Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Monday, January 30, 2012

What's Going Around the Internet - Helpful Hints

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone and/or iPod in a bowl.  
The concave shape amplifies the music.



I understand the acoustical idea behind this,
so I tried it yesterday while cleaning the kitchen.
I really couldn't tell the difference,
but I'm not going to say it didn't work.

It could be operator error...
Did I put it in the bowl at the right angle?

It could be my own hearing has been compromised...
Too much overly loud music for 30+ years?

It could be my listening skills...
My husband says I don't hear a blasted thing he tells me.
Whatever :-P

Give it a try and decide on your own.
I'm going back to using the iHome :-)

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Words of Wisdom from Oprah



 




"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."



Saturday, January 28, 2012

National Kazoo Day

Depending on your definition/ opinion/ tolerance of noise, we have Mr. Vest to thank for coming up with the idea and Mr. Von Clegg for making the very first kazoo in the 1840's.  Actual production began in 1912 in New York where the Kazoo Factory Museum is located today.

My daughter took this pic for me with Doug's new camera.  It's got a "vibrant color" mode on it - cool!!

Grab a kazoo and party on :-)

Friday, January 27, 2012

Stop and Admire the View


Yesterday morning as I was out on my errands, I found myself, literally, dashing in and out because of my own lack of preparedness...  I was not dressed quite appropriately for the 35 degree temps.  Just as I was leaving the bank and getting ready to make a run for the car, I happened to look up and had one of those inspirational moments: There were no clouds in the sky and it was a stunning shade of blue.  It reminded me why I live here and it gave me enough warmth to stop long enough to take a photo to share :-)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Jack Frost by Gabriel Setoun

The door was shut, as doors should be,
Before you went to bed last night;
Yet Jack Frost has got in, you see,
And left your window silver white.


He must have waited till you slept;
And not a single word he spoke,
But pencilled o'er the panes and crept
Away again before you woke.


And now you cannot see the hills
Nor fields that stretch beyond the lane;
But there are fairer things than these
His fingers traced on every pane.


Rocks and castles towering high;
Hills and dales, and streams and fields;
And knights in armor riding by,
With nodding plumes and shining shields.


And here are little boats, and there
Big ships with sails spread to the breeze;
And yonder, palm trees waving fair
On islands set in silver seas,


And butterflies with gauzy wings;
And herds of cows and flocks of sheep;
And fruit and flowers and all the things
You see when you are sound asleep.


For, creeping softly underneath
The door when all the lights are out,
Jack Frost takes every breath you breathe,
And knows the things you think about.


He paints them on the window-pane
In fairy lines with frozen steam;
And when you wake you see again
The lovely things you saw in dream.





Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Then and Now




This was the object of my teenage fantasies and the star of most of the posters plastered on my bedroom wall at the time...  Although I no longer have it, I actually remember this poster and was a loyal Tiger Beat reader :-)











This would be the poster on my daughter's wall.  I think she may have better taste than I did...

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

And The Award Goes To...


The very first Emmy Awards were held on January 25, 1949 for the purpose of recognizing shows produced and aired in Los Angles.  Not nearly as showy as it is today, it was held at the Hollywood Athletic Club.  In the years since, it has evolved to recognize excellence in national television.







Shirley Dinsdale was the first recipient of an Emmy for Most Outstanding Television Personality.  Shirley was a ventriloquist who worked in radio and television with her dummy, Judy Splinters, and it was for the show by the same name that she won the award.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Happy Chinese New Year - 4710!


Despite being a 1965 baby,
I am a Dragon :-)
After years of thinking I was a snake,
(based on the info found on the place mats of 
various Asian restaurants I frequented in my younger years)
it finally dawned on me that most early January babies
fall before the start of the Chinese New Year...

According to the website below, 
I am not just a Dragon, but a Wood Dragon.
Lots of fun information.  Check it out:

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Conversation Hearts


Although it's not even February,
I desperately needed these yesterday - 
kind of like candy corn in October...

My favorites are the orange and white ones :-)
Good thing I got a few before Doug came home!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Just another reason why I miss Andy Rooney...


Andy Rooney on Women Over Forty

Andy Rooney says:
As I grow in age, I value women who are over forty most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over forty will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, “What are you thinking?” She doesn’t care what you think.
If a woman over forty doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it’s usually something more interesting.
A woman over forty knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of forty give a hoot what you might think about her or what she’s doing.
Women over forty are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.
A woman over forty has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn’t trust the guy with other women. Women over forty couldn’t care less if you’re attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won’t betray her.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over forty. They always know.
A woman over forty looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over forty is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one! You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over forty for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of forty-plus, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some twenty-two-year-old waitress.
Ladies, I apologize.
For all those men who say, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free,” here’s an update for you. Now 80 percent of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage.



Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22323/34969-andy-rooney-forty#ixzz1juPeAWGP

Friday, January 20, 2012

Non Sequitur



Meet Danae...

She's one of the characters from Non Sequitur, a comic strip by Wiley Miller that I have been following for some time now. Without picking a side, he's been running a few political commentaries lately that really hit the nail on the head :-)

Below is a link to today's comic strip.  Try it...  You might like it:

http://www.arcamax.com/thefunnies/nonsequitur/

Thursday, January 19, 2012

What's Going Around the Internet - Helpful Hints

The old, overly-organized me would have loved this!!  
It's not going to happen now (I'm reformed), but I still LIKE it :-)


Overhaul your linen cupboard - 
store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases.
Voila! No more hunting through piles for a match.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Happy Birthday, Mr. Milne!


A. A. Milne, born today in 1882,
 was the creator of Winnie the Pooh.
Thank you, Mr. Milne, for a wonderful
childhood memory :-)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Seasonal Confusion










The unseasonably warm weather seems to have confused Mother Nature as she was showing a few signs of spring.  Then it snowed last night...

Monday, January 16, 2012

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

To me, this speech isn't just about race...  It's about all of us - no matter the gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, social status.  May we all have the equal opportunity, world-wide, to be who we want to be and make of ourselves what we can.  

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Walk-About






With temperatures in the mid-50's yesterday and partially sunny skies, I asked Doug if he'd like to grab the cameras and drive over to one of the Fort's local natural areas...  He countered with let's hike up to Horsetooth Rock...

We compromised with a long walk along one of the bike/pedestrian paths near our home.  He got fresh air and no motorized vehicles and got to stay out of the mud and snow :-)

He was also pretty patient while I snapped off a few photos.  I've been trying to zoom in and then crop to get even more detailed pics.  Some results are better than others...

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Winter Wonderland



I am not a cold weather fan, so I have to really push myself to go outside at this time of year...  However, when I do brave it, I am almost always rewarded :-)

These dried flowers (weeds?) really stood out against the gray, grassy background.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Friday the 13th


There is no such thing as a bad Friday :-)
TGIF!!

Trivia:
If you live in morbid fear of the #13, 
you suffer from triskaidekaphobia.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Miracles Do Happen!

I was in and out of this place in under 15 minutes yesterday morning!  
How often does that happen??

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Girls Gone Wild

With no husbands or kids around last night, my girlfriend, Michelle, and I decided to head out for a light dinner and an adult beverage :-)

I'm a big fan of our local breweries, so I'm drinking O'Dell's Easy Street Wheat with an orange slice.  O'Dells started brewing craft beers in an old grain elevator just outside of Old Town Fort Collins in 1989. They were an almost-immediate success story.  By 1996, they had added bottling and you can now buy their ever-increasing list of brews in several mid-west and western states.

Cheers!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Snooze - An AM Eatery

A couple of friends recently recommended this place, so Brianne and I went to try it out last Friday morning. We arrived for a late breakfast and it was packed - always a good sign :-)

Brianne had the Snooze Continental which is their homemade granola sitting atop local Noosa yogurt with a grapefruit brulee.  She said it was great - the granola tasted like my oatmeal cookies :-)  I had the French Toast - the best I've had in recent memory!

With the exception of one location in San Diego, the other five eateries are all along the front range.  They focus on homemade goodness and use natural, farm raised, free ranging, local products (when available).  The atmosphere is fun and energetic, which is a perfect fit for Old Town Fort Collins.

Brianne and I both say the Cinnamon Rolls at the Silver Grill can't be beat, but we give this place the definite thumbs up!!

Monday, January 9, 2012

January Birthstone: Garnet



"By her who is this month was born
No gem save garnets shall be worn
They will ensure her constancy
True friendship and fidelity."









The deep red garnet is the traditional birthstone of January.  Garnets are associated with purity, friendship, truth and faithfulness and were very popular during the Victorian Era.  The upper ring is a "find" from a local antique shop - note the art deco design.  The lower is my "signature" ring.  It was given to me by my parents when I finished 8th grade as a sign of my maturing status and I've never seen another like it.   


My daughter pointed out that I'll never make it as a hand model - look at that scar and all those wrinkles...

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Male Watcher's Day

This is for all you ladies out there who can appreciate a fine male specimen when you see him...  However, let's show a little class and keep the wolf whistles and obvious ogling to a minimum!  I plan to make sure my sun glasses are clean so that I can get a great view and maintain discretion at the same time :-)




On a side note, today is also Elvis Presley's Birthday - certainly one of the best males to watch in his time...

Saturday, January 7, 2012

T'was the Month after Christmas

T'was the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
nothing would fit me, not even a blouse;
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I had to taste,
at the holiday parties had gone to my waist;

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber),
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared,
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared;

The wine and the rum balls; the bread and the cheese,
and the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt,
and prepared once again to do battle with dirt,
I said to myself, as only I can,
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So, away with the last of the sour cream dip.
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,
'til all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!
Author Unknown

Friday, January 6, 2012

Birthday Girl



Today is the 18th Anniversary of my 29th Birthday!

This auspicious event is due, in large, to the considerable amount of restraint my parents showed by not cheerfully strangling me during my teen years... Thanks Mom and Dad!!  XOXO

Thursday, January 5, 2012

January Birth Month Flower: The Carnation

It is believed that celebrating one's birthday began during the Roman Empire. Family and friends would bring gifts and flowers to offer their congratulations - sounds familiar :-)  During the very conservative Victorian Era, it was highly inappropriate to express your feelings of love or affection, so the "Language of Flowers" evolved...  Lovers could send messages through the flowers they exchanged.


The general meaning of the Carnation is love, fascination and distinction.  However, you can fine-tune that message by sending a specifically colored carnation:

Red - My heart aches for you
Pink - I'll never forget you
Yellow - You have disappointed me
Striped - I wish I could be with you

<--  Whoever sent these couldn't make up his mind...

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Trivia Day


January 4th is Trivia Day and it just so happens that Trivial Pursuit is my favorite game of all time!!  

Let's play!  These questions come from the Millenium Edition:

Blue (People and Places):  What country is known as Schweiz in German and Svizerra in Italian?

Pink (Arts and Entertainment):  What song has Roy Orbison asking the musical question:  "Are you walking back to me?"

Yellow (History):  What 20th-century decade gave the world aerosol insect sprays, Cheerios and napalm?

Brown (Science and Nature):  What do you call an angle more than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees?

Green (Sports and Leisure):  What cereal box informed Conor Bird that his dad Larry played basketball before he became a coach?

Orange (Wild Card):  What stewed fruit dish do lunch-counter workers refer to as "looseners"?

Answers:
Blue:  Switzerland (makes sense)
Pink:  Oh, Pretty Woman (only Roy Orbison song I know - lol)
Yellow:  The 1940's (this one was a close call)
Brown:  Obtuse (no clue - I hated anything that had to do with math)
Green:  Wheaties (if you watch commercials or grocery shop...)
Orange:  Stewed Prunes (should have seen this one coming)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

What's Going Around the Internet - Helpful Hints



2.  Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes...


I couldn't actually get this one to work.  Admittedly, it could easily be operator error, but I've got a couple of tried and true methods:  For starters, they actually make products for this project.  I recommend the felt marker type - they work better than the crayon"ish" ones and come in a variety of wood stain colors.   I've also used permanent markers - these are particularly helpful with black painted furniture, cabinets and frames.  


Give the walnuts a try, but remember there's probably a Lowe's, Home Depot or Ace just around the corner.  Good luck!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy Monday!

Miss Daisy modeling this winter's latest fashion accessory
by designer Nanook of the North...

Sunday, January 1, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to min',
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And here's a hand, my trusty fierce,
And gie's a hand o' thine,
And we'll tak' a right guid willie-waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,

We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint stowpt,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.


-Robert Burns