Hectic few weeks ahead

I have a few hectic weeks ahead of me at work-serenity now, serenity nowww! I hope everyone has a great week :)

Random words of wisdom and an update

I got a book as a gift that has random quotes, adages etc. and I was flipping through and found some good ones:

*A common cover up for hurt is anger
*Lots of what you do does not show just as the roots of a tree
*Your reason and passion are the rudder and sails of your soul
*Can't is just another way of saying won't
*The most wasted days are those without laughter

I got the Fedex package with all of my Hawaii trip details-the contact names of everyone I need to set the trip up! The hotel looks really nice and the rate is $605 per night!

I'm really looking forward to the trip in spite of being in flight for +/- 20 hours total! It is a 10 hour flight going there and an 8 hour flight coming back. I flew to London years ago and being in a plane that long starts to wear on me, but it is tolerable.

We have been looking online about all the things to see and do there and it looks like it will be an amazing trip. I have taped a few things on the travel channel that look fun. Rick caught a show I wished he hadn't-it was something about what would happen if a tsunami were to hit Hawaii!

My friend Ginger is planning on joining us so that will be a bonus to the trip! We have had fun traveling together to Los Angeles and Las Vegas many times. I hope we can work it to be on the same flight so we can help ease flight jitters!

A few years ago, Ginger and I were flying back home from LA and the pilot was trying to land in a typical Texas thunderstorm and had to abort the landing at least three times while almost touching down. I will never forget that feeling of almost landing and then the power of the plane taking back up into the clouds with lightening and thunder all around us. It was so surreal but it was nice to have her hand to squeeze! I think her hand recovered about a month later!

I had a good January sweepstakes wise. Last year it took me until mid June to win this much! I finally lured my friend Ginger to start entering sweeps-I think it may have had something to do with the Hawaii win ;) So that has been fun being a sweeps teacher and having a sweeps buddy again. She has won a small prize already and I keep reminding her that when I first started, it took me about 6 months before I won the trip to Alaska.

I hope everyone is having a good week and that it is warmer where you are at!

My thoughts on the Superbowl

The Hawaii Chair??!!

I cannot believe this is a real product!



Ellen tries one out:

The choice

I found this joke via Bits & Pieces

While walking down the street one day, a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter. “Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the man.

“Well, I’d like to but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really, I’ve made up my mind and I want to be in heaven,” says the senator.

“I’m sorry, but we must abide by our rules.”

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he descends into hell. When the door finally opens, he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other
politicians who had previously worked with him. Everyone is very happy and dressed in evening attire. They run to greet him, shake his hand and reminisce about the good times they had while becoming wealthy at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil who actually is a friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before the senator realizes it, it’s time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves as the elevator rises. As the elevator ascends and the door opens, St. Peter is there waiting and says, “Now it’s time to visit heaven.”

So, 24 hours pass while the senator enjoys himself by joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing harps and singing. Again, before he realizes, his time is up and St. Peter returns and asks, “Well, after spending a day in hell and a day in heaven, where do you choose to spend eternity?” The senator reflects for a minute the answers, “Well, I would have never said it before - I mean heaven has been delightful - but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator where he descends into hell. As the elevator door opens, the senator notices that he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees his friends, dressed in rags, placing trash into black bags as it falls from above. The devil arrives to greet him. “I don’t understand,” stammers the senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course with a clubhouse. We ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil looks at him and smilingly replies, “Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted.”

Ch ch changes...

The toilet finally reaches the 21st century!

EVOL: Love in a backwards world

I found this award winning video earlier and thought I'd share the EVOL:



About the video:

The 5 minute film tells the story of a couple who spot each other across a crowded street and fall in love. Although everyone else in the world around them moves backwards, the couple moves forward as they find each other.

Directed by Chris Vincze.

Platinum Remi Award winnder, WorldFest film festival, Texas

First Place Winner, StudentFilmmakers Summer Shorts 2006

Shortlisted: Kodak Short Film Showcase 2006

Starring: Rick Warden & Lucy Barker.

Written & Directed by Chris Vincze.

Produced by Wendy Bevan-Mogg

Lemurs gone wild...

Snake Oil

I have always been infuriated by snake oil salesman. I cannot stomach the fact that these products cash in on our ignorance, greed, desperation and dreams.

They protect themselves with the CYA small print and get away with the deception. I was watching television earlier and saw the commercial for the Takara Detox Foot Patch and it reminded me of all of the other products "as seen on tv".

1. they reel you in with the ease of the product and the supposed benefits of the product
2. then small print flashes on the screen for 2 seconds-but we aren't reading it-we want to be thin/detoxified/muscular/etc
3. an "expert" in a lab coat with "diplomas" of some sort behind them lies about the product because they are getting paid
4. and then the price ending in .99 with exorbitant shipping/handling fees makes the price almost double

I have always been skeptical about things, I'm not saying I haven't fallen for things like this (I'm pretty sure there is a product or two stashed in my closet that I bought and regretted later) but I generally question and research things that sound too good to be true. I wish there was more regulation on items that claim amazing health benefits, but until then I hope the worst thing that will happen is that the buyer loses some money.

I generally laugh about how brazen these companies are about their miracle product, but I read an article online while research the foot cleansing pads about how a woman used another brand of foot patches to detoxify herself from lead poisoning instead of going to a doctor. She survived thanks to a family member, but at a health cost.

Caveat emptor, a fool and his money are soon departed, there is one born every minute and so on...

It's all about perspective...

and a dream! I like this song, it was played on a movie called "Donnie Darko". Someone put this animation of a flightless Kiwi bird to it.

Marathon

I spent the last few days on a marathon of My Name is Earl. I had recently started watching it thanks to Ginger. I had missed all of season 1 and most of season 2 so I thought I'd catch up.

I did that not too long ago with a marathon of 30 Rock, but I had only missed the first season of that one.

I had also missed the last season of Lost so I caught up on it before watching 30 rock.

I found that I like doing it that way instead of having to wait a week in between seeing episodes! I'm watching Prison Break and would much rather wait until the season is over and catch up.

Can we say instant gratification???!!

I hope everyone is having a great week :)

I was sad to read today...

Rest in peace: Allan Melvin (Sam the butcher from the "Brady Bunch") and Suzanne Pleshette (Emily Hartley from "The Bob Newhart Show")

Found

One thing I like about the internet is the overwhelming amount of information you can find there. The other thing is finding pictures-most I find have no story with them-some are funny, some haunting but always entertaining in some way.

Here are a few that I found at random today and thought I would share:

Who knew Raquel Welch was so groovy??

And a few other videos I dug up today...



Eartha Kitt 1962:



What was Jane Fonda thinking?? 1968. This actually comes on in a minute on TCM-I saw it years ago and was thinking about watching it ago for the laughs!



I fall in love with her each time I see this..



I hadn't yet discovered her movies when she passed..

Destruction as Beauty

I had read about this artist a few months ago, but I can't find a link anywhere now-she would drop porcelain figurines and at the moment they hit, take a picture. The first one is my favorite.

via Fun Safari

A crow raises a kitten??!!

This is amazing, the video is about 7 minutes, but what a neat story about a crow that adopted an abandonded kitten!

Ten things you may or may not know about me...

...and do you even care??!!

1. What were you doing in the summer of 1988?
I was freewheeling and fancy free-I had graduated in June and was taking the summer off before I started college in the fall.

2. Do you watch sports?
Not on Tv-I avoid televised sports like the plague although I enjoy playing sports and watching them live.

3. When is the last time you watched “The Wizard of Oz?”
I haven’t watched it all the way through in years probably, but it was on last summer a few times and I turned it on and it played in the background while I did other things.

4. Do you enjoy watching older movies-movies made before 1960?
Absolutely-I love AMC and TCM as much as possible-most of the movies on my favorite lists are from the 50’s and 60’s. My friend Ginger probably cringes when I tell her I’ve discovered an old classic gem-she knows at one point I will force her to watch it or hound her until she does!

5. What is the last book you read?
I just got through with “The Darkest Evening of the Year” by Dean Koontz. I was a bit let down on this one, I generally like his stuff but this one seemed “phoned in”. My Dad started reading him from my recommendation and I took this one over to him on Saturday so I am curious to see if he liked it or not.

6. XM, AM or FM?
I always listen to FM-something that plays a mix of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. I got an XM radio for Christmas but I have yet to subscribe to the service-I have it on my to do list, honestly!

7. Disney or Pixar?
I love a good classic Disney but I’m won over by the amazing things that Pixar produces. My Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles and Finding Nemo DVD’s are probably close to being worn out.

8. What is on your must see TV schedule?
I absolutely love “30 Rock”, “My Name is Earl”, “Prison Break” and “Pushing Daisies”. I try to watch reruns of “Frazier”, “Seinfeld” and “The Golden Girls” as much as possible-those never get old for me! I used to be that way with “Friends”, “Sex and The City” and “Will and Grace” but I have quit watching them.

9. Is there anyone in the room with you now?
My dachshund Petey, he will come in here from time to time to see if have a treat for him or to let me know he has to go outside. If I can tell he just wants a treat and I don’t give him one-he will walk out of the room with a “chuff” noise to let me know he isn’t happy with the results.

10. What did you have for dinner tonight?
Boy these quizzes get nosier and nosier huh? I had fried shrimp, coleslaw, hush puppies and French fries-can you hear my arteries hardening as we speak?

Fun animal pictures

Rest in peace Gemina

Gemina was 21 years old:

Tori Amos

I'm loving my Tori Amos today. The first video is weird-you have been warned. Rick said it was going to give him nightmares, but I think its fun and quirky!



The are the first two songs I ever heard her sing:





I didn't like this song when I first heard it-a remake of the Nirvana song "Smells like teen spirit" but I like it now:



I love the words to this one:

Some recent pictures

We got a surprise January Rainbow on Monday. The other pictures didn't turn out so well, but it was a huge double rainbow and the end seemed so close and vivid that I could almost reach out and touch it.


My little old man Randy taking a well deserved nap!


Fall foliage


Either it was foggy or out of focus! It's eerie, but I like it


Close-up fall foliage


More fall foliage

A surprise balloon floating over my house

Another surprise balloon floating over my house

Sunday

I got all of my papers back to the prize coordinator and she called and told me everything is in order and the next step would be to talk to the prize coordinator at Travelocity and choose the dates I wan't to take the trip.

I have been doing some research on the internet of the fun things to do while we are there-5 days won't be enough!

Happy New Year

Aloha Waikiki

I finally got the email with the affidavit of eligibility and the details of the prize I won. It is a trip to Waikiki on Oahu. We will be staying at the Sheraton Waikiki! It looks really nice. I have always wanted to pay my respects at Pearl Harbor and it isn't too far away from the hotel.

All I have to do now is fill out the paperwork and fax it back to the prize coordinator and then I will receive more information on how to redeem the prize.

I had got into a rut about entering my sweepstakes since my wins were few and far between-this win has taken care of that! I never think of it as luck that I win anything, its just persistence, patience and entering a sweepstakes at the right time.

I hope everyone has a great weekend :)

Hawaii here I come!!!

I just got an email from the Blockbuster Great Gift Giveaway Instant win game that I am the potential winner of the grand prize trip from Travelocity!!

I looked up the rules and there are 4 trips on the grand prize list. They are all 5 days in different destinations in Hawaii!

I have to wait for another email with the affidavit of eligibility and I'm not sure when I'll find out which destination I won. I looked them up and they all look amazing. The prizes were: Kauai, Maui, Waikiki, and The Big Island. The hotels all looked very nice! The ARV ranges from $4,300 to $5,000. I can't wait to find out which one I will be going to-I'll have until November of 2008 to take the trip.

I have been entering this every day since November 13th, they send you an email after you enter to let you know if you have won and all the emails I have gotten so far have said sorry-you are not a winner. So tonight when I looked I was shocked to see Congratulations!

I hope everyone is having a great week! :)

Happy Holidays!

Whatever Holiday you celebrate, I hope you have a happy one!

A few videos to make you laugh..

These crack me up, I hope you enjoy!


via videosift.com

Only because I am bored right now!

You can blame this on Ginger!

HONESTY SURVEY
1. How tall are you barefoot?
5'8

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?
No, I have never wanted to try.

3. Do you own a gun?
No, I used to.

4. Rehab?
No.

5. Do you get nervous before "meeting the parents"?
No.

6. What do you think of your friends?
Most of the I trust and respect, some I have learned the hard way that I shouldn't have.

7. What's your favorite Christmas song?
I don't really have a favorite, I like some of the traditional ones, but mostly the upbeat kind.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Diet Coke and water.

9. Do you do push-ups?
Not in a long time.

10. Have you ever done ecstacy?
No, I haven't wanted to either.

11. Are you vegitarian?
No, I love all vegetables though.

12. Do you like painkillers?
Yes, more than I should probably!

3. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?
I don't have one.

14. Do you own a knife?
Yes.

15. Do you have A.D.D.?
No, unless I am tired I don't have trouble concentrating.

16. Date Of Birth?
10/07/69.

17. Top 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
1. What to buy for Christmas presents
2. What movie to watch next
3. Organize some clutter that has been building up

18. Name the last 3 things you have bought?
groceries, scratch off lotto ticket and a Christmas tree.

19. Name five drinks you regularly drink:
Diet Coke, water, milk, Diet Dr. Pepper, and green tea.

20. What time did you wake up today?
I stayed up very late/early last night so I got up around 5pm

21. Current hair?
Short.

22. Current worry?
Bills.

23. Current hate?
Most reality shows.

24. Favorite place to be?
Around friends.

25. Least favorite place to be?
Any store that is packed.

26. Where would you like to go?
Europe, there are many places I'd like to see again as well as some new places. I have also had an urge to go somewhere in the South Pacific lately.

27. Do you own slippers?
Yes, I don't wear them much, I have taken to wearing flip-flops around the house though.

28. What do you think you'll be in 10 yrs?
Living in the same town, maybe in a bigger house.

29. Do you burn or tan?
I sunburn easily.

30. Last thing you ate?
A hot dog with chili.

31. Would you be a pirate?
No, I'm a landlubber.

32. Last time you had an alcoholic drink?
Last night I had a beer.

33. What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don't sing in the shower.

34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?
I didn't have the childhood fear of monsters, but I did hate going to sleep-I fought it tooth and nail-I hated thinking I was going to miss something.

36. Last thing that made you laugh?
I listened to a funny skit on the Bob & Tom show.

37. Best bed sheets you had as a child?
The only ones that I remember are some red white and blue sheets I had.

38. Worst injury you've ever had?
When I was 8 I climbed a stack of piled firewood that promptly gave way and my inner upper arm got cut open from the spikes on top of a chain link fence. I had to get 26 stitches.

40. How many TVs do you have in your house?
5.

41. Who is your loudest friend?
Rick.

42. Who is your most silent friend?
Ginger, at least in the meaning as I talk to her more on IM than voice wise.

43. Does someone have a crush on you?
Not that I am aware of.

44. Do you wish on stars?
Yes, sometimes on the first star I see at night if I am feeling sentimental or superstitious.

45. What is your favorite book?
I have too many favorite books to list.

46. What is your favorite candy?
Charleston Chew, Skor, Hershey Kisses with almonds, and Snickers.

47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding?
I have never thought of having a wedding, but if I did I think it would be "At Last" by Etta James.

48. What song do you want played at your funeral?
Something upbeat and hopeful.

49. What were you doing 12AM last night?
Talking to Ginger on the phone I think. Either that or reading.

50. Do you love someone?
Lots of someones.

Woot Off

Woot normally offers a new discounted product every night at midnight, but every now and then you get lucky and they have a woot off where the product changes as soon as it sells out. The have some great deals usually-I missed a $200 laptop during the last woot off!

I hope everyone has a great weekend :)

If zombies take over, I am in trouble!

29%

I'm impressed with JC Penney's new commercial

They are so busted...no wait..

Stupid Cops - video powered by Metacafe

The wind and the owl

SLEEEP

I haven't been sleeping well, last night I tossed and turned and could not sleep. I woke up a few times after having nightmares and after my alarm went off I hit snooze. Then I didn't hear it go off again and was 15 minutes late to work.

It was like that the night before too. I'm so tired now everything is blurry-I hope I can sleep tonight. I was tired when I went to bed last night but just lie there waiting and waiting.

Everything else is going ok, we got our outside Christmas lights up and later this week we will tackle the inside.

I hope everyone is having a great week :)

This song makes me hopeful

And I just love her anyway:

Go around twice if you are happy

For some reason I found this interesting:


via videosift.com

Who chooses the next US President?

It will either make you think or feel like you need to put on your tin foil hat! The link referenced at the end goes to some candidate I've never heard of!


via videosift.com

Happy Halloween

via videosift.com

NSFW due to some language.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy halloween!

Time elapsed video of Arctic ice sheet melting

Here's new NASA satellite video showing the astounding loss of Arctic sea ice.

From NASA: The 2007 Arctic summer sea ice has reached the lowest extent of perennial ice cover on record - nearly 25% less than the previous low set in 2005.

The area of the perennial ice has been steadily decreasing since the satellite record began in 1979, at a rate of about 10% per decade. But the 2007 minimum, reached on September 14, is far below the previous record made in 2005 and is about 38% lower than the climatological average. Such a dramatic loss has implications for ecology, climate and industry.

Sea ice is frozen seawater floating on the surface of the ocean. Some sea ice is semi-permanent, persisting from year to year, and some is seasonal, melting and refreezing from season to season. The sea ice cover reaches its minimum extent at the end of each summer and the remaining ice is called the perennial ice cover.

strange random images I found

Bad few weeks

Actually a bad few weeks, Rick is having to have some tests done to see what is wrong with his stomach, our fridge went out and last night the washer went out! It's been a stressful few weeks, but still haven't let it get to me-almost!

I found this funny video-poor woman!


http://view.break.com/134907 - Watch more free videos

If you

have an odd sense of humor, a few gross bits don't bother and you have 5 minutes-watch this! It's kind of cool, funky and creepy all at once. I hope everyone has had a good week-have a great weekend :)

Meet Roo

The manliest and most honest commercial ever!?

Maybe NSFW!

Another Birthday...

Sunday was my birthday and I spent the day relaxing and watching movies. I spent Friday thru Tuesday relaxing and doing nothing! It was nice and refreshing.

My friend Ginger came up Saturday after her 5 mile Heart Walk and spent the day with me and didn't leave til Sunday. It was a nice visit since we hadn't seen each other in a long time.

Tuesday it was back to work and we have a few events coming up this week and next so I have been busy.

I hope everyone is having a great week :)

It was nice today-it rained later on in the afternoon and we are supposed to have some rain tomorrow as well.

Last week my 13 year old dachshund Randy started acting odd. I noticed his lower jaw started swelling. I took him to the vet the next day and they told me that since he is older his jaw has started deteriorating and was broken. They had to pull his remaining 3 teeth.

Yesterday and today he has pepped back up and is acting like his old self. He is on antibiotics and a mild pain pill. We have to start feeding him soft food, but he snuck some of the other dog's hard food earlier.

He has been really picky and wont eat any of the soft canned food I have tried. The vet gave us some recipe that has hamburger meat, rice, yogurt and a vitamin in it. I made some of it earlier for him and he at it like it was going out of style.

Then he acted like he was a puppy again- I hadn't seen him that peppy in months. Probably from being happy about the food since he hasn't liked anything I have put down in front of him in months.

Work has been going good, but busy.

The fair is here and of course it is rainy this week! I have to go and eat my yearly cheese on a stick and corndog!

I hope everyone is having a great week :)

Circa 1920

I found this on Shorpy earlier: "Mack Sennett girls in costume" circa 1920. Sennett, an early producer of silent films, was known as the King of Comedy for his slapstick reels.

Sometimes I find some odd pictures...

and today I found these and thought I share! I hope everyone is having a good weekend and have a good Memorial day :)

This was either the birth or death of hip hop-hard to tell! From the 80's show "Teen Witch":



Top That! - Watch more free videos