They Actually Made Them Worse

If any of you like/wear/own Crocs, please do not take this personally. I'm a believer in to each his own... shoe. I'm sure I have shoes that others think are ugly or weird.

I happen to detest Crocs. Why, you ask? Well, even if you didn't ask, I'll tell you my reasons: (1) They are plastic. (2) There is no discernable difference between the men's version and the women's version. (3) They come in garish colors. (4) They are ugly.

I'm sure you've all seen the Original Crocs. But I came across this picture that astounded me. Mary Janes are cute. Crocs are not cute. Trying to blend the two styles together is like trying to breed a really cute puppy with a ferret. (Hey, that's the only thing I could think of.)

But then.... oh.my.word. Look what I found:

Again, I apologize if you like Crocs. I know a lot of people do. And I'm sure they are appropriate for certain situations. (Gardening?) But seriously, granny loafers and Crocs? These shoes are just wrong on so many levels.

Loaded Question, The 4th Time

It's been a while, but here we go again! Blah blah blah post anonymously first blah blah I'll guess blah blah you know what to do.

And now for the new question:


What irritates you the most in a social situation?


If you read this post, you probably know what my answer is. *grin* Okay, get to those answers!

A Big Fat Amen

It's not really bad if someone is talking too much. But if they are so self-absorbed that they don't even notice that others aren't talking or are just listening out of politeness.... that's when it gets under my skin like nothing else. I had to post this cuz I just couldn't have said it any better!! Plus, if I started ranting about this pet peeve of mine, I'd prollie never stop! :)

Do You Talk Too Much?

Think of someone who's long-winded (we all know such people). Chances are you also think of him or her as boring and self-absorbed. But is it possible people think you are a long-winded Benny Blowhard or Chatty Cathy? The more questions to which you answer yes, the more concerned you should be.

First, the problem. Do your pronouncements routinely exceed one minute? Do you wander off on tangents rather than staying on topic? Do your listeners often show signs of lack of interest, such as fidgeting, looking away, interrupting you or frequently saying "uh-huh" to push you to get on with it? Yes, some people are poor listeners by nature. But if you observe a lack of interest among more than a fourth of the people you converse with, the problem is more likely you.

At work, do you talk a lot about non-work-related matters? Your co-workers are probably not very interested in hearing about your home renovations or your child's soccer game. Are you detail-oriented? Such people often blather about things that are important to them but that bore the pants off the typical listener. Are you able to come up with many ideas on the fly and want to express them all in one fell swoop? At work, do people tend to look away from you when you walk by because they're afraid you'll bend their ear for ten minutes?

Have your close friends and relatives ever called you oblivious, self-absorbed, narcissistic, selfish or egocentric? A conversation is not a monologue -- it's about sharing and paying attention to the needs of the person you're talking to.

Recognize that you'll pay a big price for talking too much at work. You will be held in low esteem and will be less likely to have close friends. Some bigmouths believe it's worth the price -- talking is pleasurable and helps them clarify their thoughts. But you should consciously decide, perhaps on a case-by-case basis, whether it's worth the price.

Now, some remedial advice. Keep saying to yourself, Be concise! As you're talking, ask yourself whether you might be boring your listener. Recognize that you're probably rationalizing that your long stories are interesting. Details and tangents are usually much more fascinating to you than they are to your listener.

Be alert to your listener's nonverbal cues, especially as you talk past the 30-second mark. Does your listener seem fully engaged? Remember that most people would rather talk than listen. Writer Fran Lebowitz says, only half-jokingly, "There is no listening. There's just waiting for the other person to stop talking."

Adopt the traffic-light rule when you talk. During the first 30 seconds, the light is green and your listener probably isn't bored. During the next 30 seconds, the light is yellow -- your risk of annoying the listener increases. Look for a place to stop. After 60 seconds, the light is red. There may be rare times when you should run a red light -- for example, when you're sharing a fascinating anecdote -- but, usually, you'd better stop.

When you pause, pose a question, such as, "What do you think?" or "Am I being clear -- really?" Adding really gives your listener permission to admit that he or she didn't understand or wasn't paying attention.

A rule of thumb. If, in any conversation, you're speaking more than 60% of the time, you're talking too much. Fifty percent is better. Thirty to forty percent is usually best.

Remember: If you care about other people, you'll make them part of the conversation. And if you tend to care more about yourself, know that you'll get further if you trade in your jibber-jabber self for someone who truly listens. Think of it this way: Big talkers learn little. Good listeners learn a lot.

WITW: Just Strange

Florida Woman Dies After Camel Sits on Her

WEWAHITCHKA, Fla. - An owner of an exotic animal farm has died after being kicked and then sat on by a camel. Cathie A. and the 4-year-old camel were being filmed by a local television station on Sunday when the camel kicked her and then sat down during a break in filming.

The station was doing a story on Mini-Akers Exotic Animals, the 15-acre farm A. owned with her husband.

Cathie A's husband, Donnie A., said he would find a new home for Polo, the camel. He believes the 1,800-pound animal was agitated by mating season.

[Do men always blame PMS for everything?]

The couple bought the camel at an auction three weeks ago and kept him in a 50 foot by 80 foot pen.

"My wife did a lot of rescue," Donnie A. said. "She wouldn't let an animal suffer.

[Too bad the animal was willing to let her suffer.]

"We might not have food in the house, but she made sure they had something to eat."

A reporter called 9-1-1 when A. fell under the camel.

"To be honest with you, I don't think there's much that she could have done," said Gulf County Sheriff D.U.

A deputy and paramedics moved the camel and recovered Cathie A.'s body.

Donnie A said he believes his wife either suffocated or was crushed by the animal. The As started their exotic animal farm nearly 10 years ago.

[This story is just so bizarre. I know the Lord has all things in His hand and no one ever knows when or how they will die. But still, did she NEED to own a camel?]

Fantasy Shoes For Starting The Week Out Right

Mr. Choo comes through beautifully again with this lovely silk satin platform sandal. For a mere $590.00, you can talk a walk in this stunningness (that is, IF you can walk in 4.25" heels.)

The good news is that for no fee at all, you can simply admire this work of art, whose beauty should at least bring a smile to your face.

And at the very least, you can laugh at me and my strange fondness for shoes. And then Monday coming so soon won't seem quite as bad.

Too Cute Not To Post

You just gotta love moments like this and be glad you have your camera handy.

Your Thoughts

I noticed today that a lot of flags are flying half mast which I assume is for the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting. I guess I don't really know much about this tribute, but I thought it was reserved for members of the government, people in positions of leadership, and war heroes. I guess I need to do some research.

Regardless, I was curious to get your thoughts or opinions on whether or not the flags should fly half mast for the VT victims. I'm not sure what I think, but I would like to hear from others.

Wikipedia says flying the flag half mast is a signal for mourning. And more importantly, here's what I found:


From www.whitehouse.gov on 4/17/2007

USA flags should be flown at half staff through sunset on the 4/22/07

Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy at Virginia Tech

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of AmericaWhite House News Our Nation grieves with those who have lost loved ones at Virginia Tech. We hold the victims in our hearts. We lift them up in our prayers, and we ask a loving God to comfort those who are suffering.

As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on Monday, April 16, 2007, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, Sunday, April 22, 2007. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH
**************************

Other Rules for Flying Flags at Half Mast:

Only the President and state Governors can decide when and how long the flag should be flown at half-staff.

Thirty days after the death of a president or former president

Ten days after the death of a vice president, the chief of justice or a retired chief of justice or the speaker of the house of representatives.

Until the burial of an associate justice of the Supreme Court, secretary of a military department, a former vice president, or the governor of a state, territory, or possession.

On the day of and the day after the death of a member of Congress.

On Memorial Day, the day set aside to honor all the people who have died while serving the United States & originally called Decoration Day, the flag is flown at half-Staff until noon, then raised to full staff until sundown.


Well, I suppose I just learned something new. Any thoughts?

Beware: Addiction Ahead

It may be a temporary addiction, but you still might find yourself playing this game over and over again.

Here's a description:

"After creating Montage-a-google, several people wrote to me suggesting I make a game based on the same technology. Montage-a-google is a simple web app that uses Google's image search to generate a large gridded montage of images based on keywords (search terms) entered by the user. Guess-the-google reverses this process by picking the keywords for you, the player must then guess what keyword made up the image - it's surprisingly addictive."

Enjoy... and don't blame me if you keep playing. :)

Another Fun Word To Say

If you read this post, you'll understand where I'm coming from. I have this theory about words that are fun to say. And I found another one:

churlish
• \CHUR-lish\ • adjective

1 : of, resembling, or characteristic of a churl : vulgar
2 : marked by a lack of civility or graciousness : surly
3 : difficult to work with or deal with : intractable

Seriously, imagine walking up to someone and saying, "You're being so churlish today." It just really gets the point across. Any other fun words you like to use?

Did you know?

It is easy to understand how "churlish" has come to mean "vulgar," "surly," and "intractable" if you know your English history. In Anglo-Saxon England a churl, or ceorl, was a freeman of the lowest rank who owned and cultivated a small farm. He had certain rights and had the upward mobility to rise to the rank of thane. After the Norman Conquest, however, many churls became serfs, and the word "churl" eventually came to be used as a pejorative for a rude, ill-bred person.

Typical ATI

[Only if you're familiar with IBLP/ ATIA will this mean anything to you.]

Our missionary family received a pamphlet for the upcoming annual ATI conference(s) in the mail. This was on the registration form:

"Please bring your smiles. Our photographers will be taking pictures of bright, smiling faces, which might appear in future IBLP promtional materials, products, or slideshows."

So typical... it made me chuckle.

Easter Tulips

Mom got some tulips for Easter. Aren't they pretty?

If only normal Spring weather would stay around!

For All My "Norwegian" Friends....

I was driving the other day and saw this license plate. Having visited the uh, special (?) state of North Dakota, I knew I had to take a picture of it for all my NoDak (and perhaps some MN) friends.

"Uffda" is one of the funny things they say, but my personal favorite is the expression, "Oh, for dumb!" which I've also heard as "Oh, for fun!" and "Oh, for sure!" Maybe some of you can remind me others ways this expression is used.



PS: Just in case you were wondering, I don't recommend trying to drive (with your knees) and take a picture at the same time. It's really not safe.

Into The Terrific Threes....

... right?

Guess what? She's a big girl now. K1 turned THREE YEARS OLD yesterday.

We had a really fun puppy birthday party complete with a giant sprinkled-covered, pink-iced, four layer cake!

The picture above left was taken Christmas Day 2005. They grow up too fast!

Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet big girl niece!

Those Must Be Some Cats

New York couple hails cab for 2,400-mile trip Cabbie to turn off meter for $3,000 flat fee, plus expenses, for ride to Arizona.

NEW YORK - Betty and Bob M. have retired and are moving to Arizona, but like many New Yorkers they don’t drive, and they don’t want their cats to travel all that way in an airliner cargo hold. Their solution: “Hey, cabbie.”

They met taxi driver D.G. when they hailed his cab after a shopping trip several weeks ago. They got to talking about their upcoming move, and “we said ‘Do you want to come?”’ said Bob, 72, a former audio and video engineer for advertising agencies. “And he said ‘Sure.”’

It was initially a gag, but as they talked over the ensuing weeks it became reality. They plan to leave Tuesday on the 2,400-mile trip to Sedona, Ariz., with D.G. driving his yellow SUV cab 10 hours a day for a flat fee of $3,000, plus gas, meals and lodging.

They’re getting a break. The standard, metered fare would be about $5,000 — each way, according to the executive director of the Committee for Taxi Safety, a drivers’ group.

But city Taxi and Limousine Commission rules direct drivers and passengers to negotiate a flat fare for trips outside the city and a few suburban areas. It’s also a good deal for D.G. “This job is not easy, and I want to do something different,” said D.G., 45, who has been driving a taxi for two years. “I want to have some good memories.”

The Ms will ride in relaxed comfort in G’s sport utility vehicle while their cats ride in the back in their travel cases. A mover will haul their belongings.

“It’s a little unusual, but it will be fun,” said Betty, 71, a retired executive administrative assistant.

My definition of fun doesn't include paying $3,000 (plus expenses!) for a trip that could cost $500!

L-O-V-E

33 years and they're still doing this? Ewwww...

Aren't I a blessed one to have parents who are still together in this day of disposable marriages and uncommitted relationships.?!

Happy 33rd Anniversary to my very cool parental units.

Loaded Question, Round 3

Ready for more fun and guessing? I am! Remember to post your answer anonymously at first so I can guess who answered what.

And here is your next question:

What is the biggest indication that someone is a nerd?

Can't wait for the answers!

Heinous Shoes Of The Weekend

While I was searching for the very cute Easter shoes, I came across these two mighty fine specimens for the not-so-cute shoes.
These shoes aren't the ugliest shoes I've ever seen, but the color combined with the weird studded rope and grapevine accents just makes for a pretty fugly shoe. My biggest problem with them is that they are so clunky and cumbersome. When I buy shoes, I want them to make my feet look dainty and pretty, not like they are leaf-covered, mustard-flavored gorilla feet.

Considering I'm not even sure if these things can actually be called shoes, I think the picture speaks for itself.

People pay money for these. Amazing.

Hide, Seek, and Crack Up

This morning, my SIL brought the girlies over to the office. I was working on a project which allowed me to also play with the girlies. We were having a grand ol' time and decided to play Hide and Seek.

At first the girlies hid and I found them. And then it was my turn to hide. The littler one decided to hide with me, so the older one went out of the room to count. I walked over to shut the door so K2 and I could hide.

Out in the hallway, K1 finishes counting and tries to open the door. Well, she can't get the door open, so she starts calling my name.

"JuJu, open the door."

"JuJu, I can't get the door open. Come open the door!"

"JuJu! I can't open the door. Come help me!!"

I'm just cracking up, trying to explain, amid my laughter, that if I come open the door, I have to leave my hiding spot which will defeat the purpose of Hide and Seek.

K1 really didn't grasp this concept and continued to yell for me to come open the door. Finally, I gave up, still laughing, and opened the door.

The next time, we left the door open while she counted.

WITW: How They Met

LONDON - A British man has met and married a 22-year-old woman after, by his own account, dreaming of her phone number and then sending her a text message.

David Brown, 24, says he woke up one morning after a night out with friends with a telephone number constantly running through his head. He decided to contact it, sending a message saying "Did I meet you last night?."

Random recipient Michelle Kitson was confused and wary at first but decided to reply and the two began exchanging messages. Eventually they met and fell in love. "It was really weird but I was absolutely hooked," Kitson told the Daily Mail newspaper. "My mum and dad kept saying 'But he could be an axe murderer', but I knew there was something special about it."

After a long courtship, the oddly matched couple -- he's six foot seven inches tall and she's five foot four -- have just returned from their honeymoon in the Indian resort of Goa.

A love-struck Brown said: "I've no idea how I ended up with her number in my head -- it's only a few digits different from mine."

Here Comes The Rant

You may or may not know about my, uh, rather strong feelings about the cost of weddings these days. Last I heard, the wedding industry rakes in about $25 billion a year. Billion. With a B.

I'm all for having a nice wedding that celebrates love and marriage and family and purity and how the Lord brought you together. What I am NOT for is this mindset that "It's my wedding day. I can have whatever I want. No matter what the cost. Even if it's $900 M&Ms that exactly match my $5,000 cake."

I used to snicker at the thought of a couple who split up before the wedding was paid for. Until that happened to someone I grew up with. She was married about two years and is still paying for her $15,000 wedding that she admits came from nothing but selfishness.

Before I continue, I would like to establish that I was NOT shopping for wedding invitations. So, don't be getting the wrong idea, capice? [Is that how you spell that word?]

Anyhoo, last night, I was doing a bit of websurfing, clicking down the internet bunny trail. I saw an advert for wedding invitations that looked really cool. Since one of my hobbies is making cards and I'm always looking for neat ideas, I clicked on over.

The invitations were awesome-- creative, original, classy, really amazing. So, out of curiosity, I clicked to get a quote on 200 invitations. When the price came up, I seriously almost fell off my bed. Twenty. Eight. HUNDRED. Dollars. That's two thousand eight hundred dollars. For 200 invitations. Even now, I just can't even believe someone would pay that much for something people are going to THROW IN THE TRASH.

*shaking head* I'm too overwhelmed to continue. Twenty eight hundred dollars. Incredible.

I Can Laugh With The Best Of 'Em... at myself.

So, today I went out to dinner with a friend not only to visit, but also to celebrate her birthday. I got home from work a little later than I wanted, so I was rushing to wrap her gifts and make her card.

At the restaurant, she opened her card to find it... blank. I totally forgot to sign the card!!

I'm not sure what I was thinking. Did I expect to sign the card at a stoplight? I suppose I should be grateful that I even remembered to take it with me.

It was quite embarassing to sign the card while she was sitting across from me. To be truthful, I'm not even sure what I wrote. I hope it was coherent.

:)

WITW: When Wives Have No Sense Of Humor

RIYADH - A Saudi man lost a bit of his nose in a joint assault by his two wives after he jokingly threatened to marry a third woman.

Judaie Ibn Salem had thought his threat would help resolve an argument over dividing up his house.

"I swore that I would do it because ... they were impolite (?!) and that's when I came under an even bigger attack," Ibn Salem told Shams newspaper after having seven stitches inserted.

"I never realized they would get so worked up. But the only way to restore my dignity is really to take a third wife. I don't know what I'm going to lose next if I do that."

Islamic law allows men to take up to four wives and polygamy is not unusual in the conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam.

New Feature: Tacky Yard Decor

When I saw the property manager setting up this .... uh, display, (?) I couldn't believe my eyes. I'm not sure if the pictures will do it justice, but there are FAKE flowers mixed in with the real ones.


Those big daisies are fake. And don't forget the cool egg tree!

And no tacky Easter yard display is complete without a giant bunny!

I mean, seriously, see those nasty fake giant daisies?

Praise The Lord!

How can you not be EXCITED when you think of your Savior as conquering death, fulfilling God's purpose, and completing the way of salvation for the world?

I often think of how the disciples changed after Jesus rose from the dead. What an impact it must have made!

Forget Your Easter Bonnet...

... get some Easter shoes! Y'all know I could write a sonnet about Easter shoes.

One of the things I love about Spring is COLOR! Put away all that black and brown and grey and infuse some color into your wardrobe. It's instant exhilaration!

(And it'll make you feel warmer if you're celebrating Easter with your winter coat on this year. WITW?!)

Whining Over

Okay, now that my body does not feel like it's being picked apart with tweezers, I can stop whining. Thankfully, the flu was of the very short-lived variety!

PS: Thanks, Friend X.

I Can Whine With The Best Of 'Em.

I think I have the flu. I'm hoping it's the 24 hour kind. My body feels like it's being ripped apart with needle point tweezers. The smell of food makes me nauseated. I get cold, then hot, then chilled, then clammy. It hurts to brush my hair. If only my head could explode or I could throw up or BOTH, then I'm sure I would feel better!

Pleasant thought indeed.

:)

Seeing The Sites

I had the opportunity to visit Amish country yesterday with some Texas friends. It's pretty amazing to peek into the whole culture of the Amish-- they still drive horse-pulled buggies, don't use electricity, and wear all black.

I recently read the book Rumspringa: to be or not to be Amish. Rumspringa is an Amish custom where the youth are permitted to "run around" and try all sorts of "English" practices such as drinking, driving cars, smoking, partying, talking on cell phones, and wearing "english" clothes. It is hoped that the young people "sow all their wild oats" and then fully commit to the Amish religion by becoming a baptized church member. Surprisingly, most Amish young people do return to their religion, but many have problems with alcoholism, drug abuse, and depression. I highly recommend the book if it's something you would find interesting.

Yesterday, we were able to see quite a few buggies, but the funniest of all was when we saw the horse-pulled buggy in the drive-thru at the bank!! I tried to get a picture, but because someone in my family (who will remain unnamed) used my camera and left it on, the battery was dead. We got quite a laugh from the site.

Congratulations Are In Order...

Very best wishes to E and J, who got married this past Saturday. I was so privileged to attend their wedding, which was lovely indeed. It's always nice to see a couple who is genuinely thrilled to be together and then to see them surrounded by happy family and friends.

I also had a very fun visit with L, but we all missed C! E was a be-yoo-ti-ful bride.