July 14th's Pun-Official Holiday

Americans do not meter out the lengths they’ll go to celebrate Tape Measure Day.  Many enjoy the day in a yard.

April 21st's Pun-Official Holiday

Hummus fun will bean had today.  It's Chickpea Day.

January 13th's Punny Holiday

Let your enthusiasm bubble up for Rubber Ducky Day

January 5th's Punny Holiday

Today is National Whipped Cream Day.  Pun-officially, that's not a holiday to dessert.

Happy Square Root Day!

Yes, I had to have it pointed out to me, but today is 3/3/9 and 3*3 = 9. I'm a geek, but I find stuff like that fun.

This weekend was productive but fun at the same time. I started with fun on Friday night. My Sunday School class got together and had a game night. Apples to Apples was included at one point, and we were laughing so hard. It's nice to work on building relationships with people on a different level.

Saturday, I never left the condo. Well, I did leave it to go for a two mile run at one point, but that was about it. Brennon and I tackled the garage. There's still way too much junk down there (most of it mine), but you can actually walk from one end to the other again, which is good since I needed to get some stuff out of it this week.

That night, I hung out with Brennon, Josiah, and a friend of theirs. We started out by watching Prince Caspian. I hadn't seen it since it was in the theaters, but I still really enjoyed it. Then we wound up down at the pool and hot tub. It was nice, except for the fact that I tweaked my shoulder. It was beginning to get better, but now it is bothering me some again. Not as bad as a month ago, but it is still frustrating. At this rate, I may never get back to working out.

But the weather was wonderful this weekend. It was in the 70's on Saturday and 80's on Sunday. I wish that was the prediction for this coming weekend.

Anyway, Sunday we only had one church service followed by a potluck lunch. Got to hang out with some members I don't see that often (and some I do), which was nice. Then Joe came over and we watched Speed Racer. Again, I hadn't see it since May, but I enjoyed it just as much the second go around.

In between all that, I also got everything of mine off the DVR! At the beginning of the summer, I recorded some movies I figured I'd get a chance to watch. Wrong! And there they've been sitting for months. A week ago, I was down to four and decided it was time to get them all watched. Of course, I've got stuff on there again, but it is so nice to have a couple of recent TV episodes instead of four movies. Even better, I've written but not posted reviews. Spacing them out one a week, I could probably last until May without having to watch another movie.

And a quick public service announcement. 5 Minutes for Books is discussing fondly remembered kids' books and hosting a contest. Check it out.

Happy 80th, Mickey

Today is Mickey Mouse day, according to the list of random holidays. And do you want to know why that is? Because today is Mickey Mouse's birthday. And this year, he is turning 80.

80 years ago today, Steamboat Willie premiered in New York.

As Walt was fond of saying, "It all started with a mouse." Just think of all the things we would have missed out on if Mickey hadn't been a hit his first time out.

As you might have guessed, I love Disney. So I for one am very thankful that Mickey came to be and was so popular.

So here's to you, Mickey, and many more happy years ahead for all of us.

Dead Men Tell No Tales

Ahoy Maties!

This be your reminder that today be Talk Like a Pirate Day.

(And I'm listening to "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" at the moment, too.)

And here's a fun quiz I found to celebrate the day.

My pirate name is:

Mad Jack Flint

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

On-Line Changes

Before I get to talking about my life, I have a public service announcement. Tomorrow, April 12th, is Drop Everything and Read day (in honor of Beverly Clearly). So I hope you plan some major reading time into your schedule.

So, Wednesday was day of big changes, or at least potential changes, in my on-line life.

First, Garrett announced he was moving on from Epinions.com. Garrett has been the community liaison almost the entire time the site has existed. Definitely the entire time I've been on it. He's been a big help to me with various issues, and I'm really going to miss having him around. Plus I've gotten to meet him a few times, which was lots of fun. Fortunately, he's still going to be active at the site. But his quick replies to my e-mails were always welcome.

Then Cathy announced she was taking a break from Jix. I really do hope it is short and only temporary. She's been a friend in the Trixie community since about the time it really got started. I can't imagine not having her around the site any more.

At least I did get some good news on Wednesday. I've moved up the Summer League waiting list. I'm now #1. Since I've got six weeks or so, odds are that someone will drop out, move to Men's league or we'll get another woman or two. I should make it.

And the good news kept coming on Thursday. I got the Top Reviewer recognition at Epinions. So now I'm a triple threat with TR's in all three media categories. It's funny. I thought books and movies would be easy and I'd probably never get music. But I got music before I got books. I'd pretty much figured by now I'd never get it, so I'm thrilled!

Boy, the weather sure has warmed up today. After my post Monday, it cooled off a little. But today has to be in the 80's. I've had my window open all afternoon, wishing I were outside. It's supposed to be even nicer tomorrow. Sounds like the perfect day to head down to the pool and read for a while. After I go to a book signing, that is. Hey, I think book signings count toward Drop Everything and Read day, too, don't you?

Major Life Changes

You will never believe what I got in the mail yesterday? My check for $1million finally came in. I thought about complaining about the lack of interest, but decided I could deal with just having an even million dollars.

Naturally, the first thing today was come into work and demand a raise. Which they gave me without any hesitation. Next, I paid off my condo and put it on the market so I could move to a better house. I'm thinking a mansion somewhere where I really have to commute to work.

I also increased my roommate's rent since I don't need it any more.

Meanwhile, I am going back to a simplistic lifestyle, which means I am selling off all my books and movies. I will be deleting all my reviews at Amazon and Epinions and burning my Trixie Belden books.

What, you don't believe a word I am saying? Good.

April Fool!

Ahoy, Maties!

Just a reminder that today be talk like a pirate day.

So be sure to talk like a pirate as you swab the poopdeck.

Argh!