I love Snopes.com. It's the first place I go when well-meaning friends or even bosses forward me the "Nine Tips That Can Save a Woman's Life" (I found this in a quick Google search - it's more than nine, I know but a lot of the tips are the same as the stupid email and come from the same source: a self-defense instructor named Pat Malone who allegedly works for the FBI) email that people keep taking seriously and so when they get it and read it, they freak out and think every woman on the address list should know this information.
The tricky thing is, the tips are written in such a way as to make them seem like common sense. Don't fall for it. If you get crap like this in an email ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS go check old Snopes.com and make sure what you're getting isn't complete codswallop.
See what I mean about it sounding like common sense? check out number three:
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
Sounds logical to me. Until Snopes points out:
The odds of being confined in the trunk of a car are slim to begin with, and they lessen when the extra requirement of the victim's being placed in there with hands and feet unbound is added. Very few vehicles have tail lights that are accessible from the trunk, so even if one's legs were free, there would be nothing to kick out to wave at others through.
A better plan would be to look for the glow-in-the-dark trunk release tab incorporated into some newer vehicles. Also, the back seats of many recent models fold down to accomodate the transport of larger items, so go deep into the trunk and push on the rear of the back seats to see if they open. If pushing fails, feel about on this area for knobs or levers that serve to latch the folding seat backs in place and work them.
I looked at my trunk and sure enough, there's no way to access the tail lights from the inside and my car is a '96.
Granted, there are things in the tips that have a grain of common sense to them such as locking your car door as soon as you get inside and before you start fiddling with your purse or cell phone or digging for keys. That's a big "Duh."
Anyway, I just felt like pointing this out in the vain hope of preventing a freaked out woman from forwarding the bad tip list around.
Christmas has been nice this year. It was quiet, marred only by the fact that the kid and my grandparents are battling nasty colds. I've been the only healthy one so far - until today that is. I think I've got it now. But I'm just on the brink you know? My skin hurts and I feel achy but so far the stuffy head and coughing hasn't happened *knocks on a variety of woods*. I wish it would just hit me and get it over with. Or you know, not hit me at all :) That would be nice :)
I've got to write a column this week. Better not forget to do that. I'm supposed to be writing about television I'm looking forward to in 2006. Hope I can fill 18 inches yakking about 24, Lost and Survivor :) That's about all I care much about. I don't really watch sitcoms - not that I dislike them or anything, but with my spiffy netflix thang, that's what I do in the evenings and there's no particular sitcom I'm hooked on anymore. All the good ones ran their course.
Ok ok I should watch and support Arrested Development, the little show that everyone loves but no one watches. And apprently Everybody Hates Chris is pretty good. I hear a lot of people are fans of Nip/Tuck and House. I dunno, I just never started watching them.
Watching a 24 marathon on A&E today and they're inundating me with ads for a show called Rollergirls. It looks kind of interesting. I didn't know roller derbies were still going. Maybe I'll check that out.
Anyway the head is aching so I'm going to close up the puter. Many thanks to Jo for my cool calendar - and Shan just adored the... I really have no idea what to call it ... but the musical bowl thing - she was thrilled about it so thanks for that as well :)
I woke up with this fecking headache and haven't been able to shake it all day. It's an all over thing and it feels good to apply pressure behind my ears and base of my neck. But I can't keep doing that all day or I won't get any work done.
I wonder what brought it on. I'm caffeinated. I've taken the Aleve. I've eaten. Maybe it's psychological. Or stress. Who knows. Xmas has been stressful but only because Shan's been hard to shop for this year. Today is the anniversay of the day my dad died. No matter how I try to forget about it, I can't help but think about him today as I do every year. It was a scary day. Maybe that's why my head hurts.
Meh who knows. I should get on with some work although even that's difficult to do today. Everyone's in a festive mood and there's food everywhere so there's a general atmosphere of frivolity and easygoing-ness around. It's really nice. I love working here.
This weekend the kidlet and I will spend Christmas eve with the Gs and I'll be making mom's yam recipe. Apparently I have her touch with them according to everyone who ate them at Thanksgiving. So this will be the second time I've ever cooked yams :) Then Shannon and I will head home and futz around the house until it's time to send her to bed and I can lay out the Santa stuff. Yes she's 14 but we still do the whole Santa thing. When she was younger though we'd always read 'Twas the Night before Christmas' together after setting out cookies and milk. She wouldn't go until we'd done that. I kind of miss that.
But blink and they grow up. Those of you folk who read this and have wee ones remember to cherish every single moment you can with them because soon they'll be older and going to high school or college, driving cars and generally doing the growing up thing. Take lots of pictures, and record them a lot too - video and audio. I have some lovely tapes of Shannon and my mom reading stories together when she was a toddler that I just adore.
Anyway, then in the morning I'll be cooking up a batch of my special french toast and maybe some bacon. Shannon's going to whip up the hot chocolate and we'll settle in and open pressies. It's going to be lovely :)
I think I'm running low on my scrap metal content. Yesterday and today I've had to fight to keep my eyes open. So it's either low iron rearing up or it's too fecking hot in this building and the urge to be cozy and sleep is rampant. Either way I'll be stocking up on the spinach and steak. Nothing says Merry Xmas like bloody meat and slimy vegetables :)
Had a bit of a row with the kid this morning when she storms out of her room at 20 past 6am because she's panicked that she's missing her orchestra breakfast. She was supposed to be there at 6am.
WTF is the orchestra teacher trying to do to me? I'm just waking up at 6am. And Shan is definitely not a morning person to begin with so my question is, is she trying to kill us? Because frankly I can't tell you how much I look forward to being even more of a zombie at work because I had to get up at stupid o'clock to get the kid to a cheap restaurant. Unfortunately I had to break it to her that she just wasn't going to make it. There was just no way on earth both of us could get ready for the day in 15 minutes.
She was a little miffed at me, but I thought it was a good lesson for her in making sure she's prepared for these kinds of things instead of leaving them til the last minute and then forgetting to suss out the important details until I'm stumbling out of bed and she has to leave in 15 minutes.
Unfortunately upon arriving at work and reviewing the article in the paper regarding the event I found out that the damn thing wasn't this morning anyway. It's on Thursday. *sigh*
I'm kind of digging on Gael Garcia Bernal. Man... He's amazing. And hot. And amazing. And did I say hot? Tonight I watched him in "Bad Education" which is an Almovodar film. Really excellent movie. After I was looking up user comments on the IMDb for the film and for Gael and found a link to this short film he did called "The Last Post."
Check it out sometime if you've got 16 minutes to spare. It's pretty moving.
Man I am so loving Netflix. All of these Gael movies I want to see and very few of them at the local vid shop :)
So yes, I'm digging on Gael but I'm not entirely sure whether it's because he's amazing or hot. The mood I'm in it could very well be that the man is just beautiful eye candy. But then again he's done some interesting films that I've enjoyed and he's impressed me in each role. There's an intensity in him I like. Or maybe it's the eyes. Or the lips.
Thank Elvis I don't have to worry about dragging some insecure "better half" to see it. Being single rawks. No, my only problem wil be finding a theatre in this red state where it's playing.
In other news today, it's snowing. Again. Well, not at the moment but it was on the drive to work. I think it's going to be a rough winter. Also, Josh Fosbrink is leaving GMN. Today was his last day as weatherman. Maybe they'll quit doing those annoying bus honks during the weather report now. Now if they could get Stacey Skrysak to stop enunciating every single syllable I'd be a happy camper.
There's nothing like Fanatical Christians to take the joy out of the season. Without getting into my own religious preferences, I just want to say that if I have to read one more comment, hear one more news story, come across one more holy-roller who tells me how I should wish seasons greetings this year I might just scream and celebrate it in July instead.
When this whole idiotic "War on Christmas" story came out a couple of weeks ago, I just sort of rolled my eyes and dismissed it from my mind. But apparently, dedicated Christians have glommed onto this nonsense issue in a big way and now everywhere I turn I have them dictating to me where I should and shouldn't shop, how I should articulate my well wishes for my fellow man and dropping I'm-better-than-you comments on blogs I love to visit.
It's pissing me off. And the thing that pisses me off the most is that the most vocal are the sheep who haven't bothered to do their research. There's no evil meaning in typing "Xmas" over "Christmas." There's no malicious, subversive intent when a shopkeeper says, "Happy holidays." I don't understand why this suddenly became an issue. Stores have been saying "holidays" for years. It's a holiday season for crying out loud - Thanksgiving, XMAS, and the New Year. They're just trying to cover their bases.
So basically I just wanted to rant about this freaking idiotic "war" and say, "get over yourselves morons."
Well this week ended well. That's good. Now that we're past the "incident" or whatever you want to call it, it seems like everything's just... better. Last night we got to see "Serenity" on the Superscreen and it rocked. Such a great movie that nobody saw.
Today we drove to Lincs to hang out with Aunty Jo and family :) We did some xmas shopping which is good because I haven't really bought a thing yet for anyone. And lovely lovely Hannah gets fabulous discounts at the cool little shops so I saved some dosh which rocked much. We started out at a place called "Eyes of the World" and if my sister ever read this blog she'd smile and nod knowing what a cool place it is. Well sis, your xmas present came from there so ner :)
Then it was over to Avant Card which is a fun card shop downtown where they have quirky cards and fun little tchotchkes. I found some more pressies there for Kelly and part of a gift for Gary. Our last stop was Ruby Begonia's which is a vintage clothing store where I found something for Kelly's bf.
It's been a great day so far. Next up is a White Elephant party tonight where i had to dig up a couple of closet gifts :) You know, stuff you get as a present that goes right in the closet. The idea at a white elephant party is you bring something from the closet, and then you leave with someone else's closet item. Sounds fun. Jo says it's the one party they make it a point to go to every year.
Anyway I should probably tidy up a little. Laters.
The past 24 hours have been an absolute nightmare. Traumatic, scary, emotionally draining - you name it. And if it was that way for me, it must have been twice all of that for my daughter. She is definitely getting any damn thing she wants for the next few days.
I'm not going into detail here. Those of you who know me IRL probably already know what happened. But it's over now and it worked out to our immense relief and many tears.
Now we're both completely shattered. Tonight we're going to enjoy our Netflix movies, some hot chocolate, and then our warm toasty beds. Tomorrow everything will be better.
Apparently Serenity will be playing this weekend at the superscreen in Hastings. Neat! Then it comes out just before xmas so W00t. And according to Mike they're thinking about doing some straight to DVD stuff. Not sure how that would go. Doesn't straight to DVD equal crap? Wonder if Whedon will be involved.
I don't really know what to blog about tonight. I just felt the need to get past my last post. Was a bit of a downer. It was just surprising to me. It's been over four years since Mom died and you know, time passes, should get easier and it does. But apparently the smallest things can bring it all rushing back and knock you over. All the man said on the show - the thing that hurt him the most about losing his wife - was that she died alone. That sent me over the edge for a bit.
It was also weird today because Jack was over by my desk and he noticed my favourite sketch Mom did of Shannon looking thoroughly pissed off at having to get out of the pool. He asked about it and I got to brag on Mom a little because I think she was a wonderful artist. We got to talking a little and I mentioned she worked for the paper, on the copy desk no less. He joked about wanting to know if she wanted her job back since they're down a couple people and I had to cringe and tell him that she died - cringing not because he made a faux pas because he didn't. It was just one of those moments where you know you have to say, "Well she passed away" and the moment becomes awkward etc. I felt bad for putting Jack in that position.
Anyway it was weird that just last night I was really missing Mom and today I talked about her with someone. Maybe it's not that weird. I dunno.
So now it's past 10 o'clock and I'm not all that tired. I'm a little bored though. Blogspot seems to be down right now so I can't peruse my usual stops and nothing else is appealing. I watched "8mm" earlier. Hadn't seen it in a while. Good movie but Cage was sort of wooden through most of it. Maybe it's just the way he speaks - there's something about it that's annoying. Joaq was great though. Love him with the blue hair working in a porn barn.
Actually - and Gary and Jo you may want to turn away here - but the "adult" store Joaq worked at was eerily similar to one in Monterey. Both had the long black hallway with quarter booths on one side and a small cinema on the other so you walk in and it's like grunts and moans in stereo. Both have exits that come out in a back alley parking area... You're asking how I know this :) No I'm not a regular customer of such purveyors of perversions. But when you're 18, and live in a town like Monterey where it caters to either the rich or the over 21s, there's not much else to do. And Meechie, my best friend, actually *was* a frequent visitor at the bookstore. Occasionally he'd drag me along.
And believe me I'd go in and try to act like it didn't phase me but jeez, the things they have in places like that would curl your hair. And I did often feel the need for a shower upon exiting through said dark hallway of porn. But yeah, so the porn shop in the movie reminded me of the bookstore in old Monterey :)
I stopped watching Extreme Home Makeover earlier this year. Turned it on tonight because I'm sick of my movies atm and there's nothing else on. And then I remembered why I stopped watching the show: it's emotionally draining. I'm an emotional wuss to begin with but when the first five minutes of a TV show have you sobbing uncontrollably maybe it's time to pop in a movie - any movie. Jeesh.
To be fair this one was about a father and his three girls, and the young mother died of a pulmonary embolism and the father found her dead in their bedroom, alone, and the oldest child (6 years old) kept crying and ugh, I was a goner. My mom's death hit me hard just then. Pulmonary embolism. Dying alone. And I'm a goner again.
So I'm now a member of Netflix (much love and thanks to Gary - you couldn't have chosen a more perfect xmas pressie for me :) ) and I've been playing with it all weekend.
Then I discovered they allow you to have RSS feeds of your Netflix queue (you create a queue of movies you want them to send you. They send the first three, then when you return those, you get the next three in your queue. It's pretty neat) so being the geek that I am, I added my queue to the site. Why? Because I can :) I stuck it on ukmelia.com, the movie page and this one.
Shan wants her queue on her site aswell so that's my next project on this oh so very dull Sunday.
We made it as far as the new I80 exit before I drove right off the curve and into a ditch.
Today's 4-6 inches came down in gorgeous, fluffy flakes. The kind of snow that's beautiful to watch and if you go out in it, it muffles any sound and produces an eery quiet. Shan and I wwoke up early and did the morning things to get ready and I decided we'd try to go to Lincoln anyway on the chance that once we got on the interstate it wouldn't be as hard to see.
Well that was stupid of me. Nothing had been plowed yet and since it's early morning on a weekend, there weren't many cars out to create paths and dirty up the snow so that you could at least manage to guess where the road actually was. And when I hit the big curve I thought I was following the road marker poles just fine as I took the corner. But because visibility was crap, I misjudged where they were and just casually drove off the road and got us stuck in a ditch.
Just great.
So I try to rock the car our and pretty much end up sliding further down the hill. It's too steep to even think about getting my car up the hill without a tow. The thought of calling a tow and paying for that makes my skin crawl. Shannon offers to push the car but I'm reluctant because it's dangerous and I don't want her to get hurt. Suddenly out of nowhere this huge, lovely, gorgeous man trudges up and says to try backing up and he'll push. We give it a go, but it's useless. It's just too steep.
Then another man with a truck stops. He's tattooed and has earrings in both ears, but he's got a tow cable and fuck me if those two strangers didn't work together as a cohesive unit to drag my sorry ass out of that ditch. They had to stop 3 times to lift the cable over those damn marker poles but eventually we were free, and as quick as you please they gathered up their cable and headed back to their respective cars before I could get names or thank them properly. If I could write a letter to the editor, I'd thank those two guys who stopped to help a stupid chick who thought she'd make it to Lincoln in her little black car during a heavy snow.
Needless to say, I made it onto the interstate and took the next exit back home. I'm disappointed we couldn't go see Jo and Hannah and Tom but they invited us for next weekend so that's cool. It better not fecking snow. Not even mid-December yet and I'm tired of it already.
Sorry if I got the B-52s song stuck in your head with the title there :)
We're off to Lincoln tomorrow to make candy with Aunt Jo :) Should be fun. I've never made chocolate covered cherry mice before.
And the reason we get to go hang out with Jo and family is because the repairs for my car were freeeeeeeeeeee. Ahhhh it was such a lovely moment when the service dude said that the coughcough spluttering was because of some part that had been recalled by the company. So they pick up the cost. W00t! And now my baby purrs like a kitten.
Now I just need to clean her out. I can't figure out how she accumulates so much crap. Let's see... Shannon left a pair of pumps on the floor of the passenger side that don't fit her. I keep telling her to chuck them but she hasn't gotten around to it. I've got my Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy floating around the backseat along with a crushed box of kleenex, some IndyKnow concert flyers I couldn't hand out because one of the bands on it dropped out last minute, my London Underground map brolly, a scarf, a couple of empty water bottles I keep meaning to throw out, Shannon's bike repair kit... ugh too much crap.
Later that evening...
My cat is bouncy. I just spent the past ten minutes on a laughing jag - you know, the kind of laughing where tears stream down your face and in my case, my voice rises about 8 octaves. My sides hurt but man it's worth it.
Shannon got up from the computer chair which normally is Spooky's roost and so when she saw it was vacant she headed straight for it. Well Shan was only going to be up for a few minutes, so she decided to chuck the cat onto the couch. I was leaning over the back of it at the time. Well Spooky didn't ant anything to do with that couch and in a trampoline move worthy of a gymnast, she bounced once and fell perfectly between the couch and the coffeetable. Doesn't sound as funny when I write it out, but there's only about 4 inches of space between the couch and the coffeetable and for her to bounce off the couch and fall in that space without flailing and whapping her head on either stationary object is quite a feat :)
Anyway, laughing jag over. Nearly time for Sex and the City then bed.
