Here are a few sunset pictures I took on the way to Bo's house tonight.

Hope you enjoy!

Today is my birthday....41 years old.

I still think I'm 21 years old...even 31 years old.

How can I possibly be FORTY ONE???

Anyway, happy, happy, happy birthday

to me, me, to me, to me,

ole!

Remember the Sir MixALot tune Baby Got Back?

Check out this remake by a preacher in Cleveland, Ohio. Saw a clip of it on VH1 Webjunk this weekend and got online to see the whole thing. It's great!!

I could go to this church!!!

(you'll need windows media player to view this)

http://www.whiteboydj.com/babygotbook.html

The 2/18/06 Winning Powerball Numbers Are:

15 17 43 44 48 Powerball: 29

Forget about opposites attracting!!

We like people who look like us, because they tend to have personalities similar to our own.

And, a new study suggests, the longer we are with someone, the more similarities in appearance grow.

Researchers set out to investigate why couples often tend to resemble one another. They asked 11 male and 11 female participants to judge the age, attractiveness and personality traits of 160 real-life married couples. Photographs of husbands and wives were viewed separately, so the participants didn't know who was married to whom.

The test participants rated men and woman who were actual couples as looking alike and having similar personalities. Also, the longer the couples had been together, the greater the perceived similarities.

The researchers speculate that the sharing of experiences might affect how couples look.

A biological reason

The idea that there is a connection between appearance and personality might seem odd at first, but there could be biological reasons for a link, said study member Tony Little from the University of Liverpool in England.

"Testosterone is linked to masculine face shapes and it also affects behavior," Little told LiveScience. "Also, the face displays our emotions and over time emotional expressions may become written in the face."

For example, someone who smiles a lot may develop lines and muscles that are suggestive of someone who is happy.

Other studies have shown that partners who are genetically similar to each other tend to have happier marriages. Similarities in personalities and physical features might be one way to gauge genetic similarity.

Smiles and eyes

The new study, to be detailed in the March issue of the journal Personality and Individual Differences, indicates that people home in on a variety of different features when using facial appearance to make decisions about someone's personality and that the particular cues focused on change from face to face. Vital to the decision, however, are eyes and smiles.

"Smiles are important social cues that may tell us whether or not someone is friendly and eyes are also a traditional focus of attention," Little said.

Overall face shape can be important too. For example, the combination of masculine features, large chins, and dominant brow ridges can create an impression of disagreeableness and being unwilling to cooperate, Little said.

The researchers are currently looking for people who are both single and in relationships to take part in an online study to investigate whether an individual's physical and personality traits influence their personal preferences.

More information can be found at www.alittlelab.com

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

FREEBIES - FREEBIES - FREEBIES

http://walmart.triaddigital.com/Free-Samples.aspx

Simmering on my stove is a copy cat recipe of Pasta E Fagioli (from Olive Garden). It looks good. It looks like the stuff they serve at O.G. It smells quite yummy and I have to say, I really felt all Rachel Ray-y cooking it in there...throwing in a little EVOO and not measuring my spices. It was fun!

Kellie and Brian are coming over tomorrow night for supper so I made it for that. I'll cook it on the stove tonight and then warm it up tomorrow.

Will let you know how it turns out. So far so good!

Thank you to everyone!! You've given me new reasons to go to the grocery store again!

Here you can find recipes for some of your favorite restaurant food! (some of the recipes are free - some aren't)

In my quest to find new and exciting things to eat, I ran across this cool website:

http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/home.asp

I'm bored with food. I think I have an eating disorder.

I go to the grocery store and I wander up and down the isles aimlessly.

I know what I can get Rich that he'll eat and love...but I have no idea what to get for myself. So here's what happens, I end up with strawberry applesauce, cottage cheese, hawaiian rolls and welch's juice popcicles. When I get home at night, nothing sounds good, except Taco Bell. I'm surviving on this small variety of food, with little to no desire for anything else. It's been like this for several weeks now.

So here's what I need from you guys.....what are your favorite foods? What do you crave? What tastes good after a hard day's work?

I need help!

Found this cool 3D desktop picture at
www.3dcrew.com

Quite possibly one of the cutest babies currently on the planet....and he sings OPERA!

Prepare yourselves ..... there's another cute baby on the way!!

Where are all my peeps at?

Is blogging a thing of the past?
Am I behind the curve instead of ahead of the curve?
All my peeps have stopped bloggin' with me.

Blog detox is no fun!

New Buzz Words for 2006

1. BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed and who was responsible.

2. SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, then leaves.

3. SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.

4. CUBE FARM: An office filled with cubicles.

5. PRAIRIE DOGGING: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a Cube Farm, and heads pop up over the walls to see what’s going on.

6. MOUSE POTATO: The on-line generation’s answer to the couch potato.

7. STRESS PUPPY: Someone who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.

8. SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that’s been rendered useless because the magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.

9. IRRITAINMENT: Annoying entertainment and media spectacles that you can’t help watching: Bennifer, Michael Jackson, etc.

10. PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking an electronic device to get it working again.

11. ADMINISPHERE: Rarefied organizational layers, beginning just above rank and file, from which confounding decisions fall.

12. GENERICA: Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same no matter where you are, including fast-food joints, strip malls and subdivisions.

13. OHNOSECOND: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize you’ve just made a BIG mistake, such as hitting “send” on an e-mail you shouldn’t have (see E-mail Etiquette category).

14. WOOFS: Well-Off Older Folks.

Need I say more?

My Giant Easy Bake Oven.....The SET IT AND FORGET IT

I got Rich the Ronco Set it and Forget it Countertop Rotisserie. WE LOVE IT! Of course that's no surprise - we love all "As seen on TV" things. This little rotisserie can cook up a chicken breast (thigh, leg, whatever) in less than an hour! AND ..... flavor you ask? Well it's GREAT!!!!

In fact, I think the Set it and Forget it is just a giant easy bake oven. As you can see from this picture, there's an electric thing in the back that heats up and that's what cooks your food. A light comes on so you can constantly see how it's doing.

If you're looking for a quick way to cook food and still have tons of flavor - you need the set it and forget it!

Here are some of the worst--and funny!--real-life examples of resume typos published by Rinkworks.com:*

"I am very detail-oreinted."
* "I have a bachelorette degree in computers."
* "Excellent memory; strong math aptitude; excellent memory; effective management skills; and very good at math."
* "I worked as a Corporate Lesion."
* "Served as assistant sore manager."
* "Special skills: Thyping."
* "I have exhaustive experience in manufacturing."
* "I have used lots of software appilcations."
* "Objection: To utilize my skills in sales."
* "I am quick at typing, about 25 words per minute."
* "I am a rabid typist."
* "Skills: Operated Pitney Bones machine."
* "Strengths: Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer."
* "Education: B.A. in Loberal Arts."
* "Work Experience: Dealing with customers' conflicts that arouse."
* "Education: College, August 1880 - May 1984."
* "Typing Speed: 756 wpm."
* "Work History: Performed brain wave tests, 1879-1981."
* "Accomplishments: Completed 11 years of high school."
* "Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you shorty!"
* "Enclosed is a ruff draft of my resume."
* "I am sicking and entry-level position."
* "I am a quick leaner, dependable, and motivated."
* "My salary requirement is $34 per year."
* "Married, eight children. Prefer frequent travel."
* "Graduated in the top 66% of my class."
* "Reason for leaving last job: Pushed aside so the vice president's girlfriend could steal my job."
* "Special skills: Experienced with numerous office machines and can make great lattes."
* "It's best for employers that I not work with people."
* "Objective: To have my skills and ethics challenged on a daily basis."
* "Experience: Watered, groomed, and fed the family dog for years."
* "Special skills: I've got a Ph.D. in human feelings."
* "My contributions on product launches were based on dreams that I had."
* "Previous experience: Self-employed -- a fiasco."
* "Work history: Bum. Abandoned belongings and led nomadic lifestyle."
* "Reason for leaving last job: The owner gave new meaning to the word 'paranoia.' I prefer to elaborate privately."
* "Extensive background in public accounting. I can also stand on my head!"
* "Exposure to German for two years, but many words are inappropriate for business."
* "My fortune cookie said, 'Your next interview will result in a job' -- and I like your company in particular."

Billions of throats across the globe to go tragically unsoothed!!!

According to one of my favorite websites for sarcastic news.....You won't believe this! The Swiss have gone too far!!! They are Threatening a Ricola Embargo!!!!!!

Yes you know.......Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicoooooolaaaaaaaaaaa!

www.theonion.com reports:

Swiss Threaten Ricola Embargo
January 4, 2006
BERN, SWITZERLAND

Angered by rising international tariffs against his nation, Swiss president Gunter Klima threatened a worldwide Ricola embargo Tuesday. "If these unfair tariffs are not lifted," Klima said, "we will have no choice but to withhold our natural Alpine-herb throat lozenges, causing billions of throats across the globe to go tragically unsoothed." An estimated 2.1 billion people rely on Swiss menthol for their throat-calming needs.

Are you one of the 49,000 American's

injured by their toilet every year?

You need the Johnny Lite!!!

Watch the Johnny Light Video!!
http://209.242.151.8/rbj/JohnnyLightSmall.wmv

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!

HERE'S TO A SUCCESSFUL 2006 FOR ALL OF US!

You won't believe this...check it out! I want one!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/?v=vwl98dU0kY8

I finally heard it clearly. The subtle voices coming over my computer speakers that scare the crap out of me while I'm sitting here working away at night are that of EWTN Global Catholic Radio!

How the heck am I picking up a catholic radio station in my computer speakers???

Time to make our resolutions....

Anyone going to make (and not break) a resolution or two this year?

Ho!Ho!Ho!

Santa's getting closer!!

Check out NORAD's Santa Tracker:

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/map/index.php

(thanks Rosie for sending me the link)

Pa. Community Celebrates Festivus

Fri Dec 23, 7:05 PM ET

ERIE, Pa. - The celebration of Festivus is alive and well in northwestern Pennsylvania, nearly a decade after the bizarre "holiday" garnered pop culture notoriety on "Seinfeld."

Residents were preparing to celebrate "the festivus for the rest of us" Friday with a night of airing grievances, feats of strength and, of course, the aluminum Festivus pole.

"It's all in good fun," said Jeff Boam, 36, a math teacher from Millcreek Township and longtime "Seinfeld" fan.

"More than anything else, it's a great excuse to get together with friends and have outrageous fun," said George Klapsinos, 38, a senior technical service specialist for Lord Corp.

Many people learned of Festivus through "Seinfeld," but its roots actually go back several decades, when writer Daniel O'Keefe's father started it. He was looking for something more from the holidays, something that wasn't political or religious.

O'Keefe wrote "The Real Festivus: The True Story Behind America's Favorite Made-Up Holiday" and co-wrote the "Seinfeld" episode.

In the episode, Frank Costanza, played by actor Jerry Stiller, comes up with the idea for a new holiday after struggling in a tug-of-war for a doll at a toy store.
Festivus' "traditions" differ from those of Christmas.

Instead of a tree, Festivus followers celebrate around a metal pole. Boam's Festivus pole is 6 feet tall and rooted in bucket of cement.

"No tinsel, no ornaments. Nothing should go on it. It should be bare," Boam said.

Guests also grab the pole and fume about how others have disappointed them in the past year.

"One year, we had a blizzard on the night of the party," Klapsinos said. "So we grieved about everyone who said they were going to show up but didn't. I mean, we made it, right?"
Finally, the festival features feats of strength.

"This usually means wrestling," said Jack Munch, a real-estate broker. "I've seen parties where it deteriorates into five people wrestling in the snow in the backyard. The whole thing is a blast. You never know what's going to happen on Festivus."
___
Information from: Erie Times-News, http://www.goerie.com

Christmas with our kids!!

When it was all said and done....this is how our house looked!!

Good times baby!

Merry Christmas Evey-Eve!!

It's almost Christmas!!!!!

Wish I had known about Hussey's when I was planning my "wedding" ....

looks like a real classy place!

So Hussey's here got me thinkin' about a place Rich and I love to stop at on our way through Southern Kentucky. It's The Olde Gener'l Store (notice how they spell General....ok, it is Kentucky afterall....)

I really like the order of priority on the sign below...... Bourbon, Whiskey, Candy, Coca-Cola!

HO HO HO!! Don't forget to round up your grab bag stuff for the Annual Grab Bag Festival at Jill's house!!

Come one, Come all - it is gonna be a ball!

What the heck is that???

I'm sitting here at my computer and all of a sudden, over my speakers, I'm picking up a Brittish radio station or TV station. Even though I'm cranking the sound to see what they are saying - I can't get the sound to go louder.

Needless to say, it scared the heck out of me. It's late (12:45am) and I'm sitting here working away on a couple of websites I'm building when all of a sudden I'm hearing voices. Now let's all face it....I might hear voices more than the average person does but this time they aren't in my head!

Scared the baheepers outta me!

The Wrappin' Man and His Wrappin' Creations

Rich's Wrapping Station

Over the last 2 days, I finished our Christams shopping while Richie was at home resting his back, sitting on the couch, wrapping what I bought. He loves to wrap presents but he sure knows how to create a MESS!!! Check out what I'm lovingly calling :

Rich's Crapping ( I mean) Wrapping Station:

As much as I love dachshund's - and as much as I really, really want one, I'm afraid my allergies will just drive me crazy. So I've been researching hypoallergenic dogs. Do they make em? Yep - they sure do! Labradoodles!!! They are a mix of labrador (one of the best dogs on the planet earth) and a poodle (ok not my favorite dog of all time).

What I'm reading is these dogs are bred specifically to eliminate the allergy factor!!! Now before you say - a lab and a poodle??????? ....check out how stinkin' cute these babies are!!!!!

The pictures below are from the breeder Yesteryearacres in Ohio (I think)
Check out this breeder's website: http://www.yesteryearacres.com/

I want one!!!!

A challenge to the family:

This Christmas season,

as you wonder what to get Grammy ...

I'd like to challenge each cousin to buy Grammy a Kroger gift certificate.

Each year I get her a gift certificate for Christmas and her birthday too. When she runs out of money on her cards, she always mentions that she has to start buying groceries again out of her own money.

I know she would appreciate it if we all banded together and pitched in to buy her groceries for most of the year.

I'm going to try to get a $100.00 gift certificate for her for Christmas - which is tough to do but I'm going for it - I'll make more money.

I know that's not possible for everyone to go that high but if everyone gave her at least a $20.00 certificate from Kroger - she'd have a bunch of money!!! Even the smallest amount helps her on her limited income.

See you at Christmas!!

Andrea

There's nothing like blowing and drifting snow to say .... "Winter's Here!!"

Santa's lighted stocking

Santa's home away from home!!!!!