Is there an Opening?

Now how the heck can I get a job here? And people actually get paid to do this!

Tales of Woe..

I was talking to a friend of mine who atteneded summer classes this summer at Hillsborough Community College so he could get some basic classes out of the way before returning to the University of Florida in the Fall.
His English prof. was the Prof. from hell.
Get this, the guy assigns stuff, and then gives papers back, with no grades and no explanations. Assignes the same amount of work for a summer class as a full session which included assigning more reading in a few weeks (assigned towards the end of the class) than most people get in a full session. And to top it all off, today, when turning in his assignments my friend was told he was going to be failed if he didn't change the words "Preliminary/Final Draft" on some assignments he tried to turn in rather than "Preliminar/Final Drafts" and when he changed that, he tried to hand in the final assignments AGAIN! and the Prof. said "I'm Offended!" and it was because my friend had failed to put "Professor" in from the the guys last name where it asked for the teacher. He was going to be failed for that too.
What an arrogant piece of work if I do say so myself.

Ties Not Good For Your Eyes?

According to WebMD men who wear ties too tight are at a greater risk for Glaucoma. I know many guys who will say this is another reason never to wear a tie. You can read the story here.

Movie Night Redux

Watched Road to Perdition last night. I think this movie didn't get the props it deserved. It had a great story-line, it was well acted and the other elements such as music, setting, etc. were right for this movie. There was a flaw, the ending. Michael Sullivan, Tom Hanks character and how his past finally catches up to him. He was so careful all along and thought things out so completely that he he would be so careful to go so easily into that home? I was perplexed. But overall I have to say it was a really good movie and I was glad I finally had the opportunity to see it.

What I Read...

I just got finished with Regina McBride's The Land of Women. This is one of five books I picked out of the books bins here at work and this is success number 2.
This is a story about a young women name Fiona and her single mother Jane. Fiona spends the book remembering her childhood and early womenhood growing up in a desolate area of Ireland from her new home in New Mexico where her father had moved to be a photographer. Jane has a talent for sewing and makes her living making lavish wedding dresses for local brides. Fiona also has this gift but uses it for different reasons. Jane longs to marry and in fact one of her dresses becomes an obsession for her and she lies to the bride claiming she ruined it by spilling iodine on it and gives the bride her money back. In fact she spends hours and hours working on this dress, making it more and more spectacular in the hopes that one day she will wear it when she marries. The dress takes on a life of its own and becomes a central theme in the story.
I don't want to give more away, but it was a fun read.

I started the third book I picked from the book bins A Whole World of Trouble by Helen Chappell. I am enjoying it so far and look forward to reading further. Will let you know how it turns out. I can't believe I picked so well. There had to be a bad book between the two left sitting on my bookshelf.

Have a safe trip!

To my Aunt and Uncle who are probably getting ready to board a plane at TIA back to Indiana right now...have a safe trip! We had a great time and lots of laughs. Hopefully they served you more than a small bag a peanuts and a cookie! And the next time we meet I'll be ready for another card game of golf!

Goodbye to "The Dean"

Bob Hope died Sunday evening at the age of 100. They just don't make comedians like him anymore. He didn't need to be scandelous, throwing around vulgarities or tearing really into people. He will be missed.

Chop Chop!

Went and got my hair cut this morning. It always amazes me how FAST my hair seems to grow. Less and three months and I have at least 3 more inches of hair. But I guess I am glad that I have hair...I wouldn't look right without it. :-)

How low can you go?

There's a great article today in the Wall Street Journal about low-rise jeans. You know that pants that are all the rage with the cute little young women that sit on the hits rather than at the waist. It talks about all the problems these pants cause for women. Such as sitting and bending and the hazards of showing off your goods. It's amazing what women will do just for the sake of looking good. Some great excerpts:

"Bending down to reach a low shelf, Ms. Senter suddenly felt a breeze of refrigerated supermarket air. ""Luckily, it
was mostly women around me,'' she says."

"Since the incident, the 36-year-old Ms. Senter says she has perfected a way of bending over that helps keep her pants from starting that scary slide. Like squats at the gym, it requires that she keep her back straight and her head forward at all times. "Look down and you're exposed,'' she says. Ms. Senter says the vigilance is so ingrained she automatically turns her back to a wall before attempting to reach under her daughter's stroller."

"It's just a way of life now,'' she says. ""If you want to be fashionable, you've got to practice socially responsible
bending.''

Children's Books

I was perusing the top selling books lists on the wires today. I was very amused to find that Walter the Farting Dog is number one on the children's book list. I must get a copy or two and save copies for my sisters. I know a good friend whose son should have a copy too for an upcoming birthday.

Here's an excerpt from the front flap:
"Walter is a wonderful dog except for one small problem. Gas. He can't help it. It's just the way he is.

This book really just makes me smile.

Now come on!

Now the scientists are picking on one of America's favorite summer treats, ice cream. Do they really think we are that dumb to think that we don't know when we have a double scoop of triple chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone, LINED in chocolate, with a topping of nuts and more chocolate isn't exactly good for you? I think I am perfectly aware a concoction like this is gonna royally screw up my diet for the day. That's why me and most others I know don't munch on stuff like that daily or even weekly. It's called a treat, and if you can't enjoy life by eating something that sinnful every now and then what can we do? They are just stating the obvious once again.

Welcome Back Gary!

After about 6 months of working in Detroit ex-tribune reporter Gary Haber, is RETURNING! as the higher-education reporter. He's a great co-worker to have around and we are glad he's back, even though he's working for a different team. He could have had his old job back, it's still vacant. Reguardless, welcome back!

Hasta La Vista, Baby!

Last night was Terminator Night at my house. Since I am one of the few people who had seen neither Arnold movies and hubby received them recently as a gift, we watched both The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day. This of course is in preparation for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines that hubby is excited about seeing soon in the theater.
I didn't think they were that bad. Lots of action, and a plot that wasn't too hard to figure out (in some cases too easy, I figured out who John's father was pretty fast.)
But I am bewildered at how there could be a third movie. The future seemed to be altered, everything seemed to be fine. I think it's truely a ploy to re-capture the money-making abilitity of T2 from the early 90's. But I'll suspend my disbelief and go into the movie ready to take on the machines, or at least I will try.

Funny Headline of the Day

Flying Underpants Cause Highway Crash You can read the story here. I guess almost any headline with underpants in it probably will be funny as this one is.

Family is Still Important

The more time I spend with my family, and with the visit of my aunt and uncle, I realize how important giving your children access to their family is.
Yes, I know, I don't have kids, yet.
But it further has been implanted in my brain how critical it is for children to know and have lots of access to their grandparents, aunts, uncles and counsins. I have been reminded of the many memories of summer vacation "up north" we had as kids and how cool it was. I feel very lucky. I want to make sure my kids will have memories like that too.

Pizza Good for You?

I have always dreamed of reading that pizza is actually GOOD for you! I bet they aren't referring to the one I really like with all the cheese and meat.

Relative Revelations

It's amazing how different your relationship with your parents and relatives is when you are adults. Suddenly you hear all about their crazy and wild years. It's really cool actually, hearing about your relatives as swinging young folks and not just as the people who told you to clean up your room and to go to bed.
I should have been writing it all down so more generations can know that when my great-grandfather O'Conner asked you if you wanted your drink "ripe" to say no or you would get all booze and an ice cube and after only 1 or maybe two of those you would be on your butt as in the case of my uncle with his first experience having "ripe drinks" with Grandpa.
Hearing the stories is sure fun.

I'm Singin' In the Rain!

Just got back from the Tampa Theatre and saw Singin' In the Rain. What a great time that was! All the singing, dancing and wardrobe changes! And there is no better place to see it than a grand place like the Tampa Theatre.

Here's some photos from our trip down to the Trop last night. They lost, but we had a really good time!


In front from left to right: Uncle Tony's head (lucky for him we were inside and he didn't need a hat or sun block), Dad and Mom watching about the first pitch.


Mom on the left and Aunt Pat on the right. Here they are taking part in the Seventh Inning stretch, in my mom's case, the seventh inning dance!

Take me out to the ball game!

In just a few short minutes we are heading down to Tropicanna Field to watch the Tampa Bay Davil Ray against the Texas Rangers. Hopefully we win. I don't know if I have ever been to a Ray game and seen the win. First we're getting din din with Mom, Dad and the visiting Aunt and Uncle and the Bro-in-laws parents at the 4th Street Fish Market. Yummy! Much tastier and better on the wallet than dining at the Trop.

Tomorrow we will be heading to Tampa to take in Singing in the Rain at the renowned Tampa Theatre. Should be a treat! Maybe there'll be some good photos coming up!

Welcome Family!

Sometime around 4ish this afternoon my mom's sister Pat and her husband Tony will be arriving at Tampa International Airport. They will be staying for more than a week. There should be much laughing, gaming and silliness. Just wanted to welcome them to Florida. Hope the humidity doesn't bother them too much and to remind Uncle Tony...don't forget the sunblock on the top of your head!