Monday, March 29, 2010

Quotes Round 2


Some more to share for Monday:

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” J.K. Rowling (yes, this is from Harry Potter!)

“Don’t use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.” Kurt Vonnegut

“I can see the sun, but even if I cannot see the sun, I know that it exists. And to know that the sun is there—that is living.” Fyodor Dostoevsky

“If you haven’t the strength to impose your own terms upon life, then you must accept the terms it offers you.” T.S. Eliot

“If funkytown were a trailer park, this guy would be a double wide.” Maya Angelou (I love this woman!!)

“And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” J.K. Rowling (Ms. Rowling, you are my hero!!!!)

“Insanity is relative. It depends on who has locked who in what cage.” Ray Bradbury

“The insane, on occasion, are not without their charms.” Kurt Vonnegut (He is AWESOME!)

“The writer is always tricking the reader into listening to their dream.” Joan Didion

“I’ve never any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about them.” George Eliot

The Case of the Vanishing Socks....


Okay, we all do laundry and sometimes things go missing. Really, where do those socks go? How is it possible to put 4 socks in the washer and take 3 out of the dryer. I want Mythbusters to investigate this for me! What is the mystery of the missing sock? This is what I think really happens…

Washer: I love the new laundry soap these folks got, it leaves a minty-fresh taste in my mouth…that old juice was like having a bouquet of flowers shoved down my throat.

Dryer: I wish they would switch the dryer sheets. All they buy are the cheap store brand sheets that have no taste. You are so lucky that you get to have fun tastes and refreshing flavors.

Washer: I know! Laundry day is coming up. I hate these days of no action and then they just pile it all on you in one day. It’s just work, work, work! They make you stay up until all hours of the night. It is so frustrating. And they always blame me for all the socks you lose.

Dryer: I am not the one who loses the socks. They never make it in here. I think that you are doing something with them, because there is no possible way that they could mysteriously disappear. What, do they just jump out, last time I checked, socks were just a bunch of old fabric, they are not real. I don’t know why you are making such a big deal about this.

Washer: I hate getting accused of losing socks. It is bad enough that they blame me when their clothes bleed together and they end up with pink sheets, but they should be smart enough to know not to mix whites and reds. It's not that hard to remember!

Dryer: Yeah, right that was entirely your fault! Don’t try to blame them! You had those rust stains and that is what caused the whites to change colors, don’t blame them for something that is your fault.

Washer: You have a lot of nerve saying that…Sock Eater!

Dryer: Color Bleeder!

Washer: That’s it, I am never talking to you again…take all the socks that you want. It’s not my problem

Dryer: Whatever, you probably steal the socks to hide the color damage.

Washer: You are so pathetic!!
Dryer: Whatever…
(wow, i guess in my head the washer and dryer sound juvenile/valley girl!)

Washer and Dryer had fallen asleep. They were exhausted from the previous day--laundry day. The dryer door slowly opened, two eyes peered out into the darkness…I think the coast is clear…let’s make a run for it! And with that the socks hopped down out of the dryer and made their way to freedom.

Somewhere there is a colony of socks, soaking up the rays on a beach. That’s where I would be if I had to be shoved on people’s smelly feet all day.... Really, Jamie and Adam, investigate this please! I would like my socks back!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Quotes


So, recently I have been looking up quotes from some of my favorite authors (plus a few actors)—you can probably tell since I have added some of them to my blog! I decided to share a few on random topics. Some are fun, or poignant, or just plain awesome. This is why I love reading. These are my heroes! I hope you find some you like!

“At some point in life, the world’s beauty becomes enough. You don’t need to photograph, paint, or even remember it. It is enough.” Toni Morrison

“How can anyone deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It is beyond me.” Zora Neale Hurston

“Trees and plants always look like the people they live with somehow.” Zora Neale Hurston

“Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain.” William Faulkner

“I’m bad, and I’m going to Hell, and I don’t care. I’d rather be in Hell than anywhere you are.” William Faulkner

“Even amidst fierce flames, the golden lotus can be planted.” Inscribed on Sylvia Plath’s tombstone

“There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know any of them.” Sylvia Plath

“I don’t care what the critics say. My fabulous mom will give me a good review if nobody else does.” Ginger Rogers

“Old age is no place for sissies.” Bette Davis

“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” F. Scott Fitzgerald

“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you odd.” Flannery O’Connor

“Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand.” Kurt Vonnegut

“Nothing is as obnoxious as other people’s luck.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald

I’ll post some more later…
Oh yeah, the picture isn't creepy, I like it--the book is reaching out to her, get it?? :)

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Frankenfish!



The other day on the Syfy channel, there was a movie entitled, “Frankenfish.” It was a FABULOUS story of a giant mutated/engineered fish that roamed the Louisiana Bayou eating people. This made me think of my goldfish I had in college. My roommate and I broke the dorm rules and got fish. It started with a grand adventure to Wal-Mart. We were suckers for the 4 for $1 goldfish bargain. We started out with a fish bowl/cheap decorative vase. This didn’t end well: too many fish, not enough air. The next day, we already had a dead floater. Within a few days, all the fish died. Wow, that was not what I wanted to happen.

So we tried again and got more fish. We did a little better, worked out the clean water/air situation, but these were violent fish. The fish actually started attacking each other, fighting for air or space—very Gladiator like. We had to take one out and put her in her own bowl. We thought she was dead. She was missing scales and covered in blood. This fish became the most hardcore, violent fish I have ever seen, a true FRANKENFISH. It ate/attacked any other fish it encountered. It’s name was Domino, after the “bounty hunter” Domino Harvey (don't judge us-we had just watched the movie). We ended up having to keep her separated because she was so vicious.

Some of our fish became suicidal, or they were simply trying to escape Domino. One day we were chilling and the fish just leaps out of the bowl, splattering on the floor, thrashing about on the carpet. Did that really just happen? I thought that only happened in cartoons!

Another time a fish just disappeared. It might have been kamikaze fish, but we believe it fell victim to demented Domino. Wake up feed 4 fish. Go to class/work. Come home, only 3 fish. I'm not a Math major, but I'm pretty sure 3 is less than 4, and fish just don't disappear. Huh, no fish body lying around near the tank. ! Just vanished, gone…DOMINO??!?!!

When my roommate moved out, she and her husband got an actual tank and took Domino. We hoped the ample space and diversity of fish would settle her down a bit, but no luck! Yet again she continued to eat smaller fish, or ferociously attacking them until they only had one fin, kinda like Nemo, but not as cute. I feel a little bad for creating such a monster fish. I’m just glad she couldn’t mutate into a 30 footer and swallow me whole… I know she would have. Four years later, I’m pretty sure Domino is still alive, terrorizing more poor little fish. I think that she and Frankenfish could have been best buddies! (if they weren't trying to kill each other!)

Anyway, I guess the point of this rant is that I can see how the fish became so psycho and began eating everyone. For once, I actually understood a Syfy movie. Huh, who knew???

(The tagline for this film is: Welcome to the bottom of the food chain! I really need to get a job writing for these people! Genius!)

Friday, March 19, 2010

Is anyone an Airport Baggage Handler???



The other night I went to the airport to pick up my brother and sister-in-law. Their flight arrived 30 minutes early, but it still took over an hour to get the bags. As we stood waiting at the baggage claim area, I had a REVELATION. One of the best people to know or have a connection with is the person who unloads the bags and puts them on the conveyor that shoots said bags up to baggage claim.

Imagine if you knew such a person in at least one airport. You could give them a heads up with your flight and luggage description and they could ensure it was one of the first pieces unloaded. Is it just me, or would that be AMAZING?!?!?

It always seems that the person who owns the first bags to come out are never there on time. That lucky person isn’t there to appreciate such a gift. Their bags seem to circle...looping around, making you feel even more depressed that your bags are never going to come out. The people diligently waiting and searching for their bags always seem to be the ones who have to wait the longest.

Then the moment happens and, yeah, happy feeling. That moment you see your bag peeking up on the belt. Total rush of adrenaline as you bolt up, pushing past anyone in your way, all to assert your dominance and let them know that you are victorious. Yes, that is MY bag. All you suckers have to keep waiting, not ME. That is MY bag and now I can leave!

I’ve never won the lottery (and am still bitter with HGTV Dream Home Giveaway) but I would imagine that feeling is similar to being one of the first people to retrieve their luggage. Or maybe I just exaggerate a bit....

So, any baggage handlers out there, I admire you, and I would like to be your friend.

(And yes, that is Yoda in the picture! He just uses The Force to get his bags! Jealous!)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Superpower


If you could have any super-power what would it be? This question pops up every now and then. I have changed my mind many times, but I think I finally decided that Teleportation/Apparating/Orbing would be the best power.

Ok, flying would be great, but it still takes time, messes up your hair, and requires a certain attire (Superman Cape). Invisibility is handy for spying, gathering information, even for safety reasons, but there are still ways for people to find out where you are (throwing dust on you, etc..).

X-ray vision: we have machines that can do that. But Clark Kent (aka Tom Welling) does look pretty dang good using his X-ray vision! :)

Aquaman's powers: to be honest, a bit creepy. He's like half fish. Don't get me wrong, I love the water, but I'm not THAT impressed.

Being able to instantly travel whether it is 6 feet or 6,000 miles, would be AMAZING. Forget airport lines, security and baggage restrictions. Hhhmmm, it is raining here, but it’s summer in Australia, let me just…oh look, I’m there. Instantaneous! What, there is gonna be a terrorist attack across the country in 5 minutes…..flash, you’re there. I don't think Superman could fly that fast! Think of all the time that could be saved. Wait, the store closes in 10 minutes...flash, you're there! AWESOME!! I am getting a little depressed now that I can’t teleport. Maybe if I sit here and think hard enough.........................................nope, still here. I’ll keep practicing.

Back When.....


So, the other day, Justin and I were at Home Depot getting some random stuff. As we went to check out, I noticed the Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum Tape set up with all the candy and goodies you find at the cashier. It had been YEARS since I had seen, let alone, bought some. I was amazed. All of the sudden, a rush of childhood memories came flooding back. Trying to shove all 6 feet of Bubble Tape in my mouth, good times!!

Then I got to thinking about all the other great toys and foods from my childhood that we don't really have anymore. I can vividly remember by "skip-it." It was the "Barbie" hot pink plastic material, with the counter on the end to tell you how many times you could "skip-it." Pretty soon, I was remembering great TV shows that used to be on. Classic cartoons like, Smurfs, Snorks, Gummi Bears, Bionic 6, Thundercats (HHHOOOO!), Care Bears, heck, even My Little Pony. They just don't make good cartoons like the used to. The other day, I saw a preview for some crazy mermaid Barbie cartoon, with the weird computer imaging or whatever...not like the classic Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, and how all the other Disney cartoons were done.

Man, then the whole snowball effect has taken place. Then I got to thinking about the crazy shows and toys kids have these days. I remember wanting a Barbie Jeep so badly...one that I could drive around myself. Nowadays, my 4-year old nephew has his own John Deere Gator that he cruises around on. WHAT?? And, working with 1st graders in the computer lab. These kids are going on the internet, IMing, emailing, all sorts of crazy stuff. I remember when I was in 1st grade, we got to use the computers to use Encarta Encyclopedia to look up information. And then they would let us use Paint to make pretty pictures. Now, these kids are downloading images, and all sorts of stuff. Makes me feel like I was kinda stupid...no, they just have more access to the technology than I did.

Yes, all of this started from buying a single container of Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum Tape. "Six Feet of Fun." Sure makes me miss being a kid.