tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265118212024-03-07T17:11:46.215-06:00little gray cellsgood and good for youlgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-73185567858673002412015-02-02T15:50:00.003-06:002015-02-02T15:51:29.923-06:00Let's talk about greenAs in Gables. I never read Anne of Green Gables as a girl so I've been thinking I ought to. People mention it often enough and always say they loved it. So I got it and am about halfway through. I kind of dreaded it - so often I try books that "everyone" loves and then they are horrible disappointments. Confession time about AOGG: I love it. It is thoroughly engaging and funnier than I expected.lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-24985160278909867662015-01-27T17:54:00.004-06:002015-01-27T17:54:39.575-06:00Color me confused...I wonder what the NAACP thinks of Benedict Cumberbatch's remark?lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-33378063817917487582014-09-23T13:25:00.001-05:002014-09-23T15:33:19.717-05:00Happy-Pharrell Williams & 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover-Paul Simon Mashup<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LnqRAvOaRyI" width="480"></iframe>lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-83319291137471214782014-09-03T15:16:00.000-05:002014-09-03T15:19:31.066-05:00Say what?<div class="MsoNormal">
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reinterpret the first part; it is frequently used for dramatic or humorous effect.</div>
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Where there's a will, I want to be in it. - anonymous<br />
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War does not determine who is right, only who is left. - Bertrand Russell (attrib.)<br />
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If you're going through hell, keep going. - Winston Churchill<br />
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Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. - Oscar Wilde<br />
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I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it. - Groucho Marx<br />
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If I am reading this graph correctly--I'd be very surprised. - Stephen Colbert</div>
lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-42009181942423574402014-04-10T14:30:00.000-05:002014-04-10T14:34:22.100-05:00Muppets Most WantedOverall: We enjoyed it. The Muppets were good and they didn't spend much time on peripheral Muppets, which I liked. I was never a hardcore Muppet fan; I liked Kermit and Miss Piggy but didn't really watch the TV show. Gasp, I know; am I even an American?!<br />
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It was less heartfelt than <i>The Muppets, </i>more of a madcap comedy but well-done and enjoyable. Pretty clear what was happening at all times; only really young kids may get a little confused. <br />
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Music: The music was good, much like the first Muppets reboot. Bret McKenzie did a great job with the songs, I think. I wasn't sure if he was involved with this one until one of the songs started -- I think it was "The Big House" -- and I thought, "That sounds a lot like Flight of the Conchords." And sure enough!<br />
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Cameos: I know people love cameos but I felt like some of them were just distractions and didn't add anything at all. Except Tom Hiddleston wasn't in it <i>enough</i>. Honestly, I didn't realize who he was at first; he is one of those people who can look drastically different from one role to another and in this he does not resemble Loki at all. I would say that's a good thing since this is a kids' movie but he plays a criminal in a Siberian gulag, so... In general, though, I'm always ready for more T.Hid.<br />
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Acting: Tina Fey did a good job, funny and pretty consistent with the Russian accent. Ricky Gervais was okay but it seemed like he has decided he is a little too cool to enjoy being in a Muppets movie. Not too cool to be in one, especially since <i>The Muppets</i> did so well, but too cool to really enjoy it. I don't know, maybe it's just the way he interpreted the character he was playing, but it just felt a little flat. As far as I'm concerned, the movie's saving grace was Ty Burrell. He was completely entertaining. Not only was he consistent and funny, but it seemed like he was genuinely having fun. Like he was thinking, "I can't believe they're paying me to do this!" Not like he signed on because <i>The Muppets</i> did so well but because he just thought it would be a hoot. Ty Burrell FTW!<br />
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Takeaway: If you have kids or just love the Muppets, it's worth watching. Two frog legs up!lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-7724187345860787442014-01-15T11:07:00.001-06:002014-04-10T14:34:31.119-05:00Bad Luck, Fans!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of Disney's family shows, Good Luck, Charlie, is ending in a few months. I think it's the best one they've got right now but apparently Disney would have to pay more if they keep it going, so OH WELL. The Mouse House can churn out another one, right?<br />
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Well, yes, they can, but this one is actually good. It's genuinely funny and the cast is actually talented, which you don't always find in Disney shows. Some of the other shows we watch are only okay, with a lot of the "humor" mean-spirited and lazy. I guess Disney doesn't think kids deserve more.<br />
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Also, I've noticed that commercials on the Disney Channel say things like "Proud sponsor of the Disney Channel." Huh? I thought companies sponsored non-profit channels and programs, like public television. Why on earth would DISNEY need sponsors? It may be only semantic but it's odd. Disney is very much for-profit. Famous for being all about the bottom line. So I don't think they need corporate sponsors. Money from advertisers, sure, but sponsors?<br />
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Whatever. I'll come back from that tangent. I'm just disappointed that Disney has a quality family show and they're going to let it go because they won't make as much money off of it once they have to pay the cast and/or crew more. Boo, Disney!<br />
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/12/good-luck-charlie-canceled_n_3427819.html<br />
<br />lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-35654602172271583782013-10-29T13:56:00.002-05:002013-10-29T13:59:52.074-05:00Happy Halloween!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The Thing on the Fourble Board" from <i>Quiet, Please</i> (1948)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Widely considered the best and scariest story from radio's golden age of horror and mystery programming. It's 25 minutes long but worth it!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ilRbcBhD9_0?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-71428726199495302752013-10-23T11:42:00.001-05:002014-04-10T14:34:43.601-05:002013 Louisiana Book Festival<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YVEwmTxH_T8" width="459"></iframe>lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-16132472613902434752013-05-15T14:07:00.000-05:002014-09-23T15:33:33.648-05:00RaptSo there is a pair of Peregrine Falcons that has been nesting on top of the library at UMass Amherst for 11 years. That's commitment! Some people there have set up a webcam because they have baby chicks. Go here to see:<br />
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<a href="http://www.library.umass.edu/falcons">http://www.library.umass.edu/falcons</a><br />
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So I'm watching the little babies, sleeping, grooming, sleeping a little more. Then I go away because there's only so much watching I can do of ugly (sorry, but it's true) little baby birds sleeping. You've heard "they're so ugly they're cute," right? Well, in this case it's true. They just look so darn vulnerable.<br />
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I come back in a while and lo, Mama is there! Mostly just blocking the babies from the wind. Awwww. A tweet informs me that I missed lunchtime by about an hour. I am bummed. It would be interesting to see little baby falcons being fed worms!<br />
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I go back to work. Periodically, I check on them and they are mostly just huddling. Boring for Mama, but necessary and maybe birds don't mind just sitting and staring at a wall. Every once in a while Mama shakes and does something to the babies that I can't see because she has her back to the camera. Rude. (Kidding! I love animals and think whatever they do -- well, mostly -- is the jam. Because it's naychur.) She's grooming them or something.<br />
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I notice something that looks like a clump of feathers that I hadn't noticed earlier. Hmm, I think, did Mama lose some feathers? That's a lot of feathers. That looks like a... wing. Is that a wing? No. I don't see anything else. Must be feathers.<br />
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I go back to work. Checking on them again in a little while, I see movement! Mama is doing something! The babies are up and interested!<br />
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She's in the corner, doing... something... Oh, she's going to feed them! She's going to feed them... CHUNKS OF BIRD. That was in fact a wing! Fortunately I just finished eating my sandwich so I'm okay. And she is behind the babies so I don't see the carcass, just little downy babies vying for chunks. So she is considerate of weak human constitutions, keeping that away from the camera. Thanks, Mama!<br />
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Then I start to worry because two of the babies are getting all of the bird bits. The middle one is just ignored and jostled. Feed the middle one, Mama! Don't let the pushy ones get everything! Nature is tough, y'all.<br />
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Then I notice that the piggy one seems to be sort of full so the middle one gets his chance. THEN the piggy one moves from the right (my right) to the middle, FACING THE CAMERA, and just sort of lolls on the other two. What up, dude? Don't food-block your brethren!<br />
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I just went and looked again, just in time to see Mama downing a bird FOOT. Nature is gross, y'all.<br />
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There's a clumping sound now, too, so guess what? It is either raining or snowing or hailing up there! As if the wind wasn't enough! They seem to be pretty protected where they are, though, so that's good. The babies are huddled and sleeping and Mama is protecting them and staring moodily into the distance.<br />
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Okay, that's my update for now. I will watch them until something bad happens and then no more. I keep worrying that one of the babies is going to get blown away when Mama goes to get food (WHOLE BIRDS, Y'ALL, I FORGOT THESE ARE FREAKING FALCONS) or something. They are superior predators, I know, but these are baaaabbbies. Scrawny little ugly baaaabbies.lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-38558023995190372482013-04-23T14:54:00.000-05:002013-04-23T15:00:48.695-05:00What a WorldI've been gone a while and Blogger went and changed on me! I hope I can figure this out.<br />
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So last week was pretty awful. I don't understand what people are thinking these days. I made the comment a couple of months ago that I don't really like people and my mom was surprised. But all of the senseless violence... I worry about it and occasionally rant about it.<br />
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And then sometimes I come across something that makes me happy to be here. Here's a pretty amazing thing - <a href="http://io9.com/watch-what-happens-when-you-wring-out-a-washcloth-in-sp-476159356">an astronaut wringing out a wet washcloth in space</a> - amazing because, you know, he's IN SPACE, and then that becomes downright astounding when you realize that you can sit at home and WATCH THE SPACEMAN. FROM YOUR HOME.<br />
lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-74239657830777360092012-07-06T07:53:00.004-05:002013-04-23T15:01:00.992-05:00You Know You're Out of Shape When...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">your muscles are sore the day following a rousing game of... bowling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be fair, it was a game and a half. I mean, I'm not such a wimp that one game will take me down!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sigh.</span>lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-23684593612214258152012-05-29T10:58:00.001-05:002014-09-23T15:33:46.092-05:00Downton AwesomeI'm just now joining the Downton Abbey craze, but I am loving it. Some of the story lines seem a little unlikely to me, but it's fun to watch. I love period pieces, and Dame Maggie Smith is so freakin' good.lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-83446561026008956202012-02-29T09:44:00.011-06:002014-09-23T15:33:46.097-05:00Faves!New favorite song:<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gH2efAcmBQM" width="420"></iframe><br />
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I think the video is goofy, but the song itself is perfect.<br />
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New favorite TV show (American): Modern Family<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAbIfhEmxI9WP6PdJsEERwkhslHgyGIC4ke8koZx5aZeQW2tkLeqpYAy4dL4l2xzAatRt708Gren9K82xmCexhiYQDkSmUdhGoq3mRHHsbft3RBdjQaz9LknuVLd73pwh_jbFwg/s1600/modernfamily_624x351.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714585776488171954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAbIfhEmxI9WP6PdJsEERwkhslHgyGIC4ke8koZx5aZeQW2tkLeqpYAy4dL4l2xzAatRt708Gren9K82xmCexhiYQDkSmUdhGoq3mRHHsbft3RBdjQaz9LknuVLd73pwh_jbFwg/s320/modernfamily_624x351.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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I finally got on the bandwagon, after much resistance, and though the show is inconsistent, the characters are so likeable that I had to get on board.<br />
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New favorite TV show (British):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCSFdQmU73U_o5nh1NpPM06iP3oExINFNhODRgyXvhHEYgVfQKswtVM3X37JDCyQJ81CJmKAjDIvZ_1sFopcA5ndHWRsYjYE8x4ebfrKfj0U2iAYSdR2VyyzIImBfv5iRdcxeew/s1600/sherlock.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714586169666062130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCSFdQmU73U_o5nh1NpPM06iP3oExINFNhODRgyXvhHEYgVfQKswtVM3X37JDCyQJ81CJmKAjDIvZ_1sFopcA5ndHWRsYjYE8x4ebfrKfj0U2iAYSdR2VyyzIImBfv5iRdcxeew/s320/sherlock.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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I love Sherlock (the <em>real</em> Sherlock, of course), I often love British TV, and I am a fan of Martin Freeman. Now I am also a fan of Benedict Cumberbatch, who usually makes an excellent Sherlock and has one of the best names I've ever heard. (And his voice, <em>sigh</em>. Alan Rickman without the mush.) I have a few quibbles with some things they've done, but overall, a really well-done and absorbing show.lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-90006294431965720742012-02-03T15:24:00.003-06:002014-09-23T15:33:53.655-05:00A World of YES<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq1SIpNSjnZOmckdjkohhYojpL63gPysEuoJ7D5Jeck65pAc47OlenyPQlNdn76e-qJI0bCbh7UCO_knfWDYxvKi79c6mtnVGEqTC5LPONjOtcWCOlDQwKMzEk1WHsRXVFMoikQ/s1600/twaddle-300x247.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705023645498614018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq1SIpNSjnZOmckdjkohhYojpL63gPysEuoJ7D5Jeck65pAc47OlenyPQlNdn76e-qJI0bCbh7UCO_knfWDYxvKi79c6mtnVGEqTC5LPONjOtcWCOlDQwKMzEk1WHsRXVFMoikQ/s320/twaddle-300x247.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv0iiqsdP1gD1fPLOTATour-TvcUGKlXg4G5ebNnemxavx7laMPLPH-Lj_QQC7PYExMlkixFc_2PPdcCI2PBbS9TqbZpRzdiQIlt63ZUuTyVn62iXfZAns0829JI4_i27w35J9A/s1600/twaddle-300x247.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-42554672579356417722012-01-13T10:59:00.003-06:002012-01-13T11:27:13.804-06:00Christmas in ... January!It's been a while!<br /><br />Today I decided to organize my office so I pulled out all of these bags I had under my desk. I have a biggish, U-shaped desk, and under one corner I had been putting tote bags that I got at conferences and bags I used to bring things to work, like Target bags or the nice little paper ones with handles that some retailers use. I thought, "I might need these, you never know!" Well, the corner had become stuffed full. So today I thought, "Hello, nice little mouse neighborhood! Here come the bulldozers!"¹ and started cleaning them out.<br /><br />I found a big tote bag I had gotten at a conference in <span style="font-size:85%;">*cough ahem*</span> June. And it was full. of. stuff. This was like Christmas all over again, only with geeky stuff. So fun! I now am the proud owner of several new pens, highlighters, sticky note pads, bookmarks, flashlights, keychains, and what-have-you. Have I ever mentioned my fondness for free stuff? It may be a keychain that I wouldn't pay for in a million years, but y'all, it was free. You don't pass up free sh*t.<br /><br />So here's a shout-out to all you procrastinators out there! It's totally worth the wait! If you go to any kind of a work-related conference, I recommend leaving all of the little free stuff sitting around for at least a month or two (I realize my more-than-6-month hiatus is pretty hardcore), you will appreciate it so much more.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">¹ No mice were harmed during the course of this project. There were no mice.</span>lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-347230629645726832011-10-07T14:40:00.003-05:002012-01-13T11:27:13.805-06:00You Can't Go Home AgainSo I got a DVD of the Dick Van Dyke show, much-beloved in my memory. Frankly, I'm disappointed. It's supposed to be a "best of" set, and it could be that the ones whoever packaged the DVD chose are just not the ones I would have chosen (where is the one with Dick Van Dyke -- OMG, I was going to use his initials to shorten this typing business, and it's DVD, how confusing would <em>that</em> be? -- on the radio all night as part of some competition or fund-raiser or something??) or it could just be remembering with rose-colored glasses. But... it's not as funny as I remember. And it's kind of disparaging toward women. Shocker for early 1960's, I know, but I guess when I was watching the show before, I wasn't such a raging feminist. (That's a bit of a joke for those who don't really know me; I only rage about traffic.)<br /><br />If they come out with another set and it includes the one I mentioned above, I'll buy that set and see if it's as funny as I remember.<br /><br />I still love Dick Van Dyke.lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-44842729341869612902011-04-08T10:06:00.005-05:002012-01-13T11:27:13.805-06:00What, me worry?Have you ever sold your house? Oh my heck, what a big ordeal. Just looking at what we need to do to get ours ready to show is exhausting. Of course, the idea of dusting is exhausting to me most days, so maybe it's just me. <br /><br />Traffic is about to give me a stroke. (Most of the reason we want to move.) Have people always been such bad drivers? I mean, not just bad, but stupid bad. And rude bad. There are simply too many people these days. I need to figure out how to get paid for being a hermit. Maybe an ad in the paper: "Will pray on a hill for you every day, salary negotiable. What price would you put on your eternal soul?" <br /><br />Which leads me to... work. Stressful, even more so than usual. Budget crisis, retiring personnel not getting replaced... There's doing more with less and then there's... this. "Doing very little because we only have three people" isn't nearly as catchy.lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-9409814037657108862011-01-11T13:13:00.002-06:002012-01-13T11:27:31.260-06:00Pile o' 'PooThe other day I spent a good hour searching online for a good shampoo. I'm not kidding.<br /><br />When did shampoo-buying get so complicated? Why doesn't it just clean your hair anymore?! I don't want a shampoo that gives me volume or smoothes my frizzies or moisturizes anything at all. I JUST WANT CLEAN HAIR.<br /><br />If I want anything else, I'll buy some damn conditioner.<br /><br />I long for how simple shampoos were when I was growing up, back in the long-long ago. Then we just worried about how good it smelled. And shine, yes, everyone wanted shiny hair, which, really, just seems to go along with... CLEAN hair. Hmph.<br /><br />Bring back my Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific! My Yucca Dew! My Body on Tap! (Okay, that implies that it gave your hair body, but it gave it body by <em>cleaning </em>it. See? Simple.)<br /><br />One of those big companies needs to get on this. I can't be the only person who thinks this. Can I? CAN I??!!lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-83977273341838814502010-11-23T13:40:00.002-06:002010-11-23T13:43:07.299-06:00Seriously FunnyThis blog is always funny, but <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html">this post</a> is extra-hilarious. Especially if you have dogs.lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-64771292497647490332010-11-03T14:04:00.005-05:002010-11-03T15:48:39.257-05:00Project RipoffMondo was ROBBED!<br /><br />His designs aren't necessarily what I would wear, but they are good. He is so talented. I thought Gretchen's designs were snoozers, and ugly snoozers at that. What was with all the granny panties?!<br /><br />I think Heidi needs to get rid of Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, they are too out of touch. And Nina Garcia always sits there looking so superior, and then she chooses what? I thought Gretchen's designs were the weakest of the three.<br /><br />I taped the show (yes, I still have to rely on my dinosaur VCR) and missed the actual discussion and choice by the judges (it couldn't have been timed worse, right when Heidi they were going to "have a little chat", the recording stopped. ARRGGHH.). So when I saw the next day that they chose GRETCHEN, I couldn't believe it.<br /><br />I hope Mondo is successful anyway. Team MONDO!!lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-79538043372590879782010-09-13T13:15:00.015-05:002010-09-14T09:16:33.069-05:00Project SELF-ESTEEM!!!Lunatics are definitely running the asylum. I think throughout the fashion world. Or maybe I mean "fashion." I can't understand why high fashion=ugly these days.<br /><br />Anyway. I am sick of Heidi being so shocked at contestants "throwing [each other] under the bus." It's a COMPETITION, not a church social. And you force them to tell you who they thought was the weakest link, or why this or that happened, with your steely German stare, so what you're saying is that if they honestly think one of the other contestants is weak, they should lie? I thought this was a competition based on design skills, not some duel of honor. (Can it be called a duel when several people are involved? So a... clash of honor?) I agree that no one likes people who always seem to be pointing fingers and never taking responsibility, but you are making them tell you these things. So if it bothers you, STOP DOING IT. You have the power, Heidi. You are the bus.<br /><br />Like the episode a couple of weeks ago, the team competition, when the whole team said Michael C. was the weakest link and the judges were all shocked and appalled (because they're all sweetness and light, right), wringing their hands and wailing, "Oh poor, poor Michael C. Will no one defend him?", maybe they should have asked themselves if there was a <em>reason</em> that every single person said he was the weakest link. Everyone who has worked with him has said that throughout this competition! (Well, until Mondo last week.)<br /><br />I think they gave the bridesmaid's dress win to Michael C. just to spite the other contestants, which -- um, again, isn't this a competition? About design? Did I miss when it changed to a self-esteem support group? Because his dress was hideous and the judges were completely wrong. Mondo should have won, no question. And the judges totally bombed Michael D.'s because his model was plus-sized, though of course they would never admit that. He got no points for working with someone plus-sized, and it is much harder to make someone big look good than it is to make someone thin look good. Take it from someone who is not thin anymore. It's damned hard.<br /><br />Last week, Andy was clearly the winner and they gave it to April. April's looked like lingerie. So, yeah, resort wear in a sense. And I kept wanting to pull the damn straps up that drooped down over the model's arms (April said she wanted her to look bound or trapped or in bondage or drunk or something). But Kristen Bell said she would wear it on the red carpet. Apparently she fell down before they started filming this episode and was concussed the entire time. What a great actress! You couldn't even tell except for the nonsense she was spouting. Unless she's referring to some X-rated red carpet event that I don't know about, like the porn Oscars. Hey, I guess they do have something like that, it was in Boogie Nights (my complete reference for all things porn).<br /><br />The most interesting guest judges -- and the only logical guest judges to have -- are people who are actual designers. Let's see, usual judges... Heidi, supermodel with questionable taste; Michael Kors, designer with questionable taste; and Nina Garcia, ...something... with questionable taste. And no one to shake up all of their preconceived notions except actresses? With questionable taste. What qualifications do they have? That they wear clothes? That they wear expensive clothes? That they wear expensive clothes that they pay someone to choose for them?<br /><br />Really, I have to ask. If they have all that money, designers throwing dresses at them for big events, and the best figures money can buy, WHY DO THEY STILL LOOK SO DARN TRASHY?!<br /><br />Okay, sorry to get all-capsy on you.<br /><br />To sum up, I am not happy with Project Runway this season. I think the judges are way off. Oh! I just had a brainwave. It's Heidi's bangs! She can't see the designs! And then the others go along with her because it's her show and she's got that whole steely German stare thing, even more scary through a forest of bangs. Hmm.<br /><br />I'm glad they finally took Gretchen down a couple of notches. But sending Casanova home? I loved Casanova! His design wasn't great, admittedly, but I think Gretchen's was worse. It actually made her model look fat and frumpy. Who wants to look fat and frumpy, especially at a resort? And <em>especially </em>when you're 5'11" and weigh 110 lbs, you've forgotten what teeth are for, and you survive on cigarettes, water, and the glowing knowledge that you make everyone else look like elephants in their resort wear.lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-42811928634815916332010-08-06T15:34:00.002-05:002010-08-06T15:37:20.902-05:00New School YearBunny moves to a new class on Monday. I think it will be a good change for him; let's hope I'm right!<br /><br />And I hope he likes his teacher. He's in the same school, and is already at least a little familiar with his soon-to-be teacher, so I'm hoping it's a smooth transition for him. Wish us luck!lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-46547386850254475562010-07-06T08:53:00.007-05:002012-01-13T11:27:50.780-06:00Sad NewsIt's been a really stressful time lately. Not least because Molly -- sweet, lovable Molly -- passed away unexpectedly. It happened two weeks ago tomorrow; that's when she got sick. She actually passed away two weeks ago Thursday.<br /><br />We still can't get used it; we still miss her constantly. Sassy and Penny miss her too. Everybody loved Molly. I wish I could write a fitting tribute, but I start crying every time I think of her and can't put a good sentence together. We let her down horribly and feel terrible about it. "If only" is a sad and awful phrase.<br /><br />We love you, Molly-girl!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxABPdvVNNnz_lsIxKgrTeqWfDoQNPAShDKr3QBNW7c5AgUDMmQUG3YlnLUIw5R43zitrpORV8D7wnCaApZX4UpmzeC65POjzrgdDWzv-bv_nq2qKxmjXqzPODkpSC2YU6nvCjzA/s1600/Molly%2520closeup_2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490792034122722882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxABPdvVNNnz_lsIxKgrTeqWfDoQNPAShDKr3QBNW7c5AgUDMmQUG3YlnLUIw5R43zitrpORV8D7wnCaApZX4UpmzeC65POjzrgdDWzv-bv_nq2qKxmjXqzPODkpSC2YU6nvCjzA/s200/Molly%2520closeup_2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWRNI-Y84aR42zZwIZOExLyL0dKj1z_kN5yDLvne__ZGv1uaetSNUZilcGpa_klnzB5QzJtPc6tp4fErv-eZiQFTwIiWzhuf5eZKJcjrCXpzTyfRQJpuESYuFPnCw5ruNpfKLgg/s1600/mollysmall.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490792183294784146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWRNI-Y84aR42zZwIZOExLyL0dKj1z_kN5yDLvne__ZGv1uaetSNUZilcGpa_klnzB5QzJtPc6tp4fErv-eZiQFTwIiWzhuf5eZKJcjrCXpzTyfRQJpuESYuFPnCw5ruNpfKLgg/s200/mollysmall.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWliRGDluWRUFbooZMa72ngf_jBGMaeACfVN1Sj448S4hPVebTiuQT3T_9U2HEAgxZeuART0bbgDjSMNjUgKKo9uZkbe6M3cSyY09ODeKB-l3KCUtRlH_NngpHkVKxd-yFxjL40Q/s1600/Sass%2520&%2520Moll.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490792261619461506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWliRGDluWRUFbooZMa72ngf_jBGMaeACfVN1Sj448S4hPVebTiuQT3T_9U2HEAgxZeuART0bbgDjSMNjUgKKo9uZkbe6M3cSyY09ODeKB-l3KCUtRlH_NngpHkVKxd-yFxjL40Q/s200/Sass%2520&%2520Moll.jpg" /></a>lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-62935059465960830662010-04-16T13:14:00.005-05:002010-04-16T15:38:54.038-05:00Float Like a Butterfly, Jump Like a RabbitIt's been a while! Mostly I wanted to post that Bunny can now jump. JUMP. Both feet clearly off the floor at the same time.<br /><br />For a while, his jumps were mostly one foot off the floor, other foot on tiptoe. Almost a full jump, but not quite, though occasionally the toes of the grounded foot would leave the ground momentarily. Now, though. Honest-to-God jumping. We're so proud. I have no real idea how long he's been able to do this; we just saw him do it about a week ago. He may have been jumping like a... well, a bunny, at school for weeks now for all we know. But after we saw it and were all excited, he jumped all over the house.<br /><br />What else? He's still hilarious and really only getting funnier. He loooves chips and salsa. He sits in his booster seat or high chair, pulls up a little bowl of salsa, reaches for the chips, and he's happy as a little clam.<br /><br />Lately he's taken to lying on our big bed and dangling Woody over the side and saying, "Oh no, Woody, don't fall, oh no, oh nooo!" and dropping him, then getting Buzz to go down and save him. It's so funny. I tried to get it on tape but of course he was facing the door, so saw me immediately and said, "Turn it around!" so he could see himself on the screen while I was taping. My little narcissist.lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26511821.post-63214391166731014062010-01-29T12:47:00.004-06:002010-01-29T14:01:54.347-06:00Little UpdateI was emailing with a friend about Bunny and thought it would be a good idea to put it here as a little update.<br /><br />Bunny is running around and talking and saying the funniest things and asking hard questions like, "Why is that an alligator?" Um... because it is? <br /><br />He doesn't really get Why so much when you ask him; he tends to answer questions like, "Why did you throw down your car?" with "Because I threw it down."<br /><br />He has also discovered conjunctions so he says long sentences like, "I feel sad but Daddy got me some hot chocolate but I'm sitting at my table." He doesn't always quite get them right but that's what makes it so funny. <br /><br />I love this age!lgrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05724714125698656417noreply@blogger.com0