Blacksheep Speaks

Opinions needed, please

I've run into a kind of dillema, and I thought maybe some of you out there might have a different opinion than what I have already heard. It has to do with blog software. I am visually impaired, so learning new software is not easy for me. I have been using Thingamablog since I started blogging, and I already know the program fairly well, so I am not inclined to change. However, for those who don't know, Thingamablog stores everything on files on this computer, and if my computer crashes in the wrong way, I run the risk of losing a small portion of my blog....we do keep backups, so I would only at most lose a few days worth.

The entire rest of my family, on the other hand, swears by Wordpress. Granted, it would be safer, as the whole thing is stored on my website, which has had less than 10 minutes of downtime in two years, which is a much better track record than my computer. What do the rest of you think? Is a switchover worth my learning a new program, or not? Looking for opinions outside my family, from people who know the Wordpress program, and I need to know the drawbacks.

How to Dig Yourself Out Of Debt

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Today's Famous Deaths

Well, there is still a LITTLE time before supper. This list isn't nearly the bear to type the other one is, anyway... LOT shorter. I'm cheating with dinner anyway. I wimped out. We're having McDonalds.

29 John the Baptist beheaded ( Note: Actual date is questionable ). 1533 Atahualpa last Incan King of Peru, murdered by Spanish conquerors. 1769 Edmond Hoyle games expert, dies (birth date unknown). 1877 Brigham Young 2nd president of Mormon Church, dies. 1960 Alexander Gauge actor (Adv of Robin Hood), dies at 46. 1960 Hazza el-Majali PM of Jordan is assassinated. 1967 George Rockwell murdered. 1975 Eamon de Valera Irish independence fighter, dies at 92. 1976 Anissa Jones actress (Buffy-Family Affair), dies at 18. 1981 Lowell Thomas newscaster (High Adventure), dies in Pawling NY, at 89. 1982 Ingrid Bergman academy award winning actress, dies on 67th birthday. 1983 Simon Oakland actor (Toma, Kolchak, Baa Baa Black Sheep), dies at 61. 1985 Evelyn Ankers actress, dies at 67. 1985 Patrick Barr actor, dies at 77. 1987 Lee Marvin dies in Tucson, Ariz at 63.

Today's Famous Births

See there, I didn't forget today. Now, here's hoping I at least have time to do all these, huh:) I'll do my best. It IS almost suppertime, though.

1632 John Locke England, empiricist philosopher; disproved substance. 1780 Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres French painter (Valpincon Bather). 1809 Oliver Wendell Holmes Cambridge, MA, physician/author (Old Ironsides). 1811 Henry Bergh 1st president of SPCA. 1815 Anna Ella Carroll US, civil war writer (Reconstruction). 1862 Maurice Maeterlinck Belgium, Symbolist poet (Nobel 1911). 1876 Charles F Kettering Ohio, inventor (auto self-starter). 1881 Valery Nicolas Larbaud France, novelist/translator (Enfantines). 1897 Charles Boyer Figeac France, actor (The Rogues). 1899 George Macready Providence RI, actor (Martin Peyton-Peyton Place). 1899 Lyman L Lemnitzer US Army General (WW II), Chief of Staff, US Army and Nato Commander. 1906 Lurene Tuttle Pleasant Lake Ind, actress (Father of Bride, Julia). 1909 Roy Reuther Wheeling WV, labor leader. 1912 Barry Sullivan NYC, actor (Duffy's Tavern, Man Called X, Tall Man). 1915 Ingrid Bergman Sweden, actress (Casablanca, Cactus Flower). 1916 George Montgomery Brady Mont, actor (Battle of Bulge, Hallucination). 1917 Isabel Sanford NYC, actress (Louise-Jeffersons/All in the Family). 1920 Charlie "Bird" Parker famous African-American jazzman. 1922 Charles White Perth Amboy NJ, actor (Troublemaker). 1923 Sir Richard Attenborough actor/director (Gandhi, Young Winston). 1924 Dinah Washington Chicago, singer (What a Difference a Day Makes). 1925 Donald O'Connor Chicago Ill, dancer/actor (Singing in the Rain). 1928 Charles Gray Bournemouth England, actor (Clay-Rawhide). 1928 Thomas Stewart San Saba Texas, baritone (La Roche Capriccio). 1929 Thom Gunn Kent England, poet (The Wound). 1934 David Pryor (Sen-D-Ark). 1938 Elliott Gould Queens NY, actor (M*A*S*H, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice). 1938 Peter Jennings Canada, news anchor (ABC TV). 1939 William Friedkin US, dir (Exorcist, Cruising, French Connection). 1940 Wilhelm Ruska Holland, judo champ (Olympic-gold-1972). 1941 Robin Leach TV host (Life Styles of Rich & Famous). 1945 Wyomia Tyus US, 100m dash (Olympic-gold-1964, 68). 1948 Charles D Walker astronaut (STS 41D, STS 51D, STS 61B). 1954 Chet Catallo guitarist (Spyro Gyra-Morning Dance). 1958 Michael Jackson Gary Indiana, singer (Thriller, Bad). 1959 Eddi Reader rocker (Fairground Attraction-Find My Love). 1961 Tony Macalpine heavy metal rocker (Solo-Edge of Insanity). 1962 Carl Banks NFL line backer (NY Giants). 1962 Rebecca De Mornay actress (And God Created Women). 1963 Greg Steele rocker (Faster Pussycat-Wake Me When It's Over).

Moving Made Easier

Moving, changing everything about your life, can be a traumatic enough event without having to go through added stress from not being prepared. There is a website that can help you through this stressful situation, however... an online directory that has information on movers, car movers, just about anything you have thought of, and a few things you haven't. If you are considering a move, click the link and give them a try!

I am a lab rat

I just heard from my oldest daughter AND my seconf oldest, calling me from their separate schools. They both had news. My oldest has decided to enroll in a karate class this semester. Her youngest sister is already taking karate classes here at home, and I think my oldest just wants to ensure that after years of torturing her sister, she still isn't gonna get beat up by a twelve year old.

My second oldest daughter, the one in the prep school for geniuses, is studying genetics under a doctor who is a renowned expert in the field, and is doing what appears to be ground breaking research in the area of the gene that causes Reiter's Syndrome, and I think she has hopes of finding a solution to the problem. Part of her research involves doing genetic testing on all of the lab rats....er, loving family members....here at home.

Sometimes it amazes me that my children can even communicate with each other.

Show Your Pet's Best Side

If you own a pedigreed show dog, chances are you have been to a lot of dog shows, and already know that being the winner can come down to how well the animals are groomed. When competition is tight, you can't afford to let anything slide, and losing a show because of a grooming error can mar your show dog's record for life. Having the best groomed animal possible means using the highest quality, professional grooming products, like the ones available through the Show Dog Store. They stock all manner of professional grooming products and handling equipment, from shampoos to dog grooming clippers . For mre information, just click the link.

Historic Events which occurred on 8/28

Here it is, the final installment of the "Gee I'm late again" trilogy. Maybe, just MAYBE here in a little while I can get to the ones for TODAY and not have to rush like this tomorrow. Maybe:)

1609 Delaware Bay explored by Henry Hudson for the Netherlands. 1655 New Amsterdam & Peter Stuyvesant bars Jews from military service. 1776 Battle of Long Island. 1789 Sir William Herschel discovers Saturn's moon Enceladus. 1850 The opera "Lohengrin" is produced (Weimar). 1862 Belle Boyd released from Old Capital Prison in Washington, DC. 1867 US occupies Midway Islands in the Pacific. 1884 1st known photograph of a tornado is made near Howard SD. 1884 Mickey Welsh strikes-out 1st 9 men he faces. 1907 United Parcel Service begins service, in Seattle. 1916 Italy declares war against Germany during WW I. 1917 10 suffragists arrested as they picket the White House. 1921 2nd Pan-African Congress meets (London, Brussels & Paris). 1922 Walker Cup golf tournament established. 1922 WEAF in NYC airs 1st radio coml (Queensboro Realty-$100 for 10 mins). 1938 Northwestern U awards honorary degree to dummy Charlie McCarthy. 1942 Gunther Hagg (Sweden) sets world record for 3,000m (8:01.2). 1949 Riot prevents Paul Robeson from singing near Peekskill NY. 1951 Pirates snap NY Giants 16 game win streak. 1955 1st NFL preseason sudden death football, Rams beats Giants 23-17. 1957 Sen Thurmond begins 24-hr filibuster against civil rights bill. 1960 White Sox Ted Kluzewski's 3-run HR is disallowed as ump called time. 1962 Dr Geza DeKaplany tortures wife with acid. 1962 Tony Sheridan & the Beat Brothers record "Ya Ya (Parts 1 + 2)". 1963 200,000 demonstrate for equal rights in Washington, DC. 1963 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge connecting Seattle & Bellevue opens. 1963 Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream speech" at Lincoln Memorial. 1964 Race riot in Philadelphia. 1968 Police & anti-war demonstrators clash at Chicago's Dem Natl Conven. 1970 Phillies Larry Bowa steals home for 2nd time in 1970. 1973 6.8 quake centered in Oaxaca State in Mexico kills 527. 1974 Soyuz 15 returns to Earth. 1976 NY Cosmos beat Seattle Sounders 2-1 for NASL cup. 1977 NY Yankee Ron Guidry faces just 28 men & beats Texas Rangers 1-0. 1977 NY Cosmos defeat Seattle Sounders, 2-1, at Civic Stadium in Portland Ore, winning their 2nd North American Soccer League championship. 1978 Donald Vesco rode 21'-long Kawasaki motorcycle at 318.598 mph. 1981 John Hinckley Jr pleads innocent in attempt to kill Pres Reagan. 1981 Sebastian Coe of UK sets 1-mi record of 3:47.33 (since broken). 1981 National Centers for Disease Control announces high incidence of Pneumocystis & Kaposi's sarcoma in gay men. 1983 Israeli PM Menachem Begin announces resignation. 1983 Joseph Kreckman sets record of 2,215 clay pigeons shot in an hour. 1986 US Navy officer Jerry A Whitworth sentenced to 365 years for spying. 1988 70 killed in crash of 3 Italian AF fighters at air show in Germany. 1990 Iraq declares Kuwait its 19th province. 1991 5 die in a NYC subway's 3rd worst accident. 1991 Red Tom Browning vs Expo Dennis Martinez both perfect game pitcher.

Education through Travel!

How much would you, as a student, have benefited from travelling the world and learning about cities, landmarks, and ways of life firsthand? This wasn't possible when I was a student, but times have changed, and definitely for the better.

Hemisphere Educational Travel is offering traveling packages specifically designed with the American student in mind. Now our children can have what we could not, first hand, hands on experience in varying areas around the world through the student travel tours they provide.

For more information on how to get your student (or yourself, if you ARE a student) involved in this incredible learning experience, just click the link. You will always be glad you did!

Famous Deaths th occurred on 8/28

As usual, a MUCH shorter list than the births. You'd have thought that I would have at least had time to fit THIS one in yesterday, wouldn't you? Oh, well. At least it's here now.

1818 Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable trader, founder of Chicago, dies. 1955 Emmett Till kidnapped & lynched at 14, in Money Mississippi. 1961 Thomas Connolly 1st baseball umpire elected to hall of fame, dies. 1964 Gracie Allen Mrs George Burns/comedian (Burns & Allen), dies at 62. 1967 Paul Muni actor, dies at 71. 1968 Nick Castle choreographer (Dinah Shore, Judy Garland), dies at 58. 1983 Jan Clayton actress (Ellen Miller-Lassie), dies at 66. 1985 Ruth Gordon actress, dies at 88 suffering a stroke in her sleep.

Famous Births that ocurred on 8/28

Okay, I know, I am really late again. Have you got any idea how much has been going on in the last couple days around here? No, of course you don't. You'll just have to take my word for it. It's been really busy:) So, here we go with yesterday's list.

1592 George Villiers duke of Buckingham, royal minister to James I. 1749 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Frankfurt, social philosopher (Faust). 1774 Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton 1st American Catholic saint. 1831 Lucy Ware Webb Hayes 1st lady. 1833 Sir Edward Burne-Jones England, Pre-Raphaelite painter/designer. 1878 George Hoyt Whipple US, astrophysicist (Nobel-1934). 1889 Charles Boyer France, actor (Algiers, Fanny, Barefoot in the Park). 1901 Paul Henry Lang Budapest, critic/musicologist (NY Herald Tribune). 1903 Bruno Bettelheim US, writer (Uses of Enchantment). 1905 Sam Levene actor (Demon, Gung Ho). 1906 Sir John Betjeman poet laureate of England (Mt Zion). 1908 Roger Tory Peterson NY, ornithologist/writer (How to Know Birds). 1913 Richard Tucker [Reuben Ticker],Brooklyn NY, Tenor (NY Met Opera). 1914 Glenn Osser Munising Mich, orch leader (Paul Whiteman Goodyear Revue). 1916 C Wright Mills sociologist, writer (The Power Elite). 1919 Ernest Martin [Markowitz], producer (Feuer & Martin-Chorus Line). 1921 Nancy Kulp Penn, actress (Beverly Hillbillies). 1924 Janet Frame NZ, novelist (Intensive Care, Owls Do Cry). 1924 Peggy Ryan Long Beach Calif, actress (Jenny-Hawaii Five-0). 1925 Marvin Davis Newark NJ, CEO (Davis Oil Company). 1929 Istv n Kert‚sz Budapest Hungary, conductor (Budapest Opera 1953-57). 1929 Rokie Roker Miami Fla, actress (Helen-Jeffersons). 1930 Ben Gazzara NYC, actor (Run for Your Life, QB VII). 1931 John Shirley-Quirk Liverpool England, baritone (Death in Venice). 1932 Andy Bathgate Canada, NY Ranger (1958 NHL MVP). 1939 Cassie Mackin newswoman (NBC TV). 1940 Richard Sanders actor (Les Nessman-WKRP, Berrengers, Spencer). 1940 William Cohen (Sen-R-Me). 1941 Paul Peter Plishka Old Forge Penn, bass (Bronx Botanical Gardens). 1943 David Soul Chicago, actor (Starsky & Hutch, Here Comes the Bride). 1943 Lou Pinella Yankee manager (1969 AL rookie of the year). 1946 Bob Beamon US, long jumper (Olympic-gold-1968). 1947 Alice Playton NYC, actress (Who Killed Mary Whats 'er Name). 1949 Hugh Cornwell rocker (The Stranglers-Dreamtime). 1950 Ron "Louisana Lightning" Guidry Yankee pitcher (Cy Young 1978). 1951 Wayne Osmond Ogden Utah, singer (Osmond Brothers, Donnie & Marie). 1957 Daniel Stern Stamford Ct, actor (City Slickers, Wonder Years). 1958 Scott Hamilton Toledo, figure skating champion (Olympic-gold-1984). 1960 Emma Samms [Samuels], London, actress (Colby's, General Hospital). 1960 Leroy Chiao Milwaukee Wisc, astronaut. 1961 Kim Appleby rocker (Mel & Kim-Coming to America). 1963 Reyna Thompson NFL corner back (NY Giants). 1965 James Jagger son of Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall. 1966 Jerry Fehily rocker (Hothouse Flowers-Don't Go). 1968 Scarlet Annette Morgan Pfafftown NC, Miss NC-America-1991. 1969 Jason Priestley Vancouver BC, actor (Brandon-Beverly Hills 90210). 1969 Mary McCartney daughter of Beatle Paul McCartney. 1971 Janet Evans US swimmer (Olympics-1992).

Relocation Made Easy!

If you're like me, you absolutely hate moving. It's not even the having to get used to a new place part of it, and I love meeting new people. No, it's the moving itself, having to try and get everything organized and changed over from one address to another, having to remember every little detail, and trying to carry all those heavy boxes! Yikes! And if you are changing cities and not just houses, it's even worse, especially if you know nothing about your brand new city and can't find anything or don't know how to get things done there. It's a real nightmare.

Thank goodness for Relocation.com. They and their affiliates make the whole thing go much more smoothly. They offer every service you could possibly require from a moving assistance company, like auto shipping and rental locations. And if you are moving overseas, their affiliates are expert international movers. They really do have you covered from every angle you can possibly imagine.

Think about it... if you have to move, why not leave the hassles to the experts? No more last minute moving emergencies for you, because having hired someone else, last minute emergencies are THEIR problem. You can spend your fiinal days in your old city saying goodbye to friends, confident that all the problems are being dealt with.

Historuc Events that occurred on 8/27

And here is the final installment of the "I am fixing what I broke yesterday" trilogy. These are famous events, good and bad, that occured on yesterday's date in history. Looks like a pretty long list for me to type, too. Must be making me do pennance for forgetting it:)

26 -BC- Origin of Egyptian Era. 1665 "Ye Bare & Ye Cubb" is 1st play performed in N America. (Acomac, Va). 1667 Earliest recorded hurricane in US (Jamestown Virginia). 1776 British defeat Americans in Battle of Long Island. 1783 1st hydrogen balloon flight (unmanned); reaches 900 m altitude. 1789 French Natl Assembly issues "Decl of the Rights of Man & the Citizen". 1859 1st successful oil well drilled, near Titusville, Penn. 1883 Krakatoa, west of Java, explodes with a force of 1,300 megatons. 1896 Zanzibar loses to England in a 38 minute war (9:02 AM-9:40 AM). 1909 Jack Chesbro's final Yankee game. 1911 Chic White Sox Ed Walsh no-hits Boston, 5-0. 1912 Edgar Rice Burroughs' publishes Tarzan. 1913 Lt Peter Nestrov, of Imperial Russian Air Service, performs a loop in a monoplane at Kiev (1st aerobatic maneuver in an airplane). 1918 Dr Joseph L Johnson named minister to Liberia. 1921 J E Clair of Acme Packing Co of Green Bay granted an NFL franchise. 1927 Parks College, America's oldest aviation school, opens. 1928 16 die in a NYC subway's 2nd worst accident. 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact, where 60 nations agree to outlaw war. 1937 Bkln Dodger Fred Frankhouse no-hits Cin, 5-0 in 7 2/3 inn game. 1937 George E.T. Eyston sets world auto speed record at 345.49 MPH. 1938 Yanks Monte Pearson no-hits Indians 13-0, DiMaggio hits 3 triples. 1939 Erich Warsitz makes 1st jet-propelled flight (in a Heinkel He-178). 1940 Caproni-Campini CC-2, experimental jet plane, maiden flight (Milan). 1945 US troops land in Japan after Japanese surrender. 1950 General Foods blacklists Jean Muir of Aldrich Family as a communist. 1961 Francis the Talking Mule is the mystery guest on "What's My Line". 1962 Mariner 2 launched; 1st probe to fly by Venus. 1966 Francis Chichester begins the 1st solo sail around the world. 1966 Race riot in Waukegan Illinois . 1974 NY Met Benny Ayala hits a home run in his 1st at bat. 1975 Veronica & Colin Scargill (England) complete tandem bicycle ride, a record 18,020 miles around the world. 1977 Toby Harrah & Bump Wills hit back-to-back inside-the-park-homers off Yankee Ken Clay at Yankee Stadium, Rangers won 8-2. 1978 Reds Joe Morgan is 1st to hit 200 HRs & have 500 stolen bases. 1978 Yankee Catfish Hunter's 6-2 win gives him a perfect 6-0 in Aug 1978. 1981 Divers begin to recover a safe found aboard the Andrea Doria. 1982 Rickey Henderson steals 119th base of season breaks Lou Brock's mark. 1982 Soyuz T-7 returns to Earth. 1984 President Reagan announces the Teacher in Space project. 1985 20th Space Shuttle Mission (51-I)-Discovery 6-launched. 1989 100 march through Bensonhurst protesting racial killings. 1990 52 Americans arrive in Turkey from Iraq. 1990 WWF Summer Slam-Ultimate Warrior beats Rick Rude.

Historuc Obits for 8/27

And here are the famous deaths that I managed to forget yesterday as well. Boy I was having a great day, can't you tell?:) Maybe I can manage to put up today's....later......

1576 Titan Italian artist, dies. 1635 Lope Felix de Vega dramatist/poet (Angelica, Arcadia), dies at 72. 1840 William Kneass 3rd US chief engraver (1824-40), dies in office. 1879 Sir Rowland Hill introduced postage stamps, dies at 84. 1958 Dr Ernest O Lawrence inventor (Cyclotron-Nobel 1939), dies at 57. 1963 W E B Du Bois scholar/founder (NAACP), dies at 95 in Accra Ghana. 1967 Brian Epstein Beatles' manager, dies. 1971 Bennett Cerf (Random House)/panelist (What's My Line), dies at 73. 1975 Haile Selassie depossed Ethiopian emperor, dies at 83. 1977 Steve Dunne actor (Professional Father), dies at 59. 1978 Robert Shaw actor (Dan-Buccaneers), dies at 51. 1979 Earl Mountbatten British adm of the Fleet, assassinated by IRA. 1980 Sam Levenson humorist (Sam Levenson Show), dies at 68. 1981 Joan Edwards singer (Joan Edwards Show), dies at 62. 1984 Billy Sands actor (Phil Silvers Show, McHale's Navy), dies at 73. 1990 Stevie Ray Vaughan blues guitarist, dies in a helicopter crash at 35.

Famous Birthdays for 8/27

I really dropped the ball on this one, but I'm putting it up anyway. I'll be doing the other two in a few minutes, too. Sorry for the delay....had some serious computer issues yeaterday and when things were back up and running....(drum roll)....I forgot.

1770 Georg Wilhelm F Hegel German philosopher/inventor (dialectic). 1809 Hannibal Hamlin (R) 15th VP (1861-65). 1865 Charles Gates Dawes (R) 30th VP (1925-29, Nobel 1925). 1871 Theodore Dreiser US, novelist (Sister Carrie, American Tragedy). 1882 Samuel Goldwyn pioneer film maker/producer (MGM). 1886 Eric Coates Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, England, composer. 1894 Charles Meredith Knoxville Pa, actor (Court of Last Resort). 1899 C.S. Forester Engl, historical novelist, created Horatio Hornblower. 1905 Frederick O'Neal Brooksville Miss, actor (Car 54 Where Are You). 1908 Frank Leahy O'Neill Nebraska, football coach (Notre Dame). 1908 Lyndon B Johnson (D) 36th Pres (1963-1969). 1908 Martha Raye [Margaret Reed], Butte Mont, actress (Martha Raye Show). 1910 Mother Teresa [Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu], Yugoslavia (Nobel 1979). 1915 Walter W Heller economist (Old Myths & New Realities). 1927 Liselott Linsenhoff German FR, equestrian (Olympic-gold-1972). 1929 Elizabeta Bagrintseve USSR, discus thrower (Olympic-silver-1952). 1929 Ira Levin author (Rosemary's Baby, Sleuth, This Perfect Day). 1932 Antonia Fraser biographer (Mary Queen of Scots). 1937 Tommy Sands singer/actor (Teenage Rock, Dream With Me). 1941 Yuri V Malyshev cosmonaut (Soyuz T-2, T-11). 1942 Daryl Dragon Pasadena Calif, keyboardist (Capt & Tennille). 1943 Susan "Tuesday" Weld NYC, actress (Dobie Gillis, Wild in Country). 1949 Barbara Bach [Goldbach], Queens NY, actress (Spy Who Loved Me). 1950 Charles Fleischer Wash DC, comedian (Roger Rabbit). 1950 Cynthia Potter US, springboard diver (Olympic-bronze-1976). 1952 Pee-wee Herman aka Paul Reubens, actor (Pee-wee's Big Adventure)/ 1954 John Lloyd tennis player (former husband of Chris Everet). 1955 Diana Scarwid actress (Extremities, Psycho 3, Strange Invaders, Heat). 1959 Gerhard Berger formula-1 racer (Italian Grand Prix-1988). 1961 "Downtown" Julie Brown TV host (Club MTV, Inside Edition).

The Best Antique Jewelry on the Web!

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Sex for Dinner

I just saw a news story that talked about a new restaurant. Where isn't important, because I am not promoting this kind of restaurant. Anyway, the name of the place was either APHRODESIAC or APHRODESIA, I can't remember which. As the name implies, the restaurant's claim to fame is that they sell ONLY food and drink that are known aphrodesiacs. Really. They based a restaurant on this.

At first glance, you may see this as a cute, romantic idea. But stop and think about that. Being taken there on a date would NOT be a compliment. If your date takes you there, you can no longer delude yourself into believing he is there with you because he likes your personality. Taking you to this restaurant is a clear declaration of what he is REALLY after, since ALL the foods there are supposed to make you want sex....so, if you go along with it, you are saying yes to him. I'd just slap his face and go home.

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Kill a Tree to Preserve our Paperless Society?

Have you ever noticed that if you own a computer, the whole world assumes you have a printer? Actually, I have two. One is out of ink, and it would cost less to buy a new printer than to buy new ink cartriges. Literally. The other one goes to an old Color Computer (That's circa TRS-80, folks) and even if it had a computer around it could talk to, would STILL need a new ribbon. (Yup, ribbon. This was before ink cartridges.) I do not, obviously, have a working printer. My question is, if the whole damn world runs via internet, which is, among other things, supposed to do away with all the paperwork and save the trees, WHY does everything I do online seem to want me to kill a tree for a printout? Hmm?

Barbarians Among Us

I just walked away from the computer long enough to have dinner, and then I had planned to watch a movie, but as usual I find myself back here at the computer. For dinner, MOST of us had baked ham, mashed potato cakes, and peas. My 13 year old had a ham, potato, and pea sandwich. Um, gross. I think she's a throwback to the Barbarians in our family tree.

Dress Shopping for Mommies

My daughters love shopping for dresses, not that the selection these days is all that great. Problem is, with four daughters, you can be sure that at least one of them is going to pick out at least one empire style dress. I hate those. But how do you tell a twelve year old that no, she can't have that because it makes her look pregnant? Hmm? So, I don't say it, I just gently tell them to find something else. At which point, there is no other dress in the world, and I am an ogre. WHY couldn't I have had boys....?

I need my SPACE, Man!

My husband has a rather odd dilemma. He has no place to store his tools. I know that this does not SOUND odd, but we live in a sprawling ranch house on two hundred acres. Somewhere, you would think there would be tool storage, but not so. Inside the house is full. Too much stuff. There has already been a carport added because the two car garage houses a laundry room and workshop instead of cars. In the workshop, you say? Nope. That's where the riding lawn mower sits. See? No room.

Do NOT Sing at ME, Young Lady!

When I was a kid, Weird Al used to be one of my favorites. I had every tape he had released. Yeah, I said tape. CDs weren't a big thing yet. I had record albums, too. Now I am really telling my age. But anyway, he used to be one of my favorites.

Now I can NOT stand the guy OR his music, and it's all my 13 year old's fault. I hope this is a temporary condition, but for the last two days, she has been walking around bursting into song. ALWYS Weird Al's "Y-O-D-A" song. Always. Weird Al, wherever you are, may it drip from your nose like it drips from my faucet.

Postcards, Please!

I have a cousin that's a globetrotter. Not the Harlem kind. THAT at least would be interesting. No, he just travels. And shares the videos. I don't wanna see em. He has a shaky hand. I get carsick watching all that. I like it better when he just sends postcards. I love picture postcards. I've got a great one from some time he spent at a Maine bed and breakfast last year. But those shaky videos have GOT to go.

Mom, I'm BORED!

I talk alot about my older two daughters on here, and since I do not want my younger angels feeling neglected, I'm gonna tell you about their favorite phrase.... MOM, I'M BORED! Bored? They don't know from bored. These kids have an entire arsenal of things to do. When I was a kid, you could actually see the floors and walls in my room. These kids have so much stuff, this is NOT a possibility. Well, not really, anyway. But my point is, how can these kids be bored with all this STUFF to do? I have managed to find a cure for that phrase, however, and I thought I would pass it along. When you here them use it, just order them to clean their room. Next time, wash the car. Third time, do the dusting, and so on. Soon, you no longer hear what a borng life they lead. See what a little hard work can do?:)

Priorities, of course

Okay, I am no longer feeling quite so depressed about things. I got a great reminder about priorities a few minutes ago. My daughter called. Wanting money. She obviously thinks I am hoarding a money tree out on the back forty somewhere. And when she calls, it is ALWAYS imperitive that she have whatever it is she wants the money for. What ARE Skagen watches, anyway? Whatever there is about them, I now know that they ar vital to my daughter's existance. I guess we better do something about it before she drowns in a pool of unfashionablism (okay, it's not a real word, but you get the idea).

But I want fudge!

All this worrying about my kids has made me hungry, and trust me, I do NOT need to be hungry. I am not yet to Godzilla proportions, but I am thinking about fudge, and I can feel my backside growing as I sit here and type. No fudge. No fudge. Hmm....I bet we have the stuff to make some.....Bah. If things don't get easier this school year, I am gonna need a whole neqw wardrobe. Again:)

What do you mean you can't find it...?

You know, I know you are probably getting tired of hearing about my kids in their various schools, but have you ever tried to send a child off to college? Or to a boarding prep school? Do you actually expect their belongings to come BACK with them at the end of the school year? You do? Oh, you poor, misguided soul. We learned the hard way that as far as belongings, nothing has changed since we patted their little popos and sent them off to kindergarten. If it doesn't have their name on it somewhere, you are never going to see that again. We wind up with everything from stenciled names on sheets and towels to large bills for personalized pens. A word to the wise.....no matter how much of a genius he or she is, he still can't find his toes if his eyes are closed. Really.