My brother-in-law just emailed me this joke and once I had cleaned the iced tea off my monitor, I had to share it!

Three girls all worked in the same office with the same female boss. Each day, they noticed the boss left work early. One day the girls decided that when the boss left they would leave right behind her. After all, she never called or came back to work, so how would she know they went home early?

The brunette was thrilled to be home early. She did a little gardening, spent playtime with her son, and went to bed early.

The redhead was elated to be able to get in a quick workout at the spa before meeting a dinner date.

The blonde was happy to get home early and surprise her husband, but when she got to her bedroom she heard a muffled noise from inside. Slowly and quietly she cracked open the door and was mortified to see her husband in bed with her boss! Gently she closed the door and crept out of her house.

The next day, at their coffee break, the brunette and redhead planned to leave early again, and they asked the blond if she was going to go with them.

"No way," the blonde exclaimed. "I almost got caught yesterday."

Jientje from Heaven Is in Belgium, the creator of this meme, writes: "As long as people have been around, they have tried to communicate with each other. As a means of getting the message across as clearly as possible, idioms and sayings have found their way into our language. Now, because "a picture paints a thousand words", I thought it would be nice to make this a new photo challenge. The idea is to choose an idiom, or a saying, ( even slang is allowed) and illustrate it with a picture. Each week we'll cover two letters of the alphabet, okay?"

To play along, click here.

Here we go!



W is for Waiting in the wings

"If someone is waiting in the wings, or in the wings, they are in the background, but nearby, ready to act on short notice." (source)



X is for X-Factor

"The unknown factor or the unexplainable thing which adds a certain value to that object, element or a person." (source)

For years and years, I was a serious nail biter. My mother tried everything she could think of to get me to break the habit: hot sauce, soap, perfume, lemon juice. Nothing worked. I wasn't an especially nervous kid, but I was a serious thinker and would bite my nails and twirl my hair when lost in my thoughts or a book.

It wasn't until I got braces as an adult that I stopped biting my nails. And the only reason I stopped biting them then was because I couldn't figure out a way to get around the metal in my mouth to latch onto the nail to bite into it! Once I stopped biting them, my fingernails grew in nice and strong, just like my mom's used to.

This photo was snapped with my iPhone while I was stopped at a red light and my left hand was draped over the steering wheel. Yes, folks, these nails belong to me! They are not bought and paid for -- they are au natural!

For more Wordless Wednesday participants, or to play along, click here.

Random Thought #1

When I first learned about it, I quickly became hooked on Facebook. I recruited friends and family members to join and soon began to spend entirely too much time on the site. With all the fun apps, games, goofy quizzes, ways to reconnect with old friends, etc., becoming a Facebook addict is really quite easy to do. As soon as I realized that it was a serious detraction from the work that I needed to get done, though, I nipped Facebook in the bud and moved on. Now, I check in every now and again just to post updates for the friends and family that I recruited and who are still very active and involved on the site.

I knew that something exciting had to be happening over there, though, when I saw that even my Aunt Nola was in on a game called Farm Town. Aunt Nola was the last of the family members to get on the Facebook train, so it really surprised me to see her playing a game there; even more surprising for me was the fact that she has a killer score! Not to be outdone, I had to check out the game to see what it was all about and now am once again hopelessly addicted.

Anyone else addicted to Farm Town on Facebook?

Random Thought #2

Sleep, or lack thereof, is plaguing my life again. I'm back to the sleep two hours, awake four or five hours pattern and have been for several days. Trying to stay focused on anything is like trying to say no to Farm Town -- it's not gonna happen, at least not right now. The Pity Pot is waiting for me down the road, I know; for the time being, I'll deal with it as best I can and just keep going.

Random Thought #3

So far the transition from Dilantin to Topamax is going smoothly. I'm waiting for the Topamax tinglies to start, as I know they will eventually. Once they do, I'll have the pleasure of feeling like gazillions of ants are doing the tango on my skin for about a week. For this week, I'll take 50mg of Topamax twice a day along with the Dilantin.

Random Thought #4

Well, this one isn't exactly random. . .Betty gets to leave the nursing home today! After giving them a hard time on more than one occasion because they were rough with her, even to the point of actually breaking the skin on her left arm and trying to claim that it happened because she has thin skin, I will be so thrilled to have her back at the board and care facility!

Just a few things I've been thinking about . . .

2. You are doing the shopping at the grocery store and there is one bad habit you wish your mate would give up, and it's on your list to buy. Do you conveniently forget the item or go ahead and feed the habit?

The Bumbles, our hosts, are on vacation -- a road trip from NY to Canada. Inspired by the promise of fun in their Jeep Cherokee journey, this week's movie theme is "on the road." So many movies are all about getting from Point A to Point B and the humor/drama/horror that occurs along the way. Share on your blog movies that focus on road trips and then link back to The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

This week I'm moved by yet another Roger Miller song. This time, though, instead of the song being all goofy and funny like the last one, it's a tear your guts out, grab a box of tissue classic country heartbreak song. I love, love, love the steel guitar in this one and if you listen carefully, I swear that you can hear it "talk"!

Before she became the international singing sensation, I watched Leona Lewis on the British television show, X-Factor. Even then it was easy to see that she would go far.

Lyrics | Leona Lewis lyrics - Take A Bow lyrics

To see more Music Monday posts, or to play along, go here.

Post about 5 favorite things from the past week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy: favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, great internet finds, etc., etc. Be as detailed as you like, the more detail the more fun for those of us visiting. Susanne, the hostess, just asks that it be kept family friendly. Click here to play along with us.




1. I'm grateful for two days of productivity, even if it meant not having time to blog.

2. A friend sent me an email that made me laugh:

Tired and REtired accurately describes me for the past couple of days. No sitting around munching on bon-bons and watching soap operas all day here. So much for the glory days of retirement!

Despite really looking forward to the Thursday Thirteen meme, I just didn't have time to get to it today. Not that this is necessarily bad; it just means that I'm having another good day and have the energy and concentration to get some more work done. I might could get used to this!

The visit with my wunnerful wunnerful neurologist, Dr. S, went well. We're changing my anti-seizure medications again as the Dilantin has never really reached the level in my blood stream that it should in order to work effectively. Instead of continuing to increase the dosage of a drug that just ain't cuttin' the mustard as my Grandma used to say, I'll go back on Topamax. I did have some issues with Topamax causing brain fog a while back; however, I'm no longer teaching and required to have unfailing mental acuity on demand. I'll take a bit of fogginess over clusters of seizures any old day. Besides, Topamax has three delightful side effects from which I gained some additional benefit in the past and hope to see again:

• it causes weight loss
• it is also used to treat and prevent migraines
• it will allow me to stop taking two, possibly three, additional medications

The next couple of weeks will be challenging as I take both the Topamax and Dilantin until I reach the previous dosage of 100 mg of Topamax twice daily and start to wean off the Dilantin. Been there, done that -- at least half a dozen times -- and will survive it once again.

Jientje from Heaven Is in Belgium, the creator of this meme, writes: "As long as people have been around, they have tried to communicate with each other. As a means of getting the message across as clearly as possible, idioms and sayings have found their way into our language. Now, because "a picture paints a thousand words", I thought it would be nice to make this a new photo challenge. The idea is to choose an idiom, or a saying, ( even slang is allowed) and illustrate it with a picture. Each week we'll cover two letters of the alphabet, okay?"

To play along, click here.

Here we go!


U is for up in arms
When someone is ready to fight, (s)he is "up in arms."



V is for Vietnam Syndrome
"An attitude in government circles that diplomacy may be more effective in solving local political problems in other countries than the use of military force, stemming from the failure of the U.S. military intervention in Vietnam." (source)

For more Wordless Wednesday participants, or to play along, click here.

Random Thought #1 isn't so random!

Thom at Thom's Place 4 Well Whatever is celebrating his birthday today. I got a late start today, but since you're in a time zone behind mine, I don't feel too terrible, LOL!


Random Thought #2

I've been busily working all morning. For me to have the energy and ability to remain focused and seizure and headache free long enough to actually get something accomplished is a big deal. Today has been a definite blessing in that regard, so I won't feel guilty for not getting around to blogging until nearly 5 p.m. Well, maybe I'll feel a little bit guilty, but it won't last long!

Random Thought #3

It looks like summer is finally coming to visit Southern California. The past two days have been warm enough that I've had the a/c going before noon. In an attempt to keep the electric bill at a manageable level and to put as little strain on our overloaded grid, I don't turn on the a/c until the temperature inside the house reaches 81 degrees. But let me tell you, as soon as it hits 77, I start melting like the Wicked Witch of the West!

Random Thought #4

Tonight will be the first time that I watch America's Got Talent in its regularly aired time slot. I didn't realize that it was on until my sister told me last week. I caught up with it online and am ready to start watching the real live deal tonight. Got some Kettle Korn ready and everything!

Here's wishing that everyone has had as pleasant Tuesday as I have!

Morris and his lovely wife Esther went to the state fair every year.

Every year Morris would say, "Esther, I'd like to ride in that helicopter."

Esther always replied, "I know Morris, but that helicopter ride is fifty dollars. And fifty dollars is fifty dollars."

One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, "Esther, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance."

Esther replied, "Morris that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars."

The pilot overheard the couple and said, "Folks I'll make you a deal. I'll take both of you for a ride. If you stay quiet for the entire ride and don't say a word, I won't charge you a penny! But if you say one word it's 50 dollars!"

Morris and Esther agreed and up they went.

The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again. But still not a word.

When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, "By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!"

Morris replied, "Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out; but you know, fifty dollars is fifty dollars!"

Just a few things I've been thinking about . . .

Where do dirty glasses come from? I am a coffee drinker. Period. Aside from the occasional glass of iced tea, I drink coffee. Coffee requires a cup -- just one cup. I start with a clean one every morning and as I finish one cup of coffee and get ready to make another, I wash the same cup that I began the day with. The Amazing Egyptian Dude drinks a cup of coffee in the morning before he leaves for the office, and a glass of hot tea (Egyptians drink hot tea in glasses instead of cups) in the evening before he goes to bed. If he has iced tea, too, then he has used a total of 2 glasses and 1 cup. Add to this my 1 cup, and I should be washing 4 drinking vessels daily. So how come my sink is perpetually filled with dirty glasses? Where do they come from?

Ok, we do have a guest now. And the past three or four weekends, Iman, Magdy, and Basma have been here. But still, that doesn't explain how a well-stocked cupboard can go bare in a matter of minutes and my sink fill up in record time! Unless . . .

. . . is it possible that everyone but me is using a different glass or cup each time they get a drink? And if they are, why is that I'm the only one washing all of them?



Who said picnics are outdoor events? On Saturday, we went to see the opening performance of the Long Beach Shakespeare Company's production of Julius Caesar. When we've attended performances in the past, they've always been held in a park where we could bring along a picnic. So when I invited the usual group of suspects -- er, friends -- to join us, I suggested that we just continue the established pattern of everyone bringing a dish for all to share. I fried about 40 pieces of chicken, made a gigantic bowl of macaroni salad, and the Amazing Egyptian Dude filled the ice chest with water, soda, and ice.

Imagine my surprise when, as we were approaching the freeway exit, I get a call from Diana, the 4th grade BFF who joined us for the first time this year, telling me that the address from the company's website was actually a furniture building of some sort. What?! Sure enough, the performance was being held indoors at an empty furniture expo that the city of Long Beach owns. Despite the change of venue, our picnic was still on.

Although the acoustics in the building left a lot to be desired, the performance was quite good. Each member of the richly diverse cast performed his or her heart out and played as if to a full house. The dance at the Lupercalia was a bit unusual because the ancient Roman festival was celebrated to honor shepherds and this production's director turned it into a visual orgy better fitting the Bacchanalia. It is strange turns in the interpretation of the plays, like this one, that make me genuinely enjoy watching performances by local theater companies.


During the intermission, the company's Co-Artistic Director, Denis McCourt, introduced himself to us and engaged us in a friendly conversation. A very personable fellow, Denis was genuinely interested in feedback from the audience as well as ideas for future productions. It was from Denis that we learned why the venue had changed. The Furniture Expo is an empty building that belongs to the city of Long Beach. Someone, somewhere, somehow was able to convince the city to allow the building to be used for a Center for the Arts and with the city's agreement, the company is allowed to use the facility at no cost. For small theater groups such as the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, find a free venue is a godsend.

In these trying economic times, families look for things to do that cost very little. Check your city to see if they have a theater company and if the do, go see a play! It is very often free or very low cost if a fee is involved.

Here's wishing everyone the start of a great week!

This week's movie topic is all about Walking Out...

Have you ever walked out of a theater? Demanded a refund after renting? Turned the channel? Share on your blog some of the movies that made you wish you had that time in your life back and then link back to The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

I haven't ever walked out on a movie in the theater, but I have changed the channel on the television or turned off a DVD because I couldn't stand what I was watching. First, I have to say that when it comes to entertainment, I'm not one who tolerates gratuitous sex or violence and if a film's dialogue contains more vulgarities than civil language, I just won't watch. So, my list of films that were a complete waste of my time includes:

Scarface: Ok, I know that the movie is about gangsters and that they probably don't talk like Mary Poppins; however, when every fifth word begins with the letter F, I go for the remote.

Titanic: Leonardo di Caprio may have palpitated the hearts of tweens and teens around the world with his performance in this film, but it's hard for me to think of a movie that I can't stand more than this one! To make a love story out of one of the most tragic events in contemporary history and shift focus away from the hubris that cost so many people their lives ought to be criminal.

White Noise: I didn't think it was possible, but the movie is even worse than the book! Bleh!

Ishtar: How in the world Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty were sold on this movie is simply beyond my ken. Comedy, you say? Pshaw!

Bram Stoker's Dracula: For anyone who has actually read Stoker's novel, this film goes beyond bowdlerization and sits squarely at the center of absolute farce. The plot is thick enough to make an imaginary love story between Dracula and Mina completely unnecessary. Sadly, most young people will never read Stoker's masterpiece and thus will never know the real story.

Dumb and Dumber: The title is enough for this one.

I could have gone on and on and on with this theme, but I'll spare you this time. Happy movie watching, everyone!

Released to theaters in 1939, The Wizard of Oz has left an unparalleled cultural impact and legacy of song on American pop culture. The story of Dorothy, the farm girl from Kansas, and her companions, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow -- oh, and Toto, too! -- reaches across the globe in one of the most internationally viewed films of all time.

Although "Yesterday" by The Beatles is the number one most recorded cover song, I'd be willing to bet that more people are familiar with "Over the Rainbow," the song ranked #1 by the American Film Institute on the 100 Greatest Songs in American Films list.

I love the film and the song, so my entry in today's Music Monday is three different cover versions of "Over the Rainbow." I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do!






Lyrics | - SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW lyrics

Eva Cassidy, Live at Blues Alley in 1996
When Eva Cassidy died of skin cancer in 1996, she was virtually unknown outside her hometown of Washington, D.C. But four years later, when Terry Rogan of BBC Radio 2 played an obscure CD based on the recommendation of his producer and Top of the Pop aired a black and white video of Eva Cassidy singing "Over the Rainbow," something magical happened: Eva Cassidy achieved worldwide fame posthumously. An article in The Guardian notes that "There's an undeniable emotional appeal in hearing an artist who you know died in obscurity singing a song about hope and a mystical world beyond everyday life."

Sam Harris, Star Search 1983
Before American Idol, there was Star Search. When Sam Harris belted out his bluesy version of "Over the Rainbow," the American public paid attention. He went on to win the competition in the show's premier season. With a performance like this one, how could he not have won?


Leona Lewis, X-Factor 2007