Michael Jackson Pleads Not Guilty

Read the Whole Story if you must

I keep thinking I cannot possibly be more sickened by the crap going on in this world and then I read the news and see that I really can be more sickened. I'm having real trouble deciding who sickens me the most. Jackson? His LOYAL Fans that gather outside of his Neverland Ranch? Or the parents that allowed their child to spend time alone with Jackson despite the enormous amount of press that surrounded his earlier brush with Molestation charges?

Let me start first with Jackson. HELLO! You're on trial for Molestation and you're inviting your fans, even paying for bus transportation? Have you no effin' shame, you creepy looking sick Mother Effer? You actually effin' danced on top of an SUV when you left your arraignment? Are Molestation charges a joke for you? Just another photo opp? Really, I'm not even done with this creep, but I'll move on.

Okay now on to the sick Mother Effers that are holding candlelight vigils outside NeverLand Ranch. What is it? The money, the fame? Would you hold candlelight vigils for the Sonofabitch if he'd molested your child? Would you worship at the altar at any one of the thousands of other child molestors that are arraigned and tried every year? Is this your idea of a hero? WTF is wrong with you people? Are your double helices twisted just a little too far?

Okay, the parents. Now, I personally wouldn't let my child go off alone with anyone who seemed over eager to spend massive quantities of time with little boys, nor anyone who was overly generous with my child, and most certainly not someone who'd already been very publicly accused of molestation in a case that ended only after a huge monetary settlement. All I can think is these people either lived under a rock, didn't really give a damn about their kid to begin with, thought this would give the kid something to tell his grandchildren someday, or were seeing dollar signs. Other than that, I see no logic (and I quite frankly don't see any logic in any of those arguments either, but then I have brains) at all in sending your little boy off with Michael Jackson.

Clearly all three people or groups of people followed this logic:

Up in heaven God was handing out body parts. Everyone was cued up and he would call out different parts, "Eyes!" everyone lines up, "Ears!" everyone files over, "Brains!"

Everyone rushes over, except those people of the aforementioned groups. Those people heard Him say, "Trains!" and said, "Ah, no thanks we're gettin' a Limo."

WTF is wrong with some people, hmmm? This whole freakin' country is going to hell in a handbasket.

Time for a little pop trivia regarding some of Children's Favorite Products, produced by Binney & Smith



The Colorful Brands of Binney & Smith

Since its inception in 1903, the Crayola® brand has grown into one of the most respected and recognizable brands in the consumer marketplace. Today consumers equate the brand with color, fun, quality and development—all the characteristics that are reinforced in our growing product line which includes crayons, markers, colored pencils, paints, modeling compounds and craft and activity products for use in schools and homes. The brand has come a long way since the first box of 8 Crayol® a crayons made its debut in 1903. Currently the company makes more than 100 different crayon colors as well as an array of materials to stimulate children's creative development -- while having fun!

Although it began as a failed experiment to create synthetic rubber compound, Silly Putty® has made a remarkable rebound, becoming a toy classic that remains as popular with kids today as it was nearly 50 years ago when it debuted. Currently Silly Putty® brand products come in more than 15 different colors in the unmistakable egg-shaped packaging. Kids today continue to discover and marvel over Silly Putty's unique properties that allow it to be bounced, stretched and molded into a multitude of wacky shapes.

Portfolio SeriesTM , one of Binney & Smith's newest brands, is designed to help future art professionals who are developing their portfolios learn the basics of working with different mediums. Portfolio Series products offer high performance, color excellence, ease of use and safety and were designed specifically with older students in mind. The line includes drawing and coloring pencils, oil pastels and acrylic paints. Students and teachers appreciate this line of high quality products from a name they've trusted for years — the Crayola® brand.

Binney & Smith's inkTank , line of professional writing instruments, we're bringing innovative design, outstanding performance, top-notch quality and great product selection to adults!

I want everyone who reads this to ask me 3 questions, no more no less. Ask me anything you want and I will answer it. Then, I want you to go to your journal, copy and paste this allowing your friends (including myself) to ask you anything.


Taken from Radmila

Okay, okay, before Rainman's 9 AM requests to hear the dinner menu and my constant recipe posting drive Amanda to go postal, let me post something different. It's a little more emotional/religious than most of my posts, but I felt like posting it, so there =P

A friend e-mailed this to me and I found it incredibly appropriate for an impatient whiner and complainer like me.

After Sept. 11th, one company invited the remaining members of other companies who had been decimated by the attack on the Twin Towers to share their available office space. At a morning meeting, the head of security told stories of why these people were alive...... and all the stories were just:

The 'L I T T L E' things .

As you might know, the head of the company got in late that day because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One could not get a taxi.
T he one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone ... all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.


Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.

Pass this on to someone else, if you'd like. There is NO LUCK attached.
If you don't pass it on, it's okay: God's Love Is Not Dependent On E-Mail or Blog Entries.

Oh, and to make things even more interesting and kind of fun, let's have a venting session. Click on my comments and add your Favorite Pet Peeve to the list. Hopefully the asshats over at Haloscan will straighten out whatever is going on with the commenting today, so that I can read your rants. Go on, it's good to let it all hang out once in a while. Besides, maybe one of your offenders will read it and learn something

Parmesan Potato Fans

6 Medium Baking Potatoes
Salt and Pepper to taste
Butter, and lots of it (or margarine)
3/4 c. grated Parmesan Cheese (you can use that powdery stuff from the canned food aisle, but I prefer the fresh grated)
1 tsp garlic powder
1/3 c. plus half of a 1/3 c. seasoned bread crumbs
chili powder for garnish

Oven at 450
Spray plenty of butter flavored non-stick spray on baking dish or mini-casserole dishes.

Peel potatoes then slice 1/4 inch slices not cutting all the way through to the bottom, this will make the fanned out look. Put the taters into your baking dish of choice. Dot with butter. Salt and Pepper. Bake 20 minutes basting three times with the butter from the bottom of the dish. While that's baking, Mix together Parmesan Cheese, garlic powder, and bread crumbs.

Take potatoes out of the oven, sprinkle parmesan/crumb mix between slices and over top. Bake 35 minutes (no more basting) until brown and tender. Sprinkle chili powder lightly.

Eat with your steaks and a salad. Yum!

BEEF...It's what's for dinner!

HR Lady's Tender Lovin' Steak Marinade

3 TBSP Lime Juice
1/2 c. Water
1/3 c. Olive or Vegetable Oil
3 tsp Salt
2 tsp Cumin
2 tsp Chili Powder
2 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Oregano
3 Cloves Garlic

Place all ingredients in a large ziplock bag, seal and shake up. Pierce steaks with fork. Place steaks in marinade. Chill for minimum 1 hour, but the longer the better. Steaks are best grilled.

Does anyone have a pork tenderloin marinade? Preferably not a sweet one?

HR LADY'S FAMOUS PICO DE GALLO

4 Large Tomatoes or 10 Plum Tomatoes diced
1 Lg. Red Onion Diced
4-6 Jalapeños Diced Fine (remove the sees if you're a gallina*; and if you want it really, really spicy, look for the jalapeños with the most scarring -those are the hottest ones and the only ones we'll use.)
1/2 Bunch Cilanto Chopped Finely (use mainly just the leaves -a little bit of the stem doesn't hurt anything, though)
1 TBSP Lime Juice
1 tsp Salt

Toss all ingredients together in a 1 quart bowl with a lid. Chill 'til ready to use.

It's pretty good with tacos, fajitas, tostadas - even on top of burgers or served with fresh grilled fish or chicken or mixed into an omelette. It'll keep fresh in the fridge for three to five days. It's best when prepared just before use.

* Gallina (guy-een-ah) -translation: Chicken

My Latest Search Results

binney %26smith (Google) apparently binney smith is a terribly common search?!?!?

banner that says %22Mint Purple%22 (Google) This one still has me flummoxed

black and white photos of the dying princess taken moments after a car accident (Google) Wish you could see how many hits I got last Thursday -it had to be these Princess Di dying searches

photos of the dying princess taken moments after a car accident (Google) What really makes me sick is that obviously they WANT TO SEE photos of her dying. Is nothing sacred?

photos of the dying princess taken moments after a car accident. (Google) If anyone ever wants to see photos of me dying, I'm coming back and haunt them -and not a nice haunting. Full blown poltergeist bitch haunting

photos of the dying princess taken moments after the crash that killed her (Google) Really, people, need I say more?

sarasota florida quilts darling (Google) This one knocks me right into fits of giggles.

steven seagull birthdate (AOL) You'd think if they're fans of his, they'd at least know how to spell his name!

the invisible elbow (Google) I don't quite know what they were looking for, but I'm sure they didn't find it here. Hey wait, let me check.... Nope, my elbow's is still visible; despite the fact that I seem to go invisible every time I go out shopping.

when does edwin Binney eat breakfast and lunch (Google) Probably oatmeal or Cheerios -Hey, I lowered my cholesterol LOL

Anytime I'm feeling bored or bumming I can always get a giggle from my search results. The good news is my Yahoo rating has increased from a 1 to a 2! Yee-haw! Aw, c'mon It was bound to happen. Living out here in Mayberry I've begun to speak Hick-ese.

Apparently Britney's got a new man. Photos of her Britney and her new man and her new man's very, very pregnant fiancee would definitely draw crowds of readers. And typical of her reputation, there's a scandal attached. It's just really a terrible shame that I haven't any pictures of her or Kevin Federline, or the future Mrs. Federline fit to burst with child. Anyways, if I did have photos of Britney, I still wouldn't post them any more than I would post pictures of Princess Diana dying or news and information regarding the death of her stepbrother. I actually can't stand Britney Spears. She strikes me as one of those stars that will actually do anything to create a scandal. But I wouldn't mind shamelessly creating a post that would draw multiple hits to my site.

Another headachey Monday

I'm certain that if we'd get one hellacious thunderstorm it would do wonders for my sinuses. As it is, I've got yet another debilitating sinus headache. After all day with that headache I am unbelievably tense. I will be going to be early, perhaps after a nice long soak in the tub -with the green-apple scented candles. The scent of green apples is supposed to relieve headaches, don't know if it works or not, but who can soak in the tub without candlelight and bubbles?

I don't like to break promises, but I think everyone can relate to the misery of an excruciating sinus headache.

Catch ya later.

Feeling Quite Thoroughly Disappointed

Sadly, I did not win Trading Spaces Home Free Viewer Sweepstakes. There will be no paid off mortgage, no addition on the house, no new baby in the making, no new truck for hubby, no credit cards paid off. The good news is we won't lose sleep deciding what to do with the surplus bucks. I guess I kind of knew we wouldn't win, but it still was a let down.

I'm sadder that my favorite couple didn't win. They were so sweet and fun and seemed so natural and real, while the other couple seemed like they were putting on something of an act. I totally loved the Yellow Team. They reminded me so much of me & hubby, 'cept of course they were much older. I'm a little bummed over it and I'm not usually someone who gets emotionally involved with television.

I promise a real post tomorrow. G'nite.

Okay, so now my blog gains new found popularity because of Princess Diana, rather than Mother Theresa about whom I'd actually written.

Most Recent Search Terms:
23/04/2004 10:25:18
binney %26smith (Google)
black and white photos of the dying princess taken moments after a car accident (Google)
photos of the dying princess taken moments after the crash that killed her (Google)
photos of the dying princess taken moments after a car accident (Google)
photos of the dying princess taken moments after a car accident. (Google)
when does edwin Binney eat breakfast and lunch (Google)
banner that says %22Mint Purple%22 (Google)
i am invisible (Google)
why am I invisible%3F (Google)

The subject of that post having been instigated by Darren's Blogger Idol for the then current week 11. Sadly, the the essay was largely a lament of the fact that Mother Theresa died approximately the same time as the Princess and got no where near the media attention. Once again, Diana is in the news. When's the last time you heard anything concerning Mother Theresa dying? But don't worry, I'm sure Mother Theresa would prefer you focus your attention on the poor rather than her sainted self.

So, Scary Mama has recently begun popping in periodically and I went and checked out her site which is pretty cool and that's where I found this quiz:


The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to Purgatory!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very High
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Moderate
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Moderate
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

BTW, I am in Purgatory!

KITTY

So, I walk over to Kitty's personal bedroom (actually, our very large master bath, which has become her domain as she's 16 years old and often has "accidents") and peep over her specially designed (designed specifically high enough that she can't jump over it and go pee on my pillow) dutch door and say, "Hello, Kitty!" -In that high-pitched near squeal that I reserve for speaking to Kitty. She looks up at me expectantly. Which makes me realize that she's become Pavlov's Cat. I've spoiled her by tossin' her treats everytime she deigns to look up at me when I speak to her. So I turn to my son and say, "Get me those treats. She's waiting for me to give her treats."

So I take off the lid and shake out a few treats onto her rug. She immediately goes into Kitty Attack Mode and runs to them as if someone is going to steal them from her. Then I glance at my boy and say, "I have a knack for always tossin' out exactly five treats."

What's funny is, Kitty actually pauses in gorging herself and glances around (they kind of bounced out in a random pattern so they're a little spaced apart on the rug) as if she's counting the treats before resuming her nosh. Normally, she completely ignores me when food is around.

I don't usually post about Kitty, because she is generally unremarkable. Except on those rare occasions when she chooses to punish me for some misstep on my part. It could be anything, from moving her litter box to daring to have company intrude upon her personal domain to having the unmitigated gall to paint my bedroom thereby disturbing the delicate balance of her Kitty Kingdom. Punishment generally results in her peeing on something of mine -yes, only my stuff gets the christening. MY pillow right before bed time. My nice blouse that I laid on the bed while I prepared to shower and dress to go out. Inside my most comfortable shoe. On my side of the bed. I think you get the idea. It's only my stuff. Never hubbies. Never juniors. Mine. Forget about the fact that I'm the one who feeds her, waters her, treats her for fleas, gives her treats, changes her litter. I'm just the biatch that invited strangers into HER house. Who rearranged HER bathroom. Who redecorated her budoir.

And who does she really love? Really love the absolute most? Snuggle up to everytime he's near? Hubby -who didn't want any pets to begin with (but I wore him down with my very best pout). That's her man. When Kitty's around I can't get within two feet of Hubby. The other woman in my marriage is A CAT! Other women look for lipstick on the collar. I look for kitty hairs on his pantlegs. How does one compete with a kitty? She doesn't run up the credit cards buying shoes. She doesn't make him mow the lawn when he'd rather play with his Truck. She doesn't jab him with her elbow (does she even have an elbow?) in the ribs everytime he starts to snore. She doesn't nag him about watching cops or Steven Seagal movies. She never rants. She doesn't bitch about everything. AND, he doesn't care if all she does is eat and sleep all day. He doesn't mind that she's missing one front tooth. He finds her saggy belly cute.

Darn that 16 year old cat. And I bet she'll outlive me -eventhough 16 is already pretty old for a cat. What's a wife to do?

Latest Search Reaching My Page:

when does edwin Binney eat breakfast and lunch (Google)

Huh?

HR Lady’s Crowd Pleasin’ White Chicken Chili

Last night I was suffering from What-the-Hell-Am-I-Gonna-Make-for-Dinner-It's-Already-FiveOClock-itis, so I thought, hmmm wonder if anybody else has that problem? I thought I'd share my emergency pretty good dinner that's ready in no time recipe. Most of the ingredients I always have in stock around here. Try it out and let me know what you think. It was real popular at our Women's Guild Soup and Sandwich Fundraiser Luncheon.



2 TBSP Olive Oil- divided
1 ¼ Lb Chicken Breast Cubed about ¾ inch in size (I prefer to use boneless skinless you could also substitute leftover turkey or baked chicken –though I’d stick to the white meat)
1 med. Onion finely chopped
3 TBSP Cumin
3 TBSP Chili Powder
1 TBSP Garlic Powder or 4 cloves fresh garlic
1 TBSP Oregano (Mexican Oregano, if you can find it –it’s made by McCormick)
2 TBSP Corn Starch
2 TBSP Cold Water
1 C. Chicken Broth
6 Cans (14-16 oz.) Navy Beans w/ liquid (DO NOT DRAIN)
1 TBSP Salt


Cook chicken in 1 Tbsp oil until golden (about three minutes each side)
Set chicken aside. In large Dutch oven, warm 1 Tbsp Oil over medium heat. when pan is warm combine and add Onion, Cumin, Chili Powder, Garlic and Oregano. Sauté lightly until onion becomes clear -2 to 4 minutes. Add Chicken broth and heat to a low boil. In a small bowl, Mix Cornstarch and water until smooth and add to chicken broth mixture. Stir until smooth. Add Beans w/ all liquid from the beans and salt (some canned beans are particularly salty, so you may want to taste before adding salt). Heat to boiling, stirring frequently then reduce heat to low, add chicken and simmer for fifteen minutes, stirring occasionally. You can actually make this early in the day and then just bring it back up to a boil then turn down and simmer for ten minutes –needs plenty of stirring.

You can also make this in the crock-pot by simply cooking the chicken, heating the broth to near boil and adding broth and corn starch mixture to crock-pot before combining all other ingredients. Cook on High first 2 hours. Low for last 4 hours. It holds up very well to extended cooking (beyond 8 hours) in the crock-pot).

Excellent served with a tiny sprinkle of “Fiesta or Taco Blend Cheese, A dollop of sour cream, and a sprinkling of chopped green onions and tomato. AND chopped fresh jalapeños –if you want to spice things up!

You can also stretch the recipe by serving over yellow rice (or plain old white rice if you prefer).
Makes about 8 servings alone or 6 served with Corn Bread or Buttermilk Biscuits

If you have any great recipes that you'd like to share, feel free to e-mail them to me.

Pity Party Over

Okay, guys and girls, no post all day because I've been nursing an agonizing knee and feeling sorry for myself over crappy extended family relations and the bs that all of that entails. After several hours chattin' with my special blogger buddy Wayne the pity party is over. Wayne let me spew my misery a little bit and really made me feel good about myself until soon we were just having a good old time. Go see Wayne either at his giggly blog, Codswallop and Flapdoodle, or his business blog (where he gives out free advice -he really is just TOO nice). Go ahead and visit with him. He's very nice and funny and intelligent.

Later on I will find something else to write about -if I ever get over the screaming sinus headache that's pounding through my head. Go read Wayne. There ya go, Wayne-o. Some Good Linky Love! =D

Just in case you feel the need to know, searches that find my blog include:

Last 10 Search Terms: I can't possibly tell you why this came listed as my last 10 search terms, since there are only five in the list!?!?!
19/04/2004 01:24:24
banner that says %22Mint Purple%22 (Google)
i am invisible (Google)
why am I invisible%3F (Google)
boiling and coloring eggs (Yahoo)
jolly cholly%2C wrestler (AOL)

Summer Reading List

I found this on Pisces Peach's site and would like to share with you -she found it on someone else's site, click her link on the right and visit her site. The ones in bold are ones I have read. I need to get on the ball and read some more of these classics.

1984, George Orwell
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
Animal Farm, George Orwell
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
The BFG, Roald Dahl
Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
Bleak House, Charles Dickens
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
Catch 22, Joseph Heller
The Catcher In The Rye, JD Salinger
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky
David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
Dune, Frank Herbert
Emma, Jane Austen
Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
The Godfather, Mario Puzo
Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, JK Rowling
Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
His Dark Materials trilogy, Philip Pullman
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Douglas Adams
The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
Holes, Louis Sachar
I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
Katherine, Anya Seton
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, CS Lewis
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
Lord Of The Flies, William Golding
The Lord Of The Rings, JRR Tolkien
Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blighton
Magician, Raymond E Feist
The Magus, John Fowles
Matilda, Roald Dahl
Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
Middlemarch, George Eliot
Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie
Mort, Terry Pratchett
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
On The Road, Jack Kerouac
One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Perfume, Patrick Suskind
Persuasion, Jane Austen
The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
Pride And Prejudice, Jane Austen
The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
The Ragged Trousered Philantrhopists, Robert Tressell
Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret History, Donna Tartt (own it, haven't read yet)
The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher
The Stand, Stephen King
The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
Tess Of The D'urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
The Twits, Roald Dahl
Ulysses, James Joyce
Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
War And Peace, Leo Tolstoy
Watership Down, Richard Adams
The Wind In The Willows, Kenneth Grahame
Winnie-the-Pooh, AA Milne
The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins

Most of the classics I either read while I was hospitalized with pneumonia at age 10, or in Honors and Advanced Placement English classes in High School. Some I loved so much that I re-read them again and again. It's surprising what you pick up on as an adult that you don't remember from your first reading as a child. But I still love classics and I intend to print out this list to take with me to the public library this summer (or the end of this week when I finish my current Agatha Christie/Poirot novel). I am very proud to say the little guy has read a good number of the classics from this list as well -though not nearly as many as his proud Mom.

Can you add anything that ought to be on my list? Or my 8 year old (who reads at a 7th grade level)? Please mention in my comments.

Nine Layers of Me

OK. I was browsing blogs and I saw this. I took this from Heatheranne at No More Drama, who took it from someone else -click her link if you want to find out who.


Layer One
Name: Lisa
Birth date: 3-23-72
Birthplace: Lakewood, NJ (it wasn't a bad place 30+ years ago)
Current Location: Bushnell, FL
Eye Color: Hazel (Green/Brown/Gold -my best feature)
Hair Color: Dirty Blonde to Light Brown depending on time spent in the sun
Height: 5'3"
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Zodiac Sign: Aries (couldn't they figure that out from my birthdate?)




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Layer Two
Your heritage: Sicilian, Irish, Cherokee, Iroquois, Polish, German
The shoes you wore today: New Balance tennis shoes
Your weakness: Perfectionism
Your fears: Public Embarassment
Your perfect pizza: Sicilian from Angelo's in Jackson, NJ or Cheese from Tony's in Freehold, NJ (Pizza from here in Sunny Floriday? I'd rather starve -to death).
Goal you'd like to achieve: Fluency in 4 or more languages -currently fluent in two.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Layer Three
Your most overused phrase on IM: It's not Rocket Science.
Your first waking thoughts: 1 more hour!
Your best physical feature: My Lips or My Eyes
Your most missed memory: When my son was a baby.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Layer Four
Pepsi or Coke: Coke
McDonald's or Burger King: I'd rather starve
Single or group dates: Single
Adidas or Nike: Nike
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Brisk, BABY!!
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or coffee: Both -coffee with a cappuccino chaser? Followed by a Diet Coke?

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Layer Five
Smoke: No, never -AND I'm a big Non-Smoking whiner if I have to walk through yours to enter a business
Cuss: Sometimes, but I'm trying to stop
Sing: All the time even though I know I can't.
Take a shower everyday: At least twice
Do you think you've been in love: Yes, I know I have/am.
Want to go to college: Yes, again.
Liked high school: How 'bout indifferent?
Want to get married: I am.
Believe in yourself: Depends on my mood.
Get motion sickness: Only on long rides if I have to ride in the back seat.
Think you're attractive: I can be.
Think you're a health freak: No.
Get along with your parent(s): I wish.
Like thunderstorms: LOVE THEM!!
Play an instrument: Does my steering wheel count? During a particularly good bass beat?

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Layer Six
In the past month...
Drank alcohol: 1 Glass of Champagne
Smoked: NO WAY
Done a drug: NO WAY
Made out: Yes.
Gone on a date: No
Gone to the mall: Yep, today -for something specific.
Eaten an entire box of Oreos: No.
Eaten sushi: YES! -but it's been so long. I think I'm suffering from Wasabi Withdrawal.
Been on stage: Yes
Been dumped: Yes
Gone skating: Yes
Made homeade cookies: Yes
Gone skinny dipping: No
Dyed your hair: Yes about 10 years ago -Auburn
Stolen anything: Yes, but I was young and dumb then.
You sound boring: Hmmm, that's what you think. Hubby might tell ya different. ;D

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Layer Seven
Ever...
Played a game that required removal of clothing: [blush] Oh yeah.
If so, was it mixed company: Yes?
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Yes, I don't drink very often, so I'm a bit of a light weight.
Been caught "doing something": Yep.
Been called a tease: Yep.
Gotten beaten up: No.
Shoplifted: Doesn't this come under stole something?
Changed who you were to fit in: Sadly, yes, but I've since grown up.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Layer Eight
Damn, is this ever going to be finished???
Age you hope to be married: I'm married.
Numbers and Names of Children: 1 boy, nobody gets to know his name, sorry.
Describe your Dream Wedding: On a beach -and that's where we were married.
How do you want to die: In my sleep.
Where you want to go to college: Are you offering to pay for it? =D
What do you want to be when you grow up: A Good Person.
What country would you most like to visit: Ireland? Been to Mexico -have a second home there.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Layer Nine
Number of people I could trust with my life: My husband.
Number of CDs that I own: Not enough -I'm too cheap on music.
Number of piercing: two in each ear.
Number of tattoos: Zero
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: Wow. At least 6, probably more.
Number of scars on my body: Numerous tiny ones -I'm quite the clutz.
Number of things in my past that I regret: No regrets. My past made me who I am.

This week's Blogger Idol theme is "Spirituality" My form of contribution to the theme this week comes in the form of a Haiku. Through this genre I seek to simplify what is a complex part of our being. Here goes:



Spring brings rebirth of

My spirituality;

Love of God inside.

TOO CUTE!


Jesus' Dad's Name
A Sunday school teacher asked her class, "What was Jesus' mother's name?"
One child answered, "Mary."
The teacher then asked, "Who knows what Jesus' father's name was?"
A little kid said, "Verge."
Confused, the teacher asked, "Where did you get that?"
The kid said, "Well, you know they are always talking about Verge n' Mary.

***********
KIDS IN CHURCH
3-year-old, Reese:
"Our Father, Who does art in
heaven, Harold is His name.
Amen."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A little boy was overheard praying:
"Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A. Sunday school class was studying the Ten Commandments.
They were ready to discuss the last one.
The teacher asked if anyone could tell her what it was.
Susie raised her hand, stood tall, and quoted,
"Thou shall not take the covers off the neighbor's wife."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the christening of his baby brother in church,
Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong.
Finally, the boy replied,
"That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a
Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had been teaching my three-year old daughter, Caitlin, the Lord's Prayer
for several evenings at bedtime,
she would repeat after me the lines from the prayer.
Finally, she decided to go solo.
I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated
each word right up to the end of the prayer:
"Lead us not into temptation," she prayed,
"but deliver us some E-mail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One particular four-year-old prayed,
"And forgive us our trash baskets
as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Sunday school teacher asked her children, as they were on the way to church service,
"And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"
One bright little girl replied,
"Because people are
sleeping."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church.
Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud.
Finally, his big sister had had enough.
"You're not supposed to talk out loud in church."
"Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked.
Angie pointed to the back of the church and said,
"See those two men standing by the door?
They're hushers."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5 and Ryan 3.
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
"If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'"
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A father was at the beach with his children
when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
"Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked.
"He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said,
"Did God throw him back down?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"
"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied.
"Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"


These were too cute to not share... If you have others, please share them in the comments.
***********

Okay, so today I find the below "News" story on Compuserve's What's New page:

If You Get This E-Mail Scam, Delete It

Don't fall for the latest e-mail scam originating from Nigeria. The BBC News Online warns e-mail users worldwide to watch out for a message titled "Please help the Athens Olympics." The plea, which is purported to be from representatives of the Olympic Organizing Committee, is a request for help in disbursing funds for medical facilities at the Athens Games. The result: You can be scammed out of your hard-earned money and possibly have your identity stolen.

According to the BBC, the message tells unwary e-mail users that too much money has been allocated for the Athens Games. You, as a trustworthy person, have been selected to nominate an account into which a transfer of $19 million can be made. It urges you not to tell anyone else about this for fear it will jeopardize the medical facilities at the Olympics from receiving the money. For your efforts, you will be rewarded with 20 percent of the $19 million. Clever, isn't it? It not only appeals to human greed, but also the sense of wanting to help a good cause.

Sound familiar? This latest scam is a variation on the advanced fee fraud in which the e-mail sender asks for help in transferring government funds out of Nigeria or some other country. If you respond, you'll be asked for your bank account details, a photocopy of your passport or driver's license, and an administration fee that can total many thousands of dollars.

If you ever receive an e-mail like this, do not respond. You may lose more than your money; you may also have your identity stolen.


My question is, "WHERE DO THEY FIND THE MORONS WHO ACTUALLY SUBMIT TO THESE SCAMS?!?!?!

Even in Mayberry, tragedy can strike

Sadly, the following story is true and actually occurred here in my new home town. If you have children or even occasionally entertain children in your home, please keep guns locked away and out of reach. If you are a parent, make sure you educate your children on gun safety. Read on:


Fla. Boy Charged in Accidental Shooting



BUSHNELL, Fla. (AP) - A 13-year-old boy accused of accidentally shooting his younger brother during a game of ``cowboys and Indians'' has been charged with manslaughter.

Mitchell Maddox was playing with his three younger siblings in February when he allegedly shot 7-year-old David Lanford in the head with a .410-caliber pump-action shotgun, officials said.





The state attorney's office decided to bring formal charges last week.

``There was no intent to harm but careless action that reached the level of criminality,'' Sumter County Sheriff's Capt. Gary Brannen said.

The children's parents were not at home during the shooting. Mitchell carried his brother's body next door to call 911 since the family didn't have a phone, officials said.



04/11/04 16:43




© Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

I WANT THIS SLEAZY SCUMBAG OUT OF OFFICE COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

Now, he's using the scare tactic of a change of Presidents in the midst of war. I point specifically to the very last sentence, "They understand the stakes." If nothing else has so clearly pointed out that he is using this war to try to swing the Political Race his way, then this does. I LOATHE this man and all he stands for. If a genie were to appear to me tomorrow and offer three wishes, my first would be to get him out of office TODAY.

The Shrub Speaks

"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Citing a conviction "deep in my soul," President Bush vowed Tuesday night to stay the course in Iraq and the war on terror, and predicted American voters will stick with him come November.

"I don't plan on losing my job," Bush said during his first prime time news conference of the year. "I plan on telling the American people that I've got a plan to win the war on terror. And I believe they'll stay with me. They understand the stakes.""

Please, I beg of you. Get this Creep out of office.

Okay, so ya caught me

No post on Easter, no post yesterday. I've become a bit of a loafer. Actually, I did have a few things on my Honeydo list yesterday. And what wasn't on the list, well let's just say I seriously reconsidered just how much I really need a cell phone.

Ring Ring Ring

Hubby: "Honey, you hear me? I almost have no signal"

Me: "I hear you. What do you want?"

Hubby: "Honey, you hear me? I almost have no signal"

Me: " I HEAR YOU!"

Hubby: "Did you exchange the chain saw yet?"

Me: "No, I just pulled into the parking lot."

Hubby: "And you dropped off the payment?"

Me: "I JUST PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT!"

Hubby: "You got Chimuelo's shoes?"

Me: "I JUST PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT!"

Hubby: "You just got there?"

Me: "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!"

Hubby: "Oh. Can you do me one more little favor?"

Me: "Yes *muttering under breath* -if I can ever get off the phone and into the darned store"

Hubby: "What do you say? I don't hear you."

Me: "I said what do you want?"

Hubby: "Can you look for some rope too?"

Me: "I'm not going to know what kind of rope you want."

Hubby: "The white kind that's made of some kind of fabric."

Me: "Fabric? White? Do you mean nylon??? I thought you don't like that kind."

Hubby: "Can you check? I need 100 ft."

Me: "How thick?"

Hubby: "A little thick so I can use it when I cut that tree down."

Me: "How thick? As thick as your winkie? *Giggling*"

Hubby: "No, not as thick as that one *laughing*. As thick as the ring finger."

Me: "Well, I'll try, but I really rather not buy any because it's going to end up being the wrong one and you're going to send me back up here in this traffic again."

Hubby: "Alright, try to take a little look at what they have."

*SIGH*

And that was only one of the endless calls. I think he called me at least 15 times yesterday to check on my progress with the honeydo list. Of course that has nothing to do with the fact that I'm ocassionally distracted and leave things without -ooooohhhhhhh look. So shiny.

BTW -in case you haven't noticed, this post was meant to be posted on Saturday, but Blogger was down. I have my opinions on that subject, but I'll keep them to myself for now. Go on and read Saturday's post now:


For all of you who are sick and tired of reading the e-mail myths and legends that are constantly forwarded to you ad nauseum

I just love this, as I have been ignoring them for years..


******
Chain letters

*To all my friends, thanks to you sending me chain letters in 2003:, 2002:, 2001:, & 2000: & some back to 1998.

* I stopped drinking Coca Cola after I found out that it's good for removing toilet stains.

* I stopped going to the movies for fear of sitting on a needle infected with AIDS.

* I smell like a dog since I stopped using deodorants because they cause cancer.

* I will not sit on toilet seat in public restroom, because the African Spider is hatched and grows there..

* I don't leave my car in the parking lot or any other place and sometimes I even have to walk about 7 blocks for fear that someone will drug me with a perfume sample and try to rob me.

* I also stopped answering the phone for fear that they ask me to dial a stupid number and then I get a phone bill from hell with calls to Uganda, Singapore and Tokyo!

* I stopped consuming several foods for fear that the hormones they contain may turn me gay.

* I also stopped eating chicken and hamburgers because they are nothing other than horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers that are bred in a lab so that places like McDonalds can sell their Big Macs.

* I also stopped drinking anything out of a can for fear that I will get sick from the rat feces and urine.

* I think I'm turning gay because when I go to parties, I don't look at any guy no matter how hot he is, for fear that he will take my kidneys and leave me taking a nap in a bathtub full of ice.

* I also donated all my savings to the Amy Bruce account. A sick girl that was about to die in the hospital about 7,000 times away. Funny that girl, she's been 7 since 1993.

* I went bankrupt from bounced checks that I made expecting the $15,000 that Microsoft and AOL were supposed to send me when I participated in their special e-mail program.

* My Ericcson phone never arrived and neither did the passes for a paid vacation to Disneyland.

* But I am positive that all this is because of a stinking chain that I broke or forgot to follow and I got a curse from hell.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you DO NOT send this message to at least 1200 people in the next 10 seconds, a bird will crap on you today at 7 pm.
*

Oh, and in case I get too tied up to post tomorrow, or you get too tied up to read my blog tomorrow...


HAPPY EASTER! I HOPE EVERYONE GETS ALL THEIR FAVORITE EASTER TREATS TOMORROW! PRAY FOR PEACE!

Okay here's my Friday Five:

1. What do you do for a living?
Wife and Mommy! The pay's lousy, but there ARE fringe benefits.

2. What do you like most about your job?
You don't get fired because you called in sick one time too many.

3. What do you like least about your job?
The pay is meager.

4. When you have a bad day at work it's usually because _____...

I get side tracked too easily and the important tasks are forgotten.

5. What other career(s) are you interested in?

World Languages Teacher, Court Translator, Social Worker.

I want an Easter Egg, gimme an Easter Egg! Preferrably CHOCOLATE!



Well, since at least part of my day today needs to be dedicated to boiling and coloring eggs, I thought I'd give you some eggciting information about Easter Eggs. And I found a website totally dedicated to eggs, where I found the two clip art images that appear in this post.

And I found this interesting tidbit about "Easter Eggs" which I took from E-eggs:

"What is an "Easter Egg"? - The term "Easter Egg", as we use it here, means any amusing tidbit that creators hid in their creations. They could be in computer software, movies, music, art, books, or even your watch. There are thousands of them, and they can be quite entertaining, if you know where to look. A couple of our favorites are the "Spy Hunter"-like game in Microsoft Excel 2000 and the "Wacky Search Menu" in Internet Explorer 5. This site will help you discover Easter Eggs in the things you see and use everyday, and let you share Easter Eggs you discover with the rest of the world."

Incidentally, eggs are not the only thing I'll be painting today. I have to finish painting my master bathroom today -which is a real pain, as Kitty will be making every effort to replace the paint odor with her own scent by rubbing up against the walls. I don't dare move her litter box because then she'll refuse to use it -damned finicky assed 16 year old cat. So I have to block off sections of the bathroom and attempt to paint while she's in the opposite section. FUN FUN FUN! If you have any special egg coloring or bathroom painting tips, let me know.

Am I Freakin' Invisible or What?

At long last you get the explanation of the name of my blog. And I'll tell ya, it's a doozy. LOL Okay, maybe not so much. It's a sad story about the level to which society has come. A story of disregard, disrespect, and lack of consideration. It's a story of etiquette schmettiquette. Yes, folks, my story is the story of my increasing aggravation with John and Jane Q. Public and the little Jr. Publics.

Everywhere I go, crowded or not. I get jostled, bumped into, stepped on, my feet driven over by people or all shapes and sizes. Surely now you're saying to yourself, "Yeah, so what? It happens to everybody. It's all an accident." Well, you're most likely right. My problem with the whole situation is what I never hear (and it has nothing to do with my mild hearing difficulties stemming from a teenage history of constant ear shattering bass). What it does have to do with is the fact that nobody (or nearly nobody) has manners anymore. Hearing someone say, "Excuse me," "I'm sorry," "Pardon me," or even freakin' "Ooops," has become an actual rarity, while knocking into people carelessly is on the rise. I'm rapidly becoming a crotchety old woman as I look at people, who won't even meet my eye, and say, "EXCUSE me!" or my more aggravated, "It's always nice to say excuse me isn't it?" or "Manners are just too difficult, aren't they?" Yes, folks, after being pummelled about so often and with the total lack of apologeticness -hey, at this point, I'd even settle for a sheepish grin and shrugged shoulders, I've become a crabby ol' witch. On my particularly trying days, I've been known to mutter, "Am I Invisible or What? How hard is it to say excuse me or at least watch where you're going?" But it doesn't end there.

There's the other phenomenon where I'm standing in line or actually walking up to the checkout and merely a foot away from the actual counter and someone just steps in front of me like I'm not even there. Apparently I am Invisible, because (on days when I feel like speaking up, because I'm just too bitchy to "turn the other cheek") when I say to them, "Excuse me, (gee, I just love those two little words) but I was here first." The response I get is, "No, you weren't in line," or "I didn't see you in line," or "Were you?" On days when I'm feeling more passive aggressive, I simply burn holes into the back of their heads (gotta be the backs because they never will meet your eyes) with my glare. If and when they should happen to glance around the store, their head quickly swivels back to face front position and they continue to act as if no one is standing behind them. Am I Freakin' Invisible or What?

Then, there's my true favorite. The automobile invisibility shield -Apparently my invisibility extends to whatever I touch. I'll be driving along in a 55 (or 70 when on the Interstate) mph zone at a good clip, when suddenly some blockhead whips right out into the roadway in front of me as if I were never there. On top of that, they will proceed at a considerably reduced speed, well below the posted speed limit. At this point I am, of course, screaming, "Am I Freakin' Invisible or What?" Of course this is bad enough, but then there's the parking spot thieves who jump into the spot I've been sitting waiting at (with turn signal flashing away) for ten minutes. And those who will pull up and sit immediately behind you when they can see from your back up lights that you were trying to back up. Or the geniuses who walk behind your car as you are backing up.

I may have forgotten a few of my favorite Invisible Moments. If I have then remind me in the comments section. I'm sure it's happened to me at some point and I'm sure no one looked to apologize or even sheepishly grin and shrug shoulders.

I rest my case. You decide. Am I Freakin' Invisible or What?

Ranty Goodness?

Sorry that I'm so late posting today, but I actually left Mayberry for a few hours to venture into the Big City. Happy some very E.B. duties to take care of today. Last minute run around and get the vital non-candy gifts that could make or break Easter.

'Course, as usual, I was stuck driving behind about 34 Trillion non-driving ding dongs on the Interstate. Let me just ask you: Why oh why must people break on the Interstate in the left lane with no traffic ahead of them for a mile or more? Are they incapable of simply sliding their foot off the gas a bit? How freakin' hard is it to actually look to your left before just popping over because you suddenly don't like your lane (really, no one in front of the moron at all, certainly aren't any left turns off the Interstate, but stilll..)? Why must the same fuckwit who has been holding up traffic in the left lane at 68 mph (scared of the gas pedal, dear?) in the 70 mph slam the pedal to the floor the minute they think you're going to pass them? I call those particular idiots the "Self-Appointed PaceSetters."

I'm sorry to be ranting about the traffic again, I just will never get used to the droves of people that actually drive worse than in my home state of New Jersey or any freakin' other place I've ever lived or visited.

Change of subject: I have been finding so many cool new and interesting blogs lately. More than I've even been able to keep up with in the linkage on the right over there. I should catch up in the next few days -I hope so anyway. In the meantime, please check out the tons of people linked over there. So much Bloggity Goodness in just one place.

Next, I am so fed up with Bush's Personal Political Performance (you know it as the war in Iraq). I have no doubt in my mind that he's stretchin' this out for all it's worth. At this point things should be turned over to the United Nations. It will be too convenient if we come up with Bin Laden just before the election. If you agree with me, please don't just go on thinking about it. Talk to people. Get everyone as good and riled up to get him out of office as I am. We need him out yesterday. It's so stressful to watch this man manipulate everything toward his own greater good. I'm honestly so sick of this crap that I could actually puke. I've never been real politically involved, beyond voting, but I see my country rapidly going down the shitter. It knocks me out that Bush's supporters are running campaign ads about how much Kerry would raise taxes in his first 100 days -hell yes, he'll probably have to do something to pay the bills that Bush is running up. Okay, guess I'm Ranty Woman today. I'll go back to light hearted HR Ladyness tomorrow.

Oh, I have a favorite on-line author, Mr. Stone who's been posting his latest story on his site and he's currently up to Chapter 7. Go there and have a little read. I find him quite good. You'll have to scroll to the bottom of the page to start at chapter 1 and then work your way back up after each chapter, but he's worth it. I think you can also go back in his archives and read his previous short story as well -try it; you'll like it.

G'nite.

5 Million to 24.5 Million Years Old

Yeah, and I'm not even trying to exaggerate for once. Don't know if I've mentioned, but hubby works at a Limestone Mine, operating the heavy equipment and maintaining it. It's quite a departure from his original career of twenty years, chef. And he loves it.

Well, one of the more interesting aspects of his job is the things that he unearths in the course of an average workday. He regularly brings home fossils of various types. Some are clearer and more discernible than others, as usually is the case with fossils. Others are less obvious and even somewhat less than interesting. Nevertheless, we clean up and save these for their conversational value as much as their beauty. Up 'til now we haven't put forth much effort toward identifying each and every fossil. Matter of fact, what they are seems fairly obvious with most and we've not been interested in the specifics as far as scientific names and such. We've quite a number of pre-historic sea urchins, shells of various types, even a few that appear to have been plant life of one sort or another. Nothing terribly remarkable, though really the grandfather of all antiques, no?

Thursday night, hubby came in and yelled as he always does, "Luuuuuuuuuuucccccccccccyyyyyyyyyy, I'm home!" Actually, he didn't yell Lucy, since that's not my name. But he did yell, "Honey, I'm home," and it quite reminds me of Ricky Ricardo when he calls to me in that manner, particularly due to his sweet little accent. I was, as usual, sitting at the PC reading blog after blog and commenting wherever I felt my two cents were called for. Didn't jump right up, but as I frequently do yelled, "Hi Honey! How was your day?" and then promptly went back to my reading. So he called to me again and again I responded in the same manner. So he called to me again and I sat here thinking, "Jeez, he's getting as deaf as I am!" And, mildly annoyed I got up, poked my head 'round the corner and said, "I said Hello about three-hundred times already. Didn't you hear me?"

Well, he just smiled at me and said, "Can you come here 1 minute please?" I promptly heaved a sigh and said, "Why what do you need (I can really be such a pain in the arse at times)? I was reading something really interesting." He said, "Come over here. I want to show you something." I rolled my eyes thinking that surely the something he wanted to show me was something I'd seen hundreds of times in the past 7 years and said, "What?"

Then he handed me one of the little containers from his lunch. He told me that he'd found something different today and wanted me to look at it. He said, "Be careful though, maybe it can break." So I took it out and it was a real treasure (at least to me). A fossil the likes of which he'd never brought home before -a tooth. It was in excellent shape I thought. I immediately began looking up sites on the web where I might identify exactly what kind of tooth it was. I wasn't really able to find any good pictures with which I might draw a comparison.

I ended up e-mailing photos of it to two of my best blogging buddies, Disillusioned and Bibb (BTW, yes I do know that his name is Gary, but I just like Bibb better. The alliteration just lets the name roll of the tongue in a tide of bbbs -and Disillusioned is actually in agreement with me on this particular fact). Anyway, like always I've digressed momentarily and probably will again before this post is complete. Back to the subject at hand -or at tooth as is the case. Bibb took one look and immediately said, "Some kind of Shark tooth." That at least gave me a little more direction and then I talked to Dis and she very generously agreed to host my pics so that I'd be able to display them here for you. I've only displayed the tooth -other fossils maybe some time in the future. If you know anyone who can help me identify exactly which type of prehistoric shark produced it, please direct them here. If not, just enjoy looking at it and making various giggly comments about it. It measures around 2 inches across the top and about 3 1/2 inches long. So, here it is (multiple views shown):



Oh, and I went to the library for a couple of fossil books, but (being that I live in Mayberry) they only had one and it was pretty useless. They were able to find one at another library within the county (yeah, Hooterville -[Thanks, Scooterdeb), but after having them order that one and reading it, I learned that it was useless too. The only really good information I got out of it was that it's from the Miocene period -the majority of our fossils are from either the Miocene or Eocene periods. Oh, and uh, Mayberry Public Library would like us to loan our large fossil collection to use in their locked display -pretty cool, eh?

Okay, so now talk to me. What do you think?

Inasmuchas It's no joke...
You have to go read Josh's post at Random Act of Blogging. Click on his link and read carefully -no matter what you first think, whatever page opens up, READ IT. Luv ya. BYE BYE.

Thought for the day:

The Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded post mortem to the inventor of coffee.

BLOGGER IDOL WEEK 12
yes, I do realize that I originally had it listed as week 11. don't feel obligated to note my mistakes.

Well, here we are in Blogger Idol week 12. And this week's topic was suggested by Lori from Downtown Chick Chat. I tried my best with this. Several ideas flew through my head as I was falling off to sleep last night and this is the one that stuck:



Finally the cacaphony of clucking settled as the midday feeding began. The poor little chick forced her way into the frenetic cluster with little appetite. The pecking order being what it was, she would barely find her place before it was all over. Shoved aside by the other chicks, she kept moving in search of her spot -anyplace really where she might be able to insinuate herself into the group. She was one of the bantam of the bunch and far less aggressive. She didn't seem to grasp the idea that it was a fight to the finish -survival of the fittest. She'd be lucky to survive, much less to flourish from the fracas.

Birds of a feather? Birds of a feather? What did that mean really? Certainly her plummage wasn't much different from that of the preferred chicks of the flock. All were made essentially the same by nature. But somehow, even the old hens and certainly the roosters seemed to favor the preponderate of the chicks over the less prominent of the cluster. Certainly our chick made every effort to merge with the flock. But did they really flock together?

Surely this addage didn't apply to physical attributes. Birds of a feather flock together. It must refer more to the inate assertiveness and social activity of the flock -the very pecking order itself seemed to attest to this fact. The current state of affairs seemed to prove that. Those who did the pecking were unquestionably the hierarchy. And regardless of efforts to change that, our chick will never truly change ranks.

Puffing out her breast and preening just mildly, she picked up her books, left her lunch tray and walked away. Clearly her outer appearance had very little to do with that old saying. It was metaphoric, not meant to translate exactly. Whatever her outer appearance, there was something in her make up that didn't permit her to blend with the "cool" crowd. She wanted more than anything just to be herself. If being cool meant she had to give up her self, she'd no desire to fit in. Let them flock together. She wasn't that unique. Let those birds flock together. She belonged to an entirely different breed.

According to AOL and Woman's World Poll Results...

Which celebrity couple most resembles your love relationship?
Bill and Hillary Clinton, who have their ups and downs: 38 percent
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, who keep the fire burning: 35 percent
Ricky and Lucy, who drove each other crazy: 21 percent
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, divorced but still friends: 6 percent

All I can say is hunh? I don't know about the rest of you people, but I definitely do not relate to Bill and Hillary. I don't try to do my husbands job for him. If he were to cheat on me, he'd be lucky to live through the aftermath. If he were pathetic enough to claim that what he did wasn't sex, I'd bury him in a shipping crate full of cigars. And if I had to be publicly embarrassed by his stupidity, I'd leave him and show him that there's someone out there who does appreciate a good woman like me. As it stands, my hubby is just too good to sink that low.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt? I dunno. I haven't really seen much about their relationship but good looks and vacant smiles. No comment?

Ricky and Lucy? Well, if we're talking about their characters on TV, okay maybe. I doubtless make my husband absolutely nuts with some of my brilliant ideas and he still hasn't allowed me to be in the show -'course that could be because he doesn't have a show. And we have fantastic fun trying to decipher what he's "splainin'" to me, what with his accent and all. And, like Ricky on the TV show, he's loved by everyone. And like Lucy, I'm always spending way more than I was supposed to on something adorable I found while out shopping then trying to kinda hide it until he's in the right mood -definitely not on bill paying days.

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore? Well, no. NOT. Friends after a divorce. Maybe I'm just too uncharitable or lack the maturity to see it, but if he was awful enough for me to leave him or horrible enough that he chose to left me, and we were completely unable to work things through, why would I continue to have a friendly relationship? I'm just not that forgiving. AND I'm choosy about my friends. I have tons of acquaintances, but a friend is something special. Not just anybody can be my friend. And certainly anyone who helped me destroy my marriage wouldn't be on that short list.

Any famous couples to whom I can relate our marriage? hmmf. I dunno. I'd like to think we're a pretty unique couple. Are there any famous couples that the wife drives the husband absolutely nuts and the husband is supremely patient? Any famous couples that the husband is a workaholic, super faithful, and still finds time for the kid? Any famous couples that are silly and ridiculous when others aren't watching? Any famous couples where the wife is always blogging and neglects the housework about 40% of the time and the husband spends most of his spare time on the yard -even right now at almost 9pm on a Sunday when he's outside planting our watermelon and cantaloupe patch, because I know nothing about growing them and I was going to plant them in a little four foot patch and what is needed is a 25 by 30 foot patch (how was I supposed to know?).

Nah, I didn't think so. They broke the mold when they made us. Limited Edition. Not available in stores. Okay, so maybe not. But we'd like to think so. And we both feel like we won the lottery when we found each other. I know it's kind of mushy, but it's true.

Tomorrow -the story of the oldest "antique" we own. Yup, I like to leave ya wonderin'.

Exhausted!

Yard Saled all day in search of great antiques and collectibles for a pittance -and found one good thing. Then went to an Easter Egg Hunt hosted by a very nice elderly couple. I helped paint faces, eventhough I wasn't invited with that purpose in mind -I'm just artistic and was glad to help and helped my wonderful child carry the 110 candy filled eggs he found. He won! The most eggs collected out of all those children. The second place winner only found 60. Yeah, my kid IS the best -but I always knew that. We had a ton of fun.

More tomorrow.

Questions that really need answers...

1. Who was the first person to look at a cow and
say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here,
and drink whatever comes out?"

2. Who was the first person to say, "See that
chicken there? I'm gonna eat the next thing that
comes outta it's butt."


3. Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the
freezer? (actually, mine has a little man inside with a flashlight. how 'bout you?)


4. If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is
there a song about him?


5. Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the
carpool lane?


6. Why do people point to their wrist when asking
for the time, but don't point to their crotch when
they ask where the bathroom is?


7. Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when
you get undressed if they are going to look up
there anyway?


8 Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains
on all fours? They're both dogs!


9. If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all
that Acme crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?


10. If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?


11. If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil
is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil
made from?


12. If electricity comes from electrons, does morality
come from morons?


13 Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle
Little Star have the same tune?


14. Stop singing and read on..........


15. Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?


16. Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?


17. Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?


18. Do you ever wonder why you read this blog in the first place?


19. Why do ya love me so darn much (LOL)?


20. LIVE WELL, LAUGH OFTEN, LOVE MUCH. What happens if I Live Much, Laugh Well, and Love Often?

Okay, I know you've been waiting with baited breath. It's finally here. The Blogger Pageant Finals. We've narrowed it down to these five (actually six, math was never my best subject). You will have to submit your vote for Ms/Mr Blogger Idol 04/04/04. I'm too predjudiced to make a good decision. I love all of their creativity too much.

MY "CHERISHED FRIEND" Disillusioned's SWEEEEEEEEEEET REVENGE

Bibb's Those Three Little Questions

Tim's Pageant Passion Paradigm

Cliff between the lines' Major Crisis

Wayne's Page Ant

Kristal's Meet the Family

Stolen from Amanda (Jeez, I'm sorry. Can't believe I called you by someone else's name. The last time I did that ...oh, eh, erm...Never Mind) who stole it from Frilly Panties:




(x) - you've done / (_) - you haven't done (the following):

(x) been dumped
(x) dumped someone
(x) shoplifted
(x) been fired
(x) been in a fist fight
(_) had a threesome
(x) snuck out of my parent's house
(_) been tied up (sexually)
(_) been caught masturbating
(_) broken an arm
(_) had a one night stand
(_) had sex with a member of the same sex
(_) been arrested
(_) stolen parents' car
(x) made out with a stranger
(x) stole something from a job
(_) celebrated new years in time square
(x) gone on a blind date
(x) lied to a friend
(x) had a crush on a teacher
(_) celebrated mardi-gras in new orleans
(_) been to Europe
(x) skipped school
(_) skipped school soley to smoke pot
(x) slept with a co-worker
(_) cut myself on purpose
(x) been drunk
(_) smoked pot
(_) snorted anything
(_) popped pills (not tylenol)
(x) kissed a member of the opposite sex
(_) kissed a member of the same sex
(x) crashed a friend's car
(_) been to Japan
(x) ridden in a taxi
(_) had anal sex
(x) been in love
(x) had sex
(x) had sex in public
(X) had sex at the office (but only with my husband)
(x) been engaged
(x) been married
(x) gotten divorced
(x) seen someone die -my dad and my mother-in-law
(_) been to Africa
(_) tasted my own sexual fluids.
(x) slapped someone I loved
(_) Driven over 400 miles to attend a show/festival/fetish ball
(x) Flown somewhere to attend a show/festival/fetish ball
(x) Been to Mexico -own a house there too!
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show
(_) Have been fisted and/or fisted someone eslse -fisted??
(x) Thrown up in a bar
(_) Purposely set a part of myself on fire
(x) Eaten Sushi
(_) Been snowboarding
(x) Had sex at a friend's house when they were throwing a party
(x) Given Oral Sex
(_) Watched two (or more) people have sex (not porn, real life)
(_) Been moshing at a concert
(x) Eaten deer meat
(_) Made someone bleed, on purpose
(x) Had dirty thoughts about one of your best friends
(x) Had dirty thoughts about someone you've never met

I should be honest. I haven't been entirely honest in answering this one. I'll let you try to guess which ones are true. In some cases I'm too much of a prude. In other cases, I should have been. In some cases I'm just plain grossed out. In others I'm just completely disinterested in the activity. Some's just plain nobody's business but mine.

I SSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOO CAN NOT BELIEVE...

I so cannot believe what I just read. I thought it was a rather slow news day until I heard this one. Guess who Kerry has chosen for his running mate!?!?! Freakin' Hillary Clinton! Now I just don't know what to think. This is about the most unexpected candidate in my mind. Seems like we'd be better off with just about anybody else. So now we're going to have to choose between the lesser of two evils -the Shrub or Kerry & Mr. Cigar's wife.

I'm sure he's just going for the female vote, though I'm not sure whether or not I would vote for anyone who brought Hillary with him. And I don't like being manipulated into voting for Kerry by his USE of a woman on the ticket. I probably would have voted for him anyway. This just makes me think twice. I don't know. What do you think?