Remember that great Olds campaign when they touted their new and updated cars by saying "This ain't your daddy's Oldsmobile"? Well, McCain, this ain't your daddy's presidential race. It sounds to me like he's getting desperate and losing all of great things that make McCain McCain. (I really liked the 1992 McCain!) Disappointing, to say the least. If Obama is elected, I think we should issue a new dollar with his picture on it just for people like McCain!
Obama says Republicans trying to scare voters
By MIKE GLOVER - Associated Press Writer
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --Democrat Barack Obama, the first black candidate with a shot at winning the White House, says John McCain and his Republican allies will try to scare them by saying Obama "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."
Obama didn't make clear what distinctions McCain was likely to raise regarding the presidents on U.S. currency, men who are white and, for the most part, much older than Obama when they were elected. McCain has not raised Obama's race as an issue in the campaign, though he has said that Obama lacks experience.
Stumping in an economically challenged battleground state, Obama argued Wednesday that President Bush and McCain will resort to scare tactics to maintain their hold on the White House because they have little else to offer voters.
"Nobody thinks that Bush and McCain have a real answer to the challenges we face. So what they're going to try to do is make you scared of me," Obama said. "You know, he's not patriotic enough, he's got a funny name, you know, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."
Thursday, July 31
Saturday, July 26
Daddy and Daughter Trip/Pearl Fryar's Garden
WOW! We had an incredible trip to Pearl Fryar's garden in Bishopville! We took over 50 pictures, so I need to edit and narrow them down, but here are a couple of teasers.
Friday, July 25
Misc. MP-Speak
My friend, Brian, says that there are really only 50 people in Columbia, and today I was reminded of that. It turns out that my "dream hairdresser" is cousins with my dog groomer, Susan. Seems that his disappearing act on Saturday is par for the course, and that even his longterm clients have had to deal with it for some time. Do you know what I have to say for them? ENABLERS! It will KILL me not to go back, but this time, I'm going to hold my ground. (Lord, how many times have I said that about a man???!!!)
On the flip side, Sister went to J. Thomas Salon today and got a new cut, and for the first time in her 30-something years, COLOR. Nice bronze highlights. Tres chic.
Tomorrow, Sister and I are taking Dad off for a Sister Roadtrip - we're heading to Bishopville to see Pearl Fryar's topiary garden. It's a spur of the moment thing, but I can't wait!
Anonymous, if you made it this far, one of my friend's e-mailed me today about you. She wanted to know who Anonymous was and why he/she was always so "snarky." LOVED it.
On the flip side, Sister went to J. Thomas Salon today and got a new cut, and for the first time in her 30-something years, COLOR. Nice bronze highlights. Tres chic.
Tomorrow, Sister and I are taking Dad off for a Sister Roadtrip - we're heading to Bishopville to see Pearl Fryar's topiary garden. It's a spur of the moment thing, but I can't wait!
Anonymous, if you made it this far, one of my friend's e-mailed me today about you. She wanted to know who Anonymous was and why he/she was always so "snarky." LOVED it.
Thursday, July 24
Does Anyone Else Find This Strange?
McCain to meet Dalai Lama in Aspen: Presidential candidate calls him a 'transcendent national role model'
I bet this will REALLY endear him to the Christian right.
Wednesday, July 23
The Eyes Have It
Okay, this is a totally cool product. Here's the description:An Avon first! It's the easiest eyeshadow ever! Quick, easy application that’s makeup-artist perfect...and a great traveler. It's easy! Peel & Position - Separate eyeshadow sheet from protective plastic cover and place over closed eye. Press - Gently press & rub entire sheet to transfer eyeshadow. Blend - Blend with fingertips for professional results!
Tuesday, July 22
SO Cuuuuute
I know I shouldn't say that after yesterday's snake post, but when I went out to get the recycling bin this afternoon, I saw the CUTEST snake.
I've been searching Google for a picture, but can't find one, so you'll have to use your imagination...
It was about five inches long - a baby, I guess - with a black head and striped/herringbone patterned body. It looked velvety, and moved as fast as lightning!
I was ooohing and ahhhhing over it until I realized 1) there's a mama snake, and it may be right behind me; and 2) mama snakes have baby snakes up to 50 at a time.
The best I can tell from the snake pictures I did find is that it was a garter snake.
Oooh, and I have to wash clothes tonight!
I've been searching Google for a picture, but can't find one, so you'll have to use your imagination...
It was about five inches long - a baby, I guess - with a black head and striped/herringbone patterned body. It looked velvety, and moved as fast as lightning!
I was ooohing and ahhhhing over it until I realized 1) there's a mama snake, and it may be right behind me; and 2) mama snakes have baby snakes up to 50 at a time.
The best I can tell from the snake pictures I did find is that it was a garter snake.
Oooh, and I have to wash clothes tonight!
Monday, July 21
Holy @#$%^&!
I wish I hadn't seen this, but now that I have, you, too, have to think about it the next time you wash clothes!
Maine woman finds 8-foot snake in her washer
Mara Ranger was reaching into the machine when she felt something move
GORHAM, Maine - A woman got the shock of her life when she found an 8-foot snake mixed in with clothes in her washing machine. The snake, identified as a reticulated python, somehow got into the water pipes of Mara Ranger's 1800s-era farmhouse and slithered into the machine.
After Ranger took her blue jeans out of the machine Wednesday, she reached back into the load and felt something move.
"I jumped back and all of sudden its head starts coming out of the washing machine and it looked huge," Ranger told WMTW-TV.
Ranger quickly closed the lid and called police and an animal control officer, but they didn't want anything to do with the serpent.
When Richard Burton, who operates Maine Animal Damage Control in Lewiston, arrived at Ranger's house, he could barely believe his eyes.
An 8-foot snakeBurton reached into the machine wearing a pair of welding gloves, expecting to come out with a 4-foot snake. But when he pulled the animal out, it kept coming and coming — all 8 feet of it.
Once out of the machine, the angry snake wrapped itself around Burton's hand, cutting off the blood flow. Burton then wrestled the scaly reptile into a plastic bag, tied it shut and brought it to Lewiston.
That's where Jen Lewis, a wildlife rehabilitator who works at the Kennel Shop, identified it as a python. The snakes kill prey with their teeth but are not poisonous, she said.
Lewis and Lewiston's animal control officer planned to find the snake a home at a wildlife refuge.
But how the snake ended up in the washing machine remains a mystery. Burton guessed it was somebody's pet and that the owner ended up tossing it out into the wild when it got too big. It then made its way through the water pipes and into the washing machine, probably after the load was done, he said.
In the meantime, Ranger said she's a little paranoid.
"Now that it's gone, I'm going to be checking crevices and corners," Ranger said. "I'm going to be looking in the tub first — before and after, maybe even during, the rinse cycle."
Maine woman finds 8-foot snake in her washer
Mara Ranger was reaching into the machine when she felt something move
GORHAM, Maine - A woman got the shock of her life when she found an 8-foot snake mixed in with clothes in her washing machine. The snake, identified as a reticulated python, somehow got into the water pipes of Mara Ranger's 1800s-era farmhouse and slithered into the machine.
After Ranger took her blue jeans out of the machine Wednesday, she reached back into the load and felt something move.
"I jumped back and all of sudden its head starts coming out of the washing machine and it looked huge," Ranger told WMTW-TV.
Ranger quickly closed the lid and called police and an animal control officer, but they didn't want anything to do with the serpent.
When Richard Burton, who operates Maine Animal Damage Control in Lewiston, arrived at Ranger's house, he could barely believe his eyes.
An 8-foot snakeBurton reached into the machine wearing a pair of welding gloves, expecting to come out with a 4-foot snake. But when he pulled the animal out, it kept coming and coming — all 8 feet of it.
Once out of the machine, the angry snake wrapped itself around Burton's hand, cutting off the blood flow. Burton then wrestled the scaly reptile into a plastic bag, tied it shut and brought it to Lewiston.
That's where Jen Lewis, a wildlife rehabilitator who works at the Kennel Shop, identified it as a python. The snakes kill prey with their teeth but are not poisonous, she said.
Lewis and Lewiston's animal control officer planned to find the snake a home at a wildlife refuge.
But how the snake ended up in the washing machine remains a mystery. Burton guessed it was somebody's pet and that the owner ended up tossing it out into the wild when it got too big. It then made its way through the water pipes and into the washing machine, probably after the load was done, he said.
In the meantime, Ranger said she's a little paranoid.
"Now that it's gone, I'm going to be checking crevices and corners," Ranger said. "I'm going to be looking in the tub first — before and after, maybe even during, the rinse cycle."
Sunday, July 20
Extreme DOG Makeover
BEFORE
AFTER
Saturday afternoon, the Sisters and Papa washed Lucy, Mom and Dad's dog.
Sister and I surprised Dad with Lucy about nine years ago, so she is special to us, too.
We started by giving Lucy a good brushing. As you can see, the fur was flying!
Then we took her to Preppy Puppies; they have self-serve dog washes.
The hard part was getting her in the tub.
From there on, it was nothing but fun!
She had so much fun, she didn't want to leave!
AFTER
Saturday afternoon, the Sisters and Papa washed Lucy, Mom and Dad's dog.
Sister and I surprised Dad with Lucy about nine years ago, so she is special to us, too.
We started by giving Lucy a good brushing. As you can see, the fur was flying!
Then we took her to Preppy Puppies; they have self-serve dog washes.
The hard part was getting her in the tub.
From there on, it was nothing but fun!
She had so much fun, she didn't want to leave!
Kismet Schmizmet
You remember a while back when I found the hairdresser of my dreams?
He stood me up on Saturday.
He moved to a great new salon, J. Thomas Salon in the Vista.
10:30 a.m. came and went, no Wane.
11 a.m. came and went.
At 11:15 a.m., after two unanswered phone calls to his mobile phone, I got Kenneth to do the cut. It's a little different, but a good cut, and let's face it - he was THERE. Kenneth was very cool - he actually works part-time in Manhattan, part-time in Columbia. His parents live in Manhattan; his ex-wife and family here.
We were so impressed with Kenneth and the salon that Sister made an appointment with him for Friday.
As for Wane, his name wasn't in the obituaries, which is a good sign, but he hasn't called to apologize either.
I guess I'll give him one more chance, but I'm not going to get in the same situation I did with my old hairdresser, Todd, who was a total wreck.
He stood me up on Saturday.
He moved to a great new salon, J. Thomas Salon in the Vista.
10:30 a.m. came and went, no Wane.
11 a.m. came and went.
At 11:15 a.m., after two unanswered phone calls to his mobile phone, I got Kenneth to do the cut. It's a little different, but a good cut, and let's face it - he was THERE. Kenneth was very cool - he actually works part-time in Manhattan, part-time in Columbia. His parents live in Manhattan; his ex-wife and family here.
We were so impressed with Kenneth and the salon that Sister made an appointment with him for Friday.
As for Wane, his name wasn't in the obituaries, which is a good sign, but he hasn't called to apologize either.
I guess I'll give him one more chance, but I'm not going to get in the same situation I did with my old hairdresser, Todd, who was a total wreck.
Friday, July 18
EGAD!
Even more idiotic than a 19-moth-old winning a gun? The parent who entered his name in the drawing!
Wednesday, July 16
This Idea is a GRAND Slam
m&m's in your favorite major league team colors, complete with logos! Too cool. I can't get the picture to load, but it's worth a click to see them!
Monday, July 14
Project Runway - Commentary
Okay, first things first. Blayne is creepy.
Austin Scarlett - didn't disappoint.
Stella - can you say Addams Family? But she's talking my language with the trash bags!
This is definitely a more racially diverse group.
First commercial. Roxanne, get cable! Season One? Well, at least you know Austin Scarlett.
Liking me some Daniel...
Too many tablecloths. But I do like gingham...
Second commercial. No divas have emerged yet.
Third commercial. This is getting a little boring. Runway show next.
Nuvaring commercial is weird. Clumsy animation. I've seen it a million times this week. I must be watching women TV.
I won't try to blog during the show next week.
I just told Sister that I thought the creepy boy was going home. Her response? "Which creepy boy?" Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Like Daniel's cup dress the best. Blayne - going home, no doubt.
Time to go get Winnie!
Daniel was robbed. But Kelly's dress was cool. Blayne made it? No way. Bye bye, Jerry.
AGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Austin Scarlett - didn't disappoint.
Stella - can you say Addams Family? But she's talking my language with the trash bags!
This is definitely a more racially diverse group.
First commercial. Roxanne, get cable! Season One? Well, at least you know Austin Scarlett.
Liking me some Daniel...
Too many tablecloths. But I do like gingham...
Second commercial. No divas have emerged yet.
Third commercial. This is getting a little boring. Runway show next.
Nuvaring commercial is weird. Clumsy animation. I've seen it a million times this week. I must be watching women TV.
I won't try to blog during the show next week.
I just told Sister that I thought the creepy boy was going home. Her response? "Which creepy boy?" Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Like Daniel's cup dress the best. Blayne - going home, no doubt.
Time to go get Winnie!
Daniel was robbed. But Kelly's dress was cool. Blayne made it? No way. Bye bye, Jerry.
AGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
FREAKY
Blogger is crazy tonight - July 16. All of my posts are being dated Monday, July 14. STRANGE.
Project Runway - TONIGHT!
Yes, I know, I'm a reality show junkie. And my favorite, Project Runway, premieres TONIGHT! I can hardly wait! (What would I do without Bravo?)
Previews show that Austin Scarlett from season one will appear tonight. He is one of my all-time favorite PR personalities. Didn't care for his designs, but he reminds me so much of a 1950's movie star, like Joan Crawford or Bette Davis. BTW, did you know he designed Lauri's wedding dress on The Real Housewives of Orange County?
Looking at the roster for tonight's show, Suede, Blayne (HOT) and Keith stand out.
By the way, if you were named after a fabric (aka Suede), what would it be and why? I think I would be tulle because it's full of body, versatile, and I like the way it sounds. YOU??
Episode One commentary to come!
Previews show that Austin Scarlett from season one will appear tonight. He is one of my all-time favorite PR personalities. Didn't care for his designs, but he reminds me so much of a 1950's movie star, like Joan Crawford or Bette Davis. BTW, did you know he designed Lauri's wedding dress on The Real Housewives of Orange County?
Looking at the roster for tonight's show, Suede, Blayne (HOT) and Keith stand out.
By the way, if you were named after a fabric (aka Suede), what would it be and why? I think I would be tulle because it's full of body, versatile, and I like the way it sounds. YOU??
Episode One commentary to come!
Bank Shot Baldauf
Hickory Knob had two pool tables in the lodge, and they were always open!
Sister, Poppy and I spent two evenings playing pool, and while practice did NOT make the Sisters perfect, Dad was on a roll the entire time.
He was so quick on the cue that it was hard to get any pictures - imagine my surprise when I saw this one. Look at the ball, rolling right in the pocket! I couldn't have gotten that if I'd been trying.
We're Puzzled!
We spent a long weekend at Hickory Knob State Park with Mom and Dad this past weekend. We went there a lot when we were younger, so it was a neat trip down Memory Lane. I'll be posting different pictures from the weekend, but my favorite pictures were from the puzzle!
Dad and I shot a game or two of pool and let them get started.
This is how I felt watching them.
There's this big lodge with lots of games and stuff, and Friday evening, we started a puzzle. We left around 9 p.m. with the puzzle nearly done, but when we came in the next day, we realized that it was a losing battle - there were so many pieces missing. So Beth and Mom started a new one Saturday afternoon. They say they got nearly halfway through, but when we came in Saturday evening, someone had taken it apart, so we started from scratch.
Dad and I shot a game or two of pool and let them get started.
After Dad beat me in a few games, I decided I may be better off at the puzzle table. After seeing the difficulty of the puzzle and small size of the pieces, I decided I would document the instead of doing the puzzle.
They really got into the puzzle thing...
This is how I felt watching them.
Eventually, Mom got tired...
...while Dad just gained steam.
They got this far, then we all pooped out.
Thursday, July 10
Monday, July 7
Mmmmmmm!
Okay, I've been fussy all day because the A/C is out in our office.
Fuss no more! Lexington County's A/C guy - whew! - he is HOT!
Fuss no more! Lexington County's A/C guy - whew! - he is HOT!
Sunday, July 6
Oh Beautiful, For Milk Bone Skies
It's Yankee Doodle Winston! For the record, he is usually happier when he's in costume, but it was too early for him this time! When he's tired, he's 120 lbs. of dead weight! Or he could just be giving his serious Clark Gable look. See the resemblence?? (Seriously - he has a "Clark Gable look.")
Winstons sez: "Oh, beautiful, for Milk Bone skies, for sleeping all day long. For barking at the garbage man and singing siren songs! America! America! It’s great to be a dog! Just eat and sleep, and love and leap, from day to glorious day!"
Winstons sez: "Oh, beautiful, for Milk Bone skies, for sleeping all day long. For barking at the garbage man and singing siren songs! America! America! It’s great to be a dog! Just eat and sleep, and love and leap, from day to glorious day!"
My New Obsession
Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino® blended coffee with Chocolate Whipped CreamClassic chocolate and spearmint flavor combined with Starbucks coffees and milk, mocha sauce, Frappuccino® chips, blended with ice, and then topped with chocolate whipped cream and mocha sauce.
If you go light and tall, it's under 200 calories. (But I haven't done that yet!)
Friday, July 4
I've been thinking about this Starbucks thing...
So this guy has the REAL Starbucks story.I've been going to the Trenholm Plaza Starbucks regularly for a while now.
About a year ago, more than five new Starbucks opened, and the quality of our Starbucks, particularly customer service, suffered greatly.
Personable baristas who'd become a big part of the experience were sent to the new locations, and replaced with cookie cutter coffee kids, who didn't seem to care whether you were there or not.
The store was rearranged every other week.
Once, the barista with the key just didn't show up, and the store was 45 minutes late opening!
Take away the great customer service, comfort and regularly god experiences, and you just have coffee, which you can get anywhere.
At least in Columbia, the rapid growth diluted the Starbucks experience, and they don't seem to be able to recapture it.
I also think the pseudo-Starbucks in Target, Barnes and Noble have weakened the brand. These stores are "leased," and their staff doesn't have the training that "real" Starbucks baristas received. A skinny vanilla latte purchased from a Target may or may not be the same thing you get at one of the company stores.
I'm hoping our Starbucks survives the 600 closings, but I'm more hopeful it returns to it's formerly great self.
Wednesday, July 2
Can YOU Pass the Citizenship Test?
I got 85% correct. Okay, so I'm not a student of history. I'm more of a pop culture girl.
On second thought, I only missed three:
So the Constitution was written a little later than I thought. And I don't know my war presidents. But it sure seems like our senators have eight year terms, especially when you grew up in the land of Strom Thurmond!
On second thought, I only missed three:
So the Constitution was written a little later than I thought. And I don't know my war presidents. But it sure seems like our senators have eight year terms, especially when you grew up in the land of Strom Thurmond!
Getting Out My Frustrations on the Blog
Since it would probably be rude to print this out and hand it to someone everytime they tell me about the "joys" I'm missing by not having children, I'll post a link to this great article - Having Kids Makes You Happy, True or False - and include a few good quotes. With some of the folks I work with, not having children rates right up there with Satan worshipping.
In Daniel Gilbert's 2006 book "Stumbling on Happiness," the Harvard professor of psychology looks at several studies and concludes that marital satisfaction decreases dramatically after the birth of the first child—and increases only when the last child has left home. He also ascertains that parents are happier grocery shopping and even sleeping than spending time with their kids.
Other data cited by 2008's "Gross National Happiness" author, Arthur C. Brooks, finds that parents are about 7 percentage points less likely to report being happy than the childless.
"Parents experience lower levels of emotional well-being, less frequent positive emotions and more frequent negative emotions than their childless peers," says Florida State University's Robin Simon, a sociology professor who's conducted several recent parenting studies, the most thorough of which came out in 2005 and looked at data gathered from 13,000 Americans by the National Survey of Families and Households. "In fact, no group of parents—married, single, step or even empty nest—reported significantly greater emotional well-being than people who never had children. It's such a counterintuitive finding because we have these cultural beliefs that children are the key to happiness and a healthy life, and they're not."
In Daniel Gilbert's 2006 book "Stumbling on Happiness," the Harvard professor of psychology looks at several studies and concludes that marital satisfaction decreases dramatically after the birth of the first child—and increases only when the last child has left home. He also ascertains that parents are happier grocery shopping and even sleeping than spending time with their kids.
Other data cited by 2008's "Gross National Happiness" author, Arthur C. Brooks, finds that parents are about 7 percentage points less likely to report being happy than the childless.
"Parents experience lower levels of emotional well-being, less frequent positive emotions and more frequent negative emotions than their childless peers," says Florida State University's Robin Simon, a sociology professor who's conducted several recent parenting studies, the most thorough of which came out in 2005 and looked at data gathered from 13,000 Americans by the National Survey of Families and Households. "In fact, no group of parents—married, single, step or even empty nest—reported significantly greater emotional well-being than people who never had children. It's such a counterintuitive finding because we have these cultural beliefs that children are the key to happiness and a healthy life, and they're not."
Heavy Equipment Operator Quote of the Day
"Scars are better than tattoos 'cause you've got to earn them."
Checks in the Mail
I went to write a check this a.m. and realized that I was out! Ooops! I usually only use them for my hairdresser and sister, so I guess I just don't keep up with them too much. Anyway, I found the coolest new checks at Checks in the Mail! ('Cuz you KNOW I don't do boring checks!) I can't wait to use these!
Tuesday, July 1
Notice Anything Strange About This Story??
Apparently, he married a two-year-old!!
A grandfather who was stabbed by a discarded syringe while working at a recycling centre faces an anxious wait to find out whether he has caught any diseases from the needle.
But although Ray Wood, 58, will not get the all-clear for at least year, he has returned to his job as a supervisor at the Norfolk Environmental Waste Services (NEWS) recycling centre at Costessey.
Six weeks ago Mr Wood, from Sutton, went to pick up a plastic bottle which was in the wrong waste stream, when he felt the needle come through his glove and prick the side of his right hand.
Since then, he has been treated by the firm's occupational health department and given double strength injections for Hepatitis and several blood tests, but he still faces an agonising wait
Mr Wood's wife Sandra, 40, who he has been married to for 38 years, said: “I'm angry that people could put their syringes in the recycling like that - it just beggars belief. It could have quite serious consequences but we just have to take it as it comes, whether the results are.”
A grandfather who was stabbed by a discarded syringe while working at a recycling centre faces an anxious wait to find out whether he has caught any diseases from the needle.
But although Ray Wood, 58, will not get the all-clear for at least year, he has returned to his job as a supervisor at the Norfolk Environmental Waste Services (NEWS) recycling centre at Costessey.
Six weeks ago Mr Wood, from Sutton, went to pick up a plastic bottle which was in the wrong waste stream, when he felt the needle come through his glove and prick the side of his right hand.
Since then, he has been treated by the firm's occupational health department and given double strength injections for Hepatitis and several blood tests, but he still faces an agonising wait
Mr Wood's wife Sandra, 40, who he has been married to for 38 years, said: “I'm angry that people could put their syringes in the recycling like that - it just beggars belief. It could have quite serious consequences but we just have to take it as it comes, whether the results are.”
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