 1970 a girl aged 13 was discovered in a house in California, tied to a potty chair. For ten years she had been locked alone in a room throughout the day. She was unable to talk or walk properly. The girl, Genie, initially made good progress — scoring well on spatial reasoning tests — but she never fully learnt to talk. She lives in a care home to this day.

Source: Feralchildren.com This is one of the freakiest websites I've ever seen.

Some of Santa's lesser-known family members.

2007-01-19T16:42:00.000-06:00

Lefty Claus (always leaning slightly to the side)

Melvin Claus (he has anger management issues)

Charlene Claus (suffers from occasional uncontrollable twitches)

Eugene Claus (a one-eyed "special" person)

Christmas Eve Cuteness

2007-01-19T07:33:00.000-06:00

They're right...

2007-01-17T20:13:00.000-06:00

...when they say that kids have more fun with the box than with the toy that came in it.

Hello out there...

2007-01-16T08:47:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm back. It's been a long, busy month-or-so, with the holidays and all. We were just getting back to a normal schedule when we had the MLK day. It was nice, especially since the weather was so gray, wet, and cold, to hang around the house chillin' with my peeps.

I have a bunch of pictures from the holidays, and once I get them downloaded I'll be sure to share. I know you're on the edge of your seat and have been anxiously checking this site daily in anticipation of seeing my boys opening their Christmas presents and just generally being cute. You will not be disappointed. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, please follow the link to one of my favorite websites, Neatorama. There is always something cool to look at or think about (sometimes both!) over there. Last time I checked, the first post was an extra-long one about fads through the years, but the guy updates frequently so there's no telling what you'll find.

I missed the Golden Globes last night--I like to watch Red Carpet stuff like that--because we watched Disc 1 of "The Return of the King" instead. My kids have always liked the LOTR movies, but since we've recently read "The Hobbit" and because of course, they're getting older, they pick up more and better understand things in the movie. It's funny, too, that they want to know if some events in the movies "really happened," meaning "Was that in the book?" I guess they've soaked up a lot from listening to Kirk and me discussing it, because last night Cody said, "I don't like all that "Arwen is dying' stuff." Me neither, Cody.

I wouldn't have been able to see the awards show anyhow, because our original plan was to read some more Potter. We're about 2/3 of the way through "Sorceror's Stone." This will be Cody's first time through the books. He was too young to sit still when we read them through for Chet a few years back. The reading for last night was cancelled, though, because Colt, who is now the one too little to sit through all those chapters, was wide awake and more than willing to watch some LOTR action.

All that being said, I just remembered that E! (love that exclamation point!) replays its Red Carpet stuff on the morning after an award show. Yippee!

Have a great day!

I haven't blogged in...

2007-01-05T11:44:00.000-06:00

A coon's age.

So how was your Christmas and New Year?

Still here

2006-12-27T13:29:00.000-06:00

Hope you are having a fun Çhristmas season.

Mike was right

2006-12-18T09:34:00.000-06:00

It was the Hobbit. I have no problem admitting he got it right. It happens so rarely, I should have acknowledged it immediately.

Puppy Eats Baby's Toes

2006-12-12T17:16:00.001-06:00

Have you heard about this yet? It's from good old Bossier City, but
it's even made it onto Fox News.

From KTBS:
Police said the Hansches have told several different stories about what happened. Natale said the couple is charged with child desertion for allegedly putting their baby in a dangerous situation. Natale said the negligence charges apply because the child was under the age of 10 and was exposed to a danger from which she could not protect herself.

Sick. Sad.

I want one!

2006-12-08T23:22:00.000-06:00

Urban Outfitters now has available a "Charlie Brown Pathetic Tree," a replica of the sad tree the Peanuts gang had in the classic Christmas cartoon. It comes with one red ornament ball, and can be shaped however you like it.
If you're looking for a minimalist, nostalgic decoration, it doesn't get any better than this.

Why I quit Journalism

2006-12-08T21:06:00.000-06:00

My friend Cindy, at "There and Back Again Farms," posted on her blog an opinion about news. Here's her post:

"Why I don’t watch the news
Mike and I were talking about having one of his friends over who is Muslim, and I’m excited because I’ve never sat down and talked to a Muslim before, and then it occured to me that I have no idea what’s going on in the news in that part of the world right now. Not that that would necessarily be part of the dinner conversation, but it made me think about why I don’t care to watch the news. One, I tend to think it is entirely biased. They show you only what they want you to see so they can get their sensational story out and get everyone riled up. Two, its usually downright depressing. Who really wants to hear about the latest murderer before they go to bed? I think there should be a news station that only does happy stories. What would happen if we only told the good things that happen, and only say supportive things about the president, and highlighted the good things this country has done instead of the criminals. Maybe there’s a website that already does that, I don’t know, I do watch the discovery channel, but there should be on one prime time TV, so we could learn whats going on without all the destructive talk. Think about the power of positive. It could change the world."

Here's my reply:

"We already tried that. It was called the 1950’s.
I think major contributors to its demise were the technological advances (TV especially) that led to journalists crawling all over everything, to see if something was happening; when nothing was, the journalist poked it with a stick to see what happened then. Soon every one of them thought he owed it to the world to let his opinion be known.
Our sinful human nature (or was it Satan?) caused us to obsess over other people’s failures and especially delight in the downfall of the mighty; and that’s why we now have Fox News, CNN, the NY Times, the Enquirer…
And now the internet spews it everywhere at the speed of light. It’s only going to get worse.
That all being said, I haven’t a clue about what’s going on in the Middle East. I know the very very basics but I can’t stand to hear all that negativity. What I tend to do is go to some internet news pages and read about what seems interesting to me."

Follow the link and add your opinion, if you'd like.

Name that book

2006-12-05T15:08:00.000-06:00

I've been reading this book to Cody at night. What is it?

Sick Wiggle Quits

2006-11-29T13:22:00.000-06:00

Greg (Yellow Shirt) has some kind of illness the doctors haven't identified yet. He's quitting the group to hopefully get better.

I hope he's gonna be OK! I like the Wiggles. There, I said it. (Anthony is my favorite)

By the way, put this one down in the "best headline" archives.

Did her mom buy that?

2006-11-29T11:28:00.000-06:00

What about 7- and 9-year-olds?

2006-11-28T10:48:00.000-06:00

Yep, I've got the cutest of those, too.

All right, we'll call it a draw

2006-11-27T00:03:00.000-06:00

Python bursts after swallowing alligator
Wildlife officials in Florida found the remains of a wildlife deathmatch between the two high-end predators. Follow the link to learn more.

That's what I feel like after Thanksgiving week. And you?

In case you were wondering...

2006-11-19T03:08:00.000-06:00

...this is what the world's cutest 3-year-old looks like.

Birdie

2006-11-17T15:37:00.000-06:00

O.J. "confession"

2006-11-15T21:54:00.000-06:00

Publisher on O.J.: 'I consider this his confession'

I didn't think he could get more disgusting. I was all set to post his picture but it made me sick.

Letterman said, "He is going to reveal where he hid the knife he didn't have."

Legal experts say that since he can't be tried twice for the same crime, he can publish whatever he wants without impunity.

I think I'm gonna hurl.

Panda-poop paper and Ka-ka cars

2006-11-14T17:43:00.000-06:00

A zoo in Thailand has found a use for the 50 pounds of poop produced daily by their pandas: make it into paper to sell to the tourists!

Now if they could just come up with cars that run on dung-power. But would the exhaust smell like farts? I can see it now--

The Toyota Thunder-Turd: We're #1 in #2
The Porsche Poopmobile: Holy crap, this car is fast!
The Dodge Dookie XL: Flush-n-Rush
The Suzuki $h!temobile: For Shizzle!

Congratulations Mitsy!

2006-11-13T16:36:00.000-06:00

We are happy for you! (Except George)

Otterly Adorable

2006-11-07T09:18:00.000-06:00

Ok, here's a little more "cute" for you. Awhile back I posted a link to cuteoverload.com, where you can "aww" your way through many, many pwecious images. I looked on there this morning, and this is what I saw.

Deep Otter Thoughts
"Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants."

Now that sounds like something I would say.

For all the pets on your Christmas list...

2006-11-06T18:46:00.000-06:00

If you have money to burn and a pet you dote on, you just might need to check out this website, where you can order CD's for dogs, cats, even birds. This is from the website:

"Songs To Make Dogs Happy!" is the first qualitatively and quantitatively researched musical CD, based upon 200 canine participants’ responses to what THEY would like to hear in songs!
The Laurel Canyon Animal Company and Dr. Kim Ogden, a nationally known Intuitive Animal Communicator, worked together to create music dogs love to listen to! A CD with 12 songs that will make your dog happy!

And there are children out there who don't have decent clothes to wear...

Yep

2006-11-05T08:06:00.000-06:00

Mmmm...pie

2006-11-02T22:01:00.000-06:00

What's better than a silly pie chart? More silly pie charts!

Luna Love

2006-11-01T21:26:00.000-06:00

Let's just skip Halloween this year

2006-10-30T13:43:00.000-06:00

Oh no. Too late.
My kids have already dressed up 3 times (for Scouts, church, and a birthday party) and it ain't even the 31st yet. I like Halloween as much as the next person, but I'm just sick of it already. Too much! But then again, I feel that way about lots of things I used to really care about, like being nice to others and personal hygiene. Just kidding (a little).

How original are you?

2006-10-27T15:40:00.001-05:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
58
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

McDonald's vows to stop killing hedgehogs

2006-10-27T13:20:00.000-05:00

Who knew that a McFlurry could be deadly (other than diabetics or people allergic to overpriced, underflavored desserts).Apparently, the Hedgehog Welfare Society did.

Hedgehogs all over the U.K. were dying after sticking their heads into discarded McFlurry cups, looking for a little sticky goodness, only to find that they couldn't back out, due to their prickly quills. Starving to death because of looking for something to eat...tragically ironic, don'tcha think?

But after only FIVE YEARS of being petitioned by Hedgie lovers all over the world, Ronald McDonald has finally awoken from his gluttonous stupor to respond. Did they somehow make the McFlurry less desirable to hedgehogs? Did they encourage the government to (dare I say it?) make littering illegal? No, dummy. They changed the packaging.

McDonald's said in a statement the design change had resulted from pressure from the society which prompted "significant research and design testing" to develop new packaging. "The smaller aperture of the lid has been designed to prevent hedgehogs from entering the McFlurry container in the unfortunate incidence that a lid is littered and is then accessible to wildlife," it said.

And millions of tiny voices broke into the "Hallelujah Chorus."

Another good thing to come out of this: I've found a new resource for wacky-but-true news stories, like this one over here. The last sentence alone is worth following the link. We ain't got nothin' on the British when it comes to odd news.

I love rainy days!

2006-10-26T08:38:00.000-05:00

No sarcasm intended. The only way it would be better would be if it were thundering and the wind blowing wildly. And if I were in Costa Rica.

Of course, tornadoes are no fun, but as for the rest of the stormy weather, bring it on. I am so glad it's fall. Anybody with me?

Hair in a hurry

2006-10-25T00:06:00.000-05:00

This post is in conjunction with an ongoing project by Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. You can follow the link to see a bunch more tips from other mommybloggers.

Here's my tip: If you ever have to suddenly look presentable and have no time to wash your hair, or if your hair's gone blah in the middle of the day, sprinkle a little baby powder in your hand and work it lightly through your hair for a quick picker-upper. Go easy; you don't want to end up looking like George Washington with a powdered wig. A little goes a long way. Note: I don't know how well this will work for brunettes, as my hair is medium-to-dark blonde. So to all you people who theoretically have less fun than me: try it out before your next shower to see how it works.

By the way, I use the lavender scented powder so I don't smell like I just changed a baby.

Name that costume

2006-10-24T22:57:00.000-05:00

Cuteness fix

2006-10-20T08:42:00.000-05:00

While helping my 4th-grader make a diorama of the Piney Wood Forest, I came across this picture. So, here's a little "Awwww" for ya today. And, because I care, here's a place you can get your "Cute" on every day! ; )

It's punkin time

2006-10-18T12:29:00.000-05:00

I always think about tick-or-treating at Mrs. Ollie's house and getting one of her huge popcorn balls.
What are some of your memories of Halloween?

Superstitious?

2006-10-13T00:35:00.000-05:00

Hey Vern!

2006-10-12T15:39:00.000-05:00

I know I'm on a nostalgia kick lately, but here's another one for you: Ernest P. Worrell.
My 3-year-old and I watched "Ernest Goes to Camp" yesterday, and he just laughed!

Do you remember the TV show "Hey Vern, It's Ernest" that was only on for one season? My father the clown...
And let's not forget the classic, "Ernest Saves Christmas." He was at one with the yuletide, knowhutImean?
A bit of trivia for you: my first official date with my now-husband was to see "Ernest Scared Stupid" at the old Ruston movie theatre.

Tell me what you like best about Ernest.

Under Construction

2006-10-10T12:25:00.000-05:00