Bryan's Little Corner

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Monday, February 27, 2006

Happy Fat Tuesday

Lent begins this Wednesday, March 1st with Ash Wednesday. How about a quick link about Lent. It last for 40 days (minus the Sundays) and this year ends with Easter on April 16th. Typically people give up some item during lent. People have given up pop, beer, fast food, choclate, or a number of other items during Lent.

In preperation for Lent there is a tradition called Fat Tuesday in which the kitchen is cleared of fatening foods in preperation for fasting during lent. One tradition that occures as a result of this is the making of Paczki.

I have been going to Roma Bakery in Lansing for years and bringing in Paczki for people at work. It is one of the big sources for Paczki in the Lansing area per this LSJ article from last year.

I love baverian creme but there are all kinds of different fillings. This year I think I have to try sweet ricotta cheese-filled paczki. These are so heavy and filled with so many calories that I can only eat one and I really should not even do that.

Of course Fat Tuesday is also the ending of a Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans with Mardi Gras day itself falling on Fat Tuesday. I did visit New Orleans once in 1980 but have never been there at Mardi Gras time. That could be interesting some day.



I changed my mind. What's New Orleans like this time of year? Mardi Gras, woooooo! Ha ha ha ha ha! Hoo hoo hoo! Whoooohoo! Look, Meryl! Same road, no cars. It's magic! Hahaha! --The Truman Show

Something on the lighter side

A woman calls her boss one morning and tells him that
She is staying home because she is not feeling well."What's the matter?" he asks
"I have a case of anal glaucoma," she says in a weak voice.
"What the hell is anal glaucoma?"
"I can't see my ass coming into work today!"

I am not devoid of humor. --Animaniacs

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Lifes Little Reminders ... Life is Short

This weekend was interesting. I ended up going over my sisters to celebrate her birthday. Several pizzas, a salad, cake and ice cream later that turned out well. I also was able to see my niece play basketball in a tournament which is always nice to get a chance to do. I am also a proud owner of some new Girl Scout cookies.

At the same time I was also able to visit with the brother in law. On the 14th he walked off the bleachers 6 foot up in the air and landed on his back. He is still in a lot of pain and it looks like he has one or two compacted discs. Now it could have been much worse. He could have ended up paralyzed for life or even have died. So far he seems to have been lucky but we will see how this goes.

I received an email while I was in Detroit area from my friend that I went to school with. We were good friends but ended up drifting apart after high school. I ended up seeing him for my high school reunion in November but once again have not been in touch much. Anyway the email was informing me and his Dad had passed on Friday night. He had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer 13 months ago. He went through a fair amount over the last 13 months but thankfully he was not in pain. The viewing was nice and it was nice seeing the family again. I am glad I found out and was able to attend.

Anyway, once again it is hit home how fragile life is and how short we are on this planet. You never know when you time is up.


Life is very short, and very fragile. It's easy to let it go by and suddenly find that all the things you meant to do just never got done. When you're young, you think you've got forever. But you're dead for a very long time. That's all. --The Royal

Thursday, February 23, 2006

For CrabCake

First let me appologize to anyone that opened this blog. I promise to limit such posts in the future to protect the innocent.

This is a recreation of what Crabcake posted today on her blog. She is a master at cut and paste it would appear because her pictures are much more hot than I could ever hope for. I think I will need to grab those pictures should I ever try the online dating scene. Thank you CrabCake, your da bomb.




Hey maybe we'll work together some day. I'm da bomb. They'll tell ya. --Leathal Weapon 4

PSA: Be Careful with Candles

Candles are nice looking.

They can add a nice scent to the air.

They can help remove not so nice scents also.

There is something about the way a candle flame quetly but gracefuly dances.

The shadows that are cast on the walls can almost be hypnotic.






But there is a down side to candles. Someone that I work with lost his home over
the weekend. It started in his bedroom and before he could do anything about it the house was a total loss. He has about as much of his house left as the house in this picture. Luckily no people died however his pets were not so lucky.





There are guidelines you should pay attention to about candles. National Candle Association has guidelines and other information about candles and their dangers. I found another interesting document from the State of New York. So enjoy your candles but please be careful.


No candles? Well, I brought one. It's extra flamey. --Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

What Did I Do to Deserve This?

I thought I was being nice to Paul for his birthday. I gave him a decent card, didn't really pick on him for how old he was although he thought I did somewhat, bascially I behaved. So why, why did he DO THAT TO ME? He gave me a book called Su Doku For Dummies.

Now I am not objecting to the for Dummies aspect. Actually I think the series of books are usually very good. It is funny seeing what some of the titles are like "Rocket Science For Dummies." Doesn't calling someone a Rocket Scientist usually imply they are smart, how could they be a dummy? What I was objecting to was the Su Doku game itself. The book contaings a good explination fo the game and then a series of puzzles from easy to diabolical. It even contains answers but you already know if you got it correct or not.

So now I have worked 2 puzzles and it is time consuming and but challanging. Soon I will move off of easy and dig in but why, why was he so mean? This is going to keep me so busy. Oh well, it is good to keep the mind busy.


A friend at work gave me Sex for Dummies as a joke. Who's laughing now? --Friends

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Happy 50th Paul

Friday was my best friends birthday. Paul turned 50. It was a pleasant surprise for him and a few others when I showed up. The family was there and he opened his presents after being sung to. He got several neat things but his all time favorite was his Cobalt Blue Kitchen Aid mixer.



The next day we got ready for people to come over and celebrate. The whole family was there including the soon to be daughter in law (June 2007). Some close friends also were there for the occasion. Steak and chicken BBQ from the weber certainly was a highlight. The cake of the day was a lemon merange pie. Yum!



Prior to the pie two things were sung. The second thing was the traditional Happy Birthday. The first was much more unique. Burt his, brother in law, sent along sheet music, ode to joy, with new special lyrics.



There was a lot of talking and eventually Guitar Hero made it's debut. That was fun for a while and then it was followed by Eye Toys: Play 2 which was a big hit.



All and all a wonderful weekend has shaped up.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Southbound and down; Blogging at 70 MPH

Since I ran out of time I thought I would post something while driving from Michigan to Louisville Kentucky. It was a nice drive and fun surprising my friend for his 50th birthday. Have a nice weekend everyone.

this is an audio post - click to play

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Da Vinci Code?

I am sure someone has read this. Now I am not one to do a lot of pleasure reading because when I do I tend to never put the book down, read until I am exausted, and barely manage to put a book mark in before passing out. Anyway, is this a must read? What do you think?

I would like to see the movie that releases in just about 3 months. A Ron Howard movie with Tom Hanks in it. You can not keep me away. I just thought it might be nice to read the book before seeing the movie. Thanks.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Go Team USA

Hey Sabatkes, looky what arrived today. I just had to toss this on here. I had to get some extra mileage out of my 2006 US Olympic Team Torino Beret.


I am here by the authority of the Committee on Make Believe Olympic Games. --MisteRogers' Neighborhood

Humor: Why am I married?

Sorry I have been a little busy. Let me post another joke for the moment. I thought some of you might enjoy this. What a waist of my 69th post...


You have two choices in life: You can stay single and be miserable, or get married and wish you were dead.


At a cocktail party, one woman said to another, "Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?" "Yes, I am. I married the wrong man."


A lady inserted an ad in the classifieds: "Husband Wanted" Next day she received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing:"You can have mine."


When a woman steals your husband, there is no better revenge than to let her keep him.


A woman is incomplete until she is married. Then she is finished.


A little boy asked his father,"Daddy, how much does it cost to get married? "Father replied, "I don't know, son, I'm still paying."


A young son asked,"Is it true, Dad, that in some parts of Africaa man doesn't know his wife until he marries her?"Dad replied, "That happens in every country, son."


Then there was a woman who said,"I never knew what real happiness was until I got married, and by then, it was too late."


Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.


If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say -- talk in your sleep.


Just think, if it wasn't for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.


First guy says, "My wife's an angel!"Second guy remarks, "You're lucky. Mine's still alive."


A Woman's PrayerDear Lord, I pray for Wisdom, to understand a man, to love and to forgive him, and for Patience, for his moods. Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength, I'll just beat him to death.


AND NOW FOR THE FAVORITE!!!


Husband and wife are waiting at the bus stop with their nine children. A blind man joins them after a few minutes. When the bus arrives, they find it overloaded and only the wife and the nine kids are able to fit ontothe bus.

So the husband and the blind man decide to walk. After a while, the husband gets irritated by the ticking of the stick of the blind man as he taps it on the sidewalk, and says to him, "Why don't you put a piece of rubber at the end of your stick? That ticking sound is driving me crazy."

The blind man replies, "If you would've put a rubber at the end of YOUR stick, we'd be riding the bus ... so shut the hell up."

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

4 Things: The List

**4 Things: The List**

-- 4 Jobs I've had:
Quality Inspector/Acid Man at a Galvanizing plant
Software Developer at a Market Research company
Data Specialist/Software Developer at a Market Research company
Systems Developer at Market Reaserch company


-- 4 Movies I Watch Over & Over Again:
White Christmas
Colossus: The Forbin Project
Silent Running
Xanadu


-- 4 Places I Have Lived:
Haslet. MI
Wyandotte. MI
Inskster, MI
Southgate, MI



-- 4 TV Shows I Love:
Stargate SG-1
Stargate Atlantis
Battle Star Galatica (hey, I love SciFi)
American Idol (I admit it. I am hooked)


-- 4 Favorite Books:
The Jungle
Congo
The Andromeda Strain
Fantastic Voyage


-- 4 Places I Have Vacationed:
Louisville, Kentucky
Niagra Falls
New Orleans
Orlando


-- 4 Websites I Read Every Day:
Brigitte
Sign Gurl
RoxiMoon
Madame X
(Note: I try to read everyone I have a link to on my main page daily)


-- 4 Favorite Foods:
Prime Rib
Salad
Bread
Chili

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Life's Simple PLeasures

The Instructions: Name five of life's simple pleasures that you like, then tag five people to do the same. Try to be original and creative.

1. Horses. I love watching horses work out at a track. One of my favorite things I do every year at Kentucky Derby time of the year is go to Dawn at the Downs and watch the workout. It is free and I find it peaceful and very enjoyable. Of course it is nice I get to do this with my best friend. I also was able to see a Grand Pre Jump event in person when I visited a friend in Calgary. I have seen this on TV but never in person. I loved it.

2. Amazement. Ever have one of those days where everything seems brand new to you. You see things in a whole different way. Everything seems so incredable to you. Nothing can bring you down. I do not see many of those days but when I do, I treasure them.

3. A nice warm fire on a cold winter night. There is something about the nice snap, crackle and a gentle dancing fire to keep you entertained along with the wonderful warm feeling you get.

4. The wonderful warm feeling you get inside when you are able to help someone out. The handful of times I have helped out at a soup kitchen is a good example of that.

5. Hearing from a friend, especially if you have not heard from them in a long time. It always brings back such nice memories.

I know some people do not like being tagged, others love it. So please feel free to try this one out if you wish. It is nice and simple and I know I enjoyed it. Thank you Wenchy. I know I enjoyed this a lot. Sorry it took so long for me to post.


With Ten Bears, it was always more than a while. There was purpose in everything he did, and I knew he wanted me to stay. But I was sure of myself. I would be an excuse, and that's all the Army would need to find this place. I pushed him as far as I could to move the camp. But in the end, he only smiled and talked of simple pleasures. He reminded me that at his age, a good fire was better than anything. Ten Bears was an extraordinary man. --Dances With Wolves

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

The Show Must Go On

Growing up I discovered I enjoyed tinkering with things. My first "stereo" that I had took two items, one to drive the left channel, one to drive the right channel and produce sound. I hooked up a turntable and I was in heaven. At last, more than just an AM radio. I got to listen to two songs that became my favorite of the time. These Boots Were Made for Walking and Downtown. I also found my favorite group, Chicago. I had a lot of fun as a youngin tinkering around.

When I entered High School, I became involved in band, both marching and symphonic. I played french horn, melophone, and french trumpet if you want to call what I did playing. I did OK but I took so much away from this experience. I developed a true love of music during this time. I also developed something unexpected.

Our band did a lot of performing. We did things like the Cabaret where we served Spaghetti Dinners and played as entertainment to raise money. We did spring concerts, we played football games and parades. We even made a trip to Europe in the summer of '73. In all that time we always went all out with the production of things, but nothing was like Band-a-Rama. This usually occurred right around November 15 We put on 4 shows and the production was a dream. We would fly 50 lights at one end of the gym and at least 30 at the other end of the gym. We had mirror balls, black lights, 4 spotlights, and the usual array of gym lights. I was in heaven helping get the lights set and the control equipment in place. Gelling and focusing the lights, running microphone lines, microphones and getting the sound board ready. I regretted not being able to run any of this except the one time because I was in the bad performing but I had a blast getting everything ready and tearing things down.

I also started to record the band and our coral counterpart. I started with just getting a feed from the main sound board to actually having microphones and lines of my own. I recorded many a performance and learned the hard way to always have backups. Sometimes there was a hum, other times someone would turn the power off and what you were counting on. Sometimes equipment failed. But I was in my glory then.

One day in my senior year of High School a friend approached me and said to come along with them. We ended up going to a strange end of the High School, one I hardly knew existed. Upon entering I saw people sitting on the ground spackling and painting and building things. They were building sets for the spring musical, The Music Man. I was leery about touching anything, I did not want to screw up the play but they welcomed the help. I helped out for a few days and really started to enjoy myself. By the time it was time to move to the stage I was excited.

We had many a run threw over a two week period. Getting acquainted to the stage, working through lines, altering things here and there to make things fit better. Somewhere in the process I started helping out with what lighting we were doing. Well one day they came to me and said "how would you like to run a spotlight." Most people would think who cares but I took it as an honor. I also helped out getting the lighting ready, the cues recorded, and the placing microphones for the performance.

A funny thing happened while all this was going on. I fell in love with theater and all that goes on behind the scenes. I got to see first hand as the play came together. I also fell in love with my now favorite play, The Music Man. I have seen it in over 12 different locations from Calumet Michigan to Louisville Kentucky. I have seen it done at the High School through professional levels. My favorite by far is Community Theater. I have also seen both movies although how could Matthew Broderick hope to compare to Robert Preston? I would say I am more than a little obsessed. Another thing came of the time of my life in the late winter / early spring of 1975. I found McDonalds Shamrock Shakes, yumm.

Well it was now less than a week to the first performance. The scenery was being completed and I was putting my carpentry skills to good use.

Bamm Bamm Bamm

with my hammer

Bamm Bamm Bamm

as I helped to assemble the rail on Winter Paroo's house

Bamm Bamm Bamm

as I proceeded to hit my thumb nail. Ouch!

I hit my thumb and did it hurt. That would not be to bad but I had to run spots and I took it pretty serious. To make sure I was running things smooth and to run things the best I could I reached my hands way forward on the spotlight. With that came a lot of heat. With the heat came a lot of pain but that could not stop me. I was in my glory.

At long last the play came and went fairly fast. A few little things happened but for the most part it was fairly uneventful. Boy were the people that I hand around with, getting ready to put this show on, a blast. Why did I never follow through and try doing this more. I did record a few plays after that for people but it was never the same.

So some day I would love to try out for a part in Music Man. Nothing big, maybe just the town's people that are saying trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble. Yes, as little singing as possible for me, maybe someday. I think this is also why I am jealous of a certain fellow blogger for all that she does both for work and for herself.



Marian Paroo: No, please, not tonight. Maybe tomorrow.
Harold Hill: Oh, my dear little librarian. You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering. --The Music Man

Monday, February 06, 2006

Dr Phil's test

Sorry for sharing more email but it was interesting and I thought I would include it for the people not interested in the prior post. I took the test and scored a 36. I guess it is about right for me.

Below is Dr Phil's test. (Dr. Phil scored 55; he did this test on Oprah - she got a 38.)

Some folks pay a lot of money to find this stuff out!

Don't be overly sensitive! The following is pretty accurate and it only takes 2 minutes. Take this test for yourself. Don't peek, but begin the test as you scroll down and answer. Answers are for who you are now...... not who you were in the past. Have pen or pencil and paper ready. This is a real test given by he Human Relations Dept. at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and prospective employees. It's only 10 Simple questions, so...grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers to each question.

Ready??

Begin...

1. When do you feel your best?
a) in the morning
b) during the afternoon and early evening
c) late at night

2. You usually walk...
a) fairly fast, with long steps
b) fairly fast, with little steps
c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
d) less fast, head down
e) very slowly

3. When talking to people you..
a) stand with your arms folded
b) have your hands clasped
c) have one or both your hands on your hips
d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with..
a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
b) your legs crossed
c) your legs stretched out or straight
d) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with...
a) big appreciated laugh
b) a laugh, but not a loud one
c) a quiet chuckle
d) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you...
a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed!

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted......
a) welcome the break
b) feel extremely irritated
c) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?
a) Red or orange
b) black
c) yellow or light blue
d) green
e) dark blue or purple
f) white
g) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep you are..
a) stretched out on your back
b) stretched out face down on your stomach
c) on your side, slightly curled
d) with your head on one arm
e) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are...
a) falling
b) fighting or struggling
c) searching for something or somebody
d) flying or floating
e) you usually have dreamless sleep
f) your dreams are always pleasant






POINTS:
1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points.


OVER 60 POINTS:

Others see you as someone they should "handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.


51 TO 60 POINTS:

Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.


41 TO 50 POINTS:

Others see you as fresh, lively, charming,amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.


31 TO 40 POINTS:

Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.


21 TO 30 POINTS:

Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide againstit. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.


UNDER 21 POINTS:

People think you are shy, nervous, andindecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions &who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.


Emotional cripple? Where did you get that from? Dr. Phil? --The L Word

Friday, February 03, 2006

School Rivalry

First before I begin let me say I have a lot of respect for both the Univeristy of Michigan and Ohio State University. Both are very proud schools with long standing traditions of accidemic excelance and very rich sports programs including and an impressive history of mens football. Growing up a UofM fan I have always loved the rivalry of a good football game especially the end of the year game between UofM and Ohio. Not much could beat the days of Woody and Bo on the field. I am sure if you follow sports at all you probably know of at least one rivalry. So I am going to take a little biased look at the UofM / Ohio State rivalry.



Michigan has an impressive but simple flag. It has the colors of the school, maze and blue and a big block letter M for Michigan. The Fight Song is impressive "Hail! to the victors valiant Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes Hail! Hail! to Michigan, the champions of the West!". The mascott is a wolverine although I can not say I have seen anyone dressed up like a wolverine before (for that matter I have not seen anyone dressed up like a Buckeye either). Here is a little exerpt about wolverines.




The wolverine is the largest land-dwelling member of the family Mustelidae (animals such as minks, weasels,otters, skunks). For its size, the Wolverine is probably one of the smallest and most powerful top-of-the-food-chain predator. It makes a Tasmanian Devil look like a sissy. The wolverine is powerfully built, and well adapted for winter survival. The wolverine walks on the soles of its feet as do bears and humans. This is called a plantigrade posture and allows the animal to move much easily through soft, deep snow.

I must say, a little bit odd but not a bad choice for a mascott.



Now Ohio State on the otherhand. Once again a fairly impressive flag for the university. It too shows the school colors which is scarlet and grey and prominently features a large O for Ohio. In at least this version that I have the words Ohio State are also present. So we are off to a good start although I think maze and blue are much more fationable (I warned you I was biased). The Fight Song makes me wonder "(It's) Round on the end and "Hi" in the middle. Tell me if you know. Don't you think that's a cute little riddle Round on the end and "Hi" in the middle You can find it on the map if you look high and low. The O's are round, it's high in the middle. O-H-I-O That's the riddle! Round on the end and "Hi" in the middle. O-HI-O!". Oh wait, that is not the fight song but still what is up with that anyway. So rather than the school song here is the Fight Song "Hit them hard and see how they fall Never let that team get the ball Hail, hail! The gang's all here So let's win that old conference now!". OK so that is a little better. The mascott is a buckeye. Now some places they say it actually is referring to the great people of the state of Ohio. Anyway, lets look at what a buckeye is.

The Ohio Buckeye is Aesculus glabra Willdenow. It is a small tree with a short trunk and narrowish crown usually reaching a height of about 50 feet, but very old individuals may be taller. It is most easily recognized by its palmately compound leaves (with 5-7 leaflets arranged as fingers on a hand) and clusters of small, pale yellow flowers that occur at the ends of branches in late April to early May. In native settings, it is usually found along river banks. It occurs throughout Ohio, which is near the eastern edge of its range, but it ranges west through Indiana, Illinois, southeastern Iowa and Missouri to eastern Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Today the Buckeye is not widely used by man except occasionally as a cultivated landscape plant and sometimes for its seeds, which are carried as good luck charms.


So lets see, we have the mighty wolverine vs a bunch of nuts. Hmmmmmmm! Then again some of my best friends are nuts but still...

GO BLUE!

Sorry Crabcakes, it had to be done. Now I am afraid of what may follow...


Oh, it's not a rivalry at all. I haven't seen Biaggi win anything. --Faster

Thursday, February 02, 2006

It's Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day movie



Well once again Phil the Ground Hog came up with a prediction of the weather here in the United States. Six more weeks of mild winter. If you ask me Phil should have been predicting Spring or Early Summer as we have not had much of a winter this year.

In the process of checking things out I discoved that the groundhog that we had in Michigan, Noah rest his soul, passed on in 2002. At that time the people of Oxford Michigan decided to hand over the responsability to Mr Prozac and a groundhog puppet. Mr Prozac is a llama. Say what?

Well a little further research shows that last year those crazy people over in Oxford employed another groundhog called Harley. Also Howell has Woody the woodchuck and she has been doing pretty good. Yea, life is back to normal. I mean what is with a llama to predict the weather? Why not a gerbal or even an elephant? So what did they predict? Beats me, that is why I held off and published the late edition (and if you believe that...) but I just can not wait any longer.

So for the most part it looks like a mild end to winter. OK, but what about summer?


Here are a few things that deal with groundhog day.

The official Punxsutawney Phil WEB Site.

Sound clip1 and clip2 from the movie Groundhog Day (for some reason, one of my faves)

Finally here are some games and activities (from Phils site) for Groundhod Day.

Editor: This just in ... Woody concurred with Phil ... 6 more weeks of winter.


When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn't imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter. --Groundhog Day

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Secrets

Have you ever had something that you just could not share or there is no one you can talk to? Something that happened late last year would be a classic example. A friend told me she was getting married but I found out fairly early on before very many people knew. You know you would just love to talk about it but you can't.

I have similar things happen at work all the time. I develop software systems for a living. Many a time, including this past Monday, I accomplish something that I have been working toward for a little while. Now sometimes the things I am doing I can not talk about but usually that is not a problem. I so wanted to tell someone on Monday what I had done. It just felt so good to have accomplished the task I was working on. Of course most people could care less and the few that might listen are being polite. When you tell that what happened than they either say that is nice or they wonder what else you did. Surely that little thing could not be what you are all excited about. (I just know I am going to regret that comment)

Well I will not bore you with details but I will just say I had a pretty good Monday. I hope everyone is able to sneak your own "Monday" into your life sometime soon.

Since this is such a little post I figured I would sneak in a email I received today. Enjoy.


ROMANCE MATHEMATICS

Smart man + smart woman = romance
Smart man + dumb woman = affair
Dumb man + smart woman = marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy
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OFFICE ARITHMETIC

Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime
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SHOPPING MATH

A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs.
A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't need.
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GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS

A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
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HAPPINESS

To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.
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LONGEVITY

Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die.
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PROPENSITY TO CHANGE

A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, and she does.
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DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE

A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
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HOW TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BUGGING YOU ABOUT GETTING MARRIED
Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, "You're next." They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.


It's nothing I know. What, you think I'd come running over here yelling, "I've got a secret to tell, please beat it out of me?" --Buffy the Vampire Slayer