Badger Car Salesman

This is some of the funniest stuff I've seen in a long time!!!

Badger Car Salesman

More Beautiful You

This has become one of my favorite songs lately. If you haven't heard it, go here. The message is so true, one that I really wish more women (of any age) would listen to. It breaks my heart to see so many of the teenage girls at camp focus so much on what is on the outside instead of learning to love and develop what is on the inside.

More Beautiful You
By Jonny Diaz

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn’t straight her body isn’t fake
And she’s always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don’t buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you’ve already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you’ve got a man but he’s got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there’s a man whose love is true
And he’ll treat you like the jewel you are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don’t buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

So turn around you’re not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It’s not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who’s strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you’ll see through the eyes of a little girl

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don’t buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you.

Level Two...I Don't Think So

So I wrote a while back about a new work out I was trying. It was harder than it appeared, but it was a good hard. Since I'm the type that likes to test things, I decided to put the "30 Day" part to the test. Since August 1, I have done this workout every day. I felt like I had mastered Level 1 well enough to move on to Level 2.

What the heck!?!?!?! I was definitely sweating, but the problem is that she LOVES jumping jacks and any other movement that involves jumping. I on the other hand have knee and lower back problems from injuries I received as I child. I am not allowed to do jarring movements. That's why I'm not a runner...doctors have told me for years it's not allowed.

With the first level most of the jumping was for cardio purposes, so just substituted those movements with less impact/equal calorie burn activities. That is going to be a chore with this level. I'm going to have to replace 90% of the moves. Why bother then? I'm not completely giving up on level two...though I may have to put it off until Saturday when I have time to try to come up with some adjustments. But I don't dare try that again without modifications because I was hurting all night...and it was not a GOOD hurt, it was a "I've injured myself hurt" and that is not good.

UGH!!!

Commentary on Commercials

I have to admit I am a self-proclaimed a TV commercial critic. Nothing annoys me more than a stupid, low-budget commercial. My theory on the subject is if you can’t do it well, don’t do it at all. A cheap looking TV commercial will just shoot you in the foot.

That being said, here are currently the top two on my most hated list and the #1 on my favorite list.

Most Hated Commercial #1: LifeTel’s Bob and the Big Burrito

If you haven’t seen it, I’m not quite sure where to begin. First of all, I get the feeling their trying to make some sexual innuendo when it comes to the big burrito…but its not funny and pretty stupid. The guy is also wearing an obviously fake mustache. I guess they’re trying to make some point that because Bob doesn’t have LifeTel telephone service, he can’t call his girlfriend (who is too pretty for him) and has to eat his big burrito all by himself. LifeTel, fire your ad agency and get a new commercial.


Most Hated Commercials #2: Quest

Okay, if you’re a single male reading this and you have been thinking about calling Quest because you’re looking for a hot woman to date, I have some news for you…it ain’t going to happen. Let me clue you in on a few things. First of all, women do not sit around their houses in slutty outfits with our hair and make-up done. We don’t go to that much trouble to sit around the house and talk on the phone. Second of all, women like THAT don’t generally join phone chat lines unless there is something not quite right about them (think Fatal Attraction). Sorry, you will not be talking to the girls on those commercials on the phone.

There is one more thing that bothers me about the Quest commercials…actually one in particular. The girl in the commercial says her name is Melissa. She looks 16 with big hair and lots of make-up. Are they now trying to attract the clientele that has a fetish for under-aged girls? I think so. But don’t they already have enough sick psycho clientele without reaching out to more?


Now for my FAVORITE commercial showing right now: Toyota Prius

Okay, these have to be the best directed/orchestrated/choreographed commercials I have EVER seen. The first few times, I just thought they were bright and happy…until I realized those are PEOPLE! I still watch with amazement. Click here and you can see all three, plus the making of the Harmony commercial, and even download the music. Well done Toyota. If I could afford your car, I would consider buying one...but only if I could see people running around in nature costumes everywhere I go.

In Mourning

If you know me well or have followed my blog from the early days, you know that Grant Johnston has been on my local celebrity crush list for quite awhile. So you can only imagine how distressed I was to hear on the news that he is leaving. WHAT!!!???!!! NOOOOO!!!!!! Sad but true, he is leaving but since he's leaving to attend a seminary school, I was able to find peace in the situation...especially considering his faith in God is what put him on the list in the first place (I bet you didn't know that). So farewell Grant. I will miss watching you on the news and the phone calls from my friends with Grant sightings. Good luck on your new endeavors.

Now I just need to find a replacement for the list.

Just When I Thought They Couldn't Outdo Themselves

This was the message left of my Facebook this morning by my neighbor/friend Krista:


So...what is that weird blue thing covering your neighbors front door? I've noticed it the last couple mornings when I've been leaving for work and I keep forgetting to ask.


Yes as if the "garden" in the front yard wasn't enough, my neighbors have taken yet another step in attempt to win the "Eye Sore of the Neighborhood" award (they're competing with Jason & Krista's neighbor).


To get the full affect...let's take a look at my half of the yard...



Now let's look at their half of the yard...

The blue thing is (to the best of my knowledge) is their cheap alternative for a screen door. When I saw it the other day, the door was open and I thought it was painters tape and that they were doing some work in their house. Nope, it's just a tack-it-up yourself, screen door alternative. It zips up the middle.

The plants by the front porch are cherry tomatoes. The other thing I thought was a weed, but now I think it's some sort of melon plant. I guess because I tore down their melons that were growing up the side of MY house last summer, they decided to try the front yard. I used to be annoyed by the maple tree they had growing in that spot (and then tried to transplant in the middle of the front yard and then moved to their backyard).

My neighbors are nice enough, but they drive me NUTS with the piano playing at all hours, the what sounds like the moving of furniture late at night, and the running up and down the stairs.

On a much happier note...my flowers in the front flower bed are doing MUCH better this time around!

Someone Needs to Take a Refresher Course in Customer Service

No joke...today I got a call from some from Cox Communications trying to get me to purchase more of their services and they lady sounded like she was eating lunch while she was talking to me on the phone. Considering it was around the lunch hour, I consider this to be very possible. Whether she was eating lunch or not, she most definately was chewing on something. Really?

A Good Lesson to Learn

I was reading my Bible last night and came across this story:

2 Kings 2:23-25
From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.

It kind of made me laugh. I don't recall ever hearing THIS story in Bible class when I was a kid. Probably because they thought it would scare us, but maybe they should. It would teach kids a good lesson -- make fun of people older than you and you might get mauled by bears.

Quote of the Week

When discussing the fact that my car does not meet the requirements for the new "clunker law," my friend replied, "No offense, but your car IS a clunker."

I have to agree.

By the way, while I was on the above site, I found a link to this site. I found it really interesting.

Not Another One

I don't know what is going on, but there really has been a string of celebrity deaths lately. I think I am the most upset about this one.

And I'm Off

Twenty-four hours from now (if all goes as planned) I will be on my way here:



The only constant in my life for the last 26 years. I have spent at least one week (sometimes two) at this place since I was nine. It holds many fond memories (and few traumatizing ones). Many of the staff are like my second family and the week is like one big reunion.


It's changed a lot over the years. New mess hall with a/c. New cabins with a/c. The old chapel is gone, a new one is being built (may be done by time I get there). The trees that used to encircle the lake have been removed. But no matter how much changes, in many ways it's still the same. And if I ever have children, I hope they love it as much as I do.

Craziness

My first "hometown" had some excitement yesterday. Read the story here. I spent my childhood two blocks from here. And the driver of the trash truck lived across the street from us and his kids were childhood friends of my brother and I. I promise you, this is possibly the most excitement this small town has seen since the Farmer's Oil Company exploded when I was a child.

I Did This!!!

And ALL BY MYSELF!!!




Okay, I did make one phone call to a family friend before I turned the power back on to make sure something I had to do wouldn't cause my house to burn down. But he wasn't there and I had already finished before I called. It was actually easier than I thought. I might have to replace more light fixtures in the future.



If you looking closely and wonder why the light bulbs don't match...it's because the larger globe light bulbs (which is what the box said to use) wouldn't work in that one light fixture. The bulb worked, just not in there. I think the part you screw the light bulb into was crooked and since the bulbs were a tight fit, I don't think it was going in straight. Considering how much I paid for it I'm not surprised. But the fixture had to be replaced and I couldn't find anything I liked, so I bought something cheap that would do for now.

Ironic?

I found this picture on a slide show from the Michael Jackson Memorial:

"Elephants from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus are marched on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, through downtown to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where the memorial service for Michael Jackson will be held. The predawn pachyderm march is a decades-old tradition for the circus, which opens Wednesday at the Staples Center."


Anyone else find it ironic that the "Greatest Show on Earth" is following the greatest "show" on earth?

July 4th Rule #1

Rule #1 for going to watch well-done fireworks anywhere other than your backyard is be prepared to wait in a long line of traffic. It’s annoying for all of us. I don’t know anyone who enjoys it…but it is part of the package. If you also follow Rule #2 (Take turns…let someone in ahead of you, then you go) everyone’s trip will go much better. Why is it when everyone is trying to leave the same place at once the Golden Rule seems to get thrown out the window (along with a few choice words and gestures).

The lady in the parking lot with us Saturday night obviously had NOT been schooled in “The Rules”. Of course as soon as the fireworks end, everyone tries to start leaving at once. In the true spirit of the rules, we were doing our best to abide by them and wait for our turn to back out. As we’re backing out, my friend notices the lady next to us is also backing out. So my friend stops and waits for the lady to notice she was there. Oh, the lady knew we were there…she just didn’t care. She proceeds to back out in such a way that my friend is trapped. She can’t back up, she can’t pull forward. But there wasn’t much space between us and the cars heading the opposite direction in the parking lot, so surely the lady will wait for us to finish backing out. Nope. She squeezes her car in-between all the cars (as we held our breath for sure she was going to hit us) and heads towards another exit.

I’d like to say it ended there, but it didn’t. We ended up pulling behind her at the other exit, but she didn’t want to wait in line to get out of the parking lot, so she backs up AGAIN and flies back the other direction in the parking lot, to try to get out that way. We’re all laughing at her knowing she’s not going to get out any faster the direction she was going. We probably had been waiting in line a few minutes when my friend’s daughter yells out that she was getting out of her car. No joke, the lady gets out of her car and walks up the truck in front of her and yells at him for not moving!!! Where did she think he was going to go? He was trying to merge into traffic and the street was bumper to bumper traffic.

We kind of wanted to watch the show, but we did have to keep the flow of traffic going and she ended up out of our view. I have a feeling the conversation that took place wasn’t very PG.

Flower Mishap

Because my neighbor's front flower beds look like rednecks live there (sorry, I should have taken a picture), I decided to plant flowers in mine on Saturday so it didn't look as bad. Sadly almost half of them have died already (two of them were dying by Sunday evening).

I got drought resistant flowers, I planted them where it said to plant them. What else can a girl do? I'll tell you what...take them back. I bought them at Lowe's and they have a guantee and you better bet I'm taking them up on it. I just hope I have better luck the second time around.

Guess I know what I'll be doing on my day off. ;o)

If I Ever Have Children

I HOPE that I am able to raise them in such a way that they don’t feel entitled. It really drives me nuts when I encounter teens or college students that feel the rest of the world needs to yield to them.

Today’s experience at the grocery store is what has me so fired up at the moment. Sadly, it’s not the first time I’ve had this experience. The parking lot of said grocery store has weird traffic flow to be able to exit. I had been sitting there waiting for my turn to pull into the lane I needed to be in when a college girl in a pick up truck decided that she shouldn’t have to wait and cuts me off. Then before I had a chance to pull in behind her the teenage girl coming from the other direction also felt she didn’t need to wait and cut me off again. Seriously?!?!

I was fuming and wanted to yank them out of their cars and ground them (hey, it’s what my dad would have done to me), but since you can’t exactly do that I just called them stupid spoiled brats. I’m sure it didn’t faze them one bit.

Conspiracy Theory of the Day

I’m not 100% convinced Michael Jackson is actually dead. He has always had such odd behavior I would be surprised if this is all some big elaborate scheme to be out of the spotlight forever. I bet the come back tour was all part of the plan to make it more believable. And before any big debate gets started here…I’m kind of kidding…or am I?

Happy Birthday Lauren

My friend's daughter is turning 11 this week. Her party is today and she wanted a purse cake. Since my friend couldn't find anyone who either had time to make one, would make one, or wouldn't require she order one that served a minimum of 25...we decided to take on the task ourselves.

She found the directions on the Betty Crocker website. She baked the cake, I made the icing and we converged last night to put it together.

It was almost tragic. First the cake wanted to tip over to one side and nothing was helping. After several failed attempts to level it and many minutes just standing there staring at it, I came up with the idea to build the icing up on the side that was leaning to prop it up...and it worked. We also had a problem with the chocolate cake crumbs coming off in the icing. We tried every trick I knew of and nothing was working. Finally we just decided to put it in the fridge after we got the thin layer on and let it set up and use all the remaining icing to put a thicker layer on (which meant no black icing accents as originally planned).

But when we were finished, we were pleased with our final outcome. Not too bad for to amateurs on their first attempt. I don't foresee this being my new career though. I will stick to sugar cookies...they're easier. ;o)

Ode to the Alarm Clock

This is my alarm clock.

I have had this clock since I was eleven. It has woken me up every almost every morning since. Its lavender and has never matched my decor (especially now). My dad won it at some conference he went to. My brother was mad that he gave it to me, to which my mom replied "do you REALLY want a lavender alarm clock?" Yes, I know that I'm a grown up now and that I could easily afford to replace my alarm clock with something a little more stylish, but honestly, now that I have had it for so long I kind of want to see how long it will keep working. I have no intention of getting rid of it until it bites the bullet.

So why am I writing about my alarm clock? No reason at all other than I found it fascinating when I realized how long I have had it.