Moe's Moments of Wisdom

Repeat after me......

2006-10-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

I'm putting you on notice:

I will be giving notice in the future when I find place that can appreciate me as an employee, has a good and positive work enviorment where I want to come to work and will pay me what I'm worth - which is a wage that will not have me living at or below the poverty level.

These are all things I do not have in my current position at (insert company name here).

This message is here for my roomie, to remind her that she's in need of a new job and will find one, before Year END - then she can tell the flake-oids she works for to BLOW!!!

Murphy's Laws: Of Combat

2006-09-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan, or victim, of Murphy since I could understand the most basic of his laws:

What can go wrong, will go wrong.

He's been in my back pocket, looking over my shoulder and putting his nose in my business for longer than I care to admit, although there is an occasional respit when he's visiting some other poor soul.

The list to be found at Murphy's Laws of Combat had me giggling during a typicaly dull meeting today. Many are very scary when you think about them, so don't think if you have family and friend in the military!

One of MY favorite sections is short and to the point!

71. Friendly fire isn't.
72. Recoilless rifles aren't.
73. Suppressive fire won't.
74. Interchangable parts aren't.
75. Guided missiles aren't.
76. Perfect plans aren't.
77. Final Protective Fire doesn't.

Just read, and enjoy - but watch out for the giggles!!

Pirate Count Down: T-11 days and counting

2006-09-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sept 19th is the official "Talk Like A Pirate Day" and we'll begin counting down today with a link to an educational video on how to include pirate lingo into your every day life.

A Pirate Lingo Lesson

Please study well to prepare, so you's not be walkin' the plank matte.

When is a fish not a fish?

2006-08-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

I have gold fish (crackers) at my desk that I put into a small plastic bowl so the packaging wasn't crackeling during a meeting... and I then had a fit of giggle and the biggest kick out of having a "Gold Fish Bowl" on my desk.

Yes, I am easily amused!

Carry on, nothing more to see here folks.

I'm a Pirate - who knew!

2006-08-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

You scored as Captain Jack Sparrow. Roguish,quick-witted, and incredibly lucky, Jack Sparrow is a pirate who sometimes ends up being a hero, against his better judgement. Captain Jack looks out for #1, but he can be counted on (usually) to do the right thing. He has an incredibly persuasive tongue, a mind that borders on genius or insanity, and an incredible talent for getting into trouble and getting out of it. Maybe its brains, maybe its genius, or maybe its just plain luck. Or maybe a mixture of all three.
QuizFarm.com

Caution: Being helpful can be expensive!!

2006-06-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

My buddy Serra, who's now in her new home, was chatting with me a couple weeks ago about trying to reach her Beo about an unexpected surgery for her other brother Darryl, I mean Ghost. Beo was on a Cruise to Alaska with his musical group, housemate Mark and Mark's partner Charlie. I found out Mark and Charlie were along for the ride when I sent a IM to Gapey (before her meany employers cut her off) and she said she'd send a text message to Beo, but wasn't sure when he'd receive it.

Knowing what was going on in Serra's world, and wanting to do all I could to help, I decided to look up the ship/shore phone number for the Sapphire Princess and leave a message for brother Beo to ring back to Mom or Sis (Serra) or at the least check email when he had a chance and confirm the info on Ghost was received. After finding the info and choking on the $8.95 per minute for each call, I dialed the number, entered my credit card and punched in correct number for the ship I was trying to reach (15). The phone rang and then came back with a fast busy signal. So much for technology. I tried a couple more times and decided either the line was busy or they were not in the right area for a good satellite hook up.

I tried again later, but each time the only reply I received was the fast busy signal. 7 times I tried, and that's a bunch of times entering the credit card number, expiration date and zip code of the billing address.

At the end of the day, I was moving money from one account to the other, for some purchase at Club Hel*Mouth (Sam's) and almost fell out of my chair when I discovered one of my accounts was overdrawn almost $200. I FREAKED. Looking at the activity in the account (below) you can see that for each attempt to contact the ship, my card was 'held' for $98.45. HUH? No where in their message did it say they would start off trying to charge my card for a 10 fucking minute call that NEVER CONNECTED!! Not to mention - the entries popped my overdraft protection not once but TWICE.

06/22/06 CHECKCARD ACTIVITY -$98.45 (pending)
06/22/06 CHECKCARD ACTIVITY -$98.45 (pending)
06/22/06 CHECKCARD ACTIVITY -$98.45 (pending)
06/22/06 ADVANCE FROM ODP ACCT +$98.45 (pending)
06/21/06 CHECKCARD ACTIVITY -$98.45 (pending)
06/21/06 ADVANCE FROM PDP ACCT +$98.45 (pending)
06/21/06 CHECKCARD ACTIVITY -$98.45 (pending)
06/21/06 ADVANCE FROM PDP ACCT +$84.96 (pending)
06/21/06 CHECKCARD ACTIVITY -$98.45 (pending)
06/21/06 CHECKCARD ACTIVITY -$98.45 (pending)

Panicked I called my bank and asked them to put a note on my account, in case the activity actually posted, I wanted it on record that I called when I saw what was happening. The guy at the Stage Coach Bank was very nice and said he'd put a note on the account. He said that most of the transactions should 'go away' the next day, after processing and that since some of the transactions were done late in the afternoon, so they would not clear up for two days.

Two days later, the account was back in the black, the pending transactions and the over draft movements gone and the only thing I remaining for clean up was a $17 entry from the ship/shore folks. I called and politely asked them to reverse the charge because I had hit zero at during one of the calls in an attempt to be hooked up with an operator, but their offices were closed. "No problem" - I was told but it could take a day or two for the credit to occur. In two days, that money was returned as well.

I chatted with Serra the next day and discovered that Beo had called later that night, and he'd been informed of all the happenings in the real works while he'd been playing with the fishes. Serra's safely back in Wisconsin and it looks like Ghost's "Scope" can be counted among the successes. (I'm taking that for granted because he was able to drive!!)

I'd do it again in a heart beat, just so you know, because it was something I thought I could do that would help a buddy out. But you can bet next time I'll use a real credit card, not my VISA Check Card when entering the numbers so that I'm not without funds for two days. Lucky for me, I had funds in other places, or it could have been very ugly!!

Friends don't let Friends . . . .

2006-05-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

. . . do lots of things:

Drink and Drive
Buy Ugly Shoes
Kiss the guy at the bar (no matter how cute) just cause they're a little tipsy
Wear Colored Animal Print Spandex
Remain in Bad Relationships
Suffer a Bad Day Eating Ice Cream alone (even if lactose intolerant)

wait .. go back one..

I have a buddy who's in a bad relationship and wants out. It's not that it started out bad, and she stayed - like those women who can't seem to loose themselves from the boyfriend that is beating on them... Though she's as stuck, if not more so than some in that situation.

She and her "Honey" had lived in their very own house until one of the auto makers in Detroit decided to farm out some of their work and Honey was laid off. After much struggle to stay a float with odd/temp jobs they were forced to leave their home behind and move in with Honey's mother and brother.

I don't know about the readers (I still have one or two right?), but this could not have been a decision made lightly - I don't know ANYONE who would wish to return to the home where their partner grew up - back under the watchful eyes of the "family." I've moved back with my parents once, out of necessity, but we moved out on our own again as soon as we were able. (but that's another story!!)

There are several posts on Serra's bloggy that explain the trials and challenges in her living situation, and if you feel the need to be angry on her behalf, please do so. And if you find you'd like to help, and you have a few bucks to spare (you can forgo the coffee for a day or two!!) and a paypal account, please donate to the Scented Relief Fund at serrathescentedNOSPAM@gmail.com (w/o the nospam).

Tech Quote of the week...

2006-04-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

In my little work world, everyone on my team works in a Minneapolis. My office is on the 14th floor with all the technology folks that also have their main teams in other cities, so there are often interesting things to be heard if one choose to listen when folks are walking by.

While one of the 2nd level tech support guys was chatting with a BSA about new technology for a company wide application about "USERS" the Tech was heard to say:

"You can't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you up with experience."

Rather profound don't you think?

Box on the Corner...

2006-04-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

Today was the heaviest traffic day of the year for the U.S. Postal offices around the country. In the past, many offices have had employees hangin' out until midnight waiting for the procrastinating tax payers to deliver the envelops with only two lines of address:

~~Internal Revenue Service~~
Your Closest Processing Center, ST 99999

There are those that wait till the last minute because they don't want Uncle Sam to have their money any earlier than necessary. Still others like my roomie and my son, who have simple returns, are among the procrastinators that wait only because they can, because they have a refund coming this is their savings plan.

Tonight I took my son's tax forms to the post office in our little town, and office was closed. I parked the truck on the street in front of the post office and went hunting for the right box in which to deposit the envelop. The drive up box on the street corner had a sign taped below the drop slot:

"All items placed in the box
before midnight will be posted with today's date."

So I dropped it in.

As I walked back to the truck there was a man bounding up the stairs to find the doors locked, and he turned and looked up the street the other direction and then looked my way.

I nodded and asked, "Taxes?"

He replied with a tired sigh, "Yes."

"Box on the corner." I replied pointing back the way I had come.

He looked, and smiled in surprise, as if seeing the big blue drive up drop box for the first time.

"Thanks!"

I used the remote to unlock the doors on the truck and pointed the direction I'd come as I made eye contact with a couple other folks coming from the PO Box entrance to the building. Both nodded and made their way down the street to the big blue box.

I sat in the truck for a couple minutes, marveling at the fact that the doors to the main and PO Box entrances of the building didn't have a sign directing folks to the drive up box on the corner. As I watched, those that had already made the trek to the box pointed out the way to others wandering with a bewildered look while returning to their vehicle.

As I prepared to depart, I watched a younger guy covered in dust approach the front doors and waited for him to come down the stairs. He turned around a couple times, his expression more panic than bewildered. I rolled down the window and pointed to the box on the corner, but as he approached I could see that his envelop didn't have any stamps - thus his look of panic.

I grabbed my wallet and asked him if he needed stamps.

"Yes, do you have some?" he said, "... but I can't pay you for them."

His envelop was thick and I figured he'd need more than one so I pealed off two, extending my hand out the window.

"That's ok," I replied, "I would not have made you pay for them anyway."

"Sweet." He pasted the stamps on the envelop and licked the flap to seal it. "Thanks!"

He trucked off to the box on the corner as another woman was coming out of the PO Box entrance she watched him moving away. I smiled as she approached.

"Do you need stamps?" I asked.

"Yes, if you can spare them." She said, digging in her wallet.

"Sure," I tried to guess the weight of her envelop based on it's thickness. "One or two?"

"Two, just to be safe." And she dropped a dollar inside the truck. "Thanks very much."

"No problem. The box on the corner," I pointed, "has a sign that says if it's in the box by midnight, they'll post it with today's date."

"Great. Thanks again." And she was off.

I watched again for a few more minutes as the message was passed to each new arrival, smiled a Cheshire Cat smile and then headed home.

If I'd been headed back out for any reason at all, I would have taped a note to the doors of the building so that the poor folks would not have to wander the property looking for the right box.

And why were they waiting so long anyway, they had two extra days!

How Marshmallow Peeps Are Born

2006-04-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

Take a peep, uh, no peek, at the whole peep process.

The link will take you to the Better Homes and Garden site and four pages of Peepful Goodness. Amazing how long it took to put together peeps in the beginning. Can you find that info in the ad laden MAG?

You know, I think MooCow needs to take a field trip to PA!! He could offer suggestion on other peep shapes that could be used for his PEEP ART. I bet the telling of the tale would be something indeed.

Autograph Please!

2006-04-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

March/April is not only IRA season in the brokerage world, but for our firm it's the time for the three R's...

Reflection, Review and Raises.

With my boss in another city, heck he's in another STATE, a face to face review is a hit/miss proposition - so this year we did it over the phone. It was everything I expected.

I'm FAB!
Work too hard!
Need to learn to delegate
Improve Organization and Time Management
I'm FAB!

So after reviewing the document and making a few adjustments, I need to print, sign and send to my manager so it can be logged, cataloged and filed with human resources. But I could not find a pen.

Every pen, most in colors not really 'acceptable' for signing official documents, in my pencil cup was dried up. I realized I don't often write in pen, I like the 'correctablity' of pencils. In desperation, I started searching the 'catch all drawer' in my desk.. hoping. I found a green highlighter - but no - I think that would be rejected - and as I was about to give up and make the trek upstairs to the supply room for a new pen - I FOUND A SHARPIE!!

Nutt'n wrong with a Sharpie, it's just a bigger felt tip pen - right? Cautiously I removed the cap and scribbled on the test page that had failed to extract an ounce of ink from the other 11 pens tested before. IT WORKED!!

Quickly, before it the cosmos could shift and the ink dried to dust, I autographed and dated the last page of the review with a flourish! ah HA!

Now all I have to do is put it in the overnight so it makes it to the midwest from the northwest before Friday - when the HR Nazi insisted the document was needed.

Mighty Fine Vino,....Ciao !

2006-04-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

Wal-Mart announced on February 3, 2006, that it will begin offering customers a new discount item --Wal-Mart's own brand of wine. The world's largest retail chain is teaming up with Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery of California, to produce the spirits at an affordable price, in the $1-3 range.

Wine connoisseurs may not be inclined to throw a bottle of Wal-Mart brand into their shopping carts, but "there is a market for inexpensive wine," said Kathy Micken, professor of marketing at the University of Arkansas, Bentonville. She said: "But the right name is important."

Customer surveys were conducted to determine the most attractive name for the Wal-Mart wine brand. The top surveyed names in order of popularity were:
10. Chateau Traileur Parc
9. White Trashfindel
8. Big Red Gulp
7. World Championship Riesling
6. NASCARbernet
5. Chef Boyardeaux
4. Peanut Noir
3. I Can't Believe It's Not Vinegar!
2. Grape Expectations
1. Nasti Spumante

The beauty of Wal-Mart wine is that it can be served with either white meat (Possum) or red meat (Squirrel).

If MooCow were in charge of the Postal Service...

2006-02-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

My wacky roomie sent this to me at the end of the day today... a much needed break to be sure.
Instantly I thought of MooCow, come to think of it, where has Moobert been lately. ^{Victora's Secret has been out of the bag for a while now.}

I'm thinking of sending a message to Mr. Cowerton, thought others may wish to as well.

Happy Valentine's Day

2006-02-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

I gave myself a gift for Valentine's Day this year...

I took one of the three - yet un-altered (read: FIXED) cats to the vet today to have his little nads snipped. He's a very social little cat ^{it's hard to call him a kitten when he acts like a TOM CAT.. but he is less than a year old}, well kitten, and yowls when he is left in the bedroom on his own.

Trouble is, the other two yet un-altered cats in my home are both female and taking turns each week going into heat. (just call my place The House of Yowl!) Female cats are more expensive to have altered, that's the only reason I've been putting it off - that and they are not really mine to mend (fix) they belong to my cousin.

So today I will pick up my new IT kitten - Duzell - on the way home and there will be one less yowler in the house this evening. (mostly-I'm sure it will be a little painful for a day or two).

My gift to myself this the 14th day of Feb - 2006.

Could I be a Nar-co?

2006-02-10T17:45:00.000-08:00

Not Necro - like necromancer (I'd like think so!) or necrophiliac (on occasion - CIS baby!) ~ Nar-co-lep-tic that is - goofball!!

Seriously - I've been known to fall sleep in the strangest places. Just after my daughter (second child) was born in the summer of 1988 - yes that would make her 17 1/2 years of age - I was called to jury dootie for a Federal Grand Jury. ^{(inner voice side note: actually she was not born in the traditional sense of the word, but more taken from my body by force. I had a C-section cause the girl was late, didn't want to come out without a fight even when the DR stuck me in the arm with a needle and induced my labor 3 fargin' times!)} Fargin' NOD to BR! ^{Boy oh boy is a little info a dangerous thing in the wrong hands!!} Hey look - subscript too - _dog

SO, not only was I selected, even though I did ask to be dismissed, but it was a week long trial - not the 2 days we were promised. Being a new Mom, I was tired all the time anyway, but to add insult to injury I was also lactating in the jury box. Talk about uncomfortable. BUT - more horrifying than a wet T-shirt contest with no other participants - the judge adjourned early mid-week because I was sleeping ^{(and not to mention snoring)} in the jury box during a very boring cross. OOPS!

I've been known to nap on a plane, in the car ^{(No, not while driving!)}, occasionally on the bus... Frequently on the couch in the living room... and all acceptable I would think, but today... oh today..

I fell asleep during a meeting. At work. While on the phone. ^{(Thank DOG for the mute button!!)}

I'd been typing away - mute button on as not to be distracting to others - multi tasking during a call with several other locations, listening in for any items that might impact one of my systems... and when the document I was working on was complete - I saved and closed it. Then I moved on to email. One email marked for follow-up was lengthy enough and needed to be read - so I started in - ^{(good team player that I am)} - to review and approve the document - MULTI-PASS.. I mean multi-task.

Next thing I know, the voices in my ear are quiet and a soft snore - my soft snore - wakes me from my slumber. PANIC like no bodies business strikes and I shoved the papers from on top of the phone for the current time, see if I'm still connected and to confirm the MUTE was on. Blessed MUTE BUTTON!

I stretched and looked over my shoulder as casually as I could, down the row of cubes behind me to see if anyone else was around - and luck with me the tech crew was all gone! ^WHEW! The PM on the other side of the cube said later that he had not heard any noise of a NON-WORK nature emanating from my desk, but he'd gone out for an early lunch and had only just returned.

^{Must have more coffee!!!}

Yet another blonde episode...

2006-02-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

The building I work in has two flights of escalators from the main lobby to the street on the down hill side (west) of the building. The moving stairs are covered with clear glass dome cylinders, affectionately dubbed the 'hampster tubes' for obvious reasons.

The vertical people movers operate from 6 AM to 7 PM on the week days, and sometimes during the weekend too - though I can't remember the schedule.

Last night I left work after 7 PM, so the escalators were turned off. I walked down the first flight and across the landing to the second. I stood on the first step of the second flight for several seconds waiting for the stairs to move. Guess what, they didn't. When I realized what I'd done, it took all my willpower not to look around to see if anyone had noticed I'd had a major blonde moment.. and bounced down the frozen steps to the street.

Feel free to share your moments of Blonde-ness - I know I can't be alone in this!!

Super Bowl Bound!!!

2006-01-24T14:04:00.000-08:00

Congrats to the Seattle Seahawks!

Ok, I waited a couple days to post this because it didn't really sink in that the Hawks are going to the big show until today. Come Stoopid Bowl LX I'll be watching with the rest of the fair weather fans cheering for a team that I have not watched all year. Not to say that I'm not a fan, I'm just a fair weather sports fan.

I prolly would have watched the game anyway, because of the commercials, but now I can watch the bits in between the mini-movies and enjoy as well. This game is a long time coming, and I'm a bit torn given that the Steelers are on the other side of the ball. I've been a Steelers fan since the days of Bradshaw to Swan or Harris - those were the days. I like the Raiders too!

I will enjoy the game, cause win or loose, the HAWKS had a great ride and they made it to the show. That's not to say I don't want a big X in the WIN column, but the happy (winning) looting fans are less likely to tear the city apart than the unhappy (loosing) looting fans - I think. But then I suspect most of the RIOT issues from the WTO a few years back were actually out-of-towners!

Go Hawks! Go Hawks! GOOOOOOOOOO HAWKS!!

Roomie of Randomness...

2006-01-23T16:56:00.000-08:00

It happens to all of us...
So I was driving into work the other morning, and this dick in a truck pulls out in front of me........

Thanks to the Roomie on this one - that girl comes up with the weirdest stuff!

NEWS FLASH - Moe's Oldest makes it to 20!! (post dated 1.3.06)

2006-01-19T11:23:00.000-08:00

Tat pix 1
Originally uploaded by MoeThatsMe.

Surprising but true, my oldest is officially 20 today.

He celebrated this weekend with his friends, even stepped in to the world of perm-a-body art and went with the buddies to the tatoo parlor. It's a nice image, on his upper back and I have to keep reminding myself - it is his body!

I have yet to find anything that I like (read: LOVE) enough to place it on my body for the rest of my time on this little water planet ~ so I'll live vicariously thru my son for now. At least he's not poking holes in himself yet!

That's Super GEEK, not Super FREAK - Thank You!

2006-01-19T10:47:00.000-08:00

I the event that any one had any doubt of the geekness level here at Moe Moment's of Wisdom, let it be known the results from "the geek test v.3.1" are in and Moe has advanced to the level of "Super Geek" by their very high standars at 48.71795% Geek.

The chart below details the geeky levels - take a moment if you will (actully better plan for 15 the quiz is a bit lengthy) and see where you rank on the geek scale.

+ Geekish Tendencies................................≥09%
++ Geek.............................................≥15%
+++ Total Geek......................................≥25%
++++ Major Geek.....................................≥35%
+++++ Super Geek....................................≥45%
++++++ Extreme Geek.................................≥55%
+++++++ Geek God....................................≥65%
+++++++! Dysfunctional Geek.........................≥75%

Enjoy!

You Have a Choleric Temperament

2006-01-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

You Have a Choleric Temperament

You are a person of great enthusiasm - easily excited by many things. Unsatisfied by the ordinary, you are reaching for an epic, extraordinary life. You want the best. The best life. The best love. The best reputation.

You posses a sharp and keen intellect. Your mind is your primary weapon. Strong willed, nothing can keep you down. Your energy can break down any wall. You're an instantly passionate person - and this passion gives you an intoxicating power over others.

At your worst, you are a narcissist. Full of yourself and even proud of your faults. Stubborn and opinionated, you know what you think is right. End of discussion. A bit of a misanthrope, you often see others as weak, ignorant, and inferior.

What Temperment Are You?

And what is CHOELERIC?

Pronunciation: 'kä-l&-rik, k&-'ler-ik
Function: adjective
1 : easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered
2 : angry; irate

WHAT!!!?? Me?
Well maybe. Lots of stuff above is right on the mark thought! WOWZA!

Why? What? Hu? Oooohhhh!!! No, still don't have it!

2005-12-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

I've spent some time (more than I should) pondering things that I don't seem to be able to answer.. things such as:

Do you really need to use a turn signal if you're already in a turn lane?
Why is the bus driver on the 7:50a bus of the 101 route to Seattle always grumpy? If he doesn't like people, why does he drive a bus instead of a long haul truck?
Why, when the last work day before Christmas really a "no-work is done" day, don't we just make it part of the holiday?
How wrong is it to discuss personal financial information on the bus via cell phone?
Why do people step to the back of the elevator even when they know they will have to climb thru folks to exit on the lower floors?
Are adults so picky about their bus seat that they need to rush forward when the coach arrives in the bay each morning, or is it only the group riding route 143 at 7:37a?
Is the amount of time spent NOT preparing for the holidays directly proportional to the eventual enjoyment of same holiday due to lack of stress?

Just minor musings really, but thinks I've been pondering. Answers to all or any of the above questions would be appreciated ~ but are not expected.

I've been every where, man... well almost!

2005-11-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

I like purple, and I found The Purple Pen on the MooCow site.

While reading, I discovered the map site below. I realize most of these states I've only passed thru, or stopped less than an hour to transfer at the airport, but I was surprised how many I could check off.

create your own visited states map

Still places in the lower 48 I need to go.. and then I'm off to the boundries.

Will be interesting to see how "RED" my bloggy buddies maps come out.

Corrected: 11/18/05 after checking with my folks, I have been in New Mexico - rather thru it as a kid, but I think I'll have to go back and validate for AWC.

What is your monster name?

2005-11-17T10:25:00.000-08:00

Your Monster Profile

Cruel Vampire
You Feast On: Peanut Butter
You Lurk Around In: The Ocean
You Especially Like to Torment: Hipsters

What's Your Monster Name?

My roomie finds the weirdest things... funny they can be Way, Way Off or Right On The Money.
You figure out what which this is....

I'll pay you Tuesday for a Blog Post Today!

2005-11-10T14:56:00.000-08:00

Ok not really but the Whimpy guy has been stuck in my head the last couple days.

Seems like work has been that was a great deal, of late. I'm moving things around to accomidate other work, and it's just not right.

Why is it those that yell the the loudest are helped first? Even if they are not in line first, even if piss poor planning on their part means an emergency change in our system.. why? Why? WHY!?

So, I'm borrowing time today, adn I'll pay it back some time next Tuesday. Or is that maybe the second Tuesday of next week? Don't know... whatever!

Instant Message sock pup theatre...

2005-10-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

Moe: STOOPID VENDORS
Javvy: YES MA'AM!~
Moe: it's just wrong
Moe: I want to drink heavily this weekend..... so'k with you??
Javvy: i'll join ya
Javvy: our CEO is in town
Moe: BLICK
Javvy: acutally, we are gaming on saturday... so i will be drinking heavily
Moe: YES, join please :)
Moe: Games.. oh, maybe I'll play diablo... I could use some good killing time
Moe: TAKE THAT... and THAT and THAT!!! (evil smiley)
Moe: the blue ones are one vendor, the red ones are someone else..... the little 'rockadichu' guys don't stand a chance :)
Javvy: ROFL!
Javvy: LI
Javvy: (gaping face)
Javvy: OMG
Javvy: i read that too fast... i read Diablo as something COMPLETELY different (gaping face)
Moe: what did you read it as???
Moe: (gaping face times 3) oh my... like 'sex toy' thing.... ???? (Blushing Face times 3)

I'm going back to work now, while I'm still the same color as my shirt....

Mr. Peabody, the way back machine plz.....to August 12, 2005

2005-10-21T17:40:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER!!! - BBerry Bus Blogging is bouncy and doesn't have spell check.

The Great Adventure Day 1 ~

Today I'll begin to chron the trek across the country to move my Beau, boyfriend, honey, partner and mate from Washington, D.C. To Washington State. The 3000 mile trek has been two years in the making.

We met on the internet, but that's several other post, which may never be made.

I'd always flown into BWI when meeting my Beau, but this time the flight was one way and I flew to Reagan International Airport for the first time because the fare was less. My flight left Seattle at 5:30 Am, and I almost missed the connection in Vegas because we sat on the jetway for quite a while before taking off. I lost my orange juice there in Vegas, rushing to catch the next plane.

My Beau rode the Metro train from his parents house to meet me to avoid being lost and the parking hassle. We decided to do a little touristy sightseeing on the way home and took the train to Union station in D.C.

After a drink and some spinich artichoke dip, at the elevated bar in the middle of the rotunda - we wondered around a bit inside window shopping before making our way outside into the muggy evening air. The Union Station building is huge and very busy with commuters even at 8:00 pm.

We made our way down a couple blocks and across the street to an Irish Pub for dinner and live entertainment. The atmosphere was friendly and the Irish tunes kept our toes tapping until we departed much later than we'd intended to take the train home.

We hailed a taxi but it was the drivers first day and he had no idea where Seabrook is...so he passed on the fare. The next driver didn't know for sure where the town was from D.C. but felt he could find his way back so he gave us a lift.

It was after 11:00 PM ET when we arrived and we elected to call it a night and start fresh the next day.

The next day started much later than we had planned - but it was very nice to snuggle in the morning. That, not to mention the thought of packing up the remaining items in the closet was not something to look forward to on the second day of our adventure.

Packing would have been preferable to the trip to Lowes and HEL*Mouth, but I wanted some travel stuff and we neede a tarp, so we went.

The shopping trip zapped us both so not many boxes were packed on day two.

More BBerry bus blogging to follow in the days/weeks ahead.

Halloween is a coming!

2005-10-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Carving2005
Originally uploaded by MoeThatsMe.

A buddy of mine from work sent this link to me and I just had to try it. This pick is my first attempt at virtual carving.

I'd love to see what others can do with this... seems like it's right up MooCow's alley!

Time Warp back to August 11, 2005

2005-09-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

NEWS FLASH: Moe's oldest graduates college!! (at 19)

I'm the sappy kind of gal that cries at the happy ending of a movie watched for the 10th time. Or at the diamond commercials. Or the hotel commercial where the young boy fills dad's suitcase with family photos without his knowledge because dad tells the boy he's going to "...miss this face..." while he's gone on a business trip. *sniff*

So it was not at all surprizing to anyone in our group that it was hard for me to hold back the proud parent tears when my son graduated with an A.A.S. Degree in Electronics from the local community college.

I'm supremely proud of his initiative and resourcefulness in finishing High School AND College at the same time. He even figured out a way for the school district to pay for his college degree for the 2 year course. He's even going back for another 2 year course in computers, which he plans to pay for himself. (Proud? You bet your sweet ass I'm PROUD!!)

We celebrated in style afterwards at our family favorite Chinese place with good food, friends and fun conversation.

Oddly enough, I cried a little that night too when I headed to bed. Joy and sadness. Pride and trepidation. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - no wait that' a movie. (DOH!)

These mixed emotions I'm sure all parents feel as there offspring grow to adulthood and are on the brink of leaving the nest. There were times when my kids were not in double digits yet (below age 10 for those slow minded today) that I could NOT WAIT for them to be grown and living on their own. Even in their early teens I had moments of "can't wait" as they both struggled thru the "I know it all!" phase from 12 or 13 onward.

But now in the twilight of their childhood, when we can share a good laugh about both childish and adult topics, I'm struggling with the need to hold them close and beg them not to finish growing up. (damn the misty tears are attacking me even now!!) Sure they still need me, and it's nice to be needed. I'm sure they will need me for many things in the future... see me shudder at the thought of grandchildren... ACK.. not for a few more (read: 10) years please I'm only 40... Sorry for that derail.. where was I... oh yes, needing me..

For a ride here, some money in a pinch (like I have any extra even now!), work or relationship advice, a shoulder to cry on or just a home cooked meal... I expect to be a part of it all... I'm just not ready to let go yet. *sniff*

bus blogging?

2005-09-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

Blackberry bus entry!

I refuse to send chain email... but...

2005-09-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

This email was in my mail box from earlier in the spring and I just now read it... I'm sharing not because I'm looking for good luck, but because there are serveral good "things to live by" in their list that folks I know could use a refresher course on! (you know who you are!!!)

Lotus Totus:

You have 6 minutes....There's some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you're notsuperstitious. This Lotus Totus has been sent To you for good luck fromthe Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world tentimes so Far. You will receive good luck within four days of relayingthis Lotus Totus.
Do not keep this message.
The Lotus Totus must leave your hands in 6 MINUTES. Otherwise you willgeta very unpleasant surprise. This is true, even if you are notsuperstitious, agnostic, or otherwise faith impaired.
ONE: Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO: Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, theirconversational skills will be as Important as any other.
THREE: Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all youwant.
FOUR: When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE: When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX: Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN: Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT: Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreamsdon'thave much.
NINE: Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the onlyway to live life completely.
TEN: In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN: Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE: Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN: When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer,smileand ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN: Remember that great love and great achievements involve greatrisk.
FIFTEEN: Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN: When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN: Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others;and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN: Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN: When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate stepstocorrect it.
TWENTY: Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in yourvoice.
TWENTY-ONE: Spend some time alone.

Now, here's the FUN part!
Send this to at least 5 people and your life will improve.
1-4 people: Your life will improve slightly.
5-9 people: Your life will improve to your liking.
9-14 people: You will have at least 5 surprises in the next 3 weeks
15 and above: Your life will improve drastically and everything you everdreamed of will begin to take shape.

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches yourheart.

Share with others if you wish - good luck not withstanding, I think the thougths are something we should work on daily!!

Arrggghhhh!!!

2005-09-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

AVAST! And Ahoy! enLIST yerselves:
All matees, lads and lassies alike; heave to and come along saide, and we'll parlee. Ye are a motley crew, but a smart one. And by this affidavey, by Thunder I'm givin the order to strike the colors on this board, and hoist the Jolly Roger! 'Tis none other than International Talk Like a Pirate Day,
September 19th, in the year of two thousand and five, and Cap'm and Commander Billy Bones be takin' over!

So hoist the forerunner! Lookouts aloft, and load the six-pounders.

Aye, it 'minds me of an evenin' at the Boar's Head Inn. I saunters inside and spied me a soft cubby hole in the corner. "This be the barth fer me!" says I. When in comes Ben Gun, who stories me about being marooned on Treasure Island, by Cap'm Flint, the famous Buccaneer. Twas Flint's map what put us all on notice.

Methinks Ben had the soft feathers in that one, whilst the rest had a rum go of it. I was of the mind he'd gone to gourd, so says I, "Be ye a privateer or a 'lubber?" and I prods him w' a few questions: Do ye think Buccaneer is a lot t'pay for corn Ye just might be a 'lubber. If ye think Grog is a cartoon character from Johnny Hart's comic strip "B.C." Ye just might be a 'lubber. And if ye think a wench is somethin' Elmer Fudd uses to tighten a nut... Ye just might be a 'lubber.

Aye, but enough o' this; for I likes not to drives the crew with bad humor or derision, like the Pequod's Stubb, but prefers the cooin' of Starbuck's soft spoke orders.

If any of ye be so bold as to mark me Deposed, then step lively. I won't harm no member of a deputation. But be warned, I'd just as soon run ye thru as lose my place as Cap'm. I'd hate to see the likes of you skewered on a pike, but the thought of them gallows gives me the shakes. You'll not clap me in irons! No nay ne'er!

Now I be about to hand over the wheel to our own Anne Bonny: Cap'n Empress Patti McRae, ease off a point on the rum and try yer hand on the tiller, afore this here crew strings me up to the yardarm for a pretender, or worse, keelhawls me, then splits the cable with a cutlass, and sends me to Davy Jones' Locker. Ye've got the helm, if you'll but give me your affidavey not to slip yer cable? Sound for yer crew! Where be Rachel Wall and Mary Read? Fanny Campbell and Grace O'Malley? Our own Susan, Mo and Marcia? Ev'ry lass o' ye music to me ears and a feast fer me deadlights! What say ye? I think ye do look brave! I'll keep a sharp lookout on all sides. Meanwhile, tear down those rags! Hang new sail aloft, afore this list runs aground!

Cast off! Arrrggghh! I'd give me right hook to be ambidextrous!
Sweet William Bones,
his mark. X

Not M-W.com

2005-07-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

I like the way Mike (Michael) at WriteHard puts it it out there. He came by, perhaps by way of Texas Biscuit cause she's the only one on his blog roll I knew at a glance.

I want to write like Mike - this is why!

LIFE: Is all about ass!

2005-07-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

You're either covering it,
Laughing it off,
Kicking it,
Kissing it,
Busting it,
Or trying to get a piece of it.

.........................................................Author Unknown

Roomie Random-ness strikes again!

2005-06-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I call her my Roomie, cause she rents a room in my home.. but she's really more like the little sister my parents didn't supply.

She sends me weird things from time to time, and this one just had me falling out of my chair.

If I'm late to the party - oopsy - but damn I find this very funny, and this is down right scary!

Survey Says!

2005-06-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to both AWC and KMart for the link to the blog survey. Interesting questions, some were difficult to answer.

Enjoy.

Roomie's Good idea # 127:

2005-06-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

Don't have any idea what the other 126 good ideas were, but this is the one my roomie decided to share with me. I'd say it's a good one.

Good idea # 127:
Pay for parking when you park, not at noon when you remember!

Duh! Could’ve had my car towed!

Food, Fun and Frosty Treats!

2005-06-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

On June 25th, Javvy at Waste of Internet Space, a.k.a. Beowo1=, had a gathering just outside of Minneapolis.

Folks came from as far West as Washington and as far East as Maryland for what we hope turns out to be the First Annual Little Apples Summer BBQ. The weather was great, overcast and not too hot, and the conversation was varied and interesting.

Paula's pix are HERE, and mine are HERE. Please feel free to comment on the titles and images.

The menu was quite tasty, with the standard Veggy and Cheese trays.. and rickles by special delivery. There was BBQ Chicken, BBQ Ribs, and Salmon along with summer favorites Tato Salad and Cole Slaw ala Javvy.

I also remember Curry Colly-flower Salad, baked beans and Multi Mushroom salad. There were supposed to be deep fried stuffed olives but I think I musta missed them cause they were so tasty. Delish sweets too, included Brownies with a yummy 'naughty' frosting and Rice Crispy Treats.

There were also Teenies, and not the bopper kind. I think Watermelon, Apple, Blue Raspberry and White Chocolate Raspberry were all concocted during the day, though I can only speak for the Two Raspy-Berry drinks which were YUMMERS indeed.

Thanks Javvy and Mark for having us in your home, it was delightful to put faces to names and enjoy the company of your friends.

Vietnamese prime minister ate my homework..

2005-06-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe he didn't eat my homework, his visit to the Emerald City certainly screwed up my commute this morning.

I was parked on the freeway for nearly 15 minutes while his motor procession moved out of the city. It was a lovely day to be parked and a good thing I didn't have a meeting at 8 AM.

Why -oh- Why can't the politicians move around the city outside of rush hour? Take you trip at 6 AM or how about at 10 AM.. but not when the masses are working to make it to the job they are under paid to do and don't want to do anyway.

Thanks - for making my Monday Morning.....

Quiz on the go - TB Style

2005-06-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

Texas Biscuit always has the best quiz/question/know you better features... Below are my answers, and her's can be found here!!

01. Take the book that is closest to you, open it in page 18, what does line 4 says?
..."thought was his consuming passon for me in favor".... And this is not even a 'romance book' it's a mystery.

02. Extend your left arm all you can. Wha is the first thing you can touch?
Air. Reaching a little farther than that, if I step down from the big tall bed, I can touch the bricks of the fireplace.

03. What was the last thing you watched on TV?
Numbers @ 10 PM Friday on NBC. After that the TV was on, but I wasn't watching.

04. Without looking, try to guess what time it is.
11:01 AM

05. Now look at the clock, what time is it?
12:21 PM Humm.. I lost an hour and twenty minutes somewhere...

06. Besides your computer, what can you hear?
Moo Cow Boy Kitty taking a bath (lickin' and tags jingling), TV in the other room, daughter on the other computer - talking to the Zoo Tycoon Game, the fan in the window.

07. When was the last time you walked on the street?
Thursday, in downtown Seattle, on the way to work.

08. Before coming to this page, what site were you visiting?
TB's Blog, Silly Serra's Blog, Quizilla

09. What are you wearing?
Jammies

10. Did you dream last night?
Yep... oh, you want to know about what? Moving.

11. When was the last time you laughed?
This morning, talking to my Beau..."Doris Day" and then with my Daughter about Zoo Tycoon (Did you know tigers and monkeys should not go in the same enclosure?), but there are always lots of giggles when reading blogs.

12. What is on the walls on the room where you are?
Edward Blair Leighton's "The Accolade", Candle Holders, Wallpaper

13. Have you seen something weird lately?
Always, that's what happens when you search for weird items on Ebay, or have a blog buddy who posts about GNOME SNOT.

14. What do you think of this test?
S'alright... easy is good. But is it really a test, or more of a questionaire - a 'know me better' thing. Huh.. I don't test well.. no what's scary if this is a test. Moving along....

15. What was the last movie you saw?
Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy

16. If you became a multi-millionaire tonight, what would you buy first?
A new house, bigger house with lots and lots of room.

17. Tell me something I don't know about you. Be sincere:
Some day I'd like to be paid for writing stories.... someday.

18. If you could change something in the world, that wasn't politics related, what would it be?
So many things to choose from, I guess top of my list would be ..to bring back magic.

19. Do you like to dance?
I dance in my car all the time, and sometimes when I'm cooking.. but not in clubs or public places in general.

20. George Bush:
If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

21.a. Imagine your first kid its a girl. What would (did) you name her?
Cassandra Brittany

21.b. Imagine your first kid its a boy. What would (did) you name him?
Aandrew Jeoffree*

22. Have you ever thought of migrating to another country?
Another dimention or reality perhaps, but not country.

23. What language would you like to learn how to speak fluently?
Klingon!

24. Name the top 3 TV shows you like the most right now:
CIS
Numbers
Stargate - though it's battling with Cold Case they keep flipping for third.

25. Say something profound:
If you don't want those you work with, or those closest to you, to find your blog, don't mention it to them.

*Confession: He's 19, goes by AJ, and yes, I actually spelled his name that way on purpose.

What color is your light saber?

2005-06-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Your Lightsaber is Blue
Blue is often associated with depth and stability.
It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom,
confidence, and truth.

What Colored Lightsaber Would You Have?

Ped-rest-(in peace)-re-ians

2005-06-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

(or Pedestrians – dead or alive)

Warning – ranting is about to ensue, this will not be for everyone.

Who the hell do they think they are and why the heck are they on my planet? I’m talking about the not-so-fleet-of-foot-peds traversing the sidewalks of the Emerald City Metropolis (“ECM” a.k.a. Seattle) in the morning on the days I have to drive to work. Without fail, the truly stupid ones always know the days I have to drive into the city instead of riding the bus.

This morning was no exception, though I must not fault only those inhabiting the ECM from 8-5, but those in the burbs were suffering the stupids too.

Why is it that when people must travel by foot in the city, they feel they don’t have to follow the traffic rules? We are all taught as kids that when the yellow hand begins flashing or the DON’T appears above the WALK, our time to cross has passed for the current traffic light cycle and we’ll have to wait until the walking man or WALK re-appears to cross. And we are also taught that when the hand begins flashing, it’s time to quicken our pace and move out of the cross walk, NOT slow down and look at the cell phone in the middle of the street. People know this, GUIDE DOGS know this, so why would Ped-rest-(in peace)-re-ians think for one millisecond that they have the f’n right to step out in the cross walk when the hand has already been flashing for several seconds before they even arrive at the damn corner… let alone when the hand is constant? The hand is talking and it’s saying: STAY PUT!

AND, there are the drivers that allow the Ped-rest-(in peace)-re-ians to continue this nefarious behavior. Those in the car that wait patiently for the idiots to cross, not just cross out of the lane they wish to turn into, NO, no… they wait until the ped-rest-re-ians are all the f’n way across the street, to the other sidewalk. WHAT? WHY? HOW? Grrrrrrowl.. ok, ok, so it’s the law… but not if the ped-rest-re-ians are not following the rules. If they step off while the hand is present (flashing or not)… ALL BETS ARE OFF!!

This morning I waited through 3 light cycles at one intersection because the damn people on foot did not obey the traffic rules of engagement.. and the idiots in the vehicles in front of me didn’t know there are another set of rules for when that hand shows up.

Folks on foot, beware. If you step into the crosswalk when the hand is flashing you are fair fucking game. Peds may think they are protected by the traffic laws, and that may be very true - to the letter of the law. However, do they REALLY want to tangle with a 2000 lb SUV? Do peds really think that’s a fight they are going to win? MY SUV and I DON’T THINK SO!

PEDS do not have the right to be in the crosswalk when the hand is present, any more than drivers have the right to motor along unencumbered on the sidewalk. What makes the Ped-rest-(in peace)-re-ians any more important than where the drivers? NOTHING, except they think they have some kind of immunity in the cross walk. No, sorry, not when the hand is present.

In Canada, the PEDS have to wait a good 5 to 10 seconds after the light turns green before they can see the walking man. This allows the automobiles needing to turn the corner the opportunity to move along before the Ped-rest-(in peace)-re-ians have access to the cross walk. It’s great in concept, unless you happen to be an American and you don’t believe PEDS have to wait for the walking man before they are allowed to cross.

Don’t misunderstand, I am a PED 90% of the time, but I follow the rules. If I see the hand, I stand on the corner and wait my turn to cross on the next cycle. I’ve missed many a bus because I will not be a Ped-rest-(in peace)-re-ians by crossing against the hand.

Please People of the Ped Population, remember you are not immune to the pain a vehicle, SUV, Minivan or Mini Cooper, will cause if you attempt a tangle by not following the rules. You will not win the physical battle and may not win the legal battle either if witness can be found to prove you were in the wrong (If I’m there, I’ll testify against you). Remember what it’s like to be in a vehicle that needs to turn the corner when the PEDS are walking, and how frustrating it can be to wait thru more than one light cycle, when time is precious and you’re already late for a team meeting.

Most of all, remember there are rules for you to follow too, and life is too short to be stoopid on something so simple as waiting for the next light.

STRESSED?

2005-05-31T18:45:00.000-07:00

Check out the Stress Piggy - click on his nose and make sure the sound is turned up.

*grins*

Did I forget to mention you should run to the bathroom before clickin' on the nose. OOPS, my bad.

My roomie shared this with me today - scared me out of my chair - so I thought I'd share.

I go with Jelly!!

2005-05-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

I taste like Peanut Butter.

I am one of the most blendable flavours; I go with sweet, I go with sour, I go with bland, I go with anything. I am practical and good company, but have something of a tendency to hang around when I'm not wanted, unaware that my presence is not welcome.

(If you were not Peanut Butter you would be Coffee.)
What flavour are you?

Tagged? Whew - no spray paint here!

2005-05-31T16:46:00.000-07:00

Serra MeMeMeMeMe tagged me...
Here are the questions:

1) What is the total number of books I've owned?
2) What is the last book I bought?
3) What is the last book I've read?
4) What are the 5 (plus) books that have meant a lot to me?
Extra credit question, 'What book would you wish to buy next?
TAG! (5 people whose collections I want to pry into):

1) What is the total number of books I've owned?
More than I can cound on my fingers and toes, to be sure. I have over 100, that I can put my finger on in less than 10 minutes,and several more in the garage I would have to dig for.

2) What is the last book I bought?
Black Rose by Nora Roberts - I bot it for my beau's mutta.
Club Fantasy by Joan Elizabeth Lloyd and Midas Trap by Sharron McClellan

3) What is the last book I've read?
Finished: Midas Trap by Sharron McClellan
Still reading:
Knight of the Word by Terry Brooks
The Year My Life Went Down the Loo by Katie Maxwell
The Butter Did It : A Gastronomic Tale of Love and Murder by Phyllis Richman

4) What are the 5 (plus) books that have meant a lot to me?
With every book I read, I take away something... but on of the last few I've read...
On Writing by Stephen King
Improper English and You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister
Shadow Fires by Catherine Spangler
Spellbound in Seattle by Garthia Andrerson
Lead Me On, Falling for You and Don't Tempt Me by Julie Ortolon
The Ultimate Guide to Fellatio
Cherry Adair - all she's eva written
The Given by Sharron McClellan

Extra credit question - - What book would you wish to buy next?
Fire Me Up - Katie MacAlister
Hot Ice - Cherry Adair

There are too many on the 'to be read shelf' to do more than buy new offerings from authors I already love. *cry*

TAG! (5 people whose collections I want to pry into):
To be fair, I have not tagged these folks yet, but I would if I had more time -
Bathroom Reading - but I'm sure he's already been tagged
Texas Bisket and Gappy - They're already on Serra's list
Javvy - from Waste of Internet Space
MooCow - Who is no longer in the blogsphere
Stephen King - I have heard he blogs, maybe he'd bite maybe not.

That is all....

You can't plan an earthquake, Mother Nature will not accept the meeting invite!

2005-04-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

So your blog is for moments of wisdom, yet you don't have very many posts... WAZZUP wit dat?

Ok, so this is the perfect reason to be careful when naming your blog. Moments of Wisdom, if I had had any lately would be represented here, but in the event Wisdom is lacking in your life what do you do? Punt!!

Right... so someone who wishes to remain a nonny mess is looking for me.. more from me .. for her silly scented self, why.. I cannot be sure.

Things have been crazy in here in Mount Wisdom (a.k.a. near Mt. Rainier) as we prepare for a new data file for monthly processing. This minor (read: monumental) task has been consuming most of my time, and kept me from the blogger realm. That, and the sudden departure of MooCow. Ok, maybe not the MooCow thing, though I do miss his whit and wiz-ass-dom, but the work thing is so very true.

This in addition to the other projects I don't fully understand, make ~"Make Moe a dull gurl!" ~ or so says my Hahoodle message from time to time. But that's another thing all together.

My kiddos, late and mid teens, went to a convention for Anime (Japanese Animation) a couple weeks back, and they're already planning costumes for next year. Yes costumes, as in wigs and foam and face paint - oh my. It's almost a "Star Trek Convention" for kids - with cartoons. The variety of folks that show for this event is amazing and they'll have to move the "Con" to Downtown next year because they have out grown the capacity for the near-airport convention center.

I'm also thinking I might like to buy a house, so there is the pre-qual crap to go through and locations to view and ugh the thought of moving is daunting. My two car garage doesn't even have room for "Hot Wheels" let alone my SUV. Calgon moment coming.... wait for it, wait for it... ahhhhhhh~

I'm planning something fun, work wise... I'm planning a disaster. It's not often that you have a chance to arrange one of these, so I'm taking great pleasure in creating the WORST CASE I can find. One of my vendors, who has made my life miserable in the past I must add, is on the list for disaster recovery walk through this year. Not that we've ever had one (of this magnitude, hee hee!) or even think it would happen, but they are wanting to have more info than I'm willing to give while I'm planning this little walk through. They want to know what's going to happen, and I keep telling them - "You can't plan an earth quake, mother nature will not accept the meeting invite." They're not happy with me, but that's ok, I've been in that place more time in the last two years, than I care to admit (the not happy place!)

I came, I rambled - and hopefully there is a giggle in there somewhere. Wisdom, nope, none of that today... except perhaps, it's not good to shop for food when you're hungry - your Costco bill will increase two fold if you do.

Just pay shipping!!

2005-03-28T14:49:00.000-08:00

If you wear silver, here's a link you might want to check out. This Silver Jewlery Club offers 4 items per hour, with a variety of different settings and stones. I ordered a pair of Peridot earrings for $5.99 (shipping). They accept credit card or paypal payments and a different shipping address if you want to send a gift directly to another location.

I'll report back when I've received them. If you end up ordering, please let me know what you think.

Good FRIDAY - Random Tune In!

2005-03-25T08:55:00.000-08:00

We did this back in mid January, and it's time again for Shuffle Music Challenge ala Texas Biscuit

Instructions:
1. Open up the music player on your computer.
2. Set it to play your entire music collection.
3. Hit the "shuffle" command.
4. Tell us the title of the next ten songs that show up (with their musicians), no matter how embarrassing. That's right, no skipping that Carpenters tune that will totally destroy your hip credibility. It's time for total musical honesty.

Home PC:
1. Gone Away - Cold
2. Indian Outlaw - Tim McGraw
3. Running Away - Hoobastank
4. Drift and Die (Acoustic) - Puddle of Mudd
5. Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie - Michael Peterson
6. Shut-Up and Drive - Cheryl Wright
7. One Step Closer - Linkin Park
8. Babe - Styx
9. Jet City Woman - Queensryche
10. Man With the Child in His Eyes - Kate Bush
11. BONUS TRACK - Que Sera Sera - Doris Day (where the heck did that come from??)

Work Lappy:
1. Asleep - Godsmack
2. FireFly - Breaking Benjamin
3. Out of My Head - Puddle of Mudd
4. Sad Exchange (Daredevil Soundtrack) – Finger Eleven
5. El Condor Pasa (If I Could) - Simon & Garfunkel
6. Burning Bright - Shinedown
7. Numb - Linkin Park
8. Tourniquet (Live) – Evanescence
9. My List - Toby Keith
10. Missing – Evanescence
11. BONUS TRACK - Never Say Never (Punisher Soundtrack) - Queens of the Stone Age

What's in your library??

Some results from last game:
TB’s Results
BathroomReading
- the other links don't seem to work - darn it.

Yet another test!

2005-03-18T12:03:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if I agree, but then Jesster was a d100 - what does that say? Hummmmm?

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

Ah, the d10! While you aren't actually a true regular polyhedron, you are the only die that makes logical sense--metrically speaking. Chances are, others see you as over-analytical or a goody-goody. While that may be true, you also have a gift for patience and tolerance. Growing up you probably had a calculator wristwatch that you never really needed to use (since you were faster on your own), and you probably aced all your classes (except for gym). You use the metric system almost exclusively, but are able to quickly convert in mid-conversation for the sake of your backwards Imperalist friends. You've coded in at least two different programming languages, and have created more original gaming systems than you'll ever admit. You're generally not a show-off, but you do take pride in being called either a geek or a nerd.

meals to 'member a.k.a - Friday Feast!!

2005-03-04T12:48:00.000-08:00

TB's Friday Feast or Tomato Bath... did she know she was doing the TB/TB thing, or was it an accident?
This is the first of these I've done, and I like it... thanks TB!!

Appetizer - Who is the one person you email more often than anyone else?
@ Work it would have to be L1, cause explainations require 3 or 4 emails for one answer.
@ Home it would be my Beau, but so much work email keeps the numbers from home to a minimum.

Soup - So far, which year of your life has been the most enjoyable?
2002, for various reasons. Cleaned baggage out of the house (soon-to-be-ex), met my Beau in St. Louis for the first time, my Roomy moved in... was a banner year.

Salad - Name someone with whom you have lost touch but would like to reunite.
Rodney from the StarTrek Club (yes, I was AM a geek!) from high school (and was then too). Last I heard, he was living in Califorina.

Main Course - What was the tastiest meal you had this past week?
Home-made nachos, with ground beef, cheese, tomatos, green onions, SCOOPS chips with a nice mound of sour cream in the middle. YUMMM!

Dessert - Using the letters in your favorite color, write three words that describe your personality.
TB did this differently, but I'm going to see if I can make three words out of purple...
Purp - who me? not even!
Rule - I do, with an iron fist (don't ask my kids!)
URL - is that a word? You're already here!
Pure - add insanity and it would qualify!
Pup - no, I'm a cat person, and I'm nearly 40!
Pule - I do not WHINE, but I like wine.

OK, I'm done - I'm coming up blank - so back to work I gooooooooooooooooo.

I found flickr, a friend indeed!!

2005-03-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

rollercoaster
Originally uploaded by MoeThatsMe.

This looks like a blast, wonder where it is?

In case you have not figured it out, I have found flickr...photo bloggin' is an intersting concept.

snap dragon

2005-03-03T14:19:00.000-08:00

snap dragon
Originally uploaded by MoeThatsMe.

My roomy sent this to me.. I've felt this kinda - snap dragon - before...

BUT TODAY, I'm snappy - cause there is too much work.. and I feel like draggin' the vendors around by their hair for making mistakes.

Vernacular – A challenge if you choose to accept it!!!

2005-03-02T14:45:00.000-08:00

Lazy People and Modern English

GET (or GIT in the south) and GOT and the various iterations should be outlawed (in my opinion). Bold statement I know, but think about how deteriorated the modern vocabulary has become.

These words are over used or miss used every day by every one – from advertisers ~ “GOT MILK?” ~, Musicians ~”Get your freak on!” ~ and the modern phraseology “Get a life,” “Get Real” or “Get Out.”

Is it just me, that is bugged by this? (Probably) I just don’t understand why, when there are often better options, that Get or Got are so popular. I have to attribute it to laziness.

One of the phrases that bugs me the most is “I’ve got…”. HU? When you break this down, you end up with “I have got…” Who says that? So why would you say “I’ve got” in the first place? And “Gotta…” what the heck is that?

So, last year, in an effort to break the habit of using these offensive words, I started concentrating on my communications, and of those around me. I found myself working hard to remove the words from my daily speech was difficult, but after starting a response several times to avoid the nasty little words, it became easier to weed them out.

Written communications were much easier, because during proofreading it’s easy to strip them out and/or replace them with other (read: better) words.

I challenge you to try it for a day… just a day it won’t kill you. Work to use other words instead of “get” and “got” and see how you do. Do you notice how often they are used? Did you find yourself starting the sentence again, or is it easy for you to strip them out for a day? I bet it’s harder than you thought.

If you decide to take the challenge, come back let me know how you do!!

In arms reach! A homework assignment. !!UPDATED!!

2005-02-27T00:15:00.000-08:00

Texas Biscuit has apparently decided to hand out assignments on holidays and I’ll play along with Whiplash Smile – it beats working!!

So...here's the deal:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.

All righty, my excerpt is from “Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms” (Yes, it is the closest book—I’m at work, what did you expect??), page 123, sixth, seventh and eighth sentences:

Minors cannot make securities transactions without the approval of the custodian, who manages cash and other property gifted to minors under the UNIFORM GIFTS TO MINORS ACT or the Uniform Transfers to Minor Act. Any earnings or interest from the account up to $600 are tax-free if the child is under at 14. Earnings from $600 to $1200 are taxed at the child’s tax rate.

BORING isn’t it… would have been much better if I’d been at home.

My next closest book (from my computer bag - because I refuse to count the grammar guide that was sitting with the other one) is “A Knight of the Word” By Terry Brooks

For lack of a better idea, he went up from New York to Boston College, where he had studied years earlier, and began auditing classes while he worked out his future. He was offered a position in the graduate-studies program in English literature, but he asked for time to think about it, uncertain if he wanted to go back to academia. What he really wanted was to do something that would allow him to make a difference in people’s lives, to take a job working with people he could help.

Not at all fascinating, but the book is pretty good so far. I think I’ll append this post when I arrive home. *wicked giggles*
-----------------------------

Finally I’m finding time to complete the homework assignment… from home.

Oh man I don’t know if I can do this….. it was the closest books when I remembered the assignment but DANG…

“The following strokes are your road to rhythm:

* To find the master stroke, the basis of fellatio, keep your had against your lips, and bob up and down.
* Long strokes, short, slow strokes, or a rapid in-and-out motion.

From: The Ultimate Guide to Fellatio, by Violet Blue

More Quizy stuff - thanks to BR

2005-02-23T17:31:00.000-08:00

MoeThatsMe's Brain is 46.67% Female, 53.33% Male

Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female
You are both sensitive and savvy
Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed
But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve

What Gender Is Your Brain?

Is this really... me??

2005-02-23T17:27:00.000-08:00

Warning,
This quiz cut/past feature does not work well in blogger, it's easier to copy the text from your results and past into notepad - the copy and re-past in you own blog.

MoeThatsMe

M - is for - Mellow - but not a peep!
O - is for - Overwhelming - Often!
E - is for - Enthusiastic - Go team go!
T - is for - Tame - says who?
H - is for - Hot - Sauce please!
A - is for - Arty - in my head, but not on paper.
T - is for - Tolerant - to a fault, so I'm told.
S - is for - Silky - you been in my jammie drawer!?
M - is for - Magical - yes, I believe.
E - is for - Exquisite - Thank you!

What Does Your Name Mean?

Some things about me... if you trust the Quiz Kraz!

2005-02-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

You Are an Intense Kisser

When you kiss, it's deep and powerful
You don't take kissing lightly
Your kisses always have meaning
And they always make your head spin
What's Your Kissing Style? Take This Quiz :-)

You are Milk Chocolate

A total dreamer, you spend most of your time with your head in the clouds.You often think of the future, and you are always working toward your ideal life.Also nostelgic, you rarely forget a meaningful moment... even those from long ago.
What Kind of Chocolate Are You? Take This Quiz :-)

You Are Boyish Sexy

You're the kind of girl who gets along with all the boysWhether it's holding your own in a game of touch football...Or kicking some major butt while playing Xbox.You hang with the guys easily, while still keeping your girly sexiness.
What Kind of Sexy Are You? Take This Quiz :-)

More Love Quizes

Poop on the floor?

2005-02-16T15:53:00.000-08:00

So, it’s been a while for me to do any reading or commenting, let along blogging of my on… I will no try to catch it up, not in this session anyway, but I did want to post THANKS to Deb from Whiplash Smile, before that ScentedStuff, before that – I didn’t know her… ~Grins~ for the goodies. I ordered some specially scented Shea-butter lotion with a manly scent (basically I told her not flowery or sweet, something a guy would use, oh yea, and with healing properties too… had to throw her a challenge, I know how much she loves that.), lip balm, essential oils and an oil warmer. She sent all these goodies, and a some EXTRA little tidbits for me in a big ol’ box full of packing peanuts.

Ah, packing peanuts. The white ones are also known in my household as “Ghost Poop,” the pink ones are “Cupid Poop” and the green are “The Poop of the Little People.” Where did that come from, I don’t know – it’s been something we’ve had around for a long time, like mini-marshmallows are “Snowman Poop” – who thinks up these things? I don’t know, but I’m just reporting the straight poop here…. So anywayz…

So.. this box that had contained all the goodies (and contained poops), I left it on my bed when I went to share the lovelies from Deb with my roomy. Roomy is always interested in new good smelly stuff, and this was special made smelly stuff I’d been talking about for a couple days. We tested the Man-Shea (it’s what we’ve dubbed it, but I don’t merember the name Deb gave it.) and the Tahitian lotion – one of my tidbits – and decided it was all good. AS IF there was any doubt, by the way!! No way, not here.

I returned to my bedroom, softer and loverly smelling, to find the box with all the various poops, was on the on the floor, and one of my many cats, Mouse, on the bed where it had been.

“Mouse,” I asked in an accusing tone, pointing at the box on the floor with ¾ of the poop spilled out on the floor, “did you poop on the floor?”

She looked at me as if I were crazy, blinked, and then started rubbing her head on the hand knitted washcloth Deb had sent with the yummy soap. It looked like she was washing her ears. I laughed at Mouse taking a bath for a bit, and then grabbed the hand broom from the kitchen to sweep up the styro poop bits.

I think figured out then, why we started calling them “Ghost Poop.” I have forced air heat, and the heater kicked in about the time I started sweeping the styro bits to return them to the box from winze they came. You’re beginning to see the picture, I can tell. As I swept the little stryo bits past the heater vent to the dust pan, nearly 1/2 of them began floating as if they have a life of their own. Funny? Yes. Frustrating? HELL YES!!

I closed the vent, to keep the poops from floating away, and tried again. Seems the heater vent in my room does not close properly (time to replace that I think) so when I tried again, to sweep the styro poop bits into the dustpan, when the crossed the path of the heater vent, poops went floating away. After several attempts, the poops moved past the vent, but they were not all returned to the box .. no, not yet.

As I was corralling the poops, past the vent, like herding cats by the way.. my trouble maker-into-everything-cat MooCowBoy (not to be confused with the Bottling up the Crazy - Moocow, as cleary defined HERE) decided it was fun to play in the poops. Because when pounced upon they had a tendency to run (float) away and Moo loves to chase things, this was great fun for him. And when caught, they make a crunchy noise when chewed, and that was even better.

After rescuing a Cupid Poop from ingestion by the Moo, I shooed him and Mouse out of the room and proceeded to remove every last poop from the floor and return them back to their mother ship – the box from Deb. After that, the kitties tried to help the poops escape twice before I tossed the mother ship into the garage, the kitty free zone!

Danke Deb, for the yummy lotions and things. The Man-Shea was a BIG hit.

Identifying a Stroke ~ FYI

2005-01-25T11:19:00.000-08:00

The SAS test

Smile-Arms-Sentence

Symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness can spell disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

*Ask the individual to smile.

*Ask him or her to raise both arms.

*Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately
and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in a prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent possible brain damage.

A cardiologist stated that if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people, you can bet at least one life will be saved. Tell as many people as possible about this. It could save their lives!

Signals?

2005-01-21T20:19:00.000-08:00

As I was driving home this eve, I had a thought run thru my head (hey - not that thought the other one!!) .. where was I, oh yes, the thought, running thru ... check...

So, I've often wondered this, at the same spot in my commute each day...

If you're in the turn lane, do you need to use your turn signal, and if you don't, can you be awarded a ticket from an officer of the law for not doing so?

If you can only turn from that lane, they why do you have to indicate your intent by using the vehicle equipment?

I'm going back to that other thought now, it requires some more work... perhaps I'll be back with that one later, perhaps not.

How many feet in a pair?

2005-01-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

I love the English Language. No, that's not true.. I enjoy exploring the "exceptions" in the English Language.

If you have one foot, and you have two feet, then if you have a pair of feet - does that mean you have four (4) feet? Is it proper grammar to say a pair of feet? It sounds very wrong to say a "pair of foots." (of course it is!)

And if your pants (for two legs) have only one leg, then is it a pant? And if you have a pair of pants, does that mean you can cover four (4) legs?

OUCH! - I'll ponder this more later.

Tune Challenged!?

2005-01-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Texas Biscuit for the fun new game…

Instructions:

1. Open up the music player on your computer.

2. Set it to play your entire music collection.

3. Hit the "shuffle" command.

4. Tell us the title of the next ten songs that show up (with their musicians), no matter how embarrassing. That's right, no skipping that Carpenters tune that will totally destroy your hip credibility. It's time for total musical honesty.

TB’s Results

So I did it too, and this is what my player pulled up for me:

1. .45 – Shinedown
2. Easier to Run – Linkin Park
3. Voices – Godsmack
4. Evening Rain (Daredevil Soundtrack) – Moby
5. I Can’t Take You Anywhere – Toby Keith
6. Said – Puddle of Mudd
7. Taking Over Me (Live) – Evanescence
8. Last Train Home – Lostprophets
9. Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Simon & Garfunkel
10. Slow Motion (Punisher Soundtrack) – Nickelback

Mind you I just switched computers at work so I have not had a chance to re-load my tunes. Perhaps I’ll do this again in 6 months and see what comes up then.

Here are some results from others who visited TBs site:

BathroomReading
FreedomGirl
Welcome To My Soul
Still Kicking?
Anonymouscoworker
and I looked for the post on a-b-c-dee, but I didn’t find it.

Who will be the next to take the Tune Challenge? Make sure you come back and post where to find your results!

Whew – no Britney! Come to think of it, I’m not sure I have ever had any Britney.

Death took a holiday.. so why can’t Murphy?

2005-01-11T14:42:00.000-08:00

Today – I am grumpy, and I’m not really sure why.

“Perhaps it’s the time of year?” my co-worker asked when I mentioned my out-of-sorts state. So I ponder… time of year?

The cold? Well I don’t really mind that, but I’m tired of the local news making a damn event out of a few snowflakes. Give it a rest already!
Post Holiday Blues? Nope, don’t have those, I’m damn happy they’re gone till the end of the year.
Tax Season? Tis true, there is much to be done in the way of tax work, but my buddy in Minneapolis has that covered, so I’m there for the tech support and critical eye – easy!
Year-end documents? Well, this has been painful this year, but no more than any other one time a year project! Though why I have to remember how THEY coded the item 2 years ago, when they didn’t share the documentation.. is beyond me. Next!
BCP Planning? Nope, even though they’ve changed the front end, the fail over and testing should be easy enough, so that can’t be it.
Budgets? Not my worry – YEAH!
Vacation planning? Humm this has possibilities. Here’s how it usually works. Pick 30 days you want to take off next year, and we’ll see how many projects we can plan over your 2 weeks off during the summer! – close, but not it.
Project Projections for 2005? Yes, they ask for your MBOs (major business objectives) which is corporate speak for – why should we pay you next year? But then they shoot down all the ideas you have to improve the process and in the end you end up doing the same old thing as last year.. which is putting out fires, wasting time and money, that would have never occurred had you been able to work on even one of the damn MBOs. But not it either.
Stats? Oh hell, I’ve always hated putting together month end stats, that wouldn’t be it!!

No, it’s Murphy, my dear friend, and his F’n laws that have my knickers in a twist today – lunch was just the last straw – literally!

I’ve been slaving at my desk, working on many items for the upcoming year, closing down stuff from the last, and my tummy is screaming for sustenance. Between calls (boring conference calls that MUST be attended) I catch a 10 minute break to hop downstairs and grab a bite. PIZZA.. it’s fast and usually no waiting after 1 – so I head to the Bldg Lvl A – for a peppy fix!

MTM: Pep and a drink please.
PizzaDude: Sorry, we’re out of Pep – but we have Pep and Kielbasa.
MTM: Humm.. How about Spinach and Mushroom?
PizzaDude: Out of that one too.
MTM: Uh, well what else do you have?
PizzaDude: Pep and Kielbasa or Cheese. We have more but it’s still in the oven.
MTM: How long?
PizzaDude: ‘Bout 8 minutes.

Checking my watch, I see I have 5 minutes before the next meeting begins.

MTM: Pep and Kielbasa works, thanks.
PizzaDude: That will be $$$.
MTM: and the drink too!
PizzaDude: Oh, yeah, that’s $$$$.
MTM: Wow, drinks are spendy here.
PizzaDude: Well if you add another slice for $$ then your drink is free.
MTM: Could do that, sure, make the other one Cheese please. (can only handle so much Pep and Kielbasa)

Now the PizzaDude has to wrestle the Pep and Kielbasa from the single serve box to the one that will handle 2… and he dropped it.

PizzaDude: Dang, been doing that all day. (With great care managed to box another Pep and Kielbasa with a Cheese slice without further incident.) Thanks, have a great day.
MTM: Um, where is the drink cup.
PizzaDude: hu?
MTM: Drink. Cup.
PizzaDude: Oh, right. Sorry about that.
MTM: No worries, hope your day improves. (filling the cup) You should tell Murphy to find someone else to hang with for a while.
PizzaDude: Good Idea, I’ll mention that to him.
MTM: You do that, and let me know how it works. Cheese? (shaking my hand over the box using the international para-zan cheese symbol)
PizzaDude: Broke during lunch, but we have the red stuff.
MTM: No thanks, I’ll pass. (Put the lid on the cup, looking for a straw) Straw?
PizzaDude: (reaching to the bottom of the straw container, he pulled out a bent and twisted paper wrapped tube) Wow, this is the last straw.

Ugh, and if only he had been right. I took the mangled straw with a weak ‘thank you’ and headed to the lobby.. I knew I was going to be late for the meeting, but at least I had food.
I stepped into the breeze outside and the napkins I’d stacked on top of the pizza box flew off like fall leaves in Pooh’s Blustery Day. Not just one or two, but all of them. I watched in horror is they fell to the ground and continued to blow away from me. DAMN IT!

My Mom taught us from a very early age not to litter… in fact I remember once (long ago – before drive by shooting and road rage) she actually picked up a bag of stuff someone had tossed carelessly out the car window.. and followed them to their destination (a grocery store if I recall). She then proceeded to give them their trashy item back and gave a 5 minute lecture on littering, fines and keeping the earth clean and green. Love ya, Mom!

I put my pizza box and drink down, and chased the silly ass napkins 15 feet or more before I captured them all.. and my crooked straw too. Damn good thing I have extra napkins at my desk for days like this, I picked up my lunch and made a bee-line for the elevator.

At my desk, 5 minutes late for the meeting, I dial the number wait for the tone and enter my pass code while I work off the paper from the crooked straw. Clicking on my inbox, as the voice in my ear says “the moderator has not yet arrived, please wait.” At the top of my mailbox I see that a cancellation notice was sent 8 minutes before the hour. *sigh* All that, pizza I don’t really want, the great napkin chase and a crooked last straw.. all for a meeting that was cancelled.

MURPHY – I did not mean me, go find someone else to hang with for a while!!!

What are your plans?

2005-01-11T11:52:00.000-08:00

I’ve never had a good answer to this question, when I didn’t want to disclose my plan was to surf, cruise eBay or lately – reading my favorite blogs. Last week, I found the answer…

My son’s 19th birthday was last week, and we had a birdy day gathering at GameWorks in downtown Seattle. There was an even dozen in our party and we had a blast. We raced on Harleys, Indy Cars, jet skies, snow mobiles, and skateboards. We snowboarded, wooshed down the white water rapids and crashed into cars while driving big rigs. There were the shooter, fighter, and sports games and the old favs like Ms. PacMan, pinball and air hockey. Much fun was had by all.

And bowling on the high seas.. but I think that’s another post entirely!!

But back to the answer…

I worked from home that day to make sure I wasn’t side tracked by work, causing me to leave late… Cause that never happens – the caught up in work thing. NEVER!!.. Who am I trying to convince?. No one really!

We were scheduled to leave the house about 4 PM for the 25 minute drive to Seattle. I work down town, but don’t make it much farther north than the Financial District (3rd and Madison).. so we were concerned about the parking stuffs in the heart of the city and didn’t want to be late for our own party.

About 3:30 pm, my son popped in to my home office (bedroom) and asked, “So what are your plans?”

I think I was reading blogs, either Moocow or Bathroom Reading at the time, though I should have been working, and I looked at the clock, and back to my son and the answer just fell out… It was so simple, yet so vague – even some how profound? (or I thought so!)

“I plan to finish what I’m doing, and then do something else.” I replied.

The looks that passed on the boys face were many – he was dumfounded, confused, incredulous and then even annoyed. He shook his head, grumbled something unintelligible and wondered back to his room without further comment. That is the key.. the without further comment part.. it is key.

And short of answering Supercalafragilisticexpialidocious, this is the first time in a couple years I’ve been able to answer without further comment from my son. Now I’m wondering where else this type of answer may apply?

Hummmm….

Fun with words...

2005-01-05T23:06:00.000-08:00

My son came by to tell me good night this eve, and asked a simple question...

Did you know embargo spelled backwards is "o grab me"

To which I replied - "hummm.. and MoM upside down is WoW."

He shook his head, said "Don't even want to go there Mom!" then headed to bed.

I think embargo will be my new code word... for ... well .."o grab me".. ya that!

Nite!

He'll Sing!!

2005-01-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

Actually the title reminds me I still need to purchase the LostProfits CD, but have to thank Dolly for the bootleg copy I have now. Last Train Home, better known as "We Sing" is an intersting song, and the band has other tasty tunes too!

Check out Bathroom Reading's post "Comment Day" .. and leave a whitty note. It doesn't have to be whitty, but he promised to sing if that entry receives 50 comments, so pass it on!!

What is lingerie?

2005-01-04T15:36:00.000-08:00

Jav and Glend31, this one is for you!

What is lingerie?
According to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
lingerie is

1 archaic : linen articles or garments
2 : women's intimate apparel
- lingerie adjective

So, then what makes it intimate apparel?
Again with M-W.com – could not link too many definitions.

Intimate, as an adjective is

1 a : INTRINSIC, ESSENTIAL
b : belonging to or characterizing one's deepest nature
2 : marked by very close association, contact, or familiarity
3 a : marked by a warm friendship developing through long association
b : suggesting informal warmth or privacy
4 : of a very personal or private nature
Related Word nearest, next; affectionate, devoted, fond, loving; privy, secret

So, you could say that flannel jammies worn with a long association (for a long time) could technically be intimate apparel. HA! I think yes!

But I think most folks would agree that intimate apparel would be clothing that covers up the most intimate (private) parts. Sooo… Sleep tanks and shorts would be lingerie in this regard if there is nothing worn beneath. Right?

But then so would the negligee, which is what I think of when I think of lingerie.

1 : a woman's long flowing usually sheer dressing gown
2 : carelessly informal or incomplete attire

But then I check the Victoria Secret and didn’t find the word “lingerie” on the site. Isn’t that curious.

I’m beginning to believe that part of the confusion here is that men think of lingerie as the impractical “Baby Doll”, garter belt and fishnet body stocking or something with feathers from Fredrick’s of Hollywood. I check there too, not wanting to be sloppy in the research department, and found that Fredrick’s actually does have a lingerie link / tab on their page.

It would appear, that lingerie, like beauty or sexy, is in the eye of the beholder.

To Resolve or Not To Resolve?

2005-01-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

Resolved not to Resole – does that mean I did??

I’m not sure why it is that friends and family expect you’ll make a resolution at the beginning of each year. What is the purpose?

Folks often resolve loose weight, for instance, at the beginning of the year. They make an attempt at it for the first couple days, heck even a month, and then they forget or become to busy and *poof* gone is their resolve.

It’s that way with many things that people think they should do, but don’t want to, or don’t have the will power. Over the years I’ve seen many a friend’s resolution go down the toilet and as I’m writing I think hard to find ONE that I’m aware of that actually was seen through to the end. Not the frivolous mind you – but a heart felt resolution that was completed. Sad to say, I’m at a loss for an example.

Among the many resolutions tossed into the ring each year are:
(see if you recognize any of these)

Loose – Weight, Baggage (boy or girl friend), clutter, chocolate craving, drinking habit, smoking habit and all other bad habits

Find or Make more time – or family, to read, to write, lost friends, the garage (the inside – of course) and journaling

Do’s - finish projects, exercise, correspond, organize, limit TV time to 4 hours per week, cook at home, begin Christmas shopping in July, find a new job, and clean house every week

Do No More – drink (so much), smoke, over eat, stalk the ex-boyfriend, eat out every week (night), spend all free time playing video games, charge all gifts to the credit cards next year, complain about the job and attend gatherings as the wall flower.

My biggest question or complaint – call it what you will – with resolutions is this:

Why wait until the first of the year to resolve to do something you’ve known for the last 6 or 9 or even 12 months that you should have been doing all along? What is so damn special about the first of the year that makes folks want to ‘be a better person’? Shouldn’t we want to be that better person when we realize there is a problem, instead of waiting until the beginning of a new year. Do the many cocktails make it that much easier to face the unpleasant task, therefore making it easier to resolve?

So this year I resolved not to make any resolutions.. but in doing so.. have I made one?

And would it be better stated, that I resolve not to make a “New Years Resolution” but resolve to make the changes during the year, as needed, instead of waiting 362 days to do something about it?

Food for thought? Happy New Year!!

How Trashy U B?

2004-12-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

Look at what SerraScents a.k.a. Whiplash Smile posted in her blog... I had to go take the test, but I'm not as trashy as I thought. Humm.. is that a good thing or a bad thing?

I AM 17% WHITE TRASH!

I, my friend, have class. I am so not white trash. . I am more than likely Democrat, and my place is neat, and there is a good chance I may never drink wine from a box.

Take the WHITE TRASH test at Fuali.com

Take the test yourself - but if you try to post the results in a blog comment - beware - most of the HTML codey stuff has to be stripped out.

Next Blog!

2004-12-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever clicked the NEXT BLOG button in the upper right corner? Try it some time, it's a trip.

I'm amazed at the width and depth of opinions and emotions shared in a BLOG, not to mention the self promoting bullshit that folks put out there. It's an open forum, and I find it all very fascinating.

I visit some because I know them, or of them, thru friends and relatives, but it's an adventure to click that NEXT BLOG button and see where it takes you. There seem to be many Bloggers are mid/late teens and early twenty somthings with school and relationship issues. There are some deep thinkers in this group, and I think that's encouraging.

There are groups of friends, like those who helped in my introduction to the BLOG... Thanks! Memories of times gone by are fun to share and rantings are a great way to vent frustration and share a bit of humor as well. To have ones personal soapbox is one of the great lures of the BLOG.

Many nations and countries, too. I found Hong Kong, Vietnam and China represented and were surprised to find most written in English. Many more foreign language sites including Spanish, German, Middle Eastern and Swedish sites where I had no idea of the content. I tried a Spanish-English translator - it didn't help much.

Grrr... VERY Annoying sites that had music and animation with pop up boxes you cannot escape from that tell you your Internet Explorer is out of date and needs to be updated. X-CUSE ME? This I do not like. When I told it no, another box appeared that indicated click 'yes' for something.. but there was not YES button.. only an OK button, then the process would begin again. Be aware of these nasty little sites, they usually have anime characters and flashy graphics.

*deep clam breaths* I found a few very personal sites, and wonder if the individuals know they've opened their thoughts to the general public. Sure, unless you're 'next blogging' or know the direct url - most sites are quite obscure, but I wonder if they know - their thoughts are being read by others? I hope they know, I didn't choose to comment.

Where is the wisdom in all this? Good question. I suppose, think outside your safety zone, and know that others may NEXT BLOG into you site at random to offer comment. I think it's very interesting... I hope you're inspired to open your horizon - and step outside the box.

Moments of Wisdom?

2004-12-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

Well, what else was I going to call it?

First bit of Wisdom… for new Bloggers.. pick the name or theme before you click on the link to create your BLOG, cause after that, there’s no turning back.

So... thanks to Agape for the intro to BLOG. I don't know how often I'll visit but I'm betting it will be at least once a week.

About me.. Other than my Wisdom, so not much to share right now, but I’m sure that will come later. I will not attempt to compete with others already blogging, but I hope the little bits posted here will be humorous for most, if perhaps only some.

Work calls.. no literally, I’m on a boring conference call, but it is ending, and the other line is ringing. No lunch for the wicked.

Until next time..