Stooge Spam

People of sendoutmail, listen to me: I DON'T WANT A THREE STOOGES TALKING WALL CLOCK! Quit sending me the stupid spam already.

::pant pant:: Thank you.

Reiner's Time-Travelling Studio Audience

When I was little, I watched "All in the Family". I still do watch it, and it's stood the test of time. Anyway, as a child, I didn't understand "before" could also mean "in front of". So, when Rob Reiner would say "All in the Family was filmed before a live studio audience", it confused the heck out of me! I only knew "before" in the chronological sense, so it blew me away to think they could film the show before the audience even got there -- and you still heard them laughing. My thinking has always been strange; it's just easier to disguise it as odd wit now. ;)

Strike another tickmark down for Joanie, for she clued me in to I Used To Believe, a site that's chock full of such youthful malapropisms and misunderstandings. And, of course, when I first saw the title, clueless about its content, I thought it to be a site explaining why its author no longer believes in God. I like this a lot better.

This-or-That for November 19

The Passionate Ailurophile's posted Tuesday's questions...

1. Long or short hair?
Mine comes mid-way down my back and is all one length, so I'd say long. Long and untangled would be better, but hey.

2. Microwave or conventional oven?
For reheating most stuff, a microwave's great. For truly crusty and fluffy baked potatoes, though, you've gotta use a conventional oven. There's no comparison.

3. Plain or Peanut M and M's? (Can't use the and sign with Blogger. Stupid, ain't it?)
Plain. More chocolate per pound. ;)

4. "101 Dalmations"...animated or live-action version?
Animated, all the way!


5. Drink out of bottle/can or pour into a glass?
It depends on what it is. I'm fine drinking almost anything out of a bottle or can, but I think beer tastes better when in a glass.

6. Sunlight or moonlight?
Especially now that our days are shorter, give me sunlight!

7. Kermit the Frog or Miss Piggy?
Kermie Baby.

8. Glasses or contact lenses (or neither)?
Glasses.

9. Action movies or chick flicks?
Both! Why choose? If I have to choose, probably chick flicks because the character development is usually better. Good thing my DH likes both genres, huh?

10. Toilet seat...up or down?
DOWN! And I am fortunate to be married to a guy who never leaves it up. Oh that visitors would take the hint!

Pin-Up Gal

Okay, Joanie, I'm the Playful Retro Gal. Does this come as any great surprise, DH? ;)


What Type Of Retro Gal Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Monday Mission 2.46

Since Promoguy has questions up, I don't have to write another song parody like I did on Friday...Lucky you! Here's this week's questions:

1.Promoguy says, "When I was a teenager, I used to ride all the "spin-y" rides at the fair and fun parks. I'd never get dizzy or sick, and I could ride them all day. My favorite was the Tilt-A-Whirl. Now I should call it the "Tilt-A-Hurl" because it seems I can't even get on a Merry-Go-Round without feeling queasy." Is there anything you used to be able to do physically that you no longer can? What changed?
I used to be able to read in a moving vehicle for hours. Now, it makes me queasy, especially if there are hills involved, or other vehicles passing us. It's a bummer, because I love to read and I'm usually the passenger when Howie and I go anywhere. What changed? Probably too many years of sinus infections; there's some truly frightening stuff up in my head to this day, LOL.

2. If you could go to lunch with someone famous, anyone living or dead, who would you choose? What questions would you ask them?
I think Jay Leno would be a lot of fun. I'm not sure what I'd ask him, other than to tell more of his stories. I'm not feeling very inspired today, sorry!

3. On that same thought, there are probably several Bloggers you enjoy reading but have never met in real life. Which one Blogger would you most like to meet for dinner? Why did you pick that person? What would you talk about? What do you have in common? What would you do after dinner?
Oh, I think Busgirlie is the person I first want to meet. I picked her because her blog is the one I've read the longest and I know a little more about her (still have some catching up to do, though!). I think we'd laugh ourselves silly and stay up late telling stories many would find repugnant - but we'd also be able to connect about depression and have a good cry.

4. Money (or the lack thereof) is the number one cause of arguments amongst couples. Do you find this to be true? If there really was a "Money Tree" you could go an pick, would this really solve a couple's problems?
Oh, I know it's a huge source of conflict amongst couples! My DH and I subscribe to the "one pot" theory, and we've always just kept a joint checking account together. For a long time, I made more than him. Now he makes more than me (I'm a homemaker, so that doesn't take much, LOL). Either way, having the money be both of ours has been a good thing. There's no "his stuff" and "my stuff" going on. I don't think having a money tree would solve anything about money arguments, because the selfishness and insecurity that drives such conflicts would remain.

5. Speaking of arguments, have you ever been drawn into any nasty, hateful arguments? The kind where hurtful things were said that had nothing to do with the fight at hand? What was that all about? How did it turn out?
Of course I have. They're the pits, nomatter how you look at them. The pleasure of zinging a person is temporary, and then you're left doing clean-up and regretting the words that so easily flew from your mouth in anger.

6. When was the last time you had to admit you were wrong about something? How did that go?
You mean the last time today, or what? I'm frequently admitting I'm wrong. I often get worked into a huff with my mom. The gap between my ideal of how I want to be and the reality of how I sometimes am to those I love is a wide one. I'm wrong a lot of the time -- who isn't? I don't have a problem in admitting it - I'm human, just like everyone else.

7. Now for a slight change of theme....what song should never have been written?
Hmmmmm, probably the theme to "Three's Company". Because if it never was written, that might mean the show never would have aired. I see the reruns while flipping through the channels and I can't believe I loved that show when I was a kid.

BONUS: Are you ready for a new sensation?
Yep, and I'm about ready to experience one. We're heading down south on Friday and I get to experience cajun-induced indigestion. Up to this point, I've only experienced midwestern-indigestion!

eBay's Lunatic Fringe

We're getting down to crunch time with our vacation; our flight leaves in six days! We're once again on the lookout for a nice 5' tall walking staff for Howie, and while crusing eBay we saw this stick while perusing the listings. Is it just me, or is that really strange and gross? I wonder if it howls with every step. Speaking of weird auctions, Disturbing Auctions is worth looking at if you fancy seeing what some of the lunatic fringe has offered up for sale on eBay. I would hope that nothing we list would ever come close to qualifying for inclusion at that site!

The Day The FridayFive Died...

We were singin'
Bye, bye good ol' Friday Five
The questions get so stressful
It's no wonder you hide
That crazy Busgirlie must be bursting inside
She's found a way for us to get by...
She's gone and let her own questions fly...

If you're brave, download the song. ;)

1. Love. describe it.
Well, it's more than a feeling, for feelings are fickle. It can be all warm and fuzzy and wonderful, but it can also take you right out of your comfort zone and put you at risk. But it's worth it.

2. What is the one thing you would fight for... or even give up your life for?
In the real crunchtime? My family. In honesty, I have a ways to go before I can say I would give up my life for my faith; I couldn't do that in the flesh, that's for sure, but I think with God's strength I could do what needed to be done.

3. Describe heaven.
Indescribably beautiful. I think all the metaphors we hear of Heaven being paved with gold and stuff are just ways God gave us to visualize. I think our human minds are not capable of imagining what it will be like, so God has given us pictures. The Bible says there's no sickness or death there. That's awesome to consider.

4. Be honest... does anyone really really know you?
No one on earth knows me better than my husband. And I know God knows me even better than that. And I know they both love me, though my husband's love is easier to fathom most of the time because he's tangible and I can clearly hear him when he speaks to me.

5. If someone did, or does- what do you think they might love the best about you?
My husband would probably say he loves that life is never boring with me around. ;)

Silliness O' the Day

I have no Friday Five today, *sniffle*. But I do have a funny link for you to see. Lisa, this one's especially for you. Be sure you have your sound on, just not too loud. If you don't have the MacroMedia Flash player, get it for free.

Whatever Happened To Baby Mike?

I was blown away when I saw the latest pictures of Michael Jackson this evening. What on EARTH would make someone do this to himself? His personality just got more and more weird as his outer appearance did, too. How could it not? There's a chronicle of his facelifts and cosmetic alterations at Anomalies Unlimited. Just be forewarned: The writing is wickedly funny, so don't accidently blow pop out your natural, wonderful, unmodified nose. Let's be careful out there.

Basement Blues

Preface: I don't know how one can go into politics without becoming a politician; likewise, I don't know how one can go into sales without becoming a salesman. I guess I can't fault the guy for being a salesman - it's like the old "you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy" thing. I'm just full of useful analogies today, aren't I?

This leads me to our appointment with the salesman today. Things got a little bit emotional for the first twenty minutes or so the salesman was here, and I must admit I did ambush him with a bad attitude to begin with. I'd been stewing over this for a whole day, corresponding with the ex-employee, doing more research, learning about alternative methods. In the meantime, he had no clue that I felt this way, and never saw this coming. He got defensive, I got defensive, and it was ugly for a while. The facts don't shine through much when everyone's upset and each has his or her own agenda. (This is why I hate political discussions, LOL).

But then, mercifully, we calmed down and all talked. We pretty much hit a dead end when we tried to get a yet lower price, though he did agree to take off an additional $200 for an online coupon I'd found online yesterday, something they normally only apply to an undiscounted price (who knows...). In all, we're paying over $2000 less than what he originally quoted us.

He took time to straight-out explain the stand-by thing and it did make sense when he laid out the scenario. Customers who want to pick the date the crew starts will pay the premium price, while those who agree to be flexible to within a 24-hour notice time period will get a break on the price. He said the majority of their customers are 2-income professionals who want to know a definite timeframe because they must arrange for someone to be home while the work's being done, so it's a financial incentive when a customer's willing to be flexible. From a business standpoint that does make sense. Having jobs available at short notice keeps their crews busy, plus those customers can get the work done more quickly than they might otherwise, and they save some money.

As for the work itself, the other company we'd considered was B Dry, but they do not guarantee against dampness on the walls, only that there will be no water seepage. They basically drill holes at the base of your basement walls and channel that water into a drain around the perimeter of the basement. The drain is not even cemented over, from what I've been reading. What good would that do us, considering we're finishing the walls? EverDry, however, does guarantee we will not have dampness on the walls.

The EverDry salesman said that EverDry does charge a premium price, but they also guarantee against a lot more. He said EverDry could do the same job B Dry proposes, and beat their price, but it would not solve our problem. And after all the reading I did yesterday (my eyes are still uncrossing), I can see this.

They'll come out and install the EZ-Breathe ventilation system, included in this package, next week (after our 3-day back-out period is over) and get it to work on pulling mold spores, moisture, etc. out of the basement and house, and then we'll be on stand-by following our return from Louisiana. I'll be posting updates, of course! It's like I told him, if I am happy with the work and the results, I will spread the word. I'm not one to only say something when things go wrong; I believe good work should also be recognized and rewarded.

EverPressured by EverDry

My mother-in-law will be moving in with us this coming summer. This is a great thing. She's a sweetheart and I'm really looking forward to having her here. Our basement already has a shower and commode in one corner and a semi-finished rec room with a fireplace, so we're finishing those areas and converting our garage into another room. She'll have a kitchenette of her own and a private bath - what more can you ask for?

Our problem: moisture and black mold in the basement. Before we can do any finishing work, we must remedy those issues. We've done our homework and have pretty much decided on a contractor to do the work. Ouch, what a pricetag. But we're talking health issues here, and we're talking getting it done right the first time so our finished basement rooms don't have to be ripped out to fix a problem down the line.

What I'm writing about isn't so much all of that, but my general disgust at sales tactics by EverDry (aka Ohio State Waterproofing). Since talking to this contractor's salesperson (who, of course said "I'm not a salesperson. I'm a manager with the company and I'm in town doing scheduling work" blah, blah, blah), I've done my homework online, and I've learned how just about everything the guy said to us is his company's standard line. We were given a schpiel about "downtime" and how we can save money on the job if we're willing to be on standby for a crew to come in and work with 24 hours notice. Of course, he cautioned that he only had TWO slots to fill for such customers in our area, and he needed to know in 24-48 hours.

This guy was a good salesman, I'll give him that. He drew little pictures and explained the problem (as they see it) and the steps to solving it. He had pictures. He had statistics. He had hundreds of satisfied customers names and addresses. (We knew one of them - saw her name when he wasn't looking - and called her later.)

I have to tell you, though, I hate pressure tactics and I abhor scare tactics. And that is the standard MO of EverDry. Throughout our cozy livingroom appointment, he kept using the phrase "want me to scare the hell out of you?" and then would proceed to tell us statistics about black mold, sinus infections, etc. He also said that his company had inside information that the government would, in seven months, release data of a study showing that our internal body temperature is the perfect temperature for mold spores to grow, inside our lungs. Jeez!!

I did some deep digging online and found a former employee of the company. He and I have been corresponding, and he's given us much enlightenment. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at just how much of this salesman's words were company lines, but I was. And I felt like we were lied to, manipulated. It made me feel gullible and used, frankly.

The thing is, I've also found through research that the package they offer, this multi-step system, does look like a thorough solution, even if it might be overkill. DH doesn't want to spend a few grand on redoing gutters and grading alone, only to find that the moisture problems persist. I can see that. Better to get it all done, and to have a guarantee. One thing this ex-employee told me is they are good to their customers after the sale.

Blargh. This is so stressful!

Sitting Pretty

Emma has this thing about sitting on things. It's not enough to sit on the chair next to Sarah; she wants to sit on Sarah. Same thing with the footstool or anything else handy. She's so bony and leggy, it's no wonder she wants more cushion. Being amply-cushioned myself, I can only imagine...But that must be it, right?

Sarah was grumbling, by the way. ;)

Tuesday's This-or-That...

Thanks to the Passionate Ailurophile, I now am inspired on Tuesdays. :)

1. Hershey's Kisses: with or without almonds?
Just straight chocolate, thanks. I'll eat whichever kind, though, if given the chance. Chocolate is Heaven-Kiss't.

2. Wizard of Oz: Scarecrow or Tin Man?
Scarecrow's a loveable sort, but his innate floppiness gets on the nerves. I'd have to vote for Tinman. Although Scarecrow is much lower maintenance, could double as winter mulch for a rosebush, and would be a comfy place to rest (ask Dorothy!). Oh, and Tinman is heartless, at least most of the time. Perhaps Scarecrow would be better. This is a trick question, one obviously not thought up by the brainless Scarecrow. Oh, the torment!

3. Meat eater or vegetarian?
Meatsa! Meatsa!

4. Buy books or borrow them?
It really depends on the book. Most novels I just borrow unless it's an author I know already, then I buy paperbacks used or deeply discounted retail. Art, humor, photography, gardening and other more research or coffee-table type books, however, I will buy because I like having them around.

5. At the bank: ATM or human teller?
Usually ATM, unless I am depositing money; I like seeing a face and getting a hand-stamped receipt in that case.

6. Oil or gas (or other) heat?
Gas heat is warm heat. ;) Seriously, it's nice.

7. Pen or pencil?
Lovely smooth-writing, non-fading, non-smudging, archival gel pen!

8. Drive or use public transit?
Public transit? What's that? I'd have to drive my car into the city in order to enjoy public transit, but by that time, what's the point?

9. Who IS James Bond: Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan (or any of the others in between)?
Oh, Sean. Always. Schmashing chap, that Sean.

10. Your ideal breakfast: full (bacon/sausage, eggs, pancakes, etc) or continental (bagels, muffins, fruit, cereal)?
Full. *burp* Preferably the Sunshine Skillet or Pot Roast Hash at Bob Evans, served with a steaming cup of black coffee, buttery biscuits, mind you, not toast or rolls. Aaaaaaaaah.

Sweet Chevy

I've been working on an eBay listing for one of Howie's co-workers this week. I liked how the photos came out, so I thought I'd put together a gallery for my site. Man, it was so fun photographing this car last weekend. The cars from the 1930's and 1940's are so fluid and fun, especially when you can see stuff reflected in their paint. I'd love to hae a classic car some day; we could afford a newer classic car, but I'd be concerned about upkeep and finding parts for it at a good price. In the meantime, I can just look at these shots, lurk around eBay Motors and dream. Presenting...JT's 1941 2-Door Chevy Sedan. Droool.

Popeye Arm

For those of you who've been wondering how my brother-in-law Steve is doing, I've updated the webpage about him. Again, I strongly caution you if you have a weak stomach for nasty medical pictures. His arm was crushed in a machine accident at work on August 19, and I took pictures for him at the beginning of September and posted them. At the bottom of that page there's an update, along with pictures just taken last night. Like I said, don't go there if you're squeamish.

For those of you who'd rather skip the images, let me just say that prayer and talented doctors can work miracles. He's doing great! Here's the text from the website:

Steve's arm looks so much better now! He had the hardware removed some time ago and had a skin graft done. They took the skin from his upper arm (the very pink skin you see is new growth at the site where they removed the top layer of skin for the graft).

He said the place they removed the skin from hurt worse than his whole arm hurt, ever. Can you imagine? You know how it hurts when you get a bad abrasion - ouch! As you can see, though, things are healing up really well. There's still a lot of swelling (we jokingly call it his Popeye arm), but he continues to regain use of his arm and fingers.

The scar tissue at his elbow limits his movement, so he'll have to endure a few more surgeries as they remove/modify scar tissue to allow more movement for his arm.

Like Sands Through the Hourglass...

Actually, it's Sand in the Gears I'm reading lately. This is some good stuff! From politics to his four-year-old's epiphany and resultant curiosity about breastfeeding, he kept me reading - and thinking.

P.S. Waaay on the other end of the breastfeeding spectrum is this.Yipes!

Tear-Stained Chicken Feet

Jan lost it again on Survivor Thailand. It wasn't a bat this time, but a chicken. Its pieces-parts are now snugly nestled in beneath the sand next to young Oliver the Bat's wee grave. With Helen spouting off recipes like she does, I'm surprised she didn't come up with one for chicken feet. I've a friend in South Carolina who swears by them (crispy!). And I know some Cajuns down the Louisiana way who definitely would know how to make good use of them, though it'd be a lot of work for just two bites. That's why we've told our friends not to divulge the ingredients in our meals until after we've consumed them, LOL. Anyway, I think the Survivors are a little too well-fed if they don't consider the feet as something marginally edible. Shii Ann would have eaten them. ;)

Vikki's Friday Five

Vikki's home-grown, very own Friday Muses. Now these are questions I feel comfortable answering. Whew!

1. If this planet wasn't named Earth, what would you name it?
The Planet Formerly Known As Earth or maybe Earth...NOT!

2. Does 'black' go with everything?
It goes with everything except dog and cat hair.

3. What one food/drink gets your bowels moving the fastest?
Tomatoes. Lookout, people, lemme through!

4. Out of all of the hardwoods, which makes the best wood for building mountain dulcimers?
I prefer a softwood. That makes my dulcimer far more portable, as I can fold it neatly into a square for packing.

5. Do you sprinkle Parmesian cheese on your pasta?
If at a restaurant, yes. At the Olive Garden I tell 'em to be generous with that grater, baby! If at home, no. I mix it into my sauce while cooking it.

Wow. That didn't hurt at all!

Dare I say again...Friday five time

Friday Five, and I've not much to add.

1. Did you vote in your last elections?
Yep. Braved the cold and the rain and did it.

2. Do you know who your elected representatives are?
Mostly.

3. Have you ever contacted an elected representative? If so, what was it about?
Nope.

4. Have you ever participated in a demonstration?
Nope.

5. Have you ever volunteered in an election? What was the result?
Nope.

Gee, do you notice a trend here? I'm one of the marginally-apathetic masses. I do study up on issues and vote my conscience, but I don't rally, march or argue.

Real Guts

Jacqueline Saburido has a lot more intestinal fortitude than those who are afraid of looking like wusses if they don't grab their keys, stagger to their cars and drive their sorry asses home. I think this speaks for itself, but I'll still say it: Yo - Don't drink and drive, ever. This could be one of the folks in the car you plow into because your reflexes are just a little too slow. It could be your wife, or your husband. It could be your mother. It could be your child. Or you know what else? This could be you.

God bless you, Jacqui, and thank you. You are a woman of exceptional courage and I wish all the best to you.