Happy Birthday Weird Al!

Before & After:


http://weirdal.com/

Thursday Thirteen #30

13 Things That Happened to Me in the Past Two Weeks

Yeah, I know: I didn’t post a Thursday Thirteen last week. I was out of town. Here’s what happened:

1. I went to an outdoor wedding for a good friend. The weather was actually very nice. I was able to bring both kids and we all partied until we couldn’t party no more!



2. I had a business trip to Denver for a tradeshow. The hotel we had made reservations with, the Grand Hyatt, didn’t have a double double room, so they put Aimee the Red and I on the “secure” top floor with a great view and a free lounge. Aimee slept on a roll-a-way bed until they moved our room, across the hall, to one with two double beds.



3. We’re not 100% sure, but we think Kathy Lee Gifford was staying on the secure floor with us. She was in town to do a musical about the Red Hat Society.



4. We were exhibitors at the tradeshow, so we had to stay around our booth for 6 hours, two days in a row. My feet have yet to recover!



5. On one side of our booth were a couple of guys who we seemed to get along with. They challenged us to an early-morning game of basketball, which we accepted. So we got up at 5:30 am, walked in the cold to their hotel, and played basketball. We gave them a run for their money!



6. On the other side of our booth was a company that included a couple young, handsome guys dressed as cowboys. Not bad to look at all day!



7. A booth across from us offered free chair massages. During a slow time, I took advantage of the situation and MAN, did it feel good!



8. As you may know from a previous blog entry, I danced at the bar at Coyote Ugly. I wasn’t drunk—I just wanted to say that I’d done it!



9. I had made a request of the piano man at the hotel lobby, Moondance. I tipped him a little, and then every time he saw me, he’d play that tune again. So I had to keep tipping him!



10. I got to have dinner with my old friend, Sandi the Red, who I grew up with and now lives in Denver. We had great Indian food and lots of talk!



11. We rented a car and drove to Boulder. Boulder was awesome, especially Pearl Street. We met two brothers of a friend of Aimee the Red’s. The brothers, and their friends were all very cool.



12. We agreed to watch one of our godsons for the weekend. My husband drove 2 hours to go pick him up. On the way back, our godson got carsick. He projectile vomited as soon as the tires hit our driveway. Why couldn’t he have waited a few seconds?



13. Aimee the Red told me about a car accident she had when she was in high school. She slid on some fresh tar, hit a construction truck, and the car behind her hit her. She was cited, but contested and won! When talking to our good friend and neighbor, I found out that she was the one that hit Aimee the Red. Small world!

>

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂ’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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On the Bar in Denver

Lots of people, upon hearing that I danced on the bar at Coyote Ugly in Denver, wanted proof. Why was that? Did they think that I wouldn’t do it? Am I not outgoing enough? Well, here’s the proof: a picture taken from Aimee the Red’s camera phone. Sure, the picture isn’t that good, but it’s definitely me.

Thursday Thirteen #29

13 TV Shows that I miss or were cancelled.

Since I can’t watch television at home, I have become nostalgic for the ‘ol days. It’s funny to think about how much TV I used to watch. Now that I only watch things on DVD or on demand by downloading onto my iPod, I am more picky.

1. ALF – I don’t think I appreciated this show enough when it was on, and now I would like to see it again. He was always so witty. I just added it to my Netflix queue, so I guess I’ll introduce a new generation to the Alien Life Form. Besides, I seem to have a thing for puppets.



2. Judging Amy - And not just because the main character is named Amy. I just liked this show, especially Amy’s mother, played by Tyne Daly. The show jumped the shark when Amy went to be a judge on criminal court.



3. E.R. – I assumed the show went off the air when I stopped watching it, but I guess it’s still going. I think it jumped the shark a long time ago. But the old shows were great. I especially liked it when they did a live episode. PS: I created an ER drinking game: Every time they say “intubate,” drink. You could get drunk fast!



4. The Practice – A show that came on late Sunday night. This lawyer show featured young lawyers that defended murderers, rapists, mobsters, etc. And sometimes you were actually hoping that the lawyers would lose, but they were so good, they would win. Makes you wonder. ASIDE: One of my favorite characters was a strange guy who you were never quite sure if he was a serial killer or just a pretend serial killer. Now this guy is on the show, LOST. Another ASIDE: The current show, Boston Legal, is considered a spinoff.



5. Ally McBeal - Don’t know why I liked this show so much. It was like watching a train wreck. But I followed it to the end.



6. Doogie Houser, MD - Cute kid as a doctor. How did the patients feel about having a 16-year-old treat them? How can the hospital allow him to practice?



7. Northern Exposure - I got totally wrapped up in the happenings of this small Alaskan town and their Jewish doctor from New York. Sometimes, when I think about what he had to go through to adapt to a rougher lifestyle, I can now relate!



8. Amazing Stories - Every week was a different story. A lot like Alfred Hitchcock Presents or The Twilight Zone.



9. Trapper, John MD - "Trapper John" from M*A*S*H in as the Chief of Surgery at San Franscico Memorial Hospital. But I remember one character specifically: Gonzo. He lived in an RV in the parking lot.



10. M*A*S*H* - ‘nuf said.



11. The Muppet Show - Ah, the good ‘ol days when you can have puppets on primetime TV. I still can’t get enough, and watch the old DVDs with my kids.



12. Kate & Allie - It’s a show where the premise is so stupid, that you can’t help but watch. Two divorced mothers move in together, and the two moms and various kids have to get along.



13. Six Feet Under – Only gone for a year or so, but I already miss it. Not only did they end the show, but they show each main character’s death. I guess that takes care of that!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Of Amish, Robots, and Dry Clothes

I am extremely sad to hear about the Amish girls that were killed yesterday. I have always admired the Amish and their devotion to their beliefs. Living in an area where there are some Amish and Mennonite families, I have come into contact with them on occasion. We make trips to an Amish store where we get wonderful baked goods and non-perishable cooking supplies. We have purchased building supplies for our home at a quality and price that far beats the home improvement superstores.

Of course, the Amish don’t have a website where you can get the latest information about them. But other people have done it for them: http://www.oacountry.com/Amish-Etiquette.htm

My son has been obsessed by robots. He spends much of his free time designing and drawing robots that do various things. A pastime that I heartily encourage.

My son had his notebook of robot drawings with him at the Laundromat when an Amish family came in to dry some clothes. First I was shocked that they would be there, but I figured that even though they don’t like electricity and modern conveniences at home, they probably utilize them elsewhere. Besides, it was raining really hard, and I’m sure they couldn’t get clothes dry by hanging them outside!. There were several boys about my son’s age, and a couple of young girls. I’m never quite sure how to approach the Amish, so I just smile and stay to myself. But my son, who is never shy, was glad to have some potential playmates. I didn’t stop him when he approached the Amish boys and asked if they wanted to see his robot drawings.

I watched in amusement as my son started explaining the different robots to these boys, who had no idea what a robot was. After a few minutes, he had gone thorough his drawings and was trying to get the boys to give him new ideas for robots. They just laughed. “You know, like in ‘Star Wars!’” he said, obviously becoming frustrated. I didn’t stop him. I just smiled and kept folding clothes. The other boys didn’t say a thing except to introduce themselves.

My 19-month-old daughter went right to a young Amish girl, who immediately picked her up. They were both content for a long time, so I was happy. I know that if there is the best babysitter in the world, it would have to be a young Amish woman. How wonderful and peaceful they are.

In the car ride home, I had to explain to my son why the other boys didn’t help him with his robot designs. That they don’t know a lot about electricity, they especially don’t know much about computers, and that the idea of a robot is completely new to them. That they are peaceful people that prefer to live away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

I can’t believe that there is a soul in the world that would have a grudge against the Amish. But I guess no one is immune to the horrors that plague the world.

Thursday Thirteen #28

The Red is a fiery red-head that seems to draw a lot of attention. So whenever we go out, interesting things happen! This week, we were out-of-town for a conference and were staying at a hotel. We would walk to dinner or to a local bar.

13 Things, Good and Bad, About Going Out and Drinking With Aimee the Red:

1. Good: Some guy on a motorcycle actually pulled over to talk to us. He was a little creepy, so I was trying to nicely get rid of him.



2. Bad: The Red let it slip where we were going to eat and Creepy Motorcycle Guy actually found us and joined us for a while.



3. Good: We watched Monday Night Football at a bar with a bunch of IT guys from Atlanta.



4. Bad: The New Orleans Saints beat the heck out of the Atlanta Falcons, so the IT guys were upset.



5. Bad: A guy propositioned The Red by asking, “So, how much do you cost?” The Red was really pissed off at him.



6. Good or Bad: I didn’t get a chance to see him, or he would have had me to deal with.



7. Good: The guy at the hotel bar that was going to Vet School. He was really cool and loved animals. Good luck at Ohio State!



8. Good: The retired dentist from Texas that was at the hotel to help a friend run a Transformers tradeshow. http://www.botcon.com/ My son loves the Transformers.



9. Bad: Transformers Dude couldn’t (or wouldn’t) give me any loot to take home to my son.



10. Bad: Transformers Dude left the bar without paying his tab. We’ll just have to send Optimus Prime after him.



11. Good: The Red kept buying me more drinks.



12. Bad: I drank too much and was up half the night throwing up.



13. Bad: We had to get up at 6:15 am to get ready for the conference and be down there by 7:30 am. I was pretty hungover all day.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂ’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Thursday Thirteen #27

Since moving out to the “Sticks” where we can’t get any TV, I have become best friends with my video iPod and iTunes. Especially with Podcasts and Video Podcasts. These allow me to subscribe to and download shows that I like, so that I can listen or watch them whenever I want.

Mainly, we listen to shows on the radio when going to school or home in the evening. But there are a few video podcasts that we can watch at home. I also listen to a few more “adult” podcasts at work or when I’m doing dishes.

Here is a list of my 13 Favorite Podcasts:

1. Crazy Dave’s Kid Show – A kids call-in radio show from Des Moines, Iowa. My son called in once, and we had a great time!



2. Dantastic You Dos – A new, short, video podcast with ideas on crafts that parents and kids can make at home. It features Crazy Dave, so that’s why we love it!



3. Kids Music: Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child – Another kid radio show that plays kid-friendly music. They always play They Might be Giants, if that gives you any indication about what kinds of music they play. I’ve also become hooked to a kids version of “Jungle Boogie.”



4. National Geographic Video Shorts – Video Podcast – Great shorts about all kinds of different things, from a tribe that hunts and eats rats to a Shaman in Paraguay, my kids love this show.






5. Never Not Funny – Jimmy Pardo’s “PardCast” – Adult conversations with comics and TV personalities, it’s an interesting glimpse into the life of comedians.



6. NPR: Wait Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me! - This is the extremely funny NPR call-in game show about current events and news. Since I can’t always catch this show when it’s live on the radio, the Podcast is great to listen to when I get a chance.



7. Penn Radio Podcast – Penn Jillette, the tall, loud one from the Penn & Teller duo, has a daily 1-hour radio show. I love him, his humor, and his topics. Especially Monkey Tuesday, when people call in to tell stories about monkeys.



8. Smelly Monkeys – A podcast created by a father and his 8-year-old twin sons. My family likes to listen to their antics. They try to stick to a format, but usually end up just being silly, like boys do.



9. Wild Chronicles – Another National Geographic video Podcast. This focuses on animals. Who doesn’t like to learn about animals?



10. PotterCast - A Harry Potter podcast with news and discussion about the Harry Potter books, fandom, and wizarding world. Since my son and I are big fans of Harry Potter, we enjoy this podcast and their advance theories about what the books are really trying to say.



11. Real Time with Bill Maher – An audio version of Bill’s HBO show. Each show features an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with politically incorrect muse Bill Maher and a guest forum, plus segments with other special guests.



12. NOW PBS – Segments from the PBS show Now that feature information about today’s most important issues. Plus, David Brancaccio has such a nice voice.



13. NPR: Satire from The Unger Report - Communiques from the edge of America by humorist Brian Unger of NPR's "Day-to-Day." Humorist Brian Unger ponders the government's response to two of the day's most pressing issues: defining torture and banning spinach

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂ’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Avast! It's Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Goodbye WOXY

Two years ago, my favorite radio station, WOXY, went off the airwaves and became an internet-only radio station. The station, formerly 97.7 on the dial in the Cincinnati/Oxford Ohio area, was a refreshing change from the cookie-cutter Pop radio stations that we are all familiar with. Especially today, when just about every radio-listening area has a few of the Clear Channel template stations running. For example, the MIX format that plays a variety of music. I counted about 30 of those stations throughout the United States.

WOXY was The Future of Rock and Roll.
I can at least take solace in the fact that the radio station is immortalized in the Academy Award-winning movie, Rainman when Dustin Hoffman's character kept repeating the station's slogan:

"97X Bam! The Future of Rock N Roll".

I hope the future of rock-n-roll is not going the way of corporate-controlled franchises and that every city will not have completely homogenized radiowaves. Already every main street in every city looks the same, with Outback Steakhouses, Applebees, and McDonalds on every corner. I hope that music does not become homogenized.

I'm listening to the last few hours of WOXY's life. And, just as I’m typing this, one of my favorite songs, Radiohead’s “How to Disappear Completely,” is playing. I don’t know if I’ll ever hear this on a radio station again. How ironic.


http://www.woxy.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOXY_(internet_radio)

Thursday Thirteen #26

Just to be weird, I thought I'd list my

13 Favorite Palindromes.

In case you don't know, a palindrome is something that is the same forwards and backwards. The word OTTO is one. But in this case, I like phrases that are spelled the same forwards and backwards. Yes, most of these are in the weird Al Yankovic song, "Bob."

1. Ah, Satan sees Natasha.
2. A dog, a panic, in a pagoda!
3. I prefer Pi.
4. Redrum, sir, is murder.
5. Was it a cat I saw?
6. UFO tofu
7. Madam, I'm Adam
8. Rise to vote, sir
9. Oh no! Don Ho!
10. A Man, A Plan, A Canal: Panama
11. Go hang a salami; I'm a lasagna hog!
12. Do geese see God?
13. May a moody baby doom a yam?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂ’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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9/11 Tribute: For Peter Gyulavary

REBUILD

In memory of Peter Mark Gyulavary, 44, victim of the September 11th attacks.

A little over a year ago, me and my family moved out to a rundown house in the forest, far from the city that we had grown used to. The house wasn’t livable, at first, and needed massive work. But we were determined to make it our home—and a nice home—because we wanted to rebuild our life in an area that is safe. Or at the very least, safer.

You see, in 2001, two things happened to make me and my husband re-think how we were living, where we were living, and how we would want our children to grow up. The first was the April riots in Cincinnati, Ohio following the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old black male, Timothy Thomas, by a white police officer. The second was September 11th. Both events shook us, shook our foundation. We decided, at that time, that we would find a way to escape the urban violence. To rebuild somewhere else.

Don’t get me wrong, we understand the lure of the big city. How the city hums with activity and thought, and you can get coffee or beer late at night and hear jazz playing on the corner.

Peter Mark Gyulavary understood this too. Peter grew up in Geelong, Victoria, Australia and moved to New York City and married an American wife. According to Paul, Peter’s twin brother, Peter always described New York as a place of extremes. I understand what he was saying. If you’ve ever visited New York, you’d know too. That is perhaps what lured Peter to make his home there.

Peter wasn’t content to just make his home in New York, he wanted to rebuild—to make homes better. Peter and his wife, Jane, restored a Victorian house in Warwick, NY. In order to be closer to the city, they purchased a condominium in Weehawken, N.J., and Peter began refurbishing an apartment in Manhattan.

Peter worked on many building and rebuilding projects in the public sector as well. His curriculum vitae is impressive. Peter’s final position as environmental engineer for Washington Group International had him working on light rail projects. He worked from the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Peter was working on a big project on the morning of September 11, 2001. When a plane hit the North tower, he, like so many other people, started to evacuate the building. He even called his wife. But he was sure that he was safe. He went back to work, even when his wife told him to leave.

He was last seen on the 78th floor minutes before the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.

His body was recovered in the wreckage of the buildings, and is now buried in Warwick, NY. His twin brother, Paul, was in attendance.

There are many things we can do to remember Peter: We can eat at Outback Steakhouse and drink Fosters beer. We can wear yellow and gold in honor of his homeland. We can walk and do things backward in order to “put the evil behind us,” as his brother puts it. We can point to Australia on the map and say “That’s were Peter was from.”

But I don’t think that would be quite right. Peter liked America. He had rebuilt his life here. I think, in honor of Peter Mark Gyulavary, we should revel in our American culture and spirit.

When I get home from work on September 11th 2006, five years after the tragic event that took Peter’s life, I will drink Pete’s Wicked Ale, read Psalm 91, and listen to Bob Dylan’s song, “Forever Young”. And I’ll continue to rebuild our Creekistan home, and I will teach my children that although terrible things happen, we need to look forward to the future and rebuild.

Peter worked on the 91st floor of the South Tower. Psalm 91 is especially symbolic

The Bob Dylan song, “Forever Young” was dedicated to Peter at his memorial service.

SEE OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE 2,996.

Thursday Thirteen #25

13 Things I Like About Myself

1. I have an eclectic sense of humor.



2. I’m pretty easy going. Not too much stresses me. I usually have the attitude that as long as no one is dieing or will die, it’s probably okay. For example, being late to a party isn’t a matter of life-or-death.



3. I love kids and kids love me. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t forgotten what it’s like. My daughter’s daycare class all huddle around me when I arrive because they want to see my “bubble”—a small level I have on my keychain. I spend at least 5 minutes every morning showing it to them. Plus, my 10-year-old goddaughter wants to have me at all her sleepovers—her friends said that Aunt Amy is really cool!



4. Whenever I ask someone to guess my age, they usually say 27. I’m not 27 anymore!



5. I’m a tomboy—I don’t fit the traditional “girl” mold. I like sci-fi and computers. I like to put Lego kits together and can fix things.



6. Although I’m overweight, I don’t let it stop me from buying sexy lingerie. But it is harder to find.



7. I love to introduce people to new things—to get them out of their “sphere of comfort.” I usually insist people try Indian food at least once. I also tell people that Sushi doesn’t mean “raw fish,” and although a lot of sushi has fish, there are vegetarian options as well.



8. I can play many musical instruments, but not at a professional level. I can usually figure out a new instrument within a few minutes.



9. I enjoy diversity and am sensitive to other people’s believes and traditions. I will hang out with anyone.



10. I love animals and appreciate what they bring to our lives. I swear that sometimes they communicate with me. Okay, call me crazy, but who do the work dogs come to when they want to go out? Me!




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11. I am not easily offended—which makes it really nice when I’m in mixed company. I can enjoy all the jokes—even the dirty ones!



12. I love to learn new things. It never hurts to know things.



13. I like to break routines and try new things. I don’t go the same way home everyday, and I don’t eat the same things all the time.
    
    
    

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #24

13 Things On, Under or Near My Desk At Work

1. Cat #1 - Nelson. This usually happens in the morning: he'll wait for me to finish my cereal so that he can lick the bowl. When he is done, it's nap time!


2. Cat #2 - Admiral. He's just taking a nap on my desk. Probably taking advantage of the rare occasion that there is a clean spot. Earlier, I had three cats, but Wingdat left. Working in an office with pets is the greatest!


3. Dog #1 - Yep, that's right. I also have dogs under my desk. Retro, a golden retriever, usually sleeps on the vent under my desk. I'm glad, because I don't like the cold air blowing on me.


4. Dog #2 - I'm not kidding. I have yet a fourth animal on, under, or near my desk. This dog, Bryce, hides under my desk. I only know he's there when he growls at an approaching cat. NOTE: To answer the question: Is it hard to work with animals on or under your desk? The answer is NO. I love it. It's sometimes hard to move my chair for fear of rolling over a dog. The cats are easily tossed if they get in the way!


5. Small wooden carving of the Buddha. No, not the fat, happy Chinese guy that people call Buddha. An actual Buddhist Buddha that my husband brought back to me from Singapore a few years ago.


6. Two Robots. A side-effect of the company I work for. Without giving away too much of my actual identity, I help sell robot kits to kids. I have a couple on my desk. One I decorated around Christmas to look like Rudolph.


7. iPod #1 - My new video iPod. I bring it to work every day so that I can update my podcasts, download videos and TV shows, and charge. I love my video iPod. I don't think I could live without it now.


8. iPod #2 - My old U2 iPod. It is broken and sad. Literally! When it started to break down, it showed an icon of a sick iPod. I'm trying to sell it for parts. $50 bucks and it's yours!


9. Turd - I don't know what else to call it. It's a piece off of a sculpture a friend was making. It looks like an abstract, polished turd pile.


10. Rattle - It's a square, ceramic, American-Indian rattle that is supposed to ward off evil spirits.


11. Extra CPU - This computer is devoted to running a security camera for the front reception area. We can see real-time video of the front door over the network. Unfortunately, our programmer named this program "Gay Cam."


12. Goddess KALI magnet - This is an Indian (India) magnet titled Goddess KALI trampling on her husband, Lord Shiva. She has several heads, arms and legs. Her husband seems to be enjoying it.


13. Mannequin. He's still there. You can read more about him in my post, "Behind the Behind."

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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5 Weird Things About Myself

I was Tagged by Spawn of Satan to write 5 weird things about myself:

1. I can always remember a pet's name, but I almost always forget a person's name when I'm first introduced.


2. I seem to occasionally put out streetlights when I'm driving down the street. I usually say, "Sorry," to the streetlight.
3. I'm afraid of Bigfoot. Hope I never see one!
   
4. I am a member of the "Church of the Psychic Forklift," a Church of the SubGenius group. We haven't had a meeting since a friend of mine, an Ordained Minister of SubGenius, had an X-Day party on July 5th, 1998. But I still hold J.R. "Bob" Dobbs close to my pink heart.
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_SubGenius
   
5. I have double-jointed elbows that allow me to twist my arms in ways that seem unnatural.

Other Weird Bloggers - aka Who I Tagged and Participated:

Fondofsnape - Her 5 things are up!

The Shrone - Her 5 things are up too!

Does She or Doesn't She? - She's wierd too!

Colleen - Who knew?

Nicole - Allergic to herself?

Thursday Thirteen #23

13 Things I Did This Week.

1. I finished weeding the garden that I have been neglecting. I found a huge zucchini, some beans, a jalapeno, and a cucumber. Now that the weeds are gone and I can see the garden, I hope to see more things grow.



2. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I got stung 10 times by yellow jackets. The stings only hurt for a few minutes, but itched really bad for a few days.



3. I ratted on the yellow jackets, and now the nest is destroyed. I pointed to them, like in a bad courtroom television show, and said, “There they are!”



4. I went to Louisville, KY for a tradeshow. Nothing exciting to report. The drive was nice!



5. Finished listening to the book “Twisted” by Jonathan Kellerman. Took three weeks, but I finally did it. You always have to finish a murder-mystery book, just to see if my guess of who did it was right. I was right.



6. Finally got “Lost,” Season 2 on my new video iPod. Awesome show.



7. On a related item, I got the cables so that I can watch my video iPod on the TV.



8. Saved a dog. A friend of mine was about ready to give up his dog because she showed aggressive behavior towards his son. I told him to give the dog another chance, and to get her fixed. She was in heat at the time. All females get grouchy when they are in heat! Besides, his son can annoy anyone!



9. Tried the beer, Burnin' Helles, from Anheuser-Busch. http://www.anheuser-busch.com/news/hometown_brews_050506.htm It’s only available on tap in Ohio. Great beer. Too bad they don’t plan on bottling it. Too bad that I only had one glass!



10. Got Indian food for dinner one night. I used to live near 5 Indian restaurants and I miss it. It was really good. I don’t take it for granted any more.



11. My son started first grade. I got all his school shopping done just a couple of days before. But I did it!



12. I had to pick up the body and guts of a dead mouse that our new cat, Gracie, caught. While I was proud of her for getting a mouse after living with us for about a week, I didn’t like waking up to a dead mouse in my bedroom.



13. I got tagged by Spawn of Satan , http://human-oddity.blogspot.com/ so now I have to write 5 weird things and tag 5 other people. Don’t be surprised if I tag you!

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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The Yellow Jackets

I used to like a jazz/fusion band in the 80's called the Yellowjackets. I don't like them anymore. Probably because they attacked me. Okay, it was the wasp-version that attacked me.

I was innocently weeding the garden and using a thrasher to cut down some tall weeds. I was taking out a lot of aggression when suddenly I started to feel a bunch of pricks on my arm and stomach. I looked down to see a few yellow jackets on me.

I had the kids with me. Fortunately, the yellow jackets were not after them. I told my son to run, which he did. But I had to grab the baby and football-carry her while I ran to the house. Once I got the kids inside, I had to still deal with the angry wasps. I went back outside because I was afraid they were still on me and I didn't want them in the house. I think they were waiting for me. So I quickly took my shirt off and managed to get back into the house. As far as I know, only three got into the house.

I sustained 10 stings on my arms, stomach, legs, back, and face. They really weren't that bad, and I didn't have any reaction. But I drank a lot of beer--just in case!

Today the sting sites are swollen and itchy.

Tonight, the yellow jackets are doomed. My husband is getting a spray. Bye Bye!

Thursday 13 #22

Parts of My Body That Have Been Altered or Fixed

1. Eyes #1 – I guess I had blocked tear ducts when I was a baby. They did a procedure on me when I was about 6 months old. To this day I don’t like other people messing with my eyes.

2. Pierced ears #1. When I was 11, I finally talked my Mother into letting me get my ears pierced. She got hers done at the same time.

3. Right ear #1. I guess getting my ears pierced caused a large cyst to grow on my right ear. It had to be surgically removed when I was 15. It closed my pierced ear, so that I could only wear an earring in my left ear.

4. Pierced ears #2. I was too traumatized by not having my right ear pierced that I went and did it again. But this time I had to get the piercing higher up on my ear. This allowed me to wear three earrings: one in my right and two in my left. Great for those long, dangly earrings they liked in the 80s.

5. Eyes #2 – Contacts and glasses. I didn’t like the glasses much, so I almost immediately went to contacts. But at the time, contacts were expensive, fragile, and needed the be “heated” every night. Thank goodness for disposables and for all-purpose solution!

6. Knee – I was in a car accident when I was 19. My right knee went through the dash board (or visa versa). I received a double-compound fracture. This means that my kneecap was shattered and exposed. I never looked at it. My knee was mended with wires and screws.

7. Left Pinky finger #1 and #2 – In that same auto accident, I also nearly severed a pinky finger. It’s been repaired but is not quite normal, either. About 15 years later, I started having problems with my finger again! Seems that they left a stitch in and it wanted to get out. Quick little procedure and it was removed.

8. Right Ear #2 – The cyst is back! I had to go for another surgery to remove it. I remember hearing the stitches go through my skin. Very unnerving sound.

9. Right Ear #3 - Okay, they never got all of the cysts! So I had another surgery. This time, we made sure to remove all cysts and their “roots.” So far so good!

10. Left Big Toe – As a consequence for having a bum right knee, I developed a bunion on my left foot. I think I was over compensating for my right leg. I had to have my toe broken, some bone removed, and screws put in to keep the toe straight. Seems okay now.

11. Stomach – Okay, C-sections. Two of them. My husband remembers peeking around the surgical drape to see my intestines being held up by a doctor. Glad I didn’t see!

12. Nose – My Boy, aka Wreckingball Head, caused damage to my nose. So I had to have surgery to correct my deviated septum. After a weeks worth of uncomfortable stuff up my nose, I can breathe a lot easier.

13. My “Bum” – Yep! I’m not ashamed or embarrassed to tell you about my surgery to remove a large thrombosed hemorrhoid. I should have known, when a nun at the hospital prayed really hard over me before the surgery, what I was getting into. The worst surgery ever! Very uncomfortable and very painful. My first bowel movement after the surgery was comparable to childbirth.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

The Cat, Mouse, and Bat Games

Just days before his scheduled neutering, Nicky (the cat) ran away. This was not so unusual for him. Except that after a month, his has not returned. We are sad that he has decided to go away. However, our mice celebrated! Oh, and the spiders were rejoicing too.

The mice have made nests all over the kitchen. One such nest took advantage of the fact that during this heat, I haven’t been doing much cooking. It made a nice, big nest right in the middle of my oven. I was very lucky that it didn’t catch fire, because I didn’t discover it until after I pre-heated the gas oven and was about to put something inside. Perhaps the mouse was smart, because I suspect it’s nest was made up of fire-resistant insulation. Another nest was discovered in a rarely-used drawer. This one was made up of stolen Swiffer sheets. Very cozy!

We decided that we needed another, more dependable cat. In comes Gracie. We discovered her at a pet store. According to her paperwork, a couple had divorced and neither one could (or would) take Gracie. My son was smitten. He took my husband to see this cat and he became smitten. We rescued her on the spot. She is a young adult calico female with beautiful eyes and gray, white and peach coloring.

She is great. Her first night with her new family, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that she is not only sweet with both children, will use the litter box, and would cuddle with my son while he sleeps, but that she also went right to work hunting for the mice. No confirmed catch yet, but we are encouraged with her willingness to work.

Last night, a bat got into the house. It’s a little unnerving to wake up during the night to have something swoop down close to your head. But Gracie was on the job! She was jumping all over my bed (and me) to try to catch this critter. And she did! However, in pure cat fashion, she let it go again. We were able to catch it ourselves and let it go outside.

Sorry Nearly-Tailless Nick, if you’re still around, but you’ve been replaced. And I have to say, it is nice to have a cat with a tail!

Thursday Thirteen #21

My Favorite Music Videos of the 80’s

They don’t make videos like they used to. Hell, they don’t ~play~ videos like they used to. Back in the day, they used to mean something. A group could be unknown, but if they had a good song and a good video, they could get played on MTV and they would get heard. I also heard someone say that in the 80s MTV days, everyone watched the same channel, listened to the same music, and saw the same videos. There was a wide range of music types that people saw and heard, and we liked it all.

1. Talking Heads “Burning Down the House” – Great song and interesting video. The simplicity of it—the projection of David’s head onto the road—is nice.



2. Michael Jackson “Thriller” – What a breakthrough video! 15 minutes long. For the first few days after it’s release, they played it every hour, on the hour. You couldn’t miss it. But I didn’t mind because it was good.



3. Peter Gabriel “Shock the Monkey” – Way, way, way ahead of it’s time. A little bit creapy, but defiantly ground breaking. Or ground “sinking.”



4. “Herbie Hancock” RockIt – You have to see it to believe it. Robotic arms, legs, heads, hands. Just about every part of the body but not a whole body. In sync with the music, it was innovative.



5. Neil Young “Wandering” – Even Neil Young got into the game. Not very many people saw or remember this video. But me and my husband did, and just couldn’t get it out of our mind. Seeing a disheveled Neil Young wandering the streets being shown in a disjointed way made a lasting impression on me.



6. The Cars “You Might Think” – Another innovative video. Mild to today’s standards, this video helped usher in computer animation.



7. A-Ha “Take On Me” – Just see the video and you’ll know why I like it. Very cool concept and very interesting art.



8. Duran Duran “Hungry Like A Wolf” – Okay, okay, not the most innovative, not the must interesting. But Duran Duran owe a lot to MTV and I used to love them a lot. So they are in this list. I chose Hungry Like A Wolf because of it’s edgy sexuality. But people who really know me would know that I like Rio!



9. Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” - The first computer animated video. Today it looks like a bunch of colored boxes with moving lips, but it was still very cool.



10. Genesis “Land of Confusion” – Who can resist a bunch of puppets parodying the group, Genesis, and famous world leaders like Ronald Reagan?



11. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Two Tribes” – Another appearance of Ronald Reagan. This time, in a wrestling match with Gorbachev from Russia. Great story and great message.



12. Weird Al “Eat It” – Wonderful parody of Michael Jackson. We get to see how talented Weird Al is. I love seeing a music video making fun of a music video.



13. Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer” – The stop motion animation in this video is awesome. It didn’t surprise me when I learned that Nick Parks, the Wallace and Gromit guy, helped with this video. The elaborate set-ups make sure you never get tired of watching.

Check out MTV's first hour! The commercials are a blast

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Happy Birthday MTV

I was not there when the channel switched on, but I was watching before their first birthday. I remember flipping channels on our cable box (before remote control) and seeing the video, "Harden My Heart" by Quarterflash.

Within a few months, I had watched so much MTV that I was able to name the Artist, Song, and Album before the credits flashed on the screen. But those were the days when they didn't have many videos.

I miss those days. But I can visit MTV's website and see some of the old videos. Click here!