Need a Good Laugh?

The most embarrassing story ever.

At least, the most embarrassing story ever that involves Chick-Fil-A and fries.

The post is also an inspirational reminder that none of us are perfect.

Question to Ponder

Do you think it is an accident that the words noise and boys rhyme?

I'm just wondering.

Snow Day Haiku

Here's mine.

Look out in the yard
Peaceful. Quiet. Soft, white snow
Not for long – snow day!

Go read more, and submit your own for a chance to win a great prize.

How to Make Me (If You Could, That Is)

You know I like to share recipes, and I have a few good ones coming up, along with some gift ideas, crafts, and other Christmas awesomeness. For now, though, I will leave you with my recipe:

Charity - 1/4 cup of sensitivity - a scoop of caring - a scoop of honesty Blend together quickly and serve.

'What is your personality recipe?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Want your own recipe, go here.

Hat tip: Comfy Denim

Amazon Takes Over the World

I am having the crappiest day ever. Ever. EVER. But, there was one thing that happened that managed to put a smile on my face (besides getting tagged with a cool blog meme - more on that later).

Amazon Grocery. You can buy groceries on Amazon. Wow!

They even sell my Seventh Generation laundry soap. Yeah, I am a little bit of an eco-snob. Cut me some slack, I live in Burlington, VT.

That reminds me of the time I interviewed there. I was so not a good fit. That was in my pre-eco-snob days.

Then again, I would still not be a good fit. I think you have to be a liberal eco-snob.

Anyway, I think this Amazon Grocery thing is very cool. (Disclaimer: I haven't actually tried it yet. I just think the concept is cool.)

I Think I'd Rather Have a Heart Attack

Next time you skinny folks wonder why fat people can't just stick to a diet, just click this helpful explanation.

Contest

A contest to win some bling for mama (or for your little girl, if you prefer).


All you have to do is mention the contest on your blog and leave a comment (there, not here) stating why you should win. The details are here.

Why should I win? I am a mom of three boys. I am immersed in boy stuff all day long. I deserve something pretty, shiny, pink - and free!

But, then, don't we all?

Whatever

As if it's not cute enough when your little angel acts like a first-rate spoiled brat, I introduce to you Attitude Angels.

Even angels can have their moods and speak their minds. This exclusive, first-ever collectible angel figurine set from the Bradford Editions captures a trio of spunky little earth angels with attitude to spare! Each collectible figurine in the set is named for a popular expression: "Whatever!", "Talk to the Hand!" and "I'm Not Listening!"

What is this world coming to?

Me-me-me-cycle

Have you heard of Freecycle?

It's an online group where you can post things you want to give away, or look for things you need that someone else is giving away. The idea is to keep it out of the landfill. The groups are operated on a local level. (You can search the site to see if there is a Freecycle list operating near you.)

One of my biggest pet peeves about Freecycle is the "wanted" posts. This is when people post their wish lists on Freecycle.

Now, I could understand something like: "Does anyone have a broken mirror they have been meaning to get rid of that I could use for a mosaic I am working on?" That is something that would normally be thrown out and you want to put it to good use.

What I hate are the posts looking for things like a computer (working condition only) or a PSP (Play Station Portable). Yeah, you read that link right; they cost $169.99!

There is a blog called Meeeecycle that posts "Outrageous, ridiculous, solipsistic, and excessively clueless Freecycle posts," though it hasn't been updated lately.

I was once going to do a post on my old blog about it, so I recorded the outrageous Freecycle wanteds for a few days from my local Freecycle. Here are a few good ones:

Video camera (the kind that has computer uplink) & tripod
30x80 hollowed out interior door and wood base board
Car roof rack and storage container
Clothes and shoes for a girl (sizes given)
College text books (specific ones listed)
Fencing, at least 3 feet high, any type, including posts
Dresser and a loveseat that reclines
Laptop (as in computer)
Tires (as in usable ones, sizes listed)
Cell phone antennae for car

Okay, can you see why this peeves me?

Then there was one where someone put out a call for books (genres specified) because she "need[ed] something to read, but [had] no money."

All together now, can you say library?

Ugh!

I had stopped going to the Freecycle board because this was getting on my nerves so much. It was at the point that there were more "wanted" than "offer" posts - to the tune of 5-to-1!

And at Christmas, people were posting their kids' Christmas lists, including things like snowboards!

Okay, okay, calm down.

Where is all this coming from, you might ask. Why did I go back?

We had a computer to give away, so we posted it. I received so many responses, I wasn't sure who to give it to. I like to do first come, first serve, but I decided to a search on the members to see what their posting history was. (Yes, I am that crazy.)

The first responder had a history of no offers, but he asks for a computer, or laptop, or wireless router, every month like clockwork, sometimes more often. No freaking way was I going to give our computer to this guy. I don't care what kind of person that makes me.

The second responder had a clean record; lots of offers, very few wanteds for things that are old and usually the kind of things someone would want to get rid of.

Just for kicks, I checked the next five responses. All of them had no offers and all wanteds for outrageous things. Every single one of them.

I should note here, the Freecycle policy states that you must make at least one offer before you post a wanted. And it says that you are not to post wanteds for things that people would not normally be giving away - like a PSP!

Okay, I have sufficiently vented, you all know exactly how crazy I really am, and balance can now return to my universe.

And, most importantly, I can stay away from Freecycle now that our computer is going to the home of a nice, good Freecycler, who's daughter is going to use it to do homework on.

Technorati tags: Freecycle

The Birds and the Hornets

We saw the most amazing thing this morning out on our back porch. A Blue Jay landed on a planter that hangs on the porch railing with a piece of hornets' nest in his mouth, set it down and began eating its contents.

Then it flew back over to the roof and came back with another piece of hornets' nest.

Eventually, it had to leave because a very angry hornet came along.

I was talking about how cool nature is, after. Then Bob remarked that nature is really brutal and pointed out that I only thought it was cool because I like birds and I hate hornets.

I guess I wouldn't have thought it was cool if a giant hornet flew over with a piece of bird nest and started eating the baby birds.

Hmm. I suppose whether something is good or bad really depends on your perspective.

Fun with the Dictionary

I am a frequent user of Merriam-Webster Online. Fortunately for me, Firefox allows one to add Merriam-Webster to the search bar.

You just type the word you want to look up into the search bar of the browser, making sure to choose "Webster" from the drop-down menu, and it takes you to the word's page on m-w.com.

Very cool.

I use this feature multiple times a day, so I thought it would be fun to highlight some of the words I look up. Yes, I know that I am kind of a dork if I really consider dictionary use fun.

Today, I checked to see if I was using the right word from the pair decent and descent. I sometimes mix them up. In this case, I was using the right one, but it is always better to check before using the wrong word, say on my blog or in a comment on someone else's blog.

"Easy on the Tini"

I'm not a big TV watcher, but I will say that I am very excited to break out the Appletinis tonight and watch the season finale of Scrubs.

I love that show. And it's a full hour tonight.

I even went out and bought two new martini glasses.

Technorati tags: Scrubs

Pros and Cons of Living in Vermont

Pro: I live close enough to Peabody, Mass. that my homeschool materials from CBD come two days after I order, even when I select the cheap 1-2 week shipping option.

Con: My state is the butt of jokes. (No pun intended.)