I rejoice at the thought of being faceless, nameless, unknown yet existing within a realm of knowablility.

I find comfort in being a body, a shadow, a silhouette in the distance.  Some large part of me doesn’t want to be known, touchable, within reach.

Truthfully, it is easier for me to show Q rather than Quentin because that means I can keep you at a distance.  I can keep you at arm’s length.

I can keep you from hurting me, judging me, putting me in your various categories.

I can keep you in a place of knowing what I want you to know, when I want you to know it, the way I want you to know it.

Yet in this being unknown, I want you to know me.

I want you to know that I’m my worst enemy.  I can talk myself into doing the very thing that makes no sense and I can talk myself out of making moves that will end up being pivotal for the future as I know it.  And I have the ability to easily confuse the two.

I want you to know that I am slightly paranoid.  I thought I was going to die by the age of 25 and have thought this for the last 23 years of my life.  Now that I am past 25, I am convinced that I may already be dead yet living in some type of holding place between this world and the next.  I keep waiting to see Tupac.  Yet every time I step into a car I am waiting to die all over again.

I want yo to know that every moment between this one and the next is a moment that makes room for me to be great.  I haven’t determined where my greatness will rest, whether it be in my words, or work, or in my giving you the small part of me that wants to be seen and allows the small part of you to move from this moment to the next and discover your own greatness.  But whatever, wherever, however the greatness comes, I will make sure it is part of the knowable me that allows you to be an unknowable you.

And while I enjoy the unknowable, faceless, shadowy form of myself I encourage you to enjoy the unknowable part of yourself and consider making it known to me.

And that’s the way it is…

Until your eyes meet my words again,

In a Lonely Place | Nicholas Ray, 1950

Before watching Humprey DeForest Bogart in Nicholas Ray’s A Lonely Place, a few years ago now, I had never been wholly blown away by any of his performances. I could see the charm and the way he suited such Noir-ish roles as Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, but it took until Ray’s film for me to truly appreciate his talent. With  In a Lonely Place Bogart is actually handed meat to go with his skeleton role, meat he goes after with twenty years’ worth of appetite to create one of the more intriguing characters in memory. Dixon Steele is a tired and laconic screenwriter whose disdain with the movie industry is matched only by his sharpened wit. Cash dwindling, Steele is roped back into the arduous task of adapting the latest trashy bestseller. Instead of taking the proposition seriously, he proceeds to invite a young hat-check girl home to sum up the story, a girl who is later found murdered with our hero as the prime suspect. Steele, however, is quickly cleared by mysterious blonde neighbour Laurel Gray (played by Gloria Grahame) and a whirlwind romance between the pair commences. As mentioned previously, I’ve always admired Bogart’s carving out of a niche for the strong silent type, indeed most of the characters he has portrayed have certain similarities. As an actor he is a man’s man, and this personality is strongly upheld in the roles with which he dealt. The character of Steele seems to deviate from this mean, and Bogart seems glad to be able to play with such layered personage.

Of course, there is still the wise cracking character trait for which Bogart became known, and who could do it better? His one-liners here are particularly keen, ensuring that the audience is immediately won over by Dixon Steele despite his contemptuous antics. As the film wears on, however, and the writer becomes embroiled in scribbling away at his plot, aggressive cracks appear in his previously calm nature, allowing both his companion Laurel and ourselves as the audience to question the earlier certainty of our man’s innocence. Steele is a fervidly imaginative storyteller and Bogie channels this nature quite expertly, in the end even we ourselves are unsure whether or not he is indeed capable of such a crime. In a Lonely Place shrugs off some pacing issues thanks to a remarkably incisive script, one that also aids in building our lead man’s staggering performance. This is less a film about the process of writing movies and more about the lonely place within one’s own psyche. We come to realise that Dixon Steele knows this place rather well, and this is exhibited vigorously through his increasingly destructive personality. This, in itself, leads In a Lonely Place to a well-placed twist to the man-alone ideal, riding an explosive Bogart performance to create one of the most layered and unconventional examples of the noir genre to which I have ever bared witness.

Our Rating:

Have you ever looked at someone and wondered why they are the way they are?  The things people do, say and react, the mannerisms they display tell much about the type of person they are and what type of personality they have.  We are all exposed and must live in a world with people who are not just quite like we are.  Just like everyone has an attitude (positive or negative) everyone has a personality.

Florence Littauer wrote a book many years ago that is still as viable today as it was when written.  The book is entitled “Personality Plus.”  The book describes the four different personalities that people can have, or a combination of any two.  Personality Plus helps you determine what your own personality make-up is but more importantly, to look at someone, have a conversation with them and to determine what their personality make-up is.  This is so important for many reasons but underlying is the fact that by knowing others personalities we are better positioned to being able to “get along” with them.

We come across people in all walks of life; school, work, home, social events, church.  Being familiar with the different personalities will benefit you.  So what are these personalities that Littauer writes about and what are the key components.

Melancholy – these people are introverted, pessimistic and are considered thinkers.  They are analytical, serious and genuine.  They are artistic, musical and poetic.  At work they are schedule oriented, perfectionist and gives way to detail.  They look for creative ways to solve problems and they like charts, graphs, figures and lists.  As a parent they set high standards, wants things done right, picks up after others and sacrifices self for the family.  Socially they will stay in the background, tries not to bring attention to themselves.  They are also good listeners and loyal friends.

Phlegmatic – these people are introverted, watchers and pessimistic.  They are low-keyed, easygoing, patient, and cool-calm-collected.  They lead a very consistent life, sympathetic and kind.  They keep their emotions hidden.  At work they are competent and steady, peaceful and agreeable.  They avoid conflicts yet they are good at solving conflict.  They have administrative abilities.  As a parent they take time for their children, don’t get upset too easily and they are never in a hurry.  Socially they are easy to get along with, pleasant and enjoyable, has compassion and concern, a dry sense of humor.

Sanguine – these people are extroverts, talkers and optimistic.  They are the life of the party, love to talk and tell stories and have an appealing personality.  They are bubbly, cheerful, and emotional.  They love to be the center of attention, in the spot light, on stage.  They maintain that “child-like” disposition.  At work they are quick to volunteer, creative and colorful.  They are enthusiastic, inspirational and charming.  They start with a flash and look great on the surface.  As a parent they make home fun, it’s always kid’s day, turns disaster into humor and acts as a circus master.  Socially they make friends easily, love people, and thrive on complements.  They don’t hold grudges and apologizes quickly.

 Choleric – these people are extroverts, doers and optimistic.  They are your born leaders who are dynamic and active.  They are strong-willed, decisive and compulsive.  They have a tremendous amount of self confidence, can run anything and not easily discouraged.  At work they are goal oriented, able to see the whole picture, organized and seek practical solutions.  They insist on production, meet their goal and thrive on opposition.  As a parent they know the right answer, organize the household, motivate the family, establish goals and exert sound leadership.  Socially they have little need for friends, will work for group activity, will lead and organize, usually right and excels in emergencies.

All of the four personality types listed above have their own positive characteristics.  Which one are you?  How do you know?  What, if any, are the weaknesses of each (each personality has them, you know)?  As a person who must live in a social world, you need to know.  Knowing (having knowledge) will increase your ability to communicate better with your family, your co-workers, your friends.  Knowing will help you in your sales, in your teaching, in your ministry.

I would highly recommend you getting Florence Littauer’s book Personality Plus to learn more of this exciting art, this exciting science.  You can get this book by going to Emmaus Road Christian Store.  The cost is only $11.69 and will definitely give you the knowledge to learn more about people.

My friend, Maria Morgis put together this great report, titled, “What the Color of Your Car Says about You”

It is such an interesting observation.

Check out her blog and then tell us…what color is your car???

http://mariamorgis.blogspot.com/

Pssst…my car is fire engine red!

- Rest.
- Books to read for pleasure.
- A warm house filled with wonderful, familiar smells.
- Funny, intelligent siblings who are never far from my heart, no matter how far away in body.
- A boyfriend who writes songs I find myself singing when I’m happy.
- A free education, no matter how many hairs it makes me pull out.
- Good wine, good coffee, good tea.
- The anticipation of Christmas.
- Seeing cars in driveways, gold-lit houses, the tossing of footballs, and stringing of lights on my walk around my neighborhood today.
- The love that always brings me back.

My husband and I are currently choosing a new family car. It doesn’t have to be ‘new’ but almost new would be nice. When I chose my own car last year, I knew exactly what I wanted – a car that is easy to park, safe, sporty, fast, but frugal and environmentally friendly, but not necessarily in that order.

At a recent workshop about personal branding, we asked the delegates what car they think represents best who they are. They mentioned lots of practical, unusual or luxurious cars, and spoke with great passion about their choice!

My own personal brand is probably best expressed by a distinctive Audi TT sports car. It is different to other sports cars, but as it doesn’t tick the environmentally friendly box, I now drive a distinctive, unique and very different Audi A2, which is both fun to own and drive.

Choosing a new family car has led to some lengthy discussions and we still haven’t been able to make a decision. We would both like something that’s frugal and environmentally friendly, roomy and with style, zest and zing. We may be ‘middle aged’, but are not in the middle of a mid- life crisis, and really enjoy driving!

We are previous owners of an original Fiat 500, a unique Italian Mini Innocenti with lots of ‘Va Va Voom’, and various convertible sports cars. When the children came along we drove Golfs, a fun VW camper, a huge Chevrolet and more recently a trusted German estate with tons of space to transport the camping gear in the summer, as well as daughter No2’s belongings to and from university.

For some bizarre reason, my husband is currently being drawn to a purely practical brand (type withheld!) – a brand that never turns my head or makes me feel excited. It is neither ‘me’ nor ‘us’, regardless of what perks, boot sizes and performance figures I may have been told about!

I thought I might be unusual as a woman in that I feel so passionate about researching, buying and driving the right car! But then I read that women purchase nearly 50% of all new cars, and influence 80% of all car buying decisions! We are quite clearly very influential consumers, and feel passionate about making the right choice!

It seems that our cars, alongside other personal belongings like handbags or shoes, express the personality inside us, in one way or another and touch some emotion inside. Even BMW captured this perfectly in one of their recent ads, in which they said it is all about “how the car makes you feel”!

So if you were a car, what brand symbolises you the person? Are you a sporty convertible, a quirky beetle, a fun mini, a reliable golf, or a luxurious, quality saloon?

Ute Wieczorek-King is an experienced trainer, mentor, business coach and facilitator who specialises in business and career development, time management and personal effectiveness. As an expert in balancing lots of different commitments, she enjoys helping other busy women achieve more in less time- with less effort and stress. She also supports women via Success Network, a not-for-profit business community which can be found at http://www.successnetwork.org.uk

So I have left some things a little late – but typing about my to-do list surely makes all the difference.  Especially if I could be doing them instead of blogging about them:

I have gotten a lot better, with the things I need to do, I have.  Maybe it needs a little bit lot of work!  Surely leaving it open for the whole of the web will make all the difference in the world?  OKAY, I will add it as a page on my blog!  I can always edit and add as I go!

1. Find Logan a nursery school.  Yes, still to be done!  I have phone a couple of schools again today – the yellow pages are quite handy in this regards.  Viewing schools tomorrow and Monday!
2. SARS – I have register!  I have submitted!  Now all I need is to submit my previous years and medical documentation via email!
3. Renew my car licence (OVERDUE).  I haven’t receive the slip in the post, which means I haven’t done it yet!  So I will need to go to TOWN and do it in person.
4. Update Logan’s immunisation chart – there is one or two vaccinations that I missed!  Bad mommy!
5. Go to the lady doctor.  (gynecologist)  Not that I want to, but I should!
6. Dentist – same story!
7. Go back to the maintenance court.  I will do this one next year.  Last year (after 3 visits of not having the father show up) I was flabbergasted to see him and I never demanded for a yearly 10% increase.  SILLY Girl!
8. Take out life insurance and pension scheme.
9. Stop Smoking
10. Lose a hell of a lot of weight!

Not necessarily in this order of course!  What does your to-do list consist of?

Do you know cooking?  What is the best thing you have cooked so far ? What have you prepared for the thanksgiving dinner ?

Have you ever faced the mirror and asked yourself about why you are like this.. and like that.. and sometimes thought that you want to get rid of your weaknesses and envy the character or personality of your friend or colleague?

Haha..please don’t ever beat yourself up and wish to have somebody else life. Because that’s the only life you have, no return, no exchange.

I figured out that we need to first have a clear understanding on who we are so we could change for the better what needs to be changed.

A lot of relationships blow up because two people are just extremely different and when both of you are together it’s like ..tenen!..World War 3.

So start knowing about “Temperaments, Personality” and save your relationship with your spouse, future spouse, friend, family, boss, brother, sister, etc.

Read my next posts about it.

Let me first start out by saying I was on Nationwide Radio in Kingston, Jamaica promoting an expo. I am the Event Officer for the expo. I didn’t want to appear on the programme but I eventually did. People who listened to the broadcast expressed that they were impressed and liked the delivery.

I have a personal issue that I will be working on. My demeanour does not speak of my potential and abilities. I hope I am expressing myself well. Most people who know me do not really KNOW ME. I appear to be reserved, laid back, unenergetic and conservative. Although that may be true, I have the ability to turn on the energy when needed. Some folks today call it an alter ego. I may be reserved but when the opportunity presents itself I turn into a total different person full of energy and life. It causes people who will offer opportunities to hold back because they don’t know what I am truly capable of.

I am a talented young man who is really underutilised in my job. So today, when I turned on the alter ego (no name for that person yet) my boss was really overwhelmed and seemed particularly impressed with my delivery. I want to get to the place where I turn it on all the time. I just hope I won’t turn people off.
You can’t have your cake and eat it, I guess.

Dancing with the Stars

Last night I watched the finale of the Dancing with the Stars. It was an entertainment night, filled with excitement and of course the revelation of the winner of the season. It was a surprise to see Donny Osmond win over Mya. I really think with all my heart that Mya would have taken the trophy home. I wanted to see her win. Her dance routine not ignoring her partner were always excellent and it reflects the perfect scores she received in the season.

However, the point must be noted that the core target audience may just have voted more for the winner. Clearly, if the winner was decided on the fact of delivery over the season then Mya would have won. Some people would argue that Kelly should have won based on the fact that she was the most improved. The fact is voting process was used and sometimes it isn’t fair.

My Favourite MYA

So of course, with Donny winning someone else would have taken the night. Whitney Houston was simply fantastic. I will only say this – her addictions may have affected her voice but she certainly can still deliver a great performance. Her songs on the night, I am still on cloud nine over it. Sorry! The videos are posted below for your viewing. The last song on the first video is one of my favourites from Houston so you could imagine my excitement and jumping in the house when she started to sing it. I have also posted a video of the song “I wana dance with somebody” from Whitney Houston back in the days. I have posted it because this is the real performance of the song. Enjoy.

CLICK TOGGLE COMMENTS TO COMMENT. NEW VERSION ON MY BLOG

"El Factor X"

El Factor X: 27 años de edad, profesor Danyl tiene una pasión por el canto y se roba el escenario por completo en una increible primera audicion!

The X Factor: 27-year-old teacher Danyl has a passion for singing and manages to completely own the stage in an incredible first audition!

Connie Talbot singing Ben and winning her Britains Got Talent semi final

Andrew Johnston

The X Factor: It’s difficult to surprise Simon Cowell, but Stacey Soloman manages to do just that… Does she have The X Factor?

Jamie Archer AKA Jamie Afro has never had his chance to break into music, despite it being a lifelong dream. Will he get that chance today?

Joseph McElderry The X Factor: Joe from South Shields immediately got a yes from Cheryl before he started singing! But will he be able to perform well enough to impress the other judges?

Susan Boyle – Memory from Cats – Made Amanda Cry – Piers said brilliant!

You voted him, out of thousands of entrants, your X Factor winner 2007! Watch Leon Jackson perform his brand new single When You Believe!

Lucie Jones,The X Factor 2009: Nervous Lucie takes to the stage, but her choice of song is questioned by Simon. Has she got The X Factor?

The X Factor: 24-year-old Duane returns to The X Factor after failure at last year’s Boot Camp. Has he got what it takes for this year’s competition?

Shaheen Jafargholi Britains Got Talent Wins Semi Final,UNBELIEVABLE 12 YEAR OLD BOY SINGS!!!

Nicky Evans, who recently lost her father, tries her luck at the auditions – and manages to amaze even Simon!

Whether you’re talking business or personal style, standing out takes balls. And the ballsiest person I know is 88 year old Iris Apfel. Iris is outrageous, down to earth, and can count herself among the ranks of art geniuses.

Her medium?  Clothes.

Don’t laugh. Art museums around the country are showing her work, including NY’s Met and the Peabody Essex Museum. Last month we promoted her extraordinary exhibit on radio.

done

Now, meet Iris…

“Live it out!” Iris tells us. It’s true in life as well as business. The first question to ask is: Do you have the guts to be truly distinctive? All it takes is some balls and maybe a boa.

I’ve taken various forms of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (a popular personality test) over the last eight years. Each time, I’ve felt like it’s given me some new insight into my life. However, now that I’m settling into my adult skin and becoming a little more set in my attitudes, I look back and I think how useless this test was.

When I was 17, I tested as a strong Introverted INtuitive Feeling Perceiving personality. (“The Idealist”).

Then at around 20, I’d become an I N Thinking P (“The Architecht”).

By 23, I was a strong I N T Judging (“The Mastermind”).

Then at 24 I was back to INTP.

Today, I’m apparently an Extraverted N T P (“The Inventor”).

The only letter I’ve never been is Sensing. Yet if you typealyze this blog, I have the writing style of an ISTP (my old score notwithstanding). I know I’ve changed a lot since I was a young, shy, anxious kitten, and I sometimes think that my own mother, were she still alive, wouldn’t recognize me today. But seriously, I’ve covered a quarter of the map with this test! That’s ridic.

Anyway, the point is that people change as they grow. Even if the MBTI has any merit at all, it’s worthless before a certain age, and really ought not to be given to undeclared college freshman (thanks, MSU career center, for convincing me that I was computer science material for four years. I might as well have consulted an astrologer).

Hello Friends , I was honored by this precious Award and like last time this time too it’s awarded by Doraz ! Thank you so much Doraz for all your support and love Like she said I need to pass this award to 15 of my blog friends , here are the names of each of them . Congrats to all !

1- Gary

2-Silindile

4-Bill

5- BlissBait

6-Jaymie

7-CoolnWeird

9-To Youuuu Doraz

10- Azfree

11-Girgeum

12-Dennis the Vizla

13-Joan Harvest

14-Tony

15-S.Le

Foreword to Global Warming is a Myth

THE LUNATIC OF NARANATH

 There is a book titled ‘THE LEGENDS OF KERALA’. In one story a wandering Brahmin called Vararuchi takes a tribal woman with him and she bore twelve children by him. As soon as a child is born, she is told to leave it by the wayside and they proceed on. To the question: how it will survive, the Brahmin would say: if it has a mouth ,it would be fed; do not look back.   

 The first baby was brought up by a Namboodiri family (Mezhathol Agnihotry-the family is still there) and he became a Namboodiri. Another was a famous carpenter – Perunthachan. Among the rest was the lunatic of Naranath who captivated me as a singular personality.

 Like his father, he was a wanderer. At night he would rest in a smashan, where dead bodies are burnt. Not to waste the fire, he cooked rice there. In a cool night, enjoying the warmth of the fire, he slept soundly after a day of continuous wandering.

 That night, Bhadrakali, during her nocturnal trip, was surprised to find a human being and was naturally curious. In spite of her fierce shouts, she failed to rouse the stranger. Somehow he woke up and shouted back, Who is this mad woman? The Goddess was immensely pleased with the sheer daring of the man and wanted to bestow a boon; but the man refused, saying he would accept no favours either from man or God. For both it became a prestige issue. At last, the man relented. He said: I have elephant-foot on my left side; you may transfer it to my right side!

 It was his pastime to roll a stone up the hill and throw it down. Watching it tumble down, he claps his hands and laughs. The hill, supposed to be his favourite haunt, is near Shoranur. On the first day of the Malayalam month of Thulam, thousands of pilgrims go up the hill. `I had been there a couple of times. It rains and the path is dangerously slippery. Yet, I enjoyed it.

 I am mad. How else can I dare to write such fantastic nonsense? A lunatic is free of all inhibitions. He sees Nature as God made it. He does not worry about what is written in the text book. The greatest book is Nature. READ IT CAREFULLY without missing the punctuation. Accurate observation and logical thinking are the two pillars of knowledge. Science is nothing but the search for TRUTH.

 I welcome criticism-merciless and incisive analysis.

Note: Shoranur is in Palghat (Palakkad) dist., Kerala State

Top 10 most stupid questions people usually ask in obvious situations

1. At the Movies:

When you meet acquaintances/ friends.. .
Stupid Question:- Hey, what are you doing here?

Answer:- Don’t u know, I sell tickets in black over here…

2. In the bus:

A heavy lady wearing pointed high-heeled shoes steps on your feet…
Stupid Question:- Sorry, did that hurt?

Answer:- No, not at all, I’m on local anesthesia.. …
why don’t you try again.

3. At a funeral:

One of the teary-eyed people ask…
Stupid Question:- Why, why him, of all people.

Answer:- Why? Would it rather have been you?

4. At a restaurant:

When you ask the waiter Stupid Question:-
Is the “Chicken Noodles” good??

Answer:- No, its terrible and made of adulterated cement.
We occasionally also spit in it.

5. At a family get-together:

When some distant aunt meets you after years
Stupid Question:-Munna, Chickoo, you’ve become so big.

Answer:- Well you haven’t particularly shrunk yourself.

6. When a friend announces her wedding, and you ask…
Stupid Question:- Is the guy you’re marrying good?

Answer:- No,he’s a miserable wife-beating ,insensitive lout…it’s just
the
money.

7. When you get woken up at midnight by a phone call…
Stupid Question:- Sorry. were you sleeping?

Answer:- No. I was doing research on whether the Zulu tribes in
Africa marry or not. You thought I was sleeping…. you dumb witted
moron.

8. When you see a friend/colleague with evidently shorter hair…
Stupid Question:- Hey have you had a haircut?

Answer:- No, its autumn and I’m shedding…. ..

9. At the dentist when he’s sticking pointed objects in your mouth…
Stupid Question:- Tell me if it hurts?

Answer:- No it wont. It will just bleed.

10. You are smoking a cigarette and a cute woman in your office asks…
Stupid Question:- Oh, so you smoke.

Answer:- Gosh, it’s a miracle ………..it was a piece of chalk and
now   it’s in flames!!!

These portraits illustrate why

I normally like photographing

landscapes. No two-way 

conversation is necessary.

Once I see what I like the most

about their personality, I point

and shoot. For most portraits,

it is  necessary to talk to

the subject to develop the most 

cursory of relationships prior

to pushing the button to expose

the subject’s personality.

Stephen K. Malshuk

American Photographer

What is the Big Personality Test?

“The Big Personality Test is designed to answer the question: do our personalities shape our lives or do our lives shape our personalities? A big question like this requires a lot of people to answer it, which is why Child of Our Time and Lab UK are inviting everyone in Britain to take part in this groundbreaking experiment.

By answering simple questions about things like your lifestyle, preferences, relationships and background, you will be helping scientists to understand to what extent our personalities are shaped by a whole range of influences.

My Result

The Big Personality Test works out your ‘Big Five’ traits (which we refer to as ‘your unique personality fingerprint’). The Big Five test, or ‘Five Factor’ personality test, is a widely recognised and well-used scientific measure of personality.

The traits it measures are Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism (OCEAN). But be careful – these terms may not mean what you think they mean!

• Openness describes to what extent you are receptive to novel ideas, creative experiences and different values.
• Conscientiousness describes to what extent you are organised, strategic and forward-planning.
• Extroversion describes to what extent you are inclined to experience positive emotions and how attracted you are to social, stimulating experiences.
• Agreeableness describes to what extent you are concerned about the feelings of others and how easily you form bonds with people.
• Neuroticism describes to what extent you react to perceived threats and stressful situations.

The Big Five test is generally acknowledged as the most stable measure of personality over time. This means that someone who takes the test even years apart is likely get a similar result both times.”-Text and pics taken from The Big Personality Test website

Having had my license for just over a decade now, I feel qualified to bring you this news flash.

Attention: Despite popular belief, just because you are inside of you car does not mean that I can no longer see you!

Neither tinted windows nor excessive speed can immunize you.

I commute at least 50 miles a day in traffic ranging from 3-80mph and have become quite the connoisseur of observing the driving habits of those around me – this is mostly a defense mechanism due to the plethora of overtly inept recipients of a California driver’s license.

Albeit undocumented, my research has determined that most drivers can be grouped into one, if not many of the following groups:

The Gold Miner – You can hardly wait for the coveted moment when the false sense of security your car provides you kicks in and you can reach for the sky and venture off on a picking excursion of epic portion. The ironic part is when you finish you never fail to look down at your finger and then into the rear view mirror to make sure you’re ‘clear’. Next time look out the window next to you and there it is; YES … I can see you!

The American Idol – “…and the Britney song was on …” I get it, the road rhythm creates a nice vibrato, the steering wheel doubles as a drum set and your radio can broadcast at a volume just higher than your ears can hear your actual pitch. All that aside, next time you find yourself in mid head bang during the third chorus of an epic ballad, turn and look out the window next to you and there it is; YES … I can see you!

The Jerry Springer – Indubitably, life is stressful. In your exemplary display of multi-tasking you take on some of the biggest arguments behind the wheel. This is often packaged into an impressive finger gesture and hands-free device four-letter word shouting display. I know it is quite a cozy little cubby of anger there in your car, but seriously; look out the window next to you and there it is. YES … I can see you!

The Procreator – As if the ‘kids on board’ yellow triangle dangling in your minivan’s hatchback window didn’t give it away, then your flailing limbs aimed toward the back seats did. Junior wasn’t happy that you made him get into the car in the first place and no amount of assistance can help him calm down now. Put down the Capri Sun, turn up Raffi and face forward please. Oh, and turn your head to the side and look out the window next to you, YES … I can see you!

Now, I know that this is not a fully encompassing description of all motorists but it is what I believe to be an accurate account of what we all must cope with whenever we take to the roadways. This time of year so many of us are traveling via car to see our friends and family so please be safe and if you are so inclined, turn and look out the window next to you …..

I’m sorry in advance about three dog posts in a row. Actually, I’m not.  I mostly skip over posts about children and pregnancies.  There are a few exceptions: this one (because I really like her), this one (because she is my sister and friend), this one (because she is hysterical), and this one (also hysterical). I mean no offense if you are a pregnancy or mommy blogger, but I have to keep a positive outlook over here and reading about the one thing that I can’t have seems kind of creepy and doesn’t really help my efforts to not become one of those obsessive/sad/bitter women who’s blogs definitely scare me and make me thankful that my life doesn’t revolve around getting pregnant. Don’t know what I’m talking about?  Look up infertility blogs if you dare.

So I won’t be sad if you don’t want to read about my pets.  Just don’t leave forever, okay? I’m probably WAY over thinking this.

Anyway, since losing his manhood, Hogan has pretty much been confined to his crate for six days now, per the vet.  He also hasn’t been allowed outside without a leash, also per the vet.

This means that he has to do his “business” on a leash.  This is Jason’s job. By default, all gross things in our house fall on Jason.  Mystery leftovers in the fridge? Jason disposes of them and cleans the container. Dog throw up?  Jason.  Bugs?  Jason. Clogged drains, toilets, or pipes?  All Jason.

Last night while we were lying in bed, he informed me that Hogan actually grunts while he goes number two.  This caused me to go into a fit of laughter that lasted way longer than it should have.

Think what you will about pit bulls, but Hogan is the best. He’s got personality.