We Didn't Start The Flame War

Good stuff from CollegeHumor.com.

Watch We Didnt Start the Flame War and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

Allman Brothers Band

This is a video shot in 1982 of an outdoor concert - somewhere. Not sure where, but I wish I would have been there. The Allman Brothers are my all-time favorite band, and this song is my favorite song. This isn't as "slick" as the studio version, but I like it more because of that. Dickey could really make that guitar sing! (Be sure and turn off my embedded player over there on the left.) Enjoy -



...and I just found another one. I guess this was in Gainsville, FL. Here they are playing Statesboro Blues -

Ameriquest Commercials

Ameriquest is the corporation that got into loads of trouble for their subprime mortgages. At least they used some of their money for funny commercials.

George Carlin - Saving The Planet

God, I miss this guy.

Not Dead - Yet

Just a quick note. I had my gall bladder taken out on Wednesday and I'm not exactly bouncing right back like I thought I would. Gah! The trouble with getting older is that your body mutinies on you when you need it the most.

I can't sit at the computer for very long and so I haven't been visiting your blogs like normal. But I did want to say a few things:


Cary - Stop making me laugh!! Please!!!


Tanna - I hope you are feeling better. Flu sucks.


Mari - I love the rain too and I'm glad you're finally getting some.


Reenie - She's lucky to have you as a friend. I know how hard this is for you too. My thoughts are with you both.


Tammy - Leave your poor husband alone! LOL


That's it for now. Sorry about that. I love you all and miss reading you. I'll be back soon - I promise!

eTrade Baby Outtakes

One of my favorite Superbowl commercials last year was the eTrade baby sitting at his computer and talking. Well, he's back again this year with more pearls of trading wisdom. Here is a video of the baby's outtakes - things you won't see during the big game. Heh.

Check it:

40 Inspirational Speeches in Two Minutes

Damn you Cary. You always find the cool videos first. I don't care because I'm going to post this one too. Thanks kiddo! ;>

I liked the Star Wars one too, but you can check that out yourselves if you like. Enjoy!

Verdi - Traviata

I just saw this over at Cake Wrecks and thought it was just too cool not to share! Enjoy.

Still Here!

Tanna recently told me that I've been "pretty quiet" lately. Hmmm...guess I have! There's been various reasons for that. Maybe it's the below zero temperatures with double digit (minus) wind chills for the entire month of January. Or, maybe it's the snow up to my ass.

Bettina snapped this picture of me filling the bird bath the other day. Yep, we have THAT MUCH snow. Oh, and I don't want to forget the layer of ice that's under it making it treacherous to walk or drive. I haven't driven out of town for weeks (I'm a scardie cat driver).

It's cabin fever, folks. The dogs and I are ready for some warm, DRY weather! Shorts, tank tops and flip flops. Uh huh. You know what I'm talking about.

Here - this might help. Go watch Jay and the guys cook chicken and dream about that summer sun.

There now. Isn't that better?

Snow Dogs

We've had a "bit" of snow here this year. So far we've got well over a foot of snow on the ground. Here are some pictures of the boys playing in the snow. And, yes, it's over Elvis' head! It looks like he was using his nose to tunnel.

Cool Videos

Here's a couple of videos I saw today on Cary's List Of The Day that I just had to share. And, while I'm at it, I'd like to encourage you to subscribe to LOTD. Always entertaining but sometimes not safe for work.

The first video is a tribute to John Williams (Star Wars for those of us who might not be in the know). The actual singers are a group called Moosebutter, but I like what the kid has done with it even if it's just lip synching.

Rush's YYZ

This next clip is obviously from a recital. Where or when, I have no idea. But this chick rawks the electronic organ. The next time your kid complains about taking piano lessons, show them this clip and tell them to quit their whining.

(Don't ask how I managed to do this double video thing because I have NO IDEA! Hey, at least they're working.)

A Gift From Tanna

Look what came in the mail today.  My Play It Forward gift from Tanna at My Kitchen In Half Cups.  On the left is a Lemon Tea Cake, center is Mom's Filled Cookies and right is Mandel Bread.  I've sampled them all and, boy! are they delicious!  Thank you sooooo much Tanna!  Happy Holidays to you too!

Cute Animal Christmas Song

I saw this on Jon's Sawdust and Cowpies site and thought it was too cute not to share.  Enjoy!

A Joke

A man walks into an orthopedist's office, walks up to the reception desk and says, "I think I'm a moth." The receptionist says, "Oh gosh, I don't think we can help you with that here, but there's a psychiatrist's office right down the hall." The fellow says, "Yah, I know... I was on my way down there, but your light was on."

Thanks for the laugh Don!

Answering Machine Etiquette

                                  OR

HOW TO LEAVE A MESSAGE ON AN ANSWERING MACHINE

I know, it's tough.  You dial someone's number expecting that they will answer their phone and you can speak directly to that person.  You do it every day.  Sometimes twice a day.  But every once in a while this new-fangled device called an "Answering Machine" will pick up and you are forced to leave a message and hope for a call back from the human you wish to speak to.

So, for those of you who have never used this machine and who wish to speak to the human that owns said machine, I will list an easy-to-follow, fail-safe method to get that person to call you back.

When you hear the beep (which means you should start speaking) do the following in the order given:

1.  State your name fully and clearly - CLEARLY.  Do you know how many Joshs, Travis-es, Jackies and Chads we have as clients?  You are not our son or daughter so we don't know who you are by the sound of your voice.  So, be a gem and give us your FULL NAME.

2.  Leave your phone number.  I don't care if I've talked to you an hour ago.  If I have to go to your file to look up your number, I'm going to call back everyone else BEFORE I call you. 

3.  Give us your FULL telephone number, beginning with the area code.  We deal with two area codes here folks.  If we have to guess which one it is then guess what you're not getting.   A call back.

4  Speak CLEARLY and slowly and STOP MUMBLING.  "Hi, this is Jim mumble at mumble-mumble-8, mumble-7-mumble-mumble-mumble."  About that call back?  You better try your call again because you've just been deleted because I don't know who the hell you are or what your fricking phone number is. 

5.  SLOW DOWN.  The phone won't self destruct in 10 seconds if you don't end your call by then.  These new machines will let you just talk and talk and talk, so take your time - to a point.  (See below.)

6.  Be BRIEF.  We don't need to hear the whole sordid story of why you just "had" to break that no-contact Order.  A simple "Don - I'm in the Palo Alto County jail.  Call me."  will suffice.  (Oh, and we know that number.  It's on speed dial.)

To recap: we need your FULL NAME, your FULL PHONE NUMBER and a BRIEF MESSAGE.  So, SLOW DOWN AND STOP MUMBLING.  And sit up straight.

Dani and Kyle's Party

Remember when these two got married a year ago in September? A hurry-up wedding because they thought Kyle was going to leave for Iraq the next day? They fully intended to re-do their vows this October when Dustin (Dani's brother) got home from Iraq, but becoming parents sort of put those plans on hold.

Even though they couldn't have a "real" wedding with a "real" reception didn't stop them from having a party for family and friends in honor of their wedding, Dustin's return from Iraq and to celebrate the new addition to their family.

Of course, I viewed this as another opportunity to use Smilebox. I'm so predictable.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Dusty & Elvis - Dog Days Smile Box

I love Smile Box! Here's a cute one with my boys. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The READ GREEN Initiative

I have learned to NOT subscribe to magazines.  It took me many years to learn this valuable lesson.  But after finally getting rid of 5 years(!) worth of Martha Stewart Living magazines this summer, I vowed that I was never going to subscribe to another magazine again.  I just don't have enough closet shelf space to store them.  And why store them to begin with?  I never looked at them again so why was I saving them?

Because they were beautiful and informative and inspiring, that's why.  Except, like I said, I never looked at them again.  That's just me - clinging to an imagined reality that will never be.

Which is why I was totally jazzed when I saw this web site, the READ GREEN Initiative.  They offer online versions of lots of magazines that you can either read online (duh) of download to read later.  It's the real magazine - only not with paper.  It's a "win/win" situation here folks!

Of course, they don't offer Martha Steward Living, but I did subscribe to Saveur.  And there are many, many more to choose from.  So, head on over and take a look.  Save a tree (and your sanity) today!

An Epiphany

About four weeks ago my BFF Bettina decided to go on a diet. We were sitting in the BBY (Big Back Yard) having a drink and letting the dogs play when we (read:I) started talking about being fat and unhappy about it. We both know that stomach fat can lead to diabetes, stroke and heart disease and that's where we both carry our weight. (I don't think thunder thighs can kill you...can it?)

The very next day as she was fixing my drink she announced that she was on a diet and she wasn't going to drink. For that week, as was our habit, we would meet for an hour and let the dogs play and then meet uptown at 5:00 for cocktail hour. Normally we'd have a drink or two in the BBY and another couple-ten uptown. Now it was water and a diet pop for her. I figured when we got uptown she'd eventually break down and have a drink with me. I knew she was a stubborn German woman, but I didn't think she was that committed.

I should have known better though, because when she decided to stop smoking several years ago she just STOPPED. Period. End of discussion. Man - that woman has willpower!

Because she is my best friend, I didn't want her to suffer alone. So, in the spirit of friendship, I decided to quit drinking as well. To lose weight, you know. And it is working. Very well, in fact. But, you know what else I found out? I FEEL better. I feel better waking up, I have more energy during the day, and I just seem...well...happier.

And I'm also trying to quit smoking with Chantix. Wow. Two addictions at once. How much willpower can a person have I wonder. I have gone from 2+ packs a day to less than one, but I can't seem to get that last little craving out of my system. Yet.

My epiphany? Well, last night as I was watching TV, I suddenly realized that I was silently trying to decide which of my THREE cravings to give in to: 1) have a drink; 2) have a cigarette; or 3) have a cookie. Which one would hurt me the least? I suddenly realized that I had THREE addictions and they are all bitches. (For the record - I had a cigarette.)

I started this whole "no drinking" crap to lose weight. What I'm finding is that one of my addictions (either alcohol or tobacco) is ratcheting up my sweet tooth like mad. Luckily said sweet tooth is a midget compared to carbohydrate tooth, but it can really pitch a fit when told "no".

Will I drink again? Probably...maybe. I miss having a glass of wine with supper or a drink with friends. It's all the drinks that follow that I don't miss. Will I eventually quit smoking? God, I hope so! It's a disgusting, filthy habit that makes no one happy. Least of all me. Can I eventually take off this weight and (more importantly) keep it off? Yes - I think I can. I've never been a heavy woman, just average height and weight. I know that I need to start exercising if I'm going to maintain any weight loss and as soon as I can, I plan on starting a walking program.

Too little too late? Nah. We do what we can, when we can. Who knows how many days, hours or minutes we have left to live. How we live those precious minutes is what is most important. Taking charge of our own lives is the first step. Follow-through is the next. Commitment is the result.

Come On Down!

Several years ago my step-daughter and her friend made a movie!  A real movie.  Like the kind you would go to a theater and watch.  It's a documentary about contestants on the fan-tabulous Price Is Right TV show and it's a blast to watch.  Right now the girls are trying to get it picked up by a distributor so that you can actually GO to a theater and watch it.

I don't really understand the whole process involved with distributing/selling the movie.  But I do know that it is going to be shown at the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival on October 18th and 20th.  So if you are a fan of the Price Is Right or indie film makers, here's your chance to see Caryn and  Jeruschka's film.  I wish we were closer so we could attend, but it's not to be.

Here are the details in Caryn's own words:

COME ON DOWN!! THE ROAD TO ‘THE PRICE IS RIGHT’ Premiere screening at the SF Documentary Film Festival Saturday, October 18, 2008 7:15 pm Monday, October 20, 2008, 7:15 pm San Francisco –Come On Down! The Road to ‘The Price Is Right’ will debut in San Francisco on Saturday, October 18th as part of the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival. The world premiere screening will take place on Saturday, October 18th , at 7:15 pm at the Roxie Cinema (3117 16th Street in San Francisco ) and will be followed by a Q & A with the filmmakers. A second screening will take place on Monday, October 20th, at 7:15 pm at the Roxie. Come On Down! The Road to ‘The Price Is Right’ is a film about game show culture, the American dream, and the once-in-a-lifetime experience of hearing the words… “Lucky Lucy, come on down!!” The diverse cast of characters includes rock bands, college students, scholars, grandmas, fanatics, and "regular Joe's." The TPIR stories collected offer a hilarious and lighthearted glimpse at a truly unique staple of American popular culture as devotees live their "American dream." As one fan proclaimed, "I compare it to Canterbury Tales…I think it truly is an American pilgrimage." This documentary is a debut feature for filmmakers Caryn Capotosto and Jeruschka White. www.comeondowndocumentary.blogspot.com/ www.myspace.com/comeondowndocumentary Tickets are available online at http://www.sfindie.com/ Press inquiries please contact TPIRdocumentary@aol.com