This bitch must be related to my Third Grade teacher.
Mrs. Clark, wherever you are, I'd probably still believe if it wasn't for you. You're lucky the Princess Mom let you live. _____
Mayor Shortshanks really ought to pay attention to history. Snow removal (or lack thereof) was the death of Michael Bilandic's mayoral career.
The good folks of Chicago are pissed as hell... and nothing lasts forever. (Okay. Maybe unless you're a Daley. But even Da Mair might not be bulletproof over this mess.) _____
Seeing as I'm just coming off four days in bed with a lousy cold, I'm going to kick off a little Sick of Being Sick Meme of my own.
The rules?
1. No tagging allowed. You only play if you choose to play. 2. You plunk in a link back to me so I see where it lands. 3. You plunk in a link back to whomever you swiped this from because you're such a nice person. 4. You take your vitamins and drink lots of fluids.
Tell seven strange/true things about yourself/your behavior when you're not feeling well.
1. I am a lousy patient. I get grumpy and mildly impatient within 24 hours. Snarky and edgy within 48 hours. Caustic and perpetually irritated after 72 hours. You don't even want to ask after that.
2. I miss my mom when I'm sick. A lot.
3. Over-the-counter cold remedies don't work for me.
4. Hot toddies or blackberry brandy and hot tea do.
5. I managed to simultaneously sneeze, cough, belch and poot yesterday. With my eyes open. It was awesome.
6. I go back to work as soon as humanly possible because I can't stand my own company after a while.
7. I crave weird foods when I've got a cold or the flu -- spaghetti sauce and parmesan cheese, but no pasta; red beans and rice; tangy cole slaw (the kind with just mayo, wine vinegar, celery salt, lemon pepper and some celery seed -- NO SUGAR); cornichons (the more sour, the better); chili with melted cheddar cheese and gobs of sour cream. Good stuff like that. In fact, yesterday I was craving the slaw and had everything but the cabbage. What do you think I did? (You're darned tootin', I did.)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Governor Giveaway finally got nailed and the whole world is up in arms. Quite frankly, I'm shocked that the rest of the world is shocked.
The man has displayed incredible hubris over and over again. These latest escapades are nothing more than an escalation of his usual lunacy.
Here are my predictions:
1. He's not going to quit or willingly step aside.
2. He's still trying to figure out how he can get himself on the next presidential ballot... and believes with all his heart he'll do it... and that we'll happily elect him.
3. Obama may get tainted by his dealings with Rezko, but he distanced himself from Blago a long time ago, (and for very good reasons) and will come up clean on this one.
4. This is only the beginning of the indictments.
5. The fastest and most expeditious way to get Governor Giveaway out of office would be to pay the bastard off. He wants $300,000? Give it to him, and good riddance! It will cost the taxpayers one hell of a lot less than it will cost to impeach him or to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court to remove him from office.
6. The Dems could use a Sarah Palin of their own here in Illinois. By that, I mean the Sarah Palin who took on her own party and cleaned house from the Governor's house on down in Alaska.
7. No pardon for George Ryan now.
8. Durbin sent to grief counseling by Democratic National Party.
9. Emil Jones not named to Obama's seat.
10. Illinois turns a little less blue... a lot more purple.
11. I feel sorry for Blago's kids... and Patty's sister.
My BlogMama is struggling with a painful issue right now -- an issue that seems to be especially pesky for women: why, when and how to let a friendship go.
Funny, because I just had a former friend pop up out of the ether extending the hand of renewed friendship recently after zero contact for several years. (No, Cheryl. This is NOT you.) A friendship where my goodwill had been wrung dry, and I'd been forced to draw some very clear and drastic boundaries. And the message was left in one of my well-known haunts, which creeped me out entirely.
Wouldn't you know, my first impulse was to reach back out, but gingerly.
Then I gave myself a great big mental head-slap and decided that I wasn't the person who'd broken faith, abused my big heart and good nature, repeatedly made stupid choices and expected others (usually me) to fix them when they blew up in her face -- my so-called friend was.
I know what good friends are, because I'm surrounded by them now. And good friends just don't treat you that way.
I have no desire to go back to all new episodes of "As the Stomach Turns."
That doesn't make me a bad person; that makes me a smart person.
As for my BlogMama, she's under the mistaken impression that sorry-ass excuse for a human being is her friend. She's not. My BlogMama is a good friend. That other person is a user and an abuser.
A lot of women are conditioned to be "nice," to not "make waves," and to play well with others. We sometimes put up with way too much in the way of others' bad behavior, because we believe we will be perceived to be a "bad person" if we don't.
Phooey on that nonsense!
I've sent a text message to my former friend that I'm simply not willing to go down that road again, and wishing her well. If she shows up in my favorite haunt, well... I'm a favorite of theirs, too, and I know who'll be welcomed and who'll be escorted out. I don't want a scene, but I can handle it if it comes.
As for my BlogMama, I hope she understands that people will respect her more for giving that emotional parasite the push-off than for putting up with her barbs. Life's too short, and there are too many other good people out there to spend our hearts and energy on for a far, far better payoff.
It's time we all had the doormat tattoo surgically removed from our foreheads. _____
Update: I just took a closer look at the note she left me, and now I'm really creeped out. Why? She moved in one block from where I lived at the time she moved away in the first place. Too freaky.
Seriously, this song has been rattling around my noggin since 9:00 last night. Gah! _____
Planning on buying Bratz for your little girls this Christmas? Then you might want to get to the store quickly. Otherwise, it's Barbies for everyone! _____
(A tip of the cap to Bill Jempty. I'll be giggling about this all day, Dude.) _____
I don't think I'll be done in time for submission to Amazon.com's Amazon 2009 Breakthrough Novel competition, but you can bet I'll be submitting next year.
In the meantime, spread the word. I can think of at least one guy who could and should enter! _____
LawDog gets the giggles here. I think he's onto something. _____
Why do you suppose these remind me of this guy and this guy? Let's just hope I'm not giving them any big ideas here... _____
I've been looking for something cool for TMBCITW's first Mystery Trip with Auntie Fun. I'm thinking this musical might just do it. Dinner and a play, just the two of us.
Yep.
That should do the trick. _____
Add this book to my Christmas list, will you? _____
Not only are reservations open for the BlogHerHotel, registration for the conference is now available here. Sign up before February 28th for early bird pricing.
(And if you're thinking about coming, but can't justify the expense -- Miss Nancy and I have reserved a room with two double beds, and both of us are willing to share. C'mon. It should be a load of fun.) _____
Ear Worm of the Day:
Lisa is an old pal of mine from the Redhead Piano Bar. She's there every Monday and Thursday. Check her out next time you're in town! _____
A couple of Blogthings, because I love them so...
You Are the Superego
While some people may think first and act later... you often don't act at all.
You rather be safe than sorry, and you take ethics pretty seriously.
Like everyone, you have some pretty crazy desires. But unlike everyone, you restrain yourself.
You have high standards for your own behavior. And you happily exceed them.
You really don't enjoy shopping. For you, it's just another chore. You approach shopping systematically. You research what you're going to buy and come prepared with a list.
Of all the types, you are the most likely to not buy things you don't need. You try to de-emphasize stuff in your life. You find shopping and buying things to be a rather empty experience.
With only a couple of days left, Team Coast Guard only needs about $150 to push us over the $2,000 mark for Project Valor-IT. If three of you donate $25 each or more, I'll match it with $25 each of my own. Between you and me, we can make this happen. We can do it, okay?
You like guys who are cool. And not cool in that fake, dicky way, but actually cool. He's so cool that they couldn't find any actor to adequately portray him, so they decided to just leave him out of the movies rather than risk not doing justice to his coolness. He's like the Chuck Norris of Harry Potter: plain freaking awesome. When Voldemort says "You-Know-Who", he's talking about Bill Weasley.
(Fanarty by The Starhorse http://the-starhorse.deviantart.com/ Used with permission.)
In another very cool quiz, I find I'm definitely a right-brained person:
You responded as a right brained person to 15 questions, and you responded as a left brained person to 3questions. According to the Hemispheric Dominance test, you use your right brain the most. The summary briefly describes your dominance type.
Some of the traits associated with the right side of the brain are listed in the table. Not all of the traits will apply to you. Remember, we use both side of our brain, but your right sides gets the most exercise.
Go here to find out what it all means for you... and holy crap is this spot-on for me:
If you are predominantly right-brained, you may also have trouble outlining (You've probably written many papers first and outlined them latter because an outline was required). You're the student who needs to know why you are doing something.
Oh, sure. I go ahead and order this little gem, which I LOVE, and looks snazzy as hell on the shoulder of the snappy teal trapeze dress I just bought, and now the designer comes up with this, which I'm lusting over with all my heart.
Ahem. Christmas list. Hint, hint, hint...
(P.S. Accessoire shipped really fast, and I'm very pleased with the quality of the pin I bought. I'll definitely be a repeat customer.) _____
If there was a real Jurassic Park, would you visit it?
Probably not... unless it had a spa
Do you ever read the newspaper?
Every day
Do you eat your mac & cheese with a fork or a spoon?
A fork
Is there any medicine/pill you take everyday?
Not any more. Yay!
How many 20 dollar bills do you have on you right now?
Seven
Would you do meth if it was legalized?
Not on your Nelly
Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers to survey questions?
Nope
Do you think Obama will be assassinated?
I don't want to even pursue that line of thought
Have you ever made out with someone and then never saw them again?
Yep. I'd do it again, too
Do you drink egg nog?
Yes. The Princess Mom used to make it for us when we were sick
What are you wearing?
Slacks, blouse, pearls and heels
Feel free to jump in and post your own! _____
Ear Worm of the Day:
That has to be the strangest vocal pairing in history. _____
One more thing...
While you're celebrating all the things you're thankful for this year, drop a few bucks here in thanks for the men and women who've served this country so well and could use a hand in return. _____
Saw this little test about the MMPS profile of my in a couple of places:
ISTP - The Mechanics
The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts.
The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.
Oddly, my blog doesn't match my own personality type. Go figure.
–Share seven random or weird Book Facts about yourself. –Then tag seven other people. –Notify the seven others that they have been tagged.
I am RARELY found without a book or a magazine in my purse. I get antsy if I don't have reading materials with me.
I have bought seven copies of Life of Pi thus far, and I can't seem to keep one on my own bookshelf. I keep sharing them with others because I love that book so much.
I read in bars.
My friends all know not to talk to me in a bar when I'm down to the last eighth of a book, as I am compelled to finish and get really cranky if not allowed to finish.
I can blast through half a dozen books in a weekend (but I don't get anything else done when that happens).
Oops! One more thing. I had dinner at this terrific restaurant last night, but the thing that entranced me about it the most was that it had this cool hand dryer in the restrooms. Holy moly! I want one for every room in my house that has a sink in it!
The rules are: Pass it on to five other bloggers, and tell them to open the nearest book to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence on that page, and also the next two to five sentences. The CLOSEST BOOK, NOT YOUR FAVORITE, OR MOST INTELLECTUAL!
She spent a moment thinking about Frankie, then she climbed the stairs with a heavy heart, but brightened when she saw Pierre standing in the bedroom wearing only a pair of g-string underpants, which made him look a little like an under-nourished sumo wrestler. They made love for three and a half hours, and Agnes Brown entered her forty-ninth year a satisfied woman.
* * * * *
With just five weeks left to the due date of her first birth, Cathy was excited. She was also looking forward to being a mother. She also hoped the baby would improve things and bring her and Mick closer together.
An extensive new research study has found that unhappy people watch more TV while those consider themselves happy spend more time reading and socializing.
If that's true, I must be the happiest girl in the whole U.S.A.
We got winners, we got losers Chain smokers and boozers And we got yuppies, we got bikers We got thirsty hitchhikers And the girls next door dress up like movie stars
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
We got cowboys, we got truckers Broken-hearted fools and suckers And we got hustlers, we got fighters Early birds and all-nighters And the veterans talk about their battle scars
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
[Chorus:] I love this bar It's my kind of place Just walkin' through the front door Puts a big smile on my face It ain't too far, come as you are Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
I've seen short skirts, we got high-techs Blue-collar boys and rednecks And we got lovers, lots of lookers And I've even seen dancing girls and hookers And we like to drink our beer from a mason jar
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar Yes I do
I like my truck (I like my truck) I like my girlfriend (I like my girlfriend) I like to take her out to dinner I like a movie now and then
But I love this bar It's my kind of place Just trollin' around the dance floor Puts a big smile on my face No cover charge, come as you are Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
We got divorcees and a big bouncer man An old jukebox and a real bad band We got waitresses and we got barflies A dumb-ass and a wise-guy If you get too drunk just sleep out in your car
Reason number 672 why
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar Play it on out boys Beer-thirty's over Got to take it on home
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar I just love it
I've known and loved a joint or two like that. (Yeah. I have my classy moments.) _____
Have YOU read every blog? (Holy cats, did he put me in some fine company!) _____
1. Publicly admit the Coast Guard team is a formidable competitor (trackback to this post for proof) 2. Watch The Guardian (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406816/) 3. Have 4 new donations to your team today (use links below), and encourage donations to the Coast Guard team for the rest of the day today.
Dudes, if I had a television and VCR/DVD player, I would. Is it okay if I just watched the clips on IMDB?
Here's my very own challenge! For the first four of my readers who donate $25 or more and join Team Coastie today, I will match each one with $25 of my very own. C'mon! How often can you double the value of your own donation?
Update: My colleague Andrew made a deal -- he donated to Valor-IT, and I matched him here as well at Valor-IT! One down, three to go. (C'mon. Make me spend more money!)
Out of the blue today I got a text message from an old friend who I haven't heard from in at least a couple of years.
This is a girlfriend who I traveled with extensively when we were both showing cats.
Who remained my friend after we both stopped showing.
Whose company I cherished.
Who loved my mom (who always said Cheryl was her favorite of all my friends).
Who I helped move from Gray's Lake, IL to Miami, FL with an ancient and arthritic chocolate Labrador Retriever and a stone deaf blue-eyed white American Shorthair cat -- in the middle of August.
Yeah. That kind of great girlfriend.
Time, distance, a lost cell phone (mine), a couple of moves (hers) and pure laziness on both our parts have found us out of communication... but not out of each other's hearts.
Tonight I have to tell her about this. And this. Geeze! I'm not looking forward to this, even if I am delighted that the doors of communication are back open. Wish me luck. And a BIG box of Kleenex.
I dare ya not to have a tear in your eye and a spirit of generosity in your heart by the time you're done.... And do like Chuck says -- sit on your hands through the whole thing.
It was shocking to learn, “Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. had to gather the chief executives of the nine biggest American banks and cajole them into accepting about $25 billion each in new capital. But having pleaded with the banks to take the money, and putting no government officials on bank boards, the government had little power to tell them how to spend it. Treasury officials also refused to tell banks to reduce their dividends or to increase their lending by any specific amounts.”
I find it incredible that this is happening and no one is calling foul.
Where are all the hotshots who supported Paulson in his psyching us all out by conveying that if we did not follow his plan, we would find ourselves in another Great Depression?
Why aren’t they at the very least denouncing what is now happening? We are keeping alive, in addition to banks, other institutions that have done a terrible job and were greedy.
And...
Everyone is lining up to get their federal handout.
AIG has come back for more and is to receive a total of $150 billion. The three American car companies, General Motors, Chrysler and Ford, have received $25 billion and want another $25 billion of taxpayers’ money.
Why not let them be bought by others in bankruptcy? There are those who say we are bailing out companies in order to prevent massive layoffs. In my view, those layoffs will come sooner or later anyhow because those companies are run by incompetents and no longer able to compete, while foreign companies like Toyota, manufacturing their cars in the U.S., are selling them and not seeking to be bailed out.
It's that time of year again -- Soldiers' Angels need your help in order to be able to provide laptops with voice-control software, Wii game systems and personal GPS devices to disabled military personnel.
My BlogDaddy calls my reaction to the news of the potential siezure of IRAs and 401ks "hysteria," but then he handed me back the reasons for exactly why it's not:
“From where I sit that’s just crazy,” said John Belluardo, president of Stewardship Financial Services Inc. in Tarrytown, New York. “A lot of people contribute to their 401(k)s because of the match of the employer,” he said. Belluardo’s firm does not manage assets directly.
Higher-income employers provide matching funds to employee plans so that they can qualify for tax benefits for their own defined-contribution plans, he said.
“If the tax deferral goes away, the employers have no reason to do the matches, which primarily help people in the lower income brackets,” Belluardo said.
I don't know about you, but my employer matches a whole hell of a lot more than $600 a year, and I certainly don't want to lose that. Neither should you. However...
Under Ghilarducci’s plan, all workers would receive a $600 annual inflation-adjusted subsidy from the U.S. government but would be required to invest 5 percent of their pay into a guaranteed retirement account administered by the Social Security Administration. The money in turn would be invested in special government bonds that would pay 3 percent a year, adjusted for inflation.
In addition, my current contribution to my 401k is strictly voluntary. I certainly don't want the government telling me I have to contribute 5% of my salary to a fund run by those most altruistic folks in DC to manage for my future. Oh, wait. We are already required to fork over a large chunk of our income every year to Social Security... and we all know how well that seems to be working.
$80 BILLION of our own money they're trying to take away, boys and girls. Wrap your head around that one for a while. And remember that it's people in the lower income brackets that'll be hurt the most.
Make this an opt-in program for those folks who don't want to be responsible for their own futures, and I've got no problem with this. But for those of us who choose to steer our own destinies, no thanks. _____
And since I haven't done a Blogthing in a while:
What Your Home Says About You
You come across as very intellectual. People take your wisdom seriously.
Your hygiene is passable, but you may be hiding some dirty secrets.
You are a very domestic person. You enjoy decorating, cooking, and making things homey.
You are not a very nurturing person. You have enough trouble taking care of yourself.
You feel settled in your life. You have enough time to focus on little details.
You are not a very self sufficient person. You depend on others more than you realize.
Your friends see you as accommodating, peaceful, and forgiving.
(I'm thinkin' we might want to be gifting him with a bukkit of his own next time the BlownStar Blodgers get together. We can fill it with Shiner Bock, even.) _____
Much as I love my Boys in Blog, I'm thinking I just may have to attend BlogHer 2009, as I missed the last one held in my own back yard.
Since I won't want to miss a minute of the action, I'm thinking of booking a room. Anyone interested in sharing? _____
I have only one response to this, and that is this. 'Nuff said. _____
For all you guys who ever needed an excuse, memorize this phrase: "alternating intermittent exotropia." (I'm pretty sure that this guy coined that handy medical term.) _____
One more thing you'll have to worry about if you're driving in or around Chicago any time during the next four years:
I don't care what your political affiliation, this is just sour grapes and crappy politics. At a time when the Republican party should be facing the fact that they have serious work to do to regain credibility with their base, there is no place for this junior high back-biting. It does nothing to help their image.
Mr. McCain, it's time to put a halt to this. It's those ribs that should be barbequed; not your former running mate. _____
P.S. -- This is disingenuous and self-serving, but it doesn't work because she smirks her way through the entire interview. Can you say "bitter bitch"?
I've been working on a novel on and off for a couple of years. Either I need to finish the sucker or quit. I need a really big kick in the butt, so here's your chance. Give it up, or keep on going?
Set in the world of cat shows, a mystery, and here I am plopping you right in the middle of the whole darned thing (right in the middle of the 1990's cat show world):
“Oh, Dahling, I had no idea you were this forceful,” Tish murmured in my ear. “Quite luvely, actually. Dottie gave me no clue.”
“Oh, Darling, before you arrived today I had no idea you were a man, much less gay, actually,” I simpered back insincerely.
Tish’s head whipped up, he regarded me solemnly for a moment, and then a big grin split his face and I got a glimpse of a gold tooth. “Oh, Sweetheart, Dottie likes you, but does she really know just what you’re made of?”
“Hell, Tish, I don’t know what I’m made of, but I think we’re going to find out together. How does that suit you?”
“Like my favorite Calvin Klein jeans,” he replied.
The last four words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album. If you want to do this again, hit refresh to generate new quotes, because clicking the quotes link again will just give you the same quotes over and over again.
3. Go to Flickr's 'explore the last seven days.' Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover. Put it all together, that's your debut album.
There ya go!
Update:
My bloggity buddy Moonbeam McQueen upped the ante and added two new steps to the meme:
4. Go to Blogger. Click on “Blogs of Note.” Then, click on “Next Blog.” The title of the first English language blog you see is the title of your album’s upcoming, chart busting, #1 (with a bullet) hit song.
One more note -- If you've got strong feelings about this election and you haven't voted yet, get your behind to the polls tomorrow, no matter who your candidate is. And no whinging when the results come in, either -- especially if you didn't vote.
We think http://getonthe.blogspot.com is written by a woman (79%).
