Random Tuesday - Good Karma!

Yesterday was chock full of nice things for me! Do you ever those days when lots of little good things happen and it just makes you feel happy? So instead of ranting today I will be spreading joy and dripping daisies.
First thing in the morning I usually pour myself coffee and head to my office for a look at my email. Delete the junk and see what the women in my family have to say this morning, they always have something to say. You wouldn't believe the email strings they send around. If someone is actually busy working that day (phfft) they will beg off of the list. So, anyway, a subject line catches my eye "Buggys, you won!" Woo Hoo! I won, I won. Staci over at Just Bloggled was doing a giveaway for a book by an author I have never read before and I entered (about a bizillion entries) and I won, yay. Thank you Staci.
Later in the morning I was visiting my bloggy buddies and stopped at Frogs In My Formula. Well, last week Frogmama celebrated her 2nd blogversary and in honor of this she was doing a giveaway. I wished her a happy blogversary and entered to win a $25 Starbucks gift card (frappacinos are very popular at my house). I won, I won! This just never happens to me...never.
I was riding a pink fluffy cloud by mid day. I just don't win stuff. After dinner last night I was back at my computer and checking comments. Sandee from Comedy Plus left me a comment saying that I had been awarded 2nd place in her Caption This Contest from last week. No way.

Ladies, really, My Cup Runneth Over. Thank you for such a pleasant day.

Please come on back tomorrow for the last chance to enter my newest giveaway!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Yesterday I was running errands, the usual, post office, bank, grocery store. The bank was first on the list and I couldn't just go to the drive-thru window, I had to go inside. I hate going inside the bank, I avoid it if at all possible. I have this fear that the bank is going to be robbed when I'm in there! Freakish? I know, but still. Well, all's well, no robberies yesterday at my branch. Everyone was very pleasant and the candy canes were abundantly displayed!
The next stop on my list was the post office....at christmas time. Indeed, the vision in your mind right now was the reality! I had to push my way in through the double doors to get in line. It looked like a Conga line winding through the whole place, except there was no music! I waited inside the post office for an hour to mail my package. But in that entire time there was not one ugly word, no hands thrown in the air in frustration, no one stomping out in disgust. People left the line and came back, the elderly folks were invited to set their packages down to ease their burden. People were sharing pens, stamps, and packing tape! It was such a nice experience.
On to my third and final destination with a very light feeling in my heart. It was getting a bit later in the afternoon and the grocery store was a little crowded. I picked up a handful of items and got in line behind several people. The gentleman in front of me was hanging back in line and was talking on the phone. He had a bunch of flowers in his hand and a few items on the counter. He decided to buy a couple of the poinsettias on display and he and I discussed the choice for a moment. As he put the plants on the counter I realized one was broken and changed it out for him. As he checked out he handed me the latest promotional coupon that the clerk had given to him (you know, buy 20 and get free milk) with a thanks for helping out.
I came home with a smile on my face and a bounce in my step. Why can't we treat one another this way all the time?

Random Tuesday Thoughts - Adam Lambert Oh My!

Oh my GAWD he did Not! Adam Lambert was a favorite of mine right from the start of last season's American Idol. His music is not exactly my style but it's more like the whole package appeals. He is a SHOWMAN! In every sense of the word. When he gets onstage to sing, he sucks you in to the whole experience. His performance on the stage at the AMA on Sunday brought to mind a Michael Jackson style show. Ok, it was a little edgy, some say off the cliff especially for TV. But damn, that was some performance.

I daresay that Glambert does a Fred & Ginger production of 2009! Remember watching those old black & whites? The costumes, the moves, the stage set?

Did you see it? Do you enjoy his showmanship or is it just too much?




Randomness?! I have received several emails asking for a reprint of my Caramel Glazed Apple Cake for a Thanksgiving Dessert. Go here for the recipe and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

In my wallet, right now, I have 4 grocery store "preferred shopper cards". I took the time at these different stores to fill out the little form, wait in line at customer service, ask the chick at the customer service counter to discontinue her gossip fest with her buddy long enough to laminate a card for me. All of this so that I can save a few pennies on my grocery bill. Saving money is good. EVERY time I am in line to purchase my groceries there is someone ahead of me who does not have a card, the cashier ALWAYS pulls out his or her dummy card to give them the discount anyway! Why do I bother? I thought I was special!

I do not get along with "self checkouts". They intimidate me, they never, ever work for me. Just give me a live cashier. Even if they are having a conversation with the cashiers on either side of them about the girl who has called out 3 times this week with a lame excuse, it's better than doing battle with a stupid machine.

Remember when gas prices were up around $4.00 a gallon? Remember that food prices went up accordingly? Understandable, trucking, hauling, consuming fuel. Gas has been down to under $3.00 a gallon for quite some time now. Has your food bill gone down?

Random Tuesday Thoughts

1. How do you put a giraffe into the refrigerator?

Stop and think about it and decide on your answer before reading the answer.

The correct answer is: Open the door, put the giraffe in, and close the door. This tests whether you tend to do things in an overly complicated way.

2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?

Did you say open the refrigerator, put the elephant in, and close the refrigerator? Wrong answer.

The correct answer is: Open the door, take the giraffe out, put the elephant in and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.

3. The lion king is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend...except one. Which animal does not attend?

Correct answer: The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator, you just put him in there. This tests your memory. Ok, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your ability.

4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?

Correct answer: You jump in the river and swim across. Have you not been paying attention? All the animals are attending the animal conference. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

My thoughts today are prompted by the news of a joint effort by police and FBI agents which resulted in 52 children being rescued from the world of prostitution. 60 pimps were arrested and charges were brought against 700 suspects in 36 cities across the country. The children rescued were between the ages of 10 and 16!

In a bit of research I did on the internet I read that there are between 300,00 and 600,00 juveniles involved in the world of prostitution in the United States.

Approximately 293,000 of these children tend to be either runaways or so-called throw away kids, abandoned by their parents. Some of the children are recruited, many through social networking sites. Too many of them, mostly the younger ones, are brought in by way of agreements between the parents and the traffickers. The average ages of these kids is; 12-14 years old for the girls and 11-13 years old for the boys.

The numbers for women and children trafficked into the U.S. for the purposes of prostitution and child pornography are so wide ranging. I read numbers between 100,000 and 3 million. Some of these children are sold into captivity to pedophiles.

I know this is a very weighty subject but my mind was reeling when I read these things. The U.S. is not alone either. These children are shipped around trading from one country to another to get these kids as far from anything familiar as possible.

Obviously we all get a great deal of information, relaxation and friendship from the internet. This serves as a reminder to be ever cautious.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Yes, I am very late with this post. I had issues today, ok? This was supposed to post hours ago. Anyway I have other far more important thoughts for the day. How about:

Christmas is coming in like 72 days!!!!?? Jeez, how did this happen so quickly? I think I was just picking pine needles out of the carpet last week! I had better get busy. Last year I did 90% of my shopping online, yay! I can guarantee I am intending to do the same this year, so easy. Amazon here I come! Only if you give me free shipping though.

I used to love the winter, the bundling up, the snow. Now, not! I'm so over it and my knees complain heartily about the chill that is already here! I think I could enjoy moving to a warm weather climate; Florida...no, Arizona...ummm yes. It would be a little weird come Christmas but I think I could get used to it, it's like 80 degrees there right now. I could enjoy sitting out in my garden all year round, how about you?

Solicitation calls on my cell phone! Does this make you nuts? Do not dare use my minutes to try to sell me on some crap I don't want!

My Mother's birthday is next week, my Sister's too (same day) I think I'll make that great apple cake for them. Everyone loves that cake.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

In my house we share most of the regular chores very equitably. There are some that I generally take care of and some that are mainly my husbands forte. I am willing to cut the grass but Mr. lawn nazi couldn't handle my way of doing it. I'm ok with that. One of the jobs that is more in my column is loading the dishwasher.

Actually it's more that I am a nutjob about the proper way to load the dishwasher. My way is logical and efficient and totally sensible. Apparently I am the only person who understands this. To me the loading should be done with an eye toward the unloading portion of the job, i.e.; unloading-plates and bowls straight up, silverware directly in front, coffee cups on the left side, water glasses on the right side, like items grouped together. Simple, fill accordingly. This saves space, costs you less in energy usage, makes the job quicker and easier. My hubby's way of loading is: oh, there's a spot, let me stick it here. All willy nilly, I can't deal. As soon as he loads dishes in there I rearrange.

Maybe my husband will read this post. My fingers are crossed.

He claims I'm anal about it, I say I have a charming quirk. I have had this system for all of our years together. Do I need to draw a diagram for god's sake?