My Inbox...

Sometimes I receive emails that I would like to share. They are not all jokes or stories and I am not a big fan of forwards. However, my parents do tend to send rather humorous items and they are quite picky about what they do send. The point of this post is to share some of the items I've received and to also share a few stories about my family (my mom & the pets in particular).

From Mom, on October 27:

"Since you probably won't be going to New Orleans next year, here is what be my second choice. Whenever I was looking for a seminar or class, I looked for San Fransisco, then New Orleans and then Boston. Ok, now that I wrote ir out, there are two second choices. I was thnking Boston first but now I think I either would be great. I've never been to Boston but I would sure like to go!" ~ Not entirely sure why she decided that DM & I needed ideas for our next vacation, but Boston is a good one. I think we'll have to add it to the list for future trips. Right now it is looking like we might go to Washington, D.C. for 2006 with a weekend road trip to Chicago.

From Mom, on October 28:

"I don't think I told you this last night - I meant to. Anyway, you can share it with Dana.

"We were leaving to go and get the camper last night and Mac [the cat] was out getting ready to cross the street. So I yelled at him like usual and he ignored me (like most of the time). By the time we got in the truck and were backing out, he was across the street in the spot where they lost a tree in that last big storm and had planted a new one. As we drove by, I realized that Mac was digging a hole in the loose soil to poop! Then it hit me. Lately as soon as they finish dinner, Mac runs and begs to be let out the front door! I bet he poops there daily! I just hope they don't see him and shoot him or something." ~ Only a little odd, in Mom standards. I also doubt that they would shoot the cat. My mom does not live in a neighbor hood with a large population of gun-toters and animal haters.

From Mom, on November 11:

"I have to take Chip in to get his stitches out today and so I decided to take him and Pepper Jack up to get their nails cut and I'll swing by Dad's with your Coke. I think I got you 15 of them - yeah, yeah, a little overboard. Ended up going there twice so I picked up a flyer and got an extra 4. But one of them had a loose end seal so when I went to put it in the car, it opened up and dropped some. One got a hole so I tossed it and one other one was pretty dented but not leaking. (I got myself one Sprite 12 pack.)" ~ I love her. She bought me 15 - 12 packs of Coke. If that is not love, I don't know what is.

"I also need to get a haircut today and I want to clean the kitchen floor and vacuum but that may happen tomorrow. No sense rushing these things.... Chip Brooks Ever will need some serious tummy scratching!" ~ Her values are in the right place!

"They put the for sale sign up on the house across the street yesterday. Wonder how long it will take to sell. I kind of think the market has started to turn, but who knows. That house has a pretty cool screened patio in the back." ~ Do you think she is hinting for me to buy it?

"Anyway, to the point of this email. [Her friend] had the book, "Night Over Water" that I wanted to let Dana try. I'll leave that at Dad's house today too." ~ Dana, my dad has the book for you.

Now, the pictures. I took none of these, but some are rather cute. I'm sorry to post so many and I hope you can enjoy at least one or two.

The first set of pictures are not adorable, but rather impressive photography. They are all pictures of Hurricane Katrina as it made its way over the land.



















In the spirit of Halloween (yes, I know it has passed), here are some random, and creative, costumes for pets. These people have too much time on their hands!



















This is quite stunning.



Porcupine Babies! Aren't they cute? Yikes!



Grand Canyon Skywalk



Scheduled to open Jan. 1, 2006 Hualapai Indian Reservation
*Juts about 70 feet into the canyon, 4000 ft above Colorado River
* Will accommodate 120 people comfortably (how comfortable would you be?)
* Built with more than a million pounds of steel beams, and includesdampeners that minimize the structure's vibration
*Designed to hold 72 million pounds, withstand an 8.0 magnitudeearthquake 50 miles away, and withstand winds in excess of 100 mph
*The walkway has a glass bottom and sides...four inches thick

And these are too cute.



















And that's all folks! I'll probably share more pictures in the future if they are too adorable or examples of great photography.

Wipe-Out!

The evening here in Minnesota is that late fall, chill in the air, and windy type of evening. After work, a few of us decided to head to Perkin's for a bit of gossip (weekend catch up and all) and I was walking out of the building with a banker. We got to the curb near our cars and I stepped up. That's when disaster happened.

I ended up stepping right where the ramp tappers off, not getting the correct footing. After the quick three steps to try and regain balance, I fell flat on my face. Boom!

Choice words may have slipped from my mouth as my knee sent the signals to my brain that it was in massive amounts of pain. The chorus from my wrist was not quite as loud as my left knee and I was feeling the heat in my face as a nice gentleman walking by called out, "Oh my! Are you okay?"

When we got to Perkin's, I lifted up the leg of my jeans to assess the damage. Luckily, my jeans do not have any new holes in them, but my knee has two rather large black and blue scraps. I think there may be three layers of skin missing.

Jen was kind enough to bring me a baggie full of ice cubes and I put that on my knee to help keep down the swelling. The knee is a bit better now, five hours later, but still hurts to move a bit. I'm sure I'll heal quickly.

As we are eating, I feel something odd happen to my right boot. Part of the heel just decided it was time to expire. I must have been quite a sight walking out of Perkins, limping and making a clopping noise with my now different heights boots.

With a few stiff muscles in my back (the jolt of falling), I think I'll turn in a bit early (yeah, 'cause 4:30 AM is early) and make friends with my heating pad. Hope you are all pain free.

Worry-Wort

On September 4th, my camera stopped working. I took a picture of James and Barry at karaoke and it died. No matter how many different sets of fresh batteries I put in it, it would not power on. Saying that I'm addicted to taking pictures and that my camera is like another appendage is not an understatement.

For a month and a half, I tried to find the bill of sale for my camera. When DM was over for my birthday weekend I finally found it right next to my computer. Luckily the camera is still under warranty and I opened a ticket with Sony to have it repaired.

While dealing with the defaulty DVD-player, DM and I stopped by a Fed-Ex/Kinko's to ship the camera back to Sony. The representative gave me two receipts with the shipping number and I put one in my little notebook and the other in a folder I bought at Kinko's. All of this happened on October 21st.

At the beginning of last week (October 31), I pulled one of the receipts to track the package on Fed-Ex's website. The tracking number pulled nothing up. I checked Sony's site and nothing showed under my reference number. Worry started to set in, but I figured I could wait until the next Monday, thinking I just had the wrong tracking number and that the camera probably hadn't been processed by Sony yet. I checked every night during the next week, giving the entire process two weeks before I completely freaked out.

I checked again today and still found no record of the shipment or repair. I became quite concerned. I called Fed-Ex and they had no records of the shipment. The representative told me to go to the store that shipped the package.

Driving in rush hour to Anoka is a joy and so as I was driving I pulled out my notebook and found the other receipt. The tracking number was different and I decided to swing by my mom's to use her computer (I was closer to her place than mine).

Success! The package had been shipped and received by Sony. Now I only had the problem of Sony having no records of the repair.

I called Sony (twice because the phone disconnected as I talked to the first representative - I'm sure the cell phone signal just got lost) and they couldn't find it. As it turns out, the package was shipped to a repair company that works for Sony and not Sony itself and they don't update well with Sony.

The second representative gave me a number to call (but couldn't connect me - I have no clue why because it is a toll-free number) and didn't bother to inform me that the place was closed. I called and found out the hours, but also found out there is a website for that company.

I pulled up the website and my reference number for Sony was able to pull up information on my camera! The site shows that it was repaired and given to UPS today to be sent back. I should have it in a few days and hopefully it works. I am anxious to have it back and have it working. I miss taking pictures and sharing the stories. It was hard to not have my camera for October. I would have liked a few pictures on my birthday and on Halloween. But I'm getting it back and that is good news.

Favorite Albums...

There's been a few posts where I've spoken about music and the albums that I love. Today I am finding myself thinking of an album that my uncle/Godfather put together when I was a child. It was a compliation of Christmas songs and the tape stopped working years ago, but every time the holidays approach, I think of it.

I'm sure there were at least 10 songs on the tape, but all I can really remember are two songs. One was by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and the other was about Snoopy & the Red Baron.

Well, I was on iTunes this afternoon looking for these songs. They do not exist on iTunes. I did actually find them on albums on amazon.com and I am seriously debating purchasing them. Okay, actually I just broke down (as I was writing this post) and did purchase them, but considering the fact I had $30 in amazon.com gift certificates (from work), I don't feel bad about it.

I went to my mom's this afternoon/early evening. I also raided her CD collection to see if there were any songs that I would like to add to this holiday CD I'm thinking of making. She had quite a few CDs that I would like in my collection, so I am now sitting here loading them into iTunes. The gems I borrowed:

Lennon Legend - mainly for Happy Xmas (War is Over), although the rest is pretty good
Bonnie Raitt: Luck of the Draw & Longing in their Hearts
A Decade of Steely Dan
Indigo Girls: Swamp Ophelia
Queen: Greatest Hits (another version of something I already have)
Roy Orbison: 16 Biggest Hits
B.B. King: Blues on the Bayou
Forrest Gump Soundtrack

Funny story to note: While I was going through my mom's CD collection, I ran across a CD that was just sitting out without a case. I pick it up and have a complete a-HA! moment. The CD was Gordon, the first BNL album. I lost it years ago and remember spending days and days searching for it. It seems to have been in my mom's CD player. At least I have it back (and I bought another copy a long time ago).

Sunday Night Fun

Sunday night is karaoke night. That's been established here and on DM's blog as a fact. Tonight was no different.

DM and I ended up with a massive bar tab tonight. Besides our usual Coke no ice and water, we ordered three appetizers (chicken wings, mini-tacos, and egg rolls) and had three alcoholic drinks each. Bobby poured them a lot stronger this week and I don't think either of us will be drinking too much in the future. It's not that I'm drunk or hung over, but we both got a bit, um, what's the word?, yeah, loopy.

The bar was rather slow tonight. I can't say anyone was there that are not regulars, except for two guys and two women I've never seen before (I'll get to who they are). Bryan showed up a few minutes after DM and I got there. Then Angie and Amy and Sarah all showed up. Nate and Becky were there tonight (yea! We don't get to see them as often.) Andrew was there, Ke was there, Benny showed up too. A couple of Bryan's production company friends were there and did a great rendition of Soul Man, complete with dance moves. Jay showed up and Stephanie even made it there at the end of the night. Lisa Jo and her husband were there. Liz, James, and Dean were all there at the end of the night. We were saddened that Steve, Angie's beau and not my team lead, was unable to make it.

We called Char early on to wish her a happy birthday. All of us at the Chalet miss her terribly and would love to have her home right now. I miss her and Tom so much. They truly are a blast to have around and great people.

DM and I each started drinking a few of these wonderful drinks that Bobby makes. The drinks are vanilla vodka, pineapple juice, and grenadine. Bobby also lets us take as many cherries as we want for them. We were on our third drinks when the door opened and our table cringed.

A man with a mega-mullet walks in, accompanied by Pete and the boy. Right behind them are Guru and some guy I've never met before. They are all at the bar and I'm doing my best to NOT make eye contact with the boy because I'm at a point where I think he's just a putz. A cute putz, but a putz none-the-less. They all walk in as DM and I are making lists about what we are looking for in men. (Not so long version of the story behind this: Angie made a list and within three days met Steve and he fit 19 of the 20 things on her list, the only one he missed was he's not a major fan of hockey. We wanted to try this.)

DM sees a commercial with clowns on it and then we talk about the day she kept bouncing back up after I'd push her (long story).
D: Clowns are scary.
B: You bounced like one!
D: Kari might get a hybrid.
B: Clown?!?

DM looks at me like I'm crazy but I'm not the one who changed the topic of conversation!

So my "Man Checklist" looks like this:

1. Has to be funny
2. No kids
3. No ex-wife (ex-wives or current wife)
4. Solid work ethic & has a job
5. No drugs
6. Not an alcoholic
7. Lives on his own (away from parents)
8. Likes dogs (does not need to own one)
9. Likes karaoke (or at least likes going to the Chalet)
10. Intelligent (no college degree required but able to have a good conversation)
11. Does not carry around a miner's light
12. Lives in America, preferably in Minnesota
13. Is not Republican
14. Likes my friends
15. Doesn't force religion on me
16. Is close to my age (within a few years)
17. Likes math (or can put up with the fact I do enjoy doing math problems on occasion)
18. Loves music more than television
19. Has never been convicted of a felony that would prevent him from being hired by a company that is bonded
20. Desires me for who I am
21. Knows which direction he wants his life to go (this does not mean he needs to change but has a simple plan about what he wants)
22. Doesn't cheat
23. Believes in safe sex and not pressuring me, no STDs
24. Introduces me to his friends (and hopefully they are not complete gits)
25. Has a decent, healthy relationship with his family
26. Doesn't kiss like a fish
27. Has a personality
28. Can admit to his quirkiness or dorkiness
29. Is not a freak
30. Is not unobtainable

Some of the things on the list are more important than others, but since I was writing down what I was looking for, I might as well go for the gusto.

Well, we're writing down our lists when the group with the boy walks in. I was singing some song (which I forget what it was. I think it may have been "All That Jazz") and the group decides to sit at our table. There are six other sets of tables open and they sat at our table. I'm still not making eye contact with the boy because he's a slow git who never makes a move and then they sit at our table. The boy sits next to DM, across the table from me.

He says hello to me and as a habit, I am polite and say hello back. During the night, we talk a little and I find out why he's been absent from the Chalet for so long. Oddly enough, it's a thought I had a month back and I was right. He spent a bit of time in the workhouse and on house arrest for a DUI in September. Dumb ass. He is not driving now and the state will not allow him to for a few more months.

Guru decided to get hammered right off the bat. Then he got touchy. I actually cringed when he touched me. And then he moved chairs to sit next to me. I moved closer and closer to Angie at this point. At one point, he asked, "What did I do wrong?" DM responded, "You mean besides breathing?" I am polite, usually, but I'm very clear if I think someone is a waste of flesh. This guy is.

DM almost called Pete "Pete". We joke about him in the fake name so much that we tend to forget his real name. One of the women who showed up later ended up sitting on his lap and they were playing kissy face.

For some random reason (probably the liquor), I decided to sing, "I Touch Myself" and "You Can Leave Your Hat On" tonight. Bryan lent me his cap for the second song and I made a bit of a fool of myself by dancing a little during the song. I can't dance. Anyone I work with can vouch for this. I also sang, "Piece of My Heart" and "Bring Me Some Water".

When Dean arrived, I asked him to sit between Guru and myself. The message may have been received at that point. That guy just annoys me so much. I've met him four times and he's been incoherent every time.

Pete tried to talk to me. I have no clue what he said. Guru was mumbling at the same time Pete was mumbling and I told him, "All I heard was mhmhmmnsm, amdngtnanmm, mm."

The boy put DM's hair in a ponytail on top of her head. He's a stylist and this was a nice thing for him to do. He was really polite tonight and fun, but he's so slow. He still acts all doofy and it's cute, but I think it's gone on too long. Liz did make a comment that he was the only decent one of that group. I also apologized to everyone for having that group sit with us. I knew that they were comfortable enough to pull up chairs because DM and I were there.

Andrew offered to take care of Guru for me. I was okay with him doing this, even if I don't want to see violence.

All-in-all, it was a fun night at the Chalet. We always have fun. DM will have some stories from her side and may even mention the reclusive Gil. He was there too.

My Mother

I just spent 40 minutes on the phone with my mother. The following conversation is one I documented last week because DM thought it was funny. Today's conversation was similar, but involved more of my mom rambling about a trailer*, the pets, finances, and Will Ferrell.

Ring, ring...

(My responses are in bold, my mom in italics):

Hello.
Oh, hi! You're not at work.
No, I'm not. I -
Okay, we got the trailer. Scotty drove iot and the electrical wiring didn't work and it was dark so there were no taillights or brake lights.
Oh.
But we got it home and it's cute and has metal hooks because you need metal hooks.
Yeah.
And I think we will sleep in it this weekend. The cats can go on the kiddie beds and Scott & I can take one and the dogs can have the other end. Oh, Scott can have one bed and I'll have to sleep with the dogs. Who am I kidding?
Yep.
Manny's was good. I was telling all the people at work about Dana and the baseball steak. And how Dana didn't know what to order and I said it was okay because I was paying and the guy said, without missing a beat, "How about the lobster?" *Laughter*
I didn't think the service was that great.
Oh yeah, he forgot your baked potato and stuff. But that bus boy brought coffee. I tipped him separately because he was really good.
Yes. The bus boy was good.
Oh, I tried to call [her friend] about that book. Oh, you were on the phone. I am trying to find a Ken Folliet book for Dana. Let her kno I'm looking.
Okay. We're getting ready to leave for karaoke.
Oh! That's right. It's Thursday [it was at the time of this call]. Tell her about that book. Stop by to see the campler! Love you!
Love you too.
Be good!

My mom has a gift of just talking. She is really great, but sometimes has absolutely no interest in anything I want to tell her so the conversations usually involve me listening and making minimal comments.

Today's conversation was much longer. Here's what I retained:
Hi.
Oh! You're awake. I'm sorry.
Yes, I'm awake.
I didn't mean to wake you.
You didn't.
Oh. Okay. So we found a place for the camper. I called around and kept getting farther and farther out. Then Scotty went to Hilltop, you know that Hilltop Trailer Hitch place? You've driven by it a million times down on Central [a street that runs through most of the suburbs north of Minneapolis]. Well, they are not there any more but the furniture store is renting space for the winter and it looks like we'll put it there. He needs a new hitch too because his truck is too high and he got one and was able to use the tools of [his brother] to put it on. So that's done. It cost a bit of money, but we did get a used one and saved a little. So the trailer has storage. It will be $40 a month. That's better than $60. That's 2/3rds the cost. So we're pleased. And we won't have to snowblow around it.
That's great.
I'm taking a sick day. I know it is Sunday but I'm having a sick day. I'm staying in bed all day long and reading, well not reading but doing Sudoku puzzles. Amazon.com recommended more Sudoku books to me because I bought that one. I like these puzzles but I should only do the challenging ones because the easy and moderate ones are too easy now. All the pets are in bed with me. Chip is almost asleep and Smoke is watching him, waiting for him to fall asleep so he can cuddle up next to him. Chip is a warm sleeper. Smoke normally doesn't like to hang out with all of us because he's not the Momma's boy that the other three are but he likes us this weekend. Remember when Mac showed up and Taco and Chip thought he was an alien? Well, Chip still doesn't really like the cats touching him, but he bears it. That's why Smoke is watching him and waiting for him to fall asleep.
That's cute.
Remember how Scotty got that money? [This is where she goes into an extremely long discussion about the inheritance that Scott got when his mother passed away and what his family members keep doing with the funds. It was a bit of a fight between her and him.]
...So I told him to try an IRA and then went through all the steps to show him how he could save money on his taxes and have money when he retires and he looked at me like I was talking French.
Well, banking is a different language for some.
Yeah, but I think he should do this. Remember when I was dating John?
Yes.
You know how he died on Christmas? Well, he never wanted to save money and figured he wouldn't live long enough to retire. I guess he was right. It was Christmas and I'm sure he was drinking and got in a fight with someone and then had that heart attack. [Note: he is a prime example of why I believe a bit in karma. When you're a crap human being, life does not treat you well.]
That's true.
Work has been busy lately. I now have six people that I have to report to because my original boss is not liked by the marketing department so there are other people taking over and they don't know all the steps so I have to help all of them. How is your job?
I love my job. I have a great time everyday and my team is -
That's good to hear. Hold on a minute.

Oh, Pepper is biting Smoke's head. If Pepper had a personal ad, it would say, "Loves to bite cat's heads." Hee hee! So, we found a place to put the trailer. It's in Hilltop.
You told me this.
Oh, did I? I can't remember. I have a DVD player in the kitchen. I bought that movie, Elf.
With Will Ferrell?
Yep. I think it will be a good Christmas movie. I don't know if I like this guy or not. I don't think Anchorman looked that great and I have no desire to see Bewitched. But I liked that clip of him on SNL being the Dog Lawyer. That was funny. So we'll see. I also bought Closer.
Is that with Nicole Kidman?
No. The other really big one. The one from Erin Brokcavich.
Oh, Julia R-
Yeah, Julia Child. No, not Julia Child. Julia Roberts.
There is a difference.
And that other guy is in it. Jude Law. I think it is about really weird people who people don't like. Your dad is a good guy. I trust him. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, he gets everything but the house. Scotty gets the house. Your dad will take care of you. Scotty can take care of the pets. But that's not going to happen.
No, it's not going to happen. *I'm shaking my head at this point in complete confusion.*
I have his movie still. I sent a check for the chainsaw, but one of these days I'll return the movie. It was really good.
Yes, it was. I'm sure Dad can live without it for a little bit of time though. [The movie is actually the HBO series, "From the Earth to the Moon." It is excellent.]

She continues to talk about Owen Wilson movies, Scott, and her job for a little longer. Then she asks me a question and I respond and she interupts (as always), "Okay, love you! Bye!"

I take after my dad.

---

*My mom and her boyfriend bought a trailer. It's a camper that pulls behind the truck and sleeps "6" supposedly. It's twenty years old and all metal. The odd part of this is the fact that while I was growing up, my mother HATED camping. I don't understand her.

I may need to work on this love thing...

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	6.5
Mind:	7
Body:	4.8
Spirit:	7.3
Friends/Family:	5
Love:	0.8
Finance:	7.7
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

Your Life Analysis:

Life: Your life rating is a score of the sum total of your life, and accounts for how satisfied, successful, balanced, capable, valuable, and happy you are. The quiz attempts to put a number on the summation of all of these things, based on your answers. Your life score leaves room for improvement. You can make changes to improve your trouble areas, and this will bring you greater satisfaction. Focus on your weakest points and set about to change them. Do not delay your happiness and success.

Mind: Your mind rating is a score of your mind's clarity, ability, and health. Higher scores indicate an advancement in knowledge, clear and capable thinking, high mental health, and pure thought free of interference. Your mind score is not bad, but could be improved upon. Your mental health is not weak, but you are not achieving full mental clarity and function. Learn how to unclutter your mind. Keep learning, keep improving, continue moving forward. Read advice from other quiz-takers on improving the mind.

Body: Your body rating measures your body's health, fitness, and general wellness. A healthy body contributes to a happy life, however many of us are lacking in this area. You have a rather low body score, which means that your physical health is not in a good condition. You must put a higher priority on your body, focusing on nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction. Proper focus will lead to great improvement, leaving you feeling energetic and happy. Read advice from other quiz-takers on improving the body.

Spirit: Your spirit rating seeks to capture in a number that elusive quality which is found in your faith, your attitude, and your philosophy on life. A higher score indicates a greater sense of inner peace and balance. Your spirit score is relatively high, which means you are rewarded by your beliefs. Spirituality is clearly important to do. Never let it slip, and continue to learn and grow. Read advice from other quiz-takers on improving the spirit.

Friends/Family: Your friends and family rating measures your relationships with those around you, and is based on how large, healthy, and dependable your social network is. Your friends and family score is not bad but can be improved. Maintain your current social net, while you try to expand it. Try new things and form new friendships. You will be rewarded greatly.

Love: Your love rating is a measure of your current romantic situation. Sharing your heart with another person is one of life's most glorious, terrifying, rewarding experiences. Your love score is very low, indicating trouble. There is love out there for you. Seek the advice of wise people on how to go about finding it. Do not lose hope.

Finance: Your finance rating is a score that rates your current financial health and stability. You have a rather good financial score, which is not all that common these days. Keep doing what works. Avoid common pitfalls and save for the future. You will be glad you did.

Pictures I Meant to Post...

Pictures are worth a thousand words, right? Here's a few stories then.

Dana dyed her hair. Dana's scalp and ears turned red. Enjoy:









I like this building in Downtown Minneapolis:



Have you met a cat that didn't like ice cream?



He's a reverse penguin!



The last picture my camera took before it stopped working (I blame Barry):



James, on his birthday at the Chalet:



Char visited on September 4!



This grasshopper stayed on my windshield on my way to work:



The kitten is getting big:



My dad thinks this is nightshade:



Gooseberries:



Tom & Char right before Tom left for Texas (wow, I forgot how tan Tom had gotten working construction):



A sign at the Chalet, edited by Bryan:

Because it made me laugh

I was reading an article on MSN Health & Fitness tonight and did not expect a bit of humor thrown in. This made me laugh out loud in surprise:

No-nonsense tips

Finally, a few ideas you can use and share in the workplace to help stop the spread of flu germs:

• If you know you're sick with the flu, stay home.
• Get a flu shot, which not only protects you but helps prevent contagion.
• Within a day of becoming ill, ask your doctor about antiviral medications, which can shorten the episode and contain the virus.
• Be especially cautious between late December and early March, the peak of flu season.
• Sneeze or cough into your elbow, not into your hands.
• Clean phones, doorknobs and desktops with alcohol swabs.
• Throw used tissues away!
• Wash your hands and face often with hot, soapy water.
• During the flu season, never let anyone lick your keyboard.

The entire article can be found here and here.

Isn’t it Ironic?

After work tonight, I headed to Perkin’s with Steve for a bite to eat and a bit of pretty great conversation. Steve is a couple of years younger than I am, but we both went to high school and graduated in the late 90’s. Tonight’s conversation, and many of the ones we have, was about music. It all spawned from the Musak at Perkin’s playing the song, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.

…And I said "What about Breakfast at Tiffany's?"
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that’s the one thing we've got…"

The conversation went on and on about the classic songs of our high school years and how a specific genre for the music was hard to define. It wasn’t rock, pop, grunge, or true alternative. It was a cheesy combination of all of the above and we started rattling off the songs we remembered the most, the memories tied to each, and what albums we had.

During these years, the boy bands scene exploded. Britney Spears was just getting big and the Spice Girls were still the rave. Hanson had the hit, “Um-Bop,” plaguing the airways and yes, even the Macarena was a #1. Livin’ La Vida Loca was a craze and even I was a closet N’Sync fan.
One of the albums we started talking about was, “Jagged Little Pill” by Alanis Morrisette. I remember this album coming out during my Junior year of high school and it was all the craze. Steve has memories of the song, “Head Over Feet” (which I still like a bit) and an ex-girlfriend. We joked about how un-ironic the song, “Ironic” truly is.

We kept chatting about songs. We talked about “Tubthumping,” “Wannabe,” “The Freshmen,” “Foolish Games,” “I Want it that Way,” “Baby One More Time,” “Come and Ride It,” and “Never There.” Albums like “Sixteen Stone,” and “Sublime” were brought up.

Right as we were getting ready to leave, I heard the beginning of a song on Musak and I had to stop and smile. I looked at Steve, waiting for the moment of recognition to hit his face. Then the line, in that soft voice, “An old man turned ninety-eight,” and Steve broke into the smile. We got quite a good chuckle out of it as we walked out of the restaurant. As we walked to our cars, we could be found quoting the lyrics back and forth to each other, as if it were a real conversation.

When I got home, I created a late 90’s playlist on my computer. Itunes will do smart playlists and I just plugged in a series of dates for it to look for songs. I leave you with a sampling of song titles and the lyrics to “Ironic,” which never truly defined irony.

High School Playlist (alphabetized by artist first name, if artist is not listed, it is the prior artist):
The Sign – Ace of Base
You Oughta Know – Alanis Morrisette
Hand in My Pocket
You Learn
Head Over Feet
Ironic
I Want it That Way – Backstreet Boys
Everything Zen – Bush
Comedown
Testosterone
Glycerine
Never There – Cake
Believe – Cher
(1,2,3,4) Sumpin’ New – Coolio
Gangsta’s Paradise
Jenny Says – Cowboy Mouth
Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something
Counting Blue Cars – Dishwalla
I Love You Always Forever – Donna Lewis
Barely Breathing – Duncan Shiek
I Will Buy You a New Life – Everclear
Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
Who Will Save Your Soul – Jewel
Foolish Games
One of Us – Joan Osborne
One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
3 A.M. – Matchbox Twenty
Push
The Impression that I Get – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
You Get What You Give – New Radicals
Spiderwebs – No Doubt
Livin’ La Vida Loca – Ricky Martin
I Want You – Savage Garden
Closing Time – Semisonic
Wannabe – Spice Girls
Santeria – Sublime
Nobody Knows – Tony Rich Project
The Freshmen – The Verve Pipe
Your Woman – White Town

Ironic
Alanis Morrisette

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late
Isn't it ironic ... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought ... it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
'Well isn't this nice...'
And isn't it ironic ... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought ... it figures

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything's okay and everything's going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up
In your face

It's a traffic jam when you're already late
It's a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn't it ironic... don't you think
A little too ironic... and yeah I really do think...

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought ... it figures

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

I'm slightly bored...

You might be able to tell this by the fact that this is now my 6th post of the night. In the previous five, I did nothing to update my weekend or what I did for Halloween. This will be the filler post.

DM wrote about karaoke on Sunday. It was a ton of fun and we tried a bunch of new songs (since the rotation was 4 people for most of the night). I got to sing Ode to Billy Joe, I Believe in a Thing Called Love, and Stand By Me. Those are the new ones I remember. I know there were more. DM's post has pictures.

Also on Sunday I went to my dad's. I wrote a post about one of our conversations so I could play with HTML. I'm still learning. That post is about blood types and located directly below this post.

Today, Halloween, I went to renew my license plate tabs (because the online system doesn't work this year and it was the last day of the month. For anyone thinking there is a 10-day grace period, I'll let you know that Minnesota does not follow this practice any longer. This was confirmed by the long line at the DMV and the agents there telling us all that we were smart to get in today and avoid the $190 ticket.) I ran to Target after to get some stuff for work (if I don't spend the budget by the end of the month, the team loses it). Then I headed to my mom's to help pass out candy, eat dinner (Chinese), and give the pets a lot of attention. Chip had a sore removed from one of his feet today and I wanted to make him feel special. He likes it when I visit because I, unlike my mother who bites them, have fingernails. Chip also knows he is my favorite, mostly because he always was my dog. The other pets were added to the family after I moved out. I like them, but Chip is my baby.

My mom has a rule for handing out candy. If the Trick-or-Treater is taller than she is and/or not in costume, they only get one candy bar. The little ones in cute costumes get 2 to 3 candy bars, depending on what time of night they show up. There are benefits to being early.

I updated my archives tonight. I do that once a month. It's a bit tedious, but I clear my mind out completely while I do it. The feeling of being organized at the end helps too.

The posts I wrote earlier today are as follows: blood types, an essay I wrote in high school about my first car, the results of my new banner election, "Beth loves" meme, and two memes I did about ponies and Disney princesses. Hey, at least it gives DM something to read (since she likes to read).

Blood Types

My dad and I had a long conversation on Sunday night about blood. The conversation did not arise because of Halloween or anything spooky, but just as a way to expand our knowledge. My dad is one of the most intelligent people I've ever met and he always has odd facts in his head. We found that between the two of us, we didn't remember all the details about blood types.

He found a website with information tonight and emailed me the link. I don't know if anyone else is interested, but I liked it.

The website is here. I put some of the parts below:

What's Your Type?

In some ways, every person's blood is the same. But, when analyzed under a microscope, distinct differences are visible. In the early 20th century, an Austrian scientist named Karl Landsteiner classified blood according to those differences. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his achievements.

Landsteiner observed two distinct chemical molecules present on the surface of the red blood cells. He labeled one molecule "A" and the other molecule "B." If the red blood cell had only "A" molecules on it, that blood was called type A. If the red blood cell had only "B" molecules on it, that blood was called type B. If the red blood cell had a mixture of both molecules, that blood was called type AB. If the red blood cell had neither molecule, that blood was called type O.

If two different blood types are mixed together, the blood cells may begin to clump together in the blood vessels, causing a potentially fatal situation. Therefore, it is important that blood types be matched before blood transfusions take place. In an emergency, type O blood can be given because it is most likely to be accepted by all blood types. However, there is still a risk involved.

A person with type A blood can donate blood to a person with type A or type AB. A person with type B blood can donate blood to a person with type B or type AB. A person with type AB blood can donate blood to a person with type AB only. A person with type O blood can donate to anyone.

A person with type A blood can receive blood from a person with type A or type O. A person with type B blood can receive blood from a person with type B or type O. A person with type AB blood can receive blood from anyone. A person with type O blood can receive blood from a person with type O.

Because of these patterns, a person with type O blood is said to be a universal donor. A person with type AB blood is said to be a universal receiver. In general, however, it is still best to mix blood of matching types and Rh factors.

Are you Positive or Negative?

Scientists sometimes study Rhesus monkeys to learn more about the human anatomy because there are certain similarities between the two species. While studying Rhesus monkeys, a certain blood protein was discovered. This protein is also present in the blood of some people. Other people, however, do not have the protein. The presence of the protein, or lack of it, is referred to as the Rh (for Rhesus) factor.

If your blood does contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh positive (Rh+). If your blood does not contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh negative (Rh-).

This Rh factor is connected to your blood type. For example, your blood may be AB+ which means that you have type AB blood with a positive Rh factor. Or, you might have O- blood which means that you have type O blood with a negative Rh factor.

It is particularly important for expectant mothers to know their blood's Rh factor. Occasionally, a baby will inherit an Rh positive blood type from its father while the mother has an Rh negative blood type. The baby's life could be in great danger if the mother's Rh negative blood attacks the baby's Rh positive blood. If this happens, an exchange transfusion may save the baby's life. The baby's blood can be exchanged for new blood that matches the mother's.

From the American Red Cross

• Almost 40% of the population has O+ blood
• Patients with Type O blood must receive Type O blood
• About half of all blood ordered by hospitals in our area is Type O
• Type O blood is the universal blood type and is the only blood type that can be transfused to patients with other blood types
• Only about 7% of all people have Type O negative blood
• Type O negative blood is the preferred type for accident victims and babies needing exchange transfusions
• There is always a need for Type O donors because their blood may be transfused to a person of any blood type in an emergency

If your blood type is...

Type	Give	Receive
A+	A+ AB+	A+ A- O+ O-
O+	O+ A+ B+ AB+	O+ O-
B+	B+ AB+	B+ B- O+ O-
AB+	AB+	Everyone
A-	A+ A- AB+ AB-	A- O-
O-	Everyone	O-
B-	B+ B- AB+ AB-	B- O-
AB-	AB+ AB-	AB- A- B- O-

Out of 100 donors...

84 donors are RH+	16 donors are RH-
38 are O+	7 are O-
34 are A+	6 are A-
9 are B+	2 are B-
3 are AB+	1 is AB-

My apologies for the spacing of the charts. I'm still learning the HTML for them and can't figure out where the extra spacing is coming from. You may have also realized this post was mostly for me to play with HTML.

Talk About Cheesy

I wrote this (with a couple of minor changes as I retype it) on July 20, 1996. It is about my first car, the Bethmobile, a 1987 Chevrolet Nova.

A light blue Chevrolet Nova sat parked in my driveway. It was old and rusted in a few spots. The dents in the back right bumper were still there from the accident the car had with that truck, years ago. The emblem from the dealership fell off long before the accident. I loved that car. I still do.

When I sat in the driver’s seat, I felt powerful, comfortable and happy. I looked on the dash, smiling as the Rs and Ls next to the steering wheel helped me remember how not to get lost. The stick shift with its five gears and reverse was next to my leg. The parking brake was behind the shifter. The steering wheel had a crack in the deep blue plastic, a casualty of a chilly Minnesota winter morning. The ceiling cover was gone and flakes of the insulation would occasionally fall, covering me in off-white flecks. The third radio player was in the dash with a second set of speakers blaring in the back.

The backseat was always cluttered, filled with magazines, bags from trips to Target and empty pop cans that no matter how many times I cleaned out the car, someone would manage to leave one behind. The Mexican blanket that had lined the blue interior had been folded up neatly and sat in the trunk next to the jumper cables I had yet to learn how to operate.

For all the times I explained how this Nova did not have power steering and how a passenger side mirror is a convenience and that is why one does not exist, I was always proud of the car. The brakes squeaked even when they worked perfectly. I replaced brake lights, filled clutch and brake fluid, checked the oil (but never changed myself), filled anti-freeze/coolant, and refilled windshield wiper fluid. The wipers would always stop working when it rained and the motor was replaced not long before that car made its way to the happy junkyard in the sky. I put up with the screeching sound for a year and the rope tied to the driver side wiper helped me through an entire winter.

The car had many problems, but it was a great first car. I may have had to replace the clutch and have the radiator fixed. I changed 8 flat tires on that car in one summer (bad rims and slow leaks) and I had to replace the joint in the steering wheel once. It wasn’t until the carburetor finally decided that humid days were the days to call in sick that I decided to purchase a new vehicle. That was when Foxy came into play. I’ve been lucky with the cars I’ve had. Sure, none of them have been perfect (except my current car – there are no problems yet, but then it is still under warranty and has less than 10,000 miles on it), but they’ve been fun to drive. I wouldn’t trade the memories of my first car for anything. It was a great car, the tank that did more damage to the truck when I backed out a bit too far. It held its own against the tractor and made a few road trips with my friends and I. I taught people to drive in this car. I learned how to drive in this car. I had to replace the struts and the rotors. As much as I put into this car, it gave back. There are memories from high school and they all have something to do with this car. Yeah, I still love it.