Drive-Bys

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.

Check out your own blog here!
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Understatement of the Day:

That's not relevant, but it was weird.

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Giggle of the Day:


more lol celebs!
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Bet you didn't know most toilets flush in the key of E flat. There ya go.
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Reservations are now open for BlogHer. See you there?
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Because I'm into book memes lately, here's one from CrankyLitProf:

–Share seven random or weird Book Facts about yourself.
–Then tag seven other people.
–Notify the seven others that they have been tagged.

1. 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.
   
2. 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.
3. I read in bars.
   
4. 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.
   
5. I can blast through half a dozen books in a weekend (but I don't get anything else done when that happens).
6. I once bought books for sixty kids. I'll do it again some time, too. That was WAY too much fun.
   
7. I vividly remember getting my very first library card and the day I was allowed to go to the library on my own for the first time.

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Ear Worm of the Day:



(Because it's Friday, and JihadGene says, "Let's Dance!")

Drive-Bys

Giggle of the Day:


more animals
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That's all for today. I'm outta here.
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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!

That Dyson guy is a genius.

Drive-Bys

Tammi got tagged by Army Wife with a book meme:

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!

The book is "The Granny" by Brendan O'Carroll:

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.

Heh. I love me some Brendan O'Carroll.

Tag your own selves. So there.
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Seems to me the wrong guy is going by the name of Narcisse here. And that mother should have her head examined.
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Ear Worm of the Day (inspired by "The Chiselers"... and you'll just have to read the book. See page 126, and just try and keep a straight face.):



I'll be giggling about this all night.
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Have you donated to Valor-IT yet? If not, why not... and don't forget my challenge!

Brawndo??? Hard to believe anybody would actually buy such stuff, but.... Heh.
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Giggle of the Day:


more animals
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Quote of the Day:

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.


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Drew Peterson continues his campaign to pollute the potential juror pool. The man couldn't get any more offensive if he tried.

Genius.
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In order to bring real change to Illinois, the public needs to get a lot angrier than it is.

You can say that again.
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Alan Keyes never ceases to amaze me. Just when you think he's faded out of the picture, he pops back up again.
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Have you taken me up on the challenge yet? I'll extend the offer until I have at least three more of you to match.

Drive-Bys

Ear Worm of the Day:

Here

"I Love This Bar"

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.)
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Have YOU read every blog? (Holy cats, did he put me in some fine company!)
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Quote of the Day:

One of these days, the stars and the planets, as well as my internet connection and my health, will all align perfectly. Mercury will be in retrograde and the weather will be balmy and breezy. I’ll win the lottery and build a special room with excellent feng shui, perfect lighting and Antonio Banderas wallpaper. Then, I’ll be able to write more consistently.

Yep. That's an excuse I can get behind.
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Giggle of the Day (in honor of the Princess Mom!):


more animals
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Head Scratcher of the Day:

"It's time for you to step up and stop all the drama and stop all the nonsense and stop making these bad decisions and be a person who's going to help your family and is going to help our community," Cuthbertson said. "For some reason, I still believe you can do it."

Well, good luck to you, Your Honor.

Tootin' the Horn

I'm really excited because Team Coastie is growing by leaps and bounds:

	Soldiers Angel - Holly Aho
	Leslie's Omnibus
	Brown Hound
	The American Pundit
	The Political Jungle
	Pirate's Cove

We've about doubled Holly's and my initial donations, but we want MORE.

Holly has a list of demands here:

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.

1. But of course they are!
2. Dudes, if I had a television and VCR/DVD player, I would. Is it okay if I just watched the clips on IMDB?
3. 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?
   

BTW -- Here are a few examples of what the Coast Guard has been up to lately. Show'em some love, will you?


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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!)

Drive-Bys

Desert Cat, he makes me laugh!
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Congratulations, General Dunwoody!
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MMMmmmmmmmm!!! Bacon!
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THIS is NEWS?
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I always wondered why only girls were targeted for this vaccine. This is very good news, indeed.

Whoa, Nelly!

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.

Tootin' the Horn

Have you donated to Project Valor-IT via the Coasties' team button yet?

If not, here's a little inspiration.

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.

Now hit the button below and make me proud.

Drive-Bys

I had an IM chat with this lovely lady today, and, by golly, we're going to be roomies at BlogHer.



I imagine it'll be like a blogmeet on anabolic steroids -- bigger, more muscly and a lot more intense. Can't wait!
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I love Ed Koch:

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.

They make cars Americans want to buy.

Too right.
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So part of the Palin smear was a hoax? That still doesn't wipe out this damning with faint praise. McCain owes Palin a big apology. As does the MSM.

Don't worry. I'm not holding my breath. And, like Baldilocks, I'm truly disgusted with McCain.
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Quote of the Day:

"Considering how taxpayers' money around Washington isn't respected, a day shouldn't go by without having an inspector general checking on it," said Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member on the Finance Committee.

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Giggle of the Day:


more animals
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Ear Worm of the Day:



A "Let's Dance!" especially for JihadGene.

No dancing... no life... indeed.

Tootin' the Horn

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.

Laughing Wolf gives you some background on how Project Valor-IT got started here.

As for me, since I've lived near the ocean and on Lake Michigan, this year I'm joining the Coasties' team:



Right now it's just me and Holly Aho. Frankly, I couldn't be in finer company. Unless, of course, you care to join us.

I don't care whether you donate five bucks or five thousand. Just donate what you can, please.

Drive-Bys

If you're like me, you hate, hate, HATE the fact that things like erectile disfunction drugs are advertised during prime time.

If you hate that, you'll hate this even more.

Nice.
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AD has gifted me with an ear worm and a sight it'll take days to scrub from my psyche. Yeesh!
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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.
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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.

What Does Your Home Say About You?

But I'm not done decorating yet, either.
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Oh, what the hay. Here's one more:

The Part of You That No One Sees

You are balanced, peaceful, and sincere. You're the type of person who goes along to get along. And you're definitely afraid of rocking the boat. Underneath it all, you fear your world falling apart. You'll put up with a situation that you don't like in fear of changing it. Disruptive and forceful people intimidate you - and sometimes exploit you.

What's the Part of You That No One Sees?

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Couldn't resist. Here's one more:

You Are Grape

You are bold and a true individual. You are very different and very okay with that. People know you as a straight shooter. You're very honest, even when the truth hurts. You are also very grounded and practical. No one is going to sneak anything by you. People enjoy your fresh approach to life. And it's this honesty that makes you a very innovative person.

What Color Purple Are You?

Drive-Bys

Desert Cat linked to an article that stood my hair on end:

Democrats in the U.S. House have been conducting hearings on proposals to confiscate workers’ personal retirement accounts — including 401(k)s and IRAs — and convert them to accounts managed by the Social Security Administration.

Oh, HELL NO!

I'll cash those accounts out, take the tax hit, and stuff every single dime under my mattress before this happens to MY money.

Bend over and grab your ankles. The redistribution of wealth is just beginning.

It's going to be a LONG four years.
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Walrilla strikes again.

(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.)
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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?
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Drive-Bys

I have only one response to this, and that is this. 'Nuff said.
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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.)
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One more thing you'll have to worry about if you're driving in or around Chicago any time during the next four years:

If you see a motorcade with police cars, black SUVs and guys with sunglasses talking into their cuffs, don't try to cut it off.

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Baldilocks has a point:

I call on Captain John S. McCain, USN (ret.), Republican, Senior Senator from Arizona, to put a stop to the public smearing of your erstwhile running mate, Governor Sarah L. Palin, Republican from Alaska.

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.
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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"?

Drive-Bys

Mmmmmmmmmm... BACON! (Egad.)
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I giggled myself silly over this. It's certainly one of my favorite ad campaigns.
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And speaking of giggles...


see more puppies

Pedal to the Metal

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.

To write, or not to write?

Drive-Bys

Ear Worm of the Day:


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Aw, geeze! Gwynneth Paltrow copycatted the Princess Mom and hit the red carpet dressed as the Maidenform Woman.

TPM did it better, of course, and wouldn't have been caught dead in those fuggly-ass boots. So there.
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Drive-Bys

This old meme has been making circles back around the blogosphere, and since I didn't do it last time...

My band? Retail Testing
Our album? A Tree At All
The cover?

Wanna make your own? Here are the rules swiped from Tammi and Rave:

1. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The First random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2. Go to random quotations: http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

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.

5. Finally, go to the Rock Star Name Generator to find out what your band member name is.

Well?

#1 With a Bullet? Huffmania
My Rock Star Name? Maggie Cherry

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I knew I liked this guy for a good reason. Clearly he's living my life in a parallel world.
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Aw, Gee, How Cute! of the Day:


see more puppies
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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.

Drive-Bys

If you live in or near Des Plaines, you know that The Choo Choo is a tradition in town. Seems our wonderful mayor has designs on that particular piece of real estate, and wants tear the building down.

Stop by here and give him a piece of your mind, will ya? Even better, stop by and have a bite to eat. You'll be glad you did!
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Mamacita is on a tear:

Yes, I did receive your email explaining how you had to work late last night and were really, really tired, and when the alarm went off you just couldn’t get up, you just COULDN’T, so for the sake of your health you turned over and went back to sleep, and you thanked me in advance for understanding because you know I remember how it felt to be young and so tired it just wasn’t humanly possible to get up for just a test. I didn’t answer it because it’s hard to type when you’re laughing that hard.

All kids should have a prof so swell as she!
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See what you miss when you don't go to blogmeets?

Hmmm...

I'm thinking Joanie and Nancy and I should give those guys a run for their money. We could call ourselves the Hell's Belles or some such blather.
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Giggle of the Day:


more animals

(That strikes really close to home today!)

In Memorium

My BlogDaddy has lost his best furry friend. Stop on by and give him a hug.

There's nothing harder and no bigger privilege in the world than to stand on this side and send your best pal over the Rainbow Bridge.

My heart goes out to you, Kevin!