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Friday, April 29, 2005
Friday Frou Frou: Weathering the storm Rainmaker 1. What would you like to see the sky raining other than cats and dogs? Good manners, like please, thank you, you're welcome and excuse me. 2. What promise are you trying to make to yourself and keep? To keep my life story from coming into my work. They know nothing about drama, nor much about me.
Snow Angel 1. When you see snow, do you smile or grimace? I smile and hope it is a Snow Day for my school-bound daughter. 2. When it comes to deciding on whether to be good or bad, is it the angel or devil on your shoulder that usually wins? It's amazing how shocked my new coworkers are when I show a bit of devil!
Dust Devil 1. Where does "dust" seem to accumulate the most in your private life? I know my e-mailing has gone the way of a toilet flushing. 2. How close have you been to a tornado/dust devil? We saw LOTS of dust devils, large and small, last summer on vacation out West, and actually had a smaller one hit us in the Excursion while driving to Vegas. When I lived near Gusto, there was a "strong wind" that sounded like a freight train and took down HUNDREDS of trees along its several-mile path, including 3 right next to our apt building and a few dozen within 200 ft of us. That was damn frightening! Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/29/2005 10:20:00 PM
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Somebody's editor didn't edit! This USAToday story made me laugh when they mixed up Cruz/Cruise (3rd para from bottom.) teehee Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/28/2005 11:03:00 AM
Onesome: Sex...When did you learn about sex? My mom was pretty open about penis-into-vagina, but she had issues with enjoyment and other sex, which she found disgusting.
Twosome: ...Lies-- ...do you believe little white lies are all around us? Or do you prefer only the truth even if it hurts someone's feelings? White lies keep this world from killing itself! And I don't care if I end up in hell for telling someone a white lie if they take it as a compliment.
Threesome: and Videotape-- ...do you buy movies on Video and/or DVD? We have been buying DVDs since 2000. Most of our collection is action, since hubby watches them the most, but I have a few of my favorite movies, like this and this. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/28/2005 10:34:00 AM
Illnesses of the rich and famous What is it with these celebrities and their "illnesses"?
Paula Abdul is claiming "Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy," because it is rumored she is on drugs. She's claiming to have had the condition for 25 years, but had a wildly ATHLETIC career after its onset: dancing, cheerleading, choreographying, etc.
What I don't understand is if she has had it for SO LONG, why aren't other people corroborrating her story? Like her 2 exhusbands, like Emilio Estevez, or long-time friends, like Arsenio Hall?
I know that MY friends would be more than happy to publicly defend me against accusations of drug abuse. Likewise, I would do the same for my friends.
There must be some doctors in Hollywood making a freakin' MINT from taking Hollywood's symptoms and matching them to obscure or hard-to-disprove illnesses. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/24/2005 02:45:00 PM
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Big bucks Don't worry, I called Rob this afternoon and left a message on his machine that if he and his wife won, they need to get the hell outta town and forget EVERYONE they have EVER known!
Yours truly included. If it is them, I wish them only the very best. Honest. Don't even want a dime. Not even jealous. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/23/2005 02:12:00 PM
Friday, April 22, 2005
Friday Frou Frou: Block this! Block party 1. Do you have a good relationship with your neighbors? Or, do you plan to?Yep! Hubby and the dad next door are always helping each other with "projects" and drinking beer. The girls took care of our cats last summer and sometimes, I pay them to come over after school and let my dog out, if we won't be home til late. The wife and I like each other, but she is very shy and I really don't feel the need to make her my buddy. As for our new neighbors, I can smell trouble a mile away and don't expect to have a relationship with them for long. Of course, there is The Tractor Guy who used to be my boss. Hubby and I are great buddies with him. In fact, he called me Monday and I went over for a few minutes to talk about some grant ideas. We work best as neighbors. 2. What/when/why/where was the best party (your own wedding not included) you attended? Lulu's Halloween Party '95 was too hilarious with me, the pregnant cheerleader, groping the unknown Grim Reaper. Of course, Gusto sneakily throwing me a surprise, impromptu 30th-bday at her work was damn awesome! And, I got a beautiful and DELICIOUS banana cake, The Best Evah!
Sun Block 1. What is your favorite activity to enjoy in the sun? Walking my Neeko. 2. How many hours do you expect to be in the sun this summer...will you need much sun block? Unlike previous years, my summer vacation is nil. (READ: It's all Gusto's fault! /end guilt trip) I used to spend most of the day outside, but now, it will probably be just a few hours before work and a few after. I'd guess about 4.)
Cell Block 1. Can you name a time when your cell phone made you feel safer? Typically, driving in some pretty nasty Michigan conditions. 2. Do you have a pop-up blocker on your computer? Which one? Does it work? I used to have the Yahoo! toolbar, but now use Google. Seems to work well enough. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/22/2005 12:02:00 AM
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Gotta have it! Gotta love how the new bankruptcy law is being flogged. We talked about it at work yesterday and I have seen how many of our own participants have had their credit card cancelled for chronic delinquency and checking accounts closed for NSFs. From what I have been told, the number of participants who have tried to leave believing they could just walk away from the debt is more than I see on my screen each day!
Too often, bankruptcy is abused. People spend, spend, spend to keep up with the Jones' and then, cannot make the payments. They don't even care about interest rates!
Not often enough are the money problems due to medical reasons or job loss or death of a family member.
Most people blame credit card companies, but c'mon, it's the PEOPLE who use the credit cards who are to blame! Max out one, then use the next in the mailbox. It's a cycle.
My sister is one who doesn't take debt seriously. She's had several vehicles repo'd and is renegging on her trailer home right now. It's not that she and her hubby didn't have the money for the payments, but they spent the money on other things, like eating out at Red Lobster/ChiChi's every night and Taco Bell/White Castle every lunch.
She's also reknowned for not having a consistent telephone.
They have declared bankruptcy twice in the past 15 years.
My husband and his former wife filed for bankruptcy because their son was born and she decided to not work any longer. My husband lost his job and got one that paid a bit less, but his wife maintained her shopping fetish. He once came home to a new leather living room set, but they didn't have the money to fill his gas tank for the next week! Again, she was big on eating out.
Yes, I understand that this could adversely affect low-income families, but I was taught that you pay for what you get! It staggering how many people think credit cards are just free money.
Paying back debt is a good lesson for us and our children. Otherwise, isn't that stealing? Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/21/2005 05:09:00 AM
Although the event hit very close to home when it happened, over the next 9 years, the memories faded.
Hubby protested the stop, saying it would "put us behind." I insisted that it was important to our children, not just me. This tragedy is a very important part of American history.
None of us spoke on our 3-block walk back to the truck, even my husband was overwhelmed. This bombing, mass murder, was done BY Americans TO Americans -- babies and adults.
If you ever get the chance, please go visit the Memorial.
* All photos in this entry were taken by me. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/19/2005 10:25:00 PM
Monday, April 18, 2005
Called this train wreck months ago The Morons Who Would Be Our Neighbors let us know this past weekend that they are planning on suing their contractor. Can't blame them, he's really suckered them! And their "bank" keeps cutting him checks for work not done.
It should be interesting because Jason can't get in touch with him any longer. Not surprising since the contractor doesn't have a REAL company. His truck has NOTHING on the side. Rather odd for an independent builder.
And, I predicted this MONTHS ago to Gusto, they are also looking at suing our town.
Why?
While discussing the contractor with an attorney, they mentioned all the finagling for fitting their house on the lot, right down to needing several variances.
Needless to say, the lawyer has told them they have a good case against the town council, "who should have known that putting a house on the lot to their specs would be near impossible" and that is probably why their builder "has ditched the project."
While we chatted, they also mentioned that NOBODY ever told them that behind us is a PRIVATE road.
That's when I got REALLY hot and called, "Bullshit!"
That point was well-made BY ME at several council meetings. Several council members also corrected Jason's claim that they were a "corner lot." Uh, no, because that is not a "road" behind them, but a DRIVEWAY.
I even warned them about the guy who owns it as being The Jerk and watch out for him. That was the first time I met them!
What goes around, comes around.
The Jerk informed Jason that he is going to sue Jason for tearing up his road with all the trucks that have used it for the past 6 months.
And, The Jerk has threated further lawsuits about Jason's house being built so high and stopping the natural flow of water, which is going to flood The Jerks rental duplexes.
What really sucks is they aren't going to be in their house for awhile. Now, they have the house payment, a rental house payment (because their builder reneged on that payment which stated he would pay if they weren't in by Feb. 28), plus the finance company has already paid out more than $50,000. And that is coming due soon. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/18/2005 06:47:00 PM
Saturday, April 16, 2005
What's in a name? It's no secret that I love my pets...all 5 cats and 1 dog. There's Princess, Dakota, Tux, Dalton and Schnotz (Schnotter.)
Naming them is extra-special and takes a bit of time, except the older Rescue dogs, who came with names: Simba (RIP) and Neeko. We did have the puppy, Juneau, who we got to name. (RIP)
What I find scary are people who name their animals HUMAN names, which seems to be almost everyone BUT me! More than 75% of the most popular dog names are HUMAN names, from Charlie and Cody to Heidi and Samantha.
A few people have tried to tell me that Dakota and Dalton are HUMAN names, but I digress: Dalton is a town in Michigan and that was EXACTLY how we got the name! From a freakin' mapbook!
As for Dakota, most Americans seem to have forgotten we have 2 states named Dakota. The dumb looks of, "Oh yeah!" are pretty scary.
The Rescue once reserved a dog for us, but we had to turn him down because the dog's name was the same as my stepson's (it was the dog's actual name, he had been an owner surrender, so attempting to change it when the dog was 5 years old would have been assinine.)
According SSA info, several of the most popular dog names show up on the most popular HUMAN girl names of 2003, like Samantha, Sophia, Chloe and Emma.
Then again, I know a woman with a dog named Max and a son named Hunter. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/16/2005 03:22:00 PM
Friday, April 15, 2005
Friday Frou Frou: Action! Film 1. Does your camera take film or is it a digital? Digital, thank goodness! I still have rolls from our 2000 Florida/DC vacation floating around that haven't been developed! lolol 2. Which film, 25 years old or older, is one of your favorites? I can't think of any, but I did discover that Footloose and Sixteen Candles are 21 years old! WOW!
Previews 1. How do you feel about watching movie previews...do you enjoy a sneak peek or could you not care less? I will only watch previews at the theatre and I rather enjoy them. Fast forward at home. 2. What is a case where the preview you saw made you want to see a movie? Ocean's Twelve. Gotta buy that tonight, because I missed it at the theatre.
Sequels 1. What sequel do you think was better than the original movie? The Bourne Supremacy was pretty awesome. 2. What movie do you think needs a sequel? I thought Eraser and/or True Lies had good enough edges that could have gone into sequels. Unfortunately, Arnie wants to be a full-time working actor: politician. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/15/2005 07:37:00 AM
Thursday, April 14, 2005
You deserve a break today Most days, I take a lunch to work. Triscuits w/chez, grapes, 4 bean salad, cookies, etc.
Once a week, I treat myself to a Burger King double-cheeseburger/onion rings meal.
And before I leave, I always inform my coworkers, so they can give me their lunch menu.
Can you believe that such an act was nearly unheard of before I came along? It was, basically, fend for yourself. As most people realize, 45 minutes is quickly wasted driving and waiting for food. This gives several people their full lunch break to eat/relax.
Now, it is standard practice, plus offers of "I'm going to BK, but I'll stop at Arby's next door, if you want." In fact, we have even branched off into Krogering for bread or soda, while buying frozen foods for lunch.
Several of us have begun sharing books and movies, too. We buy bags of wrapped candy and leave them open on the back counter, not keeping track of who snacks/did they contribute?
Is it any wonder that everyone has remarked about a much happier environment, including a much LESS tense branch manager? Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/14/2005 11:59:00 AM
Monday, April 11, 2005
The house next door It's been awhile since I last spoke about the house going in next to us.
The owners were supposed to be in by Feb. 15. NOT!
Now, Jason, the owner, has told their contractor that they WILL be in May 1. NO MATTER WHAT!
Honestly, their house looks like crap. First, it's not a new manufactured house, it's 7 years old. Been moved twice.
Second, they have NOT adhered to their site plans, either. The house sits on a basement and the stairwell was built out 4 ft. from the house. It's all enclosed, but when putting on the siding, the contractor did a TERRIBLE job -- he put it on backward -- and the seams are showing like ugly bruises. Especially bad since the house sits perpendicular to my house and the road.
The May 1 date they have given their contractor is near impossible. Why?
1. There is no well. No water. 2. There is no electricity/power hooked up. 3. There is a 12" stack of sheet ice AND ice blocks in the basement, despite our 50-70 degree weather the past few weeks. The basement windows are wide-open, but the place is unshaded with the house atop. It's a cooler. 4. Madatory inspections have not been completed.
Third, Jason told us that he is going to BUILD his own garage, and not use the contractor. Again, that goes against site plans/approval because this was supposed to be done in one fell swoop.
And the garage he is putting on is smaller than the house AND the stairwell addition it will adjoin. Plus, the siding doesn't match, but "it's just a few shades off."
YIKES!
I couldn't help but cringe when he mentioned that his BANK recommended this guy. And despite all the problems and broken promises, the bank refuses to stop paying this guy and let someone else come in to finish in a timely manner. This seems suspect to me.
With this many problems, I cannot imagine how bad it will be when they get in the house! And that same thought was brought up by Jason the other night, too. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/11/2005 07:18:00 AM
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Love and marriage Today's blue-moon Meijer trip was my reminder of how STUPID Americans can be.
I was in the 12 items and less lane. The male cashier chatted relentlessly with the two female customers in front of me about Prince Charles' wedding yesterday. No kidding, in the span of less than 10 minutes, Camilla was called a "homewrecker" and Mister fumed that one day, she COULD be Queen.
I think Mister forgot where he was...at work. On a busy Sunday.
When it was my turn and Mister tried to engage me, I turned the tables on him.
"Did you miss the part in American History where we WON the American Revolution? The British monarchy isn't our problem. What you SHOULD be worrying about is enforcing the 12 and under part of your register!"
Let's face it, the British monarchy made a huge booboo when devirginized Camilla was deemed unsuitable for Charles more than 3 decades ago. Ironically, Charles and Diana'a "fairy tale" wedding was nothing more than an arranged marriage. They shared children and prestige, but not mutual respect and true love.
Charles and Camilla's love is far deeper than many people will ever experience. In this world of hate and war, such love and devotion should prevail. After 35 years, they deserve the fairy tale ending. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/10/2005 03:15:00 PM
Friday Frou Frou: Heavenly Religion 1. Growing up, what religion(s) were most of your friends? I grew up in a VERY Catholic town. In fact, on graduation day, about 75% of the class would be walking down that aisle together just hours before the real ceremony at the high school! 2. What religion, without taking on its beliefs, would you most like to read more about? Scientology, the religion of the famous, like Tom Cruise and Lisa Marie Presley.
Church 1. What is the most beautiful church/temple/place of worship you have seen? Last summer, we visited the Latter Day Saints temple in Salt Lake City. It is truly majestic and even more beautiful at night! 2. What is the most memorable moment you have had in church? When hubby and I got married in church, although, I nearly put down the rehearsal. Our pastor had EVERYONE in stitches!
Faith 1. Other than God, in whom do you have the most faith? Myself. Over the years, I have learned that in order to trust others, I must first trust myself. 2. Name this Tune and Artist: George Michael, of course! "Oh, but I need some time off from that emotion // Time to pick my heart up off the floor // And when that love comes down // Without devotion // Well it takes a strong man baby // But I'm showing you the door" Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/08/2005 07:09:00 AM
Isn't it fascinating how quickly the procedure rose, thanks to a few celebrities, but seems to be falling just as fast?
The long-term studies and complications are just now showing up and they are far from promising.
It reminds me of Norplant, the wonder birth control of the early 1990s. When I had it inserted in 1992, it was virtually problem-free. Just a tiny incision and I wouldn't have to worry about pregnancy for 5 years! Plus, this was great hormonally, since The Pill levels could vary and cause problems, but Norplant was constant.
I still have the literature of ignorance.
In 2002, Norplant was withdrawn from the USA. My "problems" with it were common, from the initial bruising from the "easy" insertion, which was my entire left arm from pit to elbow, to the constant bleeding. And a miscarriage.
To this day, I know my body was permanently screwed up by Norplant.
Bariatric procedures are on the same collision course. Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/03/2005 09:53:00 AM
Saturday, April 02, 2005
April Fool! After yesterday's hauntingly similar Eurotrip stunt by the Vatican, the ringing of the bells and announcement that the Pope had died, I decided to keep my antics on the up-n-up.
Honestly, I've been saying there was NO WAY they would announce he died on April Fool's Day because most people would think it WAS a joke.
Who'd have thought that the Vatican would get into celebrating April Fool's Day?
You know, next year, they are gonna have a heck of a time trying to top it! Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/02/2005 01:54:00 PM
Friday, April 01, 2005
Friday Frou Frou: Brainiacs Brain Freeze 1. What's sexier, a brainy (wo)man or a funny (wo)man? Gimme funny, since it takes brains to be humorous, so IMHO, it's a 2-for-1 deal. 2. What is your favorite frozen treat? Mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Brain teaser 1. Who is the smartest person you know and how? (book smart, common sense smart, etc.) It's hard to decide on one person, so I will turn the question around and state the dumbest people I have met are parents who refuse to parent their kids, like my sister and my husband's X. 2. Were you teased as a child and if so, by whom? Although I was the baby of the family, my older brothers never really teased me. My personal tormentor was my sister, who always told me how ugly I was and how the boys were always looking at her and not me.
Brain surgery 1. What is one detail you struggle to keep in your brain? Use the word, "member" instead of customers, clients, etc. at work. 2. If you could have cosmetic surgery on one part, what would you choose? I am happy with my looks and have refused the opportunity to have various procedures, like a nose job or braces, but I'd love to have a tubal ligation! Sunshine - Walking on Sunshine -
4/01/2005 11:34:00 PM
