- Mood:
- What's for Dinner: Spaghetti and salad
- Recently Viewed: National Treasure -----
The way we can twist and mangle the English language fascinates me. For instance, take the phrase, "I couldn't care less," which expresses a person's total apathy about something and indicates that they do not care at all. However, you'll also hear people say, "I could care less," to indicate the same thing. This phrase actually means the opposite though; if you could care less, you must at least care a little. So it really makes no sense in the context it's being used. It makes me cringe every time I hear or read the "could care less" phrase. Must be the former English major in me. 
~~~~~
When I got up this morning it was still dark so I looked out my window for the meteor shower, but I didn't see any. I was kinda bummed because there was one several years ago that was awesome. The sky looked a little cloudy this time though, so I guess that messed up the view.
~~~~~
We ordered Chinese for lunch at work today and got no fortune cookies. That's the second time in a row that's happened to me now. I'm beginning to feel like that guy in the Flash Forward TV promos who doesn't see himself in the future like everybody else does. 
I need a good fortune soon! Where are you, Confucius?
- Mood:
- What's for Dinner: Arby's Roast Beef sandwich and curly fries
- Recently Viewed: Charlie Wilson's War -
It's always tough to get out of bed and go to work on a Monday, but it's especially hard when it's the Monday after you've had vacation. I survived though. Whew!
The best part of the rainy days I had off last week was the nap I took on Wednesday afternoon. When I woke up, all the pain and stiffness was gone from my neck and shoulders. After weeks of dealing with that and a nagging tension headache, poof, it was all gone. We'll see how long it takes before stress puts me in knots again.
The rain finally tapered off Saturday, and my mom wanted to go clothes shopping, so off we went. A word of advice -- avoid the shoe department when they're having a buy 1 pair get 1 pair free sale. You might get trampled in the stampede. I have never seen so many people in a shoe-buying frenzy. We passed on those and got some new pjs and robes, and a few other odds and ends. There just wasn't much that appealed to us. Plus it seemed like they raised the prices before they put the stuff on sale, so the discounts didn't appear that great to us. We went out to dinner afterward and got stuffed shells. Yummy!
Sunday was finally gorgeous and spring-like. It's awesome to be able to go without a coat in November. My mom had a $10.00 gift card and I had a 20% off coupon for another store, so we tried our luck there. We did find a few more things we liked, but still not all that much. I think I may have to start shopping in the men's department for shirts. I couldn't find a simple button down shirt in women's.
Today after work we had to go grocery shopping. I found a cute little poinsettia that I'm going to put on my desk at work. I'm trying to make my workspace a little more personal and cheerful. Last week I put one of those reed diffusers on my desk and it smelled really nice when I sat down today. It's just a subtle scent, nothing overpowering that would bother my co-workers. Too bad the lady in the store who I could smell from 2 aisles away didn't understand the concept of subtle scents, but I digress...
- Mood:
- What's for Dinner: I'm still working on beakfast
Why did I wake up at 5:30 in the morning on a rainy day off? I used to be able to sleep until almost noon. I must be getting old.
- Mood:
- What's for Dinner: Steamed dumplings, shrimp roll, and shrimp with garlic sauce
but I finally have a Chinese restaurant that delivers to my house! 
When I got home from work I found a menu stuck in my front door. It's the first Chinese menu I've seen since I've lived here that's stated delivery in addition to take-out. I was still doubtful because I live several miles from the main highway and yet another couple miles from where they're located, but when I called to place an order, the guy confirmed they'd deliver here. Yay!
He didn't give me an order total before he hung up and I forgot to ask, so I tried to estimate how much it would be with tax based on the menu prices. The menu didn't say anything about a delivery charge, just that the minimum for delivery was $15.00. I figured a $20.00 would cover everything nicely, including a decent tip. When the delivery guy got here he just had the total amount handwritten on the back of a piece of paper and no receipt for me. It was about a dollar more than I expected so he got less of a tip than I had planned. I had to get out my calculator to play with the numbers to see how they arrived at their total. I finally figured out that they add $1.50 for delivery. They really should state that on the menu. Does anybody know if that delivery charge goes to the driver or the restaurant? 
I never know and it always confuses me when I'm trying to tip.
Anyway, as for the food, the steamed dumplings and shrimp roll were average, but the shrimp with garlic sauce was very good. It was a bit hotter (spicier) than I usually like it, but all the ingredients tasted fresh and it was definitely something I'd order again. I have plenty of leftovers if anyone's hungry. Oh yeah, the one thing that did disappoint me was that they didn't include a fortune cookie. 
~~~~~
Jeanie, I would have named the movie with the unsatisfying ending, but I figured it would pretty much spoil it for anyone planning to watch.
~~~~~
Let's hear it for five day weekends! 
Whoop! I have off tomorrow for the Veterans Day holiday and I have vacation days Thursday and Friday. No big plans at this point though. I'm kind of sorry I didn't have Monday and today off instead since the weather for the rest of this week is supposed to be chilly, cloudy, and windy with showers. So much for spring in November. Oh well, it's still time off.
~~~~~
At work today I went to a seminar about trying to avoid and manage stress. No big secrets revealed, but some good tips I think. We'll see how they work. 
- Mood:
- What's for Dinner: A great big chocolate ice cream cone
The last two days have been absolutely beautiful with sunshine and temps around 70. Weather like that in November is cherished around here. I went for a drive yesterday and was wishing I had a convertible. Today my mom had a doctor's appointment, and since she was such a brave good girl 
, I took her for an ice cream cone afterward. I had to get one too...just so she didn't have to eat alone, of course. Good stuff! 
~~~~~
Movies that don't end "happily ever after" bum me out. Real life can be depressing enough; I like movies that can take me away from all that.
- Mood:
- What's for Dinner: Salad
In Our Hearts
We thought of you with love today,
But that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday,
And days before that too.
We think of you in silence;
We often speak your name.
Now all we have are memories,
And your picture in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake,
With which we'll never part.
God has you in his keeping,
We have you in our hearts.
~Unknown
Four years ago tonight I was holding my dad's hand when he slipped away. It's hard to believe that much time has passed already. We miss you, Dad. 
- Mood:
- What's for Dinner: Leftovers
Yesterday I watched an old movie on TCM that I'd never heard of, Stars in My Crown. It didn't knock my socks off, but it was pretty good and it was neat to see James Mitchell (Palmer Cortlandt, All My Children) and Amanda Blake (Miss Kitty, Gunsmoke) so young. There was a scene where the gospel minister was talking to a classroom of students and he told them (paraphrasing here), "Don't lean so much on God that you forget how to help yourself." That line really struck me as profound and it's advice I wish more people would follow.
I was reminded of the old joke about the man in a great flood. His town is evacuating as the river rises, but he refuses to leave his home, saying that he has faith and God will save him. The river overflows and as he is standing on his front porch with the water at his feet, a neighbor in a rowboat comes by and tells him to get in and he will take him to safety. He refuses and says, "I have faith in the Lord. The Lord will save me." As the boat passes by, the man prays to God to save him.
The water continues to rise and the man is forced to go up to his second floor. As he looks out his window, another man in a speedboat nears and calls for him to jump in. Again the man refuses, saying, "I have faith in the Lord. The Lord will save me." As the boat speeds off, the man again begins praying for God to save him.
Eventually the water rises so high the man is forced onto his roof. A rescue helicopter flies over and they shout that they will lower a rope ladder to him. The man shakes his head and waves them off, yelling, "I have faith in the Lord. The Lord will save me." As the helicopter fades out of sight, the man once more prays to God to save him.
The water continues to rise until the man is finally washed away and he drowns. When he gets to Heaven, he marches over to God and says, "Heavenly Father, I don't understand. I had faith in you. I prayed to you to save me, and yet you didn't. Why?" God gives him an exasperated, puzzled look and says, "My child, I sent two boats and a helicopter. What more did you expect?"
Prayer can be a good thing, but sometimes the answer to a prayer is the obvious solution staring you right in the face or the good advice you may not necessarily want to hear delivered by someone who may not look like an angel. It's not always a miraculous burning bush. And sometimes you may actually have to take action to solve a problem instead of waiting for divine intervention to solve it for you.
Just my thoughts for the day.
- Mood:
- What's for Dinner: Pasta with crabmeat tomato sauce
Sometimes I think folks focus so much energy on getting laws passed to ban people from talking on cell phones while driving that they overlook all the other stuff people do while driving that, IMO, is way more dangerous. Today a guy passed me on the right with his head hanging out the window. He was yelling something, and at first I thought he was yelling at me, but then I realized he wasn't looking at me and he was actually singing along with his radio. A little further down the road, I ended up behind him, and I saw his left arm come flying straight out his window. Then his right arm shot up and he proceeded to do an arm wave dance move...no hands on the steering wheel! For about two miles he continued to car dance, hopping up and down, waving his arms, and clapping his hands. This wasn't a kid either. He looked to be in his late 20s, old enough to know better. 
Meanwhile, I was talking on my cell phone with my hands-free earphone. Now which of us was the greater danger to others?
I also frequently see moms driving, with kids in car seats behind them, turning around, reaching back, and hunting around on the floor to pick up the bottle, book, pacifier, or whatever the screaming child dropped or threw. I've actually been in a car with a mom who did this and it scared the daylights out of me. She told me she was used to it and did it all the time. 
Then there was the guy I saw the other day who was holding his super-sized fries in one hand while stuffing them in his mouth with the other. By my count that left no hands to steer the car, unless he was an alien or something. There are also the folks who choose to read the newspaper or put on their makeup during morning rush hour. Yeah, that's safe.
To me, the people who talk on cell phones with hands-free devices are no more distracted than they would be if they were having a conversation with a passenger in the car. In fact, I believe passengers are more distracting; yet nobody seems to have a problem with them. Cell phones aren't the evil people make them out to be. The real issue is that many folks just lack common sense.
and landed in your neck of the woods. Nice place you have here. Will visit again soon. Wishing you a spiffy Tuesday! 
Happy New Year AD. 
Merry Christmas, Francine. 
Bravenet Blog 
Blog Community
Get a Free Blog
Manage your Blog
bravenet.com