I've always known that JoeUser is a blogging community , and when I hear about things happening in other bloggers lives I'm often interested. A baby is born and I'm thrilled for those parents I've never met in the flesh. When someone looses a pet or a loved one I mourn for them. When someone has a good or bad day I genuinely like hearing about it, and I'll leave a comment if I think I can be of any use at all. My mother has been ill. Your comments and good thoughts have helped me through ...

I've been tagged, dang it. Now I'm supposed to write about 5 embarrassing things from my childhood. The first question that immediately leaps to mind, of course, is "when exactly does childhood end"? The when is irrelevant, though, because I'm going to dig up 5 embarrassing things but they certainly won't be the most embarrassing things. Just causing a mild blush, not a desire to pack up and leave the state from shame. 1) One of my earliest memories was from kindergarten (I think). The...

[Sorry for those of you who clicked on this expecting something good. You won't find anything like quality here. Just trying to keep in touch with the people who care about the minutia of my life. Move along please.] Today I've made a terrible realization. I've fought against it all my life but today I can no longer deny what I now know to be true about myself. I officially like coffee. It took me 33 years, but what was once a bitter flavor to be abhorred is now some...

Dear TLC’s “What Not To Wear”:   I admit it; I watch your show quite often. It’s one of the few things I do that I can classify as exclusively indulging my feminine side – the side that wants to look pretty.   Previously my philosophy has been that the way I dress has no bearing on the way I work or interact with other people, yet I also believe that they way I feel inside makes an enormous difference in my chances of success in work and relationships. Since I st...

It is snowing. It started yesterday morning and it continues now. It is sticking. The weather guy says it will continue for the rest of the day, but should turn in to snow tomorrow. And here I thought it was spring, what with the leaves coming out on the trees and flowers blooming. Silly me. In other news it was my anniversary yesterday. We've been married for 6 years and together for 10. What a guy he is. I could write long articles and sonnets devoted to him, but he'd just be...

Recently I received a check for $40 in the mail - a rebate from Best Buy.   A few years ago I would immediately have gotten into the car and driven to the bank to deposit the check because I was about to be overdrawn. I no longer have to do things like that.   In fact, the check sat on the counter and then at some point it disappeared. What the...?   I looked for it, and then realized where it must be. Yes, there, in the green garbage can that lurks in the corner. Am...

No computer...what will I do? Fighting down a sense of rising panic... No Internet connection or telelvision at home - f*** you Charter - for over 2 weeks. And now work computer is hosed, at least temporarily. It seems to me that the world is trying to tell me something. Isn't it amazing, (or perhaps a better word is pathetic) how much of our lives revolve around technology? During the fall of 2003 I was living close to San Bernardino, California (so don't mess with me, I'm from the 'h...

It is snowing. SNOWING, I tell you. It's been snowing hard since about 1:00 pm today, and it's now sticking. It is pretty - it's like being in a snowglobe. Snowing.

SO, YOU’RE A FAILURE. Congratulations! You’ve realized that you are a f***ing failure. Most people go through life never becoming aware that they a losers and should go die somewhere in a corner, and thus they perpetuate the cycle of losership. You, on the other hand, have suddenly woken up and cried your eyes out one day because you have failed at life. Good.  Chances are you will continue to be a loser, but since you are now conscious and aware you will fight the system – unless y...

Alarm goes off at 5:00 am. Time to go to the gym!!!!   Alarm goes off at 7:00 am. Time to get up and shower!!!   Alarm goes off at 7:30. Alarm smashed by fist.   7:45 – 8:00 am: Shower. Stare at shower wall while using up all hot water. Don’t actually soap self; just stare.   8:00 – 8:30 am: get ready for work. Consider doing something with hair. Reject idea. Consider eating breakfast. Reject idea. Boil water for tea. Never make tea as takes...

Hmm. I don't even know what just happened. Over the holidays I was wandering around the internet and found a local community college that was hiring a screenwriting instructor. I applied, knowing it was ridiculously late for this semester but what the heck? I also sent an e-mail to the chair of the department because that seems to usually work out better than just applying in the regular way. They called me on my cell phone today to say that their current screenwriting teacher won't b...

LeapingLizard gave us all a link to this quiz on religious beliefs. It's pretty interesting, actually. Here are my results. 1.     Unitarian Universalism (100%) 2.     Secular Humanism (86%) 3.     Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (78%) 4.     Nontheist (76%) 5.     Libera...

Sometimes I just have to take a break from reality. Or whatever I'm doing that passes for reality at the time. If life were a musical what would your theme song be? Mine is: People are Strange by the Doors

New Year’s Resolutions It may be early to begin talking about New Year’s resolutions as Christmas has not yet stampeded me, but I think it’s important. This has been one of the worst years of my life. Actually, January was ok except for being a little chilly, but the rest of it stank. My husband had taken a job across the country, and I stayed behind to sell the house and to finish my teaching contract. I lived in a house with no insulation at all. It was southern California and the...

The voters have spoken and they have said they do not support gay marriage. I must say, I am shocked. I did not realize I was so far out of touch with the rest of the country. Personally, I don’t think we have the right to infringe upon the freedoms of any one group of people. Whether you think being gay is a choice, or whether you think people are gay for biological reasons, whether you think that being gay is right or wrong , they should be allowed to marry. I know quite a few gay p...