Wordless Wednesday

Sledding

I'm currently being bombarded with holiday stuff, family stuff, snow stuff, and back-to-work stuff. Which means I don't have time for blog stuff. The world is so unfair!

I did get to go sledding a few days ago, though, and managed to kill my back thoroughly. But dangit-- I caught AIR off that jump! Lots of air! I took a can of Whoop-Ass to my brothers and FLEW!!! (Of course, there was that one run when my brother and I doubled... we rocked down that slope until we crashed spectacularly into the powder...)

And I have learned a New Truth... if you invite your step-daughter to go sledding with you and your family on a day that is Not Officially Your Holiday Time, you are apparently participating in ruining the Other Mother's life.

I just so don't get girl politics.

Wordless Wednesday

Yes, We Got A Lot Of Snow

Why do you ask? :)

HoHoHo

Ron, commenting on a camouflage Santa hat someone was wearing:

"So, do you think he wears that for hunting reindeer?"

Things I've Done

Over at Michelle's blog, she had a list of things people can do. You bold the ones on the list that you've done.

Wow. I've done more on this list than I haven't done. That's really cool, if you think about it. (Except I don't want to bounce a check, or eat caviar. Ewww!!)

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Learned a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

Bodies

Yesterday, I took Violet and Lu to go see Body Worlds. If you haven't been to one of these exhibitions, you need to go. They are truly amazing! (I will have to say, though, that Bodies-- The Exhibition was much better than Body Worlds, even if BW was the original...)

One of the displays was of the blood vessel system in your body. I was pointing out to Violet and her friend Steffi how many blood vessels are in just the skin on your head. Steffi looked at it and said, "Wow! My head must look like a Chia underneath the skin!"

I love kids. :)

Texting Conversation

Violet: :( :( :(
Me: You don't like the snow?
Violet: if snow was warm then I would like it!
Me: LOL
Violet: I would go out in my swimsuit!
Violet: It would be a spa

Wordless Wednesday

Santa Claus

(Hopefully, no little ones will be reading my blog anytime soon...)

I was thinking today about how I broke the news to my kids about Santa. I started it out by reading a story to them (I will post the story at the end), and then talked to them about what Santa is. I explained it as thus:

"Santa is the spirit of giving anonymously. What that means is that when you give a gift to someone, and never expect a "thank you" from them, you are Santa. When you give just for the sake of giving, and nothing else, you are Santa."

And as they reached the age of knowing the Truth, they got to be Santa themselves. I allowed them to help pick out their little sisters' stocking stuffers, and buy things for families less fortunate than ours. My youngest hasn't had the opportunity for the stocking stuffers, but we do continue to buy toys for 'Sub For Santa'.

During these tough economic times, I encourage everyone reading here today to donate to organizations that give to families in need during this time of the year, especially your local food bank. And make it a Christmas gift to yourself-- plan on donating to a food bank *all* year 'round, not just during the holidays. Put it in your calendar once a month to give. Show your gratitude for your abundance by sharing with others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHO IS SANTA CLAUS?

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything.

She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted . . . "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. 'Where' turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through it's doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only nine years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-4 class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he had no good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

Just Say Cheese!

As I was making dinner last night, I took the bag of frozen peas out of the freezer. When I opened it, some of the peas scattered across the kitchen floor.

Ron looked at me and said (in best guy fashion), "Looks like you peed on the floor."

Sometimes, you just have to laugh at the cheesy moments life hands you. :)

Why I'm Not Posting Much Lately...

I gotta get all this stuff listed on Amazon and eBay... and more is coming Saturday.

Oy.

First Place! Yeah, Baby!

Received in my inbox today:

SanDisk’s Point and Shoot Film Festival Contest
Dear SanDisk’s Point and Shoot Film Festival Contest Entrant,

As the Official Administrator of SanDisk's Point and Shoot Film Festival Contest, we're pleased to inform you that your entry into the contest has been selected as a First Prize Winner!

Too cool. I entered in a video of my daughter playing soccer with the guys.

In other news, I did get in to see an allergist. The official diagnosis is: "I'm not sure exactly what you're allergic to, but I suspect it's the ibuprofen." The other culprit could be gelatin, of all things. I only got the reaction after I switched over to liquid gels. So now I get to have blood tests to see if it is the gelatin or the ibuprofen. Gelatin would not be a fun thing to be allergic to. There's gelatin in a LOT of stuff!

Wordless Wednesday

Meme

Givinya de Elba had an interesting meme on her site. It looked fun, so I thought I'd try it, too!

Ten years ago I:
* was devastated-- my then-husband had been fired from a job he had only had for 2 months.
* realized my marriage was a crock
* saw the beginning of the death of my dreams of being a stay-at-home mom
* was packing to move for like the 12th time
* made the decision to go back to college and get my degree

(Wow... that sure brought up lots of depressing memories!)

Five things on Tomorrow's To-Do List:
* get more stuff listed on Amazon and eBay
* take the girls Christmas shopping
* go to work
* go to the post office before work to ship stuff
* pick up girls from basketball practice

(Yes, I sound like a suburban working mother.)

Five snacks I enjoy:
* cheese and crackers
* fruit
* carrots
* nuts and seeds
* Baby Bel Cheese

(I like to eat cookies, but I wouldn't say I "enjoy" them... I feel too guilty when I eat them!)

Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:
* Pay off my house and cars
* Put money aside for kids' college and future homes
* Invest wisely
* Use proceeds to fund charitable works and travel the world
* Quit my job!!!

(I think I would like to have this problem.)

Five places I have lived:
* Utah, USA
* Washington, USA
* Nevada, USA
* Montana, USA
* New Mexico, USA
* Arizona, USA

(OK, so I cheated and put six.)

Five jobs I've had:
* Stay-at-home mom
* Custom picture framer
* McDonald's peon
* Manager at a call center (basically working for Microsoft)
* Professional computer geek

(Someday, I may go back to college and get my law degree. Maybe. If I'm insane enough to want to go to college again!)

BusyBusyBusy

I'm currently swamped with Christmas orders for my new part-time eBay/Amazon business, so I'm not able to update here as often as I would like. Sorry. :(

But in the meantime, I'll share a story with you.

On Saturday, we had to get crickets to feed our pet lizard. So I get the crickets, which are put into a smallish plastic bag, and then filled with air to keep the crickets from turning into insect mush. Because it's cold, I put them inside my coat to protect them from the outside temperatures until I can get them home.

We had to make one stop on the way back home, and with the bag in my coat, it looked like I was suddenly VERY voluptuous on my left. I mentioned that I'd probably get a lot of weird looks going through the store. Ron replied, "We can just tell them that you're getting the other side done in two weeks."

:)

Texting Conversation

Ron: Nikki is here so we will have to behave now. ;)
Me: Ok, ok. I'll behave. I have a halo, remember?
Ron: With horns. :)
Me: Something has to hold up the halo...

Wordless Wednesday

Texting Conversation

Kayla: I just saw an old midget couple walking down the street lol
Me: Cute. :)
Kayla: I guess lol
Me: Everybody deserves love. :)
Kayla: I meant i just dont find old people cute lol its not anything against midgets
Me: I think old people in love are cute.
Kayla: Old people smell like dying and soap
Me: LOL Someday you will smell like soap, too. :)
Kayla: Nope ill use herbal essences

Wordless Wednesday

Texting Conversation

Kayla and I, discussing the fact that she wants a snowboard and accessories for Christmas...

Kayla: All im saying is that its what i want from santa lol
Me: Santa is experiencing difficult economic times.
Kayla: He lives in the north pole not america lol
Me: Santa just laid off 20% of his elves. Sad.
Kayla: Santa also has the magical power of ebay

Quotable Quotes

"Girl world is a battlefield." --Violet, age 11

Lu: What do you call a twitchy cow?
Me: I don't know. What?
Lu: Beef jerky!

"Christmas only comes two months a year..." --Kayla, age 16

Texting Conversation

Lu- Haha you forgot
Me- Got busy at work!
Lu- Haha you still forgot :P
Me- :P
Lu- :P :P
Me-
:P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P
Me- I win! I have copy and paste! Neener!
Lu- Just a sec
Lu- FWD: Msg from Mom
:P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

Inspiration

Over at the Wayfaring Wanderer, I was encouraged to write a post about my favorite photographer.

I would have to say that honor currently belongs to David, over at Authorblog.

Why do I like David's photography so much? I think it boils down to this: He is an expert at taking photos of everyday objects, and making them look fabulous. He also sees photo opportunities where others wouldn't even notice.

David, you inspire me to become a better photographer and to look at the world just a little bit differently.

Morning Conversation

While taking Kayla to the bus stop this morning, she asked me a question:

"What do you think the greatest failing of humans is?"

Wow. The question kind of took me aback for a second. Then I thought. Finally, I answered, "Lying. I think if people were truthful, there would be a lot less contention and problems in this world."

She responded, "I think it is that humans are never content with what they have. They always want more. If they have a house, they want a bigger house. If they don't have something their neighbors have, they want what the neighbors have. They're not happy with what they've already got."

That's some profound thinking from a 16-year-old. I spent the rest of the drive to work contemplating whether or not I was content with my life as it stood.

I would have to say, "Yes."

That is not to mean I won't work hard to attain things I'd like for me and my family, or to be complacent about my life.

But right here, right now, I am content.

Wordless Wednesday

Texting Conversation

Kayla, riding home on the public bus...

Kayla: Ew some creepy low lives are trying to hit on me
Me: Yuck
Kayla: They are about seniors who are so creepy ugh
Me: Better than 40-year-old guys...
Kayla: Thats true... But thats what theyll be in a few years anyways
Me: LOL
Kayla: Its true!
Me: And you'll be 2 years behind them. :)
Kayla: With pepper spray

Thanksgiving Comes First

Suldog, I've been saving this one just for you.

Texting Conversation

Violet:

I froze an egg!

Me: Cool! Now what are you going to do with it?
Violet: Im going to wait till Shay gets here and show her
Me: What about after that?
Violet: We're cracking it

(A couple minutes later...)

Violet:

Photography Meme

Over at dlyn's place, I got tagged for a photography meme just because I saw hers. (So, of course, that means you're now tagged, too, if you'd like to participate!)

Directions: Go to the fourth photo folder on your hard drive, and then choose the fourth picture. Post it.

I found:


Haha! Fun story. This is a photo of Violet's 10th birthday party. She has just opened up a pair of headphones, for her electronic keyboard. Her sisters got them for her because they were tired of listening to Violet play on the keyboard for hours on end. It drove them batty. She knew exactly why they got her the present, and showed her "disgruntled-ness" in this photo. :)

Here's a pic of her birthday cake:



And her later joy at realizing she got the Mother Of All Birthday Gifts, an iPod. :)



If you decide to participate in this meme, please link to your post in the comments so I can come see!

What's Your Bias? (Round Two)

Some of you may remember the little bit of fun Lu had near the beginning of the school year. Her English teacher gave her a "test", which ultimately lead her and me to speak in front of the school board. We were told that the matter would be taken care of, and that the teacher would be talked to.

Lu received another assignment from this teacher. I told her she was NOT allowed to finish it. I am contemplating taking the matter up the food chain a bit further, to the State Charter School Board. I am SO upset.

Directions: You are to match up column one with the right answer in column two. The teacher specifically told the class to pronounce the second column with a "Chinese voice" to complete the worksheet.

Column One:
1. Real stupid fellow
2. We suspect you are harboring a fugitive
3. He's cleaning his car
4. Your body odor is offensive
5. Not very good
6. Oriental swindlers
7. Serving drinks to people
8. Very bashful man
9. This is a tow away zone
10. You know the lyrics to the Macarena?
11. Are you conserving electricity?
12. Time to bathe
13. I thought you were on a diet?
14. Hawaiian vacation agreed with you
15. I bumped into a coffee table
16. Cleaning automobiles
17. I got this for free
18. Left a wakeup call for 9 and it's only 8
19. Cigarettes are hazardous for your health
20. Vocalist rock band
21. Has your flight been delayed?
22. N.A.S.A.'s crowning achievement
23. Stay out of sight
24. Small horse
25. They have arrived
26. There's no reason to raise your voice
27. TV's "Hawaiian Heat"
28. Premature infant
29. Reason for face lift
30. Approach me
31. Who fertilized the garden?
32. Prices are too high here

Column Two:
a. Ngo Tsmo Kin
b. Hu Rang Yhr Lee
c. Lao Zhi Sho
d. Yu Shao Ah Nao
e. Wah Skin Kah
f. Hu Yu Hai Ding
g. Lao Zhi Ting
h. Sum Shai Gai
i. Yu Mai Titan
j. Ten Dhing Bha
k. Wai Yu Shao Ting
l. Sum Dum Gai
m. Tai Ngi Bei Bi
n. Hip Sin Gah
o. Wai So Dhim
p. Tai Ngi Poh Ni
q. Khan Men
r. Kun Hia Yu
s. Mhun Lan Dhing
t. Ngo Bai Dat Ting
u. Hu Flung Dung
v. Chin Tu Fhat
w. Wa Shing Ka
x. No Pah King
y. Ai Bang Mai Ni
z. Hao Long Wei Ting
aa. Wai Yu Mun Ching
bb. Hei Dei Kum
cc. Yu Stin Ki Pu
dd. Wai Yu Sing Dum Song
ee. Ai No Pei
ff. Lai Lo

Wordless Wednesday

My cute niece, Jane!

Winter Has Arrived

Guess what I woke up to last Wednesday?

Surprise!

Life Philosophy

I named my blog what I did because I have a LOT going on in my life. I haven't even put a portion of what goes on in my crazy life here... I think that posting it would actually be a downer for readers, and they'd see a side of me I rarely show in Real Life.

At work the other day, I was fixing a computer for a lady who works in the ER. A gentleman she had been working with was pretty down on his luck, and she had to deal with him as he complained about his life. He wanted to end it all, but was 'too chicken' to commit suicide. She felt a lot of pity for this man, and could see why he felt the way he did because of his circumstances.

I listened to her for a minute, and said:

"It's not what life throws at you that is the problem-- it's how you choose to deal with it. Attitude is everything."

I explained that I have things going on in my life that are pretty significant, and yet I try to wake up each day and make it a good one. I briefly outlined a few things I'm currently dealing with (severe chronic pain, having to get a stalking injunction taken out on my sister, my ex-husband's suicide, remarriage and blending families of teenagers together, etc.). She looked dumbfounded, and expressed that she never knew what kind of troubles I had been dealing with, even though she has known me for over 2 years.

I quietly offered to her, "I believe that while you may not have control over many circumstances in your life, the attitude you choose to handle those circumstances is under your control. Attitude determines your level of happiness."

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." I firmly believe there is much wisdom and truth to his words.

Historia de un Letrero

Funniest Thing I've Seen In Ages

Google

I love Google for so many reasons... It is the Internet Guru, the answer to every question (mostly), and provides hours of entertainment. I even have Google Analytics on my blog, so I can obsessively watch with interest how people land on my blog.

The best search sentence EVER just popped someone by here today. It was:

"an interesting life of a famous person"

I'm the first one at the top. Whoohoo!

Random Joke

A Blonde is watching the news with her husband when the newscaster says six Brazilian men die in a skydiving accident.

The blonde starts crying to her husband, sobbing, 'That's horrible!'

Confused, he says, 'Yes dear, it is sad. But they were skydiving, and there is that risk involved.'

After a few minutes, the blonde, still sobbing, says, 'How many is a Brazilian?'

History

"Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights hero, said he was hardly able to believe that 40 years after he was left beaten and bloody on an Alabama bridge as he marched for the right for blacks to vote, he had cast a ballot for Obama."

I do not think my children comprehend fully why yesterday was so important. I tried to explain it to them, but it didn't quite sink in. Maybe when they're older, and are more well-versed in our country's history, the significance of yesterday will make sense to them.

Wordless Wednesday

Violet, at Delicate Arch. Arches National Park, Utah.

Health In The Age Of Google

I think that maybe I have pneumonia. At least, my symptoms match the ones I've found on the internet. With so much health information right at my fingertips, it's amazing how many diseases I think I probably have.

I wonder how many people self-diagnose themselves before they set foot in a doctor's office with a ream of printed paper clutched in their hands. The internet is like the ultimate candy store for hypochondriacs-- one stop shopping to match your symptoms against thousands of diseases, all for the taking! You could even be a discriminating hypochondriac, only choosing diseases that fit your lifestyle and needs at the time. Plenty of information to help you decide.

In the meantime, I think I will continue to scare myself to death, thinking of the possibilities of what I might be sick with. When I get freaked out enough, I'll haul my sorry self into the doctor's office and look pitiful. Only then will my worst fears be realized, as I come to know that my internet searches were right. Or maybe not.

Kayla told me the other day she thinks she has diverticulitis. She did an internet search, too.

Daylight Savings Time

I hate it. Absolutely HATE it. For the next month, I will be stuck in varying stages of zombie from having my sleep patterns screwed up. That, combined with my estrogen deficiency, will turn me into the Sleep Deprived Zombie from Estrogen Forgetfulness Hell.

Why can't they just pick a time zone and call it good?

I need to move back to Arizona, I guess. Stupid Daylight Savings Time.

Howard Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence Test

Over on Michelle's blog, there was a link to take an Intelligence Test. I scanned through her results, and immediately thought, "I'm going to be a Logical person." I have enough Vulcan in me to know what my test results were gonna be. (Here's the part where I should brag about all my scores being "higher than my peers" in all categories, but that would be letting my Type A Personality show too much...) Instead, I will give you the website's linky code, so you can go take the intelligence test yourself.

And contrary to some peoples' beliefs, I actually have some intelligence. At least, according to the test, I do....

What this test didn't come right out and say, though, is that I'm hopelessly, completely, and always will be a geek. I can't even hide it from an online test. I'm doomed.

Your result for Howard Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence Test...

Logical

"This area has to do with logic, abstractions, inductive and deductive reasoning, and numbers. While it is often assumed that those with this intelligence naturally excel in mathematics, chess, computer programming, and other logical or numerical activities, a more accurate definition places emphasis less on traditional mathematical ability and more reasoning capabilities, abstract pattern recognition, scientific thinking and investigation, and the ability to perform complex calculations.

Careers which suit those with this intelligence include scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and economists." (Wikipedia)

Take Howard Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence Test at HelloQuizzy

Blogtations

Want to find some new blogs to read? My suggestion is to go check out the awesome quotes at Blogtations. Find some blog quotes that tickle your fancy, and go check 'em out. I've found some great blogs through it.

Pretty soon, they're going to be celebrating the 500th blogtation on the site. You can join in the fun, if you'd like, by reading through quotes and finding one that you love to pieces.

For example, from Steenky Bee:

I purposely watch some television programs on our wide screen television so that the actresses look wider than they actually are. This makes me feel better about myself.

How can you not resist checking out her blog now? :)

What Am I?

Happy Halloween!

People keep asking me what I'm going to dress up as this year. My answer is, "I'm not really sure what I am."

So, without further ado, I am having my first contest on my blog. Y'all get to Name My Costume!

Winner will get all the glory. Guts optional.

Happy Halloween!

This came in my email yesterday, and I wanted to share. :)
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With Halloween upon us, it is worthwhile to remember a few simple rules to help keep this season healthy, happy and SAFE!! Please use these helpful hints this and every year.

1. When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead.

2. Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke.

3. Do not search the basement, especially if the power has gone out.

4. If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. However, it will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared. This also applies to kids who speak with somebody else's voice.

5. When you have the benefit of numbers, NEVER pair off and go alone.

6. As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.

7. Never stand in, on, or above a grave, tomb, or crypt. This would apply to any other house of the dead as well.

8. If you're searching for something which caused a loud noise and find out that it's just the cat, GET THE HECK OUT!

9. If appliances start operating by themselves, do not check for short circuits; just get out.

10. Do not take ANYTHING from the dead.

11. If you find a town that looks deserted, there's probably a good reason for it. Don't stop and look around.

12. Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're sure you know what you're doing.

13. If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice, more if you are female. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.

14. If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, kill them immediately.

15. Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, anywhere in Texas where chainsaws are sold, the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine.

16. If your car runs out of gas at night on a lonely road, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help. If you think that it is strange you ran out of gas because you thought you had most of a tank, shoot yourself instead. You are going to die anyway, and most likely be eaten.

17. Beware of strangers bearing tools. For example: chainsaws, staple guns, hedge trimmers, electric carving knives, combines, lawnmowers, butane torches, soldering irons, band saws, or any devices made from deceased companions.

18. If you find that your house is built upon a cemetery, now is the time to move in with the in-laws. This also applies to houses that had previous inhabitants who went mad or committed suicide or died in some horrible fashion, or had inhabitants who performed satanic practices.

19. Dress appropriately. When investigating a noise downstairs in an old house, women should not wear a flimsy negligee. And be sure to carry a flashlight, not a candle.

20. Do not mention the names of demons around open flames, as these can flare suddenly. Be especially careful of fireplaces in this regard.

21. Do not go looking for witches in the Maryland countryside.

Wait... How Old Am I Again?

When I was a little kid, I always knew how old I was even to the fraction of a year. ("I'm 7 and three-quarters!") And you always wanted to be older than you were, too-- one day past your 9th birthday, and you were almost 10. You couldn't wait until you were 16 and could drive. Then it was on to the Magical Age of 18. And then 21.

Then, inexplicably, sometime in my mid-20's, I realized I was losing touch with my age. People would ask me how old I was, and I'd actually have to think about it. And in my early 30's, I'd even have to resort to subtracting my birth year from the actual year to get it right.

It was about three months ago that it dawned on me that I had been telling everyone, for the past six months or so, that I was 38.

Ok, if I'm going to screw up my age, why did I decide to make myself older? Couldn't I have erred to the younger side of things?

Tomorrow, I will officially be 38. I will have grown into the age I thought I was. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Happy (almost) Halloween, from Lu!

Nothing (And Yet Something) To Report

It's been a weird last few days. Lots of things happening in my life (Shandy wants to come home to visit for the first time in almost 2 years!)(Joy!)(Having to think about going to court-- again-- next week)($#@%!)(Kayla got burnt out on soccer, and isn't going to do club ball for awhile)(Mixed emotions)(Sick kids)(Not fun)(New part-time business actually going pretty darn good)(Yay!)(Went to Lana and Nate's wedding reception/Halloween party, which I still need to write about)(Fun time!)(Shandy turned 18!)(Am I old enough to have an 18 year old?)(Even though I'm exercising more than I ever have before in my entire life, I'm gaining weight and have a higher fat percentage)(Life is SO unfair)(Attended the last minute *mandatory* budget meeting at work, where we were assured that All Is Well In Zion)(Liars)(Attended nephew's birthday party and scared the crap out of a bunch of kids with my costume)(Bwahahahaha!).

But nothing really to blog about.

Texting Conversation

The end of a rather amusing text conversation with Kayla:

Me: You know you want my hair products...
Kayla: I dont want to smell old!
Me: Yeah, I smell SO close to death...
Kayla: Nah... You smell just like death!
Me: Yeah yeah yeah...
Kayla: Sucks for you!
Me: But I know that someday you will be as old as me! So there!
Kayla: Never! Plastic surgery will save me!

So Did The Fat Lady

Yesterday, I posted a family favorite joke. It was such a favorite that Kayla, around age 9, made up one similar. It goes like this:

Person1: Say, "So did the fat lady" after everything I say.
Person1: I went to the fair.
Person2: So did the fat lady.
Person1: I ate a hot dog.
Person2: So did the fat lady.
Person1: I bought a balloon.
Person2: So did the fat lady.
Person1: The balloon popped.
Person2: So did the fat lady.

This never ceases to elicit fits of giggles from the younger crowd. :)

Pea Green Soup

My children love to ask the eternal question, "What's for dinner?" It is followed by a close second, "What's for lunch?" and a distant third, "What's for breakfast?" I'm sure I drove my own mom nutso with these same three questions.

One day many years ago, as I was thinking of what to cook, Shandy asked me, "Mom, what's for dinner?" I off-handedly answered, "Pea Green Soup." This has now become my standard answer to any "What's for (meal)?" questions that head my way.

Now, you're probably wondering where I came up with this retort. (For those of you who have spent many hours on a school playground, you know where I'm headed...) It's from a joke that has been around for years and years and years. It goes like this:

Person 1: Say the words, "Pea Green Soup" after everything I say.
Person 1: What did you have for breakfast?
Person 2: Pea Green Soup.
Person 1: What did you have for lunch?
Person 2: Pea Green Soup.
Person 1: What did you have for dinner?
Person 2: Pea Green Soup.
Person 1: What did you do all night?
Person 2: Pea Green Soup.

One time I really did make split pea and ham soup for dinner. It was rather hilarious trying to convince them that we were REALLY having Pea Green Soup for dinner. :)

I knew I had taught my children well when I came home one day, and asked them, "What should I make for dinner?"

"Pea Green Soup," they answered.

Elections

I did the early voting thing today. It was completely devoid of any of the happier emotions, with one notable exception:

SUPERDELL is running for the Governor of Utah.

His qualifications, according to him, are as follows:

"SUPERDELL is your only choice because YOU didn't file. Huntsman took away your freedoms and raised taxes more than any governor in the history of Utah. Springmeyer has admitted that he doesn't care about the constitution. The definition of the word insane is voting for the same people while expecting change.

There is no question that Dell Schanze is different. There are only 3 people on the ballot and SUPERDELL is the only one that is NOT socialist. If you are unsure then fill your heart with love, completely open your mind and pray to God earnestly. You can't afford to get this wrong and will be held accountable for your choice."

No, I am not making this up.

But I did need a good laugh yesterday, and SUPERDELL came to the rescue!

Wordless Wednesday

My sweet little nephew, Dean, in the sand at Sand Dune Arch, Arches National Park.

Sunrise

People ask me why it is that I live in Utah. Well, there are a lot of reasons-- most of them having to do with family-- but this definitely counts for a LOT of the why I stick around this state:



Sunrise, just outside where I work (greenhouse in the foreground). Gorgeous!

No, I Have Not Dropped Off The Face Of The Earth

I just went AWOL for awhile. :)

Thursday through Sunday, I went here:


And here:


And here:


And here:


And camped with this in my backyard:


I love Arches National Park!

Wordless Wednesday

My work buddy.

And as an added bonus for today:

Monday Revisited

I had to scrape the windshield at 6:20am again this morning. Ugh.

Ron came out to put some stuff in the trunk of the car for me before I left this morning, and the hatchback handle broke right off. Ugh.

I double-checked the calendar. It isn't Monday anymore. Unless I'm missing something (likely).

Maybe tomorrow will be a better Tuesday.

It's Official

Winter has arrived. At least, it has arrived According To Suz. Why, you ask? It's because I had to scrape the $@#%! windshield this morning at 6:20am. Ugh.

And then I discovered a very large crack running through my windshield. Ugh.

I just checked... yup, it's a Monday.

Experimenter Update

I got Violet a set of kid-friendly test tubes on Saturday. You would have thought I'd bought her the most amazing, expensive present ever, judging by her reaction. :) She spent HOURS putting all kinds of things in the tubes. She used up all the olive oil I had in the kitchen, just about used up all the food coloring, and had fun dissolving things from Tylenol to Polident in all the tubes.

This morning, she opens the freezer, and pulls out her blue jelly shoes. "Wow! Check it out, mom! They're frozen!"

I told you she has a love affair with the freezer...

Texting Conversation

Regarding her bus schedule to get home from school:

Kayla: Ugh so ill be waiting a lot i guess?
Me: About a half hour today. And if you miss it, you would wait a half hour for the next one.
Kayla: Lametastic
Me: LOL
Kayla: What?
Me: "Lametastic". :)
Kayla: Psh i always use that word! its in my dictionkayla

One Tough Mama

That's me. One tough mama. At least, according to some clowns last night...

Before the soccer game started, we went to this little carnival thing going on outside the stadium. Some clowns on stilts were running a game-- they had one of these thingamajigs where you take a heavy hammer and whack a pad to try to get the bell on top to ring.

I convinced Ron to try it-- he got pretty close to the top.Then I decided to try it.

I remembered the wise words of my father, who taught me how to chop wood as a child. "Put the force into your downswing," he used to tell me, "Wait until your hands are in front of your head." So I did just that. And hit that sucker about 2/3 of the way up.

The clowns started ribbing all the men around the area, because my hit was better than most of the guys who tried. Ha! They kept calling me, "One tough mama!" and urged all the men to come and best my score.

Too funny!

New Stadium

The first game for the Real Salt Lake was played last night in the brand-new Rio Tinto Stadium. Ron and I enjoyed watching it, right there in the stands! It's an incredible stadium-- I don't think there is a bad seat in the house.



It's everything a soccer (football) game should be-- lots of action (including three yellows and one red card!), goals from both teams, and great saves from the keepers. The only thing it didn't have was a win for the RSL. It was a tie, 1-1.

One of my favorite parts of the night? Ten minutes before kickoff, the sprinkers came on. The crowed just roared. Too funny!
We capped the night off with mugs of hot chocolate and cherry pie a-la-mode. Mmmmmmm...

Irritation

I am in a grumbly mood today. Last night, Lu went to babysit for the single gentleman down the street (the widower with three little boys). He said he would need her from 4:00-10:00pm. Okay, I thought... 10:00 is a little late for a school night, but it should be ok.

At 10:40, after his not answering Lu's texts and calls, I went over to the house and sent her home to go to bed.

The gentleman shows up at... drumroll, please... 12:30am.

He was a bit surprised to see me in his house. I let him know that Lu cannot be out that late on a school night babysitting, and that she will not be able to sit for him again if he cannot be home at a decent hour.

He was apologetic, and vowed that it would never happen again.

What would you have done in this situation? And should I let her sit for this gentleman again on a school night?

Wordless Wednesday

Street performers in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

The Experimenter

I have a child who likes to experiment with things. She's been this way since she was born, I think. How does this work? Will it still work if I take it apart? Will it still work if I smash it into pieces? Will it work if I glue it back together?

My experimenter is Violet. Her current favorite thing to do is freeze things. This phase has lasted almost two years now. (In fact she took 3rd place in the school science fair--against middle schoolers-- with her "Gadget Freeze" project, where she froze different items and then tested them to see if they still worked afterwards...) I never know what I will find in the freezer when I open it. So many surprises are encased in ice for my enjoyment: frozen matches, frozen applesauce (she says don't try this-- it's gross), frozen toothpicks, frozen toys, frozen... something...

I remember one day when she was about 5, and we were unloading groceries from the car. I gave her the package of two Costco-sized mustard bottles, and she went in. A couple minutes later, the older girls yell, "Mom! Come quick!" I enter the house to find mustard splattered all over the landing and wall at the bottom of the stairs. Older sisters informed me that they saw her throwing the mustard.

Me: "Honey, why did you throw the mustard down the stairs?"
Violet: "I wanted to see what would happen."
Me: "Well, mustard explodes everywhere when you throw it down the stairs."
Violet: "The first one didn't!"

This morning, I drove to work with little stick magnets stuck to the outside of the car. I have the best hood ornaments EVER.

SOLUTION: Can't Open Attachments in Outlook 2003

Problem:

• You have Office/Outlook 2003
• You have installed the Office 2007 Compatibility pack
• When you double-click on Office 2007 attachments in Outlook, you receive an error that says, "The system cannot find the file specified"

Solution:

• Open Windows Explorer/My Computer
• Go to Tools, then Folder Options
• Click on the File Types tab
• Scroll down to the file type you are having issues with (ex: .xlsx or .docx)
• Click Change
• Choose the regular program to open the attachment-- in other words, you want Excel to open a .xlsx, or Word to open .docx, etc. DO NOT CHOOSE THE COMPATIBILITY PACK PROGRAM.
• Click OK

Now try to open your attachment again. It should (hopefully) work this time!

Never Boring

Kayla is my child who has always had a very quick wit. She's a funny person, and is definitely a yellow personality. This means that conversations in our home are generally amusing on some level.

For example: "Oh-my-gosh-I-love-Kenna-so-much-and-I-really-have-to-pee!"

Or, the other day when we were all driving in the car, with Kayla at the wheel:

Violet: "Your driving is really good now. You're just like mom!"
Kayla: "Only more sexy!"

Or the morning I was driving her to the bus stop, and passed a sign announcing a Cottage Meeting. She asked what one was, and I started explaining it to her. She interrupted with:

"Oh! I thought you were going to say it was a church kind of meeting. You know, where the ladies would say, 'I think maybe it would be best to have the prayer second instead of first, and it would be a wonderful idea for everyone to bring a treat because everyone likes them, and now let's all go make some casseroles!"

I wish I could put her voice changes/inflections into the written word. It's just too funny. :)

This is the same child, who at age 4, told me, "I have SO many thinks in my head! There must be a googol of them." I love it when her thinks come spilling out her head and right out of her mouth. :)

I've told her that the "mother's curse" applies to her-- I hope she gets her own mini-me so that she, too, can experience how much fun it has been to have a child like her.

Letterbox-- Lehi Sugar Factory

We placed our first letterbox last night at the Lehi Sugar Factory. We did a covert night operation and moved a lot of rocks to cover the hidey-hole. It was fun!

This place has quite a history behind it. To read more, visit here.

I've created a new blog just for my letterboxing clues. Please visit Letterboxing Adventures for fun and excitement. :)

For more information about letterboxing, please visit http://www.letterboxing.org/.

Morning Surprise

As I was taking Kayla to school early this morning, we saw a horse trailer being pulled on the freeway. Not too unusual-- there's a lot of animals in this area still-- but then Kayla says to me, "I don't think that looks like a horse in there. It looks like a camel!"

"Not likely," I replied. "I bet it's a llama."

As I pulled closer to the trailer, we saw this:

Wild, huh? :)

Kayla calls her best friend to tell her about "...the best thing that has happened to me in the morning..." Her friend asks her, "So, is an Indian person driving the truck?" Kayla responds, "Huh? What does that have to do with anything? Indians don't usually have camels." Her friend says, "I mean Indians, like from Iraq or something."

Ahhhhhh...... this is the same girl that thought Mexico was a state, and that Canada was near China or something.

Wordless Wednesday

Violet, inside the mine on Sunday.

How to Rule the World with Jello

Someone posted a comment on The MomBabe's blog. Apparently this is her favorite Google search phrase-- "How to Rule the World with Jello."

I have now claimed it as mine. Mine, I say!

How to Rule the World with Jello.
How to Rule the World with Jello.
How to Rule the World with Jello.

It just flows off the fingertips, doesn't it?

Beautiful Sunday

Ron, Violet and I decided to go letterboxing** today for the first time. We first went up Rock Canyon in Provo. This is the trail up the canyon-- the colors were incredible! (Violet loved that the mountains were all "dotted".) The letterbox was about an hour hike up into the canyon, in an old mine.

Then we drove up Provo Canyon, and stopped briefly at Bridal Veil Falls. Beautiful! I hope they don't rebuild the tram lines. I never did like them in the way of the view. We had stopped at a gorgeous park just before the falls to find our second letterbox. We have plans to go back sometime to enjoy a picnic there.

We continued on to Midway to find the third letterbox. It was on the Provo River, in a secluded little area off a footpath that fishermen like to use. It was very peaceful just sitting there on a big rock, listening to the water flow past.

All in all, a very fine afternoon!


**For more information about letterboxing, please visit www.letterboxing.org.

Wordless Wednesday

One of the shelves on my bookshelf in my bedroom.

Various and Sundry

I had my 4 week weigh-in and fat percentage testing yesterday evening. I gained 2 pounds, and my body fat went up by 0.6 percent. My lean body mass, however, has increased by 0.1. I'm bummed that the numbers don't jive with the fact that my pants are getting loose.

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Claire: "Are you going to eat my brain?"
Sylar: "Claire... that's disgusting!"

I win. I told my kids he didn't eat their brains...

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I think for my future Wordless Wednesdays, I'll just put a blurb at the bottom of the picture to let you know where I took it. Or stole it from. :)

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I'm getting up the guts to talk to the Manager Who Doesn't Like Me to see if he'd be willing to allow me to swap jobs with another guy in our department. This guy wants a higher paying job, and I want to be able to do his job from home. I figure it would be worth the paycut, if I'm allowed to work from home. Since it's not currently an "at home" position, it will take some convincing. Wish me luck-- I'm going to try to talk to him on Thursday.

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And the most amazing news of all: My best friend Carol just found out she's expecting baby #4. What's so amazing about this, you ask? Well, she has some major medical problems that tend to mean you can't get pregnant. And regardless of this fact, plus the fact that birth control obviously didn't do its job, she is now expecting. The jaw-dropping component to this is that her youngest child is currently 15.

Can you even imagine???

I Did It Again

My workplace had a region-wide contest for their new campaign regarding making our hospitals all smoke-free. They wanted slogan ideas for their posters and whatnot...

I had run into a co-worker at the timeclock, and she asked me if I was going to enter the contest. I said I hadn't really thought about it, but she insisted that I should, as I always win contests at work.

So a few days later, I went ahead and submitted a slogan. I guess three other people had already submitted the same thing, and I was told I could try again and could submit as many entries as I wanted before midnight that night.

I decided to run with it, just for fun. The poor PR guy got like 20-30 submissions from me, some of them serious, some of them just for fun. (I think my favorite one was, "Every time you smoke, a puppy dies. Think of the puppies!")

I got a call this morning to go show up for some special meeting thing-a-ma-bob at 7:00am on Thursday to be presented with my award, as I seem to have placed in the top three entries.

Ah, it warms my heart. The type "A" personality part of me just got a good feeding. :)

Playing With the Boys

Kayla has been moonlighting as a keeper on my brother Dusty's soccer team. The unusual thing about this is that this is an all-men's league, ages 18 and up.

It's made for some interesting times.

Here's something from their last game:



After the crash, she seemed like she was hurting a bit. When she came in for half-time, I asked her if she was ok. She said yes, no problem. "Are you sure?" I ask. "Yes! I do have two built-in-airbags, you know." And off she went to play more soccer. :)


UPDATE: I have just found out about a contest on YouTube. If you’re interested, visit SanDisk’s Life Moves contest page and enter your video clip for a chance to win prizes (I entered this one!). Then, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom and enter their contest for even more prizes!

Yeeeessssss!

I have just found adventure!

At Applebee's.

In the kids' menu word search.

Insurance Intelligence

Yesterday I had to call my health insurance to ask about a claim. I had taken three of the girls in for annual physicals, and the benefits statements just showed up. For two of the girls, it was just the regular co-pay. For Violet, though, her urine test was an extra charge.

I asked why they paid for the other two girls' pee tests were covered, and Violet's wasn't-- they said that the visit itself had been coded as a "Preventative Exam", but that the pee test was coded with a diagnosis.

Me: "What is the diagnosis? All she had was a regular physical like the other two girls."
Insurance: "The diagnosis is for scoliosis. Therefore, it is not just a regular physical. That's why we didn't cover her urine test."
Me: "During the regular checkup, the doctor suspected that she might have scoliosis. It was just part of the checkup."
Insurance: "Then the doctor must have ordered the extra test because she had scoliosis."
Me: "Are you telling me that a doctor diagnoses scoliosis from somebody's urine?"
Insurance: silence
Insurance: "I'll send this claim back to be coded properly."

Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here

Ahoy, mateys! Greetin's from Pegleg Jackson. Batten down t' hatches, and prepare t' be boarded. It be....

International Talk Like A Pirate Day

So, be ye goin' t' join in t' fun today? Ye can land here t' search for yer pirate name. If not, jes' slink away like the scurvy dog that ye are. Arrrrr!

Ye best be learnin' t' be talkin' like a buccaneer, if'n ye know what's best for ye, ye scalliwag. Else it be Davy Jones locker fer ye!

(Yo, ho... yo, ho... a pirates' life fer me...)

You Say Po-tay-toh, I Say Po-tah-toh

My kids are always making fun of me because I pronounce the word "measure" differently than they do. I say, "may-zure" and they say, "mez-zure".

So in the cafeteria today, one of the managers was laughing because people were making fun of how he was pronouncing different words. He said, "It's because I grew up in Oregon." Hey, now... I grew up (mostly) in Washington. Maybe that's the missing link...? I asked him how he pronounced "measure". Guess what? It was "may-zure". :)

My official scientific experiment has proven to me that I suffer from "Pacific Northwesternism".

Dang... I should have asked him if he says "law-yer" or "low-yer". In the meantime, I've just resigned myself to saying "attorney" to avoid any further pronunciation embarrassment.

Wordless Wednesday

I Like It!

Black Boxing has exposed me to something in the blogging world I was heretofore unawares of... Wordless Wednesdays. I guess the idea is to post a photo of something that speaks for itself.

I like this idea.

I think I will start today by photographing something off my desk at work.

Happy Wednesday!

Working Woman

The Black Box has led me to many interesting blogs. I've been currently reading Joe's blog, who (from what I can tell) is a HR guy. This kind of sent me into thinking about the various interesting HR situations I've been in.

Like, when I was newly married, and 5 months pregnant-- "I'm sorry, but I can't hire you for this job because you're pregnant."

Or, upon giving my two weeks notice to the chauvinist computer store owner I worked for, said to me, "You know, the only reason Microsoft would hire you is because you're a woman."

My current manager wrote me up based on what someone told someone who told him what I did. This is also the same guy who tried to dictate what I could and could not do on my lunch break, and also tried to institute a dictated work schedule because I had "missed so much work". (I was off on FMLA for medical reasons, hello....?) He's also the one who delivers back-handed "compliments" like, "Suz was in charge of this project, but it turned out good anyhow."

I keep a comic strip up on my cube wall. It's in honor of the men who somehow think that my skills and knowledge are inferior, just because I'm a woman. Ha!


(Click on the comic strip to make it bigger...)

Black Box

Jen had this on her blog, and I thought it rather interesting. Make choices that are in the Black Box, and you can have the chance to visit a mystery blog of someone who has made the same choices as you.

Kind of fun! Give it a whirl. :) If you found my blog because of the Black Box, please leave me a comment and tell me what choices made me your mystery person. If you can remember. :)

(P.S. If you came via the Black Box, you have landed just on my Black Box post. Poke around my blog a bit, if you'd like. Links to recent posts are under "Leftover Jello" to your right and down a bit.)



FOLLOWUP: I have decided that the black box is picking websites randomly. People's choices to come here do not necessarily match my own. So chaos is in control, people! :)

FOLLOWUP TO THE FOLLOWUP: After receiving further light and knowledge, the Black Box is attempting to match people up to me. Things are starting to be more than just random picks. I guess that's what I get for spending WAY too many hours playing with a certain little widget...

Mom-In-Law

Ron received a call last night from Lana. She and Nate apparently got married on August 26th! I'm so happy for them, and glad they decided to elope. Weddings are a huge pain in the butt. **grin**

Wow. I'm a mom-in-law now.

I feel like I've entered a new "stage" in life (but haven't left the last one yet). And the weirdest part is realizing that the "grandchildren stage" is just around the corner.

It's almost surreal.