TIME FOR TRIVIA!

Did you know? If a man farted non-stop for six years and nine months and then lit it he would produce an explosion equal to the power of the first atomic bomb!

Now, it is your turn to answer some trivia.

1. Nearly _____ in ____ workers in teh U.S. has at some time been employed by McDonalds.
A. 1 in 6
B. 1 in 8
C. 1 in 10
D. 1 in 20

2. In what movie does Steven Spielberg appear as a clerk? Blues Brothers

3. True or false: In Michigan, it is illegal to chain an alligator to a fire hydrant.

4. The average human will accidentally eat about a/an _______ in weight of insects over the course of a lifetime.
A. ounce
B. half pound
C. pound
D. gallon

5. The 57 on the Heinz ketchup bottle represents the number of _________.
A. variations of Kerry's flip-flops.
B. varieties of products sold by Heinz.
C. varieties of combinations of ingredients used to get the final ketchup product.
D. varieties of pickles the company once had.

I'll post the answers Friday evening. Have fun!

STUFF

Redneck has a caption contest for the week. Go put in a witty entry.

My results for this week's contest are posted...scroll down a bit.

Mom's job interview went well. Think good thoughts.

I'm watching NASCAR on a Tuesday. Now, I'm going to get confused and think it's Sunday. It will happen; trust me.

WELL, THAT SUCKS!

When I'm feeling a bit melancholy, I search for stuff to show me that my life isn't a total suck-fest. I think I found someone who might just have a suckier life...at least for now.

IS IT TIME, YET? PLEASE?

I am jonesing for hockey so much that I am now watching clips of mic'd players and fights. Why does hockey start well into September? Eh? Dagnabit!

Oilers Players mic'd

This was a fun night!

I'm ready!

MOM UPDATE:

My mom has a job interview with a for-real big insurance company tomorrow morning. Ok, everyone...PRAY!!!!!

UBER'S TRIP TO NYC!

1. Vincent Antonelli: Compare and contrast the smell of the subways in NYC with the smell of...well...anything.
The only thing one can rationally compare and contrast to the smell of a NYC subway is, well, another NYC subway!

You haven't experienced a bad smell until you've entered a subway station just off of China Town, right beside a fish market, just after they've sprayed everything down (which just stirs up hellish smells). The smell of fish that sat in the sun all day + 120 degree subway station = The Uber saying "Hell no, I gotta get out of here. It's not like he's even all that famous!" upon walking right into a pre-production scene of The Frog King starring Joseph Gordon Levitt and being begged by the liberal to stay and watch awhile. I'm pretty sure Mr. Levitt heard me, too. Oopsie. Whaddyado? It stunk, and the subway did too. (RT to Uber: I have been to that exact station and have smelled that smell. Blek!)

2. Ssssteve: Would you trade the hills of NC for the buildings of NYC? Interesting question! Back in the horse and buggy day (OK, more like hair and heavy metal), I dreamed of a career in Graphic Design, an apartment in NYC, and planned to totally PWN! Madison Avenue, but minds change rather quickly when we have children. So, it was interesting to see what I missed and I must say that while NYC is an awesome city to visit (though all good things are tempered with roaches), absolutely not!

3. Did you see the nekkid cowboy? I looked everywhere for that elusive nekkid cowboy! I very much wanted to have a discussion with him about the danger of false advertising because he's not really nekkid at all. He should call himself "The Undie Cowboy" instead! I'm sure he heard through the grape vine that I would be arriving to discuss this issue and hid out, big chicken, because I never did actually find him.

4. What did you find the most visually stimulating? That's easy (especially considering I never located that "almost nekkid" cowboy). St. Patrick's Cathedral. Bee-u-tee-ful!

5. Did you go to the Hershey's store? I did not. I'm more the spicy than sweet type. I did, however, have a fascinating conversation Filipino woman on a train who said that was the first place she visited when arriving stateside. She purchased tons of the stuff but had no idea that it melted so easily so left it all in her car in the hot sun for many hours while shopping afterward. She informs that it still tastes "vetty vetty good" even after it loses all semblance of shape, though. Ha!

6. Did you see a show? Do sidewalk performers count? How about odd subway dwellers and/or cross-dressers? No? OK, how about people I actually know performing "Grease" at an amphitheater in WV before ever beginning the trip to NYC?

7. What impressed you? What impressed me most was just how courteous and friendly New Yorkers really are outside the heavy tourist areas (you know, when not sandwiched between large groups of people in plaid shorts staring up with their mouths open and blocking their paths on the way to work).

8. What gave you the heebie jeebies? Other than roaches taking over the entire city once darkness fell and rats jumping from the pier to retrieve trash by light of the moon, I'd have to say walking those three blocks from the subway station back to the apartment in the Bronx, well after midnight. I suggested the liberal try to get a little sun before the next trip because his glowing attracted way too much attention there! Of course he said my using a long "I" where none belongs in addition to the word "reckon" every two seconds wasn't doing much to ensure our safety either. (Don't worry Uber, I use the long "I" where it doesn't belong, too. It is the Canadian influence on me (or I've watched too many hockey interviews.)

9. What was your favorite part of the trip? The laughing and mocking everyone and everything, including one another and ourselves, on the elevator ride up to our host's apartment each night/morning after a long day of holding it all in, just to discover on the very last night that a hidden video camera in that elevator (behind a corner mirror) had been recording every single moment. The liberal was looking pretty rough after having walked 50 miles all over NYC in the sun, and so he decided to mess his hair a good bit more, put his face up to that "mirror," imitate my accent and say, "I aint got no place to sleep." No idea why that was so darn funny, maybe because the camera was installed in order to better keep the "bums" out of the building, but it still brings tears.

10. What "NYC" food did you eat? I ate at various Chinese establishments from China Town to the Bronx, pizza and cheesecake in Little Italy, bagels all over NYC, a burger containing more than a half pound of cow just to irritate a vegan liberal friend of the liberal (go figure, huh?), and even had a philly steak and cheese at The Trailer Park. Yes, I had to go on a diet two whole days before I left! (Uber, it is called a CHEESESTEAK!!!!)

11. English teacher-like question: Describe NYC with five adjectives. Why did you pick those adjectives? Romantic- Because there are all sorts of experiences I imagine would have been incredibly romantic were I not touring with a gay liberal who has the uncanny ability of causing me to laugh like a hyena while walking a pier by moonlight despite soft Italian tunes on the breeze because funny things constantly happen to him (and yeah, it's way funnier because he's a liberal and life tortures him). Example- He survived the streets of NYC, subway stations, trains, 2 am walks through the Bronx, and my getting through a heavy security zone with a boot knife strapped to my thigh just to have a butterfly fly right into his eye (hard enough to cause temporary blindness) at a park while viewing the John Lennon memorial (where he MADE me go listen to hippies sing about peace) just before we left. Haha! I just can't get enough of this stuff. Extreme- Everything from the heat, to the cold, to prices to meal and desert portions are extreme in NYC. Nothing seems to be made to enjoy or detest in moderation and that is both good and not so good at the same time, depending. Many temptations, baby! Isolated- Not only do many seem to be isolated in their own little individual worlds, but it is very easy to be sucked in and forget that a whole other world exists outside the city. A world in which citizens actually assimilate and eventually become Americans! Frivolous- You can find just anything you are able to dream up in NYC (much like the internet) except a bottle of water and a rest room when you most need them. Basic needs, people! Blunt- Everyone in NYC seems to be very blunt. They don't even say "bless his/her heart" to cushion insults! The horror...

RAIN

Have I mentioned that I like rain? I especially like cool, rainy days. I love the rhythm as it hits the roof and the gutter. I like the sound on the windshield and the swish of the windshield wipers.

There are lots of days when I need the warmth of the sun, but extended periods of rain never seem to bother me much. The rain feels comforting or cozy in a way. I wish I had a fireplace. Then, my rainy day would be even better. For now, I'll go curl up under my favorite blanket, turn off the noise, and listen to the rain. My best naps happen on rainy days.

NOT a Sunday song...

Instead of a "Sunday Song," I want to post a song that really hits my heart. There has been a lot of bad news the past few weeks. Luckily some of you have "someone." Don't take it for granted. Take some time to appreciate them.

A NOTE ABOUT THE HEADER

I know you all notice that I change my header picture a lot. I'm going to put pictures of what seem, to me, to be Americana. When I can't find stuff, I'll put up my pretty nature pictures, American in their own right.

I think I'm going to stick with the quotation for a while. It speaks volumes. We are all works in progress.

IN DEFENSE

I was bullied on a regular basis pretty much from second grade on up through high school. In fact, my neighbor's brother, a high school wrestler, taught me some take downs and my dad taught me how to fight at a very young age because I needed to defend myself. In fourth grade some kids were throwing firecrackers around and I snitched. Oh well. I was scared and 10 years old. The next day four boys from the grade above mine beat the crap out of me. I managed to get some shots in and not cry until I was about a block away, but it set the tone for high school. I was bullied a lot in high school. As a result, I hung out with people that weren't from my town. That constituted more harassment. One time a couple of guys, while we were in the smoking section, threatened me and did some physical stuff to me (won't go into it--think human wishbone). They threatened my friends from the other town, too. What happened? When the guys from my town chickened out at meeting the other guys from the other town at "the mall," one of the guys came down to take on my school. Our cops gave him an escort to the town line. (I am leaving out some details for brevity, but I was quite the outcast.)

So anyway, I just had all those flashbacks when I saw this clip. My cousin's cousin (other side of her family) is a brown belt in judo. She was so bad-ass that her husband, a MARINE, wouldn't mess with her. She ruled that roost. Heh. Maybe I should have taken some judo lessons.

PEOPLE, WE'VE GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

I am so tired of people walking around life clueless and without the attitude of looking out for fellow man. This is UTTERLY disgraceful!

Because we wonder...

I always wonder what makes a "normal" person become so radical, especially an American. This is an interesting, quick read about such a man.

I HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

I found this on Ambulance Driver's site via Wyatt's site. Good blogs, visit them!

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	4.5
Mind:	5.1
Body:	3.4
Spirit:	8.3
Friends/Family:	1.9
Love:	0
Finance:	4.4
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

CAPTION CONTEST!!!!!

Have fun! The winners will appear Tuesday morning, like magic! ;P

OTHER CONTESTS:

• Bagel Blogger (I took 4th place this past week!)
• Bullwinkle Blog
  
• Cowboy Blob
• Gone Rick Motel (I took 3rd place this past week!)
• Right Pundit (I took 3rd place--and Scully took 1st place this past week--yay, Scully!)
  
• Rodney Dill
• WILLisms (Make sure you scroll down.)
• Wizbang
• Wyatt
  

THE WINNERS!!!!

5. Vincent Antonelli: John Edwards, at a speech for the National Organization for Women, talking about the size of his package - health care reform package, that is!

4. Skywriter: "Remember, America: If you vote for ME...one less lawyer!!!!"

3. Deathlok: "I wanna be a cowboy...and you can be my cowgirl..."

2. Wyatt: "So, I got a facial and a no-polish manicure, then I skipped out on the bill!"

And this week's winner is:

1. Big White Hat: "Gee, my hair smells terrific."


Thanks to everyone who entered. I have fun reading the entries. Choosing winners is very hard. :)

Somone might need this:

I sent this to a friend, tonight. Just in case any of you might need it, here's a verse that might give you some comfort. :)

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

The remainder of the passage (that wasn't sent): 29 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

I'm adding this one for me:

Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

FLASSSSSSSHHHHHHHBACK!

Attn: Bloggy Friends!

Go find out why Scully's house isn't selling. Also, tell her a joke or something. I've decided to give her some stuff to give her a smile.

In case you are wondering....these are pictures of Oregon: Right--Oregon coast with some plane action.

Below left: Some more plane action with Mt. Hood in the picture.








And no girl should be without a box of ice cream with some
chocolate added for extra goodness!

MY HOPES HAVE BEEN DASHED!

BBC America promised me a mismatched pair, today. In fact, it was supposed to be a "heartwarming mismatched pair." When I clicked on it all I saw were dvd's of programs seen on BBC America. I was hoping they would show me something that would give me hope. Eh, no such luck. However, I did get an offer for a "Lovers package at a discount price" from some people with Viagra to peddle! Good times! Oh wait. Darnit!

Well, at least I got some chocolate ice cream, today. Oh, I got a birthday postcard in my email, too. Considering my birthday isn't until December, I thought that was mighty thoughtful of the complete stranger.

You would not believe...

I get several hits a day for this picture. Crazy!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I'm in a cranky mood, today. Not so much pissy and mean, but just cranky. I didn't sleep well last night, I can't think of a decent post for today, and I still have a ton of stuff to do. Yes, I'm procrastinating on that stuff. I'm not very motivated.

I have an idea. I'll write down things I wish were happening right now:

1. I wish I was enjoying some chocolate.
2. I wish my mom was at work, earning money to support herself.
3. I wish I had the winning lottery ticket for a 100 million dollars!

Hmmm...what would I do with 100 million dollars? Well, after taxes I'd have 50 million dollars.

• I'd get out of debt, get my mom out of debt (did that once already)
• Buy mom a new car and a her own condo/townhouse so that I could buy my own house with lots of land (note to self: hire landscapers)
• Quit my job immediately
• Buy some health insurance
• Take a year off from life and get healthier and in shape
• Take the music lessons I've wanted to take for friggin' years
• Start that scholarship fund I've always wanted to do
• Do something for the elderly
• After that year...decide what I want to do with my life
• Oh, and I'd get a dog (the cats will get used to it)

I think I'll go buy a lottery ticket and some chocolate, now.

**Just got an email from my former student. He's ok.