Posts
Monday, January 31, 2005
Another Lost Generation???
It's about time they took note: "Fearing Future, China Starts to Give Girls Their Due"
Phone Redux
After my little rant the other day about phones, I see that there are still rural areas of the U.S. that do not have any phone service whatsoever. The town of Mink, LA, just got regular phone access.
Phones aren't all bad. After all, as mentioned in the article, it can take emergency personnel a long time to get to a place without the proper access.
However, I still wonder how we ever managed without phones. Just this past weekend, I saw two Wal-Martians on their cellphones. One man was talking loudly in Spanish; another woman was trying to select meat while holding her cellphone with her shoulder. At least she was quiet.
Now SBC is buying AT&T. Sounds like a new monopoly could be forming.
Phones aren't all bad. After all, as mentioned in the article, it can take emergency personnel a long time to get to a place without the proper access.
However, I still wonder how we ever managed without phones. Just this past weekend, I saw two Wal-Martians on their cellphones. One man was talking loudly in Spanish; another woman was trying to select meat while holding her cellphone with her shoulder. At least she was quiet.
Now SBC is buying AT&T. Sounds like a new monopoly could be forming.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Where were you?
Another morbid anniversary has come around again. Where were you when the space shuttle Challenger exploded?
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Remembering the Holocaust--Never Again
60 years ago today, Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Army.
A week of events were planned by the U.N. Tom Carter has some interesting thoughts on the Holocaust. Here's what the current administration of Germany had to say on Tuesday.
And if you want to know what it was like to be a victim, read this report from Nizkor.org.
A week of events were planned by the U.N. Tom Carter has some interesting thoughts on the Holocaust. Here's what the current administration of Germany had to say on Tuesday.
And if you want to know what it was like to be a victim, read this report from Nizkor.org.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
The Phone
While surfing blogclicker today, I came across this entry from Anita at Fighting Inertia. As soon as I posted a comment, I knew I had a lot more to say on this subject. She writes about her most annoying pet peeve, call waiting, calling it "man's worst invention."
In college, I shared a suite with three other roommates. One of my roommates decided that she needed call waiting, so she offered to pay for it. I agreed, with the stipulation that I wasn't going to ever pay for it, and when someone was on the phone with me, there was no guarantee that I would be bothered to answer the call waiting. She said okay, but would I please just take a message if someone did call. Most of the time, I ignored the call waiting. Everyone I called or who called me was calling long distance, so I felt justified in ignoring it. I consider it quite rude to call someone and be left hanging while they go answer someone else, especially on my nickel.
Most people I call do not have call waiting because it is an extra expense on the phone bill, and they think it's rude. My sister has it, but if I call her and she gets another call, she is always quick to get back to me. I have told her I think call waiting is rude, so she knows how I feel about it.
Perhaps I'm a technophobe. I do not like the phone anymore. I used to like it, when I was a teenager and talking to my significant other all the time. Anyone else I wanted to call back then was long-distance, so I rarely just chatted to my friends. In my house growing up, phones were used for a purpose, not for idle chatter.
Now, I do not like to be disturbed. Phone conversations have a way of making time pass too quickly. Once a year, my Aussie pen pal calls me and we talk, way too long. I make an exception for her since she lives out of the country. :) When I talk to my friends or family members, I find that I often have nothing to talk about. My days pass in a similar manner, so there is no news to report.
I have a dial-up internet connection, and the telemarketing calls have gone way down since I used to spend so much time online in the evenings. My family knew that to get ahold of me that they'd have to call before 7pm, the time I used to get online. I would get rid of my phone altogether, but I need it for dial-up internet access.
I have a cellphone, but I keep it turned off and I don't give out the number. I don't even have the number memorized. I keep it for emergencies, using it if I need to call DH for some reason while I'm at work or whatever.
And that brings me to my pet peeve about phones: no one is that damn important. I cannot tell you how many times I've been in a movie theatre and some asshole forgets to turn off their phone. During "Troy," a stupid woman's phone went off and she fumbled for a good five minutes trying to find the phone in her purse and turn it off. I was pissed! I paid $7 to see that movie undisturbed and there are always idiots who spoil my enjoyment. During "Elektra," a stupid man's phone went off, playing Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" as a ringtone. Now that was UTTERLY RIDICULOUS, considering the movie was at a very solemn part. I wanted to bash his skull in.
Repeat after me: YOU ARE NOT THAT DAMN IMPORTANT. In fact, you are an insignificant slug who thinks that having a cellphone turned on all the time makes you cool or powerful. It just makes you look like an idiot--like you are so pathetic that you have to be reachable at all hours for other inane chattering morons.
Once I was in Wal-Mart, and a stupid woman's cellphone went off while she was looking at shampoo. She started conversing at the top of her lungs about where she was at and what she was looking at. I wanted to bash her skull in. Instead, I just laughed at her sheepleness and went about my business.
Idiots talking on cellphones while driving deserve to be removed from the gene pool.
Idiots who give their kids cellphones are just stupid. Make them work for it, and then police what they do with them.
Picture-taking cellphones are stupid.
Text-messaging is a stupid waste of money.
NO ONE IS THAT DAMN IMPORTANT.
In college, I shared a suite with three other roommates. One of my roommates decided that she needed call waiting, so she offered to pay for it. I agreed, with the stipulation that I wasn't going to ever pay for it, and when someone was on the phone with me, there was no guarantee that I would be bothered to answer the call waiting. She said okay, but would I please just take a message if someone did call. Most of the time, I ignored the call waiting. Everyone I called or who called me was calling long distance, so I felt justified in ignoring it. I consider it quite rude to call someone and be left hanging while they go answer someone else, especially on my nickel.
Most people I call do not have call waiting because it is an extra expense on the phone bill, and they think it's rude. My sister has it, but if I call her and she gets another call, she is always quick to get back to me. I have told her I think call waiting is rude, so she knows how I feel about it.
Perhaps I'm a technophobe. I do not like the phone anymore. I used to like it, when I was a teenager and talking to my significant other all the time. Anyone else I wanted to call back then was long-distance, so I rarely just chatted to my friends. In my house growing up, phones were used for a purpose, not for idle chatter.
Now, I do not like to be disturbed. Phone conversations have a way of making time pass too quickly. Once a year, my Aussie pen pal calls me and we talk, way too long. I make an exception for her since she lives out of the country. :) When I talk to my friends or family members, I find that I often have nothing to talk about. My days pass in a similar manner, so there is no news to report.
I have a dial-up internet connection, and the telemarketing calls have gone way down since I used to spend so much time online in the evenings. My family knew that to get ahold of me that they'd have to call before 7pm, the time I used to get online. I would get rid of my phone altogether, but I need it for dial-up internet access.
I have a cellphone, but I keep it turned off and I don't give out the number. I don't even have the number memorized. I keep it for emergencies, using it if I need to call DH for some reason while I'm at work or whatever.
And that brings me to my pet peeve about phones: no one is that damn important. I cannot tell you how many times I've been in a movie theatre and some asshole forgets to turn off their phone. During "Troy," a stupid woman's phone went off and she fumbled for a good five minutes trying to find the phone in her purse and turn it off. I was pissed! I paid $7 to see that movie undisturbed and there are always idiots who spoil my enjoyment. During "Elektra," a stupid man's phone went off, playing Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" as a ringtone. Now that was UTTERLY RIDICULOUS, considering the movie was at a very solemn part. I wanted to bash his skull in.
Repeat after me: YOU ARE NOT THAT DAMN IMPORTANT. In fact, you are an insignificant slug who thinks that having a cellphone turned on all the time makes you cool or powerful. It just makes you look like an idiot--like you are so pathetic that you have to be reachable at all hours for other inane chattering morons.
Once I was in Wal-Mart, and a stupid woman's cellphone went off while she was looking at shampoo. She started conversing at the top of her lungs about where she was at and what she was looking at. I wanted to bash her skull in. Instead, I just laughed at her sheepleness and went about my business.
Idiots talking on cellphones while driving deserve to be removed from the gene pool.
Idiots who give their kids cellphones are just stupid. Make them work for it, and then police what they do with them.
Picture-taking cellphones are stupid.
Text-messaging is a stupid waste of money.
NO ONE IS THAT DAMN IMPORTANT.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Yahoo baby
A couple of weeks ago, a Romanian couple supposedly named their newborn baby Yahoo, after the famous internet search engine. Turns out it was a hoax, written by the reporter who wanted to "look good."
Um, yeah. He's looking real good now.
Um, yeah. He's looking real good now.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Ugh
So, today, DH warmed up my car for me and I got in, thinking all was well.
The stupid thing would not go in reverse. I stomped the gas pedal and it was like nothing was happening. I proceeded to freak out. I was envisioning zillions of dollars in fixing whatever was wrong.
DH reassured me that he would handle whatever the problem was, and to drive his truck to work. I did, but the whole time, I was worried about my car and how DH would get to work and take DD to school. You know how the mind works at times like that.
When I got to work, I checked my email, and DH had sent me a message. He had missed reconnecting the throttle or something. So now all is well.
--For now.
Why is it that whenever I think we're going to have a few extra dollars that something happens to eat up that money????
I hate being a grown-up.
The stupid thing would not go in reverse. I stomped the gas pedal and it was like nothing was happening. I proceeded to freak out. I was envisioning zillions of dollars in fixing whatever was wrong.
DH reassured me that he would handle whatever the problem was, and to drive his truck to work. I did, but the whole time, I was worried about my car and how DH would get to work and take DD to school. You know how the mind works at times like that.
When I got to work, I checked my email, and DH had sent me a message. He had missed reconnecting the throttle or something. So now all is well.
--For now.
Why is it that whenever I think we're going to have a few extra dollars that something happens to eat up that money????
I hate being a grown-up.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Battery Redux
So, today, DH and FIL went to Autozone and got a rebuilt alternator for my car. It was definitely the problem. DH said the people at AZ hooked it up to their equipment and it was completely fried. It's not surprising. The car has 161,000 miles on it!
DH also checked the oil and the other fluids, refilling as necessary. So hopefully, everything will be okay tomorrow when I drive to work.
I spent 13 hours working on my cross-stitch project yesterday. Ouch. My hand hurts. Today, I spent 8 hours on it, while we watched football. It's looking good, but I still have a lot to do.
DH also checked the oil and the other fluids, refilling as necessary. So hopefully, everything will be okay tomorrow when I drive to work.
I spent 13 hours working on my cross-stitch project yesterday. Ouch. My hand hurts. Today, I spent 8 hours on it, while we watched football. It's looking good, but I still have a lot to do.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Snowstorm
Today, I woke up to whiteout conditions. We didn't get that much snow, but it was blowing. I decided to stay home. I called my friend to tell her to stay home. I was going to meet her and another friend after I got off work, but the roads were bad, and the wind gusts were terrible.
Good thing, too. DH went out to start my car and it was dead again. A brand-new battery had drained overnight. Since the weather was so awful, we decided not to worry about it. DH called his dad, who figured it was a bad alternator. If the weather is nice on Sunday, they'll get a new one and fix it then.
I plan to spend all day working on my cross-stitch project I'm making for my sister.
Good thing, too. DH went out to start my car and it was dead again. A brand-new battery had drained overnight. Since the weather was so awful, we decided not to worry about it. DH called his dad, who figured it was a bad alternator. If the weather is nice on Sunday, they'll get a new one and fix it then.
I plan to spend all day working on my cross-stitch project I'm making for my sister.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Car Trouble
Woke up to a dead car battery this morning. I was afraid it was going to be dead. Last night as I was driving home, I noticed the needle fluctuating in the gauge. At least DH got up early to start my car, since it was cold, and was able to jumpstart the battery. I drove to work just fine.
UPDATE: At noon, I went out to start the car, to see if the battery lost power, and it was dead again. I called DH and he is going to take care of it for me.
UPDATE: DH replaced the battery and I drove home okay, but the gauge was still fluctuating. Something is definitely wrong.
Sigh.
UPDATE: At noon, I went out to start the car, to see if the battery lost power, and it was dead again. I called DH and he is going to take care of it for me.
UPDATE: DH replaced the battery and I drove home okay, but the gauge was still fluctuating. Something is definitely wrong.
Sigh.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
"You're Right About That"
Last night, I was watching a program on the WisdomTV channel, featuring a lecture by Dr. Wayne Dyer. In it, he said that the ego is what drives us to worry all the time and that we must quiet our mind to receive the wisdom we need. He said that whenever we get angry or annoyed, we should think or say "You're right about that," and then move on to the next thought.
Several years ago, a coworker told me how she had spent a long time in her teens in a clinical depression. I asked her how she managed to get out of it, if she ever did. Was it drugs or therapy? She said it was none of that. She was able to bring herself out of it by choosing to think a different way. (I know that doesn't work for everyone.) She also mentioned Dyer to me, and I checked out some of his books on audiotape from the library. I found him to be very motivational and encouraging.
Alas, this coworker passed away in 2001 at the age of 31 and I filed away her advice in the back of my brain. It's funny what we learn from people sometimes. I wish I could have known her better. But anyway, seeing the tv show last night reminded me of her and of how I felt after I had listened to those tapes. Remembering how she had fought a battle with Hodgkins Disease in her early adulthood and how she still lived a full life made me feel silly because my worries pale in comparison. (I would say I brood too much on the past, rather than worry per se.)
"No one can depress you. No one can make you anxious. No one can hurt your feelings. No one can make you anything other than what you allow inside." --Dr. Wayne Dyer
You're right about that.
Several years ago, a coworker told me how she had spent a long time in her teens in a clinical depression. I asked her how she managed to get out of it, if she ever did. Was it drugs or therapy? She said it was none of that. She was able to bring herself out of it by choosing to think a different way. (I know that doesn't work for everyone.) She also mentioned Dyer to me, and I checked out some of his books on audiotape from the library. I found him to be very motivational and encouraging.
Alas, this coworker passed away in 2001 at the age of 31 and I filed away her advice in the back of my brain. It's funny what we learn from people sometimes. I wish I could have known her better. But anyway, seeing the tv show last night reminded me of her and of how I felt after I had listened to those tapes. Remembering how she had fought a battle with Hodgkins Disease in her early adulthood and how she still lived a full life made me feel silly because my worries pale in comparison. (I would say I brood too much on the past, rather than worry per se.)
"No one can depress you. No one can make you anxious. No one can hurt your feelings. No one can make you anything other than what you allow inside." --Dr. Wayne Dyer
You're right about that.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Immaculate Delivery
Five years ago today, I was preparing to give birth to my daughter. You can read about the delivery here. Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. When she was born, I could hardly think what she would be like in five years, and now she's a little person with her own thoughts.
The poor kid is sick as a dog, though, so we're not celebrating much. We had a big party last year. My parents invited us to eat pizza with them this evening, so we'll be doing that. DH made some cupcakes because it was DD's turn to bring snacks to school; however, she was too sick to go to school today, so we'll be eating them instead. :)
As a gift, we got her a Disney Princess indoor sleeping bag. We actually purchased it before Christmas, intending for Santa to bring it, but we decided to hold it back because of all the other stuff she received. When we gave it to her this morning, she was thrilled. She had been wanting a sleeping bag of her own.
Her smile makes all the difference. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
The poor kid is sick as a dog, though, so we're not celebrating much. We had a big party last year. My parents invited us to eat pizza with them this evening, so we'll be doing that. DH made some cupcakes because it was DD's turn to bring snacks to school; however, she was too sick to go to school today, so we'll be eating them instead. :)
As a gift, we got her a Disney Princess indoor sleeping bag. We actually purchased it before Christmas, intending for Santa to bring it, but we decided to hold it back because of all the other stuff she received. When we gave it to her this morning, she was thrilled. She had been wanting a sleeping bag of her own.
Her smile makes all the difference. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Monday, January 17, 2005
The BO
Well, it would seem that "Elektra" came in fifth at the box office behind such movies as "Meet the Fockers," "Coach Carter," and even "Racing Stripes," the racing zebra film.
We went to a 5pm showing of "Elektra" on Saturday afternoon, expecting to be wowed. We hated "Daredevil," but we like movies with strong women characters (DH likes their skimpy clothing more than anything else, lol). There were some really cool special effects, but the film itself was sloooooooooooooooooooow. In addition to eye candy Jennifer Garner, the film starred that Croatian hunk of hunks, Goran Visinjc, aka Luka on "ER." However, he got limited screen time. Sigh.
I don't know what's with the martial arts resurgence in films of late. I guess since everything's been done to death, Hollywood is looking eastward for inspiration. I find the hype a little overblown, especially after watching "Hero."
We went to a 5pm showing of "Elektra" on Saturday afternoon, expecting to be wowed. We hated "Daredevil," but we like movies with strong women characters (DH likes their skimpy clothing more than anything else, lol). There were some really cool special effects, but the film itself was sloooooooooooooooooooow. In addition to eye candy Jennifer Garner, the film starred that Croatian hunk of hunks, Goran Visinjc, aka Luka on "ER." However, he got limited screen time. Sigh.
I don't know what's with the martial arts resurgence in films of late. I guess since everything's been done to death, Hollywood is looking eastward for inspiration. I find the hype a little overblown, especially after watching "Hero."
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Going Out
Woohoo! We're going to see "Elektra" this evening. I hope it's a decent movie. Some of the reviews have not been so good, but I don't care what the critics say. (After all, I liked "Resident Evil 2: Apocalypse.") Just look at all this official Elektra merchandise from Marvel Comics. Some of it is quite freaky. Here you can watch the first five minutes of the film. Here's the official website.
Did you know that "Elektra" is also an opera by Richard Strauss? Heh.
It's been a long morning.
Did you know that "Elektra" is also an opera by Richard Strauss? Heh.
It's been a long morning.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Ebay to increase fees
A long time ago, I thought I might want to use Ebay to sell some things. I didn't have anything major to sell, though. Nothing that would justify selling it on Ebay, anyway. I thought that having to pay a fee was stupid anyway. Now it seems that those fees are going up 60%, according to this article in the NYT.
I do use half.com, and it's free to list things on that site.
Here are the books I have listed. Click here if you want to buy one of them or search for the title and buy from me!
A Cold Heart - Jonathan Kellerman
At Home in France - Ann Barry
Blue Shoe - Anne Lamott
Brave - Louisa Luna
Brides Lace (Harlequin Presents #734)
Christy - Catherine Marshall
Clear Springs - Bobbie Ann Mason
Communion Blood - Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Cry Wolf - Tami Hoag
Daughter of Fortune - Isabel Allende
Far from the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
France, a Love Story (various authors)
Free-Lancer and Staff Writer - William L. Rivers
Graven Images (various authors)
Heretic - Bernard Cornwell
I Dreamed of Africa - Kuki Gallmann
In a Rogue's Arms - Virginia Lynn
Lord of the Air - Carol Gregor
Night Sins - Tami Hoag
Pure - Rebbecca Ray
Queen of Hearts - Melissa Forsythe
Second Sight - Beth Amos
Shiloh and Other Stories - Bobbie Ann Mason
Sleeping With One Eye Open (various authors)
Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
Sophie's Choice - William Styron
Tara Road - Maeve Binchy
The Bone Vault - Linda Fairstein
The Book of Splendor - Frances Sherwood
The Curve of the World - Marcus Stevens
The Firm - John Grisham
The Forest - Edward Rutherfurd
The Fourth Queen - Debbie Taylor
The Island of Lost Maps - Miles Harvey, Gilbert Joseph Bland
The Passions of Emma - Penelope Williamson
The Perfect Storm - Sebastian Junger
The Pilot's Wife - Anita Shreve
The Postman - David Brin (Audio, Abridged)
The Rival - Brenda Joyce
The Road from the Past - Ina Caro
The Secret Life of the Seine - Mort Rosenblum
Waiting - Ha Jin
What to Expect When You're Expecting - Arlene Eisenberg
White Oleander - Janet Fitch
Without Remorse - Tom Clancy (Audio, Abridged)
Writ in Blood - Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Writing the Natural Way - Gabriele Lusser Rico
I do use half.com, and it's free to list things on that site.
Here are the books I have listed. Click here if you want to buy one of them or search for the title and buy from me!
FWIW, I updated my journal last night, too.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
A Nazi of a Prince
You may have read of the recent flap with Prince Harry, third in line to the British royal throne. Apparently, he went to a "fancy-dress party" dressed as a Nazi. Then, he happened to be photographed in this costume. Of course, the media got ahold of the photo. Who could resist selling such a unusual picture of someone so famous?
Of course, this slap in the face to history has annoyed almost everyone. On the evening news, I heard quotes from a reporter of a London-based Jewish newspaper and from British war veterans. Everyone seems to be annoyed. The incident annoyed me, too, and I'm not British, nor do I follow the doings of the royal family.
If you want to dress up as a Nazi, fine. Do it on Hallowe'en. Do it as a joke or parody or whatever. For most regular Joes, this would be okay--in bad taste, perhaps, but fine.
However, if you could be an important leader in the world someday, choose how you want to rebel. Dressing up as a Nazi is not fine. In fact, it makes you look extremely stupid and thoughtless. Extremely stupid--like you don't even think about how you appear to the public at all.
In spite of the fact that yes, the royal family has a right to its privacy, it especially needs to watch its image. Otherwise, they appear as just a bunch of drunken King Georges, and deserve to fall into obscurity.
UPDATE: Prince Charles is making both his sons visit Auschwitz as a result of this gaffe.
Of course, this slap in the face to history has annoyed almost everyone. On the evening news, I heard quotes from a reporter of a London-based Jewish newspaper and from British war veterans. Everyone seems to be annoyed. The incident annoyed me, too, and I'm not British, nor do I follow the doings of the royal family.
If you want to dress up as a Nazi, fine. Do it on Hallowe'en. Do it as a joke or parody or whatever. For most regular Joes, this would be okay--in bad taste, perhaps, but fine.
However, if you could be an important leader in the world someday, choose how you want to rebel. Dressing up as a Nazi is not fine. In fact, it makes you look extremely stupid and thoughtless. Extremely stupid--like you don't even think about how you appear to the public at all.
In spite of the fact that yes, the royal family has a right to its privacy, it especially needs to watch its image. Otherwise, they appear as just a bunch of drunken King Georges, and deserve to fall into obscurity.
UPDATE: Prince Charles is making both his sons visit Auschwitz as a result of this gaffe.
How-To Blogging Links
In this article, I found everything I wish I'd known back in 2001 when I was a fledgling blogger. :) There are probably a hundred links to other blog writers' articles as well.
If you care
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Secret Lives
An interesting NYT article about secret lives: Keeping secrets can be central to healthy development, according to the article. But living two (or more) lives can be mentally exhausting in reality. The article quotes two cases where men were leading double lives and how it affected them, but if Oprah is to be believed, women are doing the same thing.
Darn that Fisher-Price!
In reference to this post by Poppymom (if the link isn't working, it's the post from Jan. 11), I have to talk about our experience with the Fisher-Price Lights and Sounds Aquarium.
When I saw a commercial on tv for this toy back in 2001, I was excited. It looked like a cool, fun toy for my daughter, who was 1 year old by then. She was still in her crib and I thought it might be more comforting for her to have such a toy. It had a nice glowing light, made soothing aquarium sounds, and played a lullaby. I wanted this toy for my bed. LOL
The thing was not cheap. I spent $20 for it. Once I got it home, I read the box and saw that it needed three "C" batteries. So, I went to the store and bought them. It took awhile to get them into the toy, because I needed a small Phillips screwdriver to open up the battery compartment. (I'm sure it was well-secured so that babies couldn't get it open. I could hardly get it open!) Finally, the batteries were installed and I used the attached straps to hang it on the side of the crib. It was quite heavy so I made sure it was firmly attached.
That first night, I put DD to bed and turned on the aquarium. An hour later, I checked on her and the stupid toy had stopped working. It had used up the batteries that fast.
Needless to say, I bought more batteries and installed them again, and it still quit working just as quickly. After that, I decided no more. It was a waste of $20. No wonder FP doesn't sell it anymore. It's no longer listed on their website, but you can still buy it on Ebay or other places online.
Or I'll sell you one, real cheap.
When I saw a commercial on tv for this toy back in 2001, I was excited. It looked like a cool, fun toy for my daughter, who was 1 year old by then. She was still in her crib and I thought it might be more comforting for her to have such a toy. It had a nice glowing light, made soothing aquarium sounds, and played a lullaby. I wanted this toy for my bed. LOL
The thing was not cheap. I spent $20 for it. Once I got it home, I read the box and saw that it needed three "C" batteries. So, I went to the store and bought them. It took awhile to get them into the toy, because I needed a small Phillips screwdriver to open up the battery compartment. (I'm sure it was well-secured so that babies couldn't get it open. I could hardly get it open!) Finally, the batteries were installed and I used the attached straps to hang it on the side of the crib. It was quite heavy so I made sure it was firmly attached.
That first night, I put DD to bed and turned on the aquarium. An hour later, I checked on her and the stupid toy had stopped working. It had used up the batteries that fast.
Needless to say, I bought more batteries and installed them again, and it still quit working just as quickly. After that, I decided no more. It was a waste of $20. No wonder FP doesn't sell it anymore. It's no longer listed on their website, but you can still buy it on Ebay or other places online.
Or I'll sell you one, real cheap.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Haloscan added
Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.
Of course, that means I lost all the old comments. :( Ah well. C'est la vie. (I wanted the trackback feature and Blogger doesn't have a trackback of its own.)
I also edited the Archives menu in the sidebar so that the dates show in reverse order (from newest to oldest). Now it should be easier to scroll through the list.
Of course, that means I lost all the old comments. :( Ah well. C'est la vie. (I wanted the trackback feature and Blogger doesn't have a trackback of its own.)
I also edited the Archives menu in the sidebar so that the dates show in reverse order (from newest to oldest). Now it should be easier to scroll through the list.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Time for An Update
In this article, Andrew Sullivan writes "Blogger could be to words what Napster was to music..." It is dated 2002. I wonder if we have reached that point yet?
I have been blogging on and off since 2001. I think there are two camps: those of us who publish for ourselves, and those who try to gain some kind of popular audience by focusing on a specific subject.
I don't consider myself to be an expert of anything. Sure, I could have joined the ranks of the mommy bloggers after I had my daughter in 2000, chronicling every detail of DD's life as she grew. I could have written a cross-stitch blog, or a writing blog, or whatever. Instead, I chose to write about things I found interesting and to write conversationally about my life.
Blogging is definitely the publishing choice of the masses. For most people, it's free and easy and you can expound on any topic you choose. Alas, that makes it hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. I used to check several blogs on a daily basis, but those writers quit writing online. That was disappointing because I, as a reader, was fascinated with their lives.
I think I've written before about what kind of blogs I like to read, so I won't reiterate it here. It will be interesting in the future to see what kind of lasting effects blogs have on media.
I have been blogging on and off since 2001. I think there are two camps: those of us who publish for ourselves, and those who try to gain some kind of popular audience by focusing on a specific subject.
I don't consider myself to be an expert of anything. Sure, I could have joined the ranks of the mommy bloggers after I had my daughter in 2000, chronicling every detail of DD's life as she grew. I could have written a cross-stitch blog, or a writing blog, or whatever. Instead, I chose to write about things I found interesting and to write conversationally about my life.
Blogging is definitely the publishing choice of the masses. For most people, it's free and easy and you can expound on any topic you choose. Alas, that makes it hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. I used to check several blogs on a daily basis, but those writers quit writing online. That was disappointing because I, as a reader, was fascinated with their lives.
I think I've written before about what kind of blogs I like to read, so I won't reiterate it here. It will be interesting in the future to see what kind of lasting effects blogs have on media.
Book Blog
Via USAToday's HipClicks blog (scroll almost all the way to the bottom for the link), I saw where some Livejournal users are blogging about 50 books they read in 2005. I have had a LJ account for a couple of years but never did anything with it. Here's my chance. :)
Too bad I've been too tired to read much lately.
In my last post, I mentioned I was going to a bookstore. I picked up "Dr. Zhivago" by Boris Pasternak. Why do I torture myself with tragic Russian romances??? Sigh.
Too bad I've been too tired to read much lately.
In my last post, I mentioned I was going to a bookstore. I picked up "Dr. Zhivago" by Boris Pasternak. Why do I torture myself with tragic Russian romances??? Sigh.
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Snow Day
It snowed overnight, giving an end to the ceaseless rain. However, it was like three inches of the white stuff. Thankfully DH got up early this morning to clear off my car and shovel a path on the sidewalk. Driving to work wasn't so bad because the snowplows had already cleared off the main roads. The side roads were still messy, though.
This afternoon, after I finish my six hours of overtime work, I'm going to go to the local independently-owned bookstore and try to have some fun by browsing books. :) Tonight we're going to rent movies and have pizza.
*wishes mightily for some fun as she gets back to work*
This afternoon, after I finish my six hours of overtime work, I'm going to go to the local independently-owned bookstore and try to have some fun by browsing books. :) Tonight we're going to rent movies and have pizza.
*wishes mightily for some fun as she gets back to work*
Friday, January 07, 2005
Please notice
that I updated my blog so that you can subscribe to the RSS feed of my blog via Bloglines. Click on the link in the sidebar (that little icon that says "sub bloglines"). :)
Webrings
You know, I started a webring at webring.com back in 2001. Turns out that my webring now belongs to someone else. I was never notified, in spite of having a valid email address and valid links on my sites, that the ring was about to be taken over. If I had known, I certainly would have logged into the site and jumped through their hoops to keep my ring. I have no hope that I'll get back control of it. However, I resubmitted my sites to the new owner so I hope that they are accepted.
The Magdalene Sisters
I watched an interesting and disturbing movie last night. It ended rather sadly, with hardly a note of hope. I cannot even imagine what those women felt or endured. I am once again thankful to live in this era. It's estimated that over 10,000 women served time in these laundries.
"The Magdalene Sisters" is a movie about the infamous Magdalene Asylums in Ireland. Most damning is this quote from the CBSnews article: "When the last laundries finally closed, most of the Magdalenes had nowhere to go. Many of them now reside in group homes and convents around the country. For example, a convent in Dublin still holds some women now being cared for by the same nuns who once confined them." In the movie, you see some of these older institutionalized women, one of whom gets sick and dies. One of the main characters, Bernadette, tells this dying woman that "no one gives a shite" about her and that she should just hurry up and die.
And another girl, Crispina, is sent to a madhouse after a scene in which she claims publicly that a priest is not a man of God. Well, hell no, he wasn't a man of God: he'd been forcing Crispina, who seemed to be mentally retarded, to fellate him and have sex with him.
This movie reminded me of "Rabbit-Proof Fence." I just don't understand this type of mindset. I guess I'll never understand how people can single out people who are different, strip them of all rights, and then toss them into slavery without a second thought. Granted, "Magadalene Sisters" paints all nuns and priests with the same brush, rather than showing their side of the story. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Read this review/commentary for an alternative opinion. And here's another review worth reading. Here is a link to a survivor's website.
"The Magdalene Sisters" is a movie about the infamous Magdalene Asylums in Ireland. Most damning is this quote from the CBSnews article: "When the last laundries finally closed, most of the Magdalenes had nowhere to go. Many of them now reside in group homes and convents around the country. For example, a convent in Dublin still holds some women now being cared for by the same nuns who once confined them." In the movie, you see some of these older institutionalized women, one of whom gets sick and dies. One of the main characters, Bernadette, tells this dying woman that "no one gives a shite" about her and that she should just hurry up and die.
And another girl, Crispina, is sent to a madhouse after a scene in which she claims publicly that a priest is not a man of God. Well, hell no, he wasn't a man of God: he'd been forcing Crispina, who seemed to be mentally retarded, to fellate him and have sex with him.
This movie reminded me of "Rabbit-Proof Fence." I just don't understand this type of mindset. I guess I'll never understand how people can single out people who are different, strip them of all rights, and then toss them into slavery without a second thought. Granted, "Magadalene Sisters" paints all nuns and priests with the same brush, rather than showing their side of the story. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Read this review/commentary for an alternative opinion. And here's another review worth reading. Here is a link to a survivor's website.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Check-in
Well, after starting 2005 about 10 lbs heavier than I was at the beginning of 2004, I think I've already lost 5 lbs of water weight. (You know, that time of the month and all...) I've exercised for two nights straight so far, using Leslie Sansone's Walk-n-Tone videotape that I bought like four years ago. (I also have this, but it seems more advanced.)
I really like the thirty-minute workout I get with the tape. In fact, the thirty minutes fly by, and it helps that as soon as I get home, DD is begging me to start exercising. She starts with me, but then ends up getting tired out. LOL I don't know if I'm burning enough calories, but at least I'm moving again. Once the weather gets nicer, I plan to take a walk around the neighborhood with DD and the dog. :)
I like Sansone's attitude about how anyone can walk and how you don't have to be perfect to do it.
I really like the thirty-minute workout I get with the tape. In fact, the thirty minutes fly by, and it helps that as soon as I get home, DD is begging me to start exercising. She starts with me, but then ends up getting tired out. LOL I don't know if I'm burning enough calories, but at least I'm moving again. Once the weather gets nicer, I plan to take a walk around the neighborhood with DD and the dog. :)
I like Sansone's attitude about how anyone can walk and how you don't have to be perfect to do it.
The Weekend
Last weekend, New Year's Day, we went to my in-laws' house for a pizza party. My SIL is entering the Air Force (at the ripe old age of 29 with three children under age 8), and she is scheduled to leave for basic training on Jan. 11. DH and I decided to spend the night at his parents' house. Now, they only live a half-hour drive away, so it wasn't like we were going out of state or something. Maybe it seems silly that we decided to spend the night, but I desperately NEEDED to get away from home. (We rarely are able to get away because of our jobs and we have a dog who needs looking after.)
We took down the Christmas decorations on Friday (Dec. 31), and I was feeling rather claustrophobic, in spite of the fact there was now more room in the house without the tree and everything. I wanted a change of scenery. It helped that we had a couple of nice, sunny days. I was off Friday and we ended up going shopping at the outlet mall. I bought some new shoes, which I needed since my old shoes' soles were wearing out. It felt good to get out in the fresh air; the day was sunny and 65 degrees--quite unusual for January around here. I didn't want to go back home.
So, we got up on Saturday morning and got ready to go to the in-laws' house, arriving around 2pm (we had to get a few groceries for the party and stuff). My BIL was fixing pizzas when we arrived and DH helped him. I chitchatted with MIL and played with the kids. It felt really great to just sit around and not worry about anything. The pizza was good and we all stuffed ourselves. Some old friends of my in-laws came over to visit with my SIL for awhile. They left around 6pm and then we watched some tv. The kids stayed overnight with us while BIL & SIL went home.
I felt very calm and relaxed that evening, but I felt the old, familiar dread returning on Sunday morning. We drove home around 9:30am, because DH wanted to get home to watch football and of course, we had to take care of the dog.
The house was a complete and utter pigsty and so when I got home, I went into cleaning mode. Cleaning always makes me feel better. I did four loads of laundry, including the bedsheets, and later ran a load of dirty dishes through the dishwasher. DH was getting a cold so he slept all afternoon. After the clothes were clean and dry, DD and I put them all away.
As long as I was busy, I didn't have to think about anything.
Then Monday came, and it was back to work like usual. :)
We took down the Christmas decorations on Friday (Dec. 31), and I was feeling rather claustrophobic, in spite of the fact there was now more room in the house without the tree and everything. I wanted a change of scenery. It helped that we had a couple of nice, sunny days. I was off Friday and we ended up going shopping at the outlet mall. I bought some new shoes, which I needed since my old shoes' soles were wearing out. It felt good to get out in the fresh air; the day was sunny and 65 degrees--quite unusual for January around here. I didn't want to go back home.
So, we got up on Saturday morning and got ready to go to the in-laws' house, arriving around 2pm (we had to get a few groceries for the party and stuff). My BIL was fixing pizzas when we arrived and DH helped him. I chitchatted with MIL and played with the kids. It felt really great to just sit around and not worry about anything. The pizza was good and we all stuffed ourselves. Some old friends of my in-laws came over to visit with my SIL for awhile. They left around 6pm and then we watched some tv. The kids stayed overnight with us while BIL & SIL went home.
I felt very calm and relaxed that evening, but I felt the old, familiar dread returning on Sunday morning. We drove home around 9:30am, because DH wanted to get home to watch football and of course, we had to take care of the dog.
The house was a complete and utter pigsty and so when I got home, I went into cleaning mode. Cleaning always makes me feel better. I did four loads of laundry, including the bedsheets, and later ran a load of dirty dishes through the dishwasher. DH was getting a cold so he slept all afternoon. After the clothes were clean and dry, DD and I put them all away.
As long as I was busy, I didn't have to think about anything.
Then Monday came, and it was back to work like usual. :)
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Resolutions
So, at the beginning of 2004, I told myself that I would not make any resolutions because I fail miserably at keeping them. I decided to let go of all the issues I needed to work on and hope for the best.
Alas, that was also a failure.
For 2005, I decided I would make some realistic goals and work on keeping them. Without further ado, here are some goals:
1.) Write at least 1000 words a day, in blogs or elsewhere.
2.) Lose at least 10 lbs. by starting up my exercising again. (A small goal that shall become a larger one when I meet this first goal.)
3.) Get the finances in order! Save money, watch what I spend.
4.) Focus on the things I really enjoy and let go of the things I don't.
On Monday, a new Cass will be created. 2005 is going to be a much, much better year!
Alas, that was also a failure.
For 2005, I decided I would make some realistic goals and work on keeping them. Without further ado, here are some goals:
1.) Write at least 1000 words a day, in blogs or elsewhere.
2.) Lose at least 10 lbs. by starting up my exercising again. (A small goal that shall become a larger one when I meet this first goal.)
3.) Get the finances in order! Save money, watch what I spend.
4.) Focus on the things I really enjoy and let go of the things I don't.
On Monday, a new Cass will be created. 2005 is going to be a much, much better year!
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