J.R. Martinez is a war veteran. While in Iraq, the vehicle he was driving hit a land mine and he was grievously injured. He pulled through, but was left with terrible scars on the inside and on the outside. He’s been acting on All My Children for a few years, with no makeup to hide who he is. Now he’s on Dancing With the Stars and is a true contender. He dedicated this dance to the military men and women who didn’t make it home. There weren’t many dry eyes in the ballroom when it was finished.
Tears in the Ballroom
October 6, 2011
National Taco Day?
October 5, 2011
I had no idea that there’s a National Taco Day. On behalf of my niece, Rachel, I’d like to know if there’s a National Enchilada Day, too.
Toilet Paper Roll Covers? Really?
October 1, 2011
At my house, there’s a ready-to-use roll of toilet paper conveniently hanging next to every toilet. The extra rolls in the package are stored in a cabinet under the sink, out of sight. It has truly never entered my mind that my toilet paper needs to have more flair and add to the decor. Not even once.
Now let me introduce the Cottonelle toilet paper roll cover:
I will never have this.
What? A cover for my toilet paper? Is this supposed to replace my hanging thing or my cabinet? I’m just not certain how it’s supposed to work. Maybe it sits on the back of the toilet and we twist around, open the lid, and unroll a length of paper? Or maybe each extra roll is supposed to go into a cover and be stacked somewhere it can be seen and appreciated for it’s clever designs. I’m baffled.
Moves Like Jagger
September 26, 2011
I’m a long time fan of Dancing With the Stars. In past seasons, I’ve posted my favorite dances and I think it’s a good time to start again. At first I didn’t plan to watch this season because the stars were not terribly impressive. Luckily I remembered that I love the judges and professional dancers enough to watch the show anyway. Julianne Hough hasn’t been on for a few seasons now, but her brother Derek is still around. And his best friend, Mark Ballas. Maksim Chmerkovskiy is joined by his brother Val this season as a rookie professional.
My favorite dance this week was done by Carson Kressley. He cracks me up. I first saw him on the television show “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and he was fabulous! He always is and now I know he’s also got moves like Jagger.
It’s Raining!!
September 16, 2011
As I’m writing this, it’s been raining steadily for about three hours. What a wonderful sight and sound! I love when it rains anyway, but even more so after this terrible hot and dry summer. We didn’t break the record for the most 100+ degree days in a row, but we did break the 1980 record for the total number of 100+ degree days for the season. The number for 1980 was 69 and as of this past Tuesday, we’ve had 70 this year.
We’ll probably have more hot days before it’s over. It’s 77 right now and that quite a welcome respite. After the next rattle of summer’s dying breath, we’ll be headed into fall, which is one of my favorite times of year simply because it marks the end of my yearly summer misery.
Alphabetical Keyboards
September 1, 2011
While searching for a left-handed keyboard for Hubby, I found something that is either new or it’s been hiding from me. This is an alphabetical keyboard. Instead of being in the QWERTY format that formally educated typists (like me) use, this keyboard arranges the keys in alphabetical order, which is perfect for hunt-and-peckers.
Alphabetical Keyboard
The target demographic for this keyboard is “hunt and peck typists as well as senior citizens who have never had a computer because they are challenged by the difficult basic keyboard.” Actually, keyboards used to be arranged in alpha order way back when typewriters were first invented, but there were issues with the keys jamming when the typing was too fast. The solution was to rearrange the keys so that common letters are far apart from each other, which actually allowed the typist to type faster because there were no jammed keys to worry about. This QWERTY system is the one that is the standard today. What I’m finding odd with the target demographic for this alphabetical keyboard is that it will likely dwindle. The seniors who have never used computers will give way to a new generation who have used them their entire lives. Plus, learning to touch type is paramount with a lot of the younger generation, so it seems to me that the market for an alphabetical keyboard won’t be around for long.
So, yeah, that was a lot of blabbering about a subject that will likely bore my readers to the point of numbness. But this will wake you up: IT COMES IN RAINBOW !!
Alphabetical Keyboard in Rainbow
Fry It!!
August 31, 2011
The State Fair of Texas is known for its ridiculous food. Once upon a time, many years ago, the food was good and special. A turkey leg, for example. And funnel cakes. But now, man oh man, it’s complete madness on a stick. And fried! I found this article that’s giving us the round up on the new foods being lined up for this year’s fair. Wow. Just… wow.
Abdominal Etching
August 30, 2011
Some things just make me shake my head in disbelief. It’s not enough that people get facelifts and breast implants at the drop of a hat. Now there’s abdominal etching. No, really? Srsly? Yeah, men can have some specialized liposuction to carve out the likeness of an abdominal sixpack. Normally, guys who have abs like that also have a muscular body everywhere else to go with them. These guys with the phony sixpack really look horrible. It’s kind of funny and kind of sad. Mostly it’s just stupid.
I Emptied My Wallet
August 23, 2011
Hubby and I went to Petsmart on Sunday to get our weekly stock of cat and bird supplies. On weekends, Kool Kats Feline Rescue is there with some of their kitties that need homes. Both of us stopped in our tracks and reached for our wallets. We emptied them and put every paper bill into the donation jars. We had a little chat with the Kool Kats lady and then went on our way.
Why did I empty my wallet? Because of this handsome fellow:
Apollo, Space Kitty
This is Apollo. He’s solid black, so it’s hard to get good photos of him. But, trust me, he’s a handsome boy. Apollo was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2005. He was only 12 weeks old when Hurricane Katrina brought the city to its knees. His owners evacuated their home with Apollo and at least two other kittens, probably his siblings. Their only option was to leave the kittens at a temporary shelter that was set up outside of New Orleans to take in the animals who suddenly had no home in the disaster. The people from Kool Kats drove from Fort Worth, Texas to the shelter outside New Orleans and brought back 25 of the cats and kittens who needed a new home. Their owners wouldn’t be back. The disaster of the hurricane was savage and many people lost their homes. Their pets had no chance at all unless they were fortunate enough to at least make it to a temporary shelter.
The next stage of Apollo’s life was living in cages and traveling hundreds of miles to get back to Texas. He was put into a foster home with his siblings. They were dubbed Lou Isiana, Al Abama, and Miss Issippi after the states that took the most damage from Hurricane Katrina. Lou would end up to be my Apollo. He found a home and a mama. She named him Stormy and took good care of him at first. She got him neutered and de-clawed. But after a year or a year and a half, she moved and decided she couldn’t take him with her. In my book, that’s unforgivable. If my cat can’t live there, then I won’t live there. And I’m absolutely serious about that. So, his mama took him to the local city shelter and left him there. If you knew this sweet, loving, and affectionate cat, you wouldn’t believe that anyone could dump him at a shelter and just walk away. Being an adult black cat in a place like that is practically a death sentence. People don’t like black cats for some reason. Old superstitions and whatnot. Nothing but nonsense. His mama had told the shelter people that he came from Kool Kats. Well, part of her adoption contract states that if, for any reason, she is unable to keep the cat, she is required to return him to Kool Kats. Which she didn’t. The nice folks at Kool Kats went to the shelter and got their boy and brought him back to a new foster home.
This is where I enter the picture. The kitty love of my life, Pepper, passed away in March 2007. I was heartbroken. I’d already lost Kooki six months before. I was left with just Caesar and he was greatly upset to suddenly not have our precious Pepper who had been with him all his life since he was an eight week old kitten. Caesar and I both needed a new kitty companion to help heal the pain of loosing my angel girl Pepper. I bet you can guess now where I went to look at available cats for adoption. That’s right. I went to Kool Kats. And there was the most beautiful and shy black cat in one of the cages during the weekend adoption session at Petsmart. By this time, he wasn’t a kitten anymore. He was a full grown, two year old, handsome cat, who was trying to hide under the blanket in his cage. Hubby and I brought him home that same day and we’ve spent the past four years loving him and making sure he knows there won’t be any more hurricanes to run from and that he has a forever home at last.
Seabody’s Pasta Sauce
August 22, 2011
This is a recipe given to me by a member of my Sims 3 forum. I haven’t made it yet, but I definitely will in the near future. It sounds delicious.
Seabody’s Pasta Sauce
3 cloves crushed garlic
1 pound of bacon
Chilli powder (to taste)
1 onion, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1. Fry off the bacon in a pan.
2. Place it in a bowl to the side.
3. Fry the garlic and onion in the same pan.
4. Pour in the can of chopped tomatoes. Add the Bacon.
5. Simmer for 20-30 minutes.
6. Serve over hot pasta. Perfect with Parmesan.
