After what my toilet did to me tonight (no, I have not ever even heard of an electric toilet plunger…) I really got a kick out of Aaron’s Wild Toilets article. Last fall when considering leaving apartment life behind I decided that as long as I am single an apartment is not a bad thing. I can call maintanence any hour of the night if there is an emergency. I got the toilet to behave pretty fast, so I am set for now, but if it acts up again you can bet I will be calling!

Hey Naomi! Look! An All Your Base Are Belong to Us T-Shirt on the LittleYellowDifferent Guy. (February 27, 2001 post) Too funny. Here I had never heard of it before last week, and now it is popping up where I least expect it.

Kymberlie & I went to the Duran Duran concert tonight at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It was a blast. The funnel cake was fabulous - I can’t wait until I return and have another! The ride to the Dome was nice and smooth. And as Kymberlie put it, you just *can’t* go wrong with ’80s music! There were several songs I had forgotten that they sang. The odd thing was that they didn’t sing “The Reflex” - which was their first Number 1 song ever in the USA? I can’t figure out why. Maybe someone owns the copyright to it and they are not allowed to play it? They did “Rio” and “Save a Prayer” and a bunch of other cool ones though - so it’s all good. I visited this site, and I have to add that they look so funny now as an adult! I remember been a teenager and thinking how hot they were. They look hysterical in that picture with all that make-up! Now for the trivia question of the evening … just how old IS Simon LeBon? I went to CDNow to look at the Bio there on the band. He joined the group in 1980. Hmmm… 21 years ago. No data on how old he was when he joined though… anyone know the answer? I am really curious now. WAIT!!! I found it! According to this page he was born October 27th, 1958 - which would make him 42, going on 43 later this year. Oops, sorry Simon. I guess you are not as old as we thought you were! It must have just been the lighting…

Tomorrow it is the Jo Dee Messina concert with Chelsey. She will be happy when I tell her tomorrow how much smoother the whole bus system was running tonight. We went to the opening show, Clay Walker, and the bus system was not that smooth yet. This year with all of the construction at the Astrodome complex they are making everyone take the bus to the Rodeo. I normally take the bus and don’t mind it at all. I hated having to walk forever to get to my car and then sit in stop and go traffic to even get out of the parking lot. I truly prefer getting on the bus and letting them deal with the drive. All I had to do was walk a short distance from the steps of the bus and I was at the gates! You could never park that close if you drove. But that first night none of the drivers knew where they were going - it was a bit of a mess. She swore she wasn’t going to go again this year. Now she is … just so she can go with me … awwwwwwwwww. By the way Chelsey, I am working on that list for you, just like you asked.

Want to know what really SUCKS? When you go to the bathroom at 2 in the morning and the toilet, for no reason whatsoever, decides it should overflow. ACK!!! It is at moments like these that I really wish I had a husband to help me out. It is a lot of fun standing in half an inch of water trying to get everything from gushing everywhere

Want to know what is really COOL? When complete strangers stand up and give you support. No, not with the toilet crisis of the last hour. I am on a craft list where I posted some helpful information on web design. When questioned, I posted about my experience and some of the clients that I have worked with - the ones with names that people would recognize. I then posted that I was not posting helpful information to get business - the prices at the company that I work for are normally out of their budget by a longshot. One of the women on the list posted back that my comment was arrogant. Man, that made me mad. It was so wonderful to get a lot of e-mail from people that truly cared and thanked me for my posts in the past and asked me not to leave. No worries, I am not going anywhere. I will continue to post information on what I know - because I enjoy doing it. But the more I thought about it, you know what? They are right. I started saying years ago that I am a web snob. I hate poorly designed websites. I hate people that want to sell online but don’t take the effort to design a professional site or even one that showcases their products well. I really hate sites that use the “no right-click script” because it would take me about 45 seconds to still copy the images or the code - so all they are doing is preventing me from doing “right click - open link in new window” which really annoys me. Yep, I am a web snob. I am arrogant. I have worked hard to know what I do, I am primarily self-taught, and I have been pretty successful so far in my Internet career. I am proud of my arrogant title! Web Snobs Unite!

I don’t normally post things like this here or send them along by e-mail. But this one really made me stop and think, so here it is. I am proud to have been an Army wife, and I am proud of my ex-husband who is still serving in the U.S. Army at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. I did not write this. If anyone knows the original author of this - please let me know. For my ex-husband and all the others that serve in the military…

On 18 February 2001, while racing for fame and fortune, Dale Earnhardt died in the last lap of the Daytona 500. It was surely a tragedy for his family, friends and fans. He was 49 years old with grown children, one which was in the race. I am new to the NASCAR culture so much of what I know has come from the newspaper and TV. He was a winner and earned everything he had. This included more than “$41 million in winnings and ten times that from endorsements and souvenir sales”. He had a beautiful home and a private jet. He drove the most sophisticated cars allowed and every part was inspected and replaced as soon as there was any evidence of wear. This is normally fully funded by the car and team sponsors. Today, there is no TV station that does not constantly remind us of his tragic end and the radio already has a song of tribute to this winning driver. Nothing should be taken away from this man, he was a professional and the best in his profession. He was in a very dangerous business but the rewards were great.

18 February 2001, Dale Earnhardt died driving for fame and glory at the Daytona 500. The nation mourns. Seven soldiers died training to protect our freedom. No one can remember their names and most don’t even remember the incident.

Ack! I just realized I am as bad as the person that tossed me into this funk. I told Tom on Friday that I would call him, and never did. Egads. Now I am in a funk and feeling guilty at the same time. I am a terrible friend. Tom, if you are reading this, here is my public apology. I should have called, and there is really no excuse good enough. Please forgive me… Man, I am a bad friend. (Hey Chelsey, no comments from the cheap seats…)

I tried to update over the weekend, but kept getting very strange error messages and the posts never made it. I don’t think I blame it on Blogger though, as my PC was acting flaky. It always acts flaky after I am on Napster. Do you think I would learn finally and reboot it after I finish downloading? Noooooo… (Duh.) It’s probably a good thing I didn’t post - I was in a bad mood for half the weekend. It is allergy season here now, and it gave me a headache. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong until I went outside to get in the car yesterday so we could head off to the annual Blue & Gold Cub Scout dinner and my cute little silver Honda Civic (that is *still* missing the molding) had a lovely yellow hue to it thanks to the oak pollen. I guess I shouldn’t complain too much though - Chelsey & her son Jordan got to come up to visit on Saturday for lunch and so we could catch up on the episodes of Friends and Will & Grace that she missed while she was on the Saltgrass Trail Ride. I had recorded them on to TiVo, but my VCR wouldn’t let me transfer them to tape. I have to turn my TV stand around and see if I have the connections set up right - before I moved to my current apartment I could do it. I must not have something wired right. But “it’s all gooooood…” I was happy to get to see her, and we are going to the Rodeo on Wednesday to see JoDee Messina. I have to drive in to downtown so she doesn’t have to take the shuttle alone, but it is the only way I could get her to go. I don’t mind the drive or the shuttle for that matter. Guess it helps that I took the bus to work in downtown for over five years.

Know what I hate? When people (namely men) tell you that they will call so you can get together… and then don’t call. I hate that. At least just pick up the phone and call and cancel. Tell me you never want to talk to me again. Whatever. That is less painful then the torture of the unknown. Grumble, grumble… I just had to vent about that. I am a very patient and a very understanding person - so it just irritates the heck out of me when people take advantage of it. On that note, I am going to go work on pulling out of this funk that I am in. I wore my new boots to work today - that helped. Funny how some cool, funky shoes can help any woman’s mood.

Thanks Rick for filling me in on Mr. Rodgers. Just in case Blog Voices ever goes away, I have to add it here…

I think the idea of having Fred change his shoes at the beginning of the show is to make it look like he is coming home from a job like children’s parents would do as well. Wouldn’t quiet be the same if Mr. R was already home in his bath robe with a can of beer and a 3-day beard.

Oh my! The mental image of Mr. R in his bathrobe sippin’ a brew is too much for me to take after today. But you know what? My parents came home from work and changed - matter of fact, my Mom calls my Dad’s sweaters the Mr. Rodger’s sweaters because they are all cardigans - but they never put on tennis shoes! That is the part that always amused me. And you know what, I am STILL singing that darn song. No wonder I am in such a happy mood today.

Now this is fun!

Many thanks to Fred at vain, selfish & lazy for making me laugh quite hard with his commentary on the Grammys. What a riot. I love the bit about the twins from a few days earlier too.

Ahhhh… the memories. Don’t ask me why, but for some reason I just left Mr. Rodger’s Neighborhood on when I was flipping channels. And it brought a few questions to mind. Do you think he ever considered just wearing the tennis shoes & the sweater to the show instead of making that big production about changing them? I always wondered that when I was a kid. Why wear dress shoes there and then put on tennis shoes? And then change them again when you leave? It always seemed odd. And is it just me, or does that closing song still make everyone feel happy even as an adult? “It’s such a good feeling, to know you’re alive. It’s such a happy feeling, you’re growing inside. And when you wake up, ready to say I think I’ll make a snappy today (snap, snap), it’s such a good feeling, a very good feeling. A feeling you know that I’ll be back when the day is new, and I’ll have more ideas for you. And you’ll have things you’ll want to talk about, and I will too.” I just have to sing along every time I hear it. Then his little closing speech, “You always make each day a special day by just your being yourself! That’s right! I like being with you!” Awwww, shucks. I make each day a special day! Man, that warm fuzzy feeling is still nice, even when you are no longer a kid. Maybe that’s it - it makes you feel like a kid at heart, still safe & secure, knowing that Mr. Rodgers will be back. Hmmmm. Well, it’s still a nice way to start out the day! Come on everyone - sing along!

The news amazes me. It must be an incredibly slow night here in Houston, because they have been hiding this one under their hats waiting for the right time to pull it out… I am watching channel 11, the local CBS station. The news has just started. Picture two anchors sitting at the desk, and this is how it begins.

Good evening, I’m Lisa Foronda… (pan to the male anchor) And I’m Greg Hurst, thank you for joining us… Lisa: We are beginning with a special “Upclose Report” on an explosive situation that might be at your doorstep right now. Greg: There is no way that you can tell that it is there, and no one is doing anything to protect you even though a lot of lives have been lost.

FLASH text on the top of the screen: Underground Danger (Of course in dramatic lettering)

New announcer takes over: “It’s no secret, at least not to the people that oversee & run the natural gas pipelines…”

Cue the dramatic music.

Then they go on to talk about an explosion that happened in August, 1997, when a woman lit her cigarette and the natural gas that had filled the room ignited. A pipe fractured in her neighborhood. In 1998 there was a special investigation report released that states that most of the pipe installed nationwide from 1960’s to mid-1980’s is flawed. Cracks cause leaks - 15 incidents have occurred, and 47 deaths have resulted. The pipes crack when the ground in Texas dries out and the moving soil makes the pipes brittle.

Flash to the redneck guy - those are mandatory of course. Note: if you are filming a broadcast, be sure to locate one guy that sounds like an idiot.

The Texas Railroad Commission says that the report cited isn’t enough proof that the pipes are not good. In spite of all the experts who agree that the pipes are flawed. But the news points out that there is too much pipe to pull to repair.

“It has been nearly 3 years since the NTSB released their report, and in that time there has been another fatal incident, in January, 2000″ - a home was leveled and 3 people killed. In October, 2000 - the Railroad Commission ordered pipeline operators to catalog the pipe in their system.

End of the story, on to the next one…

In the end the news station has no solution for me, of course - just that I should do some homework and figure out when the pipe in your neighborhood was installed. Ummmmm… ok. I just don’t see that happening. Of course I care about having my house explode - but it seemed pretty dated for the lead story. How is that for odd though? How jaded have I become, thinking that just isn’t sensational enough to be the lead story? Man, our society is screwed up. Why do I watch the news? It seems to just end up being annoying fluff. Not anything of substance - how much can you cram into 30 minutes?

Speaking of the news, they just passed over a blurb on Duhbya. I tell you… Texas has one of the worst education systems in the country. I think (I do need to look it up to verify) that we normally end up in the 10 lowest states on the education scale. But Duhbya thinks he should push for mandatory testing nationwide. Oh, ok, yeah, it’s working here. I *HATE* the mandatory testing. When I go to my son’s elementary school it is all that I hear. Do they learn to learn? NOOO!!! They focus constantly on the test. All they seem to teach is the material that they will need for the test. That just seems wrong to me. I think you should just teach. Then do a test at the end of the year and note what they have learned. Don’t use the test as a basis for funding or anything else like that - just test them to see where the school is lacking and where they can improve - and so that you know what they have learned. Basically, it seems to me that instead of pushing my child to grow and learn all that he is capable of, instead they actually hold him back and have him focus constantly on these trivial details that they feel is necessary to pass this test. Ack! It seems to me that we are teaching them to meet the minimum standards instead of teaching them to reach for the stars!

Now here is your chance - click that “Talk Back” link and tell us what you think about the whole thing.

Go get some OpenCola [Softdrink] source code…

I enjoyed visiting Here’s Bloggin’ At You Kid! today… and then I followed links off of her site to other sites, and before I know it too much time has passed. Gee, what will I be doing tonight? Surfing blogs! I love blogs… want me to read your blog? Just send me an e-mail and let me know! (I will do anything for blog-crack!)

Queen of no patience and instant gratification… forget about waiting until after dinner. I did it NOW. I have used SSI to fill in the section there to the right. *Please* e-mail me if you don’t see anything over there! Hopefully it is cross-platform compatible, but I can’t check it on a Mac or on Netscape on a PC until tomorrow. If it’s broken, HELP! Thanks! If it works just fine - I am *so* excited!!! That was easy - why didn’t I do it a long time ago?

I also added Meet the FMPs (Frequently Mentioned People) and Blogistory (Where did it come from?). Tonight I will finish transcribing my notes on the Oprah show (Dr. Phil on losing weight, but can be applied to life overall) and also maybe add some of my journal pages from the retreat I attended in January. Also adding some of the blogs I like to visit so that you can too.

I couldn’t pass up the Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist? test today. The result?

Congratulations! You’re the eternal optimist, a regular “Sunshine Day” of a person. When it rains, you think about how good the water is for the flowers and trees rather than how wet you’re getting. More likely to trust someone than not, you always see the good in people. Sure, that opens you up for a few let-downs, but that’s okay — your great attitude will help you deal with them if and when they come. In the long run, it doesn’t really matter at all; everything’s going to be all right! You like meeting new people and thoroughly enjoy their companionship. In a nutshell, you just don’t dwell on small failures — you learn from your mistakes and do your best to make everyone around you happy to be alive. Keep it up!

Yep. It drives people nuts when I am “down” it seems - they just don’t expect it of me. I had better get out of eMode.com now, otherwise I will be stuck there for hours.

I think I finally have those SSI’s figured out, so I am going to save everything that is here and then do some testing. I would like to use SSI’s for that list of links to the right, it will make it a lot easier to keep it up to date on all the pages. So far my testing has gone well, so after dinner I will try it on the live blog!