No, I Am Not Dead Yet, really, I'm Not

Oh, my dear blogees, I humbly apologize for the extended absence.   My intent was to take a couple of weeks off and get the holidays under control but alas....I discovered a few things about myself. Well, to be perfectly honest, these weren't necessarily NEW discoveries.

A.  I can piss away a day like no one else, dinking around on a computer.  TRUE, totally true.  It doesn't help that reading 50 or so great blogs takes up an entire morning.  This is especially true of the blogs written by Meleah, Nicky, Jewell, Bodacious Boomer, Jayne, Bud, Kimberly, Madge, JuneBug and Anne,,,,and the list goes on.  See what I mean.  It would take me an hour to tell you about all the blogs I like, so you can imagine how long it takes me to read them all.

B. One of my blogging friends, mentioned that when she initially told her husband that she was going to write a blog, he said "why? So you can vent to the world about things?"   It does seem that whatever bitching that needs to be done on any given morning, becomes the topic of the day for me.  So here is the thing.   I was feeling bad about how negative, I seem to be getting.   Is this age related?  Is the world getting crazier?   Am I just a freakin' bitch?   Maybe all three of these things play into it.  But here is the upshot.  I am going to start up my blog now that I have made my way through the 2 month long Christmas season and the first two weeks of January organizational marathon.  (more about that in a minute) AND if I feel the need to bitch to the world...and you can be sure that I will... I guess you will be forewarned that I am not getting any less cynical as I am aging.  (none too gracefully, I might add)

C.  The other reason for the extended break, is that once I discovered that I can focus on other things besides sitting at my computer, I came up with the idea that perhaps, I should try finding a little balance in my life.   Bizarre, idea, I know.  Perhaps, I should read more actual books, more actual magazines, spend more time with family and friends....WELL, What do you know?  It was so nice to do those things that my two week break became my  2+ month hiatus.

D. Lastly, it didn't help to hear on the local Kansas City News that a 1970 class reunion committee was in the news because they got stiffed from the photographer that was hired to take their pictures.  The spokeswoman for the group mentioned that this was especially sad because her and her classmates would  probably be dying off before the next reunion in five years.  Seems, I now realize that my days are limited so I had better get my ass in gear and accomplish a few more things.


So here I am at the beginning of a new year ready to blog, balance, prepare for my impending demise (according to class reunion chick, anyway) and I am setting forth with some plans.  I realize that most people hate the words NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.  I, on the other hand, love, love, love setting an unobtainable goal for me to try to achieve.   Gives me something to shoot for...over and over again.   A contest of sorts with me being the only player.  At what other sport can you be the only winner and the only loser.


So, I have already started the first of my resolutions.   (start is the operative word here...you didn't see the word "accomplished" did you?)  I have sorted out a couple of closets and sorta-kind-of gotten my house in shape for the new year.  The glory of my resolutions are there is a lot of wiggle room.

One of my other resolutions is to blog without making it the main focus of my day.  I will try to blog regularly and TRY not to be bitching all the time.  Just part of the time.  In that vein, you might notice that I am adding a new page for my unsolicited advice of running a household.  As my day job of being a realtor is still in the toilet I have a lot of time to clean, organize and be a super-duper unpaid maid.  Daily, I come across "wonder products" that I use to keep up our house and think that I need to share these glorious products with everyone I know.  Hence the new page....Sass and Trash.   (some of my readers will think my suggestions worthy of the trash bin)  But still for the person that pointed out that people that just love housework, cooking and such... have sick minds, let me go on record as sicknesses goes, this one is fairly painless and doesn't cost anything in medical expenses.

So, I am back and will be blogging my little thoughts down from time to time and look forward to catching up with all of you.  Hope you are having a great start to 2012.


PS  To all the people that dropped me notes expressing their concern over my possible demise.  I love you guys.

Around the Water Cooler 11/4/2011

Another crazy news week has come and gone.  Who would have thought that a major snow storm would have been taken over the front page news?  This was really taking the phrase "frost on the pumpkin" to the EXTREME.  (just to be accurate...the original poem said "frost on the punkin"  but close enough)

As always, I prefer to ignore the mainstream news of political scandals, governmental impasses, and all the news related to the economy, in favor of the "far" less important back page news.



Speaking of Halloween..... I noticed a story about a little Trick or Treater, that caught my attention.

I Am Dressed as Future Convict

Aiken, S.C. - South Carolina officials say a 10 year old trick-or-treater pulled a 9mm handgun on a woman who joked with him about stealing his candy.

The Auguste Chronicle reported that a 28 year old woman reported that when she "jokingly" told the boy that she was going to take his candy, he yelled "no, your not!" and then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at her.

The boy was taken to the police station and turned over to his parents.  It was also reported that his brother, also a 10 year old, was taken in as well.  He, too, had in his possession a gun and ammunition.

The boys had taken the guns and ammo from their grandfather without his permission.

First of all, it isn't a good idea to tell two ten year olds that you are going to take their candy.  Some jokes aren't funny.   My second thought is that I would be keeping my eye on these two ten year olds and keep the guns under lock and key.

Could You Open This For Me?

Complaining that a 95-year-old neighbor has been harassing him, a 75-year-old Florida man called police Monday to report that the nonagenarian twice pulled a pocket knife on him--but that the older man did not have the strength or dexterity to actually open the weapon.



good thing he doesn't have a
switchblade



Panama City police reported that the dispute between Charles Woolard and Joe Taylor dates back three years, when Taylor accused Woolard of stealing his walking cane. Since then, Woolard told a cop, Taylor has taken swings at him, but he has succeeded in blocking the blows.

Woolard, who denied stealing the cane, said that Taylor, “pulled a closed pocket knife on him twice,” adding that the older man “tries to open the knife but can’t.” Woolard remarked that, while he is not afraid of Taylor, he is “concerned he might have to act if he actually get the knife open.”

Police made no arrests in connection with the pensioners’s dispute.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

H&H Photographers was started by Curt Fried and Harold Gillet after returning from serving in World War II. After decades of celebrated work the two handed the business down to their sons, Dan Fried and Larry Gillet.  According to Dan Fried, after having more than 65 years of happy clients he is upset that he is having to deal with a "less than satisfied" customer.

Todd Remis, an equity research analyst, married Melena Grzibovska on December 28, 2003 at Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown, NY. Remis has filed a lawsuit against H&H Photography as well as its original founders for $4100.00 (the cost of the photographs) and $48,000 to bring back all the original attendees to recreate the wedding so new photos can be taken.

According to Fried, Remis came to the office in January 2004 to pick up his wedding proofs (though in legal papers, Remis denies getting any pictures). "He complained to us right away," says Fried. "And the company made an effort to try to find a common ground with him. We said if we missed something, we would be happy to offer another type of shoot or do touch up on some images and make some changes for the prints for the wedding album. But that was not enough for him."
Remis continued to file complaints but never picked up his wedding album or paid his final balance. After years, H&H sent Remis a bill for the outstanding amount due. "He responded with a threatening letter and then shortly thereafter, he sued," says Fried. That was in 2009, six years after the wedding, a year after the couple separated and a few weeks before the statute of limitations would have expired.
 What Remis failed to disclose in his legal papers is that he got divorced in 2008 -- and he doesn't know the address of his ex-wife, who returned to her native Latvia.


So far, the Frieds and Gillets have spent about $50,000 in legal fees. And it's not over yet. Justice Doris Ling-Cohan of the State Supreme Court in Manhattan dismissed most of Remis' claims, including his claim for infliction of emotional distress, but has allowed the case to continue. At a hearing on Thursday, a court date was set to meet with the judge in December to discuss a settlement. "A settlement is not something that sits well with us, but we have to obey the judge's orders," says Fried.

Are we wondering, why this guy is divorced?  I think maybe I should bring back all the attendees of my wedding for the sake of a "reshoot".  This time I would change the fashions that were popular in 1971.


Last and Certainly the Least important story of the week is Lindsay Lohan's newest "exploits".


Lass With Class or Crude Nude?

If mom, Dina, says nude pics are tasteful, it must be so.  I am sure
we all could trust her perception of what is "in good taste".

Whether you like it or not, Lindsay Lohan really is shedding her clothes for an upcoming issue of Playboy.

Lohan's media-loving mom, Dina, talked to The Insider about her daughter's racy shoot, and clarified that no, she won't be baring all and going fully nude in the pages of Hugh Hefner's magazine.

"It will be tastefully done," Dina says of the shoot, adding that both Lindsay and Hefner will decide if a scandalous photo of her will grace either the magazine's December or January cover.

Lindsay, who appeared in court Wednesday for violating her probation, is facing a 30-day jail sentence -- which could ultimately be bumped up to 300 days -- as well as mandatory community service.

According to E!, Lindsay was given until Nov. 9 to report to jail in order to fulfill her $1 million Playboy contract. The actress completed a photo shoot last week, but apparently Hefner was not pleased with the results. A new photographer has been hired and Lindsay is set to try again this week.


This can't be good. Hef isn't liking the nudy pics?  If he doesn't get the money shot soon,  he might have to do the photo session in her cell.


The Good for the Day.... Some of the very best things I see on Facebook come from 5 or 6 people.  Stan is one of those people.  Thought this was cute.

The Bad for the Day....A California inventor claims to have developed a laser technology to change brown eyes into blue. 

Gregg Homer, founder of Stroma Medical in Laguna Beach, Calif., told the Daily News he’s already tested the irreversible cosmetic treatment on about 12 volunteers in Mexico, safely removing small patches of brown pigment from at least one eye in each subject. He is hoping to get FDA approval and have the procedure available in the US in about three years for around $5000.00

The Weird for the Day- I was reading a list of 10 things to help you if you want to raise a "geeky" kid.

(and why would we want to do this?)  Still here a couple of things to help you to that end if you are so inclined.



web design for babies???? Really???




a geeked-out stroller



Weapon of Mass Instruction

Two Thoughts for Tuesday




Thought #1

I am thinking that the most powerful weapon on the planet...no more than that really....the UNIVERSE is the power of the media.   It seems that within minutes of anything happening the media is all over it.  AND not necessarily in a good way.   News programs have wafted into editorial programs.  What might otherwise just be a report of an event turns into inferences of who is right and who is wrong, who might be responsible and who might be the victim or hero as the case may be.

Recently, I was taking a personality assessment test (related to work) that asked the question "Do you consider that most people can be easily led and tend to follow the pack?"  I customarily would scream out "Hell, yes, no doubt about it.... but that particular answer wasn't among my choices.  I picked a answer in the middle as I am a coward and don't want to come across as a total cynic (even though that should be apparent to anyone that has ever talked to me). Are any of us so naive that we would think that the majority of us are truly independent thinkers? 

Take for example, the media coverage of the missing baby in Kansas City, Lisa Irwin.  Now, I haven't got a clue as to what happened to the little girl  but nor will I understand the bizarre twists that seem to be revealed daily that are linked to this tragic event.  No sooner was the Amber Alert issued, then  quickly removed that stories started coming out about problems between the police and the baby's parents.  Within a day or two of the story breaking, a local man was on the news saying he had volunteered to join in a search group for the little girl but there wasn't one to join.  The reason there weren't search parties was due to the fact that on the  preceding night the local news venues were saying that the parents were being uncooperative.   A day later when the news programs reported that the parents were again talking to the police, the search was back on.  It appears that the public interest/involvement peaks and ebbs according to the positivity or negativity of the reports involving the parents.


My point is that an inaccurate or biased slant on a story can turn the direction on how the public perceives, reacts and judges any and all events.  A news story can quickly turn someone into a villain or a hero. They can be made into someone being idolized or despised. 

.


Thought #2

Aren't I glad that my life isn't subject to constant media reporting.  I would hate to think that every misstep I ever took was broadcasted on the nightly news.   That would be especially true if the story was reported from a biased point of view.  Still, it would be lovely if I was the equivalent of "one of Ophrah's favorite things" or one of Kate Middleton-Windsor's outfits where everyone just wanted to love all that is Cheryl P.


Alas, my life is fairly small...no big media blitzes to hype my products, my style or my philosophies.  I don't have hoards of people trying to emulate my every move nor do I have any really big salacious stories that would make front page news in the gossip rags....my dirty laundry  is really

What are your thoughts?  Is the media setting the tone for the positive outcome or the derailment of any given event?????   If you were the subject of a media blitz, do you think you would come across as the hero or the villain?  Would you be the beloved celebrity or would you come across as the "not to be trusted"?




The Good for the day...That we have access to the news that is important.

The Bad for the Day....the hype and media that makes vapid celebrities famous.

The Weird for the Day....The media circus that creates the interest in million dollar weddings that lead to marriages that last 72 days. That, my blogees, could be a whole other discussion.