Music Monday - Winner's Edition

It's game night and the board has 2 playing pieces the 1st one was missing 1 wedge, and the second piece needed 2 wedges. I land on what I need. My (now ex) husband breathes a sigh of relief when he sees the "Entertainment" question. There is no way she's getting this answer right he thinks. I don't remember what the question was but the answer was ...





Purple People Eater

I won that game of Trivial Pursuit. LOL! What he didn't know (and I had almost forgotten) was that my best friend in elementary school had that 45 and we used to play the song over & over. So not only was it one of my favorite songs in elementary school, but I knew the whole song by heart.

That was the closest he ever came to winning and to think I was saved by a "One-eyed, One horned flying purple people eater.

Music Monday - Lead Foot Edition

I am a big fan of Earth, Wind & Fire and I'm not sure exactly when I became a fan. I have been sitting here trying to remember buying one of their records. I SAID RECORD...because that's what they were back then. I used to ride my bike to the store & buy 45's. Let me translate for young people. That is a single.

I know that I had Michael Jackson records. I know that I had Stevie Wonder records. I remember the 1st whole album that I bought with my Christmas money. But I really don't remember buying EWF records when I was younger. I know I loooved 'Serpentine Fire' & 'Devotion'. As I was thinking I thought well those came out when I was in elementary school. But even before I was allowed to ride my bike to the store, I went to the store with my parents & left the toy section to go look at records & buy 45's. So maybe I didn't appreciate them so much when their music was new. But I love them now.

I guess the fact that they have quite a few compilations & best of albums helped. I know that I was in my 30's looking all over for EWF in the record store. And my all time favorite song of theirs wasn't a single. It's not all over the internet like some of their songs. The reason I called this the Lead Foot Edition is because this is the song that I will blast in my car sing at the top of my off key lungs. And realize at the end of the song that I am speeding. (Kids don't try this at home, or on the highway. LOL)

On Your Face by EWF Sorry about that. The link should work now.

Blah, Blah, Blah

I thought my dog was always at the door to welcome me home, because he adored me. I just realized today, it maybe because he has jumped off the sofa and he's out smarted me once again. *Hangs head in disappointment*

I hadn't been here in quite some time. OMG tender fall off the bone ribs. I had a sandwich...and I think really the bread is just an extra way to wipe the sauce off of your fingers. Because it's not polite to lick your fingers in public. Well, I guess you have to understand because the sauce is so good, but loud smacking as you do it isn't polite. LOL

The other day I got in my car and the dash had 111°. That is hot! However, there have been quite a few fires either from lightning strikes or something, and just how amazing our firefighters are. If my car is 111° and they are starting out with much higher temps. in all that gear.

Oh, I think I need an icey drink. Maybe I can make it to happy hour at the Sonic...it is near the where I need to drop off a bill payment.

Movie Week

I like to go to the movies. Certainly I could wait for movies to come out on DVD, and for some I do. I really love my N.etf.lix subscription. But I love the big screen & the ambiance of the theater more. Yes, I could get a big screen & surround sound...However, until you read about me winning the lottery and building a house with a home theater, I guess I will go to the movies.

I've recently started going to the theater that has independent films. So much for only spending $5.00 on a movie. About 2 weeks ago I went to see Ci.ty Is.land. It was funny! This movie was about a family & the secrets that they kept from each other. I kept looking at And.y Ga.rcia and thinking he was Ro.bert Din.ero.

This week I saw Mother and Child. The lives of 3 women & their desire for a/their child, relationship with their mother or lack of relationship with their mother & how this formed their personality. Not sure if that sentence makes my point, but if you see the movie hopefully then it will make sense. However, if you need a well written clear review by a professional look here.

I think I will have to go to that theater on the weekend, because on the weekdays I get caught in rush hour traffic. Which is only tolerable if..ah it's intolerable at least to me.

The Great Outdoors

The past few weeks the Atlanta area has had a few rabid animal attacks. First this raccoon attack and then 2 fox attacks 1 in Kennesaw , GA & 1 in Tyrone, GA. The fox attacks are in cities that are about 50 miles apart. It makes me a little nervous about being outside. I guess this neighborhood has been around long enough that we haven't displaced any foxes (is that plural for fox?) I guess the biggest "problem" here is the squirrels.

I was laughing at the fact that as I drove through the neighborhood 1 trash day that there was a squirrel on top of someone's trash can eating a slice of pizza. And my trash can was full so it was open about an inch & a squirrel found the dried apricot package that had maybe 2 or 3 pieces left. When I looked out to see what all the noise was he started dragging the package across the yard. He had to tear through the plastic trash bag & then the package he stole was foil lined. So he worked for it. Should I be worried about rabid squirrels? Or just well fed squirrels.

As I type this with the news on my TV they are reporting that in one county rabid raccoons are attacking dogs. Geesh what a summer...mad animals inland & oil covered beaches on the Gulf coast.

Rainy Days & Old Friends

I guess I'm about to ramble a little. OK maybe Rambler is my middle name.

I woke up today and thought today was Saturday. For anyone that works a traditional Mon - Fri schedule that is like you waking up on Thurs thinking it's Fri. So now it feels like I have to work a whole extra night this week. Ugh!

One of my friends that I grew up with was an only child like me. We lost touch over the years, but thanks to Fa.ceb. ook we have been communicating again. Well, at some point over the years she met her father, and she has 4 or 5 sisters & brothers. So not only is she an aunt, but she is a great aunt. A very proud aunt at that. She has some pictures of the newest niece. Something about a picture of a chubby baby that clears up rainy day blues. Heck the pictures of her nephew with his baby sister, even out weighs that extra day I had added to my week. LOL!

My dog is scared of the thunder. So when I move, he move (just like that?) ha! ha! Thanks Ludacris. Corny? Yeah, ok. Umm, so it is best that I sit rather than trip on the DOG. Well, he does make a good 40 lbs foot warmer.

Oh it may be too late but I try to keep up with free stuff and today there are free donuts here & here.

Yeah! The sun is out! The sun is out!

Neighbors, Neighbors

I have a neighbor that lives around the corner. Sometimes when I see her in her yard heading out, I just go back in the house. And I have seen her notice me first & turn down the other street. Gee that must be intense dislike, right? No, she has a pit bull & I have the chow mix. So rather than have them yanking us around on their leashes growling at each other we the humans just avoid the confrontation.

We both wave nicely & or blow our horns if we pass in the car. She seems pleasant and maybe one of the times I saw her I should have just put the dog in the house and introduced myself. But over the past 5 or 6 months I have only 'known' her from a distance. So go do it now you say...

Well over maybe the past 2-3 weeks her car hasn't been in the driveway there have been about 2 or 3 different cars. And when I am on the street that I can see her back yard, I see her dog laying outside sometimes. When her dog sees us of course he starts barking at us. So I guess when I thought about it (maybe once) I just thought she had someone dog sitting that was like my lazy son. They didn't actually WALK the dog.

However yesterday morning I actually saw a lady come out of her house and get in a car that I had seen a few mornings. The lady that came out was in a nurses' uniform and had a clip board. OMG a home health nurse! So now I'd feel like I'd be perceived as the nosy neighbor if I knocked on the door. If someone else answers the door what do I say? I don't know her name. Hi I'm hear to check on... See if someone came to my door like that I'd look at them like they were strange.

Does concerned = nosey? Do I offer to walk the dog? Not sure if he is people friendly like my dog. Or do I remain me & just wave from a distance at whoever comes out of the house? Maybe I'll see her outside soon. Yeah on one of the 90 degree days, right.

A Little Randomness

I went to a Farmers Market Sunday and I only spent $5 and got quite a bit of veggies and few plantains. I finally successfully fried plantain & it was edible. Yay me! My mistake in the past was that did not use ripe fruit when I fried it before. Hint, when you have to saw through the skin to get to the fruit, it ain't ripe enough. So I bought one that was already ripe & it worked. Of course I still have about 7 lbs of potatoes, so I guess that is a lot of starchy food. But this is the fruit that I like that has potassium.

I typically speak in very general terms about my job. Even in person when asked I just say I work at a call center or a help desk. Most of the time that answer is good enough for people. I never say the name of the company to someone that I am just meeting for the 1st time. Because my pet peeve is usually the reaction that people have...they want a hook up. I met a guy and he seemed pretty nice. I gave him my general answer when he asked what I did. I guess he caught me off guard when he asked where...usually I name the city. But when I said the company name...He predictably asked about a hookup. Unfortunately I had already given him my number...I doubt I'll answer when he calls.

Movie Weekend

I saw "Just Wright" yesterday. Even though many of the people that I am close to think the story has been done many times before. I like Queen Latifah & love Common, so I had to see it.

I really enjoyed the movie. There was a scene or 2 that made me tear up. I'm sure if you saw the movie you're thinking, huh? I'm pretty sure no one else got teary during those scenes. It happened in the scenes with her father. It made me think of my dad especially in a scene where she and her father were painting. I flashed back to helping my father paint our house one summer.

But personal memories aside if you like 'boy meets girl' movie. This is the movie to see.

Random Thoughts

I watched this past weekend's SNL episode online. Betty was funny, and then some skits weren't so funny.

I have a new favorite website. Not everything is something that I would eat, but the photographers make everything look so appetizing. Well, Looking at a dessert IS calorie free.

Mother's Day was nice & quiet. Sundays are my Friday, so I start catching up on my sleep. My son stopped by after he got off from work & we watched a movie, and ate the fast food that he brought me.

The news is on showing a drunk driver that drove into a house & killed a 14 y.o. who was sleeping in his bed. Her blood alcohol was 2x the legal limit. It happened 2 years ago, sometimes it amazes me how long it takes for cases to get to court. She (the drunk driver) got the maximum which is 15 years. The father says the family forgives her but their son is still dead, and they have to live a new "normal."

This is a crazy weather week/month last week I was sweating at about 10 am when I took the dog for a walk. But this morning I was looking for my sweatshirt, because it was a cool morning. But temperature differences is nothing compared to the flooding in TN & the tornadoes in Oklahoma.

I bought 10 lbs of potatoes Sunday. Yeah, it's still just me in the house, I really only wanted to make some garlic mashed potatoes. But I could have bought 3 potatoes for the same price, so I bought the 10 lb bag. If you are in the Atlanta area & want some potatoes, let me know soon :-).

I'll stop rambling now, and go look up some potato recipes.

Midtown Sights & Sounds

Since I no longer work during the day time & also do not work in Atlanta's downtown/midtown, I was reminiscing about when I did.

On the sunny days that I had maybe 15 minutes left on my lunch hour I would sit outside in front of the building. In the distance I'd hear a whistle blowing...is it a police officer directing traffic? No. Well, who's whistling? It's Atlanta's drum major--Baton Bob! Unfortunately, I didn't find a simple video of him on the streets of Atlanta. But the link to his website has photos; there are some videos of him at festivals.

Except for traffic which I could avoid by riding the train, I miss working IN downtown/midtown Atlanta.

Plant Your Feet & Hold Tight!

I am always amazed that it seems animals have a schedule that they are on daily. I guess you can argue that their schedules may be determined by humans having food, letting domestic pets out etc. When I used to live in Texas I saw cattle head in during the evening hours on my long 70 mile drive home from work. (Yeah 70 miles each way.)

But back to the point that I am meandering to. There is a cat in my neighborhood that must cross my yard at about 5 pm each evening. I know when he is passing from front yard to back yard, because it drives my dog CRAZY. The DOG starts whining, barking & pacing from the front door to the back patio door. He looks through the vertical blinds and he sees the cat so he is pretty frantic at that point.

Yesterday, I decided to check my mail and just take the dog out with me. So with slippers on my feet (at 3 pm) I put the leash on the dog and opened the door. Well I what I didn't know was that the cat has taken to laying in the shade under my car. The doggy realized this immediately and took off after the cat that bolted down the street. Fortunately my reflexes were good enough to let go of said leash rather quickly. Because my feet weren't planted and I could have easily been pulled along face first on the pavement, oh that would have hurt.

So now I have to put on real shoes & go find the dog. I grabbed a treat, I know rewarding the dog for running off is not a good thing. But I needed something to distract him from the cat. By the time I got it together and walked back out to the street, the dog was coming home panting. Great! And since there weren't any cat hairs around his mouth, I must assume the cat got away. LOL

So today when we went out for a walk I was ready just in case the cat was on a different schedule today. My feet were planted & I was holding on tight to the leash.

Weekend at Midway

I had a wonderful extended weekend. My friend & I went to visit her younger brother who was recently transferred to Chicago by his job. He was a great host, and she got to make sure her baby brother was settled. And bought him a few things for his apartment.

I love tulips, and was pleasantly surprised to find that on the Magnificent Mile tulips were in bloom. The colors were so vibrant, and really seem to announce that it is springtime. The tulips last the entire month of May.

We also went to the top of the Sears Tower, yes I know the name has been changed (but we're still calling it by it's formerly known as name.) I wonder if it's less crowded on weekdays. Unfortunately, I only had my phone so I don't have great pictures. The attached photo is one taken while I was in the tower.

Always Thinking about Blogging

I just don't get around to it, and it isn't because I'm not at the computer. Oh well, I'm here now.

Job/Work
I work at night while many people (my earlybird friends) are asleep. On my off days...I am asleep before midnight. I should keep my schedule the same on my off days, but I don't. Ahh the only person that I am killing is myself with that. Get to the point Remnants...

Besides this schedule, one of the things that I hate about my job is also one of the things that I really like. Yes, I am an example of true conflict. Since I work on the weekend, I work alone Saturday & Sunday. Well, there is another dept that is in the building, but I have a whole floor to myself, and the other dept. doesn't have access without without me letting them in. So you can imagine the near heart attacks I've had when someone is in the office unexpectedly. Like the other night when I was arguing with the soda machine and or my wrinkled dollar bill. And suddenly I hear a rustling noise. I freeze to make sure I heard something. (Wouldn't do good in a scary movie. LOL) And one of my co-workers pops out of his cube and asks do I need some change. I'm not sure if I was more embarassed about talking to myself or that he scared me because I thought I was alone. It could have been worse though...his cube is on the way to the ladies room.

Oh the point...yeah, I like the quiet & the ability to work at my own pace during the 1am to 4am hours before my phone starts ringing. But what I hate about it is when something breaks...all hell breaks loose and I have no one to help me. Also in the back of my mind I think that if I am the ONLY one that is scheduled to be there...I should own it. Yeah I have to work on that, because I didn't go back school & finally finish to arrive here.

Taking one day at a time.

A Little Bit 'o Snow

Here in the Atlanta area it is snowing. I am not complaining because I know DC has about 56 inches so far this year. But I needed a title so there it is.

I'm sure my neighbors think I'm ghetto as hell today, but I work in a 24/7 center and I HAVE to go to work tonight. So I found an old comforter & a sheet that I didn't even realize that I had any more. Noooo Remmy you didn't! Yes I did...I put them over my car windows. Because I don't have an ice scraper & any extra time needs to be spent driving slowly to work. I miss having a garage. Really I do.

The Toyota situation worries me. No I don't own a Toyota, but I drive in Atlanta and; is it the pothole capitol? The other day when traffic was hitting brakes ahead of me I looked in my rear view mirror to make sure there wasn't a Toyota or Lexus behind me. And THEN I focused on stopping. Wasn't worried about a Mack truck being behind me. And those can weigh 10x what my car does. Well if one had been behind me I would have been worried, but who said I have rational thoughts.

Yumm! My slow cooker is bubbling...I'm making chili. I think my son may stay here when he gets off from work. So at this point even if the weather gets better, he knows I have chili simmering in the crock pot. I guess I have to share. That's what happens when you have a big mouth. No, I need him to come eat some, because a pot of chili and just me eating it. I would be eating it for at least a week. Like it...don't want to hate it.

Well, I'm going to walk the D-O-G. I will not fall, I will not fall.

What! Oprah was cancelled so they can report on the snow? For an hour? And then the news comes on for an hour? Give me a break you don't have to report it non-stop.

Double Time

I am not the most organized person. Ok I am far from "most" organized. I need to work on organization, mainly here at home. Probably should be working on it now instead of blogging.

I like to find shortcuts to make my job easier. I don't want to cut corners, but I want to use the tools that I have to make my job efficient. If we use an application/software and it provides the information needed for a report, then use that tool & extract the info. You want me to type A, B & C 5 times in 5 different places because you can't flip to page 3. Ohhh!

So I have to set up some templates & a few queries, and present them to an inept person.

I could really draw this rant out...but I have to go pick up my son from work.

Fortunately our cars are on different schedules. Now mine is fixed & his is having issues so we have 1 working car between the 2 of us.

Keeping Current

I try to watch the news and or read news online. But if I am going to NOT be depressed, I am going to have to avoid both.

Everything on the news is showing the devastation in Haiti, which is so depressing to me. I think the fact that so many people are willing to contribute & donate is great. But hearing about people not know if family member are alive, or hearing that they just found out all or most of their family died. Makes me so sad.

So I read the local news and I read about 2 boys that have recently died. The 1st one was I think 12 years old. He died climbing into his bunkbed. How? A stray bullet from some idiots outside shooting. The other one was 18 years old and his mother is waiting for an autopsy; he apparently died in his sleep. But I always get sad when I hear that a child has died. I know 18 years old I wouldn't call him a child to his face, but he is younger than my son...To me he's a child.

I am thankful for my life & today before I read the sad news...I spent a quiet day with my son & his roommate. We watched a DVD & I beat them in dominoes. LOL! OK I ended on a positive note. AND I ate spinach today...Vegetables...sticking with one of my 2010 goals.

Let's Do It Again, Randomness

I didn't make any resolutions for 2010. But I have a list in my head of somethings that I must do, regarding health, career & finances. I do have to get serious & buckle down. I must get back into study mode, because I need to work towards getting certifications to advance in my career.

Wow, those Saints are whipping the Cardinals.

I need to eat more fresh vegetables, but I always seem to let something go bad. Avocados for instance...I love them. It seems they are always not ripe enough when I am ready to eat them & I forget for a few days...then I have an over ripe mess.

My landlord annoys me so much. She always tells me at the last minute when maintenance/exterminator is coming. Well at least today I had about 8 hours notice. She's getting better. I live in a duplex so I have one neighbor that has the same landlord and they can't stand each other. Both of them can't wait until the lease is over in maybe March. I don't think my landlord realizes that I can't wait for my lease to be over too. I smile in her face....am I a backstabber? Umm I don't want the next 7 months to be totally miserable. I can see her making it unbearable if she realized that I don't like her. So I just play nice for now & smile.

I guess my random blog wouldn't be normal if I didn't have a comment about my dog. Not sure why he's started taking a few pieces of food out of his bowl to the carpet to eat. Then he leaves them there. Yeah he's an odd D-O-G.

It's 2010, y'all!

I was talking to a friend that I've known since elementary school, and when we were little if you had mentioned this year...We imagined that we would be living like the Jetsons. Yep, flying cars and all. Oh, how I could use a Rosie in my life. (That was the robot maid's name wasn't it.)

I didn't make any resolutions. I just have a list of a few things in my head that I must do, and a few things that I am going to try to do better. I know that is the easy way out. But I have to do what works for me.

I am working on a vision board...Well, it's on my laptop, because I do look at that more than anything, it's going to be my background. So once I get it together, then maybe I will do a traditional one.

Wouldn't you know, I start the year off with a rather random post. Ahh, that's me Random Remnants. And I guess I am going to end it with a bit of a rant.

My neighbors have 2 outside dogs, that are chained to their dog houses in the back yard. I feel bad for them, but I assume they have always been outside dogs. They get loose once in awhile, but they seem to stay close even if they are on the outside of the fence. At some point they got a little poodle mix. It seemed to be the pet for their little girl, I guess she's about 10 years old. I call it the yappy dog, because it always barks. Well, they are at a point where it seems the novelty has worn off & yappy is outside in the yard more often than inside it seems. In this frigid weather, so I am beginning to feel sorry for the dog. But my blood is boiling, because I have seen the little girl outside walking, playing with a little black fluffy puppy.

OK things don't always work out as planned. Maybe the poodle wasn't the best fit for them. Maybe the 10 year old isn't old enough to really be responsible for a dog. Maybe they are too busy to housetrain, take time for a dog. But please, find another home for the dog that didn't work out. And wait until you can take care of another dog properly. Because when the cute little fuzzy black puppy isn't a puppy anymore what happens? Four dog houses with dogs outside? I think our summers are too hot for some dogs to be outside chained up & at the moment it's too cold for them to be chained outside too.

Well, one of my try to do better for 2010 plans is to eat more vegetables...So let me go check on my red beans... I wonder how long my diet plans will last?

Customer Service on the Phone

Have you ever made a call, gone through menu after menu which includes entering your account #, to finally get a person and they ask...FOR THE ACCOUNT#? Arrh! That annoys me still, but not as much it did before I worked in a call center.

There are sooo many things that can affect whether the person gets the info you entered or not. From the company not using all of the technology correctly, to a major outage from their phone provider, to short wrap up times between calls. So if the person doesn't answer the phone & say "Hello Ms. Remnants, how may I help you?" Then usually ask them what do they need to help me. Sometimes the account #, or maybe the reason for my call. The call can go smoother if they can go through their own menus and ask you for the info as they get to it.

One thing that I didn't know before I worked in a call center is that if the company has the right technology a call center an be a great place for blind or visually impaired people to work. I am soo in aww of the blind people that I worked with, because they have to listen to the computer in one ear & the customer in the other. They have to remember how many times to tab to certain places to enter info & just memorize so much that I just depend on my sight to do. But they pretty much had to meet the same goals that those of us that could see did.

I know I've called somewhere & there was a rude person on the phone, especially in those companies that once they have you locked into a contract they don't have to work to keep loyal customers. Can you say Cable Companies, Ricky? But I guess I try to be pleasant even when I have a major issue, like waiting during that half day window & the technician hasn't called or come.

I could probably go another 10 paragraphs on scenarios & situations, but I'm off to see a movie.

I do have to say again that I am in aww of my blind coworkers. Because they used to deal with some of the same rude people that I would talk to. I had a hard time concentrating when a person just talked & talked while I tried to complete some of the more difficult requests. So that listening to different things in each ear just wouldn't work for me a deeply dependent on my vision with my glasses or contacts person that I am.

Movies, Movies, Movies!

Over the past 2 weeks I have gone to the movies to see. a) Everybody's Fine, b) Up in the Air, c) Did you here about the Morgans? & d) Armored.

Why these movies? There really are quite a few more that I want to see. I guess they each had an actor I like for one reason or another, well, one of the movies...I just really needed to see black people after those choices. LOL Actually, I knew about Armored before the others, but I saw trailers and added them to my list. I didn't realize that Sam Elliott was in 2 movies until I saw them. He's another actor that I enjoy seeing.

If it wasn't for the $5 matinee before noon...I wouldn't go so much. But I need to make sure that when I go to another theater that isn't my normal stop. I should know the matinee price & hours. Also theaters don't advertise when they change prices or times for the bargain matinee so I guess I should check often.
a) I liked the trailers & and I am a fan of R. De Niro. The movie was ok. It's your normal holiday family with issues movie. Just the kind of mix that I like funny moments, serious moments & happy moments. The entertainment that I needed.

b) Another movie that after seeing the trailers & the lead actor, I just had to watch. I thought that the fact that some of the people used in the firing scenes had actually been fired recently was interesting. It also doesn't totally follow the “Hollywood” formula. I enjoyed it, it won't be a classic in my book. I am sure that there is someone more deserving of an award for best actor, but I'm not voting so what I think doesn't matter.

c) c)Well, obviously Mr. Grant is in this one...I must have wanted to see a romantic comedy. Guy does something stupid, guy loses girl, girl & guy work it out, guy gets girl in the end. No, I didn't ruin the ending for you. You know the formula...But I liked the movie. And Sarah outside of New York city was funny.

d) Diversity in the cast. Oh boy! I don't think that it was entirely believable but it was entertaining and a good movie overall. Bad guys never prosper & the hero does. :-)

Randomness again

I have started quite a few posts. It's the finishing part that hasn't happened, so I'll just be random.

The weekend of Dec. 5th I had a great birthday & attended another friend's surprise party. I was in my home state of Texas. I stayed with one of my best friends that I have known since Jr. High. So we were celebrating birthdays for those of us OVER 45.

I didn't realize how much I missed seeing burnt orange & white for the Real UT, the University of Texas; because here in GA I don't see many people in Texas jerseys; hats etc., it's always the other UT.

I waited until the last minute take my car for its emissions test & it didn't pass. Can't get my tags until it does. The parts cost more than I can afford right now. Ugh...

Sometimes I feel like I have stepped so far backwards in my life.

My landlord is a lunatic...not just my opinion. I live in a duplex & my neighbor says our landlord is the devil.

Maybe my next post will be more coherent.

Really an Award?

I saw the movie "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" the Saturday that it opened in Atlanta. I typically don't do reviews, because I am afraid I'll give something away. And I also don't feel that I write well enough to do reviews. I think I tweeted that Monique did an amazing job. I almost tweeted that Mariah won't win any awards, but she did ok. However, I decided to be nice. Her role was important, but she didn't have as much screen time as some of the other characters.

But when I saw this article I had to write something. I really do not know much about the award, but if it is for someone new to acting, well Gabby Sidibe should win it. Or if it is only for a new actor in a supporting role then any one of her classmates should get an award. And Paula Patton as Ms. Rains had a more significant role than MC as Mrs. Weiss, and did a good job.

What did MC do that was so amazing? Should she get an award because she didn't wear makeup? Oh maybe because she wore drab clothes? It seems to me whenever someone praises her performance they stop just short of saying she did a Plain Jane so well. The role was definitely more noteworthy than her previous role, but please wait until she does something more signifcant before giving her an award.

Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Save Now

I got a laugh out of this, I hope you do too!

Randomness & things that make me go Hmmm

When did compound cuss words become common? Namely the word bitchassidness (my spelling) I have seen it spelled different ways; and think it is a very relevant term. I just wonder why I am stuck in single syllable cuss word hell.

When exactly did companies start making the bulk of their profit on fees, instead of just whatever they charge for their service etc.? And or requiring a contract instead of providing the best customer service to keep customers?

Why do people think that only voting in the "Big" elections is the thing to do? Don't they know that voting in the local elections is just as important? Especially if having enough police to control crime or keeping enough firemen employed to protect us & our property is important to them.

Is all publicity good publicity? Example of the week...Katt Williams.

I have to start somewhere

I blog in my head all the time...but it never makes it to the computer. There are so many things that I have running through my head. So today I guess this will be a very random post.

Fort Hood, TX was practically home for me as a child. My parents bought their house in the city just outside of the base. But everything we did was on Fort Hood. I took swimming lessons & went swimming at an indoor pool on base. All my medical care was at Darnell. I went to movies there...I can't really remember the 1st time I went to a movie off base, but I remember thinking "Did I miss the National Anthem?" According to my son...movies on a military installation still have the "National Anthem" before the movie starts. We went grocery shopping at the commissary, and also did other shopping at the PX.

I went to the only Catholic school in town, and some of my friends lived on base. One of my best friends lived near this field that we really shouldn't have been playing in at times, but we did and we could see the imprints in the grass where helicopters had landed.

My father's funeral was in a chapel on Post. The service is actually a blur in my memory, but I do remember the drive to the cemetery, and I remember the soldiers in uniform stopping & saluting the procession as we went by.

I lived on post when I was married. My son learned to walk in the house his dad & I lived in there. And as an adult he went through training & the processing that soldiers go through on there way overseas.

So someone shot our soldiers & civilians working on the post that I once called home. I have fond, happy & some sad memories there. But the families of those that were shot & injured or killed there, will just have awful memories about the largest military installation in Texas. That their family member was killed or injured there while still in the US.

They are in my prayers...

Maybe its the rain

It seems like the day I wake up not feeling certain aspects of my job is the day that I get to work & everything is broke, no really stuff ain't working...I have a funky e-mail from my supervisor, and if he had read/addressed the e-mail I sent a few days before then funky would not have been necessary. I make a phone call to some one in another department; introduce myself & get "What are you calling me for?" The statement itself wasn't bad, but it was HOW he said it. Breathe count to 5...

I still have over 4 long hours to go...Can I do it without strangling someone?

Random Friday

Who's smarter me or my dog...my dog or my last boyfriend?
When I put my running shoes on my dog gets excited, because he equates that with going somewhere, walk, car ride to possibly walk somewhere new etc. I was going to do some yardwork so I put the running shoes on in the bathroom (out of D-O-G's view). Then I went into the garage & opened the car door to get my sunglasses and he jumped in ready to go. (He doesn't jump in the car everytime I open the door.)

Did he notice the shoes? Hmm, if so he was more observant than my last boyfriend...Sooo, I took him for a short ride. Back window down just enough for him to stick his head out...He was a happy dog, he did look at me funny when I pulled back into the garage. Hey it was a 10 minute drive. I needed to get my yard done before it starts to rain.

I still didn't answer the question, maybe the D-O-G is smarter than both humans.

What is playing in my head

I didn't realize how much I missed Maxwell.

Thank you Cell Provider...I Won't be late!

We just sprang forward to daylight savings time. And the news reports that I watched said to change the clocks at 2:00am; and I may have changed mine at midnight in the past. But who in the 7734...(remember that one from childhood?) changes the time at or before 10:30pm? My cell phone provider that's who.

I use my cell phone as an alarm. Actually, everything that is on my schedule is in the phone. Or I just might not make it on time (or at all) if it isn't in the phone. So as scheduled my alarm went off at 10:30pm, and I got up and took a shower and dressed for work. Gathered my lunch/breakfast & was off to work.

I do notice people at the bus stop, and think that is an unusual amount of people for 11:45pm, does the bus still run this late? Oh well, it is a Saturday night, so maybe. Ok next stoplight, I look at my car clock...why does it say 10:45? Oh, yes...I haven't changed my car clock...so why does my cell phone say 11:45? I am sooo confused. So I stop at the convenience store...I need coffee anyway. OK my receipt says 10:45pm...I am going home, sooo not ready to be at work an hour early...This is not my favorite shift anyway.

But who changes the time before midnight? Please tell me t...mob...ile... Y, just Y?

I was wrong!

It's been 4 years and I thought he was Chinese, but nooo he's actually Japanese. I guess I can blame the Dr. well the vet. Yes, I am talking about my D-O-G, not a person. I guess it was the black tongue. He is by no means a full bred anything. He became a member of my family because a friend had 2 female dogs and too many puppies. He might be a combination of both, because his hair can grow long and he has that look like a lion. But the long snout always made me doubt his chowness as well as his size. He is smaller than a chow. I believe that he is part Shiba Inu.

When I was reading the information about the temperment of the Shiba Inu...I thought OH this is D-O-G. I think I read that they are born practically house broken...which amazed me about my dog. Once he learned where "OUT" was he was pretty much house broken. That took almost no work...Also when I read that they are fastidious and almost like cats about grooming...I thought wow that is my dog. I don't know how many times I have awaken to hear him in the corner just licking himself, paws & all.

Fortunately he doesn't have a high pitched scream that it appears the Shiba have...but like I said he isn't full blooded anything. Finally, this article/advertisement had me in tears (laughing), because I could relate. I already knew that if I wash him at home I needed to use the smallest bathroom in the house..or outside must stay on the patio..Want clean dog. When I could afford it I took him to a groomer. But now we can't afford that, so I try to go to the self-service dog wash...I can stand up & wash him, and there are hooks & restraints to help keep him in place.

It's good that I think I now know what my mutt really is. But I love him whether he is Chinese or Japanese, or both.

FYI that is a baby pic at the top...

It's Georgia Y'all!

I watched the weather last night, and yes they said there would be snow flurries. But this isn't the North Georgia Mountains...I just thought I would see a few flying through the air. I thought driving might be a challenge. But this is ridiculous.
I kept hearing thumping on my roof...I thought tree parts were falling. Not tree parts yet, but clumps of snow are falling of the pine tree branches.
I didn't sign up for this. It is March and I don't like snow. It's Sunday a snow day and I don't get to play hooky from work. Bummer...Just a few weekends ago, people were riding their motorcycles & had their convertible tops down. I am not a winter person. I don't care if my birthday is in December. I DON'T LIKE COLD WEATHER! It's March I am conditioned for springtime.

Springtime where are you? I need you.

This time last year

Last year if the president was giving an address to Congress...I would have been trying to find a TV station that did NOT have the address on. Gee now that I actually like our president...I will be watching the entire address.

I did see the View this morning talking about the Grammar police picking apart President Obama's speech. I think that during his term their job is VERY easy. So what if he mixes up his "I" & "me"'s...Grammar Police...get a real job!

Everything Seems so unimportant

I was on the internet trying to find some information, and discovered that one of my son's former classmates died about 7 months ago. According to the obituary it was the day after his 21st birthday.

I always get sad when I read about the death of our soldiers, especially when they are young. I tend to worry about (I guess I will call him the Pvt. ) since he is in the Army and overseas. He isn't in Iraq or Afghanistan although his job has had him in the latter on 1 or 2 missions.

The young man that was his classmate died from liver disease. He was ill when they were in high school, and had a liver transplant I think shortly after they graduated, but I think that liver didn't work and he was on the transplant list again before he died.

I was worried about some really unimportant things, or at least after finding an obituary of a very bright young man...I realized how unimportant they were.

A Penny & My Thoughts

• Why do idiots in cars speed up the minute I turn on my blinker to get over a lane or 2.
• I missed my exit earlier, passed a guy with a broken down van.
• Passed him again...black smoke, flames shooting from the hood. Not good, been there, no fun!
• Today was beautiful, it was sunny & 66 degrees (my kind of weather)
• Went to see that movie that gives dating advice, my friend & I enjoyed it. She read the book, I haven't. It had a very "Hollywood" ending. I wonder if the authors liked the changes.
• I think it's funny to see billboards of competing companies next to each other
• The 2 airlines that are headquartered here have quite a few dueling billboards LOL
• Should I be upset when the only compliment about how I looked the other day was from my blind coworker?
  
• I saw my doctor in the mall today, my friend wanted to know why I didn't introduce him to her. Well he didn't ask...Maybe he's Just Not...Yeah we used that statement for the rest of the day
• I saw my favorite author (Pearl Cleage) today in a restaurant, actually we spoke to each other, so cool, so cool LOL

Happy Inauguration Day!

I watched the ceremony today with my son that is home visiting from overseas. I do wish I could have been there in DC witnessing the ceremony in person, but I hate cold weather. So being at home with the heat on makes me happy, too. And when I didn't particularly like the view etc. I just changed the channel.

One of the more memorable moments while we watched it was when they mentioned that President Obama (ooh President that sounds soo good) is the Commander in Chief, I turned to my son and asked, "Wow how does it feel to have a black Commander in Chief?" We both smiled & laughed. I also thought about the fact that my father joined the Army when it was still segregated, and wonder what he would have thought if he were alive today. For me today it was exciting & bittersweet to think about those that didn't get to live to see this day.

Any comments about what this day means to you, or your friends & family?

Conversations with my Toaster

Now that my son is away, it is just me and the Dee Oh Gee. Aww what the heck, I was talking to Dee Oh Gee even before my son left. He is a very good listener though.

Even though he is 4 yrs old, he is still quite a hyper dog. When I let him out and he is ready to come in he jumps on the door & I herar is paws hit the door. Many times I yell to him..."I'll get you in a minute Dee Oh Gee!" And then he waits about a minute & jumps & hits the door again. Although this particular time when I looked outside he wasn't near the door he was at the end of the yard near the tree.

Oh, that sound....wow...I guess that was my piece of toast popping out of the toaster. It does sound like his claws on the door. Hmm am I crazy if I talk to inanimate objects in the house? Ahh, don't answer that ;-)

She seems smart otherwise

Sometimes it seems that that women that appear strong in some areas are fools in love.

There is this woman that I work with that will call a person out with their BS. But her live in boyfriend has not worked for almost 2 years. I know the economy & job market are difficult out there, but I know people that have been laid off of different jobs. But they find a new one & work until they get laid off again.

And based on hearing her end of the conversations on the phone, in regard to either applications being filled out or a possible interview, it really sounds like he gives lame excuses. So when I hear her say something like "He didn't really want to do that." And I know it's a company that has good benefits it's hard to keep my eyes from rolling. However, I don't know her as well as other people in the department. She is someone that doesn't take advice.

Also, the other day she was on the phone again with a close friend of hers, and I may be wrong but it sounded like her boyfriend may have gotten someone else pregnant during one of their short break-ups.

He has her car while she is at work, and the more I hear "He wants to go shopping...He thinks such and such" The more annoyed I get. It is her life, but like I said she seems so smart otherwise.

I am no relationship expert, especially since I am not in one right now. But that whole situation just floors me. Rather than gossip about her, I am just waiting to see if I am wrong about someone else being pregnant about her out of work boyfriend.

I Miss This

I haven't written in soo long. My excuse was that I had school and studying. However, I am done. I then wanted to "relax" my brain. I occasionally read some blogs, but not all that often. Some of my favorites seem to have taken a break, or quit. And I have been gone so long, that others are password protected, so I feel that maybe I have been gone too long.

So, I am back, and will post at least once a week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What was I doing at 10:30 this morning? One of my favorite things, I went to a movie...yes I know it's early, but that is the only time that the matinee only costs $5.00.

I went to see "This Christmas" and I enjoyed it. It was centered around a family for the holidays and the secrets that some of the family members had. It had its comedic moments without the "slapstick buffoonery"that so many comedies have. Although the girl fight in the rain...well, I guess that was for the men. LOL The dramatic scenes about each of the characters made the movie complete. I must say Regina King did a great job, and she has me "thinking" about working out...but with first I have a big dinner to eat. :-)

I read a few critics comments about the movie that weren't very favorable about it. However, after seeing the movie, I realized that he mis-stated some of the information. He gets paid for being a critic, you would think he could get info about the story right.

This Thanksgiving, I am very thankful for being able to go to the movies, and later enjoy a great meal later with family and friends. I have a lot to be thankful about. I hope you enjoy your holiday!

More Thoughts

on a recent movie that I have seen. Go..ne B.ab..y Gone

There were some typical hollywood moments and outcomes in this movie. However, it really surprised me. Morgan Freeman did an amazing job as the police captain (not surprising.) Who would think Ben Affleck would do such a good job writing & directing this. I think I read a review that it was his directorial debut. But he did direct another movie.

I never really do a synopsis of the movie because I am afraid of giving something away. The trailer of course shows that it is about a private detective that helps investigate the kidnapping of a toddler. Even though he doesn't have experience in that type of case, family members hire him because the local people won't cooperate with the police.

One of the lines in the movie that I remember (not sure I am quoting it exactly right) "Murder is a sin...it depends on who you do it to."

That statement for me is the key to at least one of the moral dilemmas in this film. (I think that in an overview of the film it has another tagline, but I focused on that one.) I watch so many movies that I tend to know how it will end before the 1st or second scene is over. This one surprised me. The moral dilemmas that this presents tears relationships apart, and I think is a very good discussion point for those that like to debate or at least have an interesting conversation.

I hope that if you watch the movie, you will let me know what you think.

What's Good?

If anybody is still around to read my blog, you may know that I like to watch movies. I wil start with two tha I watched one a few weeks ago when it 1st came out, and one today on DVD.

Why 2 you ask? Well, because a reporter compared the 2 when interviewing Tyl..er Per. ry. OK you guessed it the 1st one is "Why did I G.et Mar. rie.d" I went to see it the Friday that it came out...matinee of course.

I enjoyed it. Why? Well, because all the men in it looked GOOD! Umm the sheriff, oh yeah, the movie. I think it covered many of the personalities that one might find in a group of 8 or so people. And in Tyle.r Per..ry fashion, he had humor mixed with the moments that had eyes watering, and the conclusion with a message.

I think the can be a catalyst for some great discussions about communication, relationships and honesty or lack of honesty. In my opinion the best performances were of Sheila, Mike & Angela. So if you haven't seen it, you will have to in order to know who the actors are that played those characters.

The second movie is one that I watched because one or two reporters, critics compared it to (what some call a classic) "The Big Chill." The comparison was because they are both in the comedy/drama genre? oh yes about collge friends getting together. Hmmm ok, whatever.

I have to admit that since I was at home, the second movie didn't have my full attention at some points, so I did get some of the characters confused once or twice. But what did I really like about movie 2 you ask? What might make me watch it again? The sound track. There were quite a few Motown classics in it from the Temptations, to Smokey Robinson, to Aretha Franklin, and one of the songs my dad & I used to sing together...sit down please, you may not believe this one. "Jeremiah was a Bull Frog" ok the real title is "Joy to the World" but just so you realize we weren't singing Christmas Carols. LOL I know all the words...Didn't understand them then..now I realize why my mom was so irritated with us when we sang it, but it was fun.

"...never understood a single word he said, but I helped him drink his wine
and he always had some mighty fine wine.

Joy to the world... Ok flash back is over. :-)

Helloooo!

Not sure if anyone cares, because it appears I fell off the face of the earth. There are days when I have a subject to blog about in my head, and then I forget when I get in front of my computer. Or I have some homework to do...but for as long as I have been away, you would think I am ahead in all my classes making straight A's. Ha! It seems I am always doing everything at the last minute.

But I think I need to squeeze in a little blogging at least once a week. If only to clear the thoughts in my head.

I feel better now...Well a little better anyway

I am having one of those days. It started off wrong when I got to work and realized that the scheduling people had me down for the wrong time. I know it's them & not me because I have an e-mail detailing what it should be. However, it is the weekend, so they weren't available...I know human error, but I had already spent so much time trying to get this straight, and it still isn't.

And then as the day went by of course other little things were magnified just that much more...so when I realized that the gas light was on in this car that I am driving I was ANNOYED. I am using a friend's car because she needed to borrow my practical 4 door car for a bit. And her car seems to DRINK the gas. But as I was pulling off from the gas pump...I thought...damn! Remmy make the best of this. It's a freakin' convertible. USE IT!

So after securing my papers...the documention of the incorrect schedule. :-) I put the top down and rode with my hair blowing in the wind. Whew! it felt good.

Aunt Arthritis & Mrs. Hip Replacement

The title might suggest that these ladies are slow and have a hard time getting around. Well, yes, they move a little slow, and it takes them longer to get in and out of a car. However, I am 43 and they are 70+. But I have a feeling that I won't be able to keep up with them in some ways.

What made me come to that conclusion? Well, I had to go to the store for them. They sent me to get a bottle of E&J VSOP, not the little bottle, and not just one bottle. Well, it was one bottle one for each of them. :-) They are the mother and aunt of one of my friends, and I volunteered to run some errands while she was at work. They are visiting her for a few weeks. And I have a feeling that neither of us will be able to keep up. Thank goodness we have a little something that slows them down...the canes...so we can take a breath as we wait for them to walk from te car to the door etc.

Helloooo! Is anyone out there?!

I have been gone for awhile...School has kept me busy. I didn't realize how much I wasn't doing (besides work & studying) until, I came back here & saw my last post & started catching up on some of my favorite bloggers. And considering that I didn't get straight A's; maybe I should have taken a break now & then. I got 1 A & mostly B's & a C.

Well, I have a few weeks off until summer school, and I think I have a few noteworthy posts in me. Now that I don't HAVE to write according to MLA standards. Geesh if I had 1 more research paper to write, I think my head would have exploded.

So I am off to get a pedicure before work, and hopefully, I can recall some of the postworthy thoughts that I had while studying.

Oh, yes, and I added a button on the side for the "Webtender"; so during my break...I may be trying 1 or 2 new drinks. :-)

New Favorite

I've recently discovered how much I like Joss Stone. I think my new favorite song is "Right to be Wrong" She has a beautiful voice. I haven't really heard her sing anything that I don't like.
She has a voice that is much more mature than most the 19 year olds.

Unfortunately, I don't know how to attach a music file to my post, because if I did you would be able to listen to her sing.

Busy, But Alive and Well

Work and school has kept me very busy. I haven't even really been able to keep up on my reading of blogs either.

Even my spring break was full. I had to work, but I had visitors. A friend of mine that had been here maybe 10 years ago, brought her daughters during their spring break. And the day they left I went to lunch with another friend & her husband that were in town with their daughter who was touring colleges. It's funny how both of these people hadn't been to Atlanta in years, and they both come in the same year.

Not much has changed, the D-O-G is still spoiled. As a matter of fact, I have a feeling that he has claimed the guest room as his room now. LOL

I finally bought a bed for it just before my visitors arrived. The other morning when I came out of my bedroom, he wasn't at my door to greet me. So I called his name, and he didn't run up the stairs, as he has done in the past. So when I walked into the room, he jumped up surprised, from where? The middle of the bed. That mattress must have been oh so comfortable for him.
I have to get some sleep, but I am going to try to post regularly.

Just a little update

It seems like there a major assignment due in every class that I have.

Although Saturday I was able to squeeze in some fun.

I went to the mall and lunch with my mom. And returned home to sleep in my own bed. Yeah, yeah so what people do that every day, right? Well, she lives over 500 miles away in Virginia.
Maybe next time I will be able to stay longer. But I was able to fly there in the morning and caught an evening flight home.

We had calamari, and she tasted first, and then asked what it was. I paused before I told her. I'm glad she liked it. I had to promise that I wouldn't say "Taste this" and then inform her that it was snails. LOL That was NOT a difficult promise to make, because I won't be eating that myself.

I apologize for the brevity and rambling post...so I will go to bed now.

I hope your Valentine's Day was great!

100 Things About Me (Pt. 1)

I have been working on this for awhile, so here is the 1st fifty.

1. I was an only child
2. My mom was an only child.
3. I went to Catholic elementary school.
4. I was raised Catholic, but as an adult I attend a non-denominational church.
5. I lived in Germany before I started school.
6. I grew up in Texas.
7. I was an Army brat.
8. I was an Army wife.
9. I am now an Army mom.
10. I was an Air Force Reservist.
11. I was a brownie and a girl scout.
12. I had dogs growing up, but not house dogs.
13. In states that I have lived more than 2 years I have lived in the Capitol city.
14. My 1st major in college in the 80's was interior design.
15. I like to go to new subdivisions and look at the model homes.
16. I love peanut butter & other nut flavors like almond, but I will not eat nuts
17. I was hit by a car once.
18. I like power tools.
19. I love to go to the movies
20. One of my cars burned up on the side of the highway.
21. I used to take ballet & tap when I was little.
22. I was The Little Red Hen in a school play.
23. I wanted to be a nurse when I was young; now I get queasy when I see blood.
24. I have only hospitalized 3 times; once includes when my son was born.
25. I don't mind shots (vaccinations), but can't stand IV's.
26. I wear contact lenses.
27. My uncorrected eyesight is so bad, I am almost considered legally blind.
28. I lived in Texas 22 years and never crossed the border to Mexico when I lived there.
29. I have been to Mexico 2 times in the past 3 years.
30. My favorite color is purple.
31. My favorite sport to watch is football.
32. I am not good at any type of sport.
33. I love warm weather.
34. My favorite car is almost any convertible.
35. I wear a size 7 1/2 shoe.
36. In the summer I hate to wear socks, love sandals.
37. In the winter I love to wear boots.
38. I have a major crush on Her.m.an Ed.war.ds coach of the KC.Ch.iefs.
39. I was on the ROTC rifle team in high school (drill team, not marksman).
40. I was also on the drill team (dance, with the marching band) in high school.
41. My S.A.T. score was the reason I got my college scholarship when I graduated high school.
42. I met Bar.ba.ra Jo.rdan.
43. I have been to the St.at.ue of Lib.er.ty.
44. My favorite band of all time is EWF.
45. I love Mexican food and I make a mean guacamole.
46. I can not make a good gravy or sauce of any kind.
47. One of the few things that I can make from scratch without a recipe, I learned from my dad.
48. I am a big fan of Den.zel Was.hin.g.ton.
49. I love seafood.
50. I like to travel and wish I could do it more.

¡Silencio, por favor!

Information overload. I guess there has always been background music when you are out, in stores or some public places. That evolved into commercials, or maybe an announcement that something is on sale in the store.

Even at the gas pump I have heard commercials over the speaker. However, recently I have been going to a gas station that has TV screens at each pump. Basically it's commercials, and the advertising for the gas station that I am already pumping gas...is a waste of time and money IMHO. It also had a traffic update, but I had zoned out, so it was going off when I realized that it was information that I could use.

It seems that no matter where I go there are tv screens with news or some sort of advertisement. When I rode the train into town to work...TV's were on the train, actually they were also on the bus.

Where can I go for a little bit of silence?

A Grave Mistake

I am not sure that if I was walking past a cemetary & I heard someone screaming for help that I would even stop. I'd probably run faster than I ever had in my life. LOL

I also can not understand why someone would want to knock over grave markers. But this guy got at least some of what he deserved. Here is the story.

Twenty-One Years Eight Months

Do you think that is a long time? Yes? No?

If I said that was the age of a soldier that died in war. "He died too young." Not a very long time on earth. So it seems like a short time, especially to me a 43 year old.

But when I say that was how long a man was in jail, and for a rape that he did not commit. OMG! That is a very, very long time. Here is a link to the story.
He is now 44 years old, and he was in jail for half his life. Fortunately, there was DNA from the crime, and the DNA tests were done to free him.

Doing the happy dance!

It's Friday! Not much going on here, not sure why Friday made me do the happy dance. It's not like I have a long work week anymore. I have quite a bit of homework I need to finish this weekend. I guess it comes from years of working Mon-Fri, so it's habit. LOL

I do start a part-time job next week. It has been ages since I was paid an hourly wage, and my hours ain't paying much. But I am excited, and I will have to manage my time better.

I did make it to the Aquarium for a short visit, and I must go back. I can because I have season ticket. I had to take my picture and meet a friend for lunch, so I was probably only there for an hour. I must say that standing under the walkway that had the whale sharks swimming over was pretty exciting. As I looked up the theme from jaws kept running through my head. Maybe I am a little strange.

Have a great weekend!

I'm just not in the mood!

Ok, maybe I am a witch...It's been a 12 hour day.

I was playing voicemail tag with a friend of mine. (We've known each other since, jr. high.) I knew that when I heard the message, and her grandbaby was saying call us, that I would wait until I thought grandbaby was in bed. Damn! I forgot they are in a different time zone.

I had the pleasure of starting the phone call talking to the 2 year old.

Me: Hello!

2 yr. old: Hello!

Me: How are you?

2 yr. old: lkj aig veb ub ub.

Me: Saying "Hey there Where is grandmom? " Me Thinking "Why aren't you in bed?"

2yr old: more unintelligible baby talk.

Ok, I won't take you through anymore of my painful phone call. Oh, except when she finally got on the phone she said (in her most proud grandmom voice) You got to take to "grandbaby"

Me: Saying "Yes, I guess he is getting to be a big boy." Me thinking "Yip(frikin)ee! Shouldn't he be in bed? Dammit!"

OK, I love them both...but I just wasn't in the mood.

Yes, I know you are thinking, "Shouldn't YOU be in bed?"

Thanks, I am going now. Sleep tight!

What are you doing to live the dream?

That was the question asked today by Atlanta's mayor. I feel like I should have done more than sit home and watch the celebration of Dr. M. L. King, Jr. Day on T.V.

I had planned to volunteer, but didn't take the time to register last week. I could have at least gone to the parade.

I know that there are many things that need to change, especially living here in the south. Although, Atlanta is different than some of the Georgia towns that aren't many miles away.

However, I must say that as a child growing up in the south (Texas) in the 70's, I benefited greatly from the sacrifices made by Dr. King and the many others that endured water hoses, and hate filled crowds to just do go to school, or to be able to sit where ever they wanted.

I have been on buses, trains & airplanes. Why is it that as children the seats on the back of the bus were the most coveted? LOL I have witnessed black men keeping their seat as white women had to stand; and then he gave his seat to a black woman. That tends to bring a smile to my face...am I wrong for that? I have even had the pleasure of sitting in 1st class on an airplane. Don't hate both times were for 45 minute flights, but it sure was nice. ;-)

And those are just the minor things. I do have to make it a point to volunteer more this year, especially since I didn't on this a "Day on, not a day off."

4 Bucks

I went to a matinee today, and I only paid...well you can figure that out. But I had to go at 10am, OK, so maybe I am crazy.

But the theater was nice & empty. There were a few other people, and a nice looking couple that was probably in their 60's. Which was good for me, because I was feeling a little silly about rushing to a movie about..."stepping". So I wasn't the oldest one there. LOL

I went to see "St.o.mp the Ya.rd." Hmm, let me see if I can tell you about it without giving telling too much.

I enjoyed it. Of course, it had the "love" story, and the "hard/bad luck" component to it as well. The main character DJ comes to Atlanta to attend Truth University after his brother was murdered. It centers around him and the 2 fraternities that compete for him, and always compete against each other in a major step show.

I think the love story between DJ & April is sweet as well as the one between DJ's Aunt & Uncle.

There are many underlying conflicts in the story. Educated vs. Blue collar; ghetto vs. non-ghetto (sorry I couldn't think of an appropriate antonym); old-school vs. new school. But I don't think that distracted me from the main story-line. I was a little annoyed with some of the close-ups during the step/dance competitions. There were a few great shirtless scenes for the ladies :-).

If you are interested in step shows, dancing and fraternity life, this might be the movie for you.

Shhh! I have to be discrete

And I absolutely hate it.

Is there logic to this union?
I am searching and sorting out the ways
to make this relation function.
It shouldn't be a conditional probability,
it must be a finite probability and have an expected value.
I'll be counting the principles;
I have to be discrete and I hate it!
But I'll be discreet,
I won't tell my professor that I hate math.

Wish me luck, I have to pass my
Discrete Math class.

Disturbing trend

Well, it disturbs me anyway. During my holiday time off, I have caught quite a few movies. I may do some reviews here. However, I never feel like I can do them very well without giving away some of the plot. But I guess I could work on that here.

Since I like going to movies so much, I tend to go during the day when it isn't as crowded, and supposedly when it is cheaper. But it seems that they are doing away with the matinee's. I am hoping that maybe I am wrong, and after the holiday season it will return.

Last year I went on a Saturday, expecting a matinee price at an "_ M _" theater, and was told that only the 1st movie of the day on the weekends had the cheaper price, so I paid the high price, and started going to their competitor. Then it appeared that only the movies that started before noon were given the cheaper price. Now, it looks like they are doing away with matinee prices all together. Maybe it will only be the weekend movies, and possibly only here in the Atlanta market. I will have to research it and see.

But it just seems to me that the way the industry calculates box office sales and the fact that they have made it too expensive for movie going to be a family outing that movie going may be a thing of the past soon. I know many people prefer to wait for video and watch at home, but I like seeing movies when they first come out. There is something about the big screen, and the smell of popcorn that makes that one of my favorite things to do. I know there are ways around the high prices of the snacks & the movies...and I will admit to nothing here. :-)

But I may spend less money if I invest in a big screen & popcorn maker at home. The prices are on the way done on the TV's.

I stole a New Year's MeMe

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before? I went to the Bahamas.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions? I don’t make them.

3. Did anyone you know give birth? One of my former co-workers did, it was baby #4 for them.

4. Did anyone you know die? No one personally, and I didn’t attend any funerals.

5. What countries did you visit? See # 1.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? More travel to other countries.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory? My son’s high school & basic training graduations, and the day I quit my job of 13+years.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Returning to college

9. What was your biggest failure? There were a few tests. J

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a hysterectomy that ended an illness, and I am happy about it.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My car & my laptop.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My son’s

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I can’t think of any

14. Where did most of your money go? School

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Well, if having an orgasm is really, really, really excited…then I would have to say sex. J

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2006? Anything by Gerald LeVert

17. What do you wish you’d done more of? Traveled

18. What do you wish you’d done less of? Watched TV

19. Did you fall in love in 2006? No

20. How many one night stands in this last year? one

21. What was your favorite TV program? Grey’s Anatomy

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Spending time with my mother.

24. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. Having a laundry room upstairs is not as great as I thought before

25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year? EWF’s “On Your Face” it is really my theme song.

He caught me cheating on him.

Have you ever been caught red-handed? I was today, dang I thought I was better at this.

I was on my way out this morning, and walked to the mailbox. It was pretty full there was a box, and when I looked up there he was standing in my driveway. Oh my! What are you doing here? You could tell by his posture that he knew he wasn't supposed to be in my driveway.

Maybe, just maybe...I looked up, and yes standing in the window, he was watching. Oh, I am soo busted. But I guess I have to finish this, turning my attention back to the cutie standing here in the driveway...

He's wagging his tail, and he comes up to me, ahh no tag. Who do you belong to? Go home! My D-O-G is in the window, don't you hear him barking? Yes, I guess you do "Lost D-O-G" there he goes running off down the street.

I am going to have some explaining to do when I get home...I better just pick up some doggie treats at the store. He'll understand...well, he'll be happy for the treats any way.

Happy Holidays!

I passed all my classes! Yea! I was worried about my math class.

I also made it through the flight. It was so fun! Taking off my shoes, taking out the quartsize bag and taking out my laptop and then getting out of the way of those behind me. And I forgot to buy gum on the way to the airport, so I had to spend big money on gum.

Oh, and where did I go on my short trip? I went to KY to see my son graduate from Basic Training. He did well, and I am very proud of him. I didn't actually get to see him until the graduation ceremony, and it took me almost the whole ceremony to be able to pick him out of the sea of green. And it seems that he has grown up soo much in 10 weeks. He is home for the holidays, and then he will go to another 6 weeks of training.

So we have a few holiday things to do, and he is catching up & hanging out with his friends.

I am sure I will be posting more during the holidays, but I still want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

A Joke to make your day

It made mine.

An extremely modest man was in the hospital for a series of tests, the last

of which had left his bodily systems extremely upset.
Upon making several false alarm trips to the bathroom, he decided the latest
episode was another and stayed put. He suddenly filled his bed with diarrhea
and was embarrassed beyond his ability to remain rational.
In a complete loss of composure he jumped out of bed, gathered up the bed
sheets, and threw them out the hospital window.
A drunk was walking by the hospital when the sheets landed on him. He
started yelling, cursing, and swinging! his arms violently trying to get the
unknown things off, and ended up with the soiled sheets in a tangled pile at
his feet.
As the drunk stood there, unsteady on his feet, staring down at the sheets,
a hospital security guard (barely containing his laughter) who had watched
the whole incident walked up and asked, "What the heck is going on here?"
The drunk, still staring down replied: "I think I just beat the shit out of
a ghost".

ISO 3 ounces

I realized that flying could be rather frightening now in these days of tight security. And no I don't mean that being on an airplane thousands of feet in the air at a very high rate of speed is scary.

The decisions one has to make in regard to what to take in carry on luggage. I am only going out of town for 2 days & 1 night, so I do not want to check my bags. So, I have to decide will I be ashy? Take my contact lenses yes, but I won't have fluid for them? Oh, maybe I can do without toothpaste. But I can take my corkscrew & cigar cutter, maybe I should start knitting, because I can take knitting needles. Who needs a corkscrew on a plane? Or shortly after landing? Smoking is not allowed, so cigar cutter? WTF?

What to wear? Cute boots boots with a zipper, or ugly shoes that are easy to slip out of, or better yet sandles. They go with socks, right?

And I am a black woman, lets not even go into the list of hair products that won't fit in a 1 quart sandwich bag. Decisions, decisions. But I can buy all of this once I have gone through security at the airport. Yeah right, I want a $20.00 bottle of lotion with that $5.00 pack of gum.

So if you are in the airport and see a woman with no makeup, ugly glasses, ashy skin, don't be scared, just ask me to open your bottle of wine with my corkscrew. ;-)

Don't give up

on me. :-) I am trying to finish assignments & study for finals. So after the 15th, I will probably try to blog every day until the next semester starts in January. I will also be catching up on all the blogs that I read as well.

I actually passed a math test, there IS hope!

Great Thanksgiving!

I had a very nice Thanksgiving Day yesterday. I spent a good bit of time on the road, but it was a beautiful day and traffic was moving smoothly. And I got home in time to get a phone call from my son.

I cried today.

I signed the list, and took a seat and started reading my magazine. "Remnants! 1st chair to the left."

I take the seat, lay back, and hold my eyelid closed. Then the beautician (torturer) starts threading my eyebrows. She is quick, but the hairs are still being yanked out by the roots. My eyes start watering, But that's o.k. I will hold my eyelid shut with my fingers. So I participate in this torture.

When she's done, she hands me a mirror. I guess it is for my approval. I can't see, because my eyes are full of water, and one of my contacts is folded in my eye.

But I paid for the torture, and I left her a tip. Now that I can see, it looks like my eyebrows are even and quite natural looking.

So I cried today, and in about 2-3 weeks, I will go do it again.

Yes, I have done that

and other things even dumber. Thanks Chele for making me think about it. I can't even say that I had anything good to drink to cause it. Maybe I was just hungry, yeah that's it.

It was a couple of months ago. My son had a guy work on his car, and owed him some money. So, since my school is near his house, we agreed that I would call him on my lunch break and we would meet in a parking lot so I could give him the money.

I pull into a parking space & look frantically for the money in the many compartments of my purse. Just as I find it I look in my rearview mirror...and think "Dang he does live close, he's here already?" So I get out of the car, and give him the money. And then I go in to the sandwich shop. There are a few people in front of me, but I have some time before my next class so I wait. Now, I have them make my sandwich, will this be for here, or to go. Hmm, I think I will take it to go, so I pay, and on my way out..."oh, no, where are my keys? Oh, here I go in the purse again, damn!" I didn't realize I had so many compartments.
The light bulb goes off! You know what the keys are not in my purse...Is the car still there? Whew! Yes it is still where I left with the keys in it and the ignition still on.

What is that saying about fools & babies? And we know I am not a baby.

We Lost another one

Yesterday, I was surprised to hear that Ed Bradley died. He was probably the 1st black man I saw on TV doing the news.

But, I was floored today, when I heard that Gerald Levert died. I think he just turned 40 this year.

They say bad news comes in 3's. I am afraid to watch the news or listen to the radio.

2 Things

This is going to be a drive-by or a quickie.

I saw a dead armadillo on the highway this past weekend. Yeah, rather unremarkable bit of information. However, I grew up, and did quite a bit of driving in Texas, and it dawned on me that it had been years since I saw an armadillo, dead or alive.

When I was in girl scouts, and went camping. We had tents that were on a platform about maybe 2 feet off the ground. Yeah we were really roughing it, because there were 4 twin sized cots inside. But at night the armadillos used to make a lot of noise under those tents. Thankfully the didn't do steps. That was thing #1 on my mind.

Thing #2 on my mind...well you may think it's a gross & and a strange thing to have on my mind. But it is something that I learned in college, and I don't even have a science class. There are ducks, swans, and geese (actually they may have migrated) on campus. I used to wonder who was letting their small dog poop on the sidewalk, that is until I started parking on the other side of campus. Then I realized that it is actually, large bird (duck/swan/goose) poop. They are rather messy. LOL

Ok, now I am off to learn something else...in class. I wonder if it will be so profound. Heh-heh-heh.

Saturday Ramblings

I heard from my son and he sounds like he is doing well. He was so addicted to the video games, that I was worried that he would have trouble with the physical training. But he makes it through the daily running, and has passed the other physical things that he has to do, so I guess I was just being overly mom-like.

I really have a quite a few things including homework that I should be working on right now, but I have detoured here instead, because I feel like I have been away too long. It's funny how when I am in the car or doing something else, I will say to myself, I need to write about that. However, finding the time is the problem.

Sometimes it seems that plans that happen at the last minute are the most fun. I was invited last Sunday to a gathering that was happening only 2 hours later, and had a great time. Maybe the fact that I do things on the spur of the moment makes me open to that. Because I have friends that plan things well in advance, and even if they don't have plans, they wouldn't have accepted. I have to admit I love my friends that plan things, so I don't have to.

Although, a few years ago I did want to scream at one of my "friends that plans ahead" when I was getting a call at work in December about a trip we were going to take in July. Maybe if there was a deadline for the payment or something, I wouldn't have been so frustrated, but it wasn't. She was just off, and had questions. I on the other hand was at work and it was the busiest time of the year for us. I have to admit though, that was a great trip, her early reservations allowed for us to have a great condo very close to the beach.

I know this is rather short, and probably boring, but I have to run some errands. I will be back, because I a number of things that I want to blog about.

Kill that freakin' bird!

It's not what you think. So P.E.T.A. doesn't have to start a picket line outside in my yard. I am still a dog lover. Yes, Shaggy is laying by the door looking at me as if to say "What is this dog creature that you keep talking about?" LOL

I was in the restaurant, and I use the term loosely. For those of you familiar with Georgia, it's on every corner, open 24 hours, and has House in the name. ;-) I like to go in the morning, and listen to the conversations between the waitresses & the regulars. Mr. Floyd was the man of the hour that morning. He looked to be about 70, and all the waitresses seemed to know him.

Oh, yes, back to the bird.

I am talking about the annoying chirp from the cell phone. Why does it have to chirp between each part of the conversation? Example: Guy at counter.
"Hey! Where are you?" (Annoying chirp)
"Wauwau, wau wau, wau." (that's the adult speak from Charlie Brown, 'cause I couldn't understand what the other person was saying.)
(Annoying chirp) Guy at counter. "Yeah." (Annoying chirp)
Wauwau, wau wau, wau." (Annoying chirp)
Guy at counter. "uhh, huh." (Annoying chirp)
Wauwau, wau wau, wau." (Annoying chirp)
Guy at counter. "uhh, huh." (Annoying chirp)
and so on.

I was ready to jump up from my seat, stab his hand with my fork, snatch the phone from him, throw it on the floor, and stomp it. And then sit back down and finish my grits, cheese eggs, and raisin toast. :-) Fortunately for him his to go order came out.

Why does it have to chirp between each part of the conversation? If there is a response within 10-15 seconds there should not be a chirp. I don't know maybe it's just me. Maybe other people like that noise.

Who is going to drink the milk?

I tried to post this a few times, but it seems I chose to try when blogger was down.

It was a week ago, but last week my son left home. To go where you ask? He is in Basic training. He joined the Army Reserves. I certainly didn't want him to join while we are at war. But his 19th birthday was a few weeks ago. I think "the do as I say not as I do/did" is beneath him. Or that he is too smart to fall for that one.

I was a reservist myself before he was born (not Army) and his father & both of his grandfathers were in the Army. He also has an aunt that retired from the navy about 2 or 3 years ago. Fortunately he chose a job that isn't one that would have him in direct combat. But anyone that goes overseas is in harms way. So I will have to pray that his unit will not go anywhere anytime soon.

And I am lactose intolerant, so I guess I will be pouring out what is left of the gallon of milk. He should have pretty strong bones, because he went through quite a lot of milk in a week.

So the d-o-g and I are getting used to life without him for the rest of the year. Which will take a lot of getting used to for me, because he was never gone for more than about a month at a time.

He doesn't know!

I was going to write a cute little ditty, using the tune to Shaggy's "It wasn't Me"...Yes, I said ditty...But it is after midnight & I have to be up by 6:30, so I will tell the story.

My best friend made that statement to me about my dog, and after an episode on the park on Saturday, I had to call her and tell her she was right. Well, her exact words were "Remnants, he doesn't know he's a dog."

I drove to Piedmont Park in Atlanta, so that we (me & the dog) could find the dog park there. An area, that is fenced in so the dogs can run free. And since my dog is always on a leash or a chain, I thought this would be soo exciting for him. And I would enjoy it too, since I wanted to see him happy...yeah, just like I do for my son.

So we finally went down the right path that leads us to it, and since it was a nice sunny Saturday, there were dogs & owners of all shapes and sizes. We walk in and I see dogs all over the place, so I walk away from the entrance, and take his leash off. Immediately about 3 dogs run up to great him...Well, he sees them and he takes off...the chase is on.

However, I could tell by the look in his eyes...yes, I said the look in his eyes. That he was scared, and not playing "catch me if you can," but trying to get away from these 4 legged creatures that were right on his tail. The faster he ran, the faster they ran, as he would stop and pivot right, so would they, oh a turn to the left, no he didn't lose them that time either. Finally everyone was tired & went their separate ways, he came and stayed right next to me, panting heavily. This is the dog that always runs away so I can chase him to hook the leash on him. So I tried to get him to go drink at the water fountain (it had a big bowl under it) But he would not go near it...Even when the other dogs left it.

I walked casually around, and he stayed right next to me, greeting the humans that we passed. But when another dog would come to sniff him, he was having no parts of it. So, I started talking to another dog owner there,, and we both agreed, that our dogs were probably more comfortable looking for the couch & the TV. So, my dog &I left, and I finally had to pour water out of my bottle for him to drink before we got back to the car. So yes, I was a little thirsty, but since I didn't run anywhere, I decided he needed it more than I did.

And, I will have to break the news to him slowly...Shaggy...You are a dog.