Blue Morning Acacias

Thomas D. Mangelsen

Reflection

In life, nothing can be seen as black and white...there's always a shade of gray.

More Needless Facts to Brighten Your Day

Once again courtesy of Coffee News, a funny little publication that I'm obviously spending way too much of my time reading. :)

1. Bazooka is the name of bubble gum, as well as rocket launchers. The latter gets its name from a unique musical instrument that was long and cylindrical, like an oboe. Comedian Bob Burns coined the phrase because he used the instrument in his act.

2. The world has Carlton Magee, the editor of a newspaper in Oklahoma City, to thank for inventing the parking meter. He patented the idea in 1932 and introduced the first meters on the streets of the city in 1935 to curb parking problems and traffic congestion.

3. A porcupine has about 30,000 quills that are so sharp they can penetrate any hide. The most deadly quills are located on the top of the porcupine's tail, which can send a hail of quills with razor sharp barbs into its victims.

4. The first gas station opened in 1895 in Bordeaux, France. Two years later, the first station opened in Brighton England.

Free Dr. Pepper for All Americans

Heard word of this over at Rock and Roll and Meandering Nonsense. (Great site-check them out!) Apparently, Dr. Pepper has offered a can of soda to all Americans- if Guns N' Roses will finally put out their album Chinese Democracy. It has been set to come out for many years, but Axl Rose keeps backing out. This album has become somewhat of a longstanding joke, and this Dr. Pepper thing adds to that. I'm thinking that someone high up at Dr. Pepper likes Guns N' Roses!

Angry Alien Productions

Jennifer, the founder of Angry Alien Productions (cool name, by the way) creates 30 second reenactments of movies, with bunnies. This may sound odd, but it's pretty unique and really funny. Personally, I couldn't stop laughing. :) Below is Pulp Fiction, with bunnies!

Tuesday Thought

100 calorie snack packs rock! The smaller sizes and portions don't faze me;I'm just so glad to finally have a low calorie snack that tastes good! Yum. :)

Keeping on the Same Topic...

This, in my opinion, is somewhat crazy. So, there is an online game called Miss Bimbo targeted to girls ages 9-16. Here's the short of it...the game encourages dieting, diet pills, plastic surgery, and more. And the long of it. It's stuff like this that promotes eating disorders, and allows for girls to have a warped view of what their bodies should look like. Any thoughts?

I Say More Power to Her

Jamie Lee Curtis is turning 50, and posing tastefully topless on the cover of AARP magazine. She's doing this to show women that taking care of their bodies, and allowing for natural aging is the key to beauty. I like this. I think most women, at least at some point in their lives, have a tendency to feel uncomfortable with the way they look. The media supports these feelings by putting such a high emphasis and importance on how people look. It would be great if more celebrities tried to promote natural beauty. You can read more here.

Happy Easter! Happy Sunday!

I'm not particularly religious. My family is blended; a mix of Christianity and Judaism. I don't necessarily practice organized faith, but I do feel that there is definitely a higher power or energy out there. But today, my purpose is not to start a deep theological discussion.
This morning, I woke up happy, positive, and thankful. Generally, all three can be contributed to the same thing...the fact that I'm alive, healthy, and have the privilege and ability to do the things I want to do in life. I know all of this may sound cheesy, but the place I've been in lately has been pretty dark, so these moments of light help me stay strong and know that things are genuinely looking up. I hope everyone has a Happy Easter or a Happy Sunday whichever it is you're celebrating!

Like Haiku? Like Music?

If so go here. The authors of this site write haiku about songs, artists, or albums. You can even request one and they will write it for you. For me, they wrote about the Jack Johnson song Mudfootball! Really great. :) Check them out.

Happy Spring

I cannot believe Spring is here!! Warm weather and sunshine. Flowers blooming, grass growing...good things to come. I love this season. :)

Dead Pet Fur Used for Clothes

This article is about a couple who has made their dead dogs' fur into clothing. So, I'm thinkin'...gross and really just wrong on so many different levels. Each to their own, but yuck! What are your thoughts?

Life up for Auction

Ian Usher of Perth Australia is putting his entire life up for auction. He wants a fresh start, so he is selling everything including his job. About this, I say wow-he's got guts. I don't think most people have enough strength to let go of their whole lives and start from scratch. His website is here.

Things You Probably Will Never Need to Know

These interesting tidbits are care of Coffee News, a rather small publication that lives up to its name. It's perfect to read while enjoying a cup of coffee.

1. An electric eel has a current producing organ that can generate an average charge of 350 volts. The rivers of Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, and Peru are where you'll find an eel that produces the greatest shock-from 400 to 650 volts.

2. The male emperor penguin shares incubating duties with the female when she lays her one large egg. Later, the female is away feeding when the egg hatches, so the male feeds the baby by regurgitating a milky substance. (Gross)

3. A nine-branded armadillo has an unusual claim to fame. It almost always gives birth to quintuplets of the same sex, resulting from the fact that one egg usually divides into four parts.

4. It was Queen Elisabeth I who decided a statute mile should be 5,280 feet or 1,609 meters. It was based on walking distance established by the Romans, who said 1,000 paces made up a land mile.

5. In 1787, Levi Hutchins of Concord, New Hampshire, came up with one of the earliest versions of an alarm clock. It only rang at one time-4 am.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Is anyone doing anything interesting for St. Patrick's Day? I'm going to see Airbourne play! They rock!

A Day of Dogs

Friday was a day filled with dogs. The white dog is Satan...well, I don't think that is her real name, but that's what her owner called her, so it's what I'm going with. I saw her running around and thought she was lost. It turns out she wasn't lost, but she was a barker. And I did a small photo shoot with Satan. Most didn't turn out because she kept running around and barking. lol

The Yorkie I found later...and he really was lost! I asked around in the neighborhood where I found him, but couldn't find his owner. I took him to the humane society and put ads in all of the local papers hoping that his owners would be able to find him. No calls so far, but I'm hopeful. And if his owners don't want him I have no doubt that he will find a great home. He is so adorable!

One for My Memory Bank

Yesterday I received the greatest complement! I was at the drugstore picking up a few things;they were having a sale on my preferred brand of makeup, so I decided to take advantage of it. Anyway, when I went to the counter to checkout, the women asked if I was going to prom. I looked up startled, I didn't think I had heard her right. So I repeated...prom and looked at her puzzled. Then I laughed, thanked her, and told her my age. She said wow, and that was it. I left the store and was on a little high for the rest of the day. What a pick me up! I'm going to store this complement and bring it out whenever I'm having a low self esteem day! :)

Jim Florentine is Funny

Tonight I'm going to see one of my favorite comedians; Jim Florentine! He is really funny. Apart from doing stand up work he's been on Crank Yankers and created a show call Meet the Creeps. Very funny...I've posted a video below. (Again, it says unavailable, but it works!) Check him out! Oh, and you can also go here and here.

Sleepy Thought

I woke up early and have been traveling all day so this is what is going through my sleepy mind. Wondering what it would be like to be tall. I'm pretty short...not super short, but not really average. Anyway, saw a lot of tall people today...was on an airplane which was so tiny that if I was any taller I would have had to duck while walking, so it's now and I'm wondering about tallness. Advantages? Disadvantages? Random and silly. I think I need some sleep. lol :)

Amazing

Love Aerosmith-they're a staple of mine. This song was just speaking to me today. :)

Amazing

I kept the right ones out
And let the wrong ones in
Had an angel of mercy to see me through all my sins
There were times in my life
When I was goin' insane
Tryin' to walk through
The pain
When I lost my grip
And I hit the floor
Yeah,I thought I could leave but couldn't get out the door
I was so sick and tired
Of livin' a lie
I was wishin that I
Would die

[Chorus:]
It's Amazing
With the blink of an eye you finally see the light
It's Amazing
When the moment arrives that you know you'll be alright
It's Amazing
And I'm sayin' a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight

That one last shot's a Permanent Vacation
And how high can you fly with broken wings?
Life's a journey not a destination
And I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings

You have to learn to crawl
Before you learn to walk
But I just couldn't listen to all that righteous talk, oh yeah
I was out on the street,
Just tryin' to survive
Scratchin' to stay
Alive
[Chorus]

Desperate hearts, desperate hearts

My 2 Sense... On Dr. Laura and Infidelity

I'm pretty much done with the whole Spitzer thing, but I saw something this morning that I have to comment on. Let me preface this by saying that there was a time when I was a big Dr. Laura fan. I thought most of what she said made sense. Through age and education I've realized that a lot of what she says is skewed.
So, this morning, on The Today Show she was on a panel with others talking about the Spitzer case. In not so many words she basically partially blamed Spitzer's wife for his infidelity and illegal activity with a prostitute. Or better yet she was somewhat blaming women, in general, for their cheating spouses.
It's the typical- he is not getting what he needs at home so he strays. I do believe that strife at home can cause a spouse to go seek intimacy or even just sex elsewhere, but ultimately it is the choice of the unfaithful person to handle marriage problems in this manner. There are always other choices-discussions, counseling, or even divorce as other options.
When I listen to Dr. Laura now, she just seems a bit like a chauvinist.

Good Lazy Sunday

Today was a good day because I accomplished something I haven't been able to do in a few months. I am a pretty avid reader. Generally I read anything I can get my hands on-nothing is off limits. But lately I've been going through some pretty intense stuff, so sitting down and concentrating long enough to read has been difficult. This morning I woke up and decided I would try to finish reading The Time Traveler's Wife. I had only gotten half way through in 2 or 3 months...just couldn't focus for long enough to finish. Today I finally did! And let me say...what a great book-written very well-I highly recommend it, but be prepared to weep. It's very touching.
I just love lazy book-reading Sundays.

Short but Very Sweet

All I'm sayin' ... is why haven't I heard of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival before now? Fun, fun, fun!! I'm so there. :)

Question about life

Why is it that when you think you're getting over something it has a way of creeping back into the forefront of your mind? It's pretty exasperating!

This rant is probably just my sleepiness talking...I better go to bed!

Sat-Nav for Dogs

I came across this today; it is an article that talks about a dog collar being developed with sat-nav technology. It's being made with anti-cut material so dog nappers will have difficulty removing it. The collar will have the ability to send a text to the owner's phone if their dog crosses a preset boundary. Also, dog owners will be able to log on to a website and track the exact location of their pets.
Well, I say... what a great concept! It is fairly easy to lose a dog because, as we all know, they are very curious creatures who love to investigate things on a whim. I think this collar will help cut down on the heartache and headaches that come with losing a dog.

Could be the Earliest Picture of Helen Keller

I love Helen Keller; her story has always intrigued me. This picture is from July of 1888. Historians say it could be the the earliest picture of her and Anne Sullivan. Cool! Read more on FoxNews.com.

My Thoughts on Addiction

I have been thinking about addiction and human nature. And I've come to the conclusion that addiction is certainly not limited to narcotics, alcohol, and tobacco. People, food, ideas, actions, and feelings. Just a few other things that humanity can become addicted to. In my opinion the list is endless. I've realized that when it comes to addiction there is nothing in life that is off the table. We, as humans, gravitate toward things that intrigue or stimulate us positively, and even negatively in some cases. Why, I don't really know. Just another one of those things in life that is not fully answerable, and never will be. I do know,however, that an addiction that has spun out of control never leads to a positive end.
When it comes to conquering said demons, our minds definitely play a vital role. In fact, at many points in life our brains can be our best friend, or our worst enemy. Though, we may get help from outside sources, a change in behavior is ultimately up to us alone. Willpower and inner strength is the key to success. That is why it's so hard for many people to overcome addiction. Again, I think that it's just human nature for most to shy away from giving themselves full control over their own, thoughts, feelings, and actions. It becomes awkward or uncomfortable to put so much trust in ourselves. But it seems logical that 'self-help' would be the best answer because we know ourselves better than anyone ever will. I guess, what I'm really saying is people need to have more faith in themselves. Which, in turn, can lead to a better and more fulfilling life.

Ok, I'm done playing philosopher for the night. :)

Plug for my Pet

I've entered my dog Rufus in a Humane Society contest. Please vote for him if you get the whim.

Random Thought for the Day

So, why is it that every town in America has a radio station named Star? Just something silly traveling through my mind today.

Can't get her out of my head

Jenny Owen Youngs' album Batten the Hatches has been on repeat for a week. She has a great voice and awesome lyrics. Cool indie chick music. :) You can listen to her here. Believe me, after you do, you will need her album too!

I'm giving myself kudos...

and here's why...I'm fitting into a size 6 pair of jeans! Normally, I really don't give much thought to these type of things, but I was in need of an accomplishment to celebrate and one came out of nowhere. I'm not really too overweight, but I did have a few pounds to lose and still do. But, honestly I haven't really been trying to lose weight. Just been exercising because it clears my head and makes me feel good. So yay to me and all that good stuff!! :)