Rockin' The Beer Gut

Lisa and I went to see Toby Keith at the Allentown Fair last night. Not by my choice but I enjoyed it anyway! One of the opening groups were called Trailerchoir. I was laughing my ass off as they sang this song!

From Man to Zone - Austin arrives

Allright, I've been "blurking" for the last 12 months or so without a New post -so I'm overdue here. Speaking of overdue, some of you were in my ear at the Reunion about having a 3rd child (You know who you are - no names (Carol & Stacy!!)). So let's just say that Kristen was dead on with her prediction and that Penny won this one and delivered our 3rd child, Austin Scott Perdick on August 14th at 4:28 PM. He weighed in at 8.37 oz's and 20 1/2 inches long at 2 weeks early! And no, I'm not becoming a PSU fan, Austin is just Penny's dads middle name, combined with my middle name (not named after the ex-PSU Running back). Here is a picture of the little guy, along with Big Sister Mariska and Big brother Peyton. He has blolnde hair and blue eyes, just like the other two. We are now learning to play a zone defense after being spoiled with a man to man.....life may never be the same as I near that dreaded 40. I take solace in knowing that I'm not alone here (Pauko).

P.S. -I'm only having 3 to help make up for the lack of grandchildren that my Brother is producing (that we know of.....).

Viva España!

I'm considering turning on the heat this morning because I'm freezing after a week in the sun on the Costa Blanca in southern Spain. We're not normally big on beach vacations, but the apartment we stayed in was a bargain (a friend owns it) so we couldn't pass it up.

The beach in the picture is Benidorm, which is not the beach where we spent the week. But John insisted that we go there for the day so that I could experience it. Now, I'd heard lots of things about Benidorm: crawling with English, cheap booze, bad food, dirty beach, and let's not forget Sticky Vicky, the nude magician who makes things disappear and reappear out of her... - you see where I'm going with this. John tells me that yes, this was true of Benidorm in the 1980s and 90s, because that's where everybody went. But then it got a reputation for all the things I mentioned above, and the English stopped going. Thank God for that. The locals cleaned it up and enticed more Spaniards to come back to Benidorm now that the English were gone. The beach was immaculate, the only language I heard on the beach was Spanish (although John said he heard some French too) and we had a great day. Georgia spent the whole day snorkeling and watching the fish. The only time she came out was to put on a life vest and ride the banana boat with her dad. Christopher didn't care where we were. He just liked to dig in the sand. I'd go back again in a heartbeat.

Sticky Vicky is still there, so I guess some things never change. If you're really curious, I found her on YouTube, magically making a string of lights appear. I wonder where she plugged them in?

MTA: I realize that, after rereading my post, I sound like a real snob about Benidorm and the English. Trust me, I'm not. The English have a HORRIBLE reputation in Europe: big drinkers, loud, obnoxious, badly behaved and very rude. Unfortunately, there's some truth in that. So I don't like to go to really anglicized places for two reasons: (1) because I just don't want to be in that environment, particularly with kids, and (2) if I'm in a foreign country, I want to know that I'm in a foreign country. I want to hear another language, eat different food, and generally experience something other than what I'm used to.

Jeff P......

quit lurking and post your information!!! Please consider this your friendly reminder.....

Truthfuly, tell me what you think

It's been a few years, but I have created another website for my students. Please check it out and let me know what you think. I am willing (and hopefully able) to make changes so my students actually use it. Here is the address - http://mrfreemanschemistry.tripod.com/.
The pic was made using Fireworks - one of my final courses I took this summer. The site was created using FrontPage - another course I took this summer. '
I'm serious, be critical, I can take it. Thanks in advance, I know this is not controversial, but I could use some pointers/critiques/suggestions.

Questions of the week

I need____________.

I hope____________.

I feel______________.

I can't_____________.

I can_______________.

Cake Wrecks

You guys remember the kitty litter cake I made last Halloween? Well check these out. I laughed so hard I cried.

Controversy

There's a thread going on my American expats forum about this picture of the Spanish basketball team. This thread has now gone to three pages, discussing the inappropriateness of the picture, if Spain is more racist in comparison to other countries, is England racist considering its Morris Dancers painted with blackface, or the Nazi-themed restaurant that opened in India last year. So, is it racism? Are these people ignorant or is there something more sinister? And is ignorance an excuse? Over to you.

??????????

Where'd everybody go?

For a couple of days there we were blogging maniacs, and now, nothing. Just nothing. It's quiet and I can't stand it. So now, I'm going to have to share my Thursday plans with you. It's your own fault. If you'd blog something, you wouldn't be in this mess now.

Slept late today. I didn't get up until 7:33, which is like the middle of the day for me. Normally I'm up well before 6 a.m., because I like to have that time in the morning to myself to drink coffee, surf, and watch the morning news - or lately, the Olympics. Everyone got up within 10 minutes of me getting up, so that messed up my day from the start.

It's pouring rain. Another wrench in the works, because that means we can't go and do stuff in the community garden. Luckily, we did weeding and other things yesterday. We also picked berries. I told you I'm turning into Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I'm a bit sore and stiff this morning because we went to Taekwondo last night and did lots of kicking drills in preparation for grading next week. Then we did this thing called one-step, where someone punches you and you in turn block the punch and then do a strike to bring your opponent down. I learned some new stuff and then promptly came home and tried the knife-hand strike to the neck on my husband. I'm pleased to say it works.

So plans for today include cleaning the bathroom (joy) and finishing up packing for our trip to Spain on Saturday. I also need to squeeze my Olympic viewing in there somewhere. I'm only interested in the gymnastics and swimming, so I won't spend the whole afternoon in front of the TV. In short, it's going to be a very quiet day.

If I get bored, I might try that knife-hand strike on John again.

Going for U.S. Olympic Gold

Men's Synchronized Swimming

How many people share your name in the US?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 36 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

For the ladies - how to buy a new bra*

1. Go to the department store with the intention of buying linen trousers for your upcoming vacation.
2. Find the trousers you want, and then notice the tankini swimsuits next to them. Pick up two: both with your cup size on the label, and take particular interest in the one with the tag that screams "With Tummy Control!" (because post-childbirth and pre-forty, you need all the help you can get). Take all three items to the fitting rooms.
3. Try on trousers. Decide not to buy them because you think they make your butt look big.
4. Try on first tankini. You like it and will buy it.
5. Take "With Tummy Control" tankini off hanger. Feel it. You are aware that it feels as tight as a girdle but decide to have a go anyway. Pull over head.
6. Turn around several times in the fitting room trying to get your arms into the straps. Get arms halfway in. Turn around several times again. Stop and look at yourself in the mirror. You realize that you look like a chinese puzzle and consider shouting for help from the sales assistant working the fitting rooms. Decide to have another go. After much huffing, puffing and sweating, you manage to get the thing fully over your head. Now bend over and work your boobs into the cups. After a final adjustment, stand up straight and admire yourself in the mirror. Watch in horror as the tankini rolls up from your waist to under your boobs.
7. Decide not to buy the tankini and start pulling it up to get it off. Turn around again. Pause for breath. Turn around again, getting your arm stuck inside the tankini. Consider calling for help. Take a deep breath and pull. Sigh with relief as the top comes off over your head.
8. Frantically try to rub the deodorant marks off it.
9. Get dressed. Put your bra back on in a huff and pull so hard that you actually rip the cup away from the underwire. Roll your eyes in disgust and then finish getting dressed.
10. Give the tankini and the trousers to the sales assistant, saying you won't be taking them.
11. Go upstairs to lingerie to buy a new bra to replace the one you just destroyed in the fitting room.

*Highlights of my shopping trip yesterday to Marks & Spencer.

Steve's Shopping List

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jdP7HUPbVs

Olympics

Wow, the men's 4 x 100 m freestyle relay was amazing!

So, Who Gets the Ticket?

Ya know, we only really travel the major highways once or twice a year, so the subject of pokey drivers hanging out in the left lane doesn't come up very often. Today, we were going to a birthday party down Philly way when we noticed a sign on the turnpike; Stay to the Right, Pass on the Left....It's the Law. I guess I always knew it was a law, but never really thought or heard of anyone getting a ticket for it. So, who gets the ticket? The pokey driver in the left, or the driver that passes that pokey driver on the right?

It's the economy, stupid!

Well, we all know that, for a number of reasons, the economy is seriously in the toilet. I've always dipped my toe in the pool of tightwaddery, but lately I seem to be taking things to the next level in preparation for the crash. Because, let's face it, it's going to get worse before it gets better. We've always had high gas prices in comparison to the U.S., but the other day I noticed that diesel (which is what my car takes) is now at £1.31 a liter, which translates to $9.91 per gallon. Yikes! Everyone is tightening the belt a bit, so here's what we're doing in the Collo house to get more bang for our buck.
1. I have put a moratorium on credit card spending. We don't use our cards much anyway, mostly for booking travel online, which we only do a couple of times a year. But the temptation is there, so I put the credit cards in a ziploc baggie, which I then placed in a tupperware container filled with water. Then I put the whole thing in the freezer.
2. We grow more vegetables. We started doing this before the crunch because I wanted to feed the kids organic veggies. I have since noticed how much less I spend at the supermarket because I no longer buy veggies or fruit (with the exception of bananas and grapes, because we don't grow either of those). So I've given John instructions that he needs to be planting and growing veggies we can eat all year. I'm sick of zucchini though. I've got zucchini coming out my ears!
3. I cook from scratch. I don't buy processed stuff anyway, because Chris has allergies and I hate reading labels. But I cook a lot more from scratch, things I wouldn't have made before, like soups, bread and cakes. Aside from that, I plan meals based on what I already have in the pantry, freezer and fridge, buying only what I need to make a recipe or to restock the pantry, fridge and freezer. I shop with a list, and go by myself. If I take John and the kids, I end up spending twice what I'd planned.
4. I don't use the dryer unless it's pelting it down with rain. This may present a problem come winter, when towels and jeans are so stiff they can get up and walk away on their own if they've been dried indoors on a drying rack.
5. I buy ice cream. Seriously, the ice cream man comes by, my kids want ice cream and it costs me $3. If the ice cream man comes every day, I'm looking at $15 for ice cream. Forget that! For less than $5 I can buy a 1/2 gallon of ice cream and some cones. This reminds me of Eddie Murphy's standup routine that he used to to about McDonald's, and how the other kids in the neighborhood would get McDonald's, but his mother would make him a welfare burger. I don't care. Get over it kid.
6. I use Freecyle, and I am not averse to the odd dumpster dive if it's something we could use in the garden.
7. I shop sales. I've always been a sale shopper anyway, but I've restricted my shopping only to sales and the clearance rack recently. This isn't a bad thing. I recently got two new dresses for work from my favorite shop. They would have been around $200 at the regular price, but I got both for $60. I'm happy about that.
8. I clean my house with natural products like vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda. As I mentioned, the boy has allergies and I don't want him exposed to chemicals, and I can buy a monster bottle of vinegar at Costco for a bargain and no, my house doesn't smell like a fish and chip shop.
9. I combine errands so I only have to use the car once to save on gas. No one is allowed to turn lights on during the day. That's what daylight is for.
10. I color my own hair instead of having the hairdresser do it. This may or may not be a money saver, depending on whether or not we'll have to redecorate the bathroom because of all the Miss Clairol Number 128 I've splattered all over the place.

Alumni Shirt

Has anyone bought any alumni stuff (on the Catty Alumni site)?

I just bought a T-shirt that looks like the one above (except I got 86, I'm not that dumb). I also got a 100 years of football T-shirt (thanks for alerting me of them Lew). If you have not joined the Alumni site, it is a one time fee (for life).

A Blast from the Past

Robert Hazard dies at 59.

Paris

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

Watch the "Paris for Prez" vid and share your thoughts. It's politics, and it is also controversial. Oh, I think it is hilarious, but I have no class (like a teacher in the summer time - no class at all - Russell from Fat Albert). This is cool because it is what's in the news and has Paris who is always in the news (not by her fault). This should be something to talk about for all those into controversy, politics, News that's not really news, etc.,.

Blog Toolbar

Are you like me (made the blog part of your pitiful life)? Then go to this link and download a toolbar so you can keep up with everything that is on the blog. I created and want everyone to have it as part of their browser to keep us in mind:
http://86classblogspot.ourorganizationtoolbar.com/

I just put it on my browser and already love the way it makes my browser look (but I am a geek deep down, hell I'm a geek all over).

Try it, and if you have anything you'd like put on it, let me know, it is customizable.

Midlife Crisis Mobile

Anyone know of where I can get some cheap disability insurance?

Michelle H., email me at tracy3@comporium.net , I wanted to talk to you but couldn't find your email addy.

Sticking with controversy...

I can foresee this becoming quite a long post, so please just bear with me to the end.

I'm a member of a tightwad forum, and most of the people on there are, for lack of a better description, a bit right of center politically (I'm not, I just go there for the tightwaddery). There's a "Debates and Personal Opinions" subforum, and someone has started a thread about Barack Obama. Nothing new there, but this particular thread has now turned to the discussion of flag flying - probably because Obama refuses to wear an American flag lapel pin. Most people on this forum say you are unpatriotic and un-American if you don't fly a flag or wear one on your person. So I'm going to share my opinion with you on this, and I want to hear yours. Remember, opinions are like assholes - every has one and it usually stinks - so we're going to have a big group cyberhug when we're finished with this discussion!

Everytime I come back to the U.S., I am shocked to see the number of American flags flying - in front of buildings, in front of houses, on mailboxes, on shopping bags, on people - they're just everywhere. I'm sorry to say but the uber-patriotism scares the shit out of me. I can understand the reasons behind the surge in patriotism. September 11, 2001 was a horrible, horrible event, and the nation banded together to try and deal with it. I get that. But all the flag flying in the world isn't going to prevent something like that happening again. The rest of the world has dealt with terrorism for a long, long time, and they don't feel the need to wave their flag(s) at every opportunity.

I went to Florida on vacation five weeks after September 11, 2001, and we had a British newspaper delivered to our hotel everyday. One morning I opened it to find an article about Gerry Adams, who was the leader of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army - a terrorist organization that has wreaked havoc on Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom for a long time. Thousands of people have died at their hands. Anyway, Gerry was at an IRA fundraiser in New York City, a city that five weeks earlier had suffered the worst terrorist attack in history. And now those people, those flag-waving, patriotic Americans, were courting the leader of a terrorist organization. They were paying $1000 a plate to hear him speak. And then he visited the White House (again!). So the U.S. fights terrorism when it suits. Sorry, but you can't have good terrorists and bad terrorists. Are white terrorists okay but Middle Eastern ones aren't? They're all terrorists. But in 2003 we started waging war a country that had nothing to do with 9/11, and we flew our flag, but we still get in bed with people who terrorize other people (just not Americans - so that makes it okay!) And in the meantime, more than 33,000 American servicemen and women - and thousands more Iraqis - have been injured or killed

I do understand why Barack Obama won't wear the flag pin. Probably for the same reasons I wouldn't. It just seems to me that the flag wavers talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk. I love my country. Someone asked me why I don't give up my citizenship. I'll never give up my citizenship. I'm proud of where I came from and what my country has achieved. But we've lost our way. We're broken, and we need to be fixed. Sometimes the most responsible thing you can do as a citizen is question your leadership.

Okay, your turn.

Questions of the week.

1. If you learned today you were going to die tomorrow, name three things you would do?

2. What is your very first memory?

3. Name one service you are willing to pay for and one your not.

4. Do you make your bed every day?

5. Name the most significant thing you learned this week?