GO TAY TAY!

GO TAY TAY!, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Be a good couch tater: Vote for Taylor Hicks tonight on FOX's American Idol!

I'M NOT A SUGAR COOKIE?

I haven't done one of these blogthings in a while, so I decided to do the cookie one. Looks like I'm chocolate chip. What kind of cookie are you?

You Are a Chocolate Chip Cookie

Traditional and conservative, most people find you comforting. You're friendly and easy to get to know. This makes you very popular - without even trying!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

I'M A PEPPER

That cookie one got me in the mood for one more. Turns out I'm Dr. Pepper. Are you a Pepper, too?

You Are Dr. Pepper

You're very unique and funky, yet you still have a bit of traditionalism to you. People who like you think they have great taste... and they usually do. Your best soda match: Root Beer Stay away from: 7 Up

What Kind of Soda Are You?

THE WEEKEND

At Ryan's House, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I had a fun weekend! Friday night I drove down to the Coast to meet with Ryan again. (He gave me a CD with this photo on it; he took this picture the last time I was down there. It think it turned out pretty well.) I came down so that we could review the set up of the big lights and all the particulars of the camera I'd use on Saturday. I got it all down quicker than I expected, leaving me with a free evening.

Ryan invited me to stay, but I thought I'd head home to work on eBay stuff. On the way out of town, I called Terry to say hello and decided to stop by his apartment to see Jo and him, since they had a free evening. On the drive to their apartment, I stopped at a light right by a small carnival, set up in a shopping center parking lot. As usual, I was singing along with a CD (I'm sure looking really stupid) when my cell rang. I stopped singing and answered it. Rick said, "Hey, look next to you." So I turned and saw Rick and Erinne sitting in the adjacent car. Embarrased, I asked what they were up to. They were also free. We all decided to go to the fair together. So much for working on a Friday night.

The rides and the atmosphere at the fair were great! But I kept getting a strange feeling like I had never moved, unable to shake the thought that I would have been at the fair with the 4 of them if Katrina had never happened. Some things are just meant to be, I guess. I also had the crazy thought that maybe I would die on one of the rides - no escaping your destiny ala "Final Destination 3." But, somehow I survived the evening with nothing more than a slightly upset tummy from being turned upside down one too many times. The only real bummer of the evening was that I missed Pauline, especially when I was solo on the Ferris Wheel. I was glad to have the cell so that I could call her.

Saturday was a whirlwind day, as Ryan, Amanda & I photographed two wedding ceremonies- one in Mobile and the second in Gulfport. I am happy to report that I did OK - I wasn't stressed out and I felt confident. Ryan's a good teacher. The big moment of my day was taking all the preceremony photos at the second wedding. Amanda was there for support, but Ryan was still finishing up the reception photos in Mobile. It was my first experience, relatively on my own, with professional photography. I had the demeaner & the lingo down. I just treated it like a theatrical role and drew from all my memories of the wedding photographers I've observed. Thankfully, I've been in a lot of weddings. I'm eager, no...anxious, to see how the photos turned out. I wasn't shooting digital, so I'll have to wait until Ryan develops the prints to see how I did. But I'm looking at the experience this way. I know I can handle the stress and that I have the right demeanor for wedding photography. I can always brush up on my photography skills, but I'd be sunk if I couldn't cut it in the personality department. So Saturday was a relief.

The last reception let out around 11 p.m. The family knew how to party! And they included Ryan and myself (Amanda left early) in the festivities. Ryan even did the electric slide with them. The crowd ate it up. I'm sure he'll get some referrals from this wedding. I was glad I got to be a part of it.

I can't wait for Ryan & Amanda's wedding this summer. From the sound of their plans, it will be the party of the decade :)

ATC #2

ATC #2, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Here's my second ATC; it was a quick one I made while trying out my new art supplies - I couldn't be bothered with straight lines.

Hope you are having a day as delightfully messy and joyfully colorful as this spontaneous creation of mine.

FIRST ATC & SOME CLICHÉS

First ATC, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Pauline and I are making & exchanging ATC's (Artist Trading Cards). She already gave me her first one. This is my first one created for her - a collage. I combined 4 vintage valentines and an Ace of Hearts for this; I'm happy with the result. I hope Pauline likes it, too. I'm excited to start making things again. I haven't done anything creative, other than the Lego houses, since I taught elementary school.

Speaking of creative pursuits, I'm leaving in a half hour for my second photography lesson with Ryan. I'm hoping it goes well. I feel very inept when it comes to learning the ins and outs of manual photography. But practice makes perfect, right?

Some sad news today - Dad's dog was hit by a car. He was 12 years old. Losing this dog marks the end of an era for our family; the dog is the last puppy we kept from a line of dogs we've had since 1987 - nearly 20 years of the same dog family living with our family. Like they say, all good things must come to an end. Dad is taking the loss pretty hard. I wasn't as attached to this dog as he was, but when this dog's parents died (within days of each other) I was overcome with grief. Dad said that the dog had been a good companion for him; I'm sad to see him lost this way. My hamster died this week, too. Bummer of a month in the pet department.

AS EASY AS 1,2,3...

Playskool Mr. Potato Head, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Hi. I'm Patrick, and I'm a blog slacker.

I've been a busy beaver this week, trying to get some more auctions up on eBay - like this Mr. Potato Head, for instance. Photographing everything I own might sound overwhelming, but I'm making it, with the help of my handy dandy pad and pencil. Whenever I have a large task to complete, I get a funny feeling in my stomach that doesn't go away until I make a list, breaking the job down into manageable units. Anybody else ever feel that way? I remember my elementary school teacher showing me how to make a list. I'm eternally grateful!

Speaking of grattitude, I had the nicest surprise waiting for me at the Post Office today. Julie, one of my internet friends, sent me a box of art supplies! I am overwhelmed with her generosity, and I will thank her personally. But I wanted to acknowledge her gift here, too; I think thanking Julie here is most appropriate since we met through this blog. So, Julie, I receive your gift as a blessing from God. THANK YOU! Your kindness meant a lot!

HELLO, OLD FRIEND

azalea blooms, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

After all the waiting, Spring has sprung. Goodbye, winter (maybe). I'm wondering about the usual "cold snap" that sweeps in and kills the blooms. The azaleas look rough this year - as do all of the plants and trees on the farm; Katrina did an number on them. But even without its usual glory, it's refreshing to see Spring again.

Speaking of seeing old friends, I'm having a hurried day today, rushing to get my errands and chores done so I can leave on time to visit Terry and JoEllen tonight. I can't wait to see them; it's been too long! But we are finally back in touch, and I'm headed south tonight. I'm glad we have a friendship that can pick right back up where we left off. It really is true that Life, like the weather, is seasonal. Don't you think?

LEGO® MOC PAGE, ETC

Lego® MOC Page, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I signed up for a page at this website today. Maybe it will increase my eBay sales. The layout looks professional; I'll give it that. I found some inspiring photos there, too. I saw photos of one guy's work (a mini version of a NY neighborhood) that was featured at a banquet honoring the WTC designer, Minoru Yamasaki. He is a professional Lego builder and even had his own business page.

I went to the gym today and, boy, are my legs tired. I did my five miles on the tread, but I only ran one of them. When I stretched out before the run, I knew all too well that I hadn't run since Katrina. I'm so stiff! I'll be glad to get past this stage.

I voted for Taylor last night (Soul Patrol!). He was awesome, as usual. I'm wondering if Lisa, Ace, or Bucky will be voted off. It's narrowing down; who do you think will win? Wouldn't it be better if we could vote people OFF rather than voting to save them?!

A RESTFUL MONDAY

the back pasture, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Today was a productive day. I closed some auction on eBay ($$-Yay!) and mailed a package to a teacher in Alaska(some DK books she bought). I signed up for the gym. I can't believe my hometown has one; it's owned by a guy who went to highschool with me. I'll start running again tomorrow. Goodbye belly! I went out to the farm and took some pictures for Pauline, at Dad's suggestion. Spring is starting to bloom. Hope a cold snap doesn't nip it in the bud, literally. All, in all, it was a restful Monday.

I did have one moment of excitement. I found a possum hiding in the pump house. Have you ever seen a live possum? They have big yellow pointy teeth. He really did "play possum" when I found him. I'll post a photo so that you can see him, too.

POSSUM IN THE PUMP HOUSE!

Possum in the Pump House!, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Here's the critter that I found lurking behind the wagon wheel. He was out to eat the dog food. What a surprise that he was foraging in the daylight. Usually he would have been there at night. In all the years growing up in the country, I never saw a possum. So, it was a surprise to meet him face to face today!

PHOTOGRAPHY & FORGETFULNESS

Ben Seibel impromptu Iroquois Bridal White Mosaic, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I'm getting the hang of this new camera and putting it to good use auctioning things on eBay. I got a bidder on my old camera. Hooray!

I went down to visit Ryan for the day on Tuesday. He gave me a photography lesson and showed me how to use his cameras and lights. He also took a nice photo of me. It's amazing what good lighting will do for you.

I'm going to help out with the next wedding that Ryan works. I'm excited about it. It will be a good experience for me and will let me know what kind of aptitude I have for that kind of work. I hope I do a good job; I'd hate to be responsible for messing up somebody's wedding photos.

It was good to see Ryan and Amanda - and just to get out of town for the day. The Coast is still a mess, so it was a little emotional to be down there. My practice on the camera consisted of taking pictures of blue tarps and piles of trash and tree limbs. Ugh! I did take some funny shots of Ryan making faces, but I accidentally left the CD with them on his table. I'll have to get them later. Don't you hate that when you forget your stuff somewhere?

GOODBYE, CAMERA

I'm selling my 1st camera on eBay!, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I remember ordering my first digital camera: a Sony Cybershot DSC-P50. And I remember my excitement when it finally arrived. No more developing costs! No more wasted film! What a treasure it became! Almost all of the photos in my flickr stream were taken with it. Since I bought it, it's been in hand at every milestone along the way and can sometimes feel like an extension of myself. It's hard to let it go on eBay (I'm not making a mistake, right?), but I'm excited to have a higher resolution camera now, and I'll be equally excited to have a little extra cash in the bank to help pay for that new camera.

MEMORIES

1993 PHS Yearbook, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Going through the crates of stuff in my room, I ran across my senior yearbook. It's been 13 years! I can't believe how quickly time has passed during that span.

This week I've been visiting with my brother. He works at a university, so we spent some time on campus. I met some of the students and realized how young they are. I didn't feel that way when I was in their shoes.

Isn't the passing of time a crazy phenomenon? I'm reading I was just wondering by Philip Yancy. The author argues that one of the best proofs of God and Heaven's existance is our surprise at earthly phenomenon like death and the passage of time. Even though they are the epitome of natural, we perceive them with shock and amazement. I see what he means. I'm looking forward to the end of time.

THE GOVERNOR'S NEW DIET PLAN?

Mississippi governor's mansion, originally uploaded by lordsutch.

The MS Governor just vetoed a bill in the state legislature that would have raised taxes on cigarettes and eliminated them on groceries. I can't understand that decision. How could he possibly justify his actions? What frame of mind would lead him to believe he was acting in the people's best interests? It's one of the most unbelievable things I've ever heard! Later, when I make the time, I'm going to read his justification. But my first impression on hearing the announcement is that it's a bad decision. What do you think?

STORY STARTER

How to Develop a More Successful Personality, originally uploaded by Paula Wirth.

Like to write? Here's a short story starter for you: Write the story from a "How To" approach, but in REVERSE. Tell the story of, "How to burn a cake" or "How to fail a driving test." Failure can be fun. Give it a try! (Diagrams & charts are optional.)

MY LIFE FOR SALE

eBay 1st lot of educational books, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I'm putting the first lot of books up today on eBay. It's an emotional experience. That "Cowboy" book in this stack was the first educational book I ever bought for my classroom, way back in 2000. But (thankfully) I get to keep the memories and the photographs after the auctions end. AND...even better, I won't have to box up and move these books ever again! It's a bittersweet goodbye, but I can't justify keeping things "just in case I'll need them later" when selling things means greater mobility and financial freedom. (Just a bit of preaching to myself, there). I hope these sell for a lot of cash :)

i500

i500, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

1. Purple Lit Edifice Luneberg Germany, 2. FENCED, 3.(according to flickr, my "Most Interesting" but not in i500 ICKS?, 4. Holy Threads, 5. nerdy glasses mosaic, 6. TINTED, 7. 1953 Dance Party, 8. Hiding to eat big bro's lunch?, 9. Oxford, MS circa. 1940, 10. Bobby and Betty, circa 1953, 11. The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, 12. Mom in a Convertible, May, 1953, 13. FRECKLES, 14. SWEETHEART, 15. BULL IN A CHINA SHOP, 16. (a personal favorite, but not in i500)cameo 19

Flickr has a group of photos that it's labelled the most "interesting." These are all photos that I either took or scanned that have made it into the top 500 "most interesting" on flickr (with the exception of two of them, included for filler).

I think it's cool that 3 of my most popular photos were taken in Spokane. One of them was taken at Pauline's direct request. So, thank you, Pauline. You inpsire me!

There's a big debate amongst flickrites about whether or not the photos that flickr puts in the "interestingness" pool are actually, well, interesting! I think worrying over it is silly (though I see their point, for sure.) Regardless, it's fun to see which of my photos make it in...and which ones don't.

If you'd like to see more of my photos, click on the flickr link in the right sidebar, or select one of the links above.

CLUTTER

What's on my desk 6, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Why is it that work generates clutter? The more I work the more my desk goes into "mess" mode. But I must confess that I love it! I've had a tidy desk for too long.

ZZZ

Avant Browser, originally uploaded by Eugenio Palisi.

I was surfing around, looking for something interesting, when I ran across this.

so...not that interesting

PHARMACEUTICALS

nerdy glasses, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Here's a fun idea for you. Totally free. No charge.

Next time you are bored, drive to the mall. Get out of your car and go inside. Wander around the common areas quietly spelling aloud the word, "pharmaceuticals."

P...H...A...R...M...A...

GO GRAY CHARLES!

AMERICAN IDOL

AMERICAN IDOL SHAMELESS ENDORSEMENT, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I hope he wins. Don't forget to vote.

COMICS

comics, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic/index.html

Make your own comics at this site. I grew tired of fooling with it at the moment, but I'm reminding myself to come back to it later by posting this one...

#1

Oxford, MS circa. 1940, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

So, if flickr is the most popular photo sharing site in America, and this is the most interesting photo on that site, then does that make this the most interesting photo in America? :)

CIRCUMSTANCES GOT YOU DOWN?

generally unhappy, originally uploaded by sheryltwoshoes.

I had a totally bad morning this morning. I realized I was interpreting it as God being mad at me. Why do I always do that?

Then I caught myself and remembered that circumstances are no reflection of His feelings for me. His Word says that He loves me and is pleased with me. Cirmumstances (from my view point) sure don't line up with that Good Word. So I had to ask myself, "Whose report will you believe?" and I answered, "I will believe the report of the Lord!"

Whew! Glad that's settled. I certainly was miserable thinking I was isolated from the only One who can get me out of this mess.

How is your day going? Good or bad, remember that Jesus and I are on your side!

CRAFT MANIFESTO: A RESPONSE

morncol-10, originally uploaded by keri.

A day late and a dollar short, as my Dad always says...here's my response to the Craft Manifesto.

I am in particular agreement with point six. Here's an personal example: Every time I browse flickr I'm inspired to start new graphic design projects.

I've also noticed how so many crafters post their work on flickr, beautifully illustrating point 4.

I wish #7 weren't so painfully true. My current lack of tools makes me sad. Interested parties may donate to my personal Katrina relief fund via my Paypal account (just kidding). But I wish I had more tools of the trade, and I miss the ones I've lost. [There's a ND "skills" joke mentally forming here, that I don't feel like finishing. Any takers?]

I have an issue with point 10. Techniques bring people together - but they also create jargon - which separates people into two groups: those who speak it and those who don't.

So, anybody have any other thoughts to add?

CRAFT MANIFESTO

http://ullamaaria.typepad.com/hobbyprincess/2005/03/draft_craft_man.html

Copied this from the web address above. What do you think? Tomorrow I'll post my own thoughts on the manifesto.

1. People get satisfaction for being able to create/craft things because they can see themselves in the objects they make. This is not possible in purchased products.

2. The things that people have made themselves have magic powers. They have hidden meanings that other people can’t see.

3. The things people make they usually want to keep and update. Crafting is not against consumption. It is against throwing things away.

4. People seek recognition for the things they have made. Primarily it comes from their friends and family. This manifests as an economy of gifts.

5. People who believe they are producing genuinely cool things seek broader exposure for their products. This creates opportunities for alternative publishing channels.

6. Work inspires work. Seeing what other people have made generates new ideas and designs.

7. Essential for crafting are tools, which are accessible, portable, and easy to learn.

8. Materials become important. Knowledge of what they are made of and where to get them becomes essential.

9. Recipes become important. The ability to create and distribute interesting recipes becomes valuable.

10. Learning techniques brings people together. This creates online and offline communities of practice.

11. Craft-oriented people seek opportunities to discover interesting things and meet their makers. This creates marketplaces.

12. At the bottom, crafting is a form of play.

WHAT'S COOKIN? TRY AND GUESS!

what's cookin'? try and guess!, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Click on the photo and leave your guess as a comment on the pic's flickr page. Who will be the first to guess the right answer? So far, it's anyone's game! (Dan & fam: No fair guessing since you already know. Shhhh!)

PERSONALITY TEST

PERSONALITY TEST, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

In the Minn/St Paul airport, I nestled on the floor by an electrical outlet with my laptop and a tea. I was pretty absorbed in my computations (LOL) for a few good minutes, but when I finally glanced up I was startled to see the picture above.

The two guys were so engrossed in their respective ways that I had enough time to pull out my Cybershot and snap this one. Doesn't it make such a great commentary about the world?

Both guys are fixated on a form of technology, one more than the other. Are you more like the guy on the left who is aware of his surroundings? Or, are you like Mr. Guy-on-the-Right, with his gaze so firmly locked onto his handheld gadget that he missed seeing something big even though it was right in front of him?

I watched him for a long time; he never saw the biplane. I want to learn from him; I nearly did the same thing.

NORWEGIAN BACHELOR FARMERS AGREE

"It's been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, my hometown, out on the edge of the prairie."

I'm always shocked to learn that someone doesn't know about Prairie Home Companion. What would Saturday afternoons be without Guy Noir or Powder Milk Biscuits?

Beginning in 1974, the radio show has, literally, been around my entire life. I've decided on a new dream job: I'd take Garrison Keillor's place as host when he retires.

So, Sarah, LISTEN TO THE SHOW ALREADY! What've I gotta do...put the radio to your ear?

Garrison Keillor

Garrison Keillor, originally uploaded by kosts.

UPDATE

Been wondering what's become of me? When I returned from WA, I found myself in a bit of a family crisis. Dad will be out of the hospital today; thanks to all who lovingly prayed for his heart health. What a relief to have him coming home tonight!

xaust.com

GO, HICKS, GO!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!, originally uploaded by peggy..

Hope you had a good one...

ON MY WAY

British Airways 777 G-YMMA, originally uploaded by caribb.

I'm on my way to Washington state to meet Pauline and her family. Thanks to everyone who is praying for me to have a safe flight. I'll let you know when I arrive and how the trip is going. Just in case I don't get to tell you later, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

OLD SKOOL

OLD SKOOL, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Here's my desktop. Like my vintage lego figure? I think he's confused; is he teaching geography or addition? My workspace is pretty sparse: count the icons. How many icons do you have? What kind of wallpaper? How often do you change it? What do the answers to these questions say about you as a person?

COUNTRIES I'VE VISITED/LIVED IN

create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

STATES I'VE VISITED

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Well, I haven't technically visited Washington state yet, but I thought I'd go ahead and check it. Try this out. It's fun to see a map of where you have been. (Gasp! Did I just say that maps were fun? Dad would be so proud!)

MY FLICKR BADGE

MY FLICKR BADGE, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

at least I have a fun hobby to fall back on...

MESS

I can't function in this mess anymore! I'm tired of living in piles of crates and boxes. Everything I own is stored in the room where I am sleeping and I can't take it anymore! [It is a very big room but the boxes are piled to the ceiling.] When I moved back in with my folks after Katrina, we just piled everything up helter skelter. But the haphazard mess makes me feel like a mess, myself.

So this week I'm moving out of the grief stage and into the anger stage. And I'm channeling that energy into unpacking and organizing. After the storm, I wished that there was nothing to salvage. I just didn't wan't to deal with stuff at that moment. Isn't that terrible; I felt a little guilty about wishing I had lost everything and gotten an insurance check. Oh, well; can't deny my failings.

So I'm getting it organized so that I can sell all of it; I don't want to see any of it ever again. When I start to auction it off on eBay, I'll put a link here so you can bid on it. LOL. Just think, someday you might own my lamp or spatula... You could say, "Hey, this used to belong to Patrick before he pulled a Dave Chappelle and ran away from his mess of a life; I got it for next to nothing at auction."

I'm not trying to be negative in this; just honest about where I am right now. I read back over the last entries I've made since returning to America and realized that I have been talking about pop culture because I didn't want to face the real issues I need to deal with. But here they are in black and white. That's as good of a first step as I can make.

ARTIST TRADING CARDS

resolution-atcs, originally uploaded by kaleidoscopic-kris.

Have you ever heard of Artists' Trading Cards? I hadn't until today, but I'm hooked. I can't wait to find an old deck of cards and start making my own. If you designed one, what would you put on it?

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT IDOL?

Well, so far I've narrowed it down to my top four. Here they are for your viewing pleasure. Let me know which you think should win the title. By the way, I used to make fun of people who watched this show, but I really think these 4 have talent, so they've won me over...

HOPEFUL #4

HOPEFUL #3

HOPEFUL #2

HOPEFUL #1

CRYIN'

cryin', originally uploaded by goodbyepisces.

GRIEF

Mourning with you...sorry Washington about your Super Bowl loss...

MY FAVORITE THINGS

A&W Wuppets, originally uploaded by Neato Coolville.

Here's the short this of some favorite things (in addition to pom pom A&W Wuppets) --

First line to get rid of automatic indent

Running on a Saturday morning

Floppy-eared dogs

Contrast

Innovation

Piano music so beautiful it makes me cry

Playing with toys

The feel of paper

Hot bread & butter

Spiced Chai Latte

Making a new friend

Burying myself in the bed with a book

Pulling on comfortable shoes

Learning something new

Birthday parties

Taking snapshots

Telling stories

Originality

Color-drenched photographs

Vinyl LP’s

Words

A FLICKR FAVORITE

Autumn Walk, originally uploaded by moonjuice.

If you haven't checked out flickr, what are you waiting for? Stop by, pick a few favorites, join a group or two, maybe even start one of your own... Get goin', why don'tcha?

GOSSIP AND POLITICS

The State of the Union got me thinking about gossip and politics. Here are my thoughts.

Most people from Judeo-Christian backgrounds would probably profess to hating gossip. Even the gossips would admit that it's a vice needing repentance.

But what about Historians? Do they need to repent of their wicked ways? After all, isn't history just plain-ol' gossip about dead people?

And here's a similar thought I heard attributed to Jay Leno that I think bears repeating: Isn't Politics really just Show Business for ugly people?

Any thoughts?

FEVER

I've got the Fever...(but not for Pringles). I formed another group on flickr, bringing the total up to 2 within 24 hours. I sent out invitations, and people are joining! Fun, right?

So here are the links in case you want to check them out:

RECOLORED

WELCOME HOME

INVITATION

Here's an open invitation: Any and all are welcome to join my new group on flickr - Here's a link. I searched and couldn't find another one like it to join, so I made my own. The name of the group is RECOLORED.

PUNKY POWER!

photo snagged from soaresantiques.com

I was talking to Pauline about Kangaroo Tennis Shoes. As kids, we both had a pair of them. Mine had zippers on the side pockets; hers had velcro. I used the pockets to store 2 dimes - my milk money for the day. Do you remember those shoes? They looked stylin' with my tight-rolled jeans or my parachute pants, Ocean Pacific shirt, Swatch, friendship bracelets and friendship beads.

Dukes of Hazard lunchboxes...Izod shirts...Garbage Pail Kids stickers and cards...Transformers and MASK... Can you believe all of these things are sold at ANTIQUE STORES now? Can you believe that The Cosby Show and The Facts of Life are played on oldies TV stations now?

What do you remember about the '80's? Need to jog your memory? Check out RETRO JUNK. I especially enjoyed their video collections.

NON-EPIPHANY

Is there such a thing as the opposite of an epiphany? I'm not talking in a religious jargon sense about the manifestation of the Divine Christ. I'm talking about that instantaneous manifestation of mental clarity when you cry, "Eureka!" (not always in the tub like ole' Archimedes). Would it be an anti-epiphany? How would you know you were having it?

I'M CHERRY PIE A LA MODE

I'm propped up in bed, watching President Bush give his State of the Union Address, typing happily on my HP. I just took a couple of goofy online quizzes to see what flavors of pie and ice cream I would be. I glanced around the room, and I thought, "This is a moment I want to remember."

You Are Cherry Pie

You're the perfect combo of innocent and sexy Those who like you enjoy a contradiction

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Your Icecream Flavour is... French Vanilla!

You're a smooth and silky suave type! You exude class and you believe in tradition. A classical taste who doesn't like things to be too flashy or showy. Climb the Eiffel tower of taste with a spoonfull of you! Oui Oui!

What is your Icecream Flavour?

Find out at Go Quiz

WELL, HAVE YOU EVER?

What a swell party this is... (If you get that movie reference, then 5 bonus points for you.)

HAVE YOU EVER...

Smoked a cigarette: NO
Wrecked a car: NO
Stolen a car: NO
Gotten a speeding/parking ticket: NO
Been dumped: YES
Shoplifted: YES
Been fired/laid off: NO
Been in a fist fight: NO
Snuck out of your parents' house: NO
Been arrested: NO
Gone on a blind date: NO
Lied to a friend: YES
Skipped school: YES
Seen someone die: NO
Been to Mexico: NO
Been to Europe: YES
Eaten sushi: YES
Met someone in person you met on the internet: NO
Taken pain killers: YES
Had a tea party: YES
Cheated while playing a game: YES
Fallen asleep at work: YES
Used a fake ID: NO
Had surgery: YES
Felt an earthquake: NO
Experienced a tornado/hurricane: YES
Thrown-up in a public place: YES
Touched a snake: YES
Been robbed: YES
Broken a bone: NO
Slow danced with someone you love: YES
Petted a deer/goat: YES
Won a contest: YES
Hit a home run: YES
Been suspended from school: NO
Been in a car accident: YES
Made a speech: YES
Partied till dawn: YES
Had braces: NO
Gotten stitches: YES
Been spanked: YES
Sat/Stood in a corner: YES
Eaten a pint or more of ice cream in one night: YES
Witnessed a crime: YES
Swam in the ocean: YES
Climbed a moutain: YES
Been struck by lightning: NO
Flown: YES
Sailed: YES
Sung karaoke: YES
Snuck into a movie: NO
Paid for a meal with only coins: YES
Laughed until a beverage came out of your nose: YES
Been kissed under mistletoe: YES
Crashed a party: NO
Slept in church: YES
Worn pearls: NO
Had braces: NO
Slept in a cabin/tent: YES
Jumped off a bridge: NO
Eaten pet food: NO
Kissed a mirror: NO
Bowled a strike: YES
Glued your hand to something: YES
Done a one-handed cartwheel: NO
Cheated on a test: YES
Talked on the phone for more than 6 hours: YES
Skipped showering for a week: YES
Gone skinny dipping: NO
Picked and eaten fruit right off the tree: YES
Been told by a complete stranger that you're cute: YES

WE'VE SECRETLY REPLACED...

...today's post with **NEW** Folger's Crystals! Let's see if anyone can tell the difference.

SNL

I want to write for SNL. I'm funny about half the time, so I think we'd be a good match.

Here's an idea for a parody I think everyone would enjoy. You know Nokia's "It's Your Life in There" ad campaign. Blah...well anyway, picture Ed, the guy who sings along with his ringtone. Well, I'd cast Horatio Sanz in the part. Can you picture it? Just about the time he gets really into singing his "Good Old Boys" theme song, a hand should reach out from behind the camera and smack him. Or even better, the camera could swing around and Simon, Paula, and Randy could critique his performance. "I'm not being rude, Ed, but your performance was awful, the worst we've ever heard..."

Wouldn't that be sweet?

What commercial really gets on your nerves?

MY NOSTRIL

Stephen just bought a new digital camera. It's, like, a 5 megapixel or something, so the resolution is crazy astounding when compared to my sad 2.1 megapixel Sony. Ben took all of these stupid pictures with it yesterday. For example, he put the lense in his mouth and took one of his tonsils. But my favorite was the one he shot up my nose. I was blinded by the flash, but the end result was worth a little pain. I'm not posting the picture here, so you'll just have to use your imagination.

On a related side note, Jenny told me yesterday that film companies have stopped manufacturing black and white film. Is that for real? If so, I'm sad. Not that I ever used b/w, but I still hate to see it go.

GOOGLE IN CHINA

I just googled the word "Freedom." If I lived in China, I couldn't have done that search. What do you think about that policy?

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, please read these two blogs:

Google's official blog about it

Scott Adam's blog about it

CHALLENGER

I hate news articles. They take something personal and emotional and real. They slap the event onto a journalistic operating table, cut the heart out and sew the story back together as a Frankenstein’s monster of black and white facts and figures. I guess that’s why I prefer blogs.

Case in point: I just read MSNBC’s article on the Challenger accident. James Oberg’s angle seemed to be to write the piece as a “mythbuster” style expose, a “we know what happened better than you do, even though you were there” article. Here’s my least favorite quote: “Historians, reporters, and every citizen need to take the time this week to remember what really happened, and especially to make sure their memories are as close as humanly possible to what really did happen.” That just speaks volumes, doesn’t it? In effect, he’s saying, “Hey, I’m a journalist, so pardon me while I tell you what to think and what to remember about what happened to you.” Contrast that attitude with the typical blogger who says, “Hey, this event happened to me personally and this is how I remember it and feel about it.”

The article mostly just seemed to quibble over words and nuances, like the definition of “explosion.” Give me a break. I really had trouble with the main distinction Oberg tried to make between people like me who watched it live and most of the general population who caught it later that day on tape. He accurately points out that not many people caught the actual live broadcast, but I think he is missing the point. I mean, I wasn’t watching live TV when the planes hit the Twin Towers, but the deal was that I did see it happen on TV. A small time delay didn’t make it any less unreal or any more palatable. I think the same is true of the Challenger tragedy. Who cares when we watched it? We did, in effect, all watch it. And we all felt like we watched it together.

So in an effort to counter balance that historically revisionist article, here are some of the things that I remember from that day: 20 years ago today, I was an 11-year-old 5th grader in Mrs. Holcomb’s class. NASA had spent a lot of time and money that year on a campaign to sell the space program to America’s school kids, myself included. Knowing that mostly just school kids got to watch the launch via satellite made me feel like a dignitary. This was the kids’ launch, after all. NASA said so. They even went so far as to put Christa McAuliffe, a teacher, on the flight crew.

Their campaign was a success. We identified with the crew. We had studied their bios and drawn pictures of them to hang on our bulletin boards. The models we made of the space shuttle hung from yarn all around our classroom. My group of friends and I played “space camp” during every afternoon recess. Challenger filled our school culture. It filled our class time. It filled our dreams.

So when it suddenly went missing in a cloud of flames, it left my generation of school kids empty and hurting. Our cheers of joy died into shocked silence. I had talked about the space shuttle launch every single day from the time my teacher told me about it until the moment it happened. But after that day, I didn’t talk about it again for years. The crew’s pictures came down off the bulletin board and the models went into the trash. My friends and I stopped playing astronauts and went back to kickball. NASA had lost its place in our imaginations. It was the end of an era.

I can still remember the newspaper picture of the local teacher who just missed her chance of flying on the Challenger. I think she and I had a lot in common that year. With our feet safely resting on the ground, we found our hearts hurting and our dreams disappointed, our lives forever altered by the tragedy that was the Space Shuttle Challenger.

N'MIND

Well, the problem seems to have corrected itself.

S. O. S.

My sidebar has freaked out. If anybody can help me, I'm asking for advice. I'm guessing it's a problem with the template's code. I added flickr and this happened. I moved it lower in the sequence of code, but it didn't fix it. Neither did removing the flickr stream. I'm wondering if I accidentally deleted something, but I don't know html well enough to know what to look for. I know this site now looks dumb, though. So if anybody can tell me anything, please leave a comment. Looks like a good time for me to start learning html. Thanks! Feel free to view the page source and tell me what I've done wrong.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...

I Wish I had a Fairy Sanitation Mother like Scott Adams seems to have...Oh, well. I've run out of ideas for this. Went to the creativity bank and found a zero balance in my account. I have no clue about what to blog about today. I'm busy packing and wrapping up things here in Germany for my flight back to the good ol' U. S. of A. Sorry I don't have anything else to show & tell. But here's a little Dilbert for you just the same.

THE FUNNY STUFF

PUBLIC NOTICE: THE FOLLOWING ANECDOTES ARE SHARED TO BE HUMOROUS, NOT OFFENSIVE. I HAVE MET WONDERFUL GERMANS AND AM NOT STEREOTYPING TO BE MEAN OR CRITICAL. IF YOU DON'T GET THAT I'M JUST MAKING A JOKE, THEN GROW A SENSE OF HUMOR...READ SOME OF MY ARCHIVES, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT I MAKE FUN OF STUPID THINGS IN AMERICA ALL THE TIME

Sitting at an intersection in Harburg tonight, the light changed to green. When the car in front of us didn't budge, a driver HONKED! I was shocked, until the thought hit me that honking like that wasn't considered rude here in Germany like it would have been back home in Mississippi. MS drivers would never honk at the car in front of them. They might eventually pull around the car (if the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, or somthing), but honk? No way. So this experience tonight turned my thoughts to all of the other funny cultural differences I've observed. Here are a few.

In MS we have dirt and gravel roads in some places. But here in Germany, they have BONG BONG STREETS. I kid you not! They call an old-fashioned stone road a Bong Bong Straße. They gave them this name for exactly the reason you would guess. When you drive down them, you make a noise like, "Bong! Bong! Bong!" Funny, eh?

What else? Well, instead of a "cell," a German would refer to a cellular phone as a "handy." That name change took some getting used to. Hand me the Handy: How does that sound to you?

Sometimes I feel like I'm in Japan here. Why? It's a lot more formal than in the states, and there are tons of social restrictions and expectations that Americans wouldn't tolerate. For instance, the shopping mall I visited was as quiet as a library (no exaggeration). I went to Claire's with my neice so she could buy some earrings. I've been with my neices to the same store in the States, but the German version was crazy in comparison! In case you don't know, Claire's is a tiny store filled with too many racks of girly-girl accessories, loud music and uber-excited tweenage/teenage girls. But the German Claire's was sparse, with no music and nobody making any noise. Apparently, for Germans, shopping is akin to going to a funeral. I wanted to grab the manager and tell him to put on some disco and try to make the girls laugh and talk. But I don't think German teens are the type to giggle in public.

Oh, here's another way Germany is like Japan: you take your shoes off when you go into people's houses. And you put on a pair of bedroom shoes (cold floors). I haven't seen this many pairs of slippers before in my entire life. Germany is house-shoe-lovers-heaven. And the piles of shoes outside of people's apartment doors cracks me up. Somebody could trip over them! They just pile them in the hallway. It's great!

Aren't there some things that are like America? Yes! Well, kind of anyway. For example, we went to KFC here. BUT... The prices were sky high. The food was terrible. The portions were small. The customers were smoking; they even sold cigarettes in a vending machine in the restaurant. Do you remember those? Way to keep your European customers' health in mind, KFC! Moral of the story: When in Germany, stay away from US fast food chains.

You bag your own groceries at the grocery store, and you have to pay 50 cents for each bag. You can bring your own bags, and many people use wicker baskets. Remember, as you shake your head in disbelief, that their fridge's are the size of a mini-fridge we usually reserve for hotels and college dorm rooms. They could fill their fridge to capacity with a wicker-basket full.

Everybody walks and rides bikes or uses the train. Yay for eco-friendliness, but it's mostly the price of gas. It costs my brother ONE HUNDRED US DOLLARS to fill his car's tank. So, the next time you are tempted to complain about the high cost of gas, close your mouth and count your blessings. Oh, and they call it "petrol" here, not gas.

There is an entire 1/2 aisle in practically any grocery store filled with chocolate. The drug store doesn't carry contact solution. Nobody here has ever heard of a stain stick. They drink milk called H-milk that you can keep outside the fridge - warm milk, people. In fact, most drinks are served room temperature. So refreshing! Try washing your chocolate candy bar down with a tall glass of warm H-milk. Delicious!

JASON'S PICTURES

Overwhelmed, originally uploaded by extremeboh.

My buddy Jason titled this photo "Overwhelmed." Check out his other fantastic pictures on his flickr account!